Chapter 373: Brothers
Chapter 373: Brothers
After thoroughly toying with Arrodes, Lu Ke felt in a good mood as he dispelled the "Magic Mirror."
When the connection was severed, the ancient and ornate yet cracked Mirror slowly faded away.
He lay in bed, reviewing the scenes he had seen in the mirror, with a vague conjecture forming in his mind.
By having Zilinger, who was originally tasked with assassinating the Duke of Nigen, arrive and die in such an obvious and direct manner, without any counter-divination, it was clearly meant for others to see.
The Dreamer's ascension ritual involved guiding the course of history to align with one's own predictions, and then, at a critical juncture, consuming a Magic Potion within the predetermined tide of the era.
Initially, Adam needed time to push and influence the ritual's completion, but now it seemed he had changed the direction of the tide, starting the ritual early and, in the process, extending a gesture of goodwill to him.
Whether this conjecture was correct needed to be verified.
Lu Ke's eyes flickered with a stream of light, and his body turned transparent, as if he had ascended to a higher dimension to observe. He had a batch of pawns that were not very useful but could still serve a minor purpose.
The entire Backlund unfolded before his eyes, with dozens of bright lights scattered across the landscape, each representing a person.
These were the noble servants whose souls he had modified to instill absolute loyalty!
Given the high-Sequence powerhouses of the Royal Family and the Military Intelligence Bureau, as well as the members of the Psychic Alchemists hidden among the upper class, he had always kept these servants restrained, preventing them from taking any unnecessary actions and only choosing low-profile, low-status colleagues to develop.
Now, perhaps it was time to relax a bit.
Lu Ke extended his hand, and a blue aura blossomed in his palm as he began to remotely modify the "base commands."
...
At the same time.
In the Queens District, the North District, and the Hilton District—regions known for their economic prosperity and the concentration of many nobles and tycoons.
In the elegantly decorated and opulent villas and mansions, during the glittering and lively balls where glasses clinked and lights shone, a small number of well-dressed gentlemen paused for a second before resuming their normal activities.
They all heard the same voice in their ears.
"Try to avoid the Royal Family and the military. Barons and Viscounts need not worry about exposure."
"Start infiltrating the household guards, servants, and slaves, as well as the lower-ranking civil servants, union leaders, trade company employees, and the media that control public opinion."
"Act covertly and develop your network as quickly as possible."
The irresistible command fell, and the gentlemen in their tailored suits smiled in perfect harmony, their gazes meeting with their colleagues in the room.
Then, they smiled kindly and gently, inviting their friends to rest privately, leading them step by step into separate private rooms or lounges.
When they emerged, the atmosphere among them was noticeably more harmonious.
Immediately, the next round of invitations began.
...
Feeling the light points spreading virally, Lu Ke nodded slightly, his body returning to its original form, and the light in his eyes fading.
He waited a while to see the results. If a large-scale infection did not cause any issues, these pawns would become more useful, and he could confirm Adam's goodwill.
If something went wrong, it would mean that Adam, even if not an enemy, was at most neutral and would not choose to stand by his side, adding another potential adversary to consider.
Having completed this task, Lu Ke slowly exhaled, lay back on the bed, and began to think about the next steps.
As a former reader and now the "Last One",
he possessed knowledge of the ten Outer Gods beyond Earth, the three Great Extraordinary Laws, the twenty-two Paths and their associated knowledge, as well as some knowledge of the Outer Gods' Paths and various secrets. The "Mysticologist" naturally digested all this information the moment he entered, ready to advance to Sequence 3 at any time.
On the surface, he was at Sequence 4, but he was very close to his godhood.
The Sequence 3 "Ancient Scholar" he planned to take, with knowledge of almost all secrets from the First Epoch to the Fifth Epoch, and even some secrets before the First Epoch, was destined to be easily assimilated.
Then, he could advance to Sequence 2 as a "Sage", becoming an Angel.
The transition from mid-Sequence to Demigod was a qualitative leap, and from Demigod to Angel was another.
This meant he would become a solid vessel for divine descent, able to sustain the power of his true form for extended periods due to his perfect alignment and robust vitality and regenerative abilities, making him nearly as powerful as a true god.
