The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Whether it's traveling by day, using the barrier at night, or the Wings of Moonlight, they can all be used at will.

　Unfortunately, the only vehicles and weapons that "Fairy Tale Animal? Little Rabbit" can record and summon are those that are confirmed to exist.

　Before being summoned by the Moon Goddess (Divine Armament), this "Moon God Chariot" was "non-existent".

　Otherwise, it would be possible to bypass the [Moon God (Divine Armament)] and summon the "Moon God's Chariot"!

　Of course, one shouldn't be too greedy.

　After confirming the results of the experiment, Dak returned to the cafeteria with great pleasure and continued his meal.

　The atmosphere in the cafeteria was a little eerie, but the students seemed to be enjoying it.

　Dark looked at the "Cosmic Brain Beast" surrounded by the crowd, thinking that by now, he had probably harvested all the leeks he could throughout the day.

　"After absorbing this tonight, I'll gain another wave of mental power." "If we return safely from this mission, the harvested crops should have regrowed, and then we can harvest another batch!"

　Good morning, darling! The extra chapter promise has been successfully fulfilled. [As of midnight, the monthly ticket bounty is 5.77 chapters, and the blade bounty is 2.86, rounded up to a total of 9 chapters!!]

　(A mere 9 chapters and 1.8 words are simply not enough to write a good story!)

Chapter 922 Tell me your wish, and I'll fulfill it (12k bonus chapter, please vote for me)

　After sitting down at the table again, Dak finally had the chance to chat with the new maids about everyday matters.

　That being said, after only a few words, Dak began to inquire about the Duke's recent plans and arrangements.

　The kingdom's situation is turbulent and unpredictable, and Arvit, being at the center of politics, is also under immense pressure.

　Now that both Ollie and Trina have been transferred to St. Marian Academy, she has lost two people by her side, which will inevitably make things difficult for her.

　Fortunately, the existence of "Netherworld Fire" has cultivated many talents like Angrey in the maid corps, which may make up for some of the losses.

　But while the positions of Trina and Chris can be filled, the position of Ollie is impossible to fill no matter what.

　Although she acted as a full-time chef when Dak was at home, she also served as Arvit's personal secretary.

　Now that she's been transferred here, Janice from the "Pisces Palace" can only temporarily fill in. But Janice also has her own diplomatic work to do, so she often finds it difficult to manage both.

　"Netherworld Fire" cultivates combat talents, but paperwork requires professionals to handle it.

　Auli said, "Recently, the Holy Church has temporarily ceased its activities, but in reality, it has only shifted from the open to the covert. Their focus seems to have shifted away from the capital. Moreover, as far as I know, they have increased their manpower in the Mountain of Gods. So, when we go to the Mountain of Gods this time, we may encounter the core members of the Holy Church."

　Dak picked up his knife and slowly cut the steak on his plate, saying in a low voice, "It might not be a bad thing. We're now cooperating with the Holy Mystic Academy. If they also want to investigate the Mountain of the Gods, it might even be helpful to our operations."

　Chris said, "When I was investigating the Mountain of Gods, I had a feeling that the Holy Church had a clear purpose. It seems that they finally made a breakthrough after we returned. Or perhaps, something happened on the Mountain of Gods that we didn't notice during this time. In any case, it's best to be cautious."

　Trina said, "If the young master's information is correct, and the soul of the God of War is sleeping within that little saintess, then the Holy Church's objective is quite clear."

　Dark shook his head: "That's just my guess, after all, and can't be discussed as a certainty. But this time, our only purpose in going to the Mountain of the Gods is to rescue people. So, whatever the reason for the Holy Church's actions, it won't conflict with our objective. We have a basis for cooperation."

　Chris nodded and said, "Indeed."

　Auli said, "Cooperation is the only way to achieve a win-win situation. Before we achieve our goal, we should try not to make enemies. Besides the Holy Church, there should also be the Northern Duke and the royal secret agents there, as well as a group of moon elves. We conducted a special investigation before we came. The royal secret agent is directly under the king. We can cooperate on the surface, but we must be especially careful in reality."

　Dark asked curiously, "How so?"

　"The King's recent actions have become increasingly aggressive, and we must be on guard," said Olivia.

　Dark's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What has he been up to lately?" Auli slowly replied, "He's been trying to reshuffle the council members. Two councilors have already disappeared forever, and three have resigned voluntarily. Council positions aren't inherited; once someone resigns or dies, a vacancy is created. This time, five positions have become vacant in a short period, causing a complete uproar throughout the kingdom. Not only are the forces supported by the king vying for council positions, but countless nobles who see an opportunity also want to use it to rise to power."

　"Wait a minute!" Darke frowned. "Why isn't such a sensational event reported in the newspapers?"

　Ollie rolled her eyes and said, "They wouldn't dare."

　The water is too deep; some people want to take the opportunity to rise to the surface, while others avoid it at all costs, fearing that they might get into trouble.

　The newspaper, The Great Sage Daily, has always been known for its self-preservation, so Yuan would naturally not easily get involved in this matter.

　But it's strange that the Daily Joker didn't report it either.

