Chapter 271: The Search

Without showing any extra movements or attitudes, the unidentified black-haired girl maintained a cold demeanor and calmly responded.

“Please don’t hurry, Archbishop Rudolf. Although this model cannot repair the [Core Power Converter VX-0071] if the damage exceeds the limit, I’ve already contacted Unit 0 to arrange for a sister to transport a new backup device over soon, so we can restore the computational power supply to this area.”

However, this statement seemed to further ignite the anger of the Cardinal.

“Quickly, quickly… Three days ago, you told me you’d find a way to repair it and asked me to wait patiently. Now it’s turned into you can’t fix it and need to bring a new one! If that’s the case, why didn’t we just use a new one from the start? Is wasting time amusing to you?!”

“Do you even understand what it means for our country if the faith-based magic has a problem?!”

Watching Cardinal Rudolf pace back and forth in exasperation, the black-haired girl’s tone remained unchanged.

“I’m sorry, Archbishop Rudolf, but according to the regulations, the core power converter is a non-replenishable resource left by [Father]. Although there are still supplies, only Unit 0 has the authority to mobilize this batch of equipment.”

“According to the rules, I must fully dismantle the damaged item and confirm that it cannot be repaired before submitting a request over there; I hope you understand.”

“Tch… Regulations, regulations! A bunch of stubborn dolls!”

Seemingly realizing that further words would be futile and would not change the other party’s decision, the Cardinal could only mutter low curses as he swept away, turning toward the room’s only exit.

Ella, who had been hiding by the wall to eavesdrop, hurriedly tiptoed back into the corner to avoid being detected due to her proximity.

Soon, the Cardinal briskly exited, following the main path.

After waiting a little longer until the footsteps of the man named Rudolf had faded away, Ella peered out again to quietly observe the room’s activity.

The black-haired girl who had just spoken with him was crouching down, continuing to dismantle the already tattered instrument, seemingly intending to recover some parts from it.

Recalling the scene from earlier, Ella was deep in thought.

In fact, she recognized Rudolf from earlier.

Especially after he turned around and revealed his face, Miss Ella was completely certain of the vague suspicion in her heart.

Rudolf Lambert, the current patriarch of the Lambert family, one of the members of the Holy Church, and a staunch supporter of the Lambert family among the three divine descendant families.

Since the last time when someone destroyed the lab and, with Xī’s help, she learned that the Lambert family was the hidden mastermind intending to stop her research, Ella had been covertly investigating this family.

And Rudolf Lambert, as the patriarch, naturally became one of her major focuses.

This person didn’t have anything particularly fantastical in his background.

Married to a distant daughter of the Lambert family at 24, he became the head of the Lambert family at 27, and he now has four children.

The Lambert family is a traditional human family. Even if some bloodlines of other races are mixed in, they typically don’t make the lifespans of their descendants change dramatically. Currently 45 years old, Rudolf is undeniably the most important pillar and leader of the Lambert family in all regards, well-known in the Holy Capital and considered quite a powerful figure.

Besides that, Rudolf was once the vice-captain of the [Judgement Scale] among the four Holy Knight Orders in the Holy Capital.

The reason for saying “once”…

Logically speaking, he should have gone to participate in the holy war currently erupting in the Province of Fran with the Holy Kingdom’s army. For religious families, this is both an obligation and an honor, without any special treatment due to his position as a member of the Holy Church.

However, it is said that Rudolf… for some unknown reason, had a conflict with the Saint of Bright Light during a pre-war meeting, and in a fit of anger, the Saintess forcibly stripped him of his position, leaving him in the Holy Capital.

Because of that incident, this patriarch gentleman and his family have recently faced significant pressure and gossip from political enemies. Ella could easily investigate this information due to similar reasons.

Rumors say that Rudolf is disrespectful to the goddess, and that despite being the head of a well-known religious family, he has an unpure faith, which is why he incurred the Saintess’s wrath. Had it not been for the Lambert family’s reputation, Rudolf could have easily lost his position as a member of the Holy Church.

