Begitu menyadari bahwa pria berjubah hitam itu adalah mendiang Jenderal Philip, gelombang pemahaman menghantam benak Lumian, menerobos kegelapan.
Ia merangkai berbagai petunjuk dan mengevaluasi kembali detail-detail yang sebelumnya ia anggap terlalu dipaksakan.
Sebelumnya, Lumian sempat menanyai Gardner Martin mengenai dukungannya terhadap Hugues Artois, juru bicara para dewa sesat. Martin menegaskan bahwa ia sangat menyadari sifat Artois serta kekuatan jahat yang mendukungnya. Martin mendukung pencalonan Artois untuk parlemen dengan keyakinan bahwa pria itu akan terus-menerus membawa bencana ke distrik pasar, memaksa warga dan pekerja untuk merapat di belakang Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah, guna mempersiapkan penggulingan pemerintahan di masa depan.
Sampai hari ini, Lumian menerima alur pemikiran itu begitu saja di permukaan. Bahkan jika Martin tidak mengungkapkan kebenaran seutuhnya, ia setidaknya telah membeberkan sebagian kecilnya. Namun sekarang, tampaknya 90% pernyataan Martin adalah kebohongan!
Hugues Artois telah dibina oleh mendiang Jenderal Philip dan didorong masuk ke dunia politik. Gardner Martin jelas telah menjalin hubungan kerja sama dengan Jenderal Philip sejak lama. Dukungannya terhadap Hugues Artois bukanlah sekadar pemanfaatan peluang semata; sebaliknya, ia telah terlibat secara mendalam dalam rencana tersebut sejak awal!
Demikian pula, Jenderal Philip, yang telah memalsukan kematiannya dan menyimpang dari takdir yang seharusnya, menggunakan badan amal Dreamseekers untuk mendanai para Pelukis dan pihak-pihak lain yang dianugerahi dewa sesat. Pada saat yang sama, ia bergabung dengan Carbonari, memicu kerusuhan dan pemberontakan. Lumian merasa hal itu tidak sepenuhnya mengejutkan, tetapi keterikatannya dengan Gardner Martin dan Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah memberikan lapisan intrik yang menarik pada detail-detail tersebut.
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Saat ritual Hostel resmi dimulai, Lumian telah memahami esensi dari konspirasi ini. Namun, beberapa penjelasan masih terasa sedikit dipaksakan. Misalnya, bagaimana Maipú Meyer, yang telah meninggalkan Bliss Society dengan perasaan kecewa dan kembali ke distrik pasar untuk membuktikan diri, berhasil menghubungi para Pelukis atau para penerima anugerah dewa sesat yang merencanakan ritual Hostel?
Satu penjelasan yang masuk akal adalah bahwa Susanna—sementara masih menjabat sebagai pendeta wanita tertinggi di Bliss Society—telah menjalin hubungan dengan sekte-sekte lain sebelum kematiannya. Sebagai kekasih Maipú Meyer dan anggota penting Bliss Society, ia seharusnya memiliki beberapa kenalan. Namun, jika dicermati lebih dekat, hal itu terasa agak dibuat-buat. Apakah Maipú Meyer benar-benar menjaga hubungan baik dengan para pemuja dewa sesat lainnya? Apakah ia secara alami akan mencari bantuan mereka ketika menghadapi tantangan untuk membuktikan diri?
Meskipun Maipú Meyer mengetahui tentang Malaikat yang disegel di dalam tubuh Lumian, ia tidak mampu memikirkan cara untuk mengeksploitasi informasi tersebut selain menawarkan pengorbanan. Kecuali jika Pohon Induk Keinginan memberikan wahyu secara langsung, mengapa sang Penerima, yang berpotensi telah menerima wahyu ilahi, tidak memamerkannya? Mengapa harus menghadapi pengucilan dari anggota Bliss Society lainnya?
Lumian mendapati bahwa semua detail menjadi jauh lebih masuk akal sekarang setelah Gardner Martin dan hubungannya dengan Jenderal Philip terungkap sebagai bagian dari konspirasi.
Menyusul bencana Pohon Bayangan, Gardner Martin menugaskan Lumian, Franca, dan para anak buah mereka di distrik pasar untuk menyelidiki insiden tersebut serta pembunuhan Hugues Artois. Namun, ia tanpa ragu akan mengumpulkan informasi tentang tindakan, kesalahan, dan masalah Bliss Society melalui Jenderal Philip.
