The night passed silently.
It was almost dawn by the time Fang Li and the entire group finally returned to the Tohno residence.
Only, the gates of the Tohno house were tightly closed, not only locked but also radiating a strong aura of rejection. It was as if to say they were not welcome at this late hour, allowing everyone to clearly perceive the Western-style mansion's master's anger.
And rightfully so.
One was a butler who had abandoned his post for the entire day.
The other was the eldest son who had skipped school the whole day.
Moreover, both went out for a night walk and they still hadn't returned until the wee hours of the night, not even sending a single message.
Faced with such individuals, the master of the Western-style mansion naturally had the privilege to express her anger.
Let alone the fact that these two were taken out by a vampire she herself detested.
If it were any other usual situation, Fang Li and Tohno Shiki would definitely have to comment on this predicament.
However, tonight, neither Fang Li nor Tohno Shiki was in the mood.
Thus, the group of three simply climbed over the fence, sneaking back into their rooms like thieves.
Yes, three people.
Arcueid had come along too.
And she did this as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Arcueid seemed to have taken Fang Li's room as her own lair. When Tohno Shiki returned to his room in a daze, this True Ancestor Princess also followed Fang Li back to his room.
Shortly afterward, Arcueid lay down on Fang Li's bed without saying a word and fell asleep.
From that scene, anyone could perceive the unhappiness in Arcueid's heart.
"Like a child."
Seeing Arcueid lying on his bed, sleeping on her own accord, Fang Li was somewhat at a loss for words.
However, Arcueid's behavior wasn't beyond Fang Li's expectations.
"After all, it must be because that detestable character made an appearance, right?"
As he murmured to himself, Fang Li recalled the events at the construction site.
---
The sudden confrontation between Tohno Shiki and Arcueid was an unanticipated interlude.
But afterward, Tohno Shiki clearly had no mood to continue with his original intentions. He simply sat atop the collapsed pile of stones, remaining silent.
In this situation, Fang Li and Arcueid did just the opposite, and it was as if they had entirely forgotten the earlier episode. They ventured into the unfinished building that had recently been frequented by both the dead and wild beasts.
Originally, Fang Li and Arcueid had prepared themselves for battle. But upon entering the building, an unexpected scene unfolded before them.
It was a sight that ordinary people would find absolutely unacceptable.
There, on the bare concrete floor of the building, lay numerous corpses.
The number of corpses was around twenty to thirty.
Some were the dead.
Some were wild beasts.
However, all of these dead and wild beasts had already been **killed**.
They were pierced by giant nails, resembling iron stakes, with handles that were red and blades that were steel.
One by one, swords resembling nails skewered the dead and wild beasts, pinning them firmly to the ground and the surrounding walls.
It was like a terrifying scene from a massacre.
Seeing this, Fang Li couldn't help but be surprised.
"Did someone beat us to it?"
That was the only conclusion he could draw.
While Fang Li, Tohno Shiki, and Arcueid were still engaged in their internal conflict outside, someone else had already entered this place and slaughtered all the dead and wild beasts here.
Using that weapon that looked like a nail.
Upon seeing those nail-like weapons, Arcueid seemed to recall something, and her expression suddenly darkened.
"Black Key..."
**—— "Black Key."**
Arcueid's low mumble stirred Fang Li's memory of that nail-like weapon.
It was a type of amulet.
Though called an amulet, its primary function wasn't protection but combat.
Its effect was exorcism, with the blade composed purely of Magic Power. Therefore, one only needed to carry the hilt, making it convenient to transport. However, it was difficult to use, lacking physical destructive power or sharpness, and as a 'sword,' its functionality and refinement were quite low.
This weapon was primarily used for throwing and combating Spiritual Bodies.
Since its effect was exorcism, it emphasized interference with Spiritual Bodies more than physical attack power.
In view of this, there was basically only one kind of person who would use this weapon in this world.
And that is the **Executor** of the **Sacred Hall Church**, whose primary goal is to eradicate heresy.
In other words...
"Could it be that an Executor from the Sacred Hall Church came here and exterminated these dead and wild beasts?"
Fang Li arrived at the conclusion that best fit the current situation.
In response to this conclusion, Arcueid's expression grew increasingly displeased.
"Could it be that woman?"
Arcueid's words were filled with displeasure and it was as if she knew exactly who was responsible for the scene before her.
Coupled with the fact that an Executor from the Sacred Hall Church had arrived in this city, Arcueid coldly snorted, turned around, and left without hesitation.
Her determined strides left no doubt about the sourness of the True Ancestor Princess's mood.
Watching Arcueid leave without a word, Fang Li gazed at the massacre scene before him and shrugged.
"Things are getting more and more interesting."
Leaving that remark behind, Fang Li also turned and departed from the scene.
All that remained were the corpses of the dead and wild beasts, pierced by the nail-like swords, slowly turning to ash and black mud, disappearing on the spot.
---
Recalling the recent events, Fang Li smirked.
"It seems this Misaki Town is becoming a vortex of conflict, just like Misaki City in the past."
The True Ancestor Princess.
The Twenty-seven Ancestors' Dead Apostle.
The Tohno family, Outsiders.
The survivor of the Nanaya Clan.
Plus the mysterious "Serpent."
And now, the emerging Executors of the Sacred Hall Church.
All sorts of beings had begun to gather in this Misaki Town.
Thus, Misaki Town was quietly turning into a battlefield.
Much like Misaki City, which once attracted various Flame Haze and denizens of the Crimson World.
"Then..." Fang Li muttered while absent-mindedly rotating his wrist. "What should I do next?"
This self-talk, however, elicited a response.
"No matter what, what I need to do won't change."
Arcueid, surprisingly, was not asleep at all. She lay there, maintaining her position, opened her eyes, and looked at Fang Li.
"You're the same, aren't you?"
Her tone was full of certainty.
---
...
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