13 Mink Street

Ms. Tansley held a cup of coffee brewed by her daughter-in-law. She took a sip. Mm. Too sweet.

She then picked up a pastry the woman had made and bit into it. The old woman’s brow furrowed slightly. This taste was not especially pleasant either.

As an old woman who had treated the kitchen as her own domain for more than half her life, Ms. Tansley truly could not express much of an opinion regarding her daughter-in-law’s skills in this regard. This had nothing to do with her status as an Expositor; Ms. Tansley simply did not care much about that identity.

Still, she said nothing and continued eating at a casual pace. Regardless of anything else, in her heart, the old woman felt rather guilty towards her daughter-in-law. After all, her son had become what he was now. Not to mention that her daughter-in-law was from a family with a good background, even if she were from an ordinary household, she was already an Expositor. Throughout all these years, Ms. Tansley had never heard of a female Expositor suffering grievances related to family or marriage matters.

It was also because of this that Ms. Tansley had tolerated her daughter-in-law’s decision years ago to voluntarily transfer away from York City to accept a post in Port Mulberry.

Casey sat stiffly across the coffee table, holding a cup of coffee in both hands. Her eyes were somewhat unfocused as she sat there, lost in thought.

Ever since her husband had applied for a leave of absence from work, he would occasionally disappear for days at a time, leaving behind nothing more than a note saying he was out to relax. He never told the family exactly where he had gone. If she had not seen the truth that day through her mother-in-law, and knew that Karon was not her husband’s illegitimate child, Casey might have truly believed that her husband was off trying to make up for his lack of fatherly love.

However, things were currently even worse. She did not even have that thought to cling to any longer. Honestly, it would have been better if she could simply believe herself wronged and at least have a bit of an emotional anchor to rely on.

She raised her eyes and looked at Ms. Tansley sitting in front of her. Ever since Karon had visited last time, her mother-in-law, who had originally been recuperating near the hot springs in the suburbs, had moved back into the city to live.

How wonderful. Now Casey’s recovery leave was effectively tied together to living with her mother-in-law.

Her father-in-law Derron was busy with departmental work, her sister-in-law did not casually drop by to visit, her son had gone to Darkmoon Island on assignment, and her husband had taken to disappearing. Only she and her mother-in-law remained in the house.

The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could not be described as conflicting; They were both polite enough to each other. Still, the distance between them was readily apparent, and neither had any intention of resolving the situation. As a result, Casey felt as though she were being forced to put on a performance every single day.

“Richard should be coming back today, right?” Ms. Tansley asked. “His grandfather said the return teleportation array opened this morning.”

“Mhmm,” Casey responded softly. “He’s probably already on his way home.”

“It’s good that he’s coming back.” Ms. Tansley took another sip of coffee, forcing herself not to frown.

“Yes, it’s good he’s coming back,” Casey echoed. “When he isn’t home, the house really does feel empty.”

“If you can feel the emptiness, that means you’re also getting old.”

“Old?”

“When people grow old, they become more susceptible to loneliness.” Ms. Tansley set down her coffee cup. “As people age, they see through and let go of more and more things. Gradually, they lose interest. Then they become bored. Then they become lonely.”

“Is that really how it is...”

“The days ahead will only get better and better,” Ms. Tansley said.

“Of course, Mother.” Although Casey did not understand why her mother-in-law would suddenly say something like that at this moment, she still reflexively agreed.

At that moment, a strand of black mist drifted in through a window and stopped in front of the sofa, quickly revealing Eisen.

Ms. Tansley pointed at him and smiled. “See? Deep down, he still worries about his son. Knowing his son is about to return, he came back too.”

Casey looked at her husband and sighed, though she forced a smile onto her own face as she said, “You’re back.”

When speaking to her husband, she had once used a soft and gentle tone, afraid that if she spoke even a slight bit louder, he might scatter like a timid sparrow.

“Mhmm, I’m back.” Eisen nodded to his wife. He then looked at Ms. Tansley. “Mother, you are staying here?”

“What, am I not allowed?” Ms. Tansley opened her hands. “I was afraid Casey would be lonely staying here by herself.”

