togophonebook Chapter 269: The Beginning Of An Era
Chapter 269: The Beginning Of An Era
___ 5 Months Later ___
Five months passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. Yet within those five months, the world changed dramatically.
Just a week after Twenty consolidated control over the Black Apostle Cartel, an explosive conflict erupted between Mexico and Lebanon.
At first, many analysts dismissed it as another regional dispute that would eventually cool down through diplomacy.
But they were wrong. The conflict escalated with frightening speed. In mere weeks, missiles were exchanged, military installations were struck and economic sanctions followed.
Then, barely two months later, Mexico committed ground forces to the conflict.
From that point onward, the war stopped being a political crisis and became a genuine international concern.
As casualties mounted and alliances became involved, fears of a much larger confrontation spread throughout the global community.
During this period, the Order of Moses seemingly vanished from the United States. Their most influential missionaries disappeared almost overnight.
Officially, they had been redirected toward humanitarian missions in war-torn regions.
To ordinary people, the explanation sounded noble. But to those who understood how the hidden world operated, the truth was far more concerning.
The moment the Order of Moses appeared in a conflict zone, it meant a third force had entered the battlefield.
And whenever supernatural organizations became involved, wars rarely remained ordinary for long.
While the world focused on conflict overseas, the Ministry of Love continued its meteoric rise.
What began as a small parish in Chicago had evolved into a movement with global reach.
The reason was simple, the Ministry solved problems.
People did not need to wait for promises of a better tomorrow. They received help immediately.
Under the authority of the Throne of Power, Faceless’s miracles had evolved considerably over the past months. His influence could now reach people thousands of miles away.
Entire families gathered around screens and livestreams to pray in his name. And in many cases, their prayers were answered.
Stories spread faster than any marketing campaign.
A mother claiming her son recovered after praying to Faceless.
A struggling businessman whose fortunes suddenly reversed.
A cancer patient whose condition improved unexpectedly.
Some stories were exaggerated and others completely true. But together, they created something unstoppable.
Belief.
Religious organizations across the country began bleeding followers at alarming rates.
Traditional churches preached patience while the Ministry of Love produced visible results.
People naturally migrated toward what appeared to work. And because of this donations arrived from every corner of society.
Politicians donated.
Business owners donated.
Ordinary workers donated.
Retirees donated.
Students donated.
Within five months alone, the Ministry of Love accumulated over five hundred million dollars.
Construction of its main headquarters had already begun under Twenty’s supervision. The future complex would resemble less of a church and more of a city.
Faceless meanwhile had become the most recognizable figure on the planet. Despite rarely speaking and never showing his face.
His connection to Damian Hill played a major role in Damian’s successful election as a judge.
Strangely enough, despite all this attention, Damian remained untouched. The silence itself felt suspicious because everyone knew it could not last forever.
Sooner or later, something would move.
___ Ministry Of Love, Chicago Headquarters ___
Faceless sat upon the Throne of Power just as he had done nearly every day during the past five months.
The parish never truly closed. Day and night, people arrived seeking help and everyone was welcomed.
Most visitors believed the Ministry operated purely out of compassion. Only a handful understood the truth.
Every dark miracle carried a cost and the payments rarely appeared obvious, yet they accumulated steadily.
He quietly chipped away their lifespans which in turn became talent points for him.
Over the course of five months, the amount of talent points gathered through countless miracles had exceeded one thousand. Even by demonic standards, the growth was absurd.
Bam!
The massive parish doors suddenly burst open and Faceless’s lifeless gaze shifted toward the entrance.
A violent snowstorm raged beyond.
Despite it being that time of the season, the sight alone was impossible. Damian has lived here Chicago was nowhere near cold enough to produce such conditions.
Yet a blizzard roared outside the entrance as though winter itself had arrived.
Freezing winds poured into the building and frost immediately spread across portions of the doorway.
Ice crawled along nearby walls as several candles extinguished themselves. The bulk of the freezing current raced directly toward the altar and Faceless.
Yet the moment the wind reached him, it split cleanly in half like water striking an invisible mountain.
The freezing currents diverted around his seated figure before crashing into opposite walls. Ice rapidly spread outward from the impact points and the temperature inside the parish plummeted.
Then came beautiful but haunting laughter. The sound echoed throughout the empty building like a melody carried by the storm.
A figure slowly materialized from swirling snowflakes. At first there was only mist, then a silhouette and finally details emerged.
A woman stepped forward.
Snow white hair flowed down her back like fresh snowfall beneath moonlight while her skin carried a faint bluish hue that seemed almost crystalline.
Elegant garments of pale blue and silver draped around her form, giving her the appearance of something both regal and otherworldly.
Most striking of all were her pure white like frozen stars. Even Faceless found himself studying her longer than intended.
This kind of beauty that felt unnatural.
The kind that made a person wonder whether they were looking at a woman or a force of nature wearing human skin.
"Exquisite." His deep voice echoed throughout the parish.
The woman smiled and bowed respectfully.
"Your compliment means the world, my prince." Her voice carried warmth despite the cold surrounding her.
As she entered further into the parish, frost spread beneath each step she took. Thin layers of ice formed briefly across the stone floor before fading moments later.
By the time she reached the foot of the altar, the entire parish had become unnaturally silent. Only the distant howl of the fading blizzard remained.
Faceless leaned slightly forward upon the throne. His burning eye behind the fox mask narrowed.
After five months of peace, the first visitor capable of truly threatening him had finally arrived.