After hearing Thor's report, Domoko's expression also became extremely solemn.

He stood on the dragon's back, looking down at the brightly lit ghost town below, the night wind blowing through his long hair.

After a long while, Domoko said:

"A divine artifact."

"A divine artifact?!"

Thor was stunned, looking at Domoko with utter bewilderment. "What kind of artifact could possess such world-destroying power? To wipe out a million people out of thin air?"

Domoko turned to Thor and repeated, word by word, "That's right, it's a divine artifact."

"To be precise, it is a sky mirror."

"Sky Mirror?"

"It is said that this artifact contains a vast space," Domoko's voice came over. "It doesn't need to kill anyone. As long as it activates the power of the laws, it can immediately open a spatial rift and contain everything. Let alone a million people, it could easily hold the entire city of Newt."

Thor's eyes widened as he retorted, "But how is that possible?!"

"Hasn't the Sky Mirror always been kept as a national treasure, sealed deep within the Holy City's Sacred Radiance Vault?" Thor's voice rose with excitement: "There are thirteen sacred restrictions there, said to be absolute defenses, and it's personally guarded by the 82-level Grand Elder Raphael!"

"Even if an SS-level expert forced their way in, there's absolutely no way they could steal the Sky Mirror so quietly! It just doesn't make sense!"

"yes......"

Domoko looked at Thor, whose face was full of disbelief, and suddenly laughed.

"Look, kid. This is the most interesting part of the whole thing."

Domoko turned his gaze back to the empty city below, looking down.

"Even you know that this artifact is absolutely impossible to steal, yet it has silently taken away a million people in Newt City, thousands of miles away."

"You know... it's really hard to guess who's behind all this."

Thor stood frozen on the dragon's back, deep blue lightning flashing in his eyes.

He stared at Domoko's weathered face, replaying the other man's earlier deductions in his mind.

Sky Mirror!

That national treasure, sealed deep within the Holy Radiance Treasury, is protected by thirteen sacred restrictions and personally guarded by the Grand Elder Raphael!

If it wasn't forcibly seized by an invading enemy, and if even an SS-level expert couldn't take it away silently... then there is only one person who can legally use that artifact.

The supreme ruler of the Free Federation—Lord Francis!

“You mean...” Thor swallowed hard, “All of this... could all of this be the will of the Holy Lord?!”

Domoko lowered his head, uncorked the flask at his waist, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp of ale.

The wine flowed down his thick beard and dripped onto the dragon scales.

"Why is that?!"

Thor took a step forward, gripping Mjolnir tightly in both hands. "Why did he do that?!"

“A full million people! The cities of Losga and Newt are home to his most devoted subjects! They are the foundation of our Free Federation!”

Thor's chest heaved violently. "He's the spokesperson of the gods, the embodiment of mercy and light! How dare he use the Sky Mirror to wipe out all his people?! Domoko, tell me, why did he do this?!"

Domoko raised his hand and wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth with the rough back of his hand.

"Calm down, kid."

Domoko looked at Thor and said, "As I just said, all of this is just my speculation. Don't rush to conclusions."

“Speculation? How can I take this as speculation!” Thor gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.

“Because we don’t have any substantial evidence right now! Based solely on inference, if you go back to the Holy City to question him now, you’ll only be accused of heresy and treason, and then burned at the stake!” Domoko said.

"How much more do you want me to calm down..." Thor closed his eyes, his Mjolnir hanging limply at his side.

“Use your brain!” Domoko stepped forward and patted Thor on the shoulder. “If you really want to find out whether that high and mighty Lord is behind all this, then get back to work. You, go and investigate again.”

"Go down and investigate?" Thor opened his eyes, looking at the empty city below. "What else is there to investigate? I've already used my Thunder Sense to search every corner of the entire city. There are no living people, no corpses, and no signs of any battle. This city is empty!"

Domoko shook his head.

He pointed to the Cathedral of Light below and said, "Have you forgotten our other purpose for coming here? Andrew's elite Holy Judgment Knights, whose entire force is S-rank!"

Thor looked in the direction Domoko was pointing.

"The Holy Knights are slightly weaker than you and me, but they are not pushovers!" Domoko said confidently. "One hundred elite knights above level 70 are proficient in various reconnaissance and defensive formations. Even if they face the sudden spatial devouring of the divine artifact Sky Mirror, they would not be without any chance ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to struggle!"

“You mean...” Thor’s eyes lit up little by little.

“I believe they must have left some clues before they disappeared!” Domoko said. “If it really was divine punishment from the Holy Lord, the leader would have noticed something was wrong. They couldn’t escape the Sky Mirror’s lock, but they had a way of leaving something in this city before being sucked into that separate space! Go, don’t use that wide-range perception, go to those hidden corners that only high-ranking knights would notice, use your eyes, search carefully!”

Thor nodded.

"I see!"

Before he could finish speaking, Thor's body disintegrated, turning into a bolt of blue lightning that fell from the dragon's back and plunged into the heart of Newt City!

Thunder rumbled—

Lightning flashed across the street. Thor slowed down, focusing his mental energy on detecting traces of divine magic.

He traversed the underground chambers of the city defense command headquarters, passed through the archives of various guilds, and finally plunged into the tallest cathedral of light.

The church was dimly lit, with stained glass windows casting reflections in the moonlight.

Thor, his body crackling with lightning, walked step by step toward the prayer room at the deepest part of the church. He looked at the rows of empty pews, finally stopping at the edge of the statue's pedestal.

There, there are faint fluctuations of sacred energy.

"Found it!"

"Sizzle!"

A blue lightning bolt ripped through the night sky, and Thor landed breathlessly back on the dragon's back.

He was breathing heavily.

He did not leave empty-handed.

"Lord Domoko, you guessed right! They really did leave something behind!"