The hearse drove along the highway in the dead of night. Alfred tapped the car radio twice, and a soothing song flowed from the speakers.
"Cradled by dawn across the wilderness, I yearn for your arrival;
Tracing the shadows of the streetlamps, I search for your traces;
Gazing upon the brook before my door, I picture your silhouette;
I once thought youth's road led always to distant mysteries,
Never noticing that from the very beginning, you stood right where I began..."
"What song is this?" Karen asked.
It was rare for a song to sound so neat and symmetrical once translated in Karen's mind.
"'Footprints.' The lyrics, composition, and recording were all done by one man, a native of Saint Antis named Jingduo. He visited Ruilan once, and I even shared a meal with him back when I was working at the radio station."
"Does he have many works?"
"A great deal. He's quite famous in the realm of romantic pop music."
"Then why haven't I heard you play his songs before?"
"Because there is a stark divide between his music and his character. He's brilliant at writing love songs, but his personal life is utter debauchery. He's been married six times, kept countless mistresses, and lives in complete shambles. I thought it would be improper to play his music for you, Young Master."
"It doesn't violate any core principles, so it doesn't matter."
Karen turned his head and looked out at the night scenery beyond the car window.
Alfred took a deep breath, his fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel. Perhaps this was his way of expressing closeness to the young master. When the young master had thanked him earlier, Alfred had suddenly felt a warm sense of intimacy.
People had many ways of showing intimacy—like walking up and giving someone an affectionate punch on the arm.
Using a mild offense to demonstrate closeness wasn't meant for onlookers; it was for oneself.
Alfred, however, would never dare punch his young master. The most he dared do was play music by an artist of questionable morals.
Seeing that Karen wasn't angry, Alfred felt thoroughly pleased.
Just then, a moving truck appeared ahead. Standing on top of the truck were two figures clad in black divine robes.
"Young Master, Church of Order robes."
"Follow them and take a look," Karen instructed.
"Yes, Young Master."
The hearse accelerated, drawing close to the truck.
*Clang!*
A loud crash rang out as the two rear doors of the truck bed broke clean off. Alfred swerved sharply in time to keep the hearse from getting scratched.
Inside the truck bed stood a woman whose eyes glowed with an eerie green light. She raised her hands toward the sky, and in an instant, two thick vines pierced straight through the roof, binding the two robed figures.
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
Both men let out bloodcurdling screams.
Karen sighed. His figure dissolved into black mist and drifted out the car window, reforming atop the truck roof. Two blades of dark energy materialized in his hands—the Dark Moon Blade. With a sweep to either side, he sliced clean through both vines.
Freed from their bonds, the two Order priests plummeted. Blood covered them from head to toe; barbs on the vines had clearly torn deep into their flesh, and without a doubt, carried venom.
Two chains of Order sprang from beneath Karen's feet, wrapping around the two men to keep them from falling from the speeding vehicle.
Behind the woman below, two more vines sprouted from her back, hoisting her body upward as she climbed out of the truck.
Karen whipped the chains backward and released them, and Alfred, having already brought the hearse to a halt, caught the two priests immediately.
The woman was already right in front of Karen. She opened her mouth and spewed a hail of green barbs.
A mantle of pitch-black armor etched with intricate runes formed over Karen—the Sea God's Armor. The instant the barbs made contact, they froze solid, giving whatever volatile venom they contained no time to react.
Karen surged forward, flashing past the woman as his Dark Moon Blade pierced straight through her chest, leaving a gaping hole.
Absolute speed paired with absolute defense made combat remarkably simple.
It was a pity that during the selection, he had needed to hold back his true strength.
Karen turned and pointed forward, conjuring a protective barrier directly in front of the truck.
*Crash!*
The truck slammed straight into it.
Dropping to the ground, Karen reappeared beside the driver's seat. The driver, a man, spotted Karen and instantly raised a crossbow, pulling the trigger.
*Thrum!*
The spell-infused crossbow bolt struck Karen's Sea God's Armor. Before it could detonate, a layer of frost enveloped it into an icy sphere. Karen hurled the orb off the highway, where it exploded harmlessly down below.
The man drew a dagger. Rather than flee, his body twisted at an unnatural angle as he burst out of the mangled cabin and lunged toward Karen.
Yet before he could even get close, translucent rectangular borders materialized around him.
"Order — Cage."
Karen raised his hand, lifting the Order Cage into the air, then swung his hand downward, slamming the cage into the pavement.
The trapped man struck the bars frantically, but his attacks did nothing more than drain a trivial amount of Karen's spirituality.
"Young Master!"
Alfred approached carrying the two injured men and set them on the ground.
Karen inspected their condition, casting a low-tier healing spell followed by a layer of purification.
Just as he finished, a group of people wearing black clerical robes hurried to the scene, led by a middle-aged woman. They appeared to be a Whip of Order squad carrying out an assignment.
"Thank you for your assistance. May I ask who you are?"
