Chapter 448: Love Field Wanderer Richard

Chapter 448 Richard the Playful Libertine

Cullen sat before the waterbed, peeling a tangerine.

The honey tangerines, a specialty of the Meepos Islands, offered a sweet juice upon the first bite, like honey mixed with the texture of pulled-sugar sweet potatoes.

Most importantly, it cloyed not.

Sweetness brought joy to the human heart, and if it grew not wearisome, none could refuse its beauty.

Cullen peeled and consumed three in succession, then raised a handkerchief nearby to meticulously wipe his hands.

"I thought you would peel one for me to taste as well."

Seeing Cullen already wiping his hands, Neo, who lay within the waterbed, could not help but speak up to remind him.

"The nutrient solution in the waterbed is abundant and rich in various trace elements, quite sufficient to satisfy your needs."

"Is eating merely to absorb nutrients for survival? If so, life would be far too tedious."

Cullen reached out and gently tapped his own chest, inquiring, "Then making a hole here was also for the sake of life?"

"Do you know how agonizing it is to be in debt? Besides, I must absolutely redeem that car of mine."

"You succeeded, congratulations, Commander Neo. You possess your beloved vehicle once more."

"That car involved not just the assembly fees for parts and arrays, but also cost me many personal favors. For the same amount of coupons, it would be impossible for me to assemble another. I still plan to use it for many endeavors; driving it allows direct entry through many checkpoints. It is the guarantee of the brilliance of my future life."

"There are many ways to earn coupons. Earning them slowly will eventually clear the debt; it was not absolutely necessary to resort to this."

"That is because you lack the bloodline of a Bloodthirsty Heteromorphic Demon. Once you possess it and inadvertently raise its rank higher and higher, plunging a knife into your chest to open a hole feels little different from cutting a fingernail until it bleeds."

Cullen shook his head helplessly, wondering what to say: this squadron leader was truly reliable, risking his very life to repay a debt?

Fortunately, that worm had been given to Richard rather than the commander; had it been given to him, he would likely pull out his own intestines to play cat's cradle whenever he grew bored.

"I truly fear that one day, you will take the game too far and completely destroy yourself."

"You are to blame for this, Cullen."

"Blame me?"

"Originally, I possessed a shred of fear. Ever since I learned you could resurrect a corpse, my final misgiving vanished."

"The one resurrected would not be you."

"Then is the current me truly myself?"

"Heh."

"Cullen, I know you care for me. Rest assured, I shall slow down slightly hereafter. I wish to enjoy the relaxed aftermath of clearing my debt for a while longer."

"As long as it pleases you."

Just then, Mota stepped inside. Beholding Neo lying in the waterbed, he smiled and said, "It appears our Commander Neo is recovering splendidly."

Neo was surrounded by liquid, his entire being floating upon it:

"No, Mr. Mota, my condition is quite poor. To tell you the truth, I am at risk of my blood demon lineage collapsing and ending my life at any moment. Therefore, I wonder if we might append another ten percent to the previously agreed price as my funeral allowance?"

Though he had known Neo but a short while, Mota had been driven nearly mad by Neo's antics, yet he had grown familiar with him because of it.

Thus, the seemingly stern and upright, barefoot, bald youth responded:

"Should Commander Neo meet with misfortune, I suggest you experience the Moonlight Funeral of our Luna Cult. It is exceedingly beautiful and dreamlike, sure to satisfy you. Naturally, the expenses shall be borne by me personally."

Neo sighed with emotion, "Oh, Mota, you are truly a good friend of mine. I believe a friend whose relationship is insufficient would never utter words wishing to pay for your funeral."

"But of course, to pay for your funeral, Commander Neo, is my honor."

"Yet I am sorry, for my body shall belong to Order."

"Yes, certainly. I also believe a man as exceptional as Commander Neo is qualified to enter the First Knight Order. I know a few friends from the Cult of Order, all of whom deem it an honor to enter the First Knight Order after death."

"I shall attain the glory within their glory."

Mota looked toward Cullen, gestured to the waterbed, and inquired, "I suggest once more that you add some fresh blood to Commander Neo's nutrient waterbed. I trust this would greatly assist in stimulating the capabilities of the Bloodthirsty Heteromorphic Demon bloodline to enhance Commander Neo's resilience."

