Any Objections?

Ansu nodded, and the group followed Catherine to the second floor of the office building.

After closing the office door, Catherine watched Ansu nervously for a moment before lowering her head and clasping her hands in front of her.

"Elder Hermit, I am currently in charge of all investigation operations within the United Academy. If Miss Vera has any needs, she can instruct me at any time. I..."

Ansu could see that this cult executor was exceptionally nervous in his presence, so he gave a gentle smile. "Alright, there is no need to be tense around me. Aside from being careful not to expose your identity and protecting Vera, I have nothing more to emphasize."

"Yes! I... I understand!" Catherine lowered her head humbly, though her voice sounded even more nervous.

This level of tension from the other woman made Vera feel nervous as well. She couldn't help but look at her gentle-faced brother, wondering if her brother's image within the organization was actually terrifying.

After leaving the office, Ansu took Vera to the Academic Affairs Office to complete the transfer procedures.

"You need to act the part too!" Ansu shook his head helplessly as he looked at Vera's adorable way of clinging to his arm. "Vera, don't forget your new identity."

The siblings now had new identities—collateral branch members of the Lawrence family, a noble house of the Empire.

Ansu was playing a rising star in the business world who had come to the North to investigate business opportunities. Vera, naturally, was still his sister, now named Vera Lawrence.

"Don't worry~" Vera suddenly straightened her back. As her smile faded, the light in her eyes suddenly turned icy cold. "Brother... how is this version of me?"

"Mhm, not bad." Ansu looked at the suddenly cold and distant Vera, thinking that she didn't even really need to pretend.

Back at her old school, Vera was already the type who didn't like to socialize much—a campus-legend-level "mysterious and cool beauty." As long as she wore this "do not approach" expression, naturally, not many people would come looking for trouble.

After helping Vera complete her enrollment and exchanging a few pleasantries with the school leaders, only David remained by Ansu's side.

David suddenly asked, "Elder Barnes and the other elders have all arrived at Lawrence Manor. When do you plan to convene the Council of Elders meeting?"

"Has Celia been notified?" Ansu asked.

"She has been notified. She said she will attend the meeting... but in the form of magic communication."

"That's enough." Ansu nodded slightly.

Today's Council of Elders meeting would no longer feature the previous infighting. Ansu had summoned the elders for one purpose: to declare a fait accompli.

The new Cult Leader of the Echoes of Truth was Celia.

Ansu returned to the manor. The moment he stepped into the reception hall, the noisy discussions came to an abrupt halt.

The gazes of all the elders simultaneously fell upon Ansu—the youngest member of the Council of Elders in the history of the cult.

Elder Barnes walked over with a smile, exchanged a few pleasantries with Ansu, and then asked about a matter everyone was very concerned about.

"So... Hermit, I heard you want to break ties with the demons?" His tone carried a hint of skepticism. "Isn't this... a bit too hasty? You must know that as long as the Empire exists, we are natural allies with a common goal!"

He observed Ansu's expression and continued, "Even if those demons nearly dragged us down before, that is still no reason to break ties so abruptly, is it?"

Even if the Hermit was unwilling to cooperate with them, he shouldn't directly treat them as enemies, let alone order a full-scale search for Squirrel Party members in Norvigel.

If they actually caught one and executed them on the spot, Barcas would certainly not let the matter rest...

"On this point, Cult Leader Celia and I have already given it thorough consideration." Ansu smiled faintly. "Besides, do you really think Barcas will be our ally forever?"

Elder Barnes frowned in confusion.

Ansu lowered his voice mysteriously. "I heard that over a hundred members of the demon remnants were wiped out in the Eastern Wasteland..."

"I heard those demons and mercenaries lost their lives searching for the demon army's treasure, and the entire underground ruin was subsequently controlled by the Church of Holy Light that arrived later... Barcas missed out on the treasure entirely. I heard he flew into a rage afterward and was so angry he nearly fell ill..."

Elder Barnes looked at Ansu with confusion. "Hermit, what do you mean by telling me this...?"

"Barcas suspects that we did it!" Ansu said with a cold laugh. "Because he believes that aside from our Echoes of Truth, no other organization would have such capability or care so much about the demon army's treasure—after all, it contained long-lost ancient texts!"

"But how is that even possible?" Ansu immediately said with righteous indignation.

"This... well, it probably wasn't us." Elder Barnes subconsciously glanced at Ansu, but his mind was racing.

He knew that those who perished in the ancient ruins along with the demon remnants included the cult members led by Elder John...

The Hermit mentioning this to him was clearly intentional...

Because a certain speculation had long been circulating within the Council of Elders. Some said... the ones who ultimately obtained the treasure were not the Church of Holy Light, but Celia and the Hermit.

If this rumor was true, then the conflict between the cult and the demon army was truly irreconcilable.

Seeing the worried look on the other's face, Ansu smiled faintly and continued to persuade him. "The seeds of doubt have already been sown."

"If we cooperate with them, we'll just be waiting for Barcas to backstab us! I have sufficient evidence to show that before pushing their so-called 'great cause of restoration,' the demon remnants intended to drag us down with them, making all the firepower concentrate on us so we could serve as their meat shield. Therefore..."

Ansu concluded at last, "The Echoes of Truth must be prepared to make a complete break from the demon army."

"Hermit... what you say does indeed make sense." Elder Barnes had nothing left to say and could only nod helplessly.

He truly didn't know where the Echoes of Truth would head in the future under the leadership of these two...

After Ansu exchanged pleasantries with several more elders, a flickering blue magic projection suddenly emerged in the center of the reception hall with a crackle of static.

Celia's figure appeared before everyone. She scanned the room expressionlessly, and the hall, which had been filled with whispers, fell into a dead silence.

Those cool eyes finally settled on Ansu. Despite the heavy atmosphere, Ansu still gave her a playful little wink.

"..."

Celia's lips pursed slightly. After forcing back a smile, her gaze turned even colder as she looked toward Elder Barnes.

"Elder Barnes, let the meeting begin."

Elder Barnes nodded quickly and turned to face the crowd. "I believe you are all very clear on today's agenda for the Council of Elders meeting. The leadership of the Echoes of Truth cannot remain vacant forever. Therefore, the new Cult Leader will be chosen today through a vote by our Council of Elders."

He attempted to ease the overly oppressive atmosphere of the hall, saying with a smile, "After this period of observation, I wonder if everyone recognizes Celia's capabilities? If..."

"We can skip the nonsense!" Celia interrupted directly with a smile. "I hope the meeting will be brief, as I have very important magic research to attend to."

She scanned the hall and suddenly proposed, "How about this? Any elder who does not support my appointment as the new Cult Leader, please raise your hand. You may voice your opinions and dissatisfaction to my face."

Celia leaned forward slightly and repeated with a smile:

"Tell me, everyone... do you have any objections?"