The mascot of the wishing shop is a cat.

Chapter 193 The scene

Above the entire basement, it was as if there was an invisible conductor's baton. With a gentle wave of this invisible conductor's baton, these people in black robes took steps without hesitation.

They led their respective reserve followers, like a well-trained army, steadily advancing towards the only exit of the basement.

Their steps were steady and powerful, and the sound of each step seemed to be carefully choreographed, creating a unique sense of rhythm as they rose and fell.

The entire team moved forward in an orderly manner, with no one being a fraction faster or slower, and everyone maintaining the same distance from the person next to them, resembling a long black dragon winding its way forward.

The previously noisy crowd fell silent and instinctively followed the black-robed figure in front of them.

It was as if everyone no longer needed to think; they could simply follow the person in front of them.

..............................

"Where are we going? The atmosphere is so strange. ゛('◇')?"

Lin Xiyue pressed the "Orange Listener" in her ear and asked Molos and the others.

"They should be on their way to the sacrificial ceremony. There's a slightly disorienting aura in the air here; it has little effect on those with abilities, but it can bewitch the minds of ordinary people."

Ling Yan sniffed the air, as if he could detect a subtle scent, and then answered Lin Xiyue's question.

Wow, that's amazing! You could even smell that?

Lin Xiyue was taken aback; she hadn't expected Lingyan to be able to answer.

She was just saying it casually, trying to break the silence, because the atmosphere was really quite oppressive.

"We've received professional training targeting cults. We're familiar with their common tactics and conduct rigorous training specifically for them, including exams."

When Lingyan talked about the exam, he shuddered. It was clear that most people found exams difficult, and even for members of a professional elite team, it was a tough experience.

"Huh? You guys have exams? (?w?)"

Lin Xiyue almost burst out laughing. Luckily, she hadn't had to take any exams in a long time.

Lin Xiyue's current feelings are like those of a college student looking at high school seniors preparing for a good show, as she looks at Ling Yan.

"If it weren't for the higher-ups at [unclear], who insisted on a performance review every [unclear] five years for the sake of [unclear] quality, I wouldn't be so upset. [unclear]!!!"

Lingyan suddenly emitted a series of sounds that could not pass censorship in "Ju Ting".

It's clear he wasn't talking about Lin Xiyue, but rather the exam system that higher-ups insisted on. It seems he's deeply affected by it and harbors a strong aversion to it.

Its diverse expressions and beautiful language make it almost impossible to block.

"Cough cough cough. Stop fooling around, we're almost there."

Earl's voice interrupted, reminding Lingyan, who was making jokes.

"Oh, okay, okay. ヽ(￣▽￣)?"

Only after being reminded by Earl did Lingyan reluctantly put aside her resentment towards the exam and quietly look up at her surroundings.

At this moment, Lin Xiyue and her group were positioned about half a floor higher than the spacious and bright hall below. From this elevated vantage point, they had a commanding view, and by simply looking down, they could take in most of the layout of the entire first-floor hall.

Just one day ago, this huge lobby on the first floor was completely empty, so deserted that it made people feel lonely.

However, the scene before them was completely different from yesterday—all sorts of dazzling items filled the space to the brim. These items were arranged from the inside out, forming a regular semi-circular layout.

Located at the very center of this semicircle and most prominently displayed is the statue of an evil god, exuding a mysterious and eerie aura. It stands silently in place, like a demon god from the abyss of darkness, inspiring awe in all who behold it.

Surrounding the statue of the evil god was a meticulously crafted altar. This altar, also semi-circular, was exquisitely crafted, adorned with various strange symbols and patterns, as if concealing untold secrets.

A small distance was deliberately left between the altar and the statue of the evil god, but the ground was covered with countless intricate and exquisite patterns.

These patterns intertwine and intertwine, forming a magnificent and colorful picture. It's not hard to imagine that this place was specifically reserved for those who held a priestly or similar status.

Continuing outwards, you can see rows of low cushions arranged in an arc, neatly surrounding the statue of the evil god.

The cushions were spaced so narrowly between each other that only one person could squeeze through sideways. Clearly, these cushions were intended as seats for those who were about to join the cult.

At the outermost edge of this formation stood a densely packed group of believers who had officially joined the church. They were all dressed in black hooded robes, their faces deeply hidden in shadow.

These believers stood there silently, like a dark shadow, forming a tight circle that completely enveloped the scene. From a distance, they resembled a dark and oppressive cloud, giving people a heavy and suffocating feeling.

The entire scene was completely silent, save for the faint sounds of people walking and clothes rubbing against each other. These sounds seemed amplified by something throughout the hall, making them all the more eerie.

Lin Xiyue and the others carefully followed the mysterious man in black robes, passing through the silent crowd, and finally arrived at their seats.

They appeared to sit down properly and quietly, but in reality, all four of them were thinking about what might happen next.

It is worth mentioning that they were seated at the very edge of the first row, closest to the priests and the statues.

From here, you can see most of the venue, including the expressions of the priests on the field and the diverse crowd below.

Such a superb perspective is clearly not something that can be obtained simply by luck.

It turns out that they had asked Zhou Yun to arrange such an excellent seat for them last night.

Zhou Yun happened to be in charge of setting up the sacrificial site, so he conveniently arranged Lin Xiyue and the other two, as well as the adorable cat—Melos, who appeared in cat form—in this very advantageous position.

However, for Meros, having such a special seat was not entirely satisfactory.

He could no longer take it for granted that he could snuggle in Lin Xiyue's arms.

……