Chapter 93: Hope

Chapter 93: Hope

A bolt of lightning flashed across the deep, high sky, illuminating the entire City of Silver. But it did not last long, swiftly dimming and fading, allowing the world to return to darkness.

After Derrick Berg opened his eyes, he immediately rolled out of bed and headed straight for the door.

But as he walked, his steps slowed. An obvious look of difficulty appeared on his face.

How should I bring up the Creator’s relic with the Chief? Should I directly tell him that I have my eye on an item? No, that will not do. Although according to Mr. Hanged Man, the Chief has a tacit understanding regarding similar matters, it still feels as though I should not be that direct… Derrick had always been a rather thin-skinned youth. Even when his parents had still been alive, he had rarely reached out and asked for things.

He stopped where he was and carefully recalled how Miss Justice, Mr. Hanged Man, and the other Tarot Club members who were skilled in conversation behaved. He hoped that by imitating them, he could find reasonable wording.

After simulating things for quite some time, Derrick gritted his teeth and decided to be a little more direct after all.

He picked up Thunder God’s Roar, opened the door, stepped out onto the street, and made his way toward the twin towers in the northern part of the city.

Along the way, many residents of the City of Silver had come out from their homes. Smiles filled their faces as they gathered in the direction of the training ground.

This period was the “season” when black-faced grass was harvested. It was the City of Silver’s “festival” for offering sacrifices to the Creator. It was also one of the rare times each year when the people who struggled to survive in the darkness could feel happiness from the bottom of their hearts.

Watching children who nearly skipped as they walked, and adults wearing black-faced-grass amulets and rings, listening to their conversations and the songs that occasionally rang out, Derrick’s mood gradually calmed. His footsteps grew more and more resolute.

Arriving at the round tower of the twin towers, and after being announced, he met Colin Iliad, Chief of the City of Silver’s six-member council, in a room at the top of the tower.

This Demon Hunter was the same as usual. His graying hair was rather messy and neglected, deep nasolabial folds marked his face, and old scars—some deep, some twisted—still remained. His pale-blue eyes were profound and weathered, as though capable of seeing through the human heart.

After Derrick finished saluting, Colin nodded.

“How is your grasp of the Priest of Light potion?”

He was referring to the restraint of spirituality and proficiency in the corresponding divine spells.

Derrick answered frankly,

“It is still a little lacking.”

“Mm. There is no need to hurry. The other members of the exploration team this time are not fully prepared either. They still need a certain amount of time, just like Lovia, who is gathering and searching for the materials for her advancement.” Colin Iliad mentioned this as though unintentionally.

As expected, Elder Lovia will also participate in this exploration of the Giant King’s Court… Is she attempting to open the door to demigodhood? Derrick froze for two seconds, then asked without concealing anything,

“Elder Lovia has the subsequent potion formula?”

This had always been a problem troubling that Shepherd elder, preventing her from becoming a demigod for many years.

“Yes.” Colin gave an affirmative answer, but offered no explanation.

He instead asked,

“Why have you come this time?”

Derrick felt slightly anxious from listening and still did not make his request. Yet he said with considerable directness,

“Your Excellency Chief, I have discovered a relic of the Creator. It corresponds to Sequence 4 of the Sun pathway, Unshadowed.”

Tall and sturdy, dressed in a linen shirt, Colin Iliad’s eyes focused sharply. His gaze immediately changed.

It contained emotions so complicated and difficult to describe that Derrick froze where he was, forgetting what he was going to say next.

Amid an indescribable silence, Demon Hunter Colin spoke in a voice that sounded slightly low:

“A relic?”

Derrick’s pupils constricted. Only then did he realize that he had carelessly said something tremendous.

He had suffered for a long time over the possibility that the Creator had already been devoured, had completely fallen, and would never return. Because of that, he had developed the illusion that this was common knowledge.

Facing the Chief’s question and gaze, Derrick fell silent and, for a moment, truly did not know how to explain.

After hesitating for several seconds, he finally opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Yes. A relic.

“The Kings betrayed the Lord…”

Subconsciously, he used the title the clergyman in Afternoon Town had used for the Kings of Angels.

Colin looked at Derrick, simply looking at him. For a short time, his pale-blue eyes seemed to lose focus.

The Demon Hunter did not speak for a long while. Nearly a full minute passed before he said in a calm tone,

“I understand.”

His voice had unconsciously become somewhat low. He did not ask where the Creator’s relic that Derrick had discovered was, what it looked like, or what effects it had.

The depth returned to his gaze. He did not continue the previous topic and instead said,

“You have already become Sequence 5. You are now qualified to learn which Saint-level Sealed Artifacts the City of Silver possesses. Once you can properly restrain your spirituality and fully master your divine spells, I will give you the corresponding information and bring you to the place where they are sealed.

“If you can harmonize with a certain Saint-level Sealed Artifact and reduce its negative effects, then you may wield it.”

Here, “harmonize” referred to Derrick’s mind being sufficiently similar to the residual mental imprint of the high-sequence expert inside the Sealed Artifact, allowing him to reduce terrifying negative effects through a certain degree of deception.

