Murphy could finally clear out the urn of ashes sitting in his office.
This was good news for the lord. Even as a midnight vampire, a creature of darkness born under midnight and seen as an evil being by others, having an urn of ashes as office decoration was still a bit too “avant-garde”.
When he handed the urn containing victim X’s ashes to Turner, he specifically reminded:
“These ashes have been purified, as you know about his situation, the purifying flames from the Avalon Church burned away part of his essence. This was necessary, I hope the frost dwarves won’t mind.”
“But what remains is enough for Lord Rathir to rest in peace.”
The Winter Wolf monk didn’t nitpick.
He respectfully held the urn with both hands, and upon touching it, this Winter Wolf devotee immediately sensed another presence on the urn.
It was vast and carried an undeniable weight, just like the gaze of the North Wind God.
This made him instantly understand what Murphy meant earlier about the “three deities” watching over Crimson Citadel.
This vampire governor actually wasn’t lying, and he was bold enough to keep an object under Mother Gaia’s watch in his office, but you’re a vampire, brother!Aren’t you afraid that one day Gaia might wake up in a bad mood and hit you or your city with a continental rift or a level 9 earthquake spell?
Murphy noticed Turner’s strange look.
The vampire could guess what he was thinking without needing to use his desire senses, but he didn’t explain further, just waved and said:
“Now that you’ve joined Transia for a common goal, to share in the suffering that awaits us all, I should perhaps assign you a more official position.
Regarding the newly established ‘Shadow Trail Sect’.”
“Huh?”
Turner was genuinely surprised this time.
This weathered northern monk widened his eyes and said:
“They were just established? That’s impossible!”
“Well, to be precise, it’s been just over 5 hours since establishment.”
Murphy explained candidly with a smile:
“I understand the source of your surprise, and I won’t hide the fact that the techniques my warriors use are not inherited from this land.
I’m about to tell you a secret, but you must swear by the North Wind God not to reveal it carelessly.
I hope you understand the importance of this oath.
Because in hunting down Dusk, they are my most important reliance, and I doubt you could find warriors as tenacious and fearless as them anywhere else in this world.
This oath of secrecy is not a request.”
When it came to matters concerning Dusk, Turner was always very serious.
After realizing Murphy wasn’t joking, he sincerely swore an oath in the name of his god as a Winter Wolf devotee, and a sudden gust of cold wind swirled around the two of them several times before silently dissipating.
This meant the oath of secrecy was established.
Only then did Murphy reveal the truth about his warriors to the monk before him, and seeing Turner’s shocked expression, he said:
“No matter how deeply Dusk has taken root in our world, and no matter how great their power is on this continent, they cannot affect lives from other realms. Therefore in this inevitably prolonged war, I will trust my warriors unconditionally, and I believe you can do the same.
But as you’ve seen, while my warriors are valiant, they lack guidance in advanced techniques and understanding of the continent’s dangers.
Take the Shadow Trail Sect for example, I’m certain this guild will have a bright future, but if they could have a worthy strong person join and assist them, these otherworld monks’ journey would be smoother.
I hope you can join the Shadow Trail Sect.
Of course, as you’re from the Winter Wolf Church, I’m not asking you to betray your faith, just join them as an honorary member.
I also believe my warriors won’t refuse your arrival.”
“I need to think about it.”
Turner didn’t answer immediately, he said:
“I’m not just a Winter Wolf Church monk, I’m also a disciplinary monk of the Wolf God’s Eye Monastery, such matters of changing allegiance must be discussed with Master Yuri before I can give an answer, but I think Master Yuri probably won’t refuse.
He also received the North Wind God’s decree, bringing the monastery brothers to Transia, they are destined to stay here long-term.
And their duties here for the North Wind God differ from mine, I hope you and your officials won’t trouble them.”
“I can even build them a new secret monastery here if they’re willing to stay.”
Murphy said with a smile:
“I don’t resist the North Wind God’s faith taking root in Transia, as you can see, my subjects are suffering greatly, their spiritual world is desolate.
In this dangerous world, faith is not just an excuse to comfort oneself, it’s more of a protection and armament for the soul.
You can convey my meaning to Master Yuri.
If he hopes for the North Wind God’s valor to endure in Transia, then he can seek out Sister Jules at the administrative office, my religious administrator will give them an opportunity.
Speaking of which, my warriors plan to hold a feast tonight, they sent me a simple invitation, would you like to join me?”
“Thank you for your kindness, but I need to spend the night deciding how to begin my life in Transia.”
Turner held Lord Rathir’s urn and said:
“Although you’ve guaranteed the safety around Crimson Citadel, I still need to spend a few days personally walking around to check, the Wolf God’s Eye has granted me the ability to track subspace contamination, consider this my first service to Transia.”
