Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 50: Forty-five: Interlocking Rhythms (Part 2)

Chapter 50: Forty-five: Interlocking Rhythms (Part 2)

"Sara, you seem very unhappy," said a voice from atop the carriage, prompting Sara to look up and see the little wolf girl peering down from the roof, grinning. "Is that little guy really that powerful?"

"I can’t even pull a streetlight out of the ground with both hands," Sara sighed. She leaned against the carriage, feeling somewhat lamentful and unwilling to concede defeat: "I truly can’t beat him."

"In this world, strength isn’t everything," the wolf girl said with a smile, pulling a piece of jerky from her bag. "Want some?"

"You’ll get fat," Sara said, although she was actually quite hungry. She had recently been trying to lose weight—though everyone knew that the descendants of giants really had no fat to lose. Her tall frame and sturdy muscles made Sara look more like a weapon than a plump girl.

"Don’t be like that, Sara, life should be enjoyed while we can." The wolf girl took a bite of the jerky: "This is amazing, the new jerky recipe is super tasty."

Sara pursed her lips. She wanted to maintain her image, but the jerky handed over by the wolf girl was so savory that in the end, the giant girl couldn’t resist taking a bite... "Delicious," she said, then felt a bit regretful about her choice, though she had to admit the jerky was indeed tasty: "Really, it’s too delicious."

"I told you, this jerky is great. I heard from companions that a jerky shop that recently opened in the south of the city is selling it, owned by a follower of the Church of the Harvest Goddess." As she spoke, the wolf girl stuffed the remaining jerky into Sara’s mouth: "After we complete this mission, I’ll take you there to buy some."

"You’re the best, Ganmu," Sara said with a smile.

"After all, we’re good sisters," the wolf girl said, then glanced at the distant streets.

Sara followed her gaze but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Carterburg appeared before the giant girl’s eyes just as she remembered it.

"I sensed a burst of spiritual energy in the distance, just for an instant," Sara frowned, surprised and puzzled: "Who could be using a spell formation in the city?"

"Ganmu, how strong was it?" the half-human asked, poking his head out from inside the carriage.

"Too far to tell, but it was certainly not the intensity of some trifling magic trick," Ganmu replied with a frown, clearly upset: "It’s no use; I’m still too weak. When it’s too far away, I simply can’t determine the strength of the spell formation."

"You’re doing well, Ganmu. We didn’t even feel the burst of spiritual energy," the half-human said, taking out a pocket watch: "If things go well, we might even be able to return to the Church for a hot meal after asking around."

"Maybe that poor bastard’s wife and kids have already turned, and we’re in for a tough fight," Bobuka voiced a different opinion: "Lord Malin entrusted us with this matter, and we can’t afford to screw it up. Once we arrive, get ready with the necessary battle gear and supplies before knocking on their door."

"Isn’t that being too cautious?" the wolf girl asked, somewhat curious.

"The Thanan people have a saying, ’A cautious sailor sails a thousand years.’ Our lives are our own, and I hope no one wastes theirs carelessly."

.........

Colin dropped his cigarette butt at his feet and stamped it out, then turned to look at the Proxies carrying out the corpses of the unlucky souls, and at his old friend: "Wrapping up?"

"Yes, we don’t know who killed these cultists, so since he doesn’t want the two thousand gold reward, we can’t force this unknown hero," Camilla said, accepting the cigarette Colin offered: "By the way, why haven’t you gone back?"

"Something minor came up in the city. The master wanted my little Apprentice to get a taste of blood, so I’m not going back. But I’ve sent the Punishers back for reinforcement, so there shouldn’t be any problems," Colin said as he leaned in to light another cigarette from his friend’s lighter.

Camilla furrowed her brows: "That little Apprentice of yours, isn’t he the one who nearly beat our fifth-year Apprentices to a pulp?"

"Yes, he’s the favorite child of my mentor," Colin replied with a smile: "Are you about to ask if I’m jealous?"

"Yeah, I did want to ask you, but I guess with your temperament, probably not," Camilla said, rubbing her nose: "Your little Apprentice has made quite a name for himself in the churches lately. Our mentors are so envious."

"Who would have thought the kid is Lord Gaiate’s adopted son," Colin said, patting his friend on the shoulder: "Tell your mentors not to even think about stealing him."

"Damn, he’s that Lord’s adopted son; we can forget about it. But seriously, how lucky can he get? I heard he was picked up from the side of the road?"

"Yep."

Their conversation paused as they saw a troop of Knights appear in the distance on the street.

"Pull yourselves together, we have guests," Colin warned loudly—in such wild outskirts, who knew where this troop of Knights had come from. Although they were currently in a desolate fort, if the Knights surrounded the place, they would have no way to fly away. The Punishers quickly took cover, and two Proxies on horseback rode out to meet the incoming riders.

