Chapter 7: The Last Supper
“What do you mean?”
Lin Lan’s voice turned icy cold.
“The [Sanctum] knows everything that happens in this world, my dear.”
Murphyxia glided gracefully to the side of Lin Lan’s cot, the hem of her robe tracing elegant arcs across the rough ground.
She unclasped a silver badge engraved with Sanctum runes from her chest and placed it before Lin Lan:
“You seem to have some misunderstandings about the [Sanctum].”
“Our doctrine is to purify the world’s filth and guide lost lambs back to the embrace of the Holy Light. We are fundamentally different from a place like [Eisenburg], which worships violence and power, desecrating life itself.”
“And now, your little treasure is being held captive by Seraphina in Eisenburg…” Morphea paused deliberately, her fingers brushing the silver badge.
“In your current state, forget rescuing her—you wouldn’t even make it past the outer slums of Eisenburg.”
“…”
Lin Lan closed her eyes, her fists clenching and unclenching.
Whatever this Sanctum emissary’s intentions were…
She had at least confirmed one thing gnawing at Lin Lan’s heart.
—Seraphina was indeed lying.
Blatantly lying.
The girl leaned slightly closer, a faint, elusive scent of incense wafting over, disorienting and intoxicating.
She reached out, her touch feather-light as it grazed Lin Lan’s bloodstained cheek, gentle as if handling a fragile holy relic.
“What you’ve lost, I might be able to help you reclaim.”
Murphyxia’s smile was pure and compassionate, her tone growing softer: “We share a common enemy, don’t we?”
Lin Lan narrowed her eyes, swatting the girl’s hand away, her expression cold as she scrutinized the seemingly saintly woman before her.
She never believed in free lunches in this world.
Especially not from someone from the [Purification Sanctum]…
“What do you want from me?”
The girl didn’t take offense, her lips curling slightly higher, her soft voice now tinged with righteous indignation: “The White Night Queen of [Eisenburg]—Seraphina. She is not only your enemy but also a lost soul the Sanctum deems in need of ‘guidance’!”
“Her greed for power, her distortion of order! And—”
Murphyxia’s voice grew impassioned.
“Cut the sanctimonious nonsense, or I’ll slice out your tongue,” Lin Lan interrupted coldly.
“Ahem… very well.” The girl coughed lightly.
“As far as I know, that child has an extraordinarily powerful ability, doesn’t she? And you’re well aware of it.”
Lin Lan’s expression darkened further.
This wretch was after Mili too…
“We can work together, Commander Lin.” Murphyxia stood, hands clasped behind her back, her voice lowering as her purple robe seemed to swallow the firelight from outside, leaving only a silvery halo around her silhouette.
“Seraphina stole her from your side, imprisoning her in that cold steel fortress, trying to claim heaven’s gift for herself.”
“—This is a blasphemy against the divine! A heartless trampling of the deep bond between you and that child!”
“The Sanctum only wishes that, after ‘purifying’ [Eisenburg], the child can receive her rightful guidance, bathed in the Holy Light, to fulfill her true value and bring blessings to this suffering world…”
“And you, as her guardian, will earn the friendship and respect of the Sanctum.”
“The Sanctum has the strength and resources you need—everything: weapons, manpower, intelligence, opportunities…”
“We can help you take back what’s yours and make Seraphina pay the price.”
Lin Lan stared at Murphyxia’s kind, approachable face, her heart brimming with disgust.
But… did she have any other choice?
For Mili…
“I need time to think…” After a long pause, Lin Lan finally lowered her gaze and spoke.
Murphyxia’s satisfied smile deepened, and she nodded slightly.
“Of course, the Holy Light always welcomes those who return from their wanderings.”
“But, my dear, don’t dawdle too long. The Sanctum’s patience… and your little friend’s life… are both limited.”
“I’ll await your answer outside [Oasis], Commander Lin.”
With that, she turned gracefully, leaving the tent as silently as she had come, leaving behind only the silver badge and a stifling, oppressive atmosphere.
“Big Sis Lin…” The guard captain called out hesitantly.
Lin Lan didn’t respond, clutching the silver badge tightly, staring in the direction Murphyxiahad vanished, her eyes a tangle of complex emotions and reflected firelight.
Eisenburg.
Within the core palace complex.
Mili was escorted—or rather, marched—by two expressionless female guards to a new room.
As Seraphina had promised, this room was right beside her own chambers.
Compared to the previous cell-like guest room, this was practically a private apartment…
The room was spacious and bright, with a soft, large bed draped in snow-white linens and a faded old-era landscape painting on the wall.
It had a private bathroom, a small sitting area, a study, and a balcony—though the balcony held only a low tea table and a recliner.
The balcony was enclosed by reinforced glass, surrounded by intricately perforated steel plates, and beyond that, countless layers of anti-theft wire mesh…
Every possible exit was sealed, not even a mosquito could slip through.
Even so, the lighting wasn’t bad, and a faint breeze hummed through the overhead vent.
“This is… my room?” Mili turned hesitantly, asking in a small voice.
The guards didn’t answer, silently retreating and closing the door.
The heavy metal door shut behind her with a dull thud.
She heard muffled voices outside, likely a changing of the guard.
Standing awkwardly at the entrance, Mili didn’t know where to put her hands or feet.
After a long scan of the room, she cautiously stepped toward the balcony.
As Seraphina had said, this apartment was indeed within her palace.
Right beside her own room…
Through a gap in the half-open curtains, Mili could see a private garden outside, with a small fountain at its center.
Though the fountain’s basin was long dry, cracked gray sediment lining its bottom.
Mili returned to the bedside, sitting gingerly at its edge, running her fingers over the sheets, soft as clouds.
She was exhausted.
She wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the bed and sleep for days…
But the thought of Seraphina’s cold, eerie heterochromatic eyes kept her from acting rashly.
Not long after, as she sat lost in thought, the door was pushed open again.
Two female guards entered, one carrying a tray with dinner, the other holding a thick stack of books.
“Dinner, and reading materials designated by Her Majesty,” one guard announced in a flat tone.
After placing the tray on the table, she stepped back to the door like a robot, standing rigidly at attention.
The other guard neatly arranged the books on the study’s small desk, handing Mili a slip of paper before leaving.
Scrawled on it were a few terse words:
[Inspection tomorrow. —S.K.]
Seraphina?
K… Kallen?
Mili racked her brain, struggling to recall the woman’s full name.
She shook her head and walked to the table, lifting the tray’s cover—
A slightly charred meat cutlet.
A few crisp green vegetable leaves.
A small bowl of steaming soup…
And a loaf of white bread as long as her arm.
This… was all for her?
Mili could hardly believe her eyes.
Even back in [Oasis]…
Even before she’d transmigrated here, she’d never eaten such a lavish meal.
The female guards stood silently at the door, shutting the metal door with a clang.
“Um… uh…” Mili mustered her courage, speaking softly, “Th-thank you…?”
The two gave no response, standing as still as wax figures.
It was as if Mili was alone in the room.