The bishop is unfathomable.

The thick fog, like a gray cloth soaked in grease, blanketed the night sky over Beldor.

In the study, Li Wei looked up at the view outside the window with some curiosity.

Before arriving in this city, he knew that Beldor, the city in the northern continent that first began the psionic industrial revolution, actually had quite serious environmental pollution.

The perpetual fog and gloomy skies are unique features of this city.

But it was the first time he had ever seen a foggy day in Beldor.

To be honest, once the fog rolled in, the whole city seemed to have entered the set of some kind of horror movie, falling into an eerie silence.

Even the streetlights that were lit up in the fog looked strange and unusual at this moment.

However, for Li Wei, the most important thing now is not watching this horror movie-like scene, but setting up the ritual he has just learned.

Albert only gave him two complete rituals this time, as well as two simplified versions of simple rituals that could achieve similar effects using patterns and gestures.

He taught me everything he knew.

If Albert hadn't been so adept at saving his life, truly deserving the title of "King of Survival," Li Wei would have thought the old man was about to die and was making his final arrangements.

"Felicia, I will set up a ceremony in the room later."

"After I'm done, I will perform the ritual. Please don't disturb me."

Felicia raised her cat head. She had some knowledge of ritual studies, but only a limited understanding. She asked a question that had been bothering her since the afternoon.

"No problem. But what's the difference between a ritual and a ceremony?"

"They look almost identical, so why use different names?"

While fiddling with the tools and materials, Li Wei, in his characteristic self-assured manner, explained, "There really aren't many differences."

"Rituals and ceremonies, in essence, need to be performed according to fixed steps and sequences, and the necessary materials are also essential."

"But the difference is that the ceremony can actually be more relaxed and doesn't need to be so formal."

"This is reflected in the materials and the order of presentation."

"Some steps of the ritual can be omitted, and other materials can be used instead. The effect may not be as good as the original, but it will still work."

"The core of a successful ceremony lies in the steadfastness of one's spiritual will and the tranquility of 'communication' with the world."

"The rituals are different. As long as you follow the fixed steps and order and use the right materials, they can work directly."

"No other steps or conditions are required. As long as you complete the steps in order and gather all the materials, it will function properly."

As he spoke, Li Wei gave an example: "What the inspectors of the Oversight Bureau use is basically ritual. Although it's not wrong to call it ritual magic, by definition it doesn't belong to ritual."

"This is why, even though knowledge is the most important aspect of ritual studies, very few people are truly proficient in it."

"With the relevant knowledge, almost everyone can use rituals, but not everyone can use ceremonies."

"But nowadays, the vast majority of rituals have become conflated with ceremonies because they have all been simplified."

"Only a few powerful, large-scale ceremonies cannot be replaced by rituals."

"Didn't the teacher mention something about this this afternoon? The earliest magic was derived from rituals by humans."

"Essentially, rituals are a most basic and simplified means of utilizing psychic energy, or even borrowing and distorting the rules of the world."

"Spells are a more convenient means than rituals, but they have a higher barrier to entry."

After hearing Li Wei's explanation, Felicia understood: "Just like a spell will fail or even backfire if it is interrupted, the ritual is the same, right? That's why you told me not to disturb you."

Li Wei nodded: "That's right."

"So what kind of ceremony and ritual do you plan to arrange?" Felicia continued to ask.

"The Empty Shell Ritual... the old man called it the Isolation Barrier. The effect is simple: it isolates all means of detection, and those within the ritual's range gain a hidden psionic shield."

"Once the complete ritual is set up, it can isolate you from outside detection. As long as you stay in the house, you won't turn into a cat."

"That way you can restore your strength through meditation."

"Moreover, a weakened version of the effect can be achieved with just three gestures, minimizing the caster's presence and making them inconspicuous."

"As for the ritual... it's the ritual for running away, of course."

"The Silver Moon Bridge of Silence. The ritual's effects are too powerful; I have no use for it."

"But the ritual, simplified into a few hand gestures and a verse of incantation, is still very useful."

"You have to set the coordinates in advance."

……

……

"Mr. Speaker, you need to give me an explanation."

In the Speaker's bedroom, Karl was no longer his usual gentle and calm self; his expression was grim, and his hand was already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

The oppressive aura of a fifth-level psychic directly assaulted the speaker's reason, making it difficult for him to even speak normally.

"Was it you who ordered the inspector to let Agnar go?"

"What deal do you have with the Son of Dust?"

"Is the Grail of Canamagus in the city now? Or in Agnar's hands?"

The speaker managed a weak laugh, but did not reply.

He believed that the royal gendarmes would not dare to kill Beldor's Speaker without evidence.

Moreover, although he is the speaker, under the parliamentary system, the speaker's power is not actually as great as one might think.

He was just one of them.

What he didn't expect was that Karl clearly had no intention of wasting time with him. After a burst of psionic energy, the Speaker fainted.

Then, Leon walked in and nodded slightly to Karl: "Sir, everything has been taken care of. Inspector Black has taken away everything that could be found."

"Master Wagner has finished setting up the ceremony; it's time for us to leave."

Carl nodded: "Cult members break out of prison, the speaker dies suddenly...what a great script."

"Sir, will they believe it?" the still-young Leon asked.

Carl shook his head: "Whether they believe it or not is irrelevant."

"The important thing is that we made our stance clear."

"The nature of this matter changed once someone in the Inspectorate secretly released Agnar."

"Professor Albert is right. In any case, no matter what the cost."

"Before the exposition opens, there can be no hidden dangers in Beldor."

"We should have realized this a long time ago."

"Although we are only the team responsible for searching for Felicia, don't forget..."

"Grand Duke Valac's elite border legions have long been stationed in the Vola Valley outside the territory of Beldor."

"There was even a fully armed ironclad fleet anchored at the mouth of the valley."

"Her Majesty the Queen is so merciful that people forget her methods."

"Even we are the same."

"And I understand Professor Albert's intention now."

"Now, let's see what Agnar does."