Chapter 2353: Richard’s Notes

Chapter 2353: Chapter 2353: Richard’s Notes

During the visit to the "Red Heart Orphanage," Shard and the two vampire kind expressed different opinions about the orphanage, but overall, they were positive remarks.

Originally, Shard didn’t plan to donate money here; instead, he intended to donate the money he won in the afternoon to the church. However, after the visit, when Lady Lessa invited the three to have a cup of tea in the dining room, Shard expressed his desire to make an additional donation:

"As individuals, the impact we can have on the world is indeed too small, so we must do what we can."

"You are truly generous. Please allow me to thank you on behalf of the children."

The four chatted happily, but just when the atmosphere was harmonious, someone rudely barged into the children’s dining room without knocking.

Lady Lessa was about to reprimand the person but turned to see the aggressive entrant was Mrs. Jude, the kind and beautiful widow of the wealthy businessman who founded the orphanage, and immediately fell silent:

"Madam, good afternoon, these three gentlemen are here to visit and donate to the orphanage."

She spoke a bit helplessly, clearly noticing that Mrs. Jude, who rarely loses her temper here, was in an unusually agitated state.

The voluptuous noble lady looked at the three, her nostrils flaring slightly, but ultimately did not immediately speak her mind:

"Good afternoon, kind gentlemen... Lessa, you may leave first. I wish to speak with these three gentlemen."

"Yes, madam."

The woman wearing an apron glanced worriedly at the three whom she considered friendly, then and only then stood up and left. As the door closed again and the candlelight on the table illuminated the faces of the four, Mrs. Jude dropped a Silence Charm, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then erupted:

"Viscount Benhart, what do you mean by this? Are you secretly investigating me, bringing your friends and Ptolemy?"

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Jude. We didn’t come secretly; in fact, I just handed out business cards with my name on them, otherwise, you wouldn’t know it’s us."

Mr. Benhart said, and the three stood up from the table:

"We are just here to inform you of the investigation’s progress. Would you prefer to sit down and listen? It’s inconvenient to talk while standing."

The angry woman pointed at him and said:

"I’m warning you, Benhart, and your Northern Country friend, this orphanage is my property. Next time, if you dare to come without notice, I have the right to kick you out! I never, never allow any of the same clan or Circle Sorcerers to come here!"

Having said that, she snarled at the Coroner:

"Ptolemy, what do you mean by this? Do you think we’re familiar enough for you to come here directly?"

Mr. Albert pursed his lips and shook his head, signaling Shard to speak, and Shard caught the meaning of that glance:

"Madam, calm down. Since we’re already here, let’s first discuss the situation of that ’threatening letter.’ From the current state, this matter involves a possible Angel-Level or Sage-Level Relic."

The three explained the events that happened to Marquis Mosen in the morning. After listening, Mrs. Jude did not calm down:

"Then go resolve it, isn’t that your promise? Why come to me?"

"It’s like this, madam."

Mr. Albert continued:

"May I ask about your nightly schedule for this week starting today."

Though Mr. Albert spoke politely, intending to know when Mrs. Jude would go to the barn at night, the woman unexpectedly slammed the table, flying into a rage:

"Viscount Benhart, Ptolemy, what do you mean by this?"

"I meant to say..."

"You leave now, right this moment!"

She turned and pointed to the door:

"If you want clues from me, ask me in town. You three, leave now! I don’t want to see your faces here again! Go!"

She flung open the door, leaving Shard, Mr. Benhart, and Mr. Albert staring at each other. The latter two gave knowing glances at the eloquent Shard, prompting him to speak, but Mrs. Jude directly left the room. When they chased after her, she had already vanished.

Mrs. Jude must still be within the orphanage, but seeing her attitude, the three chose not to provoke her further and finally departed together.

"It seems she plans to engage in some vampiric activities here soon."

Leaving the orphanage, the three walked side by side on the way back to town. There were no carriages available here; one would have to enter town to find one.

It was Mr. Benhart who spoke, walking while idly playing with his black top hat:

"I find that the same clan in Moon Bay are particularly stubborn."

The coroner wearing a robe glanced at him. He was also "of the same clan of Moon Bay":

"Besides knowing the children are doing well, it seems we haven’t gotten any clues."

