Psychics don't die from gunfire

Chapter 697 Duel Arena: Ring of Thoranis
The restaurant we chose was a bistro.

"Is it true that teaching staff are not allowed to drink alcohol?" Song Shi pulled a chair and sat down, looking around.

The chandelier was deliberately adjusted to a warm yellow, not too bright, making people feel drowsy. There was a flag hanging on the wall, and the emblem was still [Morrigan of Prosperity].

"In theory, alcohol is prohibited, but theory often has to give way to reality." There was a procedure for ordering food on the table, but Renata still rang the copper bell beside her, choosing to summon the waiter over and ordering food manually: "You know, most members of the Inquisition have psychological problems to some extent. Well, that's all for now, thank you."

She nodded to the waiter, who smiled and left with the menu.

"Alcohol and nicotine are time-tested stress relievers." Renata crossed her fingers. "We fight against evil in underground tunnels and fight against heretics in secret halls. We hide our identities and do not enjoy the glory under the sun. Most of the people of the empire fear us, no, they are terrified of us."

"Yes, from the moment we joined the Inquisition, we swore to dedicate everything to His Majesty and the Empire. However, humans are ultimately highly social creatures, and there is still an upper limit to their strong will. The accumulated pressure alone cannot crush them, but it does not need to be completely crushed either."

"Even if it only caused a slight crack in their hearts and caused a slight shake." Renata gestured: "In the face of disaster, this will still be a fatal flaw."

She concluded.

"The Inquisition tacitly allows them to use some means to relieve pressure, even if they are a little bit out of line."

As we were talking, the food was brought in one after another.

The pub only offered some simple meals, with bacon and sausage piled up on the plate like a small mountain, and a basket of bread next to it.

We were lucky. The food was steaming hot and seemed to be freshly baked. If we got a little closer, we could smell the aroma of wheat. Then we had the clam soup with lemon juice. The milky white clams lay in the light yellow soup and the meat was quite plump.

"There are several restaurants in the capital that claim to have authentic Donglu-style food. I've been there once and they tasted OK." Renata picked up her knife and forked a piece of bacon. "But I think if I traveled thousands of miles to a foreign country, I would be disappointed if I didn't try the local food and went to eat these instead."

She shrugged. "I can't say."

"That's fine." Song Shi also picked up a sausage. It wasn't greasy, but the seasoning was quite salty, at least beyond the average taste of East Continent. "As for the imperial capital."

"You have a culture of dueling. You can say that all issues can be resolved by dueling." Song Shi chewed hard for a few times and swallowed the whole sausage. He stared at the other party and uttered a word: "- Ring of Solanis."

"Soranis" is a variant of an ancient word in the language system of the Vanpusta Empire, meaning "grasped glory".

"This is the highest-standard and grandest duel arena in the empire. Five emperors once walked out of here, stepping on the corpses of their brothers and sisters." Renata's lips curled up: "Just standing there is supreme glory. The holy spirits descend from the sky, and the only and majestic god casts his gaze -"

The two did not discuss whether they wanted to go to the imperial capital.

They looked at each other, then lowered their heads and continued eating dinner.

"What are your plans next? Don't tell me about finding a place to sleep."

Song Shi doesn't eat slowly, but for him now, the actual significance of eating can be said to be negligible.

The same goes for sleep. If necessary, I can go without closing my eyes for a month, and the only price is a little mental fatigue.

"A taste of the Empire's nightlife?"

"You have this thing?" Song Shi narrowed his eyes. "Rampant material desires are the soil for the breeding of disasters. Aren't you very secretive about this? The knights holding chandeliers patrol all night, and they are just short of a curfew." "——'Just short of'." Renata raised her index finger. "You have a deep prejudice against the empire."

"To be honest it's not a prejudice."

Song Shi shook his head.

"You restrict civilians' use of the Internet, fearing that they will be confused by the chaotic information and lose their piety."

"That's the correct answer," Renata replied. "I admit that this policy was formulated with the consideration of maintaining the purity of faith, but isn't that right?"

“Desire is the driving force to reach the top, but it is also the source of pain.”

She also shook her head: "Only a few people are destined to stand on the top, while most of the others are just persuaded by the desires in their hearts and rush towards an unattainable blind goal, so that they are covered with bruises and fall to pieces."

"In the past, I could still suppress my desires, but now." Renata put down her knife: "The Internet has magnified everything endlessly. There is no end. We can't allow this to happen."

"Stop talking about the policy of keeping the people ignorant in such a high-sounding way, okay?" Song Shi said calmly, "Also, listen to what you said, 'an unattainable blind goal', what do you mean by unattainable and what is blind? Are you really [transcendent]?"

"First, if this is considered a policy of keeping the people ignorant, then the Corporate Alliance is the most enlightened political entity in all of Terra." Renata said calmly, "Unfortunately, no matter from which angle you look at it, this is an absurd conclusion."

"Second, your questioning of my [transcendent] identity."

Renata said.

"The true meaning of [transcendence] lies in the climb rather than the goal. If just setting a goal is considered 'transcendence'," she said calmly, "then there are too many [transcendences] in this world, and they are too worthless."

Song Shi put down the knife and he finished eating too.

"Your Majesty is preparing to break through the seventh ring. This is his goal. We are both aiming to [transcend]. What do you say? Break through the eighth ring?"

"The eighth ring is too far, and the fifth ring is too close." Renata pressed her hands: "Let's temporarily ascend to the 'throne'."

"An unattainable blind goal." Song Shi drank the last half glass of beer in one gulp and wiped his mouth: "Cherish the present time. Do you need hospice care?"

"It's a little too early to talk about this now." Renata complained, but her tone was as stubborn as a rock and she smiled unmoved: "According to the records, you are quite enthusiastic about hospice care. Have you thought of your last words? Of course, I'm talking about yourself."

"What's next?" Song Shi pushed the chair away and stood up.

"Siachi is still a little young after all." Renata also drank the last bit of wine: "Since you are in our country, you must go to see the Fidas Cathedral."

As he was speaking, a projection appeared out of thin air, with several dots of light flickering on it, forming a winding line.

The end of this route
The Phampusta Empire.

imperial capital.

(End of this chapter)