"...If human civilization were regarded as a living being, then humanity at that time was in the prime of youth—vigorous, spirited, strong, passionate, innocently believing that tomorrow would be better, believing there was nothing it could not accomplish, believing that a fine age would only grow finer."
"Looking back now, we would say that it was a Golden Age."
"And it was in that age that the Ultramar Subsector was born, stretching west to the Great Maelstrom Region and east to the edge of the galaxy."
"With Macragge at its core and five hundred prosperous worlds, each with its own strengths, as its wings, Ultramar spanned the vast stars. It had already been a land of wealth in the Golden Age. Every world made use of its strengths and was linked through trade. Material goods were abundant; people were wealthy but not indulgent, wise but not arrogant, orderly but not constrained."
"What a wonderful age it was. Later, when Macragge's religions spoke of that history, it was as though they were recounting a heavenly kingdom."
"But at the very height of humanity's vitality, cancer cells had already begun to grow in silence."
"Unrestrained technological development, an increasingly stratified society, artificial intelligence gradually replacing and even surpassing human intellect, and the abuse of biotechnology and Warp technology ultimately brought about the Dark Age of Technology."
"Thus, internal strife replaced expansion, passivity overwhelmed initiative, madness became more alluring than reason, war became more common than peace, and ambitious men climbed high towers. Arrogance took root, blind worship of technological progress surpassed all else, and increasingly complex knowledge and technology became the exclusive possessions of superhumans altered through genetic and cerebral modification."
"But I believe that was not the true reason humanity fell into the Dark Age of Technology... The real reason was that we mastered extraordinary arts capable of turning dreams into reality, yet forgot that our dreams contained both the brightest and darkest things in all the world."
"During the Dark Age of Technology, technology continued to advance, yet fewer and fewer people mastered it. Every planet's productive capacity soared, yet the products they made became increasingly singular. Many new things were created, but even more were destroyed, including humanity's mother, Terra."
"Then, the most terrifying Warp storm in human history... perhaps even in galactic history, obstructed Warp travel. Old Night arrived."
"Macragge's age of Old Night had vanished into historical records so mad they bordered on insanity and mutually contradictory religious texts. All we knew was that the Warlock King ruled Macragge from a mountain court—some believed the Warlock King was an immortal sorcerer, while others believed it was a title passed down through generations. The truth could no longer be verified."
"The only thing we knew was that the War King of Macragge City led an army to replace the Warlock King's rule, burned the mountain court, and the Warlock King's servants fled into the caves of Elyrium, never to appear again."
Zhou Yun wrote the four words "Warlock King" on the blackboard before him.
"At the same time, ancient Old Night ended. Different religions offered different explanations—the Shattered Lighthouse claimed their god killed the Warlock King by crushing him with an obelisk, while the Flying Spaghetti Church claimed their god covered the Warp storms with a giant colander."
At those words, the students below broke into laughter.
The Flying Spaghetti Church had more followers among the poor, while most Grammar Academy students came from wealthy families and had no followers of the Flying Spaghetti Church among them.
"The Flying Spaghetti Church is far older than most religions in Macragge today. Perhaps only Catholicism is older."
Zhou Yun smiled, turned, and looked at his students as he spoke.
For the past few days, Zhou Yun had been teaching at the Grammar Academy. His goal was to awaken more of the Scholar's memories, allowing him to gain more of the Scholar's knowledge and prepare for Marcus Guilliman's upcoming tutor recruitment.
After all, although his predecessor had placed first in the initial selection, if Zhou Yun had nothing in his head, he would likely have difficulty passing the next round of recruitment as well.
Zhou Yun's gaze paused. He noticed that one seat in the classroom was empty today...
Zhou Yun lowered his head and glanced at the attendance register on the desk.
"Is Miss Sakofi Paulus here?"
That student had attended class yesterday... Zhou Yun began recalling her information.
The girl was General Paulus's daughter. General Paulus had three daughters. His eldest daughter, Dacia, now worked at the Grammar Academy; his second daughter had entered the Rhetoric Academy, but died of illness at the end of last month. Sakofi was his third daughter.
