Chapter 15: The Bishops Come Out in Full Force

The next day, the day before the Carnival.

Many soldiers in the palace were scattered across the kingdom, tightly deployed, making the final preparations for the festival.

Because of this, Tina and Everett had a rare opportunity to sneak deep into the palace’s laboratory.

“We’re almost there. Just up ahead.”

The two of them weaved past a few scattered patrols and arrived at a garden.

Tina learned from Everett that this garden was the royal garden, normally only accessible to the king himself; no one else even had the chance to see it.

That was why they chose to build the laboratory underground here—so no one would ever discover it.

“Rune really had me fooled. If it weren’t for the micro sprite I control, he might have gotten away with it.”

“Speaking of which, isn’t the king out of the palace today?”

Tina felt like the plan was going a little too smoothly.

“I confirmed it. He left the palace early this morning. Of course, there’s a chance he might come back halfway, so we have to move quickly. This is the best time.”

Following the garden path inward, they came to a wooden house at the far end.

As soon as they entered, a certain indescribable stench assaulted Tina’s nose, nearly making her vomit her breakfast.

“This smells awful.” She covered her nose with one hand.

“That’s the scent of the Putrefying Beast. It’s usually used as a biological material.”

Everett grew more certain that the laboratory was nearby.

“Let’s search around.”

After turning over everything and fully enduring the stench, Tina finally staggered and almost fell.

But at that moment, a crisp sound came from the floor beneath her feet, and it seemed to echo below.

“Is it a secret passage?”

Everett leaned over and pried open the floorboard along its seam.

A stronger, almost “fresh” scent surged up.

“I can’t take this.” Tina recoiled.

“It’s okay. I have magic to purify the surrounding air.”

Tina followed Everett into the circular magical domain he created, slowly descending the dim staircase.

The closer they got, the more uneasy they felt.

The aura beneath seemed almost solid, ready to engulf them.

“We’ve arrived.”

Everett gripped the doorknob up ahead.

When he opened the door, a giant rune array engraved on the ground came into view.

On it lay a bloodstained skull, surrounded by various prepared biological and mineral materials that stood out vividly in the dark.

“So this is the conspiracy they’ve been hiding?”

The laboratory was now empty, but half-human-high notebooks were piled on the table.

They recorded:

【To:】

【The Three Bishops of the Moonmist Sect have jointly designed a special-grade rune array. Once the corresponding rare materials are placed, the magic within the array can be unleashed to its fullest.】

【Materials prepared today: 10g of Stardust Stone Powder. Awaiting shipment of goods.】

【Tomorrow…】

Nearly a year had passed in the middle of the notes, and a lot of effort was put into building and perfecting this array.

【All materials have been gathered, only the crucial magic Scroll remains. The activation ceremony will be held at the upcoming Carnival, allowing control over everyone in the kingdom.】

Everett took out a Memory Stone and recorded the entire scene in the laboratory, including the notes they were reading.

“Did you bring that Scroll with you?” Tina looked at Everett.

“Yes. Why don’t we just destroy the Scroll and the rune array?”

“Can I… take a look at the Scroll first?” Tina had an idea.

She took the black leather Scroll from Everett’s hand and immediately began flipping through it.

Before sneaking into the palace, Tina had learned the Moonmist Sect’s symbols from Tyr, precisely so she could use them in situations like this.

Now was that moment. She could understand all the symbols on the Scroll, figured out the operation order, and coincidentally, there was a ready-made rune array right in front of her.

“You don’t plan on using it yourself, do you?” Everett saw through Tina’s thoughts.

“This is Legendary Magic. For someone who can’t learn magic like me, it can only be realized by relying on the array’s power. It would be a waste not to use it when it’s right here.”

Tina knew well that this simulated body she was using couldn’t perform any magic because its intelligence was only three.

“So, how do you want to use it?”

“Hmmm, can it do some kind of control? Seems a bit difficult.”

“Difficult? If it’s difficult, then let me teach you.”

Suddenly, a rapid sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

Before they could identify who was coming, a throwing knife pierced the Scroll, the force behind it nearly pinning Tina to the wall.

Everett quickly raised a shield to barely block a second knife.

“This isn’t right. Why can’t the shield stop this kind of weapon?”

“Hahaha, guess why?”

A green-haired man blocked the doorway, his tattered sect robe hung with various weapons.

A silver-haired youth silently followed behind him.

“Rune? An ambush…”

Everett realized too late that the magical energy he was secretly gathering in his palm was being suppressed as it flowed toward the center of the array.

He barely had enough to release any magic.

This was bad. He hadn’t expected the array to have a function that blocked the flow of magical power.

The man with the knives obviously came prepared.

***

In an environment where magic couldn’t be used, facing an opponent specializing in physical combat was a nightmare for a mage.

“Tina.” Everett took out a crystal pendant. “I know you have one last trick, but it probably comes at a heavy cost. So I’ll hold them off. You take the Memory Stone and leave.”

“Don’t worry. Rune’s here. He won’t kill me.”

“Alright, once I deliver this evidence to His Highness, I’ll come back to rescue you.”

Right now, this was the best plan.

Tina could sense that the man was no ordinary sect member, but someone with strength close to Uli’s.

It wouldn’t be easy to kill him with simple means.

Asking the system for help again was an option, but if she fainted again, she’d probably be caught by the palace guards that would soon arrive.

So—

“Now!”

Everett raised the pendant.

The purple crystal instantly erupted with magic, illuminating the entire laboratory.

Everyone except Tina was slowed to a crawl under the oppressive magical force.

“Didn’t expect that, huh? I’m not a lamb to be slaughtered.”

Squeezing out of the doorway, Tina ran at full speed toward the Underground District.

The pursuers were still affected by Everett’s pendant but were gradually shaking off its control.

The immediate priority was to find Princess Lia and the others, safeguard the evidence, and then return with Phyllis and Tyr to rescue the Great Sage.

But when Tina arrived at Everett’s little shop, the street was unusually quiet.

“No way…”

She gently tapped the door.

The entire wooden door collapsed as if it hadn’t been fixed at all.

Inside the shop was chaos.

Bloodstains, scattered paper scraps and dust, and traces of magic remained everywhere.

A mostly intact sheet of paper fell onto Tina’s head.

Scrawled hastily on it were the words:

“Escape, outskirts, cave.

The worst possible outcome may have already happened.

They… are in trouble…”