NOVPUBIn the campus of Ichrite Academy, the peaceful forest path was like a shimmering emerald, artistic patterns were drawn on the cobblestone road by the sunlight shining through the gaps in the leaves.
Hyperion, who was walking along this path towards the Magic Engineering College, suddenly stopped. Her amber eyes were filled with disbelief, as if questioning whether Lanci was in his right mind.
Her fingers tightly gripped the corner of Lanci’s clothes, as if fearing that he would jump off a cliff.
"How...how can we go and visit the Cardinal Bishop of the Rebirth Church?!"
Hyperion looked around, dragged Lanci to the edge of the path, and asked in a lowered voice.
This school.
No.
There had never been a student in this world who had gone mad and visited the Bishop of the Rebirth Church!!
More importantly. 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Visiting Tablet Holder" wasn’t designed by Ichrite Academy as a suicide mission for students!
Hyperion knew that other people might have gone insane.
But Lanci was truly insane, he was capable of doing what he said.
She neither dared to go, nor dared to let Lanci go on his own!
"I think we can go big. With the information barrier between the North and South Continent, we can disguise ourselves, change our identities, cross the sea to the Northern Continent, and then infiltrate the Nirvana Branch of the Rebirth Church,"
Lanci also quietly explained to Hyperion,
"By then, we’ll try to exploit our strengths and gradually gain higher positions in the Church, and then we’ll have a chance to meet Bishop Asksan of Nirvana."
The more he talked, the more excited he became, as if he was already itching to start this dangerous plan,
"And Hyperion, you see, since our allied nations have the custom of observing the Tablets, the Rebirth Church might also allow their followers to observe the Bishop’s Tablets!"
Hyperion was stunned by what she heard and stood there dumbfounded for a while.
She then covered her forehead and shook her head.
Hyperion did not know whether she was influenced by Lanci over time to become bad, or if Lanci’s plan was truly feasible. She even felt that this plan was not much more dangerous than that night in Demon Academy!
The sea between the North and South Continent was surrounded by the dangerous Ghostly Servitude Sea, a catastrophe caused by the failure of the Ninth-order Shadow World which hasn’t naturally dissipated for a thousand years.
The turbulent Magic Storm on that sea route made it impossible for spells to work effectively, and also prevented the creation of Communication Magic between the North and South Continent. Information could only be obtained through regular large merchant ships or strong individuals crossing the sea.
So, once they went to the Northern Continent, they would be like two rookies emerging out of nowhere.
If they could further manage to extract identity information from a Resurrection Believer in the South Continent, they could even legitimately infiltrate the Rebirth Church in the Northern Continent!
"...Lanci, are you sure you really want to choose this topic?"
Hyperion swallowed nervously and asked Lanci.
"If you agree, then I want to choose it."
Lanci nodded, his eyes clear and resolute.
"..."
Hyperion bit her lower lip, feeling more and more uneasy.
What she worried about was not the danger of infiltrating the Rebirth Church, because Lanci himself was a source of danger.
She wasn’t worried that they would be misunderstood if the Royal Alliance found out that they had infiltrated the Rebirth Church, because someone in the Royal Alliance already suspected them.
What truly frightened Hyperion was - according to her experience, once Lanci was put in an impossible situation, he’d adapt quickly and comprehend things normal people couldn’t. He’d evolve in a terrifying manner!
Hyperion was afraid that Lanci’s infiltration strategy might inadvertently make them too powerful. They may unknowingly work their way up the hierarchy of the Rebirth Church!
They could become infamous evildoers in the Northern Continent, and if they returned to the South Continent, their reputation might be permanently tarnished!
But looking into Lanci’s eyes now,
Hyperion thought that even if she didn’t go,
He would definitely find a way to meet the Bishop of Nirvana.
Hyperion was even more uneasy about letting him act on his own.
"...There’s no dealing with you, so I’ll just come along! What’s your plan?"
With a resigned expression, Hyperion sighed and agreed.
She knew Lanci must have some cunning plan in mind.
"Hyperion, you clearly understand, right? As long as we can capture a Resurrection Believer from the South Continent, we can impersonate them and easily infiltrate the Rebirth Church on the Northern Continent."
Lanci asked.
"Hmm, I was thinking the same thing. But where do we catch a Resurrection Believer?"
Hyperion responded with a cautious nod.
Typically, it’s difficult enough to defeat these unpredictable and strange cult followers, let alone capture and interrogate them.
Even if captured, there are national laws that prohibit the unauthorized trial of cult followers.
In the past, there were cases of people falling into corruption unwittingly after getting deeply involved with cultists.
The Royal Alliance requires that captured cultists be handed over directly, taking into consideration the safety of its citizens.
"Hyperion, I’m sure there are spies from the Rebirth Church within our school, ensuring they can target us in the Shadow World."
Lanci’s expression gradually turned serious.
Not being able to catch this criminal had clearly been bothering him.
After the previous incident in the Shadow World, Lanci realized that encountering a Resurrection Believer who was targeting Hyperion wasn’t just a coincidence – someone in the school was discreetly watching them.
While they were on their way to the building sealing the Void Gate, that spy used communication magic to send information to numerous cultists. They timed their intrusion into the Shadow World, increasing the chances of encountering Hyperion in the Shadow World and hunting her down.
"Do you want to catch that spy and then interrogate him?"
Having heard this, Hyperion felt a bit more tense.
She hadn’t noticed any signs of being watched, but like Lanci said, someone in the academy must be leaking information to the Rebirth Church.
"For now, we don’t need to think about catching him. Even my teacher can’t find him."
Lanci shook his head helplessly.
The last time when Talia was in a seemingly good mood, Lanci mentioned the issue of a potential assassin from the Rebirth Church targeting him and Hyperion.
Even though he might have tricked Talia into doing the work, he didn’t expect her to simply agree to look into it for him.
However, even with Talia’s strength, after she secretly observed the surroundings of Lanci and Hyperion for some time, she didn’t find anyone spying on Lanci or Hyperion.
There was only one conclusion.
The spy had perfectly blended in with the students, using the most primitive and foolproof way of observing – naturally watching them in their daily life. This method left no traces, making it nearly impossible to ensnare and arrest them.
As long as Lanci and Heat were venturing into the Shadow World, information would continue to be leaked to the Rebirth Church.
Having heard Lanci’s explanation, though tense, Hyperion also felt a sense of reassurance.
At the moment when she was somewhat panicked due to an unseen observer whom she couldn’t counter, Lanci had already made all preparations, with thorough plans for possible situations.
That feeling of having someone to rely on, she only experienced it when her father was around.
"Next time, I must thank your teacher..."
Hyperion said gratefully, but then hesitated,
"However... if my visit would upset her, you should thank her on my behalf..."
Even though Hyperion was curious about how someone could handle a student like Lanci,
Still, she calmly realized that not everyone was as friendly towards the Demon Race as Lanci.
If she, a member of the despised Demon Race, were to visit unwelcomely, she might just upset Lanci’s teacher.
