WCBD CH140

Chapter 140: The Swaying Soul

On the afternoon of March 6th at four o’clock, they arrived in Bethune.

After swaying on the sea for a day, everyone felt lethargic upon stepping onto land, some even feeling as if they were still dizzy and their heads were spinning.

The distance of this journey was far more exaggerated than they had imagined. It took them fifteen days to finally reach their destination; although they indeed encountered various unexpected situations along the way, half of their spring break had already passed.

Fortunately, Professor Bella had sent a message ahead to Lamifa University, informing the academy that they might not be able to return to Lamifa City on time and would likely need other professors to temporarily cover their classes.

They still had the remaining half of their spring break. Originally, seven days were scheduled for the scholars’ visit in Bethune, but now that would probably have to be shortened, as they also had to account for their return journey time.

According to Professor Bella, they would likely stay in Bethune for four to five days before leaving.

New arrangements were already being planned. However, by the time they left the port, evening was approaching, so Professor Bella planned to consult with the professors at Bethune University about the matter tomorrow.

In that case, the formal itinerary for the scholars’ visit would likely begin tomorrow afternoon. They would meet some professors and students, discuss academic topics, and casually communicate about potential future exchanges.

Of course, as new professors, neither Siles nor Lorenzo had much say in these matters. They were quite happy with this, as the exhausting journey had already left them feeling quite miserable.

They might leave Bethune on March 11th and return to Lamifa City along their original route. March 22nd was the start of the semester at Lamifa University; hopefully, they wouldn’t be delayed too long.

Before setting out, Siles had already informed Professor Bella in advance that on the return trip, he would head to Kansas alone for a period to handle some affairs. At the time, Professor Bella hadn’t raised any objections.

However, with the journey delayed so much now, he didn’t know if Professor Bella still remembered this.

Of course, Siles acting alone was actually much more convenient than traveling in a group. If he hired a carriage in Kansas to return directly to Lamifa City, it might even be much faster than taking the train, not to mention having Chendo’s help.

Siles calculated the time in his head and felt it shouldn’t be a problem; he might even return to Lamifa City before the semester started, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Their group quickly left Bethune Port and headed to an inn.

Overall, Bethune was much more prosperous than Kingsley; the city’s architecture and infrastructure appeared newer, and the residents seemed friendlier. The curious glances they cast were very obvious, without carrying too much malice or rejection.

The inn they checked into was also situated by the sea. Bethune’s sea was clearer and more beautiful than Kingsley’s, finally allowing Siles to appreciate the joy of a seaside view. On the beach, people were occasionally digging and picking things up, probably beachcombing.

The winter Fuliou Sea appeared cold and cruel, biting like frost and snow.

They were still each assigned a single room. However, Siles noticed that Professor Bella was asking the guide Isaac where to exchange for Middleton’s currency. They had exchanged some when they arrived in Kingsley, but now they would likely need to exchange a bit more.

Additionally, Siles noticed that after Knight Commander Bunyan greeted Professor Bella, he left with Catherine Kinsey.

Siles walked over to Dr. Chester, who had been extremely nervous, and said, “They have probably gone to find that lady bishop.”

Dr. Chester nodded, breathing heavily. He said, “I need to calm down… Professor, but I can’t quite control myself.”

Nearby, Lorenzo also walked over. He had heard about Dr. Chester’s background, though he didn’t know many details. He patted Dr. Chester’s shoulder and simply said, “Doctor, don’t worry, I am incredibly envious of you.”

“…Envious of what?” Dr. Chester asked suspiciously.

Lorenzo shrugged and said, “Think about it, having a relative in Middleton means that from now on, won’t you be able to enjoy incredibly delicious and cheap seafood?”

Dr. Chester: “…”

Siles couldn’t help but chuckle.

Dr. Chester sighed, also unable to suppress a smile. He said, “Indeed. I might even be able to come to Middleton for a summer retreat during the rain holidays.”

He was clearly joking.

Soon, Professor Bella obtained the room keys, distributed them one by one, and instructed them not to run around everywhere. If nothing unexpected happened, Bethune University should arrange a tour of Bethune city, at which point they could take in the exotic scenery.

Naturally, everyone in the group agreed. Their faces all showed exhaustion, so Professor Bella didn’t say anything more. Everyone quickly returned to their rooms, put away their luggage, and then went to the dining room to eat.

