1240 The Tide (2/2)
”We want bread!”
From the shouts and the impact of the huge crowd, the color in Earl Hall's face drained.
He couldn't help but retract his gaze and look at the guards and bodyguards gathered outside the house. He looked at the Beyonders of the Church of Evernight who were responsible for protecting his family, and he realized that the reactions of the two were different.
The guards and bodyguards were filled with fear. The expressions of the secretly-hired Beyonders had already become rather solemn. As for the protectors from the Church of Evernight, their gazes were filled with pity and empathy.
To the Church, I might be equivalent to a thousand believers, but there are tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even more… Earl Hall instantly came to a realization of the consequences of what he had planned to do.
Even though they were armed to the teeth, there was no way they could fend off so many protesters with just a few bodyguards. Once the conflict erupted, the Beyonders of the Church of Evernight couldn't be counted on at all. It was already a blessing by the Goddess if his family could escape Empress Borough with the bodyguards he hired!
For the first time, Earl Hall experienced the strength of the masses. He experienced the terror of the unity of people.
As this thought flashed through his mind, he immediately turned his head and instructed his valet, ”Send a telegram to the Prime Minister and send a telegram to the other nobles. Say that I'm willing to take the lead and donate most of our food!
”Get them to remain calm!”
As the radio signals exchanged across the air, the nobles living in Empress Borough all learned of his attitude.
The present Duke Negan looked out the window with a serious expression. After a moment of silence, he exhaled and said to the male secretary beside him, ”Protect the mansion and give up any forceful stance. Follow Earl Hall's lead.
”Also, make the merchants who are hoarding food the first examples!”
By the time the upper-class society came to a consensus and came up with a solution, Earl Hall's heart finally settled back to its original position. He had the energy to head to the dining room to meet his family.
When he passed through the dining hall's entrance, he subconsciously scanned the situation inside.
His wife stood by the window, looking out the window with worry. His eldest son kept pacing back and forth, appearing very angry and anxious. His daughter stood beside his wife, watching the tidal-wave-like protesters in silence.
…
Fog Sea, Future.
Cattleya stepped on a resplendent bridge formed from starlight and returned to the deck.
”Captain, you have to do something about Frank this time!” Boatswain Nina, rushed over and shouted.
Cattleya's depressed and sorrowful mood was instantly shattered as she frowned slightly.
”What did he do again?”
Nina said angrily, ”He asked me if I knew how to have children. He wants to study how life is born and how the soul is created!”
”…Did you hit him?” Cattleya fell silent for a second.
”I did!” Nina didn't hide anything.
Cattleya then looked at Frank who was not far away, ignoring his bruised face.
”You should first study how fish breed.”
”Alright.” Frank scratched his head and heeded his captain's orders.
Following that, Cattleya nodded at the shadow which extended out from the cabin—the pale-faced Bloodless Heath Doyle.
”Everything's fine now.”
Heath Doyle clearly relaxed.
”Yes, Captain.”
After this farce with her crew, Cattleya finally returned to the real world. While they weren't paying attention, she rubbed her temples and flew into the captain's cabin.
Following that, she sealed the cabin with magic and took out the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact—Magic Wishing Lamp.
After finishing her preparations, Cattleya sat at her desk and lowered her head. She used Jotun to recite Mr. Fool's honorific name to report to him about Queen Mystic.
Holding a lantern in hand, Klein surveyed the surrounding area of the northern city ruins. He turned his head slightly and listened for a few seconds before following the process of entering the world above the gray fog.
He then sat on the high-back chair belonging to The Fool at the end of the long mottled table, spreading his spirituality towards the crimson star representing The Hermit.
Queen Mystic has some preliminary clues to the primitive island. She plans on leaving the safe sea route to do an extended search…
That primitive island was discovered by Emperor Roselle by chance. It's very likely that one of his nine secret mausoleums is hidden on it… This is the only one that hasn't been discovered and destroyed at the moment. It's the hope of the Emperor's resurrection…
However, the living beings on that primitive island seem to worship an unknown power that comes from the cosmos. Just understanding the cosmos that will lead to corruption… I need to remind Ma'am Hermit to warn Queen Mystic…
Magic Wishing Lamp… Magic Wishing Lamp? So this Grade 0 Sealed Artifact is in the hands of Queen Mystic… It's a combination of a Miracle Invoker's Beyonder characteristic and a characteristic of unknown origins. Even a true deity can't shatter it… Just as he finished listening to 0-05's description, he immediately adjusted his vision and enlarged the scene of the golden kettle-like Magic Wishing Lamp.
Suddenly, the wick at the mouth of the Magic Wishing Lamp lit up!