Chapter 2082: Council Anecdotes
Although through the sunset handshakes, he indicated his willingness to cooperate with the witch in the future, when Shard withdrew his hand, he still shook his head:
"I’m sorry, I have my own matters to attend to tonight. I don’t know what you’re worried about, but until the diamond is found, I should not give up my actions in the Moon Bay Region."
Speaking of this, Shard sighed softly, unaware of when the [Hope Diamond] could be found:
"Let’s meet as agreed next time, I will keep the appointment. Although you’re puzzled about my identity, at least Miss Vanessa acknowledges that I am one of hers, right?"
The evening wind on the river blew the hair of the witch facing the young man before the railing who had a serious expression. She nodded, although there were countless questions in her heart, she didn’t expect Shard would really be willing to go with her:
"Alright, today is Sunday, let’s meet again on Monday morning. The time is ten in the morning, you determine the location."
"City Boat Museum."
"Even for me as a local, that’s a strange location, but no problem."
Shard did not explain his matter of viewing the sunken deck but instead reminded:
"Be cautious of the [Light Worshipper Training Association], ma’am, also please be safe."
"That’s what I want to say to you, Sharlo..."
After a pause, she asked the young man in front of her:
"I have no desire to call you ’Charlotte’, so what exactly is your name? Don’t tell me it’s Charlotte."
The golden eyes gazed at him, seeming almost to emit light, and Shard chuckled:
"John Watson, I will continue to use this name for now."
"Just hearing it, I know it’s a fake name. Well, see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Watson. If you don’t show up, I’ll ensure you can never set foot in the Moon Bay Region again. The Belindel Family has that ability."
Though her words carried threats, she still bid farewell to Shard politely. Shard wanted to ask what she saw on that parchment to make her call him "perverted" so rudely earlier, but the witch turned red:
"Hmm~"
She then boarded the carriage again with the maid carrying the crystal ball, but when waving goodbye through the carriage window, she hesitated and asked him again:
"So you, you really did, with the butterfly... relic..."
Shard understood at this point, silently blaming the "Dice Story Collection" for leaking his privacy while reluctantly responding:
"You saw it, didn’t you... Ma’am, this is my privacy, and I don’t recall being familiar enough with you for such matters to be discussed casually."
Miss Belindel snorted, seemingly angry, waved her hand to bid farewell, then urged the carriage to leave.
Shard stood at the railing watching the carriage depart, finally relaxing while marveling at what a miraculous day it had been.
[So, what’s your opinion of this Grand Witch?]
"She" asked with a smile.
"She... is very interesting."
(Mia running...)
Sunday, night, ten o’clock.
The sunlight fell from the high mist layer, illuminating the council’s round table and the surrounding thirteen Grand Witches. With the announcement of the meeting’s end by Adel Isabella, seated at the "Time" position, the Witch Council’s routine meeting finally came to a close:
"This meeting is officially over, you can go rest now, ladies, have sweet dreams."
"Sweet dreams, Miss Isabella."
Voices said in unison.
"Oh, meetings at night are truly tiring."
The thirteen ladies rose, tidying the documents and items at hand while chatting with nearby ladies. Miss Galina and Miss Aphrola exchanged a few words, while Megan went to Granny Cassandra and whispered something.
Soon, the Grand Witches began passing through the Mist Gates behind their respective seats, returning to their origins, leaving only three ladies lingering deliberately under the abrupt silence in the council.
Miss Bella Belindel glanced at Miss Sylvia, who was already sorting those documents for the third time while seated, then Miss Benanis spoke:
"Let Emma stay, I know what you want to ask, she’s also informed."
Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia exchanged a look and smile, the expression causing the crimson birthmark on Miss Belindel’s brow to quiver slightly:
"She knows too? Oh, Vanessa, Emma, do you know what you’re doing?"
The Great Witch of Destiny, who had endured the entire night, finally found an opportunity to express her doubt as she pressed a hand on the table and stood up, casting what she believed to be a questioning severe gaze at them:
"That’s a man, do you understand? That’s a man!! Where did he come from? Why did you not inform the other council members of his existence?"
"Don’t be so agitated, Bella, it makes wrinkles easily. John Watson is my follower, I mentioned it last time."
Even today, she remains a renowned opera singer across the world, resting her face in her hand as she looks at her colleague standing:
"I never said he was female, perhaps you didn’t notice, I used only neutral pronouns. As for his origins... I once encountered a tricky relic, and it was him who saved my Ciris."
Thinking of how she had been tied up as a puppet and then rescued by the Puppet Knight riding a cat, Miss Benanis couldn’t help but smile:
"He’s a very helpful guy, and who says I haven’t told others in the Council about him? Look, doesn’t Emma know about it?"
