13 Mink Street

Chapter 179: Karon’s Origins

The formal talks between Darkmoon Island and the Church of Order began.

Last night, the Darkmoon Island delegation had already communicated and confirmed the specific details of the terms with the relevant officials of the Church of Order. In fact, the broad direction of the negotiations had already been under discussion for quite some time even before Ophelia had ever arrived in York City, so her trip was more of her coming on behalf of the Darkmoon family to sign the agreement after both sides had already reached a basic consensus.

That did not mean it was a mere formality, because there were still some more sensitive details that needed Ophelia to sit down and negotiate personally with a Bishop from York City who was specifically responsible for the matter. The closer things came to the final stage, the more care had to be given to certain difficult details, because anything left to the very end was bound to be an issue both sides valued greatly.

To the Church of Order, Darkmoon Island was the smaller side negotiating with the greater one, but looked at from another angle, even the slightest concession by the Church of Order on certain matters would mean enormous benefits for Darkmoon Island.

The conference room was very large. Karon, Paige, and Fannie sat in the front row, while further along the same row sat Panmir and the new maid. Behind them were the lower-level members of the Darkmoon Island delegation and the relevant personnel from the Church of Order. From time to time, people from inside the negotiations would step out to ask for specific figures and details.

That was not to say that Karon and the others were qualified to attend the meeting, because around the oval conference table where the formal negotiations were taking place, there was a black barrier completely enclosing it. Within that barrier, Ophelia and Bishop Fexis sat with roughly ten core personnel each, conducting the final round of negotiations.

Sitting outside the barrier, Karon could only make out the colors of the clothes different people were wearing inside. He did not even have the chance to read lips.

After sitting there for a long time, boredom was inevitable. Karon turned his head and saw that Fannie was reading a newspaper, but there was a faint fluctuation of spiritual power flowing through it.

Fannie noticed Karon’s gaze and passed half the newspaper to him. Karon took it and discovered that the photographs on it actually moved, and that some of the text boxes could scroll as well.

Was there even this kind of newspaper? Karon looked at the top of the paper: Order Weekly.

As the name suggested, it was an internal publication of the Church of Order.

”You’ve never seen one before?” Fannie asked.

Karon shook his head.

”That’s normal. Thirty Order credits per issue, and there is no discount for a monthly subscription.”

A newspaper with a monthly subscription fee of one hundred and fifty Order credits? No wonder Karon had never seen one in Pavaro Funeral Home: A Divine Servant only received a monthly stipend of 100 Order credits, which was not even for even one month of the newspaper. Mr. Pavaro would certainly never have spent such precious credits on something like this.

”You subscribed?” Karon asked.

”No. I don’t have time to read these. There are copies on the rack outside the meeting room. You can take one for free. If you want to subscribe, just send someone to the Academy Building on Sycamore Street to pay.”

”Alright, I understand.” Karon planned to subscribe. He had always had the habit of reading newspapers, and now that he was in Nio’s squad, he did not need to worry too much about credits and could afford the expense.

The paper’s content was basically all related to the Church of Order, along with some articles by senior figures sharing their thoughts and insights, and also some practical material on the application of Arts. But what surprised Karon was that a portion of it was devoted to news from the real world. There was one page divided into two halves. The top half reported that John Rotini had successfully been elected mayor of Manral City, and it also included his campaign platform, which called for freedom and democracy.

The bottom half reported on Mr. Comer Luder’s speech rally, where he called on all purple-haired people to unite in peaceful demonstrations and oppose violence and disorder.

An internal publication of the Church was actually devoting such a large amount of space to reporting on two ordinary social figures; Karon found that very interesting. There had to be some deeper significance behind it.

The morning talks ended. Once the barrier was withdrawn, it could be seen that the representatives of both sides were smiling and exchanging greetings, then each side withdrew to rest in preparation for the afternoon session.

”Do you think the negotiations are succeeding?” Fannie asked Karon.

”I don’t know,” he replied.

During the course of the conference, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, neither side held any shared meals, and each side ate separately.

At two in the afternoon, the talks resumed. It was the same situation as in the morning. This time, Paige also picked up a newspaper and held it in front of her, then nudged Karon lightly with her elbow. ”If I fall asleep and start snoring later, pinch my thigh.”

