They all call me Great Master

The soft tone, the faint voice, yet it instantly drew the attention of everyone around the dining table.

Surprise spread across Malz's face.

He truly understood his partner.

If he spoke up, then it must be with certainty.

"Please, Arthur!"

The old sheriff spoke earnestly.

As Cotton's comrade-in-arms, the old sheriff walked up to Grandma Andor, helping his comrade's fiancée to her feet.

"Thank you!

I'm willing to give you everything I have!"

Grandma Andor looked at Arthur, her face full of gratitude.

People around breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Arthur step forward.

Marinda's hesitation just now had them feeling uncertain.

Fortunately, they still had Arthur!

Linda, especially, was brimming with joy—

'Indeed, the "Kledos Family" really is extraordinary!

Although I can't compare with Arthur's talent, my own talent should surpass everyone else's!'

The girl thought to herself.

The shadow behind her immediately became more substantial, a completely golden headdress, covering down to the base of the nose, gradually began to appear, and her eyes gained an added brilliance.

Marinda noticed this change.

But at this moment, the lady did not observe closely; instead, she turned to look at Arthur who had approached her side, her eyes filled with surprise.

'Is he trying to bail me out?'

But then the lady narrowed her eyes.

Because—

Compensation!

Arthur signaled to her with the shape of his lips.

'Hah, I knew it, the greedy "Spirit Medium"!'

A sneer formed in her heart, but the lady ultimately nodded slightly.

She could ignore Grandma Andor's request, but she needed to consider her own reputation, plus...

She wanted to see the "Cat Faction.Hei's" "Communicate with Spirits" secret technique!

The latter was particularly important to her.

Once he received confirmation from Marinda, Arthur no longer hesitated. He walked up to Grandma Andor, raised his hand and gently touched her, while traces of the "Aura of Death" nourished a certain Lost Soul within her body, and his low chanting slowly rose—

"Emerge from one, two from one, two results in three, three opens all realms, free from obstacles, actions, and sins... Summon spirit!"

A call to the spirits and an invisible wind appeared in the hall.

The wind grew from soft to strong, blowing everyone's clothes.

People instinctively raised their hands to their faces, yet their eyes remained fixed on the space behind Grandma Andor—where a figure was slowly emerging.

Slightly outdated military attire, a bright and young face, eyes lost.

"Cotton!"

The old sheriff, seeing the comrade of his memories, immediately called out with joy.

Grandma Andor was speechless, unable to utter a word, as she looked at the man she had longed for day and night, tears streaming down her face.

The blank stare in his eyes gradually faded, and Cotton, somewhat puzzled, looked at the old sheriff.

"Malz?"

Cotton asked tentatively.

When the old sheriff nodded, Cotton was taken aback.

"How did you get so old..."

Cotton said these words, raising his hand to pat the old sheriff's shoulder as he used to, but his hand passed right through the old sheriff's body.

Immediately, the soldier who had long been dead was stunned. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

Then, a flood of scattered memories began to surface.

"I'm dead... been dead for over thirty years..."

Cotton mumbled to himself, the air around him turning chilled in an instant, only to return to normal right after.

Because...

A pair of eyes were staring at him.

The indifferent eyes of the young 'Spirit Medium' were more effective than any verbal warning.

The Death Hound that crouched at his master's feet was pursing its lips, continuously licking them, appearing rather indifferent about getting an extra meal.

Cotton immediately woke up.

It was a bit scary... no, terrifying.

After bowing to Arthur with a wry smile, Cotton's gaze searched for the person who had haunted his dreams until the last moments of his life.

By now, Grandma Andor had hidden herself behind Linda, and the moment she saw Cotton, she felt content.

The rest?

Not needed anymore.

Cotton was still so young.

While she was already decrepit.

She didn't want Cotton to see her as she was now.

So, when Cotton's gaze came her way, not only did she hide, but she also covered her face.

But it was useless.

Time doesn't affect the gaze of a lover.

Death can't stop a lover's longing.

Cotton walked gently to Grandma Andor's side, his face full of guilt, and said—

"I'm sorry, Nicole.

I, I came back late.

Did you receive the book I mailed you?"

Sobs rose in the air, Grandma Andor went from low weeping to crying out loud, she could no longer hold back, and hugged Cotton tightly.

"You didn't mail me a book, it was a cookbook!

You know? A cookbook!

And there were so many mistakes in it!

Remember, you can't eat wood ear mushrooms that have been soaked for too long! Fresh daylilies are also not to be eaten! And you must throw away rotten ginger!

I wrote all these down."

Grandma Andor kept talking nonstop.

Watching this scene, everyone stepped aside, leaving room for the two who needed to pour out their hearts.

Marinda then approached Arthur and, after making sure she was at a 'safe distance' from them and giving one more glance at Grandma Andor embracing Cotton tightly, she asked quietly.

"Is this the reason you helped Grandma Andor?"

"No!

It's because of your reward!"

Arthur replied very promptly.

"Heh, I have promised that you can browse and copy Baron Kemir's treasured 'Hercules' Diary'—though, was that just the 'Cat Faction.Hei's' Communicate with Spirits technique?

It's a bit different from what I know."

Marinda didn't hesitate to give the corresponding reward.

In the lady's view, all Arthur did was merely because he couldn't bear the thought of someone else getting ahold of something that belonged to him first.

After getting what she wanted, she certainly didn't mind sharing some of it with Arthur.

Of course, the necessary probing was still there.

And Arthur?

'Indeed, you had your reasons for choosing Baron Kemir, it was for a copy of the treasured 'Hercules' Diary'!

Arthur thought to himself, although his face remained calm as still water.

"That's my unique ability."

The young Spirit Medium replied in this way.

He wasn't lying.

For the Breath of Death truly was unique to him.

As for the Cat Faction.Hei's secret technique of Communicating with Spirits, he really didn't know it, nor had he ever seen it.

The reason he was able to summon Cotton was because Cotton had always been with Grandma Andor—using Wuni's vision, Arthur saw not only the way Baron Kemir bewitched Grandma Andor, but also how the Baron secretly tried to devour Cotton while Grandma Andor was preparing food.

Wuni, enhanced by the Breath of Death, had a natural sharpness when faced with Lost Souls.

It saw clearly.

And so did Arthur.

However, Arthur wouldn't explain this to Marinda.

Just like how at this moment, he wouldn't reveal to anyone else what he perceived under the enhancement of the Breath of Death; he would only walk over to Cotton and Grandma Andor and softly say—

"Time is almost up!"