Earth's Greatest Magus

After a few delays, Emery finally received the message from Jinkan regarding a secret meeting. They arranged to meet at one of Sky City's most exclusive dining venues, a place where discretion was paramount. Jinkan's serious expression gave no room for pleasantries.

"I can't stay for long,"

Her recent success at the Trial of Faith had earned her the prestigious title she sought—now officially the sixth in line for the Nephilim throne, replacing her brother. It was a position of immense power and expectations. But this new rank also came with the price of scrutiny, and associating with someone blacklisted by the faction was risky for her newfound status, especially with her influence not yet solidified.

Emery raised an eyebrow. "So I really am blacklisted by the faction?"

Jinkan shot him a sarcastic glance. "What do you think?"

The flippant remark hung between them, but its truth was undeniable.

Having disputes with the Kronos faction or engaging in clashes at the Magus Academy was considered minor in the grand scheme of things. However, rejecting the favor of one of the Nephilim Lords—Jinkan's father—was no small matter. Emery's involvement in the deaths of Astiel Magus and a Grand Magus made matters even worse, most of all, dishonoring Lady Ishtar, royalty in the Nephilim hierarchy.

Emery's voice tightened. "Is that why they murdered my senior?"

Jinkan's expression turned more serious, and she addressed him calmly. "The fact that you killed one of their Grand Magus, Rhyze the Void Warden, was more than enough for the other Nephilim to turn a blind eye to the Astiel faction's actions in murdering Earth's Grand Magus. But... I don't think that's the whole story."

Her tone carried the weight of a subtle warning. "As I said before, the Sky Lord wouldn't do something like that."

Jinkan wasn't necessarily defending the Sky Lord, but she believed that someone of his stature wouldn't risk his reputation by sneaking into a lower-realm planet just to assassinate a lower-realm figure. "If you truly believe he's the one behind it, then it's not about the act of killing itself. It's the motive."

Emery mulled over the possibilities. Fuxi had been the strongest among Earth's representatives, and his death seemed like an obvious move to weaken Earth's chances in the upcoming duel. But Jinkan wasn't entirely convinced by that theory.

"I believe it's related to the duel, yes," she said, her tone thoughtful, "but I don't think it's just about taking the caretaker position."

Jinkan then revealed that King Anu of Akkadia had been working on a special project on Earth known as Project Gaia. Unfortunately, it was a highly classified project, and the details were sealed. However, one thing was clear: the Astiel faction was involved. The name alone made Emery realize that the project held crucial answers to his questions.

Without hesitation, Emery pressed further, asking if she could help him find out more about the project.

Jinkan fell silent for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Huh… to think you'd really dare to ask such things…"

Emery's determination was evident in his voice as he replied, "You owe me... Do this for me, and consider all debts paid."

She took a deep sigh and said, "My father would know, but he won't help you…" Her voice lowered as she leaned in. "I can try to find more, but I can't make any promises. However… If you win the duel and become Earth's official caretaker, I'll have more leverage. With that position, I can get the information for you."

Emery was not satisfied. The information was in line with what Emissary Duncan had said, but he knew pressing Jinkan further wouldn't yield better results.

Deciding to shift the conversation, he sharpened his gaze and asked with quiet intensity, "Do you know where the Sky Lord is?"

Jinkan's eyes widened slightly, her voice growing tense. "You're not planning to confront him, are you?!"

His silence was enough of an answer. Jinkan let out a long, weary sigh before responding, "Unfortunately, I don't know. I don't think many people do."

She explained that the Grand Magus of the Astiel family, the Sky Lord, had been in seclusion for decades. However, through her efforts, Jinkan had uncovered an unconfirmed rumor that the Sky Lord had been spotted leaving his seclusion two months ago. This piece of information lent some weight to Emery's accusations. But despite this, the Sky Lord had vanished again without a trace.

As Jinkan spoke, Emery listened with heightened attention, carefully sifting through her words to detect any hidden motives or inconsistencies. Despite her apparent honesty, Emery couldn't accept that such a prominent figure would suddenly disappear once again. He requested any information she could share about the man and the Astiel faction.

Jinkan offered her advice with a mix of concern and practicality. "Even if you find out where he is, what can you actually do? And please, don't be crazy and try sneaking into the Astiel home planet. It's better to focus your efforts on preparing for the upcoming duels."

Such advice reminded him of Julian. Knowing that Jinkan had spent the last six months in the Trial of Faith with him, he asked her what she thought of Julian.

Jinkan revealed that she held a measure of admiration for Julian, recognizing his potential and bright future. Despite her personal reservations about the Papal Church—finding their overly religious tendencies somewhat off-putting—she conceded that aligning with them was a strategic choice. For someone looking to remain independent or neutral amidst the complex politics of the Nephilim families, following the Papal Church was a wise decision.

Emery took in Jinkan's insight with a cautious mindset. Though her words were unexpected, he was wary of placing too much trust in Nephilim's perspective.

Jinkan offered a final assurance. "I'll reach out if I uncover more information. And if you encounter any other issues with the Nephilim, you can contact me." She provided him with a secure method of communication before taking her leave.

With the meeting concluded Emery was left with a mixture of apprehension and resolve.

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