"Xia De Hamilton, Detective."
Xia De also introduced himself proactively when they shook hands.
"Bill has already told me about you. Your joining is both your good fortune and ours."
The Old Priest said cheerfully. Xia De now saw the champagne in an ice bucket on the coffee table, which must have been prepared by Doctor Schneider, because Priest Augustus's financial situation seemed only slightly better than Xia De's.
Priest Latt Augustus is a Second-Circle Arcanist in this group, having become a Letter-based Ring術士 three years ago.
He is not a local who grew up in Tobesk City, but rather hails from a small town in the southern part of the Delarion Kingdom. Influenced by his family, the Old Priest had believed in the Orthodox Church 【Mr. Dawn】 since his youth. In his young adulthood, he passed the examination of the Tobesk Dawn Theological Seminary and joined the Tobesk City Dawn Church at the age of 23. From then on, he remained unmarried his entire life, contributing to the Church.
Although for a full 30 years, Priest Augustus, due to various reasons, did not advance beyond his status as a Priest, no one doubted his piety. The Old Priest held considerable prestige in the Church of his diocese and was highly trusted by the clergy and followers within the Dawn Church's local diocese. Even the Archbishop of a large diocese like Tobesk Diocese would consult his opinion on certain important matters.
Due to the awkward relationship between Letter-based Ring術士 and the Orthodox Church, Xia De will often need to conceal his identity from the Church in the future. Priest Augustus, on the other hand, is the best candidate in the group to handle Church matters, possessing connections within the Orthodox Church.
Although he is advanced in age and his Ring術士 talent is not particularly outstanding, the five-person team absolutely cannot do without him.
As a token of mutual trust, Priest Augustus and Xia De also showed each other their Destiny Rings. The Priest also falls into the unusual category within ordinary circumstances, but unlike Miss Louisa who has three, he only has one core Ling Rune 【Glimmer】.
Priest Augustus's identity and core rune are both very consistent with the requirements of Saint Byron's Comprehensive College's "Theology College." However, the Priest did not join the Theology College; he is currently a member of the Chemistry College, proficient in the cultivation and harvesting of herbs and the preparation of magical medicines.
Of the five-person team, Xia De now knows one more person. Among the two remaining who haven't arrived, Miss Dorothy Louisa, the Writer from the Folklore College, will probably take some more time to arrive. The other Three-Ring Arcanist, Miss Luvia Annett, cannot come today as she is temporarily out of Tobesk City for some matters.
"Miss Annett is actually different from us. Strictly speaking, she is a Ring術士 belonging to the Prophet Association. Annett wrote to us, asking us to say hello to you. She will probably not be back until next month, but it's actually only a few days away, just next week."
The Doctor continued to introduce the group's situation, motioning for Xia De, whose handshake had ended, to find a place to sit down.
"Since she also belongs to our group, is The Lady not a Letter-based student of Saint Byron's?"
Xia De asked doubtfully, choosing to sit opposite Doctor Schneider.
Although Priest Augustus has a Church background, he receives adult education from the College, so he can be considered a Letter-based student of Saint Byron's. This Miss Annett is completely different.
"No, she is also considered a Letter-based student of the College, belonging to the Astronomical Academy, proficient in the art of divination. As for why she has a dual identity, do you know about 'joint training'?"
The Doctor asked. Xia De was only puzzled when he first heard about The Lady's information, but now he was truly surprised, reconfirming that the organization he joined was indeed a school.
"She herself also belongs to the Prophet Association, but receives training from both sides. In fact, Saint Byron's Comprehensive College, and many friendly organizations, including Zaras Academy and Serex Higher Medical College, but not including the Church, all have such jointly trained students. You will know more about it later.
But don't have any particular thoughts about Annett because of her identity. Just treat her as an ordinary companion. Would you like some tea? I had some good black tea at your place last time, and I also had my servant buy some."
The Doctor asked. Xia De thought for a moment:
"Okay, thank you... So, in reality, Miss Luvia Annett is the same as us?"
"There's still a difference."