”Alright,” Karon nodded.

Paige used the newspaper to cover her face, closed her eyes, and drifted off. After a while, Fannie did the same. Karon, meanwhile, picked up a copy of the Light of Order and began reading. Before long, he heard snoring. It wasn’t Paige, but Fannie.

He reached out and casually gave her thigh a light pinch. Fannie opened her eyes, smiled at him in understanding, adjusted her posture, and went back to sleep. A while later, Paige started snoring as well. Karon pinched her thigh too. She woke up, smiled at him, shifted slightly, and continued sleeping.

Over the rest of the afternoon meeting, Karon nudged Fannie three times and Paige six times. By the time the meeting ended and people began filing out, both women stretched in clear satisfaction.

”I am not usually this sleepy. It’s just that in this kind of serious setting, I can’t help getting drowsy,” Fannie said.

”Same here,” Paige yawned.

Karon said, ”The negotiations probably didn’t go all that well, because they added an extra meeting tonight.”

Originally there had only been a morning and an afternoon session, but an evening session had been added, and that one did not end until late into the night.

After escorting Ophelia back to her room, the two women unceremoniously occupied the big bed from left and right. Even though they had slept through most of the meetings, they were still utterly exhausted, even more so than after fighting the night before.

Karon was just about to rest on the sofa when the doorbell rang. It was Ophelia calling for him. This was the first time the two of them were to meet this late at night while still inside the hotel. There was an exquisite supper spread out on the tea table before Miss Ophelia, but Karon had no appetite at this time.

”The negotiations are not going smoothly,” Ophelia said.

”Mm.” Karon responded and took the ice water offered by the maid, drinking a large mouthful.

The maid froze for a moment, then silently brought a cup of hot black tea to her own lady.

”So tiring,” Ophelia sighed. At the same time, she stretched her legs out along the sofa. She was wearing traditional Darkmoon clothing, a kind of one-piece dress somewhat similar in style to a qipao, but without slits.

Still, in this posture, her smooth calves and even part of the area above her knees were revealed. ”Mr. Karon, I truly hate this kind of setting and this kind of process. I would rather be out on the sea beyond Darkmoon Island, hunting down the pirates and sea demons who do not know better while practicing my swordsmanship.”

”My two colleagues feel the same way.”

”Hehe, perhaps they and I are the same kind of people.”

What surprised Karon somewhat was that even though Ophelia could plainly see he had no interest in supper, she still kept him there and chatted with him about literature for a while longer.

Yet Karon had clearly noticed that she herself was tired too. This late-night ”reading club” went on for nearly an hour. Ophelia was still reluctant to stop, and only when Karon said it was getting late and asked the lady to preserve her energy for the next day’s meeting was he finally able to take his leave and return to the room opposite.

After closing the door, Karon leaned his back against it, his brows knitting slightly. Miss Ophelia’s actions tonight were somewhat deliberate.

He was not so presumptuous as to think that she had simply taken a liking to him. Had she sensed something?

Karon unconsciously touched his wrist. Was it because of Darkmoon Blade?

***

Ophelia drank her ice water, her gaze narrowing slightly.

Panmir leaned over and asked softly, ”Miss, is it him?”

”The first two nights, during my meditation, I only sensed it faintly once or twice, but on the night of the attack, even though he was some distance away, I clearly sensed it. And although he is usually very proper in word and deed, he did not hide it or refuse when I offered him the sword.

“Panmir, even you are not qualified to receive its inheritance. I truly find it hard to understand how he could have it.”

”The Church of Order rarely fails to get what it wants. Perhaps he was arranged to be so close and serve on your protection detail for this trip under instructions from the upper echelons of the church.”

”I agree with the first half, but as for the second half... I have already been considering marriage with Mr. Leon. Why would the Church of Order hurry to make such arrangements at this time? It would make no sense.”

”But what makes even less sense to this subordinate is the strength Mr. Karon has shown. He could not possibly remain a member of this elite Whip of Order squad unless he has been hiding his true strength.”

Hearing that, Ophelia thought of the night when Karon had cast multiple layers of Protective Walls in quick succession.

