Curiosity began to rise within Adam.
He had previously researched the conditions of the countries surrounding the Kingdom of Saint Heavenly Sound, hoping to find a route to other nations.
To the north, the Kingdom of Saint Heavenly Sound was practically united with its northern neighbor, where the influence of the Holy Sound Church was vast. Moreover, the northern borders were fraught with treacherous terrain, effectively a dead end, ensuring they would be discovered sooner or later.
To the west lay another religious state, with relatively developed transport links, which should have been the best option. However, the greatest obstacle Adam faced in leaving was situated there.
This left him with only the eastern and southern routes. The eastern path was separated by the sea, and the Church strictly controlled sea-bound traffic. The southern route led to the Kingdom of Loken, where the borders were tightly sealed and relations were hostile.
Traveling east had the advantage of easier boarding, but disembarking proved difficult.
The southern route, though challenging due to the border blockade, promised safety once past it, leading to the Kingdom of Loken.
In the end, Adam chose to journey to Roya. He knew that the Kingdom of Saint Heavenly Sound and the Kingdom of Loken were enemies, but he was unclear as to the reasons behind their hostility.
To his surprise, the conflict had arisen from the disappearance of a noble from the Kingdom of Loken.
"This is merely a spark; the true cause of the war must lie in deeper, more intricate factors," Adam mused, closing the book after a brief glance.
"Yet, that name, Ronni, sounds somewhat familiar." Adam frowned. He felt as though he had heard it before. Generally, once he committed something to memory, he would never forget it. However, if he had only glanced at it carelessly, it was a fleeting impression, difficult to retain.
Before long, the door opened, and Anthony entered, looking somewhat pale and weary. Despite his condition, he smiled upon seeing Adam, then sat down and began his lecture.
Today's lesson again focused on meditation techniques, insights into constructing the Netherworld, and common mistakes people tend to make.
Every word was imbued with the wisdom of ancestors who had exchanged their lives for such knowledge. Although Adam's talent was exceptional, he understood the importance of not dismissing this accumulated experience.
"The meditation technique for the Netherworld, once the realm is constructed, stimulates latent abilities within life. This stimulation can also be applied to other living beings," Anthony explained.
"Latent abilities?" Adam asked, somewhat confused. After constructing the Netherworld, he had primarily felt spiritual changes, with few physical alterations.
"That is because your abilities are not latent," Anthony replied, tapping the desk. "What makes a person's charm? First, it's their appearance and physique. Second, it's the aura of vitality they emanate. The life force of a person creates a field that influences other beings, including scents and other emissions."
"Then comes temperament, which relates to the soul."
"The meditation technique for the Netherworld stems from the deeds of Yi, who, in the divine scriptures, is regarded as the mother of all humanity. She can lull crying children to sleep, command beasts, make everyone adore her, and calm the angriest of souls with her innate charm—humanity's most fundamental allure."
"The technique, thus, also enhances one's charm. However, in modern times, the reverse is true: people now seek out those with charm to determine whether they are suited for the Netherworld meditation."
"Adam, you possess an immense affinity that doesn't need to be awakened—it's simply inherent in you."
"Of course, as the technique progresses, your charm may further intensify, eventually giving rise to the extraordinary allure trait."
Adam suddenly understood and realized why both Anthony and Cyrin exuded such overwhelming charm.
Clearly, charm could be cultivated through meditation.
"What effect does this extraordinary allure have?" Adam inquired further. If he could use his soul's weight to adjust, enabling his charm to undergo a qualitative transformation, even without the extraordinary allure, it would likely be close.
"Extraordinary signifies a complete metamorphosis. Once this allure is concentrated, it mimics the effects of charm magic, even resembling the power of Spirit Words."
"Your charm would allow you to bend the will of everything around you to your own desires."
"Furthermore, extraordinary perception lets you enter a state of spiritual vision upon sensing relevant phenomena. You can also sense traces left by others at a distance."
"If you've studied related techniques, you could even trace those who touched your traces in reverse."
"Trace back? Can you accurately locate that person?" Adam asked.
"It's difficult. You can only sense their general direction, and this touches upon knowledge related to curse magic," Anthony responded. "I'm not well-versed in curse techniques, but if you're interested, you could ask Alva. Alternatively, I could teach you some basic methods."
Adam was momentarily stunned. Was Alva knowledgeable about curse magic?
However, he chose not to pursue the matter further and once again immersed himself in his studies as a practitioner.
Time passed swiftly. At midday, the lesson paused, and Adam went downstairs to have the lunch Cyrin had sent up.
Meanwhile, Macallan drove a carriage back to the Rom family estate, where he underwent an inquiry from the person who had delivered the gift to Adam earlier that morning.
That person quickly relayed the information upwards, reaching Walker and Doug.
"The Central Clock Tower?" Doug tapped his cane against the ground, confirming, "Yes, that's the place. It's said that Alva secured it years ago. Now it seems he has a mage's laboratory there."
"Could the immortality elixir be there as well?" Walker speculated. He had accompanied Doug several times to the Latu estate, conducting secretive investigations, but had not sensed anything resembling the immortality elixir.
"Not necessarily. We'll send someone to check the Clock Tower." Doug sighed, reflecting on the information they had gathered so far. Both Alva and his servant, Aidu, had taken the immortality elixir at different times, indicating that Alva had still been crafting it even after being exiled by the Church.
Unfortunately, much of their information was vague, leaving them unable to make definitive judgments.
As Doug and Walker pondered the situation, Macallan secretly met with someone else—Doug's son, Matt.
In his forties, nearly fifty, Matt had a balding head, a slightly plump physique, and a face bearing some resemblance to Doug's, lending him an air of authority.
"That filthy commoner truly went to the Central Clock Tower with a book?" Matt asked once more, his impatience growing upon receiving confirmation.
Earlier that morning, he had discovered Adam was the son of a commoner, only associated with Latu through their teacher-student bond. Still, he had wondered if he was being overly suspicious, especially after the old man had coughed up blood. He had felt an opportunity open up, which had made him sensitive.
But now, his suspicions flared once again.
Today, Alva had gone to the church to paint a mural, yet that damnable commoner hadn't gone to the church or the Latu estate.
"Could that old fool have sent someone to the Clock Tower to teach that commoner?" Matt's thoughts spiraled uncontrollably.
The Clock Tower held nothing of value—what could a commoner be doing there all day?
If his suspicions were correct, it meant that the old man was planning to replace him. After all, inheriting the noble crest required a certain level of education, something Matt had received in his youth.
"Such a thing cannot be allowed to happen." Matt grew more agitated. Without the family inheritance, he would be cast aside, and those in the gambling halls would come for him, stripping him bare.
"Our noble Rom family legacy cannot fall into the hands of a bastard." Matt gritted his teeth, holding back the urge to shout.
"You, continue to investigate the commoner's whereabouts," Matt ordered Macallan, his last vestiges of reason preventing him from acting rashly. He needed confirmation before making a move.
"Also, send someone to watch the Clock Tower. Let's see if the old man moves anyone there."