The imperial capital ushered in the New Year in an atmosphere of unease and anxiety.

The war between the Imperial army and the White Land invaders in the Mirror Lake Territory is on the verge of breaking out, and the daily flow of messengers and convoys between the imperial capital and the front line is constantly reminding people that an unprecedented great war is around them.

In such an atmosphere, it was the responsibility of Prince Alcott and Cardinal Francis to calm the emotions of the people, and on the occasion of the New Year, the Church also began to celebrate the festival in order to clear the gloom from the hearts of the people. However, despite the efforts of the churches to liven up the festive atmosphere, because the situation is really worrying, this New Year is after all, there is a lot less laughter than in the past.

Just when everyone could only force a smile in anxiety, the New Year arrived as scheduled.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, the people of the imperial capital have taken to the snowy streets to temporarily put aside their worries and welcome the new year.

"May the gods of heaven soothe the unhappiness of your old year, the archangels will prepare everything for your new year, the nine Holy Spirits will bring you victory in the coming year, and the God of Hull will give you eternal peace!"

In front of the Basilica of Hadith, Chief Cardinal Francis stood on a high platform and offered New Year's prayers to the gathered faithful. In times of crisis, people are always very religious, and even if the prayers have not changed much from previous years, they are more reverently clasped hands in front of their chests and prayed with the cardinal.

"All-knowing and all-powerful God, everything is in your hands, I pray to you as a sacrifice of thanksgiving, so that I may find my true self in the illusory world. Teach me and give me the faith, courage, heart, and strength to act. All myths can be dispelled with your name. All spiritual battles in my heart will be victorious by your power, and give me peace and a shield of faith, and I will find the way to heaven under your guidance!"

The square in front of the church is almost filled with a sea of people, and even the falling snowflakes can't find a single gap to fall. This is a grand event that will only have on Chinese New Year's Eve, and it is also the most direct manifestation of people's wishes.

Cardinal Francis' eloquence was quite good, and with careful preparation, the New Year's prayer was quite successful, at least on this night, the people let go of their uneasiness and found peace of mind because of the protection of the gods.

However, the more peaceful and peaceful it is, the more it is the time when the evil is about to move.

Shaun mingled in the crowd of people who came to church for New Year's prayers, wrapped in a heavy black wool coat, as if he was deliberately trying to isolate himself from others, and if it weren't for the festive atmosphere that attracted too much attention, people would have noticed more of the man's weirdness.

It's not a strange thing to wrap yourself tightly on such a snowy day, but if a person just wanders aimlessly on the streets on Chinese New Year's Eve empty-handed, it will inevitably attract the attention of some guards.

The guards of the church, of course, noticed the man, and they stared at Sean closely, but did not take it lightly. Despite the suspicion, the guards could not arrest a person for being suspicious, especially in a church square full of citizens, and any fight could injure a large number of innocent people.

The guards were also experienced in dealing with such situations, and they sent a man to squeeze into the crowd and walk towards Sean. If Sean deliberately avoids the guards at this time, then it means that there is indeed a problem with this man, and if he does not avoid it and let the guards catch up with him, then the well-trained guards will naturally have a way to make the other party obedient after getting close.

However, after all, this is the crowd on Chinese New Year's Eve, so crowded that not even a single snowflake can fall, even if the guards are good, it is still quite difficult to get to Sean's side.

Sean didn't pay any attention to the guard's actions at all, he just stared at Francis on the high platform, and walked towards the other party with slightly stiff legs and feet. His steps were stiff, as if his legs and feet were just parts of a scarecrow, and they only bobbed back and forth mechanically, and Sean's gaze was also very strange, obviously always focused on Francis's body, but there was no focus, and his sloppy gaze seemed to have no god at all.

The guard realized that the man was approaching the Chief Cardinal, and his vigilance suddenly increased, and his years of experience told him that the man wrapped in a black coat might not just "look suspicious", but be a real threat.

"Everyone, get down!"

After judging that this man would pose a threat to the Chief Cardinal's safety, the guard shouted loudly, no longer caring about the chaos that might be caused. At the same time, hearing the shouts of his companions, the guards near the high platform where the Franciscans stood immediately raised their magic crossbows and aimed them at Sean.

The citizens of the square were frightened and fled when they saw this posture, perhaps the future that Francis had preached to them was a good future, but these citizens were not willing to give their lives for the sake of the future.

The other citizens all bowed their heads and bent over, fleeing in all directions, only Sean was still struggling to make his way to the high platform, and the goal was suddenly much more obvious. Without hesitation, the guard quickly pulled the trigger, and several crossbow arrows with magical flames shot into Sean's chest with precision.

Several church deacons hurriedly ran up to the high platform and carried Francis back into the church. As soon as the guards fired, they realized that this was an assassination of the Chief Cardinal, and that they had to be most cautious in order to avoid other Assassins waiting in the shadows.

