Chapter 1131 - 358: Nighttime City (Part 2)

"It seems I’ve touched upon some sensitive nerve of this city now, just as I had suspected earlier, people are pretending that life is still stable to psychologically escape," Ian thought to himself. He deliberately slowed his pace, ambling along the main street toward the Sun Temple, observing the reactions of those around him with his peripheral vision.

Sure enough, a few burly men in linen tunics emerged from the bakery, whispered among themselves before quickly leaving. Ian’s lips curled slightly — these were evidently lookouts going to report. Not long after, a group of priests dressed in white robes stopped Ian in his tracks. The leading man had a high nose and deep-set eyes, with a pattern of the golden Eye of Horus on his forehead, the sun disk atop his scepter glinting coldly in the twilight.

"Foreigner, stop, who are you? Why are you lingering near the temple?" The priest’s voice was thick and slow like the silt of the Nile River, "The Sun Temple’s domain does not welcome secretive inquiries."

Ian calmly performed an Egyptian-style greeting, placing his right hand on his chest and bowing slightly.

"Honorable divine attendant, I am merely a scholar interested in the history of your city." He took out a forged papyrus document from his bosom and handed it over.

"This is a travel credential issued by Thebes Academy." As an Alchemy Master, forging such things naturally came effortlessly to him; his techniques could deceive any wizard below the gods. The priest took the document, squinting to examine the exquisite hieroglyphics and the scarlet seal on it.

Ian secretly rejoiced for having prepared thoroughly before his time travel — this magically disguised document was realistic enough to be authentic, Ian felt confident about it.

The priests exchanged a few glances, the Scepter Priest spoke again, his tone slightly moderated, "Scholars should also know that inquiring into royal forbidden matters is a serious crime."

In any era, the identity of a scholar is generally versatile, and most factions hold a mindset of avoiding offense if possible.

"Forbidden matters?" Ian displayed a confused expression at just the right time, "I only heard there are disappearance cases in the city, naturally, as a traveler, I’m concerned about my safety."

The priest’s face suddenly stiffened. A younger attendant behind him couldn’t resist speaking, "High Priest, since this scholar is so curious about that matter, should we bring him to—"

The attendant hadn’t finished speaking.

"Shut up!" The Scepter Priest sternly halted, then turned to Ian with a return to that formal composure, "All foreign wizards need to register their magic power characteristics at the temple. Since you claim to be a scholar, I suppose you won’t mind cooperating with the investigation?"

After speaking.

He cast a suspicious glance at Ian.

Ian’s gray-green eyes flickered slightly. It was a trap, but also an opportunity. "Of course," he smiled, "It’s my honor to assist the servants of the Sun God."

On the way to the temple, Ian silently memorized every turn, every checkpoint’s location. The priests intentionally led him on a detour through intricate corridors and courtyards, which suited Ian just fine. He noticed the guards were particularly strict by the side hall on the temple’s west side, while the stairs leading to the basement emitted unusual magic fluctuations.

Not the traditional guardian curse of Ancient Egypt, nor the orthodox divine art aura. The registration room was a circular stone chamber, the walls engraved with patterns of celestial movements. Ian was asked to place his hand on an obsidian plate, said to record a wizard’s magic power characteristics. He secretly employed Occlumency, releasing only the top layer of magic fluctuations — enough to appear real, yet without revealing his power.

"Wait here." After the Scepter Priest left with the recording stone slab, Ian began to carefully observe the room. The ceiling’s star map had a peculiar error — Sirius’s position deviated from its actual orbit, and the edges of the drainage channel on the ground showed fresh abrasion marks. He was about to squat down for a closer look when the stone door suddenly opened.

The priest who had left returned.

The Scepter Priest’s face became extremely odd, the gold paint pattern on his forehead faintly glowing under the torchlight.

"You may leave," he said stiffly, "The Master’s emissary vouched for you."

Ian raised an eyebrow, "Weren’t we supposed to register the magic power characteristics?"

He had only tested the magic power, hadn’t completed the process yet.

"Waiving the process." The priest’s mouth twitched slightly, as if forcibly suppressing some emotion.

"You are allowed to move freely in the city." His gaze drifted to a higher spot behind Ian. Ian turned and saw at the arch window on the second-floor corridor, a woman in a black robe quietly standing. The runes under her hood glimmered faintly in the dim light, she nodded slightly, then retreated into the shadows.

This woman was precisely the young lady who appeared in the alley, the "Ra God’s Attendant" with runes carved on her face. She spoke no words, only stood quietly at the window, seemingly confirming whether Ian would leave. Under Ian’s gaze, the next moment, her figure gradually faded, vanishing into the air like mist.

Leaving the temple.

Ian stood on the steps, narrowing his eyes to adjust to the outside light. The woman’s shadow had long vanished from the arch window, yet the feeling of being watched still clung to the back of his neck like a spider web. He walked down the steps slowly, the sound of his boots scraping against the stone slabs resounded faintly, notably clear on the suddenly silent street.

"The Master’s emissary..." Ian softly repeated the title, fingers unconsciously rubbing the magic wand hidden in his sleeve. That woman could easily overturn the priest’s decision, indicating her position in the temple was extraordinary. But those symbols etched on her face — he had never seen similar marks on orthodox Sun God Priests.