Chapter 629 - Lack of Strength
After throwing the "Tower" card in front of Leonard in the sewer, Ebner controlled the "Bone Dragon" and used its "Dream Traverse" ability to leave Cherwood Borough.
—Although it was the afternoon, many Backlund workers and employees worked night shifts, while others were still asleep at this ti.
He arrived at a safe house he had rented in advance in the East Borough. After securing the room, he entered the "Dream Labyrinth Tower" through the "Gate of Dreams and Reality" to study the captured Desire Apostle.
He avoided probing any mories related to the "Twilight Hermit Order" and instead interrogated him about his origins and the current state of the three major demon families of the Blood Sanctify Sect. Even within the "Dream Labyrinth Tower," it was highly likely that the Angel King's perception could not be fully blocked.
According to the Desire Apostle, the three major demon families—Nois, Beria, and Andariel—had not followed the original novel's setting, where the latter two submitted to Nois. Instead, they had entered a full-scale conflict.
Andariel had only managed to recover in the past century with the support of the Duke of Terror, Yaldabaoth, barely resisting the encroachnt of the Nois family.
This shift also stirred unrest within Beria, who had already submitted to Nois.
Jason Beria, the Desire Apostle, was one such restless demon. Hoping to advance to the demigod level—or even higher—he had accepted the mission to assassinate Duke Negan.
Among all the gathered intelligence, what intrigued Ebner the most was that during the most intense clash between the Andariel and Nois families, Andariel had fully unsealed a "Seal"-type Sealed Artifact. The power it unleashed actually repelled a "Blood Archduke" of the Nois family!
"That seal is likely the 'Seal' among the three extraordinary items crafted by Roselle using three 'Angel Wraiths'—the Sword-Mirror-Seal set...
"Judging from the 'Magic Mirror,' if it was fully unsealed, then the 'Sauron Family's Angel Wraith' sealed within the artifact might have fully awakened. Whether it remains with the Andariel family is uncertain...
"But at least it's a lead..."
With this thought, Ebner commanded the "Magic Mirror" to search the mories of the various demon families' strongholds.
The final results were: Jason Beria did not know the Nois family's location, but he was aware that the Beria family resided in West Velas County of the Loen Kingdom, while the Andariel family was hidden in the Antares Mountains north of Feysac.
"The Beria family in West Velas County? Hmm... This matches the descriptions in my teacher's book, 'Demon Legends of the West Velas Region,' so it should be true.
"Additionally, the claim that Andariel hides in the Antares Mountains of Feysac also has supporting evidence... I rember when I helped Closfia in Indo Harbor by 'acting' in a nightmare as 'Doctor Strange,' I saved a young man whose nightmare was about encountering a monster in a small town within the Antares Mountains...
"And that monster was a 'Four-Ard Bone-Faced Ape.' Its bone face is one of the primary materials used by demons.
"As for Nois... Although there's no direct evidence, I have a strong intuition they're hiding in Intis... After all, the first soul 'pastured' within the 'Magic Mirror' ca from the Nois family's 'Devil'!
"Unfortunately, that 'Devil's' soul seems to have been tampered with. Even under 'Pasture,' I still can't extract more information...
"Of course, if I further unseal the 'Magic Mirror,' I might be able to break through the restrictions... but that's not worth the risk."
Ebner sighed. After extracting all the knowledge possessed by the Desire Apostle, he instructed the "Magic Mirror" to release his soul and Beyonder characteristics.
As for the Beyonder characteristic, Ebner had no intention of selling it. If a demon got hold of it, they would likely start a serial killing spree to prepare for their ritual. He couldn't allow such chaos to spread, so it was better to turn it into an extraordinary item after the "Great Smog" incident was over and bring it to Bayam.
As for the soul of the Desire Apostle... before it dissipated, Ebner "sacrificed" it to "The Fool," allowing Klein to harvest so "second-hand" wool—making full use of waste materials.
Of course, he found a plausible excuse, claiming that the Desire Apostle was involved with that unnad organization and needed "The Fool" to handle it. This prevented Klein from suspecting anything.
After finishing all this, Ebner returned to reality and took a carriage to the Church of the Earth Mother.
As for the puppet bound by ropes of solidified black flas, after so thought, he decided it would be best to return it to its forr owner—the past "Chained God," now the "Spirit Angel."
...
Inside the ancient palace above the gray fog.
