Author: 冬瓜茶仙人 / Winter Melon Tea Immortal

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 147

“A strong wind is blowing outside. It might delay the delivery carts, but we still have tea and butter biscuits.” Jim asked softly, “Is that okay?”

Kurt didn’t care much about it. “It’s fine. Is it windy outside?”

Jim nodded and glanced at Kurt, who was completely relaxed, lying in a rocking chair with a geography book spread over his face, motionless.

Very undignified.

But Jim knew he was an important person, possibly a real nobleman. The wealthy Wolf and Monkey Families were like emperors in White Bridge, but supposedly, they had no noble titles. Some fearless elderly people, who weren’t afraid of death, on Paradise Island occasionally said that even dressed in formal wear, carrying canes, and eating white bread with red wine every day, they were just wolves in human clothing yearning for civilization. The human world would never accept them.

Most people didn’t understand this, but after serving this important person for a few days, Jim began to grasp its meaning. This man never pretended to eat with a full set of silverware, nor did he change clothes every couple of hours to flaunt his refinement. Yet it was this (overly) composed demeanor that set him apart from everyone else here.

“It got completely dark at four in the afternoon, but there was no rain, just wind. Papers were flying everywhere, and all the ladies moved their activities indoors,” Jim said, knowing that after being confined for so long, Kurt was interested in anything about the outside. He carefully chose what he thought were trivial details to share, hoping to cheer him up. “I heard someone say a stubborn gentleman insisted on walking his pet in this weather, and his little dog was blown up to the second floor by the wind—luckily, it landed on an open balcony, and someone caught it.”

“Good thing you don’t have to stay underground with me all the time. I thought you couldn’t go out for fresh air,” Kurt said.

“I’m usually at the end of the hallway,” Jim said quickly. “I only go upstairs to fetch clean sheets and clothes. You can always find me.”

He quickly filled the kettle and started cutting a fist-sized melon to prepare a fruit platter with grapes.

Kurt lifted the book and glanced at him. “Is someone coming later?”

Jim was startled, almost cutting his finger.

“You don’t have to answer. I’m just asking,” Kurt said, noticing Jim’s discomfort. He shrugged and tossed the book aside.

He didn’t like eating fruit. A few biscuits were enough for a late-night snack. Jim must be preparing for someone else.

Jim didn’t dare to answer—it should be Mr. Adan informing him personally. So he silently finished cutting the fruit and arranged the biscuits on a small silver plate.

“Sorry,” Jim whispered as he was about to leave.

Kurt, whose hair was overgrown, brushed aside his bangs and glanced at him.

“Don’t be silly,” Kurt mumbled, turning over dangerously in the rocking chair. “Go ahead. They don’t like anyone talking to me for too long.”

To be precise, they didn’t like anyone who couldn’t pay talking to him for too long since astrologers could charge by the word.

Hearing the heavy iron door close, Kurt climbed off the rocking chair and began pacing the room, muttering softly.

He had been confined here for two weeks and three days. It was now a quarter past eight…

The long star charts in Kurt’s mind flipped like a thick book. He couldn’t see the stars but knew their daily trajectories well.

After a while, he stopped and scratched his head. “Double overlay?”

He saw very few living beings in this wretched place each day, but today there had been more than usual—besides Jim and Adan, there were Khalif and Xanye.

He had already refused Xanye’s proposal. So, the next visitor must be Khalif?

As if confirming his thoughts, Adan knocked on the door.

Once again, Adan just greeted him briefly before letting Khalif in.

Khalif didn’t know Kurt had foreseen this meeting a few minutes ago. Seeing his knowing expression, he thought it was just an astrologer’s usual enigmatic act.

“We meet again, Mr. Astrologer,” he said.

Kurt sat back in the rocking chair. “Are you here to make a deal too?”

“Let’s be clear: astrologers don’t make free deals. That’s a principle, even for the jailer.” To prevent unreasonable demands, Kurt stated plainly.

“I understand,” Khalif said seriously. “We can discuss the payment first.”

“What can you offer me?” Kurt asked wearily. “I know White Bridge is wealthy.”

“How about freedom?” Khalif suggested meaningfully.

Hm?

This unexpected answer caught Kurt’s attention.

“You mean ‘freedom’, as in letting me go?” he asked.

“Yes,” Khalif said. “As long as my questions are answered, this price can be arranged.”

