“Zombies? What zombies? Explain yourself!” Morris asked in a deep voice.
"They're all zombies, they've all become zombies, ah!" The homeless man squatted down, clutching his head.
“He’s a little delirious, but it’s alright.” Eli stretched out his hand, and green light gathered at his fingertips—the “Fountain of Life”!
The green light shone on the homeless man, calming him down. He then looked up at the people in front of him, tears welling in his eyes.
“Now that you’re conscious, can you tell us what you mean by zombies?” Phil Gray asked.
"Who...are you?" The homeless man's eyes were filled with evasiveness.
“This is the bishop of Numas City, this is the city lord, and this is the holy son of the Church of Dawn,” Eli introduced.
"Please, please help me, please help my friend!" The homeless man knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.
"What's wrong? You need to explain yourself. Is it related to zombies?" Maurice gripped his scepter tightly.
“I come from a village in the nearby city of South Milly. One night, when I got up to use the bathroom, I heard a strange roar. I found several people I knew standing outside my yard. Their skin was stiff and bluish-gray. They had ferocious faces, drool at the corners of their mouths, and their eyes were fixed on me as if they were looking at prey. They were exactly like the zombies in the legends.”
"But they were clearly drinking and playing cards with me this afternoon, how could they have turned out like this! But I didn't have time to think about it, because they were about to break down the wooden door and pounce on me! I was so scared, I hid in the cellar of my house, closed the cellar roof tightly, and stayed inside for two whole days! When I came out, there was no one alive in my entire village! The ground was covered with severed limbs and remains, and the crops were stained red with blood."
"I suppressed my grief and ran desperately towards the edge of the village, because the roaring was still there, and the zombies hadn't left. I ran to a nearby village, hoping to get help, where my married sister lived. But when I got to my sister's house, I saw my brother-in-law bite my sister's neck. Then, my sister's face turned blue, and she turned into a zombie just like them!"
I could only suppress my grief and keep running, but I broke down. The nearby villages were full of the same zombies! All of them! I had lost consciousness and could only run aimlessly. I didn't know why I was here; I only felt safe here.
The homeless man recalled the painful memories, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
“South Milly?” Morris and Steven exchanged a glance. “We haven’t heard the city lord there report this to the church.”
“With so many villages being invaded by zombies, there’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed.” Steven shook his head.
"It sounds like these zombies were turned from villagers who were bitten? Could it be related to the plague control, or some kind of disease rather than the work of the undead?" Phil Gray pondered for a moment and asked.
“Both the plague-maker and the undead could be involved.” Morris and Steven’s eyes were filled with unprecedented solemnity. If the homeless man was right, then it was far too serious. At least, such an event had not occurred for decades.
“Your Highness, I will have another priest show you around our city for the rest of the time. The city lord and I need to go to the nearby city of South Milly to investigate.” Morris said apologetically. He and Steven were both at the divine revelation level, and it would be more prudent for them to go and check the situation in person.
“Okay, no problem, things over there are more important.” Phil Gray didn’t seem to mind.
“Come with us,” Steven said to the homeless man on the ground.
But the homeless man shook his head violently, “No, no, I don’t want to go back!” His eyes were filled with terror, and he was about to fall into a state of panic and delirium again.
"Never mind, let someone take him to the church." Morris waved his hand, and several priests who had been following behind them helped the homeless man away.
“Your Highness, this is Reverend Hodgson. He will give you a brief introduction to the basic situation of the Church of Dawn. We will be leaving now.” Morris nodded slightly to Phil Gray, and then he and Steven quickly headed towards South Milly City.
“Hopefully they can successfully eliminate the zombies and save the surviving villagers,” Phil Gray said to Reverend Hodgson.
The pastor looked very kind and was quite old. Based on the divine sense, he should be at the level of a prominent figure.
“Bishop Morris is very adept at dealing with the dead, so you don’t need to worry. Next, I’ll take you to the largest restaurant in the area, the Cult of the God of Food.”
...
After a day of exploring Numas, Phil Gray felt somewhat tired, but he also had a vague sense of unease, for reasons he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Just after dinner, Reverend Hodgson told them that the people from the Church of Dawn had arrived to greet them, and the Pope's daughter, Miss Melody, was also there.
So fast?
Phil Gray thought they wouldn't arrive until tomorrow morning.
Even if we arrive, we should set off again tomorrow morning.
"Meow~" Night jumped onto his shoulder, licking its paws, and regained some of its liveliness.
“That’s Miss Melody,” Hodgson introduced.
Approaching was a woman in a long golden robe. She had long, shimmering golden hair that cascaded over her fair shoulders. Her eyes were a deep blue, as clear as the ocean. She had a high nose bridge, rosy lips, and two dimples on her cheeks. A golden lace necklace adorned her neck, giving her an air of nobility.
"Hello, Miss Melody," Phil Gray greeted politely.
"Your Highness, greetings. His Holiness the Pope has sent me to escort you to the City of the Sun and to present you with the Crown of the Holy Son." Melody half-squatted down, her hands forming a circle, symbolizing the sun, perfectly encircling the sun brooch on her chest—the highest form of etiquette in the Church of Dawn.
“Miss Melody, there’s no need for such formalities. It is my honor to travel to the City of the Sun.” Phil Gray helped her up, surprised that the Church of Dawn valued him so much.
“We will set off early tomorrow morning at dawn. I wonder if His Highness has any objections?” Melody asked.
“No.” Phil Gray shook his head.
“The cat on your shoulder is adorable.” Melody reached out her hand, but Night dodged and jumped onto her other shoulder, leaving Melody to awkwardly withdraw her hand.
“Sorry, my cat is a bit timid.” Phil Gray patted Night’s head.
"It doesn't matter."
Night had fallen, and Melody stayed in the church to rest for the time being.
"We're going to the Cult of Dawn tomorrow. Will we get to show off with you?" Eli teased.
Phil Gray didn't reply. Instead, he frowned, turned to Eli and Ernest, and asked in a low voice, "Did you hear any roaring just now?"
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