Cullen shook his head, "Apologies, my commander requires no such thing."

Neo replied, "Apologies, my current guardian possesses a fastidious obsession with cleanliness."

"Captain Cullen, might I speak with you in private?"

Neo spoke up, "Must you avoid me?"

"No, it is merely my hope that you rest well. What I intend to discuss with Captain Cullen next is that application you submitted to observe the war. There are certain precautions and special requirements that need to be communicated with Captain Cullen."

"Can I not listen along?"

"Your current physical condition temporarily forbids you from venturing out. I fear that upon hearing it, your heart will itch all the more. This is for your own good."

"Oh, true enough. Confound it, you should not have mentioned this to me; my heart is already itching now!"

Cullen stood up and said to Mota, "Shall we step outside then?"

"Very well, Mr. Cullen."

Behind them, Neo, lying in the waterbed, called out, "Cullen, forget not to settle the accounts! Every single item aside from the observation must be charged in coupons!"

Cullen and Mota exchanged a smile and continued walking out.

Arriving outside, they walked to the balcony.

"Please, sit."

"Very well."

Cullen and Mota sat upon the chairs together. Alfred approached to offer tea, whereupon Alfred produced a small ledger and drew a fountain pen, preparing to record.

Beholding this sight, Mota inquired curiously, "Pray, what are you recording?"

Alfred smiled and said, "Keeping accounts."

Mota let out a bitter smile, saying helplessly to Cullen, "In truth, Mr. Cullen, I genuinely do not believe you all came truly for the coupons."

Neo had originally disclosed everything to Mota without reservation.

Mota had originally believed it, and the high-ranking officials of the Luna Cult had believed it too, but upon witnessing Parson's attitude, they grew uncertain.

Then, all the previous arrangements gathered together, causing their thoughts to drift in another direction.

The quality and background of this squad's members were terrifyingly high; this was by no means an adventure to earn coupons, but clearly a journey to gain prestige!

Furthermore, that Neo was advanced in years, clearly chosen as a steady hand to lead this prestigious squad, whereas the true leader of prestige, the prince of this prestigious squad, must surely be this Captain Cullen beneath Neo!

Mota had even gone to the intelligence department the previous night to obtain Cullen's dossier, which revealed an unexceptional family background.

Yet on his personal curriculum vitae, a child from an orphanage had suppressed the scions of other families to become the leader, coupled with that "physical examination report" which showed an all-encompassing, crushing excellence at the soul level.

This Captain Cullen's family background must surely be the grandest of all, as could be seen from the deferential attitude of his squad members toward him.

Cullen knew not what this Mr. Mota was thinking, though even if he did, he could not say the man was mistaken.

"It is thus, Mr. Cullen: we anticipate launching an offensive against the Samsara Cult in the Wenros Islands the day after tomorrow."

Cullen spoke up, "Apologies, is this something I am permitted to know?"

"Naturally, there is no issue, for judging by the war preparations and the grand spectacle of departure, it is impossible to conceal it from the spies that inevitably exist."

"Very well, please proceed."

"The Samsara holy site on the Wenluosi Islands is the crucial point we must contest in the initial phase of this war. By seizing it, we will open the gateway to advance toward the Samsara Valley itself.

The Grand Sea of the Deceased, where the Samsara Valley lies, is right before us."

Karen felt a slight headache coming on. He could read ritual manuals rapidly, but he possessed no real understanding of warfare, and the nature of a divine war was completely mismatched with his understanding of conflict from his past life.

Still, he did not inquire into the details; after all, he was merely there to observe, which was to say, he was just a spectator.

"Upon our departure, the observation group will be stationed on the flagship by our arrangement. It is the safest place and offers the best vantage point for observation. What do you think?"

Karen fell silent.

"Do you worry that the flagship will become the primary focus of a Samsara strike? Please rest assured, the current Church of Samsara no longer possesses the strength required for such large-scale, symmetrical warfare."

Karen looked at Mota. Originally, he had only been a little worried, but hearing Mota speak this way, his anxiety deepened.

"Let us change the location."

"That is fine, Captain Karen. Shall we arrange for you to be on the escort ship right next to the flagship, then?"

"Very well."

