Goblin Dependency Chapter 723 - 362: Sudden Mutation

"This Priest Moen... seems to have quite the prestige in Sheep Horn Town."

The two walked side by side on their way back to the inn, and Margaret spoke pointedly to Xia Nan beside her.

It was already evening.

The setting sun’s glow lazily spread, casting a layer of golden light on the rough bluestone pavent.

After leaving the Orange Garden, they went to several planned places like the inn and the trade street for investigation again.

Though not groundbreaking discoveries, they gained a more comprehensive understanding of Sheep Horn Town itself and the elderly Priest Moen who worships the [Grain Goddess].

First and foremost, the most critical point.

Xia Nan’s morning speculation received further confirmation.

The innkeeper, blacksmith, and farmwoman all showed aversion when ntioning information related to the pink Jadestone, a sentint that was not an exception.

While gathering information in the town, the two also conducted tests to varying degrees.

The results... were as anticipated.

From the sheriff in the town center to the beggars on the street, without exception, regardless of degree, exhibited resistance whenever discussing gemstone-related information.

Even with just a slight ntion, what used to be a friendly reaction would imdiately beco agitated, displaying a certain hostility in words and actions toward Xia Nan and Margaret.

Sure enough, the entire Sheep Horn Town’s residents have been controlled by the pink Jadestone, altering their perception.

No wonder that only Horak’s gemstone got out despite the news being around for so long.

This invisible chanism that draws everyone in the town together to cover up sothing specific, even for professionals like them, unless they were previously aware and seeking answers to questions, it might not be discovered.

Secondly, about Priest Moen, the two also gathered more information about him.

They learned that the white-haired elder, who held great prestige in Sheep Horn Town, wasn’t a native but was assigned here by the Church headquarters about forty years ago, likely now seventy or eighty years old.

During these forty years, he has perfectly showcased the requisite qualities of a priest under "Shang Tiya", the lady.

Treating wounds for injured hunters, teaching farrs more labor-efficient farming techniques, helping orchard growers to increase production...

Gradually accumulating year after year, Moen’s reputation in the town reached an exaggerated level, especially with the younger generation who grew under his aid becoming the backbone in various areas of Sheep Horn Town.

Even roles like the town mayor or sheriff can’t compare to the prestige of that elderly man.

To put it extrely, if so outsider dared to express highly disrespectful or insulting remarks about this priest in public, being tied up and hung on an orange tree by angry townsfolk the next day wouldn’t be impossible.

"With this, the matter seems all the more peculiar."

Margaret’s eyes held thought, seemingly reminiscing about the reactions of the townsfolk.

"Being able to serve as a priest under the [Agriculture Goddess] and being assigned to reside in a chapel in such a small town ans his style and personality adhere to the Church standards."

"At least forty years ago, when Moen first ca to Sheep Horn Town, he must have been a qualified priest, and the stories passed down among townsfolk over these years prove this."

"Horak previously ntioned that the pink Jadestone rumors originated about half a year ago, marked by only a few months until now."

"Before this, Moen’s image among townsfolk for forty years remained a friendly, altruistic, and respected priest."

"No reason for such a drastic personality change in just months, freeing or even secretly aiding the gemstone’s spread in the town to control the residents’ minds."

Carefully listening to the complete analysis by the Female Knight, Xia Nan contemplated briefly and then slowly said:

"Do you an... Priest Moen has also been chard by the gemstone, altering his perception?"

Margaret nodded.

"Otherwise it wouldn’t make any sense."

"Even if he was a ’bad guy’ in the secular sense, I don’t believe anyone could have the patience to pretend for forty years, revealing his true self only when half buried."

"Moreover, to be honest..." Margaret paused, slightly turned, her gaze sweeping across the shabby and sparse buildings along the street with so oddity in her expression.

"Even if he was pretending, he’s still a genuine priest blessed by the divine grace. Spending forty years on a remote little town whose na even nearby villagers might not recognize... "

"It would be too worthless."

Xia Nan gave no response.

Margaret’s consideration is very thorough, and the details are quite convincing.

Considering the current situation in Sheep Horn Town, her hypothesis that "Priest Moen’s perception has been rewritten under the gemstone’s charm" appears to be the most probable.

Yet, for reasons unknown, Xia Nan sensed that the truth might not be as straightforward.

After all, the adventurer team that carried the gemstone out of Sheep Horn Town, selling it to Horak in Neum, has proven the limited influence of pink Jadestone on professional adventurers.

Is Moen really controlled by the gemstone’s charm, like those townsfolk, altering his mind?