Chapter 96: War of the Gods
As the card game progressed, Zhou Ning discovered something interesting: he could not only use his Observation Haki to get a rough sense of his opponents' cards, but his proficiency with the skill was also improving rapidly.
If a person's character was revealed by their gambling habits, Zhou Ning felt he was shaping up to be an unforgivable sinner.
As a result, everyone at the table "sat in jail" for nearly forty minutes, a perfect demonstration of uncomfortable silence. It wasn't until around 6:30 p.m., when the party reached its peak, that they were finally "released" from the game.
The noble girls didn't seem to mind their loss. Several of them, including Sabrina and Zora, crowded around Zhou Ning, chattering excitedly about the game and Evan Huggins, the famous magic-ball star from Darkland.
The room was kept warm by a gas heater, so the young ladies were all dressed in light, airy gowns. The combination of their delicate perfumes and rustling silk was soft and fragrant. As a man, Zhou Ning wasn't entirely averse to the attention from the beautiful young women, but given the formal occasion, he felt more embarrassed than anything else.
Upon entering the main banquet hall, Zhou Ning saw rows of tables laden with countless delicacies: foie gras, carrots with tarragon, frog legs in sorrel sauce, truffle and guinea fowl pie, and glasses of Misty Sea sparkling wine.
Having not eaten this well in a long time, Zhou Ning had to fight to keep from drooling.
He glanced around and spotted Alan, the chubby boy from earlier, walking in with his father, Vernon West, and several other middle-aged nobles. Using his Observation Haki, Zhou Ning overheard the nobles discussing some rather scandalous romantic affairs. It was the kind of gossip people would pay to hear, and after listening for a moment, even the world-weary Zhou Ning had to tune it out.
By 7:00 p.m., all the guests had arrived. To Zhou Ning's surprise, even Isaac Morton, the patriarch of the Morton family, was present. It seemed the West family's prestige was considerable; not even the Courage family had the courage to refuse their invitation.
While chatting with Alan, Zhou Ning learned that the coming-of-age ceremony for nobles was when they obtained the power of their Clan Precept by communicating with their ancestors, but this ritual had to be conducted privately after the banquet.
After Alan finished his speech, the banquet officially began. Gatherings like this were primarily for socializing, and soon the guests broke off into small groups, chatting happily.
Zhou Ning had no interest in networking, so he picked up a plate and meandered between the tables, helping himself to the various foods.
Since alchemy was so advanced in the world of Apocalypse, there was even a constant-temperature array beneath the serving platters. The food remained perfectly warm and flavorful, allowing Zhou Ning to finally savor the joy of a gourmet meal.
Suddenly, he stopped, his eyes narrowing. He had caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye, standing leisurely at a dining table across the room and chatting with several other nobles.
It was undoubtedly the same nobleman in blue he had seen at the Green Shade Inn.
His brown hair was combed back, revealing a high hairline. He had ice-blue eyes and deep-set wrinkles on his cheeks. He looked exactly like the man in the painting... Forcing himself to remain calm, Zhou Ning avoided looking directly at the man and casually moved to the other side of the table with his plate.
Standing at a distance where he wouldn't be easily noticed, Zhou Ning used his Observation Haki to identify the man and listen in on his conversation, occasionally stuffing some food into his mouth to appear nonchalant.
As he suspected, the nobleman in blue was Baron Rivers—specifically, the current baron, Harrison Rivers.
Finally found you. Zhou Ning took a deep, steadying breath.
At that moment, Harrison Rivers was discussing the Poor Relief Bill Amendment with several other nobles. The House of Lords had just passed the draft, which stipulated that relief recipients must be housed in workhouses and perform hard labor.
Zhou Ning listened for another moment and was about to move away when his focus wavered. When he looked up again, his eyes met Harrison Rivers's across the room. The baron exchanged a few words with the person next to him, then his gaze flicked back to Zhou Ning, a hint of doubt in his eyes. Zhou Ning struggled to maintain a neutral expression.
Maybe this is the downside of becoming famous. Suddenly, everyone's heard your name or knows you through some channel... It's so unscientific.
