Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 857: The Ambition of the Council

Chapter 857 -857: The Ambition of the Council

“Yes, I understand.”

The young witch nodded gently, aware of the threat in Miss Galina’s words:

“I have no malice towards Mr. Hamilton, but I need to confirm his situation…”

“We don’t know the reason for now, but we can confirm that it can’t be replicated.”

“That’s good.”

Miss Sylvia nodded, her brows still furrowed. She looked at Shard, who was wiping his lips:

“But how could this be?”

Becoming a Grand Witch allowed her to understand what the Witch System entailed. As a price, the curses the witches bore should not have allowed a loophole like Shard:

“Miss Galina, are you truly sure this gentleman is a man?”

“Yes, he even slept with my great-niece. I checked his hair and blood and am very sure he is an ordinary human with no special exotic bloodline.”

Hearing Miss Galina say this, Miss Sylvia stopped inquiring further, but it was clear that she was more concerned about the reason behind this phenomenon than whether Shard’s existence would affect the Witch Council.

Miss Galina said nothing more. Tifa stood quietly behind her. Shard, holding Mia, suddenly wondered how he had brought the cat along. Mia, squinting, was being held by Shard. Miss Sylvia hesitated a bit before asking:

“Mr. Hamilton, I remember you said during the day that you could use the power of Time and Space.”

“Yes, my core Spirit Rune is ‘Space-Time’.”

The witch blinked:

“I have a friend at Saint Byrons Integrated Academy who heard a rumor this summer that a correspondence student with a Space-Time Spirit Rune had enrolled in the History Academy. Was that you?”

“Yes, I…”

“Now is not the time to discuss this.”

Miss Galina interrupted, looking at Miss Sylvia:

“What do you think of Shard’s existence?”

The latter immediately grasped the meaning of this question and hesitantly glanced at Shard again:

“I will not reveal his existence to other members of the Council, but I hope Mr. Hamilton can cooperate with me in some space-related research. Today in Huntington City, I sensed the Spatial Sorcery he used through a wall, which is unlike anything I know.”

She then added:

“Duchess, you also hope Mr. Hamilton can progress further on the path of the Circle Sorcerer, right?”

“So, your request is just that?”

Miss Galina seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Duchess, what do you want me to do?”

Miss Galina thought for a moment:

“True, since I’ve vouched for him, made my close relationship clear, and he is valuable to you, this is quite normal.”

“Besides, I am the last seat of the Council. Matters that could potentially shake the foundation of the Council are not something I should involve in.” fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Miss Sylvia said cautiously. Miss Galina nodded with dwindling interest:

“Things are simpler than I thought. However, since you’ve promised to keep Shard’s secret, I think we could become closer… Are you interested in accepting my investment?”

She proposed. Shard clearly saw a moved expression on Miss Sylvia’s face, but she did not immediately agree. Instead, she pressed her lips lightly and said softly:

“I need to consider it, Duchess.”

“No problem, you can talk to me about it when you reach Tobesk. By the way, Shard has a matter to ask you.”

She looked at Shard. During dinner at the manor, Shard had mentioned this issue.

“Madam, what exactly is your relationship with Margaret Anjou?”

Miss Sylvia tapped the table lightly with her fingers as she recalled:

“Three years ago, after she returned from Xerxes to the United Kingdom, I became the Princess’s tutor, responsible for courses in mathematics, dance, etiquette, and more. Besides that, I intentionally let her discover my identity as a Circle Sorcerer and granted her the power of a witch. Margaret Anjou knows I belong to the Witch Council, but she is not very accustomed to witch powers and lacks Spatial Talent, so I do not intend to train her as an apprentice.”

Being granted witch powers by a Grand Witch meant being controlled by the Grand Witch, so there was no need to worry that this Princess would betray.

“This is the first time I’ve heard you mention this. I didn’t expect you to be so close to the Anjou Royal Family. But three years ago? That’s around the time your teacher passed away due to the incident in the New World… Giving her witch powers, did you intend to influence the Anjou Royal Family through her?”

Miss Galina asked curiously. Miss Sylvia hesitated:

“It wasn’t to influence, just an investment. The bloodline of the Anjou Family is not as prolific as the Cavendish Family. Margaret’s succession rank is fifth, and I happened to become her tutor… She is very capable. Even if she cannot become a Queen in the future, she will certainly influence the politics of the United Kingdom and is highly likely to become a Duke with real power, much like you.”

Shard listened with slight surprise, admiring how the Archwitches of the Witch Council were indeed women of both power and ambition.

“That’s indeed a valuable investment, but the True God Church ensures the safety of human royalty, so be very careful not to draw the Church’s attention.”

Miss Galina reminded, and Miss Sylvia softly thanked her, while Shard asked another question:

“So, your relationship with her is not particularly close?”

