Chapter 159: “Bestowal” and “Sacrifice”

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Nine
“Bestowal” and “Sacrifice”

On the yellow-brown parchment, twisted and wildly sprawling Chinese characters were written:

“August 2nd. This pool of water is deeper than I imagined. History really is a little girl anyone can dress up however they like.”

“August 5th. Today, I witnessed the strength of a high-Sequence powerhouse. It was simply terrifying. In a certain respect, they have undergone a qualitative change and become like gods. No wonder they have always been described as half-gods and half-humans. Mm, I think calling them mythical creatures may be even more appropriate.”

“August 6th. Something feels strange. Why do the seven major Churches treat potions in such an odd manner? At the low and middle Sequence stages, they not only provide the main ingredients to those who obtain advancement, they also generously share the formulas and demonstrate the process of mixing the potions. If there is a corresponding ritual, they will certainly explain it in detail as well. Yet at the high Sequence stages, they provide only completed potions.

“This completely defies logic. At the low and middle Sequence stages, where the main ingredients are comparatively easier to collect and the process of creation is simpler, should they not keep the formulas secret and directly mix the potions for the targets? Once it reaches the high Sequence stage, because the main ingredients are so hard to obtain, should they not share the formulas and let members with hopes of advancement search on their own?

“There must be some secret hidden here that I still do not know.”

“August 9th. What happened over these past two days makes me feel rather uneasy. The Industrial Revolution that I began with my own hands, the age of steam and machinery that I built with my own hands, will become the hotbed for the descent of an evil god?”

What does that mean? A hotbed for the descent of an evil god?

Klein’s brows creased faintly. His index finger began lightly tapping the edge of the ancient long table.

Has Mr. Fool encountered a difficult problem? Something capable of troubling Him must involve an extremely high level…

Audrey looked at the leader shrouded in dense gray fog and, from His body language, interpreted a part of His current state.

Klein, who truly was puzzled over a high-level problem, thought for a while but did not obtain an answer. He began considering whether to seek revelation through divination.

Mm. With only such simple, isolated sentences, it would be impossible to divine anything substantive. I am not a prophet… Directly divining “the hotbed for the descent of an evil god” feels like courting death on a grand scale… An evil god may not necessarily be as terrifying as the Eternal Blazing Sun, but its abilities might be even stranger. Perhaps it could follow the thread back and find me… And there is no way to divine how dangerous such an attempt would be either, because once a deity is involved, even divining whether there is danger may itself bring danger…

First remember this problem. Observe more, think more…

The Churches’ arrangements regarding potions truly do seem strange. I wonder what secret lies behind it. Perhaps after Daly the Spirit Medium—no, she should be a Spirit Guide now—becomes an archbishop or high-ranking deacon and enters the Church’s core, I may receive a certain hint…

Roselle’s words really do make one yearn for the bearing of high-Sequence powerhouses…

Thought after thought flashed by. Klein stopped tapping the edge of the ancient long table, looked toward Justice, the Hanged Man, and the Sun, and said, “You may communicate freely.”

The Hanged Man, Alger, immediately spoke.

“Mr. Fool, Miss Justice, I recently obtained a piece of intelligence. Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos infiltrated Backlund to complete a difficult task. He may remain there for a long time and create shocking massacres. In addition, I know this matter involves an extremely important item—one that can help Qilangos quickly become a high-Sequence powerhouse.”

“Quickly become a high-Sequence powerhouse? Is he not afraid of losing control?”

Audrey caught the key point in his description, took on the stance of a Spectator, and asked doubtfully.

Qilangos was only Sequence 6, Wind-blessed. Between him and Sequence 4, there was still Sequence 5.

Alger had long anticipated that question. He answered calmly, “That is why that item is so important.

“Of course, all of this is my speculation. The intelligence I received is as follows: Qilangos believes that once he completes the commission and obtains that item, he will soon be mentioned alongside Nast, the King of the Five Seas, and the others, turning the Four Kings among pirates into Five Kings and reducing the seven pirate admirals to six.

“Ordinary people may not know this, but as Beyonders, we should all know that the Four Kings among pirates are either directly high-Sequence powerhouses, or, through extraordinary ships and mystical items, possess combat strength at the high-Sequence level. If Qilangos wants to be acknowledged as their equal, he must necessarily have a similar standard of strength. That is why I made that speculation.”

I only know that Nast, the King of the Five Seas, is a Sequence 4 powerhouse. I do not know the name of his potion…

Klein listened quietly and did not speak lightly.

Though the Sun, Derrick Berg, could not understand the incident the Hanged Man described at all and had no idea who was who, he still listened with full attention. He felt as if a new door were opening before his eyes.

Pirates? The place where they live has the ocean spoken of in books? That is very different from the environment around the City of Silver… They seem never to worry about curses, nor about attacks from things of darkness… How very curious… Mm, Mr. Fool instructed me not to casually ask after others’ secrets. That would be impolite…

Derrick thought silently, glancing back and forth between the Hanged Man and Justice.

