Chapter 97

This represents the timeless covenant between the Eternal King of Albion and High Priest Imhotep. The power bestowed by Arthur remains in effect to this day.

Meanwhile, Shion took out a scroll encased in Lazurite.

This is the contract established when the Atlas Institute and the Island Council separated. This Papyrus Scroll was notarized under the watchful eye of the November Regent, Lord Twilight, recorded by the December Archon, Duke of Sighs, and finally sealed away by the Guardian of the Atlas Institute, Lady Elegy.

"Lady Elegy," her skin was dark, her hair was as white as bones, and her eyes were as bright as gold.

She protected many cities and was regarded as the mistress of the underworld and the guide of the underworld in Egyptian lands.

Her name before she ascended to the wasteland was Nitocris.

The sea fog that shrouded the Alchemy Bottle Bridge in Blanckug was blown away by the gale, and the tightly closed gate opened a crack amidst the scraping sound of metal.

"Please come in," Hebe's voice came from behind the door.

Agravain's expression grew even uglier.

The sea fog was not dispersed by the Power Ring and the scroll, but rather it dispersed on its own.

It seems the Island Council may have known of the visitors' arrival the moment they set foot on Blankog Island.

Agravain himself involuntarily beginning to consider measures against the Island Council.

Even when he needed something from others, Agravain had to be vigilant once he realized that there were factors that could potentially threaten Arthur's rule.

"Wait here," Agravain instructed Mostima, then walked with Violet through the heavy doors.

What comes into view are two towers standing side by side, one shaped like a castle tower and the other like a dome.

This wasn't Agravain's first time here, but it was Ziyuan's first visit.

Normally, less important visitors would be received on the first floor of that castle tower... but Agravain and Shion were clearly of high status.

They went straight into the actual lobby of the Silent Bookstore.

Agravain was usually very patient, but when he got here, his face had unconsciously become somewhat impatient and gloomy.

He looked forward to it, but that anticipation was accompanied by unease.

The heavy doors of the foyer opened to both sides.

Agravain, with Ziyuan following behind him, looking around.

The Knights of the Round Table stood in the spacious center of the foyer, surveying the surroundings with imposing grandeur before fixing their gaze on the person sitting on the sofa.

"You--"

Agravain's voice suddenly rose from a low pitch, piercing a sharp, broken tone.

His straight body staggered, and he stared at Hebe's face in disbelief.

"A great sage?!"

148 Did you miss me? Children

Oak Sage, Court Mage, Grand Druid, Magician of Flowers... these are all titles that Merlin Ambrose possesses, each representing a higher status and official position than the last.

In Albion, children may not recognize all the names of the Knights of the Round Table, but they will certainly know the love-hate entanglement between Merlin, Arthur, and Morgan.

Every Albion resident knows that without Merlin, this country would have ceased to exist hundreds of years ago.

However, before Hebe could respond, another surprised and shocked exclamation burst from Shion's chest.

Agravain turned around and glared angrily, only to see Ziyuan murmur something.

"High Priest Imhotep..."

Agravain paused, the girl before him almost identical to Merlin in his memory, but why would Shion from the Atlas Institute mistake her for Imhotep?

Is it because they look very similar?

Imhotep is a figure from the First History, thousands of years ago.

Merlin's activities date back no further than the Third History, at most a thousand years ago.

According to this algorithm, is Imhotep Merlin's ancestor? What a joke... what a joke!

This is absolutely unacceptable.

Agravain felt his mind was a complete mess, like a paste. At this point, he couldn't believe it—or rather, his thinking was incapable of comprehending history.

In this situation, he came to what he considered the "most reasonable" explanation.

"The Great Sage left trial grounds along many borders of Albion. It's highly likely he left behind his mark, achievements, and path," Agravain thought. "Like the current Speaker Alexandrina, she followed His Majesty's path, and thus, both her appearance and temperament gradually resembled His Majesty's..."

This is a law that apprentices have proven long ago: when there are those who are in a higher position on the same path, imitating their actions can help one climb the boundaries of that path more quickly. However, the price of doing so is that one will gradually become like those in a higher position.

Blanckug had been active long before the council was established. As a border region, who can guarantee that the great sage Merlin wouldn't leave a trial point here?

The first generation of members of the Island Council were direct descendants of the Atlas Institute, perhaps even descendants of Imhotep... maybe.

It is also possible that the great sage Merlin transferred his spirit in this way.

However, this matter must be reported to His Majesty without any delay!

Agravain lowered his head somewhat flusteredly. "You, no, you..."

He didn't want to hastily address Hebe as a sage, nor did he want to address her by her title, so he was somewhat incoherent for a moment.

Hebe simply smiled helplessly, "Please sit down, Agravain."

"Ah, oh..." Agravain, usually decisive and efficient, trembled as he managed to sit down on the sofa.

Before I could even settle in, I heard Hebe ask, "What did you just call me?"

"Great Sage," Agravain answered instinctively.

"Why not call me 'Court Mage'?" Hebe retorted. "At least I'll still hold the position of Court Mage until you die of old age, won't I?"

Agravain collapsed to the ground, his usually stern and austere face now filled with surprise and shock.

Regardless of the possibility, it means that Merlin has been "resurrected".

Without having much time to think, he crawled almost on his knees to Hebe.

"Mr. Merlin..."

A thousand words welled up in his throat, Agravain finally uttered a deeply melancholic sentence. "Do you still resent His Majesty?"

Otherwise, why didn't she go and meet the king sitting in the Throne Hall?

