Hearing Fanny's explanation, Ebner was left speechless. He'd never expected something like this could even damage one's "reputation"...
But compared to normal reputational concerns in Loen, this type of "reputation" clearly mattered more to him… So he obediently gave up the idea of returning to the ballroom immediately and lingered in the garden's secluded corner with Fanny a while longer.
About half an hour later, he finally escorted her back into the main ballroom… only to run into a man and a woman walking out, arm in arm, just as they reached the door.
The lady appeared to be in her thirties, with attractive features and a curvy figure. She wore a relatively conservative green gown that only bared her shoulders, and around her fair neck hung a necklace adorned with various tiny gears.
"Bishop Therese," Fanny curtsied at the sight of her.
Having decided to pursue a political career, she had memorized the appearances of many prominent Trier figures over the past week—Bishop Mary Therese was one of them.
After the greeting, Fanny exchanged a few pleasantries but, noticing that the bishop and her male companion seemed eager to leave, tactfully stepped aside to let them pass.
Once the pair had entered the garden, Fanny leaned in and whispered to Ebner, "That woman is Mary Therese, a bishop of the Church of Steam…
"Though only mid-sequence, she's very well respected among the public and has a great reputation. She's one of our Surrey Family's most important allies."
Bishop Therese… I remember someone from the Machinery Hivemind mentioned her when I was investigating Mr. Wolfe in prison. Said she was incredibly kind...
That thought crossed his mind, but Ebner's attention was focused more on the man beside the bishop.
Even though the man had altered his appearance, Ebner still recognized him from his aura—it was the "Prophet" Taylor, who had once entered the first level of the Dream Labyrinth Tower with him.
What's he doing in Trier? Isn't there still a bounty on his head from the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun? And he dares show up at a ball?
Wait, back in the Hall of Honesty, his "dear friends" list did include Mary Therese…
So, this is him meeting up with an old flame?
Puzzled, Ebner followed Fanny back onto the dance floor while using the "Scholarly Exchange" ritual to initiate a mental "meeting" with Taylor.
Taylor quickly accepted the incoming "knowledge," allowing Ebner to enter his "Learning Space."
Standing within what had grown into a full-blown library, Ebner couldn't help but remark, As expected of a demigod… Then he greeted Taylor and asked half-jokingly, "I'm not interrupting you and the lady, am I?"
"Once a Reader reaches the demigod stage, multitasking becomes second nature," Taylor replied with a smile.
So, multithreading. I could do that too using the Eye of Pure White… but if I activate that here, this Surrey ball might become a crime scene.
Just as Ebner finished that internal grumble, Taylor added, "This ritual is quite handy. I might just redeem it from the Tower of Wisdom and learn it myself."
After a short pause, he continued, "By the way, Honored Follower, I actually had something I needed your help with."
Ebner was momentarily surprised. He had assumed Taylor was a helper sent by Dragon 25. But now it seemed that wasn't the case.
"What is it?" Ebner asked cautiously.
"My current task requires a high-sequence Sealed Artifact from the Seer path… I foresaw that you might be the one who can help," Taylor said directly. "I also know you've recently been buying up newspapers. If you could lend me that artifact for a while, I'd be willing to transfer half the shares of The Lane Report to you."
"The Lane Report? Young Mr. Wolfe sold his inherited shares to you?" Ebner asked in surprise.
He had heard a few days ago that Wolfe had sold his shares, and had felt slightly guilty about letting down that lion. After all, Leon treasured The Lane Report the most… He hadn't expected the situation to turn around like this.
As for the Sealed Artifact with the Trickmaster characteristic—he didn't have much personal use for it. Renting it out wouldn't interfere with his plan to eventually sell it to Klein…
Thinking that through, Ebner nodded in agreement.
He didn't ask what exactly Taylor had been tasked with.
But privately, he did have a few guesses… Now that Zaratul's dead for good, maybe Two-Five-Dragon is trying to squeeze some benefit from the Secret Order?
...
On the weekend, at St. Samuel Cathedral in Backlund, a wedding was taking place.
Captain Dunn, now disguised as the wealthy merchant Dwayne Dantès, stood at the altar in a sharp tuxedo, nervously adjusting his bow tie again and again.
