Chapter 471
Diomedes: This Road is Blocked
The two contracts were soon completed, signed, and fingerprinted.
Since Alistair obviously couldn’t have the abilities of the Path of Authority, this contract couldn’t be shown to anyone else.
Therefore, the contract’s validity was personally certified by Minister Dross.
He himself was a Law Master, and a Fourth Tier Law Master at that. Even without being the Trade Minister, he could have been a judge in the High Court. His authority was sufficient to complete this level of contract certification ritual.
Under the contract, Alistair promised to do her best to prevent any acts of persecution or harm by the Star Antimony people against Dross… This also prevented Alistair herself from betraying him.
Simultaneously, Alistair also promised not to leak any secrets that could cause material and spiritual loss to Charles Dross.
In return, Dross would adopt Alistair as his adopted daughter and transfer the position of family head downwards to Alistair. Afterwards, he would voluntarily give up the surname Dross and remove himself from the family registry.
After Alistair was done with Diomedes, she was to transfer the family head identity and Diomedes back to Dross’s direct bloodline at a time she deemed appropriate.
In this way, Diomedes’ contract object was transferred.
The guardian spirit, originally bound to serve its previous master until death, became Alistair’s guardian spirit when Minister Dross was no longer the family head, nor “Dross.”
All of this was, of course, done without Diomedes’ knowledge.
Minister Dross did not wish for Diomedes to voice any objections or interfere with this transaction.
He himself thought it through quite well—this contract simultaneously bound Alistair from harming or deceiving him, or leaking secrets, and required her to continuously protect him within the territory of Star Antimony.
Diomedes certainly couldn’t be taken to Star Antimony. But Miss Alistair would definitely be fine. So, in effect, it was like gaining a beautiful young personal bodyguard… which compensated for the loss of Diomedes.
After all, Diomedes was very old, and his “Oath of Devotion” to the Dross Family would likely end in less than two generations.
Similarly, Alistair couldn’t take Diomedes with her, because the guardian spirit’s oath of devotion was only effective within the territory of Avalon. So, before leaving, she had to hand Diomedes over to her descendants.
—He had no intention of taking too many people to Star Antimony.
After all, he had already obtained the power of Twilight, could live for a long time, and enjoy his fortune for a long time.
Aside from taking his wealth, he only needed to bring his most beloved granddaughter, Suriani Dross, and at most Suriani’s mother and his own daughter, Talia Dross. As for other children and relatives, they weren’t needed, nor were the servants.
At that time, Diomedes would serve the Dross Family of Avalon; and Alistair would protect the Dross Family in Star Antimony…
Thinking of this, Dross felt satisfied.
Fortunately, Alistair hadn’t noticed the loopholes in the ritual clauses.
—This was a huge profit!
“…Mr. Dross?!”
Only after the contract was signed and certified did Diomedes rush into the room.
Just moments ago, he had suddenly felt that the object of his “Oath of Devotion” had changed.
Up until now, Diomedes’ change of master had always occurred after the death of the old family head. This change was completely outside his expectations and understanding…
He looked at his new master with some caution: “You are…?”
It was an unfamiliar young girl.
At first, Diomedes thought she was Dross’s illegitimate daughter or lover. But soon, Diomedes’ expression became solemn.
Because he noticed the black crystal cross on Alistair’s chest.
…A black cross, that was the symbol of the Hrasal Empire.
Then, he saw Alistair’s skirt dress. It looked like a style favored by Star Antimony nobles, but it was actually an imperial-era noble gown used in Star Antimony’s retro fashion—the fabrics of the two dresses were completely different.
The texture of the stockings was even more different. The stockings used by the Star Antimony people now were synthetic products of alchemy, but the imperial-era stockings were consecrated silk cotton crafted by elven artisans, and were extremely expensive.
This material was the same as that used for bishops’ vestments, being thicker yet maintaining breathability.
Alchemical inscriptions were written on the stockings, each bearing a maxim:
“The Sun is the Father, the Moon is the Mother.”
“Conceived from the Wind, Nurtured by the Earth.”
—This was classical alchemy from before Valentine’s era!
These were things popular when Diomedes was young.
He was instantly bewildered.
