“Gilbert, the family with gray hair that I introduced to you when you first arrived in the Church of Life. They are a powerful family in the Church of Life, but they are located in Zam, the city where the Church of Life’s bishopric is located. This should be a branch.” Patrick whispered in Phil Gray’s ear.
Phil Gray nodded to indicate that he understood.
"Sure, what was their condition at your last gathering?" Morey continued to ask.
“They didn’t attend the last two gatherings, which is why I took on yesterday’s mission—to see what’s wrong with Miss Julie,” Caesar said.
"Oh, besides those two, who else didn't participate?"
"There are two other ladies, but I don't know their names. I only joined the gathering last month," Xize said somewhat awkwardly.
“Okay, you can go back now. We don’t need you anymore. Thank you for your cooperation,” Morey said.
“Okay.” Caesar stood up and saw Patrick looking at him with a somewhat annoying smile.
He hurriedly pushed open the door and went out.
“I’ll send someone to check on Miss Sheila first.” Morey looked at the notes he had made while questioning Caesar. “You all wait here for a while.”
“It seems that at least four ladies obtained the book through the Gathering of the Chosen Ones,” Phil Gray said.
"I wonder how the lady in the blue dress got it," Patrick said casually.
"Yes, she might have some new discoveries."
“But we don’t even know which family she belongs to, Eli. Why don’t you ask her name? Such a beautiful lady, and you don’t even want to get to know her?” Patrick clicked his tongue.
“Who knew this would happen? Didn’t you say yesterday that it had nothing to do with us?” Eli rolled his eyes at Patrick.
“Perhaps we could ask the tavern owner; he should know the identities of the patrons.” Phil Gray said thoughtfully.
“Not necessarily. He doesn’t know us well. We went back wearing masks that day, and he didn’t recognize us, so he booked a new room,” Patrick laughed.
“No, we are outsiders after all, it’s normal that the boss doesn’t know us. The lady in the blue dress is a local, so there’s a good chance the boss knows her.” Phil Gray shook his head.
“Shall I go ask?” Ernest said.
“No, let Patrick go. He might be able to find out some other information,” Phil Gray said.
"Okay, I'm definitely better at talking than him."
Patrick walked out with a grin.
“And what about us?” Eli asked.
"Let's wait for their news."
After waiting a while, Morey pushed open the door first. "The people I just sent said that Miss Sheila is currently in a coma."
"lethargy?"
“Yes,” Morey pushed back his chair and sat down. “She also had hallucinations a few days ago, insisting on finding a carpenter, but the Gilbert family has very strict rules. After several pastors examined her and found no physical or mental harm, she was locked in a small chapel in the family home.”
"After that, she fell into a deep sleep and has been asleep for two whole days now."
"You mean, the final stage of hallucination is falling into a coma? Miss Julie will do that too?" Phil Gray asked.
“After all, they can only see that little carpenter in their dreams, right?” Eli said, resting his chin on his hand.
“That should be true. I later obtained a list of some of the chosen ones in Dur City from the bishop,” Morey said, taking out a green notebook.
“In the city of Duer, all those who have become God’s chosen ones, regardless of whether they join the church or not, should register at the cathedral. Although not many people actually register, there should still be some. I have selected a few noble ladies and sent people to their homes to verify the situation. Perhaps some of them also participated in that gathering.”
“Yes, we also have a lead. Yesterday…” Phil Gray briefly explained the situation of the woman in the blue dress.
"That's great, another clue."
After waiting for almost an hour, Patrick came running up, panting.
“I’m back. The tavern owner does know her. That lady is a viscount’s daughter named Beverly. She lives not far from the tavern. I even went to her house.”
"Your speed is impressive," Eli laughed.
“Of course, I gave the coachman extra money; the horse was exhausted.” Patrick scratched his head. “Miss Beverly’s sister is also a chosen one, but she didn’t attend the gathering Caesar mentioned. I wanted to ask her how her sister got the book, but Beverly said her sister had finally fallen asleep and told me not to disturb her.”
“I went over to check on her, and her sister was indeed sleeping soundly with a smile on her lips, so I didn’t have the heart to wake her up. But I told Beve that she would tell us when her sister woke up.”
“Her sister probably won’t wake up anytime soon,” Eli said.
“Once trapped in hallucinations, one becomes immersed in dreams, which is precisely the terrifying aspect of the Dream Cult.” Phil Gray sighed, then pondered for a moment, “However, besides being a noble lady, the person who currently possesses this book has another characteristic.”
"What characteristics?"
"They are all favored by the gods."
"That's right."
“Miss Julie and Miss Sheila got the book because they attended the gathering, but Miss Beverly’s sister didn’t attend, yet she still got it. And they are both chosen ones. As for ordinary people, in all these days at the tavern, have we heard of any daughters who have mental problems? No.” Phil Gray tapped the table lightly with his knuckles.
"But such a romance novel should be more widely circulated among ordinary people."
“Indeed.” Morey nodded in agreement.
A moment later, someone came over.
"Captain, I just went to the houses you mentioned. Those ladies are all fast asleep, sleeping very soundly with smiles on their faces, so their parents didn't notice." A young man who looked very energetic entered; he was probably one of Morey's men.
“It seems you’re right, at least for now, these ladies who are affected are all chosen ones,” Morey said to Phil Gray.
"Have any bookstores in the city ever sold this book?"
“No, I already had someone go to four bookstores in the city last night to ask, and this book has never been seen in any of them.” Morey shook his head.
“Hmm, so where did this book come from?” Phil Gray pondered. “Is there anywhere that the chosen ones can buy this book but ordinary people can’t access it?”
Wait a minute, Phil Gray suddenly realized something. He and Patrick exchanged a glance. "There is indeed a place."
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