Eisen stated, “Casey doesn’t like staying under the same roof as you.”

Casey quickly interjected, “No, how could that be!”

Ms. Tansley did not become angry, but instead just laughed.

“I’m returning to the study.” Eisen nodded once to his mother, then to his wife before walking to his study. After entering the room, he gently closed the door behind him.

Casey hurriedly excused his comment to her mother-in-law. “Mother, please don’t listen to his nonsense—”

Ms. Tansley raised a hand to interrupt her daughter-in-law and quietly asked, “Haven’t you noticed that Eisen has changed a bit again?”

“Has he...?”

“In the past, aside from work matters, he would never take the initiative to speak about things at home.”

“Now that you mention it... that does seem true.”

“My son is ill, but now I can finally see hope that his condition is improving.”

“If that’s really the case, then that would truly be wonderful.”

At that moment, the front door opened, and Richard appeared in the foyer, dragging along a suitcase. “Oh, my beloved grandmother, your complexion is as wonderful as ever!

“Oh, and who is this young lady? Ah, it’s actually my mother! My heavens, who could possibly imagine that such a young miss would have such a grown son!”

The moment Richard returned home, he immediately entered his usual rhythm, enthusiastically hugging both his grandmother and mother.

“How did the mission go?” Casey asked.

“Smoothly. Extremely smoothly. And very exciting too.”

At that moment, Ms. Tansley glanced at the study where her son had gone. She let out a cough and said, “Casey, let’s go prepare lunch for Richard. He can chat with us later while he eats.”

Casey was a bit taken aback. Usually, when her mother-in-law was in the kitchen, she disliked having a second person present, yet Casey immediately stood up and followed the woman to the kitchen.

Richard threw himself onto the sofa, propping his feet onto the coffee table and spreading his arms to stretch lazily. “Ahh, home really is the most comfortable place.”

He felt that he had become an adult in the household. No, the man of the house. After working hard outside, he could finally enjoy the care and service of the women at home.

Oh, oh, oh. The corners of Richard’s lips curled upward. Heh heh. This feeling is wonderful.

At that moment, the study door opened. Richard turned his head and saw his father standing in the doorway. “Uh...”

Richard silently lowered his feet from the coffee table and immediately sat upright. “Dad, I’m back.”

Eisen walked over to Richard. The younger man suddenly caught a scent that felt strangely familiar. It reminded him of the last time he had returned home after a mission, when he had been...

With a sudden jolt, Richard sprang to his feet and quickly started speaking to his father, “Dad, I brought you all gifts! I even borrowed a bunch of credits from my teammates to get them!”

As he spoke, Richard hurriedly pulled out a large string of souvenir seashells from his pocket. “This one’s yours, this one’s Mom’s, this one’s Grandpa’s, this one’s Auntie’s, and this one’s Grandma’s...”

Seeing seashells that could be bought by the crate for a single silver coin in any marketplace on Darkmoon Island, Eisen’s expression darkened even further. That was because he knew perfectly well that his son had borrowed a large sum of credits from “him” to buy gifts for that female priest of the Church of Reincarnation, while only bringing back the cheapest shells possible for the family.

“Dad, which color do you like? I think this blue one really suits you, hehe.” Richard held up a shell and offered it to Eisen, but as his father continued his advance, Richard instinctively started backing away.

A bond existed between father and son, which meant that some things required no words to be immediately understood. Even though Richard did not think that he had done anything wrong again, hadn’t the same thing happened last time he had returned from a mission? He had been peacefully enjoying some snacks at home when his father had returned and beaten him until he had a swollen pig’s head!

“Father, have things been alright at home lately?” Richard greeted him while retreating.

Eisen continued advancing.

The father and son circled around the living room sofa in wide loops. Finally, when he reached the side closest to the kitchen, Richard abruptly spun around and ran for the kitchen while shouting, “Grandma! Mom! I missed you both so much!”

Eisen spread his hands. “Order—Cage.”

“...” Richard. At that moment, countless profanities surged wildly through his mind.

A black cube appeared before him, blocking his path and forcing him back. Richard immediately turned around, a scroll slipping from a sleeve of the priest’s robes he had not yet taken off. The scroll fell to the ground and unfurled.

