Chapter 102: St. Marian is Swept by the Cult
Everything proceeded amidst excited shouts.
Everything proceeded in silence.
...
The countless bats hidden in the corners of the castle became the objects of the students' fervent search.
Whether they were bats released by the Vampire Count or bats that originally existed in the castle.
Even DemiDevimon, which looked like a bat, almost became a target.
Dark Demon took the candy bag out of that classroom again and followed the direction the bats had flown earlier.
As the candy in the bag dwindled, he managed to find a few bats.
But after eliminating the bats, nothing dropped.
"Looks like my luck isn't as good as I thought?"
Around ten o'clock, Dark Demon retreated from the eighth floor to the seventh.
Then, at ten-twenty, he retreated from the seventh floor to the sixth.
By ten-forty, he was already back on the fifth floor.
Nearly an hour had passed since the Vampire Count's self-destruction, but there seemed to be no news of anyone finding that "special bat."
This was actually quite difficult to understand given the students' frenzied search.
"It couldn't have escaped into some secret passage, could it?"
Dark Demon couldn't help muttering.
...
The Cult's actions were orderly.
Except for Cuttlefish and Pufferfish who were still wandering, the other fourteen cult members had all made gains.
Although not everyone could successfully capture the quota of three couples, this quota itself was actually a form of insurance.
Because the living sacrifice for the All Saints' Adoration truly only required seven couples.
The others were just backups in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Human emotions are very subtle and difficult to understand.
Who knew if two people who originally had genuine feelings would suddenly cease to be so genuine at a certain juncture.
Or perhaps what looked like very genuine feelings was actually just an act, true to life?
The cult members couldn't afford to gamble.
So they set a target more than three times the required amount, trying to reduce the probability of failure through quantity.
The appearance of the "Vampire Treasure" brought them convenience, but also trouble.
People began to appear at the entrances of various secret passages.
But they successfully avoided those risks and finally sent the captured couples into the temple.
Eleven o'clock sharp.
All members except Cuttlefish and Pufferfish had returned to the temple.
They had captured a total of sixteen couples, more than double the actual target.
These couples were all tied back-to-back in pairs.
All their card cases had been confiscated, and their House Cards, which would reveal their location, had all been thrown outside the secret passage.
The Cult hadn't gagged them, but it seemed they had discovered that cursing was futile, and those who had been shouting randomly had stopped.
A full sixteen couples, thirty-two people.
They were temporarily crammed into a corner of the temple, able to see the snow-white, delicate goddess statue in the temple that looked almost alive. Many people were captivated by the statue, becoming silent as if their souls had been sucked away.
If only that statue existed here, it might somewhat evoke a sense of holiness.
However, the seafood-themed leather suits revealed after the cult members removed their black robes were too bizarre, exuding an evil aura everywhere.
A clear-headed girl couldn't help but ask the only female in the cult—Miss Moray Eel; she had heard Miss Moray Eel's voice before.
"Please, may I ask, what will you do with us?"
"You will become living sacrifices!"
Miss Moray Eel's voice, altered, was as unsettling as an old witch's.
But the girl's eyes suddenly widened: "Betty, it really is you!"
"Who is Betty? You must have mistaken me for someone else," Miss Moray Eel said nonchalantly.
The girl named "Jenny" broke down on the spot: "Betty, you can't do this to me! We are friends!"
Miss Moray Eel still said nonchalantly, "Yes, there are indeed women in this world who would steal their best friend's man."
Miss Jenny's expression froze, and it took her a long time to squeeze out a sentence: "He likes me too."
"Is that so?" Miss Moray Eel let out an unsettling laugh, "So I captured you both!"
"Hehehe, it's all over, Jenny!"
"No!"
...
Outside the secret passage.
Cuttlefish and Pufferfish, having failed multiple times, were thoroughly exasperated.
Having failed to capture even a single couple, they had no face to return to the temple, so even when the agreed-upon time arrived, they were still loitering outside.
They looked very much like middle-aged men who, after being laid off, pretended they still had jobs and sat in parks to kill time.
Suddenly, Cuttlefish grabbed Pufferfish and pulled him into a corner.
Just as Pufferfish was wondering, two first-year students appeared outside the secret passage.
After Virt had brought Robert here, as if having made a great resolution, he revealed his secret: "It's like this, actually, I've been hiding something from you!"
Robert was stunned for a moment, but then said excitedly, "I know, and I've been hiding something from you too!"
"Huh?" Virt was dumbfounded.
Robert, however, babbled on, "I knew it, we're best friends, how could you keep hiding it from me! Tell me, let's say it together!"
Virt: "Oh, um, why don't you go first?"
Robert: "Of course, you go first. My secret is built upon your secret."
Virt said helplessly, "Then I'll go first. Actually, I found a secret passage here. Look, it's been so long and no one has found that special bat. I suspect it went into the secret passage."
Robert, after waiting for a moment, couldn't help but frown; "Just a secret passage?"
Virt said in surprise, "What do you mean just a secret passage? This is my biggest secret. Anyway, I said it, what about yours?"
Robert: "Ah, this, actually I don't have any secrets."
Virt: "...Forget it, do you think we should go into the secret passage to look? I really want to surpass Dark Demon!"
Robert: "Of course, I'll help you!"
...
Cuttlefish, hiding in the corner, his gaze profound, suddenly whispered to Pufferfish, "Look, don't those two look very suitable?"
Pufferfish was completely confused: "What's very suitable?"
Cuttlefish's tone carried a hint of gloom and delight: "Let's go catch them. Their feelings must be great!"
...
A wisp of smoke silently spread.
Virt and Robert were still talking.
Being too focused on the word "secret," neither of them noticed anything unusual.
That wisp of smoke was inhaled by them separately.
A dozen seconds later, Robert suddenly leaned against the wall, his face full of bewilderment, and asked; "What's going on? I feel a bit dizzy."
Virt rubbed his forehead forcefully and also said, "I'm a bit dizzy too. Is it because I'm too tired?"
...
...
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