After bidding farewell to the elderly library administrator in the front hall.

Guided by the administrator, Ronald and his two companions arrived at the second floor of the library.

Standing before the vast repository, the first thing that caught their eye was the shelving system — the way the shelves were numbered had a distinct local flavor.

At the top of each shelf in the Carpen Library, a piece of paper was affixed.

On it, horizontal and vertical lines and circles were clearly drawn.

A single vertical line represented number one, two vertical lines represented number two; up to number five, a horizontal line replaced the number five; and similarly, when five horizontal lines accumulated, they were replaced by a circle, thus following a standard base-five numbering system.

Although this base system might be a bit inconvenient compared to the decimal system,

it was sufficient to meet the needs of numbering, especially when the entire floor was divided into four regions: north, south, east, and west.

Following the librarian's reminder,

Ronald and his companions went around and quickly identified the mentioned area as the sixteenth shelf in the eastern section, with two horizontal and one vertical lines drawn on the paper at its top.

The three of them then began searching the shelves for books that might record history.

During this process,

Il developed a curious feeling about what lay before them:

"Boss, don't these books have the same writing as those over in Greed?"

"But I remember you saying during Phil's lessons that different regions should have significant differences in cultural history and written language?"

"Because we are still within the cultural radiation zone of the Latogeia continent." Ronald confidently provided an absolute answer to Il's curiosity, recalling his research in Springs, "Moreover, long ago in the Dark Age, the Casters acted without restrictions and integrated cultures within their regions, hence there are only about three or four common languages in this world."

Straightforwardly revealing the truth.

Ronald did not forget to add a few sentences to satisfy Il's imagination:

"Of course, if you insist on finding some unique languages, you could go further south, where on isolated small land masses, you might encounter entirely distinctive cultural systems."

Listening attentively to Ronald's detailed explanation, Il nodded thoughtfully:

"So that's how it is..."

"..."

Thus began the orderly search.

The Carpen Library indeed housed a vast and comprehensive collection. After a simple search on the shelf before them, Ronald and his companions found several travelogues dating back before the founding period of Eirene.

Finally, each of the three selected a few books and either stood or sat by the shelf, starting to flip through them in search of possible clues.

Just like that, time passed from morning to noon.

Under Ronald and his companions' diligent search, they studied most of the shelf's books that might have recorded the phenomenon.

However, the result was as the hospital director mentioned.

Some brief mentions did exist of that strange epidemic which came and went quickly.

But in terms of detailed records of the situation,

nothing substantial was truly found.

"..."

"Boss, maybe we should just give up?"

Faced with the situation, it was Il who first suggested giving up.

"I feel like we won't gain anything here; let's go out for lunch first! The street here has some interesting food!"

Hearing Il's complaint, Ronald almost replied with a darkened expression:

"Il, we are searching for this information for your safety!"

"I know." Seeing Ronald's face darken, Il quickly put down the book in her hand and leapt forward to hug Ronald's leg, pleading, "But it really feels hopeless searching like this."

"Besides, look at me, I'm fine, aren't I?"

"The thing is over now, let's just leave it in the past!"

Slam—

Ronald slapped Il lightly on the head.

"Il, be quiet, this is a library, no noise allowed!"

"Hey?"

"..."

As Ronald was scolding Il, the middle-aged man who had been reading downstairs came up upon hearing the noise.

After looking at the somewhat noisy Il and Ronald who was reprimanding her, he carefully recognized their appearances, his expression changed, and he approached them:

"Excuse me — are you Mr. Ronald?"

"Huh? Yes, I am!"

Ronald immediately responded.

His gaze flickered over the man who had proactively inquired.

He confirmed that the man was a well-dressed affluent figure, and he seemed to possess a faint Magic Fluctuation.

A Caster appearing in the library was naturally no issue.

Ronald mused over the man's identity.

The man, now respecting Ronald after confirming his identity, said:

"So it really is you!"

"Yesterday, the elders of our school told us a significant personage arrived at the port, and provided us with your photos. I didn't expect to be fortunate enough to see your majestic presence so soon!"

Ronald quickly waved his hand:

"You are too kind."

"I disembarked and have witnessed the city of Carpen, its numerous magnificences also left me in admiration."

"..."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the man named Aye proactively asked:

"By the way, Mr. Ronald."

"I saw you and your companions searching for books here but seemingly without success."

"In all honesty, I am a regular at this library. Perhaps I could offer you some assistance?"

A Caster who often visits the library? Such assistance was tantamount to a gift from above, and without hesitation, Ronald asked for help:

"It's like this, we're looking for records of an infectious disease circulating in the nearby area after the Dark Age but before the founding of the country of Eirene. In the documents we've searched, most only make brief mentions of that abruptly appearing and disappearing epidemic, without detailed records."

As he explained his predicament, Ronald simultaneously picked up a travelogue he found and immediately opened a section showcasing a relevant record:

"Look, it's this—"

"Let me see…"

The middle-aged Caster received the book and breezed through the brief text with a glance.

"This indeed is scantily recorded; I haven't seen it either…"

He confirmed what Ronald said was true.

Then Aye pondered for a few seconds before immediately delivering exciting news to Ronald:

"However, Mr. Ronald, I believe there is an elder in the library who might be able to offer you some assistance in this regard!"