162 Backlund Street.
"Achoo."
Lex sneezed, feeling as if he had caught a cold, not only from being caught in a torrential downpour in the dead of winter, but also from encountering the Witch and her crystal ice spear.
Recalling it now, Lex felt a wave of lingering fear. If it hadn't been for the timely appearance of the Angel-like woman who eliminated the ice spear and the Witch, he and his mother might not have made it home.
He took a hot shower, feeling much warmer, then left his room and went to the dining room with Levto.
In the dining room, all the family members were already present. Bison and his mother Amelia were chatting, Joe and Pasha were playing, and only Harribel was diligently enjoying her dinner.
Seeing Lex, Bison smiled and nodded, saying, "You did very well. You protected your mother. Your mother just told me everything. Please sit down and eat with your friend."
After taking his seat, Lex said, "I wonder how the situation is in the East District and the Dock Area now."
"I've already sent people to inquire. It's truly terrifying; I never imagined a Witch would appear," Bison had already roughly understood what had happened from his wife's account.
Of course, neither he nor Amelia knew more than the most superficial aspects of the great smog incident, which was also the 'truth' most people would come to know.
Footsteps sounded, and Sebastian, the butler, walked into the dining room, approached Bison, bowed, and whispered.
Bison nodded slightly as he listened, then after a moment, said, "The incident should be resolved. Clergy from the Evernight Church and the Storm Church have already entered the East District and the Dock Area, and are helping the people there."
"According to Sebastian's observations and estimations, about two to three thousand people have died as a result, and there's also the possibility of Plague. You all should not go to the East District during this time, and if it's not something particularly important, it's best not to go out at all."
"I estimate that the upcoming Plague will continue to cause death, but since the Church has already intervened this time, the number of deaths should be controllable within a relatively small range."
Lex felt a slight sigh of relief. Although he couldn't completely prevent this, the casualties had been greatly reduced. It should be known that the number given by the Watcher was over sixty thousand deaths, and now, due to the smog, two to three thousand people had lost their lives. If the subsequent Plague is controlled in time, the total number of deaths should be kept within ten thousand.
However,
Ten thousand people is still a lot.
That represents thousands of families that might disappear forever. Just thinking about it, Lex's relaxed mood from earlier became somewhat heavy again.
"Let us pray for the deceased," Bison suggested, making four clockwise dots on his chest.
Lex sighed in his heart.
Although he was unwilling to admit it, at this moment, the only thing he could do was indeed pray.
Queen's Borough, Sodelak.
Anthony Stevenson, Horamick Haydn, Randall Valentinus!
The three Archbishops met in front of the palace and demanded an explanation from George III. Now, the Earl of the Palace had gone in to convey their wishes.
"Although we received news and were prepared, and reacted immediately when the disaster struck, many people still died."
'Deep Blue High Priest' Randall Valentinus's face was filled with anger, as if he was ready to rush in at any moment and grab George III from his throne.
The kind-faced Horamick sighed softly: "We have done our utmost. Now, it depends on how His Majesty the King explains this matter."
Anthony said in a deep voice: "We have only solved the surface problem, everyone. Don't forget, the one inside is the key."
The two Archbishops fell silent upon hearing this.
At this moment, the palace door opened, and the sweating Earl of the Palace walked out. The three Archbishops' gazes immediately fell upon him.
The Earl of the Palace endured the Archbishops' gazes, his body shrinking, then he reluctantly forced a smile and said, "Gentlemen, this matter has been thoroughly investigated."
"Prince Edessak was seduced by a Witch and colluded with a cult, attempting to rebel. But after the Prince's Conspiracy was exposed, he committed suicide."
"Additionally, Your Majesty has provided a solution. For those factory owners and bankers, no matter how they obtain the corresponding peerage, they can gain seats in the House of Lords. The property restrictions for elections will be relaxed, and invalid constituencies will be cleared."
"Similarly, the Air Pollution Investigation Committee will immediately issue its conclusions, relevant bills will be passed very soon, and regulations on minimum guarantees and working hours will also be presented in legal form in the near future."
"The Poor Law will be reformed according to the Church's requirements, and the Three Great Churches will be allowed to send personnel into the military."
"Your Majesty says this is the new order of the Kingdom, and hopes that you all can accept it."
After speaking, the Earl of the Palace looked at the Archbishops uneasily.
The clean-faced Anthony looked around and then uttered a single word: "Good."
"We of the Evernight Church have no objections."
With that, the old man in the black and red Archbishop's robe turned and prepared to leave.
The other two Archbishops also agreed successively, then followed Anthony.
Walking out of the palace, Randall snorted and looked at Anthony, saying, "You agreed quite readily."
Anthony did not answer.
Horamick, wearing a clergyman's soft hat, shook his head and said, "His Majesty the King made significant concessions, especially the last one."
"Under these circumstances, it's not appropriate for us to continue insisting. Now is not the time to completely fall out."
"After all, we need the Kingdom, we need… an anchor."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Randall's chest heaved for a moment, but he ultimately agreed.
In a small town on the outskirts of Backlund.
Klein had already changed into dry, clean clothes and was laying out the damp banknotes one by one on the table.
"I never expected the opponent to use a meteor to silence me. Thankfully, Mr. Azik had been secretly observing Military Intelligence Section 9 and the Royal family, and thankfully, he had been lingering near Red Rose Manor recently, otherwise I would have been dead for sure."
"Indeed, just as The Chariot said, the Aurora Order is seeking the descent of their Lord and is cooperating with the Witch Sect. But the Royal family is also involved in this matter; the helper who dealt with Mr. Azik alongside Ince Zangwill was clearly an 'Arbitrator' Demigod."
"Plus the Soldiers I encountered later…"
"Lady of Despair claimed she was going to 'commit arson' and had Mr. A Teleport her to the East District, which gave me a bad premonition."
He finally finished arranging the banknotes, then took out paper and pen, and wrote down the divination phrase: Old Kohler's current situation.
Klein entered a dream. He saw an old, damp apartment, and in a dim, gloomy room, a figure sat by the bed. It was Old Kohler, wearing a worn jacket, his head resting on the bed, and his hand hanging down to the floor.
Next to the hand hanging on the floor, a crumpled cigarette had fallen.
At this moment, personnel entered the room, placed Old Kohler on the ground, and put him into a body bag.
Thus, Klein understood that this old tramp, whose life had just gotten on track and was developing in a good direction, had died.