Free Web NovelChapter 280: Woven Reward
Everyone's eyes turned toward Ashe.
He sat in the red leather chair with one leg crossed, composed in his dark red coat. Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to wear a mask indoors. Beneath the coat, he still wore pajamas and slippers. Compared to the others, he looked completely out of place, like a landslide crashing into the solemn atmosphere of the Funeral Agency.
And yet, the familiarity of his features, the outfit that matched the portrait perfectly, and most importantly, the Book of Gospel calling him out by name left no room for doubt. Reluctantly, everyone accepted that the mysterious, commanding man in the first-place Art Ranking portrait was indeed the Ashe Heath right before their eyes.
Iger and Lys shouted in unison.
"You kept the coat and mask for fifty years!?"
Harvey choked on his smoke. "Cough! Cough!"
He stared at the two of them, utterly baffled. Just what kind of things are they even focusing on? Even I find this bizarre.
At first, Ashe looked puzzled. Then a smile spread across his face. "Wait. Doesn't that mean both Miss Annan and I can receive the ranking rewards?"
"Rewards? This is hardly the time to think about that!"
Annan let out a bitter laugh. "Pankey."
The young butler understood at once and left without a word.
Lys tilted her head, puzzled. "Isn't it a good thing that you and Daddy made the rankings?"
Annan sighed. She was about to reply when two beams of light suddenly shot out from both her and Ashe's Books of Gospel. One beam struck the Purple Moth, carving intricate patterns into her tongue and left eye. The other hit the cult leader, causing his dark red coat to ripple and flow as if it had suddenly come to life.
[Annan Dolan receives the rewards Eye of Truth and Calamity and Tongue of Liberation.]
Eye of Truth and Calamity
- Allows the holder to perceive disasters and prevents them from unknowingly bringing calamity upon themselves.
Tongue of Liberation
- Grants the ability to terminate any contract between two willing parties verbally.
[Ashe Heath receives the rewards Demonic Coat and Mask of Distortion.]
Demonic Coat
- First-time witnesses are subjected to mental screening. The difficulty increases the farther the wearer's Mind Class exceeds the target's; conversely, it decreases when the wearer's rank is lower. Upon failure, the witness falls under a Mental Suggestion, rendering them incapable of harboring any hostile intent toward the wearer.
Mask of Distortion
- Distorts all forms of detection. Every sentient being notices the holder at first glance, even when the mask is not worn.
Rewards for those on the Art Ranking were usually issued in pairs, and even on the rare occasion that a reward was single, it was still immensely powerful. No one expected the delivery to be so direct. The rewards shot straight from the Book of Gospel onto their recipients, like goods flying off a factory line.
To the others, it appeared as though a faint mask sat upon Ashe's face. It was so perfectly fitted that the mask appeared to be the primary being, while Ashe himself was merely its ornament. But as soon as they looked away, it vanished.
Intricate purple patterns now blanketed Annan's left pupil. At a glance, they simply looked like a violet iris, but a closer look revealed a dense and mind-bending geometry. The designs were so tightly woven and unnatural that they were enough to drive anyone with trypophobia into a state of madness.
"This... is the reward from the Woven Festival?" she murmured.
She covered her right eye and scanned the room with her left. Every person radiated a different-colored aura. The name Eye of Truth and Calamity felt too cumbersome, so she decided to call it Truth and Calamity for now.
Harvey radiated a murky green aura that was repulsive but not especially dangerous. Iger possessed a clear dark red aura of strange beauty, though it contained a pitch-black core that sent a chill down her spine. Lys was the most difficult to define because her aura shimmered in constantly shifting hues. It flickered from a rainbow to crimson, then transitioned from pure white to sky blue in a matter of moments.
However, what truly perplexed her was her model for the future portrait, Ashe Heath.
Among them all, his aura was the densest, overwhelming the rest. Its colors surged like a turbulent rainbow, making it impossible to read. No matter how she tried, she could not gauge his level of danger at all.
Annan's expression darkened. "It distorts all detection... Is the Mask of Distortion actually stronger than Truth and Calamity?"
When she opened her right eye, the auras vanished, and the world returned to normal.
Normal sight with both eyes. Truth and Calamity with the left. The Book of Gospel has been considerate. Keeping such a vision active at all times would have been unbearable.
Only then did she notice that everyone was watching her.
Iger asked, "What did you see with the Eye of Truth and Calamity?"
Annan shook her head. "Now is not the time to talk about this. Everyone, pack your things. I'll give you fifteen minutes. After that, we leave."
"Why?" Ashe asked, stunned. "It can't be because of me, right? The Book of Gospel didn't say anything. They can't possibly think I'm the source of the disaster..."
Lys raised her hand. "Actually, it did say something. Check the synopsis. It's full of praise for your great deeds. But Daddy, you've covered it all with your power. The text is completely obscured."
She beamed. "Daddy, you're so strong!"
Iger added, "And it's not just the paintings themselves. Look at Miss's exclusive rewards. The Eye of Truth and Calamity practically mock her for bringing a disaster like you home, while the Tongue of Liberation practically urges her to terminate the contract with you immediately. Goodbye, Ashe. I'll check on your cardboard box under the bridge later."
Harvey chimed in, "I recommend living in the cemetery. In a kingdom as developed as the Gospel Kingdom, it's bound to be clean and hygienic. And with the tradition of offerings, you won't even need to search for food."
Ashe shot them both a surprised glance. On the surface, the necromancer and the fraudster were openly teasing him, but beneath that, they were egging Annan on. Now that Annan possessed the power to terminate contracts, if she truly disliked Ashe or had other plans, she could end their contract instantly.
