Isaac Has Disappeared?!

Everyone's gaze instantly fell on Erwin.

"I entered the Empire through official channels. The letter was delivered to Mechanical Cathedral headquarters, and I personally handed it to a mechanical priest. I can guarantee all of that," Erwin said gravely.

"As for the reply, it was also handed to me by the Mechanical Cathedral. Afterward, I had Isaac inspect it, and there were no signs of Transcendence-induced bewitchment."

The room fell silent as the situation grew ever more baffling.

"So Erwin's side was completely normal. Chloe, do you know much about the Mechanical Cathedral? If the reply really came from them, what would it be like?"

There were two possibilities: either they would dismiss them entirely and write a letter mocking their overestimation of themselves and their delusion of coveting sacred knowledge, or they would take an interest in their technology and arrogantly demand that they hand over their knowledge.

Theus glanced at the politely worded reply in his hand.

So this letter is neither from the Candlelight Society nor the Mechanical Cathedral. Instead, it resembles the old Mechanical Society, back when they were still a group of people who loved machinery and technology. They could be somewhat extreme at times, but they truly cared about technology.

I'm seriously starting to wonder what happened in the Empire. If this letter is a trap, it's far too crude. Anyone who has dealt with either of those organizations would become suspicious. But if they are truly this friendly and humble... oh, kill me. I refuse to believe those two churches could have changed.

Organizations like churches often possess immense inertia. Changing the systems and conventions they have accumulated over the years is incredibly difficult. Could they have completely changed in just a few years?

Impossible.

*This letter may be a conspiracy, or it