To be continued…
Paimon: "Self-exile?"
Cyno: "Some time ago, I found blanks in the Akademiya's archives recording research Installation plans and execution. The data clearly didn't match the actual progress. As the Grand Scribe, I had the responsibility and the right to request verification. But I never expected that the one responsible for that content… was Grand Sage Azar himself."
Alhaitham: "So?"
Cyno: "Before submitting the verification request, I conducted many private investigations. But both clues and anything that could serve as physical evidence cleverly evaded my sight. I gradually realized that they had been guarding against me from the very beginning."
Paimon: "That Grand Sage didn't look like a good person earlier."
Cyno: "As expected, after the application was submitted, the Grand Sage rejected my verification request and even told me—'The Grand Scribe's authority is bestowed by the Sages. You have no right to judge us.'"
Qixuan: "How ironic. If this were in Fontaine, he'd be in for it."
Alhaitham: "Which means… the Grand Sage had everyone calculated from the start."
Cyno: "At that time, I realized that in the Grand Sage's eyes, the matra were merely tools for the Sages to control 'knowledge.' The matra's initial oath, and the principles they had upheld until now, seemed meaningless in the current Akademiya."
Lumine: "So you exiled yourself?"
Cyno: "Escaping the Akademiya on this pretext before the Sages could take action against me was what I considered the most sensible approach. This way, I could also escape their sight. I will absolutely not give up investigating this matter. I don't need others to grant me authority; I will judge in my own name."
Paimon: "Cyno… it seems his stance is the same as ours. He's also investigating the Sages of the Akademiya. And he's not the 'Grand Scribe' anymore, so he's suddenly not so scary."
Lumine looked at Qixuan, who nodded then shook her head, which confused Lumine a bit, but she still remained wary.
Paimon: "Then, if that's the case, why did Cyno target Alhaitham before? Could it be…?"
Cyno: "Because during my investigation in the Akademiya, I once saw Alhaitham meeting with a sage. The sage said at the time that he wanted you to investigate a blonde Traveler and her companion, that white-haired girl, right… Alhaitham?"
Paimon: "Eh?!"
Cyno: "And this task, similarly, had no archival record. Coupled with your association with 'Divine Canned Knowledge'… Now, it's your turn to explain."
Lumine: "…He actually…"
Qixuan: "Alright, Lumine, Alhaitham doesn't obey the Sages. It's just that this reason happened to be a legitimate way to investigate 'Divine Canned Knowledge,' right?"
Alhaitham: "…Half right. I can admit that I did receive a task to investigate this blonde Traveler and her companion. Of course, I don't think I have the ability to investigate Qixuan-jie."
Paimon: "Alhaitham, you!"
Alhaitham: "After all, that task offered an amazing reward. No scholar could refuse. The sage said: 'After you complete it, I can let you witness the God's knowledge.'"
Cyno: "It is indeed a tempting condition."
Alhaitham: "It's just a pity that the people of the Akademiya don't understand me. As Qixuan-jie said, I needed a reason to investigate 'Divine Canned Knowledge.' The Grand Sage provided me with an important piece of information, which is that the God's knowledge does indeed exist. Knowing just that much was enough for me."
The Sages are not worth that much trust in my eyes. Think about it, they would so easily promise 'God's Knowledge' as a reward to others… isn't that a bit strange?
So I followed the clue of Divine Canned Knowledge and started my own investigation. In the end, I found that it was fortunate I did so, and fortunate that I didn't trust the Akademiya. If I hadn't been cautious, I might have already become like the leader of 'The Eye of Ahernar,' unable to even remain conscious and communicate with people.
Cyno: "You mean the Sages originally intended to deal with you using knowledge that would drive ordinary people insane?"
Lumine: "Were you only working with us to investigate us?"
Qixuan: "Although you don't trust the Sages, Lumine trusts you. We're not afraid of being schemed against, but there must be some price to pay, right?"
Alhaitham: "…I apologize for my actions. I will pay you five million Mora as compensation afterwards."
Paimon: "Five… five million!"
