The Five Hundred Sixty-Seventh Gift
Conquer Sea, Moncala Island.
During the day, on the main island of the Moncala Archipelago, inside the only church on the island—the Conversion Church—a crowd had gathered, making the place bustling and lively. In front of the small square before the church, countless people surged in, while the already crowded chapel was filled to capacity.
In Moncala, a city rife with desires, although the church as a public facility existed, it did not receive much attention. Few people visited it on a regular basis. The Conversion Church was small compared to Moncala’s population of hundreds of thousands. Even though it was a small church in a large city, it was usually very quiet, serving only a few devout elderly people with its few priests and nuns. This scene today was unprecedented.
The reason for the sudden influx of people was due to the Holy Relic Exhibition starting at the Conversion Church. The holy relics from Sacred Summit were being exhibited for the first time in the Conversion Church, attracting many locals and tourists.
Inside the not-so-large chapel of the Conversion Church, people were densely packed. The original pulpit had been removed and replaced by a large glass display case guarded by four solemn knights. Inside the case, a piece of grayish, worn-out coarse linen was displayed on silk, with clear burn marks along its edges. The dirty linen was covered with dense inscriptions, and a signboard in front of the case described the story associated with this relic.
Vitamio’s Holy Scroll, according to legend, was the shroud of the martyr Saint Vitamio during the Muddy Current War. His body had once been stolen and desecrated by heretics during the war against non-believers. The holy warriors who followed Vitamio fought bravely to reclaim his body but fell into a trap set by the heretics. Many perished in the attempt.
At that moment, Vitamio’s soul could not bear the further sacrifice of his followers, so he allowed his body to ignite, destroying any hope of reclaiming it. After burning out, only the tattered holy shroud remained, which somehow bestowed a blessing upon the retrieval team, allowing them to break free from the trap and defeat the surrounding heretics, securing a hard-fought victory.
Later, one of the seven living saints from Sacred Summit performed a ceremony by copying the inscriptions, thus consecrating it as a sacred relic. To commemorate Vitamio and the fearless bravery and piety of the retrieval team, it must be kept in a dedicated church or by a qualified custodian.
This… was the introduction provided on the display board about the relic in the cabinet. This relic was the centerpiece of the exhibition, yet strangely, despite the large number of people gathered in the church, few were around the relic display case. It seemed like a relic exhibition, but the attention of the crowd was focused elsewhere.
“Although Vitamio’s body didn’t return, his pious and fearless spirit and will have been passed down through this holy shroud, and to commemorate Vitamio and the brave warriors who followed him, a living saint transcribed the scriptures, making this shroud a sacred relic…”
Standing not far from the relic display case, a nun dressed in white stood among a group of people, smiling as she finished recounting the legend of the nearby relic. After hearing the nun’s story, the crowd nodded in understanding and murmured “Oh.”
“So, I’ve told you the story of the relic. You can go and admire the real thing up close over there. If there are no more questions, please move along; I still need to explain to others…”
Vania softly addressed the crowd in front of her, but they seemed uninterested in the other side of the relic, instead remaining around Vania. Some even called out loudly:
“Nun Vania, I have a question for you. How old are you? How old are you this year?”
“I have a question too! Nun Vania, how did you manage to convert the heretics in Arduos? What did you say to them? They say you disbanded the Hook Shark Gang when you came to Moncala. Is that true?”
“Nun Vania, how do you feel about suddenly becoming a rising star in the Church after coming here? Is there anything behind all the seemingly impossible things you accomplished?”
“I also want to ask, Nun Vania, how tall are you? If possible, can you share your weight and measurements?”
…
A barrage of questions came from all directions around Vania, and she was surprised to find that the people around her seemed genuinely enthusiastic and eager to ask. She was overwhelmed by the cacophony of questions, most of which were not about the relic but about herself.
“Well, everyone, please consider your questions carefully. My role here is to introduce the relic. I mainly answer questions about the relic and the scripture,” Vania said with an awkward smile, looking at the enthusiastic crowd. Soon after, someone else chimed in.
“The relic and scripture are nothing compared to how attractive and interesting you are, Nun Vania. Talk more about yourself, Nun Vania…”
“Yes, yes… No one here cares about that old cloth; they’re all here for you!”
“Nun Vania, I love you! I pray sincerely for you every day!”
“Oh… this…”
Looking at the bustling yet awkward scene, Vania could only show a nervous expression, unsure of what to do. She slowly dealt with this group of so-called “devout believers” who seemed like star-chasers.