"Yes, Vanessa thinks this is hard to accept all at once, but she never intended to hide it for a lifetime, so she plans to let everyone in the Council know gradually. We know that gentleman well, he harbors no malice toward the Council, and has even assisted us with the matter of The Chosen One. See, counting you, three people already know now. We originally planned to first inform Granny Cassandra, but it’s not that simple."
The Space Witch also wore a smile on her face:
"Sit down, Bella. Are you unhappy because he caused trouble for you in Moon Bay City?"
Miss Belindel choked for a moment, reluctant to admit she had been saved. The light from above shone through the mist, illuminating three beautiful faces, while their hearts harbored two different thoughts.
"No, Vanessa’s follower didn’t cause any trouble and even helped me a lot, although he’s not High Ring, he’s quite impressive... but he’s a man, a man who defied the Witch’s Curse!"
The first half of the sentence was soft, but the tone rose in the latter half:
"You know what such an anomaly means to us, right? Witches will no longer be unique and pure, his existence challenges the very concept of witches! Is it that you all have lost your senses, or has the world gone even crazier?"
Miss Benanis then spoke again, her tone now more indifferent:
"Please calm down, Bella. I know his existence is astonishing, but I’ve said, I don’t intend to keep it hidden forever, just that this matter should be gradually accepted. You are right in one thing, he is indeed a capable person. I’ve sent him to the Moon Bay Region to search for the Unclassified Level Relic [Hope Diamond] because he is reliable. I know you have many questions and confusions, so why not do this, perform a divination, see what he really means to us."
Miss Belindel got even more annoyed:
"He has a special fate, I’ve never seen anyone like him, I’m unable to divine his matters..."
Suddenly taken aback, then hesitantly looked at her two colleagues’ expressions:
"Wait, special fate... could he be The Chosen One?"
Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia laughed, the latter saying further:
"Yes, if that’s what you think, it really might be the case. Bella, after all, he has been operating in the Moon Bay Region lately, which is considered your territory. How about this, let’s keep this secret together for now, let him operate under your watch. If, after a month or two, you still insist on letting everyone know, we won’t stop you."
This proposal precisely hit the Great Witch of Destiny’s thoughts. In fact, she never intended to report Shard, she just couldn’t gauge Miss Benanis’ attitude and genuinely wanted to protect the common interests of witches.
Of course, to demonstrate herself as a steadfast "witch supremacist," Miss Belindel didn’t agree outright.
Miss Benanis showed a reluctantly agreeing expression, her charming, plaintive expression performed superbly:
"Emma, how could you propose that? I thought you’d support me. If you insist, so be it. Bella, aren’t you curious about him? If everyone in the Council knows about him, he certainly won’t be able to operate in the Moon Bay Region. Why not take this opportunity to research what peculiar fate he exactly holds."
"I feel like you two are teaming up to deceive me?"
Miss Belindel asked suspiciously, yet she wouldn’t oppose this proposal:
"Coincidentally, I’m short of hands recently; I can help you keep the secret for now, but Vanessa, I’ll need to borrow his power."
Saying this, she then recalled "John Watson"’s impressive performance that afternoon. Although the Seventh Ring could be counted as a core strength, that level of expression still far surpassed normal standards:
"During his time in Moon Bay, if I need him to do something, he must help. Of course, I won’t harm him and will provide compensation."
"I will answer on behalf of Vanessa."
Miss Sylvia replied promptly, glancing at Miss Benanis with a smile. The black-haired Space Witch teased:
"These two months, that dashing gentleman is temporarily yours. I met him at Green Lake, indeed a very capable person, sometimes even overly so, try not to be too surprised. Oh, I must remind you, be careful when using him, otherwise some might get heartbroken."
She used plural pronouns, but the witch with a birthmark on her forehead didn’t notice:
"Heartbroken? Speaking of, you two... don’t have anything with that man, do you?"
Golden eyes filled with confusion, and a bit of unobvious alarm.
"Of course not."
The Earth and Space Witches shook their heads in perfect unison:
"What are you thinking? We are witches, Bella, you ought to be ashamed of your thoughts."
Miss Benanis clarified once more:
"Ciris has a fondness for him, and he’s now an important member of the Golden Dawn. Let him assist you for now, you must protect his safety. If he encounters danger, Ciris will hold that Sage-Level Relic [Faded Memories] she got from Megan, and come to Moon Bay City to settle accounts with you."
"The Moon Bay Region is quite peaceful, do you think everywhere is Tobesk?"
Though simply stating a fact, for some reason, both Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia laughed again:
"Yes, may the Moon Bay Region remain peaceful."