Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 319 Hunt Down The Silver Haired One!

In the grand hall of the Holy Church of the Holy Empire, tall marble columns reached up to a ceiling covered with detailed golden sculptures showing scenes from religious texts. Sunlight flooded through stained glass windows, painting colorful patterns on the marble floor.

At the canter of the chamber stood the statue of the Goddess, Vino Velora, carved from pure alabaster and designed with shimmering jewels that glinted in the soft glow of the sunlight. The statue gave off an aura of divinity, her outstretched hand calling the faithful to heed her word.

The hall had rows of carved seats made of dark mahogany and covered in luxurious velvet. Priests and priestesses stood close by, all lined and stood like slient guardians.

There the Head Priest knelt before the towering statue of their revered Goddess. Bathed in the soft glow emanating from the divine statue, he listened intently as Vino Velora's voice echoed in his mind.

"There is a mortal with silver hair in our capital," the Vino Velora's voice held a himd of anger, she vintinued, "who defies my teachings. They must be eliminated. Use all the power and influence of the Church to rid us of this heretic."

The Head Priest bowed his head in solemn acknowledgment. "Your will shall be done, my Goddess," he vowed fervently.

With a final radiant burst, the statue stopped glowing, leaving the Head Priest to think about the weight of his divine mission. Rising from his knees, he turned to a nearby Priestess with a calm expression.

"Summon the Captain of the Holy Inquisitors," he instructed, his voice firm with resolve.

The Priestess hesitated for a moment, her thoughts gave off a hint of doubt and fear. "Holy? That man is far from holy. Why did I have to be the one to go summon that lunatic? Just my luck." she mused inwardly, a shadow crossing her face. Nevertheless, she bowed obediently and departed to fulfill her orders, her steps heavy with uncertainty.

As the Priestess left, the head priest gestured Inqusitivly as he mused, "This will be the first time the goddess has directly informed the church of a heretic. For her to personally inform me, whoever this person is, they must be formidable." He frowned slightly. Suddenly, a low, smooth voice cut through the air like a blade slicing through silk.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

The Head Priest hesitated for a moment, his eyes shifting uneasily as he gathered his thoughts. "Yes, Captain Thorne," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "I received direct word from our goddess herself. She has tasked us with hunting down a heretic who defies her teachings."

Thorne's smirk widened into a knowing grin. "Ah, so the goddess wishes to make use of her personal hunting dogs, hmm?" he remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in his icy blue eyes.

The Head Priest's brow furrowed in disapproval at Thorne's flippant remark. "Mind your words, Captain," he cautioned, his tone stern.

Thorne's expression softened, and he inclined his head slightly. "My apologies, Father," he said, his voice contrite.

The Head Priest nodded, accepting Thorne's apology. "You are to hunt down someone with silver hair in the capital," he continued, his voice regaining its composure.

For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, the weight of the goddess's command settling over them like a shroud.

Then, Thorne broke the silence, his voice tinged with slight surprise. "Wait.... Is that all?" he asked, his tone questioning. "No other description? Or did you forgot?"

The Head Priest shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat before speaking. "Yes, Captain Thorne, that is all."

Thorne arched an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? No gender, clothing? Maybe armor or skin color?"

The Head Priest's expression became serious, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Enough, Captain," he said firmly, his voice carrying a note of finality. "Be on your way. There is nothing more to discuss. Seek out the person with the silver hair and put an end to them."

Thorne let out a resigned sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Yes, Father," he murmured obediently.