Chapter 174

Even so, this saved Zuo Jian a lot of trouble, but it also made him feel genuinely... sad.

The death of an Earl is serious, but not so serious.

This could be used to torture randomly arrested civilians, or it could be used to arbitrarily turn the case over and conclude a case.

Zuo Jian stood up, putting away his thoughts.

That's enough of my reflections; he has more important things to deal with right now.

Turning to the side, he found the only thing that seemed out of place in this simple study.

A finely crafted telephone.

Stepping forward, Zuo Jian slid the dial pad above, entered an unfamiliar number, and then raised the microphone.

.

Ring ring...

The silence in the Iron Duke's study was broken by the ringing of a landline.

The old duke almost instinctively picked up the receiver, and sure enough, a familiar voice came from the other end.

[The Duke's communications are really troublesome; he even has to use a landline that's only provided in the residences of Earl.]

"I'm sorry, Dragonblood Duke, but considering that in most cases, even the content of a conversation leaking out could lead to some negative consequences, after all—there are countless other eyes watching Victoria."

"However, it seems you have already arrived in Warwick... oh no, I should say you have arrived in your territory?"

[Please don't call me Dragonblood Duke in private, Mr. Wellington. After all, that's just a public title. You can call me Zuo Jian; I'm more used to that name.]

"Is that so? Does this mean that our trust has grown even stronger, Zuo Jian?"

[Perhaps? Alright, enough with the pleasantries, Duke Wellington, I have...]

I need your help with something.

"Please speak freely."

Wellington wiped the cold sweat from his brow and began to ponder what demands the monster on either side would make.

[Please inform the border crossings between the various territories that if Tarans are found leaving Warwick Earldom during identity checks... please inform them that everything is safe here and they need not leave their homeland.]

[... If they don't listen... that's fine too, I respect their choice.]

"...?"

"That's it...?"

[That's it, so what?]

"No, it's nothing... I didn't expect you to be so..."

[Oh, wait, wait, you're right, there is something else, I almost forgot.]

Zuo Jian of the phone, spoke with a teasing smile.

Wellington, however, felt his heart almost skip a beat.

Damn it, I should have kept quiet.

"Ahem... Zuo Jian Excellency Zuo, I hope you can understand my health condition. Sometimes overly stimulating words are bad for my heart."

[Roar? The death knell of the empire! That sweeping, all-conquering General Wellington actually tells me he has a heart condition? Duke, I admit that's a rather amusing joke. If I'm not mistaken, your health is more than enough to keep you standing on a warship directing battles without a single problem.]

"Ahem... You flatter me..."

[Don't worry, Duke. Even if there really is something wrong with your heart, I'll replace it with a much more durable one. At least it will never stop beating when you need it.]

Upon hearing this, the elderly duke's pupils suddenly widened, and he spoke almost instinctively.

Are you telling the truth?

Don't have high expectations. At best, it will only keep you energetic and lively until you die; it won't extend your lifespan.

"That's enough... that's enough... that's enough.."

Wellington's eyes almost lit up; he couldn't even bear to imagine what it would be like for the Iron Duke... or rather, General Wellington... who maintained the energy of a young man until his death.

The premise is... that Zuo Jian can do it.

But at least based on his current performance, this kind of thing is definitely not difficult for him.

"Ahem, sorry, I seemed to have lost my composure just now. Please continue, I'm listening to your request."

"Then I'll be frank, Your Excellency Wellington, do you have a map of Victoria with you?"

"?"

Wellington was even puzzled for a moment after hearing this.

Then, he turned his head and looked at the large Victoria map behind him, which he had been hanging in his study for who knows how long.

"Of course! I've even gone through countless simulations on it—"

How well do you judge distances on a map?

"Generally speaking, that's about the level a general should have."

[Is that so? Then turn your attention to your own territory.]

"Then what?"

Wellington took out his baton and gently tapped it on his territory.

[To the east, after moving 15 li...]

After verbal instructions from the Zuo Jian and Wellington's calculation of the distance on the map, the latter marked a location on it.

"Here it is?"

[Could you check if anyone or any vehicle has passed by this location? I'm very curious about it.]

"No problem, I'll give you an answer within half a day."

On the other end of the phone, Zuo Jian, looking at the topographical map he had created.

At this moment, the marker outside the single, extending red line appears particularly glaring.

He was still very concerned about what was in the direction that was affecting his consciousness.

(Double update. ing)

(The author is speeding up updates to get to His Highness's part of the story faster.)

