Lord of Mysteries: The Color of the Stars

Chapter 71 The First Step in Recruiting Subordinates

"Return to Porto Enmat in 3 days — in other words, I only have 3 days to carry out my plan?"

Julian quickly began to plan his next move in his mind.

Mr. Z did not elaborate further, but instead raised his glass and spoke again about the "true creator."

Related toasts.

After everyone clinked glasses again, Mr. Z announced the end of the gathering, and then instructed Zane Blackwood to take Julian to the Aurora Society to familiarize himself with the materials related to the sealed artifacts and the Extraordinary Gathering.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Z, Julian and Zane rode in a carriage toward a base on Zell Street in the North District.

Zain didn't say a word the whole way, and Julian didn't speak to him either.

"Squeak."

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped, and Julian turned to look out the window.

It was a gray, unassuming building with a sign that read "Blackwood Seafood Company" hanging below it.

At that previous gathering, Zain mentioned that he was in the seafood business, and now it seems that's true.

A disguise for the "Aurora Festival" event.

"Zane, I've noticed that you seem to have some reservations about me becoming a candidate for divine messenger."

After getting off the car and arriving on the second floor, Julian looked at Zane, who had been silent, and spoke.

"—You're overthinking it, candidate divine messenger."

Zane paused for a moment, then spoke up to refute Julian's words.

"I know you're wondering why I, a new member of the Aurora Society, was chosen by the Lord, right?"

'

'

""

Zain fell silent again upon hearing this, and after a moment he replied, "My Lord's arrangements are beyond my control."

"It's okay."

Julian laughed and said, "Since I'll need your help in the future, there are some things I'd like to clarify beforehand."

"I have faced the Lord directly."

"Face————?"

Zain was somewhat taken aback by his question: "What do you mean by 'facing' it directly?"

"It means exactly what it says."

Julian said in a deep voice, "The Lord has commanded me to go to the Sanctuary. Although I'm not entirely sure what this means, I feel it must be a very important appointment."

He said this partly to test how the so-called "going to the sanctuary" was interpreted within the "Aurora Society," and partly to take precautions against potential problems.

"Of course—!"

Zain's expression finally changed drastically: "In the scriptures of the Aurora Society, there are many records about the sanctuary, and pilgrimage to the sanctuary is the common aspiration of all believers of our Lord."

"But the journey to the sanctuary is said to be extremely dangerous, a journey with a slim chance of survival—not only that, but if the journey fails in the end, it would mean that our Lord has refused the Hajj in the afterlife, which is undoubtedly heartbreaking."

"It is said that, to date, only the great Black Saint has planned to lead a team to the Sanctuary," and I have not heard of anyone else saying anything similar.

"I see----"

Julian nodded.

Simply put, the reason why pilgrimage to the "Sanctuary" is so important and sensitive is not only because of its danger, but also because, according to the doctrine of the "Aurora Society," failure to pilgrimage to the "Sanctuary" means being temporarily rejected or even abandoned by the "True Creator."

Of course, they could say it's part of a test, but no one can be sure it really is a test—especially for the lower-level Aurora followers, who, once they lose their lives, cannot be sure they'll have another chance to be "saved."

The followers of the "Aurora Society" are willing to die and defy the world to spread the ideal of the "true Creator," but they cannot accept the possibility that they might be abandoned by the Lord.

Julian's receipt of an invitation from the "True Creator" to visit the "Sanctuary" makes this event all the more significant.

This means that as long as believers follow Julian and live to see the day of the Hajj, they will be "saved," which is almost a promise from God!

"Please forgive my previous disrespect, Your Excellency, the candidate divine envoy."

At this moment, Zane finally dropped his previous awkward demeanor, because he now understood that Julian had received not only privileges, but also great responsibilities.

As long as one can follow Julian and become his chosen follower, even if it's just doing odd jobs, there is a great chance to have an audience with the "true creator".

This is a path of both glory and hardship. According to the Aurora Society's doctrine, those chosen by God will undergo numerous trials until they finally reach a sufficiently sacred state of body, mind, and spirit.

"It's alright."

Julian waved his hand: "Bring all those documents over."

"Your subordinate obeys."

Zane immediately and respectfully withdrew, while Julian sat in a drawing room and drank black tea by the light of a gas lamp.

About five minutes later, two booklets, each about two fingers wide, were brought and given to Julian.

One of the books contains information about sealed artifacts held by the "Aurora Society," and the other is a transaction record from an extraordinary gathering held in Tingen City.

"So many?"

Julian looked at the first booklet and was taken aback: "These are all sealed artifacts possessed by the Aurora Society?"

"Yes, but not only in Tingen."

Zane nodded: "Although it is not entirely comprehensive, this booklet not only includes seals from the entire Ahowa County, but also covers all the low- to mid-series seals reported by the Aurora Society in the neighboring Intersea County and East Chester County."

"These sealed items include those held by organizations and individuals that are high-sequence, confidential, and unreported, which we do not have permission to read."

"I see."

Julian nodded, quickly flipped through the two booklets, and then said, "May I borrow them? I'll return them in a week at most."

Julian did not want to retrieve the "Scholar's Legacy" here, and he also wanted to test whether he could actually borrow these materials.

"Of course, that is your right, Your Excellency the Prospective Divine Envoy."

Zane agreed almost without hesitation, and Julian nodded in satisfaction before closing the two booklets.

"You did a great job, keep it up."

"Since I have just become a candidate divine messenger, there are many things I don't understand that I still need to ask you. As long as you can show enough loyalty, I believe you will definitely be saved."

Upon hearing Julian's promise, Zain immediately showed an expression of anticipation and excitement.

With trembling hands, he made the sign of the cross on his chest, and then respectfully said to Julian, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency the Prospective Divine Envoy."

"Praise be to my Lord!"