Chapter 190: Resonance from the Soul

The events leading up to this were largely in line with what Miss Vilyric had anticipated.

Hubert was a scholar whom Ella Light could empathize with. They both belonged to the unfortunate side of research that was neither accepted nor recognized, similarly suffering from budget cuts from above, which was why they were assigned to this shabby single-person research room area together.

But they were different in one essential way.

Miss Ella’s research had been ongoing for several decades, driven by her unwillingness to give up. Hubert, on the other hand, was a new scholar who had joined the Theological Hall only a few years ago, completely caught up in a bad situation, having been misled into this research topic and forced to continue despite his reservations.

Academic research is a serious and rigorous endeavor—not something one can just toss aside like a cabbage at the market when dissatisfied. Many short-lived scholars dedicate half their lives to their topics, striving for that final stunning breakthrough.

This is what is known as specialization.

Moreover, switching research topics involves not only capability issues but also requires a significant financial outlay.

Hubert had studied the energy of ley lines for several years, so he understood the pitfalls of this research that couldn’t be ignored. However, to change subjects would mean abandoning all he had worked for and starting over from scratch. The reality was—his financial situation could no longer support such a move.

If he couldn’t produce effective results today, it might just be his last lecture at the Theological Hall.

Under such pressures and conditions, Hubert, who had accumulated immense mental stress and was on the brink of collapse, was approached by some individuals who proposed a deal.

They could leverage their connections to allow him to rejoin a large new emerging research society, participating in research similar to his current focus. The theme would be how to regulate and track the flow of ley lines to predict changes in the climate environment, and even adjust them to be more regular and comfortable. Related talks had recently caused quite a stir in the public hall.

They could cover all the necessary funding and logistics, but the only condition was for Hubert, this “neighbor” of Ella Light, to cooperate in implementing their future plan.

Undoubtedly, this was a despicable act, harming others for one’s own benefit. It would not only test Hubert’s conscience as a believer in the Church of the Goddess but, if discovered, could lead to imprisonment and a lifetime ban from returning to the Holy Academy.

After all, they were aiming to frame a member of the Light Tribe, a noble existence seen by many as a favored child of the Goddess.

The risks were so immense that they offered such favorable terms, targeting someone like Hubert who was already on the brink of despair.

But in the end, Hubert agreed.

After all, a scholar is not a saint. It’s not new for one to push others into hell for personal gain. Hubert’s conscience had clearly not outweighed his desire for fame and academic status.

Ultimately, from the mouth of a man, temporarily subdued by Miss White Fox and rendered into a fool state, Ella learned the name she was most eager to know.

Harrison Lambert—that was the name of the person who found Hubert and proposed the deal.

Ella recognized the name; he was indeed the vice-president of the research society focused on “ley line regulation” that Hubert had previously mentioned, a direct member of the Lambert family.

However, such a title alone was insufficient to devise such a series of intricate schemes. Although Hubert was also unclear about their intentions after capturing Ella, certain fragments of conversation suggested that they likely intended for Ella Light to disappear completely from the Theological Hall, and this world.

To ensure a member of the Light Tribe vanished without a trace and to orchestrate the process flawlessly, it would likely take some major forces within the Holy Academy—this holy city—to have enough confidence to accomplish it.

So… who could it be?

…

After tidying up the damaged research room and salvaging as much as possible, the two parties that had just formed a cooperative relationship headed together toward Miss Ella’s dormitory in the Holy Academy.

Hubert, of course, was knocked out again and thrown back into his research room, alongside those ten or so adjudicators who had also been quietly taken down by Miss Little Dragon Daughter. As for what would happen to this bunch next, Miss Vilyric couldn’t be bothered to care.

After all, whether it was Hubert or those law enforcement officers, they were just pawns. Since their mission had failed and they had no clue who was behind it, the suspected members of the Lambert family would likely be more restrained going forward.

Although she felt a bit concerned, Miss Vilyric didn’t have the time to slowly investigate those hindrances to Ella’s research on faith-based magic right now. After all, she was about to set off with the troops to the eastern battlefield of the holy nation.

Regardless, that place was where more energy was worth investing, not in these pesky nuisances lurking in the rear.

But since Ella was providing assistance, maybe…

“Is this okay? Do you need me to provide more support?”

Regarding Miss White Fox’s kind inquiry, the girl with slightly darkened but brilliantly glossy shoulder-length hair thought for a moment and eventually shook her head.

“That’s enough. My biggest headache before was the lack of research funding and manpower, leaving many ideas only theoretical. If I could completely disregard the cost, I could hire help to complete those external processes, combined with the recent inspiration and the information you’ve provided…”

After pondering, Ella Light offered a particularly confident figure.

“In half a year, I will definitely achieve groundbreaking progress.”

“Half a year… I’m not sure about the state of the war over there… but that doesn’t matter. How about this, close your eyes for now.”

“?”

Although slightly confused by Miss White Fox’s sudden request, having entered an independent dorm room away from prying eyes, the Light Tribe girl, thinking she should show sufficient trust to her collaborator, didn’t say more. She hesitated for a moment before following Xī’s request, closing her sapphire-like brilliant eyes that already bore heavy dark circles.

Then, the environment around her changed in indescribable ways.

While she couldn’t see what was happening, as a member of the Light Tribe, Ella’s sensitivity to light elements was exceptionally keen.

For a fleeting moment, she seemed to sense a pure light descending around her, infinitely vast, evoking an indescribable sense of familiarity, only to disappear abruptly. Before Ella could puzzle over it, Xī’s soft voice rang out again.

“All right, it’s done.”

She hurriedly opened her eyes to find that the mysterious Miss White Fox had a floating golden light sphere in each of her hands, each about the size of the small pouch from earlier, alongside a remarkably small gem, merely one-third the volume of the previous research funding, yet overall much more regular and smooth, almost exuding a sort of pure and flawless radiant aura akin to the earlier fleeting essence.

That pure, unblemished quality…

It was almost like the… source that existed alongside Ella Light’s birth.

It was something that shouldn’t exist in this world, immeasurable by any value—pure, untainted light.

   

---