Chapter 884 Acquiescence
As the flaming spear and the giant exploded, the entire dream-like battlefield disappeared without a trace. The light and shadow in front of Elaine's eyes kept changing, and she soon found herself still standing on the beach late at night. In front of her was Tracy, who was struggling with her limbs tied, and Sherman, who was holding a dagger against her neck with a cold face, leaving a trace of blood.
She herself was sweating profusely and felt hot all over. The high temperature even caused her sweat to evaporate, emitting thick smoke, which shrouded the surrounding area in fog.
As the mist dissipated in the sea breeze, her body temperature returned to normal, and Elaine felt her scattered spiritual energy slowly returning to her body, calming her emerald green eyes that contained madness and ferocity.
But even so, the roars of the enemy and friends who had just clashed and fought to the death still echoed in her ears, and she still felt the exhilaration of having transformed herself into a flaming spear and pierced the giant who represented Tracy's fear and resentment towards her.
Now, I have become a "reaper"...
Elaine slowly exhaled a breath of hot air, looked at Tracy, whose tear marks remained on her face and whose eyes were almost bursting as she stared at her, and said:
"I did use you to complete the Ascension Ceremony as revenge for what you did before. Furthermore, you should have digested the 'Pain' potion... Have you ever thought about why your mother told you about Miss Angelica's absence so that you could safely come to the southern continent to intercept my 'Redhead'?"
After the promotion, Elaine's insight from the "conspirator" has made great progress. Thinking back on what happened tonight, she realized the key to the other party's "cooperation".
The "immortal" witch, Tracy's mother Katarina, may have condoned this incident and even fanned the flames behind the scenes, so that her daughter could digest the potion and prepare for the promotion to demigod, even though it would involve a lot of risks and she might even die in battle.
She might have anticipated the attitudes of Miss Angelica and I... Thinking of this, Elaine sighed inwardly. Looking at Tracy, whose expression was stunned and her eyes were a little dull after hearing her words, she continued:
"The vicious pirates with a bounty on their heads aboard your 'Black Death' will be captured. Anyone who dares to resist may be in danger of their lives, but the other sailors will be fine. After we leave, you can...leave."
"You're going to let me go?"
Tracy looked up in surprise and asked. From Elaine's position, some color appeared on her pale face, and her blue eyes lit up as if she had seen the sun.
"I do want to kill you, or at least take revenge on you for what you did to me, even if it's just a small part... I've dreamt about this countless times, but..."
Having said that, Elaine glanced at Sherman, who had an expressionless face. She felt a little embarrassed to say this in front of outsiders, so she shook her head.
"...Forget it, we're even."
"Even? Don't let me run into you again, or I'll take you back to the boat and make you—"
Tracy jumped up like a fish thrown into a frying pan, yelling in frustration, until Sherman behind her took out a ball of untied rope and stuffed it into her mouth, blocking her last words.
But she continued to struggle, bending her body and twisting her limbs on the beach, trying to break free from the ropes that bound her hands and feet.
But compared to the angry and desperate struggle just now, the current movement is more like...
"behave in a spoiled manner?"
Such a ridiculous idea popped up in Elaine's mind.
She shook her head and looked at Sherman and said:
"Let's go... Miss Angelica agreed to let her go."
"Woo? Woo woo woo—"
Tracy on the ground struggled even harder.
————
It was not until dawn that Angel, having finished all his business, returned to his home in Backlund and slumped down on the sofa in the study, feeling somewhat exhausted.
She did not ask the early-rising maid to bring her a cup of refreshing coffee. Instead, she fumbled to take out a bottle of brown drink in a transparent glass bottle from the "mirror space", shook it in her hand to let it cool down to near freezing point, unscrewed the iron cap pressing on the bottle mouth with her bare hands, and after hearing the "hissing" sound of air flow, she put the icy carbonated drink into her mouth and sighed with satisfaction.
This was the "Cola" that had already begun to be sold to various districts of Backlund after Sherman had specially hired a designer to redesign its appearance. The flavor had been fine-tuned after being tasted by the workers at the Black Bear Cannery, making it more in line with people's current sweet tooth. Of course, the refreshing caffeine also allowed it to partially replace the effects of coffee, serving as a promotional selling point.
Instead of shamelessly naming the carbonated beverage "Coca-Cola," Angell printed a bear paw on the bottle cap, and the recyclable glass bottle also has bear paw-like raised patterns, which makes it easier to grip and makes the name "Black Bear Coke" more appropriate.
Although the price of three pence a bottle is more expensive than the common ales in the bar and is on par with those local specialty beers, there is a one-penny "discount" for returning the empty bottle, which makes people feel that this refreshing drink that can refresh and replenish sugar at the same time is more cost-effective.
In fact, Sherman suggested that the price for factories to recycle empty glass bottles is 1.5 pence. The price difference makes restaurants and bars more willing to promote our drinks... Angel muttered, and gave a thumbs up to his "Minor Arcana" business acumen.
After enjoying his iced cola in the morning, Angel closed his eyes and prayed to the respected Mr. Fool, requesting an impromptu meeting with World Klein.
…
Above the gray fog, the figure of the Fool was hidden behind the mist. Angel and Klein sat in their seats, exchanging last night's intelligence across the long bronze table.
