Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

This long-lost flavor seemed to unlock something that had been frozen for a long time.

Favia was suddenly puzzled by one thing: how did she get back?

Is it true that they'll come back as soon as they die? Or is there some other reason?

If Abi was the reason I went to the 17th century, then was my return also due to her?

Thinking of this, Favia tilted the glass in her hand slightly, looked through the glass at Leonardo da Vinci, and asked:

"Da Vinci, did you only discover me?"

“No, but judging from what you’re saying, could it be that you actually have someone else by your side?” Da Vinci paused for a moment, then joked, “She’s mysteriously disappeared for three years. If that’s the case, she might cry. She’s been guarding your shipyard for the past few years and even personally crafting the parts that I designed. Even for a fantasy species, that’s quite a lot of work.”

"...I see."

Favia wiped his mouth and placed the coffee cup on the table beside him.

He learned from Leonardo da Vinci's words that three years had passed since the day of that theological debate, and it was now 1518.

Moreover, when he was rescued by Leonardo da Vinci, he was alone; Abby was nowhere to be seen...

As she pondered, Favia, who had just stood up, suddenly noticed the two-thirds of the silver key hanging around her neck, swaying back and forth as if it had never left.

Favia is certain that Abby clearly inserted it into her forehead, and that she did not have it in the Château d'If.

Therefore, he couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"What on earth is this..."

“Oh, by the way, where have you been all these years? You’ve disappeared without a trace, neither alive nor dead, not even a whisper of news. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought you went overseas to explore the new world.” Da Vinci looked puzzled. “And before I found you on the beach, I heard from the merchant ships that came to the city that the place where you disappeared, Montecristo Island, sank. But luckily, the people on the island knew about it beforehand, so they were all safe.”

Indeed, Montecristo Island did sink once, and then resurfaced later to become the island of Monte Cristo.

However, Favia did not answer Leonardo da Vinci's question truthfully, but instead smiled and said while holding the broken silver key to her chest:

"Going overseas is not out of the question if we want to improve it."

He said this because he vaguely sensed a clue from the broken silver key—

Under the watchful gaze of the Stars, we cross the boundless sea.

"So you built ships for this purpose in the first place, didn't you?"

"In the past, I just did some simple work, but now it's all done without much effort."

“That’s true.” Da Vinci nodded, looking somewhat pleased for some reason. “It’s already been completed by Bavan Shi and is in Spain now. How about we go there in a few days after you’ve had some rest?”

"Oh? That's not necessarily a bad thing..." Favia looked at Leonardo da Vinci, who seemed eager for him to leave, and asked thoughtfully, "Why do I feel like you're hoping I'll get away? Am I that bad that you hate me?"

"Ahem, mainly it's because I'm getting old, and my health isn't what it used to be. I know it would be uncomfortable for me to stay here with you. Don't worry, I'll contact Bavan Shi right away and tell her to come quickly. That way, you can go to sea together and maybe even discover some new continents and make a name for yourselves in history..."

Favia merely nodded slightly at Leonardo da Vinci's performance, then raised his hand, pointed to the coffee cup, and then to his sleeve.

In silence, Leonardo da Vinci stared blankly at Favia's fingers, not understanding what they meant.

“It’s wet,” Favia said. “Where’s your sleeve?”

It was only at this moment that Leonardo da Vinci noticed this, and after he nonchalantly shook his head to indicate that there was no problem.

Favia gazed at Leonardo da Vinci before him and suddenly said:

"Given your personality, you shouldn't have such a small accident. Tell me, is there something you're hiding from me?"

For a moment, Leonardo da Vinci froze on the spot.

He instinctively opened his mouth to speak, but dared not utter a word.

Da Vinci feared that his words would cause Favia to do something irrational, but at the same time, he also blamed himself for his actions, which led to Favia discovering that he had been hiding something.

After a long while, Leonardo da Vinci sighed and then said:

"Paracelsus, he was captured by the Clock Tower a month ago."

.......

In 1518, a little earlier, at the Clock Tower in England, dusk was falling, gradually turning blood red.

The bells of the clock tower rang out from the square.

Beneath the clock tower, light lingers in the darkness.

