Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 715 - [Genesis: Death]
Chapter 715 -715 [Genesis: Death]
“Mr. Barton, what’s wrong? Do you need me to call someone?”
Shard stood up abruptly, wanting to approach the other, but Joey Barton immediately waved his hand to stop Shard from coming closer:
“I’m fine, really, don’t call anyone. I just… overused my eyes. This strange Talent cannot be frequently used, yes, the gifts of Fate always have other costs.”
Although he said he was fine, he still covered his face with his palms, his entire body trembling.
Iluna, who was “quietly” by the side, didn’t stand up like Shard did. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, then she extended her right finger and gave a slight hook. The Roder Card lying on the coffee table flipped automatically under the pull of Sorcery, and Shard’s gaze was attracted to the front of the card.
The front of the card was only in white, black, and chilly tones near those colors. The humanoid figure standing with its back to the card face occupied the center of the card; it wore a black hooded robe, and the exposed head was a skull with bone spurs at the back of the skull. In its right hand, it held a sharp scythe, and in its left hand, a filthy dagger; both hands were rotting flesh.
In the background of the card, there were densely packed spire-like tombstones, and there were ghostly vague white shadows among the tombstones. Further in the background, there was a body of water without end in sight.
The tombstone at the feet of the central figure on the card was the clearest, with patterns like bone fragments on it, and Shard could actually decode the meaning—
[The World (First Era 1 year to present)]
In the upper right corner of the front, there was the number 6, and in the upper left corner, a small symbol of the sun. Between them, at the top center of the front of the card, a black vertical line was drawn inside a white circle, which was the mark of the “Genesis” series.
At the bottom of the card, there was a bit of blank space, and there were two lines of small letters written there:
[If you draw this card when the total Points exceed 21, choose one of the already used cards and exchange it with this card. The special effect of the chosen card is nullified.]
“Sun 6, [Genesis: Death]! It is indeed [Genesis: Death]!”
Shard’s eyes widened, he subconsciously wanted to reach out his hand, but immediately withdrew it.
Seeing Mr. Barton’s hand about to pull away from his face, Iluna lowered her eyelids, her pale fingers gave another pick, and the Roder Card immediately flipped back to being face down without even shifting its position.
Shard’s gaze moved away from the Roder Card, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and looked concernedly towards Mr. Barton across the coffee table whose eyes were actually bleeding:
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m okay, really.”
He took out his handkerchief with his thick fingers, wiped his eyes with difficulty, his face bearing an apologetic expression:
“The sensation just now, it was like looking directly at the sun… oh, it seems I have indeed been overusing my eyes lately.”
His left hand wiped the blood from his left eye, and thanks to his restored vision, he noticed the Roder Card on the table. His right hand immediately retrieved it:
“Sorry, but it seems I won’t be able to continue the Divination for you today.”
His tone carried genuine regret.
“It’s alright, as long as you’re fine. After all, if I really knew that this cat would die a natural death decades from now, I would actually be very upset… it’s just a pet with a short lifespan.”
While speaking, Shard pretended to be sorrowful as he stroked Mia’s head. The cat, looking around, glanced at Shard and seeing he was alright, rubbed his head against the hand before continuing to observe the surroundings.
“In fact, you don’t have to be sad about the departure of loved ones and those close to you.”
Joey Barton put down his handkerchief, and his appearance looked very disproportionate with his limbs and body due to the Trait of “Person of Reverse Life,” only his black eyes seemed lively:
“Every mortal will eventually die, that’s the inevitable phase of life. A normal birth, a normal death, I’ve always thought these are the miracles the Great Ones have bestowed upon mortals.”
Combining Joey Barton’s status as a “Person of Reverse Life,” such sentiments truly seemed to stem from a profound experience with life itself.
“Yes, every ordinary day we experience may just be a continuous series of miracles.”
Shard felt deeply as well, as an Outlander in this world who had gone through so much, he understood even more how precious a life without incident is to the ordinary people living in this world.
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Mr. Barton strongly agreed with Shard’s words:
“You mentioned that you’re a writer, oh, if you publish a work in the future, please be sure to tell me. An ordinary and normal life, how precious that is. A normal birth, both parents alive, a normal upbringing, enjoying childhood, normal maturation, encountering love, and then…”
He inhaled deeply, adjusting his expression:
“Please don’t refuse, Mr. Watson, I must insist on having a drink with you today.”
Saying so, he stood up from the sofa, which only highlighted the peculiarity of Joey Barton’s figure.
