Chapter 192: Karen's Mother

Chapter 192: Karen's Mother

The collapse of the Academic Affairs Building was not instantaneous; after a rumbling roar, the entire building began to split into sharp, distinct fragments, looking much like a rectangular cake stood upright and sliced into pieces by a knife, sliding away now in numerous directions.

Right then, massive black chains surfaced from the ground around the Academic Affairs Building, rising into the air to bind and support the fracturing parts of the collapsing structure.

And so, though the building had crumbled, it stood in a bizarre architectural limbo, not entirely fallen.

These sudden chains were presumably the defense array originally meant to protect the building.

However, the operation or perhaps the design of this array suffered from a specific flaw: it was primarily constructed against external intrusion, not internal failure.

Consequently, the chains holding the various architectural fragments did not merely stay still; their tension tightened around the enveloped areas at a visible pace, cutting deeper by the second, and before long, the chains would likely crush the very structures they held.

Yet, in this precarious manner, they afforded the personnel inside the Academic Affairs Building a chance to escape.

Karen ran beneath the Academic Affairs Building and found its foundation had caved in, turning the first-floor lobby—once requiring high steps to enter—into an open basement from which people continually fled and climbed out of the crater, and Karen crouched by the edge, reaching out his hand to pull them up.

Throughout this, from the chain-wrapped architectural sections above, people occasionally fell, the heavy thuds of their impacts sounding like dropped sacks of cement, reminiscent of swatting mosquitoes in summer.

Even as he pulled people up from below, Karen looked up every now and then, calculating how much longer the chains could hold.

Though priests of the Church of Order kept arriving from the periphery to offer aid and waves of magical energy rippled within the building as those inside attempted their own rescue, there was a vast number of ordinary staff members within, and even the God's Servants or the Awakened were no different from commoners when falling from such a height.

Just then, Karen noticed a few priests clad in blue divine robes appearing not far behind him, the fabric of their vestments embroidered with formation runes.

The leader held a dark stone in his hand, while the men behind him began to chant, focusing spiritual energy into his body.

Shortly after, the leader raised the stone in his hand and began to guide it slowly downward.

"Buzz!"

The two massive black chains diagonally ahead of Karen began to slowly lower the architectural section they supported.

Right after, Karen saw several other groups of people in blue divine robes nearby, each leader holding a black stone as they directed other chains to gently lower the building fragments they held.

Were they the priests specialized in maintaining arrays within the Church of Order?

The internal structure of the Church of Order was divided into many departments, each containing numerous roles and duties, such that even a member of the Church would know very little about departments outside their own.

Gradually, the shattered building pieces were laid upon the ground one by one, occupying a vast expanse of the surrounding area and even colliding with adjacent structures, though clearly no one cared about that now.

Once all parts of the building were safely grounded, the trapped crowds began escaping through windows and other openings.

Karen stood up and took a few steps back, his attention instinctively drawn to the southwestern section of the building because that block contained the "shop" and the "equipment department," though he only lingered for a few glances before shifting his gaze, having spotted three legalists stationed there.

Obviously, security was tight there to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the Church's disaster to enrich themselves.

Karen began helping with the wounded, pushing a stretcher cart along with an unfamiliar young man to transport the severely injured to the open ground on the periphery, waiting for the medical teams from the Church Hospital to arrive.

After busying himself for about an hour, the workload actually increased rather than decreased, as a large number of injured individuals unable to escape on their own were discovered and pulled from the ruins.

However, the rescue forces from the Church Hospital had arrived, alongside a great number of Order priests rushing in from other parts of York City; with such a severe disaster striking the Academic Affairs Building, it was impossible not to draw their attention.

Some people, seeing Karen and his unfamiliar partner covered in dust, stepped forward to take over the stretcher cart.

Karen did not refuse, shaking his numbed hands as he walked toward the periphery, finding a spacious spot to sit down.

"Hey."

Karen turned his head and saw that his unfamiliar stretcher-bearing partner had followed him, handing him an open thermos.

