What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

The carriage traveled along the mountain road. Leon glanced outside through the carriage window. On one side of the road was a mountain wall, while on the other was a simple fence. Beyond the fence lay a deep ravine. This barren mountainous region was riddled with ravines like this, as though it had been haphazardly plowed over once by an enormous plowshare.

If the carriage lost control, it would break through the fence and tumble to the bottom of the ravine. Fortunately, the road had been built fairly wide.

Saint Rosalia Prison was said to be at the end of this road.

“This should be your first time visiting Saint Rosalia Prison, correct?” A gentle voice came from across from him.

Leon turned his gaze back. Seated before him was the refined and courteous-looking Archbishop Kulik.

“Yes, I never expected you would personally come to pick me up. I’m truly overwhelmed, Your Excellency Archbishop.” Leon smiled and nodded.

Traveling from Southport County to Saint Rosalia Prison required crossing two counties and an archdiocese. Under normal circumstances, the journey would probably take four or five days.

Fortunately, Leon had traveled by water, and Johnny had even given him a ride while transporting goods to other territories. By relying on a Transcendent’s power to manipulate the currents and wind direction, Johnny’s ship sailed far faster than an ordinary fleet. Traveling day and night, it took Leon only a day and a half to reach the vicinity of East Winster County, where Saint Rosalia Prison was located.

After arriving, he had someone deliver a letter to Archbishop Kulik at Saint Rosalia Prison. Following the script they had prepared, he explained the purpose of his visit, and soon received Archbishop Kulik’s reply.

Archbishop Kulik’s enthusiasm exceeded Leon’s expectations. Not only had he sent a dedicated carriage to pick Leon up, but he had personally ridden in the carriage sent to receive him.

“After being subjected to an investigation, there aren’t many people willing to make a special trip to visit me these days.” Archbishop Kulik laughed self-deprecatingly, “Though I’ve certainly had much more free time than before.”

“To tell the truth, I was already prepared for you to politely decline me at first. After all…… an incident like that happened. I was even wondering whether you were still conducting research in this field.” Since Archbishop Kulik had brought it up himself, Leon naturally followed the topic.

If they were going to discuss Archbishop Kulik’s current circumstances, there was ultimately no avoiding the incident that had occurred in the Southeastern Archdiocese.

“You’ve heard about the Rose School, haven’t you?” Archbishop Kulik looked at Leon and asked.

“I’ve heard Bishop Weiss mention it before.” Leon nodded, “I also support the Rose School’s philosophy.”

Back then, it had been Weiss who introduced Archbishop Kulik to Leon at the gathering, so Kulik naturally understood that Leon and Weiss had known each other for quite some time.

“Yes, I’ve also heard her mention that. Weiss, she…… sigh.” When speaking of this junior and prized student of his, Archbishop Kulik could not help but sigh softly.

The overwhelming majority of people in the Church, including Archbishop Kulik, had basically concluded that Weiss had already been murdered by the Witch faction responsible for the terrorist attack.

“Our school regarded Moilai’s power as a subject of research after considering the matter from many different angles. As the greatest heresy standing in opposition to the Four Gods, Moilai genuinely possesses formidable transcendent power. Wherever there is light, there will be shadow. We believe that in researching the source of the gods’ power, research concerning Moilai is something that can never be avoided.

Even considering the threat that heretical power poses to the Church, there is still a need for us to know both ourselves and our enemy. And once we understand it and possess the ability to control it, there will be no need to fear it or regard it as taboo. We could even conquer it and make it serve our own purposes.

Just as Saint Rosalia of the Church of the Creator established this prison specifically for containing and researching heretics in the past, we hope her enlightened ideas can be inherited and continued in this era…… But unfortunately, the road has been fraught with hardships.”

Archbishop Kulik spoke with a pained expression. He desperately needed someone to whom he could pour out his grievances.

Although the members of the Rose School, Archbishop Kulik included, had ultimately escaped severe punishment over the incident involving Weiss, they had still endured considerable pressure. More than once, the factions within the College of Cardinals that opposed them had tried to make them bear part of the responsibility for it. Fortunately, in the end, the matter had been dropped to minimize the impact.

However, their school had still been subjected to restrictions within the Church because of it. Research proposals awaiting approval were rejected, while ongoing research was ordered to undergo review.

Quite a few people had been transferred to idle positions and sidelined. Even Archbishop Kulik himself had been removed from some of his duties, leaving him only with his position as supervisor of the prison——mainly because there were not many people willing to do this job.

The area under his supervision included several important prisoners, among them Lamia, formerly a Great Witch of the Witches’ Assembly.

Lamia was a Third-Tier Witch and extremely dangerous, but because of the terms of the deal the Church had made with her, the College of Cardinals had still instructed them to keep her cooperative as much as possible. Ultimately, the prison could not impose too many restrictions on her, lest it trigger her rebelliousness.

In other words, supervising Lamia was actually a troublesome job that made it easy to take the blame when something went wrong. To tell the truth, aside from scholars of the Rose School or intelligence personnel from the Tribunal, not many people saw much value in frequently interacting with Lamia.

