"I always thought wizards and churches were at odds." Xing Ze walked beside Maxim, while the two gloomy-looking middle-aged men followed not far behind them.
"We've never been on good terms with each other," Maxim replied, "Don't get me wrong, I'm just cooperating with them on a temporary basis, and we each get what we need."
"For money?"
Maxim glanced at Xing Ze, "Of course not."
"Aren't you afraid that I will report to Mr. R?"
"Haha, young man. If that were the case, you wouldn't have followed me. In addition, let me tell you a little secret. The Key Hall will reward you with a thousand Galleons as a token of their gratitude for the train incident.
"
"It's really interesting, but I only got five hundred galleons, and it would have been even less."
"Yes, that's the problem. R is not a visionary. Indeed, he is cunning and smart enough, but he is also arrogant and arrogant. He looks down on mixed-race wizards and strangers."
"So, you took refuge in the church just because you didn't like your boss?"
"I'm not affiliated with the church, young man. I think I made it clear. I occasionally work for them and give them some information from time to time, but I'm not from their side. Despite R's bad record, compared to the church,
It’s so much better.”
"What's your code name? Maxim." Xing Ze slowed down because the stone-paved street came to an end, and beyond that there was a potholed dirt road.
"M, it's easy to guess, isn't it? Maxim, M. Where's yours, young man? Oh, I forgot, it's B. You inherited Benson's code name."
The two continued to walk forward for a while, and Xing Ze spoke again: "I have to say, you are very bold. Mr. Maxim's eyeliner may be nearby, watching our every move."
The man blinked and smiled: "Come on, young man, we are just going to see the house Benson left for you."
…
The dilapidated building was located in the wilderness. It had two floors and was a mixed structure of brick and wood. Maxim opened the front door with a copper key. There was not much dust in the house. Someone must have been cleaning it for a long time.
They walked through the foyer, passed the kitchen, and walked into the living room, which was not very bright. Several people in monk's robes checked them. Xing Ze thought they would take away the wands, but they did not do so.
"Follow me." One of the monks said to Xing Ze, "Only you."
Maxim's face darkened, and he protested: "Hey, I have to be with him."
"No." The monk refused him decisively, "He is the only one."
"I think you must be mistaken, friend, I know your Bishop Andrew..." The other monks in the room slowly approached him, Maxim's voice became smaller and smaller, and finally he waved his hands and said in resignation:
"Okay, okay, I'll just wait here."
He saw Xing Ze cast a look of pity on him, Maxim smiled back, and cursed the Eastern wizard fiercely in his heart.
Under the leadership of the unsmiling monk, Xing Ze came to the study room on the first floor. The study room was not big, but it was packed very neatly.
There is a large sofa, a straight-backed wooden chair and an armchair in the room. There is also a small maple desk in front of the window, and the floor is covered with parquet linoleum.
An elderly man wearing a white robe sat on a straight-backed wooden chair, just behind the desk. He looked about sixty years old, his hair was white, and he was a little fat, but he could not be said to be fat.
"Welcome, son," he said, his voice as soft as a father's whisper, "Take a seat."
There was also a priest standing on his left. He looked much younger, a big man, and his arched eyebrows were as black as ink, which was quite conspicuous. He pursed his lips tightly, and his dark brown eyes kept wandering around Xing Ze's body.
Go and try to find some secret information.
Xing Ze took a long breath, sat down in the armchair, and waited for the other party to speak.
"You can call me Andrea, or bishop, or priest." The person behind the table said, "This is Bishop Jacob, don't pay attention to him."
"His passionate gaze is hard to ignore."
Bishop Andrew waved his hand, and Jacob immediately withdrew his gaze and lowered his head respectfully.
"Forgive me, kid. This is his professional custom. Our time is limited, so let's get right to the point. How much has the Key Chamber told you?"
Xing Ze was a little unsure. He frowned and simply did not answer the question.
Andrea also realized that his question was too straightforward. He smiled slightly and asked instead: "Do you know anything about Digel Village?"
"I thought it was enough for me to come here and just listen." Xing Ze said sarcastically. If Maxim hadn't guaranteed that the church could provide useful information, he probably wouldn't have come here.
"Be patient, child. You will understand that what I ask will be what you are looking for."
Xing Ze was annoyed by the blabbering words, but after thinking for a moment, he still replied: "I only know that it is the source of the plague. It was reported in the Daily Prophet."
Digger, this remote village in Wales, can't even be found on the map.
Why did he mention this place? Xing Ze was a little confused.
"Me too." Andrea shrugged helplessly, "If it weren't for this plague, I might never know that place in my life."
"Aren't people there religious?"
"As far as I know, we don't have a priest nearby." Andrea turned his head and looked at his companions.
"No." Jacob replied simply and forcefully.
Andrea nodded and asked, "How much do you know about curses, kid?"
"I just read some popular science about the Curse of the Pharaoh."
"That's enough." The old priest straightened up contentedly, "What I want to tell you is, child, the plague originating from Digel Village is a curse and it is also contagious."
Xing Ze quietly considered the credibility of the old priest's words in his mind. Curse is a complex and powerful black magic that not only requires a long-term supply of magic power, but also requires a precise target.
As for this kind of curse that spreads like a plague, he had heard about it. Regardless of the fact that the target was all mankind, he couldn't even imagine the huge magic power required to maintain the curse.
You know, the reason why the Pharaoh's curse continues to this day is because the pyramid itself is a huge magic power collector. Not to mention, the Pharaoh will sacrifice a large number of living animals before being buried.
But just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. This is a magical world and anything can exist.
"What do you want from me?" Xing Ze asked. It was impossible for the other party to tell him such important information for no reason.
"You are very smart, kid." Andrea praised, "But you got one thing wrong. It's not what we want, but what can you bring to us?"
Is this some kind of word game?
Xing Ze exhaled and said, "I don't even know what you want, so how can I know what I can give?"
Andrea smiled lightly and opened a small wooden box at hand. Inside was a syringe and a small tube of black liquid.
"It's very simple, as long as you are willing to take the test."