Chapter 46: The Madmen Who Inherited the Ancient World |
"Good evening, Mr. Hamilton. No need to bother with the red tea. First, congratulations on your admission to the History Faculty at St. Byrons Comprehensive College. However, tonight concerns two other matters," said Professor Garcia, the deputy dean of the History Faculty. He clapped lightly as a gesture of congratulations before raising two fingers, not giving Shad a chance to respond. The professor was direct and efficient:
"First, regarding your matter, please demonstrate your core rune."
With a heavy thud, amidst the scorching steam mist, Shad's Ring of Fate manifested. The brass-colored Space-Time rune appeared before the three translucent figures.
Each time Shad summoned the Ring of Fate, he couldn't help but think how remarkably... trendy this system of power felt.
Professor Garcia nodded in satisfaction and, in his unpolished Drarian, said, "Excellent, Mr. Hamilton. That is indeed Space-Time. You are now officially listed as a key cultivation candidate for the History Faculty. Besides the relic already provided to you, I will personally guide your Practical Training in Time Travel. According to faculty regulations, this course only begins after you engrave your first rune. But as a priority candidate, your time-travel practice point can be brought forward..."
"Brought forward?" Shad blinked.
"Yes, tonight to be exact. More precisely, after we finish all our discussions this evening."
There was little emotion in Professor Garcia's voice, giving Shad an impression of a stern and methodical person. Nonetheless, he appreciated this trait in a professor.
"Most correspondence Ring Warlocks have little understanding of what being a key candidate entails. You are different from the average correspondence student. Though rules prevent us from directly bringing you into the college, St. Byrons will provide you with numerous educational conveniences and greater cultivation resources, but also higher expectations. Mr. Hamilton, the History Faculty looks forward to the day you formally join us. I rarely praise students, but do not waste your talent. Typically, Practical Training in Time Travel is handled by regular instructors."
"Before the course begins, there's a second matter to address, unrelated to our History Faculty but tied to your group," Professor Garcia said, gesturing toward Professor Sanchez, who was seated across from Shad. Despite both being professors at St. Byrons, the latter's status was evidently higher.
"Mr. Shad Hamilton, I need you to guarantee that what we discuss next will not be disclosed to anyone," said Professor Sanchez, who had a pocket watch chain on his chest.
"Does that mean the privileges of being a priority candidate can be shared?" Shad wondered to himself but refrained from saying anything about morality or ethics. Instead, he directly nodded. The faint sound of a cat scratching at the door made him worry about Mimia damaging household property.
"I swear to keep it confidential."
"Good. Now, we need to discuss your five-person group. There are significant issues with it," Professor Sanchez said.
Miss Jones, seated nearby, lowered her head to take notes, while Professor Garcia sat upright, listening intently. Professor Sanchez, who appeared to be over fifty, had a serious look in his eyes. He opened his mouth to continue but suddenly paused, along with Professor Garcia, both turning to look toward the window.
Following instructions, Shad had closed the curtains, which were heavy enough to block the warm yellow light of the gas lamps around the circular square. Now, faint silver steam was seeping from beneath the curtains, slowly spreading throughout the room.
"Mercury mist?"
Though their physical bodies were absent from the detective agency’s lounge, the professors, with tenure, instantly recognized what it was.
"Mr. Hamilton, someone is attempting to breach this place," Professor Sanchez remarked, remaining seated and frowning as he looked at Shad.
"Have you done anything recently?"
Covering his mouth and nose, worried about mercury poisoning, Shad nodded immediately upon hearing "mercury." Knowing now was not the time to withhold information, he revealed everything about the Old God statue. However, he omitted the time and place of meeting That Lady, only mentioning that he had found a reliable buyer.
The professors were indifferent to the fact that Shad sold the Old God statue instead of handing it to the college. They exchanged glances, and Professor Garcia, in his not-so-fluent Drarian, said, "Then the matter is relatively clear. The buyer you found helped you resolve the tracking mark left by the Blood of Mercury on those who discover the statue, but faint traces remain. Their intent was likely just to probe, but they confirmed your identity as a Ring Warlock when you initiated the ritual."
Shad didn’t understand their deduction methods, nor could he articulate his misfortune adequately.
"But don’t worry. I specifically chose tonight for this meeting, Mr. Hamilton. I will handle it," said Professor Sanchez, looking toward his secretary. The latter replied crisply, "It complies with college regulations, but I must remind you, Professor, during an astral projection, even high-level warlocks will have their powers diminished."
"No matter. Though Blood of Mercury is an ancient organization, their strongest contemporary warlock is only the Nine-Ring Silver-Eyed."
Professor Sanchez, addressing Shad, added a bit of context, "Ring Warlocks go up to Thirteen Rings, though they are exceedingly rare in this era, each bearing unique titles. St. Byrons has two Thirteen-Ring Warlocks: our Dean, Silver Guardian Professor Pigman, and the Head Librarian, Crimson Moon Witch Miss Deniester. Below this, warlocks above Ten Rings are eligible to serve as overseers in the True God Churches or as tenured professors at colleges. Outside the church and college, such warlocks are scarce.
Blood of Mercury, despite its ancient lineage, which dates back to the late Fourth Epoch, has now declined and mainly aligns with the Blood Spirit Faction, hunted by the Five God Churches. The inheritors of Blood of Mercury remain obsessively tied to the angel-grade relic—Blood of Mercury."
The professor didn’t get up. As he spoke, the mercury mist was nearly at their feet. Shad wondered if he should remind the professors that, while their astral projections wouldn’t suffer poisoning, he himself was physically present.
"What is this Blood Spirit Faction anyway?" he asked, trusting the professors wouldn’t let him die.
"A lineage more ancient and powerful, composed of lunatics... Do you want to go first, or shall I?" Professor Sanchez asked Professor Garcia.
After some thought, the latter, in his composed but imperfect Drarian, said, "Let me go first. At the very least, we need to identify who they are and how much they know about Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton, pay close attention. This is the power of space."