Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 831: After the modification: Chapter 831 Ritual Site at the Summit of the Mountains

In the end, Shard still accepted the [Desecration Cross], though he felt that Miss Swift had been looking at him with strange eyes since lunch.

After lunch, Shard left the auction house and took a carriage alone to the House of the Blind on Ruff Lane. Even though the weather was turning colder recently, Sister Delphine was still dressed in her dark gray, silk nun’s robe as usual.

According to the agreement made last Wednesday, today Sister Delphine would take Shard to the headquarters of the [Spiritual Practice Order] and inform him about more information regarding the Order and the Primal Fire.

After confirming that Shard had a free afternoon, the two got on a carriage at the back door of the House of the Blind and then drove out of the city.

Even Granny Cassandra wasn’t particularly clear about the location of the Order’s base, only knowing it was somewhere in the old city area to the mountainous region south of Midshire Fort. Eventually, Sister Delphine led Shard to the Serpent Heart Hospital at the foot of Sicarl Mountain.

The “Serpent Heart Hospital” was an ancient chain hospital from the Old Continent era, renowned among commoners, especially for pediatrics and gynecology. It was even featured in the Roder Card as [Charity Institution·Serpent Heart Hospital] because of its semi-charitable profit model. Currently, this Roder Card is in the hands of the owner of [Sin Mansion].

Every Circle Sorcerer Organization has its own profit methods; even transcendents cannot create gold pounds out of thin air. The [Spiritual Practice Order] relies on running similar hospitals and collaborating with universities to generate revenue and receive policy grants.

Though it may not seem as profitable as running auction houses, it is more than enough to support an order of Circle Sorcerers primarily engaged in ascetic practices.

The Serpent Heart Hospital in Midshire Fort is located on the edge of the slum in the old city area to the south. The three-story building occupies most of the street. The building itself, like the gradually decaying old city district, retains some traces of its past glory but appears unremarkable compared to other buildings in Milestone.

Although it covers a large area, the hospital lacks significant recognition due to its location in the old city and its focus on a few types of illnesses. Shard hadn’t even known about this hospital in Midshire Fort before.

“Sister, if your base is here, how could Granny Cassandra not know?”

Shard asked curiously as he stepped down from the carriage with an umbrella. The old city looked even more dilapidated in the rain, like a dirty painting doused with water. The air was filled with the damp smell of earth, and the streets were almost deserted.

The nun, wearing a silver eyepatch, shook her head slightly. Led by an on-duty nun who hurriedly came out from the hospital, she guided Shard up the steps and through the open wooden doors into the hospital.

The gas lamps were dim, but they barely lit the hospital corridors on this rainy day. The wet floor bore signs of recent mopping. Inside, locals in black or gray coarse cloth were apparent, and the cry of a baby could be heard as they climbed the stairs, a sign of new life.

Thus, although the hospital appeared a bit eerie on rainy days, it did not have a terrifying atmosphere.

The hospital’s layout was interesting; to reach the east wing on the first floor, one had to go to the second floor first and then descend the stairs to the east wing on the first floor.