A monk in a burgundy robe slowly stepped into the hall from the outside.
Horatio kept his hands pressed together in prayer, his demeanor solemn, a natural red mark on his
forehead giving him an almost divine aura, too intense for one to stare directly at. It seemed as if he
was surrounded by a light, making even the prayer beads on his wrist emit an intense fragrance
reminiscent of sandalwood!
Horatio whispered a prayer.
"Though I''m not one to judge by appearances, I can''t say I believe the words of this gentleman
here. We''re all seekers on a spiritual path, but I wonder, would he dare repeat his ims in front of
the spirits of his ancestors?"
Cassius, upon seeing Horatio''s almost glowing presence, shivered!
Even as ayabout, Cassius could tell at a nce that Horatio was a monk of profound spiritual
depth!
"Who are you? Everything I''ve said is the truth!"
Horatio spread his hands. "You''re a fraud."
Cassius was taken aback.
Horatio, confident and direct, turned to Noe. "Noe, he doesn''t even recognize me, there''s no
way he''s a genuine seeker. My face was once voted ''Most Inspiring Religious Figure of the Year.''
It''s still featured on the Religious Affairs Bureau''s official website!"
In Harmonia Country, there was a thorough system for regting religious figures. Legitimate
monks and priests were certified, and anyone with certification should be familiar with the Religious
Affairs Bureau''s website. Horatio''s face was a permanent fixture on the homepage of the Religious
Affairs Bureau.
Horatio''s immediate branding of the man as a fraud was based on Cassius''sck of recognition.
Cassius, indeed, had no certification. His half-baked spiritual practices were nothing more than
schemes for deception. How could he possibly have gone through the proper channels to get
certified?
He stuttered in response. "Of course I''m a legitimate practitioner! Can’t there be independent
seekers?"
"Of course, but thew states that uncertified practitioners cannot perform religious services."
Cassius was nearly apoplectic!
Why did this monk keep bringing up thew? Weren''t monks and priests supposed to be relics of
superstitious times? Horatio was not ying by the expected rules!
"I... I do have certification, just rushed out and didn''t bring it with me."
Horatio looked at Cassius. "It''s not thatplicated. I''ll just call the abbot of Eternal Monastery and
ask if you''re one of his disciples."
He immediately took out his phone, found a contact, and made a video call.
As soon as the call connected, they were greeted with a deep, resonant voice. "You''re desecrating
the divine! I have to buy a ticket to enter my own home now?"
The person on the other end, sounding impatient, responded, "We purchased thisnd with the
intention of turning it into a tourist attraction. Is there a problem with that?"
The abbot cursed vociferously. "This has been my home for fifty years! You turn it into a tourist
spot?"
Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.
The employee remained unmoved. "It''s a tourist attraction. If you want to enter, you’ll need to buy a
ticket."
Furious, the abbot bought a ticket and entered, only tounch into another tirade, leaving the
Schnabel family in stunned silence.
This abbot certainly had character!
After his rant, he finally turned to the phone to see what Horatio wanted.
As the phone''s camera pointed at Cassius, the abbot inspected him and shook his head. "No, no,
my disciples are of a different generation. I don''t recognize this one. He''s a fraud, just beat him to
death."
Cassius panicked!
"You... resorting to violence and insults, are you even a man of faith? You even curse!"
The abbot stroked his beard. "A friend of mine once said, ''If you seek a path to your demise, I shall
assist you on your journey.'' This is a great kindness, indeed. Another day of doing good deeds! As
for cursing, venting all one''s frustrations is the true way to purify one''s soul. After a good rant, I feel
spiritually refreshed, and my practice advances!"
Cassius was dumbfounded! What exactly was the Eternal Monastery practicing?
Putting away his phone, Horatio looked at Cassius with sincere eyes, as if genuinely offering him a
choice.
"I would dly guide you to the afterlife for free. Would you like to go?"
Go... Where?
Cassius shook his head. "No, no, I was hired by them. They just wanted me to make the two young
ladies change their surnames…"
Seeing the risk of exposure, Ashlyn quickly interjected. "It''s all true! These girls are nothing but
trouble!"
Horatio blinked. "Madam, I see the Schnabeldies as bearers of great fortune, capable of ensuring
the family''s prosperity for generations. How did you discern their misfortune?"
Ashlyn, who had once wielded her status with impunity, had met Horatio on several asions. She
knew well the weight Horatio carried in the religiousmunity. If he dered the Schnabeldies
to be of good fortune, no one would believe Ashlyn''s ims to the contrary.
Horatio continued, "Actually, I find you to be the unlucky one, Madam. Mr. Schnabel''s decision to
divorce you was indeed wise. Though you came here by deceit, your poor character makes
everything about you seem false, like a castle in the air."
At Horatio''s blunt words, Ashlyn nearly fainted from anger!
Noe stepped forward, tapped a few points on Ashlyn''s back to revive her breath, and said,
"Grandpa invited you here for questioning; ying dead won''t help."
What Marcel wanted to ask was also what Noe sought to understand.
Faced with Noe''s gaze, Ashlyn felt as if she was looking straight through her, seeing the ghost of
Harriet Lambert, the woman she detested! She let out a shrill scream!
"Oh my gosh! It wasn''t me! I didn''t take your child! It was Garrick who told me that if I took Tristan
away, I could be Marcel''s wife. I swear I didn''t mean to hurt you! Even though Tristan isn’t my
biological son, I''ve always treated him as my own. If it weren’t for my failed attempt to arrange a
marriage for him with my niece, and Sienna, that wretch, hadn''t interfered, Tristan would be closer
to me by now! I left my own children behind because I still have a conscience. Believe me, I''ve
never mistreated your son..."
Noe retorted with disdain, "Conscience? You''re not guided by conscience, you''re just afraid!"
Marcel married Ashlyn because Tristan was indeed his biological son.
Had Ashlyn never thought of pulling a switcheroo, swapping her own son with Tristan? Of course,
she had! But she was just too scared to actually do it!
"It''s all Garrick''s fault! Not mine! He''s the one who told me how to deceive Marcel, to make him
believe me!"
ra stared unwaveringly at Ashlyn, who seemed somewhat deranged.
Suddenly, Horatio''s voice emerged beside her. "Don''t worry about it, she''s not telling the truth.
You''re very fortunate! I never lie!"