Chapter 379: Proclaim My Name

Chapter 379: Proclaim My Name

The illusory gate opened, and a flood of Extraordinary Traits emerged—some floating in mid-air, some barely visible, and others radiating various hues of light. The room was bathed in a strange, ethereal glow.

"What a bountiful harvest."

Lu Ke looked at the pile of Extraordinary Traits on the ground and a smile spread across his face.

As a naturally living Unique, Amon had a strong affinity for aggregation. Furthermore, He was accustomed to parasitic infection, using the abilities of a Thief and His own peculiar traits to consume various supernaturals as snacks over the course of thousands of years. The number of Extraordinary Traits He possessed was staggering.

Even just the avatar in Barkeland had accumulated an impressive amount.

Lu Ke swatted away the paw of Fugan's Hound, which had stealthily reached for the Trickster Mage's Extraordinary Trait. He then began a quick inventory of the spoils.

Two Sequence 3 Deception Masters from the Thief pathway, five Sequence 4 Parasites, three Sequence 4 Mystic Mages from the Apprentice pathway, and four Sequence 4 Trickster Mages from the Seer pathway.

The Sequence 4 Extraordinary Traits from other pathways were mostly one or two each, with the Fate pathway having none. The number of Extraordinary Traits below the Demigod level was even greater.

"It seems that supernaturals with good luck have a much lower chance of encountering Amon."

Lu Ke commented sincerely.

Supernaturals from the Fate pathway were arguably the most relaxed among the twenty-two Divine pathways. They had no adjacent pathways to contend with, and their ascension only required competition within the same pathway, with the ritual for divinity being a matter of waiting for luck.

Their strong luck allowed them to follow their instincts in any situation, avoiding most dangers and even finding unexpected opportunities.

Lu Ke stroked his chin. "The Key of Light seems quite useful, but its compatibility with me is only average. Stian would be a good fit, but he's not on the Fate pathway..."

Upon reflection, his luck had always been ordinary. Did the golden finger not include luck?

No, no, no. Having a shared space as a golden finger was already a significant advantage. In a web novel, it would likely make him the protagonist!

Lu Ke glanced at the pile of Extraordinary Traits on the ground, securing the ones from Demigods and above. He then clenched his hand, and a dreamy light appeared in his palm.

A flintlock appeared in Lu Ke's hand, and without hesitation, he struck it three times. Three dogs emerged, their bodies shimmering with copper, silver, and gold, each progressively larger and existing in a state between the ethereal and the physical.

"Go."

Lu Ke pointed, and the three dogs understood his command. They nodded obediently, each swallowing a Sequence 4 Extraordinary Trait from the Spectator, Apprentice, and Arbiter pathways, before running off in different directions and vanishing into the air.

He then pressed his palm down, and the surroundings grew dark and profound. He recited in ancient Hermetic:

"Chase the knowledge, Holy Spirit;"

"Lighthouse of the mystic world;"

"Eye that peeks into fate;"

"King of the seas;"

"Pure and holy Bernadette Gustav!"

A few seconds later, the apartment on Narcissus Street transformed into an enchanted forest, with dozens of massive pea vines hanging down. The Mystic Queen, Bernadette, wearing a yellow-brown coat, knee-high leather breeches, and black boots, materialized in the air.

"What do you want?"

Bernadette's gaze swept over the Demigod-level dogs lying on the ground. Her tone was indifferent, but her eyes held a hint of wariness.

Lu Ke felt a bit hurt, his eyebrows drooping in a heartbroken manner. "Is it really necessary to be so defensive? I wouldn't harm you."

Bernadette averted her eyes, remaining silent, but her thoughts were clear.

It is very necessary!

The "Uncle Lu" before her still vividly remembered the harm he had inflicted on her a few days ago. The only Sealed Artifact she had left was the Pale Death, a Sequence 1 item from the Gravekeeper or Death pathway.

Lu Ke sighed in resignation and retrieved an Extraordinary Trait of a Mysticologist.

"Here, take this to replace what you lost."

Bernadette stared at the Extraordinary Trait with its dreamlike sheen, surprised that Lu Ke had obtained a new Mysticologist Extraordinary Trait in just a few days.

She hesitated, then slowly shook her head.

"No need. Since you already took that Extraordinary Trait, you don't have to give me another one."

As a Seer who had fully digested the Magic Potion, losing a Sequence 4 Extraordinary Trait did have an impact, but it wasn't significant. Besides, she had ways to find another Mysticologist Extraordinary Trait.

