Chapter 148: Joseph Buckel

Annan found out the store claimed to have the baker from the royal capital for a long time.

During the chatter with Salvatore back then, Annan wrote down all the places and characters that might have related to background stories.

Otherwise, Annan would not be able to introduce these elements to the players.

Annan didnt realize that the story of this baker would be so crucial in the past.

His original plan was to arrange for the idle players to go to Freezing Water Port to search for more clues. After the players find out more about these secret characters in their investigation, Annan would release missions to exchange the information with rare rewards and ample affection rates.

He could entice it by labeling the task as a secret mission.

Annan was confident once the keywords rare, hidden, and restricted were mentioned, players would go for it even if the rewards were mundane and average, let alone if he boasted the reward by a couple of margins

But who would have thought that this baker was merely a monk who swept the floor?!

(TN: Its a metaphorical expression saying that the baker appears ordinary like a random cleaner NPC)

This is weird

Annan bared his teeth, a little depressed.

He wore a somewhat thin coat, sprinting on the deserted streets against the cold December wind. Fortunately, the moonlight of the Freezing Water Port was fairly bright. So even if the path wasnt illuminated clearly, Annan could still distinguish his path and direction.

It was already 10:30 p.m. Freezing Water Port was unlike Roseburg. There was no night entertainment, and the fishermen had already fallen asleep.

Some shops that would open tomorrow morning were still working hard to prepare the things for the business tomorrow morning.

The fishermen watched Annan run by in surprise.

After being stunned, they saluted Annan with some trepidation.

Annan responded to them one by one politely too.

After half an hour, Annan finally arrived at the bakery not too far from the city lords residence.

Authentic Capital Bakery.

A concise and powerful signboard name.

They were authentic buns with meat in it simple and unpretentious.

But the bread here was delicious.

Several players bought the bread here for Annan as breakfast and snacks. The taste was indeed magnificent.

The bakery door would be closed at 11 p.m. However, lights were illuminating from within.

Is there anyone?

Annan raised his voice and asked, knocking on the door, h.e.l.lo!

After a while, a confused and impatient voice came from inside, We have sold out our buns. Dont you see what time it is already!

Im Don Juan Geraint.

After the other party answered, Annan stated his ident.i.ty clearly, May I trouble you to open the door.

Annan did all that just in case.

If Annan yelled out his name and knocked on the door, Buckel could pretend to be absent or already asleep to avoid him.

Annan felt it was a wiser choice to wait for Buckel to answer before stating his ident.i.ty.

At least Buckel couldnt use his petty tricks to avoid Annan.

After about eight seconds, Annan heard the sound of the door lock unlocking.

The wooden door opened.

The Buckel that appeared in front of Annan looked quite similar to Brother Sledgehammer in the dungeon instance. The only difference was that forty-five years ago, Brother Sledgehammer looked like he was in his thirties. Forty-five years later, he looked like he was in his fifties and almost sixty.

Although he had some gray hair and many wrinkles appeared in the corners of his eyes, Buckle didnt lose his steady demeanor. On the contrary, he seemed in great vigor without any hint of drowsiness even at 11 p.m.

The most significant difference was that Buckel no longer bore the ferocious murderous intent and hostility of forty-five years ago. Instead, he seemed a lot more quiet and peaceful.

It seems that there is probably no danger right now.

Annan breathed a sigh of relief.

But looking at Buckels face, Annan had a question in his mind immediately.

How old is this person this year?

Buckel looked forward subconsciously. After a brief pause, he lowered his head to look at Annan.

His gaze s.h.i.+fted to the bronze bracelet on Annans wrist at the first moment, then quickly moved away, looking at the ground.

Is there anything wrong, feudal lord?

His voice sounded respectful.

I may have to trouble you for something. But, can I go in first?

Annan nodded, making a tender and polite voice, Its a bit cold outside

Hearing this, Buckel hesitated slightly.

Buckel responded quickly, Its a bit messy. Please wait for me to clean up. It will be done in just a minute.

With that, Buckel closed the door again.

Annan raised his brows slightly,

This is impolite.

Generally speaking, shouldnt he bring guests to the living room first? At the very least, he shouldnt just let the guests suffer the cold wind outside

Buckel is from the royal capital, not a countryman. Would he not understand this etiquette?

Or is there anything he cant show to me?

Are you destroying evidence?

But such thoughts quickly ceased.

