The Greatest Sinner

Everyone fears and avoids evil organizations. The authorities are trying to destroy them. It seems that everyone is against the evil organizations and soon they will be destroyed, but they don`t disappear, they become stronger. There is one simple explanation for that- people are constantly joining these organizations. Darkness is an attraction.

What's more, the more dangerous and hateful the organization is, the more people want to be a part of it. Each had its own reasons. Someone wanted to become stronger, someone wanted to be rich and have authority, and someone was looking for a place that he could call home.

The underworld isn't just a gang of thugs, it's a whole universe with its own rules.

Of course, usually, the evil organizations are joined by various criminals, bandits, and murderers. But, some people join because of their own motives or because they like the ideology of this or that organization.

The book Evan just had read was meant to warn the newbie magicians and show them how many dangerous organizations there are in the world. But, it had the opposite effect on Evan. Since that moment to "Join the "Demonic Tree" was his main concern.

Evan was originally going to leave after reading two medium-sized books, but now his plans had changed. He started looking for books that would tell him more about the "Demonic Tree." He was curious about their purposes and the crimes the organization had committed.

Evan didn't have to look long, the "Demonic Tree" was a powerful and well-known organization in the underground world. There were several books devoted to it on the first floor of the library. Nevertheless, after reading one of them, Evan wasn`t satisfied with the amount of information.

<Hmm, most of this book is just a repetition of what I've already read. I`ve certainly learned about a few events the "Demonic Tree" was involved in, but it isn't enough. Moreover, there are virtually no specifics. It`s said that the people wearing red mantles were seen there. The "Demonic Tree" clearly knows how to operate secretly and cover its tracks.>

Evan thought, putting the book back on the shelf. Two hours later, Evan had read two more thick books that had at least some information about the "Demonic Tree".

Unfortunately, he didn't learn much. Of course, Evan didn't expect to find the books with information on how to join this organization, where their base was, or who their leader was.

<All right, I`ve got some information. First of all, the "Demonic Tree" never does anything that draws a lot of attention. They've never attacked any city or densely populated area. Now I should figure out why they act this way, is it because they're afraid of something?>

Evan didn't believe that the "Demonic Tree' were cowards and therefore had never acted loudly and large scale. He thought there was some sense in their actions, for they were not a gang of bandits, but a huge organization with its own goals.

<Purposes...what purposes do they pursue if their members were noticed only in some outskirts and even ruins>.

From the information he had received, all the time someone had spotted members of the "Demonic Tree", it had happened in some very obscure places. What's more, the eyewitnesses were, as a rule, ordinary people who simply spoke of seeing someone in red mantles.

Only once did the members of the "Demonic Tree" appear in one of the villages, but they didn't touch anyone and quickly left it. Moreover, this village was on the outskirts of "The Kingdom of Fallen Hopes", near the border with another kingdom. In other words, it was a very inconspicuous place.

All of the information in the books was collected by ordinary people, independent magicians and in particular, the "Tears of Light" organization.

"Tears of Light" was a righteous organization, or at least it made itself out to be so.

The "Tears of Light" caught criminals, took down entire criminal organizations and kept order. They also worked closely with the authorities. They had enormous resources and powerful magicians in their ranks.

They were the main haters of the entire underworld. The most important task of the "Tears of Light" was to completely destroy the entire underground world. In that case,  the common people and the magicians could live in peace and not worry about anything. Of course, they, like other "light" organizations wanted to hunt down and eradicate the "Demonic Tree".

The motives of the "Tears of Light" were certainly good, but in Evan's opinion, it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. With their speeches about how they wanted to change the world for the better, they were simply deceiving the gullible masses. Their real goal was to take control of all sorts of territories. That`s why they wanted so vehemently to crush the underworld that was impregnable to them. It was a simple game for power and resources.

After a few minutes of reflection, Evan realized something: <They're looking for something...>

He had no other explanation for the "Demonic Tree's" actions. They didn't appear in public, rob or kill merchants or other magicians. They didn't attack clans or families of any kind. All they did was appear occasionally in inconspicuous places.

Of course, that was just a guess, but Evan was sure he was right. There were no other reasons.

Realizing what was the real task of the "Demonic Tree", Evan smiled. For him, it was good news as he immediately came up with a plan to find them.

<So, first I need a map of the entire kingdom, and I should read a few more books and find out about most of the places they've already been. That way I can find out where I shouldn't go and where I can settle down and wait for them. It's not a good plan, but it's the only one I have>. Evan thought and quickly left the library.

He wasn't going to look for members of the "Demonic Tree" right now. 

  To begin with, he needed to gather the necessary information and cure the one-eyed raven. Nevertheless, he had already started his preparations. First, he was going to take the task, then head to the nearest store for everything he needed.

In high spirits, Evan approached one of the bulletin boards. The Academy was as big as the city itself, so the number of tasks was incredible. The students were constantly taking and completing them, but they weren't getting any fewer, conversely, more and more.

<That's what Draven was talking about.> Evan thought to himself, looking at the task with the mark indicating that it was only available to the "Inner students".

The tasks themselves were a simple sheet of paper where it was written the type of mission, the reward, and other information. In some missions, it was required for the magician to have certain skills, equipment, or experience in some field.

Evan wanted to go to the "Half-Dead Forest" or another area near it. Moreover, he didn't want any companions, so tasks like escort or protection he immediately rejected.

<I met Sana when she was gathering Azure Dandelions. I think I need a task like "collecting" or "killing">