Free Web NovelChapter 2025: Chapter 2025: Hope Diamond and the Witch’s Pocket Watch
"I appreciate your attitude. As for the apocalypse, the Prophet’s Society has long been aware of it, and the Church of the Five Gods is certainly not entirely uninformed. Although the specific time and situation are still unclear, the Grand Witches of the Fifth Era are also busy investigating. Besides these, there are more who are preparing. Moreover, ’Whispering Verses’ and the apocalypse... this still needs investigation. But ’Whispering Verses’ is absolutely related to this, and pursuing The Chosen Ones remains the most important thing we can do."
Shard shook his head, finally managing to stand up while holding onto the back of the chair. Aphrola wanted to support him, but Shard declined:
"What needs to be prepared now is to face the situation brought by the worsening world environment, such as the low temperatures this summer, which will result in a significant reduction in grain production in the autumn and winter seasons."
"That is indeed a problem, but since it has happened, we can only look forward. As for the apocalypse, I agree with Shard’s view. As long as the majority of the thirteen Chosen Ones stand on our side, no matter what happens in the end, we won’t be at a disadvantage."
Megan also agreed.
"Did Miss Feliana say anything else? For example, asking you to do something in the Sixth Era?"
Miss Aphrola asked again, and Shard nodded:
"She told me to unite as many people as possible, regardless of what they are, and let me..."
He hesitated for a moment but eventually spoke:
"Master the Witch Council as much as possible."
The previously solemn atmosphere was promptly broken, and the four beautiful ladies chuckled:
"Isn’t that what you’ve always been doing?"
"Miss Feliana also said that the Witch Council bears an important responsibility, and uniting the Council is crucial. It seems that the secrets of the Witch Council are not small either. However, I can’t ask Miss Isabella."
He intentionally mentioned the Grand Witch of Time but chose not to reveal the meeting with her. The matters of the Bygone Era are connected to Luviya and can’t be casually spoken of. Moreover, the destroyed time is a secret of the world, and Shard didn’t know what would happen if he spoke it out loud.
"By the way, do you know about the ’Hope Diamond’?"
He asked again, and the knowledgeable Megan was the first to nod:
"Unclassified Level Relic ’Hope Diamond,’ it appears as a crystal-clear diamond about the size of half my palm."
Megan, being a woman, didn’t have very large hands.
"The diamond has 58 facets, crystal-clear; even in complete darkness, it always reflects unknown sources of light. The only characteristic of the relic: when people facing desperate situations look at it, it shows them hope. This doesn’t mean creating illusions; it truly points out a path for people."
Yet, Miss Adel Isabella instructed Shard to ask in ’Mysterious Language,’ a language he didn’t even know.
"Even today, depictions of this diamond can still be found in many stories passed down from ancient times. Sometimes it is jewelry, sometimes it is a diamond on a crown, sometimes it is a treasure in a dragon’s treasure chest, and sometimes it appears in more bizarre forms."
Miss Aphrola also said:
"The Prophet’s Society is currently searching for the Unclassified Level Relic ’Fate’s Pedestal,’ rumored to, when paired with the ’Hope Diamond,’ foretell and divine all the secrets of the world. Of course, it’s only rumored, as no one has tried pairing these two relics. Shard, did Miss Feliana also mention this?"
"Sort of, so where is the ’Hope Diamond’ now? Has it been contained or is it long lost?"
Both Megan and Miss Aphrola shook their heads to indicate they didn’t know, and Miss Galina also thought for a moment and shook her head. Instead, Miss Benanis hesitated and said:
"I seem to have heard someone mention this relic years ago, but I’m unsure. Give me some time, and I’ll write letters to investigate. But this will take some time, at least two to three weeks."
"That’s fine, no rush; even if we can’t find it, it doesn’t matter."
The Bygone Era’s Miss Isabella and the deceased Laplace Howard both believed that long-haired Luviya was not a good person. Shard didn’t comment on this. Until he uncovered the truth in his investigation, he continued to trust Luviya, though he would give matters more thought.
Feeling the pocket watch in his sleeve, Shard abruptly asked:
"Speaking of which, does Miss Isabella, the Grand Witch of Time, have any Unclassified Level Relics?"
Although this question was quite abrupt, it could be barely understood as an extension of the "Unclassified Level Relics" topic. The witches shook their heads:
"Any Unclassified Level Relics are not something that can be casually carried. Even if His Excellency the Speaker is immensely powerful, he wouldn’t do such a thing. However, His Excellency the Speaker does have some low-level relics."
Miss Benanis paused for a moment:
"Sorry, this involves private information of His Excellency the Speaker, we cannot disclose it."
"I understand, I’m just curious, does His Excellency have high-end time-related relics?"
