Volume 1: Stranger in a Strange Land Chapter 27: The Order of Masons
"Those people said they didn't want to go with you."
Sigmunds spoke somewhat awkwardly to the man who claimed to be the presiding judge.
"Why? Are you not satisfied with the compensation I gave you?"
"No."
"Or do they not believe what I say is true?"
"How is it possible? They all saw the body of that monster."
After William killed the Web Weaver, the Soul-Eating Spider Demons that were parasitic in the miners' bodies were vomited out by them. A few miners whose limbs were severely transformed into the structure of Moon Realm monsters also had their transformed limbs transformed into black salt crystals and dissipated with the death of the Web Weaver.
Fortunately, no one died from it, and the few people who were most severely infected were only left with disabilities.
The huge difference between their cognition that had been modified in the past two months and their current situation plunged them into confusion. Many people were unable to calm down enough to understand what people were saying for a long time, until William released a [Wide Area Calm] to calm them down.
After a brief explanation, William arranged for Sigmunds and Colt to appease the miners, while he himself eliminated all the imprisoned vengeful spirits and then went to the hill of skulls to check.
He was very familiar with the style of this temple built with skulls. Before the Moon Realm worship in the Blackwater Kingdom was completely eliminated, this skull temple was considered a semi-public Moon Realm worship altar.
The belief in the Three Goddesses of the Moon was once prevalent in the Blackwater Kingdom, and many customs and habits that have been passed down to this day were formed at that time.
For example, burial and ancestor worship.
Because real necromancy exists in this world, in order to prevent the rampage of zombies, ghosts or water ghosts, all races on the continent of Vic have popularized cremation long ago.
But the Blackwater Swamp area is the only one that insists on using burial to this day, because the people here firmly believe that cremating the bodies of the dead will cause the souls of the ancestors to dissipate, making it impossible for them to communicate with their ancestors.
Even though the End Watchers later revealed that this custom was largely a conspiracy of the Lady of Hunger and Corruption to expand her own territory, and many so-called apparitions of ancestral souls were just disguises made by the Whispering Queen to weave a web of conspiracy, most of the ancestral dreams were also a means for the Nightmare Lord to use dreams to absorb the intense emotions of mortals.
But the inertia of customs that have lasted for thousands of years is not so easy to change.
Earlier, when William was strolling around Thorn City, he discovered that although the Holy Spirit Church could provide a full set of cremation and requiem ceremonies, more local residents still chose to bury the dead in the large cemetery outside the city.
The skull-stacked temple in front of us is a reflection of this. In the past, when natural disasters or wars occurred in the Blackwater Kingdom and a large number of dead bodies were present but there was no time to bury them, they would choose to bury only the heads of the dead and cremate the bodies to prevent the spread of a major plague.
And this place where skulls are piled up will easily become a place for the Moon Cult to hold ceremonies afterwards.
But why did he appear under the Silver Mine? More importantly, what was his purpose here?
William walked to the statue of the Three Goddesses, hoping to find some clues there. At this time, Sigmund came over and told him that some miners were unwilling to accept his offer of hiring them to excavate the ruins at three times the market price.
"Why is that? I don't think they have the right to refuse."
William's words made Sigmund's expression change slightly, and he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Your Excellency, the people here are very grateful to you for saving them. They all believe that you are a kind person..."
William turned his head when he heard this.
"Do you mean that I am holding them hostage with my kindness, or that I am threatening them with my power? "
"That's absolutely not my intention. Including me, about half of the miners are willing to accept your commission, but the rest..."
"I see……"
William sighed.
"They don't dare to go with me because they are worried that I would kill the court wizard and that I would completely anger that Duke Simon, right?"
Sigmunds nodded slightly.
"As long as we are in Blackwater Province, no one dares to disobey Duke Simon. Even if he deceived us and cast that unknown magic, he is still the lord who holds the power of life and death... Those people think that if they follow you, the man who killed the Duke's court wizard, the nature of the situation will be completely different."
"Do you know why I said they had no right to refuse?"
Sigmunds shook his head.
William sighed.
"If they don't follow me, then they will have no way to survive."
As he said this, he looked at the miners who were unwilling to be employed by him.
They gathered together and discussed something in a low voice. When they saw William looking at them, they all bowed their heads and showed ingratiating smiles on their faces.
He shook his head internally.
"It's easy to remove the shackles that parasitize the body, but it's impossible to remove the shackles buried in the soul."
William sighed, then looked at Sigmunds and asked.
"Who else is willing to go?"
"These include those who have been injured, and those who are willing to seek a living in other provinces after earning this money."
"What about you? Are you also planning to earn this money to make a living in other provinces?"
Sigmunds shook his head.
"Your Excellency the Chief Judge, I heard you call yourself the End Watcher, the Judgement Thirteen. Although I don't know what the Judgement Thirteen means, judging from the reaction of that monster and the strength you have shown, it must not be a simple title."
"so what?"
“ This might be my only chance.”
"A chance to get ahead?"
"A chance for revenge."
Sigmunds spoke word by word, then he gritted his teeth and continued.
"There is still a chance to embark on the path of magic again."
William nodded, then took out six pale blue gems from his pocket.
"Many years ago, the End Watchers had a branch that specialized in forging weapons and building fortresses. It brought together the best architects, casters, enchanters, and alchemists from all over the continent. The fortress ruins that you are going to excavate next were also created by them."
After William finished speaking, he threw the six gems into the air. The six gems hovered in the air. The flashing electric light connected them into a hexagon, outlining a portal with rippling waves.
"The name of this branch is the Stonemason Order. I have inquired about it before. This organization was disbanded by the Empire after the conquest of Terra and no longer exists."
Seeing a portal suddenly open here , the miners not far away exclaimed.
Sigmunds was lost in thought as he stared at the dilapidated ancient fortress on the other side of the portal.
"Sigmons, you lead whoever is willing to go through this door."
William said to the stunned Sigmunds, and without waiting for his answer, he raised his voice and spoke in an extremely solemn tone.
"But once you pass through this door, the contract between you and me is signed."