"Excellent, then that matter is settled. The next order of business is that we will arrange another squad to provide close personal protection for you. Please do not refuse; as you know, your safety is of paramount importance to us."

"I agree. Is there anything else?"

"There is one more thing, which is also the final point: we require a guarantee from you."

"A guarantee from me?"

"Yes, this is a specific request raised by Lord Gelinga, the commander-in-chief of our Mipos front lines for this expedition. He hopes that before you board the vessel, you can swear an oath to the war banner in his presence to comply with his deployments during the coming campaign.

Lord Gelinga will properly arrange for and protect you, but he does not wish for any force, or indeed any single person within the army he commands, to exist outside his chain of command.

We have already tried to dissuade him, but the commander was unyielding in this requirement. I am very sorry."

"There is no need to apologize. I can understand; it is only proper. I agree to do so."

"Then all is well. There is still over a day left before the commencement of hostilities; you may take your team members to enjoy a good stroll around here. The Mipos Archipelago is a place of beautiful scenery and honest, simple folk."

Karen cast his gaze downward from where they stood.

Mota followed Karen's gaze and smiled. "Even with war looming on the horizon, this place remains so bustling and lively."

Indeed, war was about to erupt, yet there was still the mood for such bustling liveliness.

Subconsciously, Karen recalled the memory of when he and Neo had secretly watched the Knights of Order depart for war; that kind of chilling aura and absolute silence stood as a polar opposite to the atmosphere on the main island right now.

Even if Karen knew nothing of military affairs, he could easily discern which side was truly professional.

But these words were not fitting for him to voice, nor was there any need for him to do so.

No matter what, at worst the offensive would be frustrated; it was impossible for them to be defeated by the current Samsara again...

Karen took a deep breath, interrupting his wandering thoughts. Why was he jinxing himself?

"I, along with the squad responsible for your security, will accompany you throughout."

"Very well. Thank you."

"You are most welcome. It is quite pleasant interacting with you. Furthermore, it might not be long—likely after this war concludes—before I head to York City for an exchange and training program."

"When you arrive in Wien, remember to contact me. I will treat you to a meal."

"I greatly look forward to Wien's delicacies."

"Oh, then please believe me: you will absolutely be disappointed."

Mota scratched his head and laughed. "I have only ever heard that every Wien native loves to have their country's cuisine praised."

"That is because they have had their eyes shrouded by the dark night, leaving them unable to see the moonlight."

"Hahaha, you truly are an amusing person, Captain Karen."

"Let it be so, then. I shall return to my room to rest a while."

"Very well, Captain Karen. Please suit yourself."

After Karen departed, Mota also prepared to rise and leave, but he was blocked by Alfred.

"Mr. Mota, let us calculate the project expenses for swearing an oath to the war banner."

"Sir, you seem to have mistaken the matter. This does not count as a project; it is the stubbornness of our commander, and everything is for the sake of the observation group being able to go to the front lines to watch the battle. How can it be counted as an expense?

Besides, you were the ones who applied to observe the battle, and we are doing our utmost to satisfy your request."

"Well then, we simply will not go to observe the battle. I think it is best to stay far away from such a dangerous place."

Mota said, "Can you make decisions on behalf of Captain Karen?"

"Apologies, I do not possess the qualifications to make decisions for my young master, but I can fan the flames to make him give up."

"But your captain... your young master already agreed to it and has already left."

"That is because the young master did not wish to talk about vouchers with you, fearing it might hurt your feelings."

Mota: "..."

...

Returning to his bedroom, Karen saw Puer enjoying afternoon tea.

"Little Karen, the hospitality of the God of the Moon Church is truly luxurious; these fruits and pastries are all very expensive."

"It is decent enough. It is just that you have never been a distinguished guest; the standards of hospitality for distinguished guests in the Church of Order are also very high."

"Oh, heavens, why must you hurt both of us with a single sentence? Saying I have never been a distinguished guest while implying that you can only serve them."

"Heh."

"Speaking of which, did you grow disgusted with that life of serving distinguished guests, which is why you wanted to take this gamble?"

"I am not that shallow. I simply realized that if my status is not high enough, I might die without ever knowing why."

"Then what if your status is elevated after you return this time?"

"At least I will be able to die with a clear understanding."

