The two men led the thief to the city gate, where a crowd of people stood, furious because their belongings had been stolen.
The thief was too cunning; he disappeared as soon as he left the city gate. The two undead knights searched the vicinity but could not find him.
We can only try to appease the angry crowd here for the time being.
Seeing that Phil Gray and his companion had caught the thief, countless pale faces showed gratitude and they surrounded them.
If I didn't know their purpose, I would have thought we were about to be surrounded by zombies.
“This is this guy’s space stone; it contains your stolen items.” Phil Gray handed the thief’s space stone to the two undead knights.
They must be officials of the city, or knights of the Church of the Dead.
"Okay, thank you." One of the undead knights dismounted and took the space stone, while the other took the tightly bound thief from Eli's hands and knocked the thief unconscious with an elbow, the thief who was looking around with his eyes wide open, seemingly thinking of something.
"Listen up, everyone! Anyone who has lost something, go to the cathedral to register and retrieve your belongings. Hill, you're in charge. And while you're at it, lock this wretched fellow in the ice prison!" The undead knight holding the space stone shouted to the crowd, then handed the space stone to his companion who was carrying the thief.
"Yes, Master Arthur," his companion replied, and quickly departed, followed by the large crowd that followed him.
The remaining young master Arthur took off his helmet, revealing a smiling face: "My two friends, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I would have made a big fool of myself today. I wonder if you have some free time? I would like to invite you for a couple of drinks."
“Of course I’m free.” Phil Gray smiled amicably. They had just arrived at the Church of the Dead and were planning to inquire about the situation here, so this was perfect.
"That's great! Come this way. Your faces look unfamiliar to me. Which city are you from?"
“Giccarga, but we left the church when we were very young and haven’t been around for a long time,” Eli replied first, knowing that Phil Gray didn’t know which cities the Church of the Dead had.
“Yes,” Phil Gray echoed.
"Oh, you're from headquarters. No wonder you two are so skilled and high-ranking. You must be sons of high-ranking members of the sect, right?" Arthur asked with great interest.
“No, otherwise I wouldn’t have been traveling for so long.” Phil Gray shook his head. “What was that thief all about?”
He changed the subject to avoid saying too much and revealing his true intentions.
"That despicable guy just stole several cases of the Rebirth Wine we prepared for the celebration! You know, today was my first mission, and I was in charge of security for the celebration. I never expected that the wine that was just delivered would be stolen. If I hadn't been sharp-eyed, that guy would have taken all the food that was meant for the sacrifice. And while we were chasing him, he was so arrogant that he even stole from the crowd passing by. Humph, I'll make him taste blood later!" Arthur said angrily.
"A celebration? When is the celebration?"
Arthur gave Phil Gray a strange look. "Well, the timing is uncertain. It depends on when our Pope returns to the embrace of God, doesn't it?"
So this celebration was prepared for the dying Pope of the Church of the Dead.
It does sound quite reasonable. For the Church of the Dead, returning to the abyss through death might be something to celebrate, which is why they hold a celebration for the Pope's death.
“Oh, so this is the celebration. We’ve been away from the Church of the Dead for quite some time and have forgotten our local customs. Speaking of which, we only ended our travels and returned home because of His Holiness the Pope.” Phil Gray sighed.
“Yes, many people who went out to our city have also rushed back during this period. After all, there are not many opportunities to participate in such a celebration, and some people want to see His Majesty one last time, so there are also a lot of people going to the headquarters city.” Arthur said as he led them to a tavern in the city center.
This tavern is entirely built from huge bones; it's a mystery what kind of creature has such a massive skeleton.
"This is the most famous tavern in our city of Katomero. It's been open for almost eight hundred years. The proprietress has changed countless times, but the taste of the wine here has never changed. You can even taste the wine that the famous nun of death tasted eight hundred years ago." Arthur's face lit up when he talked about the wine. He opened the door with ease and greeted the proprietress.
"Hey! Please get us five bottles of Rebirth Wine and five bottles of Cold Ghost Wine on the rocks."
