Chapter 1496 The Space of the Dead <TOC> Chapter 1498 Sister Tessa
Translator: SumTLMan
As Bertrand elaborated, more mysterious secrets were gradually unveiled.
The so-called space of the dead, just as Angel had speculated earlier, is in fact another interstitial space existing within the cage.
This space actually overlaps with Ghust Town, somewhat similar to a storybook realm that exists alongside reality.
In the space of the dead, not only are there forests and fields from within the cage, but the buildings of Ghust Town are also replicated to a tee. However, no living humans reside in this space; the rulers here are ghosts.
“All the people she has killed are in the space of the dead. It is a place where the living dare not tread, the true realm of the ghosts!”
Upon saying this, Bertrand finally began discussing the ‘Her’ he had been alluding to repeatedly.
Before speaking about ‘her,’ Bertrand once again referred to a set of memories that didn’t belong to him.
These memories not only revealed to Bertrand his own mission but also gave a cursory mention to some truths about the cage, as well as the person who aids him within the cage.
And that person is ‘her.’
Bertrand did not mention her name but continued to refer to her in the third person: “My mission was determined from the start — to kill you, Alex.”
“And her mission is to eliminate those who know the truth about the cage and, once you enter the cage, to turn it into a battleground.” Bertrand paused for a moment: “Those who wanted to leave Ghust Town were all killed by her using the ghosts as her pawns.”
“Although the memories tell me that she is actually assisting me, upon closer observation, I’ve found that she is more like a substitute, or perhaps a better word would be overseer.”
In the theater of their lives, Bertrand and she may both report to the same higher-up, but they play fundamentally different roles. Bertrand is assigned to eliminate Alex, while she serves as an enabler for Bertrand’s undertakings.
What does enabling mean here? It’s essentially pushing a calm narrative toward a twisted, bloody denouement.
However, now Bertrand has clearly dropped the ball; he hasn’t killed Alex and has even harbored him.
As a result, even if she desires to steer the story towards a horrifying conclusion, she finds herself stuck mid-way.
“Because her sphere of influence is different, she can’t overstep her bounds, so she’s been holding back these years,” Bertrand states. “Not until Lady Connie managed to escape the pursuit did she get her opportunity.”
Given her role, she must exterminate any escapees to maintain the facade of this cage so that those within remain ignorant of its true nature.
Initially, she could only kill those who stumbled upon the truth. But with Lady Connie’s disappearance, she had an excuse to extend her reach into Ghust Town, openly bringing in the ghosts.
“What she’s been doing is essentially an experiment. Within the laws that apply specifically to her, she’s testing how to push this cage towards becoming the world she envisions. The initial deaths of Anthony and Martin were part of her experiment. She tested if she could make them see the ghosts, then used that as a reason to expose the truth and kill them.”
“The fact of the matter is, her approach worked.”
“Once she tasted success, she began a killing spree with abandon. Her ultimate goal is to transform Ghust Town into a haven for specters, turning all humans into ghosts.”
It might sound baffling to some. The residents of Ghust Town are essentially caged birds, destined to be killed by her anyway. So why go through the trouble of hiding the nature of this cage from them, abiding by these incomprehensible laws? Bertrand’s explanation was rather vague, attributing it simply to the intentions of the cage’s creator.
Though puzzling, the act of veiling slaughter with a veneer of legitimacy is, in fact, not an uncommon phenomenon in the real world.
Bertrand continued, “The reason I say she’s conducting experiments is not only because she’s testing the limits of her own laws, but also probing mine.”
“Just as I understand her, she understands me well. She knows that without a compelling reason, I would not kill you.”
“So, she starts by disrupting the ‘balance’ I so dearly wish to maintain in Ghust Town. She unsettles the peace, sows fear among the people, and allows ghosts to roam, turning this place into a hellish landscape. All of this to coerce me into taking action against you.”
“I thought that was her plan, but the recent turn of events has enlightened me. She’s not just forcing my hand; she actually wants to kill me. Once I’m gone, even if she still can’t overstep her bounds, she’d be completely free from my constraints. Transforming Ghust Town into a battlefield would only be a matter of time.”
Of course, in the end, Alex would not escape unscathed either.
After Bertrand finished speaking, Alex paused for a moment before asking, “Was it her who took away people’s limbs?”
Bertrand nodded and whispered, “Only twisted lives can nourish new beginnings.”
A flash of understanding crossed Alex’s eyes, “I get it, the truth is indeed surprising. But ever since I found out this world is a cage, I’ve been preparing for the worst.”
“Thank you,” Alex bowed slightly, showing respect to Bertrand.
What he was thanking him for was not just the revelation of the truth, but also for Bertrand’s initial decision to shelter him. He remembered when he was first swept into Ghust Town by the turbulent river, Bertrand was the first person to discover him. At that time, he was nearly drowning, and Bertrand extended his hand and pulled him ashore. Alex then fainted and didn’t wake up until two days later.
Bertrand’s mission was to kill Alex. During those two days when Alex was unconscious, one can only imagine the internal conflict Bertrand must have been grappling with.
If Alex were in Father Bertrand’s shoes, he might not resist the inner calling and would simply kill himself on the spot. Even if he knew that the particular memory did not belong to him.
But Alex held firm, or rather, religious faith triumphed over his inner impulses in that moment.
Alex had always been grateful for Father Bertrand’s life-saving grace, and reflecting now, the gratitude he felt was actually deepening over time.
After expressing his sincere thanks, Alex looked up and said, “If your desire is to maintain the balance of this cage, I will find a way to accomplish that for you.”
Father Bertrand was about to say something when the sheriff and the steward from the Viscount’s mansion approached.
“The Viscount requests Father Bertrand’s presence,” the steward said.
Father Bertrand nodded, “I understand.”
The group emerged from the garden, and Father Bertrand began conversing with Viscount Vega. Alex stood in the distant shade, looking back towards the direction of Ghust Town.
Though it appeared that Ghust Town was enveloped in dark clouds, with everyone living in a state of anxious dread, the balance had not entirely collapsed due to Father Bertrand’s efforts.
Since all Father Bertrand wanted was to maintain this kind of balance, even if it was illusory, Alex planned to give it a try.
“Do you intend to release Lady Connie?” Angel softly inquired.
Alex shook his head, “Lady Connie is merely an excuse. Even if we forcibly return to the previous equilibrium, she remains a ticking time bomb.”
“So how do you plan to maintain the balance?”
“Kill her,” Alex said without hesitation. “Only by killing her will everything come to an end.”
Eliminating her is a choice made to nip the problem in the bud. It’s not hard to understand why Alex would make this decision.
Angel didn’t ask Alex how he planned to eliminate the person in question. What he was more curious about now was, “Do you know who she is?”
Bertrand had never mentioned her name, and Angel still had no idea who she was. But judging by Alex’s demeanor, it seemed like he had already identified his target?
“Mr. Pat, do you know why the flowers in the graveyard are always so lush?” Although Alex posed the question, he didn’t wait for Angel to answer. He quietly provided the answer himself: “Because it’s the twisted lives that nourish the most vibrant new beginnings.”
Angel still didn’t understand what Alex was trying to convey.
Then, Alex suddenly said, “The iris flower, according to the doctrine of our Father God, is a flower that guides the deceased into Heaven. There are many iris flowers planted in the garden of the Church of Kruja. You can see them from my room’s balcony.”
“Don’t you find that field of irises incredibly beautiful, Mr. Pat?”
Chapter 1496 The Space of the Dead <TOC> Chapter 1498 Sister Tessa