The Swindler and the False God - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

We left through the back door of the White Tower.

Xize had changed into a black cloak and left the silver cross on the table.

I glanced at it.

“You’re not bringing it?”

“If I do, they’ll recognize me.”

“I mean, aren’t you afraid of divine punishment?”

He closed the door.

“I am.”

“Then you’re still going?”

“Being afraid doesn’t mean I won’t do it.”

That didn’t sound like something a Saint would say.

It sounded like something a person would say.

The black market meeting was set for the old theater.

They used to perform miracle plays there.

Now the roof leaked, and peeling angels were still painted on the walls.

When I pushed the door open, the boss was sitting in the front row.

Noan was tied up on the stage.

His face was deathly pale, and his right hand was wrapped in thick cloth.

The moment he saw me, he cried out, “Sister!”

My knees almost gave out.

Xize caught my arm.

Then he quickly let go.

When the boss saw him, he froze for a second, then burst out laughing.

“Miya, you really did bring the Saint.”

I held up the key.

“Let him go.”

“Give me the key first.”

“Do you think this is my first day scamming people?”

The boss clapped his hands.

More than a dozen thugs emerged from the shadows around us.

There were also two men in White Tower uniforms.

I looked at Xize.

“Your tower’s pretty filthy too.”

“Mm.”

He looked at the two men.

“I know.”

The boss’s expression shifted slightly.

Xize said, “The sacred relic key can open the shrine, but there is no Holy Blood inside it.”

The boss stood up.

“What did you say?”

“Only account books.”

I looked at him too.

Xize hadn’t told me any of this in advance.

He went on, “For years, the White Tower has been falsifying miracles and taking atonement money from nobles. The account books are locked inside the shrine, and only the Saint can touch the key.”

The boss cursed.

“Then where’s the Holy Blood?”

“It was gone long ago.”

“You lied to me?”

Xize looked at him.

“You believed it.”

All of a sudden, I wanted to laugh.

A Saint telling lies was honestly kind of beautiful.

Furious, the boss raised a hand and ordered his men to attack.

Xize pulled me behind him.

He didn’t pray.

He didn’t chant the name of any god.

He drew a short sword hidden beneath his cloak, its blade gleaming in the dark like moonlight.

I said, “You know how to do that too?”

“The White Tower used to teach Saints how to protect themselves.”

“What about now?”

“Now they teach Saints how to bow their heads.”

He turned sideways to avoid a slash, then brought the sword hilt back into his attacker’s throat.

“I never learned.”

In the chaos, I rushed onto the stage and cut Noan’s ropes.

Noan was shaking from crying.

“Sister, my hand hurts.”

I pulled him into my arms.

“Cry when we get back.”

“What about now?”

“Now we run.”