“Yes, my territory will need you.”
Murphy nodded.
He waved goodbye to this Winter Wolf monk, then silently vanished into the thick night. Several seconds after returning to his office, Tris’s figure emerged from the shadows in Murphy’s office corner.
She played with the Nocturne Scepter and said:
“I eavesdropped on your conversation, learning that a Winter Wolf ‘Chosen One’ has come to join voluntarily, this is quite rare, my little Murphy.
It seems your cause has truly gotten on track.
Should I congratulate you?”
“This is just an unexpected event, Turner’s willingness to join us isn’t because Transia is particularly attractive to him, it’s simply because we have a common enemy, and our victory over Dusk undoubtedly gave him, who had been acting alone before, plenty of hope.”
Murphy shook his head and said:
“However, this kind of allegiance and unity cannot be replicated, it’s not the kind of ‘attraction’ I want. Though I am curious, as this is indeed my first time meeting a true Chosen One.”
“Not the first time.”
Tris corrected:
“Old Finoch can in some sense be considered Avalon’s Chosen One, though his situation is special.
I know what you’re curious about, Chosen Ones in these religious forces aren’t just those with transcendent status and special influence, many of them are granted real power by their deities.
For example, Turner just told you he has the ‘Wolf God’s Eye’ that can track subspace contamination, this might be just one of many blessings this disciplinary monk has.
However in my knowledge, Chosen Ones aren’t usually as friendly and easy to deal with as him.
99% of Chosen Ones are fanatics, and the remaining 1% are truly insane.
They basically won’t discuss ideals and futures with heretics, so my advice to you is, from your position as a vampire, you’d better stay away from them.
Lest you become an offering to their deity one day when a Chosen One suddenly goes mad.”
“Mm.”
Murphy nodded, then asked:
“What have you been doing these past few days? Tris, you haven’t been wandering around, haven’t been slacking off, haven’t even been drinking heavily, keeping yourself locked up in the office and alchemy workshop all day.
It’s like you’ve become a different person, making me wonder if you’re preparing something that would frighten me?”
“Nothing much, just that the spirit mage part of my personality suddenly became very hardworking.”
Tris pouted and said:
“Don’t worry, this intermittent burst of motivated excitement will soon subside, then I’ll return to my usual state of living like a lazy fish, aren’t we going to the feast tonight?
Your little players sent the invitation to me too, saying they invite me to taste ‘otherworld flavors’.”
The Blood Vulture Grand Duchess raised the spirit-tethered object in her left hand and said:
“Look, I even brought my own alcohol, when do we leave?”
“No rush, they’re probably still preparing at this time.”
Murphy took out his pocket watch to check the time and said to Tris:
“Let’s go over in half an hour, take a look at this first.”
He returned to his desk and pulled out a specially marked document from a stack of papers to hand to Tris, who impatiently took it, glanced at it, then furrowed her brows.
She said:
“Your gnolls really did find something extraordinary in the Foul Swamp, if even a third of what’s in this report is true, then we’re going to have headaches for a long time.”
“I told you before, Hog and its clan would come in handy.”
Murphy smiled and said:
“This kind of intelligence support is just the beginning, they’ll shine brilliantly in the future. As for troubles, hmph, Transia has no shortage of those, I’m used to it by now, my mindset is very good.
Eat when it’s time to eat, drink when it’s time to drink, don’t take things too seriously, come on, Little Tris, bring your chopsticks, let’s go feast!”
————————
“Wow, this aroma! This color! This classic presentation!”
In the forward camp at night, at the place where an “otherworld feast” was scheduled for tonight, seeing the plate of spicy rabbit meat that Fatal Orchid brought to the table, Little Ashina was already excited to the point of drooling.
The other students were busy helping the “master chef” Star Soul Eagle, a group of students washing vegetables while laughing and chatting, making others quite confused.
Have you all gone silly from playing games?
Usually in reality when your own mothers ask you to help pick vegetables you act like you have terminal laziness syndrome and find all sorts of excuses to slack off, how come you’re so motivated to work in the game? The chef isn’t even giving you any rewards, right?
“But these dishes are really authentic!”
Tobacco Mulberry, who came on invitation from the Big Bird Spin Spin Spin team, went over to circle around the temporarily set up stove before coming back to tell Old Tune and Led More Than Three to Five Pecks who were already seated waiting to eat:
“Really has some of the true skill of the master chefs from Sichuan restaurants.”
“That’s their family-inherited skill.”
Day One No Fap said with a sneer while holding a carrot:
“That guy is even from my hometown, but unfortunately I never learned this skill, otherwise I would’ve opened chain restaurants in Transia by now. The camp’s cooks should really learn from them properly. Every day it’s just stewed dishes and dried fish, makes people lose their appetite.”
