The mortality rate for trainee patrol officers wasn’t low, and Sam had no intention of dying here. Why was Captain Rudolph so respected in the police station? Because he had survived multiple battles with Apostles and still remained in one piece!

  Sam’s heart was in his throat. The oppressive aura of this cross-dressing, hairy-chested man was terrifying from every angle! As Sam stared at the bizarre figure, his eyes accidentally swept over the young girl standing beside him.

  The moment their eyes met, it was as if Sam saw his first love standing amidst a crowd, gazing at him with deep affection, her eyes filled with his reflection.

  Sam was lost.

  He lowered his shotgun. After a brief daze, he suddenly raised it again—this time, pointing it at Rudolph.

  Rudolph reacted instantly, delivering a swift kick that sent Sam’s shotgun flying. Sam, shaken by the kick, shook his head and snapped back to reality—he had just pointed a gun at Captain Rudolph!

  Seeing the guilt on Sam’s face, Rudolph knew instantly that the young girl was an Apostle. Without hesitation, he prepared to fire.

  Just then, a familiar voice rang out.

  "Rudolph! Sam! Calm down!"

  Emerging from the back door of a nearby residence was Chief Claude. He had just thrown on his shirt, his buttons still undone. As he walked, he fumbled to fasten them. Rudolph glanced at him and silently noted that, despite being in his thirties, the Chief still had an impressively toned abdomen.

  The strange young girl locked eyes with Chief Claude, launching an attack.

  Her method of attack? Simply staring at him.

  Chief Claude hesitated for only a fraction of a second before shaking off the effect.

  "Sam! Quickly, take this… gentleman to get his wound treated. That must hurt like hell—good Lord, there’s a hole straight through his leg."

  Chief Claude then asked, "Sam, you have your first-aid kit with you, right?"

  Patrolling officers always carried a first-aid kit. Sam quickly pulled his out and started tending to the wounded man on the ground. Lifting the hem of the man’s dress, he discovered his leg was covered in thick, bristly hair, the blood clinging to it like glistening grapes.

  The injured man clearly recognized the Chief. "Chief Claude! Your officer just opened fire on me! I don’t even know why I’m dressed like this, but shooting me was totally uncalled for!"

  "Ah… well…" The Chief sighed sympathetically. "How did you end up in this state? Sam, give him some pain relief, then take him back to the station. All medical expenses, as well as compensation for lost wages and any damages, will be covered by the police department."

  Once Sam had finished treating the wound, he retrieved his horse and helped the injured man onto its back.

  "Chief, Captain, I’ll head back to the station now."

  "Go on, go on."

  Only then did the Chief turn his attention to the young girl.

  Rudolph spoke up, "Chief, we’ve got this month’s offering. It’s been werewolves for months—time for a change. Let’s burn a Silver Serpent this time."

  The girl’s face twisted in fear at the word "offering."

  There was no doubt—Rudolph was certain now. She could control people, charm them, especially men. That alone confirmed she was an Apostle—a Silver Serpent.

  "Anira, get back home," Chief Claude said. "Just look at how dangerous it is out here. That fierce-looking officer is already thinking about making you a sacrifice!"

  Rudolph was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected the Chief to use him as a scare tactic.

  "I’m not going back! I refuse to go back!"

  Rudolph turned his head. From the door the Chief had emerged from, another figure appeared—a woman.

  Draped in nothing but a thin silk nightgown, her full, curvaceous figure was impossible to conceal. The evening breeze pressed the fabric against her skin, accentuating every curve and hollow.

  Rudolph quickly recited a silent prayer for restraint. No matter how enchanting this woman was, she was still the Chief’s lover.

  The woman first cast an apologetic glance at Chief Claude.

  His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "Lady Jessica, what are you doing out here? I’ll bring your daughter back inside right away."

  "I’m not going back!" Anira shrieked.

  Jessica turned her gaze to Rudolph, who was already prepared. He averted his eyes immediately—this was the Chief’s woman. Best to stay as far away as possible.

  Then, Anira started yelling.

  "Three times! Three whole times! I heard everything! This rental has the worst soundproofing—I heard it all!"

  Rudolph cringed—this was beyond awkward.

  Jessica let out a soft cough, and Anira instantly fell silent.