Bernadette hoped to maintain a pure professional relationship with Lu Ke. Instinctively, she was not very keen on having too much interaction with this "Uncle Lu."

Because Lu Ke reminded her a lot of her father.

Equally enigmatic and powerful, both giving a sense of security, even their mannerisms and habits when conversing shared many similarities, after all, they came from the same place.

This made Bernadette, who had always admired her father, feel quite positively about him. However, she still refused to have too much interaction with Lu Ke.

A person who resembled her father in every way would inevitably have the same lack of restraint in matters of the heart.

On this, she was absolutely certain!

Lu Ke did not retract his hand, sighing with a smile, "Alright, take it. Only when you become a Sequence 2 Angel and attain sufficient rank will you know everything."

Although the absence of a Sequence 4 support would not have a significant impact, it would still increase the risks during the ascension. Even though the approaching end times made ascension easier, it was always better to be as stable as possible.

"I can't ascend in the short term."

Although she yearned to know the truth immediately, at her level, ascension was not something to be taken lightly.

The "Sage" Extraordinary Trait was still in Lu Ke's possession, and she had yet to prevent a disaster involving higher-level forces, which was part of the ascension ritual for a "Sage."

"Once I ascend to 'Sage,' I will quickly bring you a new 'Sage' Extraordinary Trait."

Lu Ke smiled, having a good idea of what she was thinking.

Once he became an Angel and a solid vessel for divine descent, he would certainly elevate the "Hidden Sage", thereby obtaining a sufficient number of "Mysticologist" pathway Extraordinary Traits.

"As for the ritual, you don't need to worry too much. Tinggen will soon face a disaster. Once it erupts, everyone in the city will die. Preventing this event will fulfill the ascension ritual."

Tinggen will face a disaster?

If the entire city would die before official rescue efforts could arrive, it suggested a very brief and catastrophic event, likely caused by an Angel or higher-level entity.

Bernadette frowned, "An Angel would descend in such a small city?"

Lu Ke stroked his chin, speaking calmly, "There is an unborn offspring of an evil god... although this won't be a significant threat. If it is born, it will likely be a Sequence 3, though there's a chance it could be a Sequence 2. However, an accident will definitely occur in the process."

"Definitely?"

Bernadette detected the certainty in Lu Ke's tone.

"Yes, definitely."

Lu Ke nodded, confirming his statement. "There is also a 'Writer' Sealed Artifact here, Alleskhod's Pen, Code 0-08. You should understand the capabilities of a 'Writer.' Additionally..."

He paused, gazing into the distant horizon, "Just ignoring my insignificant arrangements is not enough to gain friendship. That person will likely arrange something I want, which could make the situation more dangerous."

The cryptic words made Bernadette recall the "predictions" she made while playing the role of a "Seer." She pursed her lips and changed the subject.

"I previously foresaw a disaster in Barkeland, but the entire fate changed dramatically and became unclear afterward."

"Indeed, due to my actions, some events have become difficult to occur, while others are now happening sooner."

Considering that the role of a "Sage" was to maintain social stability and prevent disasters, Bernadette continued to ask, "Which disaster is more severe, Barkeland or here?"

"The one in Barkeland."

Lu Ke answered straightforwardly, observing Bernadette for a moment before shaking his head.

"If you could prevent the disaster in Barkeland, the 'Sage' will be fully integrated. However, I doubt you will be able to participate in, let alone prevent, that disaster."

Bernadette's brows furrowed involuntarily, "Are you referring to my current state, or after I become an Angel?"

"Doesn't matter."

Hearing this, Bernadette's pupils contracted, and she fell silent.

She possessed the "Pale Death" and could even briefly engage in combat with a Sequence 1 Archangel after becoming an Angel. If this level of power still couldn't qualify her for the battlefield...

"Stay in Tinggen for now. This way, you can respond most promptly when the disaster approaches."

"Alright."

Bernadette replied succinctly and firmly.

Lu Ke cleared his throat, his gaze sincere, "By the way, this apartment has an extra room. You can stay here. In case of emergencies, we can support each other."

Bernadette: "..."

"I'm purely doing this for safety, really. I swear by my character!"

The answer was obvious.

Bernadette thought to herself, her voice soft as she replied, "I'll rent a place nearby. In case of emergencies, you can invoke my honorific name."

Before her gentle voice faded, her figure had already vanished from the spot, along with the room's abnormalities.

