novelraw Chapter 299: The Soul Within the Cardinal
Chapter 299: The Soul Within the Cardinal
"Pale Bird Race Mark... you mean to say, you possess related clues?"
"What if I said... the Pale Bird Race Mark is right here with me?"
The moment Fisher's words came out, everyone beside Valentina all cast their gazes towards him. Even within Valentina's irises arose layer upon layer of uneven undulations, exactly like ripples within a stretch of frigid spring water. A bit of pondering flashed across her irises; following this, she suddenly opened her mouth and spoke,
"I previously mentioned to Mister Fisher: the reason we would go to that small island hiding the scroll in the center of the Southern Ocean was precisely because we once discovered the mausoleum of an ancient Pale Bird within the vicinity of the Snowy Mountains inside Mya's borders. Inside the underground palace, we discovered the location of that island and the buried ancient history. But very quickly, we discovered a graverobber's tunnel within the underground palace..."
"Someone arrived at the graverobber's tunnel a step earlier, making off with the most precious funerary objects inside."
She gently fingered the ring on her hand. That ring's material was precious; a material resembling warm jade couldn't be caressed too much. Even indoors, it appeared substantially radiant,
"Mya's official channels told us the stolen item was a chunk of precious True Ice. It was foreigners who hired local bandits to commit this sort of deed. We suspected the Pale Bird Race Mark was stolen together with that chunk of True Ice. But the Mya military who brought back the True Ice last week told us they completely didn't discover the sigil there... only Pioneering Company employees guarding the items..."
Fisher smiled and nodded, opening his mouth to speak,
"You guessed correctly. The items they stole indeed contained the Pale Bird Race Mark."
"I followed Captain Alagina from the Southern Ocean into the Eastern Ocean. During the process of stopping for resupply en route at the Patroshen Islands, I bumped into my old enemies... people from Naris. You know, the name Fisher Benavides means 10 million Narios in Naris.""I came into conflict with the Overseas Occult Bureau members there. Although I luckily escaped, they possessed long-distance communication magic to notify the officials on their bodies. As such, my whereabouts became exposed to the eyes of Saint-Nazareth. In order to not drag down the Iceberg Queen, I departed midway, taking the Pale Bird Race Mark and traveling ten thousand miles to come to the Northern Border, hoping to obtain the Turan family's shelter."
Beside Valentina, Balzac curled his lips. With a rather frivolous tone, he looked at Fisher and guessed,
"Could it also be possible you are actually a Naris Pioneering Company employee? They gave the Pale Bird Race Mark to you, letting you mix into our team to attempt to steal even more wealth and secrets from the Frostwood Sycamore Tree like bandits..."
Although Phyllis and Balzac couldn't be considered on good terms, at the very least on the "Anti-Fisher Front," the pairing's opinions were exceptionally and unexpectedly uniform. He didn't trust this handsome foreign gentleman from Naris one bit.
Clearly, he extremely despised illiterates like Phyllis. But for an unknown reason, when getting along with a scholar like Fisher who understood even more than himself, he also couldn't feel happy. It was just as if the limelight that belonging to him had been snatched away by someone else.
Fisher shook his head. Yet he didn't open his mouth to refute or supply additional explanation to Balzac's words. He merely used his gaze to continue staring directly at the Valentina before him,
"I'm afraid no matter how much I explain, it'll still be of no help to the matter. Then let's place the angle of thinking about the problem onto a pure transaction. Since it is a transaction, there naturally exists the risk of being deceived and duped. However, Miss Valentina is perfectly capable of evading this risk... as long as you can be certain you can find the Pale Bird Race Mark from other channels, it will be fine."
The Pale Bird Race Mark was right on Fisher's body. No matter how Valentina searched for channels, it would ultimately still return to Fisher's side. He wasn't worried the other party wouldn't agree.
"The Pale Bird Race Mark is right on your body?"
Valentina rubbed the ring on her hand. After pondering for a second, her pale silver irises flickered slightly. Although her facial expression hadn't changed much, it still revealed a distinct sense of excitement. Simultaneously, she opened her mouth and inquired of Fisher as such.
"Apologies. Before Miss Valentina assents to the transaction, it'd still be best if I don't speak further information regarding the bargaining chips. Doing so usually causes even more suspicion, doesn't it? The things I desire are very simple: the Turan family's shelter and the qualifications to enter the Frostwood Sycamore Tree together with you all."
Miss Valentina was still too young. This sort of obvious temptation was absolutely an expression that could not be revealed during negotiations and transactions. Because this would hand the opponent a handle against her, letting them step on her temptation to broaden the tug-of-war space in the negotiations.
Therefore, when Valentina watched the Fisher before her reveal an expression of a smile that wasn't a smile on his face, that sense of excitement she had managed to raise with great difficulty instantly dissipated without a trace. Her little face collapsed, turning unhappy.
