The abolition of the Grain Act... the unification civil service examination... concessions that introduce church influence into the military—these all appear to align with the current trends. Yet at their core, they represent a systematic weakening and suppression of the aristocracy, fostering a new social stratum. Compared to the established governance model that had prevailed for over a thousand years, this truly constitutes a departure from the norm—an order that is precisely what is needed to achieve the rise of the Black Emperor. "Also, Bernadette has been in Beckland for several months now, and she's come frequently before that too... 'Well, mainly, the asymmetric aesthetics of the Quaternary empires have shaped my perception—what I used to see as unusual or even odd, I now understand as peculiar, even counter-natural orders. Now that I reflect on it, what exactly is 'normal'? Isn't it simply the state of affairs people have grown accustomed to, one that doesn't directly challenge their survival instincts? From tribes to states, from feudalism to republics—haven't all of these developments actually deviated from what was considered normal at the time? Isn't it no surprise that so many people long to return to the past?' " "The terms 'old guard' and 'the young ones' really capture the essence of the issue... It seems that, as long as the gods don't intervene, the reforms the 'Black Emperor' needs will inevitably take place—only differing in timing. The tide of history rolls on relentlessly; it's truly hard to stop. Amun's brother is indeed a powerful and formidable writer. The 'Blood Emperor's' ancestral site must conceal a tomb resembling a pyramid, one that, according to ritual requirements, must be restored through mobilizing the people—thus explaining the disappearances in the eastern district and the overseas slave trade. As the war progresses to a certain stage, the kingdom will organize large-scale public participation in rituals, citing prayers for victory or nationwide mourning for fallen soldiers. Ah, years ago, the royal house of Roon had already secured the crown of the Baylan Empire, linking the title of king with that of emperor. What a well-conceived strategy!" Awakened by the concerns of the "Red Angel" spirit, Caine's spirit tightened instantly, and a flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind, along with new questions arising. He gazed at the slender, young, pale "Gatekeeper" across from him, carefully stating: "King George III wishes to become the 'Black Emperor' directly? Yet he hasn't even reached Sequence 4 yet..." Even if he could assume an earlier role to enhance his innate abilities and mitigate the impact of the mental imprints from the elixir, Caine didn't believe a Sequence 5 could directly ascend to divinity—unless he were exceptionally fortunate and seized an extremely slim chance of success. Such fortune wasn't merely sufficient—it was something far more profound, symbolizing fate itself. The "Mercury Serpent" spirit, Will Aonsetin, even hesitated to swallow the very dice of probability, having to carefully seek out ways to accommodate it. Upon hearing this, the "Red Angel" spirit chuckled: "How do you know that King George III has only reached Sequence 5? "How can you be sure that the George III being examined is the genuine George III? Couldn't he have been invented entirely, or even transformed into a 'Faceless One' of angelic rank?" "These are indeed very difficult feats, yet for a person of obsessive determination, they all fall well within the scope of his capabilities and resources." "I suspect George III is an official member of the secret organization founded by us as the 'Red Rose of Redemption.' His true nature might already be of angelic rank—ah, I wouldn't find it surprising at all if He reached Level 1." ...That's what the Emperor Roscel said—the members of that ancient secret organization were figures so extraordinary that, together, they could accomplish anything beyond merely opposing the Seven Divine Churches. Indeed, even the task of making a nation's king possible? Well, after all, the Emperor himself had become the sovereign of the Indis later on. An obsessive visionary—this is the 'Red Angel' spirit's assessment of his brother Amun?" Though this clearly leans rather extreme, with a strong subjective bias, it does have a certain merit—after all, nicknames aren't given arbitrarily. Klein caused the secret figure to slightly furrow his brow, saying, "You seem to have effortlessly uncovered the truth of this matter. Yet why haven't the Church of Night, the Church of Storm, and the Church of Steam actually detected anything substantive, despite being aware of the issue all along? "They surely know just as much about the 'Black Emperor' as you do." After all, the Churches of Night and Storm have historically supported the Tudor-Trenzostostian Imperial Union! The Red Angel spirit then smiled wryly, studying Daven Tanthès and his personal servant closely: "How old are you? "Why are you still so naive and childlike? "The Six Deities and the Six Divine Churches aren't always synonymous—information known by the Six Deities isn't always passed down to the angels and saints below. "Seeing Doun Tangtai still frowning, unable to comprehend," the malevolent spirit