13 Mink Street

From the moment he awoke until now, Bernard had behaved with the utmost humility. There was no helping it. He had opened his eyes to discover so many arrays placed on his body that he had no choice. After all, his life and death rested on the other party’s thoughts.

On that foundation, Bernard had already done everything he possibly could. He wanted to survive. He hoped to defuse the situation. He hoped to wait until the promise he was waiting for arrived.

But now, Bernard finally woke up. He had been wrong.

Absurdly wrong.

Perhaps his choices of responses would have worked against anyone other than the young man before him. Though, to put it another way, anyone his responses could work against would not have taken the effort to transport his corpse from the Palace of Remembrance to this island and arranged everything in advance.

It was a paradox. Bernard had failed to understand this at first. Anyone who had just awakened from a hundred years of slumber would find it difficult to immediately perceive everything around them clearly.

The other party had not come to seek answers, because he already knew many of Bernard’s secrets. What was somewhat exaggerated was that after a century, the way this man spoke of such things did not sound like an investigator, but more like someone who had personally experienced them.

Nor was the other party there to negotiate. The various arrays that bound Bernard’s body were not put in place merely to increase bargaining chips for ensuing negotiations, but to ensure that when Bernard was judged, he could not suddenly rise and struggle.

This was a judgment, a judgment that had long since been decided.

Their previous exchanges, words, and groundwork were merely a way for this man to obtain pleasure by trampling on Bernard. It was a humiliation before execution.

I was truly foolish. Truly! This thought filled Bernard’s heart right now. If one did not still desire something, why would they ever be willing to bow and scrape? And once there was truly no path of retreat, flattery lost the soil on which it could continue to exist.

“After all that circling around, it turns out to be judgment from Light.” A faint smile appeared on Bernard’s face. “Light hidden within Order. It truly could not have been easy for you. For the sake of this vengeance, you’ve paid an immense price.”

Karon shook his head. “No, you’re wrong there. Dealing with you was only incidental. I never took a deliberate detour for your sake. I didn’t even specifically stop here for you.”

This was true for himself, and it was true for the captain as well. If not for Order’s war against Reincarnation, neither he nor Nio would have come to Darkmoon Island.

Bernard replied, “You can gain many things from me. For instance, the treasures I left behind before I entered my slumber. There are three places on Darkmoon Island, and several more on nearby islands. I also know many secret realms that contain precious resources. All of these are valuable wealth you can obtain from me. In addition, I possess extremely rich experience and can give you much help.

“You are only a Lightbearer, so I believe you need these things. If you abandon vengeance, you can obtain better development.”

According to the Church of Light system, a Lightbearer was the equivalent of an Inquisitor in the Church of Order. An Inquisitor meant that one had broken away from the scope of a Divine Shepherd and had become an existence capable of exercising judgment on behalf of Order. A Lightbearer, who was also called one who bore radiance, meant that one could represent Light and cast light upon those around them.

Karon answered, “You should be clear that everything I said when speaking with you earlier was the truth. If I wish it, your Darkmoon Island could all be mine in the future. Why would I care about your wealth? As for experience and secret realms... I am sorry, but I am far, far richer than you imagine. Your experience is not even comparable to the dog in my home.”

Karon spread his hand, and a stone lampstand nearby was seized and flew into his palm. Then, a wisp of Light flame appeared, bringing sanctity and softness.

“Your judgment will have no meaning except vengeance!”

“Stripping away meaning and seeking only vengeance is supreme pleasure.”

“Your vision is unbearably short-sighted!”

“I only like taking pleasure in the present.”

“Are you not worried about your own future development?”

“The thing I worry about least is my own talent.” Karon walked to the side of the coffin and tilted the lampstand closer to Bernard. The flame began to lean, falling onto Bernard’s chest. It was very faint, yet it would burn Bernard’s soul continuously, granting him pain for a very long time. It would be like opening a wound on a person who would not heal, allowing blood to keep flowing out. Once things reached a certain point, that person would die from excessive blood loss.