The tricky part was the role-playing as a "Sage."
Making accurate prophecies, preventing various disasters, and maintaining social stability and peace were at odds with his plans to incite war.
Although the new nation and Order he would establish later could certainly digest the "Sage", there would be no progress in digesting the Extraordinary Trait until the results were in.
So, either he needed to create a sufficiently significant event to avert the disaster before the war began, or he could directly consume the predetermined Sequence 1 "Conqueror" without fully digesting the "Sage."
Or, he could choose not to use the "Sage's Headband" already in his possession and look for other Sequence 2 Extraordinary Traits that could be digested quickly?
Lu Ke furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment before deciding to seek advice for reference.
He raised his hand and pressed into the air, and the room's lighting suddenly dimmed.
"Godess of the Night, higher than the stars, more ancient than eternity, Mistress of Crimson, Mother of Secrets, Empress of Calamity and Terror, Lady of Sleep and Silence."
A few seconds later, Lu Ke felt a stir in his Spiritual Energy. He slowly closed his eyes and once again saw the hidden realm.
The palace was still dim and dilapidated, the massive stone throne still present. A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, gradually becoming clearer.
The figure was female, wearing layered yet not overly complex dark black robes, adorned with what seemed like a constellation of stars. Two arms grew from her ribs and waist, covered in deep black fur.
"What do you need?"
The "Goddess of the Night" spoke softly, her tone calm and serene.
Lu Ke briefly repeated his thoughts about the choice of Sequence 2.
The "Goddess of the Night" listened quietly and, once Lu Ke finished, slowly spoke:
"Is there any other Sequence 2 Extraordinary Trait that you can digest quickly?"
"No."
The corner of the "Goddess of the Night's" mouth curved slightly.
"I have an extra 'Secret Servant' Extraordinary Trait. If you are willing to cooperate, this Extraordinary Trait can be digested quickly."
Many of the Sequence 2 and Sequence 1 Traits are those of divine servants, while the remaining ones are either fraught with hidden dangers, require a significant investment of time and energy, or bring large-scale disasters.
Because he was unwilling to choose those, he had asked Bernadette for the "Sage's Headband."
Hearing this suggestion, Lu Ke sneered, "What a coincidence, I also think you would be a suitable target for digesting the 'Conqueror' Extraordinary Trait. Conquering a deity should certainly be enough to digest a mere Sequence 1 Extraordinary Trait."
"That is also a method."
"Hmm?"
Lu Ke looked slightly surprised at the projection of the "Goddess of the Night", "You just said..."
The "Goddess of the Night" spoke calmly, "Thoroughly digesting the current Sequence's Extraordinary Trait is to prevent the mental influence of the current Sequence while accommodating the next one, which is already dangerous."
"If you can start the next Sequence's role-play in advance and digest enough to maintain soul stability at the moment of consuming the Extraordinary Trait, it's not impossible to take it early."
Lu Ke stroked his chin, "Is this an example you learned from Stiano?"
The God of Steam and Machinery, Stiano, had ascended to the "God of Craftsmanship" while still in an unstable state, before fully digesting the Sequence 1 "Civilization Enlightener."
The "Goddess of the Night" nodded lightly, her voice serene:
"Yes, but the risk is much greater than a normal ascension. Stiano was indeed very lucky to make it through that stage, and it also helped that our fellow countryman was there to assist."
Lu Ke nodded slightly, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "So, are you willing to be conquered by me?"
The massive figure in the darkness leaned forward slightly, revealing a blurry, beautiful face and a body with a unique allure.
"I don't mind being in close contact with you, but if your intention is to complete the conquest through that, the result might disappoint you."
"The 'Conqueror's' conquest is a mental and physical forced conquest. It's relatively easy to digest when you already possess this Extraordinary Trait, but it's more challenging to do so in advance."
Not to mention that the opponent is a deity.
Lu Ke's eyebrows twitched, about to say that one couldn't know without trying, when he suddenly saw eyes glimmering in the darkness.
Those eyes were filled with tranquility and peace, calmness and detachment. They shone with the light of wisdom and the gentleness of acceptance, but they showed little interest in worldly desires.
