Arthur's voice was filled with surprise and shock.
Because of her hidden identity, when Ms. Yula arrived at the top of the 'Oriental,' she had contemplated over a dozen scenarios of eting Arthur - ranging from extre caution, to disdain, even to murderous intent. Of course, surprise and shock would not be absent.
But never this level of surprise and shock.
It was a bit...
Over the top!
It was as if she were acting - ant to convey a sorrowful smile, but with too much force, it turned into a duck's quack!
However, Ms. Yula pushed her doubts to the back of her mind, and proceeded with the question she had prepared.
"Are you surprised by my identity?"
As she said this, the lady approached Arthur.
Her gaze swept over Arthur's face and deanor, which had beco increasingly striking after the significant enhancent of his Physique and Spirituality.
The enhanced Physique made Arthur appear healthy and full of vitality.
While the enhanced Spirituality enveloped Arthur in an aura of mystery.
The forr stirred the instincts of surrounding creatures.
The latter confused the minds of surrounding creatures.
When both Physique and Spirituality passed the threshold of an Ascend Stepper, Arthur was like a constant charm spell, making one unconsciously indulge in it.
Ms. Yula was no exception.
Initially, Ms. Yula only wanted to use her gaze to seek more clues.
But as she watched, she thought Arthur...
slled so good!
The sensation was a bit ticklish.
She squird, as if hundreds of claws were scratching at her heart.
Then, it was even itchier, like the humidity of returning south.
Arthur acted as if he noticed nothing, placing the "Record of Night Travels" down, then stood up and answered with a serious expression.
"Of course, I'm surprised!
I never thought that you would be the High Priest of the Pain Church."
As Arthur spoke, it was as if he had figured it all out.
"I was wondering why things were so coincidental.
Now it seems it was all your layout.
Ms. Yula, you truly surprised ."
As he said this, appreciation erged in Arthur's eyes as he looked at Ms. Yula.
Facing this admiration, Ms. Yula found it extrely gratifying.
All of this was, of course, the result of her efforts.
Sothing she had fought hard to attain.
But...
She was not the High Priest.
'Not yet!
It will definitely be mine later!
Definitely!'
The lady consoled herself, then felt a bit curious.
"Why do you think I am the High Priest of the Pain Church?"
Ms. Yula did not hide her curiosity as she blinked while asking.
It was definitely not just an act of cuteness.
There was also...
temptation.
Arthur unwittingly attracted the lady.
The pleasant aroma made the lady waver in her thoughts, filled with fanciful desires and yearnings.
Yet Arthur appeared oblivious, maintaining a serious deanor.
"Because, I can sense your strength.
Besides...
I felt a hint of 'divine' breath.
This breath is very similar to that of an Old Friend of mine, but far more powerful.
So, it must be that lady who bestowed Divine Grace.
If you, strong and graced by divinity, are not the High Priest of the Pain Church, I really can't think of who else it could be."
As Arthur spoke, he spread his hands.
Ms. Yula listened to Arthur's analysis.
She thought it made a lot of sense.
She was so powerful and blessed with Divine Grace; if she wasn't the High Priest of the Pain Church, then who else could be?
That woman?
No!
It should have been !
It was supposed to be !
The thought that crept up from the bottom of her heart incited the already unwilling lady — the patience she had maintained in the face of this slight indignation seed like a joke.
Like fragile paper, it shattered with a single hit.
However, on the surface, the lady still maintained her smile.
"You guessed wrong,
I am just a Priest of Suffering.
The High Priest is soone else, and I am here on their behalf — tonight, the seniors of our church will negotiate with you."
Yula relayed the words of the High Priest.
Arthur appeared shocked, seeming not to believe that Yula was not the High Priest of the Pain Church, and this act only further pricked the lady's heart.
More importantly, the words of Arthur that followed —
"Is that so?
What a surprise!
But now I am even more looking forward to eting the others within the Pain Church. If soone like you is just a priest, the elegance of the others must be truly admirable.
Moreover, I am filled with confidence in completely eradicating the Inland River Cult.
This ti, we will undoubtedly succeed.
Afterward, without the Inland River Cult's interference, the church you belong to will inevitably witness staggering developnt under the leadership of that High Priest."
While Arthur's Skill "Bluff" flickered, Yula saw sincerity.
It was real.
That was what Arthur truly believed.
But the more genuine he seed, the more it pained Yula's heart.
Each sentence felt like a small knife stabbing at her heart.
By the ti she heard Arthur's last remark about the church undergoing staggering developnt under the leadership of that High Priest, the woman's hands clenched into fists.
In that mont, the woman made up her mind.
However, on the surface, the woman still smiled and said,
"Of course!"
"I am looking forward to our eting tonight."
Arthur offered a smile.
After a slight bow, Yula quickly turned and left.
She soon disappeared down the stairs.
Once Yula was truly gone, Arthur lay back in his chair, turning his gaze to the other side — Marinda stood there with arms crossed and a half-smiling, half-smirking expression, puffing on her pipe.
When Marinda caught Arthur's gaze, she snorted softly.
"You rogue!"
"Thanks for the complint," Arthur replied, grinning.
The woman then flipped him off.
Imdiately after, the woman approached Arthur and scrutinized him closely.
Then, sniffing the air around him.
It seed she was confirming sothing.
In her deep blue eyes, a hint of shock surfaced, followed by a sense of understanding, then urgency and excitent.
Arthur enjoyed watching Marinda's eyes change expressions as though she was performing a quick change of masks.
Marinda snorted once more.
"Done with pretending?"
His question was out of the blue, but Arthur knew what it ant.
The significant increase in Physique and Spirituality couldn't possibly escape Marinda, who saw him almost every day.
Of course, Arthur was prepared for this —
"Had a little accident, the Prop got damaged," he said.
Arthur didn't elaborate on what the accident was, trusting that Marinda would guess.
Indeed, she did.
"You always get up to this kind of thing. The Pain Church is not so straightforward," Marinda remarked, blowing out a ring of smoke, then pulling out a silver cufflink and tossing it to Arthur, saying, "Put this on, don't flaunt yourself like a peacock in heat, showing off everywhere!"
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