13 Mink Street

Chapter 198: I Am a Coward

The Church of Pamireth was going to be absorbed into the Church of Order? If this news were released, it would be nothing short of a thunderboom. This was not destruction, but annexation.

Within the ecclesiastical world, annexation was a far harder fate to bear than annihilation. When a church was destroyed, there remained a chance for it to rise again from the ashes. Otherwise, there would not be so many hidden cult believers throughout the world, who continued to develop and accumulate strength, waiting for an opportunity to reemerge.

But if a church was annexed, and the god it worshiped became merely a subordinate god within another faith system, then the church’s foundation would be severed at the level of legitimacy itself.

Even during the last epoch, the age when gods had waged war upon each other, such events had been extremely rare, not to mention in the current epoch where the gods no longer descended.

Karon could only sigh inwardly. The one who had orchestrated this was truly formidable, possessing an extraordinary sense of the bigger picture and control. If this plan succeeded, then every priest of the Church of Pamireth, when praising Pamireth, would have to begin with the words: Praise Order.

Not only that, the Church of Order would use a method far more shocking than outright destruction to proclaim its continued power to the entire ecclesiastical world.

At a deeper level, the warning was clear: if you dare to continue provoking the authority of Order, then Order will not hesitate to begin a march of annexation.

So, does this mean that Saman no longer needs to die? A faint sense of relief rose in Karon’s heart. Thankfully, he had Alfred move the refrigerator to their home earlier in the day.

Nio waited until his team digested the news to continue, “This mission will be more dangerous than our previous security operations, and the level of risk will be higher. Not only will other orthodox churches not want to see our Church of Order successfully complete this annexation, but there will definitely be strong opposition forces within the Church of Pamireth itself.

“The former may attempt various measures to disrupt the process, while the latter, driven by their faith in Pamireth, may choose to express their loyalty through suicidal means. We will be under great pressure. Every one of you must be fully mentally prepared for the difficulty of this mission. There must be no carelessness whatsoever.

“And remember, we now have two attached members waiting for vacancies to open up.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Nio clenched his fist and placed it against his chest. The rest followed suit. Richard hurriedly imitated the gesture.

“Remember, we are a pack of hunting hounds.

“Among hunting hounds...”

Everyone shouted in unison, “No evasion, no surrender, no betrayal!”

The meeting ended there. Since the mission would begin the following night, the dinner that had originally been planned for tonight had to be canceled. Everyone needed to assemble in the morning to prepare.

Richard instinctively moved closer to Karon and asked in a low voice, “So you were already part of this squad?”

“Only a little earlier than you.”

“Um, I have a question. About the Darkmoon Island princess, her belly...”

“That was just a rumor. Miss Ophelia and I simply get along well. There was nothing else.”

“So it really was you?!”

“It was him, it was him, it was him!” Paige came over, even holding her belly as if she were pregnant, imitating the way the princess had supposedly boarded the return ship. “I saw it with my own eyes! That princess boarded like this.”

After the joke, Paige leaned right against Karon, shamelessly pressing herself against his waist with the firm, well-trained fullness of her hips. “Fannie asked me earlier if I regretted it.”

“Regretted what?”

“Regretted not forcing myself on you back then. Now, there’s probably no chance left. Sigh. If I’d listened to the captain and dragged you into the woods back then, would it have worked? If I tried that now, would you just tie me up in the woods and leave me there?”

Fannie walked over as well, leaning against Karon, her fingertip tracing circles on his chest. “Tomorrow night, the three of us will be sleeping in the same bed again.”

Nearby, Richard stared, bug-eyed. It was not due to envy, but pure shock. He was still at the stage of trying to figure out how to integrate into the established squad, while the man before him was already shaping the overall atmosphere.

From a normal person’s perspective, both Paige and Fannie were stunning beauties. Paige’s style might be considered a bit too avant-garde, but for those who appreciated it, she was irresistible.

As for Fannie, she embodied the classic secretary aesthetic, carrying both rationality and allure. Even so, both of them were truly roses with thorns, not the kind that pricked your hand, but the kind that pierced your heart.