While working earlier, Karen had noticed that this fellow had a thermos hanging from his waist the entire time, though he did not look very old and, like Karen, wore casual clothes instead of a divine robe.

Oh, damn it.

Karen thought of his custom-tailored divine robe; he wondered if he would still receive his order after such an incident.

It should... be fine, right? After all, he bought it with points, and the Church would surely protect its credit system regarding points.

Taking the thermos and bringing it to his lips, Karen caught a sweet scent and took a sip; it was soda, and iced at that.

At a time like this, nothing was more comforting than a huge gulp of iced soda; Karen took two deep gulps before handing it back to the man.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." The young man downed the remaining soda in the thermos, let out a long burp, and turned to Karen, asking, "Friend, got a cigarette?"

Karen nodded, pulling an unopened pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handing it to him along with a lighter.

The other man opened the pack, pulled out a cigarette, offered another to Karen, and then stepped forward to light it for him.

Karen didn't feel like explaining why he carried cigarettes but didn't smoke, so he held the cigarette between his lips and let him light it, after which the young man lit his own and placed the lighter and pack between them.

"I came to collect my stipend," the young man said. "If it hadn't been for the traffic jam on the way, I probably would have been carried out on a stretcher too. Almost lost my life for a hundred points, sheesh."

Hearing the mention of a "hundred-point stipend," Karen knew that this was a God's Servant.

"My name is Richard. What about you, friend?"

"Karen."

"Then, should I call you 'my lord'?" Richard asked with a smile.

"I also receive a hundred-point stipend."

"Hahaha," Richard laughed. "That's good, that's good."

When a God's Servant met another God's Servant, there was no longer a barrier of status.

"Look over there, the Archbishops have arrived too," Richard said, pointing into the distance.

Karen also saw several bishops clad in red robes appearing on the scene, their expressions exceedingly grim.

"Do you think this was an attack by the Pamires Religion?" Richard asked Karen.

"Hmm?"

"Don't you read the papers?" Richard asked in confusion.

Karen understood; this was no ordinary God's Servant, because a regular God's Servant's monthly stipend wasn't even enough to subscribe to the Order Weekly.

Furthermore, the fact that he would ask another God's Servant "Don't you read the papers?" clearly showed that he had no idea what the purchasing power of a hundred points actually was—a classic "let them eat cake" mentality.

If the man wasn't lying at all, Karen guessed he was likely some privileged scion who had run over to collect the first stipend of his life.

There were many second-generation members within the Church of Order, as faith was often propagated and influenced through families or clans; just as seeing a single cockroach in the house usually meant there were many more undiscovered, it was rare for an isolated individual in a family to believe in the faith, as they were basically all influenced by their elders and relatives.

Strictly speaking, even leaving aside Dis's personal factor, Karen himself counted as a second-generation member, since the Inmeles family was a lineage of Inquisitors.

"You think the Pamires people did it?" Karen asked.

"It's possible." Richard pointed at the fragmented Academic Affairs Building. "There must be an operational hub inside the building, like the equipment department and the warehouse, which would definitely utilize spatial array structures. Did you see the building when it first started collapsing?"

Karen nodded.

"Then did you notice that the cracks that first appeared during the collapse were actually all centered around that spot?" Richard pointed to the architectural fragment guarded and watched over by several legalists. "So, the spatial array in that specific area must have malfunctioned, causing the building to dismantle itself from there."

"Did the Church allow people from the Pamires Religion to participate in the construction and design of the Academic Affairs Building?" Karen asked.

"Of course that's impossible. It must have been done by our own Church people; it could never be handed over to outsiders."

"Then why do you say this was an attack by the Pamires Religion?"

A smile appeared on Richard's face as he said, "It can't be handed over to outsiders on the surface, but it can be subcontracted."

"This..."

"Do you know what subcontracting means?" Richard asked.

I know

Karen was merely surprised that even the Church’s own projects could be so down-to-earth.

