Chapter 193: Cousin's Choice

Chapter 193: The Cousin's Choice

Just then, Richard walked out, carrying two glasses of ice water. He handed one to Karen, and seeing Karen looking at the photographs, he took the initiative to introduce them:

"That is my grandfather, behind him is my father, to my father's right is my youngest aunt, whom you just met, and the one on the left is my eldest aunt."

"What position did your eldest aunt hold?" Karen asked.

"She died," Richard said. "She died before I was born; that is what grandfather and father told me."

Died before you were born?

Then where did I come from?

Karen suddenly realized a problem, which was that "his own" parents had not left behind any photographs. Granted, it could be assumed that photography was not completely popular at that time, but the Inmerices house was not lacking the means for a family portrait.

Furthermore, even if there were no photographs, they could have found an artist to paint a portrait, just like any ordinary affluent family would, yet Karen had not turned up any relics concerning "his own" father and mother at home.

In "Karen's" own memory, because his parents passed away when he was a child, his memories and impressions had long since blurred. The only thing left was the scene of him witnessing his grandfather kill his parents with his own eyes, for which an extremely abstract drawing had been left behind in his notebook.

Even in his conversations with Uncle Mason and Aunt Winnie, he could discover that they, too, knew very little about "his" mother.

A large part of the reason for this was that Uncle Mason and Aunt Winnie had left home early to pursue their own careers and lives. At that time, they probably only made time to return home once a year, and their lives had very little intersection with those of the eldest brother and sister-in-law.

They had returned home one by one due to upheavals in their respective careers and families only several years after "his" parents' incident. During those years, grandfather had solely supported the operation of the funeral home.

Only after the son and daughter returned home did the event occur where grandfather dismissed the family's undertaker and accountant.

Therefore, Uncle Mason and Aunt Winnie had never truly lived under the same roof with their sister-in-law.

Karen only knew that "his" mother, like his father, was also an Inquisitor. The two of them had been contaminated during a mission and finally begged Dis to kill them. Dis could only endure the grief to kill his own son and daughter-in-law, but he seemed to have preserved a part of their souls;

At night, Dis would light a candle alone in the study to see his son and daughter-in-law.

So, the family, except for Dis, should all be ignorant of the true identity and origin of "his" mother.

No, there was one... it should be a cat, it ought to know something.

But Puer had never spoken to him about "his" mother's matters. Was it because it knew he was not "him," so it assumed he would not be interested in his mother's affairs and thus left it unsaid, or did it intentionally keep silent?

Karen did not believe that Puer harbored some special purpose to hide it from him, because the truth was... this matter, even if spoken, amounted to nothing.

After all, it was impossible for Karen to raise his glass and clink it with Richard:

"Ah, my dear cousin!"

"Ah, my dear cousin!"

This scene was impossible to happen, because it was simply impossible for Karen to reveal his identity to him.

In the entire God of Order Cult, probably only Rasmar knew he had left Ruilan, but Rasmar was currently in a very strange state. He seemed to be mimicking the path grandfather took in the past to attempt to condense his own divine fragment, so he could not possibly inform on him.

But his situation was very special; on one hand, he would not inform, but on the other hand, he was untouchable. Karen had once used the Principle Cult's theory of the "points and planes" of God to try and understand Rasmar's current state.

However, except for the exceptional Rasmar, Karen's identity as "Inmerices" could not possibly be exposed to anyone else; it would cause tremendous trouble.

Though, his trouble was somewhat unique, different from the trouble ordinary people understood.

Even though his grandfather had bombed the Temple of Order, hung a Temple Elder upon a crucifix, and expressed an exceedingly clear disrespect toward the God of Order...

Once his identity was exposed within the God of Order Cult, they would probably... enshrine him.

Because his grandfather was asleep, not dead.

Like the banquet held at the Ankara Hotel when Ophelia arrived last time, he could remain seated, while the grandsons of those bishops like Leonvicoli could only stand by his side, continuously flattery-seeking and talking to him.

