Chapter 133: The Diligent Gardener

Chapter 133: The Diligent Gardener

Above the gray fog, Klein, seated in the position of The Fool, beckoned and brought the Unshadowed Crucifix over.

The verdigris-covered cross was currently bound together with an ordinary-looking button. On the surface of that button, a layer of particles had already separated out—clearly crystal clear, yet giving off a heavy, majestic feeling.

This was The Hermit Cattleya’s Judge button. It had been reserved for Judgment Xio at the price of 3,500 pounds, so the Admiral of Stars had sacrificed it to Mr. Fool in advance, asking this great existence to have one of His angels help shatter it.

At Monday’s Tarot Gathering, Judgment Xio had also reserved the Judge potion formula at a price of 2,000 pounds.

According to their agreement, anything obtained while exploring Groselle’s Travels, aside from knowledge, could not be shared by Justice Audrey. She had only provided unpaid assistance for the previous killing of Hvin Rambis. As for The Star Leonard, he had the right to sell potion formulas and historical knowledge, but it was obvious that Judgment Xio trusted The World Gehrman Sparrow more.

“It has separated out more or less completely. Now I can safely exchange the Unshadowed Crucifix to Little Sun… After this, if they have similar needs, they’ll definitely be more willing to trade with Little Sun rather than ask Mr. Fool for help. No one dares frequently trouble a hidden existence unless they truly have no other choice…

“By the time Little Sun has the chance to become a demigod and turns the Unshadowed Crucifix into a Beyonder characteristic, I should also be Sequence 3. At that point, I’ll be able to draw on more of the power of this mysterious space above the gray fog and directly shatter sealed artifacts…

“After the gray fog’s ‘disinfection,’ Adam shouldn’t be able to use the Unshadowed Crucifix to lock onto Little Sun. But even if He really can find him through it, that isn’t too serious. His brother, Amon, already knows that Little Sun is connected to Mr. Fool…

“Mm. Amon seems able to freely enter and leave the Forsaken Land of the Gods. I wonder if Adam can do the same…” As these thoughts ran through Klein’s mind, he separated the Unshadowed Crucifix from the button that had begun praising the sun, watched the separated Beyonder characteristic condense, and waited for Little Sun to perform the sacrificial and bestowment ritual.

…

The City of Silver, inside the round tower.

Derrick Berg finished setting up the ritual. He watched as a puppet formed from black soil approached while holding a plain, log-colored staff that appeared to possess nothing unusual, then placed it on the altar.

After earnest prayers and some busy preparations, the illusory door of sacrifice and bestowment opened. It took away the Staff of Life and left behind a verdigris-covered cross covered in thorns.

At the same time, the name of the cross, its method of use, and its negative effects abruptly appeared in Derrick’s mind.

Suppressing his excitement, he first thanked Mr. Fool. Only then did he end the ritual, walk to the front of the altar, pick up the Unshadowed Crucifix, and examine it over and over.

After cleaning up the scene, Derrick left the room, went across the hall, and knocked on the Chief’s door.

“Come in,” Colin Iliad’s deep voice sounded from within.

Derrick turned the handle, pushed the door open, and walked inside. He openly displayed the verdigris-covered cross.

“Your Excellency, Chief, this is the object left behind by the Lord that I mentioned before. It is called the Unshadowed Crucifix. To use it, one must let the thorns on it be stained with the holder’s blood.”

This time, he had deliberately changed “relic” to “object left behind.”

The moment white-haired Colin saw Derrick take out that ancient cross, his gaze had already fallen upon it. After listening to the introduction, his steps became slightly heavy as he came directly over, took the item, and inspected it from every angle.

Finally, Colin Iliad pressed his thumb against one of the thorns and let fresh red blood flow out.

The mottled verdigris began to peel away. The Unshadowed Crucifix revealed a solid body formed from pure light, illuminating the entire room until there was not the slightest trace of shadow left.

After an indescribable sacredness filled the surrounding area, Colin released his finger and sighed.

“This is indeed the Lord’s item…”

Although he had been born more than two thousand years after the City of Silver was “abandoned” and had never had any chance to personally experience a deity’s aura, the city-state still preserved many items once used in worship of that Creator. Each time the black-faced grass was harvested, they would be brought out to join the ritual. By comparing this cross with those objects, Colin Iliad could almost confirm its origin.

Derrick had originally wanted to respond, but the heavy meaning in the Chief’s words suddenly pressed down upon his heart, leaving him unable to speak.

Colin Iliad did not add anything either. Holding the Unshadowed Crucifix, he silently stood there.

Only after several dozen seconds did the Chief of the City of Silver break the quiet. His voice had grown somewhat hoarse.

“The return of the Lord’s item is an omen—an omen that we will welcome the dawn.

“Leave this Unshadowed Crucifix with me for half a day. I need to summon all elders currently in the city for a meeting and show this item to them.

