Chapter 785
After Hossom's explanation, Jonathan and Kaga finally understood why Hossom was being hunted.
Hossom inherited extraordinary speed from the cultivation method in his family. Instead of remaining in his hometown and being
a local ruler, he chose to roam around the world and steal all the highly-guarded treasures with the help of his special talent.
According to Hossom, he was not in need of money. What he was yearning for was the thrill and excitement that a risky
adventure could provide.
He had committed several offenses and was wanted in several countries. However, he had different identities and even excelled
in disguising himself. As such, the countries did not connect all those different cases of theft together, never once suspecting that
the same person had committed them.
This time around, Hossom had his eyes on the Bazar Temple in the West Region.
The West Region was a very unique place with a complex religious background.
Despite the many religions in that area, there was one deity that the entire West Region believed in.
It was Seboxia.
According to the legend of the West Region, Seboxia was an omnipotent presence and reigned over all the other gods.
All the other deities were under Seboxia's command.
Among all the temples in the West Region, Bazar Temple of Newcove was considered to be the most mysterious.
Other than Bazar Temple, the rest of the temples would do anything to accept offerings from their believers.
Only Bazar Temple did not allow any believers to enter its premise to give any offering since the day its construction was
completed.
As time went by, the legends revolving Bazar Temple increased and spread like wildfire in the West Region.
Some people believed that Bazar Temple was a place that was connected to the deities. Therefore, only the kings of the West
Region and messengers of certain deities could enter the temple on special occasions to worship the gods.
Others mentioned that Bazar Temple was there to suppress the evil spirits of hell. That was why it had to be protected from any
damage.
There was also a legend about the treasure. It was also the most popular one in the West Region.
It was rumored that a previous king of the West Region had left behind a mysterious treasure in the temple. Anyone who could
obtain it would not only be able to become the messenger of Seboxia but could also gain control of the entire royal court. The
whole West Region would then belong to the person who acquired the treasure.
That rumor was the reason Hossom decided to go there.
The royal family of the West Region had never made any effort to deny the rumors. In fact, some of their activities even became
more secretive. That sparked even more suspicions among the people.
Because of these rumors, many cultivators from different areas in the West Region had the urge to intrude into Bazar Temple for
further investigation.
Unfortunately, those cultivators disappeared into thin air and were never heard of again.
As for Hossom, he learned from those before him and changed his strategy. Instead, he fabricated a story and played the role of
a knight who saved a damsel in distress.
Although most people did not know the identity of the High Priestess, it was not hard to find out.
Making use of Kaga's organization, Hossom managed to find out about Prima, the High Priestess' identity and background. It
then took him nearly a year to set everything up.
During that period, Hossom also used two different disguises and recruited some unwitting Grandmaster Realm cultivators.
Those Grandmaster Realm cultivators were divided into two groups. The first group was paid handsomely by Hossom. Their only
mission was to distract and lure Prima's guards away.
As for the second group, they were brainwashed by Hossom within one year's time and were close to him like brothers.
Hossom told the second group of men that he had an arch-enemy who was a God Realm cultivator. Since he wasn't capable
enough to exact revenge, he could only kidnap his enemy's daughter who was Prima, the High Priestess.
Those men were indebted to Hossom in one way or another. After listening to his sob story, they decided to help him out.
The two groups of cultivators were not even aware of Prima's identity. Yet, they had been roped into Hossom's scheme just like
that.
A month ago, Hossom's plan began to unfold. The first group of men attempted to murder Prima and was stopped and hunted
after by her guards. The second group of men then seized the opportunity to charge at Prima. It was at that moment that
Hossom played the knight in shining armor who came to Prima's rescue.
As for those two groups of men, they refused to divulge Hossom's fake name even before their deaths.
Hossom was seriously injured, so Prima brought him into Bazar Temple to tend to his injuries. However, once Hossom recovered
from his injuries, he stole the precious stone from the head of Seboxia and ran away.
Later on, he was on the run until he met Jonathan.
“That's it. That's everything I did,” proclaimed Hossom as he gulped down a mouthful of wine in a huff.
“Prima is the only one who treated my injuries that whole time. She saw my naked body, but I have never touched her once. I
may be a thief, but I have my principles.”
“Pfft!”
Kaga picked up some snacks and threw them at Hossom's face.
“Pfft!”
Kaga picked up some snacks and threw them at Hossom's face.
“How audacious of you to say that! Poor Prima is already in that state. How can you pretend that nothing has happened after
what you've done? If it was me, I would have chopped you into pieces.”
Hossom looked at Jonathan in frustration.
“Say, Mr. Goldstein, as a thief, my attention should be on the treasure. Right?”
Jonathan sighed softly as he stared at Hossom's bald and shiny head.
“A patient thief is truly frightening! You don't lack money or status. I can't believe you used a year to plan everything just to steal
a diamond. In the process, you nearly lost your life too. Hossom, I take my hat off to you. You're really daring,” praised Jonathan
sincerely as he gave Hossom a thumbs-up.
“Since you have already intruded into Bazar Temple and gained the High Priestess' favor, why didn't you stay there for a while
longer? At the same time, you could have checked out the place to see if there are more treasures around. The diamond on
Seboxia may be valuable, but it's nothing special to you,” Kaga quickly chimed in when he heard Jonathan's praise.
“That's right. Hossom, I've gone through Prima's background. She may be in her late thirties, but she's well-maintained. In fact,
she looks more like someone in her twenties. Why don't you just stay with her? The two of you can live happily ever after
together in the temple. That doesn't sound too bad.”
“Live happily ever after?”
Hossom was momentarily stunned before he snapped out of his trance and threw the snacks in his hand at Kaga.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Do you guys really think I'm there for the diamond? I went there for the treasures.”
At that juncture, Hossom appeared depressed.
“Initially, I wanted to find out the secret of Bazar Temple. But, I don't know what's wrong with Prima. She must've gone crazy to
ask me to bring her along. She wants to elope with me!”
“Elope! Hahaha...”
Kaga could not help but burst out laughing when she heard that. She laughed so hard that she fell on the couch and could not
get up.
Jonathan, on the other hand, looked at the duo in puzzlement.
“You played the knight in shining armor and saved the damsel in distress. Isn't it normal for her to fall for you?”
“What are you talking about? How is that normal?”
An ugly scowl emerged on Hossom's face.
“Prima is a holy maiden, the High Priestess of Seboxia. Now that she has fallen for me, a mortal, those people's only solution is
to annihilate me!”