Circle of Inevitability Chapter 282 - 282 Treacherous

282 Treacherous

Gardner Martin stepped out of the carriage and warmly embraced Lumian.

Oh, his attitude changed instantly... Lumian criticized as he returned the hug. After the embrace, Gardner Martin let go and smiled, declaring, From now on, were true brothers.

True brothers? Can I inherit your estate if you die? Lumian, whose mental state had improved significantly and had successfully passed the difficult test, held back his teasing thoughts.

Youre still my boss, Lumian said, his habitual loyalty shining through in his words.

He thought that while it might have been a bit over the top, the gesture didnt feel insincere or out of place.

Gardner Martin laughed.

In the future, when theres nobody else around, you can call me CO Sir.’

CO Sir... Lumian found the title a little strange.

The Iron and Blood Cross Order was a secret organization, not an army.

Gardner Martin didnt offer any explanation; he just smiled.

Come to 11 Rue des Fontaines at 8 p.m. tonight. Thats when your initiation ritual will take place.

With that, he gave Lumians shoulder a reassuring pat.

Rest well now.

Lumian acknowledged his words with a nod and bid farewell to the boss of the Savoie Mob. He made his way back to Auberge du Coq Dore and drew the curtains of Room 207.

It was already past 6 a.m., so Lumian didnt need to catch up on sleep. He sat at the wooden table and began writing to Madam Magician. He recounted the previous nights encounter and Termiboross performance. Finally, he inquired about how to report this matter to Mr. K.

Alone, Lumian couldnt avoid the peculiar abnormality in the abandoned building. He needed to explain the situation convincingly to Mr. K without revealing that he possessed The Fools seal and an angel from the Inevitability domain.

After neatly folding the letter, Lumian set up a ritual and summoned the doll messenger in the light-gold dress.

The messenger lowered her head and nodded with satisfaction upon seeing the square-shaped letter.

As she levitated the letter, she warned Lumian, Someone is still monitoring you.

Huh? I didnt notice it at all... His tracking, concealment, and observation skills are impressive... Lumian prided himself on being a skilled Hunter with strong anti-tracking abilities. Yet, he had failed to detect the presence of the monitors!

Mr. Ks subordinates? No, if Miss Messenger felt the need to warn me, it couldnt be the Aurora Order... The monitors sent by Gardner Martin must still be lurking, even after passing the test and facing that abnormal corruption last night. Ive let my guard down after being informed about my induction, and thats made me vulnerable... Damn, how cunning! Lumian realized he had been too naive and not cautious enough compared to Gardner Martin.

If he hadnt pretended to be exhausted from sleep deprivation and torture, drawing the curtains to sleep wouldve been an obvious red flag. It would have definitely raised suspicion among the monitors.

At the same time, Lumian was grateful that Madam Magicians messenger seemed powerful enough not to be detected by the monitors.

After sending off the doll messenger, Lumian lay on the bed, waiting for a reply. When it finally arrived, he read the message carefully.

As a secret organization with a history spanning two to three centuries, the Iron and Blood Cross Order doesnt recruit members so readily. The fact that they are allowing new members to be corrupted goes against the test I know of.

It appears that the Iron and Blood Cross Order has undergone some negative changes over the years. Dont rush to uncover the reasons behind this just yet. Take it step by step and focus on protecting yourself for now.

When Termiboros offered help and warned you, it was likely because He didnt want you to be corrupted or perish outright. That would have an impact on Him. At the same time, He probably wants to earn your trust before revealing His true intentions at a critical moment.

Always remember that an evil gods angel is a true madman. He will surely bring disaster to you and those around you. Stay vigilant at all times. You must both use Him to your advantage and guard against His treachery.

As for Mr. K, its simple. Just explain that you recited that entitys honorific name at a crucial moment, and miraculously, you remained untainted.

Dont worry about him verifying the authenticity of your claim with that entity. Devout believers wouldnt do such a thing. Besides, even the entity Himself might not be certain if He responded to your prayers.

Wh Lumian felt a bit bewildered by the last part.

How could a deity not know if He had responded to a specific believer?

Isnt that too absurd?

In an instant, Lumian recalled something Madam Magician had once told him.

If he used anything other than the three-line honorific name to pray to Mr. Fool, she couldnt guarantee that the response would be from that great being. It could be very dangerous.