Karon had imagined many specific ways to punish Bernard, but in the end, he chose this one. Because Bernard knew that any violent resistance would trigger the arrays covering his body and bring instant slaughter. By subjecting him to this slow torment, Karon could let him endure the agony of his soul being scorched while still allowing him to cling to hope, only to await the final despair.

Speak.

I am giving you the chance to keep talking. I am the one who pushed you off the cliff, and I am also the one holding the only rope in my hand. Even if you know that rope will never pull you back to shore, can you bring yourself to let go?

That is your true punishment.

“I believe that when you buried Miss Genevieve alive in that coffin, you stood right here as well, listening to the scratching sounds coming from inside. You liked that sound, didn’t you?”

What a coincidence, I like it too.

Bernard’s features twisted with pain, yet he still stared fixedly at Karon. “No matter what I say now, it is useless, correct?”

“Correct. But I like listening to you speak.”

“I have a secret. I can tell you!”

“Go ahead.”

“First, promise me a path to survival. I do not know exactly how many years I slept, but I can feel that the date I wanted to wait for should not be far away.”

“I won’t make you any promises.”

“You do not want to know that secret?”

“I do.”

“Yes! You do want to know this! You were right earlier. I could have refrained from killing Phileas and the others, because I knew they were good people. They were a group of kind fools. I knew that when I asked them to leave, they would choose to leave. I had no need to worry that they would retaliate against Darkmoon Island because I broke my promise. They would not do that. They were simply a group of good people. Heh.”

“Yes. They were a group of good people.”

“But I did it anyway. I left none alive. I killed them all. Even Phileas, although he escaped, I did not worry about him at all, because when he fled, he was already gravely injured. He could not live long.”

“Yes. He died.”

“Someone gave me guidance. Clear guidance. Someone gave me a promise I could not refuse, which is why I did it. Do you want to know?”

“I do.”

“Then, let me go?”

“No.”

Bernard: “...”

A smile tugged at the corner of Karon’s mouth. Peering at Bernard, who was still enduring endless agony, he said, “Sorry, but I am not Phileas.”

“You want me to die with this secret?”

“Do as you like.”

“What is your name? I should at least know whose hands I die in!”

Karon did not answer.

“You do not dare tell me your name? Hahaha, you do not dare tell me your name! Are you afraid? Oh no, you are not afraid of me. You are afraid that what you are doing now will become known outside. No, you are afraid that what you have done today will be learned by the one behind my secret, correct?”

“Correct.”

“Since you know fear, you should understand what kind of terrifying secret that is. You should stop now.”

“Do you know why you must die? Precisely because I am truly afraid. The more afraid I am, the more you must die.”

“You are different from Phileas.”

“I already said that earlier.”

“Phileas was a true believer of Light, and you are not.”

“You saw it just now; My faith is Order.”

“You are nothing more than Light vermin hiding within Order! Someone like you dares to claim that your faith is Order? Heh. This is why Light vermin can never be completely eradicated; You are too good at hiding. Like maggots in a public latrine, appearing pale and tender, yet always able to lurk in the filthiest corners!

“Ah!” The roasting pain from his soul caused Bernard’s words to grow increasingly extreme. He was like a drowning man constantly bobbing up and down, only able to quickly say what he wanted, no longer having the time to polish his words in his mind.

“State your conditions. Whatever I can give, I will give you!”

Karon said, “What you cannot possess, I possess.”

Bernard’s complexion had already begun to turn waxen. A soul was not liquid, yet it seemed it could still be evaporated. Bernard was drawing closer and closer to death, and the pain he endured could not be put into words.

Seen from another angle, his will to survive was indeed formidable. Karon felt that if he were the one lying in the coffin, faced with this situation, he would already be cursing at the top of his lungs, every foul word he knew spilling out, thinking only of one last release before death, no matter the language.

But Bernard did not do that.

Yet the more Bernard acted as he was, the more he proved that Karon’s chosen method of punishment was correct.

Karon reached out and gently flicked the flame on Bernard’s chest with his fingertip. It was so lovely.

“I do not believe Miss Poelle would be willing to follow you. She had no interest in men at all!”