known as the "Red Angel" gave another soft "hey" and said, "Believe me, both what I just said and what I'm about to say are clearly designed to stir up discord and tarnish the image of the Six Deities—though you can judge for yourself whether these words are truly accurate. Let me put it this way: regarding the ambition of someone becoming the 'Black Emperor,' the Six Deities—well, actually, the Seven—have a rather ambivalent and often self-contradictory stance. More precisely, they welcome the emergence of a mentally sound 'Black Emperor,' but they prefer that it be the one they themselves have championed. Therefore, they don't offer the churches very specific revelations; instead, they allow them to follow normal procedures—punishing them if they can be identified as falling short, and simply letting things develop if they cannot. Of course, during this process, it's possible that one or more of the Deities might wish to cause some disruption, though not in a direct or obvious way, since such efforts would inevitably be thwarted by the others. Without grasping this nuanced attitude, how could King George "Well, now that the war has broken out, he's weathered the crisis and can patiently wait for future opportunities." Clary immediately recalled the incident where the surprise attack on the "Blood Emperor's" sanctuary had prematurely leaked its details. For a moment, he was uncertain whether to suspect that one of the senior figures among the Three Churches belonged to an ancient, secret organization, or whether a divine being had personally alerted Amun's brother—should it be the latter, then the god of Storm could be ruled out. After a moment of thoughtful reflection, Clary hesitated and asked: "So, as long as nothing unexpected happens afterward, will George III undergo the divine consecration ceremony? And if all goes smoothly, and he withstands the counter-effects of the elixir, will he ascend to the throne of the 'Black Emperor'?" "Tell me now," said Crane, just as he was about to say "Of course." Suddenly, he remembered the warning made by Lady Arianna, the "Servant of the Hidden": "Some things—knowing more of them makes you more susceptible, infecting your body and soul, until eventually you become an angel, only then to seek the specific answers." As his thought flickered, Crane let the secret automaton offer a slight, gentle smile. "Then perhaps we'll leave it at that." "Well, you were on the verge of dying from curiosity and sheer foolishness," said the "Red Angel" spirit, shaking his head with a touch of regret. He then glanced out the window and said, "If there's nothing else, you may now go." "Very well," said Crane, standing the automaton up and raising his right hand. At that moment, the "Red Angel" spirit, half reclined and half leaning, suddenly asked, "I always have this feeling—had I struck you earlier, you wouldn't have been helpless, would you?" Of course, you wonder why I chose "Flame Leap" instead of simply "Teleporting"? That was to conceal the subtle sound of the thousand paper cranes inside my pocket catching fire! Thus, the gaze of "Fate's Serpent," Will Aunscite, will fall silently upon me. Should anything go amiss, He will summon the "Reenactment of Yesterday" incantation—how else could He interact with beings of your level, unless he were both cautious and deliberate, ensuring his hidden maneuvers remain undetected? Klein didn't directly answer the "Red Angel" demon's question; instead, he smiled, indicating agreement. The plump infant rubbed its eyes, murmuring silently, "For a child, Beckett is simply too hard to live in!"... At 39 Berkland Street, the pre-arranged Klein met the Member of Parliament, Mahert, who was heading toward the West District. "You're not going to Morgenburg Manor, are you? I also intend to send Liana and Hefour to the Deer Manor." Mahert gently pressed his eyes. Such lingering effects—when would they ever fade away... Klein withdrew his gaze, sighed, and said, "I need to stock up on weapons for the manors, so I've come to you for help. Also, if you have any access to food supplies, could you help me procure some as well?" "In his view, the common people simply couldn't stockpile food because they had no money at all—perhaps only enough for a few days' supply. Thus, his own purchases wouldn't affect them in the short term. Once food shortages began, he could then, through Miss Audrey, donate the excess. Before the temporary food rationing legislation was introduced, he wouldn't stockpile, and others with means would too—many of them might not even donate. "That's settled," the Member of Parliament Mahert replied without hesitation. Klein didn't ask about prices, as he had already provided the housekeeper, Tania, with a generous sum of 5,000 gold pounds for these expenses. Of course, once the 'Red Angel' spirit learned of both the confirmation that Chalat was in Beckett and that Daven Thonstad was indeed equal to Germán Spáro, he had already decided to stay away from the Rosewood manor, opting instead to assume a new identity, so as not to compromise the innocent involved." As for excuses, they are simply things taught by the night—arranged to be done, with a prolonged absence, and if charitable activities require your cooperation, please follow Miss Audrey's instructions.