Inside the main hall, silence reigned as absolute as the surface of the lake beside the temple outside the window. No ripples disturbed the calm, only the fading echoes and the faint chime of crystal ornaments brushing against each other as the chandeliers swayed.

The shadows reflected on the marble walls, momentarily disturbed by the wind rustling leaves outside the temple, gradually resumed their orderly rhythm.

The atmosphere, previously fraught with contention, seemed to have been quietly blown away, replaced by a solemn and sacred tranquility.

The Ice Witch's silver eyes had regained their familiar coldness.

Hyperion stood by, watching the Ice Witch's expression. The tension in her heart finally eased, and she resolved to be more careful about taking out the Great Love Poet in the future.

"Hyperion, keep an eye on this summon. Don't let her run wild in the Protos Empire."

The Ice Witch said, gazing at Hyperion.

She didn't know why the summon was acting so strangely, hiding her face. On closer inspection, her graceful figure, fair skin, and delicate lips and teeth suggested she was likely quite beautiful, perhaps even stunning.

It was just that her personality was too awful.

Because of this, no matter how beautiful she was, she wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.

"Don't worry, teacher. No matter what, she listens to me."

Hyperion replied, reassuring the Ice Witch.

"That's good. After you've settled into your identity in the Northwest Province, you can head to Box Mountain Province, and then travel south on the magic-powered railcar to leave the Protos Empire's northern controlled area and reach the imperial capital, Helrom."

The Ice Witch gently placed her hand on Hyperion's shoulder, her softened expression tinged with reluctance.

"The most dangerous part is the road from the Northwest Province to Box Mountain Province, where the Demise Sect's pawns are lurking. Be especially careful of the Demise Saint Child. Once they've set their sights on you, it'll be hard to escape."

After today's parting, Hyperion would embark on that perilous journey.

Three clerics familiar with Hyperion would escort her to the Northwest Province via a channel prepared by the Church of the Goddess of Fate and never before used. They would then remain in the Northwest Province, waiting to assist her, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to Hyperion's infiltration of the imperial capital.

After leaving the Northwest Province, she would be on her own, for better or worse.

"Don't worry, Teacher Almis. If things get dicey, I'll run. I'm very confident in my ability to escape!"

Hyperion clenched her fist confidently and replied.

"Alas."

Although the Ice Witch found it hard to imagine a modern demon royal family so brazenly uttering such cowardly words, she smiled helplessly. "Unfortunately, our absolutely reliable supporters in the Protos Empire can't offer you much help."

There were those in high positions within the Protos Empire, with great power tilted towards the Church of the Goddess of Fate, but they couldn't be fully trusted.

Hyperion's operation required absolute secrecy; every detail was a matter of life and death.

If they rashly tried to seek their assistance, they might inadvertently harm Hyperion.

"It's alright. A local city-state lord who can give me an identity and protection has already been a great help!"

Hyperion said very seriously.

The Church of the Goddess of Fate had already created the conditions for all the preparations. All she had to do was complete a series of difficult challenges that others could hardly help her with.

But first, she had to see if she could find out about Lan Qi's whereabouts in the imperial capital, Helrom.

That's right, his name was now Loki.

Hyperion worried about whether he and Boss Cat were doing well in the distant Protos Empire.

Every night before she went to sleep, she would stare at the ceiling for a long time.

"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?"

The Ice Witch asked, watching Hyperion's brief reverie.

"Haha, I'm just a little worried about him."

Hyperion was embarrassed to have her thoughts read, and she lowered her head and scratched the back of her head.

"Good luck, Hyperion."

The Ice Witch encouraged her once more, the encouragement carrying an unknown weight.

She looked at Hyperion with a greater degree of seriousness.

Hyperion was slightly stunned, but nodded anyway.

She always felt that her teacher was a very intellectual woman. The clerics said that the Ice Witch's singing could not only heal others, but also move people from the bottom of their hearts or bring them to tears, but Hyperion had never experienced her teacher's sonic magic.

"Anyone who loses, loses for a reason..."

The Ice Witch sighed.

"For example?"

Hyperion asked, confused.

"For example, in a love story, the loser heroine is always eating whenever she appears, or holding something to eat in her hand. Wouldn't you say she lost unfairly?"

The Ice Witch took a book from the bookshelf, seemingly *Saint War Romance*, a story that had been circulating from the Protos Empire, based on the historical background of a hundred years ago. The author was a historian from the Protos Empire who had become somewhat famous in recent years.

"But if she could win, it would actually be quite entertaining."

Hyperion began to analyze the problem from another perspective.

However, she really didn't expect that her teacher's bookshelf would contain this type of historical book.

"Is that so."

The Ice Witch seemed to have figured something out after being momentarily stunned by Hyperion's words. She sighed with a smile, handed the book to Hyperion, and told her to flip through it if she felt bored on the way to the Northwest Province.

"No matter what the result is in a little over a month, when I see you again, I will arrange a ship back to the Southern Continent for you, so come back safely, may the Goddess bless you."

The Ice Witch turned to look at the goddess statue and prayed sincerely for Hyperion.

"Thank you, teacher."

Hyperion took a deep look at the Ice Witch, accepted the magic cards and book that the Ice Witch gave her, bowed to her in a final farewell, and then turned and walked towards the exit of the main hall.

Her pace was steady but with a hint of reluctance. The temple corridor, supported on both sides by snow-white stone pillars, had a crystal floor lamp emitting a warm yellow light between every two stone pillars, peaceful and serene, as if sending her off.

Hyperion walked slowly along this road.

Although she had walked it many times, she finally felt a little reluctant at the time of parting.

It was here that she became a cleric, made many like-minded friends, and hoped to protect this beautiful pure land.

Finally, Hyperion reached the door of the temple, pushed open the heavy carved metal doors, and a beam of bright sunlight instantly shone on her face.

In the slightly dazzling view, the trees shimmered in the afternoon sun, their new leaves tender green, as if reporting the arrival of spring to her.

The temple was particularly clean in this early spring, and in the flowerbeds on both sides, flower buds had already bloomed, their petals swaying gently in the breeze, emitting a faint fragrance.

Next, the Protos Empire she was going to would be full of thorns, no longer so beautiful.

But she was ready.

After this period of cultivation, she had learned to be as calm as still water.

When she saw Lan Qi, no matter how abstract he was this time, she would no longer have any emotional fluctuations.

Full of anticipation, Hyperion took a step and walked out of the temple.

(End of this chapter)