"Artie, did you just see something?"
The Homebody Witch asked kindly.
The Devil King as a child: "....."
The all-too-understanding Artie frantically shook his head, his will to survive peaking.
In response, Dorothy nodded contentedly and then released the Amnesia Curse brick she had been ready to cast at any moment.
This was her latest researched high quality spell, offering both a physical and magical attack. With one hit from the brick, you'd be gifted with a lovely dream, and sure to forget everything you shouldn't remember, effectively giving you a fresh start in life.
After Denisha disappeared, the Hover Car finally landed at the entrance of the Magic Web Institute. The car door opened, and the Homebody Witch jumped out with the trembling Little Lolita in tow.
Having heard the sound of the Hover Car, the others hurriedly came to greet them. Seeing Dorothy holding the Lolita, smiles appeared on their faces, thinking the mission was a complete success.
But some of the more observant ones noticed the shiny new Emblem of the Holy Hammer on the chest of the Homebody Witch.
To this, The Witches of the Judgment Squad didn't feel much, but Koreya and the Director of the Mediterranean Institute, among others, had their expressions change. The former was not so surprised, simply feeling that what was meant to come had finally arrived. As for the latter, the Mechanical Monks working in the Magic Web Institute looked visibly shaken.
They were all smart people and immediately understood what this signified—that the chair at the top of the Republic which had been vacant for hundreds of years finally had an occupant.
That wasn't even the main point. The prime minister's position meant something else to the Church of Machinery: it signified the return of the Holy Pope, who had been in slumber for hundreds of years, according to legend.
This was a legend circulated within the Church of Machinery.
The legend spoke that before the founding of the Magic Republic, the Church of Machinery was led by two Popes. Besides His Excellency the Leader, there was another, even more venerable Excellency, who was actually the true founder of the Church of Machinery. However, after the great war over five hundred years ago, that Pope had fallen into a deep slumber. But one day, she would awaken again, and teach her most faithful followers even greater mechanical mysteries.
It was just a legend, its authenticity unverifiable, but every Mechanical Monk who truly underwent baptism and joined the Church of Machinery had heard it from their mentors.
Thus, they were clear about whose place the empty throne in the hall of the Twin Kings was reserved for.
First of all, this Lord Clown was definitely not His Excellency the Leader, as the difference in stature was quite significant—it was clear they weren't the same person.
Secondly, there were only two emblems of the Holy Hammer, and they were absolutely not something that anyone would dare or even could forge.
Next, they had never heard of such a high-ranking figure as Lord Clown before.
Therefore, only one answer remained.
The Mechanical Monks became excited, seeming to feel a sense of mission in witnessing history. Their eyes shining, they looked fervently at Lord Clown as she approached.
"Holy is He... strike the Holy Hammer thrice, ascend mechanically, praise be to the Master of All Machines..."
All the Mechanical Monks suddenly clenched their fists, using their fists as hammers, they struck their chests three times, then, as Dorothy walked closer, knelt on one knee and sang in chorus.
In the Magic Republic, one must not kneel lightly, as this was against the tenets of the Church of Machinery. The very first Pope had once told the earliest citizens of the Holy City that from then on, they need not kneel to anyone.
But after the Great Judge fell into a slumber, those who had been graced by her found it hard to forget her. Thus, a maverick proposed that if full kneeling was forbidden, then single-knee genuflection would be acceptable. Even His Excellency the Leader silently consented to this.
This was the Church of Machinery's highest form of reverence, a loyal ritual used only for His Excellency the Leader and the original Pope herself.
As for this, Dorothy furrowed her brows slightly.
She still wasn't used to people kneeling before her, but this was, after all, a single-knee genuflection, and seeing the fervor in these Mechanical Monks, she felt if she refused them, they might feel that she didn't acknowledge their loyalty. Worst case, they might offer themselves in martyrdom then and there to show their devotion.
Consequently, she could only endure the discomfort, pretending to accept the gesture graciously.
However, the completely bewildered Judgement Squad didn't understand at all what was happening. What was this situation? Although they weren't sure what had happened, they felt somehow that Lord Clown seemed to be pretty important.
Actually, they'd been wanting to complain for a while now. Isn't Witch's Night supposed to only allow young witches to participate? Although not all of them were students of the Witch Academy, they were all young witches, so their presence was understandable, somewhat reasonable even.
Did she look like a young witch?
Which young witch could have Grand Judge Pan willingly serve as a personal secretary?
And considering the status of these Mechanical Monks in the Magic Republic, now they looked almost like madmen...
The members of the Judgement Squad swallowed hard, finding their superior more and more incomprehensible.
After all, had she really come to undergo the trials just like them?
Did a trialist really have the capability to command such respect and fervor from so many NPCs?
She couldn't possibly be a local, could she?
This bold speculation couldn't help but arise in their minds.