章 320: Chapter 320: The Red Priest - War Will Rise in the Land
Chapter 320: The Red Priest - War Will Rise in the Land
"They left already?" Hastur was surprised when he heard the report after dinner.
Just last night, the three of them had been drinking together, and there was no indication they planned to leave. Perhaps the church had given them a new assignment.
Hastur didn't think too much of it. Klein and Crestet Cesimir's departure actually gave him some peace and quiet. Recently, he had tasked the Yellow-Robed Monks with finding non-human materials for the Sequence 5 Chaos Apostle potion, and they had made progress. Now he just needed to fully digest the Corrupt Baron potion before advancing. By his estimate, it would take another 2-3 months, likely around mid-year.
Advancing became more difficult and risky at higher sequences. He went up to his second-floor study, intending to use Pen 008 to check on Klein and Crestet Cesimir's latest movements.
"Meow." Aisala jumped onto his lap, looking up at him pitifully as if complaining about something. After listening for a moment, Hastur understood and said with a smile, "If Sharon is bullying you, just get back at her when she's pretending to be a puppet. Hit and run tactics."
"Meow?"
"Oh, you're talking about the fish treats? How about reducing it from two to one per day?"
"Meow!" Aisala quickly jumped off Hastur's lap and left without looking back.
After this small interlude, Hastur opened the pen case and took out a sheet of white paper, placing it on the desk.
"I want to know about Klein and the others' recent situation," he said.
Pen 008 skillfully wrote a line on the paper: "A new mission from Backlund has reassigned them from Proning. They plan to take a ferry to Bansy Harbor tomorrow."
"Those beloved by fate are destined to walk a rugged mountain path. Peaceful and warm lives will ultimately be crushed and swept away by merciless waves."
"A corner of fate is heralding the start of an extraordinary life. Klein, a man full of mysteries, is about to experience a massive change in his life."
Today's Pen 008 was being rather cryptic and fortune teller-like.
Bansy Harbor? They're actually going to that place?
Hastur leaned back slightly, eyes half-closed as he pondered this development.
With the outbreak of war in the Southern Continent, the Red Priest symbolizing war would break free as a result, and Bansy Harbor would experience anomalies.
These were all foreseeable events, but why send Klein to handle it?
Was this an oracle from the Goddess of Night? Did even She grow tired of Klein living a peaceful life? So She deliberately gave him some excitement to make him quickly embark on a path of growth?
Or perhaps the recent frequent activities of the Outer Gods and Ancient Ones made the Goddess of Night sense something was amiss, so She wanted to accelerate the emergence of a new Lord of Mysteries.
Hastur felt this was the most likely guess.
"Do you know about the situation in Bansy Harbor?" Hastur deliberately tested Pen 008.
"It will be the starting point of war. A figure that should have been buried by history will return as an evil spirit."
"He is the ultimate red, the red of war. His return will surely cause the land to tremble with the rise of blades!"
Hearing this, Hastur asked with a smile, "Then do you know the honorific name of this Red Priest?"
"Medici."
Perhaps to avoid drawing attention, Pen 008 deliberately wrote these three syllables separately.
"Incorrect. That was only His original name. He has a new name now," Hastur shook his head and rejected this answer.
Pen 008 was stunned for a moment, then happily scribbled on the paper, finally drawing a circle with three intertwined heads inside.
Hastur glanced at it and praised, "Not bad. I didn't expect you to not only have good handwriting, but decent drawing skills as well."
Pen 008 grew more excited, urging Hastur to bring a new sheet of paper, clearly intending to create an even more impressive artwork.
Hastur indulged it, allowing it to excitedly draw on the paper.
In his mind, however, he was contemplating the matter of Medici - no, it should be Sauron Einhorn Medici now.
If South Welles County was to become a battlefield in the future, this Red Priest would likely come here after breaking free.
To prevent Him from causing trouble, some advance preparations would be necessary.
As Hastur pondered this, Pen 008 completed its drawing - surprisingly, it was a sketch of Proning Harbor at sunset.
Although it was just black lines, every stroke revealed the artist's profound skill. This piece could fetch a good price if auctioned off.
"I'll have someone color it later and frame it," Hastur said.
