Chapter 816: The Missing

Franca currently couldn't discuss anything related to the "Architect," let alone ask the "Professors" what knowledge the "Hidden Sage" had implanted in them; she could only silently note this anomaly and plan to report it to Lady "Judgment," letting the Major Arcana cards determine what exactly had gone wrong.

After a moment of silence, "Isotope" spoke with a heavy tone:

"Most of you here should know well the agony of being relentlessly fed knowledge by the 'Hidden Sage'—so far, we've barely managed to endure it, but if the frequency increases further or the intensity grows stronger, we may soon have our skulls burst open from the knowledge and become monsters."

The "Professor" slowly exhaled and said:

"I agree—we must develop a sufficient sense of crisis."

"Periodic Table" seemed emotionally unstable:

"I have a sense of crisis, but what good does it do?

Can we unite and kill the 'Hidden Sage'?

I used to harbor such fantasies; now, heh…"

Franca fully understood the last two sentences of "Periodic Table"—in the first two or three years after her transmigration, she, a former atheist and avid novel reader, had always viewed the Seven Gods as merely more powerful Adepts, believing that as someone who had already entered the Path of the Divine, she might one day have the chance to slay a god and attain enlightenment. But after witnessing more and accumulating more esoteric knowledge, she deeply realized the gulf between low- and mid-rank Adepts and semi-divine beings.

This was still only semi-divine, not a true god.

According to the "Black Witch," true gods could modify and adjust the abilities of their own Path to some extent!

At the same time, Franca recalled past gatherings and noticed that the "Wizards" present rarely expressed intense negative emotions during their meetings in the "Realm of Night," whereas now, none of them concealed their pain and struggle—they displayed them openly.

"There are still too many non-'Wizard' members in the 'Academy' group, and now those attending the gathering are all close companions within a very small circle, deeply familiar with each other—so they're being more authentic? But I, no, 'Muggle,' am not part of this small circle—why are they showing such raw emotion in front of me? Is there some performance involved? Hmm, what's the purpose?" Franca wasn't sure if she'd caught Lu Mi'an's habit of suspicion or if her undercover work with the Saw Party and the Witch Cult had simply bred sufficient caution.

"Yeah, what can we do…" she echoed "Periodic Table," moved by his words.

The "Professor," calm and composed, spoke in a gentle voice:

"At the very least, we can still search for items or methods to reduce the negative effects of 'Knowledge Pursuit.'"

"Periodic Table" fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply:

"For now, that's all we can do."

The "Wizards" present, along with "Griffin" and "Eagle," discussed the issue, proposing various ideas, rejecting most of them, and leaving the rest for future verification.

Franca also contributed her imagination, and finally, thoughtfully, she said:

"It's a pity we can't predict the exact time when the 'Hidden Sage' goes mad—if we could, I know a place that could significantly reduce the impact."

"Where?" "Associate Professor" blurted out.

Franca had no intention of hiding it; she believed that if Lu Mi'an were here, he'd surely reveal the location to the "Professor" and the others.

It was based on her understanding of Lu Mi'an:

She had long noticed that Lu Mi'an was especially empathetic toward those who shared similar experiences and suffering—he spoke coldly and decisively on the surface, yet couldn't help offering some aid; similarly, he easily empathized with those who shared experiences and pain with Aurora, projecting his sister onto them.

Franca said with a faint sigh:

"At the entrance to the third level of the underground crypt, there's a small sacrificial plaza—it seems to retain residual divine power from the 'Eternal Sun' and the 'God of Steam and Machinery,' capable of blocking out most external influences."

The "Professor"'s eyes, hidden beneath the butterfly mask, brightened slightly:

"I've been there, but I didn't know any divine power remained."

She paused, then added:

"This is actually very useful—when I'm about to break down, I'll bring a crate of white candles and enough food, go live at that sacrificial plaza for a while, stay until the accumulated effects fully fade and my body and soul recover, able to withstand multiple knowledge injections again, before returning to the surface."

"Yes!" Franca felt glad for these members of the "Fuzzy Baboon Research Society."

The "Professor" immediately turned to "Periodic Table" and the others:

"We can also seek help from Adepts of the 'Pharmacist' Path—see if there are potions that can rapidly restore spirit and flesh."

"Even ones that temporarily increase brain capacity, enhance learning ability, and strengthen the soul," "Isotope" and others chimed in.

Their mood finally lifted slightly.

