Elliot did not think Vanessa could see through his disguise. Besides, the vessel he controlled with [Compliance] had remained stationed before the Difference Engine, its fingers resting on Vanessa's Card.
If she really did notice anything, he could immediately control her and bluff his way through. If all else failed, he could pretend a Great Being had descended.
Elliot had ample experience impersonating Great Beings. With the Difference Engine's cooperation, there was no way he would give himself away.
Yet Elliot still could not help feeling nervous. What actually concerned him more was the clue [Analysis] would provide.
Although [Analysis] spoke obscurely and was far too fond of riddles, it often pointed straight to the essence of things.
And what was his own essence? Could this reveal some secrets about the Frostmoon Uprising, or even his transmigration?
Elliot stared at Vanessa as well. Only when words gradually began forming in his field of vision did he suddenly remember that he shared powers with Vanessa. In other words, he had [Analysis] too.
That made him even more curious. What could he analyze?
Soon, the words welling up within his mind gradually became clear:
[The authority of knowledge is the most underestimated. It is neither as weighty as Secret History nor as pure as Radiance. It possesses neither mighty strength nor mysterious power. Studying it amounts to wasting one's life most of the time, with laughably meager returns. Yet this is the only way to reach the Third Era.]
Elliot froze.
The authority of "knowledge"? The Third Era?
He vaguely felt he had touched upon a little of the truth. He suddenly recalled that many Believers had carried the [Dominate History] notation. Could Vanessa truly have been his final attempt after changing protagonists so many times?
*-This is the only