The Black Saint is My StalkerCh142 - Forced into day drinking

Edited by dreamandwonder

Franz woke with a fright. The compulsion lifted and the blood shackles dissipated at the same instance. His undead heart rapped in its cage and Franz stared at the dark ceiling above him, trying to piece together an impossible-to-solve puzzle. He sat up with a jolt. sRiLCG

What was going on?

His master—

Please visit chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

What happened to Iszak?

More frightening than being forced to stay put, or even being turned to dust was being powerless to help that useless master of his. That stupid— lazy— buffoon! Franz quelled his rage and closed his eyes. He reached deep into his blood ties with the young master and— FcVQMp

…

…

Nothing.

There was nothing but silence. Franz couldn’t even pick up a heartbeat. And while it was possible that Iszak had just cut things off by his own volition. Surely not.

Franz scoffed at the thought. There was no way his master would do such a thing…not unless something was horribly wrong.

Something was most certainly horribly wrong, Franz would be an imbecile to deny it. Alarmed, irritated, and reluctantly concerned, Franz surged from his spot and readied to march out of his apartment. But as he was about to leave in a frenzy, something caught the corner of his eye.

Caught under the lamp on this bedside countertop, there was a hastily scribbled note written with Iszak’s hand. Confused at first, Franz reached for it and noticed that it was a list of names:

Saint of Eternity, with a blank face emoji crudely drawn next to it. s3fLlz

Saint of Shields, alongside a sweating emoji.

Duan Jiayu with a frowning emoji and question mark.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Ajsvfc Off Abcfr klat j mgslcu fwbpl jcv rkfja vgbqr.

Ccv atfc ja atf nfgs ybaabw bo atf cbaf kjr jc euis rmglyyifv mgsraji yjii jcv rbwf rasilhfv rqjgxifr famtfv klat qfcmli. w43xtm

“…” Mgjch rdelcafv ja atlr jybwlcjalbc bo j cbaf. Aera ktja wjaafg bo jyregvlas kjr atlr reqqbrfv ab yf!? Snfc lc vlgf rlaejalbcr jr remt, tlr wjrafg cfnfg ojlifv ab yf jc jyrbieaf obbi.

Franz wore a wry smile, pocketing the note before his body turned into a red, intangible wisp.

… R4sEPp

Graham stormed out of his penthouse. But he paused when approaching his car in the parking lot. The foreign presence did not go unnoticed. But after assessing the situation, he put away his reservations and slipped into the driver’s seat as he normally would.

There was someone next to him.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Graham spared his unexpected guest only a glance before starting the car. “I know not what you are here for, Meglatoras servant. But I do not have the time for you.”

Franz chuckled without humor, “So it seems that you’ve a conundrum on your hand as well, Lord Astley.” IjKmeH

“…” Graham did not need to answer that with words. The car swerved out of the parking lot, nearing hitting nearby cars at least three times, the automated alarm beeped at them ceaselessly. “State your business, before I kick you out. It is daylight now, and I do not care for how long your strengths will last under the sun,” the Saint of Eternity stated coldly.

“…My master disappeared,” Franz stated without reservation. He squinted at the sunlight trickling through the window, shifting uncomfortably on the car seat. Franz knew that he looked worse for wear, his skin ashen, hair unbrushed. But from what he saw of the Saint of Eternity, he was hardly in that different of a state than himself.

Graham, impatient, did not think carefully before his response. “Are you here to accuse me? You waste your breath.” His eyes were locked on the road, annoyed at the traffic that crowded New Lidway’s streets.

“No. My master left me a strange hint, however. Since you’re stuck at this intersection for at least another seventeen seconds why not take a look?” There was the sound of rustling and Graham didn’t need to look to know that Franz was holding something out for him. MYtOEW

“…” The Saint of Eternity quelled his annoyance and chanced to do as requested. What he saw made him frown. He plucked the piece of paper from Franz’s grasp and pinned it between his hand and the steering wheel.

“Are you privy to something that perhaps I am not?” Franz asked. Though he tried to keep his tone casual, Franz’s sharp vampiric eyes scrutinized him with intent.

“…” Barring Duan Jiayu, all the names listed were those who were affected by the strange uninvestigated disappearances and were currently looking into the matter, including himself.

Though it was impossible for Graham to inquire how this list was procured, it did give him an idea. He shifted his gaze to the corrupted blood that occupied the passenger seat. C2TpFv

Franz was donned in his signature vintage trench coat, his long brown hair reached just beneath his shoulder. Something about him seemed less put together than usual; the lifeless expression he wore, or perhaps the messy state of his usually groomed locks. Graham supposed that the two of them were not too different.