Turning away casually, Zhou Ning's expression became deadly serious. I'm certain now. The black-robed figure from that night was Harrison Rivers himself. He's powerful, influential, and a close friend of the king. How can I possibly deal with him? Can I leverage the power of the Transcendent Squad or the Church?
From another perspective, did he recognize me as the person he fought? Or does he just know who I am—Wayne Stewell, the one who's disrupted the Curse Cult's plans several times?
Either way, I can't let my guard down. I only have one life...
Maybe I should take the initiative this time?
After the long banquet finally ended, Zhou Ning said goodbye to Alan. He politely refused an aristocratic girl's invitation to stay the night and made his exit.
A light rain had begun to fall. Outside, Zhou Ning saw Harrison Rivers climb into a carriage. Before it departed, the baron lifted the curtain, looked directly at him, and then the carriage galloped away into the night.
Having missed the last public carriage, Zhou Ning had no choice but to hire one, which cost him four roshen.
It was almost ten o'clock when he returned to the dormitory. John was sitting at his desk, concentrating on a set of papers.
Seeing Zhou Ning, John waved him over excitedly. "Wayne! I had a few artists mock up some art for the Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Come take a look."
"Oh? That was fast," Zhou Ning said, walking over curiously. He picked up the illustrations from the table.
John had been remarkably efficient. He had found four different master artists to sketch designs for the Harpy deck. All of them were excellent and full of artistic flair, each with its own unique merits. After studying them for a moment, Zhou Ning chose the one with the largest breasts.
"My exact choice," John said with a chuckle, giving Zhou Ning a thumbs-up.
After chatting with John for a while, Zhou Ning returned to his room and checked the time. It was exactly a quarter past ten. Since he had nothing else to do, he figured he might as well play a game.
He opened the game simulation interface. He only had 7 coins left after his ten consecutive draws earlier. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and spent 530 Victors to recharge 53 coins. He selected the new map, "War of the Gods," and clicked "Crossover!"
[Preparing to travel... Time Travel Coins -60]
[Please select a travel mode...]
[1. Direct Crossover]
[2. Crossover using Parallel World Template]
As usual, he chose the second option to look at the template first. I've invested an unprecedented amount of money this time. I can't afford to be careless.
Chapter 97: Child of Destiny
On the other side of the city, Harrison Rivers's carriage stopped before the underground market in the old quarter. He disembarked, walked to a specific tent, and slipped inside.
The tent was dark. A middle-aged woman in a black pointed hat and a matching robe sat within, wiping a crystal ball by the dim light of a whale oil lamp.
Had Zhou Ning been there, he would have immediately recognized the crystal ball as an unknown wonder.
Harrison Rivers sat down opposite her and pushed a thick stack of bills across the table.
"This is seven hundred Victa. The usual arrangement—I need you to use the crystal ball to look into someone's past."
Harrison paused, placing a few sheets of paper on the table. "This is the person's appearance and known information."
The woman picked up the papers. As she read, her expression soured and she shook her head.
"Are you trying to get me killed? Using the Leopold Crystal Ball consumes my life force. It takes ten days of my life to spy on an ordinary person, let alone a figure of this importance. If his past is too vast or profound, I might lose over a year of my life. The price is far too high."
"Twelve hundred Victa," Harrison countered, his voice intense. "He's just a newly ascended transcendent with no significant background. Don't be so stingy with a year or two of your life. When our Lord arrives, both of us will be granted eternal life," he said, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.
"Fine." The woman reluctantly took the money and locked it away in a drawer.
Then, under Harrison Rivers's watchful gaze, she closed her eyes and began to establish a spiritual connection with the crystal ball.
Within the orb, they first saw Zhou Ning's face—a face that was almost too handsome. Then, time began to flow backward at a dizzying pace. Zhou Ning's casual clothes reverted to the Phoenix battle suit, the scene rewinding through his fight with the black-robed man, then further back to his time at the university...
The vision rapidly rewound to a scene where Zhou Ning was speaking with another person named John. Suddenly, an inexplicable time singularity appeared in the image, a point where the fate of the person on screen would diverge.
