Ray didn't have to act or even speak. The woman herself opened the gate as if she had just met the God itself.

Her stern expression had completely melted away, replaced by a look of sheer awe and reverence.

The two guards, their faces grim, quickly went to help her, their shoulders slumping in defeat.

They cursed Ray silently for not telling them he was from the Temple, but it was already too late; they were sure they would face harsh words, if not punishment.

But as the gates opened, Ray spoke. "As guards, you did the right work. You weren't rude to me, nor did you show any weakness."

His words stunned both of the guards, who bowed deeply and thanked him, their faces filled with relief.

The woman, now standing straight, looked at Ray with newfound respect. "Sir, are you also from the Temple?" she asked.

"Also?" Ray asked, his eyebrow raised. "What do you mean by that?"

She didn't hesitate to answer. "A few weeks ago, a person came from the Temple, and he is staying at the Willson house," she said.

Ray's mind immediately went back to the story the knights had told him. He speculated, but his voice remained calm.

"Are you talking about the one who was dispatched after the werewolf incident three months ago?"

She cleared his doubts with a single nod. He didn't inquire further about the man. He had a strong feeling he would be meeting him soon enough.

Instead, he turned his attention back to the woman. "And who might you be, madam?"

The woman smiled, her features softening even more. "I'm Floria Epsten, from the Epsten house."

Ray nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. He looked at the gate behind her and then back at her.

"Are we going to talk like this, or does the Epsten house not welcome me?"

"No-no, sir, please follow me," she said, flustered, and gestured for him to enter.

She then took the lead, guiding him through the eastern district toward her house.

As they walked, Ray's keen eyes took in the surroundings. The streets were quiet and clean, lined with massive, intricate stone houses.

Each one was a testament to the power and wealth of the families who lived here. He passed by two other mansions, both as grand as the one they were approaching.

In the eastern district, there lived three families: the Willsons, the Epstens, and the Dorians.

The three families—the Willsons, the Epstens, and the Dorians—could be considered the three lords of the city.

All of their wealth and power was because of their connection to higher houses.

Though the three families weren't enemies, as they shared the eastern part equally, there was an undercurrent of rivalry between them, a silent competition not to be left behind.

…

Today, Floria had come out of her house for some fresh air, especially since she was frustrated with how the Willsons and Dorians were getting attention from the Temple while her family was neglected.

Not only that, but the recent incident of burning the woman was also related to both the families.

But today she saw a chance to gain a favor like other families by hosting the Temple person herself.

Once inside, Floria gestured to a seat, telling the maids to serve tea while also informing the other members of the family.

"Have a seat, sir. Think of it as your own house," she said with a warm smile.

Once seated Ray asked, his questions were direct and without any pleasantries.

"You were telling me the man dispatched by the Temple weeks ago was in the Willson's house," Ray began. "How come he didn't still visit the knight stronghold?"

Floria looked stunned. She had expected a conversation, not an interrogation. She hesitated to speak.

Ray saw her hesitation and his gaze hardened. "If you can't answer, I can leave and visit the Willsons myself to get the answer."

"No, no, sir," she said quickly, flustered.

"It's just that... how can I know why he didn't visit the knight stronghold? Since he came more than a week ago, he is living in the Willson family with luxury as their honorary guest."

"Guest," Ray muttered, a note of cold disgust in his voice. her word confirmed his suspicion.

A Temple representative on a mission should be at the knight stronghold, not enjoying a luxurious vacation with a noble family.

He quickly changed the subject; his eyes fixed on hers. "And what do you know about the incident of yesterday when a woman was burned in the name of a witch?"

Floria had another shocked reaction. She hadn't expected him to be interrogating her about that matter.

But seeing his serious expression, she spoke hesitantly, her voice low.

"That incident is also related to the Willson, Dorian family, and the man from the Temple."

Ray simply nodded in understanding, his mind working through all the pieces of information.

He didn't know if she was telling the truth or if she was trying to pin the blame on her rivals. He had to be sure.

So, he went straight to the heart of the matter. "What proof do you have that your Epsten family isn't involved in this matter?"

Her eyes widened in genuine surprise, and she shook her head vehemently. "No, sir, we aren't involved in this. No one from our family is involved."

"But you must know what the reason was, right? Why did they have to kill that innocent woman?" Ray asked, his voice filled with a chilling tone.

Just as Floria was about to answer, the doors to the room swung open, and all the family members entered.

At the front was a man who looked to be in his mid-fifties, with a regal posture and a well-kept beard.

He was followed by two younger men, both with the same sharp eyes as him. He was Paul Epsten, the head of the family and husband of Floria.

Paul looked at Ray, sizing him up from head to toe.

To him, Ray was just a normal young man with good looks and nothing to special he felt from Ray. Still, because his wife had sent word that Ray was from the Temple, Paul spoke with a practiced politeness.

"I heard this sir is from the Temple? Is that true?" he asked, his voice calm and controlled.

Ray didn't immediately answer. Instead, his cold gaze moved from Paul to his two sons behind him, and then back to him. "You are?" he asked, a simple question that held a heavy weight of authority.

Paul's expression flickered, unused to such bluntness.

Floria, sensing the tension, quickly spoke up. "Sir, this is my husband and the current head of the family, Paul Epsten, and behind him are my two sons."

Ray gave a short nod, a gesture that was neither polite nor disrespectful. It was simply a nod of acknowledgment.

Then, his gaze returned to Paul, and he answered his question, using the same words he had used ever since arriving in the city. "I'm not from the Temple."

The air in the room seemed to freeze. Paul's polite smile vanished, replaced by a look of utter confusion.

His two sons, who had been standing quietly behind him, looked at each other with surprise.

Floria looked at Ray, her face a mask of disappointment and confusion. She had seen the holy aura herself; she had been so sure. Why would he deny it?

A long moment of silence hung in the room as everyone tried to make sense of his words.

Ray didn't care. He had his own reason. He looked at Paul, then at the sons, then back to Paul.

"You're not from the Temple?" Paul finally asked, his voice now a little colder, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"Then why did my wife tell me you possessed a holy aura? Why did you come here?"

Ray leaned back, a smirk on his face. "I came here for answers. You see, I've heard a few things about this city.

I've heard that your family, along with a few others, are behind the killings of innocents. I've also heard that you are now hosting a man from the Temple. So I came here to find out the truth."

"Truth?" one of the sons scoffed, his voice filled with arrogance.

"Who are you to ask for the truth? What gives you the right to come to our home and accuse us of such things?"

Ray's smirk widened. "My right?" he said softly. "The right to justice."

His words hung in the air, a threat and a promise all in one. He looked at each of them in turn, letting the weight of his words settle.

Floria, who had seen Ray use the holy aura herself, believed that Ray must be testing them.

She stepped forward, her voice a calm attempt to defuse the growing tension.

"Sir, don't take their words to offense, but are you really not part of the Temple?" she asked politely.

Ray shook his head. "Did I ever tell you or anyone that I'm part of the Temple?"

Floria's eyes widened in a daze. She realized that from the moment Ray had arrived, he had only shown his holy aura but had never claimed to be part of the Temple.

She muttered, her voice barely a whisper, "But I saw you using the holy aura."

A smirk played on Ray's lips. "Does one using the holy aura need to be a part of the Temple?"

She looked at him with dazed eyes thinking was she incorrect about him all the time?

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