Chapter 72: Case

Amaunator,

The power governing order and contract,

The Sun God from ancient times.

In many cases, those with shallow theological knowledge often misjudge the alignment of this god because of the sun, which represents "vitality" and "warm hope."

Mistakenly thinking that the other is a positive and more inclined-to-good god like 【Lord of Morning】 Lathander or 【God of Justice】 Tyr.

In fact, it is not.

Just like the red sun gradually rising from the horizon.

He doesn't deliberately seek to shed his brilliance on anyone; he just follows the rules that have been operating since the birth of this world, letting the sun rise as usual every day.

Promises are fulfilled, laws are practiced, and order operates regularly.

This is his doctrine.

With this as a premise, the followers of Amaunator often appear as witnesses at places where various contracts are signed; or become supervisors of certain oaths.

Unless it is a large festival like "Midsummer Day" or "Shieldmeet," it is very difficult for you to see the followers of this god, like the practitioners of the doctrine of the 【Blind Lord】, relieving suffering people in the slums.

In many large cities, those who appear in the Sun God's church are often glamorous, gorgeously dressed merchants and nobles.

Of course, because of the special nature of his divine office, those farmers in the fields also often pray to him for clear weather.

It's just that these simple and hardworking people rarely devoutly believe in any single god.

When the weather is dry, they pray that the 【Lord of Water】 "Istishia" will restrain her changeable personality like water and bring them rain and dew;

At harvest time, they offer piety to the 【Great Mother】 and 【Goddess of Agriculture】 "Chauntia," who can make all things grow.

Busy and hard labor, as well as heavy and harsh taxes, make it impossible for farmers to have the conditions to wash and dress carefully to go to the Sun God's church for a complete worship.

Since that dim evening many years ago, the Sun God Amaunator has been invisibly separated from "farmers," the most widespread group of people on this continent, due to various overt and covert relationships.

And for a god who needs huge faith to support, what kind of result this will lead to, one can imagine...

"Patter."

Thick leather boots stained with some mud from the roadside landed on the spotless gray-white brick surface, making a dull sound.

Xia Nan took a deep breath.

The unknown deep fragrance permeating the air and the quiet and solemn environment around him made him calm down.

At this moment, the two had already settled Jeff under the guidance of the nun in the church.

With the relationship of the sheriff, the other staying here was safer than outside, and could also use the power of the god to suppress the negative energy remaining in the body.

Beside him, the Halfling Alton was different from his usual enthusiasm, looking a bit bored.

Walking in the spacious and clean corridor of the church, he just flipped the coin in his hand, his eyes looking out, not knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing that there was no one around, Xia Nan organized his language slightly and asked the doubt in his heart in a low voice:

"Just now, when that priest was treating Jeff, your expression seemed wrong."

"Is there any problem?"

Hearing this, Alton shook his head and didn't hide it, saying straight:

"Because of the relationship of faith itself, the Sun God's priest almost masters one of the strongest holy lights for dispelling undead power on the entire continent."

And this was also the reason why the Halfling was so sure that Jeff could be completely cured before.

But just now, that kind-faced priest clearly stated that he couldn't eradicate it.

According to Alton's understanding of such situations, there were only two reasons:

"The first type, just as the priest said, Jeff's body is not simple undead power, but some kind of deeper negative energy."

"As for the second type, it is..."

The Halfling stopped halfway through his sentence.

His gaze crossed the coin he flipped and looked at the golden sun holy emblem reflecting fluorescence under the morning light on the corridor wall.

A hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

"What is it?" Xia Nan pursued.

Before he could wait for the other's answer, footsteps came from the corner of the corridor ahead.

He closed his mouth instantly.

The person coming was Ingram.

Still dressed as a sheriff, but the golden medium-length hair that looked exceptionally messy because of being soaked by rain last night seemed to have been groomed during this time, re-combed.

"How is it? Is Jeff's condition okay?"

Ingram walked quickly toward the two.

"It's okay," Xia Nan nodded slightly and replied, "Just now he was discussing with us whether selling the caravan plus his savings would be enough for retirement."

"Shouldn't have to worry."

"That's good."

The sheriff breathed a sigh of relief, then his expression sank, and he said solemnly:

"This is my dereliction of duty, failing to catch the murderer in time."

"Now that Jeff is like this, your mission has also been interrupted, I..."

Before he could finish, another burst of hurried footsteps came from behind him.

A guard ran over, panting.

Standing at attention and saluting, he gasped:

"Sir, there... there is a situation!"

It wasn't that they had discovered the trace of Tim, who had become an undead creature.

But another strange case that might be related.

"Last night, I drank a little wine and was on my way home from the 'Full Bag of Gold' tavern."

The person speaking was a slightly fat, bald man.

"Sir, you know, I don't usually go to that kind of place, but..."

"Time is limited, let's hurry up." Ingram urged with a calm expression.

"Hey, hey!" The bald man nodded repeatedly, then continued.

"I didn't pay attention to the time that day; it was already dark when I came out of the tavern, and I was afraid my family would worry, so I planned to take a shortcut by the cemetery to go home."

"Then I heard strange movements coming from inside, like whistling? There were also strange creaking sounds."

"I mustered my courage and took a peek inside. There were many human shadows standing vaguely in the cemetery."

"I broke into a cold sweat instantly and ran home."

"I just woke up today and came to report the case to you."

"Okay, I see." The guard behind recorded the details of the case, Ingram's expression was serious, and he reached out and patted the bald man's shoulder.

"You go back first, we'll handle the rest."

Xia Nan stood to the side, listening silently.

His expression didn't change, but he had a vague guess in his heart.

Cemetery, human shadows, "creaking"—he almost instantly associated it with the most common undead creature.

But...

Could it be related to Tim?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 73 =====