Chapter 1044: Chapter 987: Ether Vibration Experiment

Originally, with the Northern Pope, the Southern Pope, and the Holy Alliance Pope reigning for three days, a triadic balance could still be maintained.

However, after the fall of the Holy Seat City, amidst the shock, everyone also discovered a huge shift in the internal situation of the Empire.

With the Northern Pope, the greatest target, gone, the stable structure of the three Popes was disrupted.

No matter what Grandiva thought, he had to take issue with the Holy Alliance to prove his own legitimacy.

In fact, regarding Grandiva claiming the papacy and using the papal title in diplomatic documents, even referring to Horn as the Great Shepherd of Thousand River Valley.

Horn’s attitude has always been, "What can I say? I don’t mind."

But Grandiva really overstepped, demanding Horn to also change his title to Great Shepherd within the Holy Alliance, canceling the papal honorific.

Even if Horn was willing, the people of the Holy Alliance wouldn’t agree.

This is a matter of jurisprudence.

If Falan can arbitrarily change the jurisprudence of the Holy Alliance, then the Holy Alliance would be no different from Falan’s vassal state.

Jurisprudence is also a part of sovereignty, which Horn would never allow.

As for Grandiva’s actions, he only needs a little reflection to see this must be the handiwork of Charles VIII and Lorenzo.

Their actions, after all, followed the end of the Battle of the Windmill Plains, and Falan didn’t really want to go to war with the Royal Court.

In order to maintain control over the Empire, Falan’s next move would naturally be relocating the Papacy to the Falan Kingdom.

In the eyes of the Falan people, this is a matter of course.

Rival papal controversies have occurred in the history of the Empire.

But generally, there are two paths: one side’s death allows the other to inherit, or a new election is held after one side’s death.

The only difference now is that there are three rival Popes.

The former Pope Puliano, despite having a will, had its holder, Xie Li, disappear without a trace.

The Holy Alliance Pope was a joke. Previously, Puliano and the Holy Alliance Pope fought bloody battles in the Thousand River Valley; how could it be passed to him?

As for the Papal election, the northern Cardinals were wiped out in the Holy Seat City by Cancun!

Doesn’t that just make it the Falan people seizing the papal position?

Indeed, although somewhat unscrupulous, many Falan secretly gave a thumbs up to the Blood and Flesh Royal Court.

With control over the El Council of the Windmill Plains, and the Papacy securely under their hold, Charles VIII naturally could don the Imperial Emperor’s crown.

The only issue was the loss of the Trion Crown, making the title of the Southern Pope somewhat unclear.

At this point, Horn’s prominence as a Pope became quite glaring.

With their troops returning from the Windmill Plains, should Horn not express support or show opposition, the troops would be mobilized to apply pressure.

Whether the Holy Alliance chooses to fight or bow their heads, it would greatly favor Falan.

Discussion on this matter left Horn without a clear direction for a while.

With the current strength and foundation of the Holy Alliance, he was not afraid of engaging in a conflict with the Falan.

However, should they engage with the Falan, what would happen to trade?

The burgeoning national power of the Holy Alliance and a series of construction plans would surely be impacted.

After much consideration, Horn issued four orders:

First, politically, contact shareholders related to spice and sugar companies to stir opposition within Falan.

Second, economically, quickly open maritime routes to the frontier lands and Norn, and attempt to establish trade routes with the Blood and Flesh Royal Court.

Third, diplomatically, form an alliance with the Norn people, gather the El communities, jointly targeting the Falan.

Fourth, militarily, deploy the stationed regiments to the front lines and border to prevent an actual military conflict outbreak.

Since there was still some time before things escalated, and Falan was somewhat wary of acting recklessly, he had time to plan and scheme.

Ideally, there would be a small-scale, low-intensity "special military operation" on the border. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

This would show the Falan that the Holy Alliance is no Leia.

Meanwhile, the top priority was to visit Black Snake Bay and try to solve the mystery of the star-casting gears.

The Wolf Woman had just gotten over her psychological barriers and was able to go out.

Ottatila even assured Horn that Cynthia would not harm the Wolf Woman’s life, so Horn prepared to meet her.

