Chapter 356: Question and Answer

Chapter 356: Question and Answer

Ten minutes later, several figures entered Count Wolfe’s residence.

Leading the group were two men. The one who walked ahead had a stern, chilling face that exuded order and authority.

If Kline were present, he would have noticed that this middle-aged man bore a resemblance to the portrait on his favorite five-pound bill.

The man wore a black, elaborate outfit adorned with a crest. The crest featured a sword pointing downward, with a red crown at its hilt, symbolizing the “Sword of Judgment” of the Royal House of Augustus in the Rune Kingdom.

He looked at the disoriented Amilus, frowned slightly, and reprimanded him coldly.

“What a disgrace.”

Amilus, snapping out of his confusion, saw the newcomers. His lips trembled as he bowed his head and knelt on one knee.

“The incident happened suddenly, and I couldn’t stop it… I am very sorry, Prince Drinck.”

Drinck Augustus, the former Duke of Southwell in the Rune Kingdom, was also an immensely powerful psychic, a Sequence 2 in the Arbiter pathway—The Balancer.

A walking angel, even in the distant mythological era, he was considered a being akin to a demigod!

Drinck glanced at the crime scene, his gaze sweeping over the guests who were stunned by his presence, pausing momentarily on the mutilated remains of Ambassador Barkland, and finally settling on the three deacons from the major churches.

His gaze was so sharp it seemed almost tangible, and the three deacons, who had been present but failed to prevent the incident, felt a terrifying pressure. Their breathing quickened, and sweat broke out on their foreheads.

“Still too late.”

Behind Drinck, a sigh that sounded almost like a chant brought a gentle breeze, disrupting the order and authority.

The man who sighed wore a black robe embroidered with storm symbols. His face was square, and he was none other than the “Singer of the Divine” of the Barkeland Storm Church’s Holy Wind Cathedral, Archbishop Snak.

When has your Storm Church ever been on time?

Drinck Augustus sneered in disdain but, considering the deacons represented the Goddess of the Night, the Lord of Storms, and the God of Steam and Mechanics, he retracted his gaze.

“Tell me what happened.”

As he spoke, several psychics with a military demeanor began to handle the aftermath, calming the shocked guests and leading them away from the residence to clean up and rest.

Amilus struggled to compose himself and respectfully recounted the recent events.

“Significant immunity to edicts, the ability to control the flow of time, and the power to take an Extraordinary Trait from a demigod… there shouldn’t be any Saint in the Aurora Society with such characteristics.”

Drinck’s frown deepened. These traits more closely matched another terrifying presence.

The second son of the Ancient Sun God, “Blasphemer” Ammun, currently at the pinnacle of the Thief Path, or the Error Path. This Angel of Time possessed the exact powers that could explain what happened.

Error can make a doppelganger equivalent to the original, granting the status of an angel king. Edicts are naturally less effective against higher beings, time can be accelerated, reversed, or stopped, which fits Amilus’s description of being controlled. And with a high status, stealing an Extraordinary Trait from a controlled and powerless Sequence 4 would not be difficult.

But Ammun seems to have no reason to do this…

Drinck fell silent for a moment, then raised his right hand and waved it downward. A golden-bronze glow swept over the entire residence.

When the light faded, nothing had changed.

No hidden people, and the mystical connections to the crime were severed. Divination methods would likely struggle to track down the culprit.

“Perhaps… the Steam Church can help.”

A “Star Master” from the Mechanical Heart of the God of Steam and Mechanics Church, who hadn’t participated much in the fight, hesitated before speaking.

“The Steam Church has a sealed artifact with extremely powerful divination abilities, high accuracy, and precision. It might be able to find the whereabouts of the culprit.”

But it tends to cause social death for the one asking the question, and it’s quite draining.

“Worth a try, thank you.”

Drinck nodded slightly and glanced at Amilus.

“Take care. The merits you’ve accumulated in the Soniah Sea over the years are enough to earn you another Magic Potion and a fresh start.”

Amilus closed his eyes and nodded in humiliation.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

…

The next morning, at dawn.

In an apartment in Zauod District, Luke lay lazily on the bed, his right foot resting on his left, which was propped up on the desk. Xi, who had already woken up, was reading the Barkeland Morning News while munching on a piece of bread.

