In the café across from the museum, the handsome poet with black hair and green eyes, Leonard, looked through the glass window at Ebner Bryan boarding a carriage and gradually leaving. Only then did he lower his head and ask in a suppressed voice:
"Old man, do you think this newly promoted viscount has any problems?"
As soon as his words fell, that somewhat aged voice rang in his mind:
"You're getting more and more disrespectful. In our time, being impolite to the high-ranked meant you would become a sacrifice for a live offering."
After complaining, Pallez paused and then continued:
"Of course there are problems… Otherwise how could he become a demigod in less than a year, jumping straight from the middle sequences? But he should have nothing to do with the matter you're investigating."
"You said last time in Bayam that he reminded you of an old friend? You even said he might have inherited that person's legacy… You just don't want me to investigate him, right?" Leonard muttered a few words, then said doubtfully, "But for such a big shot to suddenly organize an exhibition without much reputation, that's still very suspicious!"
"Heh, a 'Prophet's' actions often don't make sense, but afterward you'll find that events tend to develop in his favor…" Pallez Zoroast chuckled.
"'Prophet'…" Leonard nodded thoughtfully. After the Red Glove's training, he had gained a lot of understanding about the pathways held by other churches and major organizations, and knew this was Sequence 4 of the Reader pathway. The formula was publicly in the hands of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom.
He couldn't help but feel a little envious, since the other's speed of advancement was exactly what he longed for.
With a sigh, Leonard seemed to feel a bit hot, so he undid the buttons at his collar and casually asked, "Since Ebner Bryan became a 'Prophet,' that means he's a member of the Church of Knowledge… So how did he become a Blessed of the Earth Mother?"
"There's nothing strange about that, it's just that your experience is too limited… In history, though it wasn't common, there were indeed members of the Church of the God of Knowledge who became Blessed of other deities. Every few decades or centuries, such cases appeared…
"This might be related to the nature of Readers, who are generally proud. They often worship knowledge and wisdom itself rather than the god named after it.
"And the God of Knowledge and Wisdom doesn't really mind. As long as they don't harm the Church, they are left alone.
"In fact, this attitude has proven sound. Even though the organization is very loose, the cohesion of the Church of Knowledge is quite good…" Pallez said with some emotion.
Listening to the elder's detailed explanation, Leonard nodded and temporarily put aside his suspicions about Ebner.
At this moment, an ordinary Nighthawk pushed the door open and entered the café. He came to Leonard's side, whispered a brief report into his ear, and then turned to leave.
"Philina suddenly accepted Stuart's invitation, going to Dacy Bay for vacation, embarking on a romantic, spur-of-the-moment trip?!"
After repeating the report, Leonard said with both vigilance and doubt, "How is it that just as I wanted to investigate her, she suddenly left Backlund? And the deaths of her previous husbands, and her luck in picking antiques…
"All of them are filled with 'coincidences'!
"Hey, if it weren't for Stuart, for the Church of Storms, I would've already brought her back to the company for interrogation!"
Saying this, he tilted his head again and asked, "Old man, what do you think?"
"It is indeed a 'coincidence'… But her 'coincidences' should only come from 'luck,' not related to '0-08.' Don't waste your energy."
Leonard froze for a second.
"Old man, you're very familiar with '0-08'?"
You never showed it before!
That aged voice chuckled. "Of course I'm familiar. Back in the Fourth Epoch, '0-08' once caused the fall of an angel.
"I can't tell you too much. Because, once you know it, it also knows you. The more you learn about it, the more likely you'll become part of the story."
From the elder's vague words, Leonard truly tasted the terror of "0-08." It was already beyond what he could comprehend of mysticism!
"Then why didn't you tell me before I started investigating?" After thinking for a moment, Leonard asked habitually.
Pallez Zoroast chuckled softly. "Humans must go through experiences to grow."
"…." Leonard was speechless for a moment.
…..
In Silver City, inside the round tower.
Derrick Berg once again met with the head of the Six-Person Council, Colin Iliad.
He clearly remembered that nearly seventy "days" ago, the chief had told him that in about two months, he would have an exploration mission and should be prepared.
