Black Sail
Chapter 469: C. Remnants of the Nightmare

Chapter 469: C. Remnants of the Nightmare

The train, embellished with the Dragon Lord’s emblem, gradually screeched to a halt, leaving only the sound of the wind by the ear.

Metal stairs extended out, touching the ground where the foreign country’s yellow sand flowed sinuously underfoot.

It should have been the Aran Army’s General from Crocodile Island to welcome the Holy Professors of the Aran National Church, to promote the construction of the church and the mission.

But after the train stopped, there wasn’t a single figure in sight, let alone the Aran Army.

Only the desolate wilderness stirred by the tumbling tumbleweeds, barren and desolate.

The Holy Spirit Sect is the most widespread in the Western Continent and even in the Southern Continent, where ancestral worship prevails and the Yisu people’s territory, it still wields significant power.

Even today, everyone’s marriage requires the blessing of the Spirit of Beauty and Oath to strictly take effect.

However, the Harmony and Kindness known Holy Spirit Sect’s influence is weakening in these troubled times, with the Eternal Sect, founded on the rise of Aran, expanding aggressively.

The former religious hegemon, the Holy Spirits, faced severe provocation.

From this, the catfish effect led to a resurgence of national religions in various countries.

The "Holy True God" evolved to today has become a Sect similar to the Miracle of Suffering, but in its place of origin, east of the Narrow Sea, now the Mulong Duchy, the original "Holy True God" has begun its revival.

And it became the action program of the Mulong Duchy Resistance Army to consolidate resistance forces.

The Eternal Sect’s aim was not just to be the most influential religion in the world today but, like the Holy Spirit Sect of the past, to become a definer of culture and thought currents, even establishing a theocracy, the actual ruler of the Western Continent.

Upon the miracle of Marcus the believer, the Pope became even more certain of this, and within the concessions of the Emperor, this railway spanning from west to east of the Narrow Sea, would also be the Eternal Sect’s battleline to crush other deities and heretics.

The Eternal Sect had already reached an agreement with the Mulong Puppet King.

They just needed to press forward decisively.

Zote looked at the deserted supply station, devoid even of workers, and felt a chilling murderous intent.

He bent down, sifted through the sand and gravel on the ground, picking up a somewhat carbonized human tooth.

"Has the Sect had previous experience with long-line missionary work?"

Zote realized that this expedition might be even more challenging than imagined; after completing this feat, he would surely qualify to become a Cardinal.

The hierarchy within the Eternal Sect was stringent.

Divided into the Great Church, Cardinal Group, and the Judgement Court.

The Great Church referred to the Sect’s core in the Aran Imperial City, with the Pope holding the highest position, followed by the High Priest and Chief Priest at the same rank, individuals rarely seen. The next rank comprised the main priests who played major roles in various sacrificial activities, followed by the numerous priests who held middle management positions. The last in line naturally consisted of numerous varied ranks of Holy Professors and nuns.

The Cardinal Group referred to the sectarian churches and monasteries spread worldwide, and inspection forces used to integrate them; here, positions were so numerous, even considering organization tasks like transportation. But the highest position in the Cardinal Group was the Cardinal, next in rank to the Pope, commanding all local bishops.

The Judgement Court was broadly divided into two departments; one is the Time Sword for secret operations or needing elite efforts. The other is purely armed forces for suppressing large-scale heretics or blasphemers’ priest groups, fully armed heavy armor.

During years of exile, Zote no longer wanted to enter the Judgement Court to partake in disputes; he only wished to return to the pinnacle of power.

The Cardinal was a very suitable position, principally involving documentation with tremendous power only second to the Pope. Legally, it was on par with the High Priest and Chief Priest of the Great Church, but in practical terms, it held more power.

But the premise was...

This accomplishment of traversing the Narrow Sea and crushing diverse heretics.

"Of course, there were congregants who crossed the Narrow Sea by boat to preach in Gureg Lostra, but the effect was not good. However, east of the Narrow Sea, control is almost entirely secured."

Zote’s deputy reported to him during this operation.

Decades later, the remnants of the previous dynasty were forgotten by everyone except for a few; within the Eternal Sect, very few knew Zote’s real identity.

The Emperor’s special pursuit team was still trailing Zote.

Coming to Mulong was also a way for Zote to evade pursuit; after achieving his goals, he would be a Cardinal, representing the most potent religion in the Western Continent—who would dare to touch him?

Only by then, Zote would already be using a different name.

"I understand."

Zote responded calmly; the deputy meant that forcibly establishing churches violently along the way was a first.

"The Army has not met us at the station; how shall we proceed with the work?"

Even Zote felt somewhat at a loss; he had no understanding of the Sect’s rules.

"You should ask yourself, as you are the person in charge."

