Sumeru City.
Cyno hurried back, covered in dust. His steps were swift and urgent, so much so that he didn't even have time to respond to acquaintances greeting him along the way.
He arrived at the Akademiya and made his way to the Grand Sage's office door.
Cyno knocked and heard a "Come in" in response.
Pushing the door open, he saw the Grand Sage, Azar, hunched over his desk, working.
At the same time, Grand Sage Azar looked up and adjusted his glasses.
"It's you."
"Grand Sage!"
Cyno spoke urgently, "You received the message I sent, right?"
Azar didn't deny it, merely nodding slightly. "I did. And then?"
And then?
How could you even ask that?
Cyno pressed on anxiously, "I wasn't joking—this is something I witnessed with my own eyes! We must take it seriously!"
As everyone knew, Cyno loved telling bad jokes.
But he wouldn't joke about something like this.
Seeing Cyno's deadly serious expression, Azar remained indifferent.
Did he not understand the importance of the cards?
But knowing didn't change anything.
Some things, once set in motion, could not be undone. Azar had long since gone too far down this path to turn back.
He simply waved his hand. "The Akademiya has its own decisions to make. There's no need for you to concern yourself with this matter."
"What decisions?!" Cyno demanded.
"When your involvement is required, you'll be notified. If it doesn't concern you, there's no need for you to know," Azar replied coolly.
"What do you mean?!"
Cyno slammed his hand on the table. "Grand Sage, do you truly understand what this means? If the Akademiya doesn't act immediately, Sumeru will fall behind! Can you bear that responsibility?!"
"Cyno!"
Azar stood abruptly, his expression dark. "You focus on your own duties. The rest is none of your concern. Get out!"
"Azar!" Cyno shouted his name directly.
He could see that Azar had no intention of immediately engaging with the card shop.
Why?
Cyno couldn't comprehend it.
"How dare you!"
"Guards! Escort him out and strip him of his position as General Mahamatra!"
Cyno's eyes widened in disbelief.
No matter how he looked at it, he was acting in Sumeru's best interests. Yet now, Azar was dismissing him from his post.
On what grounds?!
"Azar! Do you know what you're doing?!" Cyno roared. "The blame for Sumeru's decline will fall on you!"
"Azar, don't become Sumeru's sinner!"
Without knowing Azar's true intentions, Cyno had no choice but to be dragged away by the guards.
But he was filled with resentment.
Meanwhile, Azar slowly sat back down.
A sinner?
Hadn't he already become one?
During the time Cyno was returning, Azar had pondered many things.
Using human wisdom to create a god, reclaiming omniscient guidance, resolving the crisis of the Irminsul—this was the Akademiya's ultimate dream.
It was also Azar's ideal.
Azar had no intention of abandoning his vision, nor could reality allow him to.
What would the future hold?
Azar didn't know.
If Cyno was smart enough, perhaps he would forge a different path.
Until the final moment arrived, everyone had their own convictions.
All Azar could do was leave himself an out.
If they failed in the end… Sumeru wouldn't suffer irreparable damage.
If they succeeded…
Azar's eyes burned with fervor.
Just the thought of success made him tremble with excitement.
"Indeed. I knew our collaboration would be a pleasant one, Grand Sage," Dottore said with a smile.
Azar smiled as well.
Whether he would lose remained unclear.
But Sumeru would not lose!
"Grand Sage, would you like me to detain that General Mahamatra for you?" Dottore chuckled darkly.
Azar's expression shifted slightly before he laughed it off. "What's the point? He can't interfere with us, can he?"
"You're right."
Dottore had only mentioned it in passing.
He had no intention of hunting down Cyno.
Azar was past the point of no return—everything he did was under Dottore's watchful eye.
But it didn't matter!
As long as the Akademiya's officials took no action, all was well.
Dottore understood perfectly how irresistible this temptation was for Azar and his ilk.
Once they embarked on this path, there was no turning back.
The most Azar could do was hedge his bets.
Was it because of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?
That was certainly possible.
The scholars of this city of learning, so loyal to the Greater Lord, yet imprisoning her successor… how amusing.
Were they truly loyal to the Greater Lord, or merely to the concept of "omniscience"?
But regardless, Dottore couldn't care less.
All he wanted was to complete his blasphemous experiments as soon as possible and leave this place.
After leaving the Grand Sage's office, Cyno headed to the Scribe's office.
Seeing Cyno's stormy expression, Alhaitham asked calmly, "What's the matter?"
"I don't understand!"
Cyno recounted his encounter and Azar's reaction.
Alhaitham fell into thought.
He naturally believed Cyno and was somewhat surprised that such a miraculous power existed in the world.
But returning to the main issue—
The Grand Sage's reaction was indeed peculiar.
There was no reason for him to resist.
Whether for personal gain or the Akademiya as a whole, the cards were something they would inevitably seek.
Yet he hadn't acted immediately?
"Strange."
Alhaitham shook his head.
There wasn't enough information to analyze further. He simply asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"Me?"
Cyno seemed lost.
Stripped of his position as General Mahamatra, he now had nothing to do.
After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll go to the Court of Fontaine."
To seek out that miraculous power?
Alhaitham wasn't surprised. He nodded and said, "I see. What support do you need?"
"None. Azar wouldn't approve anyway," Cyno replied.
"I wasn't referring to the Akademiya's support, but personal assistance," Alhaitham clarified.
Cyno thought for a moment before shaking his head again. "No, I don't need anything."
"Very well."
Alhaitham lowered his head to the documents on his desk.
It was still work hours, after all.
Cyno didn't linger either, heading straight for Gandharva Ville.
He needed to tell Tighnari about this!
Sumeru City wasn't far from Gandharva Ville.
Soon, Cyno arrived.
Coincidentally, Tighnari wasn't out patrolling the forest and was instead teaching Collei to read and write.
"You're here?"
Seeing Cyno, Tighnari suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Was this guy about to tell another bad joke?
"I have something important to discuss."
Cyno repeated what had happened.
"Cards?"
Tighnari frowned in thought.
"Yes," Cyno nodded. "I'm certain what I saw wasn't an illusion. Do you understand what this means?"
"Of course I do."
Tighnari's brows knitted tighter.
The Grand Sage's reaction was off… What was he thinking?
"So, what's your plan?" Tighnari asked.
"Since I've been relieved of my duties, I'll go to the Court of Fontaine."
"Seeing it for yourself isn't a bad idea."
Tighnari nodded, then added, "Collei, why don't we go take a look too?"
"Master Tighnari! Really?!"
Collei was instantly overjoyed.
She'd been fascinated by what she'd just heard!
"Of course."
Tighnari smiled. "Who knows? Maybe the cards can cure your Eleazar."
"That would be…"
Collei scratched her head.
It did seem like a real possibility!
"Then let's set off?"
"We should prepare first. At the very least, we'll need enough Mora and supplies," Tighnari reminded her.
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T/N:
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