Open Day and the Cultist Gathering

It was already afternoon by the time Ansu and Vera arrived at the school, and people were already heading back along the path.

"It looks like things are almost wrapping up," Vera said, holding Ansu's hand and looking left and right, her deep blue eyes filled with curiosity.

"Can't be helped, since we were both such sleepyheads," Ansu looked toward the students who were packing up their stalls; many were selling trinkets characteristic of their respective majors.

"It was you who was sleepy, brother! I got up quite early!" Vera corrected him.

"Hmm..."

"Huh? Isn't that Ansu?" Some senior students from his major spotted Ansu wandering around with his younger sister, and they smiled and waved at him.

"What a cute little girl, is she your sister?"

"She is." Ansu smiled back at them, then led Vera toward their stall and leaned in to take a look.

His major was Alchemy and Chemistry, but the items these seniors were selling didn't seem to have much to do with their field; they were mostly cute little ornaments, and there were even plush toys.

"Is there anything you like?" Ansu subconsciously looked at his sister, intending to pick out a cute doll for her.

Vera shook her head immediately. "Boring! I don't like such childish things."

Seeing those girls chatting enthusiastically with Ansu, she pulled her brother's hand and headed in the other direction.

"Let's go, brother! Let's go check that side, it looks like there are some interesting things there."

Ansu could only offer an apologetic expression to the seniors.

He was dragged by Vera all the way to a stall with few people, and as luck would have it, he happened to see Kevin looking dejected while packing up his wares.

"Kevin?" Ansu looked at him in confusion. "Weren't you supposed to perform in the auditorium? Why are you running a stall?"

"Big brother, look at what time it is!" Kevin pointed at the three o'clock afternoon sun. "Everything was finished by the morning. I came over to cover the stall for the seniors after my performance."

"Fair enough..."

"Wait, the open house is almost over, why are you only just getting here, Ansu?" Kevin glanced at Ansu's sister and noticed she was squatting on the ground, curiously picking through the trinkets on the stall.

"Huh? So Vera likes these things?"

"Yes!" Vera nodded and picked out one she really liked. "Brother Kevin, how much is this?"

Being called "brother" by such a cute little girl made Kevin feel quite pleased. He glanced at Ansu. "Well... for your brother's sake, I'll give you a forty percent discount. 5 pounds!"

"5 pounds? Why don't you just go rob someone, you bastard?" Ansu was stunned. He took the trinket from his sister's hand and held it up to the sun to inspect it closely.

What Kevin was selling was indeed a "specialty" of their major; it was a glass sphere device with a brass base. Inside the glass, there was a trace amount of alchemical reaction, the color shifting between red and yellow like fireworks, looking quite pretty at first glance.

However, to Ansu, this device had no real technical value. He clicked his tongue. "Don't try to fool a layman. It might work on a little girl, but on me?"

"Uh..." Kevin felt a bit awkward. There was no helping it; these were the prices set by the seniors, specifically to sell to outsiders who didn't know any better. "How about half price? I can't go any lower."

Ansu shoved the alchemical device into the hands of the overjoyed Vera and tossed 50 pence to Kevin. "That's all you're getting. The cost price isn't even half of this."

"Ah? You're robbing me, Ansu!"

Ansu left Kevin with nothing but his back, waving his hand nonchalantly.

"Don't feel like you're losing out. You should know that I saved your life today, and I haven't even charged you a rescue fee yet!"

Kevin stared at Ansu's retreating figure in confusion. "Saved my life? When did that happen..."

"What does that even mean... Hey? Hey, don't walk away!"

Ansu and Vera wandered all over the Royal Academy. Since it was almost closing time, there wasn't much left worth seeing, but Vera remained excited throughout the trip; after all, it had been a long time since she had gone out with her brother.

After leaving the school gates, Ansu took Vera shopping until evening, bought her a few pretty little dresses, and took her out for a big meal before they finally headed home together, laughing and chatting.

At night, having played all day, Vera was exhausted and went to sleep early. After washing up, Ansu opened his bedroom door, also preparing to rest.

But the moment he opened the door, he saw Cecilia sitting in his chair, her beautiful legs crossed, squinting her eyes as she looked him over.

"W-Witch?" Ansu was startled by her every single time. "Why did you suddenly come back?"

Didn't she say she was going back to the Order to handle things? Could she have finished so quickly?

Could it be that she killed everyone? Was she that efficient?

"Looks like you had a pretty good time today!"

"Yeah..." Ansu nodded. "I took my sister out shopping today."

"Oh~ shopping with your sister?" Cecilia knew the siblings were very close, so she didn't mind much. She smiled playfully, "I thought you went to see Freya, which is why you were so happy."

"How could that be? The Saintess and I aren't in that kind of relationship, why would we go shopping?" Ansu immediately cleared his name and then asked, "It's so late, Witch, do you have something to discuss with me?"

"Of course." Cecilia stood up and smiled mysteriously. "Come with me to the Order's stronghold. Teacher wants to see you."

Ansu froze for a moment. Samantha wants to see me?

The gloomy, two-faced acting leader from his simulation had left a deep impression on him.

This teacher of Cecilia's was not someone easy to deal with. Ansu immediately raised his guard; he had to keep a low profile this time...

"When I returned this time, I immediately told Teacher about the conspiracy between the Reformist Faction elders and Terry, and the Church's operation to arrest Terry today confirmed this plot. Teacher is very angry." Leaving Ansu's house, Cecilia glanced at the dim night road and whispered:

"We dealt with the traitors from the Truth Faction first, but we won't let the elders of the other faction off either. We are going to discuss that matter today."

"Also, my teacher heard about you assisting me and is very curious about you. She insists on meeting you today."

Ansu frowned, his mind racing as he wondered what Samantha was up to. Could it be that because he had made a contribution... she wanted to promote him?

The two walked one after the other, with Cecilia leading Ansu across the street to where a black carriage was waiting.

"Get in. It's a bit of a long way."

Ansu instinctively glanced at the coachman, whose features were rough and unremarkable, and who didn't look at him even once throughout the encounter.

After boarding the carriage, it slowly rolled out of Benalu City, speeding along the night road toward the outskirts.

A salty, cold sea breeze blew in. After passing an abandoned fishing pier, the carriage finally stopped in front of a sprawling seaside winery, which was likely one of The Order's assets.

Seeing that it was Cecilia bringing someone in, the manor's attendant didn't stop them, but instead gave a respectful nod.

Subsequently, the two were led by the attendant to a massive, renovated underground wine cellar.

Ansu peered inside from the entrance and saw many cultists dressed in black robes and wearing metal masks gathered together.

"Put this on." Cecilia handed him a silver metal mask, while she donned a golden one herself.

The masks of the Echo of Truth had ranks; Ansu noticed that most were silver, like his own, while a few individuals who appeared to be elders or administrators wore the same golden masks as Cecilia.

Ansu put on the mask and followed behind Cecilia, walking slowly into the cultists' gathering.

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