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Shitia listened patiently, resting her cheek on her hand and occasionally asking questions.
Besides learning about modern history, she also enjoyed the long-lost "exchange".
Even though the Heir noblewoman possessed an exceptionally long lifespan from birth and a different concept of time than ordinary people, over a thousand years of imprisonment and silence still made her yearn to hear the words of others. Of course, this was on the premise that the other party was not some noisy, arrogant fool from the Gallonson Royal Court or the Star Abyss School.
To be honest, when Shitia saw that Vivian had been silent all along, she thought that Vivian was also the taciturn type like Sister Heda.
But in actual conversation, it turned out the other person was perhaps just a little reserved; they quickly became quite talkative after getting to know them.
——sewage
Mordway, Rue de Vanfna, Marquis Jude's mansion.
Facing Jude, who was sitting upright across the square table in the courtyard, Rosalie lowered her face, occasionally blinking gently, maintaining the obedient demeanor one would show when meeting an elder.
Although the Marquis Jude was her direct blood relative, he was, after all, the ancestor of the entire Noralia family. The difference in their social standing was immense, so they weren't particularly close. However, the connection as siblings and descendants prevented them from feeling overly distant.
Especially after Rosalie introduced "Professor Flamel" to Jude.
The moth-based therapy provided by the White Cup scholar nearly eradicated the blood plague that had plagued the Moon Goddess for millennia, effectively removing a deep-seated ailment that had tormented Jude for countless years. This was perhaps the most carefree period of his life in nearly a century. Even the pale moonlight above the night sky seemed to soften as a result.
Of course, his good mood lasted until Grantham sent a long, detailed bill via the interstate courier...
However, considering that the raw material used in their special treatment is the remains of a shellfish, the drug development process must have been incredibly expensive. Compared to that, my own collection seems insignificant. Ai
One has to admire Grantham's composure; the White Cup Order didn't leak a single piece of information about the "Moth Essence Therapy" before it was fully completed. He must be determined to get his hands on those ancient materials he treasures, hence his willingness to expend resources to offer a deal he couldn't refuse.
The refutants of White Cup seem to have a certain obsession with shocking others with their research results, to the point that they are extremely meticulous in their secrecy, and not a single word of their groundbreaking works is leaked before they are officially presented.
Feeling his thoughts drifting far away, Jude shook his head and then turned his gaze to Rosalie, who was sitting opposite him. He had kept the little one waiting for a while.
"Rosalie, what did you find in Morion during your trip? Briefly recount everything from beginning to end. Don't worry, this isn't an interrogation or any overly important questioning; just treat it as casual conversation."
Sensing the underlying concern in the other person's words, Rosalie nodded obediently.
Facing an old and high-ranking figure like the Marquis Jude alone put her under some pressure, and he even allowed her to sit at the square table in the courtyard... Almost no one among the young descendants of the Moon Clan received such treatment, which could be described as a "special honor".
Even her father's generation, when they came to this mansion, were only qualified to stand by and serve.
However, considering that it concerned Dr. Fran, Rosalie quickly calmed herself down and recounted her experience in detail.
"After disembarking from the Leviathan, we traveled through the night for some time and arrived at the central part of the lost city. We originally planned to find a safe enough shelter before dawn to avoid the daytime and the evil creatures of the Abyss, but we inadvertently stepped into the secret realm [Huayan Flower Garden]."
"There are no evil creatures from the Abyss in the Secret Realm, but we encountered the remnants of the 'Gardener's' glandular scales. However, she seems to be just some kind of remnant, which was destroyed by the Hunter's Director Bartley and Professor Utus of the White Cup after a period of fierce fighting."
Marquis Jude slowly swirled the blood-stained goblet in his hand, patiently listening to Rosalie's account of her trip to Morion. For an immortal being who had escaped the plague, time was the one thing they had in abundance.
Even he couldn't help but lower his gaze and show a thoughtful expression when he heard about the glandular gardener.
"gardener?"
"Someone else has received Karmion's legacy? That guy is truly haunting... He's more of a ghost than a demonic monk. Whenever the world thinks he's completely dead, he or she reappears in some new form."
