Chapter 656 : What Exactly Are They Dragging Out

“How ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍did it go, Gaia? Has there been any progress in the negotiations?”

Zoe ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍lay sprawled over a long bench padded with cushions. She lifted her eyes lazily toward Gaia, who had just returned, and asked in a languid tone.

She ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wore only close-fitting undergarments. Beside her, a mechanical construct slightly taller than an ordinary person was busily at work.

Its ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍head was a somewhat crude cylindrical barrel. Below that, there was no torso at all—only a series of slender, segmented mechanical arms.

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that moment, five or six of those arms were moving across Zoe’s back. Some tapped lightly, some kneaded slowly. It was actually giving her a massage.

Gaia ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍glanced at her companion, who let out a comfortable sigh, but her own expression was far from pleasant.

“Overall, their attitude is actually fine. They’re willing to concede the technology. But the way they handle things feels unreliable. They keep nitpicking over all sorts of minor details.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? At least our goal can be achieved. Arguing over details is better than making no progress at all, right?”

“The key is that they’re dragging it out far too much.” Gaia muttered unhappily as she threw herself onto the sofa. She was already short to begin with, and the sofa cushions were extremely soft—she practically sank into them entirely.

“I’ve spent three whole days discussing technical details with them. All of it useless stuff. Things like how to apply Sacred Oil, the standards for pronouncing prayer chants, oh—and the thirty-six massage modes of that robot of yours.”

“Wouldn’t that be—ah, a little to the left, yes, right there—wouldn’t that be pretty good? This massage robot is really impressive…”

“It is impressive, but you can’t bring it back with you.” Gaia sneered. “This robot is also a Holy Relic of the Mechanical Sanctum. We can only exchange for its method of use. When the time comes, you’ll just bring back the thirty-six modes and imagine yourself being massaged!”

“Then why not just refuse it?”

“That’s not an option either. If we want their technology, we have to take all this messy supporting package along with it—maintenance methods, prayer procedures, and the like.”

“Sounds like bundled sales. They’re trying to jack up the price.”

“…About that.”

Gaia frowned from within the sofa cushions.

At first, she had thought the same. To be honest, Castel did not mind paying a high price. Those steam rifles were just sitting idle in the warehouse anyway.

But after several days of negotiations, Gaia had begun to sense something off.

She felt that the Mechanical Sanctum was somewhat strange.

They did not seem eager for the transaction. That, in itself, was not odd. She could even understand if the Mechanical Sanctum acted more bureaucratic—after all, this church was known for its extreme conservatism. It was certainly difficult to pry technology out of their hands.

But their attitude was almost too good.

Gaia’s gaze fell on the massage machine beside Zoe. At that moment, it was carefully turning Zoe over with its mechanical arms, continuing the massage process.

This massage device was called a Holy Relic by the Sanctum. Judging from the attitude of the Mechanical Priests Gaia had encountered during this time, it should have been enshrined in a shrine and worshipped.

And the room they were staying in was the Gear Sanctum, the most core area within the Sanctum.

Normally, only the most honored guests would receive such treatment. Yet their group had only come to conduct a trade.

Beyond that, regarding the Mechanical Sanctum itself, Gaia also sensed a subtle dissonance.

“Don’t you think something’s off? These people from the Mechanical Sanctum are almost too easy to talk to. They agreed to the technology we wanted right away, but instead they’re haggling over all kinds of trivial details.”

Zoe raised her head at that, her gaze clearing somewhat. “You mean—”

“I think they’re stalling for time!” Gaia jumped off the sofa and began pacing around the room.

“But what’s the point of stalling? Is the Empire planning to go to war with us? That doesn’t make sense. Delaying us wouldn’t affect Castel’s preparations for war.”

“I have a different view.” Zoe thought for a moment and lowered her voice. “You’ve noticed too, haven’t you? Erwin hasn’t been around these past few days.”

Gaia’s eyes flickered.

“He’s been wandering outside the whole time. Although his range of activity is limited to Upper Rhine, he’s still gathered some information. All of this seems to be related to the Empress.”

“Beatrice?”

“Yes. She mentioned in her letter that she would receive us. It doesn’t seem like she was merely saying it. Preparations are already underway outside. I heard there will be a banquet, and we should be invited when the time comes.”

“Isn’t that just a coincidence? A banquet specifically for us? I don’t think Castel is that important on the Church’s side. And to prepare for so long in advance—it just doesn’t add up.” Gaia tugged at her hair in frustration.

Zoe licked her lips, stood up, and tiptoed closer to Gaia. She leaned toward her ear and whispered, “Have you read Nini’s newspaper? It says that Beatrice is secretly in love with our Lord…”

Gaia’s expression became instantly colorful. She let out a sigh. “You’re not actually taking that seriously, are you? That report also said the prince is actually a woman. Nini dares to print anything—do you dare to believe everything?”

“No, no…” Zoe laughed awkwardly and stepped back. “I was just saying it casually. It suddenly came to mind. Don’t take it seriously.”

“Forget it. In any case, we’ve achieved our objective. If all the technologies promised by the Mechanical Sanctum are genuine, they’ll allow Castel’s research to make a huge breakthrough. Let them haggle if they want. Good things take time.”

Gaia sighed and slumped back into the sofa again.

Zoe changed her clothes and went to attend a lecture by the Gear Sage. Although she still could not fully understand what it taught, it was occasionally useful.

After all, once they left here, they would not be able to hear it anymore.

Gaia sat alone in the sofa. After an unknown amount of time, a muffled voice drifted out from within the soft cushions.

“That’s not right… if you put it that way, it actually makes sense. Could it be that the Pope really is secretly in love with our Lord?”

Beatrice let out a long breath and stood up, but staggered, nearly falling.

She quickly sat back down in the armchair and took several deep breaths before the dizziness gradually subsided.

“Controlling other 【Shells】 really does have side effects. I’m almost getting unaccustomed to controlling my own body now… I wonder if it will improve after becoming a 【Named One】.”

At the mention of the term 【Named One】, a trace of excitement flashed through Beatrice’s eyes.

“Soon. Very soon. Once the banquet preparations are complete, the ritual can begin. According to the book, this is the final step to becoming a 【Named One】!”

Thinking of this, she suppressed her dizziness, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Hela was standing outside the door. Beatrice happily patted her on the cheek, humming a tune as she walked away.

“Ever since I began controlling Hela according to the method in the book, the range in which I can move within the church has been expanding. I just need to endure a little longer—soon, I’ll be free!”