Mrs. Montbanes whispered a reminder, "Master's origins are unknown. Rumor has it that, just like our ancestors, he has signed a soul contract with a powerful Demon.. That is why.. I suspect he wants to turn the Demon that signed a contract with our family into his own contract demon as well.."
Indeed.. that is a possibility..
Montbanes V narrowed his eyes. "This Demon was pierced through the heart by Gabriel's Sword, yet he has not truly died even after three hundred years, can even escape his cage through a Demon Ritual to threaten our family.. It is evident that his true identity is extremely noble and his power is exceptionally vast.. Anyone with ambitions regarding Demon power would not.. Hmm.. Fortunately, there is only one week left until the Sacrifice is ripe.."
But that child—
The Mistress showed a look of heartache: "Doing this, it really.."
The diaries left by the Ancestors say it quite clearly—the Stone Demon does not accept any Sacrifice other than blood relatives.
Montbanes V said cruelly, "Besides, when that child was born, we gave his umbilical cord blood to the Stone Demon as the mark of the Sacrifice.. We have no other choice!"
But..
The Mistress's expression was exceptionally pained: "That child never once enjoyed, now, he is to.."
So, within a week of his birth, I sent him to Madonna Orphanage, ensuring that until the very second of his death, he remained an innocent child who knew nothing. As for us, because we never had any emotional bond with him, we would not waver during the Sacrifice.. Most importantly.. Allen and Millie..
“Allen.. Millie..”
The names of his beloved children caused the Mistress's hesitant expression to gradually turn resolute.
—Arthur's Soul might hate us, but for the sake of our family, for the sake of Allen and Millie, we must sacrifice this stranger of an Eldest Son!
..
..
What! Besides Arthur, whom they threw into the Orphanage, Montbanes V and Wife also have a pair of twins?
Wood, who had taken the Montbanes Family files from Louis, blurted out, "And they are recognized as model parents?!"
Yes, they love their twins very much. Not only do they provide for all the children's material needs, but in their daily lives..
Halfway through, Louis realized it was inappropriate and sighed softly, "Fortunately, Arthur knows nothing about any of this. If he knew he wasn't an orphan, that he had biological parents who loved his younger siblings dearly, that they intended to.. I can't imagine how much pain he would feel once he finds out.."
Just hearing the description makes me feel pained.
Wood tilted his head and glanced at the translucent Benjamin. "You knew about this all along, didn't you?"
Yeah.
Benjamin gave a soft murmur of agreement.
A hundred years ago, my parents.. after reading Marshal Gilles's final manuscripts, they gave me, the Eldest Son, as a Sacrifice to the Stone Demon. Of course, they didn't do it because they didn't love me; they just loved me as much as they loved my younger brothers and sisters.. So, the Sacrifice was painful.. Being trapped inside a Gargoyle for a hundred years was agonizing, yet I don't hold much resentment toward them.. But Arthur.. Arthur, he, he from the very beginning..
White tears slid down Benjamin's translucent face, shattering upon the desk.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thanks to readers "Hua Guan", "a", "..", "Shi Yi", "Lan Mei Xiao Yang", "Yun Shen Jian Qiu", "Gu Lu Gu Lu", "Li Yu", "Lan Wu", "Yuan Zhong Ren De Yi Yu Zhong Li", "", "Sui Wei Jun Ge", "moonlit", "Ri Yue Tao San Huan" for the Irrigation Nutrient Solution.
As usual, I will release a bonus side story for the neighboring series tomorrow~ Golden Flash is going to make an appearance~
Chapter 23 Gabriel and Gargoyle (10)
.. Mister Wood, please, you must save Arthur, please, you must not let Arthur know the truth. If he finds out that the biological parents he dreams of day and night are such people, he will definitely.. he will..
I will never let him know the truth.
Mister Wood took out a tissue to wipe away Benjamin's tears: "For a child longing for parental love, being completely rejected by one's biological parents from birth is more painful than having no parents at all.."
“U-uh, uh..”
Benjamin sobbed uncontrollably, clutching the tissues.
Louis, possessing spiritual vision, looked at Benjamin, whose face was covered in tear stains, asked with heartache, "What will happen to you after this matter is over?"
Me? I will..
Benjamin smiled. "My soul has long been the property of the Stone Demon; there is a high probability it will dissipate completely, or it might continue to wander the mortal realm.. I really love Arthur.. very, very much.."
You are a kind, good child.
Louis could not help but speak up.
Wood deeply agreed: "The thing Demons love most is a pure soul—what I mean is, Benjamin, you possess a pure soul comparable to an Angel's, which is why the Demon is willing to trade the Montbanes Family's hundred years of prosperity and wealth for your soul.."
To this day, I am still glad that my Soul allowed my parents, my younger brothers, my younger sisters to live lives of prosperity and wealth, but I never imagined that their descendants, a hundred years later today.. would sacrifice poor Arthur using such cruel means.. He truly knows nothing; he is the most innocent and most pitiful Soul..
Benjamin's tears streamed down his face: "Mister Wood, please help Arthur! You must help Arthur!"
This..
