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The woman\'s expression grew serious as she solemnly replied, "There are many ways to demonstrate sincerity. Some devote themselves physically, bowing to the goddess with every step, even as their foreheads bleed, they do not stop. Others, like the wandering bards, sing hymns in praise of the goddess, each word filled with the sorrow of their devotion…"

Then, after a few words, the woman\'s tone shifted. "And some choose to relinquish all worldly possessions, keeping their souls pure to communicate with the goddess. So, dear devotee, how do you intend to demonstrate your sincerity?"

Dean Bruce smiled and said, "I\'ve already given up all worldly possessions. Not a penny to my name, and my soul is as pure as it gets. May I enter?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the woman\'s face briefly faltered, further confirming Dean Bruce\'s suspicion—she was clearly trying to solicit money. He couldn\'t help but sigh inwardly.

Indeed, it seemed that in every world, religion, beyond faith, was also about money.

Even in a world where gods genuinely existed, it was no different from the modern age!

"Mr. Dean, Narissa is new here. Don\'t tease her."

A clear female voice suddenly rang out, startling the woman.

Dean Bruce, however, broke into a smile. The voice belonged to none other than Carol Lane.

Footsteps echoed, and Narissa quickly turned to face Carol Lane, bowing respectfully. To her shock, Carol Lane walked right past her and approached Dean Bruce, giving him a slight bow. With an air of respect, she said, "Mr. Dean, what brings you here at this hour?"

Narissa was left utterly speechless, her gaze shifting to Dean Bruce, eyes now filled with confusion.

Dean Bruce chuckled and replied, "What, you\'re not happy to see me?"

"Of course not," Carol Lane laughed lightly. "It\'s always an honor to have you visit, Mr. Dean. I\'m just curious why you\'re at this branch of the temple."

Dean Bruce shook his head and calmly said, "Anywhere there is a statue of the Goddess of Wisdom is the Temple of Wisdom. We are all her followers, so what does it matter whether it\'s the main temple or a branch?"

"..."

His words left Carol Lane, Narissa, and even the nearby passing worshippers stunned. They took a closer look at Dean Bruce, realizing he wasn\'t even an official follower of the temple. Yet his insight left them feeling a deep sense of shame.

After a moment of silence, Carol Lane sighed softly, "With just that one statement, you\'ve surpassed ninety-nine percent of all worshippers in this world!"

Dean Bruce smiled lightly and shifted the topic, "Where\'s Lina? I need to speak with her."

From his previous interactions, Dean Bruce could tell that Carol Lane was a devoted follower, fully loyal to the Temple of Wisdom and unlikely to do anything that might harm its interests. Lina Jones, on the other hand, was different. As long as she was offered enough benefits, she wouldn\'t be too concerned about the Temple of Wisdom\'s well-being.

So, if he wanted to learn how the Temple of Wisdom activated the Relics, Lina Jones was the key.

"You\'re looking for Lina?" Carol Lane shook her head and replied, "She\'s at her family\'s home. Once she officially becomes a saintess, it\'ll be difficult for her to see her parents again. She\'s spending as much time as she can with them right now."

After a brief pause, Carol Lane added, "If it\'s urgent, I can send someone to fetch her."

"It\'s not that urgent," Dean Bruce said with a relaxed smile. "I was wondering if the temple could offer me a place to stay for the night?"

Carol Lane nodded slightly, smiling, "There\'s no need to be so formal about such a small matter, Mr. Dean. After all, you\'ve done us a great favor."

"Please, follow me," she said.

And turning slightly and extending her alabaster-like arm, gesturing toward the closed doorway.

Narissa, who had been standing nearby, immediately caught on and quickly stepped forward to open the door.

Dean Bruce looked ahead, seeing what appeared to be a spacious courtyard, dimly lit and seemingly darker than the temple\'s main hall, which was illuminated by the glow of crystals.

Without hesitation, Dean Bruce walked forward, stepping into the courtyard.

Looking up, he saw that they had indeed left the main temple building. The open sky stretched above him, with the black night and the bright, clear moon in view. A gentle breeze swept over his body, adding to the serene atmosphere.

Carol Lane followed closely behind and spoke softly, "The temple is divided into three areas. The main hall you saw earlier is where we receive followers and allow them to pray. Through the courtyard, we enter the inner part of the temple, where the training and living areas are located."

"If you arrive to the Hea…"

She paused for a moment, glanced at Dean Bruce, and continued, "When you visit the Temple of Wisdom in Saint Laurent City, the building and the space will be much larger. They even have a library filled with books spanning thousands, even tens of thousands of years."

Dean Bruce nodded in acknowledgment, staying quiet as he followed Carol Lane closely. As they passed through each section, she would provide him with a brief explanation.

