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Chapter 99: Tell Me… Lin Wei, Who Are You Really? (Bonus Chapter)
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The sky above the Imperial Capital was as clear and bright as ever.
After a night of tense patrols, the knights and city guards, once on high alert, finally began to lower their guard. Commuters hurried to work, and merchants from distant lands returned to fill the capital’s streets. Where the avenues had been cold and deserted at dawn, a unique bustle was returning—an energy and vibrancy that belonged to the Imperial Capital alone.
Naturally, everyone’s attention had shifted—almost without realizing it—to the previous night’s incident: the attack by the Church of the Evil God.
“Did you hear? Last night, the Church of the Evil God supposedly summoned an actual deity! They fought head-to-head with the Commander of the Holy See’s Retribution Knights!”
“I heard even the nobles got caught up in it. I stayed up late and snuck out for a look—people dropping like flies, bodies everywhere. Even Duke Ous was gravely wounded!”
“Don’t go spreading rumors! I saw it myself—it was the three Grand Commanders working together, sealing away that so-called deity from the Church of the Evil God. Honestly, the Pope is useless—can’t even keep the capital safe!”
Of course, Lin Wei thought as he listened to the waves of gossip rolling out from alleyways and storefronts. Rumors always spread like wildfire—everyone embellishes the story in their own way.
But it was all just street chatter—meant for entertainment, not truth. No sense getting caught up in the details.
I wonder how things are going at the Holy See right now.
Did that useless Pope even use the speech I wrote for her? If they managed to fend off the nobles, will my Veya finally get some recognition?
Come to think of it, the Holy See’s been short-staffed for ages. After a mess like this, Veya’s workload must have doubled. At this rate, she’ll probably come home in tears in a few days, begging me to comfort her.
The thought of Veya, face full of grievance, running to him for comfort made Lin Wei chuckle. Even the lingering boredom in his heart seemed to lift, replaced by a flicker of energy.
It was always fun to be with Veya—even if their marriage was just a contract, and even if that silly woman could be cold to the point of freezing.
But once you broke through her defenses, she was as easy to tease as a kitten.
The moment she let her guard down, she’d reach for a hug, seeking comfort—then reveal her true self, snuggling up and acting coy in his arms.
What would she do when their contract marriage finally ended?
Would she need to be reminded, or would she notice the date herself before it even came up?
What kind of scene would that be?
She’d probably invent every excuse to linger nearby, chattering endlessly about anything and everything, important or not.
All the while, she’d keep up that icy facade, secretly anxious for him to bring up renewing their marriage contract.
If he deliberately kept quiet and waited for her to speak first, maybe—just maybe—he’d get to see the rare, blushing Veya.
Still two years left, and here I am looking forward to it already.
If I wasn’t worried about the Pope discovering who I really am, I’d go straight to the Holy Church City to check on her myself.
Yeah… I kind of miss Veya, honestly. Huh?
Just then—
Lin Wei abruptly sensed someone in his living room.
But it wasn’t a stranger. That familiar aura—a blend of sanctity and magic—told him exactly who it was.
His leisurely pace shifted to a brisk stride as he hurried home, pushing open the door.
There she was: long, silver-gray hair cascading down her back, that cold yet beautiful face immediately catching his eye.
Her striking features radiated an untouchable air, and the subtle, sacred energy she exuded made anyone instinctively straighten up in her presence, as if in front of something pure and holy.
Her figure was flawless—every curve and line the very definition of the golden ratio.
From her slender waist to her long legs, from her hips to her pristine, unblemished back.
It was a form so familiar, Lin Wei could sketch it with his eyes closed.
His beautiful wife.
“Ahem~ What brings you home so suddenly, my dear Miss Veya?”
But something was clearly wrong—her mood was far from good.
Lin Wei tried to keep things light as he approached, slipping an arm around her shoulders, hoping she’d lean into his embrace. But instead, a wave of uncertainty swept through him.
After all, he’d already sent her his reply and the latest market intelligence via the secretary that morning.
By all logic, as long as that useless Pope read his speech word-for-word, any crisis should have been handled with ease.
Even if something unexpected cropped up—something he hadn’t accounted for in his notes—the Pope just needed a bit of initiative to resolve it.
So why… why did Veya look so upset?
“The Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy was attacked by the Church of the Evil God last night, too.”
For the first time ever, his arm around her shoulders didn’t draw her closer; she remained rigid, refusing his comfort.
The chill in her voice was so abrupt, so absolute, that even in the best of moods, Lin Wei couldn’t ignore that something was wrong.
“I know about that,” he replied softly.
“I just came from the Magic Academy myself.”
He hesitated, then quietly moved a little further away and sat down properly, careful not to provoke her further.
He couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with his wife today—her mood was far too strange.
“In last night’s attack, most of the alchemists at the Magic Academy passed out immediately under the wave of energy unleashed by the Church of the Evil God,” Veya said, her tone flat and emotionless.
“But the Head of Alchemy, Nerinette, wasn’t affected at first. She protected herself right away, blocking out the evil energy. Even so, she still ended up unconscious.”
Those cold, impassive eyes turned to him.
Lin Wei kept his voice gentle, but inside, a storm was raging.
“I see… The Head didn’t mention any of that to me today.”
“So what actually happened?”
Something’s wrong.
Very wrong.
Not only was Veya acting strangely, but she’d deliberately brought up the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy.
Could the Holy See have discovered something? Did they find out about him?
Impossible. He’d been meticulous, erasing every trace at the scene.
At most, they’d know some masked figure had gone on a rampage—why would they suspect someone as unremarkable as him?
“It’s simple,” Veya continued, her voice slow and deliberate. “The Head of Alchemy, Nerinette, wasn’t knocked out by the evil god’s power.”
Her next words crashed over Lin Wei like a tidal wave.
“Last night, besides the evil god’s followers and Viscount Montoya, there was a third person at the scene. He knocked Nerinette unconscious—and killed every last follower of the Church of the Evil God.”
“Maybe, before leaving, he double-checked the scene to make sure there were no mistakes. Maybe he thought that mask was enough to hide his identity… But what he didn’t know was that, just before losing consciousness, Nerinette secretly activated a Memory Stone to record evidence.”
Veya placed a Memory Stone on the coffee table.
For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. Lin Wei stared at the stone in disbelief.
His mind went utterly blank, a ringing flooding his ears as instinct screamed at him to run.
And then… he heard his wife’s voice, trembling in a way he had never heard before.
“I don’t know who this person is. I don’t know what kind of identity he has, or what his true purpose might be.”
“But I do know that—even while hiding who he is—he was thinking of his Veya. He wanted to make things just a little easier for his wife at work.”
The Memory Stone was crushed in Veya’s hand, engulfed in a burst of blinding holy light.
No one else would ever know. No one could ever discover what had been recorded on that stone.
Veya’s body trembled as she looked at him, eyes shining with unshed tears. She closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and when she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Tell me, Lin Wei.”
“Who are you—really?”