On the rainy November 28, Aldridge accompanied Johnny to Claude's funeral.

The church said he died in the wrap-up of the turmoil the day before.

No one knows how he died, no one.

Or, the people who knew how he died silently shut their mouths.

He should have a bright future, even if he dies, he will be as great as a mountain, but on November 26, his death is as small as dust.

His body was lost, leaving only the news of his death.

For the Mother Earth, she lost a messenger in the world, her shield lost a small piece of iron filings, and there was a pious servant by her side.

For the Church of the Mother Earth, they lost a reliable companion and a priest apprentice with a great future, everything was as usual.

The Rodriguez couple, who were far away in the imperial capital of Brando, did not know such bad news.

For Aldridge, he lost a friend, a brother, and for Johnny, he lost half the world.

Aldrich and Johnny were wearing black mourning gowns and stood upright in front of the crowded tomb. The sound of raindrops hitting the black umbrella was like sadness.

In front of the tomb, an elderly priest was reciting the eulogy:

"Today, we have lost a young man of integrity, kindness, honesty and courage.

I believe that you are not dead, you just walked out of time.

You did not lose all your beliefs, but you were summoned by the mother goddess and served by your side.

You were born in the light, walked in the world, and your existence conveys hope to eternity.

Dedicate my love to you, she is the proof that I am with you.

Maybe in the future, I will walk through the dark and lonely corridor and through the terrifying and gloomy world, but I will not be afraid, your soul is with me, and my heart is still bright.

Goddess above, may you rest in peace. "

People who came to participate in the funeral put their right hands on their chests and prayed sincerely: "Mother is above."

Johnny didn't move, he was like a body without a soul, silently watching.

Then came the farewell ceremony.

People stepped forward one by one, put down a bunch of Bai Ge flowers in front of the tombstone, whispered words in their mouths, and said goodbye to him sincerely.

When it was Johnny's turn, Aldrich gently put down his black umbrella, walked to the tomb in the drizzle, put down a bunch of white flowers, and said softly:

"Rest in peace, my friend, I will take good care of Johnny."

He stroked the outline of the tombstone with one hand, put it on his lips and kissed it, connecting with the deceased.

People at the funeral came to shake hands with Johnny, hug, and say warm words, and Aldridge took care of Johnny's slight faux pas.

Until the end, a tall one-armed man walked up to Johnny and said plainly, "I'm Malik Thatcher, Claude Rodriguez's immediate superior."

Johnny didn't look up and was silent.

Aldrich took a step forward and said softly, "Thank you for coming, Priest Malik."

Malik looked at Johnny with a bit of complexity, turned to look at Aldridge and said, "I'm ashamed, as his captain, I couldn't save his life."

"Master Priest, can we take a step to talk?"

Malik nodded expressionlessly and walked aside silently.

Aldrich looked directly at Malik's indifferent eyes, and said firmly, "Lord Priest, we just want to know the truth."

Malik was silent, his empty right sleeve fluttered in the wind and rain, he turned and left, leaving only a few words: "There is no truth."

Aldridge stared at his back with only resentment in his eyes.

There is no truth... there is no truth...

A Beyonder with at least a rank of 2, how come no one knows how he died, and there is no truth?

A wounded apprentice priest was recruited and then died. Is there no truth?

Oh, the Church of the Mother Earth.

Aldridge turned around and returned to Johnny, silently accompanying him.

From morning, noon, to night.

The rain has stopped, the brilliance of the double moon shines on the ground through the scattered clouds, and the tomb keeper looks at them from a distance, as if waiting.

Johnny murmured softly with chapped lips:

"Claude, you once said that I was still a child, that I would never grow up, and that I did not understand the greatness of God."

"You once said that you would become a big man, make your father and mother proud of you, and rebuild the reputation of the Rodriguez family."

"You said it was okay, you said it would be okay."

"But, Claude...you liar..."

Tears filled Johnny's eyes again, like silk threads drawn on Johnny's thin cheeks. He gritted his teeth and roared:

"You liar! Liar!"

Johnny's baby voice echoed in the empty cemetery, but Aldridge heard a mature voice. He didn't say a word and accompanied Johnny to vent his emotions.

Johnny was quiet again, and slowly moved to Claude's tombstone, kneeling on the ground and crying.

"Claude, my brother..."

When he came back from the cemetery, Johnny said he wanted to stay by himself for a while. Although Aldridge was worried, he sent him home and left worriedly.

The cold wind of the night was blowing on the damp clothes, and Aldridge felt the biting coldness at this time, but he still walked slowly, and his thoughts were in a mess.

Aldridge still remembers that the pocket watch he always carries in his arms was brought back to him by Claude.

In Fragments of Memory~lightnovelpub.net~ When Aldrich, dressed like a beggar, received cold eyes from everyone, Claude, as Johnny's brother, introduced himself seriously to his low-status new friend:

"Hello, I'm Johnny's brother, Claude Rodriguez."

There is only the cause of death, the result of death, and no process of death.

Aldridge could not accept this answer!

The church sent him away when he was injured, they were not qualified to give only one such answer!

Johnny hasn't come out of this bad news, but Aldridge doesn't want to be silent.

He went directly to the Forest Bar, and without a word, pulled Mills from behind the bar to the back office. He had already thought that this was what Mills was talking about that day, and what he knew.

"Mils, please, if you know anything about Claude's death, tell me!" Aldridge looked directly at Mills and said solemnly.

Mills smiled bitterly and said, "If I don't know anything, do you believe it?"

"So you really know."

"Aldrich," Mills said solemnly, "Give it up, it's that simple, no one saw Claude when he died, we can only speculate on this."

Aldridge looked straight at Mills and asked in a low voice, "Is that so?"

"At least that's what I know..."

Aldridge sat weakly on the sofa, and suddenly felt that he and Johnny were so insignificant in the face of a behemoth like the Church of the Mother Earth.

The pain they suffer is trivial in the eyes of the church, and their act of wanting to know the truth will not get any other answer.

The seeds of ambition, at this moment, took root in Aldrich's heart.