Chapter 287 The Villain Lady Arrives 115
Aidan chimed in, and the two performed naturally and smoothly, as if they were really discussing some important intelligence.
Sure enough, not long after, they noticed that several eyes began to linger on them, as if to confirm what they said. Alice and Aidan exchanged a subtle look and continued their "performance".
"But that passage is extremely hidden. It is said that only a very few people inside the palace know its location." Alice deliberately kept it a secret, arousing the curiosity of the people around her.
At this moment, they felt two different auras approaching quietly from behind. It was obvious that some of the stalkers could not hold back and wanted to get more information. Alice and Aidan were secretly happy in their hearts, but they remained calm on the surface and continued their conversation.
"If we can really find that passage, we can directly expose the conspiracy of the Dark Cult and clear the name of the Church of Light." Aidan deliberately raised his voice a few decibels, attracting the attention of people around him.
As Aidan finished his words, the air around him seemed to freeze for a moment, and then all kinds of discussions came like a tide, drowning this originally quiet corner. The reactions of the crowd varied, some looked horrified, as if they had foreseen the coming storm;
Some were whispering, with curiosity and anxiety flashing in their eyes; some even stopped what they were doing and gathered around, wanting to hear what was going on.
"Oh, this is terrible. There is such a secret hidden in the palace!" exclaimed an old woman in simple clothes, her hands tightly grasping the edge of the basket, as if she was afraid of losing her balance if she was not careful.
"Yes, the Church of Light has always been protecting us. I never expected that there would be such dirty things happening inside the palace." A young man said indignantly, his eyes filled with a desire for justice and hatred for darkness.
However, not everyone is so easily instigated. A middle-aged man who looked like a businessman shook his head and said in a steady voice: "That being said, we can't determine the truth based on their one-sided statements. After all, the affairs of the palace are not something that we common people can speculate at will."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately retorted, "Humph, when have the people from the Church of Light ever lied? They have always been our patron saints. This time they must have discovered some unspeakable secret that is why they took such a risk."
"That's right. Don't forget the last prayer ceremony. Even though something unexpected happened, it was also to drive away evil and protect us!" A woman echoed indignantly. Her face still bore scars from the last ceremony, but her trust in the Church of Light had not diminished in the slightest.
However, there were also voices of opposition in the crowd. A man with a sinister face stood up with a sneer, his eyes scanning back and forth between Alice and Aidan, as if he wanted to see through them.
"Hmph, the Church of Light? You sound nice, but it's all for your own benefit. During the last prayer ceremony, many people were injured, but you only shirked responsibility, saying it was an 'accident'. You also said it was a frame-up by the Dark Temple. I think this is also a play you wrote and directed yourself, right?"
His words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples.
People around them began to whisper and discuss, some nodded in agreement, while others shook their heads in disbelief. Alice and Aidan looked at each other, secretly alert. They knew that their plan had attracted attention, and they had to be more careful with every step they took.
At this moment, a clear female voice suddenly rang out, penetrating the noisy crowd.
"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me." The speaker was a young lady, who was dressed simply but her temperament was elegant. She walked slowly to the center of the crowd and looked at everyone with a firm gaze.
"I believe in the Church of Light and Saint Alice. She has always been praying for us and protecting us from evil. As for the last accident, I believe it was not her wish. We should give her trust and support instead of groundless accusations and suspicions."
Her words were like a stream of fresh air, which gradually calmed the restless crowd. People began to re-examine their positions, and some began to reflect on whether their words and deeds were too extreme. Alice and Aidan also looked at her with gratitude, knowing that the lady's words bought them precious breathing time.
However, just as the atmosphere was about to calm down, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence. Several figures in black cloaks suddenly rushed out of the crowd and headed straight for Alice and Aidan.
Their movements were swift and agile, clearly well-trained. Aidan reacted immediately, quickly drawing his sword and standing in front of Alice, looking warily at these uninvited guests.
Aidan's sword tip trembled slightly, and the cold light was even more fierce under the sunlight. He stared at the men in black who suddenly appeared, his eyes showing both vigilance and unquestionable determination. Alice tightly grasped the cross pendant on her chest, closed her eyes and prayed for a moment, then opened her eyes, with an unyielding light flashing in her eyes.
"Huh, you finally showed up?" Aidan said coldly. Although his voice was not loud, it was loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly. He slowly protected Alice behind him, his body tensed, ready for the upcoming battle.
The leading man in black sneered and walked forward slowly. His cloak swayed gently in the breeze, revealing a face covered with scars and a sinister light flashing in his eyes. "Aidan, don't pretend to be brave and fearless. You people from the Church of Light are just hypocrites in a cloak of holiness."
"Shut up!" Alice could no longer bear it. She stood up, her voice soft but powerful. "Since our founding, the Church of Light has been committed to protecting the peace and light of this continent, and has never done anything immoral. It is you, the Dark Temple, who act in secret, have repeatedly provoked disputes, and attempted to drag the world into endless darkness."
"Oh? Saint Lady is really good at speaking," the man in black laughed sarcastically, "but facts speak louder than words. Take the last prayer ceremony for example. If there hadn't been a problem within your Church of Light, how could such a tragedy have occurred? Innocent people were harmed, but instead of reflecting on your own mistakes, you pushed the responsibility onto us. How is this behavior different from that of a villain?"
Aidan's fists were clenched, veins popping out, but he resisted the urge to attack immediately. He knew that the current situation was not favorable for them, and he had to stay calm and look for opportunities to fight back.