Chapter 2176: Shard’s Justice

Chapter 2176: Chapter 2176: Shard’s Justice

The dusk’s glimmer shone on the face, and at this moment, Armand Bernhardt at the pier could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion, nor between life and death. In a daze, he realized that "dusk" itself had the implication of dividing life and death. Then he immediately understood that perhaps everything happening now was precisely a fleeting blurring of life and death due to human reason.

The originally dazzling and brilliant sun, though still partly submerged on the sea’s horizon, had a strangely ambiguous yellowish hue. The waves, one after another, merged with the dark waters and suddenly calmed down. The ships on the sea had vanished without notice, and looking at the calm water from the pier, he found the surface glaringly bright.

Some phantom figures passed by Mr. Benhart and stepped onto the sea illuminated by yellow sunlight, heading further away. The black cat at the edge of the pier, though tired, noticed, among those departing figures, a cat with fur exactly like its own.

The other cat was larger, more beautiful, standing on the sea behind Shard, looking back at it, and meowed softly, waiting for it to come over.

So the black cat jumped off the pier, and even without using any power, it stood upon the water.

Facing that yellowish sun, the black cat seemed to regain a physical form. Its beautiful fur glistened in the sunlight, and it looked up at the person who helped it from the water between the pier and Shard:

"Meow, are you the Cat God?"

The Outlander, looking down, responded with a smile:

"Of course not."

"Then why did you help me? I have nothing left to repay you with."

"Because this is my justice."

The cat didn’t understand any of this, so it said while wagging its tail:

"Meow~ then farewell."

Running past Shard, it reunited with the mother cat waiting for it under Mr. Benhart’s gaze. The mother cat licked the cat’s fur affectionately, and the cat rubbed against her. Then the two cats looked at Shard, who had already turned to watch them, and together they headed towards the semi-submerged yellow sun.

Although "dark" has always been the symbol historically associated with "death," witnessing this "tragic" scene under the sunset, Armand Bernhardt still felt he genuinely understood death for the first time here.

The cat had already moved far, and for a moment, the sun’s half-submerged glimmer made the vampire kind on the pier unable to open his eyes. When that glaring light faded and he looked around, all anomalies had disappeared. And when he saw Shard stepping back onto the pier from the water, the sea was again full of ships, and the setting sun no longer had that peculiar "yellow" hue, nor could the departing cats be seen on the surface.

Shard looked back at the sea, sighed, and signaled Mr. Benhart that it was time to leave:

"Another one has been sent off... Let’s go, it’s already so late."

He wasn’t entirely sure how that scene just now appeared. But clearly, aside from Mr. Benhart, a rare few at the dock also glimpsed that "illusion" at that moment. Although it wouldn’t cause any impact, Shard still felt it was best to leave quickly.

So, once Mr. Benhart came to his senses, he hurriedly followed him off the pier and back onto the ground. After entering an alley and confirming no one followed, he suddenly asked in a low voice:

"Mr. Watson, if one day, and I’m saying if, I accidentally die tragically and turn into a wraith spirit or something of the sort, please help me to leave as well."

"Sure... wait, what do you take me for?"

Shard looked at him in surprise, only to find that the vampire viscount was looking at him with reverence:

"Of course, I consider you a friend."

"Hmm... I feel like there’s some misunderstanding. Never mind, it’s not important. The story of that cat, though plain, touched me deeply, probably because I also have a cat."

"I don’t have a cat, nor any pets, but I was also deeply moved... ’because this is my justice’... Why can’t there be more people like you in this world?"

He seemed to be complaining, or perhaps just sighing.

Time had moved on, and since they had obtained crucial clues from the cat, the second exploration of the underground laboratory and dungeon could wait until tomorrow.

The two, after a busy day, parted at the alley’s end. Shard remembered he had promised Miss Belindel to have dinner at her place tonight, so instead of going home, he went to the Witch’s manor.

However, since he had been in the sewer that afternoon, he was worried his scent might disturb the beautiful Countess and Miss Maid. Fortunately, Miss Belindel knew he had been busy in the sewer today, so she kindly had the maids prepare a bath for Shard to clean up.

After bathing, the sun had completely disappeared, and night finally came. But tonight, beside the dining table in Belindel Estate’s dining room, neither Old Lady Belindel nor the Witch’s sisters were present, as they apparently went to visit relatives.