"Oh, what a thoroughly grounded answer."

Karen reached out to stroke Kevin's bald head as the dog approached,

and asked:

"Do you want to go out for a stroll?"

"We do, but weren't we afraid of disturbing you? Don't you have any other projects?"

"None. It looks as though Neo's single arrow shot away all the projects."

"Come, let's go." Puer leapt directly onto Karen's shoulder, while Kevin fetched his own leash in his mouth and delivered it into Karen's hand.

"By the way, Karen, although we won the gamble this time, is it possible we might be marginalized or liquidated upon our return?" Puer asked with concern. "If I were a leader, I wouldn't like a subordinate who takes matters into their own hands without permission."

"But do you know that sometimes, as a leader, no matter how displeasing you find a subordinate, you still have to hold your nose and firmly protect him?"

"I wouldn't know. When I couldn't stand Bernard, I threw him onto an island to fend for himself, but he failed to die, alas."

"So, you have become a cat."

"Oh, ho, ho, ho! That is a cat-astrophic personal attack!"

"In any case, unless Verden falls from grace one day or I break free from the Whip of Order, no one will use this matter to target me."

"Well, that sets my mind at ease. Come, let us go out and enjoy ourselves."

Outside the door, carriages stood ready at a moment's notice; Karen requested one, and as it departed the palace, a squad of guards followed in its wake.

Karen did not feel that having protection would spoil his leisure; he was content to sit within the carriage, cradling Pu'er while observing the local customs and scenery, occasionally instructing the driver to halt so he might purchase snacks and trinkets.

"My, is that not a carriage identical to ours?" Pu'er inquired.

"It appears so. Master driver, is that a carriage from our own party?"

"Yes, milord. It should be the carriage taken by one of the lords who went out to clear their mind before you."

"What sort of establishment is before that carriage?"

The driver replied, "Answering milord, it is a massage parlor."

Pu'er curled her lip and said, "It sounds disreputable at first mention, and at second mention, the person sitting in that front carriage most certainly includes Richard."

Karen hesitated for a moment; regardless of whether it was Richard or not, he had no intention of disturbing anyone at this juncture.

Yet precisely at that moment, the guards beside the original carriage rushed into the massage parlor in extreme agitation.

"Has something happened?" Karen immediately leapt down from the carriage, cradling Pu'er.

Pu'er remarked helplessly, "This Richard really is beyond help, managing to face an assassination even while patronizing a brothel."

The guards protecting Karen's side went to investigate the situation and quickly returned, bringing someone to report:

"Milord, it is that subordinate of yours. He has been poisoned."

"Poisoned?"

Subsequently, Karen saw Memphis walking out of the massage parlor, carrying Richard in his arms.

Pu'er immediately changed her tune, saying, "Oh, then this must certainly be a reputable massage parlor."

For she too did not believe that Memphis would visit an disreputable establishment alongside Richard.

"Captain." Memphis also spotted Karen and came running over while carrying Richard.

"What happened?" Karen inquired.

"It is like this. Inside, there is a massage treatment called insect therapy, utilizing a species of insect resembling silkworms; they are harmless, do not bite, and possess a gentle disposition. When one is enveloped by them, it effectively dispels fatigue. Richard wished to experience it, so I accompanied him. It was fine at the beginning, but before long, those insects, which were originally quite docile, suddenly became agitated. They all crowded and squeezed onto his body. I managed to pull him out with great difficulty, only to find he had been poisoned. The staff at the parlor said they have never encountered such a situation, and I have told them to summon a church doctor."

"Poisoned by massage insects?" Pu'er asked skeptically. "I used to quite enjoy experiencing that insect massage in the past; they are very safe."

Having spoken, Pu'er leapt from Karen's embrace onto Richard, turning over his collar with her paws, only to discover a vast expanse of red rashes breaking out across Richard's skin.

"Oh, heavens, how repulsive. My feline trypophobia is acting up."

Pu'er immediately leapt down from Richard's body, a layer of sparks rippling across her form upon landing as she shook herself out, before climbing back onto Karen's shoulder.

"Richard has not been poisoned."

Karen asked, "If it is not poisoning, then what is it?"

"It is that he drove those harmless insects into a mating frenzy, and they have all laid their eggs upon his body."