Chapter 17: Gradual Deepening

Chapter 17: Gradual Deepening

“0-02”… Klein repeated the designation inwardly, feeling that the problem might be far more troublesome than he had expected.

He could not say that 0-02 was definitely more terrifying than 0-05. After all, the essence of that Wishing Magic Lamp was a sealed Outer Deity, an existence more powerful than every present true god. Without the restrictions of its shell, it could absolutely destroy this world, and even this star system. Yet the lower the number, the more it generally meant that, in most situations, 0-02 was more dangerous and more difficult to seal than 0-05.

To have been ranked second only to 0-01 when the seven Churches compiled the numbers for that batch of Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts at the end of the Fourth Epoch—one could fully imagine how terrifying 0-02 was… However, the God of Combat didn’t seem to have used this Sealed Artifact during the divine war… Was its type unsuitable for direct combat, or was it simply too dangerous, affecting allies and enemies alike? Thought after thought flashed through Klein’s mind.

His expression gradually turned solemn.

“Madam, what do you know about 0-02?”

Arianna slowly shook Her head.

“When the major Churches notify one another about Grade 0 and Grade 1 Sealed Artifacts, they give only the numbers.”

True. Even within each Church, information on Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts is strictly confidential. As high-ranking officials, they often only gain access to the relevant files when they are responsible for a specific Grade 0 Sealed Artifact, and afterward, there is a significant chance the corresponding memories will be erased… On one hand, this prevents important intelligence from leaking. On the other, for many Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts, merely understanding them can already create danger—or even render the seal ineffective… Klein thoughtfully said,

“Have you not already taken over the Church of the God of Combat?”

In that case, they should be able to obtain all documentation related to 0-02.

Arianna glanced at Roy and the others not far away.

“Before fleeing, Larrion destroyed all documents on the Grade 0 Sealed Artifacts.”

Impressive… Abnormally cautious fellows like that really are detestable… Klein’s thoughts shifted.

“What is the Goddess’s evaluation of 0-02?”

In his view, the Evernight Goddess and the God of Combat were existences from the same era, and the former held authority over Concealment. It was very likely that the Goddess knew at least something about what the latter had grasped.

Moreover, a Sealed Artifact at the level of 0-02 could not have left no traces in history. It might even have caused multiple disasters. To high-ranking existences from that age, it should not be unfamiliar.

Arianna seemed to have already recalled the relevant information. Without the slightest pause, She said,

“In an oracle from the past, the Goddess called 0-02 the ‘Trunsoest Brass Book.’”

The Trunsoest Brass Book… That sounds even more terrifying… Klein’s eyes narrowed slightly as countless associations surfaced in his mind.

In his previous life, he had also been fond of games and had dabbled in many kinds, though he had never been particularly obsessed. The term “rulebook” was by no means unfamiliar to him.

At that moment, Arianna added,

“The fact that you happened to arrive in Belltaine may also reveal certain traits of 0-02.”

That’s right. Madam Arianna came to Belltaine while tracking the Patriarch Larrion and encountered this mutation. That is fairly normal. But for me to just happen to be here is a bit too coincidental… In mysticism, excessive coincidence often means there is a problem…

Is someone arranging things around me, or is this the effect of the law of Beyonder characteristic convergence? Judging from the present situation, an arrangement lacks enough purpose to confirm it. Besides, I’m already the master of Sefirah Castle and should be able to detect at least some abnormalities… If it’s the law of Beyonder characteristic convergence, excluding Mr. Door, who is exiled, and the ancestor of the Antigonus family, who is sealed inside the foggy town, only Zaratul and Amon can influence me to this extent…

However, I have been deliberately avoiding Zaratul. Amon’s true body is currently being pursued and beaten by the True Creator, while an avatar alone should not be able to produce such a powerful convergence effect… Mm, there is another possibility: the law of convergence between sefirot… 0-02 is attracting Sefirah Castle, causing me to happen to arrive in Belltaine today?

If that is true, even if 0-02 itself is not a sefirah, it must have some connection to one… Klein, who had long held suspicions, suddenly thought of many things and gained a preliminary, blurry grasp of 0-02.

After considering for a moment, he said,

“Judging from how events are developing, the rules are gradually becoming stricter and more varied. The yellow paper is evidence. Does this mean that 0-02’s degree of activation or awakening is deepening little by little?”

With a peaceful expression, Arianna nodded.

“Yes. We must find it and find a way to seal it before certain conditions arrive.

“Therefore, it would be best to act separately, expand the search area, and save as much time as possible.”

Klein had no objection. After thinking, he said,

“Madam, telling me so much does not count as leaking secrets?”

“No,” Arianna gave an extremely definite answer. “Leaking secrets refers to transmitting the mutation in Belltaine to the outside world by any method.”