Freedom!
If he could seize this chance to break free from Annan's control, it would be an unexpected blessing.
Ashe had always lived a carefree life. Being sponsored by a wealthy lady? Great. Earning a living? Whatever. A life without work is incomplete.
This practically summed up his mindset.
However, if he were given the chance to regain his freedom, he would take it without hesitation, regardless of the risks. After all, when he first escaped the Shattered Lake, he had already endured the pursuit of Sacred Realm sorcerers and the cold rejection of society. Back then, he had nowhere left to turn except for Freya's home.
Now, he didn't even have a warrant against him. With the Mask of Distortion shielding him from detection, the Demonic Coat warding off strangers, and the Gospel Kingdom's orderly society at his back, his circumstances were nothing like his time in the chaotic Blood Moon Kingdom.
The Shattered Lake had been brutal, yet he had survived. Now, with such favorable conditions, he had no reason to fear Annan firing him. At worst, he could simply work as an independent operator. Starting fresh in a new city was practically second nature to him.
Yet Annan seemed unwilling to let go of her most capable employee. She said, "It's not about the painting. It doesn't matter if the portrait suggests Ashe will bring disaster to the Gospel Kingdom, or if it depicts him saving it, marrying a princess, or perhaps leading the people into paradise. Whatever the outcome, we still have to run.
"Our danger comes solely from Ashe making the ranking!"
Iger suddenly stood. "Is it because Ashe is an outsider?"
Annan nodded firmly. "Exactly. Once others realize Ashe has no past, they'll recognize him as an outsider. But as the head of this agency, I am his anchor. Using an outsider to exploit a loophole in the Woven Festival is an old strategy, one that few have ever pulled off. Only the Dolan family has that kind of experience.
"When they associate Ashe with me, they won't see a harbinger of disaster. They'll think I've performed a miracle, that I've successfully disguised Ashe as a beautiful, luxurious cake, and that's why the Book of Gospel gave him a five-star review."
"The plan has been exposed," Annan added grimly. "Our enemy isn't the Book of Gospel, but—"
"Miss!" The young butler burst in, clutching a briefcase. "The hovering car has gone offline!"
Annan froze.
Ashe suddenly drew a sword from his mouth and swung it fiercely at her.
Miracle, Sword Barrier!
Boom!
The balcony glass shattered with a deafening crash. Dozens of drones swarmed into the room. They weren't delivering packages this time. Instead, they were armed with light machine guns.
"Long-range defense!"
At Annan's command, Pankey, Harvey, and Iger reacted instinctively.
Frost Miracle, Bouncing Shroud!
Necromancy Miracle, Life Link!
Mind Class Miracle, Cold-Blood State!
They hadn't been idle. Bound by contract to Annan, they could execute perfectly coordinated tactical maneuvers, like chess pieces moving in flawless synchronization.
The Bouncing Shroud cast an ice screen that deflected the incoming gunfire, while Life Link stabilized the wounded, and the Cold-Blood State allowed the sorcerers to ignore pain and fear. Supported by Ashe's Sword Barrier, these four Miracles ensured the Funeral Agency could weather the long-range assault.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
The roar of bullets filled the room. Ashe grabbed Annan with one hand and Lys with the other, retreating swiftly behind the group.
Before he could even catch his breath, darkness descended. A spider-like object leapt from the shadows, wrapping around his face.
"Watch out!"
The mechanical spiders, usually invisible and reserved for chores, had gone berserk. Once they got close, they would detonate instantly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The mechanical spiders near Iger and the others had been destroyed in advance. The only one that slipped through was the spider leaping straight onto Ashe's face.
Bang!
With a muffled thud at close range, the spider clinging to Ashe's face collapsed to the floor.
Still shaken, Ashe glanced at Annan beside him. She stood there in her pajamas. In one hand, she gripped a submachine gun, with a thin trail of smoke curling from the barrel. Clearly, the Miss had just saved her junior employee's life.
Yet something caught Ashe's eye.
Beneath the gun's muzzle, a crystalline purple earring swayed, while the familiar purple crystal that Annan constantly touched was nowhere to be seen.
He suddenly recalled her words. As a swordsman, you never carry a visible weapon. That alone says enough. Any weapon-based sorcerer carries their weapon at all times.
Annan noticed his gaze and tapped the gunstock. "This is Second Mistress Donna. Her mother is Apex Blade Co. She's usually shy, a bit sister-fixated, but skilled at firing 9mm rounds. Aren't you going to thank her?"
"Thank you, Second Misstress!" Ashe said earnestly.
At that moment, the drone barrage ceased, leaving the ice screen shattered and fragmented. Annan's gaze shifted to two figures descending from the floating vehicle at the balcony edge, and she exhaled slowly. "When it comes to controlling drones, spiders, and other smart devices across Azura, you two are truly the only ones I can think of."
"First time meeting you, Miss Purple Moth of the Funeral Agency," the young man said with a smile. "I'm Maynard Keenith, combat specialist of the Good Moonlight Agency."
"Logistics specialist, Lyman Sur," the long-haired woman added coldly.
Maynard continued, "Forgive our intrusion. It seems you have plans to leave, but we hope you can stay for now. Our agency's head is on her way, eager to establish deep cooperation with the Funeral Agency."
Annan's tone was sharp. "Cooperation?"
"Of course," Maynard replied smoothly.
He summoned his Book of Gospel and turned it toward Annan. Inside were four photographs of people she knew all too well. Ashe, Iger, Harvey, and Lys. "It's for joint development of scarce resources."
