Goblin Dependency
Chapter 96 - 71: The Case

Chapter 96: Chapter 71: The Case

Amanata,

Holds the power of order and contract,

From the ancient Sun God.

In many cases, people with a superficial understanding of theology often misinterpret the alignment of this deity, who represents the sun symbolizing "vitality of life" and "warm hope."

They mistakenly believe that this deity is as positive and inclined towards goodness as the [Lord of the Dawn] Losanda or the [God of Justice] Ti’er.

But actually, that’s not the case.

Just like that rising red sun from the horizon.

The deity does not deliberately choose whom to shed its light upon, but simply follows the rules that have operated since the world’s inception, allowing the sun to rise every day.

Promises are fulfilled, laws are enforced, and the order runs its course.

This is the doctrine.

On this premise, the followers of Amanata often appear as witnesses in various contract signings; or as overseers of some oath.

Unless it’s a major festival like "Midsummer Day" or "Shield Festival," it’s hard to see the followers of this deity, like the practitioners of the doctrine of the [Blind Great Lord], helping the suffering people in the slums.

In many large cities, those who appear in the Sun God Church are often dazzling merchants and aristocrats in splendid attire.

Of course, due to the deity’s unique role, farmers in the fields often pray for clear skies.

But these simple and diligent people rarely devote themselves entirely to a single deity.

During droughts, they pray to the [Master of Water] "Isistia" to restrain his water-like changeable character and bring rain;

During the harvest season, they offer their devotion to the [Great Mother] and [Grain Goddess] "Shang Tiya" who make all things grow.

Their busy and hard work, coupled with heavy and harsh taxes, mean farmers generally have no conditions to dress up carefully for a full service at the Sun God’s church.

Since that dim twilight years ago, the Sun God Amanata has been subtly separated from "farmers," the most widespread group on this continent, due to various overt and covert relationships.

And what result this will lead to for a deity needing vast faith support is quite predictable...

"Clack."

The sturdy leather boot, stained with a bit of roadside mud, landed on the dustless gray-white brick surface with a dull sound.

Xia Nan took a deep breath.

The mysterious fragrant scent pervading the air, along with the surrounding silent and solemn environment, calmed him down.

At this moment, the two of them, led by the nun inside the church, had settled Jeff well.

With the sheriff relationship, it was safer for him to stay here than outside, and he could also use the divine power to suppress the leftover negative energy in his body.

Beside him, the half orc Alton was uncharacteristically bored.

Walking in the church’s spacious and clean corridors, he idly tossed a coin in his hand, his eyes absent-minded, not knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing no one around, Xia Nan slightly organized his words and softly asked the other his doubt:

"Earlier, when the priest was treating Jeff, your expression seemed a bit off."

"Is there a problem?"

Hearing this, Alton shook his head, not hiding anything, and said directly:

"Because of their faith, the Sun God’s priests almost control one of the few divine holy lights most effective against the power of the undead across the continent."

And this was the reason the half orc was so certain Jeff could be completely cured.

However, just now, the kind-faced priest explicitly stated he couldn’t eradicate it.

According to Alton’s understanding of such situations, there were only two reasons:

"The first is, as the priest said, Jeff doesn’t just have a simple power of the undead in his body, but some higher level of negative energy."

"The second is..."

The half orc stopped halfway through his sentence.

His vision passed over the coin he tossed, looking at the gold Sun Sacred Emblem on the corridor wall, reflecting a glowing light in the morning sun.

His face showed a bit of hesitation.

"What is it?" Xia Nan pursued.

Before he could reply, footsteps started to faintly echo from around the corridor corner.

Instantly, he shut his mouth.

The newcomer was Ingram.

Still dressed as the sheriff, but his golden medium-length hair, which appeared particularly messy after being drenched by rain last night, seemed to have been tidied up during this time.

"How is it, is Jeff okay?"

Ingram walked briskly towards the two.

"It should be fine." Xia Nan nodded slightly, replying, "He was just discussing with us about selling the caravan and whether the savings were enough for retirement."

"We shouldn’t worry."

"That’s good then."

The sheriff sighed with relief, then his expression darkened, and he said seriously:

"This is my failure, for not catching the culprit in time."

"Now Jeff is like this, and your mission got interrupted, I..."

Just halfway through the sentence, another hurried set of footsteps approached from behind him.

A guard ran over, panting.

Standing at attention, he saluted and panted:

"Sir, there’s... there’s a situation!"

...

...

It wasn’t a sighting of Tim, who had become an undead creature.

But another seemingly related and equally strange case.

"Yesterday evening, I had a little drink, on my way home from the Full Bag of Gold Tavern."

The speaker was a slightly chubby bald man.

"Sir, you know I don’t usually go to places like that, but..."

"Time is limited, let’s hurry," Ingram urged calmly.

"Yes, yes!" The bald man nodded repeatedly and continued.

"I didn’t pay attention to the time that day — when I left the tavern, it was already dark, and I was worried about my family, so I decided to take the shortcut by the cemetery."

"And then I heard strange noises from inside, like whistling? And also a creaking sound."

"With the courage from drinking, I glanced inside. There were many figures standing vaguely in the grave forest."

"Suddenly broke into a cold sweat and ran home immediately."

"Just woke up today and came to report to you, sir."

"Alright, I’ve got it." The guard behind recorded the case details, and Ingram, with a serious expression, patted the bald man’s shoulder.

"You can go back first; we’ll handle what follows."

Xia Nan stood by, listening silently.

His expression unchanged, but his mind was vaguely guessing.

Cemetery, figures, "creaking," he almost instantly thought of the most common type of undead creatures.

But...

Could it be related to Tim?