One minute later.

Inside the underground laboratory.

The three from Time Sword had already dropped dead, their blood pooling on the floor.

Lagrange was panting heavily.

"What's the deal, I can still hold my own."

Lagrange flicked the blood off his spring knife.

The Warlock Apprentice was stunned, for he had grossly underestimated Akasa's regard for Lagrange, viewing him indeed as a lifetime partner.

One might say they were confidants, a first in many years.

Understandably so.

The anti-kidnapping special operations training Lagrange had received was indeed good enough to deal with a few intelligence officers, Steve Rogers, typically referred to as "little Lagrange."

He was the genuine Captain America.

But Time Sword.

Compared to Earth's special agents, it was not a small gap.

Those agents, unaided by technology, relying on melee and weapon skills, might just manage to scrape the bottom of Gold Level adventurer status, damn it, the War Wolf had a charm boost, give them Honor Level, maybe.

Lagrange's brain must have short-circuited, seeing as he hadn't stepped out much in years, let alone fight, he hadn't even done physical labor.

As an engineering type, he occasionally watched some popular TV series.

Thinking what, a Hall-level adventurer was just a robust fella with fancy methods, in reality no different from the Mountain, Red Viper, this world had no Professor X, Magneto, Little Lu, Failed Man, Emperor Sister Porridge, Venom Eater.

Lagrange's body had been altered by Akasa, his physical state now exceedingly superior, indeed able to fight all day long.

Time Sword, not enough for one of him to deal with.

That's where his perception stopped.

Those dispatched on this mission were also among Time Sword's pinnacle masters, let alone Lagrange, even the Sword King might struggle to take on three of them.

Lagrange truly lasted several rounds but was then hacked into a fool.

Blood gushing everywhere, skin split and flesh burst, wounds all over.

Fortunately, the enemy was quite rational, not striking any killing blows, choosing only to capture alive.

But.

Akasa had applied an immensely powerful spell on Lagrange, triggered in desperate times, touch it and you'd drop dead.

The black spell characters on Lagrange's arm were still writhing, the power of the spell seeking out those with malice towards him, invisible edges exploding forth.

The three from Time Sword hadn't been slashed to death, but rather, were instantaneously blasted into a bloody mess by the overwhelming spell power.

Lagrange himself looked at his left arm, aware that it was Akasa's maneuver that helped him through this ordeal.

"Now what?"

The Warlock Apprentice, supervising Lagrange, was now seeking his opinion, although relying solely on Lagrange, he stood no chance against Time Sword, all depending on the spell inscriptions, but Lagrange still demonstrated the qualities of a capable warrior, with no trace of fear.

The sword wounds on Lagrange's body were healing at a visibly fast rate, though bloodstains still remained on his skin.

"Hmm..."

Lagrange mused for a while; Akasa was a clever man, often absent, and now with the situation dire, he couldn't be relied upon, but Lagrange himself was also favored by the Emperor.

The most powerful person he could think of was the head of Aran National Bank.

"No big deal, I'll make a call, let Cicero know. If they find out such a vital project in New City Industrial District, with so much invested, is going to halt, those influential figures will be hopping mad."

Lagrange, with his Cold War mindset, knew how to play politicians, how to keep them in check.

He walked over to the desk, started dialing on the rotary phone, calling directly to Cicero's office—his assistant would patch through to him.

The Warlock Apprentice had only one feeling in that moment, Lagrange was a true Divine, his knowledge and boldness were overwhelming, and even the phone in his hand was crafted by him.

The resource struggle spoke of the Matthew Effect, and Lagrange realized the Great Purge must continue, even if those who came with him were students and some branch school teachers of average skill, they were still more than enough for this place.

He had not intended to continue his actions, but now, it seemed that in order to maintain his irreplaceability in the Royal Court, the Dark Matter Research Institute could be successfully established.

Regrettably, although Lagrange didn't want to do this, those fellows were not devoted to sacrificing for science, so he had to send them off himself.

Sharon, Liszt, and whatever the Atomic Heart Church, Minister Pedan, high-ranking members of the Holy Spirit Sect, they all deserved to die, no one knew if they would defect to the Emperor's side and snatch Lagrange's livelihood.

Akasa was deeply aware that Lagrange was the most capable and would support him unconditionally as their objectives aligned.

But the Emperor's objectives were not the same as Lagrange's, the Emperor didn't need the Dark Matter Research Institute, nor the pinnacle of technology, he only needed industrial innovation, and there were many who could replace Lagrange.

And lead the world into error.

These people had to become the bricks and stones of the Physical Hall, dedicated to science, for the world to progress.

The call connected.

"Hello, is this General Cicero's office? I am the head of New City Industrial District, Lagrange, there are some matters... I need to discuss with the general."

Lagrange didn't understand why the bank manager was called "general" by those people; he had no time to delve into the trivial matters of Aran history, just going with the flow was enough.

At this very moment.

A heavy rain fell outside the church.

As the Priest of the Industrial District, Sharon had become a figurehead.

The original intent of the Church Court was for Sharon to preach to the workers in the industrial zone and conduct weekly sacrificial ceremonies.

However, the workers in the industrial zone were all from the Engineer Corps, not civilians, and even the military ranks were forcibly conferred.

The Emperor had said that Aran had freedom of religion, except in the army.

The military must consist of atheists, otherwise, it would be considered a breach of discipline, resulting in discharge, and in severe cases, even a need for atonement.

And Sharon, as a woman, was entrusted with the task she could never handle: to control Lagrange, and she awaited a response from the Time Sword.

The pressure on her was incomparable to any she had faced before; if given the choice, she would have preferred never to have come to Aran, to stay in Vadinia and live with the sisterhood of sand bandits.

Such days were torturous.

The designated time had passed; had the people of the Time Sword... failed?

Beyond her capability, she had no choice but to brave the heavy rain, her status as a Priest afforded her a private coachman, who took her to the church to seek out Marcus.

It wasn't long before.

Sharon reached the church, her hair thoroughly drenched.

Inside the church, there was not only Marcus but... another man.

After some negotiation.

On that day, not only was Sharon under immense pressure, but Marcus was also on the verge of collapse, with two issues miring him like quicksand.

And Sharon...

Had no clue just what kind of man Zote was.

"Leave it to me to do! The railroad... yes, the railroad! I've thought of something! Marcus... I'll help you clean up this mess, and afterwards, I'll ensure that the Church Court's plan to establish churches along the railway will be a success."

Zote was filled with an eerie excitement, one hand pressing down on Marcus's shoulder, under the stained glass windows' glow and flickering candlelight, his face scarred by a great beast was frightfully sinister.

His voice like that of a specter.

"We will return together, to the pinnacle, of power!"

Even Zote seemed somewhat maddened by his words.

These four words seemed to have some kind of magic power.

Causing even Marcus to quiver in his speech, exhaling a long breath.

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