“So, what exactly does ‘Eye of death’ refer to? Does it mean eyes that naturally possess special abilities related to death? Or does it refer to having a demonic eye? Or is it a Miracle related to death and eyes?”
At eight o’clock in the evening, in the living room on the second floor of Xia De’s house, Iluna stood by the window, arms crossed, looking outside. Luvia sat on the sofa, holding a teacup, while Xia De sat on a small armchair with his cat, recounting the events of the fragmented poem.
“It’s hard to say, and although the current fragmented poem can narrow down the search, the current suspects still can’t be ruled out,” Xia De said, holding the cat with one hand and raising a finger with the other.
“First, there’s Sister Devlin, a Eleventh Ring. She personally told me that she can see the secrets of a soul and send them on their way just by looking into their eyes.
Then there’s that little Boy, who I haven’t met yet, who is suspected of being a swindler. It’s said that his eyes can see the exact time and manner of a person’s death. If that’s true, then he also fits the description.
Finally, there’s our friend Priest Augustus. Although I haven’t asked him, I’m almost certain that his eyes also possess power related to death.”
“Isn’t that ruling out no one?” Iluna asked, turning around and leaning against the wall, while the purple-eyed Diviner put down her teacup.
“But at least it’s a very useful clue.”
“How are your coins coming along? Besides the blood money and the 【Standing Coin】 in my hand, how many coins do you have now? Luvia was right this morning; our progress is too slow. I bet the Five Gods Church has already touched upon the true identity of the third Chosen One,” Xia De inquired.
“The day before yesterday, I encountered an accident in the city. After resolving the problem, I obtained a Poet Grade relic, 【Dragon Blood Treasure Coin】. I remember it’s said to be a cursed coin stained with dragon blood. Then I also received the 【Diviner’s silver coin】 from the church as an applied relic. Although it’s a currency-type relic, its main function is divination…” Iluna said, taking out a small cloth bag from her pocket.
“It’s best not to consume this casually,” Luvia reminded him.
“So, we currently have a total of four coins,” Xia De summarized. This was much more difficult than when they were searching for the Chosen One of Darkness.
“By the way, what was with the big earthquake near Sicar Mountain yesterday, Sunday evening?”
When this was mentioned, Iluna’s expression became serious.
“I’ve already received news from the church. They’ve opened up all the data on Middlesburg to me. Investigations show that the earthquake, which occurred around 6:50 PM last night, is related to the inconceivable-grade relic 【Between Life and Death】 beneath the Sicar Mountain area. The power of death caused instability in the whisper element, which then impacted the real world. According to intelligence comparisons from the neutral Ring術士 organization, the Spiritual Cultivation Order, it’s confirmed to be a precursor to a death outbreak. The whisper element, carrying immense spiritual energy, impacted the Gap, thereby affecting the real world.”
“Besides the earthquake, were there any other effects?” Luvia asked.
“Yes, in the near future, many undead will appear in the local area, escaping from the Gap into the real world due to this incident. However, due to the Gap’s own restraints, those undead cannot leave the Sicar Mountain area. Additionally, because of the near-loss of control of the Level 0 relic, the Balance of the four elements has been severely disrupted, so more relics may appear in the area in a short period of time.”
This is an effect caused by the enrichment of the whisper element, belonging to a more profound area of research concerning the four elements, and even related to Aether Mechanics, which the doctor had studied.
“Xia De, the Five Gods Church has already suppressed that earthquake through a ritual. But be aware that not only will the number of undead and relics increase, but all local undead will also become stronger due to the leakage of death.”
In other words, the undead encountered in the Middlesburg area in the coming period might not be so easily defeated.
“I understand,” Xia De nodded.
“There are also some minor, unimportant effects. All the boundaries Between Life and Death in the entire material world were affected last night. This is a true precursor; the problem is already very serious. The church has given me notice to pack my bags, and I’ll probably depart for the Middlesburg area this week.”
Iluna said this last.
“On one hand, it’s for the third Chosen One, and on the other hand, it’s hoped that the power of the ‘Balance’ Chosen One can participate in the large-scale divine ritual that will soon be held there, to temporarily Balance the forces of life and death.”
“That’s good. If you go to Middlesburg, I can take you to touch the statue in the basement of the abandoned tower, so you can travel between the two places at any time,” Xia De said, while Luvia asked,
“Iluna, how does the church plan for you to go to Middlesburg? A week of train travel? A steam airship? Or using extraordinary means to cross space directly?”
Steam airships are considered the highest achievement of steam industry in this era, flying vehicles jointly developed by the two great kingdoms and the Creation Church. Xia De had seen photos in books; their appearance perfectly matched his understanding of the Steam Age and steampunk.
Steam airships haven’t been put into commercial use yet, but the church certainly has them.
“Airship. Not considering extreme bad weather, the journey will take about two days,” Iluna said, moving from the window to sit on the sofa. She glanced at Mia, whom Xia De was holding; the cat looked lazy.
“It’s not a spatial transfer, and it’s not an immediate departure, which means the situation hasn’t reached its final moment,” Luvia nodded, her purple eyes fixed on the air in front of her, pondering these questions.
“So, has the church told you about the third Chosen One?”
“Not yet, but it’s been revealed that the third Chosen One is key to resolving the impending death outbreak.”
“See, these two troublesome things are overlapping,” Xia De murmured softly.
“This Sunday, I’ll go see the Boy who can see death. Then I’ll contact Priest Augustus to inquire about the secret of his eyes. As for Sister Devlin, I’ll think of a way; my relationship with that Sister is pretty good.”
“It seems I’m useless again,” Luvia sighed, sitting on the sofa, but compared to her emotional outburst during the second Chosen One, she was much more normal now.
“Don’t say that. We just don’t have enough coins. After I see that Boy, and then Priest Augustus, you can use two or three coins to divine whether I met the Chosen One that day, just like the day I met Darkness at the Pink Rose Hotel.”
Xia De leaned back on the sofa, then thought of Miss Black and Miss White, and the images of them in Mr. Passolo’s memory.
“Moreover, the trouble in Middlesburg is probably not just about the Chosen One and Between Life and Death.”
“What else is there?” Luvia tilted her head, looking at him.
“My old friends, old friends I met in the past.”
“Oh?” Iluna and Luvia both looked at him. They both knew that the time point of the time key was an entire epoch different from the present.
Luvia hesitated for a moment.
“This time, another inexplicably strong witch isn’t going to jump out and kiss you again, is she?”
