Chapter 2387: The Priest’s Promise

Chapter 2387: Chapter 2387: The Priest’s Promise

"Priest, whether or not I’m a child, it’s hard to say."

Shard replied with a smile, and the Old Cleric ignored this statement, instead looking at the object Shard was holding. His aged face became more wrinkled because of his frown:

"Where did you find this?"

He reached out towards the bone, but Shard stopped him:

"Hold on, Priest. You can’t have this until your ’vacation’ is over."

"I just want to see what condition it’s in now, no need to be nervous."

After saying this, the priest touched the bone, and nothing happened, no sound or light. Shard explained what had just occurred:

"You met the nun in Milestone too. She said her seal isn’t very strong, which is why I wanted to ask for your help. Otherwise, I wouldn’t disturb your vacation."

"That nun is too modest. This seal is excellent, but..."

The Old Cleric carefully felt it and wasn’t afraid of the faint glow from the bone:

"If you want absolute safety, you’d better give it to me. This is the most active bone I’ve ever seen. Although I’m not sure how it was managed or if it relates to the abnormal light on it, other than me, you won’t find another method that’s one hundred percent reliable."

"Almost?"

Shard raised an eyebrow, and the priest nodded, speaking truthfully:

"You could send it into True Death, where the power can definitely suppress any restless death. But the problem is, we’re not sure if this layer of glow would affect death itself. I can feel that although this glow isn’t strong now, its source is rather formidable."

He did not ask Shard for an immediate decision but released his hand:

"The nun’s seal will hold for at least a week. You can first find a safer place to store it and come back to me after you’ve decided. I’ll be at this orphanage the whole time."

The hidden space in the basement of No. 6, Saint Delan Square is a very safe place. Shard is sure that the power of the bone certainly can’t compete with the Ancient God Statue, but he’s worried the bone’s power might damage other items.

Most of his belongings are stored there.

"Hmm... Priest, if I leave this with you temporarily, how will you handle it?"

After pondering for a while, Shard asked, and the Old Cleric answered without hesitation:

"I will temporarily imprison it within my body to calm the restless death. This is your property, and without your permission, I won’t absorb its power."

Shard has significant trust in the Old Cleric’s character, and hearing this, he was indeed tempted:

"Then how will you handle the glow on the bone?"

Lat August chuckled:

"Remember my Core Spirit Rune?"

"I heard about it last summer... at the doctor’s, there was only one, Enlightenment [Glimmer]. (Chapter 39)"

Shard said, and the priest nodded:

"The power of my own death along with the Core Spirit Rune is enough to suppress the light on this bone. But this means that my own power level will temporarily decline to the First or Second Ring, and I won’t be able to use the authority of that Angel, unless I want the bone to lose control like you described."

But temporary power weakening doesn’t matter; I have plenty of alchemical tools on hand, and since I’m always in the orphanage, I won’t encounter any situations that require power."

The priest himself is currently at the Three Rings but can prepare to ascend to the Four Rings at any time.

"Will it cause your power to weaken? That won’t do, Moon Bay isn’t a safe place right now."

Shard immediately shook his head and turned to leave, planning to think of other ways, like shamelessly visiting the "Lake Goddess" in Huntington City again, or having Luviya divine a method, but the priest stopped him:

"This time, I didn’t plan to help you directly in the local area like at Green Lake. You and the doctor said I need to soothe the rift in my heart. Since I’m not directly helping, let me assist you with this."

He pointed at the bone:

"You’re in Moon Bay; even if I encounter big problems, can’t I just ask you for help directly?"

"But..."

"Detective, this isn’t like you, or do you not trust me?"

"Of course not, but are you sure there won’t be any issues?"

"If you have issues, I don’t have any."

Seeing the Old Cleric so confident, Shard finally nodded in agreement. He handed over the bone and watched as the Old Cleric took the scapula and then "inserted" it into his own chest.

Instead of piercing flesh, the surface of the body rippled like water. When the skull fully entered the Priest’s body and soul, Shard shook hands with Priest Augustus again to confirm his condition. Only after "she" assured him that there was no problem did he feel somewhat relieved:

"This is my contact address, our Diviner friend is also here, feel free to contact us whenever you have time."

This time, Shard didn’t provide the address of "Princess Trading Partners," but instead gave the address of the Belindel Estate.

Having been in the area for half a week, Priest Augustus clearly understood what this address signified.

