Chapter 209: A Logical Development

Chapter 209: A Logical Development

The moment Anderson saw the middle-aged man dressed like a priest, he froze for a second. Then he felt as though a shackle in his mind had shattered with a crash. Countless fragments of memory broke through an invisible barrier and surged out, like emotions that had been suppressed for too long finally finding release.

He remembered what had truly happened over the past two months. He remembered what task that demigod had given him!

Back in Bayam, after following the thought in his heart and meeting up with that demigod, he had followed the other party away from the Rorsted Archipelago by ship and arrived at a hidden place.

There, he had met this priest beside him. He had been arranged to enter an ancient coffin and lie down in a liquid mixed from Beyonder materials and strange blood plasma, allowing them to seep into him bit by bit.

After more than a month of corrosion, a deep crimson “cocoon” had formed inside his body. Then the memories of that period were “locked away.” He had been sent to West Balam and implanted with a psychological suggestion that he could not leave before recovering those memories.

In other words, the task that demigod had given him had not yet been completed. It was still ongoing. Everything before this had merely been preparation!

As image after image flashed through his mind, Anderson realized that from the moment he performed on the street with a harmonica, to checking into a hotel with Danitz, to seeking a Tongues charm from a missionary of the Church of Knowledge, to coming to the Northern State and arriving at this very day, this seemingly gentle and innocent priest had always been beside him.

When he ate, the priest sat at the next table. When he checked in, the priest slept in the room beside his. When he walked along the street, the priest walked shoulder to shoulder with him. When he played the harmonica and performed with a hand puppet, the one watching him gently from across the way was also the priest!

Anderson had noticed none of this at the time. Neither had Danitz beside him, nor any of the other people around them. It was as though no one had ever seen this priest at all!

A chill born from the depths of his heart rose from his tailbone and shot straight into Anderson’s mind. Merely recalling what he had lived through over this period made him feel as though he might go mad and lose control.

Having already pulled some distance away from Anderson, Danitz glanced at Ince Zangwill in his black clerical robe, then at the plain priest currently praying with his eyes closed. He hurriedly lowered his head and began softly reciting in ancient Hermes:

“The Fool that doesn’t belong to this era;

“The mysterious ruler above the gray fog;

“The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck…”

Many days earlier, he had received an oracle from Mr. Fool, instructing him to pretend to handle business while, in truth, remaining hidden around Anderson and praying immediately if anything abnormal happened.

Although he did not know what would occur, nor whom he might encounter, Danitz, who had always treasured his life dearly, decided he would carry out the instruction without the slightest discount. Even if the abnormality turned out to be nothing more than him overthinking things, he would still do exactly as told!

For this reason, he had deliberately put on the boxing glove crafted from the Beyonder characteristic left behind by Groselle, ensuring that, in similar circumstances, he would act before thinking and not waste even a fraction of time.

At that moment, Ince Zangwill’s footsteps stopped. His eyes—one deep blue approaching black, the other crawling with blood vessels—simultaneously reflected the priest in plain white robes and a silver cross pendant.

Within his mind, and through his mouth, an enraged voice rang out:

“Adam!”

The Son of the Creator, the King of Angels, Adam!

Before Ince Zangwill’s voice had even faded, the plain priest…