Roy nodded.
"Temple of Solomon? You mean the ruins of the First Temple that archaeologists supposedly discovered in the heart of Ancient Jerusalem, as reported in the news not long ago? That caused quite a sensation. Although King Solomon was called a symbol of 'wisdom,' there were too few records proving that he had really existed. The third king of the world-famous ancient Kingdom of Israel achieved such remarkable feats, yet the unearthed artifacts made people question whether he had ever truly existed."
As one of the foremost figures in the magical world, Erica was deeply interested in ancient legends, history, ruins, and antiques. She spoke with sparkling eyes.
"I was at the archaeological dig too. I found it interesting, so I used my authority to destroy the site and found this ring."
Hearing Roy speak so casually, Erica could only smile wryly. Campiones really were reckless, destroying the ruins connected to Solomon's legend so carelessly.
"Your earliest recorded sighting also took place in Ancient Jerusalem. At the time, a magician from the Council of Sages was following the archaeological work there, and thus discovered the 'King's' movements. As for your past, Your Majesty, it remains a mystery. Many magical societies have investigated you, yet found no useful information at all."
Erica spoke frankly, completely unafraid to tell Roy this. Since the "King" had already given her his trust, she had to repay it. Moreover, after spending this much time with him, Erica believed that with Roy's intelligence, he had probably known long ago that those magical societies had investigated him.
"Did the magical society investigating me include the Bronze Black Cross?"
"Yes, the Bronze Black Cross was included as well. However, the Council of Sages investigated you most thoroughly. Those sages conduct the most detailed investigations of every living Demon King."
Erica answered honestly.
"Then let them investigate. Even if they brought in Miko and Witches to use Spiritual Vision, they could never uncover any information connected to me."
Seeing how certain Roy sounded, Erica grew curious about his past. However, she knew that subordinates should not pry into certain matters. No matter how curious she was, she had no intention of probing further.
Roy came from another world. No matter how thoroughly this world investigated him, it could never uncover his history.
"Spiritual Vision used by Miko and Witches is a very wondrous ability. They can receive 'revelations' and see scenes from the past and future. Do you know where these 'revelations' come from?"
Roy asked like a teacher testing his student.
Erica shook her head. "...One of my ancestors was a Demon King like you. Although I also have the 'witch's blood' in my veins, it is very thin, so I do not know the secrets of Witches."
"Not knowing is fine. Just listen. This world can roughly be divided into three layers. First is the Material World where we are now. Then there is the 'Realm of Life and Death,' which magicians call Yomi. After crossing that realm comes the final world, the 'Immortal Realm' where the gods dwell."
Through Aiwass's instruction and his own studies, Roy had learned a great deal. He had also seen through the true nature of the Campione World. It seemed to be a derivative of the "Fourfold World of Kabbalah"—full of flaws, yet logically self-consistent.
The "Immortal Realm" where the gods lived was, in Roy's view, the "seat" of this world. It recorded all kinds of information about the gods in mythology, and that information changed according to how humanity in the Material World passed down those myths.
If someone truly broke through Yomi and reached the Immortal Realm, they would not see any living gods. They would see only a mass of incomprehensible information. It was much the same as the concept of heroic spirits.
"...Yomi also has a wondrous function. Like the Akashic Records, it records all information that has occurred in the Material World. The Spiritual Vision of Witches and Miko is the ability to see the information recorded in Yomi, allowing them to reproduce the past. As for information about the future, Witches and Miko organize and compile known information, then predict the future event with the highest probability of occurring."
"...In truth, this is merely a simple 'Laplace's demon.' By acquiring and reasoning from all past information, one predicts the future. This is what is called 'clairvoyance.'"
Roy waved a finger, his tone relaxed. Sometimes, the more one learned, the more ignorant one felt. Yet at other times, once one understood enough, everything became astonishingly simple.
"So that is the principle behind the secret arts of Witches. Your knowledge is truly astounding, Your Majesty!"
Erica spoke admiringly, her voice filled with respect and delight.
To magicians, gaining power was not actually their purpose. Knowledge was what they sought.
"The Vatican has little else, but its countless rare books and ancient texts accumulated over two thousand years are priceless. Its library is a treasure."
Roy smiled, then suddenly asked, "...Tell me, Erica! Where can I find the finest Miko and Witch in this world?"
Erica froze for a moment, then answered without hesitation. "...If we are speaking of the most powerful Witch in Europe, then it must be the former chairwoman of the Council of Sages of Greenwich, the daughter of Duke Godding, Princess Alice, known by the honorific 'White Princess'—Her Highness Princess Alice Louise Ophir Nafal!"
