What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

“Please, have a seat.” Bishop Weiss gestured for Leon Set to sit beside a tea table, while she began rummaging through a stack of documents on another desk.

“Thank you.”

Just as Leon sat down, Bishop Weiss turned back and placed an open academic journal on the tea table.

Leon immediately saw the nuclear model of the atom he had drawn. He realized this was the conjecture he had written, which Bishop Miller had organized and published in the Church’s academic journal.

“This—you wrote it, didn’t you?” Bishop Weiss leaned forward, bracing both hands on the tea table as she sought confirmation.

“Yes—”

Before Leon could finish speaking, Bishop Weiss leaned even closer, her eyes burning with intensity. “You’re researching atomic theory? Why didn’t you mention it when we met before?”

Isn’t her face a bit too close?

Under her close scrutiny, Leon felt somewhat uncomfortable and leaned back slightly. “I was merely interested, so I read a few materials. It was just a sudden whim.”

“This is far more than a simple whim. This is a cross-era innovation—a completely new line of thought for analyzing atomic structure!” Bishop Weiss picked up the journal and tapped it lightly, staring at Leon. “And at the end, you even connected the properties of material elements with this model, speculating that atomic numbers might, because of this structure, change periodically with increasing atomic weight. That’s not something an ordinary person could come up with!”

Leon thought to himself that it was called the periodic table of elements. Just like atomic structure, it was middle school knowledge back in his world.

“In fact, the Creator Church has established many experimental projects centered on atomic theory. Since they are not yet complete, most of them have not been made public. There are certain special phenomena we still cannot fully comprehend. But your model just happens to provide explanations for those phenomena!” Bishop Weiss examined Leon curiously. “Logically speaking, you shouldn’t have had access to those experimental projects. Yet with a single model, you’ve managed to explain problems that many bishops have racked their brains over. This is truly—unbelievable!”

Hearing this, Leon began to wonder if creating that atomic model had been a bit excessive. From the materials he had checked, he had assumed the Church’s research remained at the stage where atomic structure could not be verified. Now it seemed he had underestimated the Creator Church’s progress. Some cutting-edge research projects simply had not been disclosed; he just hadn’t known about them.

He had thought his conjecture would at most serve to pad out a paper, and that Archbishop Miller would only praise his rich imagination upon seeing it.

But to Bishop Weiss of the Creator Church, his conjecture happened to align perfectly with the Church’s cutting-edge experimental results. It bore cross-era significance—perhaps even the embryonic form of a new theory.

“It was merely a sudden inspiration, like a flash of insight. Your Excellency, when you conduct research, you must have experienced such flashes as well, haven’t you?” Overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, Leon could only attempt to explain in this way.

“Inspiration does not favor those without the ability to realize it. Without sufficient academic foundation in this field, you could not have made use of inspiration to propose such a complete and self-consistent conjecture.” Bishop Weiss looked at the published conjecture in the journal, a look of relief appearing on her face. “Fortunately, you chose to make this public during the rank assessment. Otherwise, it would have been such a pity. Twice I brushed past someone possessing such vision—”

“When I met you previously, I hadn’t yet conceived of this. And an accidental inspiration like that—how could I dare to display it before professionals?” Leon smiled.

“No. Even if this is not the final answer to truth, it will certainly become an important step in our pursuit of it. Your model will become a milestone in our exploration of the microscopic world. I believe your name will appear in textbooks.” Bishop Weiss spoke with certainty. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Becoming someone written into textbooks—that sounds a bit exaggerated. Leon thought.

“I only hope I’ll truly have such an opportunity. I never expected such a conjecture to receive your generous praise. I’m truly overwhelmed,” Leon replied.

“Inquisitor Set, although the assessment results have not yet been announced, since Archbishop Miller, who oversees the Institute of Natural Philosophy of the Southeastern Diocese, was willing to publish your work, your passing the assessment is practically certain. You haven’t been assigned yet, correct? Since you’re interested in atomic theory, you must also be interested in participating in its cutting-edge experimental projects, aren’t you?” Bishop Weiss asked seriously.

“I really can’t imagine what I could possibly contribute to such high-end experimental projects—” Leon smiled awkwardly.

Sensing that Bishop Weiss was about to extend an invitation, Leon began laying the groundwork for refusal.

“Your conjecture has already sparked heated discussions among experts. Not only could you contribute—you are qualified, as the proposer of the conjecture, to give us lectures directly!” Bishop Weiss said.

“You must be joking. In such a setting, I’d probably faint on the spot.” Leon laughed it off.

“I am serious! I wish to recommend you to join the Creator Church. I hope you will take a position at the Saint Rosalia Research Institute. You possess the talent to change the academic world—you should not be buried here!” Bishop Weiss finally revealed her true purpose.

