"Shad Hamilton, Detective."
When shaking hands, Xia De also took the initiative to introduce himself.
"Bill has already told me about you. It's lucky for you and for us to be able to join."
The old man said cheerfully. At this time, Shad saw the champagne in the ice bucket on the coffee table. It should have been prepared by Dr. Schneider, because Father Augustus' financial situation seemed to be only better than Shad's.
Reverend Rat Augustus is a second-ring sorcerer in this group. He became a correspondence-ring sorcerer three years ago.
He was not a local who grew up in Tobesk, but was born in a small town in the south of the Kingdom of Draerion. Influenced by his family, the old priest believed in the true god Mr. Dawn since he was a teenager. He passed the examination of the Tobesk Dawn Seminary in his youth and joined the Tobesk Dawn Church at the age of 23. He never married and devoted his life to the church.
Although for 30 years, Father Augustus did not move forward from being a priest due to various reasons, no one doubted his piety. The old priest had a high prestige in the church of his diocese and was trusted by the clergy and believers of the church of the Dawn. Even the archbishop of a large diocese like Tobesk would ask for his opinion on some important issues.
Due to the awkward relationship between the Correspondence Ring Warlock and the Orthodox Church, Shade will often need to hide his identity in front of the church. And Priest Augustus is the best candidate in the group to settle church events because he has connections with the Orthodox Church.
Although the Ring Warlock's talent is not very good due to his advanced age, he is absolutely indispensable in the five-person team.
As a proof of mutual trust, Priest Augustus and Shade also showed each other their life rings. The priest was also in an unusual situation, but he did not have three like Miss Louisa, but only one core spirit rune.
The identity and core runes of Priest Augustus were in line with the requirements of the "Seminary" of St. Byron's Comprehensive College. But the priest did not join the seminary. He is now a member of the School of Chemistry, proficient in the planting and picking of herbs and the preparation of magic potions.
There were five people in the group, and now Shade got to know one more person. Of the remaining two people who had not arrived, Dorothy Louisa, a writer from the Folklore Academy, would probably take some time to arrive, and the other three-ring warlock Luvia Anat could not come today because she was temporarily not in Tobesk City for some matters.
"Miss Annat is actually different from us. Strictly speaking, she is a ring mage belonging to the Prophet's Association. Annat wrote to us and asked us to say hello to you. She will probably be back next month, but in fact, it will only be a few days. It will be next week."
The doctor continued to introduce the situation of the group and signaled to Xia De that he could find a place to sit down after the handshake.
"Since she is also part of our group, isn't that lady a correspondence student at St. Byron's?"
Shade asked confusedly, choosing to sit across from Dr. Schneider.
Although Father Augustus came from a church background, he received adult education at the college, so he could be considered a correspondence student of St. Byron's. But Miss Annat was completely different.
"No, she is also a correspondence student of the academy, belonging to the School of Astronomy, and is proficient in the art of divination. As for why she has a dual identity, do you know what 'joint training' means?"
The doctor asked. When Xia De heard the information from this lady just now, he was just confused, but now he was really surprised. He confirmed once again that the force he joined was really a school.
"She still belongs to the Prophet's Association, but she is trained by both parties. In fact, St. Byron's Comprehensive College and many friendly organizations, including Zarathus College of Literature and the Sixess Higher Medical School, but not the Church, all have such joint training students. You will know later.
But you don't have to think anything of Annatte because of her identity, just treat her as an ordinary companion. Do you need tea? I drank some good black tea at your place last time, and I asked the servant to buy some."
The doctor asked, and Shade thought for a moment:
"Okay, thank you... So, Miss Luvia Anat is actually the same as us?"
“There is still a difference.”
As Father Augustus spoke, he fiddled with his old pipe. Of course, he would not smoke in the clinic. This was just a habitual action:
"In addition to being able to gain knowledge at the academy, Miss Annat can also benefit from the Prophet's Association. She is highly regarded by the ring magicians of the Prophet's Association. So relatively speaking..."
The priest glanced at the doctor, who shook his head indifferently, indicating that the gray-haired old priest could continue:
"Although she is only three rings, only one ring higher than me in the group, but in a non-head-to-head fight, even the doctor is not sure that he can defeat her. Of course, this is also because Schneider and Louisa's abilities are not suitable for head-on combat."
Priest Augustus believed that although the ring wizards had power, this profession was for studying the world and exploring oneself, not for fighting and killing. In the eyes of the old man, the ring wizards were more like scholars than mercenaries.
His idea is very similar to that of the doctor. After becoming a correspondence ring sorcerer, he should not indulge his heart because of the power he has gained, but should be more humble and cautious.
In other words, the two were tactfully reminding Xia De to be careful when doing things and not to get involved in things that he shouldn't get involved in. Reading patiently, engraving spirit runes to accumulate spirits, reading the notes of predecessors, and learning more magic and spells are the correct life state of a correspondence ring sorcerer.
Shad therefore suspected that the doctor had told Priest Augustus about his experience the day before. Priest Augustus was worried that Shad, because he suddenly gained power through the remnants of the old gods, was eager to gain more power through similar adventures, so he said this.
Father Augustus was also a very nice man.
"Speaking of which, I am actually quite curious about one thing."
Since the relationship between the ring wizard and fighting and killing was mentioned, Shade asked:
"Since the ring wizard gathers elements and even has spirit runes engraved by the elements, then if we kill the ring wizard, can we obtain his power, such as spirit runes, such as scattered elements, or the opponent's elements turned into artifacts?"
"Oh, that's a horrible thought."
The gray-haired old priest shook his head, held the holy emblem on his chest and closed his eyes to pray. The doctor shook his head seriously, and his blue eyes looked at Shad:
"Shad, I don't know where you got such a terrible idea. But if you kill a ring sorcerer who has nothing to do with you, all you will get is his corpse and the guilt that will accompany you for the rest of your life.
From Delarion to Carsenrick, from the Old World to the New World, from steam-powered industrial cities like ours to dark rural cemeteries. Ring warlocks can appear almost anywhere, but remember, this is an era of civilization, not a dark forest where the strong prey on the weak. If someone attacks you, you can fight back, but don't kill for pure profit, which will make it easier for you to lose control. "
Xia De also knew that what he said was somewhat inappropriate, and he was just curious because of the fantasy stories he had read in the past. The stranger didn't want to gain power by killing people, he just worried that others would do so:
"Sorry, I'm just curious. Yes, that kind of world is too scary... It's like people can survive by eating other people."
Holding the holy emblem tightly, Father Augustus looked at Shade. His expression was not as stern as the doctor's. The wrinkled corners of his eyes showed a gentle tone:
"Although our world is so strange and terrifying, with countless evil creatures lurking around, relics of past times everywhere, dangerous and mysterious knowledge that challenges the limits of normal people's rationality at any time, evil gods walking on the ground and spying on the human world, and giant beasts of the abyss hidden under the oceans of the New and Old Worlds, we are still happy that the world exists. Come, gentlemen, toast to this kind world."
The old priest was moved by what he said, and took the initiative to raise the cup in front of him. The doctor nodded with satisfaction and raised the cup, while Shade smiled. No matter how bad his situation was after coming here, it seemed as if the world was compensating him by sending him such good friends:
"To this kind world."
The three of them spoke loudly together, and the stranger's smile at this moment came from the heart.
At this time, the door was pushed open. The blond writer who broke in without knocking did not hear the previous conversation. As soon as he opened the door, he saw three men holding up tea cups, one with a sacred look, one with a serious face, and one with a smile on his face.
Miss Louisa looked at the men hesitantly, wondering whether she should withdraw:
"What were you...doing?"