Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 194: One hundred and forty-five: Conversation (1)

Chapter 194: One hundred and forty-five: Conversation (1)

"Lord Gaiate, you’ve been gone quite a long time this trip."

Noticing the Demon Hunter entering the hall, Colin couldn’t help but comment—indeed, without realizing it, Lord Gaiate’s children had already been living in the Church for over two years.

What an incompetent father indeed.

"Sorry, I went to the North of the continent, how’s your mentor doing?" Gaiate asked while unbuckling his weapon belt, handing it, along with his firearm, and the sword he removed from his back to the Church guards.

"The mentor is all right, although his body becomes weaker day by day, but he is still a former Grand Inquisitor with a Transcendent foundation, after all." Colin raised his eyebrows before noticing the new scars on Gaiate’s chest as he unbuttoned his shirt. "New wounds?"

"Yes, I was accidentally caught up in the Pitzport incident while following up on some clues. I nearly died there."

Colin’s eyelids twitched at the casual way Gaiate discussed the event—the Pitzport incident, where a fatal different kind corrupted the entire West End slums. On the day of the Winter’s Veil in Pitzport, the entire city was embroiled in chaos. Reportedly, the Church of the War God, the Church of the Winter Goddess, and the Church of Justice all had Judges who perished in battle; one of them, the Grand Inquisitor of the Church of the Winter Goddess in Pitzport, died fighting. The Bishop and the group of Assistant Priests from the Church of Justice ignited their Soul Fires to counteract the spread of Chaos throughout the city. They rang the bell atop the Great Cathedral for seven days and nights, protecting all those who refused to become pawns of Chaos, until the battle was over.

The entire city’s Temple network and Adventurers’ Guild were nearly crippled. The Tech Hunter Guild’s branch in Pitzport was completely wiped out. Had it not been for the nearby stationed troops risking being labeled as rebels to join the battle, thereby altering the outcome, the entire city would have succumbed to corruption.

Even wounded, Lord Gaiate’s return in one piece was truly admirable.

"How are my children?" Gaiate asked after the inspection.

"Malin has learned how to make money; he’s working today and said he could earn several thousand gold. As for Maya, your daughter, she’s currently under examination from the Great Divine Master from The Great Forest Land."

"Is that so, it looks like both she and he are quite busy today; let’s see the mentor first. After all, there are fewer and fewer chances to see the old man every time," Lord Gaiate said, his face expressionless as he told a decidedly unfunny joke.

Business as usual, Colin thought, gesturing with his hand, "Then please follow me."

.............

Maya sat carefully in front of her own kind, not knowing what to say or do. A year ago, she was just a carefree little leopard cub. But now due to her innate talent, she was about to receive enlightenment from the Great Divine Master from The Great Forest Land.

It seemed that like the tests given to the apprentices, this individual of her kind also wanted to know what Maya would do after gaining power.

Maya longed to become an outstanding Caster, like her sister Faye, standing behind her brother to support him.

"Maya, don’t worry. I have some questions for you, just answer them according to what you truly feel," the individual in front of her said with a smile.

Maya nodded, looking a bit nervous and afraid.

"Maya, first question, what kind of Panso cat person do you want to become?" asked the Divine Master gently.

Maya thought for a moment, this question seemed too basic for her: "Being well-fed is good enough, even better if there’s roasted meat."

The feline guards behind the Divine Master couldn’t help but laugh.

The Divine Master also smiled, glanced back at her guards with a scolding look, then turned to Maya, "What I mean is, what kind of cat person do you want to be, for example, a hero."

"My brother is already a hero; Maya isn’t as capable as him. I can’t become a hero," Maya said and then paused to think. "But brother is right, I also want to be someone who strives to ensure that all the little ones can have full bellies."

The room fell silent at Maya’s words. As an onlooker, Margaret’s face was filled with smiles. Although Maya sometimes seemed clumsy, her heart, like that of her brother, was truly golden.

The Divine Master nodded with joy and pulled a piece of candy from her pocket, "This is your reward."

"Thank you," Maya accepted the candy.

"Maya, the second question, how much are you willing to sacrifice for your dream?" Divine Master Ollie’s words seemed to possess magic, and Maya thought for quite a while before finally lifting her head, "I, I don’t know how much it will take to make sure the little ones are all fed, but Maya will sacrifice the same as her brother. No matter how much money it takes, Maya will also work hard to earn money like her brother. Maybe I can’t earn as much as him, but I won’t just watch my brother do all the work."

Another piece of candy, and the smile on Divine Master Ollie’s face could hardly contain itself as she looked at Maya, "Maya, the third question, if someone tried to stop you and your brother from achieving this dream, what would you do?"

"... If my brother wants to kill him, Maya will help my brother hold the knife." Maya only thought for a brief moment before giving such an answer.

There was a small touch of surprise on Divine Master Ollie’s face. She glanced at Margaret, then back to Maya, "My child, how could you come up with such an answer? Have you not considered that maybe this person could be right?"

"Right or wrong, my brother decides. Maya just feels that if my brother wants to kill him, then he deserves to die." A firm and resolute look formed on Maya’s face, "Maya and her brother’s dream is to feed the little ones, not to become king and queen, nor to be nobles with vast lands... So, if someone still opposes us for this, and my brother says that person deserves to die, then he must die."

"... A bit problematic, it seems our Maya really gets along with her brother." Divine Master Ollie frowned, then, after speaking to Margaret, she turned to Maya, "The last question, Maya. The Great Forest Land has taught you to be a strong professional. If one day, The Great Forest Land arranges a marriage for you, to wed a strong and brave cat person, would you be willing?"

"Your Grace, Maya is a child of Gaiate," Margaret interjected.

"It’s just, this is just a question," Divine Master Ollie stated, looking at Maya and waiting for an answer.

She saw a flicker of light in Maya’s eyes, saw the surprise and doubt on her face, and finally, Maya shook her head, "I don’t want to." Very decisively, very adamantly.

"If that’s the case, The Great Forest Land has the right to refuse to teach you. Maya, if we don’t teach you, how will you become strong, and how will you be able to help your brother?" Divine Master Ollie said with a smile, and then looked at the young cat, waiting for an answer.

"But I only like my brother, I don’t want to be someone else’s bride," Maya stated, her eyes wide.

"Malin is your brother, you are his sister, you two..." As she spoke, Ollie suddenly felt an inexplicable stab of pain in her head, and then she noticed Maya was looking towards a mirror at her side.

Ollie also looked at the mirror.

In the moment when spiritual energy was nearing chaos, she saw in the mirror a future Maya wearing a black wedding dress, witnessed her own end holding her head, and even saw a tall, thin man with a frivolously mocking smile, standing by Maya’s side, smiling at her.

Ollie patted her forehead, realizing things were somewhat beyond her expectations, and extended her hand, "Maya, no one can force you to do what you don’t like. It was just a question, and you have answered it."

"Eh, is that so?" Maya blinked.

The spiritual energy ceased its verge of explosion.

Ollie nodded - Divine Master truly felt fear today, this girl was far more dangerous than she had imagined.

The only question now was... who was that tall, thin man?

Malin? Could that little guy grow up to look like that in the future?

Is he... truly a half-blood?

With such doubts, Ollie smiled and nodded, "Yes, you have completed all the questions. Your enlightenment will begin after your brother finishes his work and returns."

"...Okay, thank you, Your Grace," Maya said, looking at Ollie expectantly, "Your Grace, will I become strong in the future?"

"Ah, yes, of course," Ollie nodded.

How strong you will become, I don’t know, but I do know that if I speak out of turn again, I might really die.

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