Chapter 68: Evil God, a Gift?

Chapter 68: Evil God, or Gift?

Entering the living room,

Closing the umbrella,

Buckling it shut,

Then grasping the handle and snapping it backward three times:

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

The grandfather and grandson moved in perfect, seamless unison.

Diss walked up the stairs. Behind him, Karen's lips parted slightly, but he didn't lose his grip, simply watching as Diss ascended.

"Meow..."

Purr’s voice drifted over from the living room sofa.

Karen walked over and sat down, standardly lifting Purr onto his lap with effortless familiarity.

"Let me ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Alfred mentioned that he once fought Diss to a draw. Of course, he claimed Diss only used spells beneath the level of an Inquisitor."

"Oh, that's perfectly normal. It just means Diss had no intention of playing that radio spirit to death from the very beginning."

"So, is it possible that while Diss was holding back his strength just to play along with Alfred, he somehow managed to get himself injured? For instance, a severe wound on his arm."

Purr widened her eyes, staring intently at Karen.

"What is it?"

"Karen, if you were playing with an ant, would you accidentally let its mandibles rip a massive gash across your arm? Or rather, even if that ant actually managed to tear open a huge wound on your arm, would you be magnanimous enough to spare it instead of just crushing it beneath your heel?"

"I understand."

"Why would you ask such a bizarre question anyway? When Diss fought that radio spirit, he probably had to control his strength with absolute precision, meow, meow, meow, terrified he might accidentally crush him to pieces."

Karen leaned back, resting his weight against the sofa.

Therefore, that day when they returned in the hearse from the hospital where Mr. Hoffen was staying, the burnt skin on the arm that he had helped Diss treat was not caused by Alfred at all.

Previously, Karen had always assumed Diss's injury that time was related to Alfred.

The reason it felt wrong now was because, since he had realized today that Diss's murderous intent at the doorstep back then wasn't directed at him, could his other prior assumptions also be false?

Just like his evolving understanding of Diss, along with Alfred’s continuously shifting attitude toward him—especially after that night’s visit to Mr. Morf’s house, where Alfred’s demeanor toward Diss transformed entirely into one of absolute humility.

The longer they spent together and the more he learned, the more he could perceive the sheer magnitude of Diss’s power.

Therefore...

An image surfaced in Karen's mind of that day when he and Mina had been standing by the third-floor window, and Diss had entered the bedroom, changed his clothes, and walked out the door carrying a briefcase.

That time, Diss hadn't gone to 128 Mink Street to look for Ms. Molly and Alfred.

Then who exactly had Diss gone to see, whom did he fight, and who on earth possessed the capability to actually injure Diss?

"Karen, come up here for a moment." Aunt Mary stood on the second floor, gesturing to him.

"Alright, Auntie."

Karen walked up to the second floor, and his aunt continued upward, leading the way to the third floor.

Generally speaking, when the family discussed business, they always did so in the second-floor dining room and rarely went to the third floor, because that was where Diss’s study and bedroom were located.

Normally, even the most restless one, Lunt, would deliberately tread lightly when walking on the third floor.

"We’ve been waiting for you to come up." Uncle Mason stood at the doorway of Grandfather's study, the door left wide open.

Karen walked inside. Diss sat behind the desk, holding a teacup and sipping his tea.

Aunt Winnie stood beside the desk holding a stack of documents, while Uncle Mason and Aunt Mary stood at Karen’s sides.

"Come look at this, this is the arrangement your uncle and the others have made," Diss said to Karen.

"Alright."

Karen walked over, and Uncle Mason placed both hands on his shoulders. "Come, sit down and take your time looking it over."

"Oh, okay."

Karen sat down. First, placed before him was a bankbook, and the figure written upon it was one hundred thousand Reals.

The Real was the currency of Vien, circulating not only within Vien itself and its colonies, but also holding a status higher than native currencies in the eyes of citizens from many other nations.

The exchange rate between the Real and the Lu coin was roughly one hundred Reals to one hundred and fifty Lu coins. Because Ruilan was something of a client state to Vien, its finances were almost completely tied to Vien. Although it had lost most of its monetary autonomy because of this, the gap between the official and black market exchange rates for the Lu coin and the Real within Ruilan was remarkably minuscule.

Consequently, this bankbook from the National Bank of Vien already held deposits equivalent to one hundred and fifty thousand Lu coins.

"This is the agreement and contract," Aunt Winnie said, sliding the underlying documents forward for Karen to see. "We applied for a loan from the bank in the name of the Inmemoriam Funeral Home, and the procedures have already been finalized. Next, once you arrive in Vien and choose the house you want, you can contact the local personnel at the National Bank of Vien to process the loan. The maximum loan limit can reach three million Lu coins, which means when you look for a house there, it's best if the property price and various processing fees don't exceed two million Reals in total."