The inn’s dining room in Kingsley had offered nothing but seafood, whereas the inn in Bethune had a variety of other decent dishes, which felt like a breath of fresh air for them.

The residents of Bethune, located in the far north, seemed to prefer drinking alcohol and eating meat. Large chunks of roast meat and beer made people feel joyful, so they all quickly relaxed and enjoyed the delicacies of this distant nation to their hearts’ content.

As dinner drew to a close, Bunyan and Catherine, who had left earlier, returned. They wore complex expressions on their faces, seeming both worried and joyful, though they didn’t make it too obvious.

They found Dr. Chester and Siles, mentioning that they would go to the church in Bethune together tomorrow morning to meet Bishop Elizabeth Hosier.

Knight Commander Bunyan additionally mentioned that when Bishop Elizabeth heard her older sister’s son had suddenly appeared, she revealed an expression of extreme shock and bewilderment.

Over thirty years ago, when her sister left, she herself was just a young girl in her teens. And now, in a flash over thirty years had passed, and she felt as if she had returned to those past times.

Therefore, Bunyan and Catherine weren’t able to speak many words with Elizabeth. They had originally intended to chat with Elizabeth about topics related to the Church of the Past, but Elizabeth tactfully suggested that perhaps it would be better to discuss those matters tomorrow.

Dr. Chester barely listened to Bunyan’s subsequent words; he looked extremely nervous and uneasy, unsure if he should sincerely look forward to tomorrow’s meeting with this Bishop Elizabeth.

After all, his mother’s disappearance seemed to be connected to some hidden events.

Siles, on the other hand, asked on Dr. Chester’s behalf, “Did the lady bishop ask about the doctor’s situation?”

“She indeed asked,” Catherine said, her tone somewhat gentler. “She was very concerned about it and asked several questions. We told her the doctor is the school physician at Lamifa University, currently single, and came to Bethune with Lamifa University’s visiting scholar group.”

Dr. Chester nodded slowly. Suddenly, he reacted, asking in slight surprise, “Why would she ask if I’m married?”

Catherine remained silent.

“Uh…” Bunyan braced himself and explained, “Because Bishop Elizabeth… is passionate about matchmaking for young people?”

The doctor stared at the Knight Commander in shock.

Siles felt torn between laughter and tears. He thought, Is this the Bishop Elizabeth that Knight Commander Bunyan previously described as extremely outgoing, cheerful, and talkative? It seems… not entirely impossible.

Bunyan patted Dr. Chester’s shoulder and joked, “Just now, when Catherine and I went to the church, we were even teased by the lady bishop about whether it was possible to further develop our friendship. In short, these are just some harmless, well-intentioned jokes from this lady.”

“Indeed,” Catherine said. “Besides, given the doctor’s age, I’m afraid he will bear more of the lady bishop’s enthusiasm than we will.”

Dr. Chester: “…”

He stared at them almost blankly, finally smiling bitterly and saying, “I have no plans to marry.”

“None of us do,” Bunyan said with a smile. Then he suddenly realized something and turned his gaze toward the silent Siles. “However, we have an exception here.”

Siles subconsciously paused, then couldn’t help but smile. He said, “Indeed.”

His candor made it impossible for anyone to tease him further.

They all shook their heads, then bid each other farewell and returned to their respective rooms to rest.

“Don’t be nervous, Doctor,” Siles specially told Dr. Chester before leaving. “After all, she is your family.”

Dr. Chester thought for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, “I just find it a bit… hard to imagine.” He sighed, “I hope this lady will be somewhat easy to get along with.”

The next morning, they met this supposedly “easy to get along with” lady.

Elizabeth Hosier was now in her forties, but she possessed a gentle and enthusiastic kindheartedness that far exceeded her age. Of course, that didn’t detract from her grace.

Overall, Elizabeth Hosier looked much more like a religious figure than Grosvenor; her smile carried a gentle compassion but also a profound meaning. However, she was indeed very enthusiastic.

“Good morning, my nephew,” Elizabeth said. “I hear you aren’t married yet. But the Hosier family is counting on you.”

Dr. Chester: “…”

This was not the scene he had anticipated for meeting his family.

