I'm... Purr's descendant?
Instantly, the image of that black cat sprang into Karen's mind—the one who curled around his arm whenever he scratched its belly in the morning.
When a comedian performs before you, your laughter is usually restrained because you have already prepared yourself mentally from your seat in the audience.
The real danger comes in an intensely solemn setting and a tense atmosphere, paired with the other person's earnest, heartfelt tone.
A single poke out of nowhere;
Instantly, the dam bursts.
And so, after a fleeting moment of bewilderment, came an uncontrollable urge to roar with laughter.
At that moment, Karen could only cover his face with both hands, his body trembling uncontrollably.
His composure had completely collapsed.
All Karen could do was try his best to keep from laughing out loud, but in this atmosphere, the rims of his eyes reddened, and tears began to spill down his cheeks.
He couldn't hold it back. He really couldn't.
Yet in Ophelia's eyes, this sight was a mixture of self-mockery amidst overwhelming emotion, of anger tangled with release.
It perfectly suited the injustice and suffering Karen must have endured as a descendant of Miss Purr.
By rights, he should have been the scion of an ancestor, a direct noble of Dark Moon Island. He should have enjoyed a far better life and abundant resources, rather than scraping by on his own inside the Church of Order as he did now.
This was how misunderstandings were born.
Ophelia was an emotional person at heart; this had been obvious from how she acted before Purr's tombstone and upon seeing the lines inscribed on it.
Yet at the same time, she was an exceptionally rational person, or she would never have been chosen to lead the Dark Moon Island delegation.
Here lay the problem: once a rational mind made a series of observations and analyses to reach what it believed to be a solid conclusion, it would rationalize everything that followed into further proof of that conclusion.
Most importantly, by Ophelia's deductive reasoning, everything held up. Every piece was substantiated. Working with the given facts and eliminating the impossible, the evidence pointed toward only one answer.
The only thing she failed to anticipate was that Karen himself was an "impossible factor."
Even Diss had never been able to fully grasp such an impossible factor. From beginning to end, Diss had merely laid out a path for Karen and let him walk it himself.
Thus, applying rational deduction to something utterly devoid of rational logic could only yield a conclusion that seemed flawless on paper yet was absurd beyond belief.
By contrast, the former host of Rojia City Radio's *Rojia Story Hour* had found the single most accurate perspective:
Viewing his young master through the lens of looking at a god.
As a result, not only did every observation become self-consistent, but he had also forged a path that even the demon dog at home found inconceivable.
Karen was still laughing. Sitting there with his hands over his face, his shoulders shook as he repeatedly wiped tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand.
Several times he tried to rein it in, but the moment Purr's face popped into his head—
Wearing a napkin around its neck to drink coffee, or begging him to cook squirrel mandarin fish...
He couldn't stop.
He really couldn't stop.
Ophelia walked around the coffee table to Karen's side and looked down at him.
Then, she placed both hands gently on his shoulders.
After making the gesture, she felt it was somewhat inadequate; physical touch alone could not convey the depth of what she felt.
She was the prodigy of the Dark Moon clan. She was of noble birth, possessed pure blood, and was gifted with astounding talent and a meticulous mind. Yet she was still young.
A genius was typically defined by how quickly they learned, but that did not mean they were immune to awkwardness or disorientation when venturing into unfamiliar territory.
Take the past week, for instance. She had intended to use private conversations to open Karen's heart, laying emotional groundwork so he would confess his secret—or rather, confirm her suspicion—on his own.
Instead, she had turned what was supposed to be daily "emotional exchange and bonding"—a nuanced battle of sentiment—into a dull war of attrition.
Then,
She drew a deep breath,
Bent down,
Wrapped Karen in an embrace,
And said softly, "You have suffered."
She blended the guilt her ancestor felt toward Miss Purr with her own remorse over a direct descendant of the Dark Moon bloodline being forced to wander alone in the world.
Ophelia believed that as the leader of the delegation, it was her duty to convey the Dark Moon clan's stance toward Miss Purr's line.
She felt she ought to do this, that she had every right to do so. As for whether she would have done the same had someone else shared this status and predicament, she never stopped to consider.
There was another consideration: only by handling the emotional matters first could subsequent discussions proceed smoothly.
