The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 104: Communication

Lumian felt a headache coming on as he thought about having Franca come in and undress Louis Lund. He looked at Louis, now only in a linen shirt and white shorts, and sincerely suggested, "I can ask my companion to give you the money from the coat. You can leave this street just like that, go to a clothing store, and claim you were robbed by a pervert. I'm sure people in Trier would understand."

Louis Lund froze for a second, then pointed below Lumian. "I have a spare set of clothes."

Lumian bent down and pulled out a black formal suit with a vest and bowtie.

It looked like something Louis, as a butler, would typically wear.

"Is this carriage really yours?" Lumian asked, tossing the formal suit to Louis while curious.

"The clothes and the carriage are both rented," Louis quickly pulled on his pants.

Lumian sat there, waiting for him to finish dressing before shouting outside for Franca to park the carriage on the side of the road.

He opened the door and, half-turning, waved at Louis. "Hope to see you again."

Otherwise, I'll find you on Goldenrod Street in the Nor District. If you've already moved, I'll keep chasing until you never know peace again.

If Lumian wasn't wary of Madame Pualis's strength and intentions and planned to communicate with her amicably, he would've tried to track Louis until he pinpointed Madame Pualis's location.

Franca set her waxed hat and whip on the driver's seat, donned a black robe, pulled up the hood, and jumped into the nearby shadows.

She only emerged once Louis had driven the carriage away, sidling up to Lumian and gazing in the direction he'd gone. "Not following him?"

"No need, we're not enemies for now," Lumian withdrew his gaze and headed toward the Honest Man Market.

Franca followed with a grin. "Aren't you worried Madame Pualis might refuse to see you and move out overnight?"

Lumian and Louis had spoken openly enough for Franca, with her sharp hearing, to pick up on much of the conversation. Though she didn't grasp the details involving Cordu Village, she had gleaned a lot from the rest: Lumian sought a meeting with Madame Pualis, and a particular evil god's pathway would lead to becoming a "Banshee" at Sequence 5...

Lumian took two deep breaths, calming the residual tremors in his body. "I think showing goodwill has a better chance of getting me a meeting with Madame Pualis than tracking Louis. She probably knows who I seek revenge against. After all, she was also driven out of Cordu Village by the parish priest destroying her castle. I don't believe she holds no grudge."

"Heh, I killed two gang leaders from the Poison Spur Gang and threw coffee at Black Scorpion Roger, but none of them know it was Lumian Lee who did it. Hating Charles and meeting Lumian Lee aren't mutually exclusive."

Franca couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, they want revenge on Charles, but what does that have to do with you, Lumian?"

She then muttered thoughtfully, "What's the connection between Madame Pualis and the Poison Spur Gang? Where does the 'Banshee' pathway come from? Is Black Scorpion Roger, Baldie Harmon, and Short Candleholder Castina on this pathway? One occultist, two gardeners?"

She made a deduction based on her understanding of the Poison Spur Gang.

Lumian didn't hold back. "The one behind the Poison Spur Gang is called the 'Lady of the Moon,' but she seems to have recently been promoted. She and the Night Lady, whom Madame Pualis represents, both belong to a secret organization called the Night Wanderers. They worship the Great Mother. I don't know her exact name, nor do I dare to."