The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 49

After witnessing supernatural powers firsthand, Paul abandoned any thought of deception. He led Ciel directly to Blackwater Tavern.

Even at midday, Blackwater Tavern was noisy and full of activity. But the moment the newsboy cap-wearing man and Ciel entered, the entire tavern fell silent, eyes turning toward them.

At the center of the gathering, Solari’s expression remained calm, though the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

“Paul, come here.” Solari slowly tilted his head upward and spoke to Paul.

Paul’s legs trembled, and he remained frozen in place. Even with Solari’s command, he didn’t dare to budge.

“Paul, what the hell are you doing? The boss is calling you over!” One of the henchmen grabbed a bottle, ready to step forward, but the next moment, Paul raised his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

“B-Boss…” Paul’s expression was worse than crying. His voice trembled. “Something… is strangling me…”

“Clear the room. Call Thomas down.” Ciel calmly watched the two men. “Your ritual is all wrong.”

At the mention of the word “ritual,” Solari’s pupils shrank. He quickly waved his hand, signaling the others to leave the tavern.

Within half a minute, the entire place was emptied, leaving only Solari, Ciel, and the trembling newsboy-capped man.

“C-Can I leave?” Paul stammered.

“Go ahead.” Ciel casually sat down.

Paul slowly edged his way out of the tavern. The moment he felt the sunlight on his skin, an immense sense of relief flooded him.

But in the next instant, his body lurched forward, and his head smashed into the ground—once, twice, three times—like a man gone mad. He kept slamming his skull into the pavement until his entire face was a mangled mess of broken bones, brain matter, and blood, blending into the black stone.

Each time Paul’s skull struck the ground, Solari’s facial muscles twitched involuntarily. When Paul had finally gone completely still, Ciel smiled.

“How clumsy of him, falling like that.”

A chill unlike any other crawled up Solari’s spine.

The demon in front of him, who killed without hesitation, was even more ruthless than he was… and she was a transcendent.

How had they chosen this target? Had Thomas misjudged her too?

He didn’t even dare to draw his gun. He had no idea what her abilities were, nor whether he would be the one to die if he pulled the trigger.

Solari could only wait in silence for Thomas to come downstairs.

Outside, Paul’s corpse had already been dragged away by the lackeys. A minute later, Thomas descended from the upper floor of the tavern. The moment he saw the scene before him, his eyes widened.

There, sitting in one of the tavern’s seats, was a young girl. And standing beside her was a shadow—dark and indistinct.

A transcendent…

Thomas swallowed hard, hesitating mid-step.

This was his first time seeing a living transcendent.

And it just so happened to be the very target he had selected for Solari to kill.

In Thomas’s eyes, the terrifying black shadow flickered and shifted, moving step by step toward Solari, who had no idea what was happening.

The shadow extended one hand, pointing toward Solari, while Ciel turned her gaze to Thomas and gave a slight nod in Solari’s direction.

She knows my ability…

Thomas broke into a cold sweat. He had clearly picked the wrong person to target. But thankfully, nothing had happened yet… If he got on his knees now, would she forgive him?

“Solari, stay calm. We’re safe.” Thomas suddenly spoke, uttering an inexplicable statement.

The moment those words were spoken, Solari, who had been watching Ciel warily, suddenly fell into a dazed state.

“He can’t hear what we’re saying anymore,” Thomas explained quickly. “Please, forgive me. This was a misunderstanding…”

“How long have you been trying to digest half a bottle of ‘Instigator’ potion? And how do you plan to finish the other half?” Ciel glanced at a nearby chair and spoke softly. “Sit down. Let’s talk.”

Thomas didn’t dare disobey. He sat down immediately, though his mind was filled with confusion.

She knows so much about me, yet she hasn’t killed me… Why?

“I have a way for you to fully digest your potion quickly. But in exchange, you need to give me the ‘Avenger’ potion and Duven’s research notebook.” Ciel said. “Those belong to the church.”

The Church of the Savior Goddess!

Thomas tensed up. His greatest secrets—the notebook and the potion—were now completely exposed.

“Yes, of course! I’ll cooperate, my lady!” Thomas wiped the sweat from his forehead, his already-wrinkled face now drenched.

“You can implant ideas into Solari’s mind, making him control his subordinates, correct?” Ciel asked.

“Yes, I can implant thoughts that aren’t originally his. At this point, he’s completely loyal to me…” Thomas answered immediately.

“How many men and weapons does Blackwater Gang currently have?” Ciel continued.

As Thomas listed the numbers, Ciel’s brows furrowed.

These small handguns and rounds weren’t enough for large-scale destruction… and they would quickly be suppressed by the police or the church.

“Is there nothing more powerful?” Ciel asked, already considering killing them all and seeking out Avena instead.

“There is, my lady…” Thomas took a deep breath before finally speaking. “A while ago, Blackwater Gang sent men to raid a rival smuggling operation for alcohol. They hit the wrong warehouse and ended up intercepting a shipment of military supplies. We’ve kept it hidden in the wine cellar, afraid to touch it since the police have been investigating heavily.”

“What was in the shipment?” Ciel asked.

“Several barrels of military-grade siege gunpowder.”

Gunpowder barrels?

Ciel’s eyes gleamed slightly. At last, her plan had found its fuse.

“I can help you complete your ‘Instigator’ ritual and fully digest your potion…” Ciel smiled at Thomas, her voice smooth and persuasive.

The plan Ciel laid out made Thomas’s pupils tremble with shock. He hesitated but, thinking about how he had been unable to digest his potion for nearly half a year and the growing whispers gnawing at his mind, he gritted his teeth and agreed.

With Thomas secured, Ciel left Blackwater Tavern and headed to the Clock Tower Church.

At this point in time, Uris had not yet arrived in Berren City. There were no second-tier transcendents stationed at the Clock Tower Church.

All Ciel had to do was present the letter written by Hugh, and she immediately received the highest level of hospitality from the church. At her request, they began urgently printing and distributing pamphlets.

Soon, these church notices would spread across the entire Clock Tower District.

A traitor?

Ciel wasn’t afraid of the traitor knowing—she was afraid they wouldn’t.