The missionary parish on Dark Moon Island had not even been established yet. Even if it were, any Dark Moon believers of the God of Order who gained official status would face an uphill battle trying to advance within the Church of Order, as the church would deliberately suppress and guard against them.
Yet right before her stood a kinsman who had already successfully infiltrated the Church of Order's ranks.
Karen finally managed to rein in his emotions. He reached out, intending to gently push Miss Ophelia away.
Well, she didn't budge.
He applied a bit more force, only to find her holding him tighter.
Ophelia murmured, "The family will make it up to you."
"..." Karen.
His attempt to push her away was interpreted as lingering resentment from an abandoned scion, something she needed to soothe with warmth.
The scene felt somewhat familiar to Karen. He suddenly recalled that the male and female leads in *York Holiday*, which he had watched a few nights ago, had shared a similar moment.
Karen said, "I think we can sit down and talk things through calmly now."
He was not accustomed to such close physical contact with women. As for Peige and Fanny, they hardly qualified as women in the traditional sense in his eyes.
"All right."
Ophelia released him. Her hands fell in front of her, looking a little at a loss.
Karen took out two tissues, wiped the corners of his eyes, then used the tongs to drop a few ice cubes into both of their glasses before pouring water.
He lifted his glass and took a sip, feeling a slight cramp in his stomach.
Drinking ice water on an empty stomach was hardly pleasant.
*Sigh, I really should have eaten something before coming over.*
Or was this retribution?
If going hungry was retribution, then was having Purr suddenly turn into his "ancestor" also retribution for having set Purr up with a "man" not long ago?
Ophelia sat down on the opposite sofa, reached out, and touched the longsword resting on the floor. The blade gave a gentle tremor.
"I swear by the Dark Moon: every word I speak next shall come from the heart, sincere and without deceit."
The longsword emitted a faint crimson glow, as if responding to her words.
This was Ophelia demonstrating her sincerity to Karen.
Yet Karen had experienced a similar scene before: when he first met Count Rekar, the count had likewise demanded honesty through an oath to his faith in the sea.
So, was Ophelia's gesture merely a one-way binding on herself, or was it a two-way field that encompassed him as well, sitting so close in this enclosed space?
Karen pursed his lips. When he returned, he made a mental note to ask Purr and Kevin how to break through such situations, for life always required a few well-intentioned lies.
Ophelia spoke again of her own accord:
"The family will not demand anything of you. What is more, we will unconditionally provide support to help you rise within the Church of Order.
"Because you have never lived on the island, you do not know how strictly the major churches guard against our Dark Moon clan.
"You may consider this an investment by the family in the future.
"Naturally, this investment will grow alongside your realm and position.
"What I wish to know now is your true realm.
"That will make it easier for me to petition the family for more resources on your behalf when I return."
Karen picked up his glass again and took another sip.
"Tomorrow evening is the farewell banquet, and the ship home departs tomorrow as well. Because the conference took longer than anticipated, our return schedule is rather rushed.
"Which means we had best finalize our verbal agreement today."
"Weren't we supposed to escort you back to Dark Moon Island?"
"Oh, I only learned of this today. That was the original arrangement, but it was canceled."
"Canceled?"
"Yes. I thought your chu—I thought higher-ups in the Church of Order had canceled it. I even filed a complaint, hoping to convey my thoughts and demands, but the response I received was that the one who canceled the return escort was your captain."
"Captain?"
"Perhaps because of what happened the other night, the wounded in your squad have not fully recovered. Or perhaps your captain has other arrangements and does not wish to waste time sailing on the open sea. What, you didn't know?"
"I am assigned to close protection. Generally speaking, I don't interact with the teammates concealed on the perimeter."
Even when delivering meals, he merely left the food in an out-of-the-way spot on the floor and walked away.
Besides, Neo discussed *how* to do things with his team, but rarely consulted them on *what* to do.
"So, I am sorry, but you will not have the chance to visit Dark Moon Island for now. Still, I believe you will have opportunities in the future. I can even apply to relocate the graves of Miss Purr and your forebears back to Dark Moon Island."
"There is no need for that," Karen said.
"As you wish," Ophelia replied with a smile. "Now, please let me know your true realm. Of course, you may continue to insist that you are merely a God's Servant."
Karen looked at Ophelia, his peripheral vision catching the longsword. The red light on its blade had not yet dissipated.