“Then, as you are now…… are you still able to uphold this philosophy?” Leon asked tentatively.

“Of course. Someone must persist in doing what is right, even if he isn’t understood!” Archbishop Kulik looked resolute, “Saint Rosalia established this research institute in that ignorant era. Before she became a Saint, the trials she endured far surpassed anything we have faced!”

It seemed Archbishop Kulik truly was just as Weiss had described him, an extraordinarily devout and faithful believer in the school’s philosophy.

For Leon, this was undoubtedly a good thing.

“That is truly admirable.” Leon nodded, “Regarding the incident back then, I actually have some thoughts. The heretical faction taking such action against Bishop Weiss might have been a targeted strike against the Rose School, because they knew exactly what posed the greatest threat to them.”

“Thank you. If only those Cardinals of the Tribunal could think the same way.” Kulik smiled with relief, though there was also a trace of helplessness in his expression.

“Actually, regarding the clues I’ve uncovered recently…… I’ve also been wondering whether they might be connected to the Witches’ Assembly in Moiland.” Leon suddenly lowered his voice.

“Ah, you mean the heretical book you mentioned in your letter, the one seized from a ship belonging to an underworld organization?” At the mention of this matter, Archbishop Kulik’s expression grew somewhat more serious.

In the letter he had sent him, Leon had fabricated a story claiming that he had recently received intelligence at the port, tracked down a smuggling ship, and discovered all kinds of contraband aboard it, including a hidden batch of Magic Potions. In addition to those, there had also been some heretical items.

“Yes, this is it.” Leon carefully took the book out of the locked box he carried.

“Old Moiland script.” Archbishop Kulik immediately began deciphering the cover, “Is this 《Origins of Nemesis》?”

“You recognize these characters?” Leon asked.

“This script is closer to Ancient Ailander. I’ve studied it a little.” Archbishop Kulik explained.

“What does Nemesis refer to?” Leon casually asked.

“It is one of Moilai’s honorific titles in Moiland, just as the Ailanders once revered Moilai as the Earth Mother Goddess.” Archbishop Kulik explained to Leon, “Moiland has an intelligence and special operations organization called the Nemesis Agency, specifically responsible for conducting espionage and sabotage operations against the Empire.”

Leon also knew about this organization. He had previously extracted relevant intelligence from Ophelia, because Ophelia’s mentor, Arachne, served as a commander within the Nemesis Agency.

“The current doctrine of Moiland’s Abyssal Church regards the Four Gods’ sealing of Moilai beneath the earth as a sin, and believes that one day Moilai will return to the world and take revenge upon the Four Gods. That is the origin of this honorific title.” Archbishop Kulik extended a hand toward Leon, “May I take a look?”

Leon nodded and handed the book to Archbishop Kulik. Whether he could use this opportunity to meet Lamia depended on whether this thing could capture Archbishop Kulik’s interest.

Archbishop Kulik took it and flipped through several pages before murmuring thoughtfully: “This book appears to be a theological work from Moilai’s side. It uses an ancient language. This is a tradition among some old-school Witches——theological works are written in Ancient Ailander. Although it isn’t signed, it might have been written by a certain Great Witch.”

“I was also wondering whether the smuggling group possessing this sort of heretical item might have connections to the Witches’ Assembly. Perhaps you’ve heard about it, but there are actually rumors within the Tribunal that the Witches’ Assembly once established channels for smuggling Mana within the Empire.” Leon said.

“So that’s why you want to ask Lamia to confirm it?” Archbishop Kulik said.

“Of course, if you can give me a definite lead, perhaps there would be no need to go to that trouble.” Leon smiled. He could not make his objective of meeting Lamia appear too obvious.

“I don’t have that kind of ability. The grammar in this book is somewhat…… obscure. Without Lamia’s help, I’m not confident I could decipher it quickly, nor could I directly determine its origin.” Archbishop Kulik smiled bitterly.

Leon had already expected this. Weiss had a certain understanding of Archbishop Kulik’s proficiency in this field. There was sufficient justification for choosing this book as a reason to meet Lamia.

“I know this might not quite conform to regulations, but this is a rare lead, and I don’t want it to end here. If possible, I’d also like to determine whether anyone among the internal members of the Witches’ Assembly is involved in the Mana trade within the Empire. There are currently rumors that Arachne may be connected to this matter!” Leon said.

“Arachne……” Archbishop Kulik’s brows knitted tightly.

Judging by the Church’s current investigation, Arachne was highly likely to have been the mastermind behind the incident involving Weiss. In other words, she might have been Weiss’s murderer. How could Archbishop Kulik possibly not care about that?

Leon had to keep throwing out bait that would interest Archbishop Kulik before he had any chance of persuading him to bend the rules for him.

“My status is low, and I know the chances aren’t high. I came this time merely to see whether there might be some avenue available. At Saint Rosalia Prison, you are the only person I can contact at present, Your Excellency Archbishop. If you know of a way, I hope you can point me in the right direction. If this puts you in a difficult position, please tell me directly.” Leon said sincerely.