Hate Me, Witch!-Chapter 62: As the Silver Moon Fades, Heading to Cangting

Inside the metal box were several small glass containers, each holding liquid that swayed unsteadily.

The liquid in the bottles displayed different hues—some were pale gold, while others were deep blue, bubbling as if they were connected to the depths of the ocean.

Beside these glass potion bottles lay a single black letter, resting quietly.

Xia Ya broke the red wax seal on the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper.

Unlike the blank letter from Diris, this one had several lines of text clearly recorded on the pitch-black paper.

【Esteemed Guest,】

【The intelligence trade you proposed to the Shadow Council has been completed.】

【The information you provided regarding the downfall of the Cangting Ancient Kingdom during the "Era of Cataclysm" has been authenticated through the "Hourglass of Time" and the "One-Eyed Stone Sculpture" and confirmed to be true.】

【Following the judgment of the Shadow Council’s upper echelon, the final classification of your intelligence is—"Angel of the Dead Omen."】

【According to your request, the compensation for this intelligence trade has been settled in high-grade alchemical potions and rare materials as per your needs.】

【The list of alchemical elixirs and transcendent materials is as follows: 200 milliliters of Holy Water from the Sunlit Church, blessed by the Bishop;30 grams of Sage’s Blood;one dose of Advanced Armor Reinforcement Elixir…】

【The alchemical elixirs and transcendent materials have been enclosed with this letter. Please collect them in a timely manner.】

【Due to the high value of the intelligence you provided, there remains a surplus of 3,000 Rhine Gold Coins after the transaction, which can be used for future purchases within the Shadow Council.】

【Additionally, Her Majesty the Queen of the Night has taken a particular interest in intelligence concerning the "Era of Cataclysm."】

【Should you be able to provide more details regarding this lost period of history, we will offer you a price that will surely satisfy you.】

【We eagerly anticipate our next cooperation.】

The letter was signed with the Black Moon seal, the emblem of the Shadow Council.

Xia Ya’s gaze skimmed over the dark letter.

It was a long time before he gave a slight nod.

To uncover the final scene of that historical echo, he had truly gone to great lengths.

After all, his opponent could very well be an ancient god striving to break free from its restraints and revive. No amount of preparation, no matter how exhaustive, could be considered excessive.

The extortion from Her Highness the Imperial Princess was complete.

The assets in the Black Lily District that could be liquidated had already been turned into cash. What remained were mostly fixed properties with long-term returns—selling them now would be like killing the goose for its golden eggs, a complete financial loss.

The only thing left to do was to act as an intelligence broker.

An ancient principality, buried beneath the dust of history…

Information like this could be incredibly valuable, as it was a groundbreaking discovery in archaeology. But at the same time, it wasn’t exactly lucrative.

After all, the capital had fallen, and aside from its cultural and historical significance, there wasn’t much to be exploited—just a few antiques in museum exhibits or a handful of lines in historical records.

Fortunately, Xia Ya’s guess had been correct—

The Shadow Council, the largest intelligence organization on the Western Continent, had the greatest interest in secrets that were unknown to the world and involved an exceptionally high level of power.

Selling intelligence came naturally to Xia Ya.

It was almost certain that Elder Norton of the Branstat Family had betrayed them. During his last visit to the historical echo, Norton had even hinted at his connections with hidden organizations from the Lost Kingdoms.

Aside from omitting any information related to himself, Xia Ya had sold out all the dealings within the Cangting Ancient Kingdom.

And the Shadow Council, worthy of being the ruler of the gray world, was as generous as ever.

They immediately fulfilled all of Xia Ya’s demands, with some surplus even left over.

"Intelligence classified as ‘Angel of the Dead Omen’… Is it because it involves Sylvia, the future legend, and the potential revival of the Twilight Ancient God?"

"I wonder how the Shadow Council verifies the authenticity of intelligence."

"‘Hourglass of Time,’ ‘One-Eyed Stone Sculpture’… Just from their names, they sound related to time attributes. I wonder if they’re Corrupted Objects or time-attribute Summoned Beasts."

"The letter also mentioned that the leader of the Shadow Council, Her Majesty the Queen of the Night, is very interested in information regarding the Era of Cataclysm."

"I have indeed heard rumors that Her Majesty the Queen of the Night belongs to a long-lived species, but I don’t know exactly how long she’s lived… Could she have personally experienced the Era of Cataclysm?"

These stray thoughts merely flickered through Xia Ya’s mind.

Quickly, he reined in his wandering thoughts.

Through his Soul Pact, he linked with Shiny and stored everything—the metal box, the badge, and all other items—inside Shiny’s "Spatial Pocket."

Then, he carefully categorized and placed them within the sub-dimensional space created by the Spatial Pocket.

Once everything was in order, Xia Ya finally stood up and entered the washroom on the second floor.

The Magic Lamp went out, leaving only the flickering glow of a candle.

The mirror in the washroom reflected Xia Ya’s appearance.

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Black hair, dark eyes, a tall and slender frame.

His handsome features were sharply defined, his expression indifferent.

He took a deep breath, calming his thoughts.

"Alright, final confirmation."

"One set of military-grade miniature teleportation arrays, one Judgment Edict, Holy Water from the Sunlit Church, Sage’s Blood, multiple alchemical elixirs… nothing missing."

"Mental state: stable. Soul Pact synchronization: acceptable."

"All plans and multiple contingency measures: confirmed."

"Preparations complete. Ready perfectly."

With a mere thought, he activated the Temporal Imprint with his mental energy.

In that instant, everything around him—whether the flickering candlelight or the drifting breeze—froze in time.

The historical echo of the Cangting Ancient Kingdom had begun its final activation.

—

When Xia Ya’s consciousness returned, he found himself in the familiar hidden chamber once again.

It was early morning.

The Silver Moon was still visible but gradually fading.

The pitch-black sky was tinged with dawn’s first light, and the horizon at the edge of the sky glowed faintly white.

Norton was half-reclined on the sofa, his aged face shrouded in the soft purple smoke of "Dreamland’s Embrace," obscuring his expression.

Still this same hidden chamber?

Did this mean his return to the historical echo was at the exact moment he had exited last time?

Just as this thought surfaced in Xia Ya’s mind—

The next moment, he heard Norton speak.

"The hidden organization from the Lost Kingdoms has sent word."

"The deployment of zealots and Titled-tier powerhouses has been completed."

"Across the Holy Theocracy and the other major human nations, corresponding riots will be orchestrated, ensuring that these three factions will be too preoccupied to interfere."

Norton’s voice was chillingly cold.

Yet beneath his indifferent tone, a barely concealed yearning and ambition lurked.

"Seven days from now—"

"Cangting will fall. Twilight will descend."