Elizabeth spoke the standard Konst language. Before coming to this church, Bunyan had already explained that because Antinam was born within the borders of Konst, believers of the Church of the Past had the habit of learning the Konst language.

If they were clerics or knights within the Church of the Past, they treated the Konst language even more like a mother tongue.

This fact relieved Dr. Chester; after all, if there was a language barrier, pouring his heart out to a relative he had never met would be even more awkward.

…However, Elizabeth’s reaction also left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry, because her attitude seemed a bit… too natural.

Dr. Chester said, “Good morning, Aunt Elizabeth.”

After the initial awkwardness dissipated, he began conversing with Elizabeth. Siles and Bunyan walked a bit further away, leaving them some space to be alone.

Siles’s gaze surveyed the small church.

Unsurprisingly, the Church of the Past in Bethune was certainly not as grand and spacious as the one in Lamifa City. The church here appeared exquisite and unique; with its rounded roof and transparent glass windows, it exuded a warm and rustic overall feel.

There was also a statue of Antinam here, though slightly more petite. The base of the statue was similarly pure white and spotless, making one imagine the bishop of the church constantly wiping it clean before worshipping the deity.

Not far away were a few rows of pews. Compared to the Central Cathedral in Lamifa City, the number of seats here was obviously far fewer, but the wooden armrests looked smooth and rounded, carrying a sense of passing years. Believers in foreign lands were equally devout.

The atmosphere of this church perfectly matched Bishop Elizabeth, considering what Bunyan had said earlier about her passion for matchmaking. There was a feeling here more akin to a “house church.”

“They seem to be getting along quite well, don’t they?” Bunyan whispered nearby.

“Yes,” Siles said, looking toward Dr. Chester and Elizabeth. In that moment, he perceived a very subtle sensation, though it might only exist within his own mind.

Because the doctor, the knight commander, and the lady bishop. Plus him, the Keeper of Secrets.

These were all individuals directly connected to the RPG storyline.

In other words, this scene was remarkably in tune with the power of “fate.”

Siles remained silent. He suddenly realized that he had already become so deeply involved in the fate of this world, even if he himself lacked such “active” awareness.

He had altered the fate of the doctor being killed by apostates; he had altered the knight commander’s destined lonely journey; he had altered the fates of the merchant, the Clown, the lady bishop, the detective, and even more people.

In a sense, more people were also drawn into his fate.

This thought made Siles slightly space out.

After a moment, Dr. Chester and Elizabeth’s conversation temporarily came to an end. Dr. Chester looked excited, as if he were about to weep tears of joy. He forcefully suppressed his emotions, but still couldn’t quite control himself. He apologized to them, then headed for the washroom.

Elizabeth kindly gave him directions.

Once the doctor left, the nave of the church quieted down somewhat.

Elizabeth gently said to Siles, “And you are? I know the Knight Commander, but I don’t yet know your name.”

“Siles Noel, I am a literary history professor at Lamifa University, and a friend of Chester’s,” Siles said. “He was a bit nervous, so he asked me to accompany him.”

Elizabeth suddenly understood; she curiously sized Siles up, then said, “You are quite a young professor, likely a very outstanding young man. Do you have any intentions of marriage? I feel that young people nowadays prefer to be alone.”

Siles paused for a moment, then replied, “I already have a lover, ma’am.”

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise, then offered him her congratulations and blessed his romance. She said, “I like candid young men like you, Professor Noel. I don’t say that lightly.”

Siles was momentarily taken aback, then smiled as well.

Knight Commander Bunyan said, “Well then, ma’am, we should get back to the main topic.” He paused, then added, “Professor Noel and Dr. Chester also need to be present.”

However, Bunyan didn’t seem to plan on telling Elizabeth any more information related to Siles.

“Of course,” Elizabeth said, seemingly unbothered by this. “Then, let’s wait for my nephew first, and then we can go to my office together.”

Soon, Dr. Chester returned from the washroom, then followed them to Elizabeth’s office with a bewildered expression on his face.

He clearly had no idea what Bunyan was going to discuss with Elizabeth, and when he secretly asked Siles, Siles also shook his head. Thus, the two of them who didn’t belong to the Church of the Past could only silently follow behind the other two.

Regarding the topic they were about to face, Siles actually had a few guesses, and it was quite fitting for the occasion—the apostates, wasn’t it?

