Chapter 88: The Wish
Adeline and the Count prostrated motionless at the temple entrance.
The screams had ceased, but the deathly silence without any sound gave an indescribable sense of oppression.
The female warrior's imposing voice came again.
"My Lord said you performed very well just now, Adeline."
Hearing this, Adeline trembled inwardly, but more than that, she felt joy.
"%@%#!￥..."
In the temple, two incomprehensible voices sounded again.
Although the two had somewhat adapted to listening to such sounds, hearing it again still brought immense pressure.
It was as if a mountain pressed down on their souls, and any slight carelessness would crush them completely.
"My Lord said Bayne City is the city under His protection. Summoning filth here is a great sin."
The two's hearts sank to the bottom of a valley.
"￥@%...##%"
"My Lord said His Apostle received your help. You did not participate, so My Lord does not intend to blame you."
Adeline breathed a deep sigh of relief and said cautiously, "Thank you for the great mercy and kindness of the Lord of Storms and Death."
"%@#@#..."
The female warrior continued as a spokesperson, "There are still remnants of filth in the city. My Lord asks you to help His Apostle cleanse these people. If My Lord's Apostle recognizes your attitude and loyalty, you may receive His protection and become His people."
Hearing this, Adeline's heart flickered with excitement.
To receive the protection of a deity who can still manifest in the real world is far more practical and direct than worshipping those illusory ancient gods.
"Thank you for the great mercy and kindness of the Lord of Death and Storms." Adeline's head pressed against the cold ground, her expression full of reverence and excitement.
"...￥@%#@￥"
The female warrior slightly turned her head and looked at the Count, who was still devoutly prostrating on the ground. "Young vampire—Randall Montgomery, your devotion and reverence please My Lord. You are different from those ignorant filth. What do you wish for?"
The Count spoke cautiously and solemnly, "I am willing to devote everything, praying to the great Lord of Storms and Death to eradicate my thirst for blood."
"...￥#..."
"My Lord said you are very self-aware. That inferior blood has problems. Long-term drinking will gradually let your intellect be devoured by bestiality. Your wisdom has earned My Lord's praise."
The Count was shaken. "No wonder the great deity. This is a problem our family discovered over three thousand years!"
After his shock, the Count's expression was extremely devout and worshipful. He lowered his voice, "To receive such praise from the Lord is the most sacred and glorious moment in my eight hundred years of life."
"%#@...&#"
"My Lord said, to receive, one must first give. Join the church established by My Lord's Apostles and help spread His glory. After proving your sufficient devotion and loyalty, you will be freed from this blood curse."
After hearing this, the Count almost prostrated fully on the ground, loudly proclaiming in the highest form of worship:
"Ah! Omniscient and omnipotent My Lord, I Randall Hurst Montgomery Gaslan, by the origin blood of the Hurst family, the Holy Blood Pool, swear: From now on, I Randall Hurst Montgomery Gaslan shall be My Lord's most loyal servant, most devoted believer. My Lord's glory shall replace the light of March, My Lord's body shall replace all in the world, My Lord's voice shall be my lifelong creed, My Lord's majesty shall be the scourge of my soul, My Lord's mercy shall be my eternal peace…"
The Count's oath-like prayer lasted a full five minutes before stopping.
The female warrior and the surrounding warriors were deeply shocked. They quickly took notes for future use.
The indistinct and difficult-to-understand voices came again from deep within the temple.
The female warrior composed herself and continued, "My Lord feels your determination and devotion. Go back and show your loyalty through actions."
"Yes!" The Count said loudly.
In the temple, Silas wore a surprised expression and said, "No wonder the high-level vampire who has lived eight hundred years can speak thousands of words without repeating."
"Now with a high-level vampire and a Sorceress, our forces in the real world are quite solid. Next, we need to slowly develop and improve other things."
"There's nothing more to say now. Let them leave; pretending is tiring," Silas said as he activated the divine language again.
On the deck, the female warrior said loudly, "You may withdraw now. My Lord's Apostles will find you later."
Dong!
As soon as the words fell, the distant bell tolled once again.
The entire conversation began and ended with the bell toll.
In a daze, the two felt countless mists enveloping them.
After a bout of intense dizziness, the two opened their eyes and found themselves still sitting in chairs.
They exchanged glances across the seats and then removed their masks.
After such an ordeal, even as future members of a church, they no longer needed to hide anything from each other.
"Thank you for showing me this clear path," Randall said politely.
Adeline smiled, "You're welcome. It's what I should do."
After a simple conversation and seeing each other's sincere smiles, their relationship tightened considerably.
Heh heh heh…
A silly laugh echoed in the dark space.
The two turned their heads and saw the other four—Curator Grimman, Constellation, Dark Hand, and Hyena—completely dumbfounded, slumped in their chairs, eyes vacant, faces pale, mouths agape in a childlike daze.
Drool dripped from their mouths onto their elegant robes, creating an incredibly eerie visual impact.
"What should we do with these four?" Adeline asked.
Randall's face turned cold. "These people have profaned My Lord's divine might. Though they are mad, they remain filth. Since they have defiled My Lord's city, naturally, they cannot be spared."
Adeline nodded after hearing this. "But before dealing with them, we should visit the Lord's Apostles."
At this, Randall suddenly looked enlightened and smiled. "I think I know who My Lord's Apostle is."
"Oh? How do you know?" Adeline did not yet know that Silas knew Randall.
Randall's face took on a solemn expression. "Only those with that surname are qualified to be My Lord's walking believers in the mortal world."
"Sotos? Is there something special about that surname?" Erudite Adeline furrowed her brows, having no knowledge of this seemingly ordinary surname.
Randall was silent for a moment, then solemnly warned, "Ignorance is bliss, some things are better not known too much, it's for your own good, erudite young lady."