Chapter 60: What a Powerful Feeling!

Chapter 60: What a Powerful Sensation!

Thud!

The corpse of the Chasse man was tossed into the rectangular pit inside the hearse. Alfred climbed down from the vehicle, shut the rear doors of the carriage, and pulled a stack of bills from his pocket, handing them to the Chasse woman who had just helped him cover his tracks and carry the body.

The woman was still holding the iron box she had broken open with great effort. The lubes inside were fewer than what was in Alfred’s hand.

Yet, the woman pushed Alfred's hand away.

She said:

"This is what I ought to do."

With that,

She leaned her back against the carriage door, turned her head, and asked:

"Do you have a cigarette?"

"Yes."

Alfred didn't actually smoke. However, when he first met Karen, the sight of the Great Existence leading him and Mrs. Molly in smoking and laughing had deeply struck him.

Therefore, he would always keep cigarettes on his person from then on, ready to hand one over whenever the Young Master's mouth felt idle.

If his image on a future mural showed him handing a cigarette to the Great Existence, he would be thoroughly satisfied. The believers beholding the mural would surely think he shared an exceptionally close relationship with the Great Existence.

The woman lit the cigarette, took a drag, and said:

"I made a wish to God, and God answered my prayer."

Alfred smiled and said:

"Perhaps it wasn’t God who heard it."

The woman shrugged and said:

"No matter who heard it, to me, they are a god-like existence, aren't they?"

"You make a very good point. But do you really not want this money? After all, your husband just died."

"You don't understand the Chasse people."

Leaving those words behind, the woman cradled the iron box and said as she walked away:

"It’s not that we actually love poverty, but we truly love wandering."

Watching her retreating figure, Alfred muttered to himself, "I used to think that way too."

But now...

"Having an official position is truly wonderful."

If he hadn't presented that identity certificate issued by Dis before that powerful existence of the Order of the Sacred Church, his best-case scenario right now would probably be choosing a suitable patch for a one-eyed man at the night market.

Alfred walked back from the parking lot toward the grand circus tent. By this time, there was no one checking tickets at the entrance; anyone who hadn't bought a ticket could walk right in without anyone minding. Because the performance was already half over, guests inside might come out to relieve themselves or catch a breath of air, making it impossible to check tickets anyway.

When he stepped inside,

It happened to be the moment Miss Mandila, the performer, raised her arms high and emerged from the water tank, driving the audience's enthusiasm to an absolute peak.

The central aisle was packed with people. Alfred had no choice but to push his way forward along the edge, intending to loop around the stage's apron toward the VIP section.

As he passed the edge of the stage, Alfred glanced at Miss Mandila inside the water tank with a hint of doubt. He felt this lady gave off a strange vibe.

However, he was currently hunching his back to avoid blocking the view of the people in the audience seats, and he had no time to stop and use his Succubus Eyes to inspect anything.

Nearing the VIP section, Alfred saw the Young Master burying his head in Miss Eunice's embrace.

Ah, as expected of the Great Existence, progress is so rapid.

In fact, leaving aside all other abnormal factors, Karen as a person already gave Alfred a distinct impression.

He was very steady, carrying himself with composure in all affairs; he was deeply rational, yet he never resisted his emotional side.

This state of mind usually appeared in open-minded elderly people, because they were close to death and could see true gains and losses more clearly.

Reaching the edge of the VIP section, just as Alfred was about to raise his hand to wave at the Young Master to indicate he had returned,

He saw the Young Master, whose face had been turned toward Miss Eunice, suddenly whip his face around to stare toward the water tank on the stage.

In the Young Master's eyes, there gleamed a piercing chill.

At the same time,

The Young Master's lips moved, uttering a phrase.

Alfred's public profession was a radio station host. He had always possessed a unique talent for languages, even studying them deeply; he even knew how to lip-read.

"Go... die?"

What did this mean?

It wasn't the Maclay language family used by Vienne, Rilan, and other nations.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted on the stage.

Alfred turned his head immediately toward the stage, just in time to see Miss Mandila, the performer, pulling the magician into the water tank.