Hebe was slightly taken aback.

"It's not resentment," she replied, "It's just that I feel a little lost and don't know how to face His Majesty."

I truly feel lost and confused.

Yes, Merlin is dead.

Therefore, Arthur could bestow all glory and rewards upon a dead person, because no matter how much he added to the burden, Merlin would not jump out of his grave to demand that she fulfill her promise.

But now that Hebe has appeared, from Arthur's perspective, Merlin has been resurrected.

—Given Arthur's personality, what will she do?

Agravain's face turned pale. "No wonder, no wonder Mordred was in Blanckug... In your eyes, is the Morgan, the Bewitching Consort more worthy of your company?"

That makes sense, but the two sisters are actually not that different in terms of danger.

Hebe smiled. "At least I didn't make a choice right away, did I?"

Agravain felt a little more at ease. "Yes, yes..."

It was clear that Teacher Merlin still harbored resentment, but he still cherished their past relationship.

But she only needs to stay in Blanckug; being caught in the middle puts a lot of pressure on her.

Agravain was deeply troubled: he had intended to report it without hesitation, but when Merlin actually sat before him, he hesitated instead.

"If that's the case, what should I do?" Agravain looked at Hebe with pleading eyes, just as he had done countless times before, instinctively seeking his teacher's guidance.

Hebe raised an eyebrow slightly. "Now that's the question you need to think about. Agravain, do you know why I wanted to see you?"

"I have no idea."

"Because that's just how you are, you can't be fooled," Hebe replied. "If Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain, or Lord Bedivere were here, I wouldn't choose to come and see them in person."

Agravain felt both somewhat lost and inexplicably proud.

"I know you will choose to meet. You won't give up until you achieve this." Hebe raised her head slightly, like a swan stretching its neck. "And the topic I want to discuss is not suitable for a modern librarian to convey..."

Peng!

Agravain slammed his hand on the ground, his eyes gleaming with a fanatical light.

"You're not a librarian? How is that possible! Who else in this era is worthy of being a librarian besides you?!" Agravain stretched out his arms. "I cannot accept this, nor will the two emperors! There can only be one sun in the sky, and only you are worthy of being the librarian who can influence the entire Hidden World!"

"If I were to place you below someone else in a position of authority, His Majesty would surely wage war again," Agravain sternly. "Rather than putting His Majesty in a difficult position, I would rather do it myself—"

He turned around, palms together, but his gaze did not look directly at Hebe; instead, it drifted toward Ziyuan beside him.

To kill the librarian, you must first kill this vampire from the Atlas Institute.

Vampires are indeed difficult to kill, but "Iron Agravain" is Round Table master of sorcery, binding, curses and occult rituals.

As he walked along, he was already brewing a spell to target vampires. Once he snapped his fingers, the power rooted in the land of Albion would instantly render them powerless. At that time, killing a vampire would be no more difficult than killing a chicken!

After that, he would secretly travel to Egyptian lands, intending to die in the most gruesome way, so that His Majesty could gain the upper hand.

Although Lady Elegy is Eternals with a prestigious title, she is, after all, in the wasteland and cannot enter the mortal world.

In contrast, Your Majesty, as the ruler of one of the Five Great Powers, has reached the pinnacle in terms of both the symbol of Authority Path and status.

—I I am the State!

As one of the few remaining twilight years in the mortal world, His Majesty was able to easily sever the "Lady Elegy's " reach into the mortal realm!

Just as Agravain was about to snap his fingers, a strong sense of crisis rose from the bottom of his heart, and a shiver as if he were being electrocuted forced him to turn his head.

Hebe was looking at him calmly.

It's like an adult seeing a child about to make a mistake.

She didn't actually teach Agravain for very long, because as a product of Royal Sister's still immature skills, even Morgan didn't have much hope for him.

Morgan simply implanted his own insights into sorcery into Agravain, then forced him down the path of authoritarianism.

After confirming this, Hebe entrusted the latter to Arthur, making him an assistant at the Round Table.

But Agravain was, after all, an early creation of Morgan, so it was inherently close to the path of destruction in terms of imagery and origin.

This is why Agravain was most wary of the August Archon, ruthless wolf.

Because the Path of Destruction is the main subordinate path of the Remnant Wolf.

149 The initial achievements

"Agravain, of all the Round Table, you and Bedivere are the most reliable." Hebe tapped the wide edge of the table.

"So don't disappoint me, and don't do anything that will put Arthur in the fire."

Agravain broke out in a cold sweat. "Yes."

His earlier thoughts were far too rash. After regaining his composure, he discovered many fatal flaws.

"Now let's get back to our previous topic." Hebe raised her hand. "Are you disappointed that I'm not a modern librarian?"

Agravain remained silent.

Silence is a silent protest, and also a silent answer.

He had not met the new librarian, but in his opinion, no one was better suited to influence the movements of the hidden world Merlin.

Hebe sighed. "Look at the ring on your hand."

Some things cannot be said outright, because the symbol of Authority Path lies in the hierarchy of superiors and inferiors.

Those in lower positions can guess the thoughts of those in higher positions because this is a flow within the same system, and it is essentially a manifestation of Arthur's "unpredictable power" as a king.

If Hebe, as the Court Mage, were to speak out against Agravain, it would be a deconstruction of royal power—a subversion, a taboo, and an act that the authoritarian would not tolerate.

Essentially, it undermines the symbol of authoritarianism.

Agravain looked at the Power Ring on his finger and suddenly realized what it meant.