”There is no hurry. Let us continue watching. If it comes to it, once the conference is over, I plan to ask him directly.”

”Would that be alright, Miss?”

”Sometimes, if you worry too much and guess too much, then when you look back later, you only end up feeling foolish.”

***

The next day almost completely repeated the first day’s routine: a morning meeting, an afternoon meeting, and an additional evening meeting.

Karon continued reading the Light of Order as usual, and when the two women seated on either side of him started snoring, he reached over and pinched them awake.

By the time they returned to the room, Paige and Fannie were even more exhausted than they had been the night before. The moment they entered, they collapsed and fell asleep.

And Karon, once again, received a summons from Ophelia.

That night, Ophelia kept Karon for another hour, this time talking about music. The problem was that Karon wasn’t particularly familiar with the music of this world. At most, he would occasionally have Alfred play something on the radio.

Yet as the conversation went on, Karon realized that Ophelia, who had brought up the topic in the first place, was even less knowledgeable than he was, and before long, it turned into him explaining things to her instead.

At one thirty in the morning, Karon returned to his room, and he used the phone to call the funeral home. Alfred picked up. After asking about the progress of the renovations, Karon hung up.

***

The third day followed the same routine as the previous two.

That evening, Karon could clearly see the exhaustion on Paige and Fannie’s faces. They did not simply collapse and sleep when they got back. Fannie sat on the sofa, repeatedly combing through her hair with her fingers; Paige sat on the carpet hugging her knees, her eyes vacant.

The two women looked like they had just been violated.

Karon knew that this was probably what mental torment looked like. Deep down, they clearly loathed such settings, and in that kind of environment they instinctively felt uncomfortable, as though a spell had been placed on them.

Then Karon was once again called across the hall. That night’s theme was movies.

Not talking about movies, but actually watching one. Ophelia brought Karon to a screening room on one of the lower floors of the hotel. The two of them sat with a seat between them and watched an entire black-and-white romance film, York Holiday.

By the time the movie ended, it was already two in the morning. Ophelia and Karon walked out of the screening room together, and on the way, they happened to run into three men and three women coming out of the screening room opposite. They greeted Ophelia on their own initiative, and she responded politely. They should have met at the welcoming banquet on the first day.

However, they did not pay much attention to Karon, because he walked side by side with Panmir. According to protocol, even when the protected person was inside the hotel, as long as Ophelia was outside of her room, her close protection detail needed to accompany her.

So there was no need to worry that any rumors would reach the ears of that grandson of the Archbishop, that is, Mr. Leon.

***

On the fourth and fifth days, the pattern remained the same.

By the morning meeting on the sixth day, Paige and Fannie had fallen asleep as usual, while Karon kept stifling yawns. After a full week of this routine, and with Ophelia dragging him off every night for nearly two-hour tea sessions that even she did not seem to have a clear purpose for, Karon was finally starting to lose his edge.

Just as he was about to use the newspaper to cover his face and fall asleep, applause broke out. He immediately pinched Paige and Fannie awake, getting them to stand and join in the clapping.

The negotiations had finally come to an end. In the words of both sides’ representatives, it was a complete success. There were no further activities scheduled for the rest of the day. Even the celebratory banquet had been pushed to the following evening, as members of both negotiation teams were thoroughly exhausted and in urgent need of rest.

Karon ate a quick lunch, returned to his room, took a shower, and went straight to bed.

Paige and Fannie, on the other hand, were like prisoners newly released. Suddenly full of energy again, the two women sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, chatting about clothes, bags, and shoes. They had never been particularly interested in such things before, but this time, it was their way of celebrating that they had “come back to life.”

Karon slept until evening. When he woke, he saw that a dining cart was already set up in the room, and Paige and Fannie were already eating.

”Awake?” Fannie smiled.

”Mm.”

”The room across the hall said that once you woke up, you should go there,” Fannie said.

”Alright.”

After washing up, Karon walked over to the food cart and was about to take some food when Paige said, ”We’ve already packed and arranged the food. We’re going to send it to the captain and the others later. Just go across the hall; There will definitely be better food there.”

”Exactly, exactly,” Fannie chimed in.

Karon sighed, set down the plate, and went out.