But that tiny unhappy expression merely lasted for a single second before it became unseeable as if buried beneath the thick, heavy ice and snow of the Northern Border. She slightly raised her right hand to support her cheek. Subsequently peering through the gaps in her fingertips, she looked at the Fisher before her,
"Mister Fisher Benavides. The Turan family has always never considered origins when utilizing people. As long as our objectives are uniform, there is space for cooperation. This is also the reason why during our first meeting, I dared to invite you to join my team."
"Since it is a transaction, and you have also presented the bargaining chips favored by the Turan family... we naturally are also happy to cash out what you desire a step earlier. But I'll remind you of a sentence: do not use a blank check to coax and deceive the Turan family... The Turan family is bound to obtain the Frostwood Sycamore Tree; we must definitely arrive there. The consequences brought upon by deception will be something you cannot imagine."
Her petite body continued to sit within the wheelchair. Her pair of legs seemingly completely lost all mobility capability, remaining motionless as if they were dead weight. The sickly, tired, and frail body didn't obstruct the sense of oppression contained within her body originating from the northern faction's largest family, the Turan family, in the slightest.
Such a sense of oppression was somewhat weakened towards Fisher who wasn't a Northern Border native. He previously merely possessed a certain comprehension regarding this family's influence. Roughly, he was only clear their family originated from undertaking ore trade, and currently dedicated themselves to investing in all regions of the Northern Border.
"Naturally, no problem. Then this transaction can be considered established?"
Valentina nodded, opening her mouth to state,
"Tonight, we will depart the Sardin Woman's Country together with Sister Ilos, heading towards Nebalen. Depart together with us. Midway through, let us talk about matters regarding the transaction again, Mister Fisher."
After speaking this sentence, she didn't wait for the Herdor behind her to push her, acting on her own sitting in the wheelchair and steering herself outside the church doors. Balzac and Phyllis were only employees; their own boss had made a decision, so they held no rights to interfere. Thus, merely glaring at the Fisher on the chair once, they also followed Valentina walking out of the church together.
Herdor, however, wasn't in a rush to leave the church. Conversely, he looked towards Fisher who remained sitting on the chair. Beneath his face continually spewed out scorching steam. But Fisher completely didn't spot any place capable of supplying coal combustion within his body. Such a miraculous structure also increasingly made Fisher believe the Herdor before him possessed exceptionally intimate connections with Lord Cardinal.
The Valentina outside had already gradually travelled far away. Fisher originally thought he was just about to have Lord Cardinal possess him and converse with him regarding a bit of intel concerning Erwind. Unexpectedly, he suddenly spoke a sentence that left Fisher completely puzzled,
"Sizzle... Truly never expected... that famous Fisher Benavides would actually fall to such a state today... Helson's student... I should have thought of it long ago..."
"You know my mentor?"
Upon Herdor's mechanical face laid zero recognizable expressions. Even his tone appeared somewhat stiff, exactly like those components comprising his current body,
"Sizzle... Can't be considered knowing him. Just shared a one-sided connection once. Over there, I had once attended the Naris Magic Association's exhibition. I saw him at that time... Hand-in-hand with another Naris Magic Grandmaster, he designed a brand-new Circle Head, shocking the world's magic academia. This made me, who was of the same age as him yet accomplished nothing, immensely regretful, making me study magic much more diligently..."
Gravity magic?
The time Mentor Helson and that Gravity Magic Grandmaster cooperated to design gravity magic should be several dozen years ago... a matter from when Mentor Helson was young. Yet the Herdor before him stated he was of the same age as Mentor Helson at that time?
Wait a minute... What exactly was the situation of the Herdor before him? Wasn't he a Cardinal created by Lord Cardinal?
Fisher felt somewhat astonished. But the Herdor before him wasn't surprised that he would feel astounded. The steam beneath his face grew even more vigorous. Within his stiff tone also appeared humanly smiling intent for the first time,
"Sizzle... This is a matter that'd make someone's jaw drop from shock, right? Anyone would never imagine a man surviving in this body of machinery would actually already be such an aged guy... However, despite swapping bodies, I still feel like I will grow old... Recently I've even begun feeling my brain isn't too bright..."
"Sizzle... Strayed from the subject. You are Magician Helson's personally instructed student. Valentina is still young, and the time she spent staying within the family is also very long. Naturally, she doesn't comprehend much regarding matters of Naris. Helson's disciple wouldn't be an evil person... she will understand this point. She is merely... far too thirsty for the Frostwood Sycamore Tree. You will understand later."
"Sizzle... In conclusion, welcome to joining our team, Mister Fisher Benavides. I am Herdor Turan... a member of the Turan family, and also a magician who couldn't be considered mainstream."
Herdor gently extended his right hand towards Fisher... as if a vivid soul had emerged within that originally deathly still machinery. Following a brief daze, Fisher similarly extended his right hand towards him. After gently grasping each other entering close-distance contact, he only then abruptly discovered within the other party's mechanical arm flickered tiny bits of pale blue flowing light.
And this flowing light... Fisher had only seen it upon Lord Cardinal's Cardinals.
"Very glad to meet you, Mister Herdor."
"Sizzle..."