Staring at the brown-haired, brown-eyed, empty-gazed "Desire Apostle," Klein couldn't help but sneer:
"So, is this yet another step forward in Mr. Fool's exploitation?"What kind of new service is this?
"Destroying evidence? Not quite... It seems more like they dared not provoke so organization, so they picked a scapegoat to take the hit...
"But I just want to say, we need more of this sort of thing!"After all, every strong soul contains imnsely valuable knowledge—it's all 'money'!"
With that thought, Klein silently mocked himself:"How did I suddenly start thinking of money? I'm not inherently a money-loving person—it's just a normal preference. Back in Tingen, I always encouraged lissa to spend, always egged her and Bensen on hiring a maid, insisting that no matter what, one must never deprive oneself. Even during covert operations, safety cos first and caution is paramount, so that wealth never clouds one's mind.
"Even Sharon praised my 'moderation'...
"But for revenge, one must ascend the hierarchy, and to ascend, one has to purchase expensive extraordinary materials, plus powerful extraordinary items... I can only scrape together a penny at a ti, saving every bit I can..."
After a soft sigh, Klein cast aside his chaotic thoughts and, focusing his mind through ditation, let his spirituality spread, beginning the interrogation of the "Desire Apostle."
In this mysterious space above the gray fog, he could now, like a true "dium," directly communicate with the lingering spirits without having to pray to anyone or even require any ritual assistance—a fact he had already confird when channeling with the "Marionettist" Rosago.
Monts later, as he watched the spirit body of the Desire Apostle completely vanish before his eyes, Klein tapped the edge of the long table with his finger and muttered:
"It turns out that the organization whose na Mr. Tower and Roselle ntioned—but could not utter— is called the 'Twilight Hermit Order'... Sounds rather fancy!"This organization can actually produce a 'Blasphemy Card' as a reward for assassinating Duke Negan...
"'Abyss Card'... 'Tyrant Card'..."
After pondering for a while, Klein suddenly felt his real body being moved. His heart leaped in alarm; he quickly simulated the sensation of falling and left the space above the gray fog.
No sooner had he returned than he discovered that he had already left the washroom. A chill ran down his spine, and his body felt uncontrollable... Not far away on a sofa sat a mber of the "Machinery Hivemind," who appeared to be saying sothing.
Carlson of the Machinery Hivemind had suddenly co by to check on my condition. So, according to our prior agreent, Sharon had attached my body to him, engaging in a sort of feigned compliance?Klein imdiately deduced the situation, and the chill in his body began to fade. Clearly, Sharon had already noticed his return and restored control of the body to him.
Carlson, wearing thick spectacles, glanced at him. With little inspiration and not noticing that Klein's inner self had been replaced, he continued the previous conversation with praise:
"Your detective intuition and logical thinking have given us the most important help. The butler ntioned in his letter that afterwards he would discreetly give you a bounty, about 1,000 pounds."
So generous? Hmmm... I had thought that Mr. Tower got the fifty thousand from that briefcase... But it now appears that it was officially seized... Perhaps the Desire Apostle was in such a hurry that he left it at Duke Negan's mistress's villa?While he was pondering this, Carlson deliberated inviting him to beco an informant for the Machinery Hivemind.
In response, Klein, with a straight face, drew a triangular holy emblem over his chest and gladly accepted.
"Beloved by Mr. Fool, dear Sherlock..."Miss Sharon, hidden in the mirror-world, silently murmured to herself.
...
In the basent of the Harvest Church, while handing the puppet over to Lilith's container and requesting it be delivered to Ebner, the "Chained God," she hesitated for a mont before asking:"Is the disaster in the East Borough truly inevitable?"
Lilith, with her silver eyes, looked at him intently. After a pause, she replied:
"Borrowing soone's words, it is the inevitable result of the tis...
"This 'inevitability' isn't set by anyone; even if the 'developnt of the tis' is envisioned by Him, it is built upon the unstoppable tide of progress...
"And add to that a king who needs to cover up his 'population' disappearances...
"Even if we can prevent it this ti, a similar catastrophe will occur again next ti!
"Of course, the most important point is... neither you nor the one you fancy now have the power to upend this trend..."
Hearing this answer—which Ebner had long suspected—he sighed, finally resigned, and muttered to himself:
"So, we can only do our best to redy it?"
(End of Chapter)
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