Mystery: A Spark

Does it have a name?

"I haven't had time to get it yet." Arthur scratched his face, realizing that he had been so engrossed in petting the dog that he had forgotten about this important matter.

"Then... take one now?" Bernadette held the puppy in her arms and gently stroked it.

Seeing this, Arthur couldn't help but recall what Bishop Raman had said yesterday about the little guy having the ability to "befriend all things".

"As expected, cuteness is justice..." he thought to himself, then said:

"How about we call him Xiaobai? It's simple, clear, and descriptive."

He was terrible at naming things, and since he didn't know much about Western naming practices, he simply chose this name.

Arthur thought the name was pretty good; it was easy to pronounce and remember.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the name, the puppy in Bernadette's arms immediately began to whine in dissatisfaction.

“It doesn’t seem to like the name very much,” Bernadette said with a light laugh.

She reached out to comfort the little one, thought for a moment, and then said:

"Or... I'll call you Arthas. I hope you can grow up to be as outstanding as that prince."

Arthur: ...

What does it mean to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot? This is a perfect example.

He had previously misled Bernadette, praising Arthas as unparalleled in the world, wise, brave, and benevolent, as well as diligent and loving in governing the country.

It's as if Arthas possessed all the qualities of an outstanding emperor from his previous life.

In Bernadette's mind, she probably regarded Arthas as the perfect role model to some extent.

So now, when she thinks about naming the puppy, the first thing that comes to mind is to name it "Arthas".

Backlash, that's all I can say.

“Madam, in my hometown, there’s a saying that humble names are easier to raise. This little guy is just an ordinary puppy, and I’m afraid he can’t bear such a grand name,” Arthur said, trying to persuade Huang Beibei to change her name.

However, Huang Beibei, for reasons unknown, simply decided on this name.

"It's alright, it's just a wishful thought I have for it. As for the ordinary..."

Bernadette looked up at Arthur and said:

"I don't think that something that even my all-seeing eyes can't discern its origins is just an ordinary little dog."

Upon hearing this, Arthur immediately shut his eyes and pretended to be clueless.

Bernadette didn't press the matter further, because she knew where Arthur had gone the day before.

Arthur went to the territory controlled by the Church of the Earth Mother and brought back a puppy.

As a Seer, Bernadette is accustomed to using her Seer's Eye to observe the things around her.

Influenced by her, Cattleya also developed the same habit.

To her surprise, after using her Eye of Secrets to look at the puppy, she couldn't see any information about it.

If it were just an ordinary puppy, Bernadette would at least be able to see where it came from.

So she knew that this could not possibly be an ordinary dog.

Chapter 62 Ah, my son

Bernadette actually came over last night to ask Arthur some questions and confirm some things.

Unexpectedly, he witnessed an awkward scene where Arthur was engrossed in petting a dog.

Having no other choice, Bernadette had to leave and return this morning.

To avoid running into what happened last night, she made a point of knocking on the door this time, giving Arthur some time to tidy himself up.

"How about we name it Arthas?" Bernadette completely ignored Arthur's feigned ignorance.

"Hesitate... spit it out." Arthur had no choice but to accept reality.

"Hmm, his full name is Arthas, and his nickname will be Little White..." he muttered to himself.

"Hmm, when that prince's father named him, it probably wasn't such a mundane scene, was it?"

Bernadette chuckled softly, then handed the puppy back to Arthur, saying:

"Life needs a little ritual, don't you think?"

"This... now?" Arthur reached out and took Little White, somewhat confused about Huang Beibei's intentions.

“Now then, it’s early morning, which symbolizes rebirth,” Bernadette said calmly, looking out the window.

Arthur looked down at the puppy in his arms and found that it was also looking at him with expectant eyes, seemingly very interested in the naming ceremony.

But Arthas has a ridiculous naming ceremony!

Even if it were possible, Arthur wouldn't know how to do it.

However, he had seen a lot in his previous life and was quite familiar with all sorts of famous scenes.

So Arthur simply made one up on the spot.

