Layers of Preparations

"Urgent recruitment?" As Ebner asked, he handed a pillowcase to Xio, allowing her to wipe the rain that kept dripping down her hair.

"After becoming a Sequence 7 Interrogator, MI9 gave me another badge for emergency contact…" Xio received the pillowcase and didn't mind it. She randomly wiped her messy blonde hair and wiped away the excess water. Only then did she take out a cracked badge and showed it to Ebner. Then, she continued, "It was destroyed after receiving the conscription order."

"It should be a one-time use Beyonder item for communication… Using such an item to send out emergency conscription… It might be very dangerous!" After using the White Eye to analyze it simply, he said with a serious expression.

At the same time, he thought of how the Dragon Tooth Bar at the Fani Gathering had been sealed off by MI9 and the Machinery Hivemind. There had to be a connection between the two.

Could it be that the two official organizations failed to capture the target despite using so many hands and ended up letting the target escape, so they summoned a large number of people to perform a search?

That's not right. From the urgency of the conscription… Perhaps something unexpected happened…

Xio pursed her lips and nodded. She said seriously, "I also have a bad feeling… So when I passed by your house, I thought of coming up to borrow the Solomon gold coin."

Xio and Fors's new rental apartment was also in Cherwood Borough, not far from the gardened villa on Kingst Street.

Didn't you think of pretending that you didn't hear the conscription? What a silly girl with a sense of responsibility and justice…

Ebner secretly sighed, but he quickly did a mental calculation.

If MI9's target was really Baron Conva who was possessed by 1-025, then Xio's trip would probably be very dangerous!

Ignoring the terror of the cursed item itself, just the underground corruption from the baron's body alone is something Xio can't withstand if some of it leaks…

Yes, MI9 might've summoned so many external staff to prevent the corruption from spreading!

If I, unfortunately, guessed it right… What should I do to help Xio?

It's unrealistic to follow them personally. Ignoring the fact that this is a secret mission of the official organizations, my appearance as an outsider will definitely attract attention.

The Demoness's invisibility could fool Low- and Mid-Sequence Beyonders, but it couldn't fool a demigod powerhouse…

Even if I were to really obtain the tacit approval of the military and the Church of Steam, I wouldn't have the ability to resist a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact and underground corruption…

Originally, Xio and Fors had explored the ancient castle, and after being corrupted, they had relied on Mr. Fool to use Sefirah Castle to kill the poison…

Eh? That's right! I can't do it, but that doesn't mean that Klein can't! Besides, if I remember correctly, the Feast of Blood records the secret deed ritual. Mr. Fool should've learned how to use it to stir the power of Sefirah Castle ahead of time…

With this in mind, he confirmed with Xio once again, "Was the gathering place in the conscription notice you received near the Dragon Tooth Bar on Tucker Street?"

"It's indeed not too far away," Xio replied after some thought.

Following that, she saw the solemn look on Ebner's face. She couldn't help but ask, "Ebner, do you 'know' something again?"

Ebner nodded and without hiding anything, told Xio all the information he knew about 1-025 and Baron Kanga. Finally, he couldn't help but persuade her,

"If you head over now, you might very well encounter 1-025. It's very dangerous! It's best you don't go!"

Xio pursed her lips, clearly hesitant. However, her eyes quickly turned firm as she looked straight into Ebner's eyes and said,

"Ebner, thank you for the warning and advice…

"But that golden-masked superior of mine has not treated me shabbily. I can't run away because of the danger when he needs my help.

"Besides, I have many friends living in the bridge area. I can't forgive myself if I throw them into a hopeless situation because of my fear of danger…

Also, if I had to retreat from the possibility of danger, how could I have the courage to continue exploring the truth of my father's grievance? My father in the Goddess's divine kingdom wouldn't agree either…

Finally, once I go against the order, I'll probably be severely punished by MI9. I might even have to flee again… That way, not only will it be difficult to know the truth of my father's injustice, but even my mother and brother might be implicated as a result.

Upon hearing Xio's decisive confession, Ebner suddenly recalled what Klein had said to Danitz before he saved her at Bansy Harbor…

They're all people who use "light"! As expected of the future Miss Judgment! However, Xio seems to be much more mature than her former self. I wonder if she's good or bad…

After feeling poignant inwardly, Ebner didn't try to persuade her otherwise, because he sensed Xio's determination.

Therefore, he directly took out the Solomon gold coin and the revolver he had obtained from the Everlasting Life Society, which could shoot silently, and handed it to Xio.

"Take these with you. Don't be stingy when it's necessary."

With that said, Ebner quickly set up a ritual in the bedroom. He took off the Ring of Light ring he always wore and placed it in the corresponding spot.

"What are they doing?" Xio asked in confusion as she looked at Ebner's actions.

As Ebner continued setting up the ritual, he replied, "I'm preparing the Holy Blessing ritual. It can augment you with a Sun domain's purifying halo that can exist for a long period of time. If you really encounter evil entities, you can rely on the halo to avoid their attacks."

Of course, the most important thing was to maintain the "livestream" channel on Sefirah Castle for a long period of time.

As he thought this, he set up the ritual items and made Xio stand in the corresponding spot.

As a series of incantations were recited in Hermes, Xio's surroundings were dyed gold. Layers spread outwards, but they quickly converged, leaving only a thin layer clinging to her body.

Seeing that the ritual had succeeded, Ebner hurriedly wore the Band of Light ring on Xio's finger and said with a smile, "This way, as long as you wear it, you can maintain the halo of purification. You don't have to worry about the side effects of the ring before the ritual's effects wear off."

Xio looked at the Band of Light on her fingers and pursed her lips again. After a long while, she looked up and said solemnly, "Thank you, Ebner. I'll definitely bring them back safely."

Don't flag me, how inauspicious would that be? At this moment, should I say something child-like?

When he saw Xio about to leave through the window, he hesitated for a moment before calling her back. He asked with a stern expression, "Xio, do you trust me?"

"Of course," Xio replied without any hesitation before asking curiously, "Why do you ask?"

"Do you still remember the honorific name recorded in the Feast of Blood?" Ebner asked instead of answering.

"Yes." Xio was taken aback as she nodded.

"If… I mean if you are in a hopeless situation, then recite 'His' name!" Ebner emphasized, implying something.

Xio's eyes widened when she heard that, but they were already very close to the final moment of the gathering. She didn't have the time to ask in detail. All she did was nod heavily and say, "Got it!" before jumping out the window.

Seeing her disappear into the night rain, Ebner looked away.

Then, he sat down and leaned forward, his hands clasped in a praying position as he held them to his forehead.

He chanted softly in Hermes,

"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era, you are the mysterious ruler above the gray fog. You are the King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.

"I pray for your attention; I pray for you to listen;

"I pray for you to protect Xio Derecha and protect her from completing tonight's mission…"

…

After the prayer, Ebner packed up his ritual items and removed the wall of spirituality. Then, he opened the bedroom door and walked towards the study in the corner of the third story.

Even though he had received Mr. Fool's response, he was still worried about Xio. He planned on following her personally just in case.

However, as it might be detected by the military and the Church of Steam, he decided to seek Jane's help after some thought.

Back when Jane was live streaming the sea battle outside Pritz Harbor, she had successfully used a special spirit to avoid the demigod's senses.