Chapter 2072: Chapter 2072

Alexia pressed her lips together, her expression grave.

"So, you're really going to use this method?"

"Is there any better way? Besides, the difficulty now isn't whether I can defeat the Difference Engine, but whether I can reach the ninth floor of the tower... Alexia, I know you're worried, but isn't this something we anticipated long ago?"

He forced a smile and reached for the cat on his shoulder. Chocolate extended a small paw and caught Jenkins's hand, which surprised him. He turned to look at Chocolate, whose large amber eyes were also gazing at him. In the cat's eyes, Jenkins could actually discern a sense of reluctance to part.

"Oh, is my empathy finally able to read Chocolate's thoughts?"

"Don't change the subject. Without the help of all those numerous numbered items, have you planned how you're going to use all your abilities effectively? Have you prepared the ritual items you'll bring into the tower? Have you thought about how you'll deal with the powers of those Calamity Beasts? Are you just going to wing it?"

"That's the only way. We don't know the contents of the Mysterious Realms, and we don't know which Calamity Beasts will be there... Everything... I can only prepare once I see it... I'm sorry, Alexia. I know you're worried, but under the current circumstances, there really are no other good ideas."

Alexia couldn't refute his point and slowly lowered her head. Jenkins wanted to hold her, but she gently pushed him away.

"If you count the chain ability 'Fate's Stage' as a single ability, then I have thirty-one abilities in total, with one empty bubble remaining. I'm saving that last bubble, waiting for the final twist of fate. I refuse to believe the ultimate qualification of destiny won't appear before the final battle." Thıs text ıs hosted at novᴇlfire.net

Alexia didn't comment on this idea.

"Since you can't change anything regarding the numbered items, we can focus on your abilities. You should know the Church has ways to grant an Enchanter more empty bubbles, or even teach them abilities directly..."

"But it comes at a great cost."

"Jenkins, as long as you're safe, any price is worth paying."

The tone and expression on Alexia's face as she said this were unusually frightening.

The Evergreen Forest held no more value for them at the moment. After inquiring about what happened after the gear-driven automaton arrived in the forest, Jenkins and the convoy returned to the Sage's Church in the city.

However, the two diviners remained in the forest. They seemed to be preparing a ritual but were being secretive and didn't let Jenkins in on it. Furthermore, the number of people returning to the city was much larger than when they had left. The importance of the Evergreen Forest, at least until Jenkins entered the tower, was now far lower than that of the Sage's Church.

The Tree House would cause trouble in front of the tower, and they would need manpower to protect Jenkins as he entered the nine-story metal tower.

On the way back to the city, Jenkins thought about many things. For instance, aside from the items he carried on his person, he had come into contact with quite a few items belonging to others over the past year.

In terms of Bestowals, Magic Miss had once lent Jenkins her pendant, and he had also touched the book that Miss Bevanna always carried. Not to mention, during his time working at Pops Antique Shop, he and Papa Oliver had acquired all sorts of special items, which fully met the requirements for being brought into the tower. Then there was Sigrid; when he and Sigrid were in the Prosperous Forest Mysterious Realm, they had reaped quite a harvest.

Thinking about it this way, Jenkins realized he could actually carry quite a few items with him.

So, after returning to the church, he first projected himself home to pack and then went around the church gathering these items. Aside from Miss Audrey, who had stayed in the forest and whose items he couldn't borrow, and Miss Bevanna's large book, which was only effective when she held it herself, the Church and everyone else were more than willing to lend Jenkins their belongings.

However, Magic Miss and Silver Flute Miss were surprisingly not at the church. Briny said they had left after Jenkins went out by carriage. Magic Miss had left a letter, apologizing for her and Silver Flute Miss's unannounced departure—

"We have something very important to do. If we succeed, you will thank us for it later. Don't worry about us. We will soon rendezvous with Mr. Hood and his two companions to undertake a major task.

I'm leaving my hexagram pendant for you. I hope it can be of greater use in your hands.

P.S. This is a loan, not a gift. Remember to give it back to me when you're done."

Their departure left Jenkins feeling quite dejected, not because he couldn't get the 'Heart of the Ocean' from Magic Miss, but because he'd lost the chance to say a final goodbye to his two friends.

