Even though he knew Bernadino would most likely seek out Nicholas after being resurrected,
Annan and Paper Princess did not go back to intercept him directly.
Because there was absolutely no need to do so.
There’s a saying that you’re not afraid of thieves stealing, you’re afraid of them coveting—so long as Nicholas was alive, Bernadino could go after him at any ti.
And it wasn’t possible for Annan to always have Paper Princess by his side. After all, he could no longer traipse all over the world...
If Bernadino held a grudge and followed Annan all the ti... indeed, there was no good way to handle it.
However, Annan did have another place to go—
In front of Noah’s First Bank, the air gathered a large amount of white dust, constructing the likenesses of Annan and Paper Princess.
"This is it."
Paper Princess replied.
She naturally, once again, took Annan’s hand.
As Annan took her hand, his presence, too, was erased along with the rituals entwined around her.
Being a deity associated with the elent of "Beauty," Paper Princess usually did not intentionally reveal herself while traveling, as opposed to when she was looking for people to sell paintings. Otherwise, her influence could harm many ordinary people.
This was not what Paper Princess wished to see.
Therefore, she used an original ritual nad "Shadow in Painting" to diminish her own presence.
This ritual was also passed on to Annan.
Simply put, when Paper Princess made no sound, anyone who saw her with their eyes would not be able to perceive her as a "three-dinsional" presence in this space. Just like a Paper Mario turned sideways... she beca a true paper person.
From any angle, she would be just "one piece";
Only those with exceptional senses could capture the three-dinsional existence of Paper Princess through perception.
Annan took note of this ritual, as it might be useful in the future.
Though its materials required the consumption of Paper Princess’s influence... it was quite limited in scope, ineffective against Wizards and Clergy; and it could only last until one "made a sound."
But conversely, if one remained silent, the ritual could continue indefinitely without any consumption of resources.
It might have a particular use in nightmares.
And as material that constantly generates influence, Annan received Paper Princess’s true na.
"My na is [Elisa Gladini]. This is the na once given to by the lover who gave life."
Paper Princess said, "If you deplete this knowledge, just call in the ritual. I will recharge you..."
Since it was told to Annan directly by Paper Princess, it also constituted legitimate arcane knowledge, possessing its special power:
[You have gained arcane knowledge: the true na of "Paper Princess," the deity of Painting and Illusion.]
[This arcane knowledge can be used for "Divine Descent Ritual: Calling ’Paper Princess’," "Golden Incantation (Idolatry School): Reflected in Painting," and "Low-level Influence: Residue of the Most Beautiful Thing."]
[This arcane knowledge will be forgotten after being used "1" ti and can only be rembered again after "listening to ’Paper Princess’s’ voice."]
This was the fourth true na Annan had acquired.
Aside from the Old Grandmother’s [Rigret], the Plague Doctor’s [Atabanus], and the Mirror’s double true na that counted as one and must be acquired together to be effective, there was only Paper Princess’s [Elisa Gladini] now.
Moreover, it was a na that felt sowhat familiar to Annan...
Just like the previous "Michelangelo," "Nicholas."
Annan had heard this na before.
——"Elisa Gladini".
This na had another widely known identity.
It was the prototype for the famous painting "Mona Lisa".
...In many ways, it was a very fitting na for her.
After Annan and Paper Princess used a ritual to conceal their forms, they infiltrated Noah’s First Bank directly.
Of course, they weren’t there to rob the bank...
It might be a different story in other countries or cities.
The banks in the capital of Noah were personally guarded by the Silver Knights.
That was a bank...
If the Silver Knights, who were specialized in defense battles, were gathered in teams, even a group of Gold-ranked Transcenders might not be able to break through.
They entered the place solely because Annan had soone to find:
It was the senior Silver Knight that Old Bread had ntioned to Annan before.
He was not a bishop and had slain a Gold-ranked Hunter Transcendent with his own hands, without high-level Divine Arts or blessings.
The Transcendent had the occupation of "Shadow Hunter," which was extrely troubleso. It was a unique profession capable of leaping through shadows at will, binding, cursing, poisoning, and physically harming the body of the victim through attacking their shadow—an occupation that specialized in offensive tactics against individuals.
Yet, that Hunter was slain by the Silver Knight, who overca him despite the rank disparity.
His na was Alexander Robin.
Now, this Silver Knight was the chairman of Noah’s First Bank and also a director of Noah’s Second Bank and Iris Bank. Old Bread had already written to him before Annan set off, informing him that Annan would be visiting and that he would be accompanied by Paper Princess, and he wrote a letter of introduction for Annan.
Old Bread told Annan that if he encountered any trouble inconvenient to handle or wished to keep from the Crow family, he could use this letter of introduction to seek out Old Robin; if there were any conflicts with the Crow family, he could also seek refuge with him at Noah’s First Bank.
If there was nothing urgent, he could also learn swordsmanship from him.
Alexander’s swordsmanship skills were very strong. He beca a Silver Knight only after reaching the Silver rank. His Bronze-tier profession had been "Champion Swordsman," a rare occupation that required victory in Noah’s national swordsmanship contest before ascending to Transcendence, earning one the "Champion dal" and the rights to the job.
This was a legacy from the "God of Swords and Duel," Iris Marquis, before his divine ascent.
He was a third-generation False God, the famous owner of the "Book of Truth," "Sword of Victory and the Crown of Glory." A rare Elven god who was now one of only three Subgods under the Red Knight.
While still a mortal, he had co into possession of the book’s title page.
Afterward, he openly traveled the country as a "future deity," participating in all known swordsmanship contests, using the power of the Book of Truth to eliminate any advantage of strength on either side. He fought fair duel with identical attributes on both sides based solely on swordsmanship.
He won every single contest and was even granted a marquisate by the empire.
——Thereafter, when he beca known as the "greatest swordsman," he quickly ascended to the Gold rank and entered the desert as an elf, embarking on a lonely journey eastward all by himself, seeking the descendants of Auster who, according to legend, did not go to the western oasis but remained in the desert.
This was the empire once inhabited and subsequently abandoned by the ancestors of the Elves.
No one knows what happened to him in the deserts of the east.
But when he returned to Aesirland, he had beco a god.
Among his four favorite dals, the traces of Iris Marquis’s swordsmanship were engraved. If one wins a national swordsmanship contest and possesses this dal while entering a nightmare, one can advance to beco a "Champion Swordsman."
Of course, such a powerful artifact wouldn’t be simply handed over to the victor... After the ritual strength accumulated from the contest was used up to complete the advancent, the dal had to be returned to the nation.
Even so, Noah would produce at most one "Champion Swordsman" per year.
Old Bread hoped that Annan could learn this style of swordsmanship from Alexander.
And Annan gladly accepted——
Even though his current weapons of choice were a boning knife and hamr, he certainly wouldn’t turn down the chance to acquire such wonderful things...
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