Chapter 331: Chapter 331

"How are you feeling, Mr. Williams? This is the fourth 31st. The next one will be up to you—to save the continent."

He nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the middle-aged man's increasingly pale face.

"Are you really not afraid of death?"

Jenkins still harbored doubts. After all, saintly figures willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others were not exactly a common sight. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ noᴠelfire.net

"All mortals must die."

Pisco repeated the phrase, his tone peculiar, as if intentionally reminding Jenkins of something.

"This is my fate, and yours is still waiting for you. I know you're hoping for a few clues, but I can't give you any. Otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain. Just trust in the power of fate, Mr. Williams."

Jenkins laughed wryly. So, he had given a hint after all.

He reached out with his spirit, activating his ability to guide fate. A purple thread stretched into the distance. It seemed some of his experiences from the third 31st were now serving as a beacon. Still, he had no idea where this guidance would ultimately lead.

"It seems you understand. Very good. I can answer a few of your questions now, as we agreed. But please, don't ask about supreme beings, the End of the Epoch, or gods. I can no longer bear that kind of pressure."

"Very well. First, I'd like to know how to shield against the contamination that a Mysterious Object spontaneously emits."

Having the Suicidal Demon Eye hidden in his house was a constant risk; he couldn't even sleep soundly.

"There are many ways. For example, the power of a god."

Jenkins nodded slightly. That meant storing it in a box inscribed with a true name should suffice.

"I want to know, what exactly is a Savior?"

"The one chosen to save the world at the end of an Epoch. But until the very last moment, the Savior's identity is never certain. There are usually many candidates, such as..."

The middle-aged man chuckled and nodded. "Though matters concerning Saviors are secret, quite a few people are aware of them. The Twelve Orthodox Churches possess extensive records, and even ancient pseudo-god organizations have some documentation. But remember this: only those who don't actively pursue the title are worthy of being chosen by fate. A deliberate pursuit will only lead to nothing."

The demons from the molten hells were a perfect example.

"I also want to know..."

"Let's stop here for now, Mr. Williams."

He cut Jenkins off. "That's all for now. In truth, it would be better for you to discover these answers on your own. I hope you understand."

After this, he refused to answer any more questions. Left with no other choice, Jenkins had to leave the man's home.

Following the plan he had worked out with Miss Miller on the previous 31st, Jenkins used the cover of night to return home and rest. Once refreshed, he met with Miss Audrey again in the early morning, braving the heavy snow, before making his way to Miss Miller's apartment before she could head out.

There, Jenkins explained the situation he was facing to the two women again, which took some time.

By the time everyone had sorted through the events, it was nearly ten o'clock—just when the two women from the Witch's House were due to arrive.

Much like the last time, Jenkins—now with backup—easily subdued the witches.

At least so far, everything was going according to plan.

The two captured women, Jen and Maimie, were tied up and interrogated. The trio refrained from any cruel or bloody methods, but between them, they were masters of prophecy, dream entry, and magical mazes. And one of them had an excellent idea.

After being subjected to the "is this reality?" routine dozens of times, the two women finally broke. In the real world, they were tied to chairs, deep in sleep, while in the dreamscape, Jenkins had managed to uncover everything.

It was his first attempt at entering human dreams, but the process went smoothly. His heteromorphic abilities made him feel like a fish in water within the dreamscape; as long as he had enough spirit and his opponents lacked any specific countermeasures, he could manipulate their dreams at will.

"I think I've figured it out."

Jenkins opened his eyes and addressed his companions. "The Witch's House isn't plotting any grand conspiracy at the moment. The issue with Marquis Mikhail's photograph is their top priority. In fact, most of their members are currently in the royal capital, Bel Diran. Only a small fraction came to Nolan."

"In other words, the followers of the Prince of Lies are gone, and the Witch's House isn't mixed up in any of the life-threatening conspiracies. Our focus should remain on the Life Sharing Alliance, the Demon Eye Collectors Association, and the Gear Artisans' Association."

Miss Miller summarized.

Jenkins raised his pistol and, with two quick shots, ended the lives of Jen and Maimie. Their part to play in this 31st was over.

"For now, these are the only illegal organizations openly active in the city. According to the Church's intelligence, the Demon Eye Collectors Association came here in search of something. My own sources indicate the Gear Artisans' Association is doing the same. Moreover, we've already figured out how both groups got entangled with me on the 31st..."

"The cause of the cataclysm isn't necessarily a conspiracy by an illegal organization."

Miss Audrey corrected him. "But it is the most likely possibility. You must pay extremely close attention to everything that happens around you."

"I was thinking the same thing. In any case, I need to set out to find the next clue now."

He looked at the purple thread of light before him; it was still pointing the way.

Although Mr. Pisco had insisted that Jenkins must solve every problem by himself, this particular timeline was still going to be overwritten. Therefore, this was merely a rehearsal.

The trio followed the trail of light, taking a carriage out of the city. After passing through a stretch of bare woodland, they spotted an estate in the distance.

Jenkins recognized it immediately. The last secret gathering hosted by Mr. Hood had taken place on the small hill right next to this winery.

They stood on the hillside under their umbrellas, looking out at the distant cluster of snow-covered buildings. Jenkins hesitated for a moment before explaining, "If we assume there's something wrong with this winery—that it's hiding cultists who worship the Lord of the Undying—then working backward from the conclusion, I have a few thoughts..."