"Next Saturday, Earl Hall is hosting a ball. Ishmael, you promised me."
Archbishop Anthony smiled as he spoke to Silas.
"Uh, all right. I'll definitely be there."
Silas had already decided to conduct an investigation at the ball, so naturally he had no reason to refuse and readily agreed.
However, Anthony wasn't about to let him off that easily. Instead, he looked Silas up and down as though considering something.
"Ishmael, although this may be somewhat impolite, I still have to ask... Have you never attended a ball before?"
According to Ahab Ishmael's fabricated background, he came from the Kingdom of Deep Darkness and was a specially trained member of an elite department... Regardless of whether Anthony actually believed that story, their interactions over this period had made one thing obvious.
Ishmael normally paid little attention to etiquette and couldn't even manage the restrained subtlety expected of Loen's upper class.
"I have."
Silas thought for a moment before answering. He had once attended a ball with members of the Loen and Feysac royal families while serving as Miss Audrey Hall's bodyguard.
"Then how familiar are you with the procedures of a ball, the etiquette of social interaction, and the dance steps?"
"...I'm a clergyman. Do I really need to dance?"
"Of course you do."
Anthony looked at his unconcerned expression with some helplessness.
If he didn't even know how to dance, there was no need to ask about the related etiquette and conduct.
If Anthony simply brought him straight to the ball and he ended up making some embarrassing mistake, it would be awkward for everyone involved...
"How about this? Today is Sunday, so there are still six days before the ball."
The archbishop's expression turned serious as he said to Silas, "Ishmael, from now until then, you'll need to set aside some time every day to study the relevant lessons... I don't expect you to master everything. At the very least, you mustn't embarrass yourself through poor etiquette at the ball."
"All right. I'll follow your arrangements, Archbishop."
Silas answered indifferently.
Truthfully, he disliked all the tedious and pointless formalities of Loen's nobility.
They considered themselves superior to everyone else and constantly competed over every little thing, but in reality, they were merely empty inside and relied on material displays to prove their own respectability.
He had already made up his mind. The moment he entered the ball, he would make himself psychologically invisible.
That would keep people from bothering him and make it easier to investigate anything unusual within noble circles.
"Then I'll take my leave."
After exchanging a few more perfunctory words with Anthony, Silas finally left the archbishop's prayer room.
"Your Excellency Ishmael."
A large number of Red Gloves were waiting outside.
They had been working nonstop since the operation began yesterday. After arresting the criminals at the scene, they had sealed off the area, gathered evidence, conducted preliminary interrogations, and then used the resulting testimony to pursue other cultists connected to the network...
Fortunately, they were Sleepless.
Unfortunately, they were Sleepless.
From yesterday morning through the night and into today, not a single one of them had been able to sleep or rest.
And after working this hard, naturally they hoped their efforts would be recognized.
Thinking of this, Silas looked at them. A rare trace of a smile appeared on his usually cold face.
"Archbishop Anthony is very pleased with us."
He continued, "This operation can be considered a complete success. Everyone's contributions will be recorded, and you'll receive the corresponding rewards afterward."
At that assessment, the crowd couldn't help cheering.
After working without sleep or rest for so long, their efforts had finally paid off!
After a burst of excited noise, the crowd eventually quieted down. In unison, they traced the shape of the crimson moon over their chests and said,
"Praise the Goddess."
Their desire for Beyonder powers aside, their faith was indeed genuine.
Otherwise, why would they risk their lives fighting powerful enemies?
"Mm. Praise the Goddess."
The sight stirred something within Silas. For the first time, he traced the gesture over his chest with a measure of sincerity and softly joined them in prayer.
The next moment, the Black Knight potion within him suddenly digested a portion of itself.
Just as I thought...
Silas's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he understood that part of his theory had been correct.
Just as the literal meaning of Black Knight implied, when he acted as part of the fighting force of the Goddess who represented darkness, crusading against Her enemies like a knight in Her service, his actions aligned with the potion's name. That was why it had digested to this extent.
Following this logic, if he continued serving as a Deacon and fighting the Church's enemies, the potion would digest further.
However, Silas felt that this level of acting alone wouldn't be enough to completely digest the potion.
He needed to truly understand what the word "knight" represented.
Only then would he have a chance of fully digesting the potion as quickly as possible.
Queens Borough, inside Earl Hall's villa.
"You've already become a Sequence 7 Psychiatrist?"
Islant asked in surprise.
Officially, she was Audrey's private tutor. In reality, she was Audrey's contact within the Psychology Alchemists.
"Yes."
Audrey smiled faintly as she answered.
"That's really... incredibly fast."
Islant spoke with genuine feeling.
Although she had been a member of the Psychology Alchemists for quite some time, she was still only a Sequence 8 Telepathist. Audrey had surpassed her in only a few months and was continuing to advance.
At that thought, a trace of envy, even jealousy, couldn't help flashing through her eyes.
It must be nice... Hmm?
Islant suddenly felt as though someone was watching her, as if someone had seen that brief flash of jealousy.
She abruptly lowered her head.
"Ha, ha..."
Beneath the two women's seats, the large golden retriever Susie was innocently panting with her tongue hanging out. When she noticed Islant looking at her, she tilted her head slightly as though puzzled.
"What's wrong, Miss Islant?"
Audrey reached out with her fair, delicate fingers and gently combed through the golden retriever's fur as she asked.
"Nothing. I suppose it was just my imagination."
Islant came back to herself and shook her head.
"I see."
Audrey's expression didn't change, but the hand stroking Susie's head secretly pressed down a little harder.
She was reminding Susie not to observe others so directly, especially when the other person was also a Beyonder of the Spectator Pathway. Their senses in this regard were naturally far more acute.
If Islant learned that Audrey's pet was the same Sequence as she was, who knew whether she would suffer a complete breakdown.
Fortunately for her, she knew nothing about it and continued teaching Audrey psychology along with some mystical knowledge.
"All right, let's return to the lesson and continue with today's material."
During the lesson, Islant suddenly remarked in an apparently casual manner,
"When I came in, I noticed that a lot of servants around the estate were busy with preparations."
"Yes."
Audrey replied, "My father is hosting a ball next week and has invited a number of guests."
As she said this, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
Why is Islant asking me about that... Should I try to draw out what she's really after...?
"Oh, I see."
However, Islant showed no intention of asking anything further.
As though she didn't care at all, she simply continued with the lesson, making it seem as if her earlier question truly had been nothing more than a casual remark.