Chapter 1862: Chapter 1862

"That's a good summary. So far, you're correct."

Miss Strass nodded, brushed back a lock of hair, and continued in a lower voice:

"Given what the Believers of Lies told us about the Reverser of Fate Ritual, the Church suspects that the features of each floor could correspond to one of the Savior's Emblems."

Jenkins had considered that as well, but the metal tower had so few distinct characteristics.

"We could stretch the point and connect the fourth floor's shadow powers to the 'Real Illusion,' but it's impossible to make the other three floors fit, isn't it?"

"The Believers of Lies managed to get into the first floor of the metal tower once. They saw three statues of kings inside, which might correspond to the 'Uncrowned King.'"

Miss Strass explained.

"That makes sense. So, does the Church plan to send people into the other floors of the tower? That might yield more clues."

"The Church has considered that, but it's impossible. Jenkins, haven't you noticed? Apart from the first floor, the other levels have no entrances whatsoever."

"In any case, the Church accepts the speculation of the Believers of Lies. We also believe the tower most likely has only nine floors. The day all nine floors fully manifest will likely be the day the Reverser of Fate Ritual is completely activated. It might even herald the arrival of the final cataclysm."

"So that means there are still five floors left?"

Jenkins inquired, though he knew it was all just speculation.

The family spent the entire day exploring the forest. It was a rare opportunity; after all, apart from Briny and Chocolate, every member of the household had a packed schedule.

But they planned to have dinner back in the city, so the family left the forest at four in the afternoon, and Jenkins had already booked a restaurant in the city in advance.

After dinner, their entertainment for the evening was a trip to the Royal Opera House. While Jenkins was usually the one to arrange such outings, everyone was particularly delighted this time since he had taken the initiative.

By the time he'd seen Dolores and Alexia home, then returned with the other young ladies, it was already approaching ten o'clock at night.

After a long and tiring day out, even Jenkins wanted to rest early. Of course, before that, he had to show the unicorn to Briny. He couldn't just summon it directly, of course, or Hathaway would find out his identity.

So, he was forced to spend ten minutes on the roof with his cat, enjoying the warm summer night air, before finally bringing the unicorn to knock on his own door. Jenkins admitted his little beast was beautiful, but he could never fathom why the ladies reacted with such dramatic flair.

Hathaway had seen it before, but she, like Briny, still seemed to never tire of stroking the little beast's silky white fur while chatting with Jenkins about unicorn lore. Even Julia couldn't resist giving the unicorn's neck a pat. The little beast didn't seem particularly fond of Hathaway or Briny, but it didn't seem to mind Julia's touch.

When Briny asked him in private for the reason, Jenkins leaned close to her ear and whispered an explanation about the definition of a "pure maiden," which earned him a light tap on the arm.

"If I get the chance, I could take you for a flight. I think you'd like it."

He said with a smile. Briny lifted her hands, wrapped her arms around his neck, and they shared a deep kiss. Just as the young couple were about to take things further, a carriage from the Church screeched to a halt outside the front door, shattering the cozy atmosphere in the hallway.

Briny and Jenkins pulled apart slightly. She kissed his cheek, a hint of regret in her touch.

"I had a wonderful time today. We should all go out together again... Be safe." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel·fire·net

She knew that carriage meant Jenkins had to go out and face danger again tonight, but she wouldn't stop him.

"Don't worry, I'll return safely. I swear it on the Sage's name... and on Chocolate's."

He scooped up the disgruntled cat, giving it a little shake, before changing his clothes with the help of Julia, who had rushed out of her room. Briny stood at the bedroom window, waving farewell to the young writer as he prepared to board the carriage. When she turned back, she found the red-haired girl leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest.

"Oh, 'I had a wonderful time today. We should all go out together...'"

She repeated Briny's words in a teasing voice, only to be promptly struck by a pillow thrown by the blushing girl.

In the grey-fog-shrouded city, the carriage carrying Jenkins plunged into the night's mist. After arriving at the church and getting a brief overview of the situation, the carriage set off again with Jenkins, taking him and Chocolate to the southern suburbs of Nolan.

Nolan's west was defined by its coastline, its prosperity built on shipping and maritime trade. To the north lay a continuous mountain range, a region thriving on fruit cultivation and summer tourism. The east was the mining district, its coal, rare metals, and gemstones forming the bedrock of Nolan's status as a major industrial city on the west coast. And to the south, at the start of the continent's great western plain, lay Nolan's primary horse farms and agricultural estates.

Seafaring vessels and a tangled web of railway lines converged here, together upholding the splendor of this "Pearl of the West Coast."

The trouble tonight was at the Ludwig Estate, the private property of a local nobleman, Earl Ludwig. The estate spanned about thirteen acres, mostly dedicated to crops, though it also featured a small flower garden and an orchard. Rumor had it there was a cellar beneath the estate for winemaking, but since unlicensed brewing was illegal, the Earl had always dismissed such talk as slander.

Around six-thirty this evening, an unnatural, dense white fog appeared over the fields in the eastern part of the estate and expanded into a thick mass in a very short time. The servants and farmhands on the estate were all curious, and no one realized there was any danger.

So after dinner, two curious men who had drunk some cheap liquor grabbed their farm tools and went in on their own, but they never returned.

When they realized people were missing, the estate's manager took two dogs and three sturdy farmhands armed with sickles to search for them, but that group also vanished without a trace. Only then did those who remained think to go into the city to find Earl Ludwig.

The old Earl had long since retired from public office and was living out his retirement in Nolan. He didn't want to deal with such matters, so he had a servant report it to the police and just tell him the result later.

When the servant burst into KalFax Field in the dead of night and described the general course of events, the clerical staff the Church had planted inside the police department immediately realized it was another spatial anomaly. That was how the Church learned of the incident happening in the far suburbs of Nolan.

This wasn't the first spatial anomaly. The reason they specifically summoned Jenkins from the city was because this situation was special. It wasn't just a spatial anomaly; a Cursed Item related to time had also appeared.