Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 317 Holdwell Seizes the Future

After Holdwell answered Luo Xiu's last question, the black mist around him became completely chaotic.

They kept rising and falling, trying to disperse the white fog from Jodwen that blocked the surroundings.

Luo Xiu knew that Qiao Dewen's ability to "gently" control Holdwell had reached its limit.

He then glanced at Qiao Dewen, nodded and said:
"I have no more questions."

"..."

In a trance, Luo Xiu felt that Qiao Dewen seemed to be relieved.

Under Luo Xiu's gaze, the black and white smoke around Qiao Dewen and Holdwell seeped back into the outlines of their bodies as if it were inhaled. Holdwell also slowly closed his eyes and drooped his head.

"Fire Bronze Knight" Holdwell, he returned to the "faint" state at the beginning and lost all perception of the outside world.

Qiao Dewen's hands were still on both sides of Holdwell's forehead. Many illusory and mysterious spells appeared on the back of his hands, and he chanted in a low voice:
"—you will forget."

"You have no memory of what happens after sunset."

"—you will return."

"On your way home, you will be away from the crowd."

"—you will sleep soundly."

"When you wake up, everything will be back to normal."

"..."

He gave Holdwell more than a dozen "suggestions" in a row, and only let go when the spiritual resonance confirmed that the suggestions to Holdwell had taken effect.

Under Luo Xiu's gaze, Holdwell slowly stood up from the chair, walked tremblingly to the sack on the ground, bent down to pick it up, and put it on his head.

Then, Holdwell walked to the door and turned the doorknob.

Following Joe Devin's suggestion, Holdwell went downstairs, left the bank, walked into a deep and deserted alley, and eventually returned to his manor without anyone noticing.

Under the manipulation of a Saint like Qiao Dewen, the remaining Void Spirituality in Holdwell almost dissipated completely after he returned to the manor.

Qiao Dewen's "soul-stealing" of him will not leave any traces, and Holdwell will forget about being kidnapped, interrogated, etc. He will only feel some pain and swelling in his brain, but such "symptoms" will recover soon.

Within three days, as long as Holdwell is not forcibly searched by the Supreme Saint with an "edict", no one will be able to find any clues in Holdwell's deep memories that belong to the forgotten area.

Even if Holdwell acted suspiciously for three days and was investigated by the Supreme Authority, his memory of this "forgetfulness" was quite fragmentary and vague, and could not prove anything.

This is one of the reasons why Luo Xiu brought Holdwell directly to find Qiao Dewen.

Although the "Soul Manipulator" can also interrogate Holdwell, the effect of the interrogation is still far inferior to the direct "soul-stealing" method of a [Void] Saint.

Efficient, clean, and leaves no tails.

It’s just that Qiao Dewen…he seemed quite worried about this.

There was an eerily silent state in Qiao Dewen's room for almost two minutes until Holdwell left.

Until Qiao Dewen broke the silence.

He said worriedly:

"...Mr. Luo Xiu, it seems that we have done something quite excessive."

"You asked at the end about the address of 'Velino Bakar'. You didn't mean to..."

"..."

Luo Xiu did not answer him, but just looked deeply into Qiao Dewen's eyes and remained silent.

After a long time, Luo Xiu calmly said:
"Do we have any other options?"

"Of course we can pretend that nothing happened, but that goes against my sacred beliefs and I believe it will also harm your interests."

"At this point, only the death of 'Velino Bakar' can save us, and Songyuan City, from the impending disaster."

"There is only one choice we can and must make from the beginning to the end."

"..."

"I see."

Looking directly into Luo Xiu's eyes, Qiao Dewen sighed. "I will keep this a secret." Qiao Dewen said:

"If you decide to do it, I'd like it to be in three days."

"I will also keep a close eye on what's happening on Wind Chime Street. If there's any unusual movement, I will do my best to deal with it."

……

Afterwards, Luo Xiu and Qiao Dewen agreed with each other and left the Golden Country Bank through the back door and along the path.

He sneaked around the perimeter of the bank's courtyard, returned to the place where he had first separated from Index, and reunited with Index.

During the previous conversation with Joe Devin, Intis followed Holdwell for a while to make sure that he had returned to the manor smoothly and safely, and confirmed that no one else followed him on the way except Intis herself.

After Luo Xiu met up with Index, they plunged into the nearby alley without stopping, and their figures gradually disappeared into the shadows at the end.

Until ten minutes passed.

Their figures reappeared in the courtyard of the Wolf Hunting Tavern, and returned to the room on the third floor through the window in the moonlight.

Everything returned to silence again.

Only the occasional crow's cry could be heard from the treetops along the road.

It was as if nothing had happened.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Lacey Manor Villa.

When the "Fire Bronze Knight" Holdwell woke up from his bed, the sunlight had already penetrated the window and sprinkled on the table by the window.

Feeling a little dazzling, Holdwell squinted his eyes. He felt a throbbing pain in his brain and a feeling of fatigue as if he had not slept enough.

"hiss……"

He reached out and rubbed his forehead, trying to ease the symptoms of fatigue.

He was a little confused and didn't remember when he went to bed last night, but his sleep quality was obviously not very good.

"Maybe I'm too tired..." Holdwell murmured.

The tasks of the Knights of the Round Table were heavy, and as the "Order Killer", they had to make preparations in secret at all times. Being exhausted and mentally tired was the norm for Holdwell, but he didn't think much about it.

Feeling almost awake, Holdwell climbed out of bed and prepared to go to the armor room to change into his "Fire Bronze Knight" armor.

But when he saw the confidential document completely spread out on the table, something suddenly came to his mind.

"Oh, by the way... Lord Villino asked me to copy this document. I should have done it last night..."

"It seems that I am really too tired. I actually forgot about this matter..."

Holdwell murmured, and he did not go to the armory for the time being. He sat down at the desk, picked up a quill pen dipped in ink and began to copy.

After copying a duplicate volume, he packed up the original volume, then went to the armor room to change into fire bronze armor and prepared to go to the "Round Table Hall" to guard his post for a day.

But this monotonous, day-to-day work as a 'Knight of the Throne' will soon come to an end...

Just wait for the right time and Lord Villino to give the order!
As long as they complete the "order-killing" and usurp the authority of the marquis, even if it is only for a few hours or minutes, they, the "order-killers", will be able to gain another glance from the Most High and receive the power bestowed by God!

As soon as he thought of this, a subtle curve appeared on the corners of Holdwell's mouth, and excitement burst out in his bright eyes.

He left the manor in a very happy mood, and walked towards the Round Table Hall while daydreaming.

In a trance.

He felt as if he had grasped the future.

In the light of the blazing fire,

A future that transforms and sublimates in the extremely scorching burning.

……

(End of this chapter)