Chapter 1982: Chapter 1982

On a hillside far from the camp, Jenkins and Papa Oliver stood together, gazing at the distant city, still dotted with specks of light. The night was coming to an end. After the Dragon Soul had been transferred, the Believers of Lies had departed without a moment's hesitation. Jenkins had asked Papa Oliver to join him in a quiet place to talk.

"What was the price?"

Papa Oliver didn't even look at Jenkins, who had turned to face him.

"Why did the Believers of Lies agree to hand over the Dragon Soul? And why was I only called over after the deal was made? What happened tonight? And how come I saw Dolores, too?"

He feigned complete ignorance.

"As for what happened tonight, you can ask about it yourself. As for the price, the Church has already paid it. Ah, Jenkins, you don't need to worry about this. Just keep walking the path you're on, and don't let the Church's efforts go to waste!"

He clapped Jenkins firmly on the shoulder a couple of times. Jenkins, who knew the full truth of the night's events, felt a wave of sadness wash over him. The transfer of the key meant Papa Oliver only had three days to live. In other words, for the sake of the Dragon Soul, Papa Oliver had willingly handed his life over to strangers of unknown origin.

Now, facing Jenkins's questions, he acted so nonchalantly. Jenkins couldn't keep his composure:

"Papa Oliver, tell me the truth. Did the demand from the Believers of Lies have something to do with you? Otherwise, you'd have no reason to be out here so late instead of sleeping. I certainly don't recall our antique shop's duties including liaising with the Believers of Lies."

He pressed his lips together, looking at Papa Oliver's profile:

"Don't overthink it. The Believers of Lies didn't ask for anything unreasonable. I think you'll find out eventually. Then you'll understand."

"Papa Oliver, I feel like you're lying to me."

"An Enchanter can't trust so-called 'feelings' too much. And sometimes, even if you think you're right, you shouldn't say it at an inopportune moment. This isn't me teaching you about the esoteric arts; it's me, as your elder, sharing some life experience."

He and Jenkins looked out at the distant city together. For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Jenkins believed everything was under control. Once he chose to use the key, it would mean using it to participate in the final battle. And if he won, he could directly become a true pseudo-god by saving the world. Then, he would naturally be able to extend the life of Papa Oliver, who had only three days left.

But even so, seeing the look of deliberate concealment on Papa Oliver's face, Jenkins was still deeply affected. He took a deep breath to compose himself and finally asked:

"Now that the Four King Souls are gathered, I won't be going home to rest. I'll start the forging directly. Is that all right?"

"No problem. The location is the Evergreen Forest."

It was already Tuesday. By the time his conversation with Papa Oliver ended, the sky was already brightening with the dawn. Before leaving the camp, Jenkins went to check on Salsi II, who was still resting, and treated the old king. Afterward, he spoke privately with Dolores and Alexia for a while. Noticing something amiss in Dolores's eyes, he turned to the shorter woman and asked:

"Did you tell her something?" Check latest chapters at NovєlFіre.net

"She knows everything Hathaway knows. What, was that wrong?"

Alexia asked while stirring her teacup with a spoon at the table. Like Dolores, she hadn't slept all night and needed some tea in the morning to stay sharp.

"It's not that it was wrong, just a bit unexpected."

He stood to the side and said:

"You always have a purpose for your actions, Alexia. So, what was your purpose this time?"

"I just thought she should know. After all, our story is nearing its end, isn't it?"

The final battle was about to begin. If the year since Jenkins had transmigrated was a book, then it was indeed approaching the final chapter.

"Alright, you're right. So, Dolores, do you have anything to say?"

He asked the princess, who was sitting on the other side of the table, staring wearily into her teacup. Dolores looked up at Jenkins, a little shyly:

"Can I have a unicorn?"

Jenkins and Alexia both burst out laughing:

"If you want one, then you'll get one after the story is over."

Then, he took out the round emblem and the ice bracelet he had obtained from the snowfield temple and handed them to Alexia. After explaining what he had encountered, he asked Alexia to find some time to give the emblem to Sigrid, who would then deliver it to the Church of All Things and Nature.

"It's not convenient for me to be involved in this. Also, you should keep this bracelet."

The bracelet was related to the power of ice and snow; it should be a better match for Dolores. But the bracelet's power was immense, and Dolores's Enchanter level was too low to unleash its full potential. Only in the hands of a genuine demigod like Alexia could this item, bestowed by a sovereign power, reveal its true strength.

"We won't be present for the fusion of the King Soul in a little while. You need to be careful."

Jenkins asked curiously, thinking Alexia might know some inside information about the Uncrowned King.

"Be careful of things that are supposed to be normal. They have a tendency to become abnormal around you."

After speaking, she stood up, rose onto her tiptoes, and gave Jenkins a kiss on the cheek:

"Good luck, Jenkins."

Jenkins really didn't go home. A carriage took him and Papa Oliver directly to the church, and after breakfast, the group left the city for the Evergreen Forest. Because they had anticipated that the deal with the Believers of Lies might go smoothly, the Evergreen Forest had already been prepared, just waiting for Jenkins to arrive.

Miss Bevanna held the crystal containing the kindling, Papa Oliver carried a hammer, and together with Jenkins, they arrived at the clearing beneath the giant tree in the center of the forest. Along the way, Jenkins saw Miss Brolignans. She had been at the base of the tower preparing to perform a divination, but she had come specifically to observe the forging of the King Soul.

To prevent any further delays or unexpected incidents, they didn't wait or chat any longer; the forging began immediately. Jenkins held the crystal in his right hand, the hammerhead lay at his feet, and he clutched the pocket watch in his left hand. Then he looked up at the sky, preparing to call upon the star spirits.

Everyone else retreated to the edge of the clearing, into the woods, to avoid disturbing Jenkins. Chocolate, however, was allowed to stay. What he was doing now wasn't dangerous, so the cat didn't need to leave.

Feeling that he had adjusted his state of mind quite well, Jenkins opened the cover of the pocket watch his brother had given him. With a soft click as the cover sprang open, a silvery light spilled out from within, wrapping around Jenkins like a ribbon.

Time... almost stood still.