After putting away the Evil God's umbilical cord, Bernadette thought for a moment and asked cautiously:
"Can you roughly determine when the Aurora Order's Lunatics plan to conduct the descent ritual?"
This would determine the urgency of her approach to the matter. Since it involved her own advancement ritual, her Clairvoyant ability couldn't give her an accurate revelation.
Bonoit's words made Bernadette's desire to become an angel as soon as possible even more urgent. The feeling of truth being right before her eyes, yet unattainable, was unacceptable to her.
Probably guessing what Bernadette was thinking at the moment, Aaron pondered for a moment and advised:
"The cooperation between the Aurora Order, the Demoness Sect, and the Loen Royal Family, besides being secretly pushed by someone, is also due to considerations of interest."
"The ritual arranged by the Aurora Order, which allows the True Creator to descend in Backlund, requires a large amount of negative emotions and corrupted filth. What has accumulated in the East Borough and the dock area is far from enough."
"The Demoness Sect can just help them fill this void. In other words, when those Demonesses cause a big stir in Backlund, that will be the time for the Aurora Order to prepare to activate the ritual."
Nodding lightly, Bernadette seemed to have thought of something. Her eyes darkened, and her fingers tapped lightly on the table as she said calmly:
"I have already met the detective named Sherlock Moriarty whom you mentioned earlier."
As she spoke, she glanced at Aaron, who showed no change in expression, as if he had expected it, and continued to add:
"I am very curious, he is only a Sequence 7, why did I still see fluctuations of fate on him?"
Although she only saw it for an instant, Bernadette was in possession of the Wheel of Fortune, a Blasphemy Slate. Just by the scene she glimpsed back then, she had already guessed that it was "Fate Restart," which only a Sequence 1 "Snake of Fate" could use!
And now, among the Sequence 1 angels of the Fate Pathway, besides Ouroboros, the "Angel of Fate" serving beside the True Creator in the Aurora Order, only the mysterious Speaker of the Life School of Thought remained.
A Sequence 7 being simultaneously noticed by the Speaker of the Life School of Thought and this Duke was enough to explain many things.
"That's not important. You just need to do what you should do. Neither He nor I can directly act in Backlund."
"You just need to give him a hand when he falls into a dead end. Do not interfere too much with other matters!"
Watching Aaron end the topic with a firm tone, Bernadette pondered for a moment before slowly nodding:
"I will be staying in Backlund during this period. If you need to contact me for anything, you can directly chant my honorific name or summon my messenger."
-----------------
North of Backlund, St. Samuel Church.
A team of people wearing black trench coats and red gloves entered the underground area. The leader was a man in his forties, with soft facial features and long, dark hair at his temples.
He wore an exaggerated standard top hat and carried a black straight cane inlaid with gold. He quietly followed behind the Nighthawks leading the way, entering a rather spacious room.
The room contained bookshelves filled with many files. Leonard Mitchell, with dark temples, green eyes, and a romantic poetic aura, sat at a desk, flipping through the books piled on the table. In front of him was a thousand paper cranes sealed under a transparent glass cover.
Seeing someone enter, he immediately stood up and said to the leading middle-aged man:
"Captain Soest, the people Dr. Aaron has contacted in the past month, collected from the police station and various channels, have been roughly screened."
"No records of 'Will Auceptin' were found. I also once entered Dr. Aaron's dream to inquire, and he indeed did not lie."
After reporting the results of his investigation during this period to the captain, Leonard consciously stood at the end of the team, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally looking at the thousand paper cranes sealed under the glass cover.
If the old man hadn't lied to him, the value of this thousand paper cranes would definitely exceed the captain's original estimate, and Dr. Aaron might also be hiding a secret.
"It's a pity the old man doesn't want me to continue interfering with this matter…" Leonard retracted his gaze and ran his hand through his messy short hair.
Soest nodded, flipped through the files compiled by Leonard and the other Red Gloves members, and after a moment, picked up the glass cover sealing the thousand paper cranes and said to Leonard:
"You did very well. Go back and rest first."