The bell of the year 1454 rang thunderously, with nearly twenty witches drunkenly reveling in the Mechanical Palace.

As before, borrowing the strength of the alcohol, four Saintesses began their routine, forcing Horn to sleep at the Holy Seat Mansion.

The next day, the "Truth Daily" would not report Horn’s embarrassing plight but the news of Grandiva requesting Horn to drop the papal title.

This news quickly spread among the taverns on the streets.

Failures moaned, "When has the Holy Alliance ever been a match for the Falan?"

Despite successive victories in warfare, facing such a great power as Falan, people were not very confident.

The 120,000 standing army of the Falan alone was three times that of the Holy Alliance; the peak military strength of the Holy Alliance never exceeded 60,000.

Moreover, after the fall of the Holy Seat City, Charles VIII under the name of King Jiji, rallied seven or eight decrees to join the Falan.

Politically, economically, militarily, the Holy Alliance was no match.

Yet the optimistic declared, "His Majesty Saint Sun wins every day, every time, so why can’t he win this time?"

Regardless of public opinion, Horn quietly continued with his tasks.

Soon it was February of 1454, the ice and snow melted, leaving only half-black, half-white remnants on the streets and grass.

According to the schedule, three days before departure, Horn sought out the Wolf Woman Hilov.

But upon his arrival, he saw that Hilov had dug two pools in the yard, with covers over the top.

As Horn approached, he found two identically sized star-casting gears soaking in the pools.

Sitting in a wheelchair, Hilov, holding a chart, continued gesturing to researchers.

"What’s this?" Horn leaned his head towards Hilov’s ear, looking at the data above.

Hilov’s ear fur bristled slightly before she slowly answered, "Didn’t I mention before that the clock was slowing down? This issue might be more profound than I thought."

"Ah? Why?"

"Because the error in the clock may not be due to mechanical motion; it might be due to etheric vibrations..."

"Vibrations?"

"Yes, vibrations." Seeing Horn’s puzzled expression, the Wolf Woman pulled out a paper to explain to Horn.

Whether it’s the current clock slowdown, peat extraction, or hollow earth extraction, besides conditions like temperature, pressure, and catalysts, the fundamental cause inducing the alchemical reaction is alchemy itself.

So how does alchemy remotely affect peat or hollow earth?

After the emergence of the Ethereal Tower, although not fully confirmed, alchemists and wizards largely agreed it’s due to ether.

In this, the Mana School had a complete triumph.

But soon, they faced a new question—how does ether transmit mana? Is it mana or ether affecting alchemical substances?

Most importantly, how can it be observed?

This question has plagued the Mana School for hundreds of years.

Coincidentally, the ry Court Barracks indeed have a device that can store ether and convert it into mechanical motion—the star-casting gears.

"So, I designed an experiment to fix a fully charged star-casting gear in a pool, allowing alchemists to continually envision using various alchemical techniques.

At the same time, another uncharged star-casting gear is placed in another pool, also using alchemical techniques.

Then, small particles soaked in fluorescent developer are sprinkled on the water surface to observe the ripple patterns and propagation distance.

If ether can vibrate, the alchemical technique will induce its resonance, displaying concentric ripples on the water surface, with ripple propagation distance significantly larger than the control group..."

"Does it mean..." Horn’s expression started to show excitement, only to be interrupted by the Wolf Woman.

"It cannot be rigorously concluded, and there are no results from the current experiment; either ether cannot vibrate, or the current alchemical techniques cannot resonate with the star-casting gears."

Horn’s face fell: "Can you not speak halfway every time?"

Hilov rolled her eyes at him: "Don’t be too impatient, alright? You need to try slowly."

"How long will it take?" Attempting to rub Hilov’s ear, Horn received a headbutt to his stomach from her.

After tidying up her clothes, Hilov lifted her head proudly, her cheeks flushed: "By the time we return, results should be in.

If there are still no results by then, I will have the Dreamless ones divine a quickening; hopefully, this trip to Black Snake Bay is not in vain."

Besides, Hilov added in her heart, this was their first trip alone together after all.