The Sacred Rite

If he tried to force it open, not only would it trigger an alarm.

The caster would be able to lock onto his position immediately.

Black, naturally, did not try to force it open.

He simply put the entire box into his storage ring and would figure out how to deal with the problem later when he was outside.

‘Done.’

Black thought to himself. Just as he was about to leave.

He glanced at the remaining duration of the item: one and a half minutes left.

His gaze once again swept over the storeroom, which was filled with all sorts of rare items.

Black didn’t hesitate for long. A slight arc curved at the corner of his mouth.

‘As the sage said: if you don’t take what’s free, you’re a fool.’

An ordinary person, even with a thief’s heart, wouldn’t have a large enough storage ring to fit all these things.

But Black was different.

He had the “Void Traveler’s Ring” gifted by the headmaster, the highest-tier storage ring.

Stuffing the entire storeroom’s contents into it was a simple matter.

And so, Black transformed into a human-shaped cleaning machine. Wherever he passed, items were stuffed into the ring.

In the span of a few breaths, the originally packed storeroom was completely empty.

Looking at the empty room, Black thought to himself.

‘As a Dragon-Slaying Guard, confiscating these illegal goods is perfectly reasonable!’

After that, he didn’t linger. He slipped out of the storeroom, left the sewer by the way he came, and returned to the surface.

After leaving the black market, Black did not choose to go home directly.

He identified the direction and walked towards the Dragon-Slaying Guard headquarters.

After arriving at the headquarters, he found his squad leader and reported with a serious expression.

“Captain, I’ve received an anonymous tip from the public that there is a black market stronghold in the sewers of XXX district!”

The Dragon-Slaying Guard had always taken illegal business establishments like black markets very seriously.

Soon, an elite squad of a dozen or so four-star level Dragon-Slaying Guards was assembled.

They set off murderously towards the address Black had provided.

Watching the departing figures of the elite squad.

Black mourned for the guys at the black market for ten seconds in his heart.

Afterward.

He came to the training grounds inside the headquarters.

He found an empty private room and closed the door.

He took out the golden treasure box he had taken from the black market from his ring and placed it on the ground.

A faint light emanated from the magic seal on the treasure box.

This seal itself was not particularly high-level or profound.

With his current strength, it wouldn’t be difficult to break it by force.

The only trouble was the tracking effect that came with it.

Once the seal was violently broken, the sorcerer who had set it would surely be able to sense it immediately.

And then lock onto the breaker’s location and come after him.

Therefore, Black had specifically chosen to deal with it at the Dragon-Slaying Guard headquarters.

If he broke the seal here, what could that person do? Come on, come to the headquarters if you have the guts.

Lady Noa would surely give you a good “juicing”!

He no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath and mobilized all the spiritual power in his body.

He gathered it in the Demon-Cleaver, and the sword’s body shone with a brilliant golden light.

Black held the sword with both hands and slashed down at the golden treasure box.

“Crack!”

The golden treasure box broke in two with a sound.

The purple seal light on it flickered violently and then shattered.

Inside the treasure box lay a magic scroll.

Black picked up the scroll and sensed it briefly.

Magic Scroll: Puppet Art.

It could simulate a real person’s appearance and aura, making it impossible for others to recognize.

It was a very rare type of scroll.

With this thing, dealing with the necromancer tonight would be a piece of cake.

After putting away the scroll, Black returned home.

After returning home, Black carefully went over everything that would happen tonight in his mind again.

Victory would come tonight.

The Sacred Rite would be held at midnight tonight.

At that time, he should already be at the orphanage, engaged in a decisive battle with the necromancer.

These two events overlapped in time.

But he had already prepared all the countermeasures.

Now, he just needed to let everything develop according to the predetermined trajectory.

Afterward, Black also went to find his cousin, Leán.

He reminded him again that he must do what he had been told before, and that no accidents were allowed.

After all, when the Sacred Rite was held, he himself could not be there.

All the arrangements could only be carried out by Leán.

At the same time, thinking that today was also Kristine’s birthday, he whispered some other things to Leán.

These were a birthday surprise he was giving to Kristine.

Time flew by as he waited, and soon it was evening.

When Black went out again, the streets of the capital were a different scene.

Night had fallen, the lanterns were lit, and the streets were crowded with people, shoulder to shoulder.

Almost all the crowds were converging on the Church of Creation.

Just now, Brenna had enthusiastically invited him to watch the Sacred Rite together.

Unfortunately, he had more important things to do tonight and could only politely decline.

After parting with Brenna, Black went against the flow of people and headed towards the orphanage.

After arriving at the orphanage, he met up with Leon, Jianye, Irena, and Land.

The group, according to yesterday’s division of labor, once again hid in the shadows of the corner of the backyard.

Waiting for the necromancer to appear.

At the same time.

The Church of Creation on the other side had already gathered nearly tens of thousands of people.

The place was bustling with noise and brilliantly lit.

Everyone’s gaze was focused on the magnificent main gate of the church.

There, many priests in pure white robes were drawing the large magic array required for the Sacred Rite on the ground.

The complex and beautiful patterns slowly lit up under the infusion of magical power.

The Sacred Rite had not yet begun.

Many people were enjoying themselves on the streets where various festive activities were being held.

Brenna was among them with a few of her good friends.

The young women, holding various street snacks, moved between the stalls, looking at this and that, their bell-like laughter echoing in the night sky.

While laughing and talking with her friends, Brenna looked around, a little puzzled.

She had been looking for a long time but hadn’t seen any sign of Leán.

She remembered that at this time in previous years, Leán would have long since been with his group of good-for-nothing friends, arms around each other’s shoulders.

Going around hitting on girls.

Why was he so abnormal this year, not even a shadow to be seen?

“It’s strange,” Brenna muttered to herself.

“I was looking forward to watching the Sacred Rite with my cousin and Leán this year.”

But one after another, they were all being mysterious and had disappeared.

Just then.

A commotion and cheers came from the crowd.

Brenna turned and looked in the direction of the surging crowd.

And saw a heavily guarded procession slowly approaching.

The Imperial Family had arrived.

As an important event for stabilizing the people’s hearts and demonstrating divine grace.

The Imperial Family would send important members to attend the ceremony every year to show its importance.

In recent years, the ones representing the Imperial Family were Her Highness the First Princess Aphra and His Highness the First Prince Oscar.

Brenna looked from a distance and saw Aphra and Oscar, who were surrounded in the center of the procession, at first glance.

These two Highnesses, whether it was their innate noble temperament or their perfect appearance.

Were as dazzling as pearls in a vast sea of people.

Wherever they went, they naturally became the focus of everyone’s attention.