When Freya returned to the manor, it was already late at night, but Amandina had been waiting for this moment after sending the youth away.
When she heard Freya's description, she understood what had happened. She was a little surprised, thinking that it was such a coincidence. With her astuteness and intelligence, she immediately thought that the people that Brendel had captured were probably the same group of outlaws that Diane had encountered. She asked Freya to wait for a while, then went back to the house to get the shawl and the necklace without the pendant, and then set off to meet up with Brando.
When the two of them arrived at the hunter's camp, the patrolling knights wasted another two to three hours in vain, and still did not get a single word out of the cultists. They searched the hunter's camp again and again, almost turning it upside down, before they found a sixteen-page black-covered book called the Codex of All Things, and a wooden statue with a coiled serpent carved on it. The statue was obviously often used in various kinds of ceremonies, and its surface had long been polished smooth, but it was very clean, and there was not a trace of dirt on it. It was a stark contrast to the filthy and unkempt outlaws. As for the Codex of All Things, Ou Jin took a glance at it and hurriedly threw it aside. This was a forbidden book that the Holy Cathedral of Fire prohibited from reading and spreading, and he seemed to be afraid that the book would come alive and bite him, and cause him trouble.
But the young men under him were more careful. They first opened the Codex of All Things and flipped through a few pages to make sure that there was nothing inside. Then, they fumbled around the cover, and opened it up. In the end, they really did pull out a thin piece of parchment, but it was a pity that there was nothing on the parchment. The patrolling knights tried all kinds of methods, whether it was dripping a potion on it, roasting it with fire, or putting it under the moonlight, but there was no way to make the parchment show any words. Brando tried a few small magic tricks, but to no avail. In the end, he could only put it aside.
At first, the young patrolling cavalrymen were full of energy, determined to show off in front of the Count. But after a few hours, they couldn't help but yawn. The cultists seemed to be made of special materials. No matter how they were tortured and wailed, they did not say a word. They even killed one of them as an example. The rest of the cultists were trembling in fear, but they still gritted their teeth and refused to speak. Compared to death, they were more afraid of the torture after death. These people had already dedicated their souls to the devil and the dusk. Once they opened their mouths and fell into hell, what awaited them was a fate worse than death.
After the gloomy Moya sunk into the horizon from the mountains in the east, Tadessa, who only appeared in the autumn night sky, was halfway through the journey. The stars in the north and the south changed. There was only a short period of time left in the night. Everyone was exhausted, but they still got nothing. Ou Jin couldn't help but look at Brando a little apologetically, but Brando said that it was fine. He was lucky, but this result was also expected. He looked at the young people who looked like frosted eggplants. Although he knew that they were just flattering him, he was still very satisfied. He planned to wait until dawn to search the camp one last time. If it didn't work, he would think of another way. These people would always leave some clues.
And it was at this time that Amandina, accompanied by Freya, finally arrived at the camp.
Amandina was very smart. When she saw the messy camp and the young people of the patrol team who seemed to have not slept for at least a week, she knew that the Lord was so troubled because of her. Otherwise, why would he have to make things difficult for a group of insignificant cultists? He was not Braggs's sheriff, and the sheriff might not personally care about these trivial matters. She bowed slightly to Brando, and then asked him about the story of the night. She first glanced at the cultists to make sure that she had never met them before, and then checked the scattered things found in the camp one by one. But when she heard Brando mention the blank parchment, she looked up and said to Brando,
"My Lord, let Captain Ou Jin send these outlaws away first. As you can see, they probably won't talk."
Brando glanced at Amandina. The two of them had worked together for quite some time, and he could already hear some hidden meaning in her words, so he nodded.
The patrolling cavalrymen hurriedly tied up the remaining living people with ropes. Of course, they also tied up the dead people. No matter if they were still breathing or dead bodies lying on the ground, it was still their credit. Since the easy-going Count had already expressed that he would give them the credit, they naturally wouldn't be polite. Although they might not really need the credit, a cultist could be exchanged for a lot of bounty, enough for them to squander.
When the patrol team was busy, Amandina pulled Brando and Freya aside and whispered: "My Lord, I think I know why they are here."
Brando was slightly startled and looked at his Amandina with some confusion. Amandina looked at him and then told the two of them what happened to Di An. Then she said: "My Lord, do you still remember the will my father left behind?"
