bookpub Chapter 152 Arrodes and Klein
Chapter 152 Arrodes and Klein
Chapter 152 Arrodes and Klein
After speaking with Sirion, Ikonser left the lounge. He was responsible for protecting Sirion during this time, but not for close protection.
Outside the lounge, at the end of a corridor covered with murals, Carlson looked at Ikonser beside him and asked curiously:
"Captain Ikonser, protecting just one person doesn't require you to take on this personally, does it?"
"At a time like this, isn't it more important to track down the whereabouts of that high-ranking 'witch'?"
Ikonser shook his head slightly: "This is His Excellency the Archbishop's arrangement."
"Furthermore, 'witches' are skilled at tracking and counter-tracking, let alone high-ranking 'witches' who are under the watchful eye of the 'Primordial Witch.' Unless she actively reveals clues, it will be very difficult for us to find her."
"Finding her purpose in appearing in Backlund is more important than tracking down a 'witch.'"
"I understand." Carlson nodded as if he had just realized something, then jogged away from the corridor.
Ikonser looked towards the lounge where Sirion was, lost in thought. He had previously asked Archbishop Horamik about his attitude toward Sirion, and the latter's reply was to keep an eye on him, but not to disturb him.
Keep an eye on it, but don't disturb it.
Rather than Archbishop Horamik's personal attitude, this seemed more like a resolution from headquarters, or even from a pre-divine council.
So, is the reason I'm being followed both to guard against danger and because I'm worried that he's the target of the high-ranking "witch" from the witch cult?
Above the gray fog, inside the magnificent and ancient palace.
Cyril leaned back in his high-backed chair, turned his head to look at the "world" at the very bottom, and calmly said:
"I'm still in the 'Steam' church, surrounded by people with mechanical hearts. You'd better get to the point."
...And your act of pulling people in the church is somewhat disrespectful to the "God of Steam and Machinery".
At this moment, "The World" no longer had the gloomy and reserved feeling he had at yesterday's tarot meeting; he seemed more like a real person playing a role.
He nodded to Sir Ryan, then asked:
"I've confirmed that the bookmark in the manuscript at the Russell memorial exhibition is faulty. Do you have a way to remove or replace it silently?"
"I originally planned to do this myself, but the results showed that it would be very dangerous."
"So you've come to me to share the risks?"
Sirien looked at Klein, who was playing the role of "the world," speechless, but he couldn't refuse, since the increased risk of this matter was directly related to him.
He paused, then said thoughtfully, "I have an excellent intelligence source within the Steam Church. You can contact them to formulate a plan first, and then have them cooperate with me to create a disguise so that I can temporarily escape from the church."
"It?" The world's cold voice was filled with intense curiosity.
Cyril nodded slightly: "Yes, it's a Level 2 sealed artifact of the Steam Church, the 'Magic Mirror' Arodes."
"It is a living seal, and although it has some strange hobbies, it is smarter than many people in terms of intelligence."
"You can draw this symbol on a mirror and summon its will from afar."
As he spoke, he reached out and pulled a piece of paper out of thin air, displaying the secret and spying symbol that could summon Arodes.
Klein was more shocked by the creation of this object out of thin air than by the symbols displayed before him.
Although he could also create things out of thin air, that was in the space above the gray fog, using the power of the gray fog; he couldn't do it on his own.
Do "diviners" and "apprentices" who reach higher sequences all possess similar abilities to creation?
Amidst the turmoil of his thoughts, he asked bluntly, "What kind of extraordinary ability is this?"
Having already guessed Klein's doubts, he explained simply:
"Fantasy can make the false appear real; of course, what I'm fantasizing about now is merely superficial."
"Furthermore, this is completely different from the 'historical projection' created by Mr. 'Fool,' and it's not an extraordinary ability that should belong to the 'Apprentice' path. Hmm, perhaps future 'Apprentices' will be able to possess it."
"The extraordinary abilities granted by the potion can change?" Klein keenly noticed the key point in his words.
Cyril nodded slightly: "Yes, by grasping the uniqueness, we can influence the entire path to a certain extent."
"Like the 'Thief' next door, the reason it's so weak is entirely because Amon nerfed it."
Klein, with a studious attitude, pressed on, "Amon? Why did he do that?"
"Probably just for fun..." Sirion shrugged uncertainly.