Except if it were like that, then the path he chose, as well as the sacrifices grandfather made to pave the way for him, would all be in vain.

In other words, Richard's family very likely truly did not know the whereabouts of "his" mother, otherwise his family would certainly have been implicated because of it.

So, did "his" mother, like Puer, break with the family and leave home?

Holding the water glass, Karen sat down on the sofa.

Some things, if one did not ponder them, would feel completely natural, but once one turned back to try and scrutinize them, another layer of reality hidden beneath the natural surface would be discovered.

First was that "his" parents were killed by Dis because they were contaminated.

Then, what kind of contamination was it that left even Dis helpless, forcing him to choose this most extreme method to help them end their pain?

Dis, who always valued family affection, could not possibly watch his son and daughter-in-law suffer pain just to hide his realm; if there really were a way, he would certainly have put forth all his strength to do it.

So, what kind of contamination did "his" parents actually contract?

Could a mission capable of touching that level of contamination be participated in by ordinary Inquisitors?

A phrase Puer always liked to say: Inquisitors are the apex of the Inmerices family's profession.

Therefore, "his" parents were actually like Dis, Inquisitors, but yet not ordinary Inquisitors?

Furthermore, neither Uncle Mason nor Aunt Winnie chose to take over the family funeral home, meaning they did not want to enter the church circle. For "his" father who inherited the family business, the standard Dis treated him with should not be worse than that for himself, the grandson.

Dis could personally select a fiancée for him, so had Dis also selected one for "his" father?

Looking at it this way, if "his" mother were merely an ordinary Inquisitor, it would instead be somewhat abnormal.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Richard asked.

"Thinking about the Church Affairs Building matter, it must be crazy outside right now."

"Oh, of course," Richard smiled. "This slap, delivered to the face, really hurts."

The Church Affairs Building did not belong to the "high-end places" of the God of Order Cult in York City. Many offices inside were actually administrative departments responsible for the grassroots of the church; truly high-level departments and high-level figures generally would not appear there.

Even Neo merely treated that place as a temporary meeting spot.

But it was indeed the symbol of the God of Order Cult in York City. Conducting an attack in this manner was undoubtedly a severe provocation to the God of Order

"Thank you."

Cullen walked up to the second floor. This house seemed to have very few regular occupants; in fact, it might just be Richard and his parents living here. His mother wasn't even in York City, and his father probably rarely returned, so it was basically just Richard alone.

After showering, Cullen noticed two sets of divine robes placed by the bathroom door. He reached out and touched them; the material was smoother than silk, and there were likely miniature arrays carved inside.

Choosing a black one to wear, he instantly felt a profound sense of comfort. Attempting to infuse a tiny bit of spiritual power into it, he perceived six arrays embedded within the fabric.

They were self-cleaning, temperature control, fireproofing, waterproofing, concealment, and purification.

It was undoubtedly several times more expensive than the order he had placed for himself.

As for divine robes, except for a few specific colors and patterns reserved for distinct positions, the degree of freedom in other aspects was actually quite high.

The Church was a strictly hierarchical world; everyone held reverence in their hearts, and everyone knew their place.

When Cullen walked downstairs, he saw a middle-aged man sitting on the living room sofa, looking very much like the man in the photograph, though far more weathered. This was Richard's father, which meant he was Cullen's... uncle.

Expositor Eisen Gorman was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting. When Cullen descended the stairs into the living room, he slightly opened his eyes and looked toward him.

"Greetings, My Lord. I was invited here by Richard."

Cullen bowed to Eisen.

Eisen nodded, remaining silent.

"My Lord, I shall take my leave now."

Eisen spoke up: "Richard went to buy late-night snacks. He told me to keep you here so you could eat together."

"There is no need, My Lord. I should head back."

"This is the first time my son has brought a friend home." Eisen spoke with a calm tone that carried an absolute, unquestionable weight.

"Yes, My Lord."

Cullen could only take a seat on the sofa.

"Introduce yourself."

Eisen seemed to be the exact polar opposite of his son; he deeply disliked pleasantries. From the expression with which he spoke, Cullen could sense a kind of agony.

