For the next week, Loren and the night watchmen of Ebden searched the sewers and the ruins south of the city, but found few clues.

No, I should say that there are almost none.

At this point in the investigation, the identity of the perpetrator has long been revealed, and the only thing that really makes them continue to search tirelessly is the dangerous possibility of "whether Fanecist is still alive".

To Loren he was a source of instability, and in the eyes of the Night's Watch, the Master Bishop had come into contact with the Night's Watch's secrets and had to be eliminated as soon as possible.

Even in the entire Sakran Empire, very few people actually know about the "Night's Watch", and even those who know vaguely have only heard of such an organization that is loyal only to the royal family, and even to the Emperor himself......

You can count them on one hand.

For an underground organization that focuses on intelligence and assassination, the intricate network of relationships and all kinds of hidden information is not only their capital, but also their lifeline.

The dagger hidden in the shadows does not need to be shown-off; the less known it is, the sharper it becomes.

Compared with the conscientiousness of the night watchmen, Loren is more like "coping with things", using the name of investigation as a guise to contact Corona from time to time to learn and master the control method of "valve".

According to Corona's research, once opened, the effect of the "valve" on the wizard is almost irreversible, but it is not impossible to control it.

Unlike any wizard, Loren doesn't need an external power like the "Grail of the Nine-Pointed Star", he is a "valve" in his own right, and overuse can affect him even more than any other wizard - like the battle for the Eternal Night Forest in Mezca, he can only be said to be too lucky.

The existence of the "valve" overlaps the boundaries between the void and matter, allowing Loren to use high-level spells that are far beyond the usual power almost without limit, but the load it brings is not non-existent, but it is not obvious to feel it in that state.

Therefore, compared with the power brought by the "valve", Corona's research is more focused on the level of broadening the spiritual temple.

To put it simply, it is to create your own "dream world".

For evil gods like Asriel, the "dream world" is their most powerful means and final card - the wizards who are dragged into it have little chance of defeating them, and they can keep their sanity awake as well as death.

But for wizards, that's a different story.

Wizards who live in the real world do not need a "legend" to maintain their existence, they are only limited by their innate "shackles", and once the shackles are broken, they will establish their own "dream world......

That means a myriad of possibilities, and an almost endless limit—meaning far more than the Holy Grail or the "valve" itself!

This is the reason why wizards crave the Holy Grail, and it is also the true meaning of the "nine-pointed star" that shines with gray-blue light.

The possibilities are endless—there's nothing more than this that wizards are tirelessly pursuing.

..............................

The humble carriage stopped in the alley, and Loren opened the blinds on the window slightly, quietly observing the Ebolden as it gradually recovered from the ruins and death.

But what is really striking is the unparalleled efficiency brought about by the Liberal Parliament after Corona.

In order to establish the absolute authority of the Wizard Tower and its image among the people at the bottom, Corona invested a lot of resources in the restoration work in the south of the city at almost no cost, and the wizards mobilized for this huge project alone were no less than 300 people!

Academic alchemists come up with blueprints and plans they've devised countless times, spellcasters who are proficient in spells are directly involved in the construction work with their apprentices, and herbalists and apothecaries set out to eradicate the plagues and diseases caused by widespread death......

Even the refugees who survived the disaster and had no permanent place to live, and the villagers around the city outside the city, were given jobs in this huge reconstruction work, and a promise that they would have a place to live after the restoration of the south of the city, without having to pay the poll tax.

For workshops large and small at Ebden, the restoration work also requires a lot of materials, equipment and supplies...... And all these things can be turned into their orders!

All in all, with the opportunity of reconstruction, the Freedom Council not only swept away the slums that were full of filth and filth, but also greatly stimulated the economy that had fallen due to the destruction, and at the same time solved the hidden danger of refugees and revitalized the city.

As for the cost of the entire reconstruction, although Ebolden was wealthy throughout the empire, such a large expenditure was still not affordable for the Free Council, which usually borrowed money from the free nobles in the city, who also believed in the credit of the Free Council...... And usury under credit.

But this time, because of the seizure of the property of the Bellini family and their followers, the free parliament led by Corona not only did not borrow a penny, but also paid a lot of high debts by the way.

Quietly, it seems that the "prophecy" of a certain prince is really coming true—in just three months, the wizards will be able to restore Ebolden to its original state, or even better!

And the one who did all this was the old man in front of him...... Slowly lowering the blinds, the black-haired wizard's gaze returned to Corona's.

Compared with him a week ago, not only did the old man's face not have many wrinkles, but he also looked a lot more rosy and radiant.

"Some people say that power is the real fountain of youth, and I didn't believe that at first. Loren couldn't help but joke with him: "But the way you look now seems to prove that I made a mistake." ”

"On the contrary, it was the most exhausting period of my life outside of this time, even when I was an apprentice who worked hard day and night, and I felt like I had aged ten years overnight. ”

No matter what expression she used, Corona was always so gentle, and her modest smile was more like that of a scholar than an archon: "As for appearance... Being an archon is not the same as being a wizard, and if you still look like you used to be old, it's a very dangerous sign. ”

Loren said that he understood - Corona in front of him was old after all, if he looked more decadent...... And how many people would be willing to be loyal to an old man who is about to give up and kick his legs at any time?

In other words, he is one of those nobles, and seeing that this archon has only a few days to live, I am afraid that it is more practical to think about how to grab the position of heir.

"Still, while being an archon is a chore, it has its benefits. Corona smiled and pulled out a piece of letterhead from his cuff, the stamp on the cover that made Loren's eyes squint slightly.

The Iron Crown held up by the three-headed dragon...... The coat of arms of the family de Salion.

"This letter has only arrived today, and it has been sent directly from the imperial capital of Golovin. The old man tapped the envelope lightly: "Our Majesty Eckhart II has specially sent a mission to Eberten to come and meet. ”

Loren raised an eyebrow, he sensed Corona had something to say.

"Although it is just a normal letter congratulating the new consul on his assumption of office and discussing the aftermath of the matter, the content of less than a hundred words is actually not mentioned to His Highness Brandon - you know, the current situation in Ebolden is almost caused by His Highness, isn't it too strange to avoid it?"

"You mean ......"

"It is also possible that His Majesty made an unintentional mistake, but it is more likely to be related to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Connad, this is just speculation. Corona looked at Loren: "If His Royal Highness Brandon is recalled to the imperial capital, you will definitely have to accompany you as a wizard advisor, that is to say, ......"

“...... Is this our 'last lesson'?" Loren said half-jokingly.

"It's not that exaggerated. Corona chuckled: "In addition, I also got a relatively secret information, about the members of this mission, there is a very special person......

The leader of the Night's Watch, Rut Infinit, is also in it!"