The implication was clear: the Polymath Tower had sent an imperial envoy without even greeting the Count. Who did they think they were looking down on?
Furthermore, neither the Dean nor the Vice Dean of the Polymath Tower was present—not even the imperial envoy himself. Only two mentors were in attendance.
The Count didn't say it outright, but when he swept his gaze over Calvin and the female mentor, his meaning was clear enough.
Kraus raised an eyebrow and looked toward the representatives of the Polymath Tower.
He didn't speak up for them, nor did he try to smooth things over.
At that moment, there were two knocks on the door.
A young Nightwatcher from the logistics department entered, carrying a copper tray.
Several cups of hot black tea rested on the tray, tendrils of white steam rising from them.
The Nightwatcher said nothing, bowing his head as he served the tea to everyone present, one by one.
When he passed the man from the Ascension Society, the man didn't even look at him, though the woman gave a slight nod.
When he reached the Count, the Nightwatcher's hand faltered visibly. He was likely momentarily suppressed by the aura of those fine clothes, but he quickly steadied himself, set down the cup, and withdrew.
Calvin waited until all the tea was served before speaking.
“Lord Count.”
His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, his monocle glinting under the lamplight.
“The Polymath Tower is merely acting on orders. When the imperial center drops an envoy on us, we local mentors can only cooperate according to the instructions from above.”
He paused, lowering his voice slightly.
“Of course, as soon as news of your return reached us, Selena and I came here immediately.”
Selena.
Lu Yuan thought for a moment; that was likely the female mentor's name.
Selena Winter tilted her head slightly, offering a silent confirmation.
Calvin continued.
“The Dean and Vice Dean are currently maintaining the normal operation of the device. This is not only related to the task assigned by the imperial center but also for the safety of Bronze City.”
His tone became more cautious.
“As for the imperial envoy himself, frankly speaking, we have no right to comment on his style of conduct.”
Lu Yuan picked up his tea and took a sip.
It was still scalding.
But Calvin was certainly slick; with just a few sentences, he had completely washed his hands of the matter.
Lu Yuan made a mental note of Calvin’s character.
The Count was clearly unsatisfied with this answer.
However, he didn't continue to dwell on the procedural issues and instead changed direction entirely.
“Then let’s talk about something substantial.”
The Count leaned forward slightly, his cane tapping the floor softly.
“What exactly have you done? Many reports of missing noble scions have come from the aristocracy. Surely the Polymath Tower isn't unaware of this.”
When those words landed, the meeting room fell silent for a moment.
“The imperial nobility never participates in such things,” the Count’s voice dropped half a tone. “You must give me an explanation for what you intend to do.”
Calvin remained silent for several seconds.
Lu Yuan noticed his fingers curl slightly under the table before relaxing.
“The mission from the imperial center has now been completed.”
Calvin did not answer directly.
“According to the imperial envoy's instructions, any noble who actively participated in this plan must make concessions for the Empire.”
A cold sneer appeared at the corner of the Count’s mouth.
The Count stared at Calvin for two seconds.
Then he sat up straight.
“Since they were the ones who courted death, they shall bear the consequences themselves.”
He picked up his tea, blew on it, and took a shallow sip.
“Provide me with a complete report of the relevant events. I want everything.”
Calvin nodded. “Naturally.”
He didn't press further.
He had let it go with dignity.
The sound of footsteps came from outside the meeting room.
The attendant entered, walked to the Count's side, leaned down, and whispered something in his ear.
The Count’s expression didn't change; he simply gave a slight nod.
The attendant retreated to his original position, standing behind the Count once more.
As Lu Yuan looked at this attendant again, greyish-white text finally surfaced.
【Target Detected: Bronze City Resident (Believer Transcendent)】
【A human who believes in a certain existence within the Empire, appearing to possess quite formidable strength.】
‘Not rank 5, but at least rank 4 in strength.’
Lu Yuan made a silent estimation as he looked at the greyish-white text.
“Finally.”
The Count set down his teacup and looked toward the Ascension Society and the Church.
“You two parties seem to have business with the Nightwatchers. I won't interfere, but since everyone is here, we might as well avoid any further friction later.”
He raised a hand slightly.
“Begin.”
The Ascension Society spoke first.
It was the gaunt man.
He stared directly at Kraus.
A faint red shimmer flashed in his pupils.
“We need the thing in your hands.”
The woman beside him didn't speak, but she clearly frowned. It was obvious she hadn't expected him to be so blunt.
The atmosphere in the meeting room tensed instantly.
Conrad leaned against the wall, his body unconsciously shifting forward an inch. Raymond flipped a page in his notebook as if recording something, but his gaze didn't fall on the paper.
Faced with the Ascension Society's aggression, Kraus showed no reaction at all.
He picked up his tea and took a sip.
Then he turned to Agnes.
“And you?”
Agnes sat there, unhurried.
Her voice wasn't loud, and her tone was steady—much like when Lu Yuan had seen her underground. It was businesslike, devoid of unnecessary emotion.
“The Church hopes the Nightwatchers can share the item in their possession.”