In these two months, with patrols and hard practice, Derrick had fully mastered the various Beyonder abilities of a Sun Priest. He wasn't far from digesting it.
What he most hoped for now was to obtain the Sequence 6 potion formula of the Sun pathway in the next two to three Tarot Gatherings, laying the foundation for further advancement.
"Afternoon Town…" Hearing the mission destination from the chief, Derrick was first stunned. Then, noticing the other's almost "hinting" gaze, he gained some understanding: the chief wanted him to report this to Mr. Fool, to inform that great existence that Silver City was already exploring in the direction of the Giant King's Court according to His will.
After all, Afternoon Town had been a necessary path from the Nation of Silver to the Giant King's Court. There, humans and giants had lived together, clustered around the dwelling of an ancient god frozen forever at dusk, like the final gate from reality into myth.
Such a place must be extremely dangerous. The chief also hoped to obtain some support, or hints.
"I need a quiet room," Derrick said carefully.
Colin Iliad seemed prepared. He raised his hand and pointed at the corridor. "Many rooms across the hall with open doors are empty. Choose one yourself."
"Yes, Chief." Derrick saluted and left, randomly found an empty room, locked the wooden door, sat down, and began to pray softly in the dark corner, with his eyes faintly glowing.
…..
On the Future, in a spacious room with its own washroom.
Klein, who had just ascended the Star Bridge in front of the crowd and boarded the flagship of the Admiral of Stars, stood by the window, gazing at the endlessly surging blue ocean outside, breathing in the cold wind from the north with complicated emotions.
Recalling the newly met "Toxicologist" Frank Lee and "Bloodless" Heath Doyle, his mouth twitched. He felt that Gaidarliya's ship seemed to have no normal people…
In comparison, the somewhat talkative Miss Jennings wasn't so "outstanding."
Just as he thought this, ethereal prayers suddenly reached Klein's ears. He pulled back his thoughts, entered the washroom, ascended above the gray fog, and soon heard Mr. Sun's prayer.
"Afternoon Town? Hoping for support… How would I know what that place is? This should be asked of Liu Bo! I remember he once lived in the Forsaken Land of the Gods."
Feeling it was tricky, Klein thought for a while, then gritted his teeth and directly forwarded Mr. Sun's request to the Tower.
…..
In Backlund, inside the villa at 28 Kinster Street.
Ebner had just brought Fanny, Helene, and the others back from Intis, and was taking advantage of the banquet to discuss with the ladies about Trier's political situation and the company's development strategy.
At that moment, endless gray fog appeared before his eyes.
A moment later, he came back to his senses, continued chatting with the ladies about their previous topic, and only muttered a few words inwardly:
Afternoon Town? That place is essentially the same as the Nation of Evernight, like the "Kabas" town I once entered in Professor Michelle's dream… As long as the spirit is pulled into the space above the gray fog by Mr. Fool, it will be safe.
But Klein directly forwarded Mr. Sun's request… He's really dropping the act more and more…
…..
Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking echoed in the chief's room at the top of the round tower.
Even before the sound, Colin Iliad had already known Derrick Berg was opening the door to head this way.
"Come in." He turned his body toward the entrance.
Derrick pushed the door open, saluted, and said, "Chief, I have obtained some hints."
Colin Iliad kept a calm expression and nodded. "What are they?"
"First, the monsters of Afternoon Town all fear strong light. Second, in the real Afternoon Town, one must be careful not to trigger and fall into the 'strange Afternoon Town'…." Derrick paused here, then continued in Ebner's tone, "Once that happens, it's best to immediately recite the honorific name: The Fool that does not belong to this era…"
…..
On Thursday morning, after sending Fanny—who had stayed overnight—back to Intis, Ebner didn't rush to return to Backlund. Instead, he drove to a rather secluded café and entered a private room.
Soon, Sero, the "Black Knight" whose fate had been usurped by the former pope of the Eternal Blazing Sun, emerged from the shadows. After saluting, he sat opposite Ebner.
"My Lord, the prime minister of the Delien family seems about to go mad."
(End of this chapter)