Cyno bid farewell to the two merchants.
He activated the Akasha Terminal he carried with him.
The Akasha Terminal was a peculiar device.
It resembled a phone but lacked many of its functions, while the Akasha system was akin to a server.
In essence, the Akasha Terminal was a tool for accessing knowledge online, much like a browser.
Of course, not all knowledge was freely available—similar to academic clearance levels, only upon reaching a certain rank could one "unlock access to deeper realms of knowledge."
This wasn't a perfect analogy, but it was certain that the secrets of the Akademiya couldn't be freely accessed.
Beyond its browser-like function, the Akasha Terminal also had the capability to send messages remotely.
However!
The Akasha system only operated stably in major cities like Sumeru City and Port Ormos!
Baidha Harbor wasn't a particularly large port, so here… it could be understood that the Akasha Terminal's signal was unstable!
Cyno sent the information he had gathered to the Grand Sage.
After a long while, there was no reply.
"Did it not go through?"
Cyno frowned.
Then, he quickened his pace, eventually breaking into a run.
Cyno was anxious!
This world wasn't as peaceful as it appeared on the surface!
In the shadows, who knew how many forces or entities lurked that had no love for peace!
A fifth-tier card equated to power comparable to that of an Archon—and at the very least, Archon-level!
An Archon!
That was an existence beyond human resistance, unless the Archon chose not to fight back.
Sumeru was already falling behind!
The only being in all of Sumeru who could be called a deity was the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Yet, for five hundred years, the Lesser Lord Kusanali had remained secluded in the Sanctuary of Surasthana—even he had never met her.
After all, Cyno was the General Mahamatra—in other words, the second-in-command of the entire surveillance system!
Holding such a position, Cyno wielded immense authority in Sumeru.
But even so, he had never laid eyes on the Lesser Lord Kusanali!
With the deity absent, a sweeping glance across Sumeru revealed… a genuine lack of combat strength at the Archon level!
At least, from Cyno's perspective, there truly was no fully functional Archon-level combat power!
Thus, Cyno was deeply worried.
If Fontaine were to possess Archon-level combat power beyond their Hydro Archon… how formidable would Fontaine become?
For now, he wasn't overly concerned about Fontaine posing a direct threat to Sumeru. However, according to the two merchants, the card shop welcomed all customers—anyone with Mora could try their luck at drawing cards!
Did that mean evildoers could also obtain cards?
What if a villain happened to get lucky and drew a powerful card?
Falling behind by one step could mean falling behind by every step.
Cyno couldn't help but overthink.
He had no intention of invading other nations or committing evil acts.
But the ability to prevent others from harboring such intentions was absolutely necessary!
As the saying went in Liyue: "Have no intention to harm others, but never let down your guard against them."
Only when everyone stood at the forefront of the era, with roughly equal power, could mutual deterrence be achieved.
Lost in thought, Cyno took decisive action.
This time, he wasn't alone.
Leading his fellow Matra, Cyno swiftly located the suspect and apprehended him.
"Use your Akasha Terminals to relay information back to the Akademiya. See if you can establish contact," Cyno instructed.
The Matra complied without hesitation.
After a while, they all shook their heads.
"General Cyno, it seems we can't get through."
"No connection?"
Baidha Harbor wasn't tiny, but it wasn't exactly small either!
Cyno's frown deepened.
He tried sending another message.
Strangely, if the message failed to send, the Akasha Terminal should have provided a notification.
But if the message was sent and yet received no response…
There was only one possible explanation.
His message was being ignored!
Could it be that the Grand Sage didn't believe what he had witnessed today?
"Proceed with the standard protocol. I'll return ahead of you!"
After issuing his orders, Cyno immediately set off for Sumeru City.
As he traveled, he continued using the Akasha Terminal to send explanations to the Grand Sage.
Yet, all his messages vanished like stones sinking into the sea.
He had no choice but to return in person and explain to the Grand Sage!
Cyno quickened his pace even further.
Sumeru City, The Akademiya.
In a spacious office, only two figures were present.
Grand Sage Azar sat in his chair, his expression grim.
"Mr. Azar, our plan is bound to succeed, isn't it?"
A blue-haired man wearing a raven mask—revealing only the lower half of his face—smiled faintly, his tone seemingly amicable. Yet an unmistakable air of scholarly arrogance clung to him.
It was repulsive!
If not for his lifelong dream, if not for the deity's incompetence… why would the Akademiya collaborate with someone who had once been expelled from its halls?
"I believe we don't require any additional forces, correct?"
"Heh."
Azar responded with a hollow laugh. "I'm well aware."
Having lived most of his life, did he really think Azar had reached the position of Grand Sage by sheer luck?
Did he truly believe Azar was a fool?
If Fontaine already had "readily accessible" divine-level power, was there even a need to proceed with the god-making project?
Ah, right.
The scholars' fanatical pursuit of omniscience would drive them forward regardless.
But acquiring additional divine-level power would only further ensure the success of their grand endeavor, wouldn't it?
Yet he was being discouraged?
What was the meaning of this?
Was he afraid that once Azar obtained power rivaling that of an Archon, he would abandon the project?
Azar pondered—that was indeed a possibility, albeit a slim one.
