Chapter 197: Old Hatred

After noticing Alberts expression wasnt quite right, Annan quickly found an excuse, grabbed Salvatore, and hurriedly left. He handed the interrogation on Rotten Mans a.s.sa.s.sin to Albert.

After all, the information coming from the a.s.sa.s.sin wouldnt include Annan Austere-Winter. Also, Albert had now become a solid ally, which he would tell Annan if there was information of significance.

After Annan left the church with Salvatore, he immediately a.s.signed new missions to the players.

Then, he commenced his next plan without hesitation.

Though, it felt like fleeing to escape from his crime.

Annan had the players go to No. 12, Rusty Water Street in the east area.

It was located next to the Gerald Dental ClinicNottdamms current residence, where Nottdamm lived with his new wife.

In actual fact, his designated wife had not officially married him, let alone getting pregnant.

At No, 44, Clear Water Street, where the actual Maemis Nottdamm was pregnant, Annan and Salvatore went to check the situation in person.

Annan had notified the players not to startle the target but just observe if there were any abnormalities.

Currently, Annan wanted to experiment with Salvatore.

He wanted to try if the door at No. 44, Clear Water Street, in the west area, was closed.

Will the door at No. 12 Rusty Water Street open then?

In other words, are the two rituals interlocked?

Annan remembered the first time they went to No, 44 Clear Water Street, the door was open, and there was no one inside. It was after all the doors were closed that the past, which was four years ago, flipped over from the mirror into reality.

If the two sides were interlocked, then Annan wanted to test it out. If the past consisted of childbirth was inverted, had the non-existing ritual failed or was it a success for the ritual to hide?

If it were the former situation, then Annan would have to set up defenses for both sides simultaneously. However, for the latter case, he only had to place his defenses on Rusty Water Street.

But if the rituals on the two sides werent interlocked, that would be fun.

Annan just wanted to know one thing

What will happen if two Nottdamm meet? Annan a.n.a.lyzed with a serious face, Arent you curious, senior?

Even though his ident.i.ty was exposed, he still habitually called out Senior Salvatore.

Salvatore was still used to calling him, Don Juan.

But now, Salvatore looked at Annan with a complex expression.

Honestly, Don Juan, do you know His Highness Kafni?

Salvatore looked curious and lowered his voice to ask, Just tell me. I promise not to let anyone else know.

Annan looked helpless, I really dont know her.

For real? Salvatore doubted.

Seeing the seniors persistent questioning, Annan couldnt help but sigh, Yes

Regardless of whether the past Annan knew her before, the current Annan didnt know her anyway.

Annan didnt dare to accept this kind of unfounded kindness.

Annan didnt mind deceiving others, nor did he have an obsessive-compulsive disorder issue when his teammates were hurt. Annan would even let the weaker teammates block the bullet as long as his goal could be achieved.

The purpose was to allow more important teammates to survive first.

All efforts were for efficiency.

Just like Salvatore was easy to be fooled, so Annan didnt want to fool him.

Kafni claimed to protect him, and it was for free. So, Annan didnt want her to tank any potential damage and lose her health points.

Also, Annan didnt need protection.

I have tools (players) that can be resurrected at any time to tank the health damage.

If there were enemies, Annans resurrection authority could be fully utilized. With 4 Bronze players keeping giving their lives indefinitely, Annan could stop the enemy no matter what. If the four of them couldnt stop the enemy, adding a Kafni into the equation probably wouldnt change anything.

Worse still, she would take away the experience points.

But with His Royal Highness Kafni, I dont think we will need to utilize our prior preparations.

Salvatore exclaimed, I dont know if its a pity or a blessing, but we wont be using Sages Stone anymore.

Its better not to use it. Annan said without hesitation, Believe it or not, after we take this item out, we will be troubled indefinitely?

Of course, I believe thats true. Salvatore shrugged, Sages Stone is something that all Alteration Wizards are pursuing. Other than them, it garners huge demand for all the big shots.