In a corner of the church, Leonard, the black-haired, green-eyed poet, gazed at him for a long while before looking away.
He muttered under his breath, "So that's how it is…
"Those eyes really do look like the Captain's… No wonder Daly's marrying him.
"She must be treating this Dantès fellow as a stand-in…
"Poor guy. Looks like he'll spend the rest of his life living in the Captain's shadow…
"But either way, he did help Daly walk out of her pain…
"For that alone, we Nighthawks owe him.
"Hopefully, once I kill Ince and avenge the Captain, Daly will be able to fully accept him!"
Just then, a faint scoff seemed to echo in Leonard's ears, but it vanished quickly.
"Old man? Was that you?" Leonard asked, but didn't hear Pallez respond. He assumed he had misheard.
What he didn't know was that the reason Dunn was distracted at the altar was because he had sensed Leonard and was using that to take his mind off his own nerves.
Still as lazy and laid-back as ever… Even Red Glove training couldn't beat that habit out of him. Dunn smirked slightly and then recalled Old Neil… and Klein, who had died at the Blackthorn Security Company. He couldn't help but think:
Old Neil, Klein… Back then, you two kept trying to match Daly and me up…
Now, she and I are getting married… In the Goddess's kingdom, you'll bless us too, won't you?
At the same time, above the grey fog, Klein silently observed the entire scene through Miss Judgment, who had attended as a guest.
"Captain, I bless you and Miss Daly. May your love stay true forever," he said softly.
As for Ebner… Even though he was sure not using the Eye of Pure White would prevent any incident, he still chose not to attend in person.
Better safe than sorry. If something happened at their wedding because of him, he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
So instead, he waited quietly at a nearby café for the ceremony to conclude.
Soon, cheerful and festive music rang out from the cathedral, gradually taking on a sacred tone.
Then, Miss Daly entered from the doorway in a white wedding gown, accompanied by Bishop Electra. Step by step, she walked down the aisle toward the altar.
—Her family had perished long ago in the incident that made her a Corpse Collector, so as a Nighthawk, she had asked an elder bishop to stand in for family.
When Dunn saw his beloved walking toward him in her gown, he couldn't stop himself from smiling.
This was his wedding.
Above the grey fog, Klein leaned back slightly and lowered his head.
"It's the first time I've seen the Captain smile like that…"
In a far corner, Leonard muttered, "He's grinning dumber than a curly-haired baboon…"
Inside the church, after Daly was escorted to the altar by Bishop Electra, she gave Dunn a slight curtsy before turning to face the sacred emblem and the priest.
Dunn bowed in return and followed suit.
The priest began:
"Under the gaze of the Merciful Goddess, I now bear witness to this sacred union."
"Praise the Goddess." All believers of the Evernight Goddess present raised their right hands and tapped their chests four times clockwise, forming a crimson symbol.
Klein, too, followed along above the grey fog.
When the congregation quieted, the priest turned to the bride and asked:
"Miss Daly Simone, do you take this man beside you as your husband, to enter into a marriage covenant? Do you vow to love, respect, accompany, and care for him, through poverty and wealth, in sickness and health, until the end of life?"
Daly instinctively touched her stomach, then looked at the holy symbol of the Evernight Goddess and solemnly nodded.
"I do."
Dunn's deep eyes softened. He looked at Daly, about to become his wife, as if trying to etch her into his very bones.
Then the priest turned to him and asked:
"Mr. Dwayne Dantès, do you take this woman beside you as your wife, to enter into a marriage covenant? Do you vow to love, respect, accompany, and care for her, through poverty and wealth, in sickness and health, until the end of life?"
"I do!" Dunn responded without hesitation.
When the priest officially pronounced them husband and wife, Daly boldly lifted her gown, stepped forward, rose on tiptoe, and kissed Dunn fiercely on the lips.
The guests stood up and applauded.
"I finally became your wife… My dear Mr. Dunn Smith!
"The only light in my life!"
A tear slipped from the corner of Daly's eye.
...
Outside the church, Ebner, faintly hearing the cheers of the crowd, whispered to himself:
"This might be the most fulfilling change my transmigration has brought about so far.
"It's wonderful…
"This time, you didn't miss each other…
"This time, you both reached for each other's light."
So the beautiful dream was real after all.
(End of Chapter)