Brando nodded.
"… … Martha above, I may not be alive for long. If someone is lucky enough to see this will of mine after my death, I am willing to legally transfer all my belongings to this person. In addition, I also have a secret ancestral property. I am willing to divide this wealth into three parts. One part will be given to this person, one part will be given to my wife, Sadie, and one part will be left to my daughter … … "
Amandina thought for a moment and recited the contents of the will word by word as if she was reading it: "If the person who sees this will be interested in this wealth, please pass this will and my keepsake to my wife. Also, tell her about the 'date at the Baden ball'. She will understand what I want to express."
In the end, she stopped and read for a while in silence: "Finally, I am sorry to Sadie. May Lady Martha punish me —"
Brando looked at Amandina and knew that she would not do anything unnecessary. He waited for her to continue. Amandina took a light breath: "When my father was young, he was very poor for a period of time. He met my mother at a ball at that time, and they fell in love very quickly. At that time, they bought a mansion in the old town of Braggs. The courtyard where I was born was bought after my father earned some money. I think I know where my father left his inheritance."
Brando couldn't help but laugh. Amandina was always so serious. He was short of money at that time, so he valued her father's will. But no matter how much inheritance Borg Nesson left behind, it was just a drop in the bucket for Tónigel. He was just a small noble. "Amandina, since you remember where your father's inheritance is, then think of a way to find it. It's good to have it as a souvenir." He suddenly stopped and looked at Amandina with surprise: "You're saying that these people are after your father's inheritance?"
Amandina nodded her head lightly.
This could explain part of the problem. Only these low-level cultists would care about this small amount of money. They might have gotten wind of it from somewhere and wanted to make a fortune. But it could not explain why Tirste and Megeschke were after it. Perhaps they did not care about the same thing. But Brando looked at the two White-Winged Cavalry deserters who were tied up. Their relationship with Megeschke was not a coincidence. He knew that his guess was not correct.
If only they could speak, it would be good. But it was impossible.
Amandina looked at her lord's deep frown and said softly: "My lord, I think I might have some clues about that blank parchment."
"You have a way?" Brando came back to his senses.
Amandina shook her head: "It's just a guess. I'll have to take a look to be sure."
The parchment was placed together with the Codex of All Things, sandwiched between the pages of the book. Brendel asked a young man to bring the forbidden book over. Amandina opened it and took out the parchment. She flattened it out, and her eyes revealed a look of understanding. She hesitated for a moment, then said to Brando with some hesitation: "My lord, this is a letter. I think I can make the words appear on it, but … … But can you let me do this alone?"
"A letter?" Brando was slightly surprised. He looked at Amandina with some doubts in his heart, but he still nodded.
"Thank you, my lord." Amandina was grateful. Brando did not ask her what she wanted to do. This was a silent trust that made her feel satisfied and gratified. She excused herself from Brando and took the parchment to a wooden house. She raised her hands to the back of her neck and took off the necklace hanging around her neck. The necklace still had the key to the house 52 on Gravedigger's Street. She laid the parchment and the necklace on the ground. Then she knelt down and bit her finger, dripping blood on the necklace where the pendant originally hung. At this time, a miraculous scene occurred. The blood flowed down the necklace and floated in the air, outlining the outline of a crystal. This imaginary crystal emitted a faint light. Amandina shone the light on the parchment, and lines of words gradually appeared on the parchment.
Amandina looked at the words and sighed. She waited until the blood on the necklace gradually dissipated, then put the parchment back on and carefully covered the necklace with her shawl.
Brando waited for a little while for Amandina to come out. She walked to his side and handed the parchment to him. "Did it work?" Brando asked. Amandina nodded gently. Amandina,
He looked at her carefully. Amandina might have some little secrets that others did not know, but Brando believed that she would not harm him, so he did not ask any more questions. Everyone had their own secrets, and he respected Amandina's choice. He opened the parchment and hurriedly glanced at the first two paragraphs on it. He raised his eyebrows slightly.
There was a special purple text on the letter that read:
"Dear Palmide, my brother."
