The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 108

In the dim and silent room, countless bookshelves surrounded a massive round table. Lloyd sat on one side, while Arthur and Merlin sat on the distant opposite end, separated by a chasm that seemed insurmountable.

The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, whispering tales of ages past like the silent songs of a wandering bard. Lloyd leaned back in his chair, feeling a mix of surprise and a hint of shock.

Alchemy—a word almost lost to the river of history. It was the most secretive knowledge of the old era, guarded jealously by every alchemist. They recorded their secrets in cryptic codices on cursed parchments, ensuring that no one could decipher them after their deaths. Thus, the once-glorious art of alchemy faded with time and the stubbornness of its practitioners.

Now, the knowledge of alchemy survived only in faint whispers of folklore. Few truly understood its depths anymore. Yet here sat a living alchemist, right before Lloyd's eyes, and not just any alchemist, but the chief engineer of the perpetual pump.

Lloyd's disdain had long disappeared, replaced by a serious demeanor. He knew all too well the value of an alchemist.

"So, the one who truly wishes to meet me... is you?" Lloyd asked.

Merlin nodded, his raspy voice breaking the silence. "Accurately speaking, we came for your hypothesis. Joey has relayed your thoughts to us. We believe it is a possibility."

A possibility—something Lloyd had discussed with Joey back at 121A Cork Street. According to Joey, there had been demon attacks in Old Dunling for some time. The pattern of these attacks suggested a demon with intelligence.

A Geiger counter couldn't detect the demon's actions. It was like Lloyd himself; as long as his secret blood was calm, he showed no signs of demonic corruption. In other words, the demon on the move might actually be a demon hunter.

Both Lloyd and Joey had considered this. It wasn't a trivial matter. Lloyd's power alone was evidence of a demon hunter's capabilities. After Lancelot's pursuit, everyone believed the demon was dead. However, the follow-up report from the clean-up crew indicated that no demon corpse was found in the steam well.

Could it be possible that the one committing these atrocities was a demon hunter? Only a demon hunter could evade the surveillance system and withstand such attacks without dying. Perhaps the demon had simply calmed its secret blood and left through another route.

An unknown demon hunter appearing in Old Dunling, coupled with the rise of the new pope of the Evangelical Church and the rumors of rebuilding the demon hunter order, was enough to send chills down one's spine.

"It's merely a possibility," Lloyd stated firmly. "That thing isn't a demon hunter, at least not one from the order."

"Do you have a way to identify members of your order?" Arthur asked slowly.

"It's not about identification methods. Most demon hunters are dead. Any survivors would be lying low, not committing senseless revenge killings."

Lloyd spoke plainly. After the Night of the Holy Arrival, he thought he was the last demon hunter. But clearly, he wasn't the only fortunate one.

"Moreover, if it were a demon hunter, they wouldn't resort to such brutal methods. The order has many ways to torture heretics if pain was the goal. There's no need to go that far."

The demon hunter order was never a holy institution. To achieve their goals, they filled their deep dungeons with the bodies of many.

Arthur fell silent, not pressing Lloyd further on the demon hunter topic. He knew Lloyd wouldn't reveal anything related to the Night of the Holy Arrival.