"I have already received a telegram. At the latest by next week, the airship will arrive at Pritz Harbor."
"You can rest for a while during this period. After Miss Daly returns to Backlund, you will temporarily be led by her. This is also the Bishop's intention."
Miss Daly… Leonard's eyes were a bit complex. He nodded silently, watching Captain Soest take the glass cover and head deeper underground, to Chanis Gate where many Sealed Artifacts and materials were stored.
After bidding farewell to the other Red Gloves, Leonard returned to his room with a complicated mood. As soon as he pushed the door open, he stood frozen at the entrance, subconsciously saying:
"Duke Aaron?"
Nodding to Leonard at the door, Aaron casually pointed to the chair opposite and said:
"Old Man Pallez, how is your recovery recently?"
It's like this again… Leonard, whose consciousness was already muddled after hearing only the first half of the sentence, had one last thought flash through his mind.
"Leonard," who had reopened his eyes, snorted lightly and sat opposite Aaron, saying grumpily:
"Do you think a Worm of Avatar that can parasitize a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact is that easy to peel off?"
"Last time, to help you distract the Abomination Suah, my clone also perished in Calderon."
"What are you doing all day, kid? Why are the scenes recorded in the 'Crown of Stars' all so dangerous?"
Aaron smiled and waved his hand, stopping Pallez's nagging complaints:
"Alright, haven't I come to compensate you?"
"Leonard" scrutinized Aaron up and down, his tone tinged with suspicion and uncertainty:
"Compensation?"
"Do you still have a High-Sequence Beyonder characteristic of the Marauder Pathway on you?"
The smile on Aaron's face did not diminish. He slowly shook his head. He did indeed have a Sealed Artifact corresponding to a High-Sequence Beyonder characteristic of the Marauder Pathway, which was the "Ghost Painting Frame" he had obtained from Amon's tomb a long time ago.
However, this Sealed Artifact with special effects was very valuable to him, so he naturally wouldn't take it out for exchange. He looked at "Leonard's" emerald eyes and said leisurely:
"I don't have it on me, but Amon does."
Hearing that name, as if some psychological trauma had been triggered, "Leonard's" forehead twitched slightly. Pallez's aged voice took on a hint of solemnity, and he asked word for word:
"What do you mean by that?"
Not caring about Pallez's almost accusatory tone, Aaron waved his hand, signaling him to calm down:
"I told you in Tingen that George III of Loen, in order to ascend to the Black Emperor's deity, conspired with many forces, including the Demoness Sect."
"To win them over, the Loen Royal Family took out their only Sequence 1 Conqueror Beyonder characteristic and cooperated with the Demoness Sect."
"Coincidentally, Amon learned of this transaction, and He also had ideas about the Conqueror's characteristic."
Listening to Aaron's words, Pallez looked at the Duke with some suspicion. Since there was no answer anyway, He didn't bother to ask how he got this secret information.
But he clearly understood Amon's character. This Lunatic, who used his avatars as anchors of faith, would also collect some Beyonder characteristics outside the Marauder Pathway.
However, He mostly did it out of interest, or some kind of prankster mentality. Even among his many avatars, a considerable proportion were from other non-adjacent Pathways, but most of those avatars were weak and generally below demigod level.
For a High-Sequence Beyonder characteristic of a non-adjacent Pathway, similar to the Conqueror Beyonder characteristic, if forcibly parasitized and transformed into one's own clone, it would be easy to be affected.
Moreover, as a great noble of the Fourth Epoch, Pallez was very clear about how the Blood Emperor Alista Tudor achieved godhood.
To attract Amon's attention, and even to painstakingly obtain it, something He didn't know must have happened.
Aaron noticed Pallez's tension and knew that this guy had fallen into weakness after losing an important clone, so he stopped beating around the bush and said directly:
"Backlund is now at the center of the storm, but this is not entirely a bad thing for you."
"I just need you to do me one more small favor…"
Before he could finish, Pallez shook his head warily, refusing bluntly:
"Mr. Duke, although I really want to help you, I am indeed severely injured and have not recovered."