"Escaped so quickly."

Lu Ke clicked his tongue and looked at the dog lying on the ground, "Do you think she just didn't feel it was necessary, or was she questioning my character?"

Fugan's Hound buried its head, not daring to answer.

At that moment, a deep red appeared before his eyes—it was three o'clock in the afternoon.

...

Inside the grand palace that seemed to belong to a giant, a gray mist enveloped the air. The long bronze table was ancient and weathered, as if it had remained unchanged for millions of years.

Lu Ke appeared at the Huwu Zhi Shang, just like the previous times, seeing Klein sitting at the top, exuding an air of mystery.

Two familiar figures also appeared beside him around the same time.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

The tall, blonde Aurelia spoke with a light tone, lifting her skirt slightly as she greeted everyone, just as she usually did.

Lu Ke leisurely admired the graceful and delicate figure of the young girl. When she turned to him, her posture stiffened, and her tone became less natural.

"G-Good afternoon, Mr. Emperor."

"Good afternoon, Miss Justice."

Lu Ke smiled and waved, his voice rising in a pleasant tone.

Even through the gray mist, the familiar presence made Aurelia involuntarily recall the recent intimate and suggestive dance, and the intimate actions they shared in the closed bud.

Those actions, which even married couples might not have experienced, completely surpassed Aurelia's imagination. The memories flooded back, overwhelming her with shame and discomfort, causing her to hastily turn away and avert her gaze.

Klein, sitting at the top, observed the two of them with a clear view, his mind screaming in disbelief.

What a show!

Miss Justice is being way too obvious. Even a regular person like me can see it.

How did a friendly chat with Mr. Emperor escalate to this point? Although I did once joke that the gray mist space seemed like an online dating platform...

Did the nature of the Tarot Club change from a penguin to an otter?

The usual members presented the Emperor of Roselle's notes, and Klein quickly scanned through them, only to find that most of the content was about the Emperor's romantic history.

Noble ladies, the taste of witches, the Count of Champagne—there was a lack of useful information.

The only somewhat useful part was the more detailed explanation of Mr. The Door, who had been mentioned before but not described in detail.

It seemed this powerful being was exiled to the stars and could only communicate briefly during a full moon. He had also tempted the Emperor of Roselle to perform a complex ritual to summon him.

Klein sighed inwardly, feeling that all this seemed too distant from him. Although it was valuable, it couldn't be quickly converted into tangible benefits.

His fellow townsman was already a Sequence 7 middle-tier powerhouse!

But he had only been here for less than a month, so he wasn't in a rush.

"Next, it's time for casual conversation. Feel free to start."

After finishing his reading, Klein leaned back in his chair, feigning a deep and mysterious tone, waiting to gather information.

Algy, who usually had a low presence, was the first to speak. He took a deep breath and bowed to Lu Ke in gratitude.

"Mr. Emperor, thank you very much for your help!"

"Chilings has been confirmed dead. The false murderer was a canine of the Demon pathway, which has been successfully killed by the Punishers. Your work was flawless."

"Is there anything I can do for you as a return?"

His tone was grateful and respectful, his emotions genuine, but he had his own plans.

Mr. Emperor's strength was unquestionable, and compared to Mr. Fool, who was so high-level that he didn't care about anything, it was easier to approach him.

If he could use "repayment" as a reason to help Mr. Emperor, he would establish a mutual benefit. As a member of the Tarot Club, he wouldn't be deliberately targeted, and he might even gain divinity in the future!

Lu Ke had intended to refuse but suddenly remembered something and changed his mind.

"There is indeed something you can help with."

Algy's spirits lifted. "Please tell me!"

Lu Ke smiled warmly. "You are from the Church of Storms, right?"

Caught off guard, Algy was initially startled, his mind racing with various thoughts. But considering he was planning to establish a connection with Mr. Emperor, he steeled himself and admitted it.

"Yes, I belong to the Church of Storms as a Captain."

Lu Ke nodded. "After the Tarot Club meeting, find someone who isn't from Barkeland, an 'outsider,' and have them shout 'Leodoro' at the entrance of the Church of the Lord of Storms."

"Leodoro?"

Algy was taken aback. "This... is a name?"

"The name of the Lord of Storms."

Lu Ke smiled and calmly added, "Yes, remember not to say it out loud in the real world after leaving here, or you might get struck by lightning."

Algy's eyes widened, his mouth slowly opening.

A... a divine name?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end