"Want to take a look?"

Travis put away the revolver and looked at another version of himself that had been knocked down.

The younger Travis got up, once again dug out the bullet from his head, and shook his head.

"Didn't you feel it? That intense life force was suddenly suppressed. I'm afraid Kaster is already dead. Going now would be unwise. Our opponent's strength seems beyond our imagination."

"Withdraw."

He finally said, putting his fallen cowboy hat back on his head.

"Then let's withdraw, brother. You're the spokesperson for death."

Travis raised his glass once again.

"Then, let's toast to today's scorching sun and the departed souls!"

Even though it was clearly the darkest of nights.

At the same time, Ethan had already walked back upstairs from the basement.

On the third floor.

Lily, who was decaying in Valentino's arms, had surprisingly come back to life.

Though her complexion wasn't rosy, it at least had the glow of a living person. Her gaze was vacant, but at that moment, she was calling out to Valentino: "Dad... Dad."

These two words were more destructive than anything else.

Valentino was immediately in tears, holding Lily and weeping bitterly.

Then, as if realizing something, he cradled Lily while bowing devoutly to Ethan.

"Praise be to my Lord! Praise the darkness. From this day forth, I, Valentino Esposito, will serve my Lord for life and dedicate everything to Him!"

Ethan nodded and said, "Take your daughter home to recover first."

However, Valentino suddenly looked up and said, "Divine Envoy, Vasini, I think the most important thing now is to unify all the powerful forces and have everyone serve the Lord!"

Valentino seemed to have truly embraced faith in Ethan and was eager to offer strategies.

"What do you mean?"

Ethan looked at him.

"Eliminate all the non-believers."

Valentino's eyes were filled with a murderous intent.

He might hate Kaster and Uttahan, but those hiding in the Sanctuary might also be his targets.

"I agree."

Vasini nodded slowly.

"Then go ahead and do it."

Ethan did not object.

A sufficiently united and centralized Royal Capital Mafia would indeed be more conducive to the spread of the Dark Savior's faith.

After Vasini and Valentino had left with their men.

Ethan once again took out the ascetic staff, looked at Kaster, who was trapped inside a bottle, shook it, and said, "How are you feeling now, a little better?"

"Sort of..."

Kaster was still very weak, but he seemed resigned, with a hint of conciliation in his tone.

"What about this?"

Ethan sprinkled a little more soil into the bottle.

Kaster grew some more vines, but obediently didn't break the bottle, so Ethan didn't activate the ascetic staff again.

"Praise you!"

"Good, now tell me, what other treasures have you hidden, where, and what's that big secret you mentioned?"

Ethan was already starting to tame the guy.

"Treasures, sure, they're all hidden in my previous altar. I can take you there." Kaster became quite cooperative.

"As for the secret... Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Saying this, Kaster's tone suddenly became eerie, as if it was a secret that caused death to those who heard it.

"Do you think I want to hear it?"

"Alright, since you must hear it, then..."

Kaster adopted a storytelling tone, as if lamenting something.

"The gods are dead."

He said softly.

"What?"

Ethan seemed not to understand for a moment.

"That's why I say, you might not want to know this secret at all, because it could very well shake your faith..."

He chuckled, seemingly eager to see what change would occur in Ethan.

"Then what?"

Yet Ethan showed no strong reaction, only asked a calm question.

"Wait, aren't you shocked? Aren't you afraid? If the gods are dead, then what is it that you believe in?"

Kaster grew anxious.

"A deity, a great Lord."

Ethan remained unfazed, his heart steady.

"No, no, listen to me. The gods have been dead since before the New Era, over a thousand years ago, or even if they exist, they're incomplete. There are no new gods. Do you understand what I mean?"

Kaster started to lose his composure.

"You're blaspheming my Lord."

"You..."

Kaster wanted to say something more, but the light of the ascetic staff flared up again, causing him to cry out in pain.

"I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore, I was wrong! I was wrong!"

"You just need to say what you know, and don't talk nonsense."

"Yes."

Kaster finally became compliant.

"Over a thousand years ago, an unimaginable event occurred, the gods fell, even the Sun God vanished and hasn't performed any miracles for years, the Earth Mother Goddess likewise, so the power of the earth has waned, causing those of us with the True God's Name to lose our former glory; otherwise, do you think you could catch me so easily?"

"Is that your secret?"

If that was the secret, it seemed to be lacking in value.

"That's part of the secret. The true secret is that the gods are dead, and their powers are scattered. Many are vying for these powers, seeking to become new gods, and I happen to know the whereabouts of one such power. I think, the one behind you must be interested."

One had to admit, Ethan was indeed interested in this secret.

Strictly speaking, the crown of the King of the Beihai that he obtained was a part of the powers, certainly boosting the force of his 'True God's Name.'

If he could acquire more powers, his strength would grow.

"Where is it?"

"This..."

Ethan immediately activated the ascetic staff again.

"I'll... I'll tell you. Come on, take me to the altar. It's not that I'm unwilling to tell, but this secret is also deduced from a tome. It might not be accurate. You can take the tome to show to the one behind you, and you can judge for yourselves, alright?"

Coincidentally, his altar contained other treasures and items that could be collected at once.

Ethan had him point out the location and moved through the night.

Eventually, they arrived at the Rotten Rat Bar.

With Kaster's guidance, Ethan found the hidden underground entrance behind the bar counter.

Looking into the deep, dark underground, Ethan hesitated for a moment, then said to his rear, "If I'm not out in twenty minutes, go find Joseph and Pupol and have them rescue me."

"Yes."

In the darkness, Anya, who had been silently following Ethan like a shadow, replied softly.

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