　Clearly, touching this spot lightly could be life-threatening.

　However, as the legislative elections begin, newspapers will be "commissioned to report" on them, and at that point, they will have no choice but to get involved.

　Darke understood: "The kingdom's parliamentary election system is divided into three parts: commoners, nobles, and parliament. After passing, one must undergo holy baptism. To become a member of parliament, one must pass all four parts, which is indeed a major event that will affect the entire kingdom. What's more, this time there are five members being elected at once. The greater the opportunity, the more people will be eyeing it. Everyone who sees the opportunity will go crazy. I just don't know when the election will officially begin."

　Ollie shook her head and said, "Because this election is so special, we can't set a specific time yet. But those who want to run for councilor can't wait until the time is set; many have already taken action in secret and started campaigning in advance."

　Dark thought for a moment, then asked with slight doubt, "What about the Heroes' Assembly?" Aure's expression turned slightly grave: "That's the most worrying point. The Heroes' Assembly is a major event, and if it's held at the same time as the council elections, then the entire kingdom will really be in chaos."

　Dark thought about the scene and couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He rubbed his forehead and said, "Never mind that for now, let's focus on the present. Let's talk about the other forces under the gods."

　Auli nodded and said, "Besides the royal family's covert operations, the power of the Northern Dukes should not be underestimated. Moreover, they are essentially local natives, giving them a huge advantage."

　Dark asked, "Is there a chance to become friends?"

　Ollie glanced at Chris and said, "Based on the information Chris has given us, at least they won't become our enemies."

　Chris said, "Yes, they were relatively friendly towards us. Of course, there's always a knife hidden behind a smile."

　Dark said, "It seems there's no chance."

　Chris said, “The Northern Duke’s territory borders the Mountain of the Gods and has always attempted to develop it. However, they have been cautious and focused on maintaining the status quo. Although we had some exchanges with them when we were stationed at the foot of the mountain, they actually do not approve of our exploration into the mountains. What they are worried about is that the dangers in the mountains might spill over and affect the Duke’s territory.”

　Dark nodded and said, "That makes sense." Chris said, "So we can't count on them." Dark asked, "What about the elves?"

　Chris said, "The elves are hostile towards us and don't even want to make contact. It's hard to ascertain their stance. But personally, I think that if they also want something from the Mountain of the Gods or the Heavenly Court, then cooperation is possible."

　Dark frowned in thought, and after a moment said, "Given the elves' aversion to half-elves, it's indeed not good for us to have too much contact with them. At present, it seems that the only one we can cooperate with is the Holy Church. Things are truly unpredictable."

　Unfortunately, two of their members were half-elves; they were lucky if they didn't become enemies with the elves.

　“That’s basically it,” Chris said. “As for the specific situation, we’ll have to wait until we get to the Mountain of the Gods to see for ourselves.”

　Dark sighed softly, "It seems fate has been cruel."

　Seeing the worry on his face, Trina said, "Don't worry, young master. We will protect you no matter what."

　Dark: "Hmm."

　After dinner, Dark prepared to return to his dormitory as soon as possible. Moreover, he hadn't yet informed the magical elves of his plan to leave immediately the next day; there was a mountain of things to prepare.

　But as soon as he put down his knife and fork, someone who had been watching him for a while appeared in his field of vision.

　Once, twice, three times...

　As Dark watched the figure that seemed to be passing through his field of vision, his previously somber mood suddenly lightened, and he couldn't help but smile.

　"What's wrong, young master?" Ollie asked, her observations keen.

　Dark said softly, "It's nothing, I just remembered there's something I haven't done yet." As the maids looked puzzled, Dark waved his hand and said, "You can all go back now and prepare everything. We'll meet again tomorrow."

　"Okay, Master."

　"Good night, young master."

　"Then let's go first."

　"See you tomorrow."

　The maids brought out the food trays and then got up to leave.

　After they left the cafeteria, the figure that had been appearing frequently finally came over and sat down opposite Dak.

　Dark looked up at her: "Good evening, Emma."

　“Good evening, Dark,” Emma Metty paused, then said, “I’ve done what I promised you.”

　Dark said, "I know that, and I will keep my promise. But there are some things I want to know right now."

　Emma frowned and asked, "What is it?"

　Dark said, "I know Audrey Joan rid herself of her 'greed' last night... but what has she done since? For example, when reading, is she still able to concentrate, or has she lost her thirst for knowledge and become unable to focus on the book?"

　Emma looked at him, and after a long pause, said, "After that, we went back to the Forest Café to continue our book club. In fact, everyone, including myself, was curious about Audrey Jeanne's condition. But she didn't show any different behavior than before. Even though 'Greed' had indeed been taken away, she was still able to focus on her books and absorb all kinds of knowledge very effectively. She even had a big argument with some of the senior students. To be honest, last night I almost thought your magical spirit, that so-called mind-trade, was a complete scam."

　"Is that so?" Dark pondered for a moment, then said, "Do you think she filled the void left by losing her 'Greed' through reason and willpower, or... did a new 'Greed' arise within her?"

　Emma countered, "Didn't your magical spirits say they wouldn't regenerate for another week?"