The rest of the audience thought it was the second stage of the act and let out a resounding cheer.

But Alfred could tell from the details that something was wrong.

He immediately used one hand to cover his left eye, which instantly flushed red. Through the gaps between his fingers, he saw waves of black mist emanating from the dress-wearing female performer inside the water tank.

This was a... corpse!

Alfred looked back at his Young Master, the Young Master's previous movements and lip shapes resurfacing in his mind:

"Go... die?"

He still didn't know what those two syllables specifically meant, but he could feel that they must carry a specific target.

No,

It was that language,

The language of that holy hymn!

Alfred came to a sudden realization. The language the Young Master had just spoken was an evil god's curse!

At this moment, Alfred's heart was entirely filled with shock.

But immediately following,

A chill ran down his spine, bringing a wave of palpitations.

Thankfully,

Thankfully that old man had already left this place. If he were here right now, wouldn't he have sensed it too?

Although the other party definitely possessed his own means of perception—just as Alfred had used his Succubus Eyes earlier—Alfred knew that powerful existences of this caliber possessed a keen awareness far beyond what ordinary people could comprehend, even when they weren't intentionally searching.

"Ah..."

Alfred's knees felt a bit weak. He instinctively braced himself on Lent's shoulder before sitting down.

That was close.

It was a close shave,

thankfully, that old man had departed.

Had he stayed, would not the young master’s true identity have been laid bare to him?

No matter how supreme a being might be, upon their initial descent, they remained fragile and susceptible to all manner of misfortune; hence, the necessity of an entourage.

Whether the chosen retainers were suitable directly dictated whether that grand existence could safely navigate their nascent period of vulnerability.

Fortunately,

the young master’s discernment was impeccably precise—befitting a magnificent being—for he had selected an exceptionally outstanding squire: Lord Dis.

Yet even so...

Alfred leaned forward instinctively, casting his gaze in the direction of the young master;

peril, it seemed, was ever-present.

Upon the stage, circus hands emerged to wheel the water tank behind the curtains, leaving the audience somewhat bewildered—was this truly how the act concluded?

Before long, however, as several blazing hoops were brought onto the stage, the eyes and attention of the crowd were instantly drawn to them.

A new acrobatic routine commenced, and the performance forged ahead.

"Let us leave," Karen said to Eunice.

Mandira had already been a corpse, and now, the magician had joined him in death.

There was undoubtedly something amiss with this circus; its modus operandi transcended the realm of mere showmanship.

Yet Karen had no intention of unearthing its secrets just yet; though Alfred was present, truth be told, the squire could not afford him an absolute sense of security.

Furthermore, with Eunice and the four children, including Mina, alongside him, now was hardly the time for bravado.

His priority was to escort Eunice and the children safely home, report the matter to Dis, and leave the ensuing investigation and handling to him.

Only then would it be safe and secure;

as for the children's disappointment at missing the rest of the circus show—well, they would just have to bear that regret.

"Very well," Eunice nodded, assuming Karen was feeling unwell, and immediately turned to Mina beside her. "Mina, we are leaving for home now."

Though Mina wished to continue watching, she nodded sensibly and passed the word along to Chris and Sarah.

"Uncle Alfred, Brother says we are going home now."

"Right, very well." Alfred could not have wished more to leave this place. "Follow me, we shall bypass from the front and make our exit."

"Mmhmm."

With Alfred leading the way and the children following closely behind, Karen took Eunice by the hand as the group moved toward the stage before steering toward the far corner.

Just then, a large sphere suspended above—which they had assumed to be mere decoration—suddenly split open, showering down a flurry of paper slips thick as falling snow.

A voice boomed through the microphone:

"This is tonight's lucky draw! Anyone who catches a slip with a blue side can come straight to the stage to claim their prize: a giant, colorful lollipop!

First come, first served!"

In front of Alfred, several circus hands pushed forward a vending cart bristling with lollipops.

At that moment, the entire audience seemed to descend into a frantic search on the floor; after all, there were many children present, and while they searched, their parents aided them, while others joined in simply for good fortune or amusement.