It was the sort of agony born from trying to fulfill a father's duty, completing the task of offering a modicum of hospitality to his son's friend.

This did not stem from disdain over status... though with the status of an Expositor, it would be perfectly normal to look down upon a divine servant, or even an Inquisitor.

The man before him might manage a different departmental duty, but in terms of status, he should be equal to Ziehe.

Cullen felt that he must suffer from... a social anxiety disorder.

No wonder Richard's mother lived apart from him.

Another correct counterexample was Uncle Mason. Uncle Mason was an optimist no matter the time, so even when his business failed, he still maintained an excellent relationship with Aunt Mary.

"I am a divine servant under the Pavarotti Inquisition: Cullen Silva."

"Pavarotti?" Eisen looked at Cullen. "Your superior is a decent man."

As he spoke,

he closed his eyes in some agony, and Cullen saw his facial muscles twitch slightly before he forced out another sentence:

"Convey... my regards to him."

"Very well, My Lord, I will convey them for you."

Whew...

Cullen heard the sound of a long, relieved sigh. It seemed the task, or what could be called the "roleplay" of being a father, was finally complete.

And so, Cullen and Mr. Eisen sat there, the two of them plunging into a prolonged silence.

This lasted until Richard returned home, holding the late-night snacks he had bought from a nearby restaurant, even skipping and humming a song as he walked.

Just then, a black crow flew in through the ventilation window and landed on Eisen's shoulder.

Eisen spoke: "Duty calls, I must leave first. You two enjoy the food."

Cullen noticed that the crow's posture and behavioral details perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of Mr. Eisen rising from the sofa and walking. If it were a communication crow spell cast by someone else, such coordination would be impossible;

unless, it was a crow he had "molded" himself.

Was this a case of calling oneself to prompt an exit?

Eisen departed.

Richard placed the purchased food on the coffee table, opened the boxes, and smiled. "My father is just like that. He isn't targeting you, let alone looking down on you, so don't take it to heart—because he treats me the exact same way."

"I won't."

His uncle's psychological issues were already this severe, to the point where even facing his own son triggered social anxiety?

Looking at it from another perspective, for such a man to actually sit in the position of an Expositor, just how formidable must his personal strength be?

"Come, have some supper."

"Alright."

What Richard had brought back was chicken wraps, sliced roast beef, and sausages, plus a side of vegetable salad.

Halfway through their meal, the grandfather clock in the living room suddenly chimed.

"My grandfather is here." Richard stood up and went to the foyer to open the door.

Your grandfather, then wouldn't that be... my maternal grandfather?

Cullen also set down his fork, stood up, and looked toward the foyer.

"Where is your father?"

"Father said he had business and just left. Grandfather, why have you come?"

"I missed you, so I came to take a look."

Promptly, Cullen saw an elderly man walk in, accompanied by Richard.

"Oh, there is a guest."

"Yes, Grandfather, he is my friend, Cullen."

"Greetings, My Lord." Cullen bowed to the elderly man.

Everyone in Richard's family was someone he had to address as My Lord and bow to.

"Good."

Delon Gorman nodded and sat down on the sofa. "I am hungry too."

Richard immediately went into the kitchen to fetch a fork and a plate for his grandfather.

Cullen noticed that the divine robe on the old man was blue, adorned with clear array rune patterns.

Delon first ate two chicken wraps, then some beef, picked up the water his grandson had poured for him, took a large gulp, and only then let out a long sigh of satisfaction.

"Today was a close one, just a bit more and the Administrative Building would have completely collapsed."

"Grandfather, you were at the Administrative Building today too?"

"Mhm." Delon nodded. "Not only was I there, but I also saw you and this friend of yours carrying the wounded on a stretcher."

"Why didn't you call for me, Grandfather?"

"I was managing the formation; how could I find the leisure to call you? Weren't you afraid I might lose focus and the building above would crash down to crush you? By the way, what were you doing at the Academic Affairs Building today?"

