Chapter 637 : Reply from the Mechanical Sanctum

Zoe ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍and Gaia both nodded in agreement. Next, the two of them would carry out the work handover and make various preparations.

Hughes ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ordered that intelligence regarding the Mechanical Sanctum, the Church of Candlelight, and even the Empire be delivered to them. Besides the two of them, Hughes also had to select a military officer to accompany them, who would simultaneously represent The Imperial Truth and observe the situation in person.

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for their original duties, Zoe was mainly responsible for civil affairs, still managing matters in Blood Harbor. Hughes planned to have Chloe temporarily take over. At most, it would just mean working some extra hours.

After ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, they were going to seek technical assistance to restore her body—those extra hours were entirely justified.

Gaia ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had originally been in charge of critical areas such as the military factory, but Hughes had already transferred her to a research and development post in advance. The handover would not be much of an issue.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍addition, preparations had to be made in advance for receiving the Delegation. If negotiations collapsed, they would have to resort to backup measures.

If The Imperial Truth and the Church could not reach an understanding, then let Castel’s Truth have a talk with them instead.

Besides that, Hughes also began expanding munitions production capacity.

Previously, the weapons and equipment had been supplied only to the Holy Guard. Now that an agreement had been reached with the Prince, the gap in production capacity had emerged.

After all, the Prince’s army numbers were nothing like those of Castel. Recruitment standards for the Holy Guard had always been extremely strict, so their total numbers remained limited.

The Prince, however, had mobilized the entire Principality of Tis. His concerns were fewer—he did not have as many construction demands. As long as the soldiers were taught the principles and usage of the weapons and avoided Cognitive Interference, that would suffice.

In fact, Castel’s current stockpile was considerable. Arming the Prince’s army alone would not pose a major problem. But Hughes still intended to make preparations. If the battle situation turned unfavorable, it would not become too troublesome.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Hughes was flipping through the military factory expansion report at his desk when his hands suddenly paused, and he stood up.

Through the Mind Link, the Banshees had sent him news—Erwin had returned.

Erwin had led a team to deliver the letter to the Mechanical Sanctum a few days earlier. Hughes had long grown impatient waiting. Upon hearing the good news, he immediately stepped out of the room.

“Ash, let’s head to the train station!”

Traveling west directly from Blood Harbor would have brought them closer to Rhine. But the Northlands were less than half a day’s journey from Blood Harbor. Therefore, Erwin had entered the Empire from the Grand Duchy of Octavia in the Northlands. Although it meant making a large detour, it was actually faster.

“That’s wonderful, Ash. Erwin finally came back. And from the Banshees’ report, everything seems to have gone smoothly. At the very least, everyone returned intact. Look—they’re over there!”

Erwin and his party had just stepped off the train. When he saw Hughes approaching, he smiled and greeted him.

“I have fulfilled the mission, my Lord. They agreed to our visit and even sent a formal invitation.”

Hughes raised an eyebrow and took the letter Erwin pulled from his bag. After Ash checked it and confirmed there was no issue, he simply opened it and began reading.

But as he read on, his brows gradually furrowed.

Erwin’s smile slowly faded. He stepped closer and asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong? Is there a problem with the letter?”

“There’s no problem. Let’s return and talk.” Hughes folded the letter and put it away, striding quickly toward the office with Erwin and Ash. “By the way, call Zoe and Gaia.”

Through the Mind Link, Ash directly contacted the Banshee on duty. By the time Hughes reached the office, Zoe and Gaia were already waiting at the door. After they entered, Hughes glanced at Ash, and she closed the door.

“This is the reply from the Mechanical Sanctum. Take a look first.”

Hughes handed over the letter.

They gathered around. After reading it, they exchanged glances. Zoe was the first to speak.

“My Lord, this… seems to be going very smoothly. The Mechanical Sanctum agreed to our visit. The wording is formal and friendly. Even the Pope of the Church of Candlelight will personally meet with us…”

“That’s exactly what’s wrong.” Hughes let out a cold laugh. His gaze swept across the room before settling on Gaia. “Gaia, it seems you already have some thoughts?”

“Just some guesses…” Gaia hesitated before speaking carefully. “I feel something isn’t right. You all know I am one of the Moths Chasing Fire. Although I’ve always stayed on the island, I’ve heard about the Church of Candlelight’s style of conduct.”

“They are extremely conservative regarding technology. Among the Four Great Churches, they are the most conservative. The Church’s entire philosophy revolves around sealing away dangerous technology and Extraordinary Power.”

“And our visit explicitly mentioned ‘technical exchange.’ According to the records within Moths Chasing Fire, that term alone would be enough to provoke hostility from the Church of Candlelight.”

“So it would be normal for them to oppose it—even respond with harsh language would align with their usual style. But now, not only are they supportive, even that Pope herself is coming personally… This isn’t normal.”

“So you think it’s a trap?”

“This…” Gaia’s face showed a trace of confusion. “It doesn’t quite seem like one either. Setting a trap and waiting for someone to walk into it isn’t really their way. Could it be that the Church has truly changed? That seems impossible…”

Hughes tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, narrowed his eyes, and thought for a moment. Then he raised his voice toward the door.

“Bring Chloe over!”

It did not take long before Ash entered the room holding Chloe’s Diary, placing it on the desk. Everyone’s gaze fell upon it.

〖H-Hey, what is it? I’ve been working overtime honestly these past few days. I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?〗

“Chloe, take a look at this letter first. Doesn’t this Church of Candlelight seem a bit strange?”

Chloe was the Chief of the Moths Chasing Fire. Unlike Gaia, who had always remained on the island, Chloe had truly dealt with the Church of Candlelight for a long time.

No—she had even been a nun of the Church of Candlelight. When Hughes had first arrived in Castel, she had managed a small chapel, conducting Mass for the local populace.

Back then, she had tried very hard to squeeze money out of Hughes. Later, when asked, she explained it had all been for the development of the Moths Chasing Fire. They had lived in constant displacement; their ways of earning money were limited. Extracting whatever they could from local lords was better than nothing.

Hughes had asked before—her identity in the chapel had been genuine. From the chapel itself to the verification of her identity, everything had been obtained from the Church of Candlelight.

It could be said that no one understood the Church of Candlelight better than Chloe. At least, that was true in Castel and Blood Harbor.

Chloe quickly finished reading the letter. She spoke decisively:

〖This isn’t right.〗

〖The Church of Candlelight would absolutely never do something like this. And you addressed it to the Mechanical Sanctum, didn’t you? Then how did the Church of Candlelight already know about it?〗

“What do you mean?”

〖I suspect that your letter never reached the Mechanical Sanctum at all!〗