Hearing this, Pen 008 hurriedly blacked out the drawing, then started slowly sketching on a new sheet of paper.
Clearly, Pen 008 was going to put in real effort this time.
Hastur just smiled as he watched Pen 008 draw. In terms of artistic skill, Pen 008 far surpassed him.
Twenty minutes later, Pen 008 finally completed the new artwork.
It was the same sunset scene of Proning Harbor, but with more precise spatial perspective. The overall light and shadow would require later coloring.
Pen 008 requested a good artist to color this piece. Hastur naturally wouldn't refuse such a small request.
"Once it's done, let's hang this painting in the study," he said.
"Master, you're too kind, wuwuwu..."
Hastur had gradually become immune to Pen 008's flattery. He put Pen 008 back in the pen case and left the study.
The third room on the right side of the hallway was Sharon's room, next door to Hastur's bedroom.
Arriving outside the door, he saw Aisala being held and squeezed in Sharon's arms.
Evidently, Aisala had done something out of line earlier and was now being caught and disciplined by Sharon.
Seeing Hastur arrive, Aisala immediately gave him a pleading look.
Hastur gave Aisala a reassuring smile, then closed the door and returned to his own room to rest.
...
At St. Samuel Cathedral in Backlund.
Leonard finished his daytime work and returned to his room to rest, when he suddenly felt uneasy.
He quickly lay down on the bed and called out to Old Man to seek answers.
"Old Man, I suddenly feel something's not right. Is something big about to happen?"
"Can you change anything?"
"..." Leonard was immediately stumped by this question.
"When you have no ability to change things, just quietly be an ordinary person."
"Old Man, from your tone, is something big really going to happen?"
"War will rise in the land."
"When?"
"No later than a year from now."
Leonard fell silent. He suddenly felt Old Man's words were correct.
What could he do even if he knew about these things? He still couldn't change anything.
As Leonard sighed and prepared to rest, there was a sudden knock on the door.
He quickly got up to open it.
Outside was a church clergyman who said Archbishop Anthony had something to discuss with him.
Leonard's sense of foreboding grew stronger as he hurried to the cathedral.
In the bright candlelight illuminating every detail of the cathedral's carvings, Archbishop Anthony stood in the center of the empty hall holding a small note.
When Leonard arrived, Archbishop Anthony handed him the note.
Taking a deep breath, Leonard unfolded the paper.
"Situation in Bansy Harbor has changed! Klein's whereabouts unknown!"
The handwriting was somewhat messy, clearly written in a urgent situation.
Taking another deep breath, Leonard gripped the note tightly and said with forced calm, "Did the Archbishop call me here tonight to ask me to go to Bansy Harbor to help?"
"Someone has already been sent to handle this matter." Archbishop Anthony looked at Leonard's troubled expression and paused for a few seconds before saying, "You have a good relationship with Klein. If his family asks about him in the future, you'll be responsible for explaining the situation."
"He's just missing, it's not that serious. I believe in Klein's good luck. He will definitely come back alive. The Goddess will surely guide him back."
"Praise the Goddess."
Archbishop Anthony said nothing more. Leonard trudged back to his room with heavy steps.
Lying on the bed feeling utterly drained, he took out the note and looked at it a few more times, then let out a long sigh.
No wonder he had suddenly felt uneasy today. It turned out Klein was in trouble.
According to Nighthawk tradition, "whereabouts unknown" could generally be assumed to mean death.
But he didn't believe Klein would die so easily. In Tingen, under Ince Zangwill's script manipulation, Klein had managed to survive safely.
Could Bansy Harbor really be more terrifying than Ince Zangwill plus Pen 008?
Moreover, those responsible for handling the Bansy Harbor incident this time included Crestet Cesimir and members of the Church of Storms.
Given Klein's cautious nature, he wouldn't recklessly put himself in danger. Something else must have happened to cause this situation.
"Old Man, I want to go to Bansy Harbor."
"It's best to stay away for now."
Leonard's expression shifted slightly. "Is there really such great danger there?"
"Heh, what do you think you can change?"
Leonard fell completely silent. Old Man always had this phrase on the tip of his tongue, but he had never taken it seriously before.
Now he truly understood the weight of those words.
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