Chapter 283: Curse

Chapter 283: The Curse

The two men sat face-to-face upon their respective beds, a profound, lingering silence stretching between them.

They watched one another, neither making any attempt to veil the searching scrutiny in their eyes.

This time, it was Cullen who broke the stillness.

"Captain, let us leave this matter entirely behind us."

The captain looked slightly bewildered.

"What matter?"

"I heard that Lady Ophelia might be coming to our Church of Order for her training and cultivation."

"Ah, yes. Bishop Warfren spoke to me of it this morning. You see? Our prior arrangement was not in vain, was it?"

"An arrangement..."

"Before attempting anything, if you can manage ten parts of preparation, you should strive for twelve. Study this well, and grasp the spiritual essence of my words."

"Very well, Captain."

"Furthermore, building upon this foundation, there is another matter. For training and cultivation, where among our church's various departments do you believe would be most suitable?"

"The Whip of Order?"

"Exactly so."

"Will Ophelia be joining our squad?"

"No."

"Phew..." Cullen exhaled a long breath of relief.

"Bishop Warfren's intention is for her to form her own independent Whip of Order squad, with her serving as captain. When she is scouting for candidates, who do you think she will choose?"

Cullen said in surprise, "To grant her such a high degree of autonomy?"

"Because Dark Moon Island is about to surrender command of its fleet, which happens to be the mightiest force of Dark Moon Island, and indeed the most formidable force within these waters. Compared to that offshore fleet of Dark Moon Island, a mere Whip of Order squad captain is somewhat beneath notice."

"That is true indeed."

"And it is precisely for this reason that Bishop Warfren has laid aside all grievances in his heart, willing to fulfill and advance this matter. Of course, it must still pass through a formal procedure at the Regional Management Office, but this is a decision decreed by the Cardinal himself, so it is merely a matter of protocol.

This morning, before your return, Patriarch Vena brought Lady Ophelia specifically to pay a visit to Bishop Warfren. I could sense an underlying air of apology and amends.

After all, his daughter must remain in the York City Region for at least three years; he certainly needs to dissolve any lingering bitterness from the failed marriage alliance.

The other party showed immense respect, and this concerns the binding alliance between the Holy Church and Dark Moon Island. Judging by Bishop Warfren's demeanor, he has likely forgiven Lady Ophelia completely."

"That is wonderful then."

"Heh, he has only forgiven Lady Ophelia. He never said that included you."

"This..."

"But you need not worry. From my observations these past few days, Bishop Warfren is a decent sort. Look at that lad Lyon; though he possesses some aristocratic habits, his conduct and dealings are acceptable. One can judge the elder by the youth.

Any normal elder would be infuriated by the inexplicable ruin of a descendant's marriage alliance. He surely finds you displeasing to the eye, but he will not deliberately target you. On this point, you may rest assured. However, you must also heighten your vigilance and gather your wits the next time you act."

"No, Captain, who exactly was the one who spread that rumor about me in the beginning?"

The culprit behind this affair was none other than the captain, who had instructed his squad members to propagate the rumor in order to build renown for the Hound Squad, newly transferred from Sampo City to York City, to facilitate their taking on missions.

"Ahem... for things that happened so long ago, let us not waste our energy pursuing them."

Cullen let out a yawn; he was truly exhausted.

The captain continued to speak, "When the time comes and she arrives, take the initiative to report to her yourself. In any case, your relationship with her was merely a rumor before, but this time, how many times have the two of you entered and left hotels together? This is what they call bean paste falling into the crotch."

"I am not going."

"Do not throw a tantrum."

"I am not throwing a tantrum, I simply prefer our Hound Squad."

"Cullen."

"Hmm?"

"Even hounds need to mate."

"..." Cullen was speechless.

"And then propagate new hounds. Think about it: if she becomes captain, she will have an official establishment. Yet she has just arrived at the Church of Order and is unfamiliar with everything. If you go, who will truly be the captain?

In this manner, will you not soon pull together a Hound Squad of your very own?"

"I am still unwilling to leave."

"Whether you leave or stay is not actually for you to decide. Because within our squad, you lack an official establishment. In theory, when an unofficial member enters the establishment, the higher-ups can transfer them directly without ever needing your consent."

"Can they coerce someone like that?"

"That is called dedicating oneself to the God of Order. Can that be called coercion? To harbor such a thought is highly perilous; it indicates your loyalty to the God of Order is insufficient.

At the same time, Memphis and Richard, who are also unofficial members, can be transferred along with you.

Furthermore, as a gesture of care, I intend to have Fanny and Peg transferred to her squad to assist as well.

Look at that, in this way, your squad instantly gains five official spots. Find seven more, and you will have a full complement."