After a brief exchange, they rushed back: "It’s King Mowish!"

"The King, wow, this is my first time seeing the real person on my wallet’s banknotes," Camilla whistled.

"Hey, that’s His Highness over there," Colin rolled his eyes at his friend.

"I know, buddy, after all, he’s your sweetheart’s father." Camilla chuckled and nudged Colin in the side with her elbow, "Speaking of which, when are you two planning to get married?"

"In a few more years, we’re still young," Colin thought for a moment, then added his true thoughts, "At least until I reach Step Five."

"That’s the spirit! Just make sure to invite me when the time comes. I’ll make a great groomsman."

"Don’t even start. With you there, you’re not exactly a looker."

"Hey, you’ll lose friends talking like that!"

The playful banter between friends halted as the group of knights slowly approached, and Colin, along with the responsible parties, came forward to greet the monarch, "Your Majesty, we are honored by your presence."

"We meet again, Colin. You’ve grown taller since I last saw you," said the middle-aged man on horseback with a smile, greeting Colin, "What’s happened here?"

No need to keep secrets from His Majesty, Colin recounted everything. When the king had heard the story, he shook his head, "How peculiar. Is two thousand gold no longer a matter of concern these days?"

"Who knows, Your Majesty? Perhaps to each their own," Colin replied with a smile.

"Yes, to each their own, indeed. Colin, why not mount up and accompany me to Carterburg to see my daughter?"

"No, Your Majesty, I have some matters to attend to." Colin felt obliged to inform him about the situation in Carterburg. After listening, the mature monarch raised his eyebrows, "Interesting, then let’s rest here for a while. Set up camp; we’ll proceed after mealtime."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Colin bowed, placing his hand on his chest.

"After all, you’re the fellow my dear Margaret often speaks of." With that, the distinguished figure laughed heartily as he dismounted, "Colin, come join me for a drink."

"Wow, I thought you didn’t drink?" Camilla said, watching the monarch walk toward the ruined castle on his own and turning to her old friend.

"There’s a Thanan saying, ’One would risk their life for the company of a gentleman.’ You’ve probably never heard of it," Colin forced a smile.

...

A young man crouched on the rooftop, watching the Proxy navigate the alley opened by the officers, riding into the narrow street, growing closer and closer until he entered his range of attack.

The prepared Spell Formation was cast at that moment, enveloping the entire alley within a Silent Barrier. Before the Proxy could translate his confusion from the lack of hoofbeats into vigilance, the youth above him leaped from the rooftop. Landing above the Proxy, he pulled the knight from his horse and, simultaneously, a blade sprung from his armguard pierced the Proxy’s ribs.

Brief flashes of the Spell Formation shimmered, but swiftly, the blade penetrated the defense and stabbed into the Proxy’s body.

A moment of agony filled the Proxy with confusion and then pain, contorting his face.

Silence dominated everything, much like the Proxy’s resistance, which gradually faded until his attempts to grasp the cloak came to a halt.

Only then did the assassin stand, retracting the blade into his armguard, while unrestrained blood flowed from the wound, filling the lifeless body. He made the sign of the prayer to the God of Justice on his chest, then closed the eyes of the deceased and placed an ancient Gold Coin in his gaping mouth.

The horse, seemingly unaffected, continued forward until it emerged from the other end of the alley, where officers discovered that their rider was gone.

An officer walked back down the alley to find it empty until near the other end where they discovered the Church Proxy lying in a pool of blood.

...

Stepping down from the carriage, Malin glanced at the gates of Anna Farris School of Arts — wide open due to the holiday. The school hosted not only locals but also many boarders; these non-local children were precisely who Malin intended to inspect. If they bore any traces of contamination, then without a doubt, Mr. Julian’s wife and child were problematic.

If they were uncontaminated, it would prove Mrs. Julian and her child were even more problematic — a source of Chaos contamination that didn’t prey upon those close by was much more troublesome than the less discerning relatives because it indicated intelligence, and not a lack thereof.

Malin brought the Church officials not to discuss art with the school, but for a more serious purpose. They gathered the on-duty teachers and informed them of the situation’s gravity, then instructed them to assemble the remaining students.

In the meantime, Malin positioned several Sharpshooters on nearby buildings overlooking the school’s small square. Should any student bolt upon seeing the setup, they would surely be problematic.

If they didn’t bolt, they were tiptoeing the line of cunning Chaos.

But that was of no consequence to Malin, who had already prepared Holy Water and anti-evil formations. Any Chaos looking to launch a surprise attack would soon learn what it meant to be caught in their own trap.