Chapter 21: Miracle
'Hmm, what I lack now is strength.' He contemplated for a while and soon said,
"When my mother or I'm in danger, Life Church has to send a Rank 4 or above Rank Mystic to help us solve the problem once. If Life Church fails to do it, I will walk out of the Withering Shadows."
Upon hearing his words, Russell fell silent for a mont and then took out a silver ring from the cupboard. After that, he muttered a strange incantation to activate the ring and soon said few words in an unknown language. After a minute of silence, a male voice ca from the other side, causing Charles's eyes to widen a little.
'Is it so long-distance communication artifact?' He wondered.
Without minding Charles's questionable gaze, Russell started discussing with the man from the other side.
After a lengthy discussion, Russell hung up the call and turned his attention towards Charles.
"Archbishop Abel accepted your condition. But it will be only valid for ten years. If you didn't use that request by then, the second request would be invalid later." Russell said solemnly.
"Okay." Charles breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded.
'My second request seems to be a simple matter for them. Well, I'm also losing half of my salary in return. So, it makes sense.' He thought inwardly.
In the anti, Russell took a sealed scroll from the sa cupboard and started writing those conditions in detail with a black quill. He then checked it for any mistakes and passed it to Charles.
Charles also checked the content for the next few minutes and signed it using the sa black quill.
Like the last ti, after he signed the scroll, the contract paper started to burn and soon disappeared from their visions.
''I will ask the higher-ups to send you a copy of the Runal Language book in a month,'' Russell said and then started explaining about his job.
''There are four adept teams and two elite teams working in Riverdale Branch. You have to co here daily before 6.A.M and deliver the present-day mission letters to different team mbers. After that, you have to go to Riverdale's security administration office and get the unusual case files from there. Then, you are free to do your work till the next day morning. Your temporary team leader Emilia will give an intro to those team mbers tomorrow.'' Russell paused for a mont and added while giving him a small book.
''morize the contents in this book before tomorrow morning. This book has nas and details about abnormal Mystics. If you bump any of them in the future, you must imdiately report it to your team leader.''
''Who are they?'' Charles raised his eyebrows and showed a confused look.
''Like your mom, these Mystics are also from big family backgrounds or so well-known organizations. We don't know why there are lurking in this city, but if they show any suspicious movent, we have the authority to apprehend them. They are powerful mystics. Unless they showed hostility, don't make any trouble with them.'' Russell warned him.
After that, he also told him about Charles's special missions.
''Once in a week, you also have to accompany the Aces team and participate in so random missions. After three months, I will check your battle capabilities again and promote you as an official mber of the Aces Team.''
''Got it.'' Charles nodded his head and asked few more questions about Mystics.
After discussion for a while, Charles walked out of the office room with an official badge in his hand. It was an iron badge with a Life symbol engraved on it. The badge had a circle with a six-pointed star in it and looked much like a wheel.
While walking out of the Life departnt building, he t Luke and Andrew in the reception hall and discussed few words with them.
After that, he bid his farewell to Luke and Andrew and walked out of the Life departnt. His next destination was, of course, the Life Church.
After walking for a minute, he appeared in front of a do-shaped building and noticed Holy Knight Hunt was standing at the entrance while holding a long spear in his hand.
"Good Morning, Mr. Hunt." Charles greeted him with a smile and walked into the church building.
''Charles, are you free now? I have to tell you sothing important.'' Hunt's question made Charles narrow his eyes for a mont.
He then halted his footsteps and looked back at Hunt in confusion.
'Hmm, did sothing happen to Eve when I was away?' He creased his eyebrows and asked in concern,
''What is it, Mr. Hunt?''
In the anti, Hunt glanced around sneakily to see if soone was monitoring them and then spoke in a suppressing tone,
''Follow . Father Reynolds wants to et you in private.''
'Why is he acting like a thief?' He stared at Hunt's face for two seconds and said with a nod,
''Lead the way.''
Both went towards the Life Church's rear and soon arrived in front of a small one-storied building. It was a small brick house with a small porch in front. Hunt took the lead, soon arrived in front of the iron door, and knocked it thrice.
A few monts later, a 40-year-old man in a golden-lined white robe opened the door and invited them in.
Charles imdiately glanced inside; his gaze swept across the reception room. This room was at least three tis larger than his room. At the very end were a desk- Painted red and brown- and two large bookshelves. On the left side of the wall were three tables. They were black and looked rather old. There was a leather sofa set, a coffee table, and four wooden chairs.
At this mont, Bishop Reynolds sat on the sofa while opening a white-covered book in his right hand and gestured them to sit on the opposite chairs. Charles gave a polite nod and seated on the wooden chair. Hunt also nodded his head and sat next to Charles.
Nobody spoke for a whole minute and watched each others' faces in awkward silence.
After a minute, Charles got annoyed by their sneaky behavior and opened his mouth.
"I'm not interested in n."
Hearing his words, Hunt coughed loudly in embarrassnt and soon spoke.
"We invited you here to discuss sothing about the Series Artifact."
Charles's eyes widened and soon turned his face serious.
"Is it about A-035?" He asked in a cold tone.
"It seems you used the [Inspect] skill wisely and gathered so information on your own," Reynolds said with a smile.
'He knew about the Pine Town incident?' Charles got startled inside and started to ponder.
'Did he also know about the mysterious Anderson's sches? Sothing feels off here…Think… What did I miss… Wait… Is he also colluding with Russell? If so, why did Russell use the Observer's Dagger to probe my strength… Hmm, there are only four people who knew about my inheritance skill. The first is Bishop Reynolds, the second is my mother, and the third one is Sharon White. As for Russell, he-' Charles's eyes widened as he suddenly rembered Russell's behavior when introducing Aces Team mbers.
