Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 595 - : 595 Chapter The Doctor’s Bet
Chapter 595: 595 Chapter The Doctor’s Bet
Early Saturday morning, after breakfast, Shard went to Midshire Fort to collect information about the local legends and the Interstice of Life and Death from the House of the Blind.
At the same time, he received good news that the Spiritual Practice Order had acted promptly and had already found an appropriate entrance to the Interstice. The preparation for the ritual would likely take about a day, and the ceremony could proceed tonight.
This was much faster than Shard had expected. He had imagined that even if the Order didn’t ask for any price, they would at least mention the lack of crucial materials and send Shard to collect them, then Shard would embark on subsequent quests such as defeating monsters and evil spirits, delivering letters, mediating family disputes, and exploring ancient ruins before finally completing the ultimate ritual after much hardship.
But now, it seemed he really didn’t have to do anything. However, this was for the better – rescuing the Priest sooner rather than later was preferable to constantly fretting over the matter.
By the time he returned home, it was already ten o’clock in the morning, and since there was a meeting in the afternoon, he did not go out again. Instead, he thoroughly reviewed the collected materials to prepare for the evening’s action.
After lunch, Luviya, Dorothy, and Dr. Schneider arrived one after another. The doctor shared the latest, and it was good news:
“Due to the disappearance of its own students, the Academy has pressured the Church to report the situation in Midshire Fort. The Church gave in yesterday!”
The middle-aged psychologist with blue eyes seemed very happy:
“Since mid-last month, there has been a spate of disappearances in Midshire Fort. Up to the Priest’s disappearance, a total of 32 similar cases occurred within a month. And this is just a preliminary count; the actual number is likely higher, as it’s difficult to include mountain dwellers in the official statistics.”
“Doesn’t that mean almost one person disappeared every day?”
Dorothy asked in surprise.
“There are 32 events, but most involved groups of people vanishing together. Roommates disappearing together, groups of youths venturing onto Sicarl Mountain and never returning. The total number of missing persons is conservatively estimated to be greater than one hundred,”
the doctor said.
“Looking at the past data Dorothy gave me, the local autumn disappearance events were nowhere near this many. Losing a few dozen people in one autumn is the average occurrence.”
Shard said, and the doctor nodded cautiously:
“The Academy informed me that this year is an exceptional case. A major problem arose beneath Midshire Fort, and the Church started preparations last year to reinforce the seals, bringing devout Old Clerics to Midshire Fort in the hopes they could join the ritual.”
“Did the Academy mention the ‘Interstice of Life and Death’?”
Luviya also asked.
“Actually, the Church is also vague about that. All they know is that if there’s a problem underground, the entire Sicarl Mountain will turn into a terror, which might even affect the entire eastern part of the Old Continent. But there’s no need to worry too much. Such highly frequent missing persons cases haven’t arisen since last Wednesday; Priest Augustus is part of the last batch to vanish.”
Shard raised an eyebrow, unsure whether the “Priest’s disappearance” or “the disappearance phenomenon ceasing after Wednesday” was the cause or the effect.
But the happenings at Midshire Fort seemed to be another event of a scale and impact comparable to “the Godfall incident of Tobesk, 1853,” and “the Shadow of Coldwater Port.” Since the arrival of the Outlander, the world had truly been in turmoil.
“Could it be that devouring living people is the way that seal is maintained? The sudden cessation of the disappearance events doesn’t seem like a good omen.”
Dorothy guessed with a frown on her face.
The doctor shook his head, his expression very serious:
“The Church doesn’t want to inform other Circle Sorcerer groups because they worry that if the news leaks, hostile forces will sabotage the upcoming large-scale ritual. There absolutely cannot be any mishaps with this matter, otherwise, the consequences would be no less than the descending of an Evil God. Moreover, the Academy also mentioned that this ritual involves ‘The Chosen One’… I apologize, the part of the information the Academy provided is chaotic, they just let us wait in peace and not meddle in affairs.”
Shard raised an eyebrow, looking toward Luviya, who also glanced at him with her purple eyes.
“The Academy says they will definitely rescue Priest Augustus, so let’s be reassured,”
the doctor said confidently.
“Since when did the Academy care so much about Correspondence Circle Mages like us?”
Dorothy asked curiously.
The doctor hesitated for a moment, lowering his voice:
“The Academy doesn’t want me to say this… but they suspect that Priest Augustus is ‘The Chosen One’.”
Luviya pursed her lips, and Shard’s mouth twitched. Hearing Dr. Schneider say this, the Priest indeed might be The Chosen One. The Church’s special actions clearly implied that the third Chosen One would appear in Midshire Fort, and they had interpreted this content from the Whispering Verses.
And the Priest himself did have very special abilities, his blessings even allowed Shard to traverse the Dark Realm safely.
Although that power seemed to come from a level 0 Relic from the Priest’s younger days involved in an accident, it might as well be the Priest’s own power. Coupled with Priest Augustus mysteriously falling into the Interstice between life and death, as well as his miraculous performances all along, it’s not just the Academy – even Shard had his suspicions at that moment.
“With the Academy and the Church cooperating, I think Priest Augustus can definitely be rescued!”
Dorothy’s voice brought Shard back from his turbulent thoughts. He nodded and then, seeing Luviya wink at him, he said:
“But we can’t stop either. After all, no one knows what will happen next.”
“You’re right, Shard. We’ll still be counting on you,”
the doctor patted Shard’s shoulder:
“But there’s no need to rush like before; our main job now is to await the action of the Church and the Academy. As for our efforts, they just need to be a backup option.”