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Princess Alice
Greenwich lay in southeastern Greater London, England, on the south bank of the River Thames. It was the location of the Prime Meridian, and the Royal Greenwich Gardens beside the river held the world-famous Greenwich Observatory.
It was an observatory with several centuries of history.
Although the Greenwich Observatory had moved fifty years earlier, its original site remained. Ordinary people believed it had been abandoned because it was too old, but only those in the hidden world knew that it had moved because an English magical society had taken over the site as its headquarters: the Council of Sages of Greenwich.
The origins of the Council of Sages were almost laughable. It had not been founded by any one person. Instead, a group of busybodies had formed a small intelligence-sharing circle because they were excessively "gossipy." Who could have imagined that this group, not even considered a magical society, would eventually develop into one of the most famous organizations in the hidden world?
The Council of Sages had an extremely complex membership. Its members included magicians, fairy doctors, occult scholars, technology experts, amateur researchers, clergy, artists, nobles, royalty, and wealthy tycoons.
The Council of Sages could hardly be called a strict organization. It was a loose circle for exchanging intelligence, and the best channel through which anyone connected to the hidden world could learn the latest news.
Today, an emergency meeting was being held at the Greenwich Observatory.
The Council of Sages was called a council because it was managed by a group of elderly sages. Taking the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes as their namesake, they used parliamentary procedures to decide the organization's direction.
"An emergency meeting today? Which Demon King has caused another major incident?"
Among the white-haired old scholars sat one exceptionally distinctive woman. She had a slender figure, shining platinum-blond hair, snow-white skin, and appeared to be around twenty years old. Yet as she sat quietly, she possessed the elegant bearing of a noblewoman.
The woman had a captivating aura like the world's most precious perfume. She wore a white velvet blouse embroidered with a bow at the collar, with an expensive shawl draped over her shoulders. Her hands rested together on the arms of her chair. Her clear voice carried slight helplessness, yet also intense curiosity and enthusiasm.
She was the former chairwoman of the Council of Sages of Greenwich and its current special adviser—the Alice Louise Ophir Nafal known as the "White Princess." People usually called her Princess Alice.
Although Princess Alice was the youngest member of the council, she was Europe's most powerful Witch. Her strength did not lie in combat but in Spiritual Vision. Combined with her extraordinary talent and vast knowledge, it had allowed her to become chairwoman while still in her teens.
That said, the chairwoman's role was not especially important to the Council of Sages of Greenwich.
Afterward, perhaps because the princess had lost interest in being chairwoman, or perhaps because she was truly tired, she resigned, citing "poor health."
This was not a false excuse. Because her spiritual power was too strong, the princess was far weaker than an ordinary person—so weak that neither magic nor science could cure her condition.
"Princess Alice, this emergency meeting concerns the New King."
"Ah, Elder Sage, please do not address me so formally. It makes me embarrassed."
Princess Alice straightened and spoke with elegant composure.
Then she smiled expectantly. "...Our council has very little information on the New King. Does this meeting concern anything unusual?"
"The New King successfully killed a Disobedient God on Ponza Island in Italy. According to our intelligence, that god was the Archangel Metatron recorded in The Book of Enoch. We do not yet know what authority he gained from killing Metatron, but we have learned something about the authority he obtained from slaying Michael."
"...This is footage of the battle on Ponza Island. We borrowed a military satellite from the English government to record it."
An old Diogenes Elder Scholar immediately played a video through a projector. The magicians of this world were not opposed to technology. On the contrary, they were adept at using it. When they could not approach a battlefield involving Campiones and Disobedient Gods, they used technology to observe it.
"The destructive power of Campiones causing trouble remains as fierce as ever, whether it is the Old King or the New King."
Seeing Ponza Island completely annihilated by Roy's authority, Princess Alice sighed.
"Princess Alice, we will seal this video in the archives afterward. Only Diogenes-level Councilors may view it. We must carefully safeguard all information concerning the 'King,' lest we offend one of them..."
"...According to the information available, the authority the New King obtained after killing Michael differs from every other Campione's authority. One authority possesses multiple functions. So far, four functions have been exposed. As for how many remain hidden, we cannot say."
"First, an extremely powerful close-combat authority."
"Second, a large-scale heavenly-fire authority that destroyed Ponza Island, as well as an evil-eye authority similar to Marquis Voban's."
