"How are Castel's people doing?" The prince—now Duke Tis—paced rapidly through the room with a dark expression.
"They've been settled in. Their leader is called Zoe. She doesn't seem to be a noble, and there's another man named Erwin leading the soldiers. We're still investigating their identities. Oh, and this is the gift they sent." Galahad pointed at a long package on the table.
"I see." The prince waved his hand impatiently. "Galahad, are you certain they all possess the standards of royal guards? And their weapons are the latest models?"
"Without a doubt, my lord. That group is extremely well-organized. After settling them in, I deliberately drew away their leader and had several men invite the rest to drink and play cards. They all refused. Also, I noticed them secretly gathering in their rooms to recite little booklets."
"Reciting booklets?"
The prince stopped pacing, his expression turning grave. "Could they be..."
"Rest assured, my lord. My men secretly took one out to examine it. It contained no Transcendence power, nor was it any kind of ritual. It seemed to be merely..."
3
"Merely what?"
Galahad's expression turned strange. "Merely... knowledge. All kinds of knowledge—how to use firearms, the principles behind Steam Engines, the general structure of ships..."
, "They were studying knowledge? Wait, did I hear that right? You're saying they turned down invitations to drink and play cards, then secretly hid in their rooms to study?"
As though remembering something, the prince's face stiffened. "Could they be those things from the Mechanical Cathedral?"
"No, no." Galahad hurriedly waved his hands. "The knowledge inside is all very basic. I had Transcendents examine it; there isn't much Pollution in it."
The prince's expression became bewildered.
Were these people really so devoted to learning?
They were clearly soldiers, out on deployment,