Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1424: The Final - of the Stonemason Guild
When Margaret herself felt she couldn’t breathe, she finally let go of Shard.
Shard patted her back:
"It’s alright now, and even if something happens, I’ll handle it. Just haven’t had a chance to talk to you, how are you feeling now?"
"I’m okay now..."
Her Highness the Princess pursed her lips and looked at Shard:
"I was just thinking, even though I already have power, when faced with such things, I’m still no different from ordinary people."
Her skirt was pressed between her and Shard as she leaned against his chest, and she actually started to sob. Shard rarely saw Margaret behave this way, so he knew this time she was really frightened:
"Today’s events involved those unspeakable Great Ones, I even suspect this seemingly non-significant incident is related to the preparations of the Divine General."
He hadn’t revealed these affairs to Margaret before, but he spoke up now:
"It’s okay, it’s okay, the witches and I will protect you."
She still hugged Shard tightly:
"Actually, when I was petrified, I didn’t feel anything at all. When I regained consciousness, I just felt dazed for a moment, then there were so many people in the room... Seeing you first thing when I came to, was such a relief."
"Speaking of which, why did you come here with Prince William today?"
Shard asked his question, and Margaret responded softly while holding him:
"A few days ago, someone leaked the news that the Stonemason Guild was about to reconcile with the Royal Family, causing near riots on Stonemason Street. But this is also good news; at least it’s known here, no need to consider how to gradually disclose it. Sometimes a blunt approach is more effective.
So, I wrote to President Pigman to discuss the next steps, and my father agreed in principle with my actions, but demanding a public apology from the Royal Family is absolutely impossible. I came to negotiate the reconciliation details face to face with President Pigman, and as for William, we coincidentally met downstairs... I even suspect it was him who leaked the information last Friday, not allowing me to complete this alone. Seeing he couldn’t stop me, he also wanted to share the credit."
Talking about serious matters brought Margaret back to her usual strong and assertive self. If she weren’t still listening to Shard’s heartbeat, he would think she’d completely recovered:
"But your negotiations were interrupted by this unlucky incident."
"That’s also a good thing, yes, it’s just so wonderful."
Margaret whispered, looking up at Shard, her eyes shining:
"The Kingdom’s Princess, in order to resolve the conflict between the Royal Family and local organizations, personally went to negotiate but was unfortunately implicated and poisoned into unconsciousness. Do you know how much reputation this will bring me?"
She seemed fully recovered:
"Furthermore, cultists successfully attacked a Member of the Royal Family, making the church at fault against the Royal Family. I’ll communicate with the church later to change the wording when this news is published tomorrow morning, making ’Anjou Royal Family and Stonemason Guild Negotiation’ a fait accompli. With the church’s endorsement, there’s no need to worry about the Stonemason Guild reneging — although this possibility is slim, and my father will take it as the church’s stance, acknowledging it as well. After all, preventing the other side of the world from being known by ordinary people is also the Royal Family’s responsibility. Plus, with William and I injured, my father would also feel indebted to us, not blocking what we want to do... Those cultists really helped a lot."
She affectionately looped her arms around Shard’s neck, sitting up to gaze nose-to-nose at him:
"So, despite this attack reminding me again of my weakness, this attack was indeed perfectly timed. If I hadn’t been able to control those cultists, I’d almost think this was my own order."
"Such a statement is truly terrifying... Is the Stonemason Guild matter coming to an end?"
Shard hesitantly asked.
"Yes, it is ending, just awaiting the final compensation plan. The inspection into Osenfort’s properties is complete, and accusations like tax evasion and quality noncompliance are clearly laid out. My father is unwilling to pay the reconciliation compensation, so the compensation fee depends on how much money Osenfort really has."
Shard smiled:
"You can start taking action."
"You’ve decided to take action?"
Margaret looked at Shard in surprise:
"I thought you would wait a little longer."
"No need, this week ends everything in Randall Valley. The dockyard’s ribbon-cutting should also be this week, right?"
"Next week. After that, I’m returning to Velindale."
She bit her lip and looked at Shard:
"Another farewell. Who knows when we’ll meet again."
"Very soon, I think I should be going to Velindale sometime this year."
"Alright, as we discussed last time, when you arrive at Velindale, I’ll give you a special gift."