Sarah, Lunt, and Chris were about to bend down to scrounge for the papers on the ground when Karen roared directly at them:

"Get up, we are leaving!"

The children had never seen their brother in such a fury; terrified to look at the paper slips any longer, they pressed forward behind Alfred.

The lollipop cart that threatened to block their path was violently kicked by Alfred, forced to a grinding halt; he held the line until the children passed, letting go only after the young master and Miss Eunice had cleared it, before rushing back to the vanguard.

"I found one!"

"I found one too!"

A throng of children, interspersed with quite a few adults, rushed toward the lollipop cart with their slips raised high.

Alfred used his elbows to deliberately shove away anyone rushing blindly toward them, completely indifferent to whether they fell, intent only on ensuring the group behind him was not splintered by the crowd.

With great effort, they finally broke free of the grand circus tent.

Karen began to take head count; all four children were accounted for.

"Back to the hearse first," Karen instructed.

Alfred immediately replied, "Young Master, please take my car to drive the ladies back; I shall drive the hearse."

Karen hesitated, cast a glance at Alfred, and then nodded.

Reaching the parking area, Karen opened the door to Alfred's Sunderland, gesturing for the children to take the back seat; fortunately, none of the four were heavy, and they managed to squeeze inside.

After closing the door, Eunice smiled at Karen as she took the passenger seat, though she remarked, "I know how to drive as well."

"It is fine, I can manage."

Karen opened the driver's side door but did not enter immediately; instead, he looked back at Alfred standing by the hearse, who was likewise looking his way. Nodding to Alfred, Karen cast one final glance at the massive circus tent before slipping into the car and starting the engine.

The vehicle soon took to the road; because Karen’s expression had been grim since their exit, none of the four children in the back dared chatter, and before long, Lunt and Chris had even drifted off to sleep.

Eunice sat quietly beside Karen, occasionally looking at him whenever he checked the rearview mirror.

Perhaps eager to return home early, or perhaps because the lingering dread of the circus encounter was still exerting its influence despite his present clarity, Karen abandoned his usual steady driving style and sped along.

Upon entering the city proper, since Mine Street was closer, Karen steered there first. He had intended to escort Sarah to her doorstep personally, but tonight Rott seemed to have kept his shoe-repair stall open late, waiting for his daughter's return.

"I am so sorry, Mr. Karen, Sarah must have caused you trouble again today."

"Not at all, Sarah was very well-behaved. I shall be on my way."

"Safe travels on your way back."

Next,

though Rhine Street was closer than Mink Street, Karen drove to Mink Street first. Mina stepped out of the car with her younger siblings, and the three of them bade farewell to Eunice in unison:

"Goodbye, Teacher."

"Goodnight, Teacher."

"Rest well, you all, as well."

Lunt yawned, murmuring groggily, "Teacher, Brother, you should rest early too."

Eunice heard him but remained silent, settling back into her seat.

Karen started the engine once more to take Eunice home; perhaps because the children were now safely back, his tense emotions finally began to ease.

"I am terribly sorry that you were unable to see the rest of the performance."

Karen would not apologize for his behavior during the show; for one, his mind had been entirely compromised at the time, and for another, what would be the purpose of such an apology? A promise never to repeat it?

Since she had raised no objections, dwelling on it would only seem tedious.

"No, it is quite alright. Your health matters far more."

"It was not a matter of health, but rather that I fell into the water when I was a child. That experience left me with an immense psychological shadow, so when I witnessed that act, my emotions simply spiraled out of control."

Cullen preferred for Eunice to believe his mind was unhinged rather than suspect his body was failing him.

"So that is how it is, I understand now," Eunice said, turning to him with a smile. "I had a wonderful time today, Cullen."

"As did I."

Cullen felt the words hollow in his throat; while others went to the circus for a mere show, he had been subjected to a vivid, panoramic ordeal.

After seeing Eunice to her door, Cullen offered her a brief embrace, as was their custom, and watched her step inside before returning to his car; driving down Rhine Street, he passed the Piaget house, its windows dark, and the adjacent home of Mrs. Seymour was equally steeped in shadow.