He was indeed the size of a child, but thin-bodied, with limbs unusually stout. Apart from that, he walked with a limping gait, as if he had difficulty coordinating his body. Still, he managed to reach the desk, unlit by the gas lamps, and from a side mahogany cabinet, he took out a bottle of red wine and three glasses. After Miss Agatha Holmes stated she wouldn’t drink, Shard and Mr. Barton enjoyed the wine together.
After finishing the drink, the time for the scheduled visit also drew to a close. To compensate for the incomplete divination session, in addition to only charging half the fee, Shard also received a promise to visit again next Tuesday afternoon—Mr. Barton was taking a week off, so he wouldn’t see any clients for the rest of the week.
Although Mr. Barton was only of the First Ring, he seemed to hold a lot of power in the Raven Club. He personally arranged for someone to escort Shard and his “fiancée” to the door. When Shard, holding Iluna’s hand, was about to take a horse-drawn cab at the street corner, a four-wheeled hired carriage smoothly stopped at the entrance of the Raven Club.
So, after the gentleman with the suitcase got out, Shard and Iluna left in that carriage. As the carriage slowly drove away, Shard glanced out the window and saw the servant bowing to the man entering the club.
Iluna threw a Silence Charm.
“The man just now was the one who fought with us in the forest of the Milestone Mechanical Academy during the Fire Worship Festival dinner,” said Shard, to which Iluna nodded.
“It’s him, although he was disguised, my eyes do not mistake people. Did he enter the Raven Club? Was he also here for divination?”
“It’s unlikely, Joey Barton said he wouldn’t see any clients this week, and the servant wouldn’t dare to go against his orders right away. Besides, the man didn’t show a Raven badge when he entered and the doorkeeper was very respectful to him… Interesting.”
Shard, cradling the cat, tapped the armrest of the carriage seat with his left hand:
“My local friends tell me that Joey Barton’s experience of becoming a Circle Sorcerer is still a mystery.”
On their way here, Shard had already shared the information Sister Delphine had mentioned to Iluna. The seventeen-year-old girl frowned slightly:
“So, the Person of Reverse Life Joey Barton, has he been healed with the support of the Truth Society and thus became a Circle Sorcerer?”
She knew more about the Truth Society than Shard:
“Yes, that’s a strong possibility. The Truth Society does indeed like to do these things.”
“Isn’t the Truth Society supposed to study forbidden knowledge? How did it become an association helping the disabled?”
“Do they really help people with strange disabilities out of kindness?”
Iluna hummed, probably not wanting to affect Shard’s mood, so she didn’t say much:
“This is quite interesting, the Truth Society and Joey Barton… Shard, when I return to the church, I’ll have our local Circle Sorcerer squad investigate the man’s boarding location,” said Iluna, pointing at the coachman.
“I won’t mention anything about the Raven Club for now, just ask the church to investigate where the man boarded. After all, if Joey Barton hides, we won’t be able to find him, but during our meeting just now, I was almost sure he’s the one we’re looking for. But… if the church finds Joey Barton, we must also accept reality.”
“It’s okay, the church finding The Chosen One is better than being in the hands of the Truth Society. Besides, aren’t you also The Chosen One found by the church?”
Shard said with a smile, and Iluna smiled too.
“But how will you explain the source of the intelligence? You sneaked out today.”
He asked again. The carriage turned the corner into the bustling area of Midshire Fort. Although this too was a big city, Milestone was still somewhat lacking compared to the Northern Pearl Tobesk.
“That’s not important. The church now fully believes every word I say. Even if I said it came to me in a dream, they would believe it. After all, I am the person chosen by the Whispering Verses, the protagonist of the Era.”
After saying so, Iluna looked at Shard suspiciously, hesitated, and then asked the question she really wanted to ask:
“I’ve been wanting to ask since we got on the carriage, Detective, why do you smell of the perfume of our Diviner friend?”
Shard opened his mouth slightly, but Iluna sighed and shook her head, signaling him not to speak:
“It’s good for her to have company when she’s under so much pressure. Even though your house has that Gate of Darkness underground, I still worry that one day she might collapse and lose control… She carries too much on her shoulders, even more than I do.”
Similar words were once said by the doctor.
“But…”
Her lips trembled slightly as the seventeen-year-old girl carefully watched Shard and asked softly:
“In the future… will you still dance with me?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
“That’s good… We agreed to walk this path together. You will stay by my side, always, until the very end.”
She murmured, her eyes looking into the void ahead.
Shard nodded, and as Iluna smiled, he turned to look at the passing streetscape. Everyone has their own troubles, even the protagonist of the Era must deal with the trivialities of life.
Genesis: Death had appeared, and the third choice for The Chosen One had been determined. It seemed that the story of Milestone this autumn was about to come to its last page.