There are plenty of things like this, subcontracted out for others to do. For one, the people of the Pamireth Order are naturally skilled in spatial matters, so having them do it yields better results and costs less. For another, you don't even have to give them vouchers; they still have to bite the bullet and bring their own materials to help you complete this project, though you do have to make it up to them elsewhere.

Of course, I think there is a high probability that the Pamireth Order launched the attack, but we cannot rule out... ahem, a self-directed, self-acted performance on our part.

It cannot be a self-directed performance, Karen said.

Oh? Why? Is that not a very good reason?

We do not need to look for reasons, nor do we need to make excuses. The more legitimate the reason and the more appropriate the excuse, the less it is what we need.

Richard pursed his lips and said, The way you speak is very similar to my father.

What is your father’s position?

Hmm? Asking so directly? Shouldn't you pretend you didn't catch it, and then deliberately try to close the distance between us?

Heh.

My father is a Law-Inscriber. Look over there, my father is right there.

As it turned out, among the Law-Inscribers currently protecting the structural parts of the Equipment Management Department floor and the shop floor, Richard's father was present.

Not only my father, but my mother is also a Law-Inscriber, though she is currently in Sump rather than York City. My aunt is a Law-Inscriber too, and my uncle is just a bit short, being only an Inquisitor.

This is... a family of Law-Inscribers?

If the former Inquisitor lineage of the Inmmeles family was considered local gentry, then Richard’s family was a dominant powerhouse within the Church circles.

So, you are just a Divine Servant? Karen asked.

Hahaha, I’ve just always kept a Divine Servant certificate but couldn't be bothered to verify and change it. Don't look at how young I am; in fact, I am a Divine Shepherd. You should call me Lord!

Karen felt that all of this fellow's previous chatter was just laying the groundwork for this very sentence.

Karen threw the unlit cigarette he held between his fingers onto the ground, ground it with the sole of his shoe, and ignored him.

Seeing Karen’s cold reaction, Richard did not get angry either. Instead, he proactively leaned closer to Karen and whispered, Friend, oh no, Karen, what is the position of the elder in your family?

Why ask me this?

Just want to make you a friend.

Then I am climbing too high for you.

Tch, still keeping secrets from me. Richard blew out a smoke ring, threw the cigarette butt onto the ground, took another cigarette from the box in the middle to light it, and at the same time asked Karen, Since you don't smoke, why do you carry cigarettes and a lighter?

Prepared for people like you.

Pfft, hehehehe, hahahaha.

Richard laughed out loud.

Karen did not even know what exactly he was laughing at.

Up ahead, Karen saw squads of the Whiplash of Order moving into the area, beginning to maintain order and set up guards. Even though the police department building was right in front, not a single policeman was seen coming out nearby; secular forces were incapable of interfering or entering this place.

However, Karen did not see the figure of his own squad. Had he known, he shouldn't have returned that blue seashell to Fanny last time. But tonight’s gathering was certainly canceled; with such a major event happening at the Educational Affairs Building, it was impossible for his own squad not to deploy.

At this moment, Karen perceived a figure appearing behind him. He turned his head to look back and saw a grim-faced woman dressed in a dark red divine robe standing behind him.

The patterns on the woman’s robe revealed her identity—a Law-Inscriber.

Karen immediately stood up and saluted the woman: Lord.

Aunt?

Richard stood up and called out, while simultaneously throwing the newly lit cigarette onto the ground.

Are you alright?

I'm fine, I'm fine, Aunt. Father is over there.

I know. The woman fixed her gaze on Karen. Your identity.

Divine Servant under the Pavaro Tribunal, Karen Silva.

Karen also held an identity as a member of a Whiplash of Order squad, but he still chose to report his status as a Divine Servant, because this identity was equivalent to: kind and harmless.

