Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 1064

After listening to Jenkins's account, Papa Oliver was quite astonished that the Funny Insurance Merchant had approached him for a partnership. But once he heard the reasons—talk of "opening an era" and "insurance"—he felt the whole affair was, in a strange way, plausible.

"...Then, somehow, he discovered I was the Saint of the Sage. He turned and fled like a madman, without even finishing our discussion about the partnership."

Jenkins shrugged, signaling that was the end of his story.

"Did you see him again after that?"

"No. He never returned to the shop, and I didn't see him on my way home either."

Jenkins answered honestly.

Papa Oliver nodded. After a long moment of consideration, he instructed Jenkins to write a report on the previous night's events. He also warned Jenkins that mortals were better off avoiding contact with such strange entities. Even if the Funny Insurance Merchant wasn't a Cursed Item, he was not something an ordinary person should be dealing with.

In addition to the statue, while taking out the trash yesterday morning, Jenkins had discovered a gift that Papa Oliver had missed—one sent by a former apprentice.

After wiping down the counter, Jenkins retrieved the notebook with the piece of bark tucked inside and handed it to Papa Oliver. The old man opened it and saw the bark, his eyes slowly widening in a way Jenkins had never seen before. It was the first time he had seen his mentor look so genuinely surprised. Yet, upon reading the text on the bark, the astonishment on his face smoothed into an expression of calm.

He shook his head, placed the bark back inside the notebook, and handed it to Jenkins, telling him to store it in the warehouse out back.

Looking up, he saw the curiosity written all over Jenkins's face. Jenkins was practically radiating the question, too hesitant to actually voice it.

Papa Oliver inquired.

"I'm very curious about this Miss Stevel!"

"She was an apprentice of mine once, but she's long since completed her training."

Papa Oliver said, already walking back to his rocking chair by the fireplace. He picked up a newspaper, effectively hiding his face from Jenkins.

"So this lady... Miss... Ma'am—right, so where is this Miss Stevel working now?"

Jenkins tried his best to sound casual, reigning in his obvious interest.

"She works in Turin. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a very long time."

Papa Oliver's tone was dismissive, and Jenkins understood it as a clear signal to drop the subject. But it was enough. The old man's words hadn't triggered any reaction from his Lie Godhood, which confirmed it: Miss Stevel was, indeed, in Turin!

To change the subject, Papa Oliver shared a new piece of intelligence with Jenkins. The night before, they had received a report from the Church of Ocean and Exploration. While their agents were searching the city for pirates, they stumbled upon another matter:

"They've prepared more than one ritual for the Exotic Tide!"

Papa Oliver announced grimly. Jenkins nodded with equal gravity, putting on his most shocked expression to show he understood the weight of the news.

"According to the intelligence we've gathered, the goal of the Dead Man's Whip isn't just the 'Exotic Tide' ability. They've been collecting vast quantities of materials for blood sacrifices, though for what purpose, we don't yet know. There are rumors that this group inherited the legacy of the cultists who fled Nolan after the failed Evil God's Child Incident. We suspect the Child may have imparted some terrible knowledge to them. Their true objective is likely far more sinister."

Papa Oliver spoke with a worried frown. Jenkins nodded again, his expression grave, conveying that while this was the first he was hearing of it, he fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

"Such troubled times," Papa Oliver sighed. "The plague has yet to run its course, and now we have another band of malevolent cultists to deal with. Haven't they learned? Anyone who dares to stir up trouble in Nolan never meets a good end."

As he spoke, Papa Oliver carefully put away the statue that had been sitting on the counter. It was a masterpiece of human ingenuity, nearly ten thousand years old. Had the insurance merchant not preserved it, the ravages of time would have long since reduced it to dust.

Even without being an Extraordinary item, the stone statue's value was immeasurable. It would likely be sent to the Church, which would then deliver it to a research institute or a university's archeology department. That was where it truly belonged.

This morning's Kingdom Daily featured news of military recruitment. Parliament had passed the conscription bill, with plans to begin the spring draft in the four eastern counties.

This was an annual military exercise, but the recruitment numbers this year were unusually large. The recent movements of border troops were also puzzling.

"It looks like war is truly on the horizon," Papa Oliver mused. "Jenkins, who do you think will win?"

He asked nonchalantly, his eyes still on the newspaper.

"We'll probably win," Jenkins opined. "Although the Cheslan Kingdom and our own are considered the most powerful human nations of this era, Cheslan is inferior in territory, population, and economy compared to us and the Hamparvo Kingdom. More importantly, I read that our military has already integrated modern steam-powered machinery into a staggering ten percent of its forces, while Cheslan is still using firearms that are over twenty years old..."

Jenkins talked on, wiping down the counter as he spoke. Behind him, Papa Oliver kept nodding, but his eyes, fixed on the newspaper, seemed distant and empty, as if lost in memories of the past.

The first customer of the day didn't arrive until nearly ten, and he only wanted to pay for an appraisal, so it hardly counted as significant business.

After the customer left, Jenkins and Papa Oliver resumed their conversation about the Quake family. The old man quietly informed Jenkins that the Church had confirmed the blood sacrifice ritual beneath the Quake estate was indeed intended to summon a Cursed Item.

That was undeniable proof of their attempt on Jenkins's life. Regardless of the details, the Quake family name was now likely to vanish from history. Read complete versıon only at novęlfire.net

"Perhaps that blood sacrifice is connected to the rituals of the Dead Man's Whip. The Church should investigate the materials the Quake family was using."

Jenkins suggested offhandedly.

Papa Oliver started, then realized that Jenkins's suggestion made perfect sense. Even though Jenkins insisted it was just a random thought, the old man took the idea very seriously.

After lunch, he wrote a letter and tasked Jenkins with delivering it to the church. It was also a convenient opportunity for Jenkins to submit his report on the insurance salesman.

Chocolate, of course, was with Jenkins; the cat rarely left his side. Content from a satisfying lunch, it had drifted into a drowsy sleep soon after they left the antique shop.

As the banks of the Westminster River came into view, Jenkins could feel the steady, rhythmic breathing of the cat nestled inside his coat.