"My name is Luca Brewster. I am a clergyman serving the 'God of Knowledge and Wisdom,' currently responsible for the church's affairs in West Bairan.
"I originally expected that you would at least take a year after receiving the invitation letter to arrive, but I didn't expect that in less than ten months, you would have already become a 'Mysticism Magister.'"
The old gentleman Luca, with silver hair neatly combed and wearing a plain white robe embroidered with brass threads, gave a brief self-introduction, then smiled warmly at Ebner Bryan and said:
"There are many copies of 'mysticism' prepared in this house. In the coming period, you may freely study and research here. I have also selected several very gifted children in advance. You may teach them the 'mysticism' you learn, to help you digest the potion more quickly.
"Also, I have already arranged—"
"Wait!" Luca's words were interrupted before he could finish. Ebner Bryan raised his hand helplessly and said with a hint of disappointment, "But I don't need those… I have already finished digesting the 'Mysticism Magister' potion."
Hearing this, Luca froze for a few seconds, then gave a bitter smile. "So it's not that you came early, but that you came late…
"This is quite different from my 'prophecy'… Indeed, fate is always difficult to grasp."
Sighing, he took two sheets of parchment from a drawer and handed them to Ebner Bryan with a sigh.
"In that case, I have little left that I can provide… only these may still be of some use to you."
Ebner Bryan curiously took the parchments and read the top one carefully:
"Sequence 4: Prophet.
"Main ingredients: The primary eye of an Absolu, the true spirit body of a Mothman.
"Supplementary ingredients: 200ml of Absolu's blood, 20g of powdered Mothman wings, 10g of bark fragments from a Treant Mentor, 10g of freshly squeezed juice from golden grapes, 10 stalks of blue serrated grass, and a notebook imbued with your own breath and spirit.
"Advancement ritual: Independently complete an invention or discovery, and present it publicly, revealing unknown aspects of it, and causing as many people as possible to feel shock and admiration. Then, before those emotions fade, consume the potion."
The content on the parchment was none other than the potion formula for "Prophet"!
The ritual's requirements are not as high as that lion, Leon, claimed, about 'an invention or discovery that shocks the world.' Clearly, his words were exaggerated… Of course, perhaps in his eyes, any invention or discovery should shock the world, since after all, he was raised by Roselle…
Although demigod potion formulas were extremely precious, for Ebner Bryan, who already had the extraordinary characteristics of "Prophet" and could analyze the related information using the "Pure White Eye," this was only a time-saver, not particularly crucial.
So he only grumbled internally for a few moments before setting it down, showing none of the delight Luca had expected, leaving the old man—who had wanted to show off—feeling frustrated again.
Unaware of the elder's childlike feelings, Ebner Bryan picked up the second sheet of parchment and discovered it was a list recording many scientific achievements.
"Electromagnetic Waves," "Principles of the Photoelectric Effect," "Prevention and Treatment of Anthrax"…
Looking at these titles, which seemed quite different in style from his own, Ebner Bryan faintly guessed their origin but still politely asked, "What are these for?"
Luca's spirits lifted at the question. He first introduced the significance of each work, then proudly said, "These are papers I have not yet published. You may freely choose one, and the church will find people to promote it, help you build momentum, and finally hold an academic conference to present it, creating a sensation in certain circles…
"In this way, you will be able to complete the ritual relatively smoothly."
Hearing this, Ebner Bryan's mouth twitched, and he subconsciously asked, "Isn't that cheating? Can such a ritual count?"
"As long as no one else has published it first, bringing it to public knowledge, it counts! In fact, perhaps others already discovered similar results long ago, but they were buried by history… so naturally, it belongs to whoever first presents it. It cannot be called false." Luca responded unconcernedly.
You're not wrong there. These things were all studied back in the Old Era before the First Epoch… But plagiarizing others' work like this feels wrong, and it doesn't fit my character. If I suddenly present it, people would question me rather than be shocked… It would take a long time—at least half a year to a year of preparation—to succeed…
But Mister Fool will become a demigod in two months, and the world will grow increasingly dangerous… I, too, stand at the center of many conspiracies and whirlpools… Perhaps I cannot wait that long…
As these thoughts turned, Ebner rubbed his chin and asked Luca, "What was your own demigod advancement ritual like?"
"Mine…" Luca did not hide anything. While recalling, he organized his words and replied, "From the 'Mysticism Magister' stage, I had been teaching knowledge to generals and soldiers of tribal warlords in the Southern Continent. When I was nearing advancement, I had the general summon tens of thousands of soldiers along with their families to witness me, using my knowledge, discover and excavate the remains of a feathered serpent.
"Then, amid their shock and fear, I drank the potion and advanced to demigod.
"But looking back now, the ritual was rather risky. The number of witnesses was still too few. If I had not been respected by them as a 'Mentor,' trusted and even revered… and if the feathered serpent had not been seen by them as a god… I might have been lost in the 'River of Fate.'"
