Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 887: Section 585: Search (3)

Chapter 887: Section 585: Search (3)

Clark Silva Avenue, No. 937, Professor Grael.

In the eyes of the newspaper boy, the aged professor had seemed somewhat strange in these recent two days. Previously, the professor’s health was not good, and the newspaper boy often had to wait a minute or two after knocking before the elderly man, who had difficulty walking, would appear before him. He would take his newspaper and also give the newspaper boy a dime tip.

But these past two days, the professor’s legs had improved; upon hearing the knock, he would appear before the newspaper boy as though he could fly, taking his newspaper while the tip was nowhere to be seen.

A dime, amounting to three dollars a month, wasn’t much for the professor, but for the newspaper boy, three dollars could allow his younger brothers to attend school.

This was of great importance, yet the newspaper boy didn’t dare to ask for it—his pride and his fear of the professor prevented him from speaking up.

After finishing this round of newspaper delivery, he would go to the docks to push carts.

The young child thought to himself while taking off his newspaper boy cap and giving the professor a bow.

"Wait a moment." This time, the professor suddenly called to him and, under the gaze of the newspaper boy, pulled out his wallet and extracted six dimes.

"For the past two days, I haven’t given you a tip. I can see the resentment and unwillingness on your face, but you did not let your anger or displeasure show. Here, this is your tip. I hear you have two younger brothers; this is a recommendation letter I’ve prepared for you and your brothers. Take it and attend school at the Church of the Harvest Goddess’s elementary school on Seventh Avenue every afternoon. It was established with funding from Lord Malin, and I have the authority to recommend you to go there."

"Thank you so much!" The newspaper boy had heard of that elementary school. Unfortunately, his family weren’t followers of the Goddess of Harvest—in fact, he and his brothers weren’t even ready to decide whom to believe in. Their father had died young in the battle against Chaos, and their mother had contracted pneumonia last year. Though she finally recovered, it left their home in ruins.

Thinking of this, the newspaper boy’s face broke into a happy smile: "Thank you, Professor! Your kindness, I, I..." At this point, the newspaper boy burst into tears.

Now his brothers could go to school, and he could go part-time. His mother always said that knowledge is power; only through knowledge can one change their broken home.

That’s wonderful.

.........

Professor Grael watched the newspaper boy bowing every five steps as he walked away. He did not stop the child’s polite gesture, but merely observed him until he finally disappeared into the distance of the street.

During this curfew, it was only these newspaper boys through their actions who told everyone in the city that humans were still the masters of the city, not the damned Chaos.

"Grael, you’ve changed that child’s family fate." The voice of a friend rang from behind Grael. The old professor smiled, turning to see his old friend, who along with his wife had served the Church of Justice for decades. Now, they finally had time for themselves, hence they had traveled north all the way from the Kingdom of Farole to his home.

Damn, even now in my empty nest, must I still be subjected to such cold violence?

But considering they had cured his limp... never mind, the young boys and girls of those days, now there were only three left.

"Jack, my old friend, I’m just an old man who can barely walk. See, not just once have I thought, why isn’t Malin Gaiate a follower of the Master of Wisdom? He’s so fond of knowledge, it’s such a waste."

Returning to the living room, Grael looked at the wife of his old friend. He remembered chasing after her in their school days, but she had always preferred his friend instead. Fate had played a very cruel joke on Grael.

The elderly lady was peeling apples for the two old friends with a dagger, just like old times.

"Grael, you should respect Lord Malin’s beliefs. If he were to convert, I’m sure it would not be to your Master of Wisdom," she jested.

Her words stung Grael, though she indeed hadn’t said anything incorrect. "Dear Lena, how could you say that? But it’s true that Lord Malin is indeed very wise. He said that knowledge is power, and it made such an impact on me, an old man—it was as if it had deafened me. You know what, my old friend, such a young man should not be holding guns and plows; he should become a great Sage, enlightening the whole world with his wisdom."

"Grael, without guns and plows to protect that bald head of yours, you would have died from all kinds of accidents already," she said, handing him an apple.

"Ah, how nice, see that, Jack? Lena’s first apple." As if back in their university days, Grael boasted to his old friend with the apple in his hand.

"Almost seventy years now, Grael." His old friend leant against the doorframe and shook his head, then the old man pulled out a cigarette case: "Seventy years, and it’s just us now."