Miss Sylvia nodded:

“Not as close as between a Grand Witch and her apprentice.”

She glanced at Tifa and added:

“But after all, I am her teacher and have provided her with significant help in her Circle Sorcerer studies. She won’t refuse my general requests.”

Shard nodded:

“Could you get a book from her? At least copy some of its contents. It’s ‘Secrets of Immortality’ that Princess Margaret borrowed from Xerxes.”

“Is there something special about that book?”

Miss Galina asked. Shard hadn’t mentioned that earlier.

“Yes, that book used to be a collection of the Witch Empress. From pages five to eight, there is a high probability of hiding a fragment of a poem.”

This was a task given by Mr. Edmund. Shard needed to use this content to trade for a third of the stone tablet of time secrets. However, now it seemed that asking the Witches for help in this task would allow everyone to get what they wanted.

“What? A fragment of a poem?”

Miss Sylvia looked inquisitively at Miss Galina, who already knew that Shard was also pursuing The Chosen One, so she wasn’t particularly surprised:

“Shard’s information is always so well-informed. If it’s like this, Sylvia, you must get that book. Don’t just make a copy, bring the book to the Council. His Excellency the Speaker will be very pleased.”

Miss Sylvia also understood the book’s importance to the Council:

“If it’s a fragment of a poem, yes, I will bring it, it’s worth the risk. However, I can only do this after reaching Tobesk. I don’t want unexpected complications before the visiting group departs.”

“No problem, as soon as possible is fine. Although this information was provided by Shard, all the credit goes to you, I won’t interfere.”

The red-haired Grand Witch spoke again, considering the information provided by Shard as a favor, thereby further solidifying their relationship.

“Duchess, thank you for your generosity.”

Miss Sylvia said softly, then she turned to Shard:

“Mr. Hamilton, do you have time to meet tomorrow morning? I have some questions about the spatial sorcery you used.”

“Sure.”

Miss Sylvia conveyed the time and place for the meeting to Shard, and then left the Council. Shard and Miss Galina didn’t stay long either. Upon returning to the study of the mansion in Tobesk Southern Suburbs, Shard was still pondering his relationship with the new Grand Witch, and Miss Galina smiled and said:

“Sylvia is definitely not just investing in Margaret Anjou.”

“Does she really want to help that princess contend for the throne? Regardless of Xerxes’ reaction, can she really avoid being discovered by the Church?”

“What if she only provides help through ordinary means?”

Miss Galina hummed and asked Tifa to prepare some snacks:

“The young Sylvia is smarter and more capable than most people I know. Leveraging the influence of the Council’s Grand Witches, combined with her long-term mental influence and control over Margaret Anjou…don’t misunderstand, I mean by suggestion. In short, given the current situation in Carsonrick, she indeed has a chance of success. At least, the probability is much higher than Lecia becoming the Queen of Draleon.”

Because there were too many heirs of the Cavendish Royalty of the Draleon Kingdom, and most of them were highly capable.

Holding the sweetly sleeping Mia in his arms, Shard hesitated for a long time. Only when Tifa walked over with the maids carrying trays did he ask:

“The Council, are they really not conspiring to control the world?”

After asking, he smiled himself:

“It just feels like the Witch Council of the Sixth Era wants to revive the glory of the Council from the Fifth Era.”

“Have you met any members of the Fifth Era’s Council?”

Miss Galina curiously asked. Shard recalled for a moment:

“No, the Miss Feliana I know is only a substitute member.”

“The Grand Witches of the Fifth Era should know more about the Council. When you travel to the past occasionally meeting them, you can ask them questions like this.”

“Speaking of which, have you always wanted me to meet Miss Feliana again to ask her something specific?”

Shard brought up the matter again:

“The key I will use in a few days points to the year 5177 of the Fifth Era, which is the late Fifth Era.”

“I want to inquire about the ‘Demigod’.”

“Demigod?”

Shard was puzzled, even Tifa, who was holding a tea tray, blinked in confusion.

The Duchess shook her head, resting her left hand on the soft armrest of the sofa, lazily looking out at the starry sky:

“Shard, you mentioned to me about the Witches in the Divine Banquet who sought power at all costs, even seeking help from Evil Gods.”

“Yes.”

“I am also pursuing power, not just to advance from Eleven Rings to Twelve Rings or even Thirteen Rings, but I crave greater power. That legendary true extreme of mortals. And in the distant Fifth Era, Mana Feliana is one of the few who have truly touched that power.”

The Duchess’s delicate face tilted slightly upward. She lifted her right hand toward the window, as if trying to catch the moons in the distant starry sky. Her red lips moved slightly, singing in an operatic finale’s low tone:

“That is the true power.”

The Grand Witches of the Witch Council indeed each have their ambitions… And the Witches’ singing is indeed very beautiful.