Cullen drove home and ascended the stairs, where from the second floor he could hear Lunt and Chris chattering vivaciously about the afternoon barbecue and the evening’s circus spectacles; Aunt Mary and Aunt Winnie sat with them, and upon seeing Cullen arrive, Aunt Mary rose at once to speak.

"Cullen, have a little supper."

"Thank you, Auntie, but I am not hungry; I think I will go speak with Grandfather for a moment."

"Your grandfather has gone out; Alfred returned just a while ago, sought him upstairs, and then the two of them departed together."

"Ah, I see. Very well, then; I shall just take a bath and rest, as the driving has left me rather tired today."

"Go on, then; I have already laid out your clothes for you."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Cullen climbed to the third floor and slipped into the bathroom to wash away the day.

The sensation of the hot water cascading over his skin brought a profound comfort.

Yet when the bath was finished and he stepped in his nightshirt from the steam-warmed room, the sudden drop in temperature struck him sharply; as the chill took hold, the vision of being trapped within the water tank flashed before his eyes once more, and that suffocating despair gripped his heart anew.

Cullen was forced to steady himself against the wall with his hand, and only after a long pause did he draw a deep breath and retreat to his bedroom; tonight, breaking his usual routine of reading at his desk, he crawled directly beneath the covers.

Pressing the edges of the blanket tight around his neck, ensuring no gap remained, he felt cocooned within the fabric like a silkworm in its chrysalis.

His eyelids grew progressively heavier, and Cullen drifted into sleep.

...

At half past seven in the morning, Cullen woke precisely on time, and seeing the sunlight already streaming through the window, he felt his vitality finally restored.

He went down to the second floor and began to eat the breakfast his aunt had prepared.

"Has Grandfather eaten?" Cullen inquired.

"Today is Sunday, so your grandfather left for the church quite early."

Cullen nodded slightly; last night Diss and Alfred must have gone to the circus grounds, meaning the matter was likely settled or no longer posed a threat, otherwise his grandfather would never have gone to church this morning;

after all, Diss held very little reverence for the deity enshrined within those walls.

"And my uncle?" Cullen asked.

Ordinarily, his uncle would have joined him for breakfast at this hour.

"A welfare contract was called in to us; your uncle and Ron went to fetch them, and Alfred came back so late with your grandfather last night that he could not make it this morning."

"Ah, I see."

Cullen finished his breakfast and descended to the courtyard on the ground floor, where the large golden retriever came bounding over to nudge affectionately against his trousers.

Just then, the hearse pulled up to the front of the house.

Ron opened the rear doors of the vehicle and began to slide the "guests" down onto a stretcher.

Cullen stepped forward to assist, expertly taking hold of the frame to stabilize it from below.

"Do you have it secure, Master?"

"I have it."

"Good, down we go."

The stretcher, along with the corpse resting upon it, was lowered smoothly to the ground.

"There is one more, Master; please wait a moment while I bring it out," Ron called from inside the hearse, bending over to lift the second body from its alcove.

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind swept through, and the white shroud covering the corpse slipped away with the motion; Cullen found himself looking down into a familiar face:

Mandela!

Cullen had not anticipated in the slightest that he would encounter Mandela's corpse at his own doorstep, and all at once, the suffocating images of despair he had fought so hard to banish the previous night rushed back, forcing him to press a hand to his brow as his footing faltered.

Abruptly, a hand shot out from the corpse lying upon the stretcher, grasping Cullen by the wrist to steady his balance.

Cullen looked down,

and watched as the hand that had just supported him retreated back to its place.

"Master, here is the second one, sorry to trouble you to take it," Ron called out from the vehicle.

"Right, I am ready," Cullen managed to reply.

Then, an even more startling sight unfolded: Mandela, her eyes remaining tightly closed, sat bolt upright on the stretcher, reaching her hands backward to grip the two wheels of the frame Ron was pushing forward.

Perched inside the hearse, his view obstructed by the stretcher and the corpse, and further limited by the height of the vehicle, Ron could not see what was happening below; instead, he called out in pleasant surprise:

"My word, Master, you have a wonderfully steady grip this time; it feels remarkably strong!"