CHAPTER 1020: CHAPTER 529: SACRIFICE

This was an unexpected candidate—the Judgment Chief of the Internal Affairs Court, responsible for capturing doomsday believers and purging human traitors, turned out to be a doomsday believer himself.

Rod instantly summoned his spiritual energy and entered a combat state.

But to his surprise, Lucian stood there frozen, unmoving, seemingly unaware that his true identity had been exposed, and didn’t even summon his spiritual energy to enter a combat state.

"Is this... me?" he voiced a soul-searching question, gazing blankly at Rod and the surrounding judgers.

Rod frowned, this didn’t seem like playing dumb, it was pointless.

Concerning the source issue of the doomsday believers, any suspicion would be subject to the most stringent scrutiny.

"Of course it’s you."

Rod replied briefly.

He stared intensely at him, but no spiritual energy ever arose from his soul, seemingly without any intent to resist.

Lucian was silent for a moment, his expression gradually shifting from confusion to clarity, and then he spoke in a deep voice.

"Lord Rod, the following is my personal feeling, please judge cautiously. I do not recall anything about this. In my memory, I followed the team throughout, fought alongside them, and observed all suspicious occurrences until we returned to the camp."

Rod nodded, he had thought of this as well.

The Archbishop Horus had also fallen for this trap in the past, causing much destruction unknowingly using his own identity, until during the Battle of Starry Sky City, his soul realized it was being invaded, fought back fiercely, and with Mephit’s help, gained control over his body again.

Lucian’s current situation was exactly identical to that of the Archbishop back then.

It’s just that back then Rod did not suspect Horus, otherwise, he would have already used the Book of the Past to revisit the scene and known everything.

But since such a possibility is high, vigilance cannot be relaxed.

Rod said solemnly, "Lord Lucian, you will be under strict control until the battle ends."

Lucian already had his hands outstretched, urged, "What are you all waiting for? Hurry up and tie me up! Where is your professionalism? Didn’t you remember the standard procedure during training?"

The judgers then stepped forward, using spiritual energy handcuffs to lock up Lucian’s hands and feet, suppressing his spiritual energy with a spiritual seal, and binding him with soul chains.

Under such circumstances, even the Fire Son could not break free.

As a First Level Combatant, Lucian absolutely could not.

"Very good."

Lucian praised.

"Well done, boys, remember, doomsday believers are always our enemies, whether it’s your father, mother, wife, husband, child, or even deeper relations, once their true identity is revealed, they should be dealt with as such."

He turned his head and said to Rod, "Lord Rod, I leave the monitoring task to you."

Rod nodded slightly.

"Please rest assured, after the battle, I will send you back to the Royal City immediately, and the Soul Church will purify your soul."

Lucian’s face turned serious.

"Lord Rod, please be extremely cautious, as I previously mentioned, Amon, notorious as the Evil Spirit of the Source, likely possesses a kind of parasitic ability similar to an evil spirit. My soul should already have been implanted with the evil seed, allowing it to manipulate me without my awareness. This is a very dangerous ability, posing a great threat to Trolian, and we have yet to grasp any means to defend against it."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"If the Royal City could obtain a complete specimen, it would be possible to develop a countermeasure against it. Unfortunately, Horus’s was incinerated during the confrontation, but I make a perfect specimen."

Rod’s brows furrowed, he had already guessed what Lucian wanted to say.

Sure enough, he heard Lucian calmly say.

"Please freeze me, this will ensure my state as much as possible. The Soul Masters of the Soul Church will not let us down."

Rod hesitated, "Will this be alright? Won’t it endanger your life?"

Lucian revealed a faint smile:

"Regarding Mephit’s ability, we have delved very deeply in our studies... She became your warrior because of the King’s command, young man, all I can say is, make good use of her."

Rod sensed an unusual undertone in Lucian’s words, suggesting that Mephit might be even more special than he imagined, indicating he should have a good talk with her later.

Later, they swiftly returned to the garrison. Lucian’s capture had surpassed everyone’s expectations, but upon understanding the insidious capabilities of the Ancient Evil Thought, everyone inhaled sharply and grew even more respectful of this esteemed Judgment Chief.

Mephit was brought over by Rod, and before freezing, she asked.

"This could damage your soul; I cannot guarantee your safety. Are you sure?"

Lucian answered briefly, "I am sure, even if it exhausts my life, I must not let the doomsday believers escape."

Mephit said no more, raised her right hand towards him, and chill spread from her fingertips, encircling his entire body with white mist, transforming the surrounding hundred yards into a frosty world in an instant.

Without spiritual energy protection, Lucian’s body quickly frosted over, covered in snow and ice.

In just ten seconds, Mephit lowered her hand.

"Alright, this is the state right before complete freezing, any further and his soul would die."