Chapter 598 Confrontation and Reconciliation

598 Confrontation and Reconciliation

The night draped the land in darkness, and stars adorned the sky above Port Santa. The festive crowd had dispersed, leaving behind the remnants of celebrationdiscarded litter and the lingering scent of alcohol.

With the official end of the holiday, the city would soon buzz with work again.

Lumian lingered at the bar until closing time. As he stepped out, the deserted streets welcomed him, illuminated only by sporadic gas lamps.

The late-night air hinted at the approaching winters chill. Lumian breathed it in, feeling the crisp freshness entering his lungs. The rhythmic crash of waves against the sh.o.r.e added to the nights serenity.

In seemingly high spirits, Lumian, slightly tipsy, walked past the aftermath of the celebration with hands in his pockets, unnoticed in the silent surroundings.

He made his way back to the room rented under a false ident.i.ty.

Upon opening the door, he found Lugano pacing anxiously in the living room.

Still up? Lumian raised an eyebrow.

Lugano, looking like hed recovered from a serious injury, spoke with a complex expression,

An hour ago, Captain Noelia of the combat nuns paid you a visit. Not in armor, but a stunning dress. She has quite the figure

And then? Lumian inquired, a smirk on his face.

Lugano replied with envy, She left disappointed when I told her you werent around.

Lumian chuckled, Whats it got to do with you? Why are you still awake after an hour?

Lugano coughed awkwardly, I had a sudden contemplation about my future. Should I return to Trier and pursue a medical career, or should I opt for a different path?

Ignoring the Doctors musings, Lumian, with a smile, washed up briefly and retired to his room, succ.u.mbing to sleep.

In his dreams, recent events blended into a chaotic tapestry, weaving stranger and more bizarre stories.

At precisely 6 a.m., Lumian awoke and promptly sat up.

His thoughts sharpened as he recalled the dream. Suddenly, a detail struck him:

Disregarding the possibility of the Aurora Order having covertly observed the situation, the crucial aspect of the sea prayer ritual was Amons utilization of the altar in Milo Village to discreetly imbue Lie with a Steal ability.

Without this intervention, the opening of the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps energy pa.s.sageway would have led to a reversal. Deprived of the seas power, he couldnt have ensnared Mad Lady with the authority of the Governor of the Sea, delaying her until Madam Magicians arrival.

However, Celestial Worthy, positioned at the pinnacle of the Seer, Apprentice, and Marauder pathways, should possess an in-depth understanding of Marauder abilities. It seemed unlikely that He hadnt considered the possibility of an Amon hiding at the altar, granting Steal powers.

It made sense that He hadnt shared this knowledge with April Fools; they were expendable tools, and excessive information might weaken their resolve during the operation. But the overall plan shouldnt have crumbled due to this.

Were Celestial Worthys intentions more intricate than they seemed? Had He secretly achieved a goal, or did Amon and His unseen ally orchestrate events in advance?

Had Amon truly kept watch over the altar in Milo Village without pause, last years sea prayer ritual might not have failed. There remains the prospect that He wanted to derive amus.e.m.e.nt from April Fools antics.

The chaos wrought by April Fools last year was perhaps understandable. Shouldnt the most straightforward approach this year involve discreetly allowing the completion of the Ring of the Sea Queen during the ancestor honoring ritual? Subsequently, events could unfold with Ultraman a.s.suming the guise of the incoming Governor of the Sea, only to be dumbfounded when the sea sacrifice ritual succeeded!

Why the convoluted path? What was the purpose behind these seemingly unnecessary steps?

There must be something Im missing

Lumian ma.s.saged his temples and rose from the bed.

The revelation didnt surprise him. It would be abnormal if he quickly unraveled the true motives of every partic.i.p.ant in such complex scenarios involving high-level ent.i.ties.

Regardless, his goal was accomplished, and the perilous black hole in the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p remained sealed. The rest was not his concern. If he could decipher it, great. If not, he could always write to Madam Magician to provide a timely reminder.

After a jog around the still-slumbering Port Santa, Lumian penned a letter to Madam Magician, detailing his reflections.

As Lumian finished, Lugano, who had been out gathering breakfast for Ludwig, returned to his quarters.

Taking a moment to contemplate, Lumian handed over 1,000 gold risot to Lugano. With a composed tone, he stated, Ill be away for a few days. Take care of Ludwig. When I return, this commission will be completely over.