In the City of Silver, common Beyonder characteristics and materials were not lacking. Everyone also grasped the acting method. What hindered their advancement was mainly that rituals were difficult to satisfy. Sometimes, lacking the potion formula did not prevent advancing from Sequence 8 to Sequence 7, or Sequence 7 to Sequence 6. As long as the previous advancement had been completed through the correct method of consuming a potion, and the potion had been thoroughly digested, then if one was willing to take the risk, one could attempt direct advancement by swallowing a Beyonder characteristic. The probability of success was not too low. However, from Sequence 6 to Sequence 5, without ritual assistance, the probability of success became very low.

Thus, in the City of Silver, Sequence 6 Beyonders existed in considerable numbers, while Sequence 5 began to become rare. It was a class that received great attention.

Why did the Chief suddenly bring this up… Does he mean I can use a Saint-level Sealed Artifact I choose to exchange for the Creator’s relic? But I haven’t even expressed that intention yet… Mm. When the time comes, I will first sacrifice the information to Mr. Fool and see which item can please Him… Derrick froze for several seconds before he came to a realization. He nodded solemnly.

“Yes, Your Excellency Chief.”

He said nothing more. After taking his leave, he prepared to attend the Harvest Festival.

Demon Hunter Colin watched his back vanish through the doorway. Then he slowly walked to the window and cast his gaze toward the altar near the training ground.

Many people had already gathered there. They surrounded the Creator’s altar, either pleasing the deity with ancient dances or opening their throats to sing praises to the great existence.

Obvious smiles hung on all their faces, and their eyes were filled with longing and anticipation, as though if they endured for just a few more years, the Creator would return and all suffering would end.

Expectations like these had been shattered again and again over the past two to three thousand years, only to rise again and again, supporting people’s hearts against despair and suppression.

Colin Iliad stood beside the window, watching with focus, watching seriously.

…

Backlund, Böklund Street.

After returning to the real world from above the gray fog, Klein’s mood was rather heavy.

That page of Emperor Roselle’s diary had allowed him to glimpse the Spectator’s secret and understand just how dangerous continuing to investigate the king’s matter would be—even with the Church of Evernight behind him and the Goddess’s protection.

The main issue is that the Goddess is digesting the Death pathway’s Uniqueness. For a very long time, She will not be able to descend… I hope the Lord of Storms and the God of Steam and Machinery can respond in time at the crucial moment… No matter what, with Madam Arianna, Will Auceptin, and Pallez Zoroast around, even if I face a King of Angels, it is not certain death. Even if I die, They still have a chance to snatch my corpse back… The longer I hold on, the greater the hope of survival… Klein used self-mockery to ease his pressure.

Earlier, above the gray fog, he had already determined the next focus of his investigation. It would mainly be to track White Saintess Katerina and Trissy the Demoness, whose Sequence was currently unknown. As for Hvin Rambis, as long as the other party did not proactively contact Miss Justice, Klein would do his best not to search for him, lest he encounter an accident he had no way of resisting.

On one hand, I will wait for Miss Judgement’s feedback. On the other, I can try seeing whether I can find Vice Admiral Ailment and rely on a bloodline connection to lock onto White Saintess. The possibility is not too great. The three Churches can definitely think of this method as well, and the Demoness Sect cannot possibly be without a countermeasure… Later, I will have Danitz try to gather items related to Vice Admiral Ailment. I can use the gray fog’s interference-blocking ability to divine… Mm, in passing, I will ask him about Anderson’s situation. That is not urgent. The Unshadowed Cross is currently undergoing experimentation… Klein reined in his thoughts and rolled out of bed.

He had already used the gray fog’s suppression to bind the Unshadowed Cross together with the mystical item Severed Finger. He would see, the next time he went up, whether a Beyonder characteristic had separated out.

After resting at home for a while, Klein changed clothes and brought his personal valet Enuni out. He prepared to go to Saint Samuel Cathedral to pray, then stop by the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation.

This personal valet was actually not Winner Enuni, but Qonas Kilgor. The real Enuni had already used the Ring of Blood Flower to transform into flesh and hide inside the Fallen Count’s stomach.

At this time, Backlund’s weather was seasonally gloomy. Yet the gas lamps enclosed by iron grates on both sides of the road had not been lit, while inside the houses to either side, a few sparse lights burned.

Klein looked at it all expressionlessly. Riding in a carriage, he went from Böklund Street to Pessfield Street, first praying at Saint Samuel Cathedral. Then he put on his top hat, took his cane, and walked toward the Loen Charity Bursary Foundation.

As he neared the entrance, he heard a jingling sound and saw Miss Audrey riding out from a nearby alley on a modified, rather exquisite bicycle without a crossbar.

She wore a plain white dress and a pair of black leather shoes. Her golden hair was simply pinned up, and her emerald eyes watched the road with concentration. On the seat behind her squatted a large golden retriever who could keep her balance no matter how the bicycle swayed.

Noticing the refined gentleman with graying temples ahead, Audrey lifted the corners of her mouth slightly. With a clear smile and a light tone, she greeted him:

“Good afternoon, Mr. Dantès.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Audrey. You seem to be in quite a good mood?” Klein watched her brake the bicycle and support herself with one foot.

Audrey pursed her lips, and her smile grew a little brighter.

“You are right. I truly am in a good mood. After riding around a few times like this, I feel as though my worries have disappeared.”