CHAPTER 403: CHAPTER 325: PROFANE! THE FORBIDDEN BOOK: GOSPEL OF HEAVEN_3

Byron and his companions immediately stepped forward to follow.

The [Mosquito Mage] hovered along, introducing the present situation of the order.

"BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ, currently, we have a total of eight Grand Wizards in the order, each leading their apprentice teams to research different directions of forbidden knowledge. At least three of them are usually present in the Sanctum. During the initiation of the ritual ’Heart of the Swarm,’ we mostly choose a variety of bloodsucking insects: mosquitoes, ticks, leeches, Tongueflies... and so on. The Grand Priestess [Leech Lady] is the strongest. Should you be promoted, Madam will probably grant you an audience..."

Just last year, the order went through an internal strife. After exterminating the Bloody Mary Faction with the "Touch of the Kraken," the number of Third Order Grand Wizards that remained could be counted on one hand. There was not a single Fourth Order among them. However, the Grand Priestess [Leech Lady]—a Third Order Beast Tamer and Third Order Grand Wizard—was the strongest and rightfully took the lead. Moreover, judging by her title, her gender identity seemed quite normal.

Upon hearing this, Byron glanced from the corner of his eye at [Swarm], who aspired to contest the position of Grand Priestess after achieving "full mastery of divine skills." Yet, he noticed that subtle spores had begun to spread from [Swarm]’s body. These Black Witches’ beastliness outweighed their divinity, making them more easily dominated by the desires of the "id." They couldn’t even wait a moment before starting to poison the Sanctum.

Byron did not concern himself with it. As long as it didn’t harm him personally, all ownership would immediately fall into his hands once he held more than 50% of the equity, regardless of individual will.

"Ah, and to these two ladies, whose beauty I have evidently overlooked—my apologies. Please, try the island’s Shampoo Fruit."

The [Mosquito Mage] leading the way did not notice his old friend [Swarm]’s subtle actions. With a gesture, a wisp of wind plucked several Shampoo Fruits growing on the trees along the road and delivered them to Violet and Jacqueline. Byron checked them for a moment using the [Nautical Logbook] and, finding no issues, nodded at them. Only then did the two girls thank the Grand Wizard and each take a bite.

Just as legend claimed, the physical transformation came quickly. The already pleasant, faint body scent of the two girls became richer, now imbued with unique, individual fragrances that were wonderfully refreshing. A few butterflies, appearing from nowhere, danced elegantly around them.

As for Byron, he inevitably smelled... the aroma of grilled squid.

Delicious! Truly delicious!

The fact that he suffered greatly from the [Social Clock] for not being married by eighteen still hadn’t taught this fellow a lesson. What a waste.

The minor interlude didn’t delay them for long.

As the group was about to enter the cave entrance of the Blood Source Secret Realm, Byron suddenly noticed a group of gray-robed apprentices exiting the cave.

Eh, who is that?

He was merely habitually using the [Nautical Logbook] to read the history of each person, so he could easily call them by name at their next meeting. It was precisely this ability that allowed Byron to thoughtfully "remember" information about nearly ten thousand individuals under his command: privateering pirates, Lancaster remnants, colonial officials, Navy soldiers, and more. This included names, birthdays, children, family relations, when they joined, notable deeds, and so on. During casual interactions in public, he would occasionally, and seemingly inadvertently, mention these details. This could instantly bring tears to the eyes of even his most stoic subordinates, stirring their hearts. They would subconsciously feel they were someone particularly special in the eyes of their Captain, Governor, or General. Even their loyalty would skyrocket. It was more effective than money for winning hearts and minds, and it never failed.

Ross, 20 years old, Wilderness Sequence First Order Beast Tamer, Forbidden Knowledge: Book of Giant Insects...

Reed, 19 years old, Wilderness Sequence First Order Beast Tamer, Forbidden Knowledge: Book of Giant Insects...

And this last one is...?

Just as he looked at the last person in this group of apprentices, a soft ’eh?’ escaped him internally. The last young man, though dressed in the same gray wizard’s robe as the others, yielded information that was starkly different:

Martin Griffiths, 17 years old, Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, Order of Sanctity First Order [Twilight Deacon]...

The vast difference in their Classes allowed Byron to see the information about him with perfect clarity. This young man was not a Beast Tamer, common to the "Book of Giant Insects" faction, nor a Gourmet, often found in the Bloody Mary Faction. He was a clergyman of the Church!

Could it be?

Byron’s spirits lifted instantly. He realized this young man might very well be a liaison sent by some significant figure or figures within the Church. The information that continued to materialize almost made him lose control of his expression.

Knowledge: Forbidden Book "Heaven’s Gospel". Derived from the daily meditations and prayers of those closest to God, it was pieced together over vast stretches of time from scattered fragments. Its lines brimmed with positive energy. Everyone who had read this book claimed to have received divine revelation, enabling detailed conversations with a specific angel in Heaven. However, the names of the angels they described were never repeated. The core ritual, [Angel’s Descent], allows one to draw angelic power into one’s body, slowly altering one’s flesh. This enhances adaptability to divine power and significantly boosts the promotion speed for various professions within the Order of Sanctity. After three such rituals, one could even gradually transform into a celestial being living in Heaven.

HISS—!

Seeing the description of this forbidden knowledge, Byron’s mind almost seized up.

The Church? Black Sorcery? Profanity! "Heaven’s Gospel," even among all forbidden books, is truly the forbidden within the forbidden. And this is forbidden knowledge from the Creator? You establish your own Religious Tribunals, instigate one witch hunt after another, and hunt Black Witches relentlessly, only to end up being Black Witches yourselves? Is that the game? How is this any different from the Bald Eagle Drug Enforcement Administration trafficking drugs themselves? So even you, who look so righteous, have betrayed your faith?!

When he saw the final piece of information on this Twilight Deacon: "’Eternal Life Plan’ test subject, No. 16."

The Decryption Rate of [Hidden: The Shadow Behind the Red and White Rose War, Influence 31] subsequently jumped from 82% to 89%!

It seemed he was just one thread short of connecting all the current leads.

But, to think that even clergy are studying witchcraft and eternal life, this is just too insane!

And Byron, his head spinning, couldn’t help but feel curious about the state of the Creator. All Transcendents knew that, aside from through the Church, the Seventh Order True God, The Bound Creator, had never directly manifested any miracles in the mortal world. Since those "Old Gods" had lost most of their divinity and become decaying corpses steeping in the Sea of Origin Matter. They were used by many Black Witches as knowledge-extraction devices, their mutilated Ladders of Glory and forbidden knowledge combined in an attempt to unify them, touch the divine realm, and achieve immortality.

Then what about the Creator? Did He remain within the world, or was He, like those Old Gods, also expelled beyond it? Why, apart from the Pope—the Creator’s spokesperson—had no pious believer ever heard His voice in prayer? Did the Pope know people were researching Black Sorcery, and what was his stance on it? Why, when influential figures, at least from the College of Cardinals, had begun to usurp God’s authority, had no divine punishment struck them down? Why...

Byron’s questions not only remained unanswered but also multiplied, leaving him increasingly bewildered.

So, when the [Mosquito Mage] announced they could begin, Byron eagerly led his men into the Blood Source Secret Realm.

He believed he would surely find some of the answers he sought there!