They resembled a dazzling, dancing mass, or fireworks sparkling with light.

However, those lights were essentially close to an explosion in principle. Because multiple channels were brought together, with subtle differences in the magic injected into them, the channels repelled each other and emitted light.

This is one of the several confluence points in the middle layer of Albion's Grand Magic Circuit.

This place resembles the ocean and is also the temporary venue for the current Grand Council. Due to an accident a few years ago, the various monarchs moved the meeting location elsewhere.

At this moment, another Grand Meeting was about to conclude, but the air there was still filled with a tense silence.

"Well, El-Melloi, this matter can't be delayed any longer. It has already touched the very foundation of the Clock Tower. But since they are your people, that's why we've convened this meeting to discuss it with you."

When questioned by the opposing forces, the blonde girl did not answer immediately, but instead squinted and rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

In fact, if the three noble families were truly making demands solely for their own selfish desires, she could have easily refused.

Although the clock tower’s dark side is a terrifying melting pot of intrigue, what is being said now is a pure demand that is not even mixed with hatred and anger.

The answer is simple: as magic, it should be kept secret.

Because one of the three principles that the Clock Tower has upheld since its inception is that "mystery should be kept secret," there is a rule that magicians, whether or not they belong to the association, will be punished by the association if they reveal secrets to ordinary people.

This is both to protect magic, something that should have disappeared, and to protect the interests of magicians themselves.

After all, the power that was originally intended for one person is now divided into two for two people to use. The more people who can use it, the less power is allocated. This is the principle behind the end of the Age of Gods, which has affected both the East and the West.

In the Western Age of Gods, magicians established a connection with the Root by making a pact with a deity close to the Root.

Eastern magicians of the Age of Gods created a colossal Mystic Code that merged with the Earth, thereby establishing the laws of the continental magic system. This Mystic Code is called the Thought Compass.

While the Eastern philosophy system is based on the theory of 'man-made roots,' it doesn't essentially mean it's already close to the root. Rather, it aims to bring the philosophy system's precision to the level of the root—a process akin to using inadequate parts to repair a plate that was broken long ago...

Like the West, the East can only maintain its current level of precision as times change.

Lord El-Melloi, silent, was weighing the pros and cons, but this was clearly undisputed. After all, it was obviously unreliable to defy the entire Clock Tower just for the sake of a single magician, not to mention—

The reason he invited this person to join El-Melloi was because of Favia, whose bloodline was even purer than his own. However, he mysteriously disappeared for some reason, which was a real pity. If he had known this would happen, he should have forced him to stay and produce offspring with pure bloodlines.

"...What a pity."

The whispers of the monarch girl drifted among the coral-shaped objects in the spirit tomb.

Her gaze shifted to the front of the spirit tomb, a passageway resembling a palace in the sea, which would likely change shape further ahead. As the most important secret treasure upon which the bell tower stood, the spirit tomb would sometimes be beautiful, sometimes terrifying, to confuse intruders.

In fact, this is something that requires absolutely no hesitation. Even if that person were still alive, there is no reason to jeopardize the future of the entire family for him.

Despite thinking this way, she was surprised to find herself hesitant.

She only had a few seconds to think, and her reaction was extremely subtle—holding her breath with barely any change in intensity. Basically, anyone who didn't know her well would not notice.

Slowly, Lord El-Melloi seemed to hear a low, muffled sound, which was probably the silent creaking of the balance in the room.

In terms of power, Paracelsus was insignificant in the clock tower.

He was abandoned by his family for helping ordinary people, and even though his family regarded him as the next leader, it was insignificant because, from the perspective of 'magic', he was still too young.

Moreover, in the complex power struggles within the clock tower, the words of someone without backing are of no value whatsoever.

Therefore, the monarch's words fell to the ground like fallen leaves.

"We agree to arrest Van Hohenheim Paracelsus, but first we must interrogate him to find out the reasons for his desperate publication of a series of academic books, including Archidoxen, whether he was in contact with secret societies outside the clock tower, and whether he was colluding with the royal family."

"Shouldn't it be enough to leave this matter to the Spirit Summoning Department for questioning after he dies?"

