Bishop Utravsky paused for a moment, likely surprised by the turn of events, but he offered no comment. He simply nodded. "I have paper and a pen in my room. You're welcome to use them. However, you cannot enter where Emlyn White is confined. If needed, I can handle it for you."
Clearly, due to the Earth Mother's influence, Utravsky was amicable toward those accompanying Lucifer.
"Thanks, Bishop." Jack Said with a grateful smile.
Klein's gaze drifted to Lucifer beside Utravsky, curiosity burning about what he'd discussed with the Earth Mother. But mindful of Lucifer's earlier words, he held back his questions.
"You two can stay here and entertain the Sanguine. I have matters to attend to." Alaric, as Lucifer, said to Klein with a smile. "Sherlock, you should talk with Bishop Utravsky. It might lead to a favorable outcome for both of you."
Klein was puzzled but didn't get a chance to ask before Lucifer vanished, leaving him to look curiously at Utravsky.
The bishop seemed equally perplexed. After a brief pause, as if struck by a thought, he said, "There's something I've long wanted to entrust to someone."
"What is it?" Klein asked, intrigued.
"Kill me!" Utravsky declared, shocking Klein, though he quickly elaborated.
Once a notorious pirate, Utravsky had reformed, becoming a bishop of the Church of the Earth Mother and dedicating himself to good deeds. But the stark contrast between his past and present had fractured his psyche, spawning an evil persona representing his former self. He sought someone to eliminate this vice-persona.
Hearing the story, Klein understood Lucifer's hint. As a Sequence 7 Magician, he'd been seeking performance opportunities to digest his potion, and helping Utravsky eradicate his vice-persona was a perfect chance.
Moreover, Utravsky wasn't stingy. Anyone who succeeded would receive generous compensation.
The two struck a deal, and with Klein's aid, Utravsky's vice-persona was destroyed, granting him a fresh start.
In his newfound freedom, Utravsky kept his promise to "Jack Jones." delivering Emlyn White's written vow never to convert to the Earth Mother into Jack's hands.
As they left the Harvest Church, Klein studied his newly acquired All-Purpose Key before turning to his companion, unable to resist asking, "Jack, why did you make Emlyn White write that vow?"
"Well…" Alaric, as Jack, blinked and beckoned Klein closer. Lowering his voice, he said, "The old man once told me the Earth Mother's true name…"
He paused, then uttered a single word: "Lilith."
Klein froze. He knew the name Lilith from City of Silver's records as the Sanguine Ancestor.
So, the Earth Mother was the Sanguine Ancestor, still alive but under a new guise?
Did anyone else know?
Why would the Earth Mother do this?
Though lacking key details, Klein's sharp intuition sensed a grand conspiracy at play.
Otherwise, Lilith wouldn't hide her true identity to pose as the Earth Mother.
"There's definitely a conspiracy, but the specifics don't concern us." Alaric said, reading Klein's thoughts. He shrugged with a smile. "Still, this is something to keep quiet about. Don't go spreading it."
"No way I'd blab about this." Klein said with a wry smile, shaking his head and suppressing his curiosity.
Jack was right... whatever plot surrounded the Sanguine Ancestor's disguise, it didn't involve him for now.
He'd better focus on digesting his Magician potion and advancing to Sequence 6.
…
Meanwhile, at the Sanguine enclave in Backlund, a visitor arrived.
"Good day, everyone. I hope my visit isn't too abrupt." Alaric, as Lucifer, said with a smile, addressing the Sanguines... still striking in appearance but inwardly aged.
"Good day, Your Excellency Lucifer! The Sanguine Ancestor's revelation foretold your arrival…" Nibbs Odora bowed, his voice raspy with age, launching into a string of flattery.
Indeed, this was Lilith's deposit. After Alaric performed a corruption cleanse for her, she promptly "sold off" Backlund's Sanguines.
As she explained, the Church of the Earth Mother wasn't a dominant faith in Loen. A mass exodus of members from the Feysac Empire would draw official scrutiny, and the church's Beyonders were needed to maintain order in Feysac's mystical circles. Withdrawing too many at once risked chaos.
The Sanguines, already residing in Loen, could act without attracting extra attention. Idle as they were, they were perfect for Alaric's purposes.
Alaric had no objections. Workers were workers... he wasn't picky.
It was just a deposit, after all.
Naturally, the Church of the Earth Mother would later send a shipment of grain and medicine as part of the first deposit.
"No need for flattery." Alaric interrupted Nibbs Odora, smiling. "Give me a roster of all Sanguines in Backlund."
"That may take time to compile…" Nibbs hesitated.
Sanguines were more cohesive than most Beyonders, and as Backlund's leader, Nibbs knew who was who, but a formal list didn't exist.
And Lucifer clearly wanted more than names... basic profiles were likely required.
"Then get to it. I want the complete roster by tomorrow morning." Alaric said, his smile gentle but chilling Nibbs to the bone.
"You'll have it, sir. I'll arrange it immediately." Nibbs replied instinctively.
***
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