The common intersection between Siles, Dr. Chester, and the Church of the Past was the matter of the apostate Hamlin. Even though the apostate Hamlin had now been captured and the list of clerics recovered without major incident, it was, after all, a crucial topic.

Sure enough, after they sat down in Elizabeth’s rustic and simple office, Knight Commander Bunyan’s expression quickly turned serious. He said, “I already gave you a brief overview of this matter yesterday.

“We learned from the apostate Hamlin that some of the practical information this group possessed was actually obtained from the ocean much further north of Lamifa City. I believe that is highly likely the Fuliou Sea.”

Hearing Bunyan’s description, Siles couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. He lowered his gaze, thinking, Apostates and the Fuliou Sea?

In the RPG storyline, the ultimate goal of the apostate Hamlin and his group was to resurrect an evil god. Siles actually didn’t know exactly which deity this so-called “evil god” referred to.

And if the apostates were related to the Fuliou Sea, could this so-called evil god be referring to the “shadow”? But the “shadow” always existed; it didn’t need to be resurrected at all.

…There must be a mistake somewhere.

Siles remained silent, deep in thought. Dr. Chester, meanwhile, looked around, and realizing he completely didn’t understand these matters, helplessly lowered his eyes and spaced out on his own.

And after Knight Commander Bunyan finished speaking, Elizabeth also fell silent for a moment.

Finally, she suddenly stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. She said, “Outside the window is the Fuliou Sea. This ocean is the foundation of the souls of Middleton’s residents.

“I understand what you mean, Knight Commander. However, it’s impossible for us to investigate the Fuliou Sea with great fanfare, and hiring Middleton locals to investigate is even more impossible.

“You only have to approach one person, and by the next day, the whole city will know about it, and they will angrily drive you out of Middleton. This is Middleton. Middleton has its own set of rules.

“Our—our God’s—stance is not suited to intervening in investigations within Middleton. This matter must be handled by the people of Middleton themselves.”

Bunyan’s voice was low: “I understand what you mean, ma’am. But how can we ensure their stance aligns with ours? You are also quite aware of the Middleton people’s faith in the ocean.”

And his implication was that the ocean was no longer as safe as it used to be.

Elizabeth pondered for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. She abruptly said, “Knight Commander, I’m afraid you don’t know about my older sister. Perhaps now is a suitable time for me to share my sister’s past experiences with you all first.”

Josephine Hosier. Dr. Chester’s mother, Bishop Elizabeth’s older sister, and the former Archbishop of Middleton.

Bunyan was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

Siles and Dr. Chester also felt curious.

Elizabeth smiled gently at Dr. Chester; that smile seemed somewhat aged and weary, even though the lady was far from reaching that age.

She said, “At the time, I was thirteen years old, a rather mischievous girl. My older sister was ten years older than me, and by then she was already the Archbishop of Middleton. To tell you the truth, sometimes I felt like my sister was my mother; at least our age gap created that feeling.

“Because of that, I actually didn’t like interacting with her much. The age gap was too big. And my sister had that gentle, calm personality; in short, we were worlds apart. She always felt I was a bit mischievous, which I actually was at the time, but I didn’t like hearing people say it.

“Anyway, when she went missing, I didn’t even react. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s great, that sister who never liked me has disappeared.’ But later, as the days went by and my sister never reappeared, I realized the situation was actually quite different.

“…After my sister disappeared, the position of Archbishop of Middleton sat empty for a period of time. A few years later, I became the Archbishop. The feeling of becoming the Archbishop…”

Elizabeth thought for a long time, finally saying slowly, “…is like becoming my sister.”

They were all startled by this description.

Elizabeth, instead, began to laugh, as if amused by them. She smiled and said, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I was just making a comparison; I didn’t mean I actually became my sister. I’m sure she wouldn’t want me to turn out like her anyway.”

She changed the subject, saying, “In short, after I became the Archbishop, I was quite flustered and busy for a while. I was still young then, didn’t understand anything, and didn’t know why I was appointed as bishop… Later I found out it was by my sister’s instruction.

“…How very strange. After that, I slowly got used to the life of a bishop—honestly, being the Archbishop in Middleton is quite a leisurely life, which is why I’m so passionate about matchmaking for young people.