Since Rudolf Lambert, who has close ties with the Lambert family and thus the Holy Emperor, appeared in a place like this…

It seems confirmed—these folks really have something shady going on. No wonder they went to such lengths to stop her research.

But who is this woman?

The answer to this question… isn’t hard to deduce.

Though her appearance differs from the fluctuating dolls, watching the black-haired girl skillfully dismantle the instrument’s parts on the ground and recalling certain aspects of their previous conversation, Ella gradually pieced together a rough outline in her mind.

There’s one more thing she must confirm.

Miss Xī once mentioned that a particularly ominous blood-colored magic circle was hidden deep within the underground passage’s room. Although Ella believed there was no need for her to deceive her and she already had a rough sketch…

As a scholar, Ella always adheres to the principle that “seeing is believing.” Even though it carries significant risk, she believes she must find and confirm that this is indeed the anticipated [Crimson Blood] to perfectly conclude the last puzzle and her long-standing efforts.

With this thought in mind, Ella’s core began to thrum with excitement.

She hurriedly scanned her surroundings.

That hidden entrance must be right in this room!

Given the presence of the invisibility potion and the protection of the Saint Spirit, she might take a bit of a risk…

But just at that moment, a warm current suddenly spread from her core, like a gentle caress from a mother’s hand touching her head, causing Miss Ella to freeze momentarily before gradually calming down.

Right, it’s not the time yet. There are too many dolls and machines coming and going in this room, especially that long-haired girl who is quite different. Ella could sense that the other’s strength might not be beneath her own; acting recklessly would only alarm them.

…It’s better to wait for an opportunity.

With this thought, Ella adjusted her mindset, held her breath, and silently leaned against the wall as she waited.

This waiting lasted a full three hours.

Dolls and flying spheres came and went endlessly, continuously moving items deemed clutter out of the room along with some debris seemingly leftover from a violent explosion, and brought in many various parts of different sizes for the long-haired girl to assemble one by one.

Ella watched in awe as the girl skillfully pieced together a huge metal instrument that was at least two people tall, using techniques that made even her marvel, and instructed a few similarly short-haired dolls to lift it aside, connecting many pipelines.

After finishing the assembly of the giant instrument, the black-haired girl glanced down at her wrist, seemingly feeling a bit fatigued or perhaps for some other unclear reason. She bent down and rummaged through the remains of the dismantled [Core Power Converter] scattered at her feet, pulling out a few small, unidentified flat objects only the size of her fingertips before turning to leave the room.

After the girl exited, the dolls and machines that had been centered around her gradually became sparse, until finally, only a few patrolling spheres remained.

It should be about time.

Ella, leaning against the wall in the corner, waited another five minutes to confirm that this wasn’t a trap set by them or that there wasn’t a possibility of returning before taking a deep breath.

“Okay… let’s get started.”

Because the mechanical spheres were patrolling, and Ella actually didn’t understand the functions of the instruments clearly outside the current scope of the Holy Kingdom, recklessly engaging would be too risky. Thus, she decided to solely look for that most important hidden entrance.

To be honest, during the three hours of waiting, the scholar had already thoroughly observed the overall layout of the room, locking onto a highly probable position. It was only because of that girl being present that she dared not act until now.

Treading lightly, she approached the central spot of the room, next to the most conspicuous vacant throne connected to countless pipes and other instruments, and went around to the back.

Crouching down, Ella squinted her beautiful eyes slightly.

There, on the ground, there was indeed a horizontally laid pull ring groove. Though not easily noticeable, it couldn’t escape the eyes of a scholar like her, who had a wealth of experience from archaeological expeditions in various dangerous ruins.

Glancing around the room again and confirming that there were currently no dolls or flying spheres paying attention to this side, she hooked the pull ring with her finger and cautiously pulled upward.

“Click…”

With a slight mechanical sound, the panel lifted up, revealing the hidden space below.

   

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