  "Anira, let’s go back inside."

  Rudolph’s interest piqued. Jessica was clearly an Apostle as well—one of a higher level than Anira. Just a few words, and she had complete control over the girl.

  Before stepping back inside, Lady Jessica turned back with a smile.

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  "We never even noticed that Anira had snuck out. Children don’t understand these things—I apologize if she’s caused you any trouble. By the way, I’d like to move to a new house tomorrow. Anira is right; the soundproofing here is terrible."

  Chief Claude hurriedly responded, "My dear lady, I’ll accompany you around Leman Town tomorrow. You know how shady some of those real estate agents can be—I wouldn’t want you to be taken advantage of."

  Jessica’s smile deepened. "That’s exactly what I was hoping for, Mr. Claude. Please don’t take too long—I’ll be waiting for you."

  With that, mother and daughter disappeared inside, leaving the door slightly ajar—a silent invitation for the Chief.

  Rudolph reholstered his revolver and turned to Claude. "Chief, I’ll keep this to myself. I won’t say a word to Lady Betsy, Lady Fanny, Lady Mary, or…"

  "Stop!" Chief Claude cut him off. "The more names you list, the guiltier I feel. I’ve been spending too much time with Lady Jessica—I’ve neglected the others. That’s truly regrettable."

  "A few of them?"

  "Could be over a dozen… but that’s not the point. Rudolph…"

  The Chief’s tone grew serious. "About Lady Jessica and her daughter…"

  "Silver Serpents?"

  Claude patted Rudolph’s shoulder. "That’s not what matters. Forget about the Silver Serpent thing. Lady Jessica is a woman who needs a man like me to comfort her."

  Rudolph nodded. "How could the Chief’s lover possibly be an Apostle? But Chief… I have to say—three times? That’s a bit harsh. For a teenager like Anira, that’s bound to have some psychological effects…"

  Chief Claude sighed. "Housing’s been a nightmare lately. So many people moving into town from the farms—it’s hard to find a decent place. I really do need to get them a better home. Also, just to clarify… three times was only before halftime. If you count the whole night, the number is much higher.

  "Young man, you still have a lot to learn."

  At noon the next day, Rudolf finally saw Chief Claude, who looked utterly exhausted. The chief walked with a slight hunch, clearly suffering from overexertion the previous night—an ache in the lower abdomen that all men understood. That emptiness, that soreness, was unbearable.

  There were no documents on his desk—only several plates of... oysters.

  "Chief, weren't you going strong in the first half? What happened? Lost steam in the full match?" Rudolf teased. "This is the first time I've seen you this weak. Looks like you were on the losing side last night."

  Chief Claude swallowed an oyster whole and scoffed, "Losing side? That's not accurate. At the very least, it was an even match. What can I say? When you come across a professional, you have to admit defeat."

  "A professional? What kind of professional?" Rudolf was puzzled. The chief had always had good taste—could he have gone for that kind of 'professional' this time?

  "No, no, not what you're thinking," Claude quickly clarified. "I'm talking about the Silver Serpent. My God, Silver Serpents are too professional." His face held a look of nostalgia and satisfaction. "That maturity, that allure—no man can resist it. Young girls just cry about the pain, but only a mature woman can fully harness the divine gift of her body."

  Allure... Rudolf recalled that when he unlocked his star chart, one of the reward options had been Night Enchantment. That ability likely applied specifically to Silver Serpents.

  "Chief, this is exactly what I wanted to ask about." Rudolf closed the office door. "Aren't heretical Apostles supposed to be hunted down and sacrificed? Why are you so obsessed with a Silver Serpent? From what I know, Lady Betsy, Lady Fanny, and Lady Mary have all sent their maids here asking if you've gone on a business trip. Clearly, even with your extraordinary endurance, you can only handle Lady Jessica alone. Doesn't that seem a little... off?"

  "I'll deal with those ladies in a few days... or maybe ten days," Claude muttered. He knew he had to explain the matter of heretical Apostles clearly, or his trusted subordinates would start to have doubts. "Rudolf, the term 'heretical Apostle' isn’t something innate—it's a label, a definition."

  "A definition?" Rudolf was confused.