“Your speculation is reasonable. Of course, it might also be a mystical item capable of rivaling high-Sequence powerhouses,” Justice, Audrey, replied with a faint smile.

The Hanged Man looked toward the Fool, seated high within the dense gray fog. After some consideration, he turned toward Justice and emphasized, “There are two key points in my description just now. First, Qilangos will stay in Backlund for a long period of time. Second, this involves a very important and possibly very miraculous item.”

So, Mr. Fool, are You not moved? You have ample time to send Your blessed one to Backlund…

Alger silently added that sentence inwardly. He did not dare say it directly, and could only hint at it indirectly.

Mr. Hanged Man, there is no need to keep emphasizing it. I understand what you want to say… But my strength does not support my getting involved in this matter. And I have no way to leave Tingen without permission…

Klein leaned back in his chair and thought rather helplessly.

Leaving aside the blessed one, I can actually find two relatively powerful Beyonders to help…

One is Daly, who has already advanced to Sequence 6. But I cannot possibly explain the whole situation to her. At most, I could mention that I received intelligence saying Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilangos had infiltrated Backlund, was living on a certain street, and intended to do such-and-such. In that case, Daly would most likely directly mobilize the Nighthawks’ power, turning the matter extremely chaotic and troublesome… If, in the end, you still cannot find help, mm, this could be tried to avoid a tragedy from happening…

The other is Mr. Azik. But I cannot possibly reveal the Fool’s identity to him. If I want to ask him to get involved in Qilangos’s matter, I lack a sufficient and proper reason…

As thought after thought passed through him, Klein spoke in a calm voice.

“I know.”

Seeing that the Fool still did not express a stance and still paid little attention to Qilangos’s matter, the Hanged Man, Alger, sighed inwardly. He reined in his disappointment and began exchanging this week’s investigation results with Miss Justice.

“…In short, we have preliminarily locked down the rough range of Qilangos’s activities and are about to begin a more thorough search.”

Audrey first briefly described the specific situation, then, with the mentality that she was doing something big and proper, said, “We need more intelligence, with a focus on Qilangos’s preferences and habits.”

The Hanged Man, Alger, recalled and said, “He very much likes eating fish, especially ocean fish—sliced raw…

“He likes strong liquor and looks down on champagne, red wine, and the like…

“Once ashore, he always looks for women to vent his urges. His strong body makes it difficult for only one woman to satisfy him…

“He is used to cold weapons and rejects firearms.

“It is difficult for him to remain away from water for long. What I mean is, every few days he must swim or dive at least once.”

…

Audrey memorized each point, sketching out and enriching the character called Qilangos in her mind.

“I hope we can succeed. Happy cooperation,” she said with a faint smile after listening quietly.

“Happy cooperation,” Alger answered, forcing himself to believe in Miss Justice, who clearly possessed significant energy in Backlund.

During their exchange, Klein appeared to be listening seriously, but in truth, his thoughts had drifted back to a previous problem: if the Sun desired ingredients, how could they be delivered to him?

Having just barely reached a passing level in mysticism, he instinctively began seeking solutions in the field of ritual magic. This was a kind of path dependence built upon earlier successes.

“…When I previously flipped through the Nighthawks’ internal materials, I saw records of the Goddess bestowing holy objects upon believers. Mm, quite a few sacrificial rituals involving evil gods and demons also include descriptions of items descending… Does that mean that when I respond to prayers, I may be able to ‘bestow’ items upon the other party and thereby complete the transfer of ingredients?

“In my previous attempts, I could temporarily respond only with thoughts containing images and sounds… But that does not mean it will forever remain that way… After I advance to Sequence 8 and stabilize, perhaps there will be new changes…

“In addition, there is another key point: can I bring real ingredients or objects above the gray fog? Mm… Uh… Right. Those sacrificial rituals involving evil gods and demons often include a ‘sacrifice’ step! Could I consider ‘sacrificing’ things to myself?

“If so, perhaps I really can bring real ingredients and objects above the gray fog…

“If the attempt succeeds, I will be able to directly receive objects and ingredients from Justice, the Sun, and the Hanged Man, then ‘bestow’ them upon myself…

“Mm. Sacrifice is a relatively high-level ritual. I cannot access it yet…

“For now, the most important thing is still to raise my own strength as quickly as possible!”

Klein withdrew his thoughts and continued listening to the three members’ conversation with a profound air, hearing them discuss Qilangos all the way to the traits of certain monsters.

When the time was about right, he smiled and said, “That will be all for today.”

“As You wish,” the Sun, Derrick, said, rising at the same time as Justice and the Hanged Man.

After cutting off the connections with the three members, Klein also swiftly plunged into the gray fog, leaving that mysterious space.

Returning to his bedroom, he removed the wall of spirituality and drew open the curtains of the oriel window, letting sunlight from outside stream in.

“There are two important things this week. First, accept the examination and advance to Sequence 8. Second, make a Sunflame Charm. Its power may even exceed Sequence 7, perhaps Sequence 6…”

Looking at the street outside, Klein thought with anticipation, “Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I should receive the report on the supernatural incident Mr. Azik is creating!”