”How many days has it been now? He goes across the hall every single night,” Paige said.

Fannie said, ”Back at the dock we all thought he had made a fool of himself. Now it turns out that we, the ones who laughed at him, are the real fools.”

***

Karon arrived at Ophelia’s room. As he entered, he noticed that Panmir and the maid both voluntarily went out.

”Mr. Karon, the meetings have finally ended successfully. You have worked hard.”

”It is you who have worked hard, Miss Ophelia.”

”There are some things I would like to discuss with you very candidly, Mr. Karon.”

”Alright.” Karon sat down, then glanced around and was somewhat surprised to find that there was no food cart here. There was only tea and ice on the tea table, but no food.

”Mr. Karon, you are really very cautious.” Ophelia took a blue pebble from her hand and placed it on the tea table. The next moment, the pebble gave off light that enveloped the suite’s sitting room. It was a barrier.

Karon nodded and did not ask why there was no food, because after Ophelia had already sent an entire cart of food over, he truly did not have the face to ask such a question.

”Mr. Karon, what is your surname?”

”Silva.”

”Is Silva really your true surname?”

”Why would you ask that, miss?” Karon outwardly appeared as calm as ever, even showing a faint smile, but inwardly he was quietly on guard. So all those awkward conversations over the past few nights were just preparations for this moment? But what kind of tactic was this, exactly? A war of attrition?

”During the first few nights after I moved into this hotel, while I was meditating, I sensed a kind of response from a nearby force.”

Hm? She sensed it too?

”At the time, I did not think much of it. Ankara Hotel certainly does not house ordinary people. It is perfectly normal for subtle reactions to arise between different powers.

“It was not until the night of the attack, even though there was some distance between us, that I clearly sensed a response coming from the bloodline itself.”

Was it because I used the Darkmoon Blade to kill that dwarf? She could actually sense it from that far away?

Ophelia reached out and touched the longsword resting on the tea table. “My instincts may be wrong, but it did respond to a call back then, and it would not be mistaken.”

She looked at him. “Weren’t you quite interested in it, Mr. Karon? Coincidentally, it seems to be interested in you as well.”

“I’m not sure what you mean, miss.”

“It’s very simple.” Ophelia opened her palm. A blood-red whip appeared in her hand, swaying slightly as it radiated a chilling presence. “You’re not unfamiliar with this, are you?”

“Is that your ability, Miss?”

“Yes. It is a blessing from Darkmoon, something our bloodline is capable of. You should possess it as well, Mr. Karon.”

“You must be joking, Miss. My faith lies with Order. I serve the church. How could I possess power from a family faith system?”

This was exactly the same as Bede who, after devoting himself to the Wall God, had no longer been able to awaken the bloodline power of his progenitor Allen.

“No, it’s not the same, Mr. Karon.” Ophelia shook her head. “Do you know why families like ours, and those of the Bloodfiends, are considered special among family faith systems? Because our bloodline power is manifest. Unlike other families, even if we do not believe in our respective progenitors, we still have a chance to awaken the corresponding abilities. It’s like children born to athletes. Even without training, their physique is often superior.

“In other families, once you abandon faith in the progenitor, you lose access to the bloodline’s blessing entirely. But for us, that link is not so easily severed. So in theory, Mr. Karon, possessing this power does not conflict with your faith in the God of Order.”

Karon couldn’t help but think of Nio, who had also gained the regenerative ability of a Bloodfiend. This kind of bloodline inheritance was simply too strong. It did not even require cultivation, but manifested directly. Like a divine beast that could fly, even if its descendants degenerated into moths, they would retain wings.

Was that why families like Bloodfiends and Darkmoon were so heavily restricted by the orthodox churches? Because through this trait, they could infiltrate and contaminate the churches while avoiding open conflict. A Bloodfiend or Darkmoon family member within the church’s ranks, loyal to a High God, would be a nightmare.

Of course, there had to be limitations. Perhaps once one fully committed to the path of divine faith, further development of their bloodline abilities would be restricted, otherwise the two would conflict. Some prodigies might be exceptions.