  "Yes. Back in the days when knights ruled the world—about two hundred years ago—'heretical Apostles' referred to all Apostles except knights. The Twelve Round Table Knights and their noble descendants ruled the land and sea with absolute power. Back then, alchemists were also hunted down by knights, forced into hiding. The propaganda of the time depicted them as sinister figures, lurking in basements, conducting terrifying and evil experiments. Just the constant explosions alone were enough to instill fear among the common folk.

  "But technology is a force that cannot be contained. When alchemists mastered gunpowder, their power grew exponentially. The great alchemist Bernhard believed that technology only had meaning if it was spread and used by people. Under his leadership, alchemists began arming ordinary people. For the first time, those common folk wielded weapons that could kill the powerful and wicked Apostles.

  "You know, that alchemical bullet you now see as ordinary—issued weekly to patrol officers—once threw the whole world into chaos when it first appeared. With the explosive advancement of technology and the rise of empowered commoners, alchemists grew too strong for even kings to ignore. And just like that, one less kind of heretical Apostle, and one more kind of divine-chosen Apostle.

  "Knights and alchemists preferred city life, and their battles were mainly urban. Meanwhile, the Druids took advantage of the situation and flourished in the wilderness. Alchemists, needing another powerful faction to keep the knights in check, welcomed them. And so, another heretical Apostle group was reclassified as divine-chosen Apostles.

  "So, Rudolf, don't be so surprised. Don't blindly believe the propaganda—think for yourself. The Silver Serpents, without a doubt, are one of the least harmful heretical Apostles. Many nobles keep Silver Serpents as personal companions—treating them no differently than lovers. Only women can become Silver Serpents… well, not only women—some exceptionally delicate men can too. Nobles keeping Silver Serpents is no different from keeping mistresses.

  "You’re still young; you haven't yet experienced the wonders of a Silver Serpent. But let me give you some advice—never be a simp for them. If you're not in their league, they will play you to death. So, take what you can, and if you can’t take anything—run."

  Rudolf was relieved he hadn't chosen Night Enchantment back then. Otherwise, how would he have handled being ‘delicate and tender’ himself?

  "Simping is absolutely out of the question..." Rudolf finally understood. "To knights and alchemists, practical Apostles like Silver Serpents can be given subordinate status. There's no need for unnecessary bloodshed."

  "More or less..."

  "Then, do you think that one day, Werewolves or Witches could also become divine-chosen Apostles? That all twelve divine-chosen Apostles would be united as one big family, with no more divisions?"

  Claude shook his head. "That’s too much. Forget the fact that Witches regularly hunt other Apostles—the king and the council would never allow it. They need an enemy; they need to constantly create threats to maintain a sense of crisis. Without enemies, without fear, how could they hold onto power? Which philosopher was it that said ‘fear is a great tool for ruling’?"

  For the first time, Rudolf saw something unusual on Claude’s face—wisdom. It was an expression that didn't quite match his usual demeanor.

  Claude swallowed another oyster and said, "Rudolf, never put blind faith in the word 'justice.' Many people commit atrocities while genuinely believing they are on the side of justice. Those are the most terrifying people—even more dangerous than those who are purely evil. Most heretical Apostles are evil, but as divine-chosen Apostles, we can't just slaughter them indiscriminately based on a label. Lady Jessica is a pitiful woman. She was exiled from Fabro City. As for her and her daughter… just turn a blind eye."

  "Of course, Chief. Whether it's about justice or not, it doesn't matter. What matters is, Lady Jessica is your lover. Before you discard her, I’ll keep my distance. However… however, Chief, I do think you and Lady Jessica should pay more attention to her daughter Aynila’s mental state. I suspect she attacked me last night because she hates the fact that I was dressed similarly to you. She can’t do anything to you, but last night, she almost ruined my innocence—by making a burly, chest-haired man violate me."

  "Old Baby’s hair is indeed thinning. He should get a transplant at a Fabro City hospital."

  "Is his hair the point here?"

  "Oh, right. The point is Aynila. She’s just a rebellious kid. I’ll find Lady Jessica a house with proper soundproofing. That’s urgent—I’ll head out now. I can’t finish these oysters, so help yourself."

  With that, Chief Claude hurried off to find a new home for his lover.

  Rudolf watched his departing figure with envy. If only he could be as carefree as the chief.