Silent Crown

Chapter 311 Are You Willing?

The next day at noon, salute cannons wet off. Amidst the majestic melody, musicians played the stately yet celebratory march. As everyone cheered, a handsome man rode out of the gates on a white horse.

He was dressed according to the ancient law. He wore a laurel crown made of white silver and a gold cloak and armor. He sat straight-backed on the white horse, regal like a prince.

The girls who had been invited to the wedding and were standing on the grass of the manor stared and yelped. Donna, wearing a wedding dress and surrounded by girls, lowered her head shyly when she saw her fiancé’s enthusiastic gaze.

Under the emcee’s guidance, the best men walked the white horse and cheered Donna’s name in unison, blessing this new couple.

In the crowd, Brady gazed at his daughter’s shy yet happy expression, and grinned from ear to ear. As the descendant of a fallen noble family, he had toiled his entire life in the customs department of the First Department. After many conspiracies, plans, and exchanges of interest, he finally rose to top and established a large family business in Avalon’s midtown. He had been worried over not having an heir, but seeing his daughter’s happiness now, he was satisfied. As long as she was happy, everything was worth it.

"Congratulations, Lord Brady." The wedding guests all came up to him and he welcomed all of them. At certain points of the conversation, he would hold his belly and laugh heartily. Life was hard and there were not many days of celebration. One must learn to be content.

"Dear Brady." A middle-aged man with a white turban walked over and embraced him with a warm smile. Like the other wealthy Indian merchants, he was covered in gold and silver accessories. There was also a giant and breathtaking gem on his turban. Of course, there was also the smell of curry.

Brady furrowed his brows imperceptibly but quickly smiled again. "Thank you for coming. Today is a day worth celebrating. Please do not hold back."

The Indian merchant chuckled. He waved for a servant to bring up the prepared gift. A golden holy emblem embedded with gemstones and diamond pieces sat atop the red velvet in the box.

Brady was instantly overjoyed. "Is this a holy emblem blessed by the Pope? How could I…this is too precious of a gift."

"This is insignificant compared to our friendship." The Indian smiled meaningfully. "I hope our friendship will continue."

"Naturally." Brady nodded. Their gazes were in tacit agreement.

No one would reject such a generous friend. Plus, one only needed to help out a little to maintain this friendship. Receiving this promise, the Indian merchant left in satisfaction.

Soon, all the guests had arrived and the priest overseeing the wedding finalized the last preparations. In the flurry of movements, everyone was getting ready nervously. However, Brady had finally relaxed. He sat below the stage and gazed happily at the couple in the distance.

They were a perfect pair—their families were of the same status, the groom was handsome and the bride beautiful, and both had high morals. The more Brady looked, the more satisfied he was. It was great he could have a young man like that to inherit his business and connections.

"What a nice young man," someone praised. He placed his bowler hat on the table and sat down beside Brady. "A lawyer graduated from the National University and working for the government; young and accomplished. In fact, he is highly regarded by his superiors. He should be sent to the Eastern Indian Trade Company soon, right? What a bright future!"

Hearing someone speak of his son-in-law, Brady instantly grew proud. However, when he turned around, he was met by an unfamiliar young man. He had an enthusiastic smile that made one feel happy just looking at it. However, this was a wedding, but he was dressed entirely in black as if he was attending a funeral. As he smiled, his long and narrow eyes squinted, hiding the coldness within.

"Who are you?" Brady furrowed his brows. He looked to his guards; the burly men paced through the crowd but did not acknowledge the youth’s presence.

"Mr. Brady, please do not be nervous." The youth shrugged. "Me? I’m just a guest at this wedding."

"Are you a musician?"

Seeming to understand something, Brady’s expression darkened.

Many unaccomplished musicians in Avalon would use their position to get free food at others’ ceremonies and ask for money. Others might be helpless against this, but if this guy planned on trying this at Brady’s event, he was at the wrong place!

He coldly pulled a checkbook from his pocket and scribbled a large sum. Tossing it over, he said, "Sir, today is my daughter’s big day. There are many members of the Musician Division here today as well. I hope you’ll understand and not try to destroy your own future."

"Ah, I’m sorry, you seem to have misunderstood me. I am not here to cheat you." The young man smiled awkwardly and pulled a small box from his arms. "Today is my first visit and it’s coincidentally your daughter’s big day. I did not have much time to prepare a gift. I hope you like it."

"A gift?" Brady scoffed and took the box. What kind of gift would people who came for free food give?

"Won’t you take a look?" The man’s eyes were eager.

Brady scoffed again. If the man wanted to be humiliated then there was no harm in looking. However, he froze after he opened the box. In the box was a large egg-sized ruby. Its color was flawless. He could not find something at this level even in Avalon’s best jewelry store.

But why did this look…so familiar?

He picked up the gemstone in confusion and felt that it was wet as if it had been dipped in water. His thumb came away scarlet…it was blood! It finally dawned on him that this gem was the one that the Indian merchant wore on his head and valued more highly than life itself!

Chilled, he yelped. "You—what did you do to him?" He stood up abruptly and wanted to retreat but realized that he could not move anymore. His yelp seemed to have been swallowed by something. No one noticed them.

"Sit down." The young man looked up at him. His long and narrow eyes were open now. His pupils were pure black, like a wind tunnel leading toward somewhere. They were terrifying. His voice was not gentle; it was an irresistible command.

Brady softened involuntarily and collapsed onto his chair. He finally realized there was a small note on the bottom of the box. The words on it were sharp yet inexplicably elegant: Your loyal friend, Sherlock…

"You—you…" His pupils constricted instantly; he almost suffocated. Here, it felt as if he had fallen into an icebox. The legend, the shadow shrouding Avalon, the controller of the dark rules…truly existed!

