Chapter 396: Mission

The two exchanged some information about the sea, and as the conversation was about to end, Leike Dun said:

"In the next two days we'll go to the world of the book, then I plan to head to the Southern Continent; the current ocean is no longer suitable for me to stay in."

"All the pirates and adventurers at sea will thank you for this decision; they will finally not have to worry about waking up at midnight to find themselves drowned by lightning and raging winds."

Ke Lai En made a small joke.

"Does that include you as well?" Leike Dun asked with a smile.

Ke Lai En looked up at the layered, endless canopy of emerald forest and, with a sigh, said:

"Those storms and lightning frighten me less than the Storm Lord's shout of 'A Meng.'"

The Lu'en settlement in Bai Ya Mu.

Because of the earlier clash between Leike Dun and Mai Ha Mu Si here, the wealthy residents were frightened; after consulting the Storm Church, they voluntarily raised funds to rebuild a storm cathedral on this site.

Heavy clouds constantly covered the sky over Bai Ya Mu, and occasional streaks of silvery white flashed across, as if venting fury.

A'erjie walked under the dim yellow streetlights, his thoughts drifting; although he hadn't yet visited the Sea Wave Cathedral, rumors had already reached his ears.

The Storm Church's Sea Wave Cathedral was stolen in Bai Ya Mu, in front of many penitent punishers, clergy, and a bishop; the cathedral was taken! Even the church's saints, angels, and under divine punishment, the thieves still fled with the Sea Wave Cathedral.

Recent events at sea have been one after another; the church feels as if it's being slapped in the face, and even I, an insignificant member, feel mentally exhausted.

His thoughts scattered, and he had already arrived in front of the newly built Storm Cathedral.

He stared blankly at the azure cathedral; although it lacked the scale of the Sea Wave Cathedral, the new one was more splendid and more artistic.

A'erjie strolled into the cathedral; the interior arrangement gave him a slight startle—only one wall bore a mural, the hall lit by dim yellow candles, the tables and chairs were exquisite yet clearly not the style of a cathedral.

Aside from the Storm Holy Emblem, everything here was temporarily moved in. It seems the dark clouds over Bai Ya Mu won't dissipate for at least a year and a half.

He let out a soft sigh in his mind and walked toward the gray‑haired figure kneeling before the Storm Holy Emblem, the Bai Ya Mu diocesan bishop Qiao Geli who oversees their infiltration of pirates.

A'erjie stood behind Qiao Geli, waiting until the prayer ended; then he bowed and, with a voice tinged with sorrow and anger, greeted:

"Your Excellency Bishop~"

Qiao Geli finally rose from the ground, faced A'erjie, his eyes no longer bright, now somewhat despondent and full of anger.

After a pause, he rasped and said:

"You need not call me bishop any longer; I will exile myself for a time as atonement for my fault, and during this period I will hold no church office."

"Summoning you this late tonight is to deliver a new mission and to have you hand over to the next contact."

"What mission?" A'erjie asked in a low voice.

Qiao Geli closed his eyes, seeming to compose himself.

A moment later, he reopened his eyes; a storm seemed to brew in the azure depths, and his voice became authoritative and angry: "Find two individuals. One has a single crystal lens set over his right eye; he may not be human, perhaps an animal marked conspicuously around the right eye. When you see him, do not act rashly nor entertain extra thoughts—pray directly, and the Lord will cast his gaze."

"As for the other, he should possess the ability to alter his appearance, image, and temperament; you must watch for those who, when using extraordinary abilities, are always accompanied by starlight—he is most likely a member of the Morse Ascetic Society."

A Meng? If I truly encounter A Meng, I won't even have a chance to pray; being mixed with A Mo, I would never be weak—this isn't a task I can accomplish. As thoughts churned in his mind, A'erjie decided to slack off, reasoning that failing such a mission is perfectly normal.

Having made up his mind, A'erjie clenched his right fist and struck his left chest, saying: "I understand."

"May the storm be with you!"

Qiao Geli nodded lightly, also clenching his fist and striking his left chest:

"May the storm be with you!"

After leaving the azure cathedral, A'erjie followed Qiao Geli's directions to the former site of the Sea Wave Cathedral.

The gale wrapped around him as he sped to Sea Wave Plaza; though night had fallen, many clergy still came and went, each bearing fatigue and busyness.

A'erjie slowed his pace, reaching the edge of the plaza; where the Sea Wave Cathedral should have stood was now a hollowed space, the ground itself sunken a layer.

"A'erjie Wilson?"

A deep, steady voice sounded beside him; A'erjie turned quickly and saw a sturdy figure that had appeared beside him. He seemed about forty, his facial features hard and pronounced, muscles clearly defined, supporting a loose Storm Cleric robe.

He had deep‑blue eyes, and hair of the same hue twice as thick as a normal person's, resembling tiny worms or tentacles.

"Your Excellency Sea King!"

A'erjie quickly recognized him, bowed, and saluted.

A gentle wind lifted his body as Sea King Yaen Kaoteman said calmly:

"From now on I will replace Qiao Geli in the handover with you."

Having said that, he quietly examined A'erjie.

Being stared at so directly by a demigod, A'erjie felt a fine layer of sweat form on his back; he inhaled deeply, ready to break the silence.

"Sea King" spoke even faster:

"You can now ascend to Rank Six Wind Kin; I will give you a formula as an advance payment for this mission, and you may use this time to gather alchemical ingredients."

"If you fail to collect them, you may exchange your accumulated contributions for a Wind Kin elixir directly with me."

"Yes, Your Excellency Sea King!"

A'erjie's tone suddenly became excited, his face showing uncontrollable delight, as if ready to risk everything for the church.

The church wants to cultivate more mid‑tier extraordinary ones? That's fine; my ascent to Wind Kin need no longer be hidden.

"Sea King" Yaen Kaoteman looked at A'erjie's reaction, nodded approvingly, and said:

"Recent events at sea have been successive, causing a shortage of personnel in the church, especially mid‑high‑rank extraordinary ones; this is your opportunity."

As the Sea King spoke, a flash of light passed through A'erjie's eyes; he clenched his right fist and struck his left chest hard, saying: "May the storm be with me!"

"May the storm be with me!"

Beike Lande North District, No. 7 Pingsite Street.

Fragments of brilliant starlight surged from the spirit realm, coalescing at the doorway into the figure of Leike Dun.

He took two steps forward, about to ring the doorbell, when the door was opened from inside.

Lun Na De, dressed in a homey white shirt and black trousers, looked at Leike Dun with an impatient expression, pursed his lips, shifted aside to make a passage, and said:

"Why are you here again?"

"Really impolite—I came over at night specifically to match your nightmare's resting condition."

"While speaking, Lei Ke Dun had already entered the house through the passage Lun Na De had made way for."

"He walked straight toward the dining room's fireplace, casually pulled over a chair, sat down, and said:"

"Grandpa, do you want to guess who I met and what I did before coming over?"

"Hmph! Don't come bothering an old man like me for no reason."

"Pa Lie Si's slightly dissatisfied voice came from Lun Na De's mouth."

"Lei Ke Dun laughed indifferently and said:"

"Grandpa, you should learn humor; as fellow angels, don't you think Wei Er·Ang Sai Ting's humanity is far better than what you maintain?"

"That unlucky little snake? If I were like Him, I wouldn't even know how many times I'd have been caught by A Meng."

"Lun Na De's face showed a look of contempt, his voice sounding hoarse and aged."

"That unlucky little snake? Wei Er·Ang Sai Ting's poor luck is common knowledge, apparently. Lei Ke Dun sighed in his heart."

"(End of chapter)"