Lance knows that inciting defection isn't solely about oppression; it's like hitting someone with a stick and then offering them a sweet date.

You have to give them a way out—this isn't rebellion, just business, and surely a merchant knows how to make the right choice.

"Aren't you afraid of the Church?" Perhaps it was the black bread digesting, or perhaps realizing there was no way to refuse, the fat man began to calm down.

"Church? There's no Church in Hamlet now, and there won't be one in the future," Lance said with a smile, knowing that the fat man had agreed to his deal when he spoke.

"I know the Earl has recruited many Transcendents like you, but you must also know that in his hands, you're just a dog that can be discarded at will.

Yet in Hamlet, as long as you follow the rules, whether or not you're a Transcendent, you can live here. The Church doesn't want to accommodate you, but I do, because I'm also a Transcendent."

As Lance spoke, he raised his hand and pointed, and the fat man instantly felt a powerful force dispel his fatigue and calm the turmoil in his Spiritual Essence.

"I can help stabilize your Spiritual Essence, and I want to change the current chaotic state among Transcendents, where everyone lives in fear. In Hamlet, I can provide you with safety and a stable social environment, changing the situation of discrimination against Transcendents."

The fat man felt the changes within himself and was immediately stunned, speechless for a long time...

Lance saw him like this and remained silent. For Transcendents, nothing else mattered; the ability to stabilize Spiritual Essence was the most important.

Because what's limiting them is the instability of Spiritual Essence; otherwise, someone as inspirational as Tamara wouldn't have been locked away due to a single failure. She would have escaped rather than being stored away until death.

Alhazred was tormented by the bizarre nature hidden behind his Supernatural Power, unable to sleep for over a decade, sustaining his sanity through meditation so that the eerie powers wouldn't consume him.

Transcendent originally referred to those who had awakened supernatural abilities that allowed them to wield bizarre powers and perform strange feats.

Yet these same powers also corrode them, and if they lose control, they become Heretics.

Thus, the world's major forces prefer to limit and suppress wild Transcendents, or seal them off, keeping them away from accessing Supernatural Power.

Yet these forces still cultivate their own Transcendents. Essentially, they aim to monopolize this power, preventing others from obtaining it, while making it sound noble.

Why do Imperial Nobles have connections with Transcendents behind the scenes, while allowing the Church to suppress other Transcendents?

Because this is the leash that holds the dogs, and those who cannot form their own faction are the dogs.

In reality, the Church is also pretending; don't you see that Transcendents with backgrounds like Geralt, Amanda, and Alhazred can walk freely in the Empire without the Church saying a word?

If Lance were the ruler of the Empire, he would also adopt similar methods to maintain stability and his power.

But now he's not, whether he's opposing the ancestors or confronting the Church and the Empire, he needs their strength.

Therefore, he must win over wild Transcendents, drawing them into his camp to cultivate his own Transcendent force.

"Have you decided yet?" Lance asked with a smile, mentioning a name, "Francis..."

The fat man understood immediately; his merchant disguise had long been seen through, even down to his name.

Not even Bruce knew his real name and identity. How did Lance know?

Could it be that the Earl's side had already been infiltrated by him?

Francis knew this was Lance showing his power; his secrets had almost been completely exposed.

"I've disliked Count Bastia for a long time; I've always wanted to burn him and offer Bastia to you."

There's nothing to say—whoever can solve the survival problem for Transcendents is worth more than transmitting just a message. One might even call them father.

Hamlet's strength seems not to surpass the Earl's for now, but after all, the Earl isn't a true Transcendent.

And Lance is a powerful Transcendent, so his promises are extremely attractive for Transcendents to rally against Church oppression.

"Come on, even though it's a bit simple, let's chat while we eat."

Lance sat across from the fat man, laying out various foods.

Although he didn't want to sit on the ground, appearances had to be maintained. Regarding the food, his Exhibition Room was always stocked.

Once the fat man saw the food, he couldn't resist. Even if it were poisoned, he would eat it just to be a sated ghost.

Beasts are vulnerable while eating, and humans likewise have their vigilance and logical thinking impaired during meals, as blood flows into the intestines for digestion, leaving insufficient nutrients for the brain.

Lance seized the opportunity to discuss the Earl's controlled Transcendents, understanding why Francis agreed so quickly.

Because the way the Earl raised them was truly treating them like dogs, using them for dirty work, manipulating what they needed most: materials and identity protection.

"The number of Transcendents in Bastia has been dwindling. I heard it was because they followed him to defeat the Barbarian Tribes, but naturally they disappeared with the cessation of war. I suspect..."

"No need to suspect; it's the Earl's doing, executed by the Eagle Flock." Lance didn't hesitate; Laura had mentioned performing such tasks.

Francis didn't find the revelation surprising; everyone vaguely sensed the situation and actively demonstrated value to the Earl to avoid being inexplicably eliminated.

"Most of the Transcendents controlled by him are dissatisfied with the Earl. Should I talk to them?" Francis probed, wanting to pull more Transcendents into the fold.

"Leave me with their condition; I'll arrange contact. But it won't be you; your task is to stay by the Earl's side for me."

"Yes, sir." Francis dared not say more but brought up another matter, "Sir, could you return my belongings?"

"Ah, yes." Lance took out the torch, and its flame instantly flared, reaffirming his identity as a Transcendent.

But he didn't toy with him; he genuinely handed the torch back.

"Tell me about its principles, and your ability to control fire."

Lance was quite interested in Transcendent powers and immediately began to discuss them.

Simply by observing this self-igniting torch, he perceived the potential of supernatural powers.

If he could decipher the torch's self-ignition ritual, applying this technology elsewhere might have great potential.

No long-term maintenance was required, just a brief moment.

For example, in musket improvement, triggering shots through supernatural power to create a musket without a fuse, flint, or primer.

This would allow optimization of firearm structures with supernatural powers, worrying not about rain or wind, nor the probability of flint ignition.

Also, the Transcendent lighter—another technological advancement.

Lance indeed continuously pushed technological development, but he never considered abandoning supernatural power; he wanted both.

He simply lacked dedicated talents to study this, and he was too busy regularly shelving ideas.

Perhaps attracting Bastia's Transcendents could advance these ambitions.

When Lance left the prison, it marked Francis becoming his pawn in Bastia, whether willingly or not, as it balanced against Lawrence.

Indeed, Lance didn't trust Lawrence, and comparing the messages from these two would reveal the questionable party.

Lance had another source of information in Bastia, not Laura, but...

Suddenly, Lance paused in his steps, his gaze fixed on the candlelight ahead.

It was evident: Paracelsus was working late again, researching without sleep.