He paused briefly, interrupting Klein's attempt to continue questioning him:
"That's fine, I don't want to open my eyes to find myself surrounded by the Mechanical Heart Squad."
"...Okay." Klein nodded gently.
He then pretended to bow respectfully to the empty high-backed chair at the head of the table and began to speak:
"Mr. Fool, we have completed our exchange."
As soon as he finished speaking, a deep red light rose from the surrounding gray mist, and the faint repulsion suddenly intensified. In an instant, Sirion's figure disappeared into the space above the gray mist.
Klein, disguised as "the world," glanced at the spot where Cyril had disappeared, then sat back down in the high-backed chair that belonged to "the patient."
At the same time, the paper with symbols of secrecy and voyeurism that had been depicted earlier materializes in his hand.
He glanced at the paper in his hand, then took off the yellow crystal pendant from his wrist, repeatedly muttering divination phrases to himself.
"There is no danger behind this symbol."
After repeating it several times, he opened his eyes and saw the citrine pendant in his hand swinging clockwise in an arc.
After confirming that the special symbol given by Cyril posed no danger, he left the gray fog.
In the West End, on Green Street adjacent to King's Road, in a budget hotel less than twenty minutes from the Kingdom Museum.
Klein rose from his armchair, glanced around to make sure no one had disturbed him during this time, and then strode into the bathhouse.
In these budget hotels where identity registration is not strict, the only place with a mirror is the bathroom.
After closing the bathroom door and carefully arranging a spiritual wall around it, he then drew the symbol of secrecy and voyeurism on the mirror in front of him.
As the symbol took shape, the mirror suddenly became deep and dark, like a pitch-black lake with ripples spreading outwards.
At the same time, the dim light in the bathroom also dimmed, and a cold wind howled, swirling the hem of his clothes.
Klein took a half step back, reached out to hold down the hem of his clothes that was being blown by the wind, and stared warily at the mirror in front of him.
Within the mirror, silver words emerged from the rippling water:
"A sublime being, Arodes..."
The words appearing on the mirror suddenly paused, then abruptly disappeared. Before Klein could react, new, bright silver, enlarged and bolded Rune words appeared on the deep mirror:
"Great, supreme, and most exalted master, Arodes has finally met you!"
"Please forgive me for not being able to come to see you in my true form right now. My physical body is still being preserved in the Steam Church, and I cannot extricate myself from my current situation on my own."
"Great master, I don't know why you summoned me, but I, the humble, insignificant, and loyal Arodes, am willing to serve you."
Klein: ...
Is this the strange hobby that Cyril was talking about?
It's quite strange that it calls everyone it sees "master" and acts so humble.
He paused, suppressed his turbulent thoughts, and asked directly:
"If I wanted to acquire an exhibit from the Russell Memorial Exhibition at the Kingdom Museum, what suggestions would you have?"
He didn't go into too much detail, after all, the mirror was a sealed artifact of the Steam Church, and the Roselle memorial exhibition at the Kingdom Museum was also organized by the Steam Church. He was worried that this "magic mirror" might accidentally leak information or report him directly.
On the mirror, after a ripple of water, new words emerged:
"Great master, which exhibit would you like?"
"If it's knowledge-based, I can show it to you directly."
Klein cautiously replied, "The Roselle Manuscript."
Is this it?
Along with the words, the mirror also showed the Russell manuscript he had seen at the Russell memorial exhibition that morning, as well as the bookmark tucked inside the manuscript.
Klein nodded slightly. "Yes, I want to take it. Do you have any suggestions?"
On the bathroom mirror, the water rippled for a while before new words cautiously surfaced:
"My lord, due to the appearance of a high-ranking 'witch' in the Kingdom Museum this morning, security has been temporarily increased. I haven't found a suitable way for you to take the Roselle manuscript."
"That place is completely covered by two sealed objects, and it would be difficult for your avatar to break through the blockade and sneak in."
"Of course, if you are willing to use even a fraction of your own power, all of this is insignificant."
Klein stared blankly at the mirror in front of him.
It always feels like it's completely immersed in its own world. Do sealed artifacts also have chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)?
Seeing that Klein remained silent, Arrodes cautiously asked again:
"My great master, I have another, less reliable, alternative plan. Do you need it?"