"However, even if she was in a terrible state as a gardener, she should still possess some of the characteristics of an apostle. At the very least, it would take a high-ranking priest who had climbed to the fifth tier to kill her. But if she is not her true self, but merely an old relic left over from the lost era, then it is understandable."
Rosalie's subsequent statements quickly corroborated Jude's judgment.
“Yes, Marquis. The gardener we first met was indeed only a remnant. Both his strength and his spirit were extremely weak.”
"But then... we encountered the Nightmare who had committed crimes in Norrington. From what we learned later, he had been completely assimilated by Karmion's consciousness, which was equivalent to the 'resurrection' of that evil monk."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Jude's blood-red eyes narrowed slightly, becoming deep and profound.
Born from the Lost Era of Decay, the Moonkin are essentially living history books. At that time, neither the Moonkin nor the Blood Plague existed; there were only the "Vampires" who served the Crimson Blood Cup in the land of Attilien in the Shifting Sands.
Even though he had little contact with Karmion, he still had a very deep understanding of him.
Although "The Prophet of Desire" is only a high-ranking priest of the fifth tier, she is often mentioned and compared with the archmage Gloria, who has already taken shape, which shows her uniqueness. Of course, it must be acknowledged that there is an immeasurable gap between their hidden ranks.
The reason they are always compared is largely due to the sharp clashes between their schools of thought and underlying ideologies.
Marquis Jude drank a mouthful of blood from his crystal glass, his expression becoming serious as he grew increasingly interested in the details of Rosalie's operation.
"【The Flower Garden】, ah... The last time I heard the name of this ritual was at the beginning of a thousand years ago, when Karmion was murdered by Heizmut, the former king of Heil. However, since the Nightmare Guest inherited that guy's old consciousness and is currently in the flower garden..."
"Did he successfully reclaim his inheritance and attempt to climb the sixth step again?"
Even as he continued to question her in the gentlest possible tone, Rosalie felt an invisible pressure enveloping her. It stemmed from the oversight of an ancient Moon Goddess who had existed for over a thousand years.
"As you said, Mr. Jude. When I saw Nightmare again, she was already 'Gardener's' glandular scales."
Before Rosalie could continue, Jude frowned in confusion.
"Indeed, Morion's surging forbidden spirituality stemmed from her ascension. But some aspects still remain inexplicable..."
“That creature has transcended the mortal realm and become a ‘gardener.’ Logically speaking, even if her form is incomplete due to various reasons, she should at least possess the inhuman qualities of a flower apostle. You have nowhere to hide in the flower garden, so your every move must be under her watchful eye.”
"Even if the secret realm collapses later, you shouldn't have any chance of escaping. Could it be that old man Nifl is also there?"
Although he gave Rosalie a "Feast Ring" belonging to the Monroe nobility before he set off, she can only barely use it at present. Her hope of escaping an apostle's pursuit by relying on this relic is extremely slim.
The only one in Rosalie's squad with relatively strong direct combat ability was probably the Hunter Supervisor. However, he was, after all, just a mortal, and hadn't even reached the rank of High Priest. It was already unexpected that he was able to kill the remnants of the previous Gardener.
“不，侯爵先1生。船长留守0在港口的勒0维亚7号上6，并未随9行。至于1我们为什么4能安3然无恙的离6开莫利恩……这与一位突然出现的亥伊尔贵胄有关。”
"Heyel, is he a 'noble'?"
For Jude, this ancient name was both familiar and strange. He had once had contact with those favored by the Abyss, but since the War of Destruction, everything about this race had vanished without a trace.
"Yes."
"That noblewoman from Heyel defeated the newly promoted gardener, and we were able to break away during a lull in their fighting."
Rosalie couldn't help but feel a little nervous as she spoke.
Although she did not deliberately fabricate lies, she did conceal part of the truth.
After all, this concerns Dr. Fran… In Marquis Jude’s eyes, she is “Flamemer,” an honorary professor of the White Cup Order, while her identity as the coroner of the Medical Court is unknown. Moreover, the situation is rather complicated, and he cannot easily explain why the Hunter’s physician would appear in Morion.