“Your recognition truly flatters me.” Leon deliberately displayed a look of surprise, then lowered his head apologetically. “But I’m very sorry. In fact, after the assessment concluded, I already accepted Archbishop Miller’s invitation to join the Prophet Church.”

“You intend to transfer to the Institute of Natural Philosophy of this Diocese? Do you wish to—study mathematics?” Bishop Weiss asked in surprise.

She knew Archbishop Miller was an expert in mathematical theory and only dabbled in natural philosophy.

“I have no intention of transferring to an academic post. I will remain in Hamel Town and assume the position of Director of the Inquisition. My superior has shown me favor through promotion; I promised to take over the role properly. There are still many cases here that need handling—I cannot leave them unattended. My joining the Prophet Church is mainly to express gratitude for Archbishop Miller’s appreciation. As for academics, I will develop it as an interest outside my duties, just as before.” Leon presented the prepared explanation.

After hearing him out, Bishop Weiss stared at him wistfully for quite some time before lowering her gaze and sighing. “I see—”

At this point, she could hardly compete with Archbishop Miller for him. After all, it was Archbishop Miller who first recognized Leon’s talent. Had he not published Leon’s work, the name Leon Set might never have appeared before her in academic circles.

They had met twice, yet she had remained unaware of the talent he possessed. Having brushed past him like that filled her with regret.

“I truly apologize that you came here specially, only for me to—” Leon said apologetically.

“No.” Bishop Weiss gently shook her head. “When I came here, I had already anticipated such a result. In truth, I mainly wished to see you. I felt it was necessary. We once spoke at length, yet I understood so little about you—nothing at all of the talent you possessed.”

Hearing this, Leon immediately became alert.

The situation he had feared had arrived. When Bishop Becket required him to carry the emblem, he had already anticipated such troublesome circumstances.

The last time he had “spoken at length” with Bishop Weiss had been secretly inside her carriage. He had not mentioned this to Bishop Becket—only to Rena.

As far as Bishop Becket knew, Leon had only discussed the matter of the “witch” Sally Hesh with Bishop Weiss in the reception room of the Inquisition.

Now he still carried the emblem Bishop Becket had given him. If Bishop Weiss brought up topics discussed in the carriage, Bishop Becket would be able to monitor everything directly.

Given Bishop Becket’s perceptiveness, even the slightest clue would reveal that he and Weiss had met privately.

If that were discovered, considering the Earl and Bishop Becket’s inexplicable hostility toward Weiss, he might not be able to explain himself!

“After all, we only discussed Mrs. Hesh’s matter,” Leon said with a smile, while trying to signal to Bishop Weiss with his eyes.

Bishop Weiss did not immediately notice anything amiss and continued, “Right—your injury—”

“Ah, that. Following the treatment plan you previously provided, it hasn’t recurred!” Leon cut in quickly, continuing to signal with his eyes.

His injury had already fully healed. Weiss’s prescription had taken effect from the very beginning.

Although his final recovery was mainly due to his unexpected acquisition of the ability to transform into a werewolf—werewolves, like Demonic Wolves, possessed immunity to all poisons, and his lingering injuries had healed along with the change in his physique.

However, Leon still suspected that his demonized form being a werewolf might have been related to the antidote formulated using Demonic Wolf blood from Weiss’s prescription.

At last, Bishop Weiss sensed something unusual in Leon’s expression and cast him a puzzled look, about to speak—when Leon blinked.

Bishop Weiss finally seemed to understand and temporarily fell silent, waiting for Leon’s explanation.

Leon could not explain verbally. He was unsure to what extent Bishop Becket could monitor through the emblem—whether he could even perceive the surrounding scene and Leon’s movements. Writing or overly obvious gestures both carried the risk of exposure.

At that moment, Leon’s gaze fell upon the open academic journal. After skimming a few lines, an idea suddenly occurred to him.

“I can actually sense a kind of marvelous fate. Given the disparity in status between us, we shouldn’t have had any intersection. Yet unexpectedly, I was fortunate enough to meet you for a third time. This time, it was thanks to this paper.” As he spoke, Leon raised his hand and gently stroked the page.

Bishop Weiss immediately noticed and focused on his hand. With the slightest movement, Leon tapped his index finger on a single word.

That word was “observation.”

Instinctively, Bishop Weiss looked up at Leon’s face. The single word was not enough for her to grasp the meaning. Leon’s eyes then darted quickly in a circle—up, down, left, right—before he blinked once more.

Observation—everywhere—eyes—nowhere to—

Bishop Weiss jolted awake, suddenly feeling as though countless invisible eyes had opened around her, their gazes converging upon her.