"I heard some interesting news just now."

Sitting at the table, Shard found the bright dining room illuminated by crystal chandeliers above and stylish gas lamps on the walls. As the maids began to serve the meal, the Blonde Witch remarked with a smile:

"In the evening, quite a few people near the pier saw strange illusions over the sea, but they only lasted for half a minute before disappearing. Due to Sunday’s incident, the Church is still conducting an investigation at the pier. You’ve definitely given them quite a bit of extra work. Sunset, the calm water, the departing souls. It’s a pity I didn’t see that scene, but just hearing about it, I know it was spectacular."

"Why do you think it was definitely me who did it?"

Shard asked curiously, knowing what she meant by that:

"Divination?"

"Certainly not. I’ve discovered that any divination concerning you always encounters various problems, so I didn’t use divination. I just feel this matter might be related to you. Actually, ever since you appeared in Moon Bay City, most local events have been connected to you."

That’s quite true.

Shard laughed a little, just about to pick up his knife and fork, but the Countess held his hand, then half stood up to help him adjust his collar.

Shard blinked and continued:

"The thing in the evening wasn’t a big deal. My friends and I went to investigate the sewers in the afternoon and came across a Wraith Cat that knows secrets. We took it to visit its former owner; it consumed its own Soul Power and was on the verge of disappearing, so I found a way to send it off."

Although the restaurant was brightly lit by gas lamps, Miss Belindel snapped her fingers, lighting the candles on the candelabra:

"Could you tell that story in detail? I can’t believe it’s that simple."

With that, she also picked up a knife and fork, so Shard recounted the story of "The Cat and Janet" during the first half of dinner. Of course, the maids in the restaurant were also listening. When the story concluded with the cats walking together towards the sun on the sea, Shard heard a sniffle from some sentimental young lady.

He felt he really had some talent for storytelling.

The Great Witch of Destiny was evidently also moved by the story; she put down her knife and fork, looked up at the crystal chandelier, let out a sigh, and after composing herself, she looked at Shard again:

"You just smiled, a gentle smile when you were telling the last part. I mean, although you’re not one to never smile, the way you smiled just then was truly lovely."

The maids also heard this remarkably "direct" comment, and Shard wondered if they too regarded his expression like that. He hesitated and said:

"Rarely does anyone comment on my smile... should I say thank you?"

The Countess also smiled, picking up her knife and fork again:

"Please continue; I really enjoy the stories you share."

"Alright. As a Circle Sorcerer, I’ve witnessed too many heartbreaking stories, so when I occasionally experience a ’good ending’ story like this myself, I’m naturally very happy, even happier than catching leads from the cat."

"So you helped the cat for the so-called good ending?"

Miss Belindel asked, and Shard nodded seriously:

"Yes, just as I told the cat at the time—this is my justice."

The Witch’s smile became even more enchanting, but she didn’t continue to look at Shard, restraining her inner tremor as she felt a desire to give him a kiss.

After dinner, Shard lingered for a while in the estate, discussing the clues obtained from the cat with Miss Belindel in the study.

"Combining the peculiar noises that once appeared under the Ankara Marquis Manor, the Dragon Feast Cult has been using some magical Dragon Scales to create Dragon Blood Monsters, at least since the beginning of this year. And the Dragon Scales the cat spoke of, I seriously suspect are items inherited by your Seven Great Families."

The study was just as brightly lit, and Miss Belindel, who for some reason changed her clothes after dinner before coming to the study with Shard, also agreed with his conclusion:

"So, from long ago, someone from the Seven Great Families has been collaborating with the Dragon Feast Cult? Could it be the Black Family? After all, before that poor woman was parasitized, it was Georgia Black who took those people to that underground secret lab."

"Investigating those nobles is beyond my reach, but tomorrow my friends and I will go to the sewers again. If we find no clues, we’ll inform the Church. Although the Church will soon discover that place, reporting it proactively can help the Vampire Kinds distance themselves from this matter."

"Your vampire friend..."

Before she finished asking, Shard knew what she wanted to ask:

"He’s a gentleman with a title, as I mentioned before, very trustworthy."

Only then did the Witch feel reassured.