Finally, unable to endure it anymore, Vania found an opportunity to slip away from the crowd, temporarily hiding in another room behind the chapel. Here, she took a deep breath.
“Huh… huh… The relic exhibition… Aren’t people here to see the relic? Why is this happening…”
Sitting in a chair, having finally escaped the situation, Vania sighed. Just then, a familiar voice came from beside her.
“I’m sorry, Nun Vania. The religious atmosphere in Moncala is quite thin, and people lack reverence for the church, which is why this happened.”
Hearing this voice, Vania paused slightly, then turned to look at the source. She saw Roland entering the room, looking apologetic.
“Mr. Roland, you actually came over? Although I encountered some trouble here, I don’t need you to come help…”
Seeing Roland appear in front of her, Vania said in surprise. Roland then responded with a smile.
“You misunderstood. I’m not here for the exhibition; I have something else to discuss with you, Nun Vania.”
“Something else… What is it?”
“It’s my father, the true ruler of Moncala. He has arranged a banquet tonight at Junhai Fortress to welcome you and the guardian knights. We hope you can attend as scheduled…”
Seeing Vania’s puzzled expression, Roland calmly explained. After hearing this, Vania’s confusion turned to surprise, and she asked Roland in disbelief.
“Your father… is Captain Edward… didn’t he not arrange a meeting with me before?”
“Well… this was our mistake, misunderstanding his intentions. He never meant not to meet Nun Vania. We just misheard him. Recently, when he asked us about the preparations for the banquet, we said there was none and got scolded.”
Roland apologized to Vania, who nodded thoughtfully.
“So that’s it…”
“That’s right, it’s just a mistake on our part. Since Nun Vania has come to Moncala, my father definitely wants to meet you. Please be on time for the banquet tonight…”
“If it’s Captain Edward’s invitation, there’s no refusal. We will attend the banquet on time,” Vania replied to Roland, who immediately responded politely.
“Then we’ll look forward to your arrival.”
…
Time flew by quickly, and soon the sun set below the western horizon, marking the end of the day and the beginning of night.
As the night enveloped Moncala, twinkling lights began to illuminate various corners of the city, and the largest building in the city, Junhai Fortress, was lit up brightly.
In the hall of Junhai Fortress, a long table was set with various delicacies. Vania sat in the same seat she had occupied earlier, enjoying the simple and plain food on her plate. The long table was nearly full, with many more people than the last time she attended a welcoming banquet.
Like the previous time, the attendees were members of the Gibbs family, the rulers of Moncala. Not only were Bunna and Peleng, whom Vania had met before, present, but there were also many other Gibbs family members she hadn’t seen before. They ranged from young children to elderly people—some as young as seven or eight years old, and others as old as sixty or seventy.
Although many members of the Gibbs family were gathered here, none of them spoke disrespectfully to Vania as they had before. Everyone sat properly, using their utensils neatly, including Bunna, who usually had poor table manners. The entire space was unusually silent except for the sounds of cutlery and chewing, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
This oppressive feeling stemmed from the elderly man sitting at the head of the long table, draped in a fur cloak, slowly eating his food. His aged presence exuded an invisible pressure, making no one dare to act rashly. He was Edward, the unquestionable patriarch here.
“I heard that the crowds at the Conversion Church today were almost overwhelming, very lively. The devoutness of the people of Moncala is something I haven’t seen in centuries. To attract so many people to a church they rarely visit, Nun Vania’s appeal is extraordinary…”
Eating a piece of fish, Edward smiled and said to Vania, who immediately responded humbly.
“The people of Moncala gather at the church in response to the call of the relic, which is the power contained within the blessed object…”
“Haha… the blessed object? For those common folk who know nothing of secrets, that relic is just a piece of cloth. No one would care about it. What attracts them is your own charm, Nun Vania…”
Edward continued laughing, and Vania immediately responded anxiously.
“No, no… As a clergy member, how can I talk about charm…”
“Why not? As a young nun with such legendary stories and good looks, you naturally gain a lot of favor, especially among young people nowadays. In this era of thriving media, showcasing yourself and your abilities is more important than preaching. Many people see you as a star promoted by the church to adapt to new trends, just like some famous dancers or singers. Listen to me, if you learn some singing and dancing, your influence will be much stronger than ordinary stars.”