“I used my spare time to collect some documents regarding my sister’s disappearance, and then slowly sorted out the whole story behind it.”

At this point, Elizabeth subconsciously paused. Her gaze looked calmly out at the distant Fuliou Sea. Though calm, a fire seemed to abruptly ignite within her eyes.

Meanwhile, Siles and the others waited patiently.

After a moment, Elizabeth said, “Over thirty years ago, a sailor from Kingsley salvaged something from the sea and then descended into madness.

“When people heard about this at the time, investigators were sent to bring that sailor back to Bethune for questioning. Since my sister was the Archbishop of the Church of the Past back then, she naturally participated in it.

“None of the documents mentioned what exactly that thing was, as if someone had deliberately destroyed the relevant descriptions. I suspect my sister did it, though I have no proof.

“In short, judging from those documents, my sister seemed to believe that the item carried some special significance, making it necessary to inform other dioceses. She was originally prepared to set out personally—rather than writing a letter, because writing a letter wouldn’t have been safe enough.

“But before she could depart, another group of people appeared in Bethune. They said they were there to retrieve that item. And by that time, my sister had already obtained the item from the sailor.

“…I believe my sister chose to leave Bethune to escape being hunted down by those people.”

At this point, Elizabeth fell silent.

Bunyan pondered for a while, then said, “But, ma’am, if Bishop Josephine intended to inform the other dioceses of this item’s existence, why would she destroy the relevant records in Middleton?

“Furthermore, Konst didn’t receive a single clue about this either.”

“Yes, yes… that is my exact doubt as well,” Elizabeth said. “However…”

She looked as if she wanted to say something while gazing out at Bethune through the window. But ultimately, she simply fell silent. Shaking her head, she said, “Perhaps at the very last moment, my sister changed her mind.”

Siles looked at Elizabeth thoughtfully. Combining this with the character description in the RPG script, Siles believed she was wavering at this moment.

No, it should be said… her sister’s ultimate choice to remain silent had influenced her.

They were sitting here discussing the people standing in opposition to Antinam and the Church of the Past. And those people were connected to the Fuliou Sea in Middleton.

Therefore, Knight Commander Bunyan hoped to gain Elizabeth’s help. However, Elizabeth’s attitude was one of tactful yet firm refusal.

Because of Middleton. Because of this ocean.

Elizabeth Hosier seemed to be swaying between two entirely different stances—her faith, and the land where she lived. Perhaps she even suspected that Josephine’s silence back then was precisely because Josephine was shielding the residents of that ocean.

On this point, Siles’s thoughts differed from Elizabeth’s. He didn’t believe the Old God followers on those isolated islands were the same as ordinary Middleton residents. However, this discrepancy didn’t affect Elizabeth’s current silence.

She was silent because of the sea. For this ocean, she could even, to some extent, defy the deity she believed in, even if she herself hadn’t clearly realized where her fate would lead if she continued making such choices.

Regardless, could faith in a deity represent a person’s entire life? It seemed that was never the case.

The believers of death had once walked different paths, possessing entirely different lives; the believers of pleasure and asceticism walked paths diametrically opposed to their pasts; the believers of lies and commerce chose to unite under a conspiracy both sides were perfectly aware of.

The faces of the people in this world flickered indistinctly. The shifting light and shadows made their faces appear as entirely different forms.

Siles couldn’t help but think of Elizabeth Hosier’s three endings in the RPG script. Betraying the Church of the Past to become a heretic, or continuing to believe in Antinam.

He carefully considered: Should I choose to intervene at this moment? Am I interfering with Elizabeth’s life?

Should I do this?

No, he should be asking: What should my stance be right now? Regarding the “shadow” lingering over the isolated deep-sea islands. Regarding what Antinam and the dice want me to do.

…What kind of choice should I make?

“If there truly is a so-called ‘fate,’ then I would rather you be the one to hold it.” Chendo’s past words flashed through his mind. He thought he understood the hidden meaning behind Chendo’s words perfectly well.

Thus, he gently closed his eyes. When he opened them, he had made his decision.

“Lady Elizabeth,” Siles suddenly spoke up, “I believe I also have some information to share regarding the story of that sailor and the Fuliou Sea.”

Their gazes turned toward him in surprise.