“You can’t represent all men.”

“She was merely a woman who pursued adventure!”

“She can also grow tired.”

“She would never tolerate the dullness of staying at home alone!”

“She is more capable of enduring loneliness than anyone now.”

After all, she had been a cat in the Immers home for so long, and yet she still had not gone mad, and even retained her temperament as a young lady. In regards to the ability to endure loneliness, even Karon felt inferior to her.

“What dishes does she like?”

“She likes fish.”

“I thought she had long since grown tired of seafood. She was never very satisfied with what I made.”

“Darkmoon Island’s seafood? I have tasted it. It truly is terrible.”

“I like her.”

“I know.”

“Every time she rejected me, it excited me inside.”

“I understand.”

“After every rejection, I wanted to possess her even more!”

“I understand.”

“If not for her strength, she would long since have been the mistress of Darkmoon Island.”

“I am aware.” Karon had never doubted how powerful Pu’er had been in those days. Sithe had once held a grudge against Pu’er, which was why, before Tiz had gone into his own slumber, during his negotiations with the Church of Order at the church on Mink Street, he had deliberately hung Sithe from the cross and left her there to catch the wind.

To have had a feud with a Temple Elder was enough to show Pu’er’s strength and standing back then.

After all, she had once lamented that if she had known earlier, she would never have chosen a family faith system. She had not expected her progenitor to be that weak.

After arriving at Darkmoon Island and gaining a clearer understanding of Bernard’s near-pathological possessiveness, it had become even clearer that if not for Pu’er’s own strength, she would have faced not a tireless bootlicker, but a starving wolf baring its fangs.

“She is very beautiful, yes?”

“Yes.”

“What do you like about her? If you do not wish to, you do not have to tell me these things.”

“Her figure. I do not like women who are too thin. Her figure is just right.”

“I—”

“And her temper. She may not have treated you well, but she often acts spoiled with me. Sometimes, when she knows she said something wrong, she’ll make a point to come and comfort me, hugging me.”

“Temper...”

“Do you know? Every time I watch her eat, I think she is so cute. She is such an easily satisfied person. Coffee beans that can be bought for five Order credits a packet can make her happy for an entire afternoon.”

“DIE! JUST DIE!!!!!!” Bernard completely lost control. The arrays on his body reappeared, suppressing him once more.

Karon truly did not mind saying such things, because he knew every word would make Bernard suffer even more. This was also not being disrespectful of Pu’er. If she were present, she would simply urge Karon to say more, just a little more, to make Bernard die in even greater pain.

Most importantly, Karon noticed that the Darkmoon wheel deep in Bernard’s eyes never faded or vanished. Bernard knew that what Karon said was true. Unfortunately, he did not know that Pu’er was currently a cat.

Even while struggling, Bernard retained his final restraint. If he attempted to attack Karon, the two backup arrays Eisen had prepared would instantly annihilate his soul.

This caused Karon to realize yet again that the Gorman family’s method of using arrays was truly very useful.

Mr. Hoffen had provided an abundant collection of array theories and diagrams. If Karon could also master the Gorman family’s practicality with arrays, his future mastery of arrays would be hard to imagine. Coincidentally, he also possessed the Gorman family bloodline.

Tiz had not mentioned the Gorman family to Karon, and although Pu’er had known, she had not made a point of saying anything to Karon before. This meant that, in their eyes, the Gorman family was not worth entrusting everything to.

Eisen was somewhat better, but the reason he was better was also because of his illness...

A sick member of the Gorman family is more trustworthy.

Therefore, the problem should lie with Derron. He and Tiz were certainly different types of people. Derron should be solely loyal to Order. However, Karon’s grandmother did not seem to be the same. She had recognized him, and seemed to know of his existence, and had even taken the initiative to help him keep his identity a secret.

At one point in time, Tiz had sent an avatar to Veyn. Aside from killing that little fly that was the Raphael family’s patriarch, could he also have gone to meet a few people?

Bernard finally calmed down. It was then that he saw that Karon had become lost in his own thoughts.

He actually got lost in thought while torturing me!