It seemed to say clearly, "I’m not interested in you."
Recalling the other party’s words of “adequate” last time, Lu Ke felt a bit provoked.
He walked over with a stern face, his body emitting a dreamlike glow that rapidly grew, transforming him into a giant figure straight out of a fairy tale.
The "Goddess of the Night" cast her gaze, and the surrounding fog grew thicker, bringing the highest level of "Secrecy." The black tide silently engulfed everything within the Secret Realm, plunging everything into darkness.
In the darkness, their voices echoed faintly.
"The best way to assume the role of the 'Conqueror' is to defeat a god or a being close to one."
A soft, gentle female voice rang out, and Lu Ke felt a pair of hands cup his cheeks, caressing them.
"Even if you can’t make Them fully submit, the fear and dread generated from being defeated still represent a form of conquest."
He neither agreed nor disagreed, "Are you encouraging me to challenge a true god at Sequence 2?"
Heat and cold mingled, a moist sensation rippling between their bodies, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.
"It doesn’t have to be a true god, the King of Angels would suffice. With your core’s support, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. That’s my guess."
Sensing that the other party was trying to pry information from him, Lu Ke stood up with his eyes closed, avoiding the question.
"I’m not sure how much strength I can replace. Perhaps I can contribute during the ceremony to become a god, with your and the steam’s assistance."
"If… if you can accommodate a portion of the Source."
Lu Ke responded absentmindedly, "I’d like to, but at the Angel level, it might not be possible. After all, it’s one of the three pillars, sealed by the 'Master of Mysteries.'"
The gentle voice paused, "The barrier of the 'Master of Mysteries' and the barrier of the 'First One' are quite different. Perhaps… you… can give it a try."
"I’m already trying."
Lu Ke wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Did you recruit Stiano?"
"Only after you sent over the Usb drive did I communicate with him. You should have… informed me in advance. This is too… too dangerous. Knowledge alone can’t completely turn him."
"Right!"
Lu Ke grunted, "I know. Those were just lures. I have something irrefutable in my possession."
He still had the mark of the "Hidden Sage", which was what Stiano truly desired, but the other party hadn’t asked for it then, and he hadn’t mentioned it either.
"What is it?"
"Let’s talk about it next time. My consultation is over. Don’t worry about anything else."
...
The next day.
Lu Ke woke up early and announced to the yawning Fols that he was leaving Barkeland.
Still half-asleep, Fols nodded indifferently, only to realize a few minutes later, her face full of surprise.
"Leaving Barkeland? Where are you going?"
"Back to Tingen City."
Lu Ke shrugged, "I’ve finished most of what I needed to do here."
Initially, he planned to digest a Sequence 7 "Magician" Extraordinary Trait, but the number of Extraordinary Traits here far exceeded those in the remote Tingen, and he inadvertently reached Sequence 4.
Fols frowned, thinking for a while before recalling that the Wild Man had indeed mentioned coming here for a vacation.
"Do you need me to go back with you?"
"You can stay here. No one will bother you, and I’ll be back soon."
Fols, who had initially wanted to go with him, heaved a sigh of relief, "What about Xiu? Should I inform her and have her see you off at the station?"
"No need. I’m not taking a train, and she might still be angry. I have other arrangements for her."
Fols nodded, looking at Lu Ke with a hint of reluctance, "Leaving now?"
Lu Ke smiled and tousled her hair, "You seem a bit more childish now, lacking the mature and composed demeanor you had when we first met."
"Maintaining that demeanor in front of you and Xiu is unnecessary."
Fols wrapped her arms around Lu Ke’s shoulders, preparing to give him a farewell kiss.
"Shouldn’t you be writing?"
Fols: ...
Hearing the thuds of the writer’s footsteps as she left, Lu Ke shook his head with a smile.
He pursed his lips and took out a golden, water-pot-shaped lamp from his pocket.
Without hesitation, Lu Ke gently caressed the lamp, and the wick ignited silently.
The light it emitted was like thick, flowing water, rising up and forming a blurry, distorted figure of pale gold.
(End of Chapter)
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