Something similar to this situation? Matters involving deities are truly unfathomable. And any mistake could lead to a situation more tragic than death... Could Aurore have faced the same problem? Lumians thoughts drifted.

For the past few days, he had meticulously combed through Aurores grimoires, copying everything from the two highlighted time periods that Madame Justice had pointed out. His plan was to show it to the vice president of the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society, Madam Hela, when the opportunity arose.

Franca had already read through the corresponding content and found no suspicious details. The unconventional mysticism knowledge was just ordinary spells that could only be cast by a Warlock or Beyonder of the corresponding domain. Neither of them could practice it.

The only issue they found was that since the beginning of the year, Aurores grimoires had gained a significant amount of ritualistic knowledge related to sacrificial rituals and secret deeds. These were obtained from the Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society, but they didnt point to any evil god or hidden existence. They were more basic applications.

A crimson flame engulfed the letter, turning it to ash in Lumians hand.

He lay down and pretended to sleep, but his mind was busy contemplating the grimoires and planning his next steps.

The most important thing to him was that the one-month deadline set by the Prophecy Spell was approaching. Guillaume Benet, the padre, would appear somewhere in Quartier de la Princesse Rouge.

In the hill district, at the entrance of Deep Valley Cloister.

Franca, dressed as a typical bounty hunter with a fake mustache and a top hat, sighed to Jenna,

Theres really no clue at all.

Jenna was disguised in a white shirt, brown vest, dark pants, and black boots, with a brown beret. She had altered her features slightly to look more ordinary, without any moles or smoky makeup.

As they gazed at the peculiar iron-black building with steel components and massive chimneys resembling steeples, it felt more like a special factory than the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery cloister.

At that moment, white smoke billowed from the chimneys, accompanied by a loud mechanical roar.

Its mainly because those monks dont want to interact with outsiders... Jenna replied, feeling frustrated.

For the past few days, they, like other bounty hunters and private detectives, were only allowed to enter the first-floor courtyard. They could only inquire with the new gatekeeper and a few other servants.

The ascetic monks only provided a list of relevant personnels statements.

Franca diverted her gaze and clicked her tongue.

This wont be an easy case. Otherwise, the official Beyonders would have figured it out by now.

Since we cant find any clues in the cloister, lets take a look around.

Alright. Jenna lacked experience in such investigations and was still learning from Franca.

They strolled around the cloister in the valley, occasionally encountering other investigators drawn by the high bounty.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, they came across a mountain wall showing signs of collapse and new trees growing.

On the side of the mountain wall, there was a cave sealed by a heavy wooden door. A man in his forties sat beside it, seeking shelter from the wind and rain.

He flipped through old newspapers with comic strips, occasionally chuckling. A brass key hung from his waist.

Franca approached and asked in a deliberate hoarse voice, Whats this place?

The plain-looking, slightly ragged man glanced up at Francas face and frowned a bit.

His gaze quickly shifted to Jenna, and he seemed more at ease.

This is the entrance to the Deep Valley Quarry.

Im a gatekeeper.

Why is there a door, and why is it locked? Jenna had seen a real quarry south of the market district.

This place is abandoned and could collapse anytime. We cant allow anyone daring enough to disturb a sleeping tiger, the gatekeeper of the Deep Valley Quarry explained with a smile.

Is this place not connected to Underground Trier? Franca inquired.

The quarrys gatekeeper shook his head.

Its on the verge of complete collapse. How could it be connected? Im about to lose my job!

With that, he looked at Jenna and tried to be friendly.

Do you want some work? Ill pay you to have some fun with mejust once.

You Trierians... Franca tutted and shook her head.

Jenna responded with her usual catchphrase, rejecting his proposition.

8 p.m., 11 Rue des Fontaines.

Lumian followed Gardner Martins butler, Faustino, across the lawn and through the hall until they reached a windowless room.

Inside, there was a dining table, but it didnt resemble a lavish villa restaurant. Instead, it appeared quite plain, almost empty.

Lumian glanced around and noticed three rows of dishes neatly arranged on the table. The first row held various utensils, the second row contained cups and bottles, and the third row displayed prepared dishes and unlit candles.

The setup was meticulously symmetrical, forming three parallel lines.