Kurt doubted it. The entire continent knew that Astrologer Kurt was listed on White Bridge’s auction catalog. Now claiming to release him was hard to believe.

“Not every auction item gets sold. The more valuable it is, the more likely it remains unsold. After the auction, I can arrange a ship for you. You can choose to leave on your own or have someone come for you,” Khalif said sincerely. “A verbal promise isn’t binding. We can make a blood oath ensuring you leave White Bridge’s territory and aren’t pursued by the Wolf or Monkey for a year.”

“Going through all this trouble to release me makes me curious about your question,” Kurt said, staring at Khalif with eyes hidden under his messy hair. “I need to know your question before considering the deal.”

Khalif didn’t answer immediately, instead scanning the room: bookshelves, desk, pens and paper, star maps, and nautical charts adorned the walls. Despite having all these tools, Kurt hadn’t even opened an ink bottle. Adan had sent a clever servant to spy, but the astrologer sensed it and spoke only nonsense. They replaced him with a careful but simple-minded person, which made Kurt talk more, though it was mostly useless chatter.

Only a proper deal could reveal his true value.

“I want to know if the ‘Holy Grail’ really exists and when it will appear next,” Khalif said solemnly.

“‘Holy Grail’? What is that?” Kurt had never heard of it.

“If the stars are truly omniscient, they can tell you,” Khalif said cunningly, pushing a small crystal box toward Kurt.

The crystal box was transparent, showing a small piece of cloth inside. But the cloth looked strange, its edges blurry as if it were a thin, colored mist rather than a solid object.

“What is this?” Kurt’s face grew serious. “Neither human nor object, not a wraith… Is it real?”

“It’s a piece of the Lamp Bearer’s robe,” Khalif said. “Caught on a stone in a small town 25 years ago. It should’ve disintegrated immediately but remained due to materials mixed from an old church renovation.”

“The best mages we found sealed it in a crystal box before dawn. It’s not a physical object.”

Seeing Kurt correctly identify the essence of the cloth, Khalif explained the legend of the Holy Grail and the Lamp Bearers but omitted the part about the World Dragon.

“Since then, the Lamp Bearers have appeared two or three times but always vanished quickly. I want to know why and if the Holy Grail has any hope of reappearing,” Khalif said.

“That’s an interesting legend.” Kurt smiled for the first time before Khalif. “But your offer isn’t enough.”

“What’s more valuable than freedom?” Khalif retorted.

“Freedom is relative for me. Even without you and the Monkey, countless others would capture me,” Kurt patiently bargained. “Don’t worry, wealth means little to me. Just add a bit more, and we’ll have a deal.”

“Like what?”

“Like the place you least want others to step foot in,” Kurt said. “The first place that comes to mind when I say that—the blood oath will know if you lie.”

Khalif glared at him, but Kurt remained unfazed.

“This is a fair exchange,” the astrologer said smoothly. “And what’s there to fear? I’m alone and powerless. Even if I knew, I couldn’t enter.”

The silence lasted so long that Kurt thought Khalif would refuse. Then he heard him say, “Deal.”

……

“Did he ask about your birthday?” Adan inquired.

Jim nodded, his pale skin, rare on Paradise Island, reddening with nervousness, making him look perpetually shy.

“And then? Did he say anything else?” Adan pressed.

“No,” Jim replied. “Then he asked about the weather… He’s always interested in the weather.”

Weather… Maybe astrologers don’t need to observe stars to make predictions? Adan wondered, puzzled. Such talents were too mysterious. No one knew how their powers worked.

“Sir,” Adan’s assistant, Leslie, entered, glancing at Jim before speaking. “Mr. Louis is here.”

Louis? Adan frowned. Why would he come now? Because of Khalif?

“Lord Khalif is still inside. I can’t leave this floor,” Adan said. “Bring him here.”

Louis had already come down. Leslie was just announcing it. Within minutes, Adan saw Louis in long boots enter the room.

“You look much better. Why are you here now?” Adan smiled. “Where’s Alexander?”

“You don’t know?” Louis skipped the pleasantries. “Your warehouse is in trouble. Some dock workers set the whole street on fire. A guy named Bravi—isn’t that your cousin?—almost burned to death.”

Adan’s smile froze, and behind him, Jim’s eyes widened at the mention of dock workers.

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