Chapter 161: Chapter 161

"We're only a day into the investigation, but based on the timeline of contact, we can confirm the man was already a source of the Gear Disease before he was arrested. That means we'll need to pour significant resources into investigating his social network. Sage preserve us, this is no easy task. The Church attempted to divine the source directly using various methods—including artifacts like the Magical Conch and other question-based items—but our efforts were... interfered with. We've managed to narrow it down to a large area on the east bank of the Westminster River. This includes slums, shopping districts, City Hall, and even churches—all high-traffic areas. Worse, we can't be sure the perpetrator is still in the original location. To make matters worse, our investigation into the fraudster revealed a possible connection to that band of tricksters who worship the heretical god, the 'Prince of Lies.' He might even be one of their followers. So now we're dealing with two heretical cults at once. May the Sage preserve us!"

He spoke in a rush, a torrent of complaints pouring from him. The look on his face suggested he wanted nothing more than to round up the culprits behind this whole affair and give them a thorough thrashing.

"The 'Prince of Lies'? Wasn't he connected to the workers' riots a while back?"

"Exactly. That's what makes this so complicated."

Barnard sighed, his gaze drifting up to the smog-filled sky. "Those charlatans have powerful ways of resisting divination. Anytime they're involved, our scrying attempts are always misdirected. The Church has no choice but to contact the police and bring in professional help—detectives and the like—to assist with the investigation. This is likely to drag on for a long time. Sage willing, I hope we find the sources of the infection soon."

They fell silent for a moment, both offering a quiet prayer. After tracing the holy symbol, Jenkins spoke again.

"Is there any effective way to identify the source of this Gear Disease? If not, it's only a matter of time before Nolan erupts into widespread chaos."

"The five Orthodox Churches in Nolan each possess a few special items for this purpose. Our combat squads have been reassigned as patrol units... You don't need to worry. It shouldn't affect the clerical staff much, but I'd still avoid crowded places for now. Even with those areas under strict surveillance, a little caution can't hurt."

The big-bearded man's face was etched with worry. "We have to keep enough personnel here at the church, otherwise I'd be requesting field duty myself. We've been infiltrated by heretics twice in the last three months, after all... The captain keeps telling me to rest, but my injuries are already healed."

"Mr. Smith says these plants usually need a few hundred years to reach maturity."

Seeing Jenkins's interest, Barnard remarked.

"I doubt I'll be around to see that."

Jenkins lamented softly. The lifespan of an Enchanter below the 7th level was no different from that of an ordinary mortal. They were healthier, certainly, and could easily live out their natural span without the strange ailments of old age, but true longevity only came after breaking through to the 8th level. As for how much life that granted... the books were silent on the matter, and he had no idea.

"Mr. Williams, I think I'm more qualified to say that than you. Papa Oliver already reported your promotion to Level 2. In the entire history of this diocese, you're the fastest Enchanter to advance. It truly is a blessing from the Sage!"

"Thank you, Sage," Jenkins thought with a touch of irreverence, "you really are the perfect all-purpose excuse!"

While entertaining such blasphemous thoughts, Jenkins simply offered an embarrassed smile.

Barnard clearly took his expression for modesty.

Jenkins had also wanted to ask about the pirate king, Femishue the Destroyer, but Barnard informed him that the incident had been confined to the Docklands. Since its impact hadn't spread to the rest of the city, the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Church of Ocean and Exploration. Their own church had no new information on the matter.

The main problem was the lack of a genuine photograph of Femishue. The Church of Ocean and Exploration had pursued him for years and had a composite sketch of his general features, but it was bound to differ from his actual appearance. If he slipped into Nolan in disguise, the patrols would have a very hard time spotting him.

After bidding farewell to the gloomy Barnard, Jenkins once again headed for the underground Hall of Fame Library. He followed the spiraling stone steps downward and soon spotted the guardian standing before the bronze doors.

"Mr. Smith, are you on duty today?"

He nodded in greeting, and Smith, the Keeper of Secrets, nodded in return. Smith raised his right hand and pressed a golden, eye-shaped pendant hanging from his neck. It pulsed with light a few times, then went still, showing no unusual reaction. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by NoveIꜰire.net

"A precaution," the old man explained slowly, "in response to the last infiltration. That heretical cultist... the black robe he wore must have been an unrecorded Bestowal. Otherwise, he never would have slipped past the warning rituals and my own senses."

As he spoke, he closed his eyes and turned away. A beam of light shot out from the massive holy emblem on the Gate of All Things, enveloping Jenkins for a moment before slowly fading.

"What was that? It felt warm."

Jenkins asked with a smile.

"A double precaution."

He had come this time searching for clues about Sin Coins and something called the "Loki language." As for the "Master of the Mysterious Realm," he didn't expect to find any information about that in the library.

Whether it was because of his promotion to the second level or his status as the Saint Son, the Keeper of Secrets informed Jenkins that his access level was now 3. He could enter the first and second floors of the Secret Trace Library, though his time there was still limited.

His access couldn't be raised any higher because the deeper levels of the library contained forbidden knowledge so potent that a single glance could shatter the mind of a low-level Enchanter. The extraordinary power hidden within those esoteric texts, bizarre diagrams, and arcane symbols was something not even the Church could guarantee was completely safe.

Knowing pets weren't allowed inside, Jenkins had left Chocolate to play in the courtyard. He glanced at his pocket watch—three-thirty in the afternoon. Perhaps after he was done in the library, he could stop by and see how Papa Oliver was doing.

The décor on the first and second floors of the library was identical. If not for the passageway doubling in width, he might have thought he was in the same place.

He took a deep breath. The candles burning in the chandeliers probably cost more than setting a pile of gold pounds on fire.

"Just inhaling the spiced fragrance from the candles should probably cost a few dozen shillings."

As these random thoughts drifted through his mind, his eyes scanned the endless rows of bookshelves.