Hehe, Aunt, he is a new friend I just made. As he spoke, Richard even leaned in front of Karen to look him over, then looked at his aunt and said, Dust fell on him when he was carrying the stretcher with me just now, but he still looks good, right, Aunt? Just as handsome as uncle was in his youth.

You can tell your mother that he is just as handsome as your father was in his youth.

Can't say that. My father is not good-looking, otherwise my mother wouldn't prefer to stay in Sump City rather than transfer back, simply because she finds my father too ugly.

I will pass your praise of your father along to him.

I'm not afraid. Aunt spoils me the most.

Next time, if there is nothing to do, do not run around blindly. It is very dangerous. Many things are happening lately, and it is quite dangerous outside.

I just wanted to come collect my allowance and buy you a few pieces of jewelry by the way, Aunt. Isn't your birthday coming up soon?

The woman looked toward the distance and said, Go back early, I still have things to do.

After speaking, the woman's figure transformed into black mist and flew toward the direction where Richard’s father was.

Did you drive here? Richard asked Karen.

Yes.

That’s great. The surroundings must be locked down, so I can't catch a cab.

Karen pointed toward the distance and said, You can run a bit further, and you’ll be able to catch a cab.

I say, you were so respectful to my aunt just now, why are you so casual with me again?

Because we are both Divine Servants.

I’ve said it, I am a Divine Shepherd.

I only recognize certificates.

Oh, really now. Richard came right up and put his arm around Karen's shoulder. Send me home, I'm so tired, I don't want to walk anymore.

Karen looked at him with some doubt and asked, We only carried a stretcher together.

I don't know why either, but I feel a sense of closeness with you. Oh, please rest assured, I date girlfriends, so it's not that kind of closeness.

Where is your home?

White Deer Street, not very far from here. I’ll invite you to my house for coffee.

Karen did not agree, walking toward his car. Richard followed along, and after Karen sat in the driver's seat, he naturally sat in the passenger seat as well.

Richard smiled and said, Of course, if you want to invite me to your house for coffee, I am willing too.

Karen shook his head with some helplessness. Normally, it should be others proactively fawning over this kind of young master, yet this one had inexplicably stuck to him.

With no other choice, Karen could only drive to White Deer Street. Richard pointed toward the direction of his home, which was a standalone villa where the car could be driven directly into a private underground garage.

A friend has come, so he must surely sit inside the house, mustn't he? Richard helped Karen turn off the ignition.

Karen hesitated for a moment, but still got out of the car, following Richard up the garage stairs into the large living room. The layout of the living room was very retro, and the furnishings were also very tasteful.

What would you like to drink?

"Ice water."

"Alright, just a moment." Richard walked into the kitchen. In a villa of this scale, there seemed to be no maids, but the sculptures positioned throughout the house gave Karen a peculiar sensation; they were likely a defensive array. Had he entered alone without Richard leading the way, he would very probably have faced an attack from the formation.

Karen walked to the center of the living room, where he noticed a large, framed family portrait hanging above the fireplace.

The photograph showed its age. Richard was not in it; instead, an old man sat in the center, with a man and two women standing behind him, presumably his children. The man bore a striking resemblance to Richard and was likely Richard's father, while the woman on the far right was the young version of that female Inscriber.

But the woman on the far left...

Karen leaned closer, examining her intently. She looked vaguely familiar.

As he stared, a memory suddenly surfaced in Karen's mind. It was from the time Laniedal had tried to seize his body, when he had entered a certain "dreamscape." In that dream, a man and a woman had been lying by his side, and it was precisely because of their protection that Laniedal had failed to take over his body.

And the woman on the far left of this photograph looked... exactly like the woman who had lain beside him in his "dream."

"I don't know why, but I feel a sense of closeness to you."

Richard's earlier words echoed in Karen's ears. At the time, he had wondered if something was wrong with the young master's head.

Now, Karen realized that there was nothing wrong with the man's head, and his sense of familiarity indeed possessed a tangible origin, though Richard himself was unaware of where it came from.

Because,

he was actually his cousin.

———

More to come tonight.