Dalam situasi seperti ini, Maipú Meyer, yang ingin kembali ke distrik pasar, secara alami menjalin hubungan dengan Jenderal Philip, yang telah menunjukkan ketertarikan pada masalah tersebut, dan memberikan informasi krusial. Akibatnya, Gardner Martin telah lama mengetahui apa yang disegel di dalam tubuh Lumian.
Seluruh ritual Hostel mungkin telah dirancang olehnya, Jenderal Philip, dan para Pelukis.
Salah satu dari mereka menyimpan hasrat lama terhadap Trier Zaman Keempat dan memiliki pengetahuan luas tentang rahasia serta mistisisme. Mereka memahami cara kerja segel dan kebocoran masa lalunya. Salle de Bal Brise, yang dimiliki oleh Savoie Mob, dan 13 Avenue du Marché berfungsi sebagai tempat uji coba bagi anggota baru Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah.
Pihak lainnya memiliki hubungan yang mendalam dengan domain takdir. Melalui dukungan finansial dari badan amal Dreamseekers, ia telah menyatukan banyak sekte, mengumpulkan pengetahuan luas di berbagai aspek.
Alasan mengapa Hugues Artois memiliki begitu banyak penerima anugerah dewa sesat yang melindunginya bukan sekadar karena kemampuannya berinteraksi dengan orang-orang bermasalah atau persepsi "pencerahan" yang tertanam kuat pada orang lain. Melainkan karena pendukungnya, Jenderal Philip, seorang veteran perang berskala besar, telah lama berdedikasi untuk bekerja sama dengan para heretik demi mencapai tujuan krusial.
Lumian menduga bahwa Gardner Martin tidak secara resmi mengujinya dan mengizinkannya bergabung dengan Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah karena kepercayaan awal. Sebaliknya, ia telah merampungkan rencana Hostel dan memutuskan untuk terus mengawasi Lumian secara ketat, mengerahkan berbagai pengaruh serta memanipulasinya.
Jika Tarot Club tidak turun tangan dan ritual tersebut tidak dipercepat secara terburu-buru, sangat mungkin Gardner Martin atau seorang setengah-dewa dari Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah yang pada akhirnya akan menghadapi Lumian dan menyeretnya ke dunia lukisan untuk mengaktifkan ritual tersebut!
Saat pikiran-pikiran ini berkelebat di benaknya, pemahaman Lumian menjadi sangat jelas.
Segala sesuatu yang telah dilakukan Gardner Martin sejak bencana Pohon Bayangan diarahkan demi ritual Hostel!
Bisa diandalkan dari seorang Conspirer masa lalu atau saat ini... Lumian menghela napas tulus.
Tentu saja, Gardner Martin mungkin tidak menyadari sisa aura Kaisar Darah Alista Tudor yang dibawa oleh Lumian, tetapi ia kemungkinan besar menyimpan kecurigaan. Namun, ia tidak dapat memahami inti masalahnya. Bagaimanapun, ia tahu bahwa seorang Malaikat disegel di dalam tubuh Lumian Lee, sebuah anomali berjalan yang pasti akan menarik perhatian.
Mengenai apakah Gardner Martin mengetahui tentang organisasi lain yang mendukungnya dan Franca, Lumian yakin bahwa Martin telah merasakan ada sesuatu yang janggal, tetapi detail pastinya tetap samar. Bahkan Maipú Meyer, yang tidak hadir dalam ritual Pohon Bayangan, tidak menyadari peristiwa-peristiwa yang terjadi saat itu.
Lumian memberi isyarat kepada Jenna untuk menghentikan sihir cermin guna menghindari deteksi oleh Gardner Martin dan Jenderal Philip. Sementara itu, ia merenung.
Mengapa Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah begitu bernafsu menginginkan Trier Zaman Keempat, sampai-sampai melakukan persiapan sejauh ini? Apa tujuan akhir mereka?
Jika aku tidak tiba di Trier, menginap di Auberge du Coq Doré, dan menarik Roh Pohon yang Jatuh Susanna Mattise, apa rencana awal dari Ordo Salib Besi dan Darah serta berbagai sekte tersebut? Bagaimana mereka berniat melewati segel dan membuka pintu menuju Trier Zaman Keempat?
Saat pertanyaan terakhir itu muncul di benaknya, Lumian teringat sesuatu.
