Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 856 The Witch in Need of Money

Chapter 856 -856 The Witch in Need of Money

“You really know how to get me into trouble.”

That evening in the southern suburbs of Tobesk, in the Duchess’s manor, Miss Galina said to Shard, who was sitting on the sofa, as she held a teacup.

At this moment, Shard had just returned from Huntington City. The murder at the White King Club had ended with Miss Marsha being arrested, the tobacco merchant and university lecturer taken away, and the dead Earl disgraced. Nevertheless, Shard visited Mr. Benhart’s manor as agreed.

Holding a cat, Shard thanked Tifa, who was pouring tea, with a troubled expression on his face:

“I don’t know how I ran into her. Now that I think about it, rashly interacting with a lucky relic certainly wasn’t a good idea. I feel that ever since I walked out of that wine cellar, Fate has been steering me into that inexplicable mess, leading me to meet Miss Sylvia. Is this good luck or misfortune?”

“Meow!”

The cat meowed, dissatisfied with the slowing pace of Shard’s petting.

“This should count as good luck, that young Grand Witch seems to have a pretty good impression of you.”

Miss Galina had already heard Shard’s narrative, took a sip of her tea from her red lips, and added:

“So far, every Grand Witch who has met you hasn’t had a bad impression of you.”

“Oh, Miss Galina, please don’t tease me.”

Shard said, then heard Tifa laughing. But when he looked up at the beautiful black-haired maid, she had no expression. Instead, she blinked her big, beautiful eyes twice in confusion.

“Speaking of luck, can I stay in the manor tonight?”

Shard asked, and Miss Galina raised an eyebrow:

“What does luck have to do with staying over? Are you planning to try your luck in my bedroom while your luck is good today?”

That was definitely teasing. Given their current close relationship, this level of joke was not out of line.

“No, no, I used the relic [Golden Lucky Rabbit Leg] today and am worried something might happen at night. If I stay in the manor, if I run into trouble, you can still help me.”

“Of course, that’s not a problem. But the [Golden Lucky Rabbit Leg]… a Keeper of Secrets Level relic? You’re really something, even finding something like that.”

“But why did the Pantanal Voodoo Society use an ordinary person to poison and murder the Earl of Huntington City?”

Shard continued.

“According to what you said, the Earl had such complex social and financial ties that many would want him dead. However, the Pantanal Voodoo Society was unlucky this time. They even arranged for a Six Rings Warlock as a backup to prevent any mishap, yet the Earl died in front of the Princess, and then you and Sylvia bumped into each other.”

The Duchess chuckled. She had nothing to do with the incident and could poke fun at it:

“But an organization of Circle Sorcerers targeting ordinary people and getting caught, that directly violates the rules set by the Church. The Huntington Diocese is unlikely to be peaceful for a while.”

Miss Galina languidly looked at Shard:

“I’m not too sure if you went to Huntington City for other things besides bringing me some local red wine and snacks.”

Shard did not come empty-handed. Those red wines were gifts from Mr. Benhart.

“But Shard, try to stay out of matters involving nobles and Circle Sorcerers; otherwise, you’ll get into big trouble.”

“I understand. I went to Huntington City to find something, not to stir up more trouble.”

Shard nodded, but it wasn’t until he rode back to the White Valley Vineyard that he remembered what he went to the unfamiliar city for. Fortunately, Mr. Benhart’s Vampire Clan had extensive intelligence in the area and could help probe for information, so his day wasn’t wasted.

Outside the study was the brilliant starry sky of an early winter night. With more than half the month of Frostfall gone, winter had truly arrived. However, the first snow in Tobesk usually came at the end of Frostfall, so it hadn’t snowed yet, and the temperature at night was still bearable.

At least in the estate’s study, even without the fireplace lit, it was still warm and comfortable. Miss Galina started chatting again with Shard about running into Lecia at Yordle Palace today, then asked Shard about preparations for the next Time Key.

Shard then brought up the bounty concerning “Poison Ivy Magis,” somewhat unsure:

“Is Miss Emma Sylvia in need of money? Maybe it’s just my impression, but she seemed quite concerned about the 3000 gold pound reward.”

“She is different from us. Though the young Thirteen Seats inherited a large fortune from the previous generation of witches, she hasn’t yet established a profitable industry. I’ve told you before, Sylvia is very smart and farsighted. From an asset perspective, she isn’t particularly needing money, but looking towards the future, she does. After all, developing her followers also takes money.”