'I still rembered his aningful smile. Did he purposefully act to find out my inheritance skill's na?' The more he thought about it, the more sure he beca.
'That ans Bishop Reynolds might be on odd terms with the Branch Head Russell!' A look of realization appeared on his face.
In a second, he organized his thoughts and asked the most important question.
"Father, do you know anyone called Anderson? He might go by the na 'Mr. Black.'"
"Anderson Black? Are you talking about Russell's grandfather? Where did you hear his na?" Bishop Reynolds closed the book and asked in a serious tone.
'Russell's grandfather?' Charles felt that the whole puzzle began to link together and soon realized his situation.
'Did I walk into a lion's den?' He turned his attention to Bishop Reynolds and then clicked his tongue.
'This man… He appears to have already known about Russell's sche. Did he purposefully hide my inheritance skill na to learn more about Russell? Possible! If Russell had known about my inheritance skill, he wouldn't have given the Observer's Dagger as a gift.'
Without any delay, Charles unsheathed his iron dagger and passed it to Hunt.
"Branch Head gave this dagger as a present."
anwhile, Hunt stood up from his seat and went near the sofa before giving Bishop Reynolds the dagger. After that, he went beside the leather sofa and stood there calmly like a statue.
At this ti, Bishop Reynolds inspected the dagger with his [True Eyes] skill and soon turned his face colder.
"My guess is right." He curled his lips up and handed the dagger back to Hunt.
"Can he spy on us now?" Charles's deep-blue eyes glinted as he stared at the Observer's dagger in a cold look.
"Using this eye-like gem, he can indeed monitor your movents. But that won't work here." Bishop Reynolds curled his lips upward and then added,
"This house is built using so special stones, which prevents any abnormal energies from getting near it."
Upon hearing Bishop Reynolds's words, Charles breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded.
"Charles, do you want to know more about the situation you are in?" Bishop then looked at Charles and asked with a solemn look on his face.
"Yes." Charles nodded his head and waited for Bishop Reynolds to continue.
"A-035. It's a series artifact with mysterious powers hidden in it. Except for your ancestor Eddie Nightwind and Myers Collins, nobody knew about its abilities. So say that the Holem's Crown has the ability to create a 'Miracle', while others say that it could see through the 'Past' itself. But nobody, even the Divines, knew the answer." He paused deliberately for two seconds and continued with a wry smile,
"But twenty years ago, a mysterious person sent anonymous letters to Life Church, Amber Church, and few other organizations and revealed so confidential information about A-035 to all. He ntioned in the letter that A-035 had already chosen its master, and it would reveal its presence to the world soon. He also ntioned the exact location and date of its future appearance in the letter." He finished the sentence and then looked at Charles with shining eyes.
'Old man, your stare gives a creepy feeling.' Charles stared back at Bishop Reynolds for a second and asked,
''Did you manage to find out any information about this mysterious person?''
''Nope. We used so unique thods to track his origin and guessed that he might be an Astrologer Class Mystic. As for his strength, we know nothing about them. But-" He paused for a mont while looking deeply into Charles's deep-blue eyes and added,
"We found out who is A-035's successor.''
''How are you so sure about being A-035's successor?'' Charles straightened his back and asked, without losing his calm.
''It already helped you and revealed its presence to everyone. Now, it is hiding among the citizens and is searching for a chance to et you.'' Bishop Reynolds said mysteriously.
"When did it help ?" Charles felt numb for a mont and soon muttered in confusion.
"Don't you rember? It can create a 'Miracle,' Charles. A-035 used its power to change your personality and made you a cold-blooded killer. That itself is a 'Miracle.' We all felt a strange, mysterious power sweeping down the whole Riverdale city during your kidnapping incident. After that night, I sensed that sothing was not right. I seem to have lost sothing precious." He paused for a second and added in a grave tone,
"I, No. We, the Riverdale Citizens, might have lost our 'Luck.'"
"Luck?" Charles's expression went stiff as he heard Reynolds's words.
'Is that even possible to steal one's luck?… Moreover, 'Miracle' is it? Is my transmigration also related to A-035? What about this strange ga system residing in my body? Did A-035 create this system using the so-called 'Miracle'?' A chill went up to his spines as he shuddered in anxiety.
'I heard from Ian that A-035 is a dangerous artifact… But why is it helping ? Damn it; I need to find a way to get out of this situation.' He grumbled inside in dissatisfaction and soon asked,
"But you look normal to , father Reynolds. Even after losing your 'Luck,' nothing bad happened to you, right?"
A weak smile appeared on Reynolds's face as he heard Charles's words. He didn't say anything; instead, he took off his golden-lined white robe and revealed his upper body to Charles.
The next instant, Charles held his breath and squinted his eyes sharper. Because what he saw was not a well-built muscular body. Instead, he saw strange dark-red lines, flesh wounds, and pus appeared all over his body. So dark-red lines even penetrated his deep wounded areas and made his body ssier!
Widening his eyes, Charles stood up from the chair, took three steps forward, and looked closer.
He saw that those dark-red lines were tangled one another and appeared to be moving on their own. Those dark red lines appeared to be sucking Bishop Reynolds's blood!
"What are these things?" He asked out loud.
"A curse. It's a curse I got from the [Sinful Demon] Class mber during the last battle." Bishop wore the golden-lined white robe and said gloomily.
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