Aunt Mary added, "Yes, the one hundred thousand Reals in this bankbook is money for you to keep on hand. Don't factor it into the house, and definitely don't spend it on that. This is prepared for your emergencies. As for the loan, we will be responsible for paying it back from here, and your monthly share of the family business profits will be deposited into this card every month. The only issue is that the registered owner of the house you buy will still be the Inmemoriam Funeral Home. We will have to wait until we finish paying off the mortgage before we can change it to your name, Karen."

Karen finally understood. It turned out his uncles and aunts had been discussing buying a house for him in Vien.

In truth, Karen knew that because of recent major expenses like acquiring the crematorium and purchasing the new hearse, there was definitely not much money left in the public account, and his uncle, aunt, and Winnie had invested quite a bit of their own money into it as well.

Therefore, this loan of three million Lu coins was undoubtedly secured by using the funeral home... or perhaps even using this very Inmemoriam family villa beneath their feet as collateral.

"Thank you, Uncle, Auntie, and Aunt Winnie, but I don't think I—"

"Just consider it investing in property in Vien under the family's name. It would only sit empty anyway, so you might as well live there first," Uncle Mason said.

At that moment, Diss also set down his teacup,

Answering with a brief:

"Mm, let it be so."

Since Grandfather had spoken, Karen stopped politely refusing. He was just about to stand up to thank his elders when Uncle Mason pressed down on his shoulders once more.

"We're family, don't be a stranger."

Aunt Mary also smiled and said, "Mina and Chris both have excellent academic records, and they will probably test into universities in Vien in the future. When the time comes, they can stay there too. Having our own house is always more convenient than renting one."

"Alright, keep the bankbook and the contract documents safe." Aunt Winnie placed them inside a leather bag and handed it to Karen.

"Alright, I understand."

"Since everything has been settled, go down and get some rest. I still have a few words for Karen," Dis said.

The uncle, aunt, and aunt-in-law all departed from the study, drawing the door shut behind them.

"I am not the least bit worried about your ability to adapt."

"Please rest assured, Grandfather. No matter where I am, I will ensure my life is full of sunshine," Karen replied.

"Very good." Dis smiled faintly. "I originally had little to say, yet your mention of 'sunshine' has completely exhausted the advice I had prepared."

"You may still speak, Grandfather. I like listening to you."

"No more."

"Grandfather, there is something..."

Dis raised his head, casting a glance at Karen, and inquired:

"What is it?"

"Grandfather, that day when we took the hearse back from the hospital where Mr. Hoffen was, just as we arrived at our doorstep, was there something behind us?"

True to the Inmmers family tradition, doubts were strictly forbidden from outlasting the night.

Dis's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Karen.

"Is it someone from the Church of Order? Sent by the Temple of Order?" Karen guessed.

Dis shook his head and said, "Not them."

"Then it is..."

"I have no desire to hide things from you, but in this matter, I believe knowing would be of no use to you, and not knowing is actually better. Thus, this time is an exception; I do not intend to tell you.

Though it is somewhat troublesome, I can handle it. This is my promise."

"Troublesome?" Karen rubbed his fingers against his leather bag a few times, venturing to probe further, "More troublesome than the Church of Order?"

"In truth, the Church of Order, including the Temple of Order, is not the trouble," Dis said. "By comparison, your grandfather—me—is actually the head-splitting trouble they are currently facing."

"Then what about this thing?"

"I still do not intend to tell you, but its trouble will come to an end."

"In... two days?"

"Yes, in two days, all troubles will be brought to an end, and everything will be set straight. When you go to Wien, you can stand upon the deck of the cruise liner's business class cabin with Miss Eulice, sipping wine while admiring the ocean scenery.

I will not allow my grandson to embark on a journey in a state of panic, resembling a refugee in flight."

"Can you really... not tell me, Grandfather?"

"You have asked a third time, and this is also my third answer: I do not intend to tell you."

"Very well, Grandfather."

Karen stood up with his leather bag, preparing to return to his bedroom.

Dis spoke: "Sit down."

"Hmm?"

Karen seated himself once more.

From beneath the desk, Dis produced a candle. Its holder was a black, cubic block. Striking a match, Dis brought the flame over and lit the candle, which burned with a normal, orange-yellow glow.

"Sit right here and watch it. Once it has burned out, you may leave."

"Very well, Grandfather."

Though he knew not why, since it was Dis's request, he would comply.

Dis stood up and walked out of the study.

"Click."

The very moment the door closed, Karen saw the orange-yellow candlelight before him turn blue.

The atmosphere within the study instantly became... somewhat oppressive.

Gradually,

Karen perceived that two pairs of eyes, seemingly from some unknown corner of this very study, were fixed upon him, sizing him up.

