"It's okay for Father Augustus to see you here. We can just say..."
"If you don't want to help, then keep your mouth shut, Detective."
Dorothy probably didn't want to leave a bad impression on the oldest person in the group.
Compared to the Randall Valley, which was snowing again and covered the entire city in white, Tobesk had only had two light snowfalls in the rare month, so the streets had been cleared long ago. But the roofs around St. Teresa's Square were still silvery white, with icicles hanging from the eaves. Although there were trash cans at the edge of the square, there were no signs of stray cats or dogs. There were piles of snow under the lampposts, and a snowman made by someone stood in the center of the square, next to the fountain where the frozen girl was holding a water bottle.
The feeling of winter has not yet subsided in the Northern Pearl.
Xia De stood at the living room window on the second floor and looked outside, fascinated by the night view of the square on a winter night. At this time, the carriage quietly drove into the square and stopped downstairs of Xia De's house.
Shad knew that it was the priest coming, so he hurried downstairs to greet him.
"Good evening, priest. What I want to talk to you about cannot be said in the church, so I asked you to come so late. Please come in."
He opened the door and let priest Augustus in. Although he was going out, the priest was still wearing his usual clergy robe, but it was a thicker winter version, and he also put on a very thick cotton coat that reached to his knees:
“This winter feels colder than any other winter.”
The priest walked in:
"I remember you have a fireplace in your house. Thank God. Let me warm myself by the fire."
Although Dorothy did not want to let Reverend Augustus know that she was in the Shards' house so late, she still prepared tea for the guest before "hiding" in the bedroom.
Shade poured the old priest a cup of tea, and then the two sat down on the sofa in front of the fireplace, sitting on the single sofa facing each other. The fire in the fireplace was quite bright, illuminating the silhouettes of the two men.
"Have you been to the manor today? How was it?"
"The situation is worse than I imagined. Fortunately, I have the alchemical tools and potions you provided, otherwise I would be in trouble."
The priest did not ask about the specific situation, but was concerned:
"Is the demon's corruption serious?"
"Quite serious."
Xia De put down the teacup, clasped his hands together, and leaned forward slightly:
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to regard that manor as a lair of low-level demons and ghosts. Fortunately, the power of the relic forces them to act within the rules. But also because of the relic, the church has not discovered any problems in the past three years."
As he spoke, he took out a book from the bookshelf that appeared beside him and handed it to the priest. The priest saw the yellowed family photo printed in the book:
"Is this the family? How pitiful. But, didn't you get the original photo?"
"I got it, but I can't bring the photo with me."
Shad said:
"But these are not the main points. The problem with that manor has been solved. After freeing them all, I also found something extraordinary."
As he spoke, he took out the bone box from the gift box of God at his feet. Shade did not take it with him to wander around the Randall River Valley, but left it at home before going to the Fertile Land Inn.
"This is... ... "
The priest pressed the box that had slid to the side of the teacup. After opening it, just as Shade expected, he first widened his eyes, then smiled:
"I never expected there would be such a surprise. The last two right hand phalanges are actually there."
"The Watsons' idea is actually correct. The item they found can indeed help them fight against Stone Oxenfurt, especially since Oxenfurt's greatest reliance is a certain degree of immortality."
Shade took a sip of tea, then bent down and put the cup down.
"If you stab any of these finger bones directly into the heart of the Oxenfurt you mentioned, the immortality will be ineffective."
The priest put on gloves, carefully took out one of the bones, and looked at the pale skeleton in the firelight of the fireplace.
"But unfortunately, it wasn't Osenfurt who did it, it was that demon."
Shade tilted his head and looked at the fireplace fire:
"Before I entered the manor, I did encounter the real body of the demon. It even wanted me to help it do something. This should also be a conspiracy, but I don't know who it is targeting. By the way, your golden potion is quite useful. If I didn't have it, I would have been in danger this morning."
If he wanted to escape at that time, he should have been able to do it at the risk of his life, but doing so would mean that he would lose the initiative and the confidence to negotiate.
“Don’t always take risks, because luck won’t always be on your side.”
The old priest imparted his experience as an elder, but he did not dwell too much on the topic:
"Do you know the origin of these two bones?"
