Order of the Deep.
After three consecutive days of contact and who knows how many Laurel Sprout Salads eaten together, Phoebe finally managed to bring Cartethyia, who was unwilling to get involved in the Order's affairs, to the Order.
"The Flying Ragunna People... Such a wonderful play was actually banned, and there are rules prohibiting civilians from performing at the Carnival... These harsh doctrines should all be cut!"
A full hundred unreasonable doctrines, all of which were rules set during the time when Leviathan controlled Ragunna.
Cartethyia slapped the thick doctrines onto the table. Below her were a group of trembling Order bishops.
She came to the Order today for only three things: revise the doctrines, revise the doctrines, and still revise the doctrines!
"Miss Cartethyia..."
One archbishop spoke weakly, but before he could finish, Phoebe beside him promptly corrected him:
"Bishop Dom, during work, you must use the proper title."
"Yes, Saintess."
Hearing this title from the mouth of an Order member made Cartethyia frown slightly, but she said nothing. After all, she had already promised Phoebe to help revise the doctrines.
With the Order currently without a leader, the Saintess naturally held the highest position. Cartethyia immediately ordered:
"Delete all the doctrines I proposed above. For the rest, you can revise them as you see fit. After revisions are done, Phoebe will report to me, and I will personally review them."
As soon as she finished speaking, the bishops' expressions varied—some were happy, some were worried.
When Ludovic was revising the doctrines before, they could still pressure him, but now that the Saintess was leading the revision, they had no moves left.
If you dared to question the Saintess, she could immediately slap you with the label of being disloyal to the Sentinel, and you'd be done for.
Cartethyia: I can summon your faith to bring down heavenly sounds. You'd better be able to do the same.
A major matter handled in a small meeting—the short meeting that could decide Rinascita's future ended. Phoebe followed Cartethyia as they left the Order.
"By the way, there's also that one rule prohibiting Order members from having close contact with Echoes. It's too absurd. Phoebe, later inform the Order people to cut this one as well."
Hearing this, Phoebe was overjoyed and quickly nodded:
"Everything will follow the Saintess's will."
"Once we leave the Order, just call me Cartethyia."
Seeing Phoebe hesitate to speak, Cartethyia smiled generously:
"What do you want to say? Just say it directly. The friend of the Laureate is my friend."
"Well..." Phoebe stammered:
"There's still one doctrine that requires priests to consume Laurel Sprout daily..."
"Hmm?"
Cartethyia raised an eyebrow:
"Is there a problem?"
"No... no problem."
Phoebe didn't dare say more and hurriedly changed the subject:
"Saint... Miss Cartethyia, what are your plans afterward?"
"The high tide period in Septimont is coming soon. I plan to head to Septimont to find the Laureate and also help deal with the Dark Tide matters there."
Before the previous leader Fenrico passed away, he left behind a lantern and warned the Order's people to connect and ascend together in order to find a way to salvation from future crises.
This message was somewhat too profound. Although Cartethyia didn't fully understand it, she still decided to follow it.
The first step of connection would begin by rebuilding good relations between Ragunna and Septimont.
"I'll go to Septimont with Miss Cartethyia."
The voice beside her pulled Cartethyia out of her thoughts. She refused without hesitation:
"No. You stay behind."
"Huh?"
Phoebe was confused. In the next second, her chubby little face was pinched by Cartethyia's raised hand.
Looking up, she saw Cartethyia gazing down with a faint, inexplicable smile:
"I heard... the Laureate used to pinch your face like this. The texture really is nice. However, as a member of the Order, it's better to maintain a certain distance from the opposite sex."
...
Septimont.
[Main Quest: Rust, Sword and the Sun has been activated.]
[Quest Description: While waiting for news from the Ephor's Palace, you and Abby encounter a blind wandering poet in the Blazing Sun Tavern... Status error. Quest terminated.]
[Main Quest: Rust, Sword and the Sun has been canceled.]
"Damn Fractsidus!"
Inside the Blazing Sun Tavern, Noah cursed loudly and then fiercely bit into his steak.
Previously in Jinzhou, killing Scar had caused his main quest Blade's Edge in the Courtyard to be canceled. This time, killing Cristoforo caused the main quest Rust, Sword and the Sun to be canceled as well.
One main quest meant 20 Radiant Tide + 10 Lustrous Tide + 1600 Astrite, which equaled 40 pulls.
Two of them meant 80 pulls.
