Mystic Overlord: Reading Gives Strength
Chapter 410 - 407: Priest of the Teaching Order

Chapter 410: Chapter 407: Priest of the Teaching Order

"Teacher, don’t you think it’s a bit hot today?"

Sitting in the carriage on the way home, Heloise tugged at Ronald’s clothes, emphasizing the word ’teacher’ with much force, her brows and eyes full of laughter.

Ronald, playing along, got goosebumps:

"..."

"Just the two of us, can’t you call me by my name?"

"But I am your apprentice, you know!" This time Heloise even pressed her face closer, "Isn’t it right for an apprentice to address you as ’teacher’? You don’t like it?"

"..."

"Let’s discuss the guild’s work instead."

Ronald wisely chose to change the subject.

In fact, ever since she had started operating under her real identity, Heloise’s temperament had completely diverged from those roles she had previously acted. This girl, who came from a spy organization, often liked being close to Ronald and always teased him verbally.

Even though it was quite taxing to deal with,

Ronald actually didn’t dislike such behavior from Heloise.

After all, on truly important matters, she still knew how to behave properly.

For instance, right now.

However, just as Ronald started to talk about work,

The teasing and smiles on Heloise’s face instantly vanished, replaced by serious contemplation about Ronald’s upcoming tasks.

"As for the White Star district, it’s a rather unique area in Springs. Apart from directly interfacing with the densely populated and complex port district, at the junction of the two areas, there is also a diplomatic residence specially designated by Her Majesty."

"Ronald, if you were to represent the guild in activities there, the social interactions and complications you’d encounter would certainly be significant, including some demands for proper etiquette..."

What Heloise was talking about was the commission from the Ginkgo Leaf Business Alliance for Ronald. More specifically, this task was a follow-up to the initial contact with the countess.

As an important figure from abroad who had come to Gried,

Although she rented a residence in the Organ district and also held balls every few days, the Countess Leticia, also a diplomat, had her exclusive residence in the diplomatic area, where she usually spent more time working.

The guild had considered this, which is why they wanted Ronald—who currently had a good relationship with the countess—to change his workplace to the White Star district.

Speaking of this special district,

Aside from what Heloise just mentioned, this district in Springs also had its unique characteristics.

Unlike the commercial or riverside districts,

The White Star district was currently filled with many houses that utilized the latest technology. New nobility and some enterprises had established their bases or private residences there, and various functional buildings were also fully available.

To be more specific, the White Star district was like a city within a city of Springs, like a kangaroo hidden in its mother’s pouch.

To be active in this district with its special background,

Some corresponding preparations were indeed better made in advance.

Ronald recalled this district that he seldom visited, and Heloise, also sitting in the carriage, immediately suggested:

"Ronald, how about I give you some extra lessons tonight after we get back? For some of the new aristocracy, certain etiquettes are quite important. What do you think?"

Heloise’s suggestion was reasonable, and naturally, Ronald nodded in agreement;

"No problem, then I’ll be counting on you for the next few days."

"..."

Being action-oriented, neither of them was inclined to waste time.

After returning home and finishing dinner, starting from the rule that one must step with the left foot first when entering a door in a more serious manner, to the angle of the neck during a meal which must not be less than sixty degrees, to the action of nodding which should be slightly tilted to the left, to avoiding colloquialisms such as "um" and "uh" during conversation.

Heloise knew in great detail all aspects of social interaction among the new nobility, and she carefully instructed Ronald.

————

The next morning, Ronald and another parted ways to take action separately.

Ronald, as usual, went to the retreat to read, while Heloise, not wishing to stay at home, went ahead to the White Star District to familiarize herself with the situation and also to do some preliminary preparations for Ronald.

She arrived alone at the church district.

Ronald was still following the old practice of reading in the library.

Heloise had made it clear that the church’s surveillance techniques were quite formidable.

Although she was very confident in her counter-surveillance skills, she still set the rule that, starting from the day the spy agency in Springs was eradicated, she would stay away from the church district for at least a month.

This was a form of caution, as well as self-protection.

However, developments did not continue as calmly as they had over the past few days.

At ten o’clock in the morning, the retreat welcomed a rare visitor. As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the retreat, the monks all came out to greet him, presenting themselves as if they were facing a leader’s inspection.

Upon hearing the commotion outside, Ronald remained completely unmoved.

His intention was to absorb as much knowledge from the church’s books as possible within the allocated time. As for the interactions among the clergy within the church, he was not particularly interested.

Thus, a quarter of an hour later, the visitor to the retreat entered the library.

He sat across from Ronald with a smiling face.

"Mr. Ronald, hello."

"..."

This was a kind-looking old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a black robe similar to the church’s uniform. Ronald could clearly see the golden geometric patterns on the other man’s clothing; the days spent reading church books allowed Ronald to instantly recognize the man’s identity.

—The High Priest.

This was a special position in the church corresponding to that of Saint Priest, and likewise, there was only one per generation.

Aside from the special status and position.

The High Priest often needed to travel within the areas under the church’s influence to check the operational status of the various local churches and to handle the management and disposition of certain special items.

What caught Ronald’s attention even more was what was on the back of the High Priest in front of him.

Behind the old man’s black robe was an object wrapped in layers of black cloth to form a long stick shape. Even without mentioning what was inside, Ronald could sense the very solid Magic Power from just the black cloth wrapped around it.

Facing the elder sitting in front of him, Ronald nodded politely in response:

"Hello, I am Ronald."

"May I ask—?"

"Graham, Graham Bradford," the old man seemed to appreciate Ronald’s demeanor. After introducing himself with an ever-gentle smile, he did not mention his special status.

In contrast, he behaved like a perfectly ordinary old man.

The High Priest moved slowly to take that object from behind him, then began to unwrap the black cloth around it bit by bit.

Finally, within the unwrapped black cloth.

The Sword of Saint Catherine appeared in the old man’s hands.

Holding the sword as dark as the night sky in his hands, the High Priest, smiling unchanged and with a calm tone, began to speak:

"Mr. Ronald, I have some questions to ask you."