“Mm. We’ll be working together again? That’s nice.” Karon reached out and lightly pushed Paige’s hips away, and then caught Fannie’s hand to make her behave.

“Sigh, he’s already starting to dislike us,” Paige lamented.

“Yes, we’re getting old. Even when we offer ourselves, he doesn’t want us. Says we get stuck in his teeth,” Fannie added.

“Alright, I’m heading back. I need to take off my nose ring and lip ring.”

“I think you should prepare some more interesting outfits. Before you even think about dragging him into the woods, you should realize that even if you strip naked and lay next to him, he still won’t be interested.”

“You’re right. Next time I’ll try wearing your clothes. Create a contrast. Lend me a couple of your tight skirts. I’ll wear one and let Karon tear the other.” The two women waved goodbye to Karon and walked up the stairs, continuing to bicker as they left.

“It seems your status here is very high,” Richard said, fully aware that he had just stated the obvious.

“Not long ago, my position was the same as yours.”

“Really?”

“Mhmm. Give it some time. You’ll get there too,” Karon said, offering his younger cousin a bit of reassurance.

“I hope so. You told me before that you were just a Divine Servant.”

“Same as you. Just a Divine Servant on paper.”

“So my judgment wasn’t wrong after all. I wanted to join Nio’s squad, and when I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity. So that’s why. Hah... now it makes sense.”

Richard let out a long breath of relief. It seemed that this matter had been weighing heavily on him.

“Oh right, can I participate in tomorrow’s mission?”

“Wait for Fannie’s notice. She usually handles the detailed planning. Our squad just executes according to the plan.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for the call when I get home.”

Karon walked out of the factory and got into his car. Richard climbed into the passenger seat.

“That’s your car, right?” Karon pointed at a luxury-looking car parked ahead. Everyone else had already left, so that one was likely Richard’s.

“Give me a ride home. I’m too excited right now. Not in a good state to drive.” In truth, Richard just wanted to stay by Karon’s side a little longer.

“I’ve got something to do, so I can’t take you. Drive yourself back. We’ll see each other again tomorrow anyway. Now that you’re part of the squad, Fannie will definitely assign you a role.”

It was just a question of what role he would be assigned. The close protection group would likely remain the same as last time, consisting of Karon, Paige, and Fannie. Three people was the perfect number. Any more or less would be inconvenient.

Though assigning Richard to the captain’s group for outside surveillance would probably not work, either. He likely lacked that kind of experience. So what will they assign him? Bellboy at the hotel?

“Alright... see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, right. About me, keep it confidential. My identity isn’t suitable to be exposed, because—”

“I know, I understand. I won’t tell my father or grandfather. Don’t worry.”

Karon blinked. He had not even finished making up a reason yet, so what exactly did Richard understand?

Still, watching his younger cousin get out of the car and walk away, Karon smiled. It really did feel like two cousins conspiring to keep a shared secret. No matter what, his younger cousin had a very good personality.

Karon started the car and drove toward Ivy Cemetery. By the time he arrived, night had already fallen. The cemetery gates were closed, so Karon parked outside and honked a few times.

“You’re so annoying! Are you trying to wake everyone inside?” Saman came out grumbling as he opened the gate. As Karon drove in, Saman added, “Then again, you Order believers really can wake the dead.”

Karon got out of the car and walked up the steps. A small coal stove had already been set up, though it was not yet lit. A pot sat beside it, along with the pre-cut ingredients.

“You’re a bit early. It’s not time for a midnight snack yet,” Saman said.

“Mm. I came right after the meeting, but I won’t be able to come for a while after this. There’s a mission. Once it’s done, I’ll come back and cook for you.”

“Heh. You moved the fridge back home and now suddenly you’ve got a mission. Could you be any more real about it?”

Karon took out a lighter, lit some wood shavings, placed them into the stove, and added small pieces of wood. Once the fire caught, he placed a honeycomb coal briquette on top. “I’ve got some good news.”

“What good news?”

“You don’t have to die.” Karon looked at Saman. “The Church of Pamireth won’t be destroyed.”

“Your captain already told me.”

“Oh? When?”

“At noon, before you came by earlier.”

“Then why did you still have me move your fridge?”

