Chapter 66: Patience Is Eventually Rewarded

Chapter 66: Patience Is Eventually Rewarded

The City of Silver, at the top of the round tower, inside the Chief’s room.

Colin Iliad, his hair graying and his face marked with old scars, gazed through the window at the deep darkness outside. Only after a mass of silver-white sharp radiance abruptly erupted in the distance, bringing several seconds of light, did he withdraw his gaze and nod gently.

“Hillmon has successfully advanced…”

His eyes then fell upon the young man standing in the center of the room, a boy only a little over two meters tall.

“Derrick, do you know why, after our first exploration of the Giant King’s Court, I—who had already become a Sequence 3 Silver Knight—kept pressing down the follow-up plan and refused to carry it out?”

Derrick thought for a moment and said, “Your Excellency, on one hand, you wished to see whether there was another path that could bypass the sea and reach the shore. On the other, you were waiting for another elder of the six-member council to advance to Sequence 3.”

And now, both of those matters had been completed.

Nearly five months earlier, an exploration team from the City of Silver had discovered a hidden path that bypassed the mountain where the Giant King’s Court stood and reached the seashore. However, that sea was illusory and could not be traversed at all. Forcing one’s way into the water would only cause the body to gradually disintegrate.

Now, another demigod of the six-member council, Waite Hillmon, had finally advanced, becoming a Sequence 3 Silver Knight. He could possess his own honorific name and, within a certain range, answer the prayers of other residents of the City of Silver.

Colin Iliad sighed.

“Very good. Your understanding of the matter is clear and comprehensive.

“If not because there was truly no other way, I would indeed be unwilling to take you into the Giant King’s Court again and attempt to open the palace where the Dark Angel sleeps…”

At that point, Demon Hunter Colin paused before continuing.

“I do not know how much danger such an exploration will bring. I can only make sufficient preparations in advance. Now that Hillmon has finally succeeded, even if an accident occurs afterward and we cannot return, he and the other elders can support the City of Silver, allowing everything to continue and waiting for the next opportunity.”

He studied Derrick for a few seconds, then nodded in approval.

“Your growth has exceeded my expectations. If not because the matter of the Giant King’s Court began with you, I truly would have wanted to keep you in the City of Silver as a reserve elder of the six-member council.”

Hearing this, Derrick Berg answered without the slightest hesitation, “Even if you wanted to keep me in the City of Silver, I would still apply to go.”

This was the light he had seen. This was the opportunity in his heart that could save the City of Silver. For it, he was willing to pay any price.

A rare faint smile appeared on Colin Iliad’s face.

“You are still too young. Once you experience as many things as I have, you will understand that compared to drawing your sword and sacrificing yourself in a rush of hot blood, enduring humiliation and helplessness while holding fast in the darkness is far more difficult and far more painful.

“If you do not believe it, you can go ask Hillmon later. Ask him whether he would rather lead the exploration team to the Giant King’s Court, or stay behind in the City of Silver.”

Derrick fell silent. His mouth opened, but he could not speak.

Colin Iliad did not continue on that topic. Instead, he asked, “Has your Light Priest potion been completely digested?”

“It was fully digested last week,” Derrick answered frankly.

Colin Iliad nodded.

“Have you gathered the supplementary ingredients?”

Derrick gave an “Mm.”

“They have all been gathered. Only the ritual has not yet been prepared.”

His ritual required stripping away the strongest emotion he was most unwilling to give up, then returning it after he consumed the potion.

After several Tarot Gatherings of discussion, and after Miss Justice privately experimented, they now had a mature plan:

It would rely on this Sequence 4 Manipulator’s control over the domain of the mind, using Mr. Fool’s Angelic Embrace as the support to complete the process.

Demon Hunter Colin did not urge him. Calmly, he said, “Do not rush. The second exploration of the Giant King’s Court will still have to wait for a while.”

“Wait for me to become an Unshadowed?” Derrick asked of his own initiative.

Colin Iliad did not deny it. He nodded slightly.

“We are also waiting for Lovia to become a Black Knight. Her materials and ritual have already been prepared.”

Hearing those words, Derrick immediately felt pressure.

…

The Rorsted Archipelago’s capital, Bayam, the City of Generosity, at the top of the bell tower attached to the Church of Waves.

The Church of Storms’ cardinal, senior deacon of the Mandated Punishers, Sea King Yan Kottman, stood behind the railing, gazing at the sea, which was no longer quite so blue, and at the wreckage of ships still burning upon it.

“Hmph. In my territorial waters, even a War Bishop must lower his head…” This demigod, whose body was lined with well-defined muscles and whose face had hard, deep-cut lines, withdrew his gaze while muttering under his breath.

He had deep-blue hair as thick as small worms and a pair of deep-blue eyes. He controlled the weather and sea surrounding the Rorsted Archipelago.