Edward spoke confidently. Hearing this, Vania was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Well… this…”
“Ha ha… Nun Vania, don’t take my words too seriously. Consider it a joke. Regardless, your visit to Moncala has not only helped us eliminate a hidden smuggling network but also led many people to truly experience the church. We warmly welcome your arrival. Here, let me raise a toast to you.”
As he spoke, Edward raised his glass of red wine, and all the members of the Gibbs family present stopped what they were doing and raised their glasses to Vania. Vania immediately raised her glass of wine and drank it slowly after accepting the toast.
Looking at Vania finishing her wine, Edward silently put down his glass and continued speaking.
“Nun Vania, having traveled far, as the host, I should show some hospitality. I have a golden-bound Sacred Text that I accidentally acquired. Though it’s not extraordinary, it is valuable. I would like to give it to you, Nun Vania.”
As he spoke, Edward waved his hand, and a maid slowly walked out from one side of the hall. In her hand was a golden-bound Sacred Text adorned with numerous exquisite patterns. Vania’s eyes froze as she was immediately drawn to its cover.
Immediately, the knight guards standing next to Vania rose and promptly took the book, checking it thoroughly. Seeing this, Vania shifted her gaze back and looked at the elder at the head of the table.
“Thank you, Captain Edward.”
Seeing Vania accept the book, Edward nodded silently.
…
Soon, the banquet at Junhai Fortress ended. After finishing her meal, Vania bade farewell to the Gibbs family and left the castle, boarding a carriage to return to her hotel. As she got into the carriage, she asked the knight guard next to her.
“Father Gaspare, is there anything wrong with that Sacred Text?”
“Mm… We have conducted a thorough check. There are no suspicious traces on the book, and it contains no poison or extraordinary markings,” Gaspare responded after some thought. Vania then continued.
“In that case, please give it to me. It looks very exquisite; I want to appreciate it in the carriage.”
“Sure, please wait a moment.”
Thus, Gaspare handed the checked Sacred Text to Vania, who accepted it and stepped onto the carriage. With the escort, they began the journey back to the hotel.
On the gently swaying carriage, Vania, under the light, admired the Sacred Text in her hands. After flipping through the cover, she began to browse the contents.
On the thick pages, Vania read familiar passages from the Sacred Text, which seemed to possess a certain magic, drawing her page by page deeper into the text. Her gaze wandered between the words and the elaborate decorative lines on the pages, as if she could glean some profound truths from them.
The initial browsing on the carriage was insufficient. Back in her hotel room, Vania continued reading late into the night, engrossed in the familiar content of the Sacred Text, as if she could discover some unique truth. She rapidly flipped through the thick pages until she finished the entire book at dawn.
“The sea… is the amniotic fluid… the primordial amniotic fluid… the amniotic fluid of the Holy Mother…”
After flipping through the entire book, Vania leaned back in her chair, her expression somewhat blank as she muttered. At that moment, a female voice sounded in her mind.
“How is it, Vania? How are you feeling now?”
“Mmm… It feels… nothing special… just a little strange. I can feel this strangeness, perhaps because Miss Dorothy warned me beforehand. If you hadn’t warned me, I wouldn’t have noticed anything.”
Covering her temples, Vania frowned as she said, and then added in her mind.
“Miss Dorothy, am I under the influence of poison now?”
“Yes, although it’s mild, there is indeed some poison eroding your mind. But for now, don’t seek Aka to remove it. Let’s conduct some experiments first,” Dorothy’s voice echoed again in Vania’s mind, and Vania curiously asked.
“What experiments?”
“The experiment is simple. I’ll send some images to your mind. Tell me which one you feel something special about.”
“Images? Alright… Let’s start now.”
Vania responded to Dorothy. Soon after, the first image appeared in Vania’s mind.
It was a black-and-white photograph, showing an elegant silver vase. Below the vase was a small placard that read:
Item 1 for auction, Latia Jade Ring Vase.
“How does it feel? Do you sense anything from this photo?”
“No, nothing…”
“Alright, let’s try the next one.”
Dorothy’s voice resounded again in Vania’s mind, and then the scene in Vania’s mind changed to another photo. This time, it was a curved dagger embedded with gems, with a placard underneath.
Item 2 for auction, Prince Arduos’ Gem-Encrusted Dagger.
“What about this one?”
“Still nothing…”
“Don’t rush, we’ll take it slow…”
Thus, different objects flashed in Vania’s eyes. After each one, she said she felt nothing, and the next one would appear. After more than ten images, one finally caught Vania’s attention.