“A deal is a deal. No need to take it back.” Saman placed the pot on the stove, added two portions of hot pot base that Karon had prepared earlier, then poured in water from a bucket.

“Then why did you still cooperate with me to arrange your funeral earlier today?”

“I’m already so old; I should have made my funeral arrangements long ago. Anyway, the fridge is yours now, and the flute and pipe have been taken back to your house by your servant. When I’m gone, you’ll handle everything.”

“No problem. That’s only right.”

The two sat facing each other, waiting for the pot to boil, a process that would take some time. Saman suddenly sighed, leaning forward slightly. “The weather’s about to get better.”

“Yes.” Karon had once thought the winters in Swillen were already unpleasant, but Veyn, surrounded by the sea on all sides, the winters were truly unbearable.

“For an old person, getting through winter means getting through another year,” Saman said with a smile.

“Congratulations.”

“When I first saw you, do you know what I saw?”

“That I wasn’t really Pavaro?”

“No. I mean when I first saw your original self. That time you came with your captain in the hearse. Before you left, you ate the macaroni I had prepared for myself.”

“Mm? What about it?”

“At that time, I saw an attitude in you.”

“The attitude of youth?”

Saman chuckled dryly, dismissively. “I’ve never seen your youthful side. The more composed a person is, the further they are from youth.”

“Then what did you see?”

“I saw your attitude toward life, toward existence. I saw you actively, deliberately trying to experience life.”

“Did you really?”

“Yes. Truly young people don’t know how to cherish things, because they believe the one thing they have in abundance is time. Most things are only truly valued when you realize you’re about to lose them. Have you ever lost something?”

“Lost what?” Karon shrugged. “It can’t be losing life itself. That would be ridiculous.”

“And yet, that’s the feeling I get.” Saman looked toward the rows of gravestones in the distance. “I like talking to them. Even though they never respond, I can imagine their replies. Do you know, when I talk to you, I always feel like I’m talking to them. Death can be an end, but it can also be a kind of sedimentation.”

“What’s wrong with you today?” Karon asked. “Did your emotions fluctuate too much?”

“No. I’m very calm.”

The hot pot began to boil. Karon started adding the ingredients. This time, he had asked Alfred to prepare some chopsticks.

“What kind of utensils are these?” Saman picked up a pair and imitated Karon. His fingers were unexpectedly nimble, and he picked it up quickly.

The two ate together, but for some reason, the atmosphere gradually grew heavy. Even Karon, who was usually skilled at conversation, could not lift it again. But Karon knew the problem was not with him, which meant it could only be with Saman.

“I’m full.” Saman set down his chopsticks and added, “It’s very good, but it’s too close to my dinner. I don’t have much appetite for this late-night meal.”

“You could have said so earlier. We could have eaten later.”

“Because I felt you hadn’t had dinner.”

“That’s true. Tonight’s gathering was canceled because of tomorrow’s mission.”

“Isn’t it the same? Sometimes you accompany me to eat, and sometimes I accompany you.”

“Alright.” Karon had finished eating as well.

As he got up to clean, Saman stopped him. “Go back and rest. Don’t you have a mission tomorrow?”

“You really are acting strange today.” Karon stepped in front of Saman and looked at him seriously.

“Go back. Complete your mission well. After it’s done, come see me. Don’t delay. Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t make it in time. Or have your servant come wait here for me in advance. He’s a good man, quite interesting, and very meticulous. In any case, I’m looking forward to my funeral.”

“What do you mean?” Karon asked. “It sounds like you plan to start your funeral the night I finish the mission.”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Why? The Church of Pamireth can continue its legacy. It’s just a matter of form. I thought you would be able to accept it.”

Saman smiled. “Some people will choose to accept it. They believe that even after merging, they will be able to continue their faith and their legacy. Some will choose to resist. They believe their god cannot be tainted in the slightest, and will express their loyalty through direct action.

“But I belong to neither of those.”

He paused. “I cannot convince myself to accept it, and I do not have the drive to rise up and resist. Time can never be made to stand still, so I can only choose to stop my own pendulum clock.

“I am a coward, because I only wish to remain forever in the last night when I still had Him, and will never allow myself to step into a morning where I have lost Him.”