"Of course, there’s the hourglass for briefly pausing time, an unknown quantity of Sand of Time, and briefly reversing one’s own state... Sorry, I can’t say more."
Shard smiled again, showing his understanding:
"But I noticed, you didn’t mention pocket watches. I originally thought that the Witch of Time would definitely have pocket watch-type relics."
"Such relics are rare, Shard, you shouldn’t inquire further, or we might tell you everything... However, Miss Isabella does carry a pocket watch with her, but that’s her personal item, not a relic."
Indeed, it’s not a relic; Shard didn’t feel the Whisper Element on the small pocket watch in his sleeve.
After speaking with the Grand Witches for a few more words, everyone then left the Council. Although everyone is not in the same place now, there are plenty of times and opportunities to meet and speak in the future, so there’s no need to stay in the Council.
Megan and Miss Galina returned to Saint Delan Square with Shard, after which Megan bid farewell to Shard and returned to Green Lake. Miss Galina also had other things to do in the town today, but she first made sure Shard was alright and advised him to rest at home for the day and not go out.
"I actually have one more question to confirm."
Shard said while preparing to say goodbye to the Duchess in the second-floor living room:
"Is the name of the Speaker of the Witch Council ’Adel’?"
Miss Galina nodded, her beautiful golden eyes showing a puzzled expression:
"Yes, that’s it. I shouldn’t have mentioned this to you... Did Megan or Sylvia tell you?"
"No one said anything."
Shard shook his head and let out a long breath:
"Don’t mind my questions, I won’t investigate that lady’s identity. I just wanted to confirm something... Rest assured, I haven’t met her. While in the Council, I had some strange illusions. It’s still somewhat risky, the power of the Witch Council shouldn’t be so easily touched by me."
Miss Galina looked at him worriedly, feeling that Shard was increasingly troubled. But in Shard’s mind, he was thinking that the Adel Isabella he just met and the current Adel Isabella are not actually the same person.
The time of the Bygone Era was destroyed, and everything started anew, only Long-Haired Luvia came to the "present." This means that among all the people existing in the time point of the "Bygone Era," only Luvia remains the present Luvia. Others are more like branches of time and fate.
After Miss Galina left, Shard took out the item from his sleeve. The cat stood on the back of the sofa, curiously watching the small silver ladies’ pocket watch, reflecting sunlight as Shard held the chain and let it spin slowly. The pocket watch was small, and after Shard pressed the button, he flicked open the cover with a crisp "click." He held the pocket watch, looking at the decorations and hands inside; though this was just an ordinary article, it was certainly not something ordinary people could own.
"Shouldn’t exist in time, yet she handed it to me just like that?"
It seems Shard has somewhat underestimated the [Witch Council]; neither he nor the [Poetry Cards] possesses such power.
And this pocket watch will likely serve as a beacon, guiding that lady and Shard to meet again. But this means Shard must keep the pocket watch with him at all times; otherwise, if the other side succeeds, and finds only the Ancient God Statue in the basement, it would be too ridiculous.
"But keeping it on me might be recognized by Miss Galina and the others... This pocket watch is really beautiful, it’s indeed nice as an accessory."
[Would you like to smell it to remember the scent?]
"She" gently asked, as Shard stared at the blurred reflection of himself in the pocket watch cover:
"What image do I hold in your heart?"
In the following days, Shard completely idled away, and due to the punishment from Tree Father, he couldn’t use the Time Key for a month, so he even handed over the calculation of the Time Key’s duration to "her."
Of course, saying that he idled only means he needn’t worry about matters regarding The Chosen One. But in reality, he still had many things to do.
The [Poetry Cards], after Shard used them, were officially handed over to the [Witch Council] for containment the next day. This relic originally belonged to the [Prophet’s Society], but considering Laplace Howard did not require Shard to return it before dying, and Shard might need to use it in the future, it was better to place it in the hands of the witches. The relic was nominally submitted by Megan, with the excuse that she found the cards lying in the woods while cleaning her own island.
This reason is flawless.
And concerning the sealing of Dorothy and Lecia’s Butterfly Paper Card, Shard wasn’t neglectful either. He rested the whole day Wednesday and went to Huntington City on Thursday, where he bought the "King’s Pawn" mentioned by Miss Sylvia from an Earl who wished to remain anonymous at the White King Club. The pawn was successfully sealed by the card.
The antiques Lecia held didn’t meet the requirement, so in Tobesk, Shard went to find Old John. He originally thought there would be suitable antiques in the pawnshop, but after trying five items consecutively, the card showed no reaction. Old John promised Shard to help find similar things since this is not a relic, the difficulty in finding it is relatively lower. But Old Man John himself seemed busy with other matters recently.
Shard intended to talk to him about the rumored events during the Battle of Green Lake, but seeing Old Man John had no interest, he didn’t say much.