Bunyan was the most astonished; Elizabeth’s surprise carried a hint of curiosity, while Dr. Chester’s surprise… well, carried a bit of understanding.

Siles simply paused, then explained why he had heard the story of that sailor—from his chance encounter with the merchant Ambrose on the train, to hearing Garrett Gielgud’s cries for help in the middle of the night.

“Gielgud…” Elizabeth murmured. “Yes, that is the surname. His father, Enoch Gielgud, was that sailor! Yes, that was him!”

By the end, Elizabeth also grew agitated.

Siles paused slightly, sensing an anomaly. He suddenly realized that in Middleton, the Church of the Past did not possess the same power and status as it did in Konst.

Therefore, even though Enoch Gielgud indirectly caused Josephine Hosier’s disappearance, the Church of the Past was unable to investigate further into Enoch afterward; otherwise, they couldn’t have been ignorant of Garrett Gielgud’s existence.

This massive discrepancy might have also somewhat caused the minor standoff between Elizabeth and Bunyan just now. They neither understood nor could even imagine each other’s circumstances.

Bunyan couldn’t imagine the weakness of the Church of the Past in Middleton, while Elizabeth couldn’t imagine the power and prosperity of the Church of the Past in Konst. Naturally, they each faced different dilemmas.

The vast and well-established Church of the Past in Konst had to deal with more enemies, while the Church of the Past in Middleton had to admit its powerlessness in certain matters.

This thought flashed through Siles’s mind before he quickly continued discussing the Fuliou Sea.

From the travelogues of Ligadia’s believers during the Age of Empire, to the stories people mentioned during the fireside chat not long ago, to the rumors among sailors on the Fuliou Sea, all the way to Siles personally witnessing the sacrifices of the people on the isolated deep-sea island during the storm…

Of course, he didn’t mention the “shadow,” because he believed topics related to the “shadow” were highly likely taboos of this world, a greater enigma hidden behind numerous mysteries.

Siles’s explanation took quite a while to ensure everyone present could understand what had happened.

When his voice finally faded, a period of silence fell over the office.

After a moment, Bunyan said thoughtfully, “So, on the isolated islands deep within the Fuliou Sea, there exist some unknown Old God followers who sacrifice to Old Gods in hopes of receiving a response, or rather, to resurrect an Old God?”

“Perhaps,” Siles chose a more cautious answer.

Elizabeth stood there, slowly frowning as well. She whispered, “This is an extremely dangerous matter.”

“Yes, ma’am, which is why we need your help,” Bunyan said.

“But, Knight Commander!” Elizabeth suddenly spoke with a very stern tone. “You do not understand the situation in Middleton!”

Bunyan didn’t get angry at this; he simply said, “Then, Bishop Elizabeth, we need you to explain to us exactly what the situation in Middleton is like.”

Elizabeth looked at Bunyan, a look of increased helplessness and near sorrow flashing in her eyes. She remained silent.

“…Apologies,” Siles said in a low voice. “I’m afraid I must interrupt. If I haven’t misunderstood, ma’am, you mean to say that we want to investigate the ocean, but due to Middleton’s deeply ingrained faith in the ocean, it’s impossible for us to do so.

“In fact, if we forcefully attempt this, we will draw the hostility of the Middleton people… is that correct?”

Elizabeth looked as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately, she simply gave a restrained nod.

Siles continued, “And Knight Commander, your point is that there are malicious Old God followers active in the deep sea who will bring danger to this world, so we must do something.

“Furthermore, they have already caused some harm, starting over thirty years ago. Therefore, by taking action as early as possible, we can eliminate the uncertain factors as much as we can.”

Bunyan similarly nodded.

Thus, Siles said, “Your thoughts are actually aligned; the disagreement merely lies in the methods. I believe we can discuss this more calmly.”

Chester also chimed in, “Indeed. Our goals are not contradictory.”

His words completely calmed Elizabeth down.

Siles’s gaze rested on the lady. He thought that such a strong, agitated reaction seemed to imply that Elizabeth had also tried to investigate the ocean in the past, but failed, and was even condemned by the people of Middleton.

…Because of Josephine Hosier’s disappearance? That was certainly a possibility.

When Josephine went missing, subsequent information proved that her disappearance was highly likely connected to something in the ocean. Under such circumstances, Elizabeth naturally would have wanted to investigate the Fuliou Sea.