"Do not say the name aloud, sir." The young man casually raised his forefinger and placed it before his mouth. "This name doesn’t suit this joyful event. Just view me as a wedding guest."

Brady shuddered. He wanted to yell for help but his instincts told him that it was best to sit quietly. He gazed around with his periphery vision and discovered that everyone was still bustling around. No one noticed them as if they had been isolated and became a lonely and hopeless island.

A few men in musician robes furrowed brows. They had been invited to this wedding and looked up after sensing the aether waves. When they saw the young man at the table and the trademark hat on the table, they blanched. They quickly looked away and pretended that nothing had happened. Some even rose and left quietly.

Seeing this situation, Brady was completely hopeless. Drenched in sweat, his face paled and he slumped into his seat, almost slipping off. In the crowd, the blissful Donna looked back. Seeing her father’s expression was off, she walked over. "Father, are you alright? Do you feel ill?"

Brady’s lips quivered and he tries to speak, but no words come out. His daughter’s concern deepened his fear. She should not have come over.

Donna, go! Hurry and go…he yelled in his mind.

"Relax, sir. A wedding is a sacred ceremony and only happens once in a lifetime. Do not act out of sorts here and do not disappoint your daughter," a hoarse voice sounded in his mind. The young man drinking tea glanced over with dark eyes. "She doesn’t know that you’re working with the Indian drug smuggler, right?"

It felt like Brady was struck by lightning. He forced himself to calm down and placated his daughter gentle. However, his fear grew. "What…do you want?" he gathered his courage and asked. He waited for his final result.

Before, the Vengeful Spirit was just a legend. However, starting last month, it became a nightmare that haunted everyone. One month—apparently only one month—after the Shaman disappeared, hundreds of mafia leaders who dared to have their own ideas were personally thrown into the sewer by the Vengeful Spirit.

He was extremely cold and cruel. Apparently, everyone in the family, regardless of age, would disappear. Some were killed in horrible ways as a warning. The site was a total nightmare.

Brady had always thought that a downtown redneck would not dare to do anything to an official like him. However, the man was now right in front of him.

"I am an important figure of the Anglo customs department!" His voice shook. "If you do something to me, the country will not let you go!"

"Has my reputation really become that bad?" The young man was stunned but then he chuckled wryly. He muttered to himself, "That Watson, what did he do in my name?"

Before Brady could reply, the priest walked over and asked, "Mr. Brady, can the wedding begin now?"

Brady looked back stiffly and gaped at the priest. He did not know what to say. "Father, in just a moment. I still need to speak to this man."

The man gazed at the priest and the priest froze in place. Then the man asked, "Are you religious?"

Brady nodded stiffly.

"Did you know that there’s a passage in the Bible like this?"

The young man rose slowly and took the Bible from the priest. He flipped carelessly to the middle and read a passage to the stunned man. His expression was solemn and powerful; his voice was raspy like scraping metal.

"Thou shalt hold the self-evident truth in awe and advocate justice; this is well. Thou shalt love thy neighbors as thyself; do no injustice. Thou shalt know sinners suffer. He carries poison and nurtures nothingness. His flame is short-lived and his light does not shine." After finishing, he closed the Bible and looked down at Brady. "Do you understand what I mean?"

There was no smile in his eyes. It was replaced by metallic fierceness tinged with blood. Brady could not meet his eyes. The man had stopped talking but the raspy voice still echoed in Brady’s mind like thunder. It pounded at his last bit of sanity until he practically broke down and cried.

"What…what do you want..."

"Brady, I want you to be a good father." The young man petted his hair sympathetically, like a saint petting his lamb. "Not a dead father, but a live one with a good career and family. Be a good man and make your family proud. You’ve made many mistakes but you can still survive to old age with a large family and die happily. Are you willing to be this type of father?"

"I…yes!" The next moment, Brady nodded wildly as if he had received salvation and choked out, "I’m willing!"

"Good." The young man nodded in satisfaction. "A wise and just choice, sir. Just as the legends say, you will receive happiness due to your reverence of the self-evident truth."

Putting on his hat, he gave Brady one last glance. In that moment, all barriers seemed to disappear. The hustle bustle and blessings of the outside world finally traveled to his ears. Hearing the sounds, Brady’s sweat poured out and he practically passed out.

It had only been half a minute but it felt as if he had returned to the world from hell. He was so happy he could cry because the sudden grim reaper had bid farewell.

-

Amidst the solemn music of the wedding march, the guests watched as a young man with a Bible replaced the priest and stood between the couple.

"It is obvious that you love each other and will last for a long time." Under everyone’s shocked scrutiny, the young man held Donna’s hand with his left and the man’s hand with his right. He asked Donna, "Donna, do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love him, care for him, respect him, accept him, until death do you part?"

"I…I…" Donna looked below the stage. Seeing her father nod, she let go of her worries and gazed at her lover with gentle eyes. "I do."

"What about you, Groom?" The man who had replaced the priest looked to the groom.

Faced with the solemn question, the groom puffed up his chest and replied, "I do, sir! I love Donna and I’m willing to protect you with my life!"

"Good, all of your words are genuine." Pleased, the man placed Donna’s hand into the groom’s. "I am overjoyed in seeing you vow to love each other. I now declare thee as husband and wife. Please exchange rings and the groom may kiss the bride."

Under everyone’s gazes, the shy bride and groom exchanged rings. As the people applauded and cheered, they kissed deeply. Today was their day of joy and this moment would never be forgotten. The young man who had overseen the wedding had now disappeared.