abcnovels
Chapter 225: Ceremony
Chapter 225: Ceremony
Chapter 225: Ceremony
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In an alleyway that was safely tucked away behind some tall buildings, Adam was sitting on top of a wooden box, the hood pulled up over his head, his legs crossed, and his fingers tapping impatiently on the knee.
It didn't take long for him to hear some footsteps come by the corner, and from there, Argus from the Mercenary Guild appeared in the desolate alleyway.
"Hello, young man." Argus said with a slight smile. "Here's your card."
He handed Adam a mercenary card. It was Adam's card originally, but he gave it to him to put a slight change on it.
Now, instead of having Ordergiver rank on it, it had Grandeur instead.
He was now an official Grandeur-ranked mercenary!
This transaction happened in the shadows, as Adam didn't want some of the big names to know that he was here currently.
After showing some of his prowess to Argus, he was convinced enough to give him the rank of Grandeur. If he wanted to, he could've tried for Archwarrior as well, but Adam thought that Grandeur was enough for now.
"You never told me why you came all the way here for just a promotion. This city is not safe for you anymore." Argus said. "We all know that war is coming."
"Since I was planning on coming for different business, I thought that might as well get a promotion while I am here."
Adam said and stored his mercenary card back in his inventory where it would be safe.
"You must be here for something important, then." Argus raised his arms. "I won't ask why. I don't want to know."
"I appreciate the favor." Adam said, stood up from the box, and headed to the exit of the alley.
Argus lit up a cigar and took a puff of the smoke before turning to walk in the opposite direction.
'What he just showed me... His strength could very well reach Archwarrior's level. He is just level 12 as well. When he reaches level 25, the level of Royal Mercenary, his leveling turns into percentages, and the system will determine his current level of strength.
'He might jump straight to Prime Mercenary. What a ridiculous young man.'
...
In the cathedral, a blind-eyed bishop cleaned the altar. It looked like he was able to move pretty well for someone who was blind.
At that moment, the double doors of the cathedral opened, and someone entered.
"Who goes there?" the bishop called out. "Apologizes, but we're not having any visitors at this hour."
It was almost evening, and the young monks of the nearby monastery would soon come to have their evening prayer. For this, outsiders weren't prohibited.
Adam took a seat in the front row of the chapel and said, "I am here to meet someone."
"You can meet that someone tomorrow," the blind-eyed bishop said. "Until then, please be on your way."
Adam crossed his legs and looked like he was waiting for someone.
The bishop started to look annoyed, but then one of the doors behind him creaked open and a figure stepped out. It was an extremely tall man.
"Bishop, he is with me." Kanari said.
"Is he now?" The bishop responded. "Lady Yu's visitor?"
Adam stood up, picked up a single shinecoin from his pocket, and tossed it to the collection basket. It landed with a soft clink, joining the other coins inside.
After that, he followed Kanari through the door that led to a spiraling staircase that led to the attic of the cathedral.
Neither of them spoke a word until they arrived at the bottom of the stairs. There was one wooden door, and it had wings like an angel carved into it.
"Why you've come here?" Kanari stopped Adam for a moment. "You didn't look surprised when I appeared, so you found out who told me to spy on you."
"Mm, I did." Adam said. "No worries, that's have nothing to do with why I am here."
"Why're you here?" Kanari asked.
"Some peace and quiet." Adam said. "I'll try to increase my strength as much as I can before the war is officially declared. I'll need to increase my chances of survival, and that's why I need her assistance."
"Alright." Kanari touched him on the shoulder and said sharply. "Be kind to her. She is a crybaby."
'Yes, I know.' Adam thought inside his mind and then stepped through the door.
Kanari closed the door behind him.
The attic looked like a beautifully decorated room, with sunlight streaming in through the small window and casting a warm glow over the antique furniture.
It was the perfect room for someone who liked some quiet and peace.
By the small window, one could just stand there and see the entirety of the Imperium City move with life in the bustling streets below.
There was already someone standing by the window. She had her back facing Adam, dressed in a white silk dress with delicate lace details cascading down her back.
Her long, silvery hair flowed down her back like a shimmering waterfall, and when she turned around, her piercing gold eyes locked onto his.
She already looked beautiful, but the small blush on her cheeks made her look even more radiant and stunning.
"Mister Adam, what a pleasant surprise." Lady Yu said with a smile, her voice smooth and
melodic.
She had her hands intertwined, but it looked like she was fidgeting somewhat as if she were
nervous.
"Lady Yu." Adam lowered his head in a respectful nod.
"This is our second meeting, is it not?" She said.
However, after remembering their first meeting, her blush grew. She wondered whether he was still remembering that rather embarrassing meeting in the Gathering's hot spring.
"It is..." Adam tried to remember.
The years and all the meetings had become quite muddy in his mind. While he'd actually met her many times, this was just the second meeting in this timeline.
"If I may ask, what's your reasoning for this visit?" Lady Yu asked with a smile. "Don't get me wrong, I am really happy about finally properly meeting you, but it is quite poor timing, don't
you think so?"
The war frightened her.
It was a very scary thing to witness as Original. It was because her kind would be thrown to the frontlines to just die and slow down the advancement of the enemy's forces.
It made her really sad and angry.
"I need your help," Adam said.
"Help?" Lady Yu asked. "I am not quite sure what I can help you with..."
"The Holy Room," Adam said. "I'll need holy maiden's help."
Lady Yu's eyes popped wide open.
This wasn't a small request.
The Holy Room's ceremony was intimate and sacred, not to be taken lightly. A warrior and holy maiden once they enter the Holy Room together, their destinies would be forever
intertwined.
The ceremony's purpose was to increase the strength of the warrior. However, since it was an intimate ceremony, their souls would get connected, and when one of them died, the other
would as well.
It was a ceremony that had only been once in the last century.
They were complete strangers, and to ask something like this was ludicrous!
Adam looked deeply at Lady Yu, knowing the ridiculous request. However, it wasn't as
ridiculous as it seemed.
It was because in his last life, Adam was supposed to do the ceremony with her, but before he could, he was assassinated and killed.
If he was assassinated a month or two later, Lady Yu's soul would've died alongside him. That's the only positive thing about his death that it happened earlier than the ceremony.