Chapter 339
Eivass’s Excitement
The stranger guessed correctly, but not entirely.
This was because it wasn’t just one of the two individuals at the door—both had arrived.
After all, losers didn’t get to choose their terms or have their souls enhanced by Path Traits. They were ejected immediately after viewing the settlement screen, while winners were kept by the Pillar God for a little longer.
The white-haired old Count, leaning on his cane, rushed in.
He seemed to be experiencing some physical symptoms due to his failed Ascension Ritual. Just yesterday, he had been walking with vigor, but after the ritual, he was immediately using a cane.
Undoubtedly, this was a symptom of severe soul damage.
Yet, even with a cane, his movement was like a speeding car—as if he would miss the train if he delayed any longer, he hurried into the room.
First, he angrily ripped off the red lampshade covering the light, then, enduring the pain, he forcefully kicked aside the offerings with his immobile leg. It seemed the pain itself brought him some comfort.
Although he didn’t lash out at the stranger, his anger was palpable.
“Count Karl…”
The stranger awkwardly stepped forward and greeted him softly.
“Call me General, Lieutenant Lore!”
The old man shouted back in a resonant voice.
As his voice boomed, another voice, crackling like a bonfire, echoed with it.
His golden pupils were sharp and bright, as if perpetually burning with flames. In fact, they were—with just a thought, a newborn Flame Demon could rise from his aged, decaying body.
Normally, he could suppress this impulse and maintain his social standing as a human. But with his damaged soul, a single word caused the room’s temperature to rise abnormally.
“Alright, old friend.”
The middle-aged man, holding a black cane, walked in calmly. “Don’t take it out on Albert; he didn’t do anything wrong.”
He looked to be in his early thirties, with a pair of scarlet pupils. His golden hair was neatly combed back in a slicked style, yet his hair appeared exceptionally thick.
“…Thank you, Your Highness.”
Albert scratched his head and replied politely.
His curly hair was slightly messy from just waking up. He wore black, round-rimmed glasses, making him appear like an introverted and shy young scholar who hadn’t finished university yet.
Albert Lore, the Codename “Stranger,” a gifted Necromancer, was only in his early twenties but had already reached the Fourth Tier. However, instead of dabbling in the Path of Devotion like most Necromancers to become Ghoul Shepherds who could easily summon many skeletons, he chose to dabble in the Path of Balance for two tiers, advancing to an entirely new Extraordinary Profession—the Calamity Stitcher.
The Twilight Path had a unique characteristic different from other Paths.
Without supplementing the desire for advancement through dabbling, the increasing “stillness” of the Twilight Path would halt their progression. Most Extraordinary beings on the Twilight Path would stop at the Third Tier, while reaching the Fourth Tier always required dabbling in another Path to gain basic momentum outside of Twilight.
Becoming a Calamity Stitcher required becoming a second-tier Alchemist.
Compared to Ghoul Shepherds, this was a promotion direction closer to Amber Artisans.
If Amber Artisans were masters of manipulating souls, then Calamity Stitchers were those who spliced and modified corpses. When Albert had just completed his advancement, the first stitched corpse he created was a monster synthesized from four corpses, a Hooked Demon Jack, and a Deformed—which he called an Abomination.
The reason this profession was only discovered now was due to the high social status of Alchemists in the Star Antimony Kingdom. Anyone who could advance to the Third Tier would directly receive a noble title and their own territory. Furthermore, generous funds were allocated monthly for them to practice Alchemy and recruit Alchemy apprentices.
The Twilight Path, conversely, was the opposite. Necromancers could usually only join the army, while Preservers were mere attendants to Alchemists—used to extend the shelf life of precious Alchemical potions or rare Alchemical materials.
Anyone who could become an Alchemist would never choose the Twilight Path.
However, Prince Heinrich—also Count Leipzig and the Lord of the City of Knowledge—recognized the potential of this profession. He directly invested a large sum of money in Albert to sponsor his research.
This initial investment was ten thousand Gold Coins.
A Third Tier Alchemist received a royal subsidy of only two hundred Gold Coins per month—equivalent to over three hundred White Crown Coins in Avalon next door. This meant that upon their first meeting, he had directly given Albert an enormous investment of fifteen thousand White Crown Coins.
This investment yielded very good returns.