She paused.
“Naturally, the Church will provide corresponding compensation. The specific terms can be proposed by Vice Director Kraus.”
Kraus set his cup back on the table and looked at the Ascension Society.
“And... on what grounds?”
His tone was kind, even carrying a hint of a smile.
“Furthermore, I have yet to verify the paperwork for the Ascension Society's presence in Bronze City.”
He glanced at the Count.
“Since the Lord Count is present, why not bring it out?”
Red light flashed in the Ascension Society man's eyes, but no anger showed on his face.
“The Ascension Society is not staying in Bronze City long-term. Since the Count has arrived, the paperwork will naturally be completed later.”
He spoke without any reservations.
“Moreover, according to the latest handwritten decree we received, the Ascension Society has the right to handle any existence judged to be a pollutant or a potential pollutant.”
Kraus set down his tea.
The kindness on his face didn't fade in the slightest.
“So, where is the evidence?”
The red light in the man's pupils flashed again.
His lips moved, but he said nothing more.
He didn't produce the handwritten decree.
Or rather, he couldn't produce it at all.
Kraus stopped looking at the Ascension Society and turned back to Agnes.
“I will seriously consider the Church's proposal.”
His tone suddenly became more formal.
“Next time, you may invite your Bishop to come in person.”
He picked up his tea and took another sip.
“We shall discuss the details then.”
Agnes nodded, saying nothing more.
The man from the Ascension Society finally couldn't hold it together.
The gloom on his face was impossible to hide.
“Kraus.”
His voice was very low.
“What do you mean by this?”
Kraus ignored the statement entirely.
He turned his gaze toward the Count, his tone returning to its usual mildness.
“Lord Count, do you have any other instructions?”
The Count stood up. It was clear that the Ascension Society's promise to "complete the paperwork later" was a blatant sign of disrespect toward him.
No emotion could be seen on the Count's face, but his cane struck the floor with a crisp sound.
“Meeting adjourned.”
His gaze swept over the two from the Ascension Society.
“Ascension Society, you are coming with me.”
His tone brooked no refusal.
The silver cane glinted under the light. The Count’s attendant had already moved to the door ahead of him and pulled it open, his smile unchanging.
The man from the Ascension Society didn't look at Kraus again.
However, as he stood up, he cast a glance toward Kraus.
“There will be evidence.”
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard it.
The woman stood up before him. Her movements were crisp, and her chair made no sound.
The two of them followed the Count out, one after the other.
The sound of footsteps faded down the hallway.
The door closed.
Half the people in the meeting room were gone.
Remaining were the five Nightwatchers—Kraus, Hoguer, Lu Yuan, Conrad, and Raymond—along with Agnes and the two monks from the Church, plus Calvin and Selena from the Polymath Tower.
The atmosphere relaxed considerably; it was time to talk about real business.
Kraus set down his teacup and looked at Calvin.
“Since the Church is also here.”
His tone was much more direct.
“How is the progress on the Polymath Tower's harvesting plan?”
Calvin took several folded papers from his robe.
He unfolded them—three copies in total—and pushed one each toward Kraus and Agnes.
He kept one for himself.
“The plan is set for tomorrow night.”
His tone had changed as well. It was no longer the cautious wariness he had shown toward the Count.
“But the situation has changed.”
He tapped a certain spot on the paper with his index finger.
“All personnel participating in the harvesting must be below rank 3.”
Kraus’s brow furrowed. This was clearly different from the previous arrangement, and the Sanity of a rank 3 versus a rank 2 was worlds apart.
This caused the original plan to fall into disarray instantly.
“Why?”
“The resonance threshold of the device has an upper limit. If transcendents above rank 3 enter the harvesting area, their mental fluctuations might cause the channel to fluctuate.”
Calvin frowned.
His monocle glinted under the light, and his voice dropped.
“The other end of the channel is the Sea of Knowledge. If fluctuations occur, it might attract things from the deep.”
When those words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent for about two seconds.
Agnes’s expression didn't change, but the two monks behind her exchanged a very brief glance.
Kraus didn't ask what was in the deep.
There was no need to ask.
Everyone present knew that the Sea of Knowledge was not a safe place.
“It is precisely because of this restriction that the plan originally set for tonight had to be postponed until tomorrow night.”
Calvin turned the contents of the paper toward Kraus.
“This gives you time to prepare. The diagrams mark the positioning for the Nightwatchers and the Church, as well as the detailed flow of this mission. You can review the specifics yourselves after the meeting.”
Kraus looked down at the diagrams but didn't examine them closely on the spot. Instead, he folded them and tucked them into his inner pocket.
Agnes also tucked her copy into her sleeve.
Calvin sat up straight.
He was silent for a while before finally speaking one last time.
“I hope this mission can be completed successfully.”
His voice was lower than before.
“This isn't just about allegiances or the imperial center's orders.”
He removed his monocle and wiped the lens with the corner of his robe.
“Enough people have already been sacrificed for this plan.”
He placed the monocle back on the bridge of his nose.
“If it fails, everything will have been for nothing.”
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