However, her intentions most likely hit a wall. The barriers and opposition were so deep that before now, the Konst diocese was completely unaware that such things had happened in Middleton.

After all, according to Elizabeth, the events from over thirty years ago highly likely involved Old God followers in the deep sea. Was she truly completely ignorant of this?

A captain like Garrett Gielgud, who spent year-round at sea, knew very well that there were difficult-to-deal-with residents on the isolated islands of the Fuliou Sea. These residents possessed some peculiar beliefs.

Even so, even though Josephine had expressed a desire to inform the other dioceses of this information before she disappeared, Elizabeth still maintained her silence afterward, until this very moment.

Aside from her own stance and views, was there some external force compelling her to stay silent?

…And had she indeed chosen a more cowardly path?

Siles looked deeply at the foreign lady bishop. The latter’s gaze, meanwhile, was fixed deeply on Chester.

Bunyan had also calmed down. He said, “Bishop Elizabeth, I understand your meaning. However, there is one thing I don’t quite get… according to what you said, the people of Middleton worship the ocean and will therefore hinder our investigation.

“But what we want to investigate is that group of Old God followers, not the ocean they believe in…”

“That might just be the ocean they believe in,” Elizabeth’s tone was almost icy.

Bunyan’s words came to an abrupt halt.

Elizabeth once again looked out the window. Bethune, Middleton. Her gaze carried a strange, eerie bewilderment.

After a moment, she said, “Do you all feel that Bethune is a more passionate, friendly place than Kingsley? The capital of this nation seems less xenophobic… doesn’t it?”

She gave a low chuckle, out of what emotion, no one knew.

The others remained silent.

Finally, Elizabeth shook her head. She said, “Knight Commander, I think you should at least not rush into things. Observe the situation in Bethune first. This place is far more complex than you can imagine.

“And you are still foreigners. Outsiders receive more coldness and isolation here. Stay in Bethune for a few days, and you will feel it. In fact, I even thought about moving—when I heard I had a nephew in Lamifa City.

“I would rather be closer to my God than stay in my homeland, entirely out of place with the beliefs, customs, and habits of this place.”

Saying this, she sighed slowly.

Bunyan froze for a moment, unable to help but frown, still somewhat puzzled by Elizabeth’s earlier statement. But Elizabeth clearly didn’t want to say more.

She changed the subject and began chatting with Chester, talking about everyday family matters. Chester was a bit surprised, given that Elizabeth had just mentioned wanting to leave Middleton, but he didn’t show much emotion, trying hard to remain calm as he conversed with Elizabeth.

Siles observed all this from the sidelines, thinking that his guess seemed correct; Elizabeth had probably faced subtle hostility many years ago.

Faith and homeland. Elizabeth’s soul seemed split in half. She lacked a clearly defined self-awareness because half of her identity was a devout believer of Antinam, while the other half was a resident of Middleton who worshiped the ocean. She was out of place here.

…In the RPG character card settings, this was exactly Elizabeth’s situation. Her Constitution was high, her Spirituality leaned high, but her Will was slightly low—at least lower than the other character cards, though naturally higher than the Clown’s Will.

Normally, she was a regular person, devoutly believing in Antinam, living an ordinary life in Bethune; but if she truly faced an Old God or suffered spiritual pollution, she would likely descend into madness immediately, transforming into an entirely different person.

It should be said that over the past many years, it was precisely because she became the Archbishop of the Church of the Past and lived in an overall safe environment that she was able to maintain her sanity.

The issue of self exactly corresponded to her three endings in the RPG script.

…Siles suddenly realized: Did Josephine Hosier’s deliberate decision to make Elizabeth the Archbishop before she disappeared also carry a consideration of ‘protecting her younger sister’? This didn’t seem impossible, considering Lady Josephine’s rumored calmness and strength.

Regardless, Siles hoped that with Elizabeth and Chester reuniting, the lady bishop could reaffirm her self-awareness due to the unexpected appearance of family.

Before long, Elizabeth showed signs of fatigue, so the three of them bid her farewell.

Elizabeth specifically told Chester that she hoped he would come find her alone before leaving Bethune, at least to have a meal together. Chester nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Although Elizabeth’s appearance was unexpected for Chester, he got along surprisingly well with this elder. This also gave him the feeling of having found family.

