After Edric and Silas grilled him on how he’d managed to contact one of the most elitist factions in the world, the days leading up to the Imperial Church’s visit passed uneventfully.
On the day of the arrival, Logan wore his most expensive suit as he waited on the rooftop of the main Mercer building, surrounded by four S-ranks he’d called over from various locations.
It didn’t take long for a sleek, pristine white shuttle to appear in the sky, gradually slowing down as it descended toward the rooftop.
A large white ramp slowly lowered beneath the shuttle.
Logan watched with interest as a man wearing a white cloak with seven interlinked gold-colored rings stepped out of the shuttle. He was followed by twelve men and women in identical cloaks, all wearing veils, though their cloaks had no rings.
’My god,’ Logan thought, forcing a smile as he approached them with his guards. ’What did I get myself into?’
"In the name of the Divine One, bearer of light and balance, we greet you, Logan Mercer," the man said, his voice calm. "Your choice honors the Sanctified Path. The Seven Virtues remember generosity, and your name has been recorded in prayer."
Behind him, the twelve veiled attendants lowered their heads in perfect unison, hands held over their chests.
The Holy Envoy continued, "We come as agreed, to retrieve the manual and to bring you the promised offerings. May this transaction be bound by silence and guided by providence."
Smiling awkwardly, Logan gave a small nod. "Welcome. The manual’s been prepared as agreed."
He could tell this Holy Envoy wasn’t someone simple, likely being an S-rank hunter ranking very high on the leaderboard.
"Very well," the Holy Envoy said emotionlessly. He raised one hand, gesturing a veiled woman to walk over.
She stepped forward, holding out a reinforced case lined with mana-resistant crystal. "This is the vessel for the manual," she said with a soft voice.
Logan gave a brief nod and glanced at the case beside him, then at the row of motionless attendants. With a small shrug, he pulled out the manual.
He held it forward towards the girl, but she didn’t move. She just stood there, holding the container, waiting.
Logan blinked. "...Right," he muttered, adjusting his grip awkwardly.
Still getting no response, he let out a quiet sigh and placed the manual inside the container himself.
"Done," he said, pulling his hands back.
The girl finally moved. She closed the container and then, to his surprise, let out a tiny snicker.
He could see a small smile from the girl, just barely visible underneath her veil. With a quick gesture from her, a mana pattern appeared around the container, sealing it in a golden sphere.
Logan stared for a second. ’Did she just laugh at me?’
"As promised," the Envoy said. "Two hundred million in raw mana stones will be transferred to this building. The remaining sum will reach your designated account within the hour."
The girl, who’d just laughed at him, handed the case over to the Holy Envoy before returning to Logan.
In her hand sat a white plate with delicate engravings all over it. In the middle sat the same golden rings that the Holy Envoy had on his clothes.
"This token allows you entry into our sacred grounds," she said, holding it out with both hands.
She held the token out with both hands, just within Logan’s reach.
Logan reached for it.
She pulled it back half an inch.
A frown appeared on his face as he politely reached for it once more. And yet again, she pulled it back.
’Great, at least one person here is enjoying themselves,’ Logan thought, resisting the urge to sigh.
On the third try, she let him take it.
He stared at her.
"...Was that really necessary?"
Without speaking another word to him, she turned around and stepped back into formation with the other veiled attendants.
The Holy Envoy gave a final nod.
"Our obligation is met. May the Divine One walk beside you."
Without another word, he turned back toward his shuttle.
The twelve attendants followed in perfect synchronization, none of them looking back even once.
After they boarded, the shuttle’s ramp lifted, and within moments, it rose into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Logan let out a long breath.
"Well," he muttered. "That was that."
Silas stepped up beside him with his arms crossed, staring at the now-empty sky.
"What the hell was that?" he asked flatly.
Logan didn’t even turn to look at him.
"I don’t know," he said, slipping the token into his pocket. "And I don’t care. I’ve spent enough mental energy trying to make sense of them already."
One of the S-ranks he’d brought, Garrick Morgan, chuckled. "They really are a weird bunch."
"Yup," Logan said, already walking back to the rooftop elevator. "Let’s get off this roof before they decide to turn around or something."
Entering his room, Logan tossed the token on his couch before grabbing wine for Silas and himself.
"You ever going to use that token?" Silas asked, smirking.
"I doubt it," Logan said, taking a sip. "Between the blessings of the Divine One and whatever that girl was doing, I’m good for a decade."
"That’s what I thought," Silas said, grinning.
Silas took a sip before continuing.
"I still don’t know what was in that book you gave them, or why they wanted it," Silas started. "But those resources you traded for will help a lot."
"The raw mana cores will be processed and used while building more flying shuttles, which will earn us a fortune."
Logan gave a nod, smiling.
After a glass of wine, Silas stood up.
"I’ll need to handle the transport of the raw mana cores now," he said, waving as he left. "Don’t forget your assessment in two days."
After Silas left, Logan pulled up his private bank account and saw the 300 million had been deposited.
’Alright,’ Logan thought, sighing in relief. ’At least they kept their word.’
’Now I can focus on the university assessment,’ he thought, smiling softly.