Chapter 245: Preparation

Reckton looked at Fors, whose expression carried some panic and worry, and after a brief moment of contemplation, said:

"Miss Fors, it seems you won't be able to leave Backlund with your friend in time?"

"Would you be interested in accepting a commission from me?"

Lawrence also looked toward Fors upon hearing this, and said in a concerned tone:

"If you still can't find a suitable reason to persuade your friend to leave, I can invite you and your friend to come visit Backlund Bay County for a while."

"Thank you, Mr. Lawrence. I will consider your proposal."

Fors thanked Lawrence with great gratitude.

Then she turned to look at Reckton. Though she didn't want to take on any commission at this time, out of politeness, she still asked:

"Mr. Tynes, what is this commission you speak of? If it's suitable, I will consider accepting it."

No matter how tempting the payment he offers, I will never get involved in anything that could sweep across all of Backlund.

Reckton leaned back against the chair and said in a calm voice:

"Soothe the public, secretly heal their injuries and ailments, and create some urban legends."

"...?" Fors stared wide-eyed, somewhat dazed, looking at Reckton. Aside from that last part, weren't all the other things what an orthodox church should be doing? Could it be that the Church of Knowledge wants to spread its faith to Ruen?

"Soothe the public and secretly heal them? Will this incident affect many innocent civilians?"

Fors asked with a slight frown.

"Wherever a Witch appears, disaster always follows."

Reckton sighed, then turned the topic back to the commission:

"Given your identity as a wild Beyonder, you can operate in the area around the Harvest Church. The bishop there will cooperate with you."

"Moreover, I will also provide you with some assistance—at the very least, you won't be caught up in this disaster."

Fors lowered her head slightly, lost in thought, one hand unconsciously tugging at the brown curls below her shoulder.

The room fell silent for quite a while before Fors hesitantly spoke:

"Although I was once a surgeon, treating injuries and ailments isn't my strong suit, and an Apprentice doesn't have any bonuses in that regard either."

Reckton gave a slight nod, then offered a detailed explanation and assurance:

"I can provide those things. The main reason I'm giving you this commission is that an Apprentice's door-opening ability allows you to move freely and flexibly, without easily drawing others' attention."

"Furthermore, I will provide you with some anti-divination capabilities, so that even if official Beyonders notice something and want to investigate, they won't be able to."

"No problem." Fors didn't hesitate for long before accepting the commission.

Taking Hugh and leaving tomorrow would be difficult—without a suitable reason, it would be hard to persuade her. It would be better to accept his commission, then bring Hugh along, and if there's danger, slip into the Harvest Church.

Reckton nodded slightly, drew 200 pounds from the gold notes Lawrence had given, and handed them to Fors:

"This is your payment, given to you in advance."

He then found paper and pen, wrote down the summoning incantation for his messenger, and handed copies to Lawrence and Fors respectively, so they could contact him directly through the messenger if anything came up.

Jowood District, Mingsike Jie.

Reckton stepped forth from the Spirit World, his figure swiftly materializing in the study.

"Hmm?" His gaze fell directly on the desk. Compared to when he had left, there was now an extra folded letter there.

"Beiernadai's reply?"

Reckton murmured to himself as he approached, picked up the letter, and unfolded it. Written on it in elegant handwriting was:

"Tonight at eleven, by the banks of the Tasok River."

After reading it, he flicked the letter twice in the air, and the paper rapidly ignited on its own. A gentle breeze blew past, and the ashes were swept entirely out the window.

He rummaged through the desk drawer for 200 pounds in cash, making up the gold notes Lawrence had spent to purchase the ancient wraith's cursed object.

He went downstairs, found a nature spirit, and had it take the gold notes to deliver to Klein across the street.

Then he returned to the study, closed his eyes slightly, and contemplated his preparations and plans, refining them.

Before long, the nature spirit sent to deliver the money returned, carrying two hundred pounds in cash and a slip of paper.

"These two hundred pounds count as your reward."

"If I'd known, I would have just given 1,500 pounds directly. After going in a circle, these two hundred pounds came right back."

Reckton placed the two hundred pounds in cash back into the drawer and murmured to himself.

At dusk, inside the underground building of the Audela family.

Emlyn gazed anxiously at the iron-black coffin before him. Lying within it was an ancient vampire—the same vampire who had told him of the revelation granted by the Ancestor.

Emlyn tried his best to make his voice sound less panicked and anxious as he said:

"Lord Nibais, I accept the Ancestor's mission!"

An aged voice soon came from within the coffin in response:

"Very well."

