Chapter 548 Similarities and Differences

"Afternoon Town is the only way from Silver City to the Giant King's Court. It was once the gateway separating reality and myth. It was founded by followers of the Giant King. After the Creator of all things regained power, this place converted to Him..."

Under the gaze of the crowd, "Sun" Derrick narrated the story of how he and his group, led by "Chief" Colin Iliad, entered this abandoned town which they planned to use as an outpost for exploring the "Giant King's Court". They used strong light to deal with monsters in the darkness, fought against evil spirits that transformed into their companions, and finally cleaned up the entire town.

Among them, the most eye-catching was the altar he found in a basement and the text on it.

"There are three names engraved on it in Giant, Dragon, and Ancient Hermetic: 'Angel of Destiny' Ouroboros, 'Red Angel' Medici, and... 'Dark Angel' Sasriel. Behind these three names is 'Redemption Rose'.

"When I inadvertently pronounced three names, I was transported to a 'Afternoon Town' that seemed to exist in a different world. It was dark and eerie, as if time had stopped in an era when people still lived...

"Fortunately, I recited Mr. Fool's honorable name and obtained His help. I successfully escaped and returned to the real world."

Having said that, Derrick bowed to the Fool and expressed his gratitude again.

At this time, Angel had digested the contents of Mr. Sun's experience. She was surprised to find that his experience in Afternoon Town had similarities with the uninhabited village she entered after going to the God-Forsaken Land, but also had subtle differences.

The same basement, stone altar, the same names of the two angel kings, "Red Angel" and "Angel of Destiny". Although I didn't see them all, I think there should also be the words "Dark Angel" and "Redemption Rose"...

However, I silently chanted their names and did not enter another world. Was it because I happened to trigger the sacrificial ceremony and returned to Sona Island, or was there a difference between the hidden power of the uninhabited village and Afternoon Town?

While she was thinking, Derrick had already continued his story.

"After I returned to reality, it seemed as if some kind of balance had been broken. The real 'Afternoon Town' was invaded by strange, evil monsters. After defeating them, we met a clergyman who also did not belong to this reality. He said...

"Something he couldn't name tempted Sasriel and the other angel kings, bringing corruption, blood, darkness, decay, slaughter, filth, and shadow to this land, causing a great disaster... When the Chief asked him who the 'king' was, he mentioned the three angels mentioned above, but when he mentioned the fourth name...

"A burst of scorching flames killed him instantly!"

This ghost story-like ending made everyone look at each other in bewilderment.

Although the experience of "The Sun" made them know the name of "Angel King", it undoubtedly brought more questions.

"Mr. Fool, may I ask who seduced the 'Dark Angel' Sasriel? Why couldn't the clergyman reveal it? And who does the fourth name represent?"

Audrey, who was listening with great interest, looked around and asked the first question.

How could I possibly know… Klein’s expression froze.

Fortunately, when he saved "Sun" Derrick and talked with Angel alone, he had made corresponding preparations and prepared answers to various unsolvable problems that might be encountered.

“Because it’s secret.”

He replied calmly.

It seems like I've said something, but it also seems like I haven't said anything. It's entirely up to you to interpret it... Klein thought to himself with a certain smugness as he saw the thoughtful expressions on the faces of several people.

"Could it be that the name that cannot be spoken, and the name that will be punished before speaking, each represent a true god..."

muttered the Hanged Man.

Yes, that's right... Klein finally waited for someone to speak. He chuckled and fell silent. He always maintained the air of a "fool," providing only necessary and simple answers, so as not to have to explain himself in such moments.

To his left, Angel was lost in thought.

The fate of "The Sun" shows that Afternoon Town, which once believed in the Giant King and then converted to the "Creator," was ultimately contaminated by a conspiracy, which subsequently triggered a huge disaster and was completely destroyed...

In the uninhabited village that also had a secret altar, all the villagers were suspected to have been eroded by some force, and eventually suffered the same fate as the monster in Bansy Port, with their heads and bodies separated and each of them "fighting" for themselves.

But what force connects that village to the village on Sorna Island?

Bansi is connected to the catacombs of Trier because of "human sacrifices". The latter is also constantly using the code to "sacrifice" tourists in order to seal certain uncontrolled forces. The uninhabited village in the "God's Forsaken Land" has been polluted due to the secret belief in the "Redemption Rose". Similarly, the village on Sorna Island has also been similarly polluted and cleaned up by the "Manufactured Punishers"... Is there a similar connection between them?

Does the key power come from the newly discovered rune?

Pondering this, she left the palace shrouded in gray mist as The Fool announced the end and Justice said goodbye.

…

A red light flashed before him, and Angel returned to the somewhat cramped guest room. Outside the porthole, the setting sun was shining on the sparkling sea.

Two full days had passed since she left the Middle Island by boat. If all went well, she would reach Bayam, the City of Generosity, before nightfall.

