Chapter 148 - 148: Another Rashomon

Immediately, the grey dust on the ground rapidly shifted again: "HAHAHA!!! Medici, your line ends with you!" "Serves you right, HAHAHAHAHA." These last two lines were clearly 'spoken' by the other two evil spirits. In the previous visits, it was always Medici who dominated the exchange. Edward hadn't expected those two to suddenly chime in today. Perhaps they'd finally lost their composure. "I didn't actually kill them," Edward explained. "I just took their blood." Weren't those people still alive and well in Bansy? After a moment of silence, a new line of twisted letters formed on the ground: "Leave the blood here. I'll deal with it myself. Now, hurry and find the other two bloodlines as well. You can try killing them all." "Medici! Don't go too far!" "Believe me, I'll end this kid right now if I have to. Let's all just stay sealed in here forever." Medici's warped letters appeared once more— "Ignore these two old hags. Just go do your job." Edward sighed. "But Lord Medici, I've been working so hard to help you lift your seal, and yet you only gave me a fake Card of Blasphemy. Don't you think that's a bit...unfair?" "That's perfectly normal. How could I possibly give away such a bargaining chip at the start?" "And when, exactly, do you plan to give me the real one?" "Once you collect all three types of blood. Don't worry—a Card of Blasphemy might be a treasure to a small bug like you, but for us, it's just a fun little collectible." Edward chuckled. "Alright, deal. I just hope next time, you—the greatest conspirer—don't try to pull a fast one on this lowly bug again." "Farewell." With that, Edward vanished. A moment later, a strange humming echoed beneath the ground, like someone whispering secrets. Lines of text began to form again: "Hey, Medici, are you really going to give him the Card of Blasphemy?" "Of course." "Hahahaha, you? Being so generous?" "Why not? He's a blessed of my Lord. Helping him get stronger is only natural." "Liar!" "Bullshit!" "Such hypocrisy!" "Ah, what a shame...I am indeed willing to help the younger generation, you two old hags clearly don't share the sentiment, do you? If you don't object, then the Card will be his. If you do...well, whether he gets it or not will depend on his own abilities. As for me? I won't help either side…except maybe to stop you from killing him outright." "Knew it!" "Disgusting." "HAHAHAHA, this is a trial! He'll thank me for it one day!" Just then, Edward's voice cut in cheerfully— "Ooops, I heard all of that, Lord Medici~" He took off his invisibility cloak and reappeared in the room, beaming. "Thanks a lot, Lord Medici." The next second, a flurry of grey dust burst into the air. Lines formed on the ceiling, the walls, the floor, even the door: "Hahahahahaha, Medici, look at you now!" "Heheheheh, the greatest conspirer Medici, outwitted by the bug he looks down on." "Hahahahaha, nice job, kid!" "Hahahahahaha!" "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" BOOM! All the dust suddenly dropped to the floor. Then came Medici's twisted writing: "Very good. You have potential as a Hunter. Ever considered switching to that pathway?" Edward gave a graceful bow and replied with a smile, "I'll seriously think about it. Farewell." His figure disappeared again—only to reappear half a minute later. "This time, I'm really leaving." "Bye-bye~" The underground chamber finally returned to complete silence. ——— Back at the villa, Lilith was nowhere to be found. Maybe she'd gone to visit Susie, or maybe she was out chasing "giant rats." Thinking back on his behaviour just now, Edward felt a bit speechless. My potion is clearly already digested…so why did I still go out of my way to tempt fate? Am I going to become a true madman from acting the part too long? Even if I don't, this kind of instinctive risk-taking is just...too reckless! Just then, his vision turned hazy as dense greyish-white mist enveloped everything. In its depths, Mr. Fool sat calmly on his bronze throne, looking down at him. Soon, a blurred figure of Klein appeared amid the mist, maintaining a prayerful posture. With reverence, he said, "Respected Mr. Fool, please relay a message to Edward. We killed that tall man named Yurigus last night. There are some things we need to discuss. I'll be waiting for him at home." Already? Fors and Xio haven't even found his trail yet. Edward placed a hand over his chest. "Praise The Fool." In the next instant, everything he had just seen and heard vanished without a trace, as though it had never happened. I mean, I did say I accepted the bounty on Yurigus…but if Klein already succeeded in taking him down, what's left for me to do? Maybe…he wants me to hand over the body for the reward claim? Yeah. That does sound like something Klein would do. ——— [15 Minsk Street] As soon as Edward reached the front door, Klein opened it from inside. "Come in." The two of them entered the living room, and Klein got straight to the point: "After we killed the tall man last night, I immediately performed spirit channelling on him. I originally suspected he might've been some backup plan of Lanevus or even Ince Zangwill… but I found out his real target was you." Edward froze, then quickly understood. Mr. A had said that Yurigus' defection had something to do with the evil god who'd corrupted the Saint of Secrets. That being was most likely the rational side of the True Creator. Since that rational consciousness wanted him dead, it made perfect sense that a defector