Chapter 55: Dorian’s Warning

Chapter 55: Dorian’s Warning

Gehrman Sparrow…

Dorian felt the veins on his forehead jump. His hands clenched involuntarily, and his body inexplicably grew a little tense.

Living in Pritz Harbor, whether actively or passively, he was far better informed about the various rumors circulating at sea than the citizens of Backlund, who relied on newspapers for their knowledge.

Over the past few months, he had often heard of Gehrman Sparrow through different channels: beginning with the killing of “Steel” Maviti, then the heavy injury inflicted upon Vice Admiral Ailment Tracy, and finally the successful hunt of Admiral of Blood Senor. Every one of these stories carried a streak of madness.

He has left the sea and come to Backlund? And his mad nature hasn’t changed at all!

Dorian concealed the fear and wariness that had instinctively risen within him. Looking at his student, he said in a deep voice, “In the future, contact that bounty hunter as little as possible.

“One day, he will cause a major incident—and it will not take long.”

As expected, Teacher is experienced and has a keen eye. He saw through Mr. World’s essence at once… Unfortunately, I’m already a member of the Tarot Club. It isn’t possible for me not to contact him…

Fors adjusted her state and sincerely nodded.

“Yes, Teacher.”

Dorian calmed his emotions, then looked deeply once more at his former student’s present enemy, Louis Wayne.

However, this Traveler could no longer speak. Even his spirituality had not left the slightest remnant.

After several seconds of silence, Dorian leaned back slightly and looked toward Fors.

“You said earlier that you paid ten thousand pounds as the bounty?”

He did not know Fors’s finances clearly. He only knew that this student was a bestselling novelist and should have no small amount of manuscript income. Moreover, she seemed to mix fairly well in several Beyonder circles and often conducted high-paying transactions. Therefore, it was not especially shocking or unacceptable that she might have saved ten thousand pounds.

Fors moved a little guiltily and said, “Was the premium too high?”

She deliberately used this question to cover up the fact that she had exaggerated the price, making herself appear inexperienced in such matters.

Dorian shook his head.

“No. It was too cheap.

“So cheap that I cannot help suspecting Gehrman Sparrow has some other purpose.”

As a member of the Abraham family, which had suffered repeated blows, he always maintained a very high degree of vigilance.

In the professional terminology used at clubs and gatherings, this is called the member’s price…

Fors inwardly lampooned, then “frankly” said, “There were other agreements, including that all items on Louis Wayne’s person would belong to him, and that I would provide certain effective assistance. Also, I promised that if he urgently needs cash later, I will provide around three thousand pounds in additional compensation.”

“That is barely reasonable,” Dorian said with a light nod. “Under normal circumstances, assassinating Louis Wayne, who is supported by the Aurora Order’s forces, would cost at least thirty thousand pounds. Mm, if there were other circumstances, the price would have to rise.”

Mr. World used a demigod-level ability from Leymano’s Travels at the time… That should count as encountering additional circumstances… A saint of the Aurora Order?

Long influenced by the Tarot Club, Fors was no stranger to the Aurora Order’s structure. Without concealing anything, she frowned and said, “In that case, it truly does seem a little abnormal. Perhaps he urgently needed money?”

Dorian thought for a moment.

“Perhaps he simply cares more about Louis Wayne’s Beyonder characteristic. To Beyonders of other pathways, it can be made into a very useful mystical item, so long as he can find a suitable Artisan…”

Dorian paused for two seconds, then added, “There is no need to mind it too much. Just keep away from him afterward.

“Perhaps he had already had his eye on Louis Wayne and merely used the intelligence you provided to take action. That way, he could also gain income beyond his original budget.”

Dorian did not continue on that topic. Instead, he took a fist-sized, pure crystal ball from his clothing pocket.

“It is made from star crystal and can effectively enhance your astrology.”

As light from outside the window shone upon it, brilliant “waves” appeared to ripple across the crystal ball.

Before Fors could refuse, Dorian chuckled.

“Louis Wayne was my enemy. The payment for eliminating him ought to be paid by me. For now, I do not have that much cash and can only offset it with certain items.”

“No, there is no need…” Fors shook her head, half genuinely and half against her true wishes.

The genuine part was that when she had planned to eliminate Louis Wayne, she had only wanted to help her teacher take revenge and had not considered any possible later reward. The part against her wishes was that she truly found it hard to refuse.

Dorian’s expression turned solemn.

“Do you want me to feel guilty and uneasy?

“Do not worry. Your teacher still has some assets.”

Fors took the opportunity to nod.

“Alright.”

Dorian’s smile returned.

“Also, I brought you the potion formula for Scribe. You may digest the Astrologer potion while collecting the corresponding materials. Heh, I will give you one of the main ingredients, a Brain of Asman. The rest will have to depend on you.”

Asman was a monster that existed only in ancient legends. It resembled an unprotected human brain, large enough to fill an entire room. It could not only create terrifying illusions, but also cause anyone who attacked it to die from their own method of attack.