Siles and Bunyan’s emotions, however, were much more complex.

After returning to the inn, it was barely half-past nine. Chester returned to his room alone, while Bunyan privately invited Siles to his room for a talk. They discussed the previous topic.

“Do you think,” Bunyan asked humbly for advice, “that Bishop Elizabeth’s claims were somewhat exaggerated?”

It seemed Knight Commander Bunyan still had some doubts about Elizabeth’s statements. Bunyan’s own psychology stat was very high, so he likely saw that Elizabeth was hiding something.

Siles considered his words, finally saying, “I don’t think we need to rush so much. Regardless, the lady bishop certainly understands Middleton better than we do.

“The Fuliou Sea is Middleton’s inland sea, so that is Middleton’s territory. We cannot be too radical; after all, Middleton is unfamiliar to us.”

Bunyan nodded, agreeing with this logic, but couldn’t help sighing: “When I heard the information you’ve gathered, I felt that danger follows us like a shadow. It is extremely anxiety-inducing.”

Siles agreed, especially since Bunyan had unintentionally used the phrase “like a shadow”… Honestly, that phrase made him feel a bit anxious too.

He paused, thought for a moment, and said, “We still need to gather more information. At the very least, for now, we can follow the lady bishop’s advice and understand the city of Bethune first.”

“I understand,” Bunyan said.

He thought for a while, then asked, “Professor, do you think what Bishop Elizabeth just said—that the ocean the Middleton residents believe in is equivalent to those Old God followers—means that the Old God followers actually control this country?”

Siles shook his head and said, “I believe it’s because the Middleton residents’ faith leans towards nature worship. Therefore, whether the ocean means cruel storms, a bountiful fish harvest, or bloody sacrifices, it’s all the same thing to them.

“So, they might, to some extent, consider the Old God followers to be part of them, consider that to also be part of the ocean, and consider our investigation an act of offending the ocean.”

Bunyan nodded thoughtfully.

Siles, meanwhile, thought of the fisherman in the fireside chat who had been so terrified by witnessing the isolated island residents’ sacrifice that he fled Middleton altogether. He highly doubted that Elizabeth’s explanation applied to every single person in Middleton.

Therefore, Siles added, “However, the meaning of faith is also different for everyone.”

“That is true,” Bunyan said in a low voice.

Siles thought to himself that since he had visited the deep-sea dreams last night, he would have to wait until tomorrow night before he could enter the deep-sea dreams again to search for Garrett Gielgud’s dream. He hoped he would be able to find it.

It was getting late, so he headed out with Bunyan to go downstairs for lunch. Professor Bella happened to return just then. She had clearly already discussed the upcoming itinerary with Bethune University.

By her side were several young people, along with a professor from Bethune University who looked like the liaison for this scholars’ visit.

Professor Bella announced the upcoming schedule to them: “This afternoon, we will tour Bethune University, and tomorrow we will tour and sightsee within the city of Bethune, visiting the museum and some scenic spots.

“The day after tomorrow is Tuesday, which will be our day for academic exchange at Bethune University. Bethune University is not currently on break, so we can conveniently interact with their professors and students.

“Wednesday will generally be the same. Due to language issues, our exchange will progress relatively slowly, and we also need to accommodate the schedules of the professors and students there. In short, the specific itineraries for Monday and Tuesday are set, while Wednesday will require flexible planning.

“On Thursday, March 11th, we will leave Bethune and return to Lamifa. I hope everyone cherishes this scholars’ visit.

“Also, these are the accompanying guides from Bethune University. They sent four guides who all speak the Konst language, so you don’t need to worry about language barriers.

“Uh, please have the guides introduce themselves to the professors they are assigned to, and after we eat, we will head to Bethune University.”

Before long, a young man walked up to Siles. He looked like a student and introduced himself with a rather nervous attitude: “Hello, Professor. I am Foster Ronchi, a philosophy student at Bethune University.”

Siles politely introduced himself in return: “I am Siles Noel, a literary history professor at Lamifa University.”

As he said this, he pondered why the surname “Ronchi” sounded so familiar to him.

During lunch, he suddenly remembered.

Frank Ronchi. The painter of the sea people. That painter who specialized in depicting the sea, storms, and fishermen.

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