Chapter 845: Regretful Matters

This is much more troublesome than money

Upon hearing Aesters request, Jiang Baimianwho only had two Grand Knight gold coinssighed. She then asked, What is it? If its too difficult and exceeds our abilities, we can only choose to give up.

She deliberately didnt show that they were determined to get an answer out of him, lest Aester went overboard with his request. If that happened, the situation would become even messier and even bring them trouble.

Shang Jianyao didnt whimper, nor did he nod or shake his head. He was rather cooperative.

Aester seemed to sink into his memories, and it took for him a while before he said, What I need your help with might be very dangerous for others. Apart from those who have nothing to speak of except their lives, n.o.body will be willing to take on the job. However, you are different.

Jiang Baimian frowned and asked, Mr. Aester, arent you overestimating us?

She wasnt blindly arrogant at all. Although the Old Task Forces strength could be considered outstanding in the Ashlands, and Shang Jianyao was considered to be part of the most powerful group of people under the New World powerhouses while New World powerhouses rarely could move freely and rarely did anything, Jiang Baimianwho had experienced so muchdidnt dare let it get to her head. Ignoring the ruins with various dangers that only New World powerhouses could likely resist, just an Awakeneds feeble body made her treat this matter with great importance.

It wasnt like no powerful Awakened had failed miserably and died at the hands of those with relatively weaker abilities or even ordinary people!

Aester smiled. I dont mean that the danger of the matter is nothing to you but that you would likely do it even if its very risky. Theres a high chance that you will.

Is that so? Jiang Baimian tried her best to show her puzzlement, confusion, and worry to show her lack of confidence in their strength.

Aesters gaze swept across her and Shang Jianyaos faces a few times before he smiled. The matter you are investigating is clearly related to Ceningmis. The regret I want you to help make up for is also related to Ceningmis. Therefore, I have reason to believe that even if you know how dangerous Ceningmis is now and that n.o.body who enters has come out, you will still head there and make an attempt.

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a moment before saying, That depends on whether the last reason can persuade us. Compared to our lives, certain things arent that important.

Aester nodded. Then, listen to my commission first.

He emphasized the word commission.

Please speak, Jiang Baimian replied seriously. Shang Jianyao also wore a serious expression.

Aester revealed a reminiscing expression. You should already know that Ceningmis was destroyed in a disaster 12 years ago.

Without waiting for Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyaos yes or no, he continued, It was a sudden Heartless outbreak; it was unprecedented since the Old Worlds destruction. Of course, all of this is only hearsay as there were no real witnesses. None of the people who entered managed to come out either.

Then Shang Jianyao finally couldnt help but attempt to speak, but he was silenced by Aester and Sandros suddenly sharp gazes.

Jiang Baimian roughly guessed his meaning and took the initiative to ask, Then, where does the hearsay come from?

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It originally came from a caravan that went there to make a trade. Before they entered Ceningmis, they encountered the Heartless ambling out. They realized that the situation was a little off, Aester explained in detail. They sent people to circle around to the mountain range west of Ceningmis and made use of the terrain and binoculars to observe the situation inside. They only found Heartless with no survivors.

The caravan returned to Gesterbourg in horror, believing that Ceningmis had suffered a large-scale Heartless outbreak. After that, everyone sent people to Ceningmiss entrances to wait for a while. However, not a single survivor was found. Instead, they encountered several Heartless attacks.

As a result, we suspected that Ceningmis had become a city ruin like the ones during the Old Worlds destructiona Heartless paradise. This meant grave danger, and it also meant wealth. When the coldest season in Icefield pa.s.sed, the people who knew Ceningmiss exact location took a risk, hoping to obtain valuable supplies from the city ruin. However, none of them returned.

Jiang Baimian had heard this from the leader of the Farstriders caravan, Smith. Furthermore, this wasnt a secret in Gesterbourg.

She nodded indiscernibly and said to Aester, Please continue.

Her request referred to him continuing to explain the commission.

Aester fell into a daze. For you to be able to find me, you must know that I once had a close business partners.h.i.+p with Ceningmis. I established a company there and lived there for five to six months a year. During such a life, I betrayed my marriage and let my wife down. I had a mistress in Ceningmis, and that mistress gave birth to two of my childrena boy and a girl.

I was very lucky. When Ceningmiss Heartless outbreak happened, I was in Gesterbourg, accompanying my family. However, my mistress and my two children were in Ceningmis back then Aesters voice gradually softened.

The White Knights used their chivalrous creed as a standard of conduct. They emphasized loyalty and promoted simplicity and restraint. The rules stipulated that one man could only have one wife.

Jiang Baimian didnt comment on Aesters private matters and patiently waited for him to get his emotions in check. Shang Jianyao acted like he wanted to criticize, but he couldnt speak.

After a while, Aester composed himself and continued, I dont have any hope of whether they are still alive or whether they have yet to become Heartless. My commission is that if you ultimately choose to enter Ceningmis, help me go to the other home Ive lived in for many years and retrieve their corpses. If there are no corpses there, bring back my childs teddy bear, a random box of Lego, and a certain item from my mistress. This will allow me to bury any regrets when recalling the past.

Well consider it. Jiang Baimian secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

This mission didnt conflict with the Old Task Forces investigation of Ceningmis.

Jiang Baimian then pointed out a difficulty. But we dont know where you lived in Ceningmis.

When youre sure you want to go, Ill give you Ceningmiss city map and circle out my residence there. Aester was indeed rather familiar with Ceningmis.

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words and nodded slightly. You need to give us a reason to enter Ceningmis now.

It was what Shang Jianyaos fathers Old Task Force had asked from him.

How did it become me begging you to get that information from me? As Aester laughed self-deprecatingly, he handed the photo in his hand to Sandro to return it to Shang Jianyao.

After Shang Jianyao took the photo, Aester revealed a reminiscing expression again. They gave me some effective biological agents. In exchange, I told them a rumor I heard in Ceningmis. At Ceningmiss Council of Virtueyes, the people who rule Ceningmis have always professed one thingCeningmis is unique and favored by G.o.d, preventing it from suffering during the Old Worlds destruction or having many Heartless outbreaks happen.

This doesnt sound like much; it can only prove that they are religious. However, a business partner of mine once told me a piece of intelligence in his delirium after drinking the hard liquor I secretly brewed.

Theres a big shot behind the Council of Virtue. Hes the real leader of Ceningmis and the real reason why Ceningmis was spared from the Heartless outbreaks and the devastating blows. He called himself the Kalendarias Son.'

Kalendarias Son

Jiang Baimian frowned. Which Kalendaria?

I dont know about that. Aester rubbed his eyes, looking exhausted. If theres nothing else, you may leave. When you decide to enter Ceningmis, come to me for a map.

Alright. Jiang Baimian didnt tell Aester and the others that they had already made up their minds. They would definitely enter Ceningmis in about a weeks time.

Aester leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Sandro sent Shang Jianyao and Jiang Baimian downstairs on behalf of his boss. On the way, hewho had been silent for a long timecouldnt help but ask, Did you take on the protection mission to create an opportunity to use your abilities on me and get me to bring you to meet the boss?

Jiang Baimian laughed involuntarily. Thats actually a coincidence. We came from afar and have almost used up the supplies we brought along. We also didnt want to cause any trouble in Gesterbourg and affect our investigation of the corresponding intelligence, so we could only go to the Hunters Guild to take on missions that are relatively difficult and moderate in difficulty.

Afar could be the southernmost area of the White Knights sphere of influence or somewhere further away.

Sandro fell silent again.

He didnt expect two Grand Knight gold coins to attract such a group of people.