like Yurigus would set his sights on him. Klein continued, "In the visions I received, he was spreading what seemed to be the True Creator's blood all over Backlund…" He detailed the entire spirit channelling vision and concluded, "We can't be certain yet whether he was just trying to create a bunch of followers to help him hunt you down, or if he had some other plan." At that, he handed over a tin box containing a diary. "This is the journal he had." The moment Edward opened the box, he felt a familiar sense of corruption seep out. He quickly shut it again. "I see. I'll find someone to help examine this journal. Maybe we'll uncover more clues." "Thanks a lot, Klein." "No need. The ones who truly killed him were the Captain and Miss Daly. I just tagged along. And the reason we decided to hunt him down was actually because of the Tingen incident." Klein's expression turned serious as he continued, "Of course, regardless of whether this matter concerns you or not, the blood he scattered must be dealt with as soon as possible." "And your plan is…?" His tone was firm. "Report it." Of course. The God of Reporting strikes again. Edward reached out with a grin. "Great minds think alike." "Almost forgot." Klein gave a light cough and asked, "I remember you mentioned last time that someone commissioned you to find that tall guy, right? Did they specify whether they wanted him alive or dead?" As expected—the Penny-Pinching Deity wouldn't let money slip by. "Alive or dead, it didn't matter." A glint of joy flashed in Klein's eyes. "Then…how much are they offering?" "Uh…they didn't say exactly. Should I go ask?" "Please do!" After chatting a bit more, Edward took his leave. Just as he was about to go, Klein suddenly asked, "By the way—why did Captain Dunn, who's supposed to be 'truly dead,' contact Miss Daly? And why did she break Church rules to help us hunt Yurigis last night?" "Hmm, didn't I tell you last time? As for that question, wait until you're older. You'll understand." "Screw you!" Klein looked like he wanted to kick him, but froze mid-motion as realisation dawned. "Wait a minute…The Captain and Miss Daly, they…" "Never saw it coming." One was reserved and taciturn, the other was lively and cheerful…and fond of teasing younger men. How did that spark fly? "Love…really is…too intriguing!" ——— After leaving 15 Minsk Street, Edward made his way straight to Mr. A. "What are you doing here?" The aurora envoy furrowed his brows. Edward casually tossed Yurigus's broken corpse to the ground. "I've taken care of Yurigus for you." Mr. A's lips curved ever so slightly. "Didn't run into anyone else?" "Like who?" "Why, Botis of course. Yurigus betrayed me and sided with the Saint. If Botis just stood by and watched his new convert get taken out—" Edward's expression darkened. "You didn't mention that to me before." "If I had, would you have been so willing to go after Yurigus?" "So…Yurigus was bait for the Saint of Secrets, and I was bait for you?" Mr. A chuckled. "Relax. As long as Botis shows up, this time we'll be sure to catch him!" Damn it! This bastard! Even if the True Creator has some mysterious reason to remain 'benevolent' toward me, anything executed by this lunatic Mr. A was bound to go off the rails. I seriously want to kill this guy. If I do, though…whose side would the True Creator take? Edward took a deep breath and nudged the bag with his foot. "I've done the job—now pay up." Mr. A glanced at his attendant. "Give him two thousand pounds." "That's it?" "A mere Sequence 6 is only worth that much." Sequence 7 Danitz was worth three thousand back then—no, now he's worth twenty thousand! "Fine." Edward pulled out the diary. "Help me check if there's anything off with this diary." Before Mr. A could respond, his hand darted out and seized the book. The vertical pupil in his palm pulsated wildly. In the next second, divine, flesh-like tendrils seeped out from the diary's cover—only to be slurped up hungrily by the eye in his palm. Mr. A's arm bulged with veins; beneath his skin, it looked as though countless worms were writhing. A crimson flush spread across his ethereal features. "...%&...%&" A bout of dizzying mutterings echoed in Edward's ears: "It's Him…it's Him!" "He…He's working with that damn %¥% guy…" "Beware…beware that damn %¥...¥% guy…" "...&...…%& Yebat! Cykablyat!" Rubbing his aching temples, Edward muttered to himself, "He's talking about the rational True Creator, right? But who the hell is the 'damn guy'?" Before he could make sense of it, another voice came—this time not mutterings, but clear, lucid words from the True Creator: "Don't…trust…that madman…" "He's lying to you…he just wants…to kill you." "I've been…altering his will…" "Don't trust him. Run! Stay away from him!" "Beware…he has already sent…sent…" The voice cut off abruptly. A few seconds later, a final 'Cykablyat!' echoed before the connection severed. Edward was left in a daze. What now—a live-action Rashomon? Bloody hell. Sent? Sent who? Don't tell me it's that fucking Tail-Devourer! He suddenly recalled his last conversation with Will Auceptin. So that guy really was coming for me?! ——— [Note]: Here's the Extra Chapter. Enjoy~ And, if you guys want one tomorrow, we'd need to hit 515 Powestones. Go, VOTE! And if you are like me and want to read 40 Chapters in advance of the current story right now, you can support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome~ Link - (P)atre(o)n.c(o)m/ Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]