Hart came to notify Bologue that a message had arrived from the Sublimation Furnace Core, asking Bologue to make a visit. Hart happened to pass by and delivered the message on Geoffrey’s behalf.
After a brief conversation with Bologue, Hart, with a distant look, turned around and left.
"Is the preparation for the Triple Trials ready?"
Upon reaching the Sublimation Furnace Core and seeing Balder, Bologue asked. Besides Aimou’s repair, the Triple Trials were the only thing he cared about recently. As for his partner Palmer?
If Palmer doesn’t return soon, Bologue is about to forget that he even has such a partner.
Reflecting on it now, in daily life, the only use Palmer had was to ride Bologue around. Now that he’s temporarily staying at the Undying Club, Palmer’s only use is gone.
"It’s ready, but the ritual is still being fine-tuned. You’ll need to wait a bit," Balder led the way ahead, "after all, it is our first time conducting the three trials simultaneously."
"I understand. It looks like there will be quite a few people watching, right?" Bologue said.
"More or less, some of the old folks learned about it and crawled out from the Scholars’ Hall to observe." Balder explained.
"The Scholars’ Hall?"
Bologue’s expression showed slight surprise. He hadn’t expected this matter to involve the Scholars’ Hall.
The Scholars’ Hall is a branch within the Sublimation Furnace Core composed of a group of Alchemy Masters responsible for researching numerous secretive projects. It is the core research department of the Sublimation Furnace Core and even the entire Order Bureau.
Within the Sublimation Furnace Core, those old fellows who retired from their positions would eventually gather there, dedicating the rest of their lives to Secret Source research.
"Some of those old guys are very interested in you, and even the Minister couldn’t refuse them, so they had to let them come." Balder said.
Bologue nodded, indicating his understanding. Although Belli is the Minister, she’s not quite esteemed in the eyes of the old folks in the Scholars’ Hall.
One of the reasons Belli could become a Minister at such a young age is that eligible old fellows are holed up in the Scholars’ Hall, rarely stepping out.
Others with the same qualifications but without Belli’s talents can only follow her orders.
"Indeed, these folks could be regarded as forefathers."
Balder rarely cracked a joke, and Bologue couldn’t help but smile along.
In the Sublimation Furnace Core, there is a distinct method of position advancement compared to other parts. Although many positions seem to be held by young people like Belli, they primarily handle administrative functions, while the main research is still conducted by the Scholars’ Hall.
Those old folks hide away in the pitch-black underground, delegating all troublesome matters to others, focusing solely on their research.
If those events hadn’t happened, after Teda stepped down, he should also be a member of the Scholars’ Hall now, pouring all his energy into research.
After the chat, Bologue suddenly thought of something and asked, "Can I visit the Scholars’ Hall?"
"No, those old fellows are already considered important assets of the Order Bureau. Anyone wanting to go there needs approval from the Decision Room." Balder replied.
These old fellows are like walking books of knowledge, even the least of them who serves tea and water has to be an Alchemy Master.
"Why do you want to go there?" Balder asked again.
"Just thinking, since these guys are so important and eager for the Secret Source... they probably won’t die easily, right?" Bologue muttered.
If they die, they have nothing left. Given their obsession, to understand the Secret Source, they would undoubtedly find ways to keep living.
"There’s a medical team at the Border Sanatorium directly connected to the Scholars’ Hall, and a substantial budget each year within the Sublimation Furnace Core is allocated to keep those old things alive." Balder said.
Bologue nodded; he recalled the report about his Blessing.
After so many years, he thought the researcher back then had died, but upon realizing the Scholars’ Hall, Bologue felt that perhaps the person was still alive, depending on the medical assistance from the Border Sanatorium, living like the undead, just to get closer to the Secret Source.
If the situation is as such, Bologue might have a chance to talk directly to the person and understand the past.
"Here is the content about the Triple Trials. While waiting, you can take another look and prepare more," Balder then said, "you can wait over there. When it’s about time, I’ll come to get you."
Following Balder’s pointing direction, Bologue knew where he meant. Putting away the document, Bologue indicated his agreement.
After parting ways with Balder, Bologue continued along a familiar route, one gate after another opening, the eerie blue light sweeping over his body.
Bologue found a chair to sit on. Before opening the document, Bologue glanced up at the container behind the glass wall.
After this period of repair, Aimou’s condition had improved significantly. She curled up like a baby, legs together and hugging her knees, resembling a fetus.
Many parts have yet to be reassembled, but at least now she looks like a person rather than a tattered piece of art.
The cold metallic shell soaked in solution, Belli had not yet reapplied the coating for Aimou. Presently, she appeared in a metallic silver, with riveted marks along the metal edges.
At this moment, Aimou was no different from a real doll, her pupils flashing with a faint light, still operating stably. Unfortunately, she still could not provide any feedback from the outside world, her sensors still under adjustment.
Bologue gazed for a moment before withdrawing his eyes and turned to open the document about the Triple Trials.
In the theory of Alchemy, an Alchemist can transmute metals, liberating cold matter from its mundane nature, promoting it to a higher tier. This is also applicable in the Condenser’s ascension, where the ascension ritual for the sublimation of the soul is akin to the transmutation of metals.
Kill the mundane, expel impurities.
However, before the sublimation of ascension, a mundane soul must undergo the trial of the Triple Law, which is the Triple Trials.
The three elements of salt, sulfur, and mercury correspond to the human body, mind, and spirit.
This is understandable as anyone who has read the "Golden Thesis" can grasp the underlying principles.
The Trial of Salt will reinforce the Condenser’s physique, making the vessel that holds the soul more durable and expanding its capacity, allowing it to support a more powerful soul.
The Trial of Sulfur pertains to the Condenser’s mind or can be understood as willpower.
The body is the vessel for the Condenser to traverse the world; the soul is the cornerstone of the Condenser’s strength, and all this requires a strong will to unite and execute.
The will of the mundane is easily crushed, but a soul that has undergone the Trial of Sulfur will no longer be weak. After this trial, the Condenser’s willpower will be greatly enhanced, resisting the influence of malevolence.
The Trial of Mercury tests the soul. After this trial, the Condenser’s soul becomes more solid, preparing for the upcoming ascension ritual.
One could say the Trial of Mercury does not significantly enhance the Condenser itself, but it ensures the upcoming ascension is safer, enabling completion of the sublimation.
Thus, Trinity leads directly to sublimation.