He ran through the entire situation in his mind once more, and upon confirming there were no loopholes, set his glass down on the coffee table.
The next instant, the aura of God's Revelation unfurled;
Followed closely by the aura of God's Shepherd;
And finally,
A faint phantom of an Inquisitor's clerical robe of the Church of Order materialized over him.
Before it could even fully manifest, Karen picked up his water glass again and casually dispelled his aura with an impatient flick.
"Inquisitor."
Ophelia nodded.
"I understand. I am very satisfied, and I believe the family will be as well."
Karen said nothing.
Not only was it inappropriate to speak too much right now, but in any negotiation, the party that spoke less tended to gain more.
"Now, we need to discuss how to deliver our aid to you. I regret that the family has no other connections inside the Church of Order. Even if we did, we could not offer them to you, as that would only risk exposing you."
"Through business with the Allen family."
"The Allen family?" The image of Karen accompanying her to Allen Manor surfaced in Ophelia's mind. "You were very familiar with Allen Manor, yet the people there did not seem to recognize you."
*That's because they're good actors.*
"Miss Purr's lineage never integrated into the main Allen house, did they?"
"Indeed. Out of guilt."
For a very long time, Purr had harbored deep guilt toward her own family.
"I see." Ophelia looked thoughtful, then asked, "Channeling it through the Allen family would indeed avoid suspicion. With a tragic, beautiful love story as cover, everything appears entirely natural.
"However, I am curious: can you control Allen Manor?
"To put it another way, can you reliably secure benefits through their hands?"
"I can."
"May I ask the source of your confidence?"
"My girlfriend is the daughter of the current Allen family head."
"..." Ophelia.
A brief silence fell across the coffee table.
Ophelia processed the revelation. She did not find it strange for Miss Purr's descendant to be with an Allen daughter; in this era, cousins often married, and Karen's bloodline was separated by countless generations.
It was nothing more than sharing a surname.
Her curiosity lay elsewhere.
"Why?" Ophelia asked.
"It was our ancestor's wish. I obeyed the arrangements she made before entering her long slumber."
"So your line has been protecting Allen Manor from the shadows all along?"
"Yes, precisely. That is what I have always done. It was Purr's wish as well, like a whisper in my ear every morning when I wake."
*An Inquisitor, Allen Manor...*
Though Allen Manor had declined, it could still serve as an invaluable framework for Dark Moon Island in the outside world, far more practical than building a new power base from scratch.
Most importantly, Allen Manor had its own established system. Its current weakness offered the perfect opening for a collateral branch to take charge. With proper resources, the chances of a resurgence were very high.
"Very well, our business is settled. Once I return, I will immediately report this and request support resources, channeling them to you through Allen Manor as quickly as possible."
"Thank you."
"May I ask a few personal questions?"
"Go ahead."
Karen used the tongs to drop another ice cube into his glass, noting out of the corner of his eye that the sword was still faintly glowing red.
"Do you hate the Dark Moon?"
Hearing this, Karen instinctively met Ophelia's gaze. "Do you want my honest thoughts?"
"Of course. This is a candid conversation."
"I do not."
"You don't...?"
"Not only do I not hate it, but I actually hold some fondness for it."
That fondness stemmed from Miss Ophelia, who had so earnestly recognized him as kin, and the fine food she had shared with him.
Above all, who could harbor ill will toward their own patron?
"One last question."
"Ask away."
"Karen, in your heart, is the God of Order the one and only?"
Karen smiled.
He felt not the slightest twinge of guilt answering this question. After all, at the Inmerlais home, insulting the great God of Order was practically a daily pastime.
"No."
Ophelia nodded. "Very well. A pleasant conversation, was it not?"
Karen rose, preparing to take his leave, but then paused. There was no reason she should be the only one running a lie detector.
"Miss Ophelia, will you enter an arranged marriage with Mr. Leon?"
"Because of your appearance, the necessity for that marriage has diminished," Ophelia replied.
"Because I am already a viable investment?"
"Naturally."
"Then, Miss Ophelia, is there someone you like?"
"Heh, no."
At that moment, the red light on the sword began to flicker erratically.
"..." Ophelia.
"Rest early, Miss."
Karen gave Ophelia a slight bow and walked out of the room.
Ophelia lifted the longsword, looking puzzled.
"I have someone I like?"
