Just then, the village headman spoke up. "Everyone, I have a guess."
Cyno stepped forward and knocked Zaki and the other two unconscious.
The headman continued, "I believe that mysterious person is from the Akademiya."
"Previously, people from the Akademiya tried to take these Village Guardians away, but I refused. Now that I think about it, their goal was the same as that mysterious person's."
Dehya said, "So the Akademiya deliberately spread false rumors to trick the radicals into delivering the Village Guardians to them."
"Hmph. They dumped these people here on their own accord, and now they want them back? We won't let them do whatever they please."
Lumine said, "When we were in Sumeru City, we also heard from Setaria that the rumors about King Deshret's resurrection were spread by the Akademiya."
[Paimon: But these scholars have already gone mad. What use could they possibly be?]
[Dehya: I can't figure it out either. Without the help of Aaru Village's villagers, most of these mad scholars would starve to death. They can't even take care of themselves, let alone be put to work. What value could such people have?]
[Ningguang: Perhaps they do have value. We just don't know what it is yet.]
[Keqing: That value must have emerged suddenly. Otherwise, the Akademiya wouldn't be acting this way.]
[Lumine: Yes. That value must have appeared only recently.]
[Alhaitham: Then their purpose is obvious—the birth of a god.]
[Paimon: Why do you say that?]
[Alhaitham: A god is about to be born, and mad scholars are suddenly needed again. The two events are practically connected. I'm afraid those mad scholars won't meet a good end.]
[Cyno: They have no sanity, no work. The only thing of value they have is their lives.]
[Paimon: So they're all going to die?]
[Alhaitham: Yes. That's the most likely outcome.]
Cyno was furious. "The Akademiya again."
Dehya raised a question. "Then what exactly are they taking those Village Guardians for?"
Cyno offered his guess. "The Akademiya has always treated people as tools. This change is most likely because they've found a new use for them."
"Regardless, the priority now is to find the Village Guardians."
Candace nodded. "Yes. Isak is still waiting for news of his grandfather..."
The group quickly divided up the tasks. Lumine and Paimon also decided to go out and look for clues.
As soon as they stepped outside, Lumine and Paimon saw Alhaitham reading a book.
Paimon was taken aback. "Where did you come from?"
Without even looking up, Alhaitham replied calmly, "As you can see, I'm just sitting here doing some deductions."
Paimon said, "You've been gone for so long, and now you suddenly show up to use your brain? That's strange. Where have you been?"
Alhaitham didn't answer.
Paimon put her hands on her hips and demanded, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Alhaitham said, "You never seem to think before asking questions. I'm giving you time to make up for it."
[Paimon: I feel personally attacked from across the screen.]
Paimon fumed, "Ugh! That's infuriating! I'm going to give him a mean nickname."
Lumine looked at Paimon and nodded. "Go ahead. I support you."
But Paimon hesitated for a while and couldn't come up with anything. She finally gave up. "Ugh, this guy doesn't have any obvious traits. It's hard to summarize him."
[Cyno: I have an idea. 'Bookworm' would be a fitting name.]
[Alhaitham: That sounds like something a fool would come up with.]
[Cyno: Who are you calling a fool?]
[Alhaitham: Only a fool would think I'm a bookworm.]
[Cyno: Aren't you?]
[Alhaitham: You'll change your mind soon enough.]