Chapter 547
You are much stronger than your father.
Listening to Rabih and Sherlock’s conversation, Eivass realized something else.
If the Beast Song tribe ranked in the top three or top five…
Eivass fell into deep thought.
Undoubtedly, although Old Rabih was cunning, he was definitely not a Fifth Tier.
And although Bram had stolen the power of the Wildfire Giant, which was comparable to the Fifth Tier, he himself was only a Fourth Tier.
The tribal leaders of this era did not dare to provoke Bram, even when their own fathers were captured. Clearly, he was not a Fifth Tier either. Such a tribe could be considered among the top three on the Southern Continent.
…This means that the total number of Fifth Tiers on the entire Southern Continent is less than three?
No wonder the Iris people and Goblins ran rampant there…
And from Young Rabih’s words, it seemed that besides the Avalon people, both the Iris people and the Star Antimony people… and even the Anxi people to the east of the desert, had established their own influence on the Southern Continent.
It was understandable, as many materials for rituals, potions, and curses came from the Southern Continent.
Avalon had previously restricted the development of other Paths, which was why they did not care about these resources.
For the Star Antimony people, who possessed Transcendence, Balance, and Love; the Iris people, who possessed Adaptation and Love; and the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi, which shared the characteristics of Transcendence and Adaptation, these materials were severely lacking.
I’ll mention this to Isabel next time I see her. It’s not an urgent matter, but merchants move very slowly. It takes at least a few professional research reports to get them to act…
As Eivass was contemplating, the people inside the house then came out.
Bram and Rabih had the familiar triangular light shackles around their necks and wrists—these were restraint spells from the Path of Authority, implemented through divine arts.
Unlike Rabih, Bram’s spirit had visibly weakened. He was biting a pillar of light, rendering him unable to speak. His mouth was caved inward, a sign of his missing teeth.
Making someone bite a pillar with a mouth full of missing teeth… it seemed the Elves were not as purely benevolent and weak as Eivass had imagined.
Seeing this, Young Rabih walked over nervously and asked in fluent Elven Language, “Excuse me, what is this? Why are you taking my grandfather as well?”
“He also committed a crime.”
Pure White replied, “He cursed Zumadi.”
“…Zumadi did not forgive him?”
Upon hearing this, Young Rabih frowned slightly and looked at Zumadi, who had red skin.
Only at this moment could one see that he was indeed the young tribal successor.
Zumadi repeatedly shook his head in fear, bowed, and waved his hands, sweat pouring down his face, making gurgling sounds.
Old Rabih’s calm words stopped his explanation and made Young Rabih turn his gaze to him.
The old Troll berated him gently for a moment.
Then, he lowered his head, looked at Eivass and the others, and said in fluent and standard Avalon language, “Zumadi forgave me, of course. I was just going into hiding to escape the storm.”
“Escape the storm?”
Eivass was taken aback.
Bram had been arrested; what storm was there to escape?
But this old Troll was certainly not a simple person, and Eivass dared not completely disregard his words, so he kept them in mind.
The last person who made Eivass feel such pressure was his foster father, Professor Moriarty.
“You don’t need to worry about the damage to this building. A Bishop will come to repair it later. You can watch if you’re interested, or you can leave for now if you’re not…”
Pure White said softly to Eivass, “Tomorrow I will go see Janis… If you wish to come, you can. You can serve as a notary.”
After eating Eivass’s dates, she now clearly valued Eivass greatly. Even for conversations involving personal privacy, she was willing to bring Eivass along.
However, as “one” notary… this implied that Sherlock and Lily could not accompany them.
“Okay, I will definitely come.”
Eivass nodded without hesitation and readily agreed.
He never missed out on opportunities to spectate.
Thus, the group apprehending the criminals left from Eivass’s sight.
But at the moment they passed each other, the old Troll suddenly spoke in Avalon language in a low voice, “You are much stronger than your father.”
“…What?”
Eivass was stunned.
He glanced at Sherlock, confirming that Old Rabih was speaking to him.
He suddenly turned his head, looking at the back of the old Troll.
My… father?
Which father of mine do you know?