He raised an eyebrow in surprise and sized up Shard:

"Does the Duchess know about this?"

"Um... Of course she does."

"You sure have your ways. Hold on, don’t leave yet, since you’re here, let me give you something good."

The Old Cleric hurriedly left but returned shortly, handing Shard a small bottle:

"Hope it proves useful to you."

The faintly glowing liquid in the bottle was, naturally, Holy Water, which Shard felt with his hand, then looked at the Priest in surprise:

"Holy Water Essence No. 2? Priest, can you now produce this level of Holy Water?"

The Old Cleric was quite pleased:

"Did you think the skull you found at Green Lake only gave me psychological problems? While making Holy Water No. 3 is pretty convenient—I’m stocked up—but making No. 2 Holy Water is limited by raw materials and procedures, hence the low yield. This time, I brought three freshly made bottles from Tobesk, take this one."

Holy Water Essence No. 2 is a truly strategic resource; even with money, it’s impossible to buy, much like Sage Level or Angel-Level Relics never appearing on the black market. The rarity of No. 2 Holy Water is very similar. Although Shard expected the Priest’s "stock list" to grow considerably after the Green Lake incident, he hadn’t anticipated even having items like this:

"Then I won’t stand on ceremony and accept it."

"There’s no need to be formal with me, just as I haven’t been formal with you."

After bidding farewell to the Priest, Shard threw on the Crystal Shoes directly and returned to his home in Tobesk.

Nightfall had arrived, and although the City of Steam, Tobesk, was as usual shrouded in a thin mist at night, the city was much more peaceful tonight than Moon Bay.

After going upstairs alone, Shard saw Galina and Dorothy having tea, discussing topics from a fashion magazine on this summer’s skirt styles.

Noticing Shard didn’t have Mia with him, Dorothy pretty much understood:

"Staying with Luviya tonight?"

"Yes, just came to notify you all. If I don’t return, I’m afraid you’d worry."

Shard spoke with a slight embarrassment. After all, Dorothy and Galina had been residing here recently, yet he wasn’t staying at home; he knew it wasn’t right.

"Shard probably has some strange ideas again. You being with Luviya wouldn’t upset us."

The Red-Haired Duchess said with a smile:

"Then you should hurry on. However, informing us so late, did something happen at Moon Bay again? Calculating the time, Sister Delphine should have already arrived at Moon Bay, right?"

Shard then sat down and briefly discussed the night’s events with them, mentioning Helen and Grace, he glanced at Dorothy, who naturally understood Shard’s meaning:

"Lecia and I won’t be heading to Moon Bay for now. We each have our own matters in Tobesk, and generally, we aren’t much help to you either. But I’m right here, once I step into the basement, I can instantly reach Moon Bay, so if needed, we can appear on the battlefield right away, no rush."

Shard nodded, kissed them goodbye in turn, and then went to Moon Bay from the basement. Of course, as he departed, he carried a file folder, promised by Old John: the investigative report from the Guiding Light Hermit Society on Moon Bay’s Eternal Light organization.

Since he made quite a detour while going home, by the time Shard returned to Belindel Estate, it was already half-past nine in the evening, but the ladies in the estate were still waiting for Shard’s return.

Before he reached the estate, everyone, including Sister Delphine, had been in the study discussing tonight’s events and future plans. The Moon Bay incident had developed to this point, nearing the final showdown. The tense atmosphere, like a gathering storm, was apparent even to Angelina.

But it was already very late, so after confirming Shard’s safe return, the ladies didn’t continue gathering to converse, instead went back to rest.

Sister Delphine hadn’t yet disclosed her whereabouts to the Church, so she and the nuns who accompanied her to Moon Bay were also residing at Belindel Estate.

Thus, the estate’s rooms were somewhat inadequate, but fortunately, there was now a portal in the basement connected to the Radiant Messenger docked at the harbor, which could accommodate up to a thousand passengers.

Having mentioned he’d be spending the night at Belindel Estate upon his return, the Countess eagerly arranged for Matilda to prepare the room Shard had previously stayed in, along with pajamas and toiletries.

The Countess was talking with Megan in the second-floor hallway when she saw her Blonde Maid return swiftly.

The initially graceful Head Maid pursed her lips hesitantly before informing her mistress:

"Miss, Mr. Hamilton said there’s no need to prepare a room, he’s staying with Miss Annette tonight."