Herdor nodded indicating assent, but the steam beneath his face seemingly surged out uncontrollably, setting off his face amidst the cloud mist. After releasing Fisher's hand, he also turned his head and followed Balzac and the others, leaving the inside of the church together.
Sitting in place, Fisher flipped the metal card in his hands. He had already confirmed it time and time again... the Cardinal approaching him was none other than Herdor.
"It seems the Turan family also holds many troublesome matters..."
"Truly seen a ghost. Why is it that being together with you produces so many weird matters? Is he exactly human or machine?"
Just earlier when talking about proper matters, the Emhart shrinking into Fisher's pocket finally poked his head out at this time. Actually originally, he could perfectly well stay upon Fisher's shoulders and listen. But for an unknown reason, so long as he watched Fisher converse with other women, he would always be unable to endure the desire to advise the other party to quickly run away.
"Mister Fisher... um, can you help... me a bit? Um, the things I'm bringing are a bit too many; very heavy..."
Hearing the voice, Fisher turned his head looking toward the direction of the Mother Goddess statue beside him. He nevertheless saw that from behind that Mother Goddess statue, the large-bellied rabbit nun Ilos was dragging a bag bundled into a giant mass behind her with a single hand. That bag was bulging. It was unknown what exactly she packed inside. But she should have also visited the bell tower upstairs; no wonder she hadn't come down for so long.
It was just that when Fisher saw the other party's appearance of panting for breath while clutching her lower abdomen, he immediately possessed a guilt of forcing his wife to do dirty and tiring labor after she became pregnant... although actually she was completely without child, after all.
"My heavens above... are you bringing your entire church away with you? Moreover, I want to ask more into how you managed to bring that giant bag of things downstairs..."
Sitting upon Fisher's shoulder, Emhart curled his lips, ruthlessly retorting as such.
"Eh? These are all things Sister Charut left behind... and some are valuable items from inside the church. If we depart, I'm afraid they would all be stolen by people..."
Speechless, Fisher cast a glance at the assortment of bottles and jars packed within that bag. She had even brought those pickled cabbages and seasonings... It appeared her level of stinginess could compete with his own.
"Valuable items? What valuable items could you possibly possess? Let me possess a look-look."
Right at this time, Fisher didn't know since when a pair of muffin-like lion ears had suddenly appeared behind his back. Hearing Ilos's earlier words, those lion ears happily twitched. Then Fisher immediately felt someone lean over beside him, eyes radiating light as she sized up the items inside Ilos's bag.
It was exactly the money-grubbing subordinate under Valentina, the Lion-kin Phyllis.
"Tch, what kind of garbage are these? You even said they were some valuable items... making me happy for nothing... Oh, right, almost forgot... Boss said to make you all hurry up. We still have to take a boat leaving the Sardin Woman's Country."
After seeing the items inside the bag clearly, Phyllis became quite disappointed. In disdain, she retreated quite a few steps backwards from beside Fisher. Little did she know her simple words immediately caused the expression of Sister Ilos before her to turn pitiful.
"I... I'd still better place these items inside the church..."
Ilos's ears slumped down a bit. Wearing a miserable face once again, she wanted to drag that huge bag of things back to her room. However, Fisher couldn't bear to watch her dragging items so strenuously anymore. With a reach of his hand, he effortlessly dragged that large amount of items back to the front of the room. Giving her some casual consolation, he said,
"It's fine. The land bought by the Turan family... if the Hearthome Castle mayor isn't a stupid pig, he should help you look after it a bit..."
"Mhm mhm."
Clutching her lower abdomen, Ilos obediently nodded. Not knowing what she had thought of, her complexion turned a rosy pink for a brief moment. Following behind Fisher, she walked out heading towards the church's exterior altogether.
"Dong! Dong! Dong!"
She listened to the church's bell toll one last time. But such tranquil bell tolls totally didn't bring her much courage. She somewhat lacked confidence... especially regarding the subsequent journey.
But since she had already resolved to step forth with this footstep, to go back to see her already-deceased family for the final time... then she ought to summon up her courage; it's only right.
She silently prayed in her heart once, beseeching the Mother Goddess upon the firmament to gaze upon and shelter herself.
The carriage at the doorway lacked spatial magic but was still considered fairly spacious. Valentina, Balzac, as well as Phyllis were all sitting within the carriage compartment. Only the Cardinal Herdor stayed outside the carriage to drive it.
"Mister Fisher, Sister Ilos, board the carriage first. It is very cold outside. We will be heading towards the port right now, and will depart the Sardin Woman's Country tonight."
Fisher nodded, escorting Sister Ilos onto the carriage first. Right as he was about to board the carriage, he seemingly noticed something. He gently turned his head to look at the side of the carriage. He nonetheless saw that carriage window's curtain was slightly lifted a bit, revealing a pair of pale silver irises within currently gazing at him.
When Fisher turned his head to look at that pair of irises, that curtain abruptly dropped down, obscuring the sight belonging to Valentina behind that curtain.
"Forget it. It looks a bit squeezed inside. I'll sit outside with you."
Fisher shook his head, saying thus.