CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 94: EBERT’S TERMS

Wu Chang appeared surprised and didn’t even have time to appreciate the nurse’s well-fitting uniform before hurriedly saying:

"Is Professor Ebert not going to make it? Quick, take me to him."

This old man, finally almost gone, has really held on.

If he holds on for another two or three days, he might just finish the level.

The town hospital is built not far from the Church, and typically, dying townsfolk are taken directly to the Church for their final prayers.

Briff is not a big town, and the population is small. Usually, when a townsfolk reaches the end of their Life, the Bishop personally conducts their final prayers.

But not this time.

As the human key to the Envy Fire Church, the moment Wu Chang cleared the Inner World, the Bishop was consumed by envy fire and turned to ash.

Now, it’s not just impossible to have final prayers; you can’t even enter the Great Cathedral.

The Bishop now lies in the Great Cathedral, receiving mourning and blessings. Other townsfolk preparing for their journey must wait in line outside.

Of course, if they can’t wait, they can leave early, perhaps catching up with the Bishop ahead to have a final prayer.

Because of the Bishop’s death, the entire town became lifeless and bleak.

Just yesterday, the townsfolk felt peaceful and calm from the prayers led by the Bishop. This morning, waking from sleep, negative emotions returned with interest.

The plaza in front of the Great Cathedral was full of kneeling townsfolk, surrounded by candles, praying loudly toward the Great Cathedral.

But no matter how loud the prayers, they couldn’t cover the mourning and fear on their faces.

Spirit Fox, along with other nuns, cared for the townsfolk at the scene. Seeing Wu Chang pass by, she hurried over.

Wu Chang gestured for the nurse leading the way to leave first, then asked Spirit Fox, "How is the Church’s situation?"

Spirit Fox shook her head, dark circles appearing on her face, clearly not having slept well the night before.

"Very bad. The Bishop was everyone’s spiritual leader. His death is like the sky falling for the Great Cathedral. Everyone’s negative emotions are severe. Even the usually stable Great Nun went crazy yesterday and smashed everything in her room."

At this point, Spirit Fox looked a bit nervous, speaking softly:

"I can feel that with the Bishop’s death, something in the Great Cathedral was released, starting to affect everyone."

"I’m a bit scared..."

Wu Chang placed a key in Spirit Fox’s hand, comforting her:

"The chaos is only temporary. Believe in Sword Star; he will surely have a way. Since the Great Cathedral isn’t safe, go to the post office for a couple of days. When things settle down, consider if you want to return."

Just like when townsfolk heard the Bishop’s prayers, they wouldn’t feel fear even in great difficulty.

Hearing Wu Chang’s voice now inexplicably reassured her soul.

Her face blushed slightly, hesitating, she said, "Is it appropriate for me to go to the post office? Will I be troubling you?"

She had been to the town’s post office; the lounge was a cramped single room. Would two people together be a bit inappropriate?

Wu Chang smiled and said, "No worries, the town council is very busy these two days, I probably won’t go back, you don’t have to worry about me affecting you."

Spirit Fox: "Oh? No..."

Seeing the little nurse waving anxiously at him, Wu Chang interrupted before Spirit Fox could finish her sentence, "Remember to lock the door when you’re alone. I have to go to the hospital, so let’s talk later."

The little nurse, waiting in the distance, had been calm at first, but after a colleague spoke with her, she became anxious.

Seeing him approaching, the nurse hastily said, "Senator Sean, please hurry. Professor Ebert has fainted again and can’t hold on much longer."

Wu Chang followed the nurse to Ebert’s ward. Upon seeing him, he immediately frowned and pulled the leaving nurse back.

"Miss, did you bring me to the wrong room? Who is this?"

The nurse confirmed, "He’s Professor Ebert. The disease has made him look like this."

Wu Chang looked once again at the bed-ridden Professor Ebert, observing more carefully this time, finally recognizing some semblance of Ebert.

The disease had tormented the old professor terribly. Wu Chang remembered the day he first met Ebert; though Ebert’s physique was frail, his spirit was vigorous, his eyes bright and clear, filled with the unique wisdom of a Scholar.

His hair and clothes were neat and appropriate, with a particular elegance, making him a standard old gentleman.

But within three short days, Professor Ebert had become a human skeleton.

Severe diarrhea had caused him serious dehydration, his once full lips becoming dry and pale, the skin cracked.

Continuous high fever had left his spirit utterly drained, his hair greasy and clinging in clumps, dark circles under his eyes, and his complexion dim.

The wise eyes now filled with cloudy gray, revealing a deep sense of Death.

In a dying coma, he couldn’t escape his nightmares, murmuring incoherently things others couldn’t comprehend.

Wu Chang sighed, wiping non-existent tears from the corner of his eyes, saying to the nurse:

"This disease is truly hateful. Such a wise Scholar reduced to this state."

The nurse comforted, "Senator Sean, my condolences. Birth, aging, sickness, and Death are natural life processes. Professor Ebert is old; at this age, a fall can cause a sudden decline in bodily function."

Wu Chang, saddened, said, "I need some comfort."

The nurse blushed slightly, looked around, saw no one paying attention, leaned in to give Wu Chang a hug.

Wu Chang hugged the nurse forcefully, only letting go reluctantly after she struggled a third time.

"Senator Sean, we’re still in the ward." Having freed herself from his grasp, the nurse complained softly before shyly running out the door.

Wu Chang waved at the peeking nurse with a smile, watching her shyly run farther away.

Young girls are still the best, easily shy even over small things. If it were Morena, she’d probably drag him to the next room for a deep conversation.

He lowered his waving hand, exhaling heavily, looking back to Ebert on the bed.

This way, no one would bother them for a while.

He manipulated the Calamity power to suppress the effects of "Plague" and "Curse" in Ebert’s body to a dormant state.

Without "Plague" and "Curse," a few minutes later, Ebert awakened from the coma with sheer Willpower.

Upon awakening, seeing Wu Chang first, Ebert, realizing he was freed from nightmares, felt excited like seeing a family member.

It seemed the old man had been tormented a lot by his conscience in his nightmares.

"Professor Ebert, how did you end up like this?" Wu Chang leaned forward in surprise, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Coughing twice, Ebert, unable to explain yet, tugged at Wu Chang’s sleeve, mustering his strength to ask, "Are you sent by the Church?"

Wu Chang paused for a moment, honestly replying, "Archbishop Gelman sent me to Briff to find you, asking you to help me investigate something."

Ebert’s grip on Wu Chang’s sleeve tightened, "I can help you, but you must promise me one condition."

"Please, say it."

"You must promise me to enter the Count’s Manor and destroy the ritual prepared by me, by Count Jermaine!" Ebert said with difficulty.

Wu Chang pursed his lips; did you just say "me"?

You old man, I knew you hadn’t done anything good in the level.

Oh wow, turns out you not only betrayed the Church but also acted as a technical consultant for Count Jermaine, even preparing the Array in the Count’s Manor.

Wu Chang pretended not to hear Ebert’s slip-up, showing a difficult expression, saying, "I’ve explored the Count’s Manor. It’s surrounded by a mysterious Power. I’ve tried everything but can’t enter it. Even if I could get in, I don’t know how to destroy the ritual."

Ebert: "Help me get my clothes."

Wu Chang retrieved Ebert’s clothes from nearby. Ebert dismantled several inconspicuous decorations from the clothes, piecing them together into a key.

"Take it to the lighthouse by the sea. On the top floor of the lighthouse, you’ll find everything you need. After you destroy the ritual, come back, and I’ll tell you what Gelman wants to know."