Even so, a priest born with such manifest advantages would already be ahead from the start, which meant that the Church of Order establishing a mission chapel on Darkmoon Island was, in itself, a significant concession. It was not that the island’s people could not worship the God of Order without it, but that it granted them formal recognition.

“Mr. Karon, admit it.” Ophelia’s voice softened. “I’ve always held you in high regard. I even have some affection for you; not in a romantic sense, but I consider us friends. More importantly, why would I harm someone who shares my Darkmoon bloodline?”

Darkmoon bloodline? Kin? But I don’t have that. Karon was certain of it. He bore the Immers name, a long-established Inquisitor family within the Church of Order. There had never been any alteration to his bloodline. If there had been, Tiz would have told him. Throughout his progression from Divine Servant to Divine Seeker to Divine Shepherd, Karon had examined himself repeatedly. There was no trace of Darkmoon within him.

What he did know was that his ability to use the Darkmoon Blade came from the power of Light within him acting as a converter.

“There are other possibilities,” Ophelia continued. “For example, our family sometimes grants Darkmoon blood to loyal servants, allowing them to cultivate its power. But such a gift cannot be passed on, it remains with the individual and cannot be inherited by their descendants.

“You’ve never been to Darkmoon Island, have you, Mr. Karon?”

“No.”

“Then that settles it. Your bloodline must come from your ancestors.”

Karon fell silent.

Seeing that he still refused to acknowledge it, Ophelia smiled. “Of course, there is one more possibility. The power of Light can be used to simulate other forms of faith, but the cost is immense. Even Light priests themselves would not do so. Ten parts of power might be reduced to less than half.

“More importantly, how could I believe that a remnant of Light would appear here and become part of my security detail? That would be the greatest joke in the world.”

Karon smiled as well, nodding in agreement.

“Since we’ve come this far, Mr. Karon, could you show a little sincerity?”

Karon took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Then he raised his hand. In the next moment, a blood-red force rose in his palm, identical to the one in Ophelia’s hand. She nodded. “No wonder I’ve always felt drawn to you. I was even worried I might have fallen for you. It turns out it’s simply because we share the same blood.”

Without warning, the blood-red whip in her hand lashed toward Karon, transforming into a sharp blade mid-swing. At the same instant, the red whip in Karon’s hand became a curved blade.

The two forces clashed. Ophelia immediately withdrew, the red energy in her hand dissipating.

“Miss, what was that supposed to be?” Karon looked at her seriously.

“I just wanted confirmation. It seems you have indeed cultivated the Darkmoon Blade. You possess both the Darkmoon bloodline and the technique.”

“Then please finish what you were saying, miss.”

“Very well. Darkmoon Island has many techniques, but the Darkmoon Blade is the highest-tier Art, capable of drawing out the greatest extent of Darkmoon’s power. Even among our own people, many are not qualified to learn it, and most cannot comprehend it, even if they try.”

At that, Karon recalled what Pu’er had once told him. Through her decomposition and analysis, she had spared him the long process of contemplating the blood moon night after night. As a genius, she had broken the problem down into steps, allowing him to follow a structured path instead.

“Darkmoon bloodline and the Darkmoon Blade; you possess both, Mr. Karon. That leaves only one explanation.”

What explanation? Karon found himself genuinely curious. He hadn’t even figured out an explanation himself.

“When I asked about the Allen family in the carriage, you said you had heard of them. I thought it was simply because you were well-read. It seems I was mistaken.

“To express his love, our ancestor once gifted the Darkmoon Blade to Miss Poelle Allen. In his autobiography, he explained it this way: although she could not use the technique, in his heart, it was the only gift that could represent the depth of his feelings.”

Karon couldn’t help but think that if the man had given Pu’er something she could actually use, things might not have ended so coldly. Even the black cat at home had become far more agreeable after eating his sweet-and-sour fish. People tended to soften after receiving something tangible. Giving someone a gift they couldn’t use just to move oneself, the giver deserved to be forgotten.

“It turns out everything our ancestor said back then was a lie, a lie meant to deceive us. He did not give the Darkmoon Blade to Miss Poelle; He gave it to the child in her womb.”

Ophelia stood up, looking at Karon with complete seriousness. “Mr. Karon, you are Miss Poelle’s descendant.”

“...” Karon.