Chapter 1226: Handing Out Mushrooms
Emlyn maintained his smile and calmed himself down before responding, "I
can find helpers of a sufficient level."
He didn't wish to borrow the forces of the Sanguine too much on this
matter, because if that happened, he would undoubtedly end up as a
liaison, a bystander, and a messenger. He would not have any say in the
eventual distribution of the spoils of war.
As for the Sanguine Dukes and Marquises, they had no lack of direct
descendants who wished to advance to become a demigod and become an
Earl.
At the very beginning, Emlyn believed in his identity as the Sanguine's
savior. He believed that the important figures would treat every single
member fairly. However, as The Hanged Man analyzed the various
high-level Sanguine orders from Marquis Nibbs and the other high-level
Sanguine, Emlyn gradually became wary of them.
He frowned slightly and said, "Sherlock Moriarty?"
Emlyn was puzzled as he shifted in his seat.
"Why do you think it's him?"
If it was in the past, he would have directly said, "Why are you
mentioning Sherlock Moriarty? He has been away from Backlund for nearly
two years." But now, he could acutely grasp that there was some hidden
information in Maric's words. He subconsciously adjusted his question.
*In the eyes of this Wraith, Sherlock Moriarty isn't simple? Yes,
indeed, he isn't simple...* As he spoke, Emlyn made a guess.
Upon hearing Emlyn's question, Maric's expression immediately turned
odd, as though it was his first time meeting this Sanguine Viscount.
He quickly restrained the abnormality on the surface and said without
emotion, "We need to consider it.
"I hope you can come up with a more convincing plan the next time we
meet."
"No problem." Emlyn secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
He immediately stood up and bowed gentlemanly.
After deciding on the means of communication, he put on his silk hat and
walked out of the room.
As he returned to his residence, Emlyn couldn't help but run through his
initial plan.
*As long as I complete a cooperative agreement with the demigod of the
Rose School of Thought's temperance faction, I can use it to apply for a
Grade 1 Sealed Artifact from the Marquises and Dukes of the
race...*
*Using the reason that it's under the cooperating partner's behest that
they object to having demigods of the race be involved, I can stop them
from directly interfering...*
*Yes, in order to make an agreement, I have to show enough strength to
convince Maric and the others... I can only commission the mission at
the Tarot Club to see if Ma'am Hermit, Miss Justice, and Mr. Hanged Man
are willing to accept the commission. Miss Magician can also be
considered. She can summon the projection of Gehrman Sparrow...*
*The biggest problem now is that I can't provide enough
compensation...*
*I can only try to make an advance or a promise. Once I become an Earl,
I'll return the payment one by one...*
With this in mind, Emlyn suddenly felt thankful that he had joined the
Tarot Club.
This was the only organization he knew that could use a future promise
to exchange for current material goods.
And within the Sanguine, or in the orthodox Churches, one had to
accumulate enough contributions until one reached the end of the line
where the characteristics and advancement ritual was awarded. Sometimes,
a Beyonder might not be able to accumulate enough contributions in their
entire lives.
*This is like a credit loan underwritten by Mr. Fool. It can be used to
issue missions, and when the advancement succeeds, it can be paid in
installments...* Emlyn habitually leaned towards the things he
was familiar with.
Although he had never borrowed money from the bank, some of the Sanguine
had rich experience in such areas and would often talk within their own
circles.
Most of them had a fixed, expensive hobby. The precious items might not
be liquidated easily at times, so they had no choice but to borrow money
from close friends or the bank to ensure the necessary cash flow.
Emlyn remembered that there was a Sanguine who wasn't good at wealth
management. He relied solely on his profession as a doctor to earn
money. When he took a fancy to a precious piece of art, he bought it
using a loan from the Backlund Bank.
After that, he couldn't bear to pledge his property up for the mortgage.
Exploiting his long life, he spent two hundred years repaying the debt.
Of course, in name, his father had died, and the son took over the debt.
When the son died, the grandson took over the debt.
Emlyn's evaluation of this was: very honest.
North Borough in Backlund. Outside Saint Samuel Cathedral.
The citizens lined up in rows as they received the grilled bread, dried
mushrooms, preserved fruits, and other food from the workers of the Loen
Poverty Relief Foundation.
Their lines extended from the main entrance of the cathedral all the way
to the square and circled it several times. At a glance, it was densely
packed with people.
Audrey stood on the steps behind Melissa and took in everything.
She saw the pale faces of the citizens, their eyes filled with longing.
Seeing a mother holding a baby in her arms, she anxiously coaxed the
child while eagerly observing the line in front of her that didn't seem
to shorten. She saw many people dressed in bright clothes, formal suits,
and long skirts. Some of them pressed down their hats and wore veils, as
if they didn't want the people around them to recognize them.
At times, some people didn't want to keep order and were dragged out by
the priests and policemen who were helping to maintain the order. They
were thrown to the back of the lines.
