Chapter 84 – Rejection (End)
Half a day later. The Baron’s castle. Garden.
A large comfortable recliner had been carried and placed into the empty garden space.
The sunlight was bright and clear. Fresh flowers were all around. The surroundings could be said to be unusually cozy. However, at this time, the Lord Baron was reclining on the sofa, yet he had dismal expression.
It seems like his mind had an intricate problem that couldn’t be solved, making it difficult for him to be free from worries.
And the truth was, he truly was thinking of a matter currently. A matter that made him extremely depressed.
The weather today had already cleared. Because it had just rained, a large field of green plants had the sensation of being enshrouded by a layer of tender waters.
The ornamental fresh flowers in the grassy fields, each of their petals also had incomparable crystal clear dewdrops; making them appear delicate and charming without rival. The skies were cerulean after being washed by rain waters. A rainbow was faintly landing at the edges; it was extremely beautiful to look at.
A burst of footsteps arrived outside of the garden’s small entrance. Afterwards, a beautiful maiden entered in. She wore an exceptionally clean-white Priest gown, her facial features weren’t exceedingly pretty, but assembled together, it nevertheless gave people a type of utterly good feeling and made them feel she was quite pure and holy.
The Baron immediately retracted his gloomy expression when he saw the maiden, and his face then displayed a beaming smile: “my daughter ah, how does it feel becoming the ArchPriest?”
It turns out it was just the Baron’s second daughter, Miss Eleni.
Ever since she unexpectedly received divine favour from the divine judgement ceremony, and adding onto the fact that the presiding Priest Dennis, of the Shrine at Ricca town, had already been hung, the Shrine couldn’t remain without anybody in charge. As a result, Miss Eleni had been temporarily instated as the presiding Priest of the Shrine. After assuming the role of presiding Priest, Miss Eleni in this short period had always been busy with familiarizing herself with the various kinds of work processes; the time she spent at home was a lot less than before.
“Father, after becoming the temporary presiding Priest, everything is alright. It’s just that I feel that I’ve spent less time with you.” herself knowing that recently, she had spent very little time at home and had not accompanied her father, Miss Eleni had a touch of regret as she gazed at her own father, before heading over and standing in front of him.
“Come my child, have a seat. Let us have a good chat between us, alright?” the Baron heheh laughed and said. Afterwards, he ordered his subordinates to move another chair over, placing it by the Baron’s side. Miss Eleni went over and sat on it.
“My dearest, even though the work at the Shrine is important, you still don’t have to exhaust yourself. Look at how you’ve lost weight, bustling yourself away these few days. Relax a little after this busy period. Have a good rest. After all, you’re still young, being able to become the acting Archpriest of a Shrine has already made your father feel very proud of you. Father believes that so long as you’re able to continue pressing on like this, not too long later, you would officially become the Archpriest. At that time, Haha!” the Baron did not speak the remaining words. But his mind nevertheless couldn’t help but be satisfied.
Again speaking with Eleni for a while, a person from the Shrine had come seeking Eleni at this moment, having a matter for her to handle. The Baron watched as his daughter departed, a gloomy expression appeared once again on his face.
His own daughter Eleni, a Rank 2 female Priest in her teens; who had been able to receive divine favour during the divine judgement ceremony, and in front of all the Priests, as well as the Church envoys. This matter would cause the Baron unable to refrain from laughing out loud each time he thought of it.
Originally, Eleni’s cultivation pace wasn’t slow and her reputation amongst the townsfolk was also quite good, which was already extremely glorious for the Baron. And currently, the prospects of his second daughter, Eleni, was even more promising. It was most probable that in a short amount of time, she would then become a Rank 3 Priest and officially become the Archpriest. Once this happened, his Baron family would finally be able to feel exuberant amongst the circle of nobilities.
As a result, the more he observed his own second daughter Eleni, the more he would feel she was truly the future pride of the household. However, in regards to the matter of her and Rumont, the Lord Baron’s mind would yet be quite concerned. After he carefully reflected over this matter, he discovered that the deaths of the Tax Officer and the Priest were all related to Rumont. Unfortunately, he was still unable to grasp onto Rumont’s weaknesses. For the sake of his daughter, this deeply scheming person needed to be handled cautiously.
“Rumont oh Rumont, I never thought that this Briar Forest would be unable to take your life ah. In addition, you actually became a Rank 2 Druid. This kind of speed is too fast……” the Baron gasped in a soft voice, seeming to be extremely regretful; he still didn’t know that Rumont had already became a Rank 3 Druid today. However, quite quickly a new idea had bubbled within his mind: “perhaps, he could……”
An hour later.
“Master Jeff, this way please.” once the grand gate of the castle was opened, the castle attendant’s expression was deferentially greeting the arrival of a guest.
This guest did not appear to be too beautiful, but the middle-aged man had about him a type of composed atmosphere. He wore a plain and simple coloured gown made of high quality. En route, the occasionally sprouting grasses on the road would give way to him. During the journey the surrounding flora had also seemed to have been attracted to him; unceasingly facing him and flickering about.
Seeing that the attendant was polite in leading the way, the middle-aged man coolly nodded his head before following behind the attendant; appreciating the scenery along the way while treading forth.
