Meeting

Going home with Xio? That… doesn't seem too good, right? Ebner thought for a while before tactfully rejecting her. "This is my first time in East Chester County. I still want to take a look at Stoen City… In addition, I plan on taking some time out to visit Stoen University's library."

Xio secretly heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that. Although she had a clear conscience, she knew how her mother would react when she brought a man home. She had only invited Ebner because she felt that he wasn't an outsider. It would be impolite not to invite him.

"Alright, I still have to bring my mother and brother to another place to live in seclusion. I really don't have time to entertain you. By the way…" As Xio spoke, she took out a lady's bell-shaped hat with a slightly curved brim from her luggage and handed it to Ebner.

"What is this for?" Ebner asked, confused.

"The hat with the appearance concealment effect from before has already failed. Can you use this hat to make it during the next ritual?" Xio pursed her lips and revealed an embarrassed expression, but she still muttered softly, "The hat from before was too ugly!"

"Too ugly…" Ebner was a little stunned when he heard that. He had always felt that Xio's personality was somewhat like that of a boy. She was forthright and loyal, but when he heard this, he deeply realized that Miss Judgment was also a young lady. Even if she was a little slovenly, that was only to disguise herself. As a former noble lady, how could she not like to be beautiful?

"Fine." Ebner took the bell-shaped hat and looked at it closely. It did look a lot better than the hat he'd casually picked up earlier.

"How long will it take you to transfer your mother and brother? Will three days be enough? Shall we leave on Friday night or Saturday morning?" Ebner asked after putting his hat away.

"It won't take that long. I think two days is enough. Help me buy a ticket for Thursday night," Xio said after some thought.

Then, after determining the exact time and place of the rendezvous, the two parted ways.

Following that, Ebner called for a rental carriage and got the coachman to recommend a cleaner inn nearby.

Soon, the carriage brought him to the Crawler Hotel in the heart of Storn City.

The location of the hotel was rather good. The street was scenic and quiet. They only needed to walk for ten minutes to reach the busiest streets in the city.

Looking at the high-end and luxurious decor of the hotel, Ebner seriously suspected that there was a commission for the coachman to pull guests over.

…

Backlund, Hillston Borough's Constance Club. A literary salon of high standards was being held.

As a newly-promoted famous author, Fors was also invited. She wore her only decent outfit, a beige dress with lotus leaf fringes, and walked to the long table for dessert.

At this moment, Viscount Glaint suddenly walked up to her and invited her with a smile, "Beautiful lady, can you have some of your precious time so that we can have a private chat over there?"

Fors stared at Glaint seriously and confirmed that there was no evil intent in his eyes. Feeling that her previous request had come to fruition, she revealed a proper smile and said, "It's my honor, Mr. Viscount."

Then, under the envious gazes of many female authors, Fors walked into a lounge with Glaint.

As soon as he entered, Viscount Glaint smiled and said, "Ma'am Wall, there's a literature and music salon at my house on Thursday afternoon. I sincerely invite you to participate. There will be many children of powerful nobles participating in the salon. Even the daughter of Earl Hall will be present. I believe you can achieve your goal there." With that said, he looked at Fors eagerly.

"You really are a gentleman of your word, Mr. Viscount. Don't worry, I'll keep my promise and bring you into the circle of Beyonders," Fors replied with a smile.

…

On Wednesday morning, Ebner, who had woken up early, watched the sunrise on the roof with the somewhat restless Sword of Dawn for a while. Then, after enjoying the breakfast provided by the high-end hotel for the past ten soli, he set off for Stoen University.

The best university in East Chester County had a good academic style, especially its history and archaeology major. Originally, in order to complete the mission given by the Psychology Alchemists, Audrey had obtained a notebook from Associate Professor Michele Deutschland of the History department. She had donated land and manor property rights near the university worth ten thousand pounds, and she had established a foundation for collecting and protecting ancient objects.

But Ebner wasn't here to get a taste of Miss Justice's golden pound charm in advance. He was here for the library that was open to the public at the university.

Although the books in the public library must be mass-produced and second-hand copies, due to the large scale of the books, Ebner still gained something after reading them for half a day.

"Emperor Roselle once went to Sonia Island and met a local beauty, leaving behind a fantastical legend?"

"Emperor Roselle's descendants from the royal family of the Southern Continent and the former Balam Empire had a brief moment of happiness. He's suspected to have left behind an heir?"

"Emperor Roselle explored the Fog Sea and accidentally entered an isolated island. The people on the island have no idea about the Intis, Loen, and the other four kingdoms. All they know is the Solomon Empire?"

"Emperor Roselle…"

Ebner closed the book, feeling a headache coming on. He thought to himself, "A place like a library is indeed Roselle's home ground! Be it Backlund or Stoen, it's the same… The only good news is that the next Tarot Club's Roselle diary has material."

After leaving Stoen University, Ebner looked at the sky and felt that it was still early. He decided to go to the steam locomotive station to buy the tickets for Thursday night, in case there were no tickets at the last minute.

He called for a public carriage and soon arrived at the bus station. However, just as he was about to step into the ticket office, the surrounding space was suddenly enveloped by a strange force. The pedestrians, carriage drivers, passengers, and ticket sellers all disappeared. Only a faint blood color spread in the air.

Following that, a handsome, devilish-looking man dressed in a red shirt and a black turtleneck appeared in front of him.

Ebner was terrified by such a strange scene and strange entrance. Without thinking, he activated the Eye of Pure White and took out the Sword of Dawn on his back.

However, he soon realized that he had failed. Not only was his body unable to move, but even his attempts to activate the White Eye failed!

This was the first time he lost contact with the unknown place behind the White Eye.

"Don't attempt to open that space again. Even if I wanted to block that passageway, it would be very difficult. If you try again and attract the power of that space, the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact that created this sealed area can't be hidden! It will be discovered by 'Them,'" the handsome man said with a frown.

"Who are you?" Ebner cast Mechanical Mind on himself and instantly regained his composure.

"There's no need to be so nervous. I have no ill intentions towards you. Besides… I came here to meet you. Although it was the Ancestor's wish, I've also obtained the tacit approval of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom." The man's gaze was gentle as he explained with a smile.

The God of Knowledge acquiesced… The Ancestor's meaning is… This person is a vampire? He wields a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact… One of the three Sanguine Dukes?

But since when did the old dragon have a… uh, relationship with Lilith? Since when did the God of Knowledge and Wisdom have such a good relationship with the Sanguine Primogenitor? Is this an alliance? From the looks of it, do they even have plans on me? They even know what the unknown place is…

The questions and fear in Ebner's mind even surpassed the calm effect of the skill, but on the surface, he still asked calmly, "Why did you come here to see me?"

The bewitching man fiddled with his silver hair before saying, "I'm just reminding you not to enter Tingen. Before that person leaves the pen's line of sight, do not approach him."

At this moment, Ebner suddenly felt that the man's actions and smile seemed a little… feminine? He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he didn't dare to think too deeply. He only asked, "Is this also the intention of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom?"

"That's right!" The bewitching man nodded, then looked at Ebner's calm face due to his ability and added with a smile, "But don't worry, in order to have more fun, I found a little trouble for the owner of the pen."

If you weren't wearing a monocle, I would've thought you were Amon!

Ebner took a deep breath and asked again, "What is the space behind my eyes?"

The man looked up into the sky and didn't answer directly. All he said was, "When you become a demigod, you can enter through the passageway… However, I don't suggest you do that! Before becoming an angel or having a Sealed Artifact of a similar level, it's probably very difficult to guarantee that you won't be corrupted by that thing."