Speaking of which, senior.

Annan feels that the timing was appropriate for him to ask this question so that he wouldnt appear to have an ulterior motive, Even if you suddenly dreamed about the refining method of Sages Stone, where did the inspiration come from?

I do not know either. Salvatore choked at the question and replied vaguely with a wry smile, Dream Its just a dream.

Idiot. I dont know how to use Prophet spells, so I dont know prophecy. At this moment, the shadow made a low and hoa.r.s.e voice, Its Teacher Benjamins notes you saw before you left Black Tower. Your memory is getting worse, Salvatore.

Well, isnt it because you disturb my sleep?

Salvatore almost scolded out.

But he still endured it.

Oh yes, its Teacher Benjamins notes! Salvatore pretended to remember all of a sudden, with a look of realization on his face, I saw it before I left Black Tower!

Annans footsteps stopped suddenly, Benjamin again?

He turned around and asked with a bit of surprise.

Watching Annans reaction, Salvatore blinked his eyes, Whats wrong?

I forgot to tell you some information before, senior. Annan said quietly and quickly, Your Excellency Benjamin is indeed not dead. He even came to Freezing Water Port 10 days ago;

I saw from the nightmare that Gerald manifested. The person who was under your pursuit. He had a great relations.h.i.+p with Benjamin a few years ago, at least when their relations.h.i.+p had trust;

Gerald and Benjamin are both witnesses of Master Michelangelos ritual, and they are all together now. So I was thinking

You want to say that the matter with me crafting the Sages Stone is also part of Benjamins teachers plan? Salvatore quickly understood what Annan meant.

Salvatore was in a daze and almost thought this was the truth. This was because he knew Benjamins behavior. Benjamin also knew he had a shadow. Most likely that the Sages Stone was one of Benjamins arrangements at this time.

Teacher Benjamin is indeed the kind of person who calculates ahead. But Salvatore quickly denied, But this is impossible. Teacher Benjamin isnt proficient in Prophet spells.

But Master Michelangelo did, replied Annan.

From the moment Annan heard the name Benjamin, he suddenly realized one thing.

A ritual always needs an executor, right?

Annan initially thought that the past Michelangelo personally arranged this ritual. But if everything was within Michelangelos plan, while Benjamin and Gerald were both p.a.w.ns of his chessboard

Why did Benjamin not feel the slightest anger being exploited when he heard that Michelangelo was about to resurrect in the nightmare?

But, if they are ritual executors, then

If Gerald hadnt died, what would happen? Annan murmured, He was able to control the situation immediately when he met with the viscount. A Bronze Rank hunter couldnt resist Geralds mind control, especially from the viscount and Rotten Man believers.

As the ritual controller, he is undoubtedly the most stable choice. After Geralds death, Benjamin is the ritual executor.

Salvatore asked, What are you trying to say, Don Juan?

There was a vague idea in his mind that wasnt well-formed, but he couldnt organize it well.

Fool. The shadow cursed in a low voice.

Annan replied, Its straightforward.

At the next moment, Annan and the shadow almost overlapped in voices,

Suppose the contradiction (hatred) between Benjamin (teacher) and Gerald was caused by this matter now?

That matter referred to the resurrection of Michelangelo!

Because Annan clearly remembered that Gerald killed all Benjamins students a few years ago, but their relations.h.i.+p was pretty good at that time.

But after that, as a new student of Benjamin, Salvatore didnt seem to know the relations.h.i.+p between them. He thought that Gerald and Benjamin were old enemies for many years. Black Tower also issued a wanted order to Gerald, To get the hammer back.

But what use was that hammer for Swamps Black Tower?

And Gerald was also trying to use Salvatore to advance into Gold Rank.

Salvatore was Black Towers Son. If Gerald killed him, Gerald wouldnt end up well.

But why was he in such a hurry?

Probably because Benjamin was fighting with Gerald for the right to execute this resurrection ritual!