"So… discovering something that everyone knows exists, but has never been revealed, is also acceptable?" Ebner asked thoughtfully.
"It is, but unlike inventing or discovering a principle with tangible evidence and derivations, you must then rely on sufficiently demonstrating your knowledge reserves, logical reasoning, and a bit of luck…" Luca replied at a steady pace.
"I see… Then it won't be too much of a problem… As for a large enough audience, I can manage that myself." Ebner Bryan stood up with confidence, bowed to Luca, and said sincerely, "Thank you for your explanation."
"You don't want any of my research results?" Luca asked in surprise, as if he had "foreseen" something.
"Brewing scientific discoveries takes too long… I've thought of a better way." Ebner replied with a smile, then picked up the parchment with the formula again and asked, "Do you have any of these supplementary ingredients on hand?"
Luca thought for a moment and calmly answered, "I still have some of 'Absolu's blood'… I can sell it to you directly.
"As for the others, the monster 'Mothman' appears occasionally in the Feysac Empire; you may find it there.
"'Golden grapes' are native to Intis, but monopolized by the 'Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun' and several major families; they only grow in their estates.
"'Bark of a Treant Mentor' is not considered valuable and can be easily bought in Lenburg.
"'Blue serrated grass' is uncommon. I happened to buy some at a Beyonder gathering back then.
"As for the notebook imbued with your own breath and spirit, I don't need to provide that, do I?"
After saying this, he asked Ebner to wait and went into the inner room.
While waiting, Ebner calculated inwardly: The 'powdered wings of a Mothman' can be handled by Miss Greed; her family has been rooted in Feysac for a thousand years, and they may well have some.
For the 'golden grapes,' even if Helene's family doesn't, the Delaine and Sauron families surely cultivate them. Acquiring some fresh juice shouldn't be difficult.
As for 'bark fragments of a Treant Mentor,' I should ask Edwina and Telles first. If neither has them, I can pray to the God of Knowledge and Wisdom… If that fails, I'll go to Lenburg myself.
'Blue serrated grass' is rare, but members of the Church of the Earth Mother should cultivate it.
As for the notebook… I should start keeping a diary today. It should still be in time…
After sorting out his plans, Luca came back carrying a metal box sealed with spirituality and placed it on the table.
Ebner Bryan inspected the goods, paid, and once more expressed his gratitude. He promised to return later to study mysticism, then turned and left the house that looked so ordinary.
After he left, Luca's jaw moved slightly as he murmured to himself:
"What a terrifying young man. Merely meeting him once has altered my fate… The crisis I originally needed someone's help to survive has suddenly vanished…
"Has the crisis already dissipated, or has it changed into something I cannot 'foresee'?"
Meanwhile, outside, Ebner Bryan boarded the carriage, looked at the waiting mirror spirit Closfia, and smiled.
"It seems we are about to embark on a splendid adventure."
As he spoke, he took out a parchment scroll from his pocket—the gift from Lady Dragonmight, Miss Gwen: Roselle's map of the Sunk Laureate.
"But with exploration and the advancement ritual keeping me busy, I probably won't have the energy to join the Tarot Club… Hmm, I'll just take a two-week leave first."
...
[April 12, Feysac, Intis, Lenburg, Backlund, film premieres, gathering of ingredients, Greed, Helene, Edwina, Closfia, Judy, etc. — events unfold as in the original text, with characters delivering materials, the film Finding the Laureate premiering worldwide, and Ebner Bryan preparing for the ritual.]
...
On April 17th, Sunday.
In Loen, Feysac, Intis, Fenerport, Lenburg… even in Bayam overseas and some major cities in the Southern Continent, theaters opened at the same time, and countless people poured in.
Among them were Xio, Fors, Helene, Edwina, and other friends of Ebner Bryan, as well as Telles, Mr. Azik, and even Klein, who stepped out of the washroom, bought a ticket, and entered the only theater on Sunia Island.
Under the gaze of so many people, Ebner Bryan's adventure to discover the Laureate began!
As the plot progressed, Ebner Bryan in the film again and again relied on knowledge and wisdom to escape danger, ultimately deducing the location of the Laureate and boldly diving into the great whirlpool… When he finally uncovered the treasure after countless hardships, the audience's shock, envy, and awe reached their peak.
At that very moment, Ebner Bryan drank the prepared potion in one gulp.
The icy potion slid down his throat, and he felt himself entering a world devoid of color, mechanical and cold, filled with endless streams of information.
It was the "World of Absolute Rationality," the very domain of the "River of Fate"!
The Pure White Eye opened automatically, the "Wheel of Fate" within it reflecting and intertwining with the "River of Fate"…
About three to four minutes later, Ebner Bryan finally raised his hand to rub his throbbing forehead. His face bore both astonishment and joy.
He was astonished at the smoothness of the advancement, and joyful because—
He had finally attained the initial spark of divinity, becoming a demigod existence of the Reader Pathway!
He had become—
Sequence 4, "Prophet"!