Chapter 469
A Whirlwind of Coincidence
“I’m guessing Madam Blood Diamond previously rewarded you with a potion that could extend your life… correct?” Eiv asked with a smile. “But you didn’t use it. You’re quite lucky.”
“…Yes, a bottle of amber potion that could extend my life by three years and grant First Tier Twilight Path energy. Minister Dross nodded with a grim expression. “Fortunately, I hesitated at the time…”
Actually, it wasn’t hesitation—the tremor of True Fire made Dross quickly correct himself. “To be precise, it was because I had already embarked on the Twilight Path and felt I could extend my life through my own power. Also, I didn’t trust the effects they told me, so I presented the potion as a ‘birthday gift purchased from overseas’ to Her Majesty the Queen…”
No wonder… Eiv suddenly realized.
In Eiv’s original timeline, Queen Sophia hadn’t seemed to have such an intimate relationship with Dross. But in the cinematic introduction to this Ascension Ritual, her trust and affection for Dross were almost comparable to Eiv’s relationship with Moriarty in the main world—she regarded Dross as “one of a kind,” a level of absolute trust.
Because if not for that potion, the Queen would have naturally passed away in the winter of 1898. Sophia knew her own body, which was why she trusted Dross so much. Her body couldn’t handle it anymore; she couldn’t possibly have lived until the autumn of 1899. Dross’s offering was like guilt after an affair. He knew he had committed treason, so perhaps intentionally, perhaps subconsciously, he wanted to offer some form of compensation…
From this perspective, Dross’s thoughtless actions had nearly disrupted everyone’s plans. From Star Antimony to Avalon, their plans had been thrown into disarray. Before this, the Star Antimony prophets might have already sensed the Queen’s approaching end. Their original plan was to deceive the weak and naive Isabel, controlling her through Dross and the Lloyd Society. That’s why they set up the Lloyd Society—if they had intended to assassinate Queen Sophia from the start, the setup within the Lloyd Society would have been meaningless.
But because Dross gave a life-extending potion, presented to him by someone else, to Queen Sophia, the Star Antimony people’s plan was directly disrupted. Their economic problems were already severe in 1898. The issue the “King” mentioned about Alchemists squeezing out Botanists happened in the spring of 1898. As a result, they were dragged into 1899, and Queen Sophia was still alive. She might have even reached the Twilight Path energy level, possessing the ability to extend her own life and live for many more years… Judging from her physical and mental condition in the introductory CG, she was significantly stronger than she was “a year earlier” in Eiv’s timeline. She could walk without support and didn’t even pant when speaking.
This was why she wasn’t training Isabel’s abilities, nor was she preparing to hire an assassin to kill herself and activate the Shadow of Avalon ritual. In Eiv’s original timeline, as she neared death, she had already handed over the affairs of state to Isabel. Because Sophia felt her health had improved, she decided she wanted to take charge herself again. The result was that the Star Antimony people were forced to come up with a new plan—assassinate Sophia and replace her with Isabel. Avalon was recovering, but Star Antimony couldn’t hold on any longer.
From the outcome alone, Dross’s unintentional action caused a delay of an entire year. Consequently, even after Star Antimony took over Avalon, they eventually fractured. All of this was due to the severe accumulation of contradictions across various regions of Star Antimony during those years of economic hardship.
Thinking of this, Eiv couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing. So, the fall of Avalon and the fragmentation of Star Antimony were merely due to one inexplicable action by Dross… A “small character”… or rather, not entirely small. His thoughtless act had directly changed the entire global situation. It was practically a whirlwind of coincidence, or perhaps the source of all evil. It was precisely because of his unintentional actions that all coincidences spread, leading to misfortune for everyone involved… It was precisely because Eiv killed him in advance that all of this did not happen.
“…How interesting.” Eiv sighed, shaking his head lightly. The question that had troubled him for so long was finally answered. He looked up and gave Dross a slight, very magnanimous smile. “Very well, I shall now allow you to ask me one question. But let me clarify—if I don’t wish to answer the entire question, I will say nothing. And then your question will have been wasted.”
…Dross felt that “this lord” was becoming less and less subtle. His current tone bore no resemblance to “Eiv” at all, did it?
“Hurry up,” Eiv said coldly. “Your time is running out.”
“One question, then…” Dross immediately began to think.
—Are you Eivass Moriarty?
No, that’s impossible. This question is too foolish, practically a waste…
Then…
—When did your noble will descend upon this body?
Wrong, still not right… Dross thought rapidly and finally settled on a question. “Who exactly are you?”
