Chapter 1557: Chapter 1557

The alley was a wreck under the moonlight, the twin moons having borne witness to the unfair fight that had just taken place.

Jenkins glanced at the chaotic alley, then back at Miss Windsor, who was still asleep. An idea took shape. He walked over to a spot near her, sat down, and placed his cat on the ground. Then, using [Real Illusion], he left an illusory double of himself in his place.

Leaving Chocolate to dutifully guard the illusion, he pulled on a black robe, altered his appearance, and went to deal with the cultist's 'corpse'.

A short while later, a faint stirring behind him signaled that Miss Windsor was awake. Jenkins had just finished gathering the severed corpse and the scattered gears, bearings, and nuts into a pile for easy cleanup. He retrieved a hotel room key from the body, then turned and spoke.

"I know you're awake. You don't have to feign sleep."

Miss Windsor finally opened her eyes. She checked her clothes, her gaze sweeping around alertly. The first thing she saw was the corpse, its head peeking out from the shadows of a side wall. Then she spotted Jenkins lying nearby, Chocolate faithfully at his side. Lastly, her eyes fell on the stranger standing in front of the shadows.

"Jenkins! What did you do to him?"

"He's asleep, just like you. He should be waking up in a few minutes."

Jenkins declared, then crouched to examine the marks on the corpse's clothes and the soles of its shoes. He rummaged through its pockets for loose change before finally standing and pointing at the body:

"You're the one who saved us?"

"Saved you? No, no. This man and I had our own score to settle; I was just here to kill him. As for you two, you have nothing to do with me. I'm not the kind of villain who goes around killing witnesses for the fun of it."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Regardless, you did save us. Please allow me to express my gratitude."

Miss Windsor pushed herself up, using the wall for support. She wanted to check on Jenkins, but she hesitated, unsure if the stranger would permit her to move freely.

"I don't know what you require, but if you ever run into trouble, please feel free to seek my assistance. I am the daughter of Duke Windsor..."

"If this is an attempt to recruit me, forget it. I have no interest in playing bodyguard for ordinary people."

Jenkins waved his hand dismissively and turned, heading for the other end of the alley. Miss Windsor didn't dare move until he had completely disappeared. At that exact moment, the Jenkins lying on the ground began to stir. He groaned, clutching his forehead, and his eyes darted around warily until they landed on Miss Windsor as she approached him.

"Oh, what happened? That... that body... I'm so glad you're safe! Who saved us? I think I must have passed out. Are you hurt? Are you alright?"

He patted his own head twice, trying to clear the fog. His eyes then fell on the dismembered corpse, and his expression filled with horror—a reaction that perfectly matched his current persona as someone "aware of the supernatural, but not deeply involved."

"A strange man... he's the one who saved us."

Miss Windsor answered, her voice trembling with lingering fear. Her hands were shaking; no matter how composed she tried to be, she was still only a young woman in her twenties. She looked at Jenkins, hoping for a few words of comfort, but the thought clearly hadn't occurred to him.

"Tonight has been..."

He trailed off, pulling the cat out of his pocket with one hand as it tried to climb in. Then, he took off his overcoat and draped it around Miss Windsor's shoulders before feigning curiosity and walking over to inspect the corpse.

"That strange man... has he left?"

Jenkins asked, probing for information about his own movements.

Miss Windsor nodded slightly, looking down at the coat draped over her.

"He told us to give the body to the Orthodox Church, that we shouldn't try to dispose of it ourselves."

"Oh, yes, of course. And... the bodies of your guards out on the street..."

His voice grew somber, filled with sorrow for the innocent victims.

"Through my connection to the Church, I'm aware of the hidden world that ordinary people don't see, but I never imagined anyone could be so cruel. The Righteous Gods will punish these cultists. The wicked will not escape justice."

"I'm sorry for pulling you into this."

Miss Windsor came up behind Jenkins and spoke softly, her eyes falling on the piled-up remains. The sight of mechanical parts mixed with flesh and blood at the severed wounds was utterly gruesome. After just one glance, a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her. She swayed, subconsciously leaning to one side until she was almost resting against Jenkins.

"Don't look at that. I've heard that only another Enchanter or someone with unshakable faith can directly gaze upon such... indescribable things. Look away. Take a deep breath and relax. Try to think of happier things, to push this memory away."

He spoke in a low voice, as if afraid to disturb the silent night. His whisper had a surprisingly soothing quality. Miss Windsor felt her thoughts drift with his words, and the pressure in her head began to ease.

"You really are a devout man."

She murmured, suddenly aware of her improper posture as she leaned against him. She carefully stood up straight.

"Jenkins, I have to say it again—I am so sorry for dragging you into this. I'll take care of the body. I will give it to the Church. I won't tell them you were here. You just left the Royal Palace, after all. The timing is too sensitive."

It was a considerate offer. She was worried that Jenkins, given his delicate political position, shouldn't be caught up in any extra trouble. This was exactly what Jenkins had hoped for. Ordinary people, unaware of the circumstances, might believe he had simply been knocked out. The Church, however, knew that he had gone toe-to-toe with a genuine demigod just a few days prior.

They wouldn't necessarily suspect him—Miss Windsor's description of the mysterious rescuer could easily be linked to the Believers of Lies, whose strange abilities were often more troublesome than those of a demigod. Still, Jenkins made it a point to avoid attracting any suspicion, so being left out of the official account was by far the better option.

"There's no need to apologize. This isn't something anyone could have foreseen. However, do you know who sent him? That's the important question. If you don't know the root of the problem, this sort of thing could happen again."

Jenkins wanted to know the cultist's objective.

"I have many enemies, and my father and the House of Windsor have their fair share of rivals. But don't worry. I've hired some... assistance. I just didn't have them with me tonight."

The reason, of course, was that she was meeting Jenkins, and she hadn't wanted to involve him in the supernatural world. Newest update provıded by N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

When asked about her enemies, however, she grew uncertain.

"I don't know who would go to the trouble of hiring an Enchanter to come after me. In all of Bel Diran, only a handful of families possess that kind of influence. I'll get to the bottom of it as soon as I can."