"Collecting my stipend. Grandfather and Grandmother's wedding anniversary is coming up soon, and I wanted to prepare a commemorative gift for you both. But I didn't have enough points. I remembered that I still had an unclaimed servant's stipend, so I went to collect it."

Karen glanced at Richard. If it weren't for the fact that the boy felt uniquely close to him, Karen would have truly suspected whether he was actually Mr. Eisen's biological son.

Delon smiled as he pulled a savings book from the sleeve of his divine robe and placed it on the coffee table. "Take points from here to use. I won't tell your grandmother, so we can give her a surprise when the time comes."

"Alright, Grandfather," Richard said, obediently accepting the savings book.

This savings book was used to store points. Karen had one himself; in fact, every member of the Holy Church, even the servants, possessed one. Yet Karen had never deposited a single point into it; the team's income was always distributed in cash.

Because he was merely a servant with a monthly stipend of one hundred points, depositing tens of thousands of points into it all at once would make it obvious to any fool that something was amiss.

"Fortunately, you and the others were there today, Grandfather. Otherwise, the building would have collapsed completely. Who knows how many people would have died."

"Our department was holding a meeting today," Delon nodded. "Yes, fortunate indeed."

Was it truly a stroke of fortune?

Just as the building was about to collapse, the very department responsible for maintaining the formation happened to be holding a meeting inside it?

"So, Grandfather, was it really directed and acted out by ourselves?" Richard asked proactively.

Delon glanced at Karen, who was sitting opposite them, shook his head, and said, "No, the Holy Church would not disgrace itself by resorting to such methods."

"Then what was the reason?" Richard pressed on.

Delon seemed unwilling to pursue the topic further, choosing instead to ask, "Didn't you say you wanted to join the Whiplash of Order?"

"Yes, Grandfather. Have you finally agreed?"

"I never opposed it in the first place. Many great figures have risen through the ranks by taking the path of the Whiplash of Order, and the higher-ups place great value on a career within it. I have always approved of your choosing this path, but the team I selected for you..."

"That Captain Gendy—the last time we met, his deferential attitude toward you and me was something I truly couldn't bring myself to like. I felt that following such a captain would be terribly dull, utterly failing to match my imagination of the Whiplash of Order. I still want to join that particular team, the one just transferred from Sampo City. I heard about them when I went to Sampo to accompany my mother. Didn't they just achieve a massive feat not long ago? They wiped out two lost teams, purged those defilers, and even obtained the Lacroix copper coins."

"Those two lost teams were not entirely without hope of rescue," Delon reminded him.

"In that situation, one ought to resolve everything in the most decisive manner possible!" Richard declared. "Staying with a team of that style is what makes it thrilling!"

Clearly, as a young man, he was deeply infatuated with the operational style of Neo's team.

Karen suddenly felt a slight urge to laugh; his own cousin actually wanted to join the very team he belonged to.

"Do you know how the higher-ups describe this team? They say they are a pack of hunting hounds," Delon said.

"Grandfather, I believe being described as a pack of hunting hounds is the greatest praise for that team. I hope to go there to temper myself, and I believe you will see a different side of me in the future, Grandfather."

This was the advantage of having a family background. Before this, Dinkum and Pick could only sit in the funeral parlor, sipping soda while staring blankly at the sky. Yet Richard could not only be arranged a position directly within a Whiplash of Order team for a golden veneer, but he could even pick and choose based on his preferences.

The more Richard spoke, the more excited he became. In order to move his grandfather into making the arrangements for him, he continued:

"Grandfather, don't you want me to find a steady girlfriend soon, get married, and start a family? I know you are very dissatisfied that my mother only gave birth to me. Don't you want to see great-grandsons and great-granddaughters sooner?"

"Of course I do, but what does that have to do with you joining that Whiplash of Order team?"

"It does matter, it matters immensely!"

Richard stood up, speaking with great excitement and adoration:

"I heard that this team was in charge of the escort mission for Dark Moon Island last time. Then, one of the members of their team successfully sent the Princess of Dark Moon Island back with a swollen belly!"

"..." Karen.

There will be more tonight!