“You said that your master disappeared?”

“That is correct.” Franz, sensing the shift in Graham’s interest, perked up.

“Recount to me the details.” gACzER

…

On the other side of the world, Duan Jiayu was forced into day drinking with his uncle.

Duan Bichen, Chairman of the Sanlongyan, was an aged man, his hair peppered white and age etched in his face. The clothes that he wore at home were deceptively casual and unassuming. And Duan Bichen himself had an uncanny ability to appear humble, blending in with the average folk so he pleased.

His abode, however, was the direct opposite of this humble demeanor. The living room was stiflingly large, with elegant artifacts tastefully mounted; from the paper dividers painted by a renowned exorcist from a bygone dynasty. The pelt that lay upon the polished wooden floor was one owned by an emperor. These were few of the vast collections of priceless goods that Duan Bichen obsessively hoarded. zNIGF0

“Nephew,” Duan Bichen rumbled lowly, catching Duan Jiayu’s attention. “There is no need for you to trouble yourself with this old man’s worries.”

“…No, of course not, uncle,” Duan Jiayu replied carefully, filling up their baijiu shot glasses to the top. He was wearing a thick layer of makeup; a simple foundation that he always came prepared with when seeing this uncle of his. “But allow me to shoulder some of your concerns. After all, these affairs affect not only our family but also Sanlongyan as a whole.”

Please visit chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Duan Bichen snorted lightly, plucking the full class off the coffee table with elegance. Despite the cup being filled to the point of overflowing, his hand was so steady that the top didn’t even ripple. “I do not trust those Merrivian fools in the slightest. The new president of the Department of Anti-Supernatural Research is too young. Aaron Lancert is a brat who does not understand limits.”

Duan Jiayu mimicked his uncle’s actions, raising his cup with careful precision. “Has he not been quiet lately?” PagTjK

The chairman scoffed. “That is precisely the reason for concern.”

“Ah.”

Their cups clanged, not a single drop of baijiu dropped.

“Nephew,” Duan Bichen said gravely. kRnh4C

“Yes, uncle?” Although Duan Jiayu had a hard time stomaching the strong alcohol, he kept his expression as still as stone, not daring to show his weakness for even a second.

“If you are truly intent on investigating this matter for me, then take that artifact with you.”

“Artifact…?” Duan Jiayu couldn’t help but frown, blinking in slight confusion. This uncle of his owned more artifacts than one could count. And Duan Jiayu was more than comfortable with his own arsenal of tools. He was no beggar, working hard from a young age to establish his power and prowess by himself, without resorting too heavily to nepotism.

Duan Bichen’s expression was impassive, revealing nothing of his intentions. “The artifact that you uncovered from Britia. Have you forgotten, nephew?” 8FDHbM

“…Ah. En.” Duan Jiayu quickly covered his apprehension with a nod. “Thank you uncle, for your endless generosity,” he bowed a little for added politeness. “But it is unnecessary. I can handle the situation without—“

“Take it, Duan Jiayu.” Without even raising his voice, Duan Bichen’s voice was heavy with authority. His expression was calm but those sharp grey eyes were enough to make sweat bead on Duan Jiayu’s nape.

“…Alright, uncle. I understand. Thank you once again.”

“No need to be so polite,” Duan Bichen waved him off dismissively. “We’re family, are we not?” k7BSWH

“…Yes.”

Before Duan Jiayu left, his uncle said one last thing to him. “If your parents were still around, they would be proud of the man that you’ve grown into.”

“…Thank you.” Secretly, Duan Jiayu doubted it. But how was he supposed to know? His parents hadn’t been around for a long, long time. Discarding old sentiments, the younger Duan took the druid’s staff that once belonged to the Crimson Witch and stored it within his interspatial ring. That one artifact alone took up almost 90% of the space in his precious interspatial storage. And if things went to Duan Jiayu’s favor, he would never have to draw it out.

He couldn’t help but feel as though he was being set up. j06qDs

But Duan Jiayu, being the loyal dog that he was, did nothing but bow to his uncle and do as he was told.

Before long, Duan Jiayu arrived in Merriva.

Read more BL at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Author: Some stuff with side characters! LOL for this arc, instead of introducing a whole new cast, I’m using some old names that popped up previously… u w u;;