"Perhaps he has already taken measures to prevent his spirit from returning after death."

“…That’s true.”

"Since there's no doubt about it, then it's decided."

Thus, Van Hohenheim Paracelsus, who ignored repeated advice and claimed to be working for all people and for human society, leaked his writings under the guise of medical development, concealing all sorts of secrets that should have been kept hidden.

The clock tower issued an order—

Paracelsus was thoroughly investigated and interrogated.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

These were Paracelsus's first words when magicians, dressed in their special magical combat suits, arrived at his door late at night.

This caught the magicians somewhat off guard. Although they entered through the main gate properly, they were also on guard. After all, even the most mediocre magicians would not allow their territory to be left vulnerable and easily breached by anyone.

Paracelsus responded without panic, anxiety, or fear.

For the magician who went to make the arrest, he had encountered many people who pretended to be calm in order to launch a sneak attack, but this was the first time he had met someone who spoke calmly.

“I will never fight. If I resist, you will suffer. And that would be against my will.”

"Are you prepared to be arrested like this?"

When questioned by the arrested magician, he gave this answer.

Yes. That's settled then.

"Why? Giving up the fight won't do you any good."

Upon hearing this, Paracelsus let out a helpless sigh and looked away.

Seeing this, the magicians, who thought he was going to fight to the death, became on guard.

But Paracelsus simply put the book he was holding on the table.

“In my eyes, you are also lovely children. I cannot bear to hurt you.”

The magicians who came to arrest them couldn't help but exchange glances, each thinking to themselves.

There was no falsehood in his words; it was his true feeling, and there was no mistake about it.

However, it's hard to understand—no, perhaps it's understandable, but interpreting a magician this way is inappropriate, and the possibility is too small.

How could a magician be so naive, especially someone who has been through so much in the world and tasted the malice of conservatives and the powerful?

Rather than saying he naively believed in the goodness and beauty of humanity, it would be more accurate to say that he suffered from an incurable disease that made it impossible for him not to extend the greatest kindness to others.

But frankly, these speculations are of little use to the magicians who were sent by the Clock Tower to capture Paracelsus.

Although he is a genius among magicians, he is branded with "evil" by the Clock Tower itself, making him a target destined for capture.

But they also knew that although it was called a capture, they would actually die soon, and Paracelsus probably knew this too.

"When you all go home, please cherish the children. It doesn't matter whose children they are. They are the light I seek."

After saying this, Paracelsus calmly accepted his arrest and prepared himself for his impending death.

Afterwards, the magicians involved in the arrest were somewhat agitated.

While there are generally more pure-hearted magicians than average, very few are like Paracelsus.

Perhaps what bothers them isn't Paracelsus's purity, but rather that they aren't that kind of person.

After all, one can disdain greed, but one must have reverence for genuine morality.

226: You want me to join the church? (4k)

"Because he was arrested for including various mysteries in his works that should have been kept secret, causing a leak...?"

Favia, who learned the news from Leonardo da Vinci, did not show the excitement or anger that da Vinci had expected. The silver-haired youth simply nodded and then got up to silently watch the crowd outside the window.

The crowds moving through the streets of Rome, the Eternal City, are all people living in the present moment.

The flag, which has stood for so long, flutters in the spring sunshine above the church, making the vast, timeless blue sky seem full of life.

Favia had anticipated that Paracelsus would be captured by the Clock Tower and face death, as he had warned him beforehand, but it seemed to have no effect.

Moreover, from the perspective of the magic world, Paracelsus did indeed commit an irreparable 'sin,' so it seems only natural that he should be punished in this way.

"That's right, exactly. He actually did this openly in London. Honestly, he could have gone to France or Germany, but he had to do it right here in the Clock Tower's headquarters. Sigh..."

Favia could see Leonardo da Vinci's sorrow at being powerless to help with the Paracelsus affair; after all, Leonardo was very old and truly powerless.

He also understood why Leonardo da Vinci had been reluctant to speak about it before: he was afraid that if he planned to save Paracelsus because of this matter, something bad might happen. That was his concern.

“It’s not good to leave, after all, Paracelsus had foreseen this happening long ago, but it would be unlike him to back down because of this.”