Monsters!
Yes, they were all monsters in one form or another.
Abominations that shouldn't exist in normal society because, with one wrong step, they could blow up a building claiming multiple innocent lives!
Having heard similar words before from his mother, Kole could only smile bitterly. But his expression quickly hardened as he thought about his lofty goals.
If I have to become a monster… then so be it…
Casting their gaze at the couple, the trio was speechless. They didn't know what to say.
Was it wrong for Viscount Turner to get the keys to what his heart desires, from the Moores'?...
If looked at it objectively, it was wrong.
But then again, from the Viscount's point of view, as long as he had gotten the key with no resistance, there would have been no need for violence.
However, none of them knew that Viscount Turner was just a pawn who had been used to divert the Police's attention, and the chip was the key he desperately needed.
Before they could realize or question, they felt fluctuations around them. The air swirled rapidly.
Kole immediately felt the thick connection with SubconciousGulf rapidly declining.
He could escape from here by stopping all forms of communication with this Realm, just like how did with Subspace!
With a thought, all other rapidly churning thoughts, in his mind came to a slow halt!
Opening his eyes, Kole realized he was standing by the windows of Viscount Turner's room.
A middle-aged man in a lime-green tuxedo sat outside the windows on the balcony.
He was looking in the far west, gazing at the setting sun with a calm expression. He had a peaceful smile. Between his fingers, a pink coin was embedded.
However, the emerald-green eyes of his, were lifeless.
A butler was also lying on the ground by the side with his eyes vacant.
Kole sighed inwardly, feeling a bit regretful about how he would bring this news to Alice.
Her father and a close servant of hers had also passed away.
Though he didn't know what happened to the head butler Hugh, he could guess — he had been pulled into the Mind Palace just like them but couldn't last long alone and entered a state of insanity, essentially losing control, or he got trapped in the Pink Mind Palace!
The only saving grace was that their bodies were still intact and didn't become mindless "Banes" in the real world. Somehow, only their consciousness was corrupted.
Wait… Their Creation Seeds!... Looking at the Detective and Inspector who had yet to awaken in their real bodies, Kole decisively stepped into Subspace to look for more Creation Seeds!
I feel so cheap… cannibalizing Alice's father for Power…. Kole smiled wryly but didn't stop his actions as he remembered the last words of Viscount Turner.
Yes, we all are monsters!... We live for our goals, for our objectives, for our fulfillment! We are monsters.
….
Dressed in his usual dark tuxedo, Kole appeared outside the Tempest Cathedral nearest to Turner's mansion and cast his gaze on the scenery before him.
Since West Grovebourne was cordoned off and didn't allow access to poor vagrants, Kole only witnessed the rich noble class and merchants entering the gates of the church for their evening prayers.
On the benches, the elderly sat while feeding pigeons while some walked their pets under the orange hue of the beautiful soothing sunset.
Kole let out a sigh as he imagined what the reaction of the Detective and Inspector would be when they woke up to find nobody in the villa, except a few servants going about their daily lives.
At first, he thought, he should wait for them and explain himself.
But why should he when he has done nothing wrong?
He had an excuse prepared beforehand — that he was pulled into that Pink Palace on its own, and to prove it otherwise was impossible.
Let the officials investigate the case from all angles and conclude whatever they wished... Kole made his decision.
It was impossible to link anything to Kole Akerse. As such, he left the villa immediately.
Also, he was worried about Alice.
With slow deliberate steps, Kole approached the majestic-looking cathedral and entered the gates.
A long row of pews filled with believers entered his vision.
A human-sized golden compass hung on the wall at the end of the long hall providing a soothing warmth.
The atmosphere inside was serene — like the bottom of the ocean under the veil of turbulent waves.
Stepping forward, Kole sat at the end and pressed his half-top hat while exhaling deeply.
As his gaze traveled through the hall, he saw a middle-aged man arriving before the huge compass, dressed in pristine blue clothes, and a small wooden compass hung around his neck like a pendant.
He bowed deeply in reverence as he walked up the pedestal and then turned around to face the row of believers.
He talked about compassion, benevolence, and also helping the poor.
Not only that, but he also gave many references like the current situation in South Grovebourne where even the clarity of vision is hampered because of all the pollution.
Kole silently listened with pursed lips.