In another week, Arthur will be twelve years old!
In other words—
Wood had a bold idea: "We can take Arthur away before Montbanes V and Wife can apply for adoption at Madonna Orphanage! Once the matter is resolved, we'll let Boss Jason arrange responsible foster parents for him!"
“..”
Louis whispered a reminder, "The Madonna Convent is a Catholic Convent. The Matrons will most likely not accept adoption applications from same-sex families, since you already visited the Convent a few days ago in your capacity as a Missing Person Detective, I don't think—"
I didn't say I was going to submit an adoption application to the Convent..
Wood muttered, "My plan is to have Boss Jason arrange for a suitable Catholic couple to go to the Convent to apply to adopt Arthur—before Montbanes V and Wife can act! We must disrupt their Sacrifice plan and save Arthur's life!"
But—
Louis glanced at his colleagues in the office area and reminded them, "The mortality rate in the Special Events Investigation Department is too high, the possibility of being targeted by mysterious forces after a case is also very high. In the entire department—aside from the pure clerical staff responsible for archiving—no one is married, many people don't even have living parents or siblings."
It's alright, Boss Jason has a way to solve this problem.
Having said that, Wood stood up and walked straight toward Jason's private office: "Boss, could you do me a favor?"
..
After listening to Wood's request and glancing at Benjamin, who was covered in tear stains beside Wood, Jason sighed, "Your idea is good, but I—"
You can't? Is there a difficulty?
Wood stared at Jason with wide eyes: "You are the Boss of the New York Branch of the Special Events Investigation Department; both the religious community and the mystical circles give you plenty of respect. How could it possibly—"
But the Montbanes Family has always been the largest donor to the Madonna Convent, they are famously loving parents. This means that as long as they submit an adoption request to the Convent, the Convent will certainly hand Arthur over to them! And—
And what?
They are Arthur's biological parents.
Jason spoke bluntly, "Even if our people take Arthur away before Montbanes V and Wife can act, the couple could still submit a DNA report to the court to prove they are Arthur's biological parents and demand that we return him!"
No! We cannot let Arthur find out that Montbanes V and Wife are his biological parents! This truth is too cruel!
Benjamin said through sobs, "They don't deserve to be Arthur's parents! They are two piles of dog shit!"
But—
“Boss!”
Wood grabbed Jason's hands: "If you refuse to help me, I will consider seeking help from Old Man or even asking Boss to step in—if it's Boss, this matter will surely be resolved very quickly!"
.. Do you know the price of getting Mister Master involved in this matter?
Jason's expression was incredibly awkward.
Is there any other unusual price? Aside from the standard rule that the Montbanes Family's century-old collection all belongs to the Boss once this matter is concluded?
“..”
Jason suppressed his ferocity and told Wood with painstaking patience, "As a prominent name in the occult circles, the Montbanes Family's century-old collection covers all aspects. If all these things belong to Mister Master—and besides, Gabriel's Sword and the Gargoyle within the Madonna Convent are also the key cores of this incident—I will never allow someone with a Demon background to obtain the Archangel's Holy Relic!"
Wait, wait!
Wood looked at Jason in disbelief: "A demon background? Boss Jason, you're saying.. the Boss.. he.. he.. impossible! Impossible! The Boss's smile is as kind as an Angel, his temperament is more radiant than the Gods; how could he possibly have a demon background!"
“..”
Jason was speechless, expressing with a mixture of laughter and helplessness, "You have an excessive and unrealistic idealized image of your Boss."
Hearing this, Wood shook his head and emphasized earnestly, "There is no beautification in my description of the Boss; in my eyes, he is just that excellent, that perfect.."
Alright.
Jason sighed, "I will arrange for eligible Catholic Couples to go to the Convent to apply for adoption as soon as possible—if time is tight and the adoption procedures cannot be completed within a week, I will have them bring the child out and hide him in a safe house until this matter is successfully resolved."
Thank you, Boss! Boss, you are a good man!
Wood said cheerfully, walking out of the Office with a face full of smiles.
..
..
At two in the afternoon, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall outside.
Wood, who was scheduled to return to the Museum for his night shift, began packing his things early to prepare to leave. Suddenly, a clear sound of a horn rang in his ears. He looked up and saw a noble Angel standing outside the misty window.
(Gabriel?)
Wood looked around and found that everyone in the office area had a peaceful demeanor, as if—
Don't be surprised; they cannot see me.
A voice so holy it lacked any emotional fluctuation rang out, immediately after, an Archangel appeared beside Wood.
Wood shuddered all over. "You.. you.."
Don't show your shock in front of your colleagues—pack your things and come with me.
Gabriel commanded coldly.
Wood glanced at Benjamin beside him.
The Ghost Boy, in a semi-physical state, showed a confused expression: "Wood, who are you talking to? Why does it feel.."
It's nothing.. It's nothing..
Wood reached out and placed a hand on the Boy's shoulder: "Peterson, look after this kid for me!"
Why is it my job?
Peterson muttered, taking Benjamin from Wood's arms. "Hey, Boy, what do you like to drink? Cola or orange juice?"