“Hmm?”
“What’s wrong?”
On the bright and warm second floor of the Prophet Association, Princess Margaret curiously asked Xia De.
She was sitting with Xia De, Leia, Princess Angelina, Sir Prisia, and Miss Yeva Swift, a Carson Rick Poet residing locally, listening to Xia De recount his Detective stories.
At this moment, the salon was at its liveliest, with people gathered in groups with familiar guests, discussing topics of interest, and exclamations and applause echoed intermittently.
Xia De had just been talking about his story of helping Mr. Hank solve the “night haunting” when he suddenly froze and turned to look out the window.
Leia picked up her teacup, concealing her worried expression, while the others also wondered what was wrong with Xia De. The night outside the window remained calm. The Prophet Association knew what might happen outside tonight and, of course, would not let these distinguished guests perceive any anomaly outside.
But Xia De was different; he was quite familiar with Yiluna’s Sunlight Gun, so he immediately knew through her that Yiluna seemed to be fighting someone outside.
“Nothing, I was just talking about investigating Mr. Hank’s friends, and I suddenly remembered that I might not have turned off the gas lamp when I left.”
Xia De said apologetically:
“But it’s okay, let’s continue the story. This story will probably be published by Miss Louisa in the newspaper in the middle of next month. This is definitely not the most bizarre case in my Detective career, but it’s quite interesting. Mr. Hank’s friends are scattered throughout…”
He was telling his story, but he felt very uneasy. Because of the long distance, he could only tell that Yiluna was fighting someone through his familiarity with her, but Xia De really couldn’t guess what the situation was like outside.
“It shouldn’t be Jack the Thief appearing. Yiluna wouldn’t directly use the Sunlight Gun against that thief who gets stronger when challenged.”
He was uneasy, so after finishing the end of this story, he again excused himself to go to the restroom:
“I don’t think I should have drunk so much black tea this afternoon.”
Xia De said very apologetically and stood up, walking towards the door.
Although Xia De was not there, people were still happy to continue discussing. Princess Leia, holding the hamilton detective story collection, said with some regret:
“I did invite Miss Louisa, but unfortunately, The Lady had something to do and couldn’t come.”
“Your Highness, I heard that Miss Louisa and Mr. Hamilton are very good friends. Is that true?”
The Carson Rick female Writer, who had seen Xia De and Dorothy at various banquets multiple times, asked with a smile. Leia slightly shook her head:
“Mr. Hamilton and I are not particularly familiar.”
When she said this, her gaze flickered, and the little Princess beside her tried hard not to show a strange expression.
“However, it is said that he has a wide circle of friends, whether they are noble merchants, professors, shop owners, or the poor in the Lower City, they are all his friends. I think because of the nature of her work, Miss Louisa should have a very good relationship with Hamilton Detective.”
“I had heard of Mr. Hamilton’s reputation when I was in Carson Rick.”
Sir Prisia said, and then, feigning solemnity, glanced at the door:
“I’m not speaking ill of others behind their backs; this should be considered praise. It is said that Knight Hamilton is very popular with girls. I chatted with this young gentleman before the salon started, and he is indeed as learned and talented as rumored, even worthy of being called a wise man. If Miss Louisa, during her research, became fond of the knight for this reason, none of us would be surprised; it’s quite normal.”
“Yes, Mr. Hamilton’s appearance is very popular with girls.”
The little Princess said, and Sir Prisia nodded in agreement with this view. Leia wanted to laugh but couldn’t. Only Princess Margaret held her wine glass, showing a thoughtful expression.
Since she knew that Xia De was a Letter-based Ring術士 of Saint Byron’s, there was reason to suspect that everyone around him could be a Letter-based student from the same group. Margaret Anjou had no covetous desires for Xia De’s secrets; she was just curious about Xia De’s life.
Everyone in the salon was enjoying the evening. A literary salon attended by young ladies and gentlemen of high society, even if it was just to pass the time, could make everyone feel at ease, as it was a symbol of status.
And in the next unforeseen second, the sound of glass breaking abruptly shattered the atmosphere of the literary salon. When the cold air from outside blew into the room through the completely shattered window, the people who had been laughing and talking all fell silent.
A middle-aged gentleman in a black suit, leaning on a cane, lightly stepped down from the windowsill. Behind him, a young man in a short shirt, clutching his left arm, also trembled as he crawled into the room:
“Professor Ons, perhaps next time you could fly a little slower.”
“This is it.”
Professor Ons, as if he had long anticipated the situation indoors, smiled and said to the people looking at him:
“Except for Margaret Anjou, Angelina Cavendish, Nasser Cavendish, and Leia Cavendish, everyone else, please sleep!”
The power of the spell spread through the room with his voice. Unprepared ordinary people instantly collapsed onto the carpet or sofa. Fortunately, the carpet and sofa were soft enough, so no one was injured.
The three Princesses immediately stood up, Leia pulling Angelina behind her. As for Prince Nasser, he had gone to the restroom earlier and had not yet returned.
Leia and Princess Margaret frowned, hesitating whether to act, but at this moment, the door was burst open, and all eight members of the Creation Church’s Ring術士 team, who had been ambushing next door, rushed in.
At the same time, Yiluna swiftly leaped into the room from outside the window. Behind him, Miss Green, a Ten-Ring Sorcerer of the Sun Church, and Mr. Modero, an Eleven-Ring Sorcerer of the Peace Church, dressed in white clerical robes, also “walked” in from outside the window.