“Isn’t the cook here now?”
Little Hands said with a grin:
“Even Chef Shovan has come, I reckon little brother Star Soul Eagle’s gaming career is going to start with taking apprentices just like Lady Aqua. But what we want is just this taste, we don’t need the NPC chefs to be too skilled.
Better food can keep morale high too.”
“Hey, don’t underestimate chefs.”
Lumina who was bringing over a plate of “otherworld vegetable platter” heard these guys chatting and said with a smile:
“I just asked Chef Shovan, he said when he was young he saw dishes made by halfling chefs in Seicob City, those dishes not only tasted good, but because they used spirit ingredients, eating them would even give the consumer some buffs.”
“Damn! Really eating a feast before fighting monsters.”
Black Stockings exclaimed, making everyone at the table burst into laughter. Lumina put the dish she was holding on the table and casually asked:
“Meow King and Brother Stick still can’t get into the game? It feels weird without them.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Little Hands skillfully used freshly carved chopsticks to pick up a peanut and toss it in his mouth, saying:
“My cousin and Brother Stick have gone traveling together, they should be at the foot of Mount Lu by now, right? I hear they even have to call the Alpha Company medical team every day. I went to see him the day before yesterday, his body is great with no problems, we’ll see them in game again in a few more days.
They deserve it!
The dev team even put up invisible walls but they still had to try to get through them, can’t blame anyone else.”
“Sigh, honestly, if it weren’t for these big and small bugs actually existing and being seen by us with our own eyes… I would’ve thought this was another world.
Really!
Every time I’m completely immersed, suddenly a bug pops up to remind me what’s real and what’s fake, this feeling is really awful.”
Old Tune grunted, propping his chin with one hand and saying to others:
“Although we knew it was fake from the start, having it confirmed as fake now is honestly a bit disappointing.”
“If it were real, would you dare to come?”
Black Stockings retorted:
“At least I wouldn’t have the guts. Oh look, Lord Murphy and Lady Tris have arrived, and Miss Miriam even brought Professor Malcolm’s twin children. Wow, they’re so polite, they even brought gifts.
Quick quick quick, get up to welcome the guests, stop eating!
All of you, how can you have no manners at all? Embarrassing!”
The arrival of the NPC guests made the “feast” here even livelier, everyone went up to socialize, while Teacher Li who had gone offline to rest and prepare teaching materials also logged back in.
However, he didn’t go join the crowd, but came to Little Ashina’s side who was taking advantage of people not paying attention to steal bites of the spicy rabbit meat on the table, eating until she was panting.
Teacher Li somewhat embarrassedly opened his mouth to ask:
“Um, young lady, I want to ask you something, some personal matters, if it’s inconvenient to answer then never mind.”
“Ah? Teacher Li, you’re our great hero, just ask anything.”
Little Ashina quickly wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.
She blinked while looking at Teacher Li before her, who said in a low voice:
“I learned about some of your situation from Niuniu, I wanted to ask, after you enter the game using the helmet, does it have any effects on your body in reality?”
“Ah, I thought it was something else, just this?”
Little Ashina snorted and said:
“Many people ask me these things after learning about my situation, I’m used to it now, there’s no effect, anyway I just lie in bed all day long. I just had a medical examination the day before yesterday, no improvement but no deterioration either.
Hoping this could cure the illness is definitely impossible, but how should I put it?
For someone in my situation, being able to jump and run around here is already amazing.
However, Teacher Li, you shouldn’t be the kind of bad person who feels happy about others’ misfortune, so, you’re asking me this because?”
“I have a friend.”
Old Li didn’t hide anything, he said:
“We were in a car accident together back then, I was luckier and only lost one leg, but he was more severely injured, he’s been in a wheelchair ever since. I was thinking if…”
“Oh oh oh, I understand now.”
Little Ashina squinted and said:
“Then just let him submit an application, for ‘wheelchair weirdos’ like us, being able to stand up again and run freely would make us happier than winning 5 million.
But this should be a special case, right? I think you should chat with Brother Alpha on the forum first, Teacher Li, maybe he can pull some strings for your friend.
Brother Alpha is very nice!”
“Mm, thanks for your advice.”
Teacher Li nodded.
But neither of them noticed that behind them at the table, Fireworks Beef Bowl holding a wine glass had been listening in on their conversation the whole time.
Master Yang had originally planned to take this opportunity to chat with Little Ashina, but after hearing that Old Li had a similar issue as himself, this reticent middle-aged man decided to observe the situation first.
Such matters can’t be rushed.
Old Li was helping just his friend, but the one Master Yang wanted to save was his only son, there couldn’t be any more mistakes.