"I just found out that old Watson bought it from a group of grave robbers three years ago. Those grave robbers came from the Glass City on the border of Carsenrick and Delarion, the Mikaela Blast Furnace City, which is famous for making and producing glass products. When I finish my work in the Randall Valley, I will go to the small town on the east coast of Delarion in the spring and take a look there. But there are few clues, so I may not be able to find much information."
Father Augustus shook his head:
"I'm glad you're willing to help. My body can't stand another long journey."
This is a complete exaggeration, Father Augustus is in very good health.
"Is there anything else I can help you with regarding the demons in Randall Valley?"
the old priest asked again, stuffing the bone he was holding into the box.
Xia De nodded:
"The demon thought that I took these bones away and would use them to forge a weapon that could restrain the undead. So, I need you to prepare a weapon for me that has the power of these bones. It doesn't need to be too useful, and it should make it look like I wasted most of the power of the bones because I didn't know what they were."
"It's easy. How long will it take?"
The priest asked, and Shade thought for a moment:
"Today is Monday. Give it to me before next Wednesday or next Thursday. Ten days should be enough. I can't take out the weapon too quickly, but I can't be too slow either. My only advantage now is that the demon doesn't dare to enter the urban area of Randall Valley, the area radiated by the power of the Five Gods Church... Oh, I see. That's why Stone Oxenfurt is often in the city and doesn't want to go home."
Xia De showed a thoughtful expression, and then asked:
"By the way, Priest, once I really kill the person who signed the contract with the devil, how can I get rid of his soul directly? It must be quick and clean, so that his soul does not remain in the material world."
"Sister Develyn, whom we met at Midhill Castle, is the chosen one you mentioned. Her power is enough."
The priest reminded him, and Shade frowned slightly:
"Sister Defulin, maybe there are other things to deal with."
The old priest thought again:
"Although I know about demons, I have never met someone who has been so severely corrupted by them. If I could see his soul with my own eyes, I could send him away, but..."
"Don't even think about going to the Randall River Valley. It's been snowing heavily there these past few days. It's very cold."
Shade dismissed the priest's dangerous idea and wanted the doctor to think of another way. However, although the doctor was good at dealing with demons, it was hard to say whether he could deal with the dead souls of the fallen in time.
"But you can ask another person for help, if you can still find him."
The priest suddenly smiled and pointed at the flames. A vague human face flashed in the fire.
Xia De nodded in understanding:
"That's right. If it's him, there will be no problem with this situation. With the Watson family photos, Sister Defulin, and him, I must ensure that once he dies, his soul will never be abducted by other forces or stay in the material world."
When Shade said this, a rare fierce look appeared on his face. But the priest didn't feel anything was wrong. It was reasonable to be ruthless when dealing with the fallen who had signed a contract with the devil.
"How can I thank you this time, Shade, you found this for me again."
The old man smiled and tapped the box.
"No, no, don't be so polite. It's just two finger bones."
The finger bone was a mere trifle compared to the arm bone given to Midhill Castle and the breast bone given to the Lady of the Lake.
"Young man, this is how shallow your understanding is."
The priest shook his head:
"For angels, the symbolic meaning of the finger bone is almost the most important. Look at this bone."
He took out another bone and showed it to Shade carefully in the light of the fireplace:
"Look here."
At the end of the knuckle, there is a ring-like growth of bone:
“God created angels and gave them authority and power—this is the explanation of angels in most religions. And all the glory given by God turned into the angels’ weapons, wings, and rings. Therefore, the original 17 finger bones of the angels each represent a deep meaning. And now, I have found all the fingers on my right hand, which means a big change.”
"Hmm... can you be promoted directly from the third ring to the fifth ring?"
Shad guessed.
After the winter exam at the beginning of the year, Shad stabbed the doctor and the priest with the Arrow of Aikenora-The Chosen One respectively. The doctor gained new magic, and the priest collected the last enlightenment rune of the second ring, the Dark Heart, so he was already in the third ring.
"Of course not. The promotion of a ring sorcerer must also be justified. I mean, this represents... something that is difficult to explain."
The old priest looked confused himself:
"Anyway, make some demands on me. The crudely made weapons you just mentioned are nothing."
"Um... ... "
Shade wanted to ask the priest to give him a discount on the money owed for the suitcase of alchemical items and potions, but when he thought about the priest's poverty, he swallowed the words back:
"Why not just owe it to me first? I'll always need your help in the future."