"That’s enough."

Shard said, kicking a stone in front of him. He watched it roll forward:

"Her reaction was more panic than rage. It’s similar to a child who made a mistake and tries to cover their true thoughts with shouting."

"Your analogy is strange, but I agree with your guess."

Mr. Benhart nodded in agreement. This coroner remained calm throughout the day:

"And it’s most likely tonight, or she wouldn’t be in such a hurry to chase us away... Didn’t Lady Lessa, who led us to the restaurant, mention that today is the Red Heart Orphanage’s twice-a-month special dinner day?"

He suddenly said to Shard and Mr. Albert. Mr. Albert shifted his gaze away from the crows flying from the fields by the road:

"Yes, a special dinner day. Oh, so that’s how it is... Mr. Watson, what’s the plan?"

"Let’s go separate ways and prepare. It’s now past four; how about we meet at Saint George Stone Bridge in two hours?"

Shard suggested, and the other two nodded:

"No problem, but we should hurry. If we’re lucky tonight, there will be quite a tough fight."

With no one around, the three soared into the sky. Red butterflies and crimson bats flew together towards the distant city. Only the squirrel holding a pine cone on the tree saw this scene, but it obviously couldn’t understand what was happening.

When Shard stepped into Belindel’s mansion, the western sky already showed the glow of the sunset.

Shard first greeted Angelina and Emilia in the hall, who were carrying bags filled with herbal medicine. He also petted the Little Unicorn, which was holding a paper bag in its mouth. Then he embraced Mia on the stairs; after arriving on the second floor, he greeted Tifa and Miss Matilda, who were in the corridor talking softly and moving left. The maids watching him go upstairs noticed his fatigue.

Finally, Shard met Luviya and Miss Belindel in the third-floor study. Miss Aphrola and Miss Eles were absent, having gone to investigate the coastal area with the Witch and Blue Dragon Girl.

"Shard, you’ve returned just in time. Dinner is about to start."

The Countess with the crimson birthmark between her brows smiled. Shard shook his head and sat beside Luviya:

"I’ll be heading out soon, so I won’t eat dinner. Let’s discuss important matters first, regarding the relic you divined yesterday."

Putting the soft cat on his lap, Shard carefully recounted his day’s experiences. After he finished, the purple-eyed girl expressed concern:

"Why didn’t you even have lunch?"

"That’s not the focus. My Vampire Kind friend has already deduced what that relic is. I returned to seek your opinions, as you both are professional diviners."

Miss Diviner showed a smile, and the Countess’s golden eyes watched Shard:

"Your friend’s deduction seems correct. Judging by its current manifestation, it’s indeed that relic: the Sage-Level Relic [Richard’s Notes], named for the name ’Richard’ written on the notebook’s title page."

"This relic’s trait is relatively simple. Anyone who opens and attempts to write any text in the notebook will be completely controlled by the relic, and attempt to use the notebook’s power to punish the ’unjust.’ The notebook’s power is also straightforward: writing the name of someone whose appearance is known will cause that person to die unexpectedly.

If the cause of death is described in detail, that person will likely die accordingly; if not specified, they will die of a heart attack."

Luviya also added that they had already speculated before. The clues Shard brought today only confirmed their hypothesis:

"It’s a standard Destiny-type relic. Some even call it the ’Justice Notes’ or ’Grim Reaper Notes,’ but in reality, this notebook has nothing to do with the ancient Grim Reaper."

Miss Belindel continued, the two cooperating seamlessly:

"Yet, this notebook’s judgment on ’just or unjust’ is quite strange. Most character flaws are deemed unjust. As more names are written on the notebook, its killing frequency increases, as do the murders’ intensity. You may understand that towards the end, almost everyone would appear in the notebook.

The only way to stop this relic is to kill the current controller of the notebook. After all, without a controller, the notebook can’t write on its own."

"But you also have to be cautious."

Luviya advised:

"For that notebook, even a drop of blood in the absence of a holder can be considered ’writing.’

Shard nodded. He sighed in relief that Mr. Albert’s conjecture was substantiated. Knowing what it is makes it easier:

"So it’s an obsessive justice, huh? According to you, does the notebook have a consciousness of its own?"