"Third, the authority to summon the Angel Legion."
"Fourth, the authority to transform into an angel. Judging by its effects, it should resemble the Divine Speed of the 'Black Prince.'"
"...It is impossible for a Campione to kill one god and obtain multiple authorities. Therefore, we suspect that these authorities are subject to some kind of restriction. The exact circumstances are the 'King's' secret, which we dare not pry into. Moreover, the authorities used by the New King are all related to Michael's deeds. However, that archangel had too many achievements, so we cannot guess what the New King's remaining authorities do."
The old scholar explained everything to those present in a measured tone.
"Has anyone named the New King's authority?"
Princess Alice folded her hands over her abdomen and asked like a proper lady.
"We asked the 'King' for his opinion. At the New King's request, the authority was named 'Divine Right'... Also, Princess Alice, please look at this. These are some files concerning the New King's personality that we obtained from your former knight, Paul Brontree."
"...As for anything more specific, that is a secret known only to the New King's current sole knight, Erica Brontree. She would never reveal it. This Great Knight recently received the title 'Crimson Devil' of the Bronze Black Cross."
The old scholar handed Alice a file.
After quickly skimming through it, Princess Alice pressed a hand to her forehead and said, "...This is exactly the kind of Campione I least wanted to encounter. You wrote that the New King's personality resembles Marquis Voban's, but to me, he is much more like Alexander Gascoyne."
"...No. He is even harder to handle than Marquis Voban and Gascoyne. Gascoyne is calm and likes to plan ahead, but his caution gives him clear limits. As long as one grasps those limits, one can predict his actions. Marquis Voban is ruthless and merciless, willing to do anything to achieve his goals, but he is arrogant. With a conciliatory approach, one might still win his favor."
"This New King is different. His actions in Rome show that he is not only recklessly willful, but also intelligent and strategic. He is precisely the type I fear most."
"...A terrifying terrorist who likes making plans. That is practically a disaster!"
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Demon King Who Captures the Princess
"White Witch Princess... Princess Alice?"
In an extremely luxurious villa estate in Rome, Roy sat in an antique, lavishly decorated room with a strong Baroque style. He held a stack of documents, tapping them lightly with his fingers as an interested expression appeared on his face.
A red carpet covered the entire room. Precious Renaissance murals and suits of armor adorned the walls, while the chandelier overhead resembled a starry sky, fully displaying luxury and nobility.
The most famous ancient palaces in Rome, Italy, were almost all owned by the Church. However, such places were more suitable for offices or sightseeing than living. If one wanted a comfortable residence, a modern villa was far more suitable.
Roy did not mistreat himself. Aside from the times he went to the Vatican to read in peace, he spent most of his time in Rome at this villa. To the local magicians, the fact that the "King" could remain "obediently" at home was truly something to thank heaven for.
While Princess Alice in Greenwich, England, was studying Roy, Roy was also studying that princess.
"Your Majesty, these are the materials provided by my uncle, Paul Brontree. As for more detailed information about Princess Alice, we can probably find it only in the archives of the Council of Sages of Greenwich."
Before the redwood desk, fourteen-year-old Erica wore her trademark red dress and raised her chin slightly as she spoke with confidence.
Her fair, rounded shoulders supported the well-fitted dress, appearing even more dazzling beneath the light, as though covered in a moist glow.
"I heard that your uncle often traveled between England and Italy in the past, fighting the Black Prince as Princess Alice's knight. He even protected Sleeping Beauty from a Divine Beast and rescued the sleeping princess, performing a knight-rescues-princess story?"
Roy tossed the documents aside, leaned against his chair, and laughed teasingly.
Although the "King" seemed to be joking, Erica did not dare fool around. She shook her head. "...Those were merely my uncle's adventures when he was young. Now the Bronze Black Cross serves the 'King.' My uncle is no longer Princess Alice's knight, but your subordinate. If you have an order, Your Majesty, the Bronze Black Cross will certainly obey."
Erica expressed her loyalty calmly.
"Did your uncle and this Princess Alice never develop a romantic story between knight and princess?"
Hearing Roy ask such a gossipy question, Erica felt helpless, but she still smiled and replied, "...My uncle is more than twenty years older than Princess Alice. Those events happened ten years ago, when the princess was about eleven and my uncle was nearly thirty. With such an age gap, I doubt anything could have happened."
"No, Erica, you are mistaken. There are always some degenerates in this world who like girls barely into their teens... All right, enough of that."
