"But, why did they do this?" Sean fell into deep thought, "If you don't want everyone to know about the existence of the Judas Ring, you can just not report it at first."

As a journalist, Sean quickly came to his own conjecture: because he discovered the danger of spreading reports afterwards.

"The total ban on the Ring of Judah should have been added later,

"In 1904, relevant news could be reported.

"After that, maybe the divine court discovered some kind of danger, and in order to protect the public, it added a request to silence it, and the previous newspapers were deleted because of this..."

"Could it be..." Sean raised his head in disbelief, "What bad luck would it bring to know the existence of the 'Judas Ring'?"

This is unheard of, but in the mysterious Newlander, Sean thinks this kind of conjecture is not nonsense...

He smiled wryly and shook his head: "That's why my luck is so... special?"

Although there is no conclusion, Sean at this moment has to link his "special constitution" to this matter.

However, it is impossible for him to interrupt the pursuit of Aaliyah because of a conjecture.

After browsing the old newspapers in the collection, the information about the "Circle of Judas" is still limited: "The Circle of Judas was an organization formed by two apostate saints. At the end of 1904, it was completely wiped out by the Holy Court...

"Twenty years after disappearing, he suddenly reappears and kidnaps Aaliyah..."

"What's so special about Arya? Let a resurgent apostate organization go to great lengths to ensure control?"

Sean frowned and had a new conjecture: "Does she also have divine roots?"

However, he couldn't confirm: "They didn't try to kidnap me, but wanted to kill me, probably not for Shengen..."

Although he knew it wasn't because of the root of God, Sean guessed that there must be something special about Arya: "That's why she can walk in the spirit world with evil spirits without encountering danger, so she will appear again and again in In dreams of various symbols..."

"The investigation is still making progress. Although the breakthrough is not big, I still got a few pieces of the 'jigsaw'. I believe that after I get other clues, I can gradually piece together a panorama...

"For example, after learning that Judas Ring is an organization that rebelled against the Salvation Church, it can be determined that the Utopia mission recording in the album "Midnight Elopement" is their handwriting. to oppose the religion of salvationism.

"For example, the propaganda of the Holy Court is inconsistent with the facts. The remnants of the Judah Ring are still operating in secret and have not been completely wiped out."

"Also, they must be planning something big, kidnapping Aaliyah, it should be related to this big event.

"Nine times out of ten, this incident has something to do with the anti-Salvation Church, but it's unclear what exactly they need Arya to do...

"Since it involves the resurgence of an anti-Salvationist organization, can I use the power of the court to fight against Judas Ring to save Arya?" Sean fell into deep thought.

Soon, he shook his head: "If you do this, there are too many variables. God knows what the court will do to Aaliyah in the process of processing... To be safe, it is better for me to conduct an independent investigation.

"However, from a standpoint, with a common enemy, I am a 'friend' with the court."

"Next, we can only wait for the results of Kennedy's investigation from Bill's side."

Sean paused his thoughts and turned his head, suddenly realizing that the old man with the lantern beside him was not staring at him anymore.

At this moment, he raised his head, his eyes were so wide that the corners of them almost split open, staring at the ceiling.

"What's the matter?!" Sean suddenly felt bad, and the psychic tentacle pulled out his pistol again.

Looking up along the line of sight of the old man with the lantern, Sean only saw the quiet chandelier and the ceiling in the darkness, nothing strange.

He looked down again and found that the old man's sight was out of focus.

His eyes seemed to see through the ruins of the old book cemetery on the fifth floor, through the explorer center above the library, and stared straight at the sky above the building.

There was obvious fear in those eyes.

"Be careful!" The old man suddenly roared, his voice so loud that Sean's heart shuddered, "Be careful!"

He searched around hysterically, found a table and burrowed down, his panicked movements made the table and chairs rattle.

"What's the matter?! Be careful of what?!" Sean, who was startled by the old man's actions, asked loudly.

"The sky... the sky! The sky!"

Sky? Sean frowned, this old man is afraid of the sky?

He had heard of many phobias, but it was the first time he saw someone who was afraid of the sky: "Is this why he is hiding here?"

Sean walked over, observed with his spiritual vision, and found that the other party's spiritual body was completely filled with black fear...

"Maybe..." Sean looked at the old man trembling under the table with some pity, "He used to be a wise and learned sage.

"After experiencing a very terrible thing, my spirit became abnormal and I hid in this dark underground."

Sean was speechless, sitting on the ground, he could only accompany the old man with the lantern through this difficult fear...

After a while, the old man's frightened ravings gradually subsided. He seemed to be asleep, with his forehead leaning forward and touching the lantern above his head.

He seemed to be burned by the lamp wall, and he woke up with a "hiss".

Looking around, his eyes became extraordinarily clear.

"Finally, I woke up again..." The old man stood up straight, his temperament completely different from just now.

If he was a neurotic crazy old man just now, now he looks more like a wise sage.

He got up and patted his dusty clothes: "What's your name?"

"Mist."

Seemingly dissatisfied with the habit of explorers, the old man said solemnly, "I mean my real name."