Eiv’s lips curved upward slightly. He laughed with delight, as if finally relieved. “Some people call me Eivass Moriarty,” Eiv said slowly. “But in some parts of Star Antimony, they refer to me as… —Alistair Crowley.”
The candlelight did not waver in the slightest. It was the truth.
Dross blurted out, “The Crowley Family, where Count Crowley resides?!”
“Yes, that Crowley.” Although it was already the second question, Eiv still graciously nodded in response. The candlelight remained steady.
—So it’s the family of Count Crowley! Dross felt a sudden enlightenment.
The Crowley Family was a supremely powerful family of Demon Scholars, arguably one of the leading families within the “Demon Scholar” faction. While the Royal Family represented Alchemists, the Red Phase represented Witches and Children of the Moon, and the Black Phase represented Prophets and Necromancers, several Demon Families like the Crowleys jointly represented the Demon Scholars. Although they lacked top-tier powerhouses like those in the Red or Black Phases, each family had an Extraordinary of Fifth Tier. United, they could contend with other factions.
The Karl Family, to which General Leo Karl belonged, was also one of these Demon Families. They did not fully obey the Royal Family, nor were they particularly close to the Red or Black Phases. That’s why he came to me for information, why he had an incomplete understanding of the full picture, and why he opposed them… The slight suspicion that had arisen earlier because “Eiv” had asked too many details was now completely dispelled.
As for how “Alistair” entered Eivass’s body, Dross didn’t know, but he didn’t dare to ask. It might be a secret of the Crowley Family… It was certain, however, that he was someone connected to Count Crowley!
“Mr. Crowley!” Minister Dross immediately knelt. “Please save me! I am willing to sign a contract with you!”
“Very well,” Eiv replied readily. His gaze was deep. “I can protect you, as long as I have a say in it… I can also ensure that Madam Blood Diamond can’t touch you ever again. You can still go to Star Antimony, to your Dross Manor, and be Viscount Dross. I won’t stop you. But that depends on your sincerity—what you offered earlier wasn’t enough.”
“…What do you want?” Dross asked cautiously.
This time, Eiv didn’t say anything like “I lack nothing.” He gave a very clear price—
“I want Diomedes,” Eiv said, tapping the armrest with his finger. “Right now. I want him to be useful.”
“…But that is the guardian of the Dross Family…”
“Guardian spirits can be transferred. As long as you accept me as your adopted son, voluntarily abandon the Dross surname, and transfer the position of family head to me. As long as you abandon the Dross surname, you can transfer the guardian spirit without having to die.” Eiv’s lips curved upward slightly, coaxing him. “You can’t exactly bring the Church’s guardian spirit for Avalon to Star Antimony, can you? That would only be for a few months… You’re safe here, aren’t you? As for abandoning the surname… I won’t give it to the newspaper office, and no one else will know, right?”
Seeing Dross’s gaze fall into conflict and hesitation, Eiv gave him no room to think. He closed his eyes lazily and casually ordered, “Alright, go get the ritual parchment. I’ll dictate, and you write.”
“…Yes, Mr. Crowley.” Dross finally made up his mind.
—I’ll sell Diomedes to him.
He wondered what “Alistair” would do with Diomedes… But if the command threatened the guardian spirit’s life or infringed upon its freedom, the guardian contract would automatically dissolve. Diomedes had personally warned him of this when Dross was a child.
…Perhaps “Alistair” would suffer a backlash and die because of it, Dross thought darkly. Even if he wouldn’t need Diomedes after going to Star Antimony, and might even have to find a way to deal with him…having something so precious forcibly taken from his hands still made his heart ache.
“Not Mr. Crowley, but Miss Crowley,” Eiv narrowed his eyes and said leisurely. “‘Alistair Crowley’ is a woman. Don’t write it incorrectly, or the contract won’t take effect.”
“Yes, beautiful Miss.” Minister Dross said respectfully, “I’ll be right back.”
—What’s with the arrogance, you cheap woman! Seeing that he had seemingly escaped a life-threatening situation but suffered heavy losses, Minister Dross cursed inwardly. Eiv, however, simply smiled silently, looking at Dross with quiet intensity. The gaze made him feel a prickle of unease—she couldn’t possibly be a mind reader, could she?
As Dross left the Queen’s chambers in a flustered state, Eiv sauntered over to the full-length mirror. He caressed the mirror, his lips curving upward. “Another powerful combatant obtained. Is this what it feels like to speedrun a second playthrough with a guide…” He had to admit, it was quite satisfying. Soon, his soft palm transformed into a fist, gently striking the mirror. The guardian spirit, Diomedes. He didn’t need to defeat or kill him.
—Because he was the highest-tier resource obtainable from the “Minister Dross” NPC during the Ascension Ritual!
Update complete!