The attendant leading the way did not dare to speak too much either. Along the road, the two men basically said nothing.
“Master Jeff, this here is the garden. The Baron is just inside awaiting you sir.” after rearing a bend, a garden had appeared in the front of the pair.
The middle-aged man once again faced the attendant and nodded. Afterwards, he followed along the gravel pathway in entering the garden. The garden built was not that big, but it was quite exquisite; different to the gold sparkling lounge of the Baron’s. This place had quite the aura of Nature about.
Various kinds of flora were flourishing freely. The trees were mostly ordinary, yet the branches and leaves were of the green and tender variety. The entire layout of the garden appeared to have arisen from the hands of a maiden.
And truthfully, it indeed was like this. This garden within the Baron’s castle, each tree and each grass was initially constructed by Miss Eleni. Hence, it was rather elegant and natural.
The middle-aged man looked about the full of vitality garden and nodded his head; he was quite appreciative. This man was precisely the Rank 5 Druid, Jeff. He came to the castle this time because he was invited by the Baron.
“Master Jeff has arrived? Have a seat.” the Baron was just reclining in the chair thinking of something. Seeing the guest had already arrived when he lifted his head to look, he immediately gave a hehe laugh and made Jeff sit on a chair by the side.
Druid Jeff faced the Baron and greeted him, before then sitting down.
“To what do I owe that the Baron has sent for me?” Druid Jeff did not bother beating around the bush, and got right to the point.
“This……” the Baron heheh smiled, it appeared he did not think that Jeff would surprisingly ask so directly. After a moment of pondering, he then spoke: “it’s like this, I’ve heard that Rumont was once a student of yours right?”
“Rumont?” Druid Jeff furrowed his brows and spoke: “that Rumont, in the past I indeed did teach him for a short period. However, afterwards because of a difference in ideas, we separated.”
“So it’s like that huh. Looks like the rumours I’ve heard, are really true……since it’s like this, then presumably Master Jeff doesn’t approve of Rumont’s practices?” the Baron again tentatively asked.
Druid Jeff didn’t quite understand the Baron’s meaning, however he still nodded his head and said: “that’s correct. It was precisely because I greatly disagreed with his methods, on one certain matter where our philosophies disagreed, it was only then that I ultimately broke all relations with him.”
“Broken all relations is good, broken all relations is good…….” the Baron was secretly gleeful, yet his expression only wore a smile. He continued asking: “in that case, Master Jeff, since you have opposing philosophies with Rumont, for what reason have you continued watching him develop like so? If there’s a day he really grows up, wouldn’t you be powerless to stop him at that stage?”
“Baron sir, what are you trying to imply?” at this time, even if was Jeff who rarely had dealings with people, he was also aware of the hidden meanings of the Baron’s words. He slightly adjusted his posture and fixed the Baron with his eyes; his composed face perhaps showed a touch of vigilance.
The Baron haha laughed. Since the words had already been spoken to such a stage, he simply opened up the topic.
“It’s like this Master Jeff. Since it’s already spoken to such a point, I’ll neither conceal it from you. I truly am also extremely disapproving of that Rumont. I feel that the matter with Barcas last time was not all that simple. Barcas is of the same family as me, and I more or less understand Barcas. Even if Barcas usually had some small shortcomings, killing someone to silence them is a type of matter he wouldn’t do. Since the matter isn’t from Barcas himself, then it must be that Rumont is lying. Merely, against all expectations, he had found my daughter to be a witness. Think about it, even my daughter was deceived by him. The scheming of Rumont, that youth is quite profound. Once a very young youth, his scheming is already so deep, is left alone, it would truly be a disaster eh……thus, I hope you can assist me, it can also be considered helping yourself. How about we cooperate with each other? Get rid of the scourge together? Or at least drive away Rumont……”
Saying this, the Baron looked towards Druid Jeff. Seeing that after he listened to his own words had wrinkled his brows, he promptly supplemented: “of course, as reciprocation I would give Master Jeff a generous gift as thanks. So long as the Master is able find Rumont’s weakness, and furthermore go forth and get rid of him, not only would I bestow you a new piece of land, I’ll even give you a large sum. Right, Rumont’s drugstore, I’ll also regain it and gift it to you afterwards. How does that sound Master Jeff? Are these conditions sufficient enough to express my sincerity?”
“So it turns out the reason the Baron sent for me is for this matter. I apologise. I’m unable to agree to this matter.” Druid Jeff shook his head, stood up and just wanted to leave.
The Baron was forthwith stumped. In a flash, he believed he understood the underlying cause and cruely said: “Good! If you can agree to get rid of Rumont, I can help assist with your medical garden with my entire strength. However much land you want, I’ll give it to you. How’s that sound?”
Seeing that Jeff still wasn’t impressed, the Baron again made several more promises. Due to courtesy, Jeff had stood there listening to the end. Seeing that the Baron had finished speaking, he paused for a moment and said: “Baron sir, I am a Druid. Not an Assassin! In addition, even though I have certain opinions of Rumont, he is still the same as me, a Druid. I’m still quite happy of his development!”
Afterwards, bowing slightly he briskly departed.
Bo~ 