(I'll see if I can manage three updates tomorrow.)

(Your Highness, my Your Highness)

Chapter Nine, Theresa...

"Call..."

Located within the Victoria Royal Library in the city of Londinium, this is a public facility open to the public.

The Doctor walked along the aisles lined with books, his face not looking too good, and with each step he took, a hint of pain in his expression.

'I don't remember being that physically weak, Doctor. If possible, for your own sake, some exercise is necessary.'

The figure of the Wraith appeared in her field of vision. Looking at the Doctor behind her, whose expression was twisted in extreme pain, she almost subconsciously made a sarcastic remark.

"Shut up! It's easy for you to talk when you're not the one suffering. Just a few days ago, my ankle was still in those incredibly painful high heels, and now you've suddenly dragged me out and made me walk across half the city to this library! Damn it, why should I listen to you? If this keeps up, I feel like I'll spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair."

She squatted down, rubbing her still slightly red ankle with a face full of complaints. Although she was complaining, she still unconditionally believed in Wraith. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come here across half the city without even asking for a reason.

After gently rubbing his ankle to ease the pain from his face, the Doctor stood up again.

After glancing at the surroundings of the library, I finally couldn't help but ask.

"By the way, why did you drag me to this library? Even locals in Victoria hardly ever come here."

As she spoke, she glanced at the empty seating area. At this moment, the vast library was only occupied by the Doctor and the Wraith... strictly speaking, they were one person.

"Is it related to... my past? You said before that you would confess some truth to Zuo Jian when he returned. What exactly are you hiding? My memories? Don't I have any right to know these things?"

'Doctor.'

The Wraith turned its head, and it was almost the first time the former had seen this Wraith spirit, who usually always had a cold face and seemed to be carrying a lot of worries, show such an expression... such an expression that was a mixture of sadness and helplessness.

There are some things I hope you'll never recall; it won't do you any good.

'And all I wanted to do was... make some small amends for what I had done...'

Having said all that, she refused to speak further, concealing the complex emotions in her eyes, and walked back to the Doctor.

"... No matter what you say, aren't we the same person? If you really did something wrong, I'll just clean up your mess. I'm not so low as to say that if I don't remember something, I can treat it as if it has nothing to do with me."

'...'

'I...'

Tell her.

?

Tell her.

'Damn it...'

The Doctor watched helplessly as the Wraith suddenly vanished from sight.

"Wraith?"

Tell her.

To restore her memory.

It reminded her of everything she was burdened with.

"Wraith? What's wrong with you?"

The Doctor's voice echoed around, causing the Wraith within the consciousness space to painfully rub their foreheads.

Why? Why me again... I've already made a choice once... Why does it have to be like this again...?

'Hey... answer me... why am I the one making these choices, Priestess! I'm clearly... not suited for this position at all!'

"What did you say? Wraith? I couldn't quite hear you..."

Doctor —I hope you...can fall in love with this land (and not forget the responsibilities you bear).

'I... don't want to make any more choices.'

That's why she acted as if nothing had happened, accepted the identity of "Wraith," and stayed by the side of the Doctor who had lost his memory.

She clearly understands that she shouldn't exist in the first place, that she should have disappeared into the past along with those memories, and that she is currently trying to escape all those past events.

Even after encountering Zuo Jian and safely arriving in Victoria, she didn't dare let the Doctor return to Rhodes Island. She didn't dare see Amiya or Kal'tsit again.

But... also because of Zuo Jian, he told himself that his abilities went far beyond the material realm. He could even influence the spiritual, or rather, the realm of consciousness.

Almost instantly, the Wraith could make connections to what this ability could do.

For example... interfering with the consciousness, or rather... the souls, of those "demon kings" who still exist in the world... throughout history.

Although most of the Demon Lords' consciousnesses have long since faded into mere remnants of obsession over time... but...

She isn't yet.

Her soul has not been worn down by the file of time; in fact, compared to a thousand years, it is almost brand new.

I want to do something, I want to make amends for everything I've done... at least...

The Babel has fallen, Kazdel is now completely under the control of the Royal Court, and Theresis has begun to execute her plans... So... even if she were to return to the mortal world... as long as she doesn't expose herself... as long as they live out the rest of their lives in anonymity... as long as that's all...

How is that possible?

'Shut up... I...'

How could you possibly hide the news of her resurrection?

You know perfectly well that she could never be willing to turn a blind eye to what's about to happen, as you might think.

As long as she lives in this world, she will be an obstacle to the plan.