"Wait, have things already been arranged to this extent?"

"Mhm, Bishop Warfren has already discussed the preliminary regulations with me. He was even worried that I would be reluctant to let you go. Think about it, a man of his stature as Chief Bishop actually came to consult my opinion. Could I have the face to refuse him?"

"So, Captain, you have already sold me out before coming to consult my opinion?"

"It is all a dedication to the God of Order, it matters not where it takes place."

"It cannot be thus."

"Protest denied."

The captain stood up, patted his stomach, and said, "I am hungry, let us go out for a meal."

"Has the food not been delivered?"

"I want to eat out."

"I want to sleep."

"Then you sleep. I shall take the others out to eat. We do not depart until three days from now, and Lady Ophelia will not return with us. She has to settle the affairs of Dark Moon Island, so you have ample time to prepare yourself psychologically."

"Good night, Captain."

"Good afternoon."

The captain stepped out of the room, considerately closing the door behind him.

Cullen sat by the edge of the bed a moment longer, then rose to take a shower in the washroom. Having changed his clothes, he lay down upon the bed. Because he was utterly exhausted, no sooner had he adjusted his sleeping posture than he swiftly drifted into slumber.

When he awoke, the sky outside was slightly dim. Had he slept until evening?

The room door was pushed open, and the captain walked in carrying a dining tray. Cullen noticed the captain had changed into a different set of clothes, which kindled an ominous suspicion within his heart.

Had he slept for an entire day and night?

"Had enough sleep?" Neo asked, sitting by the edge of the bed as he scooped up food resembling curry rice with a spoon.

"Mm."

"You weren't injured, nor did you overexert yourself, yet you slept for so long." The captain picked up the glass beside him, took a sip of water, and added, "It seems you reaped quite a harvest that night."

"It was alright."

"A secret?"

"Captain, you already owe me several secrets."

"Heh." Neo shook his head. "Brewing a secret takes time."

Karen stood up, finding that his stomach ached slightly from hunger.

"Miss Ophelia sent her personal warrior to invite you to dinner. I came in intending to call you, and it just so happens you're awake. I suspect the Elders' Council on Dark Moon Island wants to meet you. You should go; after all, you have to attend sooner or later. You can't just take the benefits without doing the work."

"Alright, I understand."

After washing up, Karen changed into a clean divine robe and walked to the courtyard gate, where he saw Pamir waiting for him in front of a carriage.

"Apologies for being late."

"You are far too polite, Mr. Karen. Please, step inside."

"Mm."

Once inside the carriage, Karen immediately reached out and opened the small drawer within. It was stocked with plenty of pastries, which were rarely eaten, but were replaced fresh every day.

Karen took out a plate and began to eat directly with his hands.

Seeing this, Pamir immediately poured a cup of tea for Karen.

"Thank you."

"Please take your time."

"Mm, I'm starved. I just woke up."

Only after finishing the plate of pastries did Karen feel his hunger slightly appeased. Just as he wanted to take out another plate, the carriage arrived.

The dinner was located in a private courtyard within the hotel. This courtyard was closed to the public and was currently reserved exclusively by the upper echelons of the Dark Moon clan to entertain the high-ranking officials of the two orthodox churches.

Alighting from the carriage, stepping up the stairs, and passing through the main entrance, Karen saw Ophelia, dressed in local attire, standing ahead waiting for him. In these clothes, she looked somewhat delightfully naive.

However, so many things had happened at home recently that she was visibly thinner than when he had first arrived.

"I disturbed your rest."

"No..."

Ophelia naturally reached out, taking Karen's arm, and called inside, "Father, Elders, Karen is here."

Seeing this, Karen did not pull his hand away.

In the hall stood a square table—not perfectly square, of course, but compared to the long rectangular tables of noble families, it appeared quite balanced.

Ophelia and Karen sat on one side, Patriarch Vina sat opposite, and Elder Chimal and Elder Romeu sat on either side.

Elder Chimal clearly bore injuries; though treated with magic, the bruising remained distinct and would require time to heal and recuperate.

Elder Romeu wore thick glasses, was not particularly tall, and maintained a constant, genial smile.

The dishes on the table were sumptuous, but what made Karen somewhat amused was that, seemingly out of a deliberate effort to show how much they valued him, a table of Wien cuisine had been prepared, complete with nearly ten large bowls of different sauces.

On Dark Moon Island, finding ten flavors of Wien soybean paste was by no means an easy feat.

After a brief opening statement, Patriarch Vina expressed his apologies to Karen. The meeting, which should have been arranged long ago, had to be postponed until now due to the recent string of events on the island.

Karen replied while picking at the dishes he could eat, not feeling the least bit nervous, responding with ease and propriety.

