88: Chapter 88 Maintaining the Status Quo

Sean stood by the bed, looking into Fiona's eyes, knowing she had something to tell him.

As expected, Fiona spoke:

"Sean, I agree, but not for free."

"In the future, after you find a way, you must return the power to me."

"Not to the Witches, but to me!"

Sean looked at her: "You still want to live?"

Fiona had truly opened up to Sean.

She said: "Who doesn't? I've searched for treasure for so many years, expended so much power, and thought of so many ways, all for the sake of living."

"Now... I'm dying. You take the power, and I can live. But... I'll just live like an ordinary person, I'll age, get sick, and die."

"Fortunately, it's not now, and there's still a chance for recovery."

Sean understood what Fiona was thinking.

This wasn't trust, nor entrustment; it was a transaction.

She was giving him power in exchange for a chance to live.

When she found a way, she would take the power back and become the Supreme Witch again.

This was the only way out she could think of!

Cordelia failed, Madison wasn't qualified, and no other witch could inherit it. If the power remained within him, at least it wouldn't dissipate. After all, once the power scattered, she would have nothing left.

If the power remained within him, at least it wouldn't dissipate. After all, once the power scattered, she would have nothing left.

"Are you afraid I won't return it?" Sean asked.

Fiona stared at Sean for three seconds, then smiled: "Your biggest flaw, Sean, is that you're too responsible."

"I knew it after what happened at Hill Manor!"

She extended her hand a little: "Come on, while I'm still alive."

Sean took her hand. It was very cold, very light, like holding a dry branch.

In his mind, the golden book opened automatically.

The pages rustled, stopping on the blank one.

On that page, the swallowed black mist was still surging, wrapped in golden light, compressed, and solidified.

New writing began to appear...

Detected absorbable unowned power source: Supreme Witch Fiona Goode.

[Power is about to dissipate, does the host wish to bear it?]

Sean said in his heart: Yes.

Fiona's body suddenly tensed.

Her hand clutched Sean's fingers, her nails digging into his skin.

Her eyes widened instantly, something surging in her pupils... golden, like molten gold, flowing from deep within her body, along her arm, to Sean's palm.

Sean felt that power, like a river, like a river that had been dammed for a long time, finally finding an outlet.

It surged from his palm into his arm, from his arm into his chest, and from his chest into the golden book.

The pages turned, rustling, and with each turn, a large portion of that power was swallowed.

Fiona's face grew paler and paler, not just pale, but transparent.

The light in her eyes was receding, not extinguishing, but transferring.

Golden light flowed from her body, into Sean's body, and into the golden book.

Sean's body was heating up, not a scorching heat, but a warm, hot sensation, like soaking in hot water.

He could feel that power flowing within him, rushing through his veins, taking root in his bones.

Fiona's hand loosened.

Her arm fell, resting on the bed, like a broken branch.

Her eyes were closed, her breathing weak, but still present.

Sean looked down at her, the Supreme Witch, now like an ordinary, old, sleeping old woman.

Her hair was completely white, not dyed, but truly silver-white from root to tip.

The wrinkles on her face deepened, her skin as thin as paper.

The accumulation of years was fully evident on her face.

In his mind, the golden book closed.

The pages no longer turned, the pattern on the cover glowed, very brightly, like a star.

Sean could feel that power sleeping within the book, waiting, breathing.

Hundreds of years of accumulation, the inheritance of the Supreme Witch, now within him.

He stood by the bed, looking down at Fiona.

Deprived of her power, Fiona slept soundly, her brows relaxed, a faint curve on her lips, dreaming of who knew what.

Sean turned and walked out of the room.

The sconces in the corridor were still only half-lit, casting a dim yellow light on the carpet.

He went down the stairs, passed the second floor, and descended to the first floor.

In the hall, everyone was waiting for him.

Sean stood at the bottom of the stairs, looked at them, and concluded: "Fiona is alive, and the power is with me."

The hall was silent for a second.

Then Madison ran over first, asking worriedly: "Are you okay?"

At critical moments, it's always your own people who care about you!

Sean reassured her: "I'm fine."

Seeing that Sean was fine, Myrtle walked over, stood in front of him, and asked, looking up: "Can you feel it?"

Sean nodded: "Yes, it's inside me."

Myrtle stared at him for three seconds: "You'll have a lot of trouble, Sean, if this gets out."

With that, Myrtle turned to everyone and said: "Listen up, no one is to speak of what happened today."

"To the outside... we'll say Cordelia passed The Seven Wonders and has become the new Supreme Witch."

Cordelia looked up: "Myrtle, I..."

"I know you didn't pass," Myrtle interrupted her, "but outsiders don't know, the Witches Council doesn't know. As long as you don't use the Supreme Witch's power, no one will be able to tell."

Cordelia was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Madison looked at Myrtle, then at Sean, and finally nodded as well.

Queenie whispered on the stairs: "I won't tell either."

Myrtle looked at her: "You won't tell even when you're eating chips?"

Queenie hid the chips behind her back: "No."

Myrtle nodded, then turned to Sean: "What about you? Can you keep a secret?"

Sean smiled: "I don't even want people to know I'm a Warlock."

Myrtle breathed a sigh of relief, then concluded: "Starting tomorrow, Cordelia will be the Supreme Witch to the outside world. Madison, control your mouth. Queenie, control your chips. As for you... Sean, control your life."

...

Just as they were saying that the matter was settled for now, Sean's phone rang.

The loud ringtone was particularly jarring in the hall. Madison looked at him, and Cordelia looked at him too.

Sean pulled out his phone. The screen showed an unfamiliar number, but he recognized the area code... the police station's.

He answered: "Hello?"

"Sean?" It was Sheriff Brown's voice on the other end, eight octaves higher than usual, with a hint of excitement, "Where are you? Come to the station tomorrow."

Sean was stunned for a moment: "What happened?"

"Good news!" Brown laughed, "White's case is closed, and the higher-ups are very satisfied. The Fifth Precinct even sent a letter of thanks, and the Mayor's office knows about it."

"Tomorrow at 3 PM, the station will hold a commendation ceremony for you. Your partner Ballard, though she's returned to Los Angeles, her share has also been sent..."