Mysteries: Arcana Wars

Janina Abraham sat at the long table anxiously. She had been sitting in this conference room for more than half an hour.

In fact, this waiting time was not the reason why Janina couldn't sit still. It was indeed not far from the agreed time, but Janina waited so long simply because she came too early. She was eager to ask for an explanation here.

At this moment, what really made Janina feel depressed was the indescribable atmosphere here.

This is Janina's first time coming to "the laboratory of the Steam Church", and the outcome of today's meeting will determine whether this will be the last time.

First, he passed through strict security checks to enter the church, and then, under the oppressive gaze of Bishop Wenceslas Cardin, he passed through the tall, wide, and strange church. Strange gears of all sizes interlocked in an incomprehensible way, and levers were forcibly engaged to start pushing and rotating. Beams of sunlight fell through the holes in the glass-covered church, and were then crushed by the strange machinery.

As soon as she passed through the church hall, Janina was put on a blindfold and headphones. The extraordinary object that could not be rejected immediately deprived her of her five senses, making her feel dizzy and nauseous, as if she was lost in the spiritual world. When she regained her sight, she found herself in a wide elevator hall.

We're almost there, Janina thought as she stepped into the elevator. But once the elevator started to fall, it showed no sign of stopping.

How many meters did we fall? Three meters, thirty meters, or three hundred meters? In the long and boring wait, another round of torture began.

"How long until we get there?"

The guiding mechanical heart remained silent and just smiled.

The tan metal car reflected the old, monotonous lights, and it and Janina fell with a low roar.

Falling, only falling.

We passed by the underground mall of the department store, the layers of underground parking lots, the winding subways, and the bloated underground cities...

With a shake, the aimless journey finally ended, and Janina couldn't wait to escape from the small metal cage.

The pale and bright lights made the ancient yet modern corridors a bit dazzling. The facilities had obvious traces of time, and the design style was at least a product of the information age, and the earliest was no more than three hundred years old.

Janina, who was worried, walked unsteadily.

People who are sensitive and meticulous are always suitable for various positions. The company's business problems have made her sleepless day and night. Since she stepped into the steam church, the church's confidentiality requirements have brought her all kinds of discomfort. The subtle feeling of uneasiness quietly spreads in the unexpected and unknown future.

"Make way! Pay attention! Be careful--"

“Bang!!”

Before Janina could react, a researcher in a white coat holding a box rushed out from the side path and bumped into Janina hard. With a few screams, several people fell to the ground.

This fall completely released Janina's long-suppressed anxiety.

...As an "astrologer" known for my spiritual intuition, why didn't I get any early warning of this impact?

Due to overwork and sensitive personality, Janina, who had been tortured by the mechanical out-of-control case for several days, seemed to be even more nervous. Just some accidents could severely touch her tired nerves.

She followed the Mechanical Heart in a daze to the conference room. As soon as the people in the Mechanical Heart left the room, Janina couldn't wait to reach out her hand to test her "magic trick".

The spirit was silent, and no matter how Janina called out, no frost could form on her fingers.

Janina immediately felt a chill on her back.

People have different definitions of "normal". For most people in the Sixth Epoch today, water drops fall from above, rivers evaporate from the bottom, people do not have the ability to call for freezing, and actors' tricks are just tricks of hand and machine. This is "normal", and no matter how great the power is, it cannot change these.

Those crazy postmodern schools even believe that the laws of nature are the truth of all things in the world, and all attempts to change the truth by using non-objective things are lies and delusions.

But for Janina, who was born into an ancient extraordinary family, this was like a horror story.

Invoking spirits, performing magic tricks, and opening doors to travel through time, these are Janina’s “normal” existence.

Extraordinary powers were suppressed, and spiritual intuition failed. This meant that one had either accidentally touched a terrifying extraordinary object, or had entered a terrifying and unknown realm of space. Being watched by the gods was actually the happiest possibility.

...Is this really the blessed place watched over by the God of Steam and Machinery?

All kinds of rumors and information about the "Steam Church Research Institute" were swirling in her mind, but the name "Church" could not bring her enough sense of security here, not to mention that as an Abraham, Janina did not believe in this God.

"Knock knock knock!"

The abrupt knock on the door woke Janina from her panic. She subconsciously adjusted her suit and hairstyle to maintain her image as a "female executive of the company."

Before Janina could answer the door, the door to the conference room opened by itself.

A vigorous old man in a wheelchair pushed himself in.

The old man was wearing an exquisite and high-grade divine robe, which made his old face with glasses look quite handsome. However, the old man's shirt that was faintly visible at the collar of his robe really spoiled the view.

"Abraham's little girl?"

The old man glanced at Janina through his glasses, then slowly and calmly pushed the wheelchair forward. The wheelchair was large in size and full of the beauty of the electrical age. Its peculiar shape and structural design made it look as if it could run very fast.

Uh... the electric motor under this wheelchair is a bit too exaggerated...

"Scott Cartwright, of the Church of Steam. Introduce yourself."

It's really hard work. At such an old age with limited mobility, he still has to run around as a church leader.

"Janina Abraham, Abraham Technologies, is the project leader for the Hummingbird FS03 series of agricultural tractors and is also..."

Before Janina could finish her words, she was stunned to see Scott stand up from his wheelchair, take two steps as if no one was around, and fall very comfortably into a cushioned chair. It was simply a medical miracle that was successfully accomplished using only a sofa chair.

“…He is also the leader of the team sent by the company to deal with the out-of-control tractor incident.”

Scott felt a little amused when he noticed Janina's unnaturalness.

"Why, do you think I'm too slow and too late? Oh, little girl, I chose to come here in this wheelchair just to get here faster. Believe me, it's very reliable... at least when it's in use."

"Don't be nervous. I see you have only been in this company executive position for a short time. Relax. You are the noble Abraham. You are under the protection of the god of steam and machinery. Oh, even if you don't believe in this."

"Isn't it just a case that may involve a large-scale extraordinary hazard? It's not a big deal. You will get used to it after experiencing a few more evil god advent events."

Scott, a veteran who has experienced this, looked earnest in his words.

...Does a corporate executive really have to get used to this kind of stuff?!

Not long after the two exchanged greetings, there was a knock on the door again, and representatives from the Church of the Earth arrived.

"Andrea Esposito is a visiting professor at Backlund University of Agriculture and Technology, an agricultural expert, and the representative of the Church of the Earth at this conference."

Andrea, with a simple smile, greeted us in a very familiar manner.

"Father Davide Rossi sent you?"

Scott raised his eyes slightly.

"Yes!"

Andrea smiled brightly and appropriately, but he would not tell Scott that Father Davide Rossi was actually the "fake identity" he had registered in the church.

"Okay, everyone is here."

The old man twisted himself to stand up.

"Then, the investigation meeting on the loss of control case of the Hummingbird FS03 series agricultural tractor and related incidents will begin now!"