Involuntarily swallowing his saliva, Karen straightened his back even further. Choosing not to look around, he continued to stare intently at the blue candlelight before him.

...

After exiting the study, Dis went straight down the stairs to the ground floor. In a corner, a large Golden Retriever lay sleeping.

Hearing the footsteps descending the stairs, the Golden Retriever opened its eyes, stole a glance, and closed them again.

Dis walked up to the Golden Retriever and picked up its leash. The dog climbed to its feet, shaking its body twice, appearing somewhat bewildered and perplexed. Yet, instinctively daring not to resist Dis, it allowed itself to be led out of the living room and out of the yard.

The rain was still falling;

But standing by the gate was an exquisite gentleman dressed in a wine-red suit, who held out an umbrella over Dis the moment he stepped outside.

The umbrella was intentionally kept small, or rather, just right, for it could completely shelter Dis while inevitably leaving half of his own shoulder drenched.

At the entrance, a limited-edition Sunderland was parked.

Escorting Dis outside the courtyard gate, Alfred opened the car door. Once Dis had stepped inside, he collapsed his umbrella and climbed into the driver's seat.

"Oak Cemetery in the East District."

"Very well, Master."

Alfred started the vehicle.

Before long,

They arrived at Oak Cemetery.

This cemetery shared a cooperative agreement with the Inmmers family. Essentially, any guest handled by the Inmmers family who opted for burial would be laid to rest here.

At the cemetery gates, Alfred alighted first, raising the umbrella before opening the door for Dis.

As Dis stepped out of the car, Alfred handed the umbrella over to him.

"Let us walk in together," Dis said.

"Is that appropriate, Master?"

"In a few days, I need you to tell him everything you see and hear tonight."

"Very well, Master."

"Having you drive here tonight behind his back has already made things difficult for you. And I, as his grandfather, am not entirely pleased when you do things behind his back, even if you are doing them for me.

However, just say it was my doing, and he will understand. So long as you do not make this a precedent, it will not affect your future placement on the murals."

"..." Alfred.

Is my desire to be placed on the murals truly that obvious?

Dis walked into the cemetery, with Alfred following beneath the umbrella.

Ultimately,

Diss stopped his steps in front of Mr. Hoffen’s tombstone.

Alfred glanced at the tombstone with some doubt—on this rainy, deep night, was the master missing his deceased old friend?

Diss waved his hand backward.

Understanding the gesture, Alfred held the umbrella and retreated a few steps.

And as Diss lost the protection of the umbrella, the rain did not fall on him, but instead bypassed him.

At this moment,

Black lines expanded outward from beneath Diss’s feet, and then, collectively vanished beneath Mr. Hoffen’s tombstone.

"In the name of Order—I grant you awakening!"

Standing behind him, Alfred witnessed this scene, yet he did not feel the slightest surprise, only finding it somewhat amusing.

When other families missed departed friends, they could only look at old objects to remember the person, but his own master could actually call his friend up.

From the dirt beneath the tombstone came a sound of shattering, and immediately the soil began to loosen, then bulged, and after bulging to a certain point, it began to rupture, sliding down under the washing of the rain.

Mr. Hoffen’s head was already exposed above the ground; he first looked around, especially noticing that his face was covered in mud everywhere, and could not help but complain greatly:

"Diss, couldn't you wake me up on a clear night?"

Alfred dropped the umbrella, stepped forward on his own initiative, and dug Mr. Hoffen out of the dirt.

Mr. Hoffen began to activate his body:

"After dying, this body really has no way to move naturally, so stiff, and so unfamiliar."

Saying this,

Mr. Hoffen touched his face again:

"Good heavens, just how many layers of wax did Mary put on my face? Even the rain and mud can't wash it off!"

Mr. Hoffen looked at the clothes on his body again:

"That kid Mason is not bad; these clothes must be quite expensive, I was never quite willing to buy and wear them when I was alive."

Mr. Hoffen staggered two steps, walked in front of Alfred, and with his back to Alfred, said:

"Hey, help me take the stapler pins out of my head. I wondered why I felt like the corners of my mouth wouldn't close when I spoke, turned out Mary used stapler pins to secure the back for me."

"Alright." Alfred helped remove the pins.

Then, Mr. Hoffen’s old face directly collapsed:

"I regret removing the pins a bit. It turns out tight skin is so important for an elderly person, especially for a deceased elderly person."

Mr. Hoffen twisted his neck,

"But it doesn't seem to matter anymore, because I am already dead. The current me feels like it's still me, but in reality it is no longer me, just a me that has retained most of my memories and mistakenly thinks it's still me."