"These two need to be sent to a church hospital for treatment," Karen said, gesturing to the wounded priests.
"Understood. I'll see to it."
"The woman is dead, but I left the man alive for you."
"Thank you very much. May I ask your—"
"I have other matters to attend to. Farewell."
Karen climbed into the hearse. Alfred promptly slid behind the wheel and drove off, and the Whip of Order squad made no move to stop them.
After driving for a short while, Karen spoke up. "Alfred, was I a bit too cold to them just now?"
If it had been before tonight, Alfred would have answered: *Not at all, Young Master. You already saved their people.*
Tonight, however, Alfred replied, "That is because you viewed them as little ducklings, Young Master."
Karen massaged the bridge of his nose and nodded. "Yes. I was looking down on others."
"Is that what's troubling you, Young Master?"
"I just completed the selection and saw the most outstanding people of my generation—and well, I felt I was superior to them. Then came the victory banquet. In truth, it's not just tonight; the tendency began even earlier."
"Are you reflecting on yourself, Young Master?"
"Yes. I shouldn't be like this. If I've already developed this mindset toward my colleagues, how will I treat ordinary people? Alfred, if I start floating above myself like that again, remind me."
"Understood, Young Master. I know this is your pursuit of staying grounded in the dust of the earth."
"Then let's correct it starting now. Did they introduce which squad they belonged to?"
"No, Young Master."
"Note down the time and location, then report it to the captain for me. He should be able to figure out which squad received my help. Let the captain go collect a favor or compensation on my behalf. That should keep me grounded."
"Wise as always, Young Master."
***
The hearse pulled into the parking area in front of the funeral parlor. Alfred stepped out first and handed the leftover food to Karen so his young master could carry it inside.
Walking into the back courtyard, Karen saw Xili.
"You're back, Young Master. I'll go prepare a midnight snack for you."
"No need. Take this food, see what needs heating, and bring a portion up to my bedroom. Divide the rest among everyone so they can have a taste. Make sure to tell them to savor it; these ingredients are very precious."
Expensive food was not necessarily delicious, but when people enjoyed costly delicacies, their bodies produced far greater feelings of joy and satisfaction.
"Understood, Young Master."
Karen was about to head to the master bedroom to recount the details of the selection to Purr, Kevin, and Alfred, but as he passed Madam Lake's door, he heard soft sobbing from within.
Normally, Karen would not have pried. Everyone was entitled to their privacy, and not every tear called for comfort.
Yet he had just reflected on himself, and he also realized that to save trouble, "Mr. Pavaro" had not "come home" for a visit in quite some time.
With a flash of his ring, Karen assumed Mr. Pavaro's appearance.
He had not used this guise in a while, as Mr. Pavaro's identity was of limited practical use to him now. Even so, Mr. Pavaro held a unique significance in Karen's heart.
Before meeting Pavaro, Karen had assumed the Church of Order was fundamentally no different from any other church—just another faith preaching its own doctrines, cut from the same cloth.
It was Mr. Pavaro who had shown him true Order, and what the Church of Order ought to be.
"Young Master, I don't recognize most of this food. I'm not sure which ones need heating and which don't."
"Go ask Alfred... No, go ask Purr. It will know."
"Yes, Mr. Pavaro."
Xili turned around, then froze. Instinct urged her to double-check whether her eyes were playing tricks on her, but her paycheck compelled her to soldier on.
Karen knocked on the door. The weeping inside ceased, and moments later, the door opened. Madam Lake stood there, and the moment she saw her "husband" standing before her, she burst into a giggle.
"Please, come in."
Madam Lake pulled up a chair for Karen, gesturing for him to sit, while she sat on the edge of the bed, still chuckling. "You really don't need to do this."
"Heh." Karen offered a sheepish smile.
He realized he had misread the situation; Madam Lake hadn't been crying out of longing for Mr. Pavaro, but over something else entirely.
Sitting on the edge of the bed in a silver-white nightgown, Madam Lake left much of her neck and chest bare. What caught the eye most, however, was her figure as she sat upon the mattress; the loose nightgown allowed her hips to spread generously.
Karen recalled that when he had accidentally wandered into Dora and Doreen's room before, while Xili and Madam Lake were bathing the two girls, he had noticed Madam Lake's figure was no smaller than Xili's, and perhaps owing to her age, carried an even softer fullness.
"Did the girls upset you?" Karen asked.
"No, I'm just brooding over nothing. Tonight, seeing Dora and Doreen clinging so affectionately to Teacher Daishan made me feel an odd pang of jealousy. Once I lay in bed, the more I dwelled on it, the more emotional I became, and I couldn't help crying. Really, I'm just making a fuss over nothing, haha."
"Children grow up. Gradually, they stop needing their parents' protection as they once did, and they come to view their parents' embrace as a cage. Everyone goes through this process. It's only because of Dora and Doreen's past condition that they had to rely on you completely, and you grew accustomed to that dependence. Now it's proven that they are hardly any different from normal children, and they're growing up. You should be happy for them."