"Her sister, Teacher Dacia, requested leave for her today. She said Sakofi wasn't feeling well and would need to stay home for a long time." Tita, who had been taking notes, raised her head and spoke to Zhou Yun, a trace of concern on her face.
Zhou Yun gave Tita a slight nod. From what he remembered, Tita was quite close to Miss Sakofi. Since Sakofi's sister had died of illness not long ago, Tita would naturally be worried about Sakofi's condition.
After finishing the lesson, Zhou Yun organized the teaching materials on his desk while sensing the psychic power budding from his students' admiration.
Those pale golden strands of psychic power slowly gathered into Zhou Yun's body, making him sigh inwardly once again—this damned skill had ridiculously low requirements for faith.
He had deliberately used psychic power to raise his own charm and guide the students into respecting him, and he could actually gain psychic power from it... though not much.
However, this psychic power was somewhat different from the psychic power Zhou Yun generated himself.
Zhou Yun finished organizing the teaching materials, left the classroom, and headed deeper into the Grammar Academy, toward Lucretius's office.
These past few days, Zhou Yun had been helping Lucretius translate clay tablets excavated near Odin City.
It was not just for the money. More than that, he wanted to figure out certain things.
He reached the office door and gently turned the handle.
The door was locked.
"Teacher Zhou Yun?" A somewhat delicate female voice sounded behind him.
Zhou Yun turned around, smiling as he nodded in greeting. "Teacher Dacia."
This Teacher Dacia was the sister of Sakofi Paulus, the girl who had taken sick leave today, and a literature teacher at the Grammar Academy.
The petite female teacher, around one and a half meters tall and dressed in a white shirt, let her gaze fall upon Zhou Yun's hand gripping the door handle.
"Ah! Didn't Professor Lucretius go to Odin City? I heard he was going to receive newly excavated clay tablets." Dacia blinked as she spoke.
"Oh! I think that was indeed the case." Zhou Yun slapped his forehead and revealed a regretful expression. "I left something in his office..."
Of course, Zhou Yun knew Lucretius was absent. That was precisely what he had been waiting for. He had come to loot the place.
The old man was generous enough with money, but as for the truly valuable things... he guarded them like a fortress.
"Then you'll have to wait for Professor Lucretius to return." Dacia shook her head. "Only he has the key."
"I don't know how long he'll be gone. It's something very important." Zhou Yun scratched his head. "Something related to my debts."
"Ah!" Dacia let out a soft cry. "How are things on your end? If you're still having difficulties, I can ask my father to help communicate on your behalf. He has some friends in the Temple District."
"No, no, it's fine. I've basically resolved it already. I just still need a document I left inside before." Zhou Yun spoke somewhat helplessly as he moved his hand away from the handle.
Zhou Yun had just used his psychic power to force open the lock—only seconds after he moved his hand away.
With a bang, the door handle suddenly fell off, and the door gently swung open.
Dacia stared blankly at the scene.
"Looks like this lock has fallen into disrepair with age." Zhou Yun scratched his head and put on an innocent expression. "Since that's the case, I'll go in and find my things first. I'll apologize to Professor Lucretius afterward."
"Ah, emergencies take priority. I believe Professor Lucretius will understand." Dacia smiled and reassured Zhou Yun.
Her gaze swept over Zhou Yun. For some reason, she felt that he had acquired a unique quality lately, as though he were faintly glowing, making people unable to resist developing a little affection for him.
"I need to hurry home today—my younger sister isn't feeling well, so I won't keep talking with you." With that, Dacia bid Zhou Yun farewell.
Zhou Yun watched Dacia's departing figure and clicked his tongue softly.
Ever since realizing that Macragge was not as safe as it appeared, Zhou Yun had been quietly using his psychic power while maintaining a degree of suspicion toward everyone.
He had just silently probed Dacia's shallow thoughts and body.
She was lying. "My younger sister isn't feeling well" was a lie.
And there were whip marks and needle marks on Dacia's body.
It seemed he needed to tell Tita not to visit her friend.
Making someone disappear without a sound, and in all likelihood the daughter of one of their own believers... What did these followers of Slaanesh want?
Zhou Yun frowned.
One possibility came to mind.
That was sacrifice...
Before you continue