If you’re referring to the High Priest Giulio, how could he know Old Rabih?
And if it’s the latter… Eivass truly didn’t feel he deserved the evaluation of being “much stronger than Professor Moriarty.”
But Old Rabih offered no further explanation. After saying this, he stooped and followed the Saintess and the Pope’s Guard away. Young Rabih waved to Eivass and then left with his grandfather.
“Was he referring to Professor Moriarty?”
After he left, Sherlock said softly, “Did the Professor also go to the Southern Continent?”
“…I actually suspect,” Eivass gazed at the retreating figure of the old Troll, “that the Controlled Fire movement is related to him.”
—A brief death, or a solidified life.
To resist the fate of Amber through fierce yet meaningless resistance.
As long as the originally calm lake turns yellow and turbid… the water in the lake will naturally churn and flow. This is a wildfire that forces everyone to leave their positions… but it is also a controlled fire.
Eivass mused, while Sherlock on the side lowered his head in thought.
After a moment, Eivass put his arm around Sherlock’s shoulder, “Alright, stop thinking. Let’s go get something to eat… The three of us seem to have been left here by Her Highness the Saintess.”
“She’s probably in a hurry to ask about that Troll. It’s a serious matter.”
Sherlock casually said, “Where are we going after we eat? To find Miss Freya, or… that man?”
“Let’s go see my sister first. Master Janis should be there too,” Eivass replied. “If Her Highness Pure White doesn’t handle it well, we might not be able to see Master Janis tomorrow. Let’s meet her while she’s still stable.”
“Okay.”
Sherlock nodded as well.
Although the Fifth Ring was much less crowded than the First Ring, there were still quite a few shops. They soon found a curry shop run by Lizardmen. Lily had never eaten such a thing before, but Sherlock had eaten it when he traveled to the Iris Flower country, so he skillfully ordered mild spice.
Eivass, on the other hand, unhesitatingly ordered extra spicy.
Admittedly, the Church was much better than Avalon in terms of cuisine. Eivass had lived in Avalon for so many years, and the most delicious food he had was still Iris cuisine. He had never quite understood Lixia, who could eat fried chicken and fried fish with gusto… Even for Iris cuisine, he felt the flavors were so bland.
Of course, one reason for this was that spices were more expensive in Avalon. After all, Avalon could only purchase spices from the Star Antimony people and the Iris people, and could not buy them directly from the Goblins.
However, as Avalon opened trade routes in the Southern Continent, this situation might change somewhat.
…It might change somewhat. Probably. Eivass was not entirely sure.
They didn’t know Freya’s exact location, but as an Archbishop, Eivass’s word was quite influential in the Church. After inquiring with a few Elves who might know her, they easily found a clue.
The helpful Elves were very willing to assist Eivass, and through a relay of four groups of people, they were escorted to their destination.
However, it was clear that during their idle chat along the way, these Elves had somewhat peculiar comments about Freya:
“Ah, that eccentric person… I don’t really interact with her much.”
“Archbishop, are you going to treat Miss Freya?”
“At this hour, Freya might still be asleep. If she’s not awake yet, you can come and see my research institute. It’s just next door.”
They soon arrived at Freya’s research institute.
It was called a research institute, but from the outside, it looked like a large wooden villa.
Eivass politely declined the enthusiastic invitation from the friendly Elf lady but accepted a bag of fruit she gave him.
It was a soft, purple-red fruit that looked like a peach or a pear. It seemed to be a new variety she had developed.
It smelled quite fragrant. But recalling the similar red sphere in the wine glass Bram had drunk earlier, Eivass felt slightly nauseated.
After bidding farewell to the Elf researcher in the white robe, Sherlock, who had been silent all along, finally grumbled:
“…It’s past noon and she’s still not awake?”
“That’s indeed a bit outrageous…”
Eivass nodded, his expression also somewhat strange: What kind of summer break schedule is this?
He became somewhat interested in his “unmet” sister.
And… does she have any old illnesses or injuries that require an Archbishop’s treatment?
To the extent that passing Elves would assume she needed an Archbishop to personally treat her…
Thinking thus, Eivass knocked on the villa door.
(End of Chapter)