“Order—Protective Barrier!” As a son trying to protect himself, he actually used Arts against his own father.

However, black lightning shot from both of Eisen’s hands; One bolt directly struck the scroll that Richard had thrown out, instantly reducing it to ash. The other bolt smashed into the barrier Richard had just put up, and pierced straight through it.

For a moment, lightning flashed and violent winds whipped through the living room. The carpet and sofa both had multiple holes torn through them.

Richard only felt his vision blur before his father appeared directly in front of him.

Richard held an Arts pistol in his right hand and an Arts crossbow in his left, but just as he tried to raise them, he discovered he was unable to lift either arm no matter how hard he struggled. Lowering his head, he saw that both of his arms were already bound by two black chains of Order. “No! Why is this happening!”

In the next moment, Richard was lifted into the air by the chains. “Dad! Why!”

Immediately afterward, he was viciously smashed into the floor. Bang!

“Cough... why are you doing this... my dear father...”

Richard was lifted once more by the chains, suspended in midair. “Father... what did I do to make you angry?”

The moment Eisen heard those words, recent scenes of his son angering him began replaying in his mind, one after another. It would have been better if he had not considered them. Originally, he had merely been a bit angry, but after recalling everything, he became furious! He could not even understand what exactly had allowed him to endure for so long before finally making a move!

Richard was hurled toward the floor once more. Bang!

“Cough... why are you doing this...”

Richard was lifted again. Bang!

Richard collapsed limply onto the floor and raised his head blankly, only to realize the chains of Order around him had vanished. Whew. It’s over.

Snap! At that moment, Richard heard the sound of a whip.

He saw his father had actually produced a leather whip. This was a status symbol that had been bestowed to Eisen upon becoming an Adjudicator. After his promotion to Expositor, he had basically stopped carrying the whip.

“Oh no. No! Don’t do this! Don’t!”

Snap!

“AAAAAHHH!!!”

Snap!

“AAAHH!!”

Snap!

“AH!”

Snap!

Richard: “...”

***

“Mother, they’ve started again,” Casey commented. Although the house was large, the commotion and the intense Arts fluctuations were impossible to ignore.

“A father and son reuniting after a long separation and playing a little parent-child game together is perfectly normal.”

“Is it...”

“AAAAHHHH!!!” Richard’s screams continued to ring out.

“Mother, isn’t he beating him a little too harshly?”

“I know you feel sorry for your son. I feel sorry for my grandson too, but you must understand, after Eisen beat him last time, didn’t his mood improve significantly afterward?”

“Well...”

“As long as it can alleviate Eisen’s condition, then Richard should suffer a little. After all, he’s helping treat his father’s illness. As a son, this is something he ought to bear.”

“Don’t! Don’t!” Richard’s screams became even more miserable.

“Isn’t this far too heavy-handed? What kind of state is he going to beat the child into?” Casey asked anxiously.

“You need to think about it from a positive perspective. Richard’s talent is very high. Look at him; His parents practically raised him free-range, yet he still became a Divine Shepherd on his own. He’s probably not far from becoming an Inquisitor either.

“Eisen is helping force out his potential and make up for all the time he wasted through laziness in the past. You also hope Richard will eventually inherit your positions, don’t you? If an Expositor family ultimately produces an inheritor only at the Inquisitor level, that would truly be disgraceful. Even if you help maneuver him into an Expositor position, you yourself should understand perfectly well just how enormous the difference is between something hollow and something genuine.”

“Is Eisen really doing this for that reason?”

“This is probably the deepest expression of fatherly love.”

“Ah...” Richard’s screams were gradually weakening.

“Mother, Richard’s voice is getting quieter and quieter...”

“His grandfather mentioned last night that the York City district is about to begin a selection process. Only priests of the appropriate age will have the opportunity to be nominated. The entire church has only twelve spots, and his grandfather is already preparing to pull strings and get him registered.

“The selection itself will be even harsher than this. If Richard can pass that selection, it will be enormously beneficial to his future development.”

“Can Richard really get selected?”

“The York City district has five slots. I think my grandson has a chance. If he can win one of those five spots, then when it comes to the church-wide selection afterward, it will all depend on luck.”