It was because Buckel cleaned up too quickly.

He closed the door for about five seconds, then opened the door back. Annan didnt hear any sound, nor did he see any flickering of lights inside. It even felt a little quiet inside.

Please come in, feudal lord.

Buckel respectfully welcomed Annan in.

He took Annan through the bakery shop and walked to the backyard. They walked through the yard to the back room.

After guiding Annan to sit down in the living room, he gave Annan a new pot of black tea.

Annan looked at the tea box curiously.

If Annan remembered correctly, the Noah Kingdoms people had a habit of drinking tea. The tea that Buckel drank was better than the tea Salvatore brought.

Is bakery such a profitable business?

After Buckel poured hot tea for Annan, Annan said gently, I heard some stories. But, before that, let me put this out first. Please dont mind too much about our conversation later

This

Well

Joseph Buckel.

Before Annan could ask anything, Buckel said his full name directly, You can just call me Joseph, lord.

Great. So, Joseph.

Annan readily followed after Josephs words.

He asked softly, I want to know at which year you came to Freezing Water Port?

About forty years ago, Joseph replied.

Specifically? Annan asked, Is it forty-five years ago?

Upon hearing this, Mr. Joseph Buckel was silent.

He paused, then sighed suddenly.

Then, he leaned back weakly.

Do you want to ask me Do I know Amos?

Josephs mouth twitched slightly, and he smiled bitterly, If thats what youre looking for, then yes. I do know him.

As he said, he took another glance at Annans bracelet.

Seeing that Annan didnt reply immediately, Joseph asked, I guess you just came out of a nightmare? Did you enter the nightmare on your own accord?

I entered the nightmare under Priest Louiss protection. Annan nodded and said softly.

He chose a relatively low-profile narration.

I see.

When Joseph heard this, he relaxed slightly. He said with a light smile, Did I scare you in the nightmare?

Its fine.

I had entered that nightmare back then. I was scared of myself at the time. But I took a trick and convinced myself directly. Joseph replied as he took a sip of tea.

Annan noticed the choice of word keenly.

Back then? Annan asked probingly.

He also noticed that Joseph was not wearing a curse vessel.

There was no bronze nor silver accessory Nothing at all.

Joseph wore a thin coat at home. The silver bracelet Annan had seen in the nightmare disappeared.

Joseph didnt avoid this topic.

He nodded, I gave up. Being transcended isnt my thing.

Hmph, what a light and easy excuse

.

Annans eyelids twitched.

Transcended. It isnt something you can leave behind so casually.

Isnt a path of no return after you enter the ranks of Transcended?

If you are planning to recruit me I can only say that I will help when I can.

Joseph smiled bitterly, But I am a useless person now. I dont retain much of the spellcasting ability. So what I can do is probably limited.

As Joseph spoke, he extended his hand, pointing at the kitchen and commanding,

[Continue Working].

In the kitchen not far away, the dough suddenly came alive and began to knead itself. Those fermented doughs lined up one by one into the oventhe bread baked previously jumped out by themselves.

There was an order to it as if the bread was taking the subway.

Simple temporary reanimation. My curse vessel cant be used anymore. The spellcasting ability I retain is just enough to prevent me from starving to death. I cant go back to Silver Rank either.

Joseph spread his hands, I just didnt know your intentions, so I turned around and entered the house to stop them from working to prevent them from frightening you at night.

What exactly happened forty-five years ago?

Although Joseph had many spell slots, Annan ignored this argument and asked important questions first, What is the final and true ending?

Joseph paused.

He opened his s.h.i.+rt and turned his back to Annan.

There were dense scars like a spider web at Josephs back.

But they werent exactly scar either.

It was more like a spider-web-like trace left by bullets. .h.i.tting a bulletproof gla.s.s. Those cobwebs were all his veins, leaving blemishes and b.u.mps on his back that were still beating slightly along with the heartbeat.

At the center of the spider-web-like scar

That position should be Josephs heart.

Amos killed me once. He launched a sneak attack from the future, and he has a powerful curse vessel in his hand. I cant dodge it and cant defend myself from it. That cults curse vessel, turbid blood bullet, hit the heart. A powerful curse is instilled within me. I fell into a near-death state

Joseph put down his clothes. He replied slowly and earnestly to Annan,

But after that, he didnt kill me. The reason is that the curse I bear will leak if I die.

Yes, he stole my curse vessel.