When the time came, Lumian planned on taking a boat to the Southern Continent. Lumian intended to conspire and make preparations along the way. His aim was to be ready for the final conspiracy and advance to Sequence 5 upon reaching his destination in the Southern Continent.

Without prying into his employers destination, Lugano nervously asked, W-

will there be any danger in the next few days?

Its done, Lumian replied with a smile. If any other danger arises, go to the Fertility Order and seek protection. Isnt that what youve been antic.i.p.ating?

Lugano grinned sheepishly, rea.s.sured by Lumians demeanor.

Under the s.h.i.+ning sun of Port Santa, with delicious food and pa.s.sionate women, staying a few more days seemed like a pleasant prospect!

A two-story relay carriage raced through the village towns scattered across turquoise pastures, making its way towards the base of the Pyraez mountain range.

Maintaining his disguise as the adventurer Louis Berry, Lumian occupied a window seat in the carriage, silently observing the pa.s.sing scenery.

Each turquoise pasture was adorned with flocks of sheep, resembling scattered clouds. Shepherds, clad in practical and mobile robes, strolled amidst the grazing animals.

Some had their own shacks, while others utilized small, wheeled shepherds huts for mobility.

Occasionally, local villagers attempted to drive away the incoming shepherds, only to be met with sly smiles or placated with money and supplies.

Faced with determined locals, the shepherds, arriving from the mountain pa.s.s, reluctantly moved to more desolate areas, contending with the watchful eyes of wild wolves and other creatures

The scenes spoken of by the Cordu shepherds presented themselves vividly to Lumian, searing a memory in his mind.

Two days later, the relay carriage halted at the foot of the Pyraez mountain range, pausing in a small town outside the mountain pa.s.s.

Lumian changed into a black tweed coat, preparing to venture into the mountain alone.

As he ascended the mountain ridge, the cold wind intensified, rendering the wilderness almost devoid of life.

Navigating the spa.r.s.ely vegetated mountainous terrain, Lumian followed the trails left by shepherds and merchants. Under the birdless gray sky, the desolate landscape featured withered trees and a meager stream. Winters solitude permeated the air.

In the cold solitude, it took him nearly three days to traverse the Darige mountain range and reach the river outside Cordu.

Circling the towering forest, Lumian promptly spotted the blood-colored pillar, emanating the aura of a mountain peak despite its modest height.

As Lumian gazed, footsteps approached from ahead.

A middle-aged man, clad in a leather coat and clasping his hands together, appeared.

Trembling in the cold wind, the forest ranger shouted, Dont go any further. That village is gone!

Lumians eyes moved beyond the ranger to the collapsed and burned structures in the distance.

After a brief pause, he inquired in a deep voice, What happened to that village?

The forest ranger glanced around and lowered his voice, They said they believed in demons. The villagers went crazy, burned down their houses, and walked into the abyss.

Look, would a normal village be like this?

Lumian fell silent for a long time.

Seeing this, the forest ranger sincerely said, In any case, those old men instructed me to prevent anyone from entering this village. They said that its bad luck; it would provoke the demons.

Lumian remained silent, refraining from further inquiry.

Staring at the unfamiliar yet oddly familiar ruins, he turned away from the village entrance. Step by step, he approached the nearest alpine pasture, the wind howling around him.

The gra.s.s here had completely withered, blown away by the wind, leaving behind barren patches of brown soil.

Lumian surveyed the ruins of Cordu, then located a shack abandoned by the shepherds. Inside, he lay down, closing his eyes and remaining motionless.

If only everything that had transpired before could be dismissed as a dream.

When he woke, the alpine pasture was vibrant green once more, birds returned to the sky, and Ol Tavern bustled with farmers and herdsmen. His sister persistently urged him to study, while Reimund, Ava, and the others pondered uncertain futures, unaware of the life awaiting them

The sun shone brightly, yet the air in Port Santa had begun to carry a chill.

Abruptly, Lumian stood before Lugano and Ludwig.

Youre finally back! Lugano exclaimed, relief evident in his voice, as if he had encountered a savior.

Ludwigs appet.i.te had surged once more, and the 1,000 risot had disappeared faster than antic.i.p.ated.

Another week, and Lugano would have to contemplate using his own funds.

He couldnt allow the child to go hungry; he might resort to eating him!

Lumian chuckled in response, saying, The commission is over. Ill pay the balance now. Do you want my help to teleport back to Trier, or do you prefer taking a boat yourself or crossing the Darige mountain range?

Lugano fell silent, seemingly grappling with a decision.