Back in Rhine City, it was almost dark.
The group immediately rushed into the megalithic gate of the Knowledge Library.
The same familiar librarian greeted them, completely unsurprised by their arrival, as if he had long anticipated it. Without Lynch even needing to state his purpose, the librarian calmly accepted the stone box, not even opening it for a glance or inspection.
After handing over the 《Necronomicon》, Lynch felt a sense of loss, yet also a great relief.
Even though he couldn't understand it, and it was useless for anything but attracting trouble, the book seemed to possess a magical allure, constantly drawing its holder to claim it and keep it close.
This was likely why the hillmen's High Priests dared not even touch it. They seemed to understand the writing, and if they couldn't resist its allure and read the strange tome, they would follow in the footsteps of their predecessors.
It was too dangerous. After much thought, Lynch finally gave it away. Though reluctant, he was at least free of debt and could rightfully reclaim the Miracle of Light.
Now, he just had to patiently await the results of Nightingale's medicinal concoction. If all went well, he might not even need the Miracle of Light, but even so, Lynch still wanted to get his hands on it.
Although uncertain, its name suggested that besides healing, the Divine Authority contained within this mystery relic likely also encompassed the Authority of Light. And whether it was the crimson moon or the silver-white moon, light was undoubtedly one of their authorities.
This Authority was something he urgently needed. Therefore, getting the mystery relic into his hands, even if he didn't use it directly, might allow him to find a way to extract the Authority of Light from it. This was extremely appealing to Lynch.
However, he would wait for news from Mrs. Nightingale before making a decision. Having handed over the 《Necronomicon》, he now held the initiative and didn't need to rush.
Relieved of his burden, Lynch was in high spirits. On a whim, he decided to first return to Villa Avenue, called out Mrs. Maggie and little Martha, and took the four ladies—three adults and one child—straight to Lattis Kitchen in the gray fog zone.
Though not the most upscale restaurant in Rhine City, its ambiance and cuisine attracted many nobles and officials, so Diana wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Besides, he had promised little Martha a grand meal here, and today was the perfect day to fulfill that promise.
Returning to the restaurant, Lynch felt as if an eternity had passed.
Just a few months ago, he had dragged himself in with a withered hand, facing only five hours left to live, death looming at any moment. He had clung to life by a thread, starting from here and fighting inch by inch to reclaim his existence, all the way to this present moment.
Now, visiting again, the waiter was the same as before, but Lynch was no longer the same Lynch.
There were still many people queuing at the entrance, and Lynch initially felt a bit awkward, but Miss Diana simply smiled and taught him a lesson.
In any era, privileges exist. These privileges aren't for you personally, but for your status. Whether you want them or not, as long as you hold that status, privileges will always accompany you, impossible to shake off, until you lose that status.
Lynch quickly understood what the Countess meant.
As soon as the group entered, before they could even trouble a waiter, Lynch merely glanced around the hall when a recently seated guest immediately stood up. The guest respectfully invited the group to their hard-won table, happily moving to another spot to dine.
It was merely a banker he had met once at a Duke's mansion ball, but making an impression on the popular Sir Lynch Levive and a noble young lady was worth not just waiting an entire evening for free, but even a whole day.
Experiencing the changes brought by his altered status for the first time, Lynch was momentarily bewildered. Miss Diana, however, thoughtfully patted his arm and led everyone to their seats.
The treatment was completely different from his last visit. Though equally polite, the waiters now clearly displayed the utmost enthusiasm.
For every need of Lynch and his companions, they didn't even need to vocalize it. Merely thinking it would prompt a waiter, who, through their expressions and gazes, would quickly understand their desires and fulfill them promptly before being asked.
It wasn't exactly fawning, but the service was exceptionally comfortable, making Lynch finally understand why so many people desperately strove to climb the social ladder. A change in status brought about a complete transformation, offering an almost entirely different life experience. Though he didn't particularly like these changes, Lynch had to admit they were indeed alluring.
Mrs. Maggie and little Martha were still unaccustomed to it, initially appearing quite flustered and awkward. Fortunately, they were soon captivated by the delicious food. They occasionally cast worried glances at Lynch, especially after hearing him mention possibly going to Norin in a few days. Their expressions stiffened until they heard that all three of them would go together, wouldn't stay long, and would return in a few days, at which point the landlady visibly exhaled in relief.
Yes, while Lynch was inclined to accept Her Highness Princess Sophia's invitation, the specific arrangements still depended on the initial outcome of the plague incident here. Otherwise, if something urgent required his crucial cooperation and he was off in Norin, it would truly be troublesome. Her Highness Princess Sophia had likely considered this, which was why she set the date for July 20th. By then, the medicine would certainly be available, and any issues would likely have surfaced, allowing him to leave with peace of mind and explore a broader world.
He wasn't placating Mrs. Maggie; at least in the short term, he had no plans to move to the capital.
After all, Natalie and Diana would both be returning to Rhine, and Lynch couldn't possibly leave the two ladies behind. Furthermore, he didn't want to miss the subsequent excavation of Zur-Baha-Sahr; he might even find some good spoils there.
Of course, there was also the most important point: he didn't intend to get too close to Princess Sophia.
“Her Highness has a liking for me, I can feel it, but I won't lose my head over it and truly expect any further developments between us.” Lynch chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Regardless of how much of her affection is genuine and how much is merely to win me over, even if it were all sincere, the difference in our statuses is still there. There’s no need to chase unrealistic dreams; otherwise, not only would I attract countless enemies, but I’d also earn the reputation of being a princess-climber, which would be more trouble than it’s worth.”
These words left both Diana and Natalie slightly stunned, especially the Countess. She looked at Lynch in surprise: “Was your original status truly just that of a commoner? To understand the principles of noble interaction so profoundly. I was worried you’d be swayed by Sophia’s demeanor, but it seems you see things very clearly.”
Well, watching so many palace dramas in my previous life wasn't for nothing.
Lynch scratched his head, his face slightly flushed, and mumbled, “Besides, I’m not really scum. Having you two with me is enough; I’m not planning any more fantasies.”
Though his voice was low, someone still heard it. A certain unnamed officer, though a smile played on her lips, glared sharply at Lynch from the corner of her eye: “So, Mr. Levive, could you tell me what you mean by ‘you two’?”
...
“I’ll go pay the bill first.”
Lynch got up and slipped away, leaving behind a few soft laughs.
Rate on N.U.