Finally,

Mr. Hoffen, having finished his awakening warm-up, looked at Diss, who had been standing in front all along, drenched in rain yet not wet at all:

"Oh, Diss, you really have a lot of nerve!"

Mr. Hoffen approached Diss, and then the rain could no longer hit him either.

"My spiritual consciousness can't maintain itself for too long, can it?" Mr. Hoffen asked.

"Yes, although you were a believer of the Church of Truth, you always took the academic route, which resulted in the spiritual nature remaining in your body not being too much to begin with," Diss nodded, "Even with my blessing, it can only be maintained for three days. After three days, your memory will begin to decline, and you will gradually lose your thinking ability.

If your body were refined and arrays were applied to it, this time could be delayed, but in the end, it is sand slipping through fingers."

Just like that refined girl who had been parked at home a while ago, she only retained a tiny remnant of memory.

"That's too miserable, I don't want that. I think it's better to die cleanly. Cremate me the next time I am buried."

"Alright."

"Do you know, Diss, actually when I died, I roughly guessed that I would still be called up by you, so that day when I died in the ward, I was trying very seriously to create that kind of sad atmosphere, but once I thought that you might call me to get up later, it was very hard for me to get into character.

By the way,

what is it?"

"Help me set up an array."

"An array for doing what?"

"Sealing."

"Sealing whom? Don't you know ordinary sealing arrays?"

"Sealing... an evil god."

"Are you finally going to make a move on Karen!" Mr. Hoffen jumped, then said, "How could you find the heart to do this?"

"Before you died, you kept shouting for me to kill him."

"Now I am dead. Do I still need to care about peace after I die? Once a person dies, there's no moral burden, very relaxing. Besides, he even called me grandpa!"

"It's not sealing Karen."

"Not sealing Karen, yet sealing an evil god, good heavens, after my death has the world been flooded with evil gods like cabbage by the roadside?"

"There is only one evil god."

"There is only one evil god?"

"Karen is Karen, the evil god is the evil god, there is only one evil god."

Hearing these words,

Mr. Hoffen immediately widened his eyes:

"You mean to say, Karen is not the evil god, but that God-Descending ceremony I helped you hold actually did usher down a real evil god!!!"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you tell me before!" Mr. Hoffen shouted.

"Because at that time Karen hadn't chosen yet, now, he has already chosen the path he wants to walk.

That evil god is very weak now,

because for some unknown reason,

although he modified 'Karen’s' body, in the end he failed to enter successfully;

then,

my grandson woke up, and he was isolated outside.

He can hardly be detected, a newly arrived evil god is originally good at hiding himself, a newly arrived evil god who doesn't even have a body is naturally even harder to discover.

In fact, if it weren't for the few times he revealed unwillingness and hostility while staring at Karen in the dark, probably even I wouldn't be able to detect his existence.

I tried to solve it,

it is indeed very weak, but its form of existence is very special.

I have summoned soul fire with both hands, but it is not a pure soul form; although it hurt him, there was no way to erase him."

"So, I need your help now, once and for all, to settle it."

"Settle?"

Mr. Hoffen caught the key word, for what Dis had said was not erase.

Dis nodded,

his gaze

falling upon Alfred, who stood there wearing a face of sheer shock.

So... so... so... the Great Being really wasn't an evil god!

But, but, but,

that wasn't right,

that bizarre, miraculous language, that holy hymn that made his soul tremble, and the triggering of that curse...

"Are you disappointed?"

Dis asked Alfred.

Alfred shook his head immediately, a look of excitement that verged on twisted and ferocious instantly spreading across his face:

"No, no, no!

My Lord,

I am not disappointed at all!

I firmly believe the Young Master is a Great Being.

Look,

just as you said,

even an evil god couldn't win against the Young Master—this only proves that the Young Master is more powerful than an evil god!"

Murals came in many different kinds.

Murals of ordinary deities and murals of the Great True Gods, though both called murals, were completely different things!

One had to know that many small churches today that still possessed a lineage actually worshipped deities that were merely fragments stripped from the mythological narratives of the Church of Light back in the day; to put it bluntly, they were akin to minor characters standing in the corners of the Church of Light's murals, yet in some small religions, they were the True Gods being enshrined!

Oh God, oh God, oh God!

Alfred truly wished he could return to the broadcasting room right this instant and sing at the top of his lungs to every single radio user in the entire city of Luojia who was currently tuned in to his channel!

"So, Dis, what is the purpose of your settlement?" Mr. Hoffen pressed.

Dis replied:

"Since he has decided he wants to walk that path, insisting on going out to see the scenery of the world, as his family, we can only support him.

His uncle, aunt, and aunt-in-law gave him a sum of money and a house.

As his grandfather, I would be too embarrassed to offer nothing at all.

Therefore,

I shall give him an evil god to keep by his side."