After all, ideals were ideals. If they could be discarded so easily, they wouldn't be worth pursuing in the first place.
But Dottore… he wasn't right.
Was he afraid that once Azar possessed power capable of opposing him, he would lose control over the situation?
"You'll cooperate fully, won't you? None of us want unnecessary complications, do we?"
"Of course."
What else could Azar do?
For now, he had to play along.
If he resisted now, he had no doubt Dottore would eliminate him on the spot and install a more compliant puppet.
Then, the excuse would be that the Grand Sage had fallen gravely ill and passed away. With a cooperative Sage to corroborate the story, who could challenge it?
"Excellent. To ensure smooth collaboration, I trust you won't object to me implementing certain… safeguards?"
"...Not at all."
Azar's face darkened.
Translated plainly, Dottore intended to monitor him!
With a smile, Dottore took his leave.
Azar lowered his head, his expression shifting between gloom and frustration.
For a nation, intelligence was crucial.
In truth, Azar had learned of the situation even before Cyno.
Unfortunately, he, too, had been thwarted.
What could he do?
Azar had no choice but to remain silent.
In the eyes of the divine, he was a blasphemer.
To the people of Sumeru, his image was far from stellar—many even openly despised him.
Of course, Azar was, in truth, far from a righteous man.
But!
This was Sumeru, and he was the Grand Sage!
With the Lesser Lord Kusanali confined to the Sanctuary of Surasthana, he was the de facto ruler of Sumeru!
To summarize Sumeru's history and its collaboration with the Fatui through an analogy:
The founding Archon was a peerless scholar and warrior—omniscient, omnipotent, and benevolent—who governed Sumeru with wisdom and weathered countless calamities to protect the nation.
Sumeru was a land of academia, and the all-knowing Archon guided scholars toward progress.
Yet, during one such disaster, the Archon perished!
The followers were naturally grief-stricken!
Later, scholars discovered a young heir in the wilderness.
Overjoyed, they believed this to be the Archon's reincarnation.
Thus, they placed immense hope in the young heir, expecting her to emulate the founding Archon.
But reality proved otherwise.
The young heir was frail and ignorant!
How could this be?
One faction of scholars grew disillusioned, deeming the heir unworthy of succession—better to depose her than let her incompetence tarnish the Archon's legacy.
Another faction disagreed.
The heir could learn, they argued. Like any mortal, she would grow in time.
A third faction dismissed this as nonsense.
Even if she could learn, could she ever match the Archon's omniscience and omnipotence?
This was clearly no reincarnation!
By the time she learned enough, they'd all be dead and buried—how could they ever benefit from her guidance?
Stagnant knowledge was akin to lost wealth or forsaken ambition—an unforgivable sin.
The three factions clashed fiercely.
Yet, amid the infighting, they agreed on one thing: the heir must be kept under control!
Thus, the young heir was confined to the royal palace.
As the conflict raged, the third faction—comprising powerful officials—gained dominance.
Generations passed, yet no solution emerged.
Then, in recent decades, a dire problem surfaced.
The Irminsul was in peril!
Scholars who had once followed the founding Archon knew full well the tree's significance.
It had to be saved!
But the heir was powerless, and the officials were inept. What could be done?
Then, a radical proposal emerged.
If the Lesser Lord Kusanali was inadequate, why not create a new god?
The crisis of the Irminsul could thus be resolved!
But another problem arose.
The Akademiya lacked the necessary technology!
Enter the Fatui, offering their collaboration to help forge a god.
Naturally, one might ask—would the Fatui assist out of sheer goodwill?
Of course not. Since when were the Fatui ever benevolent?
What if the newly created god refused to obey?
Ah!
This was where a certain "divine" invention came into play: the Divine Knowledge Capsule.
Despite its grandiose name, the original capsules had been beneficial. But later, they were corrupted, becoming tools of manipulation.
Exposure would reduce a person to a mindless husk!
This was not something to be trifled with.
Yet it had its uses!
Once the new god was created, how would it attain omniscience?
Simple—load it with knowledge capsules!
By slipping in a corrupted capsule, the newborn god could be reduced to a blank slate.
Then, load it with capsules containing the officials' desired knowledge.
Thus, an obedient, near-omniscient deity would be born!
As for the Fatui… with a new god in play, they could scram!
With this plan in mind, the Grand Sage spearheaded the god-making project, dancing with the devil.
As the de facto ruler of Sumeru, Azar's pursuit of knowledge was non-negotiable. Thus, his ideal was to create a god who would guide his scholarly advancement.
Recently, however, he had heard of another avenue to easily obtain divine-level power.
With such power, wouldn't the god-making project proceed even more smoothly?
Yet the Fatui's reaction was peculiar.
They were obstructing him?
Even threatening him?
Though he had betrayed his deity, he had not betrayed the rainforest beneath his feet!
Of course, no matter how one spun it, Azar's execution would be entirely justified.
But at this point, he was out of options.
He could only hope that Cyno would recognize the benefits of the cards and act independently, disregarding his "orders."
Why was Cyno, the very Mahamatra who should have been vigilant, now the one Azar pinned his hopes on?
The answer was simple: times had changed!
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T/N:
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