“Heh. Even I cannot dispose of a saint-level sealed artifact as I please. Since the Staff of Life has been lost, I must give the other elders an explanation and request punishment. You must remember this: as Chief, one must possess the decisiveness to make temporary decisions, but also the courage to bear the corresponding responsibility. You cannot try to evade punishment simply because you believe something is good for the City of Silver. Perhaps you were right this time, but you cannot guarantee that you will be right every time.

“Rest assured. This Unshadowed Crucifix will ultimately return to your hands.”

The Chief’s words are so profound… I’ll ask Mr. Hanged Man to explain them at the next Tarot Gathering… Derrick instinctively wanted to raise his right hand and scratch the back of his head, but in the end, he held back. Instead, he informed Colin Iliad of the Unshadowed Crucifix’s negative effects.

…

Backlund, North Borough, 160 Böklund Street.

Klein sacrificed Winner Enyuni above the gray fog for “marionette preservation,” so he could continue using him later.

He intended to have “Fallen Earl” Qonas Kilgor wear the Blood Flower ring and wield the Staff of Life, occasionally creating a little shocking and bizarre atmosphere in everyday life to help speed up the digestion of his potion. If that happened, Enyuni could no longer use the Blood Flower ring to hide inside Qonas’s stomach and would need a different hiding place, which would be rather troublesome. It was better to place him above the gray fog first. After all, ordinary marionettes could be made by Klein whenever he wished.

Why does putting a marionette in a “fresh-keeping cabinet” feel so strange… It’s not like I’m acting in a horror movie… Though to be fair, this does fit the name Bizarro Sorcerer rather well. Mm. Zaratul and that angel of the Antigonus family both hung their marionettes up to “air-dry.” Compared with them, I’m much better! After rubbing his chin, Klein stuffed the plain, log-colored staff into a specially made cane he had bought through Miss Judgment.

The cane was hollow and could contain a not-too-wide longsword. Klein was now using it to hide the Staff of Life.

After finishing these tasks, he had the personal valet whose surface identity was Enyuni, but who was actually Qonas, take the cane and return to the neighboring room. He then washed up, went to bed, and slipped beneath the covers.

In his relaxed and pleasant sleep, Klein’s spiritual intuition was suddenly touched. He abruptly turned over and sat up, casting his gaze toward the attached balcony.

The curtains there had not been fully drawn, allowing him to see the situation outside.

Beyond the window was a stretch of dark green. Branches and vines crisscrossed. Flowers bloomed in dense, overlapping layers, so thick that Klein suspected he had been teleported into a forest.

“This…” The corner of Klein’s mouth twitched slightly as he vaguely guessed what had happened.

He got out of bed, strode to the balcony, and pulled the curtains completely open with a swish.

What entered his eyes was no longer the garden of Dwayne Dantès’s mansion, but a lush, flourishing “forest.”

“So this is what it means to fill the surrounding area with vitality, making both animals and plants grow vigorously and reproduce rapidly? Isn’t this a little too fast?” Klein’s expression instantly became somewhat blank.

Earlier, when he had divined the corresponding abilities and negative effects of the Staff of Life, he had “seen” similar scenes. However, the revelation he had received was that it did no real harm to the surroundings. Thus, he had believed that growth and reproduction were relatively long cycles that could be effectively controlled, and that only after indulging it for a very, very long time would the scene before him appear.

As that thought flashed through his mind, Klein began observing all the “Spirit Body Threads” in the nearby area. He discovered that the humans had not been affected much. Only rats, cockroaches, and similar creatures had clearly increased in number.

This result made him breathe a sigh of relief. Looking at the “forest” outside the window, he sighed silently.

“It really doesn’t do much harm. It’s just a little exaggerated… Most of the time, I’ll still have to keep it above the gray fog…”

A dozen or so seconds later, one figure after another appeared within that “forest.” Some were thin, some were rather solid. All “wore” black windbreakers, and all had completely flat faces, with no brows, no eyes, no nose, and no mouth.

These figures either crouched or stood, busily burning weeds, cutting vines, and plucking away excessive flowers in the quiet night.

The next morning, as usual, Butler Walter woke early and pushed open the window.

The garden outside was bathed in morning mist. Drops of dew had gathered on the plants, and the air gave off an unusually fresh scent.

“Better than yesterday…” Walter gave a slight nod and praised the two gardeners.

This vibrant scene stirred something in his heart. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he began to miss his wife. He left his room, made his rounds, arranged various matters, and finally waited outside the dining room.

Before long, his employer, Dwayne Dantès, came down from the third floor with his personal valet, Enyuni.

Walter stepped forward, bowed, reported the day’s arrangements, and then took the initiative to mention, “Sir, I would like to use one day of my monthly leave.”

As he spoke, he suddenly saw the skin on the neck of the mixed-blood valet behind and to the side of his employer split open, revealing a black eye.

Walter was startled and nearly stepped back. Yet after he blinked, he discovered that there was no strange eye at all on Enyuni’s neck.

I must not have slept well last night. I had some strange dreams, so I’m a little distracted and hallucinating… Walter hurriedly reined in his thoughts and lowered his head slightly.

Klein silently apologized in his heart and gave a gentle nod.

“No problem. Enjoy a wonderful day with your family.”