Chapter 189: Chapter 189
"The Golden Divine Art, [Knowledge Bestowal], allows its user to forcibly impart their own knowledge and information onto another person. Knowledge has weight. Therefore, beyond simply saving the time it takes to have a conversation, it can also function as a form of attack."
Miss Miller watched Jenkins's face, her expression one of utter certainty that he would agree to her request. Her eyes seemed to glow faintly in the dim carriage—not as brightly as a cat's, but with a gentler, more captivating allure.
"The details are mere procedure, and I have no desire to waste our time. So, just give me the answer directly. Can you agree to such a simple request? You won't be harming anyone's interests, nor will you have to betray the Church. I am a firm believer in equivalent exchange. In return, I can offer you knowledge that you might find... interesting."
Jenkins stared at her, his face impassive, and remained silent for a long moment. Divine arts could be used not only by a god's faithful but by heretics as well. However, in addition to suffering a reduction in the ability's effectiveness, a heretic also ran the risk of being influenced—or rather, infected—by the power of a Righteous God, causing their own beliefs to unconsciously shift.
He could tell just from its description that the divine art she mentioned was likely connected to the Sage. And so, in Jenkins's subconscious, this rare non-believer before him was, surprisingly, someone he could trust.
He considered her proposal for a long while before finally posing a question of his own.
"I came across a rather fascinating mathematical problem the other day. I wonder if you could answer it for me. If we define a prime number as any integer greater than one that has no positive divisors other than one and itself... then how can you prove that any even integer greater than two is the sum of two primes?"
Miss Miller’s brow furrowed. "I know you're trying to distract me with a complex mathematical problem, perhaps to seize the initiative in our conversation. But isn't such a tactic a bit... juvenile?"
Within the carriage, the enormous, illusory geometric figure—a confluence of countless mathematical symbols and concepts—materialized once more. Between them, a dense tapestry of numbers constantly rearranged itself as a kaleidoscope of colorful symbols Jenkins had never seen before collided, transformed, and sparked new variations. This time, however, no new knowledge was added to the pattern. It simply flickered, unable to find a solution, and helplessly vanished into the air.
The woman let out a soft snort, tilting her head to avoid Jenkins's gaze. Her eyes fell instead on Chocolate, who had been watching the two humans with rapt attention. As Miss Miller looked over, the cat feigned nonchalance, burying its head in its paws.
"Such pathetic male pride."
As she spoke, she pulled a notebook from her satchel and jotted down a few lines with intense focus. Then, in a fit of pique, she snapped it shut.
"You're not writing something like, 'Universal Calendar 1865, Month of the Sage and Harvest, 9th Day, Wednesday. Today, Williams offended me. I have made a note of it,' are you?"
Jenkins was now certain that the woman bore him no real malice. The deal she offered was excellent, and he was inclined to accept. He figured a little humor might help ease the tense atmosphere.
"I'm not so petty," she retorted. "I will remember this problem of yours. And I will solve it."
Her confidence remained unshaken.
"Then I wish you success," Jenkins said. "No, I suppose I should wish you luck."
Miss Miller was a non-believer—something Jenkins truly could not have anticipated. Such people existed in this world, but they were even rarer than cultists. He had no desire to judge them; he wasn't even sure if his own convictions counted as faith. As long as they weren't cultists or criminals, he saw no issue.
Miss Miller's Soul Emblem was a simple white symbol, like the number zero. Such a unique emblem was certainly not on any wanted list, which further set Jenkins's mind at ease.
The Church kept detailed records of where the malevolent coachman had appeared, and the information wasn't classified. Even if Jenkins looked it up, it wouldn't attract any unwanted attention. After discussing it further with Miss Miller and confirming that she had no criminal record and no intention of breaking the law, Jenkins agreed to her request.
"So, what knowledge do you require?" she asked. "If we're to make a trade, we must first agree on the terms. I am learned, I admit, but I am not omniscient. So please, do not ask about things that are impossible for a mortal to know."
"I am very curious about how you managed to evade the... gruesome toll of A-11-2-3301. As I recall, it harvests the organs or flesh of its passengers."
He asked in a low voice. The woman before him was exceptionally clever; asking a reckless question would only expose his own secrets. It was better to choose a topic he was genuinely curious about.
She raised an elegant eyebrow. "Mr. Williams, your level may not be high, but your breadth of knowledge is quite impressive. It seems people who study mathematics are indeed an intelligent sort."
"No, I only asked because I believe you're even more intelligent."
Jenkins mused, then realized that Chocolate had, at some point, quietly leaped onto his lap.
"But you are only gathering some unclassified information for me," she stated. "The answer to your question is far more valuable. I always adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange."
"And what do you believe that answer is worth?"
"Two hundred thousand gold pounds. In cash."
Her expression was dead serious; she wasn't joking. Jenkins felt his entire face twitch.
In the end, he asked Miss Miller how she had identified his cane as a special item. When she told him yet again that the answer was tied to her ability and would therefore be very expensive, Jenkins changed his line of questioning and asked about the Ashiash Family instead.
"That family of madmen?" she mused. "Hmm, let me think. I do know a few things, but it will cost you. Ten pounds and three shillings." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NovelHub(.)net
Wincing at the cost, Jenkins gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Summoning a demon from a magmatic hell costs far more than two hundred thousand gold pounds. It requires not only precious materials but also sacrifices—living sacrifices. From that alone, we can deduce that the one performing the ritual must wield considerable power in the secular world. As for the Ashiash family, they are all insane. Generations of excessive contact with aberrations and blasphemous knowledge have allowed the taint of madness to seep into their very bloodline. The Orthodox Church is not wrong; this affair is undoubtedly connected to them. I'm not particularly interested in the matter, but simple deduction leads to a few conclusions: the culprit is definitely not a noble, but has good connections among them. He is a man, no older than forty. He operates from the shadows but has no qualms about killing commoners. And he is an Enchanter of no higher than level seven." She paused, catching his stare. "Don't look at me like that. These are all perfectly obvious conclusions. You aren't going to ask me to explain my reasoning, are you?"