The eight people at the window and the three at the door surrounded Professor Ons and the Cultists. The former raised an eyebrow, took off his white gloves, and said with a smile:
“It seems exactly as planned with Miss Pa Wo.”
He surveyed everyone present and elegantly snapped his fingers. Before the Church’s Ring術士s could act, the Cultist following him, who believed in mr. doom, had already thrown the dice in his hand.
“Stop him!”
But it was too late. The whisper element of the angel-level relic diffused all around. An invisible barrier completely isolated this room from the normal world. All the lights in the room extinguished at this moment, but in the next second, a beam of white heavenly light shone beside the Cultist who had thrown the dice.
A steady pillar of light illuminated the square stone table, with a chair at each of its east, south, and north sides.
Everyone stood in the Darkness Domain. The silent stillness was not an intentional refusal to speak, but rather that they had temporarily lost the ability to make a sound.
Professor Ons of the Truth Society stepped out of the Darkness Domain and came under the white heavenly light, sitting on the east side of the table. The Cultist of “mr. doom” sat on the north side, clutching his arm.
People in the Darkness Domain were moving. Miss Green stood in front of the three Princesses, casting a Miracle to protect them. Mr. Modero gestured to remind people not to stray from the light, but in reality, no one would do so. From the terrifying depths of the Darkness Domain, it seemed as if monstrous beasts were lurking, and only by staying near the light could one feel safe.
The whisper element was mainly concentrated under the light and in the farther Darkness Domain; otherwise, Princess Margaret and Leia would have to consider whether to faint appropriately now.
The “Professor” who had already taken his seat tapped the tabletop and said to the Church’s Ring術士s:
“angel-level relic, 【dice story collection】. Based on the current scene, it generates the most realistic game, telling a magical adventure story. Three players can participate in this story, each choosing their ‘protagonist’ to adventure in reality. By the way, after all players are seated, the story’s narrator will appear, who calls himself a ‘Keeper’. Yes, gentlemen, ladies, according to our investigation, this relic is related to the ancient god of wisdom and Knowledge. Winning this game is also considered completing a Keeper’s trial.”
“Are you crazy? Actively getting involved in the fate of the Chosen One?”
Even knowing the madness of the Truth Society, Miss Green still rebuked in a low voice.
The Keeper’s requirement is “power related to the ancient god 【Guardian Mentor】”. So, besides naturally appearing relics, reusing already contained relics also meets the requirements of the verses. But the Church did not do so, partly because it was uncertain if there were undiscovered fragments of verses prohibiting it, and partly because the fate of the Chosen One cannot be easily touched. If a Keeper’s trial is deliberately initiated in a forced manner, it will definitely lead to big problems.
“Crazy?”
Professor Ons smiled and shook his head:
“It is indeed crazy, but Miss Pa Wo believes that doing so, regardless of the outcome, is a very successful experiment. Although this gentleman and I took great risks, such an experiment will surely yield results, won’t it? This is a very valuable attempt, and we never do meaningless things. And if we’re really lucky, we might even get two wise man’s stones tonight.”
The Cultist sitting next to him mumbled “lunatic” quietly, but no one paid him any attention.
“By the way, if it weren’t for the fact that activating this relic requires the presence of mutually hostile game players, I wouldn’t be here. There’s still one spot left, who wants to participate?”
He looked at everyone present:
“Also, no need to worry about anyone disturbing us. While this relic is active, no one will notice what’s happening here. Everyone will temporarily ignore us. This space is completely isolated from the outside world, and until the game ends, no method can harm us, the seated game participants. You see, I also invited three Princesses and a Prince…”
The “Professor” glanced at everyone present and raised an eyebrow:
“It’s a pity the young Prince is not here, but the Princesses are very lucky to be able to watch the most realistic story that we will participate in and influence. Royal family members are aware of the existence of Ring術士s, so this does not violate the Official Secrecy Act.”
“Oh, you just want to take hostages.”
Yiluna’s voice interrupted him. As she walked towards the square table under the light, the Creation Church’s team, led by the bearded man, also moved closer. The High-Ring Sorcerers, meanwhile, tested the boundaries of this space and indeed found that they could not leave. The walls and windows still existed, but they could not connect to the outside world.
“Do you want to join this damned game?”
Yiluna asked Miss Green. Both belonged to the Sun Church, and Yiluna was accustomed to following the High-Ring Sorcerer’s arrangements.
“I need to protect the three Princesses, so I won’t participate. And you have higher freedom of action outside, so you decide.”
Miss Green said. Among the three Princesses protected by the holy emblem behind her, the two older ones each had their own thoughts.
Yiluna then looked at Mr. Modero, who also said:
“You decide. The Darkness Domain from some time ago also had the power to make people ignore a certain space, but wasn’t it noticed that something was wrong later?”
Professor Ons offered no comment on this.
Yiluna looked at the Creation Church’s team. The bearded captain slightly shook his head:
“My command authority is the lowest among us; you decide.”
Yiluna finally looked at the three Princesses. The Princesses stood together, “panicked” by the scene before them, with the unconscious people around them.
“Your three Highnesses, please come closer. According to the Official Secrecy Act, the Church will protect the safety of the royal family members. You may need to drink some holy water.”
After speaking, Yiluna nodded to Miss Green and Mr. Modero. She then walked around to the south side of the square table under the light and sat down on the stool.