Gardner Martin pernah mengarahkan karavan penyelundupan
475 Conspirer
Recognizing the black-cloaked man as the late General Philip, a surge of realization struck Lumian’s mind, cutting through the darkness.
He connected various dots and reevaluated details he had previously deemed a stretch.
Earlier, Lumian had queried Gardner Martin about his support for Hugues Artois, the spokesperson of numerous evil gods. Martin asserted that he was well aware of Artois’s nature and the sinister forces backing him. Martin endorsed Artois for parliament with the belief that he would repeatedly bring calamity to the market district, compelling citizens and workers to rally behind the Iron and Blood Cross Order, preparing for a future government overthrow.
Until today, Lumian had accepted this reasoning on the surface. Even if Martin hadn’t disclosed the complete truth, he had unveiled a fraction of it. However, now it appeared that 90% of Martin’s statement was a fabrication!
Hugues Artois had been groomed by the late General Philip and thrust into politics. Gardner Martin had clearly established a cooperative relationship with General Philip long ago. His backing of Hugues Artois wasn’t merely an opportunistic exploit; rather, he had been intricately involved in the plan from the outset!
Similarly, General Philip, having feigned his death and diverged from his intended fate, utilized the Dreamseekers charity organization to finance Painters and other evil god-bestowed. Simultaneously, he joined the Carbonari, fomenting riots and rebellions. Lumian found this not entirely surprising, but the connection with Gardner Martin and the Iron and Blood Cross Order added an intriguing layer to the details.
By the time the Hostel ritual officially commenced, Lumian had already grasped the essence of this conspiracy. Yet, some explanations seemed a bit forced. For instance, how had Meyer Maipú, having left the Bliss Society in frustration and returned to the market district to prove himself, managed to contact the Painters or the evil gods’ bestowed planning the Hostel ritual?
One plausible explanation was that Susanna—while still the high priestess of the Bliss Society—had established connections with other cults before her demise. As Maipú Meyer’s lover and a crucial member of the Bliss Society, he should have had some contacts. However, upon closer scrutiny, it felt a tad contrived. Did Maipú Meyer truly maintain good relationships with believers of other evil gods? Would he naturally seek their aid when confronting challenges to prove himself?
Despite Maipú Meyer’s knowledge of an Angel sealed within Lumian’s body, he couldn’t fathom exploiting this information beyond offering sacrifices. Unless the Mother Tree of Desire bestowed a revelation directly, why wouldn’t the Recipient, potentially having received a divine revelation, flaunt it? Why face ostracism from other Bliss Society members?
Lumian found that all the details made more sense now that Gardner Martin and his connection to General Philip were revealed as part of the conspiracy.
Following the Tree of Shadow disaster, Gardner Martin tasked Lumian, Franca, and their subordinates in the market district with investigating the incident and Hugues Artois’s assassination. However, he would undoubtedly gather information about the Bliss Society’s actions, mistakes, and issues through General Philip.
In these circumstances, Maipú Meyer, seeking a return to the market district, naturally established a connection with General Philip, who had shown interest in such matters, and provided crucial information. Consequently, Gardner Martin had long been aware of what was sealed within Lumian.
The entire Hostel ritual might have been conceived by him, General Philip, and the Painters.
One of them harbored a longstanding desire for Fourth Epoch Trier and possessed extensive knowledge of secrets and mysticism. They understood the seal’s operation and its past leaks. Salle de Bal Brise, owned by the Savoie Mob, and 13 Avenue du Marché served as a testing ground for the Iron and Blood Cross Order’s new members.
The other had a deep connection to the domain of fate. Through the financial support of the Dreamseekers charity organization, he had united many cults, accumulating vast knowledge in various aspects.
The reason why Hugues Artois had numerous evil gods’ bestowed protecting him wasn’t merely due to his ability to interact with problematic individuals or the deeply ingrained “enlightened” perception he had on others. Instead, it was because his backer, General Philip, a veteran of large-scale wars, had long been dedicated to cooperating with heretics to achieve a crucial goal.
Lumian suspected that Gardner Martin hadn’t officially tested him and allowed him to join the Iron and Blood Cross Order out of initial trust. Instead, he had finalized the Hostel plan and decided to keep Lumian under close watch, exerting various influences and manipulating him.
If the Tarot Club hadn’t intervened and the ritual hadn’t been hastily advanced, it was highly likely that Gardner Martin or a demigod of the Iron and Blood Cross Order would have been the one to ultimately confront Lumian and transport him into the painting world to activate the ritual!