If I were to go into details, I might get myself into unnecessary trouble.
Moreover, before parting ways, Dr. Fran specifically instructed, "Please attribute all the inconvenient situations to Ms. Shitia. Don't worry, she won't mind."
Considering that the doctor's advice seemed to never be wrong, Rosalie decided to follow his advice after careful consideration.
"The Heil nobles... I never expected that an ancient race that had long since disappeared in the Lost Age could reappear. Speaking of which, the death of their former king was indirectly related to Karmion. However, it is somewhat unexpected that they would take action to stop the Gardener again."
Lord Jude did not completely believe Rosalie's story, but he was not overly suspicious either.
While the existence of the Heirs was an ancient mystery of Gormouth, after so many years, it had become nothing more than a distant legend from epic tales. Rosalie had no reason to fabricate a lie on this point.
After all, she had not personally been to the fallen city. If she really wanted to deliberately conceal certain information, she could have used other more reasonable reasons.
"Speaking of which, besides 'immortality,' 'bad luck' is also one of Karmion's traits. That guy has offended mythical creatures that are not bound by time; their love and hatred will not fade even after thousands of years..."
"Now that nobles from the Heil have appeared, the Gallonson Royal Court and the Star Abyss Society will inevitably take action. Even if those guys don't know who killed the gardener, the aura of the first-class ritual in Morion cannot be concealed and will certainly be observed."
"...Perhaps we should make plans for the changes that will follow."
After verifying some details, Jude released Rosalie back to her residence.
Along the way, she felt a soft, ethereal sensation beneath her feet, as if she were walking on clouds. Clearly, facing a Marquis of the Moon's Favor, who had existed for over a thousand years, alone had put considerable pressure on her.
Rosalie took her keys out of her pocket, opened the door, and before she could even hang her coat back on the coat rack, she collapsed heavily onto the soft bed, looking slightly exhausted.
"call……"
Concealing certain information about Morion from Marquis Jude was more difficult than she had imagined; his crimson eyes seemed to penetrate her very soul. However, she had experienced this many times before when facing Dr. Fran, and had somehow become somewhat accustomed to it.
But compared to Morion's real experience, there is another secret hidden deeper in Rosalie's heart, which she has never told Marquis Jude... namely, the strange condition of her body at this moment.
Whether it's the vampires of a lost era or the Moonkin of the beginning of a millennium, basking in the sunlight of daytime is a mere fantasy. Even with the cruel skills of the Sunforge craftsmen, it's nothing more than blocking out light through subcutaneous implants, no different from burying one's head in the sand.
Was the warmth I felt that day an illusion brought on by the approach of death, or was it the undeniable reality?
Rosalie had not yet received an answer to this question. But one thing she knew very well was that before verifying the abnormality of her body, any form of disclosure would only bring disaster, even if the other party was her ancestor or blood relative.
Therefore, she had to remain silent about it.
-
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Soup! (Yes, we're back.)
Chapter 136 Hidden in the Tide
Mordway, the primary habitat of the six-eyed raven.
The high priest, known as "The Last Eye," stood quietly in the shade of an oak tree, slowly reciting prayers. This act was merely a personal habit, unlike the formal Mass held in the sanctuary.
Gray Mark, White Neck, and another unnamed Raven Feather Priest stood solemnly behind him, eyes closed and heads bowed, quietly waiting.
"All memories have their own storehouse, just as faded history is buried in the deep darkness."
"The contents of the skull have never been opened, nor have they tasted the bitterness of life. The contents of the eyes have never been stained with blood, nor have they been able to see through deception. We are like closed lead shells, still-gestating egg sacs, fledglings that have fallen out of the nest, rusted and melted swords and spears. Or perhaps we are a foolish, mediocre, and turbid black current."
"This is the admonition of the raven that hides its face."
As the incense made of pine resin and oak dust in the ceramic incense burners on both sides gradually burned out, the deceased slowly stopped chanting and opened his eyes.
"You have probably also noticed the forbidden spirituality that has arisen in Morion."