Lumine: "…"
Alhaitham: "I had already put the investigation task out of my mind, merely giving the Akademiya a perfunctory reply saying, 'I can wait for the Travelers to appear in Port Ormos.'"
But I never expected to encounter them while pursuing Divine Canned Knowledge.
Cyno: "The most common excuse criminals use is 'coincidence.'"
Alhaitham: "Even if I met them by chance, I had no intention of helping the Akademiya. You should still remember… when I chose to leave that restaurant, you were the ones who actively followed me."
Lumine: "It seems… that's true."
Paimon: "Oh, that's right, and Alhaitham saved us once in Caravan Ribat. Although we're not afraid, hehe, maybe it's really like he said?"
Alhaitham: "I'm sorry for secretly taking the Divine Canned Knowledge from you. It was because I subjectively judged its existence to be too dangerous. Before it's thoroughly researched, it's best not to let others come into contact with it. After all, curiosity is often the most dangerous thing in this country."
Cyno: "Scribe Alhaitham, you should know that curiosity can also lead you into suspicion and danger. Answer my question: Did the Sages reveal their plan to you?"
Alhaitham: "Was I not clear enough? Now, both you and I are targets of the Akademiya's Focus on prevention. What do you think?"
Cyno: "Alright, I won't consider you an enemy for now, but your suspicion hasn't been cleared."
Alhaitham: "As you wish."
Candace: "Hmm~ hmm, I'm glad to see the two of you clear up the misunderstanding. Very good, very good. So what about you? Dehya, it's your turn, isn't it?"
Dehya: "Ah, my apologies, the boys' talk was so boring it made me space out. Uh… mine's very simple. Demoiselle Dina of the Humai family, the Travelers know her, she's been recuperating at home recently. I just came to Aru Village for a stroll, nothing special. I originally thought I could have an exciting reunion with you, Candace…"
Lumine: "(So you're a slacker, huh?)"
Dehya: "But I ended up only seeing these two inexplicable people arguing inexplicably. For some reason, I got so angry, so I…"
Candace: "Is that all… Alright, very much your style. Well then, welcome back~ Dehya!"
Dehya: "Haha, now that's more like it! I've missed you all so much, Candace…"
Just then, a roar suddenly came from outside.
Paimon immediately shrunk into Lumine's embrace.
Paimon: "Woah! What was that sound just now?"
Candace: "It's nothing, it's nothing. Since you all are no longer hostile to each other, please rest here for a while. I'll go outside and 'clear out' those beasts in the sandstorm…"
Paimon: "Beasts appearing in the sandstorm… A-are you really okay by yourself?"
Candace: "Combat in Desert environments can only be controlled by those who have been trained locally in recent years. No need to trouble you all."
Dehya: "That's right, just leave it to Candace. She's really strong."
Qixuan also used her perspective to look outside and saw those beasts with some black aura.
Qixuan: "(Is that Abyssal power blowing in from the Sea of Flowers?)"
After a while, Candace still hadn't returned, but the sandstorm outside seemed to have stopped.
Paimon: "The wind seems to have stopped, so the sandstorm must have passed, right? Candace hasn't come back. Is she really okay? Should we go out and check?"
Dehya: "When you say that, I actually feel a little worried… Let's go, let's go. Anyway, I've been here long enough, and these two haven't said a word…"
Just as everyone got up and walked out, something suddenly flew over. Dehya seized the opportunity and quickly caught it. Everyone looked closely and it turned out to be Candace. She had wounds of all sizes on her body, and a scratch on her abdomen was constantly bleeding…
Dehya: "Candace! How are you? Wake up!"
At this moment, Candace had fainted from excessive blood loss. In the distance, there were many Abyssal Rifthounds, and an elite Rifthound. Logically speaking, this shouldn't be difficult for Candace. Just then, a spatial fluctuation suddenly appeared in the distance, and a huge head stretched out.
Paimon: "Woah!! W-what is that?!"
Everyone took out their weapons and stood ready, while Dehya held Candace.
Qixuan: "That's the 'Golden Wolflord.' It's the leader of that pack of Rifthounds and possesses God-level combat power."
Paimon: "A God… God! W-what should we do?"
