The seasons transitioned leisurely beyond the Anberxal Harbor, the increasingly dense forest began to cover the green hills, and the excavation work outside the harbor couldn’t completely hide the news. Ever since the craftsmen wizard from Bujia left, rumors about the Sky Blue Spear began to spread.
"Truly a troublesome autumn."
Wood rubbed his temples, staring at a sheet of letter paper on the mahogany table. The paper was snow-white, a premium product from the eastern Cruz, near the forest border of Clover Field. The corner of the letter still had a faint scorching scent, a unique trace left by magical fire. This imprint, before it was erased, should have been four pairs of spread-eagle wings, representing the Flame Temple—or rather, the highest-level confidential document of the Cruz Empire.
He raised his head, sitting by the mahogany table for a while, his gaze under the thick eyebrows momentarily seemed a bit ethereal as he stared at the opposite wall. Then, in the hands of this former Great Priest of the Temple, suddenly a golden flame ignited. With a slight shake of his hand, the letter paper, charred into charcoal, instantly turned into a fly-ash.
Wood carefully tidied up the ashes on the table, then stood up straight, arranging his golden priest robe. The message on the secret letter confirmed the recent rumors circulating in the harbor, but in fact, he had already been informed of all this information from the young Count of Tonyger.
The Erune did not intend to hide it from him, or at least they did not intend to conceal the surface facts—the Sky Blue Spear indeed existed in Ampezel. But it was meaningless because the Bujia had already transported it away beforehand.
Wood’s expression was uncertain, his mind repeatedly pondering the information contained in this event. It was unclear whether it was the decisiveness of that young Erune Princess or the extraordinary brilliance of that young Earl, but the benefits they gained from the Sky Blue Spear in exchange from the Bujia were already very obvious.
He couldn’t help but look back, casting his gaze out the window. Outside was the shallow red undulating rooftops of Ampezel Harbor, with emerald vines cascading down the glass, dividing the sunlight spilling over the mahogany table into peculiar shapes.
This was truly a vibrant city, but it no longer belonged to the Flame Temple.
Wood actually didn’t have much feeling about this matter; the Temple made a mistake and ought to pay the price. The key is, at least this kingdom still believes in the path of the Golden Flame. Their populace hasn’t deviated from the reverence for the Flame Temple. In terms of secular interests, Wood never really minded too much.
But what truly worried him was within the Temple—not really, it should be said it’s the Empire’s higher ranks’ covetousness for the Sky Blue Spear. Greed blinds people’s minds, especially so for that group of nobles. Even for himself, he’s severely affected.
But according to the letter’s wording, even His Majesty the Emperor himself seemed to be moved. After all, it’s the Sky Blue Spear, the most famous weapon in the Poem of the Blue. At this level, it’s no longer something he can change. In his former position as a Great Priest, he might have thought of some methods, but now it’s no longer something he can worry about; he can only hope that those holding power within the Flame Temple can be a bit more rational and see clearly the true teachings of the King of Flames.
He sighed, took the Chief Priest’s cap, and placed it on his head, then opened the door. The knights loyal to the Temple were already waiting outside, and his deputy—not the previous monk from Ju’ai, since taking the position as the liaison of the Flame Temple with the Erune Royal Family, his deputy had been replaced with a more savvy officer. That person must have been from the Empire’s core diplomatic institutions before, as Wood could easily tell from his attire, the habits shown in gestures—a person named Peter, extremely slick. He immediately lowered his head deeply upon seeing Wood, his bald head reflecting light, and greeted respectfully, "Lord Chief Priest, is it regarding the Holy Sword Odefies?"
Wood glanced at him as if trying to see through this guy, then calmly replied, "This is the Temple’s secret; I will tell you if necessary."
"I understand," Peter replied with a smile.
Wood looked back; the fragment of the Holy Sword Odefies lost by Williams in the Battle of Ampezel itself wasn’t that important. The Temple agreed to exchange a new model of escort ship for the Holy Sword’s fragment with Brand, but the key was the will and soul of the Holy Sword.