After all, having played the role of both their ancestor and their junior, after going through that entire sequence, he had long become composed.

Elder Chimal spoke with a degree of incoherence, feeling as though he had suffered a slight concussion from the time Dolons's head exploded.

Elder Romeu spoke mainly about the internal affairs of the Church of Order and Karen's future career path, his words carrying the intent of helping Karen map out his professional life, but Karen kept brushing him off without delving deeper; his career path was not something for the elder to worry about.

As for Patriarch Vina, he mostly chatted about local customs and culture, spanning from Wien to Dark Moon Island, and then to other countries on other continents. It was evident that Patriarch Vina had traveled to many places.

Ophelia sat mostly

"Your captain is truly good to you, I can tell."

"My captain is just like Elder Qimal today; before coming to Dark Moon Island, he met with an accident while executing a mission, injuring his brain."

"How pitiful."

"Indeed."

"He said that if I told you what he said to me, you would, in your desperation, falsely accuse him of having a brain condition to soothe the awkwardness."

"Fine, what else did the captain say?"

"He said there was once a lady named Elisa who, through her relentless pursuit, led him to choose acceptance. Before that, he had never even imagined he would fall in love with someone.

I could tell that when your captain mentioned Lady Elisa's name, his eyes were filled with nothing but doting affection.

They live together now, so they must be very happy, right?"

"Yes, they are."

...

"How does it feel?" Patriarch Vina asked, leaning back into his chair.

Elder Qimal: "She is a very poised young lady."

Elder Romieu stroked his hair and said, "Facing us, he was entirely too calm and at ease. According to the initial feedback Ophelia gave us about him, he shouldn't be capable of this. Therefore, he must have concealed some things about his past—though he doesn't seem worried that we might investigate, or perhaps he is certain we won't uncover anything."

Elder Qimal: "That shows independence, an ability to hold his ground. I like his boots."

Elder Romieu smiled and said, "But things are changing too fast. The Church of Order has suddenly stretched its hand into our very heartland, the command of the offshore fleet is to be stripped away, and our Ophelia is going to the Church of Order for training. Won't his role seem less important than before?"

Elder Qimal countered, "You can't look at it that way. Ophelia is Ophelia, Karen is Karen. Their positions within the Church of Samsara are completely different."

Elder Romieu said, "Qimal, you should have the physician look at your head again later. I don't think your injury has fully healed yet."

"There's something wrong with your backside."

Romieu: "..."

Patriarch Vina spoke up, "Elder Qimal is right. We cannot abandon Karen. Even if we do not consider the present, we must consider the future. Taafman also thinks highly of him, sensing he is extraordinary."

Elder Romieu nodded and said, "Very well, we shall proceed according to your wishes, Patriarch. I have no objections."

Elder Qimal said, "I have no grapes either."

After the two elders left, Patriarch Vina walked into the side hall, where Taafman had been sitting all along, sipping tea.

"You should have come out to meet him," Patriarch Vina said to his younger brother.

"I didn't want to see him," Taafman smiled. "I am more prone to jealousy than you, his biological father."

"The two factional elders of the Council have already agreed to my plan."

"They know less than we do. If information were fully shared, they would support funding Karen even more than we do."

"True. Sigh, perhaps it is because of this that when I faced him today, I actually felt a wave of pressure. He was clearly the junior meeting the elder tonight, yet I felt as if things were somewhat reversed."

"Ophelia going to the Church of Order means the next patriarch candidate is completely set. With the heir's position secured, your seat is thoroughly stabilized.

Coupled with the fact that command of the offshore fleet needs to be handed over to the Church of Order, I feel I will soon be able to lay down this burden."

"Must you leave?"

"Yes, I must."

"This is too sudden, Taafman."

"I have undergone a baptism; you should be happy for me."

"Happy that my brother is off to become a remnant of the Light?"

"Once I leave the island, I will conceal my identity. I will be a completely new version of myself, and I won't bring trouble to the island."

"You know that's not what I meant. I'm not used to losing you. Even though you've spent all these years on the fleet and rarely come ashore, I could always sense that my brother was right beside me, helping me."

"Brother, from now on, I want to live for myself."

"Very well, I respect your choice."

...

York City.

Pavarotti Funeral Home, master bedroom.

Kevin, who was sleeping on the carpet, had a dream. In the dream, a fellow lying in a coffin was screaming and roaring at him hysterically.

"Renedal, I curse you to a wretched death! I curse you to a wretched death!"

"Smack!"

Renedal used a dog paw to slap his own face.

Purr, who was lying on the bed flipping through a romance novel, turned her head to look at Kevin on the carpet and asked:

"What's wrong?"

"Woof."

"Oh, bitten by a mosquito."