Free Web NovelChapter 2045: Chapter 2045: Eternal Light
Shard listened to the introduction with a slight nod, thinking that the stranger might be a paid guide:
"It really is a big project. I’ve been to quite a few places, but even Tobesk and Velindale don’t have such a bridge, do they?"
Because the rivers in the city centers of Tobesk and Velindale are not as wide as the Taton River here in Moon Bay.
Then Shard asked:
"By the way, you are..."
The man in the brown robe smiled and replied:
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. Just by looking at you, I can tell you’re a visitor from far away in Draleon. There are indeed many regionalists in this city, but I’m not one of them."
He warmly shook hands with Shard and then asked:
"Sir, have you heard of the ’Eternal Light’?"
Shard searched his mysticism knowledge for a moment and then decisively shook his head:
"Sorry, I don’t know. Is this a local folklore or legend of the Moon Bay Region?"
"No, no, it’s a concept that has emerged in recent years."
He clenched his right fist and placed it on his chest, standing shoulder to shoulder with Shard in front of the riverside railing, and said very seriously:
"This City of Wealth is indeed good, but the sins and darkness accumulating in secret have long threatened the city’s foundation. Sir, may I ask you some questions? If you’re not comfortable answering, you don’t have to."
The middle-aged man in the brown robe asked:
"Don’t you think that your hard work every day, the salary you earn, doesn’t match your efforts?"
"This..."
In reality, Shard didn’t work that hard, and as for his detective fees, he always felt he was overpaid, but people still thought "Detective Hamilton" was worth the price. If he later married Galina Cavendish, hiring him would cost ten times more.
Seeing Shard’s troubled expression, the man asked again:
"Are you married?"
"Not yet, but I do know some familiar ladies."
"That’s good. So, don’t you think the housing prices in Moon Bay City are rather unreasonable? Those who, due to birth and connections, can own property from birth, even if they do nothing, their assets will appreciate. But for outsiders like you and ordinary city-dwellers who have to rent a place just to live, settling here requires at least ten years of work."
The outlander quickly nodded:
"Yes, yes, it’s very unreasonable."
Though he inherited a top property in Saint Delan Square thanks to "Uncle Sparrow," this didn’t stop Shard from empathizing with such issues, as he had two lifetimes.
"Do you know that place?"
The stranger pointed towards the tall building on the east bank of the Taton River downstream. It was the core urban area of Moon Bay City, the true gathering place of wealth.
Shard thought for a moment:
"Isn’t that the clock tower in Moon Bay City? Oh, I know, that’s the ’Belindel Big Bell.’ It was built by the Belindel Family next to the City Hall, and it is currently the tallest building on the West Coast of the Old Continent. I saw black and white photos in the ’Moon Bay Region Travel Guide,’ but it’s said to be closed to the public, with only a few people allowed inside."
"Yes."
The stranger nodded immediately:
"The ancient Seven Families of Moon Bay control this city, trampling on ordinary people like you and me to amass wealth. Beneath the Belindel Big Bell, it’s rumored there is a secret club for the Seven Families’ gatherings. The Moon Bay scenery visible from the top of that clock tower should belong to all the citizens as wealth."
Shard nodded to indicate his understanding of his words:
"So, what do you want to tell me?"
The robed stranger seriously said to the outlander:
"The City of Wealth has long become filthy, only the light can dispel the darkness, so we established the ’Eternal Light’ organization, hoping to unite and collectively fight against the city council, to fight for the interests of those suffering at the bottom of the city. Since you listened until now, perhaps you can understand us."
As he spoke, he quickly slipped a flyer into Shard’s hand:
"We don’t need donations, but if you have time, we occasionally have public events in the Lower District..."
Before he could finish this sentence, or before the intrigued Shard could ask for more details, police whistles sounded from behind them:
"What are you doing? Yes, you there! Don’t run, stop!"
The man in the brown robe took off running, and two policemen chased him into the alleys along the riverside street. But this was the Lower District, and catching someone in the labyrinth of alleys wasn’t going to be easy.
In the patrol squad of three policemen, the eldest one walked towards Shard.
Shard glanced down at the flyer in his hand, then handed it to the police officer:
"I’m not associated with that guy, he just started talking to me."
Shard’s Carsonrick language was extremely fluent, and the middle-aged police officer studying his attire spoke politely:
"Rest assured, the police in Moon Bay won’t randomly involve unrelated people."
"Hmm... can I ask, what does that person do?"
Shard hesitated as he spoke:
"He just mentioned something about Eternal Light to me."
"It’s an underground city organization that has emerged in recent years, or an illegal city sect."
Shard raised an eyebrow at the word "sect," but he misunderstood; it’s not a cult group.
"According to the investigation by the True God Church, they do not worship any Evil God, but rather, they worship Glimmer."