However, Francis, who was protected by everyone, did not panic. As the Chief Cardinal, although his divine skills are not as powerful as those of Archbishop Benedict, he is not weak overall, and in the face of ordinary assassinations, the Chief Cardinal's own strength can cope with it.

Of course, no one else would have dared to take the risk of leaving the Chief Cardinal alone to face the Assassins.

After expelling the crowd from the square, the guards cautiously approached Sean's body to check the man's identity and what he was carrying.

Sean carries a large number of unstable magic crystals on his body, and after a certain amount of magic is removed, these things may have a violent magic reaction, causing a large explosion, and the power of the explosion is enough to blow up the entire church square.

"It seems that it will be a big case, but it is doing it at this time. ”

Rockefeller Nelson, the sheriff in charge of guarding the chief cardinal, had a very bad face, although the chief cardinal was safe and sound, but in such an incident, as the sheriff of the region, it is absolutely his responsibility to do so, if he can't catch the mastermind behind the assassination of the chief cardinal, then losing the position of sheriff is already a very light punishment for him.

He looked around the crowd around the square, and although these panicked citizens had been evacuated, they were not allowed to leave, knowing that they could only go home after the guards had finished questioning. Of course, in the midst of the chaos, there may have been some people who had escaped the control of the garrison, especially those with ulterior motives, and Rockefeller could only hope that some of them would be caught.

While the guards of the garrison were questioning the citizens one by one, a carriage that seemed to be able to detect the noble status of the other party passed through the garrison without any scruples and drove into the square.

Rockefeller immediately recognized the words on the carriage and stepped on a snow-white horse, the emblem of the Tamska family, one of the six dukes.

The sheriff, whose head had grown larger, stepped forward, even if he was very unwilling, and now he had to accept the great man's questioning.

The carriage stopped in front of Rockefeller, but no one got down from the carriage, but the butler-like man who was accompanying the carriage stepped forward, held his head high, and said to Rockefeller condescendingly: "Miss Michelia Tamska is the sister of Lord Louis Timska, Duke of Snowlon, in the carriage in front of you." My master is deeply puzzled and concerned about the disturbance that has just taken place here, and I would like you to tell me what has happened. ”

Rockefeller pursed his lips, trying to suppress the dissatisfaction in his heart. As a native of the Imperial Capital, he had a natural sense of superiority over those who came from other territories within the empire, and at this moment, he was questioned by the other party with such a condescending attitude and domineering tone, of course, he held a breath in his stomach.

"Rest assured, Miss Michelia, that although something a little regrettable has happened here, our garrison has brought the situation under control and will not endanger Miss's safety. ”

The butler hung out of the corner of his eye, and did not react to Rockefeller's assurances. He glanced at Sean's corpse on the ground, and continued to ask: "Since there is no security problem, then what explanation does Your Excellency have for this corpse? Therefore, please let me know the details truthfully. ”

The corners of Rockefeller's mouth twitched, what he was most afraid of was that the other party would move out of Arnold, after all, Arnold, who is now in charge of the defense of the imperial capital, is the top boss of these sheriffs, and Rockefeller definitely can't afford to offend such a big man.

Sighing, Rockefeller had no choice but to tell the other party everything about it.

Obviously he was just a domestic servant, but Rockefeller had to treat each other like his boss, which made the sheriff's resentment more and more depressed.

"Understood. The butler nodded, "I will tell my master truthfully, then, I wish you to solve the case as soon as possible and take your leave." ”

The carriage turned around and slowly moved out of Rockefeller's line of sight, until at last Miss Michelia did not bother to get out of the carriage and say a word to a small sheriff.

And after dealing with the big man of the Tamska family, there is another big man that Rockefeller has to face waiting for his explanation.

Chief Cardinal Francis' attitude was obviously much better than that of the high-spirited butler, and he meekly soothed the sweaty Rockefeller, and whether they were sincere or not, those comforting words made the sheriff much more relaxed.

"Although the suspect has been killed, this incident is by no means a single person, and I am afraid that other assassins will have to wait for the opportunity. We'll be increasing security in this area, and if you need it, we can send a garrison dedicated to your safety. ”

"That's so much appreciated. Francis smiled slightly, his chubby face now relieved Rockefeller, "Please also take care of the guards, if necessary, the Church is ready to lend a helping hand to the guards who have made sacrifices." ”

Francis' amiable attitude made Rockefeller, who was not a faithful believer, feel a little reverent.

"Thanksgiving. I'll take my leave. ”

Looking at the back of Rockefeller's departure, Francis's smile faded away, and the kind gaze in his eyes changed to cold scrutiny.

"Go check what's going on. ”

He said to the shadows with a sideways face.

"It is the duty of those of us who serve the Archangels to destroy evil. ”