Where did this old antique of a grandmother come from?
But soon, Minister Dross frowned.
As he looked, he felt that the person seemed somewhat familiar…
“She is your future master, Diomedes.”
Minister Dross beside him was smiling and explaining.
But Diomedes, his contract having been terminated, showed no deference to Dross and waved his hand impatiently: “Be quiet, sir. You are no longer Dross.”
At the Pope’s call, the elves voluntarily protected the descendants of heroes who defeated the Giant Dynasty for all races and witnessed the alternation of Pillar Gods, ensuring that the names and legends of these apostles could endure in the Material Realm and not be easily erased by time.
This resolute and prolonged self-sacrifice in a foreign land, without heirs, from childhood to death— this was the sacred cultivation of the Path of Devotion.
It was not that they were willing slaves, loyal to the founding family.
Since the current Dross was no longer Dross, Diomedes no longer had to pay attention to this bothersome fellow.
He simply focused his gaze on Alistair, his brows deeply furrowed.
Alistair also noticed his gaze, turned back with a smile, and politely bowed: “Mr. Diomedes, good day.”
“…Miss, have I met you somewhere before?”
Diomedes suddenly asked.
Hearing this, Minister Dross was startled.
He raised his head and looked at Alistair. Then he looked at Diomedes.
Before Alistair could reply, Diomedes’ eyes gradually widened: “Are you… Countess Beyad? You’re still alive?”
“…You recognize ‘me’?”
Alistair was somewhat surprised.
Beyad had not yet been born when Diomedes became a guardian spirit. And after becoming a guardian spirit, he couldn’t leave the side of the current Dross.
So…
Beyad had visited Glass Island?
“You visited Glass Island once when you were a child. You were much younger then, and your parents were still alive. It was probably… over four hundred years ago.”
“Perhaps you yourself have forgotten, but elven memories are very reliable. Elves rarely forget people they have met, unless they wish to forget.”
Diomedes recalled with some nostalgia.
…No wonder the Summoning Ritual held in Avalon could summon the Shadow Demon Beyad, a former imperial noble, from distant Glass Island.
Even Beyad, as a Shadow Demon, had forgotten visiting Glass Island.
“Back then… what exactly was ‘I’ doing here? Do you remember when I came?”
“It should have been between 1560 and 1570.”
Diomedes’ memory gradually resurfaced, and he replied without hesitation: “Your father was here to discuss business with the Moriarty Family…”
At this point, Alistair suddenly interrupted: “Wait, Mr. Diomedes.”
She looked at Minister Dross, who was quietly listening nearby, her scarlet pupils flashing with dangerous radiance.
“This nameless gentleman… wants to trick me into signing a dangerous contract, and use me as his personal bodyguard. Perhaps he has other intentions towards me…”
“Wait, Miss Crowley!”
Minister Dross sensed danger.
He immediately exclaimed: “We have signed a contract, and no Star Antimony person can—”
“When did I ever say I was a Star Antimony person?”
Alistair interrupted him with a smile.
“But you are from the Crowley Family…”
“Although I am the third daughter of Count Crowley, that does not conflict with me not being a Star Antimony person. However, fine… since you care so much about this matter…”
As Alistair spoke, she stood up and walked slowly to a mirror. She glanced back with a smile, reached out, fiddled with it, and walked in.
When she walked out of the mirror again, she had transformed into Bishop Eivass, clad in a red robe.
“Now, from any angle, I am not a Star Antimony person.”
Eivass’s clear and magnetic voice rang out, a heroic smile on his face. “Do you know what will happen next?”
“I…” Minister Dross couldn’t help but tremble.
“Mr. Diomedes, I know you have been waiting for this day for a long time. Coincidentally…”
Eivass spoke, and a thin card made of red crystal appeared at his fingertips.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly. “I have also been waiting for a long time. You are, after all, a Fourth Tier Extraordinary. Don’t you dare run away without even fighting… you cowardly Antlered Sir.”
Seeing that the situation was dire, Minister Dross intended to flee.
“—Apologies, sir.”
Diomedes stood in his path, his hands behind his back, and said calmly: “This road is blocked.”
Update complete! And now, I dedicate a new book.