As he spoke, Dorian took out a sheet of yellow-brown parchment and handed it to Fors.

Fors accepted it gratefully and quickly glanced at the main ingredients:

“A complete Brain of Asman; the cursed object of an ancient wraith…”

I hope I can collect the remaining ingredients before I finish digesting the Astrologer potion…

Fors had just rolled up the parchment when she saw her teacher, Dorian, retrieve a pure gold box from his suitcase.

Removing the wall of spirituality, Dorian opened the lid while saying, “If it is not isolated by gold, the Brain of Asman will constantly affect you, causing hallucinations until you suffer a mental breakdown.”

Inside the square box lay a grayish-white, semi-translucent object with folds and bulges, only one fifth the size of Louis Wayne’s head.

As expected of an ancient family…

Fors thanked him sincerely once more, took the pure gold square box, skillfully closed the lid, and sealed it with a wall of spirituality.

Dorian did not stop there. He found an excuse for Fors to step aside briefly, then set up a ritual and summoned Malmos, the music-loving void creature. From the creature’s spherical body, he retrieved two stacks of documents.

The previous three items were things he had prepared for Fors after being startled by the news concerning Mr. Door, so he had kept them nearby in advance.

“These are two properties in Backlund, one in Hillston Borough and one in Cherwood Borough. Their locations are both fairly decent. Their total price should be around 6,500 pounds. Whatever price you manage to sell them for will belong to you.” Dorian smiled as he spoke.

Although the Abraham family had already declined, as a former angel family with an extremely long history, it still retained no small amount of stockpiled assets. These included land, forests, properties, manors, and mines. However, Dorian controlled only part of them, while most of the remainder belonged to various small households.

The house I currently rent has a market price of 2,500 pounds. The area is acceptable, but the exact location is ordinary… All the things Teacher gave me today really do add up to around ten thousand pounds…

Fors could not help sighing inwardly.

…

Inside the Church of the Holy Wind, “Deep Blue Officiant” Radar Valentine looked at the Mandated Punisher deacon before him.

“Have there been any results?”

The newly appointed Archbishop of Backlund was an intimidating middle-aged man. His hair was deep blue, round and thick, his earlobes were large, and his eyes seemed to constantly contain lightning and storm.

The Mandated Punisher deacon standing before his desk was a lean middle-aged man wearing a modified captain’s hat. Nothing about his appearance stood out except for a bluish-black anchor tattoo at his neck.

The gentleman respectfully answered, “Your Excellency, we have already caught several people who attended that gathering.

“But they do not know who the others were, let alone the identity of the one who assassinated Mr. X.

“According to their descriptions, the attacker was around 1.6 meters tall and was most likely female, though the possibility of a short man cannot be ruled out.”

Radar restrained his anger and said, “What do you intend to do next?”

“Because we temporarily cannot learn who Mr. X invited to the gathering, and women around 1.6 meters tall are extremely common, our plan is to appear to relax our guard on the surface while only watching a few suspicious targets. We will also convert those we captured into informants. Without pressure from us, the lunatics of the Aurora Order will certainly take the initiative to look for the murderer and avenge Mr. X. They should have a rough scope of investigation. In this way, we can not only find the assassin, but also discover clues about the Aurora Order in reverse,” the lean middle-aged man explained in detail.

Radar nodded thoughtfully.

“Roy, remember to apply for a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact when you take action.

“The situation at the scene shows that the Aurora Order has at least one saint in Backlund, and that assassin’s strength is also above that of a normal Sequence 5. There is likewise a demigod behind them.”

“Yes, Your Eminence.” Roy Wellington pressed his right fist to his left chest.

…

“Dawn, you always exceed my expectations. It has not been long, yet you have already completed your study of the Book of Wisdom section of The Revelation of Evernight.” Inside Saint Samuel Cathedral, Bishop Elektra closed the holy scripture in his hands and smiled at the devout tycoon before him, whose temples were graying and whose blue eyes were deep.

Klein smiled.

“This is something a believer ought to accomplish.

“Next is the Letters of the Saints section?”

“Yes. Which saint do you intend to begin with?” Bishop Elektra asked.

Klein looked left and right, then laughed softly.

“Saint Samuel, of course.”

Bishop Elektra was not surprised. He introduced seriously, “Saint Samuel was the Church’s archbishop of Backlund during the Fourth Epoch Trunsoest Empire period. He made outstanding contributions to the spread of the Goddess’s faith. During his lifetime, he entered the divine kingdom and became an angel…”

As he spoke, he turned to the corresponding “Letters of the Saints.”

Just then, Klein’s spiritual intuition was suddenly stirred. He felt deep malice and evil thoughts flare up instantly from upstairs.

Immediately afterward, a cold, deep sensation extended from underground, soothing everything. The cathedral returned to its previous tranquility.

Bishop Elektra recovered from a brief daze and said to Dawn Dantes before him, who seemed to have noticed nothing at all, “My apologies. I was thinking of another matter just now.”