Grael also sighed, his friend’s words appeared to be a reminder for him, but in reality... they were a reminder for himself.

"Don’t be too hard on yourself, dear; at least we’ve avenged our children," Lena said, looking at her husband in front of her.

Grael smiled; he was a little envious of him and her because they were the only couple from their class who had survived until now.

Up until today, Grael had seen too many departures and farewells. Just last month, he had sent off another old friend. In his final moments, he did not look towards Grael, who sat by the bed, but rather towards the other empty side of it.

He smiled and greeted his long-deceased lover.

Father must be confused.

His children said so, but didn’t realize that Grael really did see that young classmate.

Her Spiritual Body appeared in the room, accompanied by the Lord of Justice, but their mediocre children couldn’t sense it; the only one who could, a child among his grandchildren, couldn’t break through the illusion set by the Lord of Justice.

Grael watched his old friend leave this world, guided by the Lord of Justice and his lover.

For the first time, an old man who had lived to this day seriously considered the question—when I die, will someone come to guide me?

Probably not. As a follower of the Master of Wisdom, who was once deluded by Mimicking Bird, and only with the help of the Lord of Justice did he escape the sea of suffering, Grael’s soul had long been anchored, to be transformed into a Chaos Demon the moment he died.

Therefore, Grael drank a bottle of Holy Water every day, so as not to trouble the young ones who would have to deal with him after his death.

If he turned into ashes, he wouldn’t pose a threat to them, right?

With this thought, Grael took a bite of the apple. The apple was really great, sweeter than those from the south, and he didn’t know where it came from—seemed necessary to order some more from the Church.

Lena had already peeled the second one at this time. She looked at her husband, but found him staring at the street.

"Dear, what are you looking at?" She stood up and walked towards her husband. Grael followed, and the three elders, whose total ages were over two hundred and forty years, saw a procession.

No, it was a procession of police officers with a young Mr. Malin Gaiate.

Grael had seen portraits of Malin, an excessively young Legendary hero, handsome and charming, with a smile forever playing on his lips.

No one could understand how much the Goddess of Fate doted on him, giving him everything no one else in this world could have.

"It’s Mr. Malin, looks like they have something to do," Lena said with a smile. Her words prompted some vigilance from Grael: "You know him as well?"

"Of course, we met him in Farole. Thanks to him, we were able to exact revenge for my children." Lena said as she walked down the steps: "I’m going to meet this young man."

.........

When Malin noticed Mrs. Lena, she had already reached the roadside. It wasn’t that Malin had let his guard down; rather, today the elderly lady wasn’t wearing her action gear, but dressed warmly as a true old person, with a shawl protecting her neck.

"Mrs. Lena, it really is unexpected to find you here," Malin said, smiling as he tipped his hat in greeting.

"Mr. Malin, good afternoon, my husband and I came to see our old friend and then got stuck here. You’ve arrived—is there a problem on our side?" The elderly lady finished speaking and smiled, looking behind her: "My husband and I, along with our friend, can help you."

"No need, madam. Your era has passed; now is the time for our generation to bleed and sacrifice for this world." Malin smiled, shaking his head, refusing the lady’s kind offer. Malin noticed two old people approaching, one he naturally recognized as Mrs. Lena’s husband, the other must be the old friend mentioned by her: "Good afternoon, sir, you are...?"

"Grael, a follower of the Master of Wisdom, it pleases me to see you. But Mr. Malin, I am dissatisfied with the statement you just made. Before your generation was born and ours had not yet aged, we were already accustomed to bleeding for this world. So please, do not deprive us warriors of the chance to take to the battlefield."

Mr. Grael’s words brought a smile to Malin’s face.

"You are right, although you are old, you still are warriors. You can still lift a gun, you can still see people, and even your combat awareness far exceeds that of these young police officers following me. But I still think, having you on board would be a burden to me."

Because you are not Legendary, and for Malin Gaiate, only a Legendary assistant would not be considered as more trouble than help in the eyes of a legendary Mr.

"I’m saddened, Mr. Malin. Are you belittling the Punishers of the Church of Justice?" Mrs. Lena’s husband seemed very unhappy.

Malin smiled in response.

"I apologize, sir, I do not mean you are a burden." Saying that, Malin smiled as he scanned the surroundings: "I honestly think, I alone am capable of hanging and beating that new neighbor of Mr. Grael."