Free Web NovelChapter 604: Chapter 603: Enigma Man_1
"According to reliable information, Mr. Blood-Cloak moved to the north of Gistas five days ago, to a location near the border of the Empire and stayed there for a quite long time. After that, he moved to the autonomous state’s Pine City," Aiden said. "I asked around and found out that the area he previously stayed at has a very interesting valley, known by the locals as the cursed land."
The whereabouts of Mr. Blood-Cloak were sensed by the goddess of revenge. As she could only sense a general position and distance, Aiden could only draw a large circle on the map to encompass all the possible places.
He then contacted the Gistas Royal Secret Police and listed all the noteworthy places in that area.
And then, he discovered that "cursed land" hidden deep in the mountains.
"So-called cursed lands, if they have any significance, either contain Divine Artifacts or are home to special magical beasts. Some are just filled with miasma, or a large number of poisonous plants grow there, making it easy for people who approach to fall ill," Qiqimora said. "What is displayed in the cursed land you’re speaking of?"
"A hundred years ago, there was a small town built in that valley because of a metal mine, and the town was destroyed by a plague. The living moved away from the town, and those who stayed in the town all died of illness, and the town was subsequently abandoned," Aiden said. "In the following decades, the occasional gold-seeker and explorer went to prospect, but they never returned. Even the local government of the Kingdom’s own reconstruction plans were canceled due to the continuous mysterious deaths of the prospection personnel. Even more bizarre is that the cursed land’s skies are enveloped in dark clouds for more than half of the year, hiding the sun. After the reputation of the cursed land rose, no one approached that place again."
"May I take a look at the map?" Abigail asked.
"Please."
Aiden took out the sheepskin map with the markings from the cabinet behind him and handed it to Abigail.
Aiden was certain that Mr. Blood-Cloak had gone to that cursed land; within the large circle he drew on the map, aside from the cursed land, there were only desolate mountains and a few unnamed small villages. Mr. Blood-Cloak surely wouldn’t come to such places for a vacation.
"I see," Abigail murmured, obviously discerning something from the map.
"Did you find something?" Aiden asked.
"I can’t believe you’ve forgotten such an important matter. This area bordering Gistas Kingdom and the Empire," Abigail pointed out while holding the map, "is the territory of the Old Lese Kingdom."
"Is this related to the ’Black Goat’?" Qiqimora suddenly interjected. The royal family of the Old Lese Kingdom possessed the power of "proliferation," and after the kingdom’s downfall, they formed the Harvest Mother Cult, known as the "Black Goat." Given Abigail’s words, Qiqimora could only think of them.
But the Harvest Mother Cult had already been destroyed by their own hands.
Only Aiden understood what Abigail meant: "Ah, this wouldn’t happen to be that—"
He should have thought of it earlier; the cursed land once belonged to the Lese Kingdom. And the great plague and famine of the Old Lese Kingdom were caused by Death, to weaken the nation’s power.
"That’s it," Abigail nodded. "She... left other documents."
Abigail’s "grandmother," the unnamed witch, was indeed a traveler summoned by Death from another world. She was a pawn of Death, using knowledge from another world and the power of the authority over life to establish a civil cult that resisted the Kingdom’s power.
According to Abigail, she had left other documents—it was obvious that they were about Death.
That cursed land was probably Death’s lair.
Therefore, the Blood Moon Cult established by the vampires under Death’s command was likely also there, or at least, they should have searched for where their worshipped deity resided.
Before he pledged allegiance to the goddess of conspiracy, Mr. Blood-Cloak had also been a member of the former Blood Moon Cult; he most likely knew where Death was.
To meet with Death? Is this guy tired of living?
That was Aiden’s first thought.
Mr. Crimson had once sided with the goddess of conspiracy to personally split the Blood Moon Cult, and the envoy of Death they had captured with Kael hated Mr. Crimson to the bone, which basically indicated the current attitude of the vampire faction under Death towards him.
In the eyes of Death, this guy must also be an outright traitor.
The power of the Dominator was also overwhelming for saints, and even if Death hadn’t fully recovered from the battle with Melindale that ended in mutual destruction, he should still be more than capable of dealing with a saint.
Mr. Crimson couldn’t possibly have taken the authority of "Death," but according to the vengeance goddess’s senses, Mr. Crimson was still very much alive.
If that place truly was where Death resided, then it meant Mr. Crimson had survived in the hands of Death... Death had spared him.
This was definitely not good news.
"What kind of riddle are you two playing at?" Qiqimora looked at the two enigmatic figures in total confusion.
"That cursed land might be the abode of the ’Death’ Dominator." Aiden explained, "Mr. Crimson, might have sought help from Death."
"Would you mind explaining how you distilled such information from the few words just mentioned?" Qiqimora frowned skeptically, quickly picking up on something, "Say, you two, have you done some kind of... private communication behind the scenes?"
Upon hearing this, Tony pricked up his ears while pretending to toss the dice nonchalantly.
"Qiqimora, some things involve privacy, and you shouldn’t pry," Abigail said, not wanting more people to know her heritage and details.
Aiden also didn’t want others to know about the diary translation he did for Abigail, since it related to his identity as a transmigrator, and so he fell silent in agreement.
As a result, this made the eavesdroppers imagine even more.
"Now this is interesting." A knowing smile spread across Qiqimora’s face, "Why would the warden know about your ’privacy’? I find it strange, you’ve only met us from the Banquet Forest a handful of times, how many times have you seen this man in just a few months?"
"Qiqimora, don’t let your imagination run wild," Abigail said, expressionless. freёweɓnovel.com
"The more you dismiss it, the more I feel that my imagination is too limited," Qiqimora sensed an opportunity to get back at Abigail for past teasing, "I would never have thought, the apex witch also gets lonely." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Hey!" Abigail frowned.
"Everybody, let’s not ruin the good atmosphere," Tony said softly, his gaze towards Aiden growing complex once again.
"Let’s stop the jokes there," Abigail suddenly sighed deeply, "Alright, His Excellency the warden, there is actually something I’ve always wanted to tell you."
"Hmm?" It was Aiden’s turn, and he froze with the dice in hand.
