As expected, he already knew I had become an "Instigator"!
Angel's chest first tightened, then felt a wave of relief—after guessing from Daly's reaction that examiner Crestet Cesima might possibly know about her promotion to Sequence 8, she had been somewhat worried all along. Now that the other shoe had dropped, it actually put her hanging heart at ease.
Anyway, it had already come to this step...
"In Enmat Port, during the period of supporting the Nighthawks squad there, I took the potion and became an Instigator. Earlier, by summarizing the 'Assassin' creed, I felt I had completely mastered the potion."
Angel answered truthfully, but carefully did not reveal that she had long been familiar with the "acting method."
"Enmat Port... that was the case tracking the 'Witch Cult' and 'Aurora Order' human trafficking... I understand."
Crestet nodded, paused for a moment, then asked the second question:
"Where did your 'Instigator' potion formula and main materials come from?"
Here it comes!
Ever since Dunn Smith's night raid on No. 6 Narcissus Street, interrogating Angel in a dream, once again, she faced this situation of "having to tell the truth."
Without immediately answering, she drafted her response in her mind. Crestet didn't rush her, but placed his hand on the silver-white metal box on his knee, rhythmically tapping the box lid with his index finger, producing crisp tapping sounds.
"The potion formula came from Cole Granger, and he got it from Lady Sharon... um, you know Cole, right?" Angel said slowly. After receiving Crestet's affirmative reply, she continued answering, "The main materials were purchased in Enmat Port's underground market."
She explained the act of purchasing "Beyonder characteristics" as buying potion main materials—this wasn't lying, nor was she concealing facts.
"Purchased... As far as I know, Sequence 8 potion main materials usually require over 600 pounds. How did you... wait, this isn't the third question."
Crestet spoke as if talking to himself, suddenly becoming alert at the end, not wasting the opportunity for the third question. His shoulders lifted slightly, making the upturned wind coat collar even higher, almost covering half his face.
If you ask it, I'll answer immediately. After all, I didn't steal or rob...
Angel's mouth curved into a slight smile, then immediately tightened her facial muscles, suppressing the smile and making a serious expression.
"Cough... then, next is the final question." This high-ranking deacon, with his collar covering the lower half of his face, said solemnly, "During the stage when you mastered the Assassin potion, did you harm any innocent people?"
"No."
Before Crestet finished speaking, Angel directly answered without the slightest hesitation.
Dark green eyes stared intently at Angel. Crestet remained silent for a long while, until the former nervously blinked, and only then did he relax completely, as if sighing with relief: "It seems you're telling the truth."
"What if I had lied?" Angel asked curiously, "If I had violated the oath just made, what punishment would I receive?"
"You wouldn't want to know."
Crestet said mysteriously.
I really do want to know! But you won't say, and Lady Daly won't say either...
Angel opened her mouth but ultimately didn't speak out.
Perhaps seeing the changing expressions on her face, Crestet's facial muscles twitched again, revealing an incomplete smile under the collar's cover. Then he picked up the silver metal case, stood up, walked to the long table that had been dragged to the corner, and opened the case lid with his back to Angel.
From his side, one could see the pure white light emitted by the bone sword.
After a moment, Crestet closed the metal case and took down the iron pot, pure water containers, and various auxiliary materials from the alchemy equipment table.
Angel stared blankly at this high-ranking deacon who, without potion main materials, casually grabbed several plant juices and herbal powders, putting them into the iron pot along with pure water.
Finally, with a "splash," he poured this mixture that had become an unidentifiable liquid into the drain.
"Congratulations, Nighthawk Angel Granger. You have successfully passed the Holy Church's examination. Now please take the potion and become a Sequence 8 Beyonder."
Putting down the iron pot, Crestet turned around and solemnly announced to Angel.
"Thank... thank you?"
Angel looked at this high-ranking deacon, then looked toward the "royal potion" in the iron pot.
Could he be... vouching for me, proving to the other Tingen Nighthawks that I had become an "Instigator" under his watch? Just as Daly said?
After understanding this point, Angel stood up from the high-backed chair, faced the "Sword of the Goddess," solemnly drew the crimson moon on her chest, and said:
"Praise the Goddess, and thank you, Your Excellency Cesima. I have successfully advanced."
"Praise the Goddess!" The latter nodded slightly. "There's still a little time left. If you have any questions, you can ask them now."
Why conceal the "acting method," what punishment comes from breaking the oath, how did the Church learn that I had already advanced to "Instigator"... Countless questions floated through Angel's mind, but she knew most questions wouldn't get answers here. Finally, she carefully chose one of them.
"The three questions you had me swear to answer—are these questions that every Nighthawk must answer when passing examination?"
"Of course not. Those belonged only to you." Crestet picked up the silver metal case and sat back in the high-backed chair, placing the case by his feet, then continued, "I had already heard about you when I was at the Holy Church. The 'Assassin' who joined the Nighthawks—when you submitted your special application, there was considerable opposition within the Church. Some believed that 'Witch' pathway acting would cause great harm to the Church and to society as a whole, thinking it was sufficient to keep you at Sequence 9."
Angel's eyes widened. She hadn't expected there to be such complex circumstances behind her advancement.
"But for a certain reason, and also due to my own will, the Holy Church ultimately let me examine you, adding those three questions beyond the regular procedures."
"Congratulations on passing the test."
The entire alchemy room fell into long silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Angel finally reacted, realizing the other party was waiting for her to continue asking questions.
"Then, the 'acting' you mentioned earlier, and the 'acting method' in the oath... does this refer to the kind of experience we summarized for quickly mastering potions?"
Seemingly not expecting the second question to be so simple, Crestet paused before answering: "That's right. It's a method explored and summarized by geniuses within the Church, generation after generation—a way to both avoid losing control and quickly master potions."
"By deconstructing potion names to understand their key rules, 'acting' as that kind of person minimizes the risk of losing control. Using the 'acting method,' your control over the potion is like 'digesting' food. When completely digested, when your belly is empty, you'll gain a wonderful, unique sensation. But I think you already know this."
It seems the Church's internal "acting method" is no different from what wild Beyonders privately pass down... Then why hide it from ordinary Nighthawks? Could it really be as Klein and I guessed—to prevent advancing too quickly, to prevent competition for limited potion resources?
Even Daly doesn't know. If I ask here, I probably won't get results either...
Angel pondered for a moment, as if digesting the new knowledge she'd heard, then nodded:
"Thank you, Your Excellency Cesima. I have no more questions."
"Very good. Then you may go up and tell your other teammates the good news of your successful advancement, and ask Mr. Klein Moretti to come down."
Crestet lifted his head slightly, revealing a rather pointed chin and thin, firm lips from behind the standing collar.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Angel took her leave peacefully, even thoughtfully closing the alchemy room door behind her.
In the corridor surrounded by gas lamps and dark holy emblems, she breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed she had safely passed the examination.
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