Alger Wilson, standing beside this Sea King, showed not the slightest impatience. He waited patiently for Yan Kottman to shift his attention to him.

Beyonders of the Sailor pathway were mostly hot-tempered, but when facing higher-ranking members of the same pathway, they often shared the trait of trembling obedience. This stemmed from the characteristics of the Tyrant.

After that mutter, Sea King Yan Kottman finally turned his gaze toward Alger, who currently led a “pirate” fleet. Without much expression, he said, “Your performance this time was quite good. The Cardinals’ Council has passed its review of you and has decided that I will host your advancement ritual.”

After receiving the Queen of Calamity Cohinem’s relic, Alger had found an opportunity to report the matter to Sea King Yan Kottman.

He began with his trip to the primitive forest of Sonia Island to search for an elven ruin and gave a full account of his experience, changing only two details:

First, he described his deliberate visit to the elven ruin as searching for a suitable location to ambush Feysac forces. This was supported by several sailors who had been present at the time.

Second, he downplayed his initiative afterward. He only said that, on the night they explored the elven ruin, he dreamed of a certain female high-ranking elf and drank a cup of wine from her. After nothing abnormal happened afterward, he did not pay too much attention. Only after he came to the Rorsted Archipelago, one night after waking from deep sleep, did he suddenly discover that he had entered a magnificent underwater palace and picked up a coral branch flickering with electric light.

Although many witnesses and pieces of physical evidence proved that Alger’s description was true, Sea King Yan Kottman had not fully believed him. He had sent Alger back to Pasu Island to undergo an examination by Pope Gad II.

With the help of the Angelic Embrace, Alger appeared to tremble helplessly before that Tyrant-like aura. Without holding anything back, he confessed that after meeting that female high-ranking elf in his dream, he had indeed developed a certain ambition. Because of that, he had taken the initiative to go to the Rorsted Archipelago, hoping to receive the legacy. In reality, however, he concealed the core secret and the most serious problem.

By confessing his “ambition,” he had passed the examination. As for whether that female high-ranking elf had given him an opportunity because he possessed some elven blood, or whether she hid another purpose, he expressed that he did not know, and hoped His Holiness the Pope could investigate the truth so he could set his mind at ease.

Alger displayed fear toward the unknown, making the cardinals believe this was the main reason he had reported the strange encounter.

This plan had been designed by Alger himself, though he had received Miss Justice’s advice, making every link more consistent with human nature.

Of course, just as expected, after that, Alger had not immediately received an advancement ritual. Instead, he had entered a period of observation.

The Pope of the Church of Storms, an angel upon the earth, had strengthened the seal inside Alger’s body, preventing the Calamity Priest characteristic from seeping out and affecting him for two years.

Over the past half-year, Alger had led the pirate fleet assigned to him in harassing Feysac and Feynapotter ships. He had even directly participated in naval battles, taking no small risks and rendering meritorious service again and again. He fully displayed his devotion to the Lord of Storms and his obedience to the Church’s commands.

Finally, after the recent naval battle at Rorsted, and as the situation grew increasingly difficult, he had received the Cardinals’ Council’s acknowledgment.

Alger visibly inhaled, then struck his right fist against his left chest and shouted, “The storm above!”

His agitation was half performance, half sincere, because over the past half-year, he had truly been under no small amount of pressure:

Madam Hermit had already digested the Mysticologist potion and was preparing to advance to Sequence 3 Clairvoyant.

Although Miss Justice had not yet fully digested the Manipulator potion, she had already made considerable progress. Furthermore, when she had first joined the Tarot Club, she had been a complete novice. Now, she had become a true half-god, half-human existence. What separated her from Alger was no longer merely one Sequence, but an entire level.

Before long, The Sun would advance to Sequence 4 Unshadowed and obtain divinity.

The Star had also finished digesting his Sequence 5 potion and accumulated many merits, only waiting for the upper ranks to give him an opportunity.

After journey after journey, Miss Magician was not far from fully digesting her potion, and her teacher had already prepared the materials for her corresponding Sequence 4 Secrets Sorcerer potion.

As for The World Gehrman Sparrow, there was no need to mention him. Even if he suddenly announced that he had become an angel, Alger would not find it strange.

Miss Judgment was currently a Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin and was digesting her potion, working hard to catch up with everyone else.

Even The Moon, who essentially disliked striving, had developed a certain anxiety because of all this and was seeking the possibility of becoming a Sanguine earl.

Facing this situation, Alger, one of the Tarot Club’s most senior members, naturally did not want to be left behind. He urgently longed to advance to Sequence 4 and become a demigod.

After so many days, he had constantly suppressed the agitation in his heart and waited patiently. He had twice shown signs of losing control, forcing him to request treatment from Miss Justice.

And now, he had finally obtained the answer he wanted most:

He had passed the examination. The ritual could be prepared.