“That’s the first type of ritual, the Huayan Flower Garden. And it’s much more complete than the half-finished one that Crown Prince Garonsen used before. Our spies had previously reported that the other cults seemed to be making some small moves in those fallen cities.”
His tone was low and his expression was cold, making it difficult to fathom his true thoughts at that moment.
"I just didn't expect those guys to actually dare to touch Karmion's legacy again. Perhaps several years is too long for the royal nobles, so much so that they have even forgotten the smell of blood on the chief hunter's scythe."
"Cluster Feather, you are the top person in charge of intelligence work. Do you have any guesses about Morion's unusual behavior?"
"guess?"
The male high priest, referred to as "Fallen Feathers," didn't seem to like the term; he shrugged slightly, a hint of obvious frivolity in his expression. 7
"Before obtaining actual observational intelligence, all speculation is merely unreliable empty talk. Mr. Yimu, you should know... the intelligence we rely on for survival is obtained with gold and blood, not through 'guessing.'"
Seeing that he seemed to be trying to change the subject, Gray Mark spoke up in a deep voice.
"Mr. Cuyu, the current situation is extremely important; please don't nitpick over words at this time." (San)
However, even though Flutterfeather acted rather irreverently, Grayscar still used a respectful form of address towards him. After all, the other was the only high-ranking priest in the Six-Eyed Raven Order besides the Remnant Eye, and their seniority was roughly equal... therefore, necessary respect was still indispensable.
"Oh, please forgive me. I sometimes like to correct other people's word choice or pronunciation in inappropriate situations, which is obviously not a good habit. I almost got into a fight with the Hunter of Secrets' fanatics because of this before."
Cluster Feather chuckled softly, then began to explain the information he had gathered.
In fact, this guy especially likes to talk nonsense in a serious atmosphere. Although it makes him seem a bit annoying, it can also ease the somber mood of others to some extent.
“My two informants have been keeping an eye on Morion’s Sleeping Sand Bell Tower. Although it’s practically a no-man’s land, they can still patrol it for a few hours every day. It’s just a pity they can’t fly too low or stay too long…”
As she spoke, Cuyu whistled.
With a flapping of wings from the oak tree, a dark brown, mottled eagle-owl landed on the back of his hand. Oh... simply put, an owl. Besides it, there was also a small bird with black markings around its eyes.
It was a shrike.
"Coo-coo."
The eagle owl let out a slightly low cry, while the shrike merely preened the downy feathers under its wings, appearing rather indifferent.
"Although I'd love for the three of you to guess what happened to Morion, it's a bit inappropriate to play these kinds of cryptic games among comrades, so I'll just tell you directly... This is exclusive information that you can't buy anywhere else, no matter how much money you have."
Tuyu gently stroked the eagle owl's feathers a few times, then recounted the discovery of his "informant" in Morion.
"The Sleeping Sand Bell Tower in Morion has been burned down. Only ashes and ruins remain."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this news, Yi Mu raised his hand and touched his chin, his eyes showing a thoughtful expression.
"The fact that they would destroy the entire facility afterward is very much like the work of the Mystics. If any evil offspring appear where those guys have been, there will always be nothing but ashes left in the end. Either the evil ones or their own."
"Now that the [Hua Er Banquet Flower Garden] has reappeared, could it be that Meredith's 'Red Wolf San' has been here?"
Even he felt a slight unease when he said those words.
After all, the Funeral Court's chief hunter was elusive and could appear anywhere at any time... but whenever it involved him, someone's life was almost guaranteed to be taken.
Even if you're certain that the other person isn't targeting you, nobody likes the feeling of having a sword hanging over their head.
Cuyu didn't seem to care much about whether Yaheng appeared.
"Who knows? When they discovered the anomaly during their patrol, the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower was nothing but a pile of ash. However, when Gulid went to check on it two hours ago, the tower looked no different than usual. Although it was dilapidated, there was no sign of it collapsing."
"In other words, the entire process of the Sleeping Sand Bell Tower going from being intact to being burned down took no more than two hours. It might even have been shorter."
The name "Gulid" that he mentioned naturally refers to the eagle owl that was currently perched on the back of his hand.