"Mr. Kenley, what are your thoughts on this?" Guinevere, having noticed that Kenley had been whispering something to Tia in secret, felt a sudden surge of curiosity and turned around to inquire.

  Kenley lifted his head upon hearing this. "Your Highness, I propose forming a six-member scouting team to enter the abbey," he said.

  "A six-member team?"

  "Yes. This abbey has a rank-restricting enchantment. Has no one else detected it?" Kenley asked.

  "A rank-restricting enchantment?" Everyone was taken aback.

  Given Guinevere's magical perception abilities, she hadn't sensed it, yet Kenley had managed to detect it. How could this be?

  "Mr. Kenley, I haven't perceived any fluctuations in magical energy. Could this be a misjudgment on your part? By a rank-restricting enchantment, do you mean an enchantment that restricts entry and exit to those within a certain rank range?" Guinevere seemed to recall something.

  "Yes, Your Highness. This is indeed a rank-restricting enchantment. Only those of rank five or lower are permitted to enter. Those of a rank higher than five are prohibited from entering."

  "Can it be dismantled?"

  "It can be, but the individual who set up this enchantment is extremely proficient. I'm afraid it cannot be broken without the power of rank nine," Kenley stated with great certainty.

  "The power of rank nine... In that case, we might have to request the Pope's intervention." The expressions of everyone present changed.

  However, Daina interjected with an ill-timed comment: "Mr. Kenley, the power of rank nine surpasses the capabilities of everyone here. How could the Heresy of the Black Sheep possess such formidable power? Could you be simply scaring yourself?"

  Kenley rolled his eyes inwardly. This Daina truly lacked a sense of proportion. If she knew that the Black Sheep Society also had a boss of rank ten, he wondered if she would be so terrified that she couldn't even speak coherently.

  "Whether they possess such power or not, we have a person of rank five right here. Why not let Knight Daina give it a try and find out for herself?"

  "Fine, I'll give it a shot." Without hesitation, Daina promptly descended from the observation tower.

  The others remained silent and watched as Daina approached the gate of the Abbey of Repose step by step. However, after a short while, they witnessed Daina being repelled by a strange black light shield. Everyone immediately realized that Kenley hadn't been lying, and they were even more astonished by the exceptional strength of Kenley's magical perception abilities.

  Upon seeing Daina return looking disheartened, Kenley refrained from mocking her. Instead, he addressed Guinevere: "Your Highness, I wonder if you still remember that the wizards of the Northern Ice Wastes once invented a unique enchantment, a 'Threshold Enchantment' designed to test the progress of apprentices' abilities."

  "Do you mean an enchantment that restricts the rank and the number of individuals entering at one time?" Guinevere mused thoughtfully.

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  "Yes, Your Highness. Those who enter without the control of the enchantment's master are all considered trial-takers, and only six people are allowed to enter each time. Moreover, this enchantment is non-harmful. To safeguard the students, its defensive power is extremely robust. Without the strength of rank nine, one stands no chance of breaking it. This is precisely why I proposed selecting six highly capable team members to enter and conduct a reconnaissance together."

  "I recall. There is indeed such a peculiar enchantment. But why would the Heresy of the Black Sheep be able to set up an enchantment that is typically the expertise of the wizards from the Northern Ice Wastes?" As she said this, Guinevere's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had thought of something. "It seems I need to write a letter to my teacher in the Northern Ice Wastes."

  "Then, Your Highness, what's your decision?"

  "I agree." Guinevere nodded. "However, we still need to carefully consider how to select the team members."

  Kenley smiled faintly. "We can do it in the same manner as we did during the trial in the labyrinth."

  ...

  When everyone pushed open the gate of the Abbey of Repose, a powerful black gust of wind rushed out from behind the door, causing everyone to squint their eyes.

  Guinevere also entered, though she had faced considerable resistance beforehand, with Daina being the first to oppose.

  Despite Daina's vehement opposition to Guinevere's entry into the Abbey of Repose, she eventually relented under Guinevere's insistent request. However, Daina stipulated that if they encountered an enemy they couldn't contend with, they should not engage recklessly and should prioritize retreat.

  Kenley naturally brought Tia in with him. This enchantment, well, it was indeed not much different from entering an instance in a game. But this time, it was unlike the initial exploration of an instance in the game; this time, they were truly risking their lives.

  The instance of the Abbey of Repose was divided into three sections in total. The first section was the main hall, the second section was the Silent Corridor at the rear, and the third section, which was the most deeply hidden, was the secret dungeon of the Abbey of Repose.

  "Have you explored the main hall before?" Kenley inquired.

  Fess shook his head. "No, we haven't."

  Kenley nodded and was the first to step forward. With a forceful push, there was a rumbling sound, and the gate opened as if in response.

  Everyone raised their weapons and watched intently every movement within the main hall, their nerves on edge. However, there was nothing. Just like the situation outside, apart from rows of neatly arranged benches, there were no living beings inside. Everyone let out a slight sigh of relief and then entered cautiously.

  At the end of the main hall was a notice platform, on which lay an old book with illegible characters. Nevertheless, the interior was clean and orderly, showing no signs of dilapidation whatsoever.

  Shortly after everyone had entered, the gate behind them slammed shut with a loud bang!

  At that moment, an aged voice echoed within the main hall: "How long has it been since I last heard the voices of unfamiliar guests? Welcome, lambs from the realm of lost dreams. The God of the Black Sheep never turns away anyone who repents. Join his embrace, and he will reward you with the most sumptuous nourishment and make you repent in the most agonizing way."

  Following the direction of the voice, a mysterious priest, clad in a black ecclesiastical robe and sporting a receding hairline reminiscent of a Mediterranean hairstyle, slowly emerged from the side hall beside the notice platform and walked to the center of the notice platform.

  [The Black Sheep Preacher, Misius]

  [Level: 30]

  [Occupation: Priest]

  This individual was not the boss, but rather an important NPC. Everyone except Kenley stared at Misius with hostility.

  "Please allow me to introduce myself to all you lambs. I am a preacher, a humble servant of the God of the Black Sheep. You may call me Misius." This Misius appeared quite presentable, bearing little resemblance to the depraved individuals rumored to be associated with the cult.

  Everyone looked at each other, but no one responded to him.

  "Your presence here is a testament to the will of the God of the Black Sheep, bringing us together. Join the embrace of the God of the Black Sheep. He will absolve you of all your sins, forgive all the transgressions you have committed, and accept you for who you are."

  "Stop spouting such nonsense. Who would believe in that damned God of the Black Sheep!" someone shouted angrily.

  However, Misius maintained a cheerful expression, as if the earlier outburst had failed to stir even the slightest emotion within him.