The proprietress wrote it down, "You're drinking iced drinks in this weather."
"So that I can return to the embrace of my God sooner."
The proprietress rolled her eyes at him and skillfully took out the wine and ice from the counter.
"Just kidding, I was so tired from catching people, my whole body is burning up now."
After Arthur finished speaking, he chose a seat by the window and pulled them to sit down.
“You’ve been away from your hometown for so long, you must have forgotten the taste of the burial wine. This time, I’ll treat you to your fill. Now that the thief has been caught, I won’t have to pay for the wine needed for the celebration, so I can properly entertain you.” Arthur chuckled, almost impatiently.
I never expected this guy to be an alcoholic.
“Thank you for your hospitality, but we have to travel to Girarda City tomorrow, so we can’t drink too much. We can only have a few drinks with you,” Phil Gray said apologetically.
"Well, are you in a hurry to get to Gilalga City?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, we need to participate in a selection process, and it would be best if we could arrive at headquarters before His Holiness the Pope leaves."
If the selection of the Son of Death is delayed, and a new pope has already ascended the throne, things will become complicated.
However, that was all he could say in a veiled way, since it would seem arrogant and presumptuous to say in front of others that he wanted to become the pope of the church.
“Ah, I see. So that’s why you came back. I knew it,” Arthur patted his head, as if he had just thought of something. “Don’t worry. Since you’ve helped me so much, I’ll definitely repay you. My city of Katomero has five spots, and my father is in charge of this. I’ll tell him tonight that you should wait at the city gate tomorrow and set off with the convoy heading to headquarters. Otherwise, the competition will be even fiercer in Giralga City, and you might not be selected.”
What to choose?
Phil Gray was somewhat puzzled. Surely the selection of a new pope wouldn't have to start from each city? He remembered reading somewhere that the Church of the Dead already had several Holy Sons.
He assumed the selection would be made from among these holy sons, and that he and Eli were planning to temporarily cut in line.
The selection process Arthur described was definitely different from what he had said, but he didn't intend to explain.
"Oh, is Young Master Arthur making promises again?"
"Yes, the thing you promised me last time still hasn't been fulfilled."
Two young men with heavy black eyeliner walked over drunkenly and made a joking remark.
"Alright, if you're not capable, there's nothing I can do to help you. These two friends I just met are very talented. Even if I don't recommend them, they can get the spots on their own merits." Arthur rolled his eyes and shooed them away.
"Hmph, they forget the old when they have new ones."
"Get lost, get lost! I'm with the Cavaliers now, I don't want to hang out with you bunch of hooligans."
"Oh my, the bishop's son is of such high status that he looks down on the children of us two counts and the city lord."
"You two should hurry up and leave. Don't keep me from entertaining my friends. I'll treat you to drinks another day." Arthur laughed as he shooed his two rather uncouth friends out.
At this moment, the proprietress had already poured the wine and was looking at the two young men whom Master Arthur praised with great curiosity.
"Thank you for your kindness, as long as it doesn't cause you any trouble."
No matter what kind of selection process it is, just let them ride along with the team.
Arthur waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be so polite, and took the wine handed to him by the proprietress, pouring three full glasses for the three of them.
"please!"
Phil Gray took the glass of wine he was poured and sipped it.
Eli also swallowed.
The "Rebirth Wine" that this guy recommends has an extremely rich aroma. As soon as you taste it, you can taste a hundred indescribable flavors, like spicy, sour, bitter, and sweet, as if you have experienced a hundred lifetimes of vicissitudes and returned to the human world.
"Hehe, drink up big gulps, don't worry, I have plenty of money." Arthur closed his eyes and gulped down the wine, making sounds of enjoyment.
“Every time I drink this wine, I feel like I’ve been through countless lifetimes, experiencing the joys and sorrows of life, and then returning to the human world. Our destiny is the abyss, but we never get the chance to experience this feeling of constant reincarnation.” Arthur opened his eyes and poured himself another cup.
While the guy was still awake and not drunk, Phil Gray continued to probe for information: "Do you know anything about those holy sons of our church?"
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