"And if it's truly as you say, then Amon, who has come to Backlund, even if not His main body, is at least equivalent to a Sequence 1 angel…"
"The location of the Jaques family treasure!" Aaron calmly uttered these words, watching Pallez, who had suddenly fallen silent, and continued to add:
"This is a very rare opportunity. At any other time, Amon's appearance would attract attention. Just agree to one request from me, and I can tell you the location of the Jaques family treasure."
"I can also deal with the Amon avatar hidden inside for you. By then, you can restore your complete Sequence 1 status."
After a long silence, Pallez's aged voice finally sounded again:
"Really?"
Not surprised by Pallez's reaction, Aaron smiled and comforted him:
"The stronger you are, the heavier my bargaining chip. A Blasphemer has no credibility whatsoever. Fair trade is built on the basis of equal strength between both parties."
"You don't have to worry about me selling you out just like that…"
-----------------
South of the Bridge, Rose Street, Harvest Church.
Emlyn White wiped the last chair clean, straightened his body, and eagerly said to Father Utravsky:
"I'm done with today's work!"
Father Utravsky stood there, making the Vampire look like a child. He smiled peacefully and said:
"You have recently been able to experience the joy and relaxation of labor with a spirit of dedication and gratitude. Go back, quietly feel the pulsation of life itself, and the pure joy that comes from it."
"I haven't!" Emlyn retorted reflexively.
Father Utravsky looked at him with a benevolent smile, said nothing, turned around, found a seat, and began his nightly fixed prayer.
Emlyn's lips moved, wanting to refute, but in the end, he didn't speak. He silently left Harvest Church, and habitually pulled the door shut behind him.
He had been volunteering at the church for almost a month, but his application to the Sanguine high-ranking officials to remove the psychological cue had not yet received a response.
Just as Emlyn was feeling down, a low male voice came from his ear:
"Emlyn, two important figures from the clan want to see you."
His footsteps paused, Emlyn turned his head in surprise, and found a very elegant middle-aged gentleman standing in the corner of the outermost street of Harvest Church. After their equally blood-colored eyes met, he recognized the newcomer:
"Cosmi Odora?"
He blurted it out subconsciously, and then Emlyn realized he had been a bit rude. He immediately cupped his hands:
"Baron, who are the two important figures you mentioned?"
Cosmi Odora stood expressionlessly in the street alley, watching Emlyn slowly walk towards him, his body motionless as if that area in front of him was a forbidden zone, but his tone when speaking carried a hint of respect:
"One is my grandfather, Marquis Nibbs, and the other is Count Mistral, who was just promoted this year. These two important figures have returned to Backlund from Feysac, and specifically ordered me to summon you."
Marquis? And two of them!
Emlyn's face froze for a moment, then instantly lit up with ecstasy. He blurted out subconsciously:
"Great Mother, the Marquis must have a way to resolve my psychological cue, only…"
As he spoke, he suddenly paused, his ecstatic expression instantly turning blank.
Great Mother… Cosmi's mouth twitched slightly, pretending he hadn't heard anything.
In the awkward silence, he cleared his throat and said:
"Emlyn, don't overthink it, just follow me first!"
Feeling somewhat flustered and uneasy, Emlyn followed behind and entered a brightly lit villa-style house in the West Borough.
Following the stairs to the underground area, Emlyn passed through several secret doors and entered a spacious gray hall.
In the center of the hall was a heavy, black iron coffin, engraved with numerous symbolic patterns and magical markings.
Standing beside the coffin was a tall, slender, handsome man with silver hair draped over his shoulders. Emlyn had seen this adult at a gathering when Louise first came to Backlund, and recognized him as the newly promoted Marquis.
He immediately stopped, facing the direction of the coffin with some trepidation and excitement, bowing respectfully:
"Two Marquises, is the clan planning to help me remove the psychological cue this time?"
His blood-colored eyes scrutinized the young Sanguine, but found nothing special. Count Mistral frowned slightly, and after several seconds, slowly said:
"I had to return to the ancestral land to recuperate due to some matters. It was only after receiving a revelation from the Ancestor that I returned to Backlund at this moment."