　Dark shook his head and said, "A week is just a general statement. In reality, it varies from person to person. But for most people, it would probably take more than a week to rebuild the lost spirit. So a week is just the beginning. Some people may never get back an emotion they've lost."

　Emma frowned, surprised. "Isn't this a very dangerous deal?"

　Dark stared at her and said, "But this is the devil's deal!" Emma: "This..."

　Dark said slowly, "You have to give up something to gain something. Nothing is without risk. Of course, my magical spirit can easily reduce that risk to zero. You know, if you can take it out, you can put it in."

　Emma's brows relaxed upon hearing this, and she murmured to herself, "I knew he wouldn't do that."

　Dark said, "So, did you see Audrey Joan of Arc during the day today?"

　Emma nodded and said, "We stayed up all night and went to sleep in the morning, but when I woke up in the afternoon and went to the library, I ran into Audrey Joan of Arc, who was also on her way to the library."

　Dark asked, "And then?"

　Emma sighed and said, "Everything's the same as always. She spent the entire afternoon in the library. But I've noticed that her behavior has changed somewhat since she lost 'Greed.'"

　Dak asked with interest, "How so?"

　Emma said, "She's not as persistent in her search for a book as she used to be. Before, if she wanted a book, she would keep looking until she found it. But today, she'll stop halfway through, or get distracted by other books. This seemingly insignificant change is probably the only sign that she's lost her 'greed.'"

　Dark nodded, sighing, "So it seems she's filling the void left by losing 'greed' entirely with reason and willpower. How terrifying."

　Emma somewhat agreed, saying, "To become the only newly appointed 'Saintess' in the Holy Church in over a decade, she is indeed extraordinary."

　Dark felt he had found the answer, and he immediately stood up and said, "Soon you will also become extraordinary."

　The "Spirit of the Moon" drove back to the Fantastic Beasts Society.

　"Fairy Tale Animal? Little Rabbit" has returned to the side of "Cosmic Brain Monster".

　Dark led Emma toward the back of the castle.

　Since he had promised Emma, ​​he would naturally bring her into the "Hidden Serpent." In fact, Professor Sylph and the others were also very satisfied with her and had long had the idea of ​​bringing her into the "Hidden Serpent."

　Emma was just too clever, and she was also very wary of outsiders. Many of the setups made to lure them into the "Hidden Serpent" were circumvented by her.

　She managed to dodge a perfectly good opportunity in her own clever ways.

　It is because of all these factors that Dark has only now led her into the "Hidden Serpent".

　The moon is bright and the stars are few tonight, but the area behind the castle remains eerie.

　After Emma followed Dark to the castle, she subconsciously became more vigilant.

　Of course, Dark isn't the kind of person who would take a young girl to a secluded, dark place for... well, you know.

　After confirming that no one was around, he took out an "identity card" that he had prepared beforehand and handed it to Emma.

　Emma took the "identity card" and looked at it, then asked疑惑地问道, "This is the identity card of 'The Hidden Serpent,'" Dark said.

　"Ha," Emma suddenly frowned. "That's it," Dark said matter-of-factly.

　Emma asked疑惑地问道：“Isn’t there anything else, like some kind of test?”

　Dark said calmly, "Haven't you already passed the test?"

　Emma asked, "What about the people in 'The Hidden Serpent,' those who are hiding behind the scenes or have already joined 'The Hidden Serpent'?"

　Dark rolled his eyes and said, "Why bother with all that?" Emma said, "But you said you were going to tell me about the 'Hidden Serpent'!"

　Dark said, "The reason you want to know about the 'Hidden Serpent' is because you want to join it. Now that you've reached the end, why bother about the process?"

　Emma was momentarily speechless, and after a long pause, she said, "I want the process too! What kind of organization is 'The Hidden Serpent'? Who's behind it all? What obligations will I have after joining 'The Hidden Serpent'? And what can I get in return? How can I get more of these things? I definitely want to know all of this!"

　Dark shook his head and said, "There's no time." Emma frowned again and asked, "What do you mean?"

　Dark said, "Starting tomorrow, I need to take leave from school. I'll tell you what you want to know when I return, okay?"

　Emma paused, then asked, "Where are you going?"

　Dark said, “There are some things to do. Anyway, once you activate and authenticate this ‘identity card,’ you will be a member of the ‘Hidden Serpent.’ You will receive the blessing of the ‘Hidden Serpent,’ gaining what you desire: a more agile mind and a more powerful memory. Your comprehension and insight will also increase to some extent. In addition…”

　Emma: "Hmm"

　Dark said, "Don't worry, there are no side effects. Even if you are expelled from the 'Hidden Serpent,' they will only take back what you have gained." Emma looked down at the "identity card" in her hand, bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted her teeth and chose to believe Dark.

　She values ​​her abilities highly, especially those related to her intellect.

　But ever since a few people from the second year joined "The Hidden Serpent," she has found that she has not only lost her advantage, but is also falling behind step by step.

　How could she possibly accept this?

　But after obtaining this "identity card," she fell into another conflicting psychological state—should she really rely on such external forces?