As he asked, the abstract, painting-like Astral World around them was cleared. The God of Steam and Machinery used His own symbols to obscure this area, and in His words, no longer hesitated to continue with a hint of warning:
"The Mother Goddess of Depravity caused the deepest impact on the Earth Mother by inciting the Brood Hive, but the Evernight Goddess, who holds the Moon Uniqueness, was already attempting to accommodate the Death Uniqueness, so Her condition isn't much better due to this interference."
"After that, Badheil secretly tried to contact Me. If he did so with Me, then it's even more likely with Aucuses, who is already hostile to the Storm. It won't be long before Intis officially declares war on Loen."
Feeling the change in order around him, Aaron glanced at the nearby Astral World. He had some expectations for the God of Combat's reaction, so he wasn't surprised. He looked back at the God of Steam and Machinery and said meaningfully:
"Don't worry, the help I need won't make things difficult for you. After all, this is a 'popular' trend of the era."
"Since the God of Combat has extended an olive branch to you, why not go with the flow and make a pact with Him? You don't need to pay anything. In the current situation, maintaining neutrality is your biggest bargaining chip. As for what you can get from the God of Combat, that will be your extra reward."
Aaron's suggestion clearly exceeded the God of Steam and Machinery's expectations. He took a deep look at the eloquent Aaron, and emphasized, reminding him:
"Is this your intention? Or Amanises's intention?"
Aaron did not dwell on this question. He smiled and retorted playfully: "Does it matter?"
"You don't have a competitive relationship with the gods, and maintaining neutrality is the safest decision for you. Anyway, the winner takes all in the end."
Looking at the silent God of Steam and Machinery, who seemed to be deep in thought, Aaron paused, remembering an unintentional hint from Arrodes the magic mirror, and then asked:
"Do you know that Archbishop Horamick Haydn of the Backlund Diocese is a member of the Twilight Hermit Order?"
The God of Steam and Machinery nodded slightly, a faint smile gracing His expressionless puppet face:
"After Roselle's matter, I have been paying attention to this organization. Horamick joined at that time according to My oracle, and Adam acquiesced to My probing."
Aaron nodded in understanding, then added:
"Since that's the case, I need you to give Horamick an oracle, instructing him to contact the Augustus Royal Family as a member of the Twilight Hermit Order."
"He only needs to inform George III of the situation in the Astral World and the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery's willingness to support Him in achieving Black Emperor status as soon as possible. The rest will be handled by others for us."
After weighing it for a moment, the God of Steam and Machinery agreed to Aaron's proposal. It seemed that due to other considerations, He was no longer urgent about hunting the Hidden Sage. Amidst the turning gears, His dignified and mellow voice resonated:
"I will fulfill your request. In addition, I will give you this avatar. When you deem the time ripe, it will lead you to the Hidden Sage!"
The mechanical puppet reverted to its most basic particulate structure, shrinking along with the numerous symbols diffused at the edge of the Astral World, disappearing into the triangular holy emblem originally embedded in its hollow chest.
Aaron glanced at the triangular holy emblem that had floated autonomously before him. Naturally, he wouldn't store it in the Nation of Disorder. The Star Crown above his head radiated starlight, and the divine descent avatar was contained within the extra-dimensional space opened by the Planeswalker authority.
Gazing at the distant barrier, Aaron eliminated his aura and quickly departed the Astral World.
-----------------
Backlund, the headquarters of the God of Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, Backlund Diocese, St. Serlan Cathedral.
Archbishop Horamick Haydn, dressed in a white priest's robe and wearing a cleric's soft hat, suddenly paused his action of turning a page. A hint of surprise flashed in the depths of his eyes. A dark, metal-gleaming muzzle appeared behind him, and surging airflow gushed out, pushing him towards the sealed area underground.
In just a few breaths, Horamick hovered high up on the second underground level, looking down at the exquisitely structured, intricately symbolic sealed compartments. His gaze fixed on the continuously rising light in the deepest part.
That was the core of St. Serlan Cathedral's seal, 0-19, the "Book of Knowledge"!
Horamick did not hesitate. The surging airflow instantly vanished. He knelt on one knee, drawing a triangular holy emblem on his chest. A moment later, he looked up again, his expression bewildered, at the now calm 0-19.
Taking a deep breath, Horamick left the puppet he had refined on the second underground level to continue guarding, while he quietly turned and left. Under the cover of night, he arrived at a hidden stronghold concealed in the Backlund Bridge area.
Almost the moment he arrived, a clear, cold female voice rang out:
"You shouldn't be here!"
Horamick stopped his action of pushing the door and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a lady in a black evening gown emerge from the shadows, her face obscured by a golden mask.
Looking at this demigod of the Augustus Royal Family, Horamick did not explain much. Under her somewhat wary gaze, he took out a scroll and threw it over.
The evening gown demigod frowned. With a point from a distance, she opened the scroll and saw a magnificent mountain range imprinted within, shrouded in solidified twilight. Countless palaces and towers were vaguely visible behind it, and the twilight glow came from a huge cross at the top of the mountain range.
"Please hand this to His Majesty George III. I wish to meet the true King."
Horamick didn't mind the sudden sharp gaze of the demigod opposite him, and added calmly:
"You cannot make decisions on this matter. Report it as soon as possible. I will wait for a reply here."
The painting he provided depicted the true dream realm he entered every time he attended the Twilight Hermit Order, and only members of this secret organization would understand its meaning.
The evening gown demigod snorted coldly, grabbed the scroll without a word, and with a wave of her hand, erased the distance, instantly disappearing into the shadows.
-----------------
In the adjacent South Backlund, inside the already-registered folk herbal medicine shop, the owl Harry, with his big round eyes, tilted his head, staring at the tall young man who walked out of the room. Feeling the mystical connection brought by the Beast Tamer potion, he spoke with some hesitation:
"Are you Darkwill?"
Ignoring the silly bird, Darkwill impatiently pulled out a mirror from the counter. Looking at his handsome and tall reflection in the mirror, he muttered to himself:
"I didn't expect advancing to Vampire would have this effect! The only flaw is that these blood-red eyes are too conspicuous…"
Before Darkwill could finish, Emlyn White, the Moon, with a face full of dark lines, walked out of the room right behind him and interrupted directly:
"Sanguine! I'll say it one last time, we are noble Sanguine! If you use those three words again, I guarantee I'll punch your face back to its original state."