"Yes, you're right."
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Right. I'm sorry, I should have been more serious, hehehe." Madam Lake covered her mouth and giggled again, genuinely unable to help herself.
She knew the proper response was to sit across from her "husband," share what had happened recently, and give her emotions a temporary harbor to rest in.
Yet the moment she remembered who her "husband" truly was, she simply couldn't keep a straight face.
Seeing Karen to the door, Madam Lake said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. It was thoughtless of me."
"No." Madam Lake stepped forward as if to embrace him, but checked herself. "It's precisely because you've already done so wonderfully that I don't need this anymore. One has to learn contentment to be happy, don't they?"
"Yes, you're quite right."
Karen turned away, reverting to his original appearance as he walked toward his bedroom.
Pushing open the door, he found Purr, Kevin, and Alfred already seated on the rug around the coffee table.
Purr chimed in, "We're waiting for a delicious midnight snack—oh, and a splendid story to go with it. For instance, the tale of how our little Karen showed those so-called geniuses what a true genius looks like."
Karen sat down in an empty spot and began recounting the events of the selection. Unlike his previous account of the trip to Dark Moon Island, where he had needed to omit details regarding Ophelia, this retelling was smooth and uninterrupted.
Just as he finished, Xili brought in the midnight snack and arranged the dishes on the coffee table.
Purr pointed a paw toward a plate of bright red sliced meat and said to Xili, "Redivas shark sashimi. Eat plenty of it; it aids your physical development."
"Eh?" Xili was baffled by the unfamiliar name.
Misunderstanding her confusion, Purr clarified, "It makes your rear end bigger."
As it spoke, Purr raised its front paws and mimed a voluptuous curve.
Xili's face flushed bright red. Setting down the drinks, she turned and hurried out of the bedroom.
Karen remarked, "Sounds like you ate quite a lot of it in the past."
Purr furrowed its brow. "I avoided it! I'm perfectly satisfied with my figure. Otherwise, how could a certain someone have been unable to resist sneaking a touch?"
Alfred and Kevin focused entirely on eating; in that moment, man and dog alike had gone completely deaf.
"By the way," Karen said, changing the subject, "you and Alfred will follow up on the salvage of that Rax copper coin. When we have free time later, we'll head out to sea."
"Even though I know you're changing the subject, since you've decided to take me out to sea again, fine, I agree!"
Karen picked up a slice of meat with his chopsticks and held it before Purr, who opened its mouth eagerly.
"Meow~"
Chewing on the meat, Purr said, "That girl named Philomena... I don't know if I'm right, but I certainly hope she isn't from the Felscher family."
"You know that family?"
"Oh, no, I don't." Purr shook its head. "But regarding that method of treating reality as a dream and dreams as reality—I heard someone mention it once. He gave his assessment of it."
"What did he say?"
"'Rather interesting.'"
***
*Creak...*
The villa door was pushed open. It was a seaside residence situated in the southeastern part of York City.
Philomena walked inside and saw a kindly old woman sitting there knitting a sweater—her grandmother.
She also saw a man bound by a dog leash, lying curled at the old woman's feet, sleeping soundly with his head resting on his hands—her father.
She knew she had once possessed a grandfather and a great-grandfather, as well as elder uncles, but none of them remained. Her father was the fortunate one, granted the chance to live on like a dog.
"You're back?" Madam Felscher asked.
"Yes, I'm back."
"Did you secure the placement?"
"No, I failed to qualify."
Madam Felscher looked at her with a gentle smile. "It doesn't matter. Don't take it to heart."
"Yes, Grandmother."
Philomena took a small knife from a shelf and plunged it into her chest, missing her heart.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, she drew the knife out, washed it with water at the sink, and placed it back on the shelf, casually casting a healing spell on herself to stop the bleeding.
"Did you go see your mother?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I didn't want to."
"Very well. Did you investigate that person?"
"I did."
"And the result?"
"No results. It's as though he vanished."
"Vanished?" Madam Felscher looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "It seems my influence has truly run out."
"No. I could tell those two grandfathers were very thorough in helping me look into it, but they couldn't find a single shred of information about him. It's as if he never existed."
"Heh. A priest of the Church of Order, yet not a single trace of him can be found within the Church itself."
"Grandmother, I did my best."
As she spoke, Philomena reached for the knife on the shelf once more.
"Stop. You did nothing wrong in this matter."
Philomena lowered her hand.
Madam Felscher spoke with deep, heavy earnestness: "Child, you must remember: it was that man who destroyed the Felscher family. He destroyed your grandfather, your great-grandfather, me, your father, and... he destroyed your childhood. I want you to remember him forever—the eternal nightmare of the Felscher family, the surname that ought to be cursed ten thousand times over...
"Inmerlais!"
Chapter 326