He didn't look at Sean, but just slowly tidying up the messy clothes on his body: "I can know even if you don't tell me. According to your behavior and motives, I just need to investigate a little to know your true identity.

"Although you tried to hide it, your accent and speaking habits show that you are a Leonian and you have not been in New Zealand for a long time.

"Your soul is very strong, but you use a very ordinary pistol when you encounter a crisis, which shows that you are a new explorer with talent but little qualifications and accumulation."

"You came here to read the newspaper, obviously looking for some banned news, and there are only a few banned news, I can probably guess which organization you are looking for. But I'm sorry, for that organization , I don't know more than you, so I have nothing to tell you.

A series of words from the old man left Sean speechless.

"I don't have much time," the old man took off the ridiculous lamp stand, put the lantern on the table, straightened his waist, and seemed to be muttering to himself, "The time to wake up is getting shorter and shorter..."

"My name is Edgar Pompeii." He turned to Sean, "Your name?"

"Sean Dickinson."

Pompeii's brows moved, as if he had remembered something, but he didn't say anything.

"Thank you for saving me this old bone." With his back to Sean, Pompeii stretched his limbs, as if he had just taken over his body and was still not used to it, "If you didn't show up, that pile of books would be my grave... Although I'm a long overdue person, but it seems that God doesn't want to see me yet.

"I can also read a few more books because of this..."

Sean was a little curious about Edgar Pompeii's identity: "Why did you appear in that state before?"

"Neurosis is the enemy of all thinkers - but when I was most vulnerable, I was disturbed by a powerful existence, so I..." Pompeii seemed to no longer want to mention his past, "My story has already Back in the dust, nothing to say. The key lies in the future.

"You are a very good reader." Pompeii raised a finger with affirmation in his eyes, "You have a natural hunger for knowledge and information."

It is out of this kind of appreciation from a scholar's perspective that Pompeii, who was in a semi-mad state, would stand next to Sean and observe his state of reading the newspaper.

"Sean, which **** do you believe in?" Pompeii sat across from Sean, the flames illuminating its outline, and his expression was very serious.

Sudden question.

Sean answered truthfully: "Although I used to go to church when I was young, I am not a believer."

Since joining the quest industry, Sean has not been able to determine his "belief" and can't get free "belief gain".

He vaguely knew why this was happening - he had read a lot of books and thought a lot, so he had more questions than others.

This also explains a lot of his life choices. If he didn't have any doubts in his heart, and he just devoutly worshipped a certain god, it would be impossible for him to choose to become a journalist.

He never mentioned this to anyone. In this age of gods ruling the world, his mind is a little dangerous.

However, he felt he could talk about this to the old man in front of him.

He felt that the other party was the same as himself - in the dark night, everyone fell asleep, but these people's eyes were staring at the starry sky, thinking about history, imagining the future, and questioning...shh! Sean stopped his thoughts.

Pompeii asked Sean again if he had read a few books, some of the books by Wynm and the sages of Collis. Sean gave an affirmative answer.

After briefly talking about their understanding of the ancient sages' thoughts, the two chatted about some taboo topics on weekdays.

About the relationship between God and man, about the reality and illusion of history, about the possibility of the development of the times...

Sean once felt a sense of detachment from being unable to fit into the crowd at a gathering of believers in Melinas.

In the face of free "belief gain", he has never been able to decide his own beliefs, but he is full of energy when digging out the truth and defending the truth he believes in.

When everyone thinks that being sheltered by God is a blessing, only he has not moved and chose to rely on himself.

When everyone thinks knowledge is a curse, only he knows that human desire and ignorance are...

Those ideas that are incompatible with most people, but at this time, they have a great resonance with the old sage in front of him~lightnovelpub.net~ Pompeii is silent, his eyes are flashing in the firelight, and the corner of his mouth has a satisfied smile—— He also seemed to be having a good time chatting.

In the midst of the flames, he was silent for a while, then raised his cloudy but sober eyes: "You know, Sean, no matter how many books you read or how many things you think about, when you get old, you always More or less will begin to believe in fate.

"For example, you came here today and rescued me from the pile of books, and then we talked about these things, and I think, it's destiny.

"I don't know when the next time I will wake up, so I have things I want to do that can only be done in the moment.

"Sean." Pompeii said firmly, "I want to invite you to join the club."

Join? Sean was a little surprised, what meeting?

"The sage of Goliss, Soglates on the river, established a secret organization at the beginning of the "Gods Voyage Period", which was later carried forward by his disciples. After the "Sacred Return" happened, it gradually declined...

"We are not a naturally rebellious organization, and the relationship between members is not close. Perhaps it is because of this loose and unspecified temperament that compared with the Spirit Craftsmen who once stood in front of the curtain, those who claimed to represent God Very little interest in us...

"The only thing that holds us together is two things.

"The same rational spirit and..." Pompeii nodded on the table, "Books."

"We are readers and thinkers."

"We originated from history, and we have flowed down the long river of history, continuing to this day, and trying to guide the times in a darker direction.

"The name of this association is..." On Pompeii's neck, the copper pendant of books and candlelight reflected the light of the lantern...

"Candlelight reading club."