He wasn't some kind soul, but he wasn't a bloodthirsty maniac either.
A Dominator wasn't immune to emotions.
It's just that they have mastered their minds to solely focus on 'benefits'.
He sighed to himself ruefully. He has never ever faced poverty.
Perhaps, one day if he had enough power, and had completed his goals, he could help the needy.
It was a fleeting thought. Nothing more, nothing less.
As he gazed upon the huge compass hung in the cathedral, Kole wondered briefly if Gods were also wolves in human skins — monsters — as Viscount Turner's words kept resonating in his heart.
Is this all a disguise to hide their ugly selves, or perhaps they had a purpose, just like the crazy Gradoz who wanted to create a masterpiece?
Does protecting and helping the people reward them with unimaginable benefits? Or is it solely the result of their kind heart?
If the priest on the dais knew Kole's thoughts, he would be the first to raise a pitchfork against this blasphemer for having such sacrilegious thoughts!
After the sermon ended, everyone religiously tapped on their left breast four times in a clockwise direction as they chanted in a soft voice: "Praise Tempest!"
Since this was one of the wealthiest areas of the Treon Kingdom, the people got up and went to the donation box eagerly to show their devotion.
Some had businesses based on the seas, while some had children on the ocean. Each with their own relations in the deep blue seas donated and prayed to the Goddess to maintain the calmness over the blue waters.
Kole gazed at all of this silently.
He didn't have his own money. And the little amount he had was the allowance he received from Faneia for daily purposes.
Hah~ The son of the Duchess is a poor vagabond… Kole chuckled inwardly as a wry smile hung on his lips.
Except for the basic education provided by his mother, and the knowledge of software engineering of his past life (which he couldn't even use in this life), Kole was really nothing much.
All he had going for himself was his supernatural strength.
Sighing to himself, Kole stood up and approached the priest, who was standing on the pedestal overlooking the hall with a benign smile.
Bowing slightly, Kole chanted: "Praise Tempest."
The priest nodded at him, waiting patiently to listen to this extraordinarily handsome young man, "May I ask where Miss Alice Turner is…"
After deliberating momentarily, Kole explained, "I am her friend and heard she had faced some corruption. It deeply worries me, and I hope I could get to see how she is doing."
The priest obviously knew which woman Kole was talking about.
After all, a woman did come through the gates of the church, asking for help a few hours ago.
Gently nodding, the priest asked Kole to follow him.
Walking through a long corridor, they approached a stone door with beautiful curves etched upon it and shining mysteriously.
The priest pushed open the door with a slight creak.
Looking inside, Kole cast a gaze over the long corridor with many doors on either side of the walls, with the smell of disinfectants floating in the air like a hospital.
Nuns and priests carried Artifacts as they moved from one room to another.
Each of these Artifacts was unique, but their abilities were similar, to remove low-level corruption, provide psychic treatments, and help seriously injured people who had suffered grievous wounds while resisting the underlying concept of madness in this world.
Of course, this included mostly innocents who had come in contact with the dangers of the world by accident, like Mark Moore from before.
But that was not all, and many guardians that the church deploys in every region to keep corruption at bay were also receiving treatment. High-level powerhouses like Caroline or Bishop Julian couldn't be present in every street.
Meeting two kinds of cultists — Light and Gradoz, was only Kole scratching the surface. The real madness lay deeper than he thought, at every corner of the civilization.
Shaking his head to derail the out-of-control train of thoughts, Kole followed the priest and walked into a room, where a blonde woman was sleeping on the bed peacefully. She was covered in white sheets appropriately.
By her side, a young girl in a maid's uniform sat on a stool reading a newspaper.
Noticing the familiar man arriving inside the room, Lucy put the newspaper aside and went to greet him, with a relieved expression.
She was still young and needed someone's support in the hard times. What she needed desperately was a shoulder to lean on.
Seeing the light of familiarity in the maid's eyes, the priest wisely excused himself.
Since the man was really related to the woman, there was no need to disturb a man, who had been concerned about his friend.
Also, this place was one of the most secure places in the Treon Kingdom.
Even the king would think twice before sinning here.
However, things don't go as one expects them to be…
A zealot cry resounded in the Tempest Cathedral.
The priest, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around with a sinister bright tint in his eyes.
"Praise The Light!"
Boom!