I can see experience bars after being transported to another world.

at the same time.

The Viscount's residence, the meeting room.

In the dead of night, this usually imposing mansion opened its gates as an exception.

The mansion is located at the highest point of the inner city, overlooking the entire port of Grim.

The three-story stone main building stands silently in the night, its columns carved with reliefs of sea gods and giant whales, telling the story of the ancient glory of this port city.

The conference room, which could easily accommodate dozens of people, was only occupied by a handful of people.

The candlelight flickered in the shadows of the wall, casting an ever-changing, unpredictable light on the faces of those present.

Old Morgan sat in the Night's Watch seat, looking around.

The viscount sat in the main seat, his face grim.

To his left was Archbishop Samuel, an elderly man with white hair and wearing a purple robe. He had a peaceful expression, but there was a golden glint in his eyes.

To the right is Grihis, a high-ranking member of the Ascension Society, a middle-aged man whose face is half-compacted with intricate mechanical structures; even just sitting there, one can hear the clattering of gears turning.

In addition, there were representatives from the inner-city military, as well as several newly promoted officials whose names Old Morgan couldn't recall.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was oppressive and heavy.

"Loss statistics," the Viscount's voice echoed in the hall. "Each party will report in turn."

The night watchman spoke first.

"Five dead, twelve seriously wounded, and several lightly wounded." Old Morgan's voice was calm, but everyone present could hear the heaviness in it.

Grihis of the Ascension Society continued:

"One senior alchemist died, and three alchemists were seriously injured."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his mechanical eyes:

"The laboratory was mostly destroyed, and years of research results were reduced to ashes."

Archbishop Samuel of the Church sighed softly:

"Two priests were seriously injured and several deacons were slightly injured, but they attacked our believers, which makes the believers feel that there are still places where the angels' radiance does not reach."

The inner-city military then stepped forward to add:

"More than ten soldiers have been killed or wounded, and there is panic among the public, but we have implemented a curfew."

"But some people will reconsider the security of the inner city because of this, which is a significant loss."

After the report was finished, the meeting room fell into a brief silence; the death toll didn't actually sound that high.

But in Grimport, a port on the edge of the empire, this number is already considered crippling! Especially for the Ascension Society, which actually lost a high-level alchemist.

The losses were far greater than anyone expected.

Those previously overlooked deep-sea churches were surprisingly capable of launching simultaneous attacks on four forces, causing such massive casualties.

"Intelligence," the Viscount broke the silence first. "What do you all possess?"

Old Morgan thought for a moment and then spoke.

He opened his notebook and recounted the information Lu Yuan had provided—the island in the dream, the altar, the chanting of the gray-robed man—but omitted the thing that had been summoned.

He also mentioned Lawson's warning: the Iron Whale crew had become "nourishment," and the deep-sea cultists were about to make a big move.

Grihis of the Ascension Society added:

"Our recent study of the ore brought back by the Iron Whale has revealed that it appears to be alive, and we can use it to detect strange fluctuations in a certain area of ​​the sea."

He then unfolded a drawing, which was covered with densely packed data:

"The source of the fluctuations closely matches the location of the island mentioned by the Night Watchmen, giving us reason to suspect that the ore is a beacon."

"It's too late to destroy it now."

Archbishop Samuel then opened an old book:

"It is recorded in church books."

"Some ancient beings slumber in the deep sea, older than the bizarre and more terrifying than demons."

"Those deep-sea churches... I have reason to suspect that the prayers they use in battle are what they worship."

"So those people in the deep sea are most likely preparing a massive ritual to awaken those beings. The consequences of this are something we cannot afford, not even the Empire can afford."

"So we need to speed things up."

The atmosphere in the conference room grew increasingly tense.

As intelligence from various sources is pieced together, the outline of the truth gradually becomes clear.

Those members of the Deep Sea Church have been lurking in Grim Harbor for a long time, and their infiltration has exceeded expectations.

The island in the dream is likely their base.

They want to summon something... or awaken some dormant being.

"We must send people to investigate on-site," the Viscount decided decisively. "The area where the Iron Whale sank, and that small island."

Morgan interjected at the opportune moment:

"Viscount, we don't have enough manpower. The Night's Watch's recent missions have resulted in two captains being seriously injured. Even including this old man, we only have three capable fighters left."

Archbishop Samuel also spoke up:

"Our church now has only a few priests."

Only those who ascend to immortality rarely remain silent.

The Viscount listened to the Night's Watchmen and the Church's complaints, and he could easily understand what they meant. He rubbed his temples.

"I will request the Empire to send a squad of Holy Armored Army soldiers. Until those rats are dealt with, the Holy Armored Army soldiers will be responsible for the security of Grim Port."

"Now that the manpower issue has been resolved, you should all send some people on this voyage."

"We, the Ascension Society, are willing to set sail."

Grihis stood up, his mechanical eyes flashing coldly:

"The Abyss Hunter is ready to depart at any time."

"We will also provide the main combat force."

Old Morgan glanced at Grihis.

"As expected of the Ascension Society, their reaction is truly swift."

Why are the Ascension Society so proactive?

The answer is obvious—

The Ascension Society suffered heavy losses in this attack, especially the death of a high-level alchemist, who was comparable to a second- or third-tier knowledge superhuman.

But he died so hastily.

The death of such a talent is an absolute devastation for the Ascension Society. What will the Imperial headquarters think? What will the Viscount think? The Ascension Society can't even muster this much fighting strength, and can't even protect such a talent?

Especially in recent years, the Ascension Society has been in an awkward position.

The church viewed them as heretics—"mechanical modification is blasphemy against the body given by God."

The Night's Watch considered them madmen—"Replacing flesh with steel, they will sooner or later lose their humanity and become monsters."

Most importantly, the Empire has always maintained a wait-and-see attitude towards "mechanical ascension".

This time, the Viscount personally made the decision, and various forces gathered together. Most importantly, the incident that occurred clearly needed to be reported, because once those entities were involved, the empire would pay attention.

Therefore, this is an excellent opportunity for the Ascension Society to prove itself to the Empire with the help of the Viscount.

They want everyone to see:

Mechanical ascension is not a heretical path, but rather another viable way to combat the bizarre.

If the operation succeeds, the Ascension Society's status in the Empire will be reassessed, and the Ascension Society at the Empire's headquarters will also invest certain resources.

Old Morgan looked away without saying anything.

"The Night's Watch will cooperate," he simply stated.

Samuel nodded in agreement: "The Church will send people along to provide protection and purification support."

The viscount looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice:

"Depart immediately tomorrow morning."

"The situation is urgent and cannot be delayed any longer."