"Duchess Georgina didn't realize I was impersonating the 'Golden Queen' until the very end. She could tell I had become a demigod, and the 'Witch' card I carried gave me the status of a corresponding path and the ability to counter divination and prophecy. Unless the 'Arbitrator' angel was present, I shouldn't have been exposed."
Because there were only two people present, Klein did not use the hoarse voice of "The World", but instead narrated in his usual relaxed tone.
"What is her purpose in looking for me? Is it really related to the 'Ghost Empire'?"
Angel also leaned back in his chair and asked in a more relaxed tone.
"Yes, she conveyed a request for cooperation from her own royal faction, hoping that you and the Queen Anne's Revenge could help find the traces of the 'Ghost Empire' and uncover the last treasure of the Trunsost Empire. They only want one Beyonder characteristic; the rest can belong to you and your helpers... I didn't agree immediately, but only said I would consider it. Georgina didn't seem to intend to solve the problem all at once. Perhaps they also have their own backup plan."
Klein relayed Georgina's words and then analyzed them based on his own judgment:
"I think the royal family is most likely looking for a Sequence 1 Beyonder characteristic of the Arbitrator. After the fall of the Night Emperor, Trunsoest, his Beyonder characteristic was divided among the nobles of the time, including the current royal family of Loen, Augustus. Their attempt to collect this characteristic must have a deeper purpose... Could they be hoping that one of the royal family's angels will advance further and become the strongest being below a true god? Did George III become a demigod without the church's knowledge in preparation for this?"
"This path's Sequence 1 is called the 'Hand of Order.' William Augustus, the 'Protector' printed on the £10 note and ancestor of the Augustan royal family, possessed one. He is still alive and a staunch supporter of George III... The royal family desires a second 'Hand of Order,' perhaps to promote a certain angel, but it won't be George III, because... he intends to become the 'Black Emperor'!"
Angel said this carefully, taking this opportunity to tell Klein the news revealed by the "White Saint" Katarina, including all her own speculations and Katarina's most important words:
The true God and His believers may not have the same ideas.
Upon hearing the news that George III might have become an angel and had begun to arrange nine mausoleums, Klein, the Fool who controlled the phantom of the "world" and whose true body was hidden behind the gray fog, was momentarily shocked and even forgot to respond.
Similar to Angel's reaction last night, once his attention truly turned to the Black Emperor's ceremony, all sorts of details that had long been public but no one had noticed immediately surfaced in Klein's mind.
And compared to Angel, he knew more.
From Russell's diary, Klein learned that this great time traveler had come into contact with the "Angel of Fantasy" Adam, and even joined the "Twilight Hermits", becoming a member of this secretive organization that wanted to influence world trends.
In his later years, he tried to switch paths and become the "Black Emperor" without telling the Steam Church, perhaps with the help of Adam.
After his death, all the extraordinary characteristics and uniqueness of the "Black Emperor" may naturally fall into the hands of the "Twilight Hermit Order".
Now, Hervin Rambis has mentioned the "trend of the world" and said that he wants George III to be "more talented" and "play the role in advance"...
Klein had previously assumed this was to allow the contract-restricted king to break through to demigod status, but now it seemed entirely possible that this was preparation for the Black Emperor's advancement to Sequence 0!
The only problem is:
Do the Seven Gods know?
Do the Seven Gods acquiesce?
Did the Seven offer any help?
At least in Klein's opinion, the three major churches in the Kingdom of Loen were opposed to George III's actions. They spared no effort to investigate the truth of the "Great Smog" incident, track down the whereabouts of the missing people, and force George III to make numerous concessions... Although the last incident was clearly part of Adam and George III's plan, and actually accelerated the arrival of the "New Order" of the Black Emperor, the starting point was good.
But……
The intentions of the church do not necessarily replace the intentions of the gods. If the gods have an ambiguous attitude and do not oppose the emergence of a new "Black Emperor", they can just sit back and do nothing, not informing the angels and saints under their seats, and just let them investigate with the power of the mortal world. If they find any problems, they will solve them. If they don't find any... that's just fine.
For the Augustus who controlled the Kingdom of Loen and had the hope of becoming gods, if the gods did not openly oppose them, it would be equivalent to supporting them.
Even the gods are ambiguous about it, and even the Goddess of Night doesn't object. So what are we doing? Is there any point...
Only after Klein had a detailed discussion with Angel about the next steps and sent her back to reality did he return home with heavy thoughts in his mind.
He looked at the sun that had already risen outside the window, sighed softly, washed and changed his clothes with the help of his secret doll, and went to the restaurant to enjoy the breakfast which was not very rich but was prepared with southern characteristics according to his request.
After the meal, Butler Walter handed over the guest list for the hunting event to be held at Meige Manor this weekend and discussed related matters with him.
His valet and one of the "secret puppets", Raphael, was wearing a windbreaker and standing outside the restaurant door. He looked around with a vivid expression under his distracted control.
At this moment, two male servants walked out of the dining room. One of them was holding a delicate glass bottle. Half of the bottle was filled with brown liquid, which was bubbling as he shook it. A sweet fragrance slowly drifted into the doll's nostrils.
Klein in the restaurant was suddenly stunned.
It was something he was extremely familiar with, something he drank almost every day before coming to this world.
Cola!
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