"When do you wish to begin? Do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"

"...?" Hearing Lord Nibais ask whether he had any unfulfilled wishes, the courage Emlyn had mustered nearly dissipated entirely.

He gritted his teeth and said with a look as though facing death:

"No need! We can begin right now."

Soon after, Baron Casimi, a descendant of Nibais, arrived carrying the materials needed for the ritual—candles, essential oils, and herbal powders.

Emlyn stood quietly for a moment, seemingly steeling himself psychologically.

He glanced at the iron-black coffin covered in strange patterns at the very center. In the surrounding air, there seemed to be subtle fluctuations silently colliding.

Taking a deep breath, Emlyn began performing the ritual according to the standard procedure—lighting candles, dripping in essential oils, and scattering the corresponding herbal powders.

Amidst the hazy atmosphere, Emlyn lowered his head, began to meditate, and repeatedly chanted the honorific name of "the Fool":

"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era; the mysterious Sovereign above the gray fog; the King of Yellow and Black who wields good fortune."

Amid the monotonous yet rhythmic sound, Emlyn gradually relaxed, entering a wondrous state.

His body relaxed and turned inward, as if fallen into deep sleep, but his own spirituality became lively and light, continuously spreading outward.

At this time, he had the sensation that he was constantly floating upward.

This state did not last too long, about two or three minutes, before Emlyn returned to reality, looking somewhat weary.

He opened his eyes and gazed at the iron-black coffin in the central position, speaking half in relief and half in disappointment:

"Lord Nibais, I received no response."

After a while, Nibais's rather hoarse voice rang out:

"Very well, you will stay here tonight, as a precaution against unexpected situations."

"Good!" Emlyn nodded in complete agreement.

Eleven o'clock at night, by the banks of the Tasok River.

Rekdun had already been waiting here. The winter night wind carried a biting chill, and he could not help but rub his hands together, creating a warm current of flame around him.

Before he could enjoy the warmth of the fire, thick, sturdy emerald-green pea vines suddenly drooped down all around, one after another, densely packed and layered. They intertwined and wove together, rapidly forming a forest whose canopy could not be seen.

A pumpkin carriage suddenly appeared beside him, its door open, inviting Rekdun to enter.

Does she make such a ceremonial entrance every time? As a fellow Mystery Pryer, I suddenly feel I have no style at all!

With this inward sigh of emotion, Rekdun strode into the pumpkin carriage.

The carriage swiftly followed the pea vines upward, traveling all the way until it arrived in a fairytale-like garden.

Beiernadai sat on a swing made of pea vines, wearing an olive-green long dress and an old-fashioned black soft hat, with fine-grid thin veil hanging down to cover her face.

Rekdun subconsciously glanced at the somewhat old-fashioned black soft hat on Beiernadai's head. She seemed to like this hat very much — perhaps it was still a gift from Roselle?

"Good evening, ma'am~" He quickly reined in his wandering thoughts and greeted her with a smile.

Beiernadai gave a slight nod, then went straight to the main topic:

"Good evening. An avatar descended by an evil god — even if He actively seeks death, He is not someone we can simply kill. What preparations do you have for this?"

Rekdun tilted his head slightly, in a posture as if listening to something, then gave a small nod, picked up the Bone Staff hanging at his waist, and tossed it into his own shadow.

Immediately, he felt the corruptive intent within his heart being separated, mixing with something and merging with the shadow.

The next moment, the shadow beneath his feet suddenly came alive, surging upward like flowing water, twisting and writhing as it transformed into a humanoid figure of deep black.

A glimmer of purple light flashed through Beiernadai's eyes as she watched this suddenly appearing dark figure with a guarded expression.

"He is a portion of the True Creator's will that has returned to normal."

Rekdun spoke up to remind Beiernadai, telling her not to pry too much, lest she be injured by seeing the figure of the Hanged Man.

"You may call me Sasilier. Perhaps your father once mentioned me to you."

Sasilier's voice was flat, speaking without a trace of fluctuation.

"Sasilier? The Vice-Monarch of the Heavenly Kingdom?"

Beiernadai only pondered briefly, then quickly gathered her thoughts and brought the topic back on track:

"What level is the avatar descended by the True Creator at? And what abilities and weaknesses does He have?"

Sasilier did not hesitate, and began to narrate in a calm tone:

"He carries the characteristics of a Profane Language Elder, but His own rank still holds the level of a true deity."

"The suppression brought by His rank will be resolved for you respectively by me and the Sage of Concealment. You only need to kill Him in the shortest possible time."

"By virtue of His rank as a true deity, He can use a portion of the Dark Angel's authority and abilities. The power of the Sun domain will have a relatively strong restraining effect on Him."

(End of this chapter)