For some reason, an ominous premonition washed over the middle-aged woman. Her hands trembled slightly as she caressed the crystal ball.
"This must be it. Go on, look inside!" Harrison Rivers clenched his fists, his face a mask of zealotry.
The woman had no choice. She gritted her teeth, gathered her mental strength, and forced the vision into the time singularity.
The image in the crystal ball began to shift.
It jumped, leaving the main plane of the Apocalypse Continent behind.
They saw a battle within the crystal ball: a figure resembling a clown was fighting a group of steel monsters. They saw countless iron boxes moving along a wide road, skyscrapers standing in neat rows, and in the sky not far away, a great iron bird was taking off...
Three seconds later, the image in the Leopold Crystal Ball went black—a sign that the woman could no longer afford the price it demanded.
No! How is this possible!?
The woman's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Through the Leopold Crystal Ball, she could normally peek into a person's past with ease, but the greater the span of time and space she crossed, the more alarming the cost to her life force.
But this was something else entirely—a direct leap across countless timelines and dimensions.
In that single moment, the woman spat out a mouthful of blood. Her vision went black. In the blink of an eye, her skin wrinkled and cracked like ancient bark.
And still, the Leopold Crystal Ball continued to demand its price.
"No!!!"
It was the last sound she would ever make. In less than three seconds, her entire body crumbled into a pile of fine ash, leaving only a black pointed hat and a black robe lying quietly on the ground.
At that moment, no matter how composed Harrison Rivers was, he could only stare, stunned. He knew the woman would have to pay a price for prying into Wayne Sternwell's past, but he had never imagined it would be so absolute. She had not only paid with her life, but her very soul had been incinerated.
In his dorm room at the University of Wake, Zhou Ning was oblivious to these events, focused instead on preparing for his next time-travel simulation.
He now had a hefty sum of 2,600 Victa, enough to buy a good template should one become available.
He began the process, shuffling the cards. With a flash of bright light, three cards fanned out before him.
The first template was the Spartan warrior, which had appeared twice before. At 15 Time Travel Coins, it was too weak. I'll pass.
The second template showed Zhou Ning in a silver-white wizard robe, juggling three elemental orbs of ice, fire, and electricity.
Talents: Legendary Mage (Gold), Elemental Sensitivity (Purple)
Personality: Curious, Enterprising, Inquisitive
Skills: Ice Spells (Grandmaster), Thunder Spells (Grandmaster), Fire Spells (Master), Elemental Harmony (Grandmaster), Meditation (Master)
Title: Zhou Ning the Prayer
Price: 1200 Time Travel Coins
Too mediocre. No.
The third template depicted Zhou Ning wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a white shirt, and a black suit.
Personality: Strong, Aggressive, Greedy
Talents: Financial Genius (Purple), Business Genius (Purple), Negotiation Master (Purple)
Skills: Finance (Master), Business (Expert), Negotiation (Expert)
Title: Zhou Ning, the Wall Street Tycoon
Price: 50 Time Travel Coins
None of these are what I'm looking for.
[You have chosen Travel Mode 1]
[Please select three of the following ten talents as matching conditions]
1. Child of Destiny (Purple): You are the one and only Child of Destiny. In this world, your luck will increase dramatically.
2. Words of the Elder (Gray): Past the age of seventy, you cannot trust a word you say.
3. Hardcore Ruthless (Blue): Your life will be filled with all kinds of absurd, magical, and hardcore plots.
4. Yin-Yang Master (White): You have a talent for saying things that anger others.
5. Mystery (Blue): No one knows who you are. Your name and origins are all a mystery.
6. Xingtian (Blue): Born without a head, but your strength and combat power far exceed those of ordinary people.
7. Landlord's Foolish Son (Blue): You are quite wealthy in this world, but your intelligence is relatively low.
8. Trendy (Green): You have a good sense of fashion.
9. Attraction (Blue): The initial positive impression of all people in your camp towards you increases significantly.
10. God's Blessing (Purple): You will receive a god's blessing in a world where gods exist.
[Please select!]