Erica was both amused and exasperated. She wanted to say that her uncle truly was not that kind of degenerate, but seeing that the "King" had moved on, she gathered herself and waited for Roy's next question.
"This princess has the greatest spiritual power in Europe. She belongs to the Council of Sages and has no Campione protecting her. We will start with her."
Roy tapped Princess Alice's photograph and spoke in a tone that allowed no refusal.
Erica remembered the "Solomon's Divine Artifact" Roy had held aboard the luxury yacht. Seeing that he now needed Witches and Miko with powerful spiritual strength, she suddenly recalled an incident from two years earlier. Marquis Voban had captured Miko and Witches from around the world to summon a Disobedient God, and many of them had died in the ritual.
She knew Roy probably wanted to reproduce Marquis Voban's brutal rule, and that his first target was Princess Alice, famous throughout Europe and even the world.
Erica did not dare comment on Roy's decision. During the time she had spent with him, she had gained a rough understanding of his personality. The "King" permitted others to advise him, but only when they had sufficient reasons. Otherwise, they should prepare to face his wrath.
Erica had no reason to advise him now. Should she tell the "King" that summoning a Disobedient God might cause many deaths? No. The "King" before her would not care. It would only anger him.
Thus, Erica had no intention of dissuading him. Instead, she followed Roy's train of thought. "...Your Majesty, Princess Alice and the English Campione Alexander Gascoyne are publicly hostile, but their relationship is unclear. Would capturing Princess Alice provoke this Campione's hostility? Should we use conciliatory measures and have Princess Alice cooperate willingly?"
"Do not worry, Erica! Alexander Gascoyne is too cautious. Whenever he encounters something he cannot understand, he chooses to wait. People with that temperament easily lose the initiative. Until he confirms that he is in no danger, he will not appear before me. Besides, even if he came, what would there be to fear?"
Roy laughed carelessly. "...Erica, do you know what a princess is for? She is meant to live in a magnificent castle and wait for a dragon to abduct her. Although I am not a dragon, I am a 'Demon King.' The princess has been waiting in her castle for quite some time. I cannot keep my princess waiting."
Faced with Roy's chilling joke, Erica could only remain speechless.
"There is also a Miko in the Far East named Yuri Wanitangi. Two years ago, she was one of the survivors of Marquis Voban's ritual to summon a Disobedient God, correct? It seems Marquis Voban thought highly of her. In that case, we will trust the marquis's judgment and capture her as one of the ritual's Miko. If she refuses, we will treat her as Marquis Voban did back then. She has no right to refuse."
Erica nodded slightly, indicating that she had heard Roy's order.
As the saying went, better a fellow cultivator die than oneself. Erica had no interest in what happened to Princess Alice or the Miko named Yuri Wanitangi. As long as the "King" she served was pleased, nothing else was within her concern.
"However, even the finest Miko are not enough. I need more Miko and Witches to conduct the ritual together. Only then might we summon King Solomon..."
Roy toyed with the ring symbolizing the wisdom granted to King Solomon by the gods and spoke unhurriedly.
As Roy's personal knight, Erica naturally had to solve her master's problems. She furrowed her attractive brows in thought and said hesitantly, "...The Five Prisons Holy Cult in the Ancient Eastern Kingdom has an accomplished female Taoist who can rival the White Princess. However, that Eastern Patriarch would never permit you to capture 'Miko' on her territory, Your Majesty. It would cause a conflict between you."
"...I am not saying that you fear the Eastern Patriarch. I merely mean that, for the sake of your grand plan, it would be better to slow down for now."
Erica spoke cautiously, choosing her words carefully so as not to hurt Roy's pride.
"Your suggestion is excellent, Lord Erica. Now is indeed not the time to clash with that Eastern Patriarch. What I have done has probably already attracted the attention of the Black Prince and Marquis Voban. Adding another patriarch could truly cause my plans to fail."
"...But I do not need Witches with 'quality' like Princess Alice right now. Quantity is enough... Wait, I remember that girl named Liliana from the Bronze Black Cross headquarters of the She-wolf in Rome. She is also an excellent Witch, isn't she?"
Erica, whose expression had remained unchanged as she advised Roy, finally changed color. She was utterly shocked.
"Your Majesty, do you need Liliana?"
She asked nervously.
Chapter Thirty: Liliana Kranichar
"Relax, relax. There is nothing to be nervous about. Still, for Erica to react so strongly, that girl named Liliana must be very important to you."
Roy smiled and pressed a hand downward, signaling Erica not to panic.
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