She tapped the flat of the blade with her hand.
"Did the spell malfunction?"
Then, facing the sword, she said, "I do not have anyone I like."
The crimson light on the blade grew even more chaotic.
Ophelia pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Oh no... this sword has turned defective."
...
Back in their room,
Karen asked, "Is there anything left to eat?"
Hearing him, Fanny teased, "Didn't Miss Ophelia feed you your fill?"
She then walked over to Peige, who was lying in bed preparing to sleep, and slapped her backside again, sending a ripple across the flesh. "Come, Peige, feed him full."
"I'm genuinely starving. She didn't prepare any food," Karen said.
"Oh, good thing I saved some for a midnight snack. I'll get it for you."
Fanny retrieved the food from the refrigerator, and Karen sat on the sofa, picking up a fork to dig in.
Lying on her side, Peige looked at Karen and Fanny. "By the way, the captain just sent word: we won't be escorting Miss Ophelia back to Dark Moon Island."
"What's the reason?" Karen asked.
"I wouldn't know," Peige replied. "The captain didn't say."
Fanny chuckled. "What's there to guess? It's the nature of a hunting hound: abandoning a bone in the distance must mean there's meat right before his eyes."
Peige nodded. "True. Tradition dictates we hold a team dinner after every mission. I imagine the captain will announce the next step then."
Fanny remarked, "Right now, I only worry about one thing."
"Worry about what?" Peige asked.
"Whether our Miss Ophelia actually got pregnant or not."
...
The following evening, the banquet began.
It served two purposes: first, to celebrate the complete success of the talks between the Church of Order and Dark Moon Island; second, to see off the Dark Moon Island delegation.
Karen was clearly more experienced than last time. He knew how to seek out the tender roast lizard-dragon neck meat on his own, even carrying an entire platter over to share with Peige and Fanny.
During the banquet, Leon made another appearance and invited Ophelia to dance. Ophelia declined, but Leon remained gentlemanly; far from being offended, he sat beside her and conversed for a long while.
Once the banquet ended,
Neo's squad escorted Ophelia to the docks.
The other delegates had departed earlier and were already waiting aboard the ship.
"Here we are, Miss," Fanny said. "Safe travels on your return journey."
Ophelia produced a gift box and handed it to Fanny, who accepted it.
"Thank you all for your care and protection over this period. This is a small token of my appreciation."
Fanny flicked the bottom of the gift box lightly with her fingertip. Skilled with firearms, her senses in such matters were exceptionally keen; it held nearly thirty thousand point coupons.
Though divided among the squad it would not amount to an enormous sum per person, as a mere "souvenir," it was undeniably generous.
Karen opened the car door first and, following etiquette, offered the back of his hand to assist Ophelia out of the vehicle. Panmir and the maid stepped out as well.
When Fanny got out behind them, she noticed that the longsword resting beneath the seat had not been retrieved, but she offered no reminder.
As Peige turned off the ignition, she leaned back slightly against the seat, sensing through the vibrations that a heavy object that shouldn't be there remained in the car. Stepping out of the driver's cabin, she glanced toward the rear seats and saw the sword;
Then, she pretended not to notice.
Karen, Peige, and Fanny resumed their formal stance with hands folded in front.
Only this time, whereas Fanny had stood at the fore on previous occasions, both Fanny and Peige now stood behind Karen.
Karen noticed, but stepping back now would look too deliberate.
Instead of boarding right away, Ophelia walked up to Karen and asked,
"I am leaving."
"Safe travels."
Ophelia shook her head, glanced up at the moon in the night sky, and said, "Nothing else to say?"
"What else should I say?"
"Say something worthy of our meeting. Only then will I feel this journey to Wien was truly complete and without regret."
"Is that necessary?"
"Of course. I want to hear it."
"But I don't particularly feel like saying it."
Ophelia leaned slightly closer to Karen and whispered, "Then I might just remember that I left my Sword of Arius in the car, you know?"
Karen cleared his throat.
Ophelia took half a step back, smoothed her clothes, and stood with elegant poise. "I am ready."
Karen spoke:
"The crimson crescent outlined the steps of your arrival, and will carry the sails of your departure."
Ophelia nodded,
A smile gracing her lips:
"It is beneath the dappled afterglow of the Dark Moon that I came to see the true you."
Chapter 181