While Bill and Giovanna were arguing over the details of the deal, it was much quieter in the other secret room.

The gray-robed old man lay on the light mist and opened his eyes wide, his hands constantly groping on the colorful flowing wall, and the ornaments on his body rattled.

Teresa, a lady in court attire, sat behind her, looking back and forth at the old man's ornaments with the same curiosity as the gray-robed old man about the wall of light and mist.

"I've done a little bit of research on jewelry. Teresa couldn't help but sigh, "But I don't recognize what style you belong to." ”

"These little things, you say? They are not decorations, but they don't play any role here. It's been a long time since I've felt the sensation of these glasses pressing against the bridge of my nose. The gray-robed old man was a little reluctant to turn around from the wall, "Although I really want to do some experiments, hehe, but that is too rude to the supreme being." ”

"What kind of experiment?" Teresa asked.

The gray-robed old man rubbed his hands, looking like he was enjoying the explanation: "How should I explain it to you?... Do you know the high-way usage of source gas? Ah, I don't know, that's normal too. The colorful light that represents the supreme existence is not just for the sake of beauty, it may be both a symbol and the essence of the source energy. With the help of the deep jellyfish extract, our eyes can see the colors of the properties of the different source gases, which happen to be the same as these seven colors. Okay, but in any case, everything seen in the subspace is just a projection of mental representations, and more likely a fantasy created by the owner of the realm, and its characteristics can only be tested by means such as spells on these light mists. ”

Teresa's face was full of interest, but she didn't seem to pay much attention to what the old man said: "It's hard to imagine how a mage, who is obsessed with these magic and mystical knowledge, would carry the Void God's coin with him and be recruited by the Void God's agent. ”

"My dear lady, I Sean also do not understand why a lady, who is apparently at home in court society, would be so aggressive in carrying contraband that is forbidden by the Church. I'm just an old man interested in supreme beings, and I'm not carrying this coin because I need to get rid of some faculty member. ”

Sean paused slightly, turned his head slightly and continued helplessly: "Of course, I also have some holidays with the church - God is above, who has not had a holiday with the church in this era? The promise and blessing of the church are far less than the plunder and harm it brings. For thousands of years, the study of magic and mystery has been considered taboo and contrary to public morality. Now, while acknowledging that the power of runes has been of great help to its ships, airships, cannons, and walls, the Empire has tightly controlled the mages, and even recruited them to deal with them. Since Zelos II conquered almost the entire continent for the Empire, he unreasonably forcibly collected all the mage's books and notes and handed them over to the Church for safekeeping. ”

"So, old man, you still hope that the Void God can help you. Teresa held out a hand to Sean.

"A large number of books on magic and mystery were originally hidden in the spiral library of a mobile fortress on the sea. Only a few manuscripts directly used by the empire remain on the mainland. As a result, magic and mystery—or rather, runic powers—are still relegated to the category of otherworldly essentia and occult rituals, treated as dark forces. ”

Sean shook his head solemnly as he spoke: "The exploration of the nature of runes and source energy has almost stalled since Zelos I, and now it may even be due to the deliberate cover-up of the church that knowledge has been lost and begun to regress. The situation is unbearable. ”

Teresa held her chin and thought for a moment, "Then you hope that the Void Mind can transfer all these books to another place?"

"At least I wish I could offer my small personal collection to the supreme agent in exchange for a little help—if not to paralyze the sea fortress, perhaps by removing the local church leaders and liaisons to create some commotion, and allowing me to stay in the spiral library to collect precious books while the church focuses on local defense. Now the church keeps the library under very close surveillance, and it takes me all my energy to just walk around it. ”

The court lady reached out to cover her gaping mouth: "What you just said means that you are breaking into a place that is said to be tighter than the Imperial Prison?"

"I myself was indeed in that sea fortress. Sean smiled, "Anyway, I'm going to be going to go there recently." Cities built on forts are also very strict with residents, and staying here for a few more days will only increase the risk. ”

"Sir, I'm afraid you're not right. Teresa sat up straight, "I was struggling with how this deal was arranged, but now I realize that I can actually give you some help. ”

"Oh?"

"I have good news for you. Many conservatives in the empire, especially hard-lineds with a lot of weight, have recently been arrested on a number of charges. You can see this as a sign that the emperor intends to reform. And the conservatives and radicals have had several conversations in recent days with substantive results. Be willing to take a step back – conservatives, of course, a little bit back. Small families like Goslar and Otwijk are a bit pitiful, and they have to be traded as chips. ”

"I don't quite understand. Sean looked confused.

"You don't know the policy stance of the reformists? Oh, this... But I'm sorry, I take it for granted that this is common sense that everyone should know. Teresa raised her head and nodded deeply in her realization, "Those who belong to the church will no longer be clergy, but will be called by the proper name of 'clergy.'" Many of the functions of the church were separated, and the internal structure was greatly changed. I suppose it won't be long before the Sea Fortress will be summoned to anchor near the West Coast, and the change of function will surely throw the library you are talking of into a mess. ”

Sean almost jumped up like a child, and the joy on her face was so contagious that Teresa couldn't help but smile along with her.

Sean, who had suppressed the urge to dance, stroked his white beard: "This news is even more useful than paralyzing the sea fortress!

"No, what I hate is the church that brings injustice. Not someone who serves it. Teresa smiled and waved her hand, "The Great Zelos I, made the Holy See the Holy See the Holy See of the Empire, and the Empire is no longer the Empire of the Holy See." The short-sighted III and his staff made the efforts of the first in vain. Although the Church had lost much in this negotiation—the right to appoint personnel, some of its administrative power, some of its jurisdiction, its right to collect tithes, and its important economic backers—the Goslav family, it regained the initiative over the Empire. If those radical stupid pigs are allowed to continue, the Empire will pay a heavy price.

"I don't want to sit idly by, but my influence is very small. I had some longing to use the power of the Void to directly eliminate the extremely cunning and hateful Father Aksu—after all, he was also abusing his divine power to protect him. But now ......"

Teresa's eyes suddenly lit up: "Perhaps, you can teach me these magical and mysterious skills?"

"What?" Sean felt he had a hard time keeping up with the other man's train of thought, and his glasses were about to slip off the bridge of his nose in shock.

"The old gentleman is right, magic and mystery have been lost more and more since II, and the mages are almost all under the control of the Empire. Because of this, without this one of the three major threats to the dark forces, protection against them is no longer ubiquitous - and it is precisely because of the peace of mind that the people have been able to reduce their worries, and the tax burden on dealing with magic and mystery, that those heavy-handed measures can be widely supported.

"On the other hand, if the old gentleman can secretly teach me some practical spells such as eavesdropping and stalking, I can easily gain a great advantage!"

Sean was stunned and pondered, "It's easy to teach. However, you are in a place near the court of a certain principality, where the church monitors the movement of source energy very closely, and it is a big problem for me to secretly conduct spell training in this environment. ”

"Then please ask the old gentleman to find a way to repay the favor. Teresa rested her head on her palms and watched with a smile as Sean's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.