As food was delivered, the cloth bags piled behind the long table slowly
dwindled until there was none.
Finally, all the food had been distributed, but the long line had only
been reduced by half.
The citizens who were unable to receive the help couldn't resist
revealing their disappointment, frustration, and reluctance. However,
they didn't make a scene or argue. They moved their feet mechanically
towards other handout points.
They had experienced this many times in the past one or two months. They
had long known that unnecessary emotions would only waste the energy
they had little of. It would hamper their quick movements to other
relief points or fair-price food outlets.
At this moment, their expressions were numb, their eyes vacant as they
left the square like a bunch of zombies.
During this process, a woman carrying a child had her legs give way as
she fell to the ground.
Her child started wailing loudly, his voice laced with pain.
As he cried, the child sobbed and said, "Mommy, I'm so hungry..."
"There'll be food soon. There'll be food soon. There's food at Memorial
Square..." The woman carried the child and patted his back. Tears
streamed down her face as she spoke.
Upon seeing this scene, Audrey was just about to say something when she
saw Melissa take out a plate of food from a wooden crate under a long
table and run towards the mother and son.
"I didn't see it just now. There's still one more..." Melissa crouched
down and handed the bread, dried mushrooms, and preserved fruit over.
Then, she explained in a soft voice, afraid that it would cause a
dispute among the citizens.
The rest of the food was actually prepared for the foundation staff who
had been busy all this while. The portion that Melissa had given them
was hers.
The woman took the food and handed it to the child as she said
repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you..."
The child hugged the food tightly and mimicked his mother in his nascent
voice, "Thank you, thank you..."
Audrey subconsciously looked around and noticed that the Church's
priests, most of the police, as well as the "Nighthawks" who were mixed
among the people to secretly prevent any accidents, were all showing
sympathy, pity, and sadness.
After the citizens had left, Audrey picked up her own set of food and
handed it to Melissa.
"You deserve it."
Melissa looked at Miss Hall before her and shook her head.
"I gave my own share.
"Miss Hall, don't worry. I'll have food when I get home. My brother is a
civil servant..."
With a faint smile, Audrey stuffed the grilled bread, dried mushrooms,
and preserved fruits into Melissa's hands.
"You don't have to worry about me. My family has prepared snacks for me
when I'm out busying myself."
As she spoke, she took a wooden box from her personal maidservant,
Annie, and opened it for Melissa to see.
The wooden box contained exquisite cucumber sandwiches, cream muffins,
and a small carrot cake.
A look of astonishment appeared on Melissa's face. She stared at the
snacks for a few seconds before looking up at Miss Audrey Hall.
She immediately lowered her head and, without saying a word, she ate the
grilled bread and water that Saint Samuel Cathedral had prepared.
As if "petrified" by her gaze, Audrey held the wooden box and stood
rooted to the ground. For a few seconds, she didn't move and only pursed
her lips tightly.
After the fifth batch of residents from Moon City received cleansing and
treatment and enjoyed the magical mushrooms, this ancient city became a
believer of The Fool without any resistance. It welcomed the saint and
oracle, Gehrman Sparrow, into the city.
With that, Klein held a large Mass and used the Unshadowed Crucifix and
the Life's Cane to heal the remaining Moon City residents.
High Priest Nim, who had finished his quarantine, came out and
respectfully asked at the end of the Mass, "Oracle, what is the complete
honorific name of the mighty Lord?"
Klein looked around and said solemnly with his face tightened, "The Fool
that doesn't belong to this era..."
After giving out the honorific name, he specially emphasized, "Don't
chant the complete honorific name in normal times. Do so only when
important matters arise."
Otherwise, as Mr. Fool, he would suffer a mental breakdown from all the
"phone calls from work."
Nim wasn't surprised at all, because the ancient sun god was the same.
After some thought, he asked, "What are the requirements for the ritual
of the Lord?"
Klein said confidently like a charlatan, "God says: Eighth Commandment:
Serve me with your heart, not with your offerings.
"The most important thing for a ritual is to be pious. There are no
other requirements. It can be very simple."
After all, the Lord does not care[Quote from The Dark Forest of the Three Body Problem trilogy.]... After saying that, Klein
silently added in his heart.
After explaining this, he raised his right hand and pointed at the pile
of mushrooms in front of him.
"The Lord has bestowed these mushrooms to you because he wants you to
enjoy a bumper harvest.
"These mushrooms are nourished by the flesh and blood of monsters. They
can rapidly grow and accumulate all the toxins, corruption, and madness
into those pure black mushrooms. This can be used as a medium for curses
or to smear the heads of arrows..."
The Moon City residents listened in excitement as they clasped their
hands and bowed their heads, shouting, "Praise be to The Fool!"
At that moment, it was as if Klein could hear countless illusory voices
coming from the air. They were mixed with the real praises, circling him
and anchoring him.