The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

George pondered for a moment.

He has indeed made progress. For example, he just used the remaining "Reason" card to analyze the Viscount's "Analysis of the Phototaxis of the World's Religions." Also, the last book can be analyzed by a "Reason" card that will be cooled down tonight.

[An Analysis of the Phototaxis of Various World Religions]

[Sexual attributes: candle, mirror, books]

Completed in 1253, the book was dictated by Robert Grosseteste, who died with regret, hence its existence is little known.

By analyzing "The Distinction of Phototaxis," he not only gained access to cards but also understood the essence of the third stage of the Veilbreaker, "Thirst," though this seemed of little help in the face of the current disaster.

As for the list of books left by the Viscount and the part about opening the tower, it is even more inconvenient to say.

"I'm still doing my best," George said honestly.

"This afternoon I'll try to produce a batch of medicine to temporarily alleviate the condition of those critically ill patients. If all goes well, I should be able to find a more definitive solution tonight."

Something in his tone made both the inspector and Bates breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"Very good." Douglas nodded. "I'll go out again and try to track down the monster—let me know immediately if you need any help."

"I will, Inspector," George replied.

"I'll assist the inspector." Bates stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "George, you can stay. You're the key to breaking this deadlock for us."

The three exchanged a glance, all understanding that the time ahead would be crucial in their race against time.

The inspector and Bates quickly left the alchemy room, their footsteps fading into the distance down the corridor.

George then focused his mind, looking at the newly acquired cards and contemplating how to use them.

Grossetters, drawing upon the wisdom of past sages, offers a systematic understanding of the central role of "radiance" and analyzes the existence of the four luminaries in various contemporary religions, both extinct and surviving. At the end of the book, he casually recounts numerous anecdotes, including Roman sun worship and the subsequent divisions among the various sects of the Church of the Holy Light.

The author identifies the "Radiant Trinity" as one of the primal forces that created this world, thus giving the worship of light significant theocratic importance. However, he also points out that the "man in the light and shadow" possesses a "completely different essence," distinct from the "blazing sun," the "crescent moon," and the "winged eyes."

"The divine radiance is the center of the world. He originally had three aspects, but after a great sacrifice, He became four. The sacrifice came from a Caesar who willingly received the stigmata, after which all hosts ascended to the divine throne."

This book provides more knowledge than you might imagine.

First, there's a formula for something similar to pigment; the image on the card is of a bright white substance stored in a black box.

【Yaosu】

[Sexual characteristics: Candle, Recipe]

A pure color that transcends the senses, still visible in complete darkness.

Then there's the secret card, which depicts this ray of light.

【Radiant Praise】

[Sexual Characteristics: Candle 6, Secret Transmission]

"The Holy Trinity exists in radiance, the love that drives the sun and the stars." — Dante said.

There is still one ritual card.

【Burning Fire Ceremony】

[Sexual aspects: candle, mirror, ritual]

This ritual requires offering something imbued with spirituality or other special power to light and fire in exchange for the help of the light. "Light something, receive something in return"—fairness exists even beneath the surface of the world.

George stared at the cards in thought.

Anyway, I'll be able to finish analyzing the Viscount's book list tonight, so should I go to the tower to take a look before that?

A moment later, he left the card table, intending to first go to Thomas to get some materials to make a medicine to control the epidemic before making any further plans.

Fortunately, the Alchemy Panorama has a wide range of recipes to choose from, otherwise he might not have been able to stall until night.

-----------------

Meanwhile, in a secluded inn in Yorkshire, inside a second-floor window with thick velvet curtains.

Although the sun is shining brightly outside, the room is dimly lit, and the flickering candlelight casts long, distorted shadows on the walls.

A dark-haired woman was kneeling in front of a makeshift altar in the center of the room.

A slightly curved metal rod was inserted in the center of the altar, and a bronze incense burner the size of a palm hung from a chain hanging from the top of the rod.

On the lid of the incense burner, wisps of strange grayish-white smoke drifted out from several tiny pores, twisting into various wondrous shapes under the candlelight.

The woman clasped her hands together in front of her, her lips moving silently as she recited a continuous string of syllables with a strange rhythm.

Her eyes were fixed on the wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner.

The smoke rose in an unusually steady manner, then began to swirl and condense about half a foot above the furnace opening.

It seemed to be responding to her whispers, and also to some more distant call.

As time passed, the smoke swirled and became increasingly dense, creating a series of strange sights in the air.

After an unknown period of time, the woman's recitation gradually faded and eventually stopped.

She stared at the pattern of smoke in front of her, her lips pressed tightly together, her thin face displaying the obstinate, inquisitive look of a scholar.

"Looks like I need to speed things up," she muttered to herself.

The woman's voice wasn't pleasant, but if someone else heard it, it would probably be easy to believe.

She rose from her kneeling position and gently waved her hand to disperse the remaining smoke.

She then quickly dismantled the altar, carefully wrapping the small bronze incense burner in a dark velvet cloth and putting it into her leather bag.

A moment later, a woman carrying her own luggage bag walked out of the hotel.

She wore a sleek, all-black turtleneck dress, along with gloves and a soft hat.

Her thin lips hinted at her decisive character, while the light in her eyes told those who met her gaze that she was a woman intelligent enough not to be swayed by others.

If this outfit were worn by a man, he would look like a respectable civil servant; but from a woman's perspective, she would look like she's dressed to attend an unexpected funeral.

An antique-style four-wheeled carriage was already waiting in front of the inn. The carriage was painted black, and the curtains were tightly closed, so the interior could not be seen.

The badge on the side of the car door is particularly clear—it is an ornate emblem in the shape of a shield, with a delicate inverted triangle in the center containing a grille.

The lady quickly boarded the carriage, and the door closed silently behind her.

Without needing to give any instructions, the driver lightly flicked his whip, and the horses began to move, the carriage quickly leaving the inn with minimal noise.

Although the carriage moved quietly and quickly, passersby near the inn still had much to say about it and the coat of arms on it.

"Hey, did you see that?" a pedestrian whispered to his companion. "Isn't that coat of arms from Highgarden? Why would someone from Highgarden come to a small place like ours?"

"Who knows?" His companion pulled his hat down low and hurried past. "What do the Highgarden magistrates' affairs have to do with us..."