“Fire at Count Wolfe’s Residence; Tantis Ambassador Barkland Murdered!”

“Will the Death of a Diplomat Strain Relations Between Tantis and the Rune Kingdom? What Lies Ahead for the Rune Kingdom?”

A Severe Case of Negligence!

Seventeen Gentlemen and Ladies Affected, Suffering Severe Shock, Admiral Amilus Injured!

The Aurora Society Claims Responsibility for the Incident!

Wanted: Murderer, Reward of 200,000 Pounds!

The newspaper, still smelling of fresh ink, featured an enlarged portrait on a prominent spot, taking up nearly a third of the page.

Xiu couldn’t help but sigh as she read the paper, "When did Barkeland’s law and order become so chaotic that members of secret organizations dare to assassinate an ambassador?"

The death of an ambassador could be insignificant or it could shake the entire Northern Continent, depending on whether Intis decided to make an issue out of it.

But this was an excuse that could be exploited. Intis could claim the moral high ground, making any future war seem more justified.

Although the relations between the two countries hadn’t deteriorated to the point of war, the initiative being in the hands of the other party would make the Rune Kingdom feel threatened, leading to a series of consequences.

Thinking about this, Xiu had a premonition of impending storms.

Lu Ke rolled his eyes, remaining noncommittal, "The members of the Aurora Society are indeed fanatically devoted to their deity. The Secret Pray and Divine Singer pathways have strong brainwashing abilities, and nine out of ten are fanatics. Be cautious if you encounter them."

Xiu had become busier than ever since ascending to the rank of Constable.

While Arbiters passively wait for disputes to be brought to them, Constables must proactively maintain order in their jurisdiction.

"I know, don’t worry about me."

Xiu smiled and touched the Hairpin on her head, "With the Sealed Artifact you gave me, even if I can’t fight, I can always run."

The light-footed movements and invisibility of a Witch, along with the Mirror Doppelganger, were all practical survival skills.

Thinking about this, she couldn’t help but imagine, "The murderer in the newspaper has a bounty of 200,000 pounds. If I encountered him..."

Arbiters from Sequence 8, Constables, possess exceptional investigative abilities, able to remember anyone they’ve seen. In their jurisdiction, these abilities are even more pronounced, making them highly effective in tracking and capturing criminals.

Lu Ke’s interest was piqued. A living ambassador was worth only five pounds, but dead, his value skyrocketed to 200,000 pounds. Ambassadors really were good investments.

"What would you do if you encountered him?"

Xiu answered matter-of-factly, "Of course, I’d catch him and claim the reward. 200,000 pounds!"

Lu Ke shook his head with a smile, "A criminal worth 200,000 pounds isn’t someone you can easily catch."

He paused, "But I could pretend to be that criminal tonight, then you could catch him. Well... you might also be caught by the criminal and subjected to all sorts of humiliation."

"..."

The novel idea made Xiu’s face turn red. She bit her lip and gave Lu Ke a glare, not saying whether she agreed or not. She hastily said, "I’m going out", and ran out.

A few seconds later, the sound of the door closing echoed from outside.

"You know each other so well, I’m just giving you a chance to digest."

Lu Ke muttered. If Xiu, as a Constable, caught him after he had committed a serious crime, the Magic Potion would be instantly digested.

He didn’t mind making a small sacrifice for Xiu.

As for Xiu’s opinion, despite her apparent embarrassment, the 1.5-meter-tall girl who was always on edge found such matters quite enjoyable. Whenever he made overly demanding requests, she would initially respond with reserve, but once things started, she would be exceptionally cooperative.

Lu Ke lay back on the bed, basking in the sunlight and resting. For a while, he focused on his rest.

During this time, his covert infiltration team had advanced from Lari Baron to the more modest Barons, then to the slightly better-off Barons, and recently to some of the less fortunate Viscounts.

But going further up the ranks was too risky.

Those influential nobles, the Earls, Dukes, and Marquises with vast wealth and connections, were likely to be monitored by members of the "Psychokinesis Alchemy Society", particularly by the Spectators.

If Lu Ke relied on his high standing to forcefully conquer, the Spectators operated with a subtle, almost imperceptible influence.

Many Spectator-path adepts didn't actively manipulate the mental plane; they only needed words and slight suggestions to stir the winds, sway the tides, and alter the course of events.