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Lumian’s understanding became clear.
Everything Gardner Martin had undertaken since the Tree of Shadow disaster was geared towards the Hostel ritual!
As expected of a former or current Conspirer… Lumian sighed sincerely.
Certainly, Gardner Martin might not have been aware of the residual aura of Blood Emperor Alista Tudor that Lumian carried, but he likely harbored suspicions. However, he couldn’t fathom the core issue. After all, he was aware that an Angel was sealed within Lumian Lee’s body, a walking anomaly bound to attract attention.
Regarding whether Gardner Martin knew about another organization backing him and Franca, Lumian believed that Martin had sensed something awry, but the precise details remained elusive. Even Maipú Meyer, not present at the Tree of Shadow ritual, was unaware of the events during that time.
Lumian signaled Jenna to cease the mirror magic to evade detection by Gardner Martin and General Philip. Meanwhile, he pondered.
Why does the Iron and Blood Cross Order covet Fourth Epoch Trier so intensely, going to such lengths in preparation? What is their ultimate goal?
If I hadn’t arrived in Trier, stayed at Auberge du Coq Doré, and attracted the Fallen Tree Spirit Susanna Mattise, what would have been the original plan of the Iron and Blood Cross Order and the various cults? How did they intend to bypass the seal and unlock the door to Fourth Epoch Trier?
As the latter question surfaced, Lumian recalled something.
Gardner Martin had once directed “Rat” Christo’s smuggling caravan to transport an item into Trier through an underground tunnel. This item activated the special mirror world hidden underground. Later, Franca sensed that item while tracking the black-cloaked Carbonari member, General Philip, who had faked his death…
Now, General Philip had also entered this place, suspected to be Fourth Epoch Trier!
They had made extensive preparations, including orchestrating a massive riot. Their goal was to use that item and its connection to the mirror fragments in the wilderness to infiltrate this place through the seal leak that once appeared beneath Salle de Bal Brise. Later, they had a better choice—me…
Dammit! Gardner Martin’s words about why he supported Hugues Artois’s election as a member of parliament were mostly true! He did need such a person to incite public anger in the market district, not to overthrow the government, but to satisfy the ritual!
Heh heh, pushing villains into power while posing as the leader of the resistance. He’s both the antagonist and the protagonist. He’s truly extracting the value from all the people in the market district dry… Lumian reacquainted himself with the Sequence name “Conspirer” through Gardner Martin.
At that moment, Jenna grasped Lumian’s meaning and discontinued the mirror magic.
Gardner Martin smiled and said, “It’s indeed you, Philip. Let’s enter Fourth Epoch Trier.”
Philip… Jenna, who had only a vague impression of General Philip’s photo from the shadows, now realized that the cloaked man Franca had been trailing was General Philip, the one who had faked his death.
Philip’s deep, mellow voice resounded.
“Aren’t you going to find Lumian Lee? If he becomes your loyal subordinate and joins your team, you can immediately complete the ritual, consume the potion, and advance to a demigod.”
Gardner Martin sighed and responded, “I find it a pity too. An Angel is sealed within him, and he alone is a team. I’ve given him many chances, but he never understood what loyalty meant. Now, I have an alternative. Let him perish naturally in Fourth Epoch Trier.”
An Angel sealed within him? Jenna’s eyes widened as she looked at Lumian.
Lumian smirked and scoffed at Gardner Martin’s words.
I’d be a fool to believe you!
The person scheming to use me from the start talking about loyalty and pity?
Just as Gardner Martin and General Philip turned around to walk toward the magnificent city, two figures emerged from a mirror fragment in the nearby wilderness.
It was Franca, dressed in a blouse, beige white breeches, a small dark brown coat, and black leather boots, along with Anthony Reid, clad in military green.
Franca scanned the surroundings and spotted Gardner Martin, encased in full-body silver armor with his visor raised.
Anthony Reid’s gaze locked onto General Philip’s face, featuring a prominent bulge on his nose.
The eight eyes met, and the air momentarily froze.
…
Count Poufer’s figure materialized at the edge of the wilderness, in front of the pale-black stone bricks.
Gazing at the giant shrouded in storms, lightning, flames, and smoke, standing dozens of meters tall, he sprinted over with the fanatical expression of a sacrificial lamb.
It was Vermonda Sauron, who had lost control and gone underground.
The former Archangel, the Conqueror, who was very close to a deity’s throne!
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