Marvel's master of cosmic magic-Chapter 788

"It’s time to see Krestai."

After checking the hour, George dissolved into a streak of fire and vanished from his home, reappearing less than a block away inside the Church of the Goddess of Night.

"Good evening, Krestai."

"Good evening, George."

Krestai’s tightly drawn expression eased slightly when he saw him.

"You look troubled," George said. "Something weighing on you?"

He didn’t need psychic perception to tell. The tension was written plainly across the man’s face.

Krestai sighed and handed over a small vial along with a sealed document.

"This is the potion required for your next advancement, along with leads for the stages beyond it. Ingredients. Locations. Everything we could gather."

George accepted both items, already suspecting the answer.

"Is this about the royal family?"

Krestai nodded.

"Using the information you provided, we captured two vessels connected to the Aurora Order and the Witch Sect. The matter was escalated to the Pontiff. He personally contacted the royal court’s angel."

George waited.

"The angel agreed to allow George III’s ascension ritual," Krestai continued. "On two conditions. The royal family must treat the laborers building the mausoleum humanely, and they must sever all ties with those cults."

George rested a hand briefly on Krestai’s shoulder.

"If that decision came from the Pontiff, there’s a reason. If you need anything, contact me."

With that, he departed.

The outcome wasn’t surprising.

In a few decades, the ancient barrier surrounding the world would collapse. What awaited beyond were entities far stronger than ordinary gods. If George III truly succeeded, the coming apocalypse would gain an additional defender.

As long as the royal family publicly cut ties with heretical groups, the major churches would likely remain neutral.

There was another factor as well.

The Goddess of Darkness appeared occupied with absorbing the remnants of Death’s authority. Her attention was elsewhere.

For George, this neutrality was ideal.

If the gods had openly opposed the ritual, his own plan would become far more complicated. But if they stayed out of it, then when the coronation began, the real beneficiary could quietly change.

Someone else could return in George III’s place.

He opened the sealed document.

"I only need the material locations."

He already possessed the formulas.

His eyes paused on a single line.

"Hornacis."

So that was it.

The Hornacis Mountains.

The same range tied to the scam that ruined his parents years ago.

A massive mountain chain stretching across the heart of the northern continent, forming a natural border between Loen and Intis. Long ago, the birthplace of the Solomon Empire’s first capital.

He had heard of it before, through a notebook that had sparked countless early disasters.

Back then, he hadn’t paid much attention.

Now it made sense.

If anything in this world hid the deeper secrets of the Fool’s path, it would be there.

"No wonder the Secret Order never stopped chasing that notebook."

A thought struck him.

"I should ask Rosselle."

George stepped into the gray fog of the castle.

Inside, Rosselle was in the middle of a heated video game match with Miles Reed. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Rosselle laughed loudly. "Combo into launcher into finisher! You’re done, Zhou— I mean, Miles!"

Miles scowled. "I’m rusty. Next round I’m switching characters."

George watched in silence for two seconds.

Then cleared his throat.

Rosselle glanced over. "George! Come on, take his place. He’s terrible."

"Later," George said. "I need information. Do you know anything about the Hornacis Mountains?"

He gave Rosselle a quick summary.

Rosselle’s playful expression faded into thought.

"They’re connected to the Antigonus family," he said finally. "One of Solomon’s most powerful bloodlines."

George’s eyes narrowed.

The Antigonus family.

The notebook.

The marionette relic.

All of it traced back to them.

"The family head was believed to control the Fool’s path," Rosselle continued. "One step below true godhood. During my demigod years, I helped Zaratul steal one of their notebooks."

Miles stiffened slightly at the name.

"After Zaratul got it, he went straight to Hornacis. He was a miracle-maker. I never saw him again."

Silence hung in the air.

Rosselle concluded, "Which means there’s almost certainly high-tier remnants of that path buried there. And dangers to match. The church wasn’t exaggerating."

George nodded.

"As long as the materials are there, it’s worth the trip."

He left the gray fog.

No hesitation.

No delays.

If the Hornacis Mountains held everything he needed, he would take it all in one sweep.

And be back before sunrise.