After another half-hour of casual chat, the "Professor" and "Associate Professor" called a few people to the study to fetch items for the next board game, while Franca stood up and went to the small bar in the opposite living room to get a drink.

She was hesitating between fruit beer and a soda when "Periodic Table" walked up beside her, scanning the liquor shelf while lowering his voice:

"'Muggle,' weren't you looking for members of the 'Morse Ascetics'?"

Seeing the hooded "Muggle" turn her head toward him, "Periodic Table" twitched the chemical symbols on either side of his mouth:

"I am."

Finally admitted it? Franca wasn't surprised at all.

She had even suspected that every "Wizard" in this small circle was one—and that "Griffin" and "Eagle," who weren't "Wizards," might be too.

"You already suspected?" "Periodic Table" noticed "Muggle" showed no emotional reaction.

Franca gave a quiet laugh:

"It's not strange—I'm a member of another secret organization myself. Many in the Research Society likely have ties to secret societies or official churches. That's not an issue, as long as we don't violate the contract we signed."

"Periodic Table" smiled:

"Exactly.

Didn't you say a 'Mirror Person' named Griffith secretly replaced one of our members? I have a suspect."

Franca had spent days tracking down the mineralogist Jasmin—suspected to be the "Mirror Person" Palia—but had never caught her trail; now, she unexpectedly had a lead on Griffith, a more important "Mirror Person."

"Who?" she asked directly.

"Periodic Table" organized his words:

"Normally, I should report this to the Ascetics' higher-ups for confirmation and handling, but my direct 'Pillar' has been unreachable lately."

"'Pillar'?" Franca asked in confusion.

"Our 'Morse Ascetics'' high leadership consists of the 'Ten Pillars'—ten powerful semi-divines, possibly more. The Pillar responsible for the Trill region is Kemo Luo. I'm directly under him. After that terrible storm, his orders to us grew fewer and fewer; recently, we've tried contacting him but received no response." "Periodic Table" explained heavily.

After the Inn Operation, the high leadership of the "Morse Ascetics" in Trill had become abnormal, then vanished? This was critical intelligence—must report it immediately… Franca looked at "Periodic Table," thought for a moment, and said:

"Is there no emergency way to contact the other 'Ten Pillars'?"

"Periodic Table" sighed:

"No. Normally, at such times, we'd pray to the 'Hidden Sage,' report the anomaly, and receive divine revelation—but we've all tried. No revelation came, and no other 'Pillar' contacted us."

Because the "Hidden Sage" has gone even madder? Franca nodded:

"Continue."

"Periodic Table" gave a bitter smile:

"Actually, this isn't all bad—though we lack high-level guidance and resources, we also avoid dangerous missions. Of course, assuming Nikila isn't the 'Mirror Person' Griffith."

"Nikila?" Franca pressed.

"Periodic Table" grunted:

"He's Kemo Luo 's deputy. Since we lost contact with that 'Pillar,' his behavior has made me suspect he might be the 'Mirror Person.'"

"What behavior?" Franca confirmed.

"Periodic Table" thought and said:

"He gets angry more easily now, and his negative emotions have increased. Also, I noticed his right hand feels awkward—he's naturally right-handed."

"What's his real identity?" Franca's eyes lit up.

"Periodic Table" weighed his words:

"I'm not certain he's definitely the 'Mirror Person'—after prolonged exposure to knowledge infusion, uncontrolled negative emotions are common. Before I tell you his real identity and possible location, I want you to sign a notarized document promising that if he isn't the 'Mirror Person,' you won't kill him—you must let him go."

As he spoke, "Periodic Table" pulled out a valuable notarized document from an inner pocket.

Seeing "Muggle" look at him in mild surprise, "Periodic Table" gave a self-deprecating smile:

"What else can you expect? We've always had to follow the motto: 'Do as you please, but do no harm.'"

"Fine, no problem," Franca agreed readily.

She wasn't the type to slaughter the innocent.

…………

Midnight in Morola.

Lu Mi'an put down his book, rubbed his aching head, and decided to rest by thinking of something else.

He was considering whether he'd missed any enemies or rivals when the mirror in the room shimmered with watery light.

Vannak, with iron-black eyes and blood-red hair, reappeared once more, speaking in a low tone:

"Gusin and Albus are about to walk into the trap. I'll tell you my 'hiding place' now."

Is it starting? Lu Mi'an's focus sharpened instantly.

(End of Chapter)