He didn't have long to feel dejected before Papa Oliver called him to a meeting. It was already ten o'clock at night, with only two hours left until midnight. The Church was in a flurry of activity, preparing for the battle around the metal tower. Documents from all over the world were being compiled, and clerics were sorting through them for information on the Calamity Beasts.

Everyone had something to do, and as the core of it all, Jenkins had to attend one final meeting before entering the tower.

The meeting wasn't held in the negotiation hall projected by the Gate of All Things; the negotiations there were still ongoing, though Jenkins wasn't paying attention. Instead, they used an ordinary conference room in the church. Besides the Sage's Church, each of the Twelve Orthodox Churches sent three representatives.

Although the numbers were small, these were the people from each church who could truly make decisions. It could be said that the leaders of the Twelve Churches were all gathered here.

Jenkins sat in the head seat, his head tilted as he gazed out the window at the dark world. After a long while, he heard the door close and knew everyone had arrived. He straightened up, moved Chocolate off the documents, and then gestured for Papa Oliver to speak.

"I won't bother with introductions. It is now 10:13 PM, less than two hours until midnight. Aside from the defense planning meeting for the area around the city square happening next door, this is the last important meeting of the night. You've all received the documents, and the situation is clear. The latest intelligence on the tower's interior has been compiled. Does anyone have anything to add?"

The group had gathered to offer Jenkins some final assistance. But Jenkins felt there was little point in that; what was more important was the discussion on how to escort him into the metal tower.

The Difference Engine would do everything in its power to weaken Jenkins before he reached the ninth floor, so there would be traps not only inside the tower's Mysterious Realms but outside as well. Besides the Tree House's schemes, an army of mechanical corpses was a certainty.

Beyond the deployment of the Church's Enchanters, the churches had to decide just how many demigods could be present, willing to fight and die against unknown entities.

Although Jenkins's mission would decide the fate of the world, regardless of victory or defeat, the world would need the Orthodox Churches to retain some of their strength to protect more people in the disasters or apocalypse to come.

Every fighter would impact the future, but to abandon the present for the sake of the future would be foolish. This balance had to be carefully managed, which was the second reason for this meeting.

The Sage's Church was prepared to sacrifice everyone to get Jenkins into the tower unharmed. But the other churches certainly didn't feel the same way, which was why they needed to devise the most rational plan.

The meeting took less than an hour. Afterward, Jenkins spoke with Papa Oliver again. The old man was determined to personally escort Jenkins to the tower. He would use the power of that key to protect Jenkins as much as possible. Once Jenkins reached the base of the tower, he would hand the key over, allowing his apprentice to inherit its cursed power.

Jenkins actually wanted to talk to Alexia, but she was nowhere to be found. In the end, Hathaway persuaded Jenkins to get some sleep before midnight, arguing that relaxing his mind for the last hour would be beneficial.

His original plan had been to delve into the Secret Trace Library and try his luck one last time, but he couldn't resist Hathaway's persuasion and went to rest. Though he wasn't the least bit sleepy, he fell asleep without realizing it after lying down on the bed.

In the dark room, Hathaway sat by the bed, watching Jenkins's face for a long time without saying a word.

She tiptoed out of the room, carefully closing the door behind her, and saw Julia and Briny waiting for her in the hallway.

"He is. We'll go wake him at 11:40."

The three of them headed toward the kitchen, intending to make a late-night snack for Jenkins and Chocolate. Although the church kitchen was well-stocked, none of them had an appetite. The mere thought of what Jenkins was about to face made their stomachs churn. And when they considered that this might be their last time with him, the panic was enough to cause stomach cramps and even the urge to vomit.

It was a physiological reaction caused by panic. No matter how much they told themselves everything would be fine, they couldn't suppress their body's response with reason alone.

Right now, Alexia was making her final preparations. Dolores was by King Salsi II's side. Jessica was at the negotiation hall, speaking on Jenkins's behalf. And Sigrid was helping the Church go through the safe documents on Calamity Beasts that low-level Enchanters were permitted to view.

The eight of them, a family of sorts, each had their own tasks. But for everyone except the sleeping Jenkins, these moments were an agony.