Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 99 Emergency

Before dawn, after a night of contemplation, Viktor went directly to the Eastern Regional Council building. "Speaker Hobury, I believe we need to get the regional messengers to respond to this matter immediately," Viktor Zaitsev said, speaking directly to Cardinal Hobury, the Speaker of the Eastern Regional Council. "Spiritual pollution cannot be ignored."

"Spiritual pollution, Victor, are you sure?"

"I believe in my students."

“Alright, but, Victor—you know, the Eastern Region needs people everywhere right now,” Speaker Hobri said noncommittally. “I’m wondering if this is a trap, or just an isolated incident. This is the first time in a long time that a case of spiritual contamination has been reported. Perhaps it has nothing to do with the recent background. Besides, there aren’t many usable messengers left in the Holy City, and parts of the entire Eastern Region are no longer able to withstand the dual pressure from the Narns Empire and the Demon Realm.”

"Didn't the Temple of Eternal Rest summon several of you?" Victor asked.

"Sigh, they're currently busy rotating through the shallow spirit realms," Speaker Hobre shook his head. "But regardless, we must deal with this situation. I'll issue an order immediately to send a messenger to check on it."

"No—Your Excellency, the situation is urgent. I will go. I will go to Lorraine immediately to check the situation."

“Victor—” Speaker Hobre pondered for a moment: “Since you think the situation is urgent and are willing to go, then take another messenger with you. I originally planned to only send a junior messenger to scout ahead. Since you are so concerned, then do this matter well. Go, and call Gavin Aldrich over as well.”

Victor immediately activated his spirit world teleportation and left the council.

"It's just a step away, is it really that big of a deal?!"

Speaker Hobre watched Victor disappear into the distance and muttered to himself, "Speaking of which, the laws of the Holy Kingdom stipulate that third-tier spirit realm magic cannot be used arbitrarily—"

Gavin Aldridge was curious about Victor, this unexpected guest. Although they were both vice-judges of the Eastern District Joint Inquisition, they didn't usually communicate. Moreover, due to their different churches and some arguments at the district meeting, their relationship could be described as somewhat cold.

"Come with me to the Speaker now, there's something important," Victor said briefly.

"Now?" Aldrich was puzzled in the office, but he still followed Victor as they traveled through the spirit world.

When Gavin Aldrich and Victor arrived together, Speaker Hoble had already prepared the order: "Victor, you and Gavin will go to Lorraine to investigate the issue of spiritual contamination. Victor will lead the operation. Now depart."

"Yes."

The two walked out of the council gates together. Aldrich was still pondering the matter of spiritual contamination, a term that was both strange and familiar to him. "Heh, Victor, I didn't expect to be working with you so soon," Aldrich said casually. "Spiritual contamination, are you sure? This is no joke. What impressed me most about spiritual contamination was what happened more than thirty years ago. I was involved back then. The ratman uprising deliberately used spiritual contamination to cause the deaths of a large number of elves. Of course, this spiritual contamination could also be accidental; it's not impossible for spiritual contamination to occur unexpectedly."

"I'm sure. I spoke with my student, and although the region is under a lot of pressure right now, my spiritual intuition tells me that this is premeditated and may even involve something deeper."

"Ha, spiritual intuition can give you some hints, but it's not divination, and divination is often wrong. Also—was it your student who informed you? That ratman? Are you kidding me? Why wasn't it the regional bishop who informed you?"

"Alright, Aldrich, enough talk, let's go, we'll head to Lorraine immediately."

"How do we get there? Should we use the region's spiritual power vehicle, or take a train to the station closest to Lorraine?"

"Traveling through the spirit world".

"Spirit world travel? Victor, are you kidding me? I'm not like you, using spirit world magic so skillfully. That would consume all the spiritual energy in my body."

"No time for arguments, Aldridge. This time, you'll follow my lead."

Before dawn, Fafnir decided to go to work later, believing that the situation of spiritual pollution could not be ignored. Sister Fanning led Fafnir to the Lorraine Territory Police Department.

"Congressman Fanning, and the little one, how are you? Is there anything I can help you with?"

'

Bishop Kingsley is in a good mood. Bishop Leiden has been quieter lately, and after a busy period, the security situation in the whole territory is now entering a stable phase.

"Hello, Kingsley, I need your help investigating the spiritual pollution at the East End School for the Poor." Without time for pleasantries, Sister Fanning stated her request directly.

“Spiritual pollution?” Bishop Kingsley wasn’t quite sure what that meant. After Sister Fanning explained it in detail, he understood. “But according to you, Bishop Leighton denies that,” Kingsley hesitated. “Wouldn’t that offend Bishop Leighton?”

"Kingsley, that's precisely why we need your help. Of course, you have your own choice. Besides, we've already informed Bishop Victor." Sister Fanning had little patience for Kingsley's hesitation.

"Inform Victor? Then let's go now. I'm happy to serve you. Do you need anyone else with you?"

"No, this kind of thing shouldn't be spread for now. I think it would cause unnecessary panic," Sister Fanning thought more carefully. "With you, a top enlightener, involved, it will be fine."

"No problem, let's go now."

The three traveled in the grammar school's carriage to several streets in the eastern district near the school. "The security situation in these streets of the eastern district has never been very good. There are some laborers from the Nunns Empire here," Kingsley explained on the way. "Of course, I don't think it's the responsibility of the police department. Most of the people here are engaged in temporary heavy manual labor, or are idle and unable to find work. At the same time, alcoholism and gambling are rampant here—"

Some men and women also engage in illicit work.

"Ha, you've got a high-sounding explanation," Congressman Fanning said, not entirely satisfied with Kingsley's explanation. "There's always a solution."

After a moment of silence, the carriage stopped in front of the East End School for Poor Children. "Little one, where shall we go first?" Sister Fanning asked Fafnir for advice after getting out of the carriage.

"Sister Fanning, I think we should go to Eileen's house first. The spiritual pollution was first discovered in her."