The Truth Comes to Light

Hearing Pilam's words, Leslie nodded, then looked at Antoine.

"Mr. Antoine, what does your signature look like?"

Nodding, Antoine replied at once.

"My signature is not simply my name, but a set of ciphers."

He glanced at Rainer. This encryption method had been the first thing Rainer proposed after discussing matters with Antoine. Though complicated, it could prevent signatures from being damaged by spell reconstruction.

This encryption method involved the structure of alchemical arrays.

As everyone knew, alchemical arrays consisted of runes representing a spell's effects, spell models, and mana nodes. Usually, mages hid their signatures within the runes, using certain rune combinations and numbers to designate them. However, this encryption method could be destroyed when a spell was reconstructed.

Put simply, these runes were a string of characters conveying particular meanings. But if a thief fully understood the function of every rune, they could use similar runes to achieve a substitute effect. Like imitating an essay, the signature would naturally no longer work.

As for signatures on spell models, they were extremely difficult, because the models of most spells were very strict. The slightest error would result in something entirely different. Therefore, only certain special spell models could retain their author's signature, making the method far from universally applicable. And identical spell models could not prove originality.

Mana nodes, meanwhile, were the power-supplying parts of alchemical arrays. They complemented spell models, yet portions of them could be altered according to specific requirements. Naturally, they could also be reconstructed, destroying most signatures.

Unless one possessed a special method of adding something imperceptible to an alchemical array, it was difficult to escape the ravages of reconstruction.

Thus, after completely reconstructing Antoine's alchemical array, Pilam believed that aside from having the same function as Antoine's, the array in his possession was completely different. There was no way Antoine could have left a signature behind.

So even though Antoine appeared perfectly calm, Pilam was not worried in the slightest—until Antoine began explaining.

First, he had done something: he had sorted all magical runes and letters, then starting from the first one, assigned each an eight-digit serial number. However, these were not decimal numbers like 1456, but binary numbers. For example, the first number, 1, was defined as 00000001, while the first letter was 00001011.

Binary was not Rainer's original invention in this world. Decades ago, this method of notation had been invented by William Saxon, a master of the School of Laws, but it had never found any practical use.

After converting letters into binary numbers of 1s and 0s, Antoine chose his own name as the signature, converted it into binary, and then selected a number as the encryption key.

The next step was the most crucial. Rainer and Antoine selected a complicated yet unique formula, substituted the binary numbers converted from Antoine's name and that number into it, and calculated a result. They then separated the result into groups of eight digits and converted it back into text, producing an encrypted word.

This word would not appear in the alchemical array's most crucial parts, because most people would prioritize reconstructing the core spell. Antoine had hidden it in various minor details of the alchemical array. Since it had already been encrypted, the arrangement it presented held no particular meaning, making it easy to overlook.

Leslie and Sheila quickly began examining the alchemical array. In less than a quarter of an hour, they discovered three such hidden signatures within it.

"Wait, Officers. These runes are all very common. He may simply have gotten lucky."

Pilam was becoming agitated. No one would pay attention to those disordered and insignificant runes, because most people only placed signatures in the most critical parts of a spell.

"No, this is not luck."

Rainer finally spoke. He glanced at the encrypted word, then said,

"Why did we deliberately use such a troublesome encryption method instead of simply replacing a few letters? Because this is a means of verifying the creator. Under this specific arrangement, even chaotic runes have meaning."

He had Antoine project that complicated formula into the air, then continued.

"Mr. Antoine just said that this encryption method substitutes his name and a number into the formula. And that number is precisely the number of sides in this spell model."

Spell models were all complex geometric shapes, but the number of sides in each model was fixed and could not be changed.

Using a calculation array, Antoine substituted his name and the number into the formula. Very quickly, he obtained a string of binary digits. Once converted, it was exactly the meaningless word found in Pilam's alchemical array.

"That's impossible! You must have rigged it!"

Pilam was already beginning to panic. He staggered back a step and violently shook his head.

"When designing the formula, we added one more step. If the encrypted result and the encryption key are substituted back into it in reverse, the original encrypted word can be obtained."

As Rainer spoke, Antoine waved an arm. The meaningless word entered the formula, and soon a name appeared.

It was Antoine.

"So the evidence is conclusive, Mr. Pilam. It seems you did indeed steal another person's magical work."

Leslie spoke coldly as he stared at Pilam.

Stealing another person's magical work was a serious crime for mages. The lightest punishment was being stripped of all magical ranks and sentenced to fifty years of labor in a savage demiplane. Nor could such punishment be reduced through connections or money. Pilam naturally knew this.

And because of that, fear instantly engulfed his heart.

"Also, Mr. Pilam, if I recall correctly, none of the newspapers mentioned that Sanderson attacked the Antoine Alchemy Workshop with high explosives last night, did they?"

Spreading his hands, Leslie revealed a triumphant smile.

"Antoine, you set me up!"

Pilam's expression changed. He had never expected Antoine and Rainer to use such a complicated and unprecedented method against him. This was no longer something Pilam could guard against. It was outright cheating!

Now utterly panicked, he hurriedly raised his left hand. A fireball shot out toward Antoine, while a spray of green acid burst from his right hand toward Rainer.

The attack had been launched through magical items without any warning. Leslie and the others had no time to stop it.

Before Antoine, a faint gleam flashed from Sheila's glove. The Copper Wall of Isaris collided with the blazing fireball, and the constable took several steps back before steadying herself.

On Rainer's side, the green acid came rushing straight at him. Rainer tried to retreat, but he still could not escape its speed.

At that moment, Claire extended one hand, tightly clutching a silver pendant. A transparent barrier emerged from the pendant, blocking the acid's advance.

Both attacks were stopped, but Pilam had already fled quite a distance. Just as Rainer thought Pilam was about to escape, Leslie made his move.

He raised his right hand, and the flintlock pistol in it fired at once. Yet what erupted from its muzzle was not sparks, but a beam of light.

The beam struck Pilam squarely in the back. The mage staggered, then collapsed to the ground without another sound.