Lumine: "No matter what, we can't let these things enter the village!"
After saying that, she drew her sword and charged. Cyno and Alhaitham exchanged glances and also rushed forward. Dehya entrusted Candace to Paimon's care and then charged forward with her greatsword. What was strange was that the Golden Wolflord did not move, only extending a large head to watch. It was always the small and elite monsters that fought them. But the Golden Wolflord just stood there, even just extending a head, it was incredibly oppressive.
Paimon: "W-what should we do? Candace is still bleeding, Qixuan-jie!"
Qixuan stood there thinking for a long time but couldn't figure out why the Golden Wolflord would come here. Why didn't it stay in its own territory and run to Sumeru? What Qixuan didn't know was that the Golden Wolflord had actually been beaten by Ei, and no longer dared to stay in its original place. Ever since Makoto returned, all parts of Inazuma had returned to Inazuma's jurisdiction. Any disobedient ones who were sleeping were beaten by Ei. That's why it was thinking about whether to go to another country to find a place. Although the Desert environment was a bit harsh, it didn't matter, as long as it had a den to live in. But it never expected to be transported here, and because it saw that this group of humans had no combat power, it wanted to take over this place.
Paimon: "Qixuan-jie! Candace is almost out of time!"
Qixuan finally reacted, and without further thought, she stepped forward to heal Candace's wounds. The people in front had also suffered various degrees of injuries, and the bleeding still seemed unstoppable. Qixuan summoned the 'Spear of the Void' and impaled all the Rifthounds, then looked coldly at the Golden Wolflord and said: "Scram!"
The Golden Wolflord wanted to see who was so bold, and then it saw the energy emanating from Qixuan. Lumine and the others were stunned for a few seconds.
Dehya: "This is a God-level monster, how could it…"
Alhaitham: "Still, prepare to notify the villagers to evacuate. We can stall for as long as we can here."
Cyno remained silent, just holding his spear.
One second… two seconds, the Golden Wolflord suddenly roared! Then… it ran away. That's right, it ran ~ away ~.
(Golden Wolflord: Confirmed the look in the eyes, can't afford to provoke.)
The creature's instincts were still there. Even if the Golden Wolflord couldn't discern anything, it could feel the threat Qixuan posed to it.
Dehya: "…It just… ran away?"
Cyno: "It seems so."
Alhaitham: "…What an eye-opener."
Lumine slumped to the ground. Paimon quickly went to check on her. Fortunately, they were all minor injuries. Light emanated from Qixuan's hand, and then everyone's wounds healed.
Alhaitham: "No Vision, peculiar power. I am indeed interested."
Cyno then realized he was wrong. She was completely capable of killing him.
Lumine: "Why didn't you act sooner?"
Lumine was a little aggrieved at this moment, her cheeks puffed out.
Qixuan: "Hehe, I was thinking. Aren't you curious why this thing came here?"
Lumine: "So did you figure it out?"
Qixuan: "No."
Lumine: "…"
Lumine at this moment wanted to use Liyue's traditional national essence to express herself. Dehya checked Candace's injuries and then thanked Qixuan, then took Candace to the village chief's house to rest. Everyone else followed. The village chief hadn't returned yet, so the villagers, hearing such a big commotion outside, didn't dare to go out, only thinking that there were beasts, and Candace was there to handle it.
Time came to the afternoon… Under Dehya's steadfast care, Candace woke up.
Dehya: "How are you? Feeling better?"
Candace clutched her head and said weakly: "Mmm… much better. Thank you, Dehya."
Dehya: "Hehe, I just brought you back. If you want to thank someone, thank Qixuan. She chased away that big guy and healed your injuries."
Candace: "Thank you, Qixuan-jie. Otherwise, Aru Village…"
Qixuan: "It's nothing. Get some good rest, and then tell us how you encountered the Golden Wolflord?"
Candace: "Golden Wolflord?"
Dehya: "That big guy I was talking about."
Candace: "I… I don't know. In the sandstorm, after I killed a few beasts, many more appeared. I didn't think much of it, just thought there were a lot, and I could handle it. Just as I finished clearing the last one, the sandstorm stopped… and then."
…