Chapter 62: The Arrival of Archbishop of Achaia and the Church’s Army
With a real meditation method and spell model in hand, Su Nan spent the next three days studying while letting the AI analyze and document the [Voice of the Dead] meditation method and its corresponding spell model.
Now, with his spiritual power nearing 20, he quickly retraced the path from a third-class to a second-class wizard apprentice, progressing at a remarkable pace.
The four-dimensional structure of the [Voice of the Dead] meditation method began to take shape in his mind.
However, Su Nan had no intention of making it his foundation. He deliberately avoided placing this four-dimensional rune structure at the center of his mental world, treating it only as a subject of study.
Moreover, he realized that compared to daily consumption of spiritual enhancement potions or the transformation of magical power through potion refinement, the increase in spiritual and magical power from practicing the [Voice of the Dead] meditation method was exceedingly slow.
It couldn't compare to the immediate and substantial gains from consuming potions.
Thus, Su Nan decided not to abandon his potion system.
Besides, this meditation method, handed over so casually, might not be of the highest quality—it wasn't like he had anything better to compare it with yet.
He also noticed another issue: the magical energy transformed through meditation was of a noticeably lower quality than the energy converted through potion refinement.
One felt like brick, the other like steel.
While the quantities seemed the same, direct interaction between them resulted in the magical energy from the meditation method collapsing.
"Still, meditating produces stable magic," Su Nan reflected. "When refining potions with high difficulty, my spiritual power naturally transforms into magical power."
"Perhaps this meditation method is simply too basic, which is why the quality of the energy it produces is lacking. A higher-level meditation method might yield better results."
In the daylight, Su Nan stood in the castle's attic, gazing out the window. His spiritual power was close to reaching 20, making him ready to enter the next stage of his journey.
But before that, he had to ensure the safety of his territory.
During this time, he had the super werewolf steward reduce surveillance on the two Forgotten Ones who had intruded into his lands, merely confirming their approximate locations from a distance every half hour.
The super werewolf steward's monitoring capabilities were formidable; this approach significantly reduced the Forgotten Ones' vigilance.
It gave the impression that Su Nan was utterly absorbed in studying the meditation method and had no time for them.
Su Nan refrained from dealing with them for two reasons.
First, he planned to confront them after advancing to a first-class wizard apprentice.
Second, despite having his werewolf troops search every inch of his land, the fabled wizard ruin, the Four Seasons Garden, remained undiscovered.
His knowledge of mainstream wizard civilization's creations was still limited.
Meanwhile, the two Forgotten Ones seemed to have their own plans, brimming with confidence. Su Nan decided to let them do the searching for him.
Once the ruin was found—located within his domain—he would still have access to it.
The key was not who found the ruin first but who emerged victorious in the end.
Thus, Su Nan saw no issue in letting the Forgotten Ones act as his unwitting scouts.
Robert knocked on the attic door, his voice tinged with nervousness. "Lord Su Nan, Archbishop of Achaia has entered our territory…"
The Storm Kingdom was divided into seven dioceses.
The Archbishop was a high-ranking member of the Storm Church, revered as a saint capable of conveying the Storm God's will to the mortal world.
It was no wonder Robert was anxious.
After all, Su Nan was a wizard, and the Storm Church harbored an intense hatred for wizards.
Su Nan hadn't expected the Archbishop himself to visit his lands. "Let's meet him, then."
"Robert, calm down. You're making us look guilty. But don't worry; if the Archbishop doesn't know his place, we can arrange for him to have an 'accident' while in my territory."
"If it's an accident, the Storm Church won't hold us accountable."
Near the edge of the Peter estate, on a wooded hillside, Guker and the little girl observed the procession passing along the path below.
At the front of the convoy, four soldiers carried a wooden statue symbolizing the Storm God.
They were followed by two units of elite cavalry.
Among them were several Storm Knights.
The sheer size of this procession was highly unusual for a baron's territory—far more than a small fief could typically afford to host. Mishandling the situation could lead to the guests becoming the new masters.
It wouldn't be the first time such a thing happened.
Fifty-eight years ago, the last emperor of the Eastern Human Empire sought help from the west. In response, Storm Knights answering a crusade were welcomed. However, when the emperor couldn't pay their fees, the knights staged a coup, looted allied cities, and seized the empire's remnants for themselves.
Since then, Storm Kingdom's lords had learned to be wary of inviting large armies into their lands, as they could easily lose control and have their territories usurped.
Medieval armies, after all, were often no better than bandits, lacking discipline or honor.
Guker scanned the impressive procession. "So many troops in Baron Peter's domain—something's odd. They can't be here for this land."
"But it's none of our concern."
"The ones who will be troubled aren't us. I gave those local wizards the meditation method scrolls, and the results were excellent. Their surveillance of us has decreased significantly."
The little girl glared at the Church soldiers, her body trembling with anger. Her parents had been burned alive on the Storm Church's pyres. "Grandpa Guker, these people are just like the cultists—lunatics, but insane in a different way."
"They can't stand anyone who isn't like them and will force you to admit you're wrong, that they're right."
"They're a disaster."
At the Church in Baron Peter's domain, Su Nan entered and glanced at the guards stationed outside.
What irritated him more was that entering the Church required him to first report to the Archbishop of Achaia and await his permission.
The Storm Church's authoritarian style placed religious nobility above secular lords as a matter of course.
Once inside, Su Nan and Robert found a gold-robed elder speaking with Louis the Priest.
Louis the Priest was trying to engage the Archbishop in conversation, but the older man completely dictated the rhythm of the exchange, choosing when to respond and when to remain silent.
It left Louis visibly awkward.
The Archbishop turned to Su Nan and gave him a benevolent smile. "Ah, you must be young Su Nan."
"I was friends with your father. We once served on the same battlefield, even in the same unit."
"Oh, and…" The Archbishop's kind smile suddenly shifted to one of severity. "There have been accusations that you're practicing sorcery and using it to kill. Care to explain?"
At his words, the Church's ten formally trained Storm Knights—all sworn to the Storm God—fixed their gazes on Su Nan, gripping their sword hilts.
Louis the Priest's heart was in his throat.
The Church officials in attendance were similarly shocked.
Su Nan, however, remained calm and collected. He met the Archbishop's gaze and replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, by the way, these knights—official Storm Knights—do they have any special privileges? Is their promotion easier and faster than knights outside the Church?"
"If so, I have an underperforming subordinate, Robert. Could he enjoy such special honors?"
Robert was simultaneously moved and terrified.
Lord Su Nan, you're too bold. Not only are you refusing to answer the Archbishop's questio
n, you're questioning him and making demands!
This is the highest-ranking religious noble of one of the kingdom's seven dioceses!
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