Chapter 536 One in the Light and One in the Dark

536 One in the Light and One in the Dark

Lumians immediate priority upon reaching Port Santa was to delve into the events of the previous sea prayer ritual, particularly focusing on the individuals involved in the accident. This investigation would be crucial in uncovering the true ident.i.ties of the key members of April Fools.

However, this phase of his pursuit carried inherent risks of deception and potential traps.

Understanding the intricacies of last years prank was paramount before engaging the Minor ArcanaKnight of Swordsin any a.s.sistance. Lumian didnt find it plausible to enlist aid on such matters.

The sealed knowledge surrounding the events in Port Santa made it apparent that unless the Knight of Swords happened to be present, he wouldnt yield much help.

Initially, Lumian aimed to gather information about the sea prayer ritual and the previous years incident, but such details seemed exclusive to this location. Peripheral members of April Fools, involved in minor roles, offered limited perspectives, offering mere snippets of the puzzle.

With a flick of his wrist, Lumian transformed Madam Magicians reply into a blazing fireball.

Exiting the master bedroom of the suite, he addressed Lugano, who waited in the living room, Lets get ourselves a local ident.i.ty.

Youve already used Louis Berrys ident.i.ty to check into the motel, Lugano reminded Lumian after some thought.

Did this mean its time to depart?

Wouldnt that be a waste of an entire weeks rent?

Luganos heart ached at the thought of the 10.5 gold risot.

Spending money wasnt an issue; just dont waste it!

As a bounty hunter who had lived a tough life for many years, he was quite sensitive to money. Otherwise, he wouldnt have been so thick-skinned as to ask Lumian for a job.

Any issues? Lumian inquired with a smile.

In the October warmth of Port Santa, Lumian sported a straightforward ensemblelight linen s.h.i.+rt, brown pants, a golden straw hat cradled in his grasp.

For a moment, Lugano didnt know if he should voice his primary concern

the matter of money. Finally, he decided to broach the subject.

Boss, I grabbed a few newspapers from the street. Seems there are rumors in Port Farim about you taking down the Demon Warlock.

Upon reading this news, Lugano rubbed his eyes several times, wondering if he had read wrongly.

When had his boss eradicated the Demon Warlock?

Why dont I know?

Only the memory of the seemingly bombarded master bedroom stirred skepticism.

It was me, Lumian replied with a slight nod.

Lugano momentarily lost the ability to organize his words.

After a brief pause, he suppressed his curiosity and feigned understanding.

Youve bagged a bounty of 600,000 verl dor and some spoils of war. No wonder youve been throwing money around lately

The rent of 20 to 30 verl dor didnt seem extravagant anymore.

All donated, Lumian disclosed matter-of-factly.

Why? Lugano blurted out.

Lumian glanced at him.

Lugano immediately shut his mouth and smiled sheepishly.

We need to change our location. Louis Berrys fame in the Fog Sea makes him an easy target.

In that gaze, Lumian conveyed an unspoken message:

Whos in charge here? You or me?

Did I need your approval to donate the bounty?

With a subtle smile, Lumian posed the question, Who said we were relocating?

Lugano, caught off guard, stammered, Not relocating

Lumians smile held a cryptic meaning as he shared, Why else do you think I didnt ask the clergyman from the Church of The Fool, who helped collect the bounty, to conceal my ident.i.ty?

Louis Berry, the high-profile adventurer, served as a beacon, attracting attention and revealing the landscape of potential threats.

Lumian needed an inconspicuous local guise to operate discreetly in the shadows.

Lugano, grappling with the complexity of his employers motives, confessed, I-I thought you just wanted to be as famous as Gehrman Sparrow in the Five Seas. He sensed there was more beneath the surface.

Lumian chuckled.

Who among our generation wouldnt want to match Gehrman Sparrows fame in the Five Seas?

The desire for recognition satisfied his vanity, providing a plausible reason for not letting Theis, the Church of The Fools bishop, conceal his ident.i.ty completely.

A superficial motiveone genuine enough to make people believecould effectively veil hidden intentions.

Uh Lugano, feeling like he couldnt decipher Lumians true colors or grasp his ultimate goal, sighed inwardly.

Sigh, Im just a Planter, a Doctor, and a seasoned bounty hunter. My intelligence can only be considered ordinary

Lumian cast a glance at Ludwig, munching on a potato omelet, and declared, Lets go.

