Chapter 579 - 510: Dark Moon Gathering

Chapter 579: Chapter 510: Dark Moon Gathering

Holland was no uncultured country bumpkin.

During his years serving as a Holy Light Walker in the Bright Church, the Church had near-draconian standards for the appearance of its Servants.

They had to be neat and proper, ideally reflecting the "Radiance" and "Purity" of the Holy Light.

Therefore, he had seen countless young Cultivators and Nuns who had been rigorously selected for their perfect poise and outstanding looks.

They were like figures stepping out of the murals in the Divine Hall, possessing an immaculate, almost formulaic beauty.

After leaving the Church, he had wandered far and wide, and his life as an Adventurer had introduced him to all sorts of people.

There were Elves with temperaments as cold as ice and delicate features.

There were half-Beastmen, full of wild charm and well-built physiques.

There were also men and women who used Charm Spells or natural-born beauty to navigate the circles of the rich and powerful.

Each had their own unique appeal—some ostentatious, some subtle, some dangerous, some gentle.

But the Rudolph before him now...

Holland’s gaze, filled with an indescribable confusion, swept over Roland’s face.

The features were the same—black hair, black eyes, a well-defined profile.

He remembered that much.

After all, this was the man he had personally dragged out of the wilderness and cared for for four days.

But it was just...

different now.

’What exactly has changed?’

He couldn’t put his finger on it.

’The curve of his eyebrows?’

’The light in his eyes?’

’The texture of his skin?’

’Or that overall...’

’damned, overwhelming "feeling"?’

If he had to describe it, it was as if a piece of uncut jade, originally of the finest quality but unpolished,

had, in a short time, been worked by a master craftsman of divine skill, who had used the most exquisite techniques to remove every trivial flaw.

Every line and every shade of color had been adjusted to its most perfect and harmonious state.

It wasn’t that the essence had been changed. Rather, all the latent potential within that essence had been brought forth in the most extreme way.

It was a harmony and balance that transcended gender, that transcended the aesthetic differences between Races, that was something close to "perfection."

’Handsome?’

’Of course, but it was far more than that.’

His eyes, serene as a deep pool, now seemed to hold a power that could easily capture one’s heart and soul, yet they also carried a dignity that forbade desecration.

Just by standing there, he seemed to be surrounded by an invisible halo, compelling others to focus their gaze on him, feel a natural sense of goodwill, and even a faint trace of awe.

Holland had seen the radiant "Holy Sons" of the Church, blessed by the Holy Light. He had also seen the innate noble bearing of descendants from certain ancient bloodlines.

But the charm radiating from Rudolph was more natural and far more impactful.

It wasn’t ostentatious, yet it silently announced its presence.

It wasn’t deliberate, yet it firmly captured all attention.

"Gods above..."

Holland muttered unconsciously, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

"Buddy, did you... did you just secretly drink a Forest Elf’s morning dew, or did some passing Beauty God caress your face?"

Hearing this, Roland subconsciously raised a hand to touch his cheek. He shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with a bit of resignation.

"It’s not as exaggerated as you make it sound."

"Not exaggerated?"

Holland looked as if he had heard something unbelievable. His eyes widened even further, and he seemed to want to get closer for a better look, yet he instinctively kept his distance.

"Buddy, you need to look in a mirror! I bet if you walk out looking like that, the girls in town... no, maybe some of the guys too... you’ll be turning more heads than there’s foam on the ale in a Dwarf’s cask!"

Roland didn’t want to get bogged down on this topic. He quickly changed the subject, cutting off Holland’s attempt to continue his "appraisal."

"How are the tavern repairs coming along?"

The change of topic successfully drew Holland’s attention back. He smacked his lips, seeming a little reluctant to let it go, but then a satisfied look appeared on his face.

"Heh, speaking of which, Ogre and his gang were pretty sensible this time! Not only did they fix up all the damage with decent workmanship, but they also forked over a big pile of money to Karen as compensation."

"That old fellow Karen is clutching his coin purse now, grinning so wide you can’t even see his eyes. He’s long forgotten how scared he was before."

He paused, his gaze unable to resist drifting back to Roland’s face. He clicked his tongue twice before picking up where he’d been interrupted.

"So, Rudolph, about what we discussed earlier—partnering up. What do you think? The two of us, joining forces!"

"You’ve got this... uh, ’God-given’ strength and... hmm, ’outstanding’ looks. I’ve got the connections and the experience. We could definitely make a killing around here! Don’t worry about splitting the spoils. Sixty-forty, your favor. Heck, even seventy-thirty works for me! What do you say?"

Hearing this, Roland fell into thought.

’Compared to a local bully like Ogre, who was forced into submission and whose character is hard to predict, Holland’s character has already earned my preliminary approval during our short time together.

’He’s a bit of a motormouth and can be flighty, but he’s not a bad person at heart and has his principles.

’Besides, judging from the attitudes of others and his performance when dealing with Ogre, Holland is definitely not just some down-on-his-luck Adventurer. He’s more like a seasoned old rogue who knows the ways of survival on the frontier inside and out.

’Having a companion like him, someone familiar with the local environment and social networks, would undoubtedly save a newcomer "Space-Time traveler" like me a lot of unnecessary trouble and probing.’

At this thought, Roland no longer hesitated. Meeting Holland’s expectant gaze, he nodded.

"Alright. You can handle the specific arrangements."

"That’s great!"

Holland slapped his thigh, his face instantly breaking into a brilliant smile as if he’d just won the grand prize.