The night was deep.

Southern Royal Capital District.

64 Fengcui Avenue.

Of course, many old residents of the South District prefer to call this place—

Sanctuary.

The so-called Sanctuary is actually an old church.

The year it was built can be traced back to when the Royal Capital was first established.

Back then, the Kingdom was newly founded, and the Royal Capital was developing rapidly, with a large influx of immigrants from the Old Continent.

A majority of these people came from the Fengcui Region.

They settled together in the South District.

At the time, the Kingdom's religious policies were not yet firmly established. Although a major war was fought against the Sun God Sect during the founding of the nation, the belief in the Sun God Sect was not banned.

Many Fengcui people were devout followers of the Sun God Sect, so after settling, they immediately raised funds to build a church.

This became the predecessor to the Sanctuary.

Later, the Kingdom began to crack down on the Sun God Sect until it was completely banned, forcing many to convert, and the church was originally slated for demolition.

However, considering public sentiment, it was preserved, with all elements related to the Sun God Sect removed, and it once served as the administrative office of the Eastern Royal Capital District.

After more years passed, as the Royal Capital continued to expand, this place gradually became abandoned, again facing the risk of demolition.

At this time, the Martinos Clan stepped forward and purchased the building, slightly renovating it to become their family's office.

As the status of the Martinos Clan gradually rose among the various Mafia families in the South District, this place gained new significance for the Royal Capital Mafia.

It became their Sanctuary.

To occupy this building meant a family's leadership of the Mafia, making them the leader of the entire Mafia Clan alliance.

In addition, the Sanctuary holds another meaning: it is the place of prayer for the Royal Capital Mafia.

Although the Sun God Sect has been banned, people always find a spiritual refuge.

The Royal Capital Mafia had long abandoned the Sun God faith, having revered violence and darkness from early on.

There is a saying that the origin of the Destruction God's True Name began right here in the Royal Capital.

The first True Name of Destruction God was held by the head of the Martinos Clan.

The authenticity of this claim remains to be verified, but it is certain that the Mafia clans of the Royal Capital devoutly believe in violence and darkness.

They call it the Dark Savior.

"Great Lord, please hear the prayers of your most faithful servant, beseeching you to grant me the most powerful strength, I request you to bestow upon me the fiercest glory, I will carry your power, your glory, spreading your name and your teachings on every path to the Heavenly Kingdom, allowing the flowers of darkness to bloom in every corner."

"Amen."

The prayer ended.

Vasini solemnly made a gesture of the dark triangle, then slowly opened his eyes.

Only a few lights were lit in the Sanctuary, making it extremely dim, to the extent that the darkness enshrined in the deepest part seemed denser.

The object of worship by the Royal Capital Mafia, the Dark Savior, has no form, not even a statue.

Initially, it was likely to prevent being outlawed by the Kingdom; later, it gradually turned into the belief that the Dark Savior is formless and everywhere, and darkness is its embodiment, so there is no need for a statue; wherever there is darkness, there He resides.

Vasini was feeling quite fatigued.

He sat back in the throne belonging to him in the Sanctuary, symbolizing the family leader and the leader of the entire Royal Capital Mafia.

But now he felt this symbol was too heavy, so heavy that it suffocated him completely.

Just today, the family lost another piece of territory.

Those below were already in panic.

But Vasini felt somewhat powerless.

Except for coming here to pray.

The forces of those Old Continent immigrants were growing stronger; they were younger, more energetic, as they had nothing to lose.

In comparison, the Mafias rooted in the Royal Capital for nearly a hundred years had grown accustomed to a life of ease; in past years, their fathers might have been fierce and would risk everything for family honor.

But today, very few uphold this belief.

Everyone fights for themselves, and the so-called Mafia alliance is little more than an empty name now; rather than fighting, it's more practical to discuss business.

Those families who turned coat earlier were drawn over just so.

The others promised unchanged business, shared benefits, and that sufficed.

Vasini felt anger, but in truth, he could accomplish nothing; his time at the top was too short, and if given more time, everything might be different.

But the world rotates not by individual will.

Just like three years ago, when he was still gallivanting at sea, indulgent in happy times, a telegram abruptly summoned him back to the family.

His father had died, succumbing to acute heart disease, and with only female relatives left, he had to return to inherit everything.

For three years, he diligently strived to maintain the family's prestige.

But...

Perhaps it truly is the end of the Mafia.

This familial way of blood bond no longer suffices to survive in the current era.

Vasini couldn't help but pull out a cigarette, lighting and smoking it in the dark.

In these three years, his life was almost exclusively family business; the only ways to relieve stress were smoking and prayer.

Before, he scoffed at the so-called Dark Savior, yet now, the only entity he could turn to was this elusive darkness.

After finishing the cigarette, he extinguished it in the ashtray, then began his final prayer.

"Great Savior, please hear..."

Midnight.

Aphrodisia Hotel.

Ethan suddenly awoke from sleep.

For just at that moment, he seemed to hear something.

It seemed like someone was praying beside his ear, with utmost devotion.

He cautiously observed the surroundings, holding onto the ebony, trying not to make a sound.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, except for the distant sound of sirens occasionally piercing the night.

His perception told him there was no issue.

There was no one else in the room.

His grip on the gun didn't loosen, his mind half-immersed in the 'True God's Name.'

If there was no problem with the surroundings, then perhaps the source was within himself.

As he immersed into the 'True God's Name,' connecting all true names, including the Crown of the King of the Beihai.

He heard the voice again.

"...please grant me your greatest strength, and I will return with your grandest prosperity, great Dark Savior, I praise your name, I swear with my soul, my name, my body, my all, I will serve you for life, merely requesting you to glance my way!"

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