So it cuts off our substantive connection with the outside world… That’s still acceptable. At least we don’t need to worry about ordinary conversation causing problems. In short, we just shouldn’t swear… Klein silently breathed out and asked,

“Will the Nighthawks and Mandated Punishers here also obey the rules on the announcement?”

“Yes,” Arianna answered affirmatively. Then Her figure faded and vanished from where She stood.

After watching the Matriarch of the Evernight Cloister leave, Klein quickly organized the intelligence he had just obtained in his mind and formed certain understandings regarding how things might develop next.

Combat would not be the focus. The key was whether they could find 0-02 in time and come up with a way to seal it.

And during that process, increasingly complicated and increasingly difficult-to-obey rules, along with the citizens driven by them, would be waiting for these outsiders.

Thinking of this, Klein cast his gaze toward Roy and the others not far away and asked with a smile,

“What do you think of what you heard just now?”

Roy and Pasha exchanged glances before saying,

“We do not know what a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact is, but we can guess that 0-02 is an extremely terrifying item. It can formulate rules and alter reality to a certain degree. Furthermore, this abnormality seems to change further as time passes.

“And the Patriarch of the Church of the God of Combat should be an extremely powerful Beyonder.”

Klein lightly clapped his hands and smiled.

“That is more or less correct. If we make no effort and simply rely on hiding and evasion to stay away from danger, then the behaviors we need to pay attention to will only increase. A single moment of carelessness will count as a crime. Heh, perhaps by the end, we’ll be executed on the spot for stepping out of the door with the left foot first.”

His words made Pasha, Byers, and the others panic for a moment, nearly unable to control themselves.

That kind of possible development sounded rather funny at first, but when one thought about it carefully, one could sense the ultimate horror hidden within!

Several seconds later, Pasha said solemnly,

“And the citizens can use any method against us, while we cannot effectively retaliate, because murder and intentional injury are both extremely serious crimes…”

“We can try deceiving their senses, but that cannot be used too many times,” Klein said casually. “What we need to do now is summarize the laws that 0-02 itself follows as quickly as possible. That will help us find and seal it before it activates—or awakens—to the point where it possesses true intelligence. Do you have any ideas?”

Phil, the Marauder, thought for a moment and tentatively said,

“It seems unable to attack us directly. It can only punish us after we violate the rules and commit crimes.”

Klein snapped his fingers.

“Not bad. I can first summarize one rule: 0-02 cannot punish those who have not committed a crime.”

Byers blurted out,

“But it can make the citizens capture outsiders. Outsiders are not the same as criminals.”

“That does seem to contradict the rule just now a little,” Klein replied with a smile. “However, throughout history, many cities have, at different stages, issued laws discriminating against and expelling outsiders. Have you interpreted any deeper law from this matter?”

The four Beyonders frowned one after another, not quite understanding what the powerful “magician” before them meant to express.

After a brief silence, remembering the other party’s earlier question about whether a certain act counted as fraud, Pasha hesitantly said,

“The rules issued by 0-02 must conform to the people’s cognition and have received a certain degree of recognition?”

“A very good idea,” Klein praised. “This was a conjecture I formed because of the decree to capture outsiders, and it has been preliminarily verified by your earlier feedback. We can temporarily treat it as a second law. This will help us judge which actions are crimes and which are not.”

Seeing Pasha receive praise from the powerful “magician” twice, Roy hurriedly added,

“It will constantly add laws until they become complicated and tedious, thereby restricting us so that no matter what we do, we suffer punishment. Mm, on the basis of capturing outsiders, it could add the crime of trespassing and regulations forbidding urinating or defecating in public. This way, as time passes, things will become more and more difficult for us.”

Just as Klein nodded to express agreement, his inspiration suddenly stirred.

By instinct, he raised his head and looked toward the noticeboard. He discovered that, at some unknown time, an additional parchment had appeared there:

“Curfew…”

“This…” Pasha and the others also noticed the change. Their pupils abruptly dilated.

It was already night. If they remained outside for a while longer, they would violate the curfew decree and suffer punishment to a certain degree. After that, the punishment would become more severe each time, until they were sentenced to death.

“Let’s go. We don’t have much time left.” Klein raised a hand, pressed down on the tall top hat on his head, and said with a smile, “Our target is most likely a book. It might still be with that Patriarch, or it might have been hidden somewhere. My intuition tells me the latter is more likely, because that item is far too dangerous for anyone, and it will only become more dangerous. Of course, the premise is that the Patriarch has not gone mad and is merely using 0-02 to create an opportunity for himself to escape his pursuers.

“Oh, right. I forgot to tell you—the Patriarch is an angel walking the earth.”

An angel… Roy, Pasha, and the others had just begun to move, only to freeze again.