Cherwood Borough, in a house near the Tussock River.
Wraith Steve's figure jumped out of a mirror. He first condensed into a corporeal body before straightening his clothes. He then said respectfully to the empty room, "Your Excellency Zatwen, I received an important piece of information from a Demoness."
Just as he finished speaking, a figure quickly appeared on the piano bench not far behind him.
The figure was dressed in a black clergyman's robe, and he wore a black glove on his left hand. His face was thin, and his skin was brown. His eyes were sunken like a mummy's. The roots of his beard were black and white, extending from his mouth to his ears. However, they weren't thick, and they were rather short, making them appear like stars.
This man named Zatwen's eyes were close to his skin color and belonged to light brown. He clearly had the bearing of a priest, but he gave off a cold and terrifying feeling, as though he would be perverted in silence. He looked coldly at Steve and asked,
"What news? About Sharron and Maric?"
Despite being a wraith, Steve still felt his body turn cold. Thankfully, he managed to control himself with great difficulty and carefully replied, "It's news from the Church of Storms. They might use that Grade 1 Sealed Artifact in the near future."
The corners of Zatwen's mouth curled up when he heard that. He said with a sneer, "Heh, it's just a little trick of the Demoness. She wants me to hold back the Saint of the Church of Storms so that she can do whatever she wants."
"Then should we reject her?" Although Steve asked this, he didn't feel that the saint in front of him would reject him because the Sealed Artifact was something he could only come across by chance.
As expected, Steve soon heard Zatwen say with a sinister smile, "Why should I reject it? If that Sealed Artifact really appears, I will naturally snatch it, but I won't hold back the Tyrant's demigod as she wishes."
"However, that Sealed Artifact… Or rather, the Cursed Artifact should have very strong divination and anti-divination powers. That Demoness might not be able to plot against it…" Steve reminded.
"I'm much more familiar with the cursed item than you are. There's no need for you to remind me. It's indeed very powerful, but the price to use it isn't small either! A Grade 1 Sealed Artifact? If I were to use all of its powers, the price I would have to pay would probably directly set it at Grade 0. Therefore, the Mandated Punishers definitely wouldn't dare to remove all the seals. That Demoness at least has a chance."
Zatwen stopped there, as if reluctant to reveal more to Steve.
"This matter isn't urgent. That Demoness won't act rashly for the time being… The most important thing now is to pursue Sharron and Maric. Have you found their whereabouts?" Zatwen changed the topic and asked.
"There seems to be a demigod proficient in prophecy hiding their whereabouts behind Sharron and company. We can only search for them bit by bit through investigation," Steve replied awkwardly.
"A demigod skilled in prophecy…" Zatwen pondered for a moment before saying solemnly, "I allow you to pray to the Mother Tree during the ritual. I believe it will bring you a revelation."
"Yes, sir," replied Steve, looking delighted.
…
August 3, Friday.
Ebner had just woken up and had yet to get up when his spirituality was suddenly stirred.
He took out two charms from under his pillow and held them in his hand. At the same time, he activated his Spirit Vision and looked out. He saw a silver-white, illusory bird with a letter in its mouth standing on the windowsill. It tilted its head and sized him up with its red eyes.
Ebner breathed a sigh of relief because he recognized the bird. It was the messenger of Viscount Cullen.
"Silica." Ebner waved at it and took out a bottle of Amantha extract, which he had previously concocted, from the bedside cabinet. He unscrewed the cap of the bottle, and an alluring fragrance immediately wafted out.
He remembered Viscount Cullen mentioning that his messenger, Silika, liked this taste the most.
The moment the bottle cap was opened, the little bird made a move. It flapped its wings and immediately appeared above the "Amantha extract". Immediately after, the fragrance that filled the air suddenly disappeared and gathered around the little bird.
Ebner ignored the messenger's enjoyment as he took the letter. After confirming that there were no traps with the White Eye, he opened the envelope and read it.
There wasn't much in the letter, which was to inform him that Judy had already met Talim and that she would pass on the request to meet with 'Witch' Leena to the important person behind her. The two parties had already agreed to meet in a hunting ground in the northern suburbs on Sunday afternoon. Finally, Cullen asked him if he wanted to come along when the time came.
Ebner put down the letter and lowered his head in thought for a moment before deciding not to go. Although Prince Edessak was rather upright behind Talim, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't be lustful enough to help the Demoness set up an ambush…
It was better to let the Forsaken One take this risk. He could just wait for the news…
With that in mind, Ebner took out a pen and paper and wrote a letter back to Cullen. After writing that he had something on Sunday and couldn't go, he described what he had seen at the funeral yesterday in detail.
After he folded the letter and put it into a new envelope, the little bird, Silica, happened to jump down from the bottle of Amantha extract. It first nodded happily at Ebner, indicating that it was satisfied. Then it picked up the letter with its beak, flapped its illusory silver wings, and disappeared.
…
North Borough, Xio and Fors's rented apartment.
Xio looked at her good friend wearing the cream-colored long dress with lotus leaves. She couldn't help but stroke her forehead and say,
"Fors, you plan on wearing this to attend the Daily Observer's ball? You need at least a gown!"
As a former noble lady, Xio knew much more about the etiquette of various occasions than Fors.
Fors looked down at herself and said in puzzlement, "There's nothing wrong with that, right? I've attended a few balls in the past, and I didn't find anything wrong with it."
"But this time, there will be an important figure attending the ball. If you do that, you will probably be strictly interrogated by MI9's security personnel… I guess you don't want to be the center of attention at the ball because of the scrutiny," Xio said as she pointed at her security uniform.
What should I do? It's too late to buy it now… Why don't I just not go? Hmm, that's a good idea. Fors frowned before her eyes lit up.
"I really don't know what to do with you…" Xio shook her head helplessly before turning to return to her room. She took out a blue and white dress with intricate lace trim from the box.
"Try this one?" Xio handed the gown to Fors.
Fors tried it on and found that although it was a little tight, it was still quite fitting. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why do you have a gown that matches my size?"
Xio gave her friend a complicated look and said, "That was originally a gift my father prepared for my coming-of-age ceremony when I was young…" Unfortunately, I didn't grow to the height my father expected.