Secret Rite Tower.

Secret Rite Tower headquarters located in the Central District was like an impregnable fortress.

Secret Rite Tower was the second tallest building in Norzin and had a grandiose exterior with the purpose of displaying the glory of knights. Situated at the top of this building was Secret Rite Tower's council of elders.

Greg had only come here once previously, when he succeeded Vivian and was promoted to a Great Radiant Knight. He never imagined that he would be back here a second time so soon.

Greg followed the council of elders' guard into the elevator which started ascending. Through the elevator's transparent glass, amid the busy knights performing their respective duties, Greg caught a glimpse of red.

—Melissa.

Greg frowned. Perhaps he wouldn't ever return after this. If so, it was crucial that he conveyed the information to Melissa.

The council of elders had moved too fast. He had merely uncovered a clue and was taken away immediately.

Greg couldn't help but blame himself for his foolishness. Ever since Secret Rite Tower used Joseph to win over Boss Lin before ultimately letting him die, Greg had gradually lost his faith in the organization.

If even the most admirable knight couldn't entrust his back to his comrades, what was there to say about the knight spirit?

Greg was desperately trying to figure out how to convey the information he had to Melissa but was eventually at his wits’ end. If it were that simple, Secret Rite Tower would not have guarded the secret for so many years.

He could only pray deeply to Boss Lin. That existence was the only true god.

There was a chime as the elevator arrived at the top floor and the doors slowly opened, casting a metallic glare into Greg's eyes. Apart from Secret Rite Tower, there wasn't any other meeting room in Norzin that had such a full metal construction.

Greg used to think that the meaning of these metal was to showcase the nobility and power of knights, but now it seemed more like an armor for the aging authority wielders to hide in.

Greg gazed toward the circular silver conference table, which was located on a raised platform.

Seated at the table were three old men dressed in knight armor. The one sitting at the highest position was the founder of Secret Rite Tower—Valace Finidas.

Greg walked toward that old man, and the shifty guard who had escorted him here disappeared into the shadows.

Greg gave a respectful smile and immediately knelt before Valace.

Valace seemed to have a lifespan of more than a thousand years. As the supreme leader of the entire Secret Rite Tower, he basked in respect and was almost a part of Secret Rite Tower's glory.There seemed to be a mysterious charm about him at all times, and he possessed that knight spirit that countless others pursued. This was the man that had made Secret Rite Tower the largest organization in Norzin.

"I have come at your call, Sir Valace," Greg said sincerely.

Valace nodded. "My good knight, please rise."

Greg obediently got up and looked at Valace, the latter expressionless, like a thousand-year-old tortoise that had lived too long.

"Let's get straight to the point. You're investigating Darya's case, aren't you?"

Greg shuddered. He took a deep breath and nodded. He hadn't expected that Valace would even avoid beating around the bush. However, Greg didn't dare disobey, lest he be killed by the guards in the next moment. Thus, he answered truthfully.

"Yes, that's right."

"Mhmm." Valace sighed. Greg rarely ever noticed any other other expression in that old face of his.

"You are just like Vivian, but I expected as much since Vivian also looked into Darya's death.

"Darya's death was not a natural one."

While Greg had already anticipated it, he was still slightly surprised when he heard this.

He was already thoroughly disappointed with Secret Rite Tower, but hearing this sentence made Greg feel as if everything he knew about the world was crumbling.

"Because Darya, mother of Melissa, wife of Joseph, and Great Radiant Knight of Secret Rite Tower, chose to die."

Greg, who was lost in thought, immediately looked up in surprise upon hearing this.

However, Valace fell into a long silence. After some time passed, he finally said, "Now, let me tell you a story from long ago."

Valace let out a long sigh and began. "Long ago, when humans on the Azir continent were nothing more than a food source for monstrous elves, an evil god once descended."

Greg's breath became heavy, and a kind of terrible anticipation started to fill his heart.

"That evil god destroyed the entire era of elves, whereas humans were able to survive under the protection of the Primordial Witch. Humanity was incredibly fortunate and achieved their own success, but in our era, we all know that the evil god only fell asleep and hasn't yet truly disappeared."

Valace's voice was raspy, and each mention of the evil god made Greg shudder.

"If the evil god wasn't removed, then the future of humanity will also be destroyed like those elves. So, about a thousand years ago, when I was still young, I sought a group of knights and decided to kill the evil god to safeguard the future of humanity.

"I wasn't the strongest among my compatriots, but I was both the luckiest and unluckiest one. My compatriots and I were corrupted by that evil god during the process of slaying it, and all my compatriots died, while I got this sad, decaying body that aged but not dying.""!!!"

"Nevertheless, I inherited their spirit and established Secret Rite Tower. This is the origin of our very organization."

Greg couldn't help but shiver when he heard the words, 'that evil god,' and the image of a young man who exuded the scent of books, calm, powerful, and terrifying, appeared in his mind.

As if that image resonated with the evil god that Valace spoke of.

Greg asked with a trembling voice, "Did you see that evil god?"

After hearing this, Valace actually laughed. Laughter came from his decaying mouth even though his lips hadn't moved at all.

"No, we didn't even see its shadow. We were completely wiped out."

Greg: ....

Although Valace had never seen the evil god and couldn't confirm if it was Boss Lin, Greg quickly snapped out of the story and asked with a frown, "So... what does this have to do with the Great Radiant Knight Darya?"

"The original purpose and mission of Secret Rite Tower has never once changed," said Valace bitterly. "Our goal is to defeat the evil god, and the person among us most likely to defeat the evil god is Joseph.

"This wasn't just understood by you and me, but Darya as well. However, after marrying Darya, Joseph began to slack off. He neglected justice and the rules of knights.

"Darya was just a pawn we arranged to ensure that Joseph's excellent bloodline would be passed down, but she had a serious impact on Joseph's true mission."

Greg stared at the old man incredulously.

"So, she had to die," Valace said.

"Just for this reason?" Greg was dumbfounded.

"Yes, and before she died, I spoke with her and told her the true purpose of Secret Rite Tower, so she chose to die voluntarily."

Greg suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Although this truth was shocking, he still had many doubts.

If it were for the sake of humanity's future, as well as her duty as a wife, mother, and Great Radiant Knight, perhaps Darya was indeed informed of her death in advance of her death.

But what Greg really found hard to believe was—

"If Knight Joseph was the great hope of Secret Rite Tower and humanity, why did Tower abandon him!" Greg asked furiously.

"Because Melissa is also excellent, and Joseph was close to his limit, yet he still falls far short," replied Valace without a hint of emotion.

"Nonsense, you were clearly trying to gain favor with Boss Lin!" Greg's anger overwhelmed him, and he forgot himself for a moment. He felt that injustice for Darya and Joseph.

"And you knew that Boss Lin is that evil god, right?" Greg growled through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, Valace's eyes widened as he stared at Greg in disbelief.