Pillar of Yita

However, after others consume alcohol, they might appear somewhat unclear-minded, yet after this person drinks, instead of remaining in a mysterious state, his eyes gradually become clear and rational.

”This answer might surprise you a bit,” Delan’s tone was quite normal as he continued, ”I suggest you prepare yourself mentally.”

”I’ll make my own judgment.”

”So, if I tell you it’s King of Sand Barbaltan, would you believe it?”

A faint gleam of heavy light flashed through Fang Hong’s eyes.

He instinctively did not believe it, of course.

Though nominally, that Lord Earl does indeed pledge allegiance to the King of Sand, but in this desert, who isn’t nominally loyal to the Royal House of Penelope? It’s nothing more than a joke. Yet, there might be such a possibility, after all, the Penelope Family once had political allies, and after three generations of cultivation, they are no longer isolated as they once were.

Perhaps this Lord Earl truly serves King of Sand Barbaltan, but one cannot be certain.

Shouldn’t Barbaltan’s subjects oppose the Slave Traders, the supporters of the slave trade, and the Blind Followers? And that Lord Earl allied with the Arcanists, who intervened in this smuggling case, allowing him to witness their actions during the purge against the Blind Followers’ believers.

Moreover, for those of them serving the Grand Princess, the attitude shown by the other party is certainly not befitting that of an ally. Fang Hong couldn’t help but shake his head; one couldn’t possibly say that both the Arcanists and the Lord Earl serve King of Sand Barbaltan, who is specifically against his eldest daughter, right?

Yet he suddenly froze—

Would the King of Sand and his eldest daughter stand on opposing sides? That sounds somewhat fantastical, not to mention the latter is the daughter of the former, and their stances are consistent. Especially on the point that the Grand Princess has always firmly stood on the Royal House of Penelope’s stance against those noble supporters of slave trade.

Moreover, just speaking of this event alone, it dates back to ten years ago, involving attacks by Wandering Alchemists and Blind Followers, where the victim was also the biological mother of the Princess. If the Arcanists’ involvement with the Blind Followers’ activities was indeed under the order of the King of Sand, then didn’t the motives of both align?

But wanting to deny Delan’s words, he couldn’t help but recall one incident.

Not long ago, during his investigation at the Tansnier Crafting Association, he found out that the Arcanists received their Hand Order granting them access to the Crystal Tower from the Stars and Moon Council. The Stars and Moon Council located to the north of Elpaxin is a transcendent organization above royal power much like the Artisan Association, but its transcendence isn’t out of disdain; it’s collaborative.

Previously, he instinctively thought the Stars and Moon Council was related to this matter, but thinking carefully, truly, the order from the Stars and Moon Council might not actually originate from Elpaxin. It might have another source, much like a Hand Order from the Artisan Association might not necessarily originate from Golande but potentially from Quistack—the Sand Capital.

Just like Quistack has an Artisan Association, the Stars and Moon Council also has a station there. Nonetheless, like Golande’s Artisan Association is essentially subject to the orders of the Colin Ishurian Royal Family, so naturally, the Stars and Moon Council of Quistack must accept arrangements from the Royal House of Penelope.

In the past, he completely overlooked this possibility, reasoning as previously stated, for he initially ruled out the King of Sand Barbaltan’s involvement.

But if this were true, it would all make sense, at least part of it would, otherwise, including the Stars and Moon Council of Elpaxin in this would not be believable to Fang Hong; he would never believe the influence of the Blind Followers could reach that far. If these Cultists could truly infiltrate even the headquarters of the Stars and Moon Council in Elpaxin, that would be a disaster no less severe than the calamity brought by the Dragon Witch.

Moreover, the Blind Followers’ plan seems much more formidable than the Dragon Worshippers.

Yet, there exists two possibilities: if the latter is reasonable, then the former becomes self-contradictory, and if the former is reasonable, it turns back on the latter.

Either way, there seems to be inherent contradictions, which is certainly puzzling to the extreme. Fang Hong couldn’t help but wonder, could it be that the Arcanists truly do not realize they serve the Grand Princess and instead believe they belong with the Blind Followers, thus resulting in their attack?

But that doesn’t explain all he had witnessed earlier, the silver square, the ability to seize Starlight, and what exactly that means. Why do the Arcanists want to eradicate the Blind Followers entirely; besides silencing them, he really couldn’t think of any other possibility.

And taking a step back, if the other party truly thought he was a member of the Blind Followers, why then differentiate between him and the Shield of Lufu while bringing them to this place? Just because they are Invokers?

Yet, Fang Hong considered for a moment, there might just be this possibility—as Invokers, according to the Stargate Declaration, the other party should turn over those who’ve had contact with the Cultists to Stargate Port. But even with this thought, there’s still numerous doubts, even if both the Arcanists and the Princess are investigating matters related to the Blind Followers, it seems that the two sides completely lack exchanging information.