As they crossed the courtyard, the path split into two. Looking ahead, Dean Bruce saw that each path led to a separate building.

Since Dean Bruce was an outsider, even though Carol Lane regarded him as someone who had done the temple a great favor, she didn\'t take him toward the training area. In fact, she barely mentioned it. Instead, she led him directly to the living quarters.

The building was impressively tall, though not particularly ornate. Inside, the stone walls gleamed like white jade, giving off a soft, crystalline glow.

There were more people inside, and as they saw Carol Lane, they all greeted her respectfully. Their gazes lingered on Dean Bruce, filled with curiosity.

"Lady Carol!"

A deep voice, accompanied by heavy footsteps, caught Dean Bruce\'s attention, and he turned to look.

The man approaching was incredibly burly, with muscles rippling like a coiled dragon. Even though he wasn\'t exerting any force, his muscles seemed to move under his skin. His appearance stood in stark contrast to the other members of the Temple of Wisdom.

Yet, despite his massive build, he wore a mage\'s robe and held a book in his hand—or rather, the book seemed tiny in his enormous grasp, resting in his palm like a toy.

Carol Lane remained composed as she addressed him, "Temple Master Morza, what brings you here?"

Despite Carol Lane\'s relatively low magical strength, her family was born with the unique ability to communicate with the gods, giving her a high status. She didn\'t need to defer to anyone.

Hearing this, Dean Bruce couldn\'t help but widen his eyes in surprise. This giant of a man not only followed the Goddess of Wisdom but was one of the temple masters?

Morza Dekon\'s deep voice rumbled as he said, "We just received word from the Nine Provinces Alliance. They\'ve invited us to a banquet at the Lord\'s Manor tomorrow. Will you and the saintess be attending?"

"No," Carol Lane shook her head firmly.

After the death of those guarding the Lulu Ruins, the Nine Provinces Alliance had sent a flood of people to the area, even locking down nearby cities. She was well aware that they were after the Relics.

If she attended the banquet and accidentally revealed something suspicious, it could lead to the discovery of what had really transpired. That would end any cooperation between the Temple of Wisdom and the Nine Provinces Alliance.

Given her status, Carol Lane understood the importance of maintaining their alliance with the Nine Provinces Alliance and wasn\'t willing to take such a risk.

"..."

Morza Dekon\'s deep voice echoed like thunder even when he was speaking normally, "Very well, I\'ll decline their invitation. But if the Nine Provinces Alliance gets upset about it, don\'t go blaming me!"

As he spoke, Morza Dekon\'s gaze turned toward Dean Bruce, scrutinizing him carefully.

As a temple master, encountering a stranger within the temple meant he had to assess the situation.

"Oh, by the way," Carol Lane suddenly interjected, "Temple Master, this is a distinguished guest of the Temple of Wisdom, and he\'ll be staying the night. Since you\'re here, why don\'t you arrange a room for him?"

"A guest?"

Morza Dekon nodded, "If he\'s a guest, then of course, I\'ll take care of it. Please, follow me."

Dean Bruce wasn\'t concerned about any hidden agendas within the temple. He gave a slight smile and followed after Morza Dekon.

As they walked, Morza Dekon, clearly curious, asked, "If I may ask, where are you from? I don\'t recall seeing you around Stanlow City in recent years."

"I\'m not from Stanlow," Dean Bruce responded, not minding the conversation with the temple master. After all, as someone in such a position, Morza Dekon might offer valuable insights about this world.

Through previous experiences, Dean Bruce had realized just how little he actually knew about the planet Meze.

Since he was a guest, Morza Dekon provided Dean Bruce with a luxurious room. It wasn\'t just a place to sleep; it also included a personal hygiene area and even a study.

Of course, the books in the study were all handwritten manuscripts, and none were related to magic or training.

It was likely a room reserved for dignitaries from other factions.

There was no denying that the room was exceptionally comfortable, clearly designed for important guests. After a full night\'s rest, Dean Bruce woke feeling refreshed, his mind sharper than ever.

After getting ready and dressing in his blue robe, he left the room.

Now, it was time to find Lina Jones.

As he walked through the living quarters, he noticed the surprised glances from the many followers of the temple. With a calm expression, Dean Bruce left the living area, and just as he was passing through the open courtyard, a familiar voice reached his ears. What the person said, however, left him quite surprised.

"Ugh, what a jerk! When my family proposed marriage before, he looked down on us and rejected it outright. And now that I\'m about to become a saintess, he has the nerve to come to my house asking for my hand?"

"Damn it! If it weren\'t for my parents being there, I\'d have punched his head right off!"