The bishop is unfathomable.

After Vera recounted her information about herself and the unusual lack of records about the Colossus within the Empire during the final stages of the Three Kingdoms period, Li Wei also revealed his secrets to Vera.

At the same time, in order not to interrupt Vera's thoughts, Li Wei did not ask his own question, but from Vera's answer, he had already gleaned a key piece of information.

That's about the Valak family.

Vera said there was no reason why a member of the Valak family wouldn't know about this... Does that mean she is very likely a member of that Grand Duke's family?

With your background, how did you become an inspector in Beldor?

Especially when Li Wei thought about what Karl said before taking the Holy Grail from Canamagos yesterday...

First of all, the two people's tasks do not conflict at all.

The only conflict lies in Li Wei's bottom line regarding optional tasks.

Although there is no complete evidence yet, based on Li Wei's experience accumulated over many years of playing games and reading novels in his previous life.

If a skill similar to self-destruction appears in the plot, then that skill will most likely be used in the end.

Of course, this is the worst-case scenario.

Although there are penalties for illegal team formation, it's always worth a try if you can get a high score.

The first and second level promotion rituals are not dangerous. Even if you die during the promotion ritual, it will not affect you in the real world. You just need to wait for a period of time before you can try to promote again.

and……

Li Wei reviewed his mission; survival was not a necessary condition for its completion.

From a purely promotion perspective, protecting the research institute from destruction and ensuring the smooth progress of the final stage of the Colossus research is paramount; as long as safety is guaranteed, one's own life is not essential.

Even optional tasks are the same.

In fact, each task does not require the user to survive.

With that in mind, Li Wei walked into Felicia's room, which was right next to Vera's.

At this moment, Felicia showed no signs of nervousness, leaning against the window and looking at the scenery outside.

Noticing Li Wei's entrance, she turned to look at him: "Oh, it seems you were having a quick talk with Miss Vera. Judging from your expression, you seem to have figured something out, right?"

"You seem very calm. Although your participation is considered cheating, you couldn't really exert your full strength in this ceremony, could you?" Li Wei asked rhetorically.

"That's right. The reason a vulnerability is allowed to exist is because it can only serve as an aid, not a cheat code to directly pass the level."

Felicia stood up and leaned against the window to explain, "In the ritual, the cheater can only exert a power level half a level higher than the participant."

"Although you and Vera did not go through the ritual, you have actually reached the standard of the second energy level. Therefore, the strength I can exert is roughly equivalent to less than the third energy level."

"But that's enough. The energy level only limits my psionic energy reserves and output efficiency. The spells I've learned are still useful."

"Moreover, the rituals for wandering ghosts often seem complicated, difficult, and hopeless."

"But actually, as you've probably noticed, Yuuki is actually quite lenient with people who are only after promotions."

"As long as you give up the rewards from the gods, advancing your energy level is not difficult; you can simply play your role step by step."

"But I don't think you're that kind of person. After all, I've wanted to ask you this for a long time: why do you, who are only at the first level, possess a method that only those at the third level have—the ability to slowly recover psionic energy without meditation?"

"So, this is the inherent trait reward you received in your first promotion?"

Li Wei nodded without denying it, and then recounted his and Vera's mission and intelligence.

Then he looked at the senior colleague who had been promoted multiple times and asked, "It's your turn to talk about the task. Also, what are your thoughts?"

"My mission is pretty much the same as yours," Felicia laughed, "except it's not as complicated."

"All I need to do is get the Marquis, played by Vera, to the research institute, and also stop or solve the swamp phenomenon."

As she spoke, Felicia looked out the window again, where the shadow of the Titan stood silently at the horizon.

For her and Li Wei's generation of imperial citizens, the Colossus was more like a legend.

Since that chaotic three-way war, no large-scale war has occurred in the Northern Continent.

This colossal war fortress was thus sealed away by the Empire.

Felicia gazed at the unactivated war machine and slowly spoke, "As for how to do it... if Vera and your memories are correct."

"So that means that we, this guard team, the entire Titan Weapon Research Institute, and even the area where the institute is located, will all be reduced to nothing in the upcoming operation."

"Then, all records will be sealed and destroyed."

"This was a journey of no return."

Li Wei shook his head: "Perhaps not."

As he spoke, Levi revealed Karl's intelligence, and then used it as a basis to ask in return: "If all those who knew about it were silenced, then even if he was a Royal Gendarmerie officer, he shouldn't have lived to 1878, sixty years later."

Felicia shook her head: "Who knows? After all, the origins of the ascension ceremony are shrouded in historical mystery, aren't they?"

"It may be a hidden story or piece of history that has been completely unknown and passed down to the public."

"It could also be another possibility in history."

"It could even be a period of time whose ending is anchored by philosophical thought."

"I've heard my teacher mention that the essence of the promotion ceremony is by no means a simple game or entertainment for the gods."

"There seems to be some unspeakable taboo behind it."

"Therefore, in the promotion ceremony, if you only want to complete the promotion, you only need to follow the original historical route, that is, complete the most basic promotion task."

"But the gods created those optional tasks in order to explore new possibilities."

"Of course, this is just an unproven theory that has emerged within the association in recent decades."

Li Wei understood Felicia's meaning: "You mean, if we want to play it safe, we shouldn't bother with missions other than promotion missions. Unless I want to acquire good inherent traits, right?"

"That's right. Just like the trait you gained during your first promotion ceremony," Felicia continued. "You've felt the convenience this feature brings you, haven't you?"

"At least before reaching the third level, your spiritual energy was freed from the limitation of only being able to recover through meditation."

"And the higher the level of the advancement ceremony, the stronger the inherent abilities become, sometimes even comparable to a permanently effective spell or ritual."

Li Wei laughed after hearing this: "So after all this going around in circles, your advice is that I should act according to my abilities, right?"

“That’s right. Although I’ll be punished for not completing the mission, the punishment is relatively controllable.” Felicia said, smiling at Levi, “So boss, I can help you complete your mission. Even if I can’t complete all of mine.”

"But the price is that you have to treat me to a meal at a famous restaurant in Beldorli. Takeout is fine too."

Li Wei: "Why are you calling me 'boss'? And if you want to eat, why don't you just go get some yourself?"

"Hey, I'm wanted by the police, and I don't have any money on me. Besides, you're my owner, I can't bring myself to call you master, but boss is fine."

"After all, I think it's safer to stay with you until I'm cleared of suspicion and charges."

Felicia blinked and gave a very casual explanation.

Fortunately, Li Wei wasn't bothered by the issue of address, and simply continued, "By the way, both of our missions involve preventing the swamp phenomenon. What do you think is the cause?"

"Is it the most common person who goes insane after seeing something they shouldn't have, or is it a phantom beast summoned into reality causing a distortion of reality?"

Felicia was about to answer when her expression suddenly changed. A hurricane then swept up beneath her feet, forming a wind barrier that enveloped Levi, herself, and even the adjacent private room.

The next moment, a huge fiery meteor fell from the sky and crashed directly onto the carriage where the three of them were.

The train was brought to a stop by the tremendous impact, and the entire train derailed almost instantly, overturning off the tracks.

Immediately afterwards, more fireballs, like meteorites, crashed down from the sky. Accompanied by a rapidly rising temperature, a three-meter-tall humanoid being, its body flowing with high-temperature lava and flames, slammed heavily in front of the derailed train.

Inside the wind barrier, after Felicia dodged the attack thanks to her lightning-fast reflexes, she frowned at Levi in ​​front of her and said, "It's clearly a worse situation."

"A high-ranking demon who operates in the real world."