The middle-aged police officer shook his head:
"Sir, please don’t believe what they say. Did he just speak about fighting for the rights of the impoverished lower class? No, no, that’s just the work of con artists. They’re a group of extremists, skilled at disguising themselves with clever packaging. City Hall defines them as an illegal organization, and the Moon Bay region prohibits them from preaching and conducting activities. If you encounter them in the future, stay away from such people."
He nodded to Shard, then briskly walked toward the alley where his teammates had left.
Shard watched his silhouette disappear and leaned against the railing, continuing to gaze at the Moon Bay cityscape under the sullen sky:
"The Church hasn’t intervened, which suggests that this organization is temporarily unrelated to the Circle Sorcerers and deities."
[So, who do you think is actually telling the truth?]
"She" asked gently in Shard’s ear, and Shard gazed indifferently at the black smoke spewing from the chimneys of the ships on the Taton River:
"It doesn’t matter, what does it have to do with me?"
"She" kept smiling gently, providing Shard with some not-so-negative emotions in this gloomy, cloud-covered city.
Miss Benanis received clues from the Great Witch of Destiny, related to a diviner who had disappeared and then returned to this city. And the Great Witch, uncertain if she was local, knew the clue but remained indifferent to the "Hope Diamond," not due to fear of trouble from an Unclassified Level Relic, but because the clue was actually quite vague; such uncertain news was never scarce in the city.
There are rumors that the diviner who once encountered the "Hope Diamond" is now hidden on this Herring Street or the environs. Even if the streets of Moon Bay City’s Lower District are relatively orderly and clean, the population density here remains astonishingly high.
Thus, Shard was already prepared to spend the entire upcoming month in Moon Bay City’s Lower District.
Today was just to clear this path, and now it’s only four in the afternoon, and Shard’s objective was accomplished. Carrying the Crystal Shoes, he need not worry about spending time returning to the Dragon Nest, so he spent the remaining time of the day sightseeing the city.
The expansive cityscape of Moon Bay divides into six districts, with the most important being the central district and the dock area. The other four districts are generally around these two regions, but each district has its own responsibilities.
"Moon Bay" gets its name from its crescent-shaped coastline, and the coastal scenery of "Moon Bay" is also a local sight not to be missed.
Shard took an hour walking from the Taton River to the dock, experiencing the labyrinthine alleys of the Lower District, and bought a crescent-shaped shell as a souvenir from a general store. Passing by the Peace Chapel, he even paused at the chapel’s entrance, watching citizens coming and going.
He noticed that even the clergy members in Moon Bay City, a few of them, dressed somewhat differently compared to other regions. Priest Augustus had told Shard that the priests, nuns, and clergy working in the church were absolutely prohibited from wearing any non-essential jewelry, and even hairstyles were strictly regulated. This is the unified requirement of the Church of the Five Gods, and even some cult groups have similar rules internally.
But that afternoon, Shard saw a middle-aged priest wearing a gold ring at the Peace Chapel in Moon Bay City, conversing with an ostentatiously dressed noble lady at the chapel’s door.
He didn’t rush to accuse others, but merely marveled at how numerous the clergy members of the Church of the Five Gods are; even though most maintain a considerable level of discipline, exceptions are inevitable.
The cloudy weather persisted until the evening without clearing, but it didn’t rain either. Arriving in a new city, especially a big city, Shard had many things to do. Unfortunately, the Prophet’s Society was not on his route to the dock; otherwise, he would definitely want to experience the local card players and Roder Card.
Shard reached the dock by dusk. The sunset was obscured behind the clouds, and the stifling evening made everyone unhappy. Standing at the dock, overlooking the bay, the passing ships, and the occasional dim yellow sunset scattered on the sea, together created a spectacular scene.
The sea breeze brushed his face, seagulls spun and flew under the gloomy sky. Sailors carrying cargo passed Shard from behind, chatting about the day’s interesting moments in a crude foreign language.
Busy yet leisurely, Shard once again sensed the difference between here and Coldwater Port City. Taking a deep breath, he felt refreshed, and occasional strolls like this in unfamiliar cities do indeed help maintain one’s happiness.
"Today was truly a peaceful day, arriving at a new city, and yet nothing happened. May peaceful days continue forever."
He thought in his heart, reaching for the pendant on his chest, unable to resist a smile:
"I was worried that while walking the streets of Moon Bay City, this pendant might suddenly heat up, but fortunately, nothing happened."
[I thought you were hoping to meet a witch.]
"Why would you think that? The previous six witches managed to coexist peacefully with me, each for their own reasons. I can’t expect that the Great Witch of Destiny also needs my help or has a close relationship with friends I’ve known before... Do you think Mia would be happy if I brought a fish home?"
[If I recall correctly, it doesn’t particularly enjoy eating fish.]
"You’re right."
Shard slipped his hands into his pockets and watched the coastline scenery as the night gradually deepened, then turned around, ready to head home.