He nudged the coat rack into a blind spot, hanging the golden straw hat, creating the illusion of an inconspicuous figure if one looked from the opposite building.

Exiting the Solow Motel, Lumian strolled along the grayish-white stone street toward the lively bars near the harbor. Lugano followed, holding Ludwigs hand.

The ancient street boasted mottled houses with white walls and red tiles. Near entrances like Cordu, elderly women chatted in the sun, but they didnt lend a hand in catching lice.

Pa.s.sersby tread softly, lowering their voices to maintain the tranquility of the scene.

In a casual exchange with Francesco, the bartender at the Flying Birds bas.e.m.e.nt bar, Lumian learned of a cultural phenomenon in Feynapotter, shaped by the Earth Mothers faith and the significance accorded to family traditions: Matriarchal culture.

Within each family, the most venerable grandmother, a prolific progenitor, commanded unparalleled respect. As the unquestionable parent, they wielded a certain degree of control over every family member. Even outside the confines of their homes, this reverence persisted, for these grandmothers represented the familial symbol, embodying the Earth Mother.

The combination of religious beliefs and societal norms secured a unique status for these elderly grandmothers.

Observing this dynamic, Lumian found himself contemplating a question.

In Riston Province, a married woman, functioning as a de facto parent, held the right to be addressed as Madame and have her name prefixed with Na. Could this tradition be an influence from Feynapotters matriarchal culture just a mountain away?

Nomadic herdsmen and traders, traversing vast distances, inevitably brought back tales of their experiences. Ancient practices from the Darige mountain range and its surroundings, spanning over a millennium, undoubtedly left an indelible mark.

Navigating the ancient yet serene streets under the brilliant sunlight, Lumian felt a sense of displacement. It was as if he had returned to Cordu during the bustling season when adults toiled in the fields, tended to sheep in the mountains, or embarked on hunting expeditions, leaving only an old woman and young children behind.

Trier, third level of the catacombs.

Jenna closed her eyes and extended her senses, but the black Krismona Night Pillar remained silent, devoid of any sighs or motion.

a.s.sessing the Mirror Subst.i.tutions, she cautiously approached the enigmatic weather-free pillar, placing her palm against it.

The black pillar that supported the caves ceiling, though cold and metallic, retained the texture of rock.

Yet, Jennas probing mind received nothing beyond this information.

It still doesnt work, she communicated to Franca, shaking her head.

In her reflections, Jenna recalled the two instances and sought their commonality when she had heard Krismonas voiceduring her advancement and within a special mirror world in Fourth Epoch Trier.

Both times, danger and intense emotions had been common denominators.

Jenna whispered, The danger during my Witch advancement was suppressed by the sacrificial square. Is the key intense emotions? Jenna pondered aloud, delving into memories of painful events that had stirred her emotions,

including her mothers death, separation from her brother, and other poignant experiences of suffering.

Despite the visible fluctuations in her emotions, the Krismona Night Pillar remained silent, the illusory sigh elusive.

Franca, after a moments contemplation, suggested, Must there be a special event to trigger it?

Perhaps, Jenna replied, biting her lip. Why dont we try the fourth level? Lumian mentioned the shadow suspected to have formed after the death of the Demoness pathways Angel. That should be Krismona.

Francas heart stirred, and she affirmed, Thats right. Moreover, the shadow is controlled by the seal and doesnt have the ability to attack humans. Yes, the prerequisite is that we strictly adhere to the series of rules in the catacombs.

After a brief discussion, the two of them circled around the Krismona Night Pillar, replaced candles, and proceeded to descend the ancient, mottled stone steps. Under the watchful gaze of realistic dark-gray reliefs depicting human heads on both sides of the rock walls, they descended step by step.

Breaking the suffocating silence, Franca spoke up, This place is perfect for ghost stories. The atmosphere is amazing.

Jenna glanced at her, teasing, Are you afraid?

How is that possible? Franca retorted stubbornly.

Jenna chuckled.

If you werent afraid, youd just tell ghost stories to scare me. Now, youre just sighing. It means you mainly want to rely on your voice to boost your courage.

Its a waste of your talent not to choose the Spectator pathway Do theater actors have to learn to read people? Franca was about to argue when they reached the last ancient stone step.

Simultaneously, a sense of oppression enveloped them.

In the next moment, a yellowish candle flame flickered in their eyes.

The candle flame didnt belong to them. It emerged from the distant fourth level of the catacombs.