The deputy answered respectfully; he did not know who Zote was, just that he was a significant figure sent from above, for whom the Time Sword Eighteenth Formation had been specially established.

To know that the Time Sword was the Pope’s sharpest weapon, and this layman, recently joined, could instantly become the formation leader, which was unbelievable, it was unknown which hero he was.

Zote’s expression darkened, seemingly triggering a switch, reviving some long-past memories, reawakening the instincts worn away through over a decade of flight and imprisonment.

"Do I control all matters?"

Zote couldn’t believe it. Even though the High Priest had told him this upon his arrival, he still needed to confirm it once more.

"Indeed, the Emperor has always been trying to weaken our influence. This time, it’s merely superficial concession; he won’t provide us with any support. With the strength of the Army, the railway will eventually be completed. Our greatest enemy may not come from the outside."

His deputy understood it this way, and he guessed that Zote was not from Aran. The Sect had sent him to carry out a major purge, whether against the Army or foreign enemies, to demonstrate the Dragon Lord’s grace.

Zote pondered for a while.

Mulong Duchy had only signed a treaty to become a vassal state in the last few months, having been a kingdom during the Kingdom Era.

"I remember... the people here worship the Holy True God. Let’s go to the nearest town first, dismantle the local temples, and recruit workers to build churches."

Zote looked back; the Sect had many intellectuals, and this time, many Priests proficient in architecture followed him. There were also some geologists.

"Isn’t it a bit too fast? Although an agreement with the Duchy has been reached, even with aggressive moves, we still need the local Lord’s support and the necessary documentation to purchase land."

His deputy didn’t quite agree with Zote’s opinion, but he was just an advisor; the decision was up to Zote.

In some sense.

The Sect was far more civilized than the Army, valuing religious and cultural identity over armed control.

"Documents during wartime are useless. That way, things will be slow. Since the railway has reached here, the local Lord... has already become a dog of Aran. The Sect’s funds are too abundant. After demolishing the temple, give alms to the obedient people, and they will know who is the true God."

Zote harbored a killing intent towards the Aran Army’s General Crocodile Island. Today’s incident was definitely an intentional show of power by him.

But he could not kill him in the short term, or it would give the Royal Court a chance to rage.

This time it was luck, the Royal Court did not expect the Sect to be so bold to kidnap a favorite of the Emperor. Future luck would not be so good; the moment the Royal Court caught any wind of unrest, they would make a big deal out of it.

He could only control him and destroy him mentally.

Zote did not trust the Time Sword; they were just a bunch of religious fanatics. The Sect had lent them to him temporarily for their own benefit. He had to develop his own power, his very own sword.

The supply station was deserted, not even a horse in sight.

General Crocodile Island left the Church Court hanging, not saving any face.

Since that was the case, he himself didn’t need to play nice, just not kill them; he had plenty of other means.

"Stay here; I’ll go ahead and check out the situation."

Zote instructed his deputy and the main troop to guard the train; after all, being in a foreign country and at odds with the Army, it was the most important means of transportation.

He only took a few clerical Priests and walked to the nearest town.

"Why don’t we just wait here for the General? This is a railway area; if something happens, there will be traces to follow, but what if it’s in the wild?"

The deputy suggested. Frankly, the military’s status in Aran was not any lower than the Holy Professors’, evoking even more fear among the public; those were the ones who killed without blinking, so it was possible... in this foreign country, they could be killed and the blame pinned on the Resistance Army.

Seeing the deputy’s worry, he feared dying out there, being ambushed or the like.

"You don’t know who I am..."

It didn’t matter; no one here knew him, and it had been almost thirty years.

Zote took off his dragon-faced helm, revealing his terrifying visage, three fierce scars dragged by a wild beast from forehead to chin, one eye removed, completely hollow.

Despite the wrinkles, he carried no sense of decline; having stood at the peak of power, he had consumed many rare delicacies. Even as the remnant of a fallen nation, he still seemed just past his prime.

He led his group away without looking back.

The Great Riot at the Northern Prison eleven years ago.

Liszt had rescued many old guns from the underworld with a Corrosive Potion, including Turbid River Dragon Hened, Cangshan Tobacco Company, the Seventh Amendment, Tai Sheng Bank, Yunheng Minerals, Cyrus Brother Association, and a long-time secret organization boss.

These underworld figures knew, relying solely on them, it was impossible to escape the world’s largest and strongest prison directly run by the Aran Royal Court; they had to release those who were imprisoned at the deepest levels for major crimes.

To disturb the current chaos of the Western Continent, they had started it.

And among those major criminals was Zote.

They let him see the light of day once more.

Before leaving Aran, Zote had visited the Dragon Stone Square National Museum to see the preserved body of Ogne.

Yes.

The world’s most dangerous man was already dead.

All those sergeants, all the remnants of tragedy, slowly fading from history.

No one remembered those years anymore.

Except Zote.