Unless absolutely necessary, Lu Ke wasn’t eager to face the pinnacle of the Spectator pathway, the Angel King Adam, who had inherited a facet of the Ancient Sun God’s divinity.

At least not at this stage.

Lu Ke shook his head, temporarily setting aside his control over the situation and focusing on enhancing his strength.

The spoils of this assassination were substantial. Beyond the guaranteed "Magician" Extraordinary Trait, he also acquired the "Hunter" pathway's Extraordinary Traits from Sequence 9 to Sequence 6, and a "Lawbringer" Trait from the "Arbiter" pathway at Sequence 4.

The "Lawbringer" Trait wasn't a perfect fit for him, and Xiu was still some distance from reaching Sequence 4. For now, it could be sealed as an artifact. As for the Sequence 6 Trait, he was more inclined toward the "Joyful Witch."

The "Conspirator" pathway aligned well with his planned actions, but without advancing the process, he could only passively absorb it. The "Joyful Witch", however, would be a smooth and enjoyable experience. If the pleasure from his counterparts in other worlds counted, the "Joyful Witch" Trait would be a delight to integrate, even without the digestion process, it would still be immensely satisfying.

Lu Ke's heart raced with excitement. With the "Secret Art Master" Trait at Sequence 5 also being a smooth integration, he was now ready to prepare for the Sequence 4 Extraordinary Trait, which would grant him divinity.

After becoming a demigod, he would be able to carry a qualitatively different amount of power from his original self, and in times of crisis, he could serve as a temporary divine vessel.

Hmm... A Sequence 4 divine vessel. Even though this body was separated from his original, it was still unique but not sturdy enough to be reliable. At Sequence 3, however, it would be more controllable. If he became an angel, he would truly be a qualified divine vessel.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Ke set up a Spiritual Energy Wall, then retrieved a mysterious substance with a pinkish aura.

The "Joyful Witch" Extraordinary Trait!

"Can't go wrong with this."

Lu Ke, with a sense of ritual, poured himself a glass of red wine, mixed in the "Joyful Witch" Trait, and drank it all in one go.

After a brief moment of stillness, Lu Ke felt a searing pain as a force began to alter his body from the inside out.

He walked to the mirror and saw his black short hair growing wildly, quickly passing his shoulders. It then seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, floating and extending in all directions.

The hair grew more and more, becoming denser and longer, gradually becoming ethereal, quickly filling the area enclosed by the Spiritual Energy Wall, like a primeval forest made of fine threads.

His body began to shrink inward, his robust male bones reshaping into a feminine form. His already pale skin took on a sticky sheen, his features softening, and female characteristics began to emerge while the masculine ones faded.

The figure in the mirror suddenly became hazy and indistinct, as if something was trying to form but couldn't take shape. As the Extraordinary Trait was fully integrated, the mirror began to crack.

The cracks spread rapidly, and with a final "crack", the mirror shattered into pieces, scattering helplessly around the room.

Lu Ke mused, "The Mirror Person, huh?"

The Witch pathway, starting from the Witch stage, creates a "Mirror Person" in the Mirror World governed by the "Primordial Witch", a being that mirrors the original self.

The "Mirror Person" has a deep mystical connection with the original and is the source of the Witch's "Mirror Doppelganger." Each death is replaced by the "Mirror Person."

However, this time, it seemed that Lu Ke's high position and representation of the "Unknown" made the Mirror World unable to replicate him.

...

Barkeland, St. Hilran Cathedral.

Ikonser Bernard, with his sharp and clear features, twitched his lips and covered his face, glaring at his colleague who was repeatedly apologizing.

"Can you please stop agreeing to use this sealed artifact on my behalf without consulting me!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but I didn't really contribute much at the scene. Generalists are not very combat-effective in the early stages, you know. I wanted to make amends..."

"Your way of making amends is to have me use a sealed artifact for you?"

"I'm sorry."

The "Astromancer" sincerely apologized, "How about this: I'll be your Spectator and keep any information Arrodes asks confidential."

"That's what you should be doing anyway."

Ikonser took a deep breath, then retrieved an ancient silver mirror with intricate patterns. On each side of the mirror were eye-like decorations, their black gemstone bases giving them a deep, mesmerizing appearance.

"Respected Arrodes, my question is, who killed Ambassador Barkland?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end