Miss Galina smiled at Shard:

“Moreover, a mere 3000 gold pounds wouldn’t bother her much. The 3000 might just be the reward from the Church of Nature. Individuals like those highly wanted by the True God Church usually have multiple bounties on their heads. Adding everything up, that Pantanal Voodoo Warlock is worth at least five figures in gold pounds.”

“Oh, that definitely isn’t a small amount.”

Shard murmured, but he didn’t feel that Miss Sylvia had cheated him out of his money. After all, she single-handedly captured the bald man and had to claim the bounty herself, which Shard couldn’t have done.

“Tifa, when is my scheduled meeting with Miss Sylvia?”

Looking at the starry sky behind Shard through the window, Miss Galina asked her personal maid, and Tifa replied:

“Miss, it’s eight o’clock sharp.”

“There’s still five minutes.”

Shard reminded.

“Shard, then you shall join us to the council. Sylvia has requested to meet me alone, and no one else from the council will enter at this time. Don’t worry too much, young Sylvia is much easier to handle compared to Bishive and Grandma Aphrola.”

Miss Galina said confidently, standing up, taking off her golden necklace and handing it to Tifa to give to Shard:

“This time, you open the door.”

With a cat perched on his shoulder, followed by Tifa and Miss Galina, and amidst Shard’s somewhat off-key singing, the three walked down the corridor and entered the long ancient passage.

After passing through the mist gate at the end of the passage, they entered the white fog. Tifa and Miss Galina reached out to hold Shard’s arms. Holding the witch’s necklace, Shard softly said:

“May the secret chaos protect me, a fellow witch!”

The white fog dispersed, and unexplained light illuminated the somewhat dim interior of the council. In the center of the circular plain ground was an old stone round table, surrounded by ascending steps. The council was empty, it seemed Miss Sylvia had not arrived earlier.

“We had a meeting not long ago.”

Retrieving the necklace from Shard, Miss Galina found her stone high-back chair and sat down:

“Sister Delphine has become an important partner to the council. His Excellency the Speaker is discussing with us whether to grant her the right to attend council meetings.”

There were many more true witches in the Fifth Era than now. Though only thirteen had the right to seats, other witches could also be granted the right to attend meetings but without voting rights.

“Attending meetings? How does that benefit a nun?”

Shard asked while surveying the surroundings.

“She can participate in our discussions on important matters and gain limited access to the council independently.”

Miss Galina said. Tifa stood behind her, the cat on Shard’s shoulder looked around curiously, while Shard skeptically looked at the witch:

“Enter the council independently?”

“Yes, apart from the thirteen golden jewelry pieces, attending circle sorcerers can access the council through a certificate issued by His Excellency the Speaker with certain restrictions. Oh, Shard, don’t look at me like that, I’m not the Speaker. Besides, even if I give you the certificate, what can you do here?”

She assumed she saw through Shard’s thoughts:

“Entering the council requires singing the entire song in a deserted environment, so it can’t be used as a temporary refuge when encountering an enemy. Even with the certificate, you won’t need to use this place.”

“I understand.”

Shard nodded; he was just thinking if he could enter here anytime, then his voting rights obtained through two witch echoes might have more potential uses.

As they were talking, footsteps echoed, and Miss Emma Sylvia, with short black shoulder-length hair, appeared as if stepping out of thin air. She was still wearing a red long dress, though of a different style than in the afternoon. Additionally, her upper body now had a long-sleeved half-body white fur shawl, as the night in Huntington City was equally chilly.

She first noticed the already seated Miss Galina and nodded respectfully. She was not surprised by Tifa’s presence, but upon seeing Shard, her brow furrowed deeply:

“So, this gentleman is actually a lady?”

She spoke while finding her seat. As the second grand witch sat down, the surroundings became brighter.

“No, he’s definitely a man. I’ve checked.”

Miss Galina said, seeing Miss Sylvia’s skepticism, she added:

“From the perspective of physical structure, he is male, but I believe my judgment is not wrong. Now, let me tell you what’s truly happening now.”

Miss Galina signaled Shard to come over, and under Miss Sylvia’s watchful gaze, the red-haired duchess lifted her arm, pulled Shard’s head down, and kissed him. Only after a long while did she look at the astonished young witch:

“Shard Suren Hamilton, male, a male that witches can also touch, a male that can use witch power. In Tobesk, rumor has it that he is my lover.”

Miss Sylvia did not expect to hear such news right off the bat. She hesitated:

“Then in reality…”

“Similar to the rumor, but not as exaggerated.”

The red-haired duchess smiled, but it was an eerie smile with no mirth in her eyes:

“Sylvia, I think you should understand what Mr. Hamilton’s existence means to the council.”