While Roselle was giving the Augustus family a Black Emperor surprise, Bernadette successfully interrupted Mr. A's summoning ritual.
Of course, because Lynn had given a prior warning, Bernadette didn't do anything to Mr. A and his group. She merely kicked them out and then smoothly completed her advancement to Sage in her safe house.
This time, without the interference of the Hidden Sage, Bernadette's advancement went even more smoothly than in the original timeline. It wasn't long before she opened her eyes and regained her human form from her state as an information creature.
"Finally, Sequence 2..."
Bernadette exhaled and couldn't help but smile.
Now she could better help her father!
Meanwhile, in a certain treasury of the Augustus family—
"This Conqueror Characteristic is yours... Hmm, isn't this Trunsoest's favorite music box? I remember it was a gift from his wife. How did it end up in the hands of the Augustus family?" Lynn, as if in an unguarded realm, was rummaging through a pile of items. Medici was standing beside him as a lookout.
Medici, who had just been given a Conqueror's Characteristic, held the box containing the Characteristic while watching Lynn search through the pile of clutter with great interest. Medici then curled his lips in disdain and, as if remembering something, said, "Aren't you about to advance to Demon of Knowledge?"
"Huh? Yeah, why?" Lynn paused, nodded, and looked at Medici.
"Will you leave?" After a moment of eye contact, Medici shifted his gaze away and asked.
"I'll probably be gone for a while, but as long as you remember me, I'll return," Lynn laughed. He set down the music box and said to Medici, "What, you'll miss me?"
"Who'd miss you? I'm just worried you'll die out there and leave me and the Lord to clean up your mess," Medici said in his usual snarky tone.
"Yes, yes, of course, you wouldn't miss me," Lynn responded in a tone of understanding. Before Medici could retort, he added, "But I'll miss you guys."
Medici, about to speak again, suddenly fell silent.
"But I'll return, and it won't be long," Lynn continued, patting Medici on the head. "Don't miss me too much!"
"Ha!" Medici sneered and swatted Lynn's hand away, leaning back like a lord, looking at Lynn and saying, "If you don't come back, don't expect me to take care of your chaotic group of friends."
"No problem, I'll have them take care of you. After all, you're still a baby!" Lynn said seriously.
Medici clenched his fists.
"Alright, alright, I'm done picking things. Let's go pick up Klein. He should have dealt with the Despair Witch by now!" Lynn said with a grin, before Medici could lose his temper.
...
For the Augustus family, today was undoubtedly their unluckiest day. Not only did all their schemes collapse, but they also had to face the reckoning of several major churches. It would take great effort to placate the returning Roselle.
The only silver lining was that, considering the stability and order of the Loen Kingdom, the Augustus family didn't suffer the same fate as the Trunsoest royal family. Though they would decline, they would still survive.
For the Witch Sect, today was a disaster. They lost Trissy, the important sealed artifact on her, and even the Despair Witch sent to cooperate with the Loen royal family vanished. As for the Conqueror's Characteristic, it was nowhere to be found.
For the ordinary citizens of Backlund, today was an ordinary yet joyful day as they welcomed the New Year, looking forward to a brighter future.
For the church members, today was a busy day. They had to deal with various matters, leaving them no time to eat, let alone celebrate the New Year.
As for Lynn, today was undoubtedly a happy day. He watched the show he wanted, ate the melon he craved, and even looted a treasury of the Augustus royal family. It was a day of harvest.
"Thinking about it, given your personality you'd have totally crushed the Augustus family…" Roselle commented as he made dumplings in the Sherlock Detective Agency. "I didn't expect you to let them go."
"Would you be the one to maintain the order of the Loen Kingdom if I crushed them?" Lynn gave Roselle a sideways glance while also making dumplings.
He had wanted to crush the Augustus family, but for one, there were innocent members like Prince Edessak. Second, the Augustus family wasn't weak. If war broke out, they would win, but innocent people would be caught in the crossfire.
Third, Lynn had to consider others' opinions. In the mysterious world, while the Augustus family's actions were excessive, there wasn't a single God who didn't have blood on their hands. Crushing the Augustus family might be satisfying in the moment, but it would also make others wary.
Lastly, Lynn had to think about the stability of the Loen Kingdom. While the Augustus family might not match the major churches in high-end power, they had maintained the stability of this land for over a thousand years. If Lynn wiped them out, the country could face rebellion or even invasion from other nations, and it would be the ordinary citizens who suffered.
For all these reasons, Lynn had given the Augustus family a hard blow but had no intention of wiping them out. As long as they stopped plotting and ruled their kingdom properly, he would leave them be.
After all, Lynn was quite busy himself.
"Wait, what did you just put in that dumpling?" Lynn, in the middle of making dumplings, suddenly paused and looked at Medici with sharp eyes.
Medici continued making his dumplings without changing his expression, but the faint red visible through the dumpling skin revealed that he had wrapped chili peppers inside.
"At least it's not strawberries…" Lynn sighed in relief. Then his expression changed as he grabbed Ouroboros wrist and said with a strange look, "Why are you putting chocolate inside?"
"Is that not allowed?" Ouroboros asked, puzzled.
"Of course not. Chocolate dumplings are absolutely forbidden!" Lynn shook his head emphatically.
However, Roselle chimed in with a grin, "I'm curious what chocolate-filled dumplings would taste like…"
(End of Chapter)