With that, she kissed Shard deeply again. Shard suspected that if they were not at the Stonemason Guild but somewhere private, she might have done something even more impulsive.
On Monday night, after returning to Miss Benanis’s estate, Shard informed the witches and Luviya of what he had seen at the Stonemason Guild this afternoon.
Similar to Shard’s views, they also believed that this seemingly aimless incident was likely a part of the cultist’s Divine Descent Ritual. Considering that last Tuesday night, Shard and the Guardians had seen three stone statues on the mountain top, it was possible that when the final elderly statue appeared, the Evil God [Stone Heart Demon] would truly descend into the Material World.
Due to the discussions with the witches, Shard stayed late in Randall Valley that night, before finally sending Luviya back to the Abundant Land Inn, intending to return home.
On the way, the ground shook once more, signaling another minor earthquake. But apart from the horse of the rented carriage being slightly panicked, the coachman and the night travelers on the street had already accustomed themselves to the situation.
Upon returning to the inn, Shard received a letter from Ston Osenfort. He had already sent out a message about obtaining the Sapphire Ear Pendants this morning, while Ston Osenfort agreed to meet Shard for a trade at a tavern in the east countryside tomorrow evening, which was Tuesday.
Thus, on Tuesday daytime, a slightly relaxing Shard continued to await news of the Randall Flower blooming in Randall Valley.
He was alone at the Wilder Opera House, while the witches and Miss Lathis went out to gather intelligence and collect information from the city. On Tuesday, the fog in Randall Valley almost reached the same level as Tobesk City, and even at noon, Shard, standing at the opera house third-floor window, could barely make out the outlines of the house opposite.
The weather was particularly gloomy, and fine snowflakes were drifting down. The last chill of late winter remained bone-chilling and unbearable as the entire city seemed to be heading into slumber once again. Even ordinary citizens could feel the impending storm.
Carriages carrying patients of the Petrified Plague swiftly left the streets, while flower-selling girls and newspaper-selling boys huddled in the corners of alleys seeking warmth, and women shopping for groceries walked cautiously against the walls. Shard frowned at the scene before him from the window.
If the situation in Randall Valley isn’t properly resolved, this scene will gradually appear in every city on this Old Continent over the next six months.
It was only at four in the afternoon that Shard saw the hurried arrival of Luviya at the Wilder Opera House, bringing new intelligence to Shard:
"Oh, the entire southwestern region of Carsonrick, centering on Randall Valley, is in chaos!"
The girl with purple eyes pointed to the map on the table:
"Just this morning, outside of Randall Valley, seven occurrences of Crazy Earth were discovered. Moreover, the Church has even detected creatures similar to Fallen Earth Elemental Giants in the northern mountains of Draleon, close to the Far North Great Ice Cap—yes, at the other end of the Old Continent."
She gently rubbed her brow:
"You can’t imagine how busy we are today. Even with the headquarters sending in seven High Ring Diviners, it’s still not enough. Now I understand how busy the local associations in Coldwater Port and Midshire Fort were last year."
"Any news from the Guardians?"
Shard asked, as everyone awaited the reappearance of the Guardians; otherwise, the Chosen One Ceremony could not proceed.
"No."
The girl with purple eyes shook her head slightly:
"And you can’t find them either, can you? You still haven’t discovered the last gemstone representing Spring."
She said, taking two identical coins from her pocket:
"This is what I mentioned a few days ago, coins purchased from within the association. Now is not the time to save."
The coins Luviya brought were the Scribe Level Relic [Wrath of the Thunder God]. It doesn’t sound like the name of a coin, but it indeed is.
They are similar to the [Dandelion Coin] twice acquired by Shard, regarded as currency for trading with Elemental Creatures. The entire coin is silvery white, about the size of a silver coin worth 1 shilling, but with great density and hence surprisingly heavy.
The front features the number 1 and a thunder motif, while the back bears a face of fury. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
On the side of the coin, ancient Elemental Sprite script is engraved:
"May thunder sweep away all evil."
"The proper use of this relic is to launch it with any supernatural power; the coin itself transforms into a bolt of thunder as it flies out, with a power far greater than Iluna’s current [Sunlight Gun], and bypasses any defense of energy type, such as passing directly through your [Heaton Seal]."
Luviya explained.