“Does Eisen know about this too?”

“I’m not sure. He may have already found out. He’s only taking a leave of absence from work; His old colleagues are still around.”

“Eisen has friends at work?”

“Uh... mm... probably?”

“Mother...”

“What is it now?”

“The commotion... seems to have stopped altogether.”

“Stop! My grandson!!!”

***

After waking from sleep, Karon sat up and leaned against the headboard. The morning sunlight was already pouring through the window, bringing warmth and beauty with it.

Karon liked this feeling. A refreshed self paired with the morning sunlight was enough to make one genuinely look forward to the coming day.

“Meooow.” Pu’er shifted slightly, then rolled back over and continued sleeping. Last night, she had held mourning rites for Genevieve, only going to sleep very late. There was no chance she would wake up early today.

Karon turned his head and looked at the cat’s chubby face and the way she habitually slept while hugging his arm. If one ignored her temper, she really was quite an adorable cat.

Of course, even including her temper, she was still an adorable cat.

He got out of bed and moved to the washroom. After showering and washing up, Karon first went to his study and sat behind the desk. He was thinking about the things Kevin had said yesterday. Logically speaking, the Reincarnation Gate should be an extremely dangerous place, yet the Church of Order had specifically had spots for its members added to the negotiation terms and had insisted that they remain.

Did the upper echelons of the Church of Order truly know nothing about the internal situation of the Church of Reincarnation? Karon did not believe so.

Therefore, if one gained one of those twelve spots, would the Church of Order make additional arrangements before the candidates entered the Reincarnation Gate? After all, no matter what, the Church of Order could never allow corruption to spread into itself.

Only after personally passing the examination and qualifying would Karon learn that answer.

Even setting all that aside, the Reincarnation Gate remained immensely tempting to priests. The contracts signed by ordinary priests of the Church of Reincarnation were often with souls that had been captured or forcibly subdued, but within the Reincarnation Gate, there was an opportunity to form contracts with truly powerful souls. The two were entirely different concepts.

There was also the matter of the fall of the God of Light seemingly being connected to the Reincarnation Gate.

Well, isn’t this also an excellent opportunity? A smile tugged at the corners of Karon’s lips. Although he still could not completely understand or grasp his own soul and the black chains within it, that did not prevent him from possessing immense confidence in matters that involved the soul.

He intended to fight for one of the available spots. Only after entering the Reincarnation Gate would he have a chance to uncover secrets that were truly related to the gods.

Before the organization known as the Keepers of Silence discovered him, he needed to remain as low-profile as possible, but remaining low-profile did not mean doing nothing at all. He was also looking forward to seeing what kind of undead he might discover within the Reincarnation Gate.

Karon stood up and left the study. He was ready to cook himself a bowl of plain noodles. After being away on assignment for so long, he genuinely missed breakfast at home.

Additionally, after breakfast, he wanted to drive back to Allen Manor for a visit.

At that moment, Karon saw Alfred walking toward him. “Young Master, Richard has arrived.”

“He’s here?” Karon was somewhat surprised and asked, “Did he come in a wheelchair?”

“No.”

“Then he’s pretty lucky.”

“He came lying on a stretcher.”

Karon walked into the front hall and saw Richard lying on the stretcher.

“Karon... wuuu...” Richard cried miserably.

Standing beside him, Karon suppressed an involuntary laugh by coughing. The more that Richard had enjoyed himself on Darkmoon Island, the more miserable he was destined to be upon returning home.

Squatting down beside Richard, Karon asked, “Your dad did this?”

“Mhmm.”

“You really have it rough. Even beaten into this state, you still managed to come over to freeload a meal.”

“No. My grandma is inviting you over for dinner.”

“I have things to do today.”

“Grandma knows you live at a funeral home. She said that if I can’t invite you over, I should buy a coffin from you and lie inside it while being sent home in a hearse.”

“How could your grandmother say something like that? She seems so kind.”

“She used to be very kind, but yesterday, while my dad was beating me, I pretended to be dead, which scared her badly. Then after she realized I was only pretending...”

“What happened?”

“She made my dad, who was already ready to stop, beat me again.”