Melissa's temples throbbed with pain as she struggled to open her eyes, and the blurry scene gradually came into focus.
She felt the restraints on her body and the pain receptors immediately kicked in. She realized that she was bound tightly to a thick branch by a green vine.
And this branch was a part of a massive inverted tree. Melissa opened her eyes wide and saw green all around. This tree stretched and twisted everywhere, like a giant towering over the underground world.
"Where am I?" Melissa frowned and looked around in confusion, spotting Greg beside her who was similarly bound.
Melissa narrowed her eyes and saw a human-sized, emerald-green fruit nearby. At the top was a small opening. A girl with emerald hair was sleeping within it.
This is...
She frowned as she recalled that she and Greg had underestimated Valace. Perhaps Valace had been right. His ritual had bound even an evil god, and after burning the cursed undead body that the evil god had possessed, Valace had completely unleashed his own power.
He wasn't a knight at all but a taboo black magician.
Even teaming up with Greg wasn't enough to defeat Valace. Although Valace had just obtained a new body, it was easy for him to hold them off, and soon other Secret Rite Tower security personnel arrived.
The two were soon captured after making a big commotion.
Damn it... Melissa stamped her foot with all her might. She had been so close to victory. I'm really too weak. Perhaps I could have won if I was just a little stronger.
Melissa felt an overwhelming sense of self-reproach at having been captured by Valace.
Meanwhile, she could hear the voice that infuriated her.
Beneath this massive inverted tree, several very aged people, along with Valace in his new body, were gathered.
Melissa no longer struggled against her restraints and quietly listened to their conversation.
"Valace..." the only old man seated on a tree branch called out Valace's name. "I never imagined that you would one day be able to break the evil god's curse and come before me alive."
"Senior Barr, that's severely underestimating me. However, I indeed never imagined that Joseph's foolish daughter would be that stupid. He gave his all to pass on his will to his daughter, but she ended up burning the world with the most powerful flame and turning my cursed body to ashes.
"After so many years, soul transfer has finally been used." Valace revealed a contemptuous smirk, completely different from his usual appearance when he was seated on his knight's throne.
"Hmph," Asmodeous, the only female in the adjudication bureau, scoffed. "Now that the nobles under Ji Zhixiu as well as the followers of the Sun's Faith are revolting against the Central District central administration, why hasn't Secret Rite Tower acted yet?
"Don't you forget. We made a covenant previously," chided Asmodeus.
Valace shook his head. "If I really wanted to break the covenant, I would have come here right after being resurrected. Also, Senior Barr isn't blaming me either."
Valace shrugged, but his eyes were wandering, as if he was slightly fearful deep down.
Barr shook his head slowly and sighed. Valace had indeed been the most powerful black magician a thousand years ago. Even though he was cursed with a constantly decaying body, he had still established Secret Rite Tower and controlled all of the knights.
"That bookstore owner is 'that evil god,'" Valace said solemnly, his voice slightly quivering when he mentioned the bookstore owner.
While the adjudication bureau had such a conjecture, it had ultimately been just a guess, and a guess for the worst case. Valace's confirmation caused the entire air of this place to turn ice-cold.
That evil god who had nearly destroyed the entire Azir continent upon 'His' arrival... had finally awoken.
Although Valace had been resurrected, he was facing the most precarious situation ever. His arrogance seemed to have been worn down by centuries of imprisonment within that rotting body, but this hard-won ability to allow him to once again stand tall had to be held, regardless of the price.
"I suggest not to go against the bookstore owner," Valace suddenly said.
Barr knew Valace well. He was the most arrogant and rampant black magician several centuries ago. Now his arrogance seemed to have toned down severely, and there was obvious trepidation everytime the latter mentioned 'that evil god.' Even if that fear was well hidden, Barr could still see through him clearly.
This person couldn't be trusted. However, Barr had seen Valace's intentions of getting on the bookstore's good side via Joseph. And all of that currying favor was because of fear.
But regardless of all that toadying, it was useless. 'That evil god' would destroy everything; not because of hatred or purpose, but because no one could peek into 'His' existence. 'He' was simply an existence that trampled over humans as if they were mere ants, and it was certain that the bookstore owner would inadvertently destroy Norzin.
"Do you have any other suggestions then, Valace?" Barr asked impatiently. "It's not that we want to go against the bookstore owner. However, it's Ji Zhixiu and the Sun's Faith that are coming to us, and behind them stands Boss Lin."
"The Path of the Flaming Sword. I have a spy planted inside."
Everyone was stunned when they heard this. They hadn't expected that Valace, who had been severely immobile for so many years, had actually planted a spy in the Path of the Flaming Sword.
"I will provide the Path of the Flaming Sword with all the information about the bookstore owner and let them deal with him."
Barr nodded. Regardless of whether the Path of the Flaming Sword could handle it or not, the adjudication bureau would sit back and reap the benefits. After all, the entire Central District central administration was just an empty shell. The truly and only powerful core was the Witch of Trees. However, awakening her would require a lengthy ritual.
The Path of the Flaming Sword could buy the time needed.
As long as the Witch of Trees could intervene, at least...
At least 'that evil god' could be put back to sleep.
"Alright then, I'll leave this matter to you." Barr nodded. Then he glanced at the two tied up to the tree. "How do you plan on dealing with those two?"
Melissa was surprised. She had finished listening to the entirety of this discussion, but this bunch of ancients seemed to have no qualms about her eavesdropping.
"Keeping them alive would be useful. The girl has inherited Joseph's will of fire. With some training, she could be able to replicate Joseph's power."
This was a Supreme-rank power after all. Had Joseph still been alive, he would definitely be ranked among the top five in Azir.
"Not bad," Barr finally felt a little pleased about something. He turned to a fellow member of the adjudication bureau. "Cadila, you happened to have the power to tweak people's memories and control them."
"Got it, Lord Barr." Cadila understood and arrived at Melissa's side in no time.
Melissa gritted her teeth, and an immense flame instantly ignited within her body. This was a power that could supposedly burn everything, yet it was completely absorbed by the verdant vines in an instant.
Melissa was very surprised. Cadila sneered, then placed a hand on top of Melissa's head.
The red-haired girl struggled to no avail and desperately threw her head from side to side. Then, she saw the emerald green girl, who was lying silently in the fruit's center... open her eyes.
Melissa saw the white-as-snow eyes of the girl known as the Witch of the Tree looking straight back at her silently with a calm, cold smile on her lips, like the chilliest of winter days.