A tremendous sense of humiliation and resentment filled Bernard’s heart. He wanted to release another roar, but sensed the deep exhaustion of his soul. “I can tell you that secret.”

“Oh, sorry. What did you just say?”

“...”

Karon responded with a smile.

“Even if you are Light, you still have no right to judge me, because what Phileas believed in back then was not Light at all. He was a rebel of Light! From the moment I met him, throughout all those years they spent on the island, I never once heard them praise the God of Light. They only praised Light, but never the God of Light!

“When I killed them, I was not making an enemy of the Church of Light. I was purging rebels for the Church of Light! So you have no right to judge me. No right!”

“Then do you remember that what I praised earlier was also only Light, without adding God?”

“...”

“There are some things you cannot understand, nor can you comprehend. Even if I explain them to you clearly, you would still be unable to recognize and understand them clearly.”

“So, you truly are the same kind of person as Phileas?”

“Yes.”

“Then you are in danger.”

“I am hidden within Order.”

“Hahahahaha, you are trying to draw more out of me, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Let me tell you, that is useless! You do not know how terrifying they truly are, nor do you know what price they are willing to pay in order to kill Phileas and kill you!”

“Mhmm. Very terrifying indeed. The lamp oil is almost burned out.”

Bernard’s soul was about to be roasted dry.

“Let me go, and I will tell you everything. Otherwise, no matter how well you hide, someone will come to investigate the cause of my death. I received a promise from them!”

“Speak first.”

“You will not keep your promise!”

“You’re right, I won’t.”

“They permit the existence of those who question gods. They even permit priests who question the gods existence, but they will not permit those who have the ability to replace them to walk the same road as them!

“Quickly, extinguish it. I will tell you everything!”

“Keep talking. Say as much as you can.”

“The one who made me kill Phileas and the others was Light!”

“Their full title?”

“Put it out, and I’ll tell you! I can’t hold on much longer!”

“I won’t.”

“Gods have always existed!”

“Mhmm. I know.”

“Gods have always watched the world!”

“You may continue saying nonsense.”

“The gods will descend!”

Karon’s gaze shifted slightly. This was a prophecy, but Bernard was a man from a hundred years ago, yet he already knew this prophecy from back then.

“It was Light who came before me and told me to kill Phileas and the others. They promised me that when the gods descend, Darkmoon will merge with the Light, and that I will become an elder of Light!

“Quick, extinguish it. Extinguish it! I am willing to give my seat to you! I will give it to you! I can tell you the time and place. It was not only me. Others also received promises!

“Quick, extinguish it. Extinguish it. I will tell you everythi—!”

The flame went out.

Not because Karon had extinguished it, but because Bernard’s soul had been burned until it fully dispersed. Everything returned to stillness.

“Ah.” Karon let out a sigh and rose to his feet. The Light priest’s robe covering him vanished.

He extended a hand toward Bernard’s body lying inside the coffin. In his left eye, the profound depths of Order appeared. A black chain spread out from beneath Karon’s feet and coiled over Bernard’s corpse. “Order—Awaken.”

The previous Awakening had failed because Bernard had not died.

This time, the Awakening succeeded because Bernard was dead.

Karon felt his spiritual power being rapidly drained away from his body. Gradually, Bernard opened his eyes.

He stared around himself, then at Karon, disbelief filling his face. His strength was comparable to a Tier 9 expert from other family faith systems. To awaken someone like him required a horrifying price, and more than that, it demanded a terrifying realm.

Yet Karon had succeeded in Awakening him.

How was that possible? This was no longer something the Light could achieve. Absolutely not.

“Y-You... who are you?”

Karon raised his left hand and picked the stone lamp back up. With his right, he snapped his fingers. A cluster of black Order fire appeared at his fingertip. He brought it close and lit the lamp.

Then, he tilted it.

Black flames of Order, sustained by burning spiritual power, poured over Bernard’s chest.

Karon set the lamp aside, then leaned back against the stone coffin to sit back down again. He dusted off his hands. “Now then, let’s pick up where we left off.”

“...”