"I don't know if Elaine's ship has returned yet. Her role as the 'arsonist' is almost complete. Once I buy the Sequence 6 formula, she'll be able to find an opportunity to advance... Haha, this means the money she owes me will increase again. Why should I be happy?

"I'm about to get the last potion ingredient, and it will use up all my savings... Do you want to borrow some from Klein?"

Muttering to himself, Angel returned to the bedroom desk and sat down. On the table were simple crafting tools and a finished talisman.

That was a spell she had made using her own blood before the Tarot Club began. It wasn't the "disaster" she was familiar with, but one carved from runes newly discovered on Isla Sorna.

As for what the effect would be, she hadn't had time to try it yet.

"Unless I have to take the lives of hundreds more people besides the Shipbreaker, I can only wait until I get off the ship and find an empty spot to test the spell..."

She carefully put away the talisman and was about to take a nap while waiting for dinner time when she was suddenly inspired. She opened her spiritual vision and looked at the table.

On the table, her messenger, Ms. Wensa, was sitting on all fours, her tail gently wagging, with an envelope in her mouth.

You didn't send a letter to Catalina again, did you? Angel's face darkened. He was about to pretend to be angry and ask, but he saw the black cat spit out the envelope, meowed, and said:

"This letter is from your...male friend."

Is this the point?

Angel took the letter and held it in his hand without looking at it. Instead, he bent down, looked closely into the black cat's blue eyes, and asked in a stern tone:

"How on earth did Catalina Pelle contact you and ask you to deliver a letter for her?"

If this problem is not solved, she will never be able to entrust the letter to the black cat with peace of mind.

Wensa took two steps back, creating some distance, then yawned and continued to answer in Loenese:

"She didn't use a spell to summon me, but we are old acquaintances. When she tried to contact you, she failed several divinations. That's when she thought of using me, who is in the spirit world and has a higher efficiency in divination."

"Old acquaintance? You know this witch who existed in the Fourth Epoch. Has she also lived for thousands of years?" Angel asked with a frown.

"The existence of spiritual beings is far longer than you can imagine."

Wensa answered evasively, but this was tantamount to acknowledging his "age".

"So, why did she send me a letter, warning me to be careful of the Witch Cult and the Rose School? She even wanted to help me get promoted as soon as possible..."

No longer dwelling on the age of a black cat from the spiritual world, Angel continued to ask.

"Katerina had already become a demigod during the Pale Plague, and even ascended to the Immortal after that disaster. Do you know why she hasn't attempted to ascend again in over a thousand years?"

Wensa's tone became serious. Without waiting for Angel's answer, he continued:

"She just sees more hope in you.

"After you're promoted, if you want to know everything, I'll find another opportunity to tell you... Knowing too much is inherently dangerous, and you're a little too trusting of the holy emblem on your wrist."

After saying that, it turned around gracefully, wagged its tail, and then stepped into the void as if taking a walk, disappearing without a trace.

Angel stretched out his hand and grabbed at the air a few times, then reluctantly let it go. Then he picked up the letter Klein had sent him.

"I always feel like it would be better to sign a contract with that little bird at the beginning..."

She muttered, opening the envelope.

"Vice Admiral Iceberg is missing?"

The first sentence in the letter made her frown in confusion.

——

Deep in the sea near Bayam, a massive whale-like creature floated silently in the water. The organs on either side of its massive mouth efficiently extracted oxygen from the water and transported it into its body.

In its overfilled mouth, protected by a transparent, water-proof membrane, Klein sat on one of the creature's teeth, waiting leisurely.

Beside him, the blond Anderson Hood paced back and forth anxiously. He also had the protection of "underwater breathing" and "deep sea water membrane", so his life was not in danger, but being in the mouth of the sea monster still made him uneasy.

"Why are we waiting here? I can feel it's not swimming anymore."

He looked at Klein and asked, his voice echoing in the narrow space, as if several people were speaking at the same time.

"Are you afraid of the dark? Or the water?"

Klein glanced at him and asked back, successfully causing the hunter's face to twist.

Since you helped me solve the "bad luck", I won't bother with you... Anderson muttered, looking at the tightly closed mouth of the sea monster. There was no light able to penetrate the gap there. Only a trickle of water flowing in from time to time made the dark environment change a little.

Suddenly, the sea monster's lips opened, and seawater rushed in, violently impacting the two men. Klein was prepared and sat firmly, but Anderson staggered backwards and almost fell into the sea monster's stomach through its throat.

When he regained his balance, there was another person in front of him.

"Angelica Sage!"

Anderson exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the blonde woman in front of him, whose dress was wet and clung to her body, and whose face was covered with beautiful phantom scales.

He finally understood why the crazy adventurer Gehrman Sparrow would rather take a detour than wait here.