He walked to the window and, like Simba being lifted up in the Lion King animation, held the puppy high, making it face out the window.

The golden sun outside the window, seemingly rising from the sea, cast warm sunlight into the room.

Little White's snow-white fur, bathed in the morning sunlight, seemed to be veiled in a golden gauze, making it look incredibly sacred.

Arthur cleared his throat, making his voice deep and magnetic.

He solemnly and slowly recited:

“My child, when you were born, Lothar… whispered your name from the depths of the Spirit Realm… Arthas.”

“My child, I am proud to watch you grow up day by day and become the embodiment of justice. Remember, we have always ruled this country with wisdom and strength, and I believe you will use your great power prudently.”

“But, my son, true victory is the one that inspires hope in the people, and I tell you this because no kingship lasts forever, my child.”

"One day, my life will come to an end, and you will be crowned king."

As Arthur solemnly recited the words, Arthas, whom he held aloft, twitched his ears slightly, carefully memorizing them.

Bernadette, standing behind him, stared blankly at Arthur, who stood by the window, bathed in golden light, a faint longing welling up in her eyes.

Arthur turned around with Arthas in his arms, and Bernadette quickly composed herself, restoring her calm expression.

"Is this the best wish Arthas's father had for him?"

"Yes, ma'am."

“That’s great…”

Bernadette's gaze was lowered, and her eyes were unreadable.

Then, she said in a soft voice:

"The Future is approaching Rune, but as the ship of a pirate general, it cannot take you directly to Pulitz Harbor, so you will be disembarking soon."

“Yes, I understand,” Arthur replied.

He had long known that the Future couldn't sail directly into Pritz Harbor, after all, Rune's navy wasn't made of dead men.

Therefore, Arthur will definitely have to disembark en route and then take a passenger ship back to Rune.

“Well then, I have a question for you,” Bernadette said in a low voice.

"Madam, please ask."

"Do you have a clear enough memory of your origins?" She looked up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

What kind of question is this? Arthur was taken aback for a moment.

But when he saw the look in Bernadette's eyes, he immediately understood what she meant.

Could Huang Beibei be mistaking me for Roselle after her resurrection...? Arthur was a little surprised by her wild imagination.

He coughed lightly, then said:

“Madam, I could not possibly be Emperor Roselle’s. He was a polymath, while I am a hunter.”

"I know."

Bernadette's voice carried a certain stubbornness:

"But for him, perhaps non-adjacent paths aren't absolutely incompatible; maybe he's come up with some solution, maybe..."

“Madam,” Arthur said with a soft sigh.

"In his later years, the Great Emperor forcibly switched to the Black Emperor for some reason."

“The Black Emperor…” Bernadette murmured softly.

“Yes, even experiencing something like this once could drive someone half-mad, so it’s impossible to do it a second time,” Arthur said earnestly.

He didn't let Huang Beibei indulge in unrealistic fantasies; instead, he directly told her the reality.

"Moreover, I have an exceptionally clear memory of my origins, madam. I am merely a fellow countryman of Emperor Roselle."

Arthur had no interest in impersonating Roselle for his own benefit, because such a thing was simply unethical.

Moreover, this kind of thing is actually very easy to be exposed. If Arthur does this, Bernadette will inevitably become his enemy once it is discovered.

Arthur would only turn a powerful ally into an enemy if he had been brainwashed by zombies.

"Thank you for telling me all this. I'm sorry, I got a little emotional just now," Bernadette said in a low voice.

"It's alright. It's my fault for not explaining things clearly beforehand, which caused you to misunderstand." Arthur didn't think anything of it.

He really hadn't expected that Huang Beibei would mistake him for the resurrected Roselle.

He didn't say anything to Huang Beibei like "I understand how you feel."

Arthur always believed that the emotions a person experiences are merely feelings generated within their own heart, and that true empathy between people is impossible.

Therefore, in his previous life, the subject he hated most when he was in school was Chinese.

I especially dislike doing reading comprehension questions.

The funniest thing is that these kinds of questions even have a standard answer.