A full soft pity's worth of pulls was gone. For him, who was already short on Astrite, this was undoubtedly a massive loss.
Painful. Too painful.
Especially since this main quest was one of Noah's favorite commissions when he used to play as a substitute liver. As long as he kept skipping, it could be finished in one minute, as easy as picking up money.
Skipping was skipping, but he still knew the content of the main quest.
It was about before the Septimont Hunting Grounds opened. While Rover and Abby were eating, they "happened to encounter" the character Neso created by Cristoforo.
Through Neso, Rover and Abby learned about Ephor Augusta's past—a very inspiring story.
Augusta, a countryside girl with very ordinary Resonance abilities, came to Septimont after her hometown was destroyed by the Dark Tide. She became a gladiator, overcame countless difficulties, became the gladiatorial champion, and gradually rose to become the Ephor.
However, because Cristoforo was already dead, this main quest lacked the key character "Neso" and naturally could not continue.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Noah took another fierce bite of his steak:
"Damn Fractsidus, authentic damn Fractsidus!"
"Excuse me, sir."
A simply dressed man sat down in the seat opposite Noah's table and naturally struck up a conversation:
"I just heard you say... damn Fractsidus?"
"Of course. If I don't call it damn Fractsidus, should I praise it instead?"
Hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared on the man's face.
No, what did the Fractsidus do to you?
"The Grand Architect of the Fractsidus is even more of a beast among beasts."
No, what did I do to you?
Being cursed to his face for the first time—this experience was a first in his long life. The man found it rather amusing and proactively asked:
"Do you have a big grudge against that Fractsidus Grand Architect?"
"Not really."
After calming his emotions a little, Noah felt it wasn't appropriate to lose his composure in front of a stranger and casually explained:
"Actually, I haven't even met that Fractsidus Grand Architect yet. I simply hate the Fractsidus, so I hate him by association too—Eh, you seem to know about the Fractsidus as well?"
"As for knowing them, I do indeed know them quite well."
The man laughed heartily. As the Grand Architect of the Fractsidus, there was probably no one in the world who understood the Fractsidus better than him.
He already admired Noah and didn't mind telling him about the Fractsidus's past first.
"The Fractsidus was founded earlier than the Black Shores, even earlier than the Sentinel. At that time, the Fractsidus was actually called the Star Group—an organization dedicated to continuing civilization and fighting against The Lament."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a trace of surprise appear on the other party's face.
"Interesting." Noah curled the corner of his mouth: "Continue."
"From the Grand Architect and supervisors above, down to every craftsman below, every member of the Fractsidus is someone who has received despair and thirsts for power."
"In order to truly fight against The Lament, the Fractsidus united all forces and continuously sought the gates leading upward, intending to obtain a true method to save civilization."
Listening to the man's detailed account, Noah actually nodded in deep agreement, a thought rising in his mind.
He didn't sense Phrolova's Resonance power from the other party's body, and it was even less likely to be a character created by Cristoforo. Then there was only one possibility...
The Fractsidus Grand Architect also wanted to imitate Phrolova and use a clone to get closer to him.
But the same trick wouldn't work a second time.
He raised his hand and pressed it on the man's shoulder, silently switching to the Jinhsi character:
"So I wronged the Fractsidus. I didn't expect their path to align so closely with mine. I suddenly really want to understand this organization. Do you know their address?"
"I'm afraid I don't know that."
The man smiled and calmly shook off Noah's hand. He stood up from his seat and politely bid farewell:
"Mr. Noah, to be honest, I came specifically for you today. However, this brief interaction and your performance have left me somewhat disappointed."
"..." Noah was instantly rendered speechless.
Bro, what does your disappointment have to do with me?
He wanted to speak but stopped, then stopped but wanted to speak again. Finally, he squeezed out four concise words:
"Er shou ji hu?"
"What does that mean——"
"Are you sick in the head?"
The man pondered for a moment, understood the meaning, and his breathing grew heavy.
He got cursed again!
"Hehehe, quite sharp-tongued. We will meet again. I hope next time you can give me a surprise."
After taking a deep look at Noah, the man turned and walked toward the entrance of the Blazing Sun Tavern.
He had only taken a few steps when a greeting suddenly came from behind:
"Schwarzloch!"
Hmm? Who is calling my name? The man subconsciously turned his head.
In the next instant, the world around him seemed frozen. The originally noisy tavern fell completely silent. Only four clear words entered his ears—
"Celestial Court Radiance!"
Blinding white light instantly swallowed him.
...