Priest Augustus said while fiddling with his old pipe. Of course, he wouldn't smoke in the clinic; this was just a habitual action:
"Besides being able to gain Knowledge at the College, the Prophet Association can also provide convenience for Miss Annett. She herself is highly regarded by the Ring術士s of the Prophet Association. So relatively speaking..."
The Priest glanced at the Doctor, who shook his head indifferently, signaling the gray-haired Old Priest to continue:
"Although she is only a Three-Ring Arcanist, only one circle higher than me in the group, in situations without direct confrontation, even the Doctor is not sure he can defeat her. Of course, this is also due to Schneider's and Louisa's abilities not being suitable for direct combat."
Priest Augustus believes that although Ring術士s possess power, this profession is for studying the world and exploring oneself deeply, not for fighting and killing. In the Old Priest's view, Ring術士s are more like scholars than mercenaries.
His thoughts are very similar to the Doctor's. After becoming a Letter-based Ring術士, one should not indulge their inner desires because they have gained power, but rather should be more humble and cautious.
In other words, the two were subtly reminding Xia De that he must be careful in his actions and not participate in matters he shouldn't. Patiently studying, engraving Ling Runes to accumulate Ling, reading the notes of predecessors, and learning more Miracles and spells is the correct way of life for a Letter-based Ring術士.
Xia De therefore suspected that the Doctor had already told Priest Augustus about his encounter the day before yesterday. Priest Augustus was worried that Xia De, having suddenly gained power through the Old God's remnants, might desire to gain more power through similar adventures, which is why he said this.
Priest Augustus is also a very good person.
"Speaking of which, I'm actually quite curious about something."
Since the relationship between Ring術士s and fighting was mentioned, Xia De asked:
"Since Ring術士s themselves gather elements, and even have Ling Runes engraved because of elements, then can killing a Ring術士 allow one to gain the other's power, such as Ling Runes, or scattered elements, or the other's elements transforming into artifacts or similar things?"
"Oh, that idea is too terrifying."
The gray-haired Old Priest shook his head, holding the holy emblem to his chest and closing his eyes in prayer. The Doctor, on the other hand, shook his head very seriously, his blue eyes scrutinizing Xia De:
"Xia De, I don't know where you got such a terrifying idea. But if you kill a Ring術士 unrelated to you, all you will get is their corpse and the guilt that will accompany you for the rest of your life.
From Delarion to Carson Rick, from the Old Continent to the New World, from steam industrial cities like ours to gloomy rural cemeteries. Ring術士s can appear almost anywhere, but remember, this is an era of civilization, not a dark forest where the strong prey on the weak. If someone actively attacks you, you can fight back, but do not kill for pure profit; this will make you more prone to losing control."
Xia De also understood that what he said was a bit inappropriate, only having such curiosity because of the fantasy stories he had read in the past. The Outsider didn't want to gain power by killing people at all; he was just worried that others might do so:
"Sorry, I was just curious. Yes, that kind of world would be too terrifying... It's like people could live by eating others."
Priest Augustus, clutching the holy emblem, looked at Xia De, his gaze not as stern as the Doctor's, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showing a gentle meaning:
"Although our world is so bizarre and terrifying, infested with countless evil creatures, relics from past eras are everywhere, dangerous and mysterious Knowledge constantly challenges the limits of normal people's sanity, evil gods that spy on humanity walk the earth, and abyssal beasts hide beneath the oceans of the New and Old Continents, we are still happy for the existence of the world. Come, gentlemen, a toast to this benevolent world."
The Old Priest had even moved himself, proactively raising the teacup in front of him. The Doctor nodded with satisfaction, raising his cup, while Xia De smiled. No matter how bad his situation had been since coming here, it was as if this world was compensating him by sending him such wonderful friends:
"To this benevolent world."
The three of them said aloud together, and the Outsider's smile at that moment was from the heart.
Just then, the door was pushed open. The blonde Writer, who had entered without knocking, hadn't heard the previous conversation. As soon as she opened the door, she saw three gentlemen raising their teacups, one with a sacred expression, one with a serious face, and one with a smile.
Miss Louisa looked at the men with some hesitation, wondering if she should withdraw:
"What were you... doing just now?"