Gargoyles were classic creations of Amber Artisans. They mimicked souls and could obey complex orders like soldiers. However, Gargoyles were driven by curses, meaning the simplest dispelling spell could destroy large numbers of costly Gargoyles, and a purification barrier set up by a Priest could render them powerless upon entry.
But as a “Calamity Stitcher,” Albert gave the Prince a surprise.
He spliced an outer layer of flesh and blood with independent consciousness onto the Gargoyle’s exterior to absorb external curses. Then, he covered the flesh and blood shell with a metal casing for protection. In this way, the Gargoyles’ fear of dispelling and purification was resolved.
It was precisely because of his exceptional talent that Albert, as a gifted Necromancer, began to attract the attention of the Royal Family. Established nobles started interacting with him… even the arrogant Count Karl regarded him with a new perspective.
“Based on my understanding of you,” Count Leipzig said with a smile, “you wouldn’t be this happy just because your advancement was successful. Did something good happen?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
It was then that the stranger had the opportunity to recount his experience.
He excitedly told his sponsor in detail about encountering Basil Valentine during his Ascension Ritual. Mid-story, the old Count Karl quietly joined them, listening to his words.
—To the stranger’s confusion, the old man suddenly became angry as he listened. He snorted loudly, and using his cane, moved rapidly to the window, seemingly depressed.
“…To encounter His Majesty.”
Count Leipzig’s expression was somewhat subtle. “He would attend such an event…?”
“I think he was just brought by his friend, that guy named Pomanach—”
Although the other party was the medium through which he met Valentin I, the stranger clearly felt a sense of dissatisfaction towards the person who brought Valentin I to Crescent Moon Manor.
Valentin I was not someone who indulged in carnal desires!
Count Leipzig cleared his throat and reminded him, “The ‘Pomanach’ you mentioned is the ‘Red Phase’ from the early days of the kingdom’s founding.”
Valentin I was assisted by two nameless prime ministers, “Black Phase” and “Red Phase.” They were also instrumental in the smooth operation of the Star Antimony Kingdom in its early days.
“…It was him?”
Albert was somewhat taken aback.
He opened his mouth, was silent for a moment, and then stubbornly said, “Even so, he shouldn’t have taken His Majesty to such a dangerous place for fun…”
“I was transformed into a Child of the Moon by Teacher Pomanach. In that sense, he can also be considered my father.”
Count Leipzig interrupted Albert again and gently reminded him.
“…My apologies, I got carried away.”
Albert immediately lowered his head and apologized.
“It’s nothing; it’s good that you got inspiration.”
Count Leipzig smiled kindly. “Even if your advancement was unsuccessful, it was absolutely not a loss. You are now the Deputy Director of the Third Research Institute. Even if your Twilight Path cannot advance to the Fifth Tier, His Majesty will never forget your contributions—compared to cold Path levels, achievements ultimately prove strength.
“You contribute to the Kingdom, and the Kingdom will remember you. Star Antimony respects Alchemists because Alchemists bring change and development to Star Antimony, not because they possess Extraordinary Power.”
Although his own soul was damaged, Count Leipzig showed no signs of worry.
Instead, he spoke with enthusiasm. “Furthermore, I have also recruited Miss Alistair. If this recruitment is successful… you may meet again in the future.”
On the other side.
Lily and Eivass, having returned to their original forms, swapped their clothes. Haina still hadn’t woken up.
So, Lily began to tell Eivass about her recruitment and the cryptic message left by “Count Leipzig.”
She expressed some concern, “I feel this is a bit dangerous, Young Master. Perhaps we shouldn’t go?”
“No, we definitely must go.”
Eivass smiled. “It’s a rare opportunity to disguise myself as ‘Miss Alistair’… We must go.”
“Then when will you go? You are a Minister now; going abroad will attract attention.”
“During my mentor’s archaeology trip, of course.”
Eivass stated righteously. “When I studied in the Church, it was reasonable for me to travel with my mentor, wasn’t it? I’m not leaving Avalon; I’m just going from the Church to Star Antimony—even if the Star Antimony people’s hands are long, they wouldn’t dare to plant spies in the Church. Who would discover I left the Church?”
Sherlock, however, suddenly asked, “Do you know that Count Leipzig?”
He had keenly sensed the excitement hidden deep within Eivass upon hearing the news.
Eivass paused and smiled at him.
“Of course.”
Eivass replied slowly. “He holds the key… to the next era.”