His intention was to ease everyone’s minds, but he saw Shard shake his head seriously:
“Even though the Church and Academy have intervened, whether they can succeed is uncertain. In fact, I’ve already found a way to rescue Priest Augustus.”
“What? That fast?”
Dr. Schneider was amazed.
“Did you find out yesterday? Why didn’t you tell us?”
Dorothy frowned slightly, while Luviya seemed to have understood and looked at Shard with purple eyes:
“Wait, Shard, you’re not planning to enter that eerie place and rescue Priest Augustus, are you?”
Without Shard saying anything, Luviya still guessed it right away, which might be the unique talent of Diviners.
“Yes, and it’s happening tonight. To be exact, as soon as the sun sets…”
“What? That’s not possible!”
Dr. Schneider’s reaction was more intense than anyone else’s:
“We’ve already lost Priest Augustus, we cannot lose you too. This team, this team…”
The blue-eyed doctor’s eyes widened, and his chest heaved violently, as if he were gasping for air:
“We cannot lose anyone else! I made a vow, to protect everyone, like…”
He didn’t mention the former team leader’s name, but Shard could empathize with the doctor’s feelings;
“Calm down, Doctor, this is the best and most feasible course of action right now. None of you can go to Midshire Fort, only I can. It’s something I should do.”
“Shard!”
The serious voice of Dorothy, interrupted the conversation between Shard and Dr. Schneider, as the blonde girl stared at him with wide eyes:
“You’re going on an adventure again?”
“If I don’t take risks, I’ll never be able to grasp the opportunity I’m after.”
Shard’s right hand palm-up, he made a grabbing motion in the air, and before Dorothy could object, he turned to Luviya and said:
“You’re not going to oppose me too, are you?”
Looking into Shard’s eyes, the purple-eyed girl pursed her lips and didn’t say a word.
“The ritual is tonight, you can wait here for my good news.”
Shard had decided to take this risk, and according to the information obtained so far, this risk was much lower than breaking into the Dark Realm or mistakenly boarding the Fishbone Pirate Ship.
The other three were silent for a while, and it was only after a long time that Dr. Schneider sighed:
“If you’re going on an adventure, what can we do for you? If you had told us sooner, we could have prepared some Relics or Alchemical Tools for you.”
“These are unnecessary, I have my preparations. However, we need to raise 3,000 Gold Pounds for material costs. My friend in Midshire Fort can help me for free, but we have to cover the material expenses ourselves. My funds are a bit tight right now…”
Because he was still acquiring special blood, Shard had only the 2,000 Gold Pounds left from the previous day. Without selling valuables like the Queen’s Ruby Ring, he was indeed very poor.
Dr. Schneider interrupted Shard:
“It’s no bother. I’ll cover the 3,000 Gold Pounds for now. I bet on you becoming the Big City Player champion and won some money, so we’ll use that to rescue Priest Augustus… Although he’s not in Tobesk, he still truly, constantly reminds us not to gamble.”
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No one laughed at the doctor’s dry joke, only the clueless orange cat yawned and then patted Shard’s arm to be picked up.
“Actually, I was about to suggest that each of you three could put in 1,000 Gold Pounds first.”
Shard raised his eyebrows, then Dorothy voiced everyone’s suspicion; Dr. Schneider’s behavior was suspicious:
“Doctor, just how much did you wager on Shard?”
The doctor had originally said he would bet 800 Gold Pounds, but this easy offer of 3,000 clearly indicated he had won a lot.
“Well,”
The doctor touched his nose and looked out the window:
“Since I’ve been unlucky before, how could I let go of an opportunity that might just bring me luck, right? Our Detective has never lost at cards, has he?”
The Female Diviner then gestured a “5” to the other two, whether that meant 5,000 or a five-digit number… It should be 5,000, for even the wealthy doctor couldn’t easily come up with a five-digit amount in Gold Pounds.
There wasn’t much to discuss at this week’s study group meeting, which ended just after 2 p.m. The doctor temporarily returned to his clinic to hand over the 3,000 in cash to Shard. He left soon after, understanding that waiting at Saint Delan Square wouldn’t be of any help.
Luviya went upstairs to continue installing the Astrolabe equipment, also taking care of Mia, while Dorothy went to look for Luviya. Originally, Her Highness the Princess had planned to leave Yordle Palace today to teach Shard about “Sleeping”.
“It’s a pity.”
As Shard saw Dorothy out, the blonde writer expressed her regrets, and then suddenly stood on tiptoes and kissed Shard on the cheek:
“Be careful tonight.”
As for Shard, not wanting to delay in Tobesk, he said goodbye to Mia at home and headed straight for Midshire Fort with the items he had prepared.
Of course, before leaving, he didn’t forget to remind Luviya, busy on the third floor, that there would be Maids coming over for cleaning in the afternoon.
Emerging from behind a hidden wall, he used Lagre’s Leap to go from the basement of the Ruined Tower to the ground. The bats were gone, probably realizing this place was no longer safe after Shard’s last attack.
After leaving the Ruined Tower, Shard habitually looked out from behind the tower at the Midshire Fort stretching to the north before turning to enter the forest.
He had walked this path more than once, navigating through the woods by the position of the sun, and using “Lagre’s Leap” to overcome obstacles that were too difficult to cross.
He entered the forest in the afternoon, and shortly after Shard left the Ruined Tower, fog began to rise in the mountains.
On previous days, he had seen the mists of Sicarl Mountain from the city, but today, as he walked, he was suddenly engulfed by fog rolling down from the mountain. It was like the scattering snowflakes during an avalanche or the sea water swallowing land in a tsunami.
The thick fog poured down, and in a moment, the mist swirling through the forest veiled everything around in a hazy shroud.