We have never been so close to the truth, and the fragmented riddles have gradually formed a complete picture in front of me. I have taken good care of the Marshal's relics, and now I will set out to find the truth. I believe that one day, you and I, and everyone else will be treated justly. For thirty years, the nightmarish images that you and I witnessed in that place have haunted my mind, but to this day, I am convinced that the choice we made that day was one of justice and selflessness, and I shall soon prove it.
I believe that the Marshal may object to the Princess's request, but there are some things that we have to do. You, I, and The County have long agreed to keep this promise, and I have received this honor to preserve a part of the evidence. I am sure that in the near future, it will become an honorable witness. In addition, I have sealed a part of the fragments in the same place, as part of my legacy for my descendants. Because you and I both know this, what we are about to accomplish is full of unknowns and dangers. I think that if I were to meet with misfortune one day, these pieces of the puzzle would be preserved through my wife's hands. Oh yes, we have not written to each other for many years, and I forgot to tell you that I am married. My wife, Sadie, is the most beautiful girl in the world. I love her as much as I love myself, my parents, and the people I respect the most in the world. If possible, I hope that you can meet her. You will definitely fall in love with her. She is a quiet and gentle girl, knowledgeable, intelligent, and reserved. Sometimes I wish that she was the only princess in the world, and I am her Knight. But I am often away from home, and I owe her too much, and I feel very guilty about it.
Sadie and I already have a child of our love. She is my daughter, and I named her Amandina. Amandina is the Elvish word for flower of hope. My daughter looks very much like my wife, but I believe that she will become a knight in the future, like me. She is very clever, and has been able to see this since she was a child. I can see it in her eyes, a light of wisdom that I have only seen in the eyes of Her Royal Highness, and I am sure of it. I often think that if Lord Scott had a son, he could marry Amandina to him. They would be the brightest stars in Erouine's future. Haha, you will think that I am dreaming, but I have long heard that Lord Scott is already married, just like me. His betrothal is to the beautiful and gentle Lady Cartier. It is a pity that I do not know where they are staying, or I would have attended their wedding. Think about it, what an honor it would be.
Finally, I hope that you will always be healthy and strong as an ox. I hope that everything we do will be worthy of the Marshal, Her Highness, and everyone involved.
May the Black Pine be evergreen, and may Erouine live forever. May the faith shine as it was in the beginning, and may the sword be as sharp as ever.
— Since the Year of the Water Harp, I have missed your Shippard, your brother. "
Brando carefully read the last sentence before he raised his head and looked at Amandina in front of him. Amandina's face was slightly red, and it was obvious that she had read the whole letter before. She was a little embarrassed, and she whispered: "Please don't mind, my Lord. That is just my father's wishful thinking. You and Her Highness have another engagement, and there is also the Roman lady … You … You can just think of it as a kind joke, I … "
Originally, this letter was not a big deal. Anyone could see that it was just a family letter, and the contents could be seen as a joke between family members. But after all, it was through her hands, and she felt that there was something different about it. Amandina was a little uneasy, wondering if the Lord would think that she had played some little tricks in it. But in fact, the onlooker saw more clearly. Brando did not care about this matter at all. He was more concerned about the other contents of the letter. He looked at Amandina and smiled bitterly: "Amandina, this is the letter your father left, right?"
Amandina was startled and nodded subconsciously.
"Do you know this person Shippard?"
Amandina shook her head this time. She frowned and showed a thoughtful expression, but after a moment, she shook her head gently.
"Your father's real name is Shippard, isn't it?" Brando asked. He had never heard of this name. After all, this was a story from forty or fifty years ago. The history of this period in the game was just a passing mention.
Amandina trembled slightly, and then nodded gently: "Maybe so. He may have mentioned it to me once or twice. My father is from Seifer. In their place, from children to adults, they usually have two names. In private, brothers and family members often use the name that belonged to children as a nickname. "
Brando thought for a moment, and it seemed to be true. He looked at the letter in his hand and had a general outline in his mind. Based on the contents of the letter, Amandina's father and his grandfather might have some sort of relationship. Based on the titles in the letter, Amandina's grandfather should be from the same generation as Amandina's father and Ciel. That Pamid was obviously one of the officers, and he might even be one of Amandina's trusted subordinates. This was greatly beyond his expectations. He never thought that there would be such a connection between him and Amandina. In the past, he never believed in fate, but now he could not help but believe in it. It was as if there was an invisible line connecting him and Amandina together.
… …
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