Zhou Ning's eyes widened.
The talents this time were excellent. Numbers 1, 9, and 10 were all rare, boosting his confidence considerably.
As for the personal talent slot that each world carried, Zhou Ning decided against choosing Tony Stark this time, instead opting for the "portable grandfather" archetype.
[You have chosen Talent 1, Talent 9, and Talent 10.]
[Match successful. In this parallel world, you are a child of destiny. You possess excellent luck, and everything you do goes smoothly. You are naturally attractive to those around you, and it seems even the gods are watching over you. You own a simple, antique ring, an heirloom you stumbled upon at a street stall.]
[The simulation will end upon your death.]
[Initializing time travel… 1%… 33%… 65%… 95%… Complete.]
[January 5, Year 127: You arrive in a small town. Your initial observations suggest a culture similar to medieval Europe. Using body language, you decide to stay for a while.]
Chapter 98: Crossing the War of the Gods
January 7, 125. Just one day later, you discovered you were no longer on Earth. This new world was filled with signs of the supernatural. Even in this small farming town, a place primarily devoted to pumpkin cultivation, there were many non-human races. You saw elves with beauty that could rival any celebrity and werewolf women who stood a head taller than you, with impressively large busts.
The elf girls are one thing, but those werewolf women are so gorgeous it's almost creepy. I have to tell myself to focus on my career. I'm here to build an empire, not to be a stud!
January 9, 125. Today's entry is about magic and alchemy. You truly are the protagonist. After just two days, you've already learned some fundamental truths about this world: the technological level is comparable to Earth's Middle Ages—incredibly backward—but their alchemy is incredibly advanced. Not only is it used to create potions, but it's also widely applied in everyday life. You've taken a keen interest in it; the techniques remind you of the Potions class from Harry Potter, which you find fascinating.
January 10, 125. While job hunting, you met a kind and lovely elf girl who bore a striking resemblance to Anne Hathaway. It felt like love at first sight. Her family ran a fairly large chain of alchemy shops, and despite the language barrier, you managed to get a job there and settle in for the time being.
January 14, 125. On only your fourth night, you lost your virginity, enthusiastically seduced by the cute elf girl. You spent a wonderful day in bed together, though whether you took her or she took you remains a philosophical question.
January 16, 125. Through pillow talk and continued intimacy, you not only learned the elf girl's name is Louisa, but you also picked up the language of this world. You are in the Kingdom of Byron, which primarily worships Agnes, the goddess of nature and life. Edgeworth, the god of alchemy and craftsmanship, and Servais, the goddess of the sun, are also permitted to be worshipped here, though on a smaller scale. Louisa herself is a follower of the god of alchemy and craftsmanship.
January 19, 125. Today, you met a young knight named Archibald. You hit it off immediately. With his help, you rented a small apartment not far from Louisa's home.
January 21, 125. You spent 15 copper coins on a lottery ticket and won the grand prize of 10,000 gold dragons—a considerable fortune. (Family Wealth +7)
January 22, 125. Now wealthy, and as an ambitious transmigrator, you began thinking about how to bring Earth's technology to this new world. Its backwardness was the perfect opportunity to make your mark. Together with Archibald and Louisa, you opened a small workshop. Your first goal: invent the steam engine. Though not an expert in scientific research, you understood the principles, so replicating one shouldn't be too difficult.
January 24, 125. A strange thing happened today. The ring on your finger spoke. It claimed to house the spirit of a long-deceased great alchemist named Goodwin. He offered to teach you a set of techniques called Life Alchemy, but only if you signed a contract promising to help him craft a new body for his resurrection once you had the materials. You initially refused, but the offer was simply too good to pass up.
February 1, 125. Your first month in this world passed quickly. According to local custom, you must attend a church service on the first day of every month. Though you have no faith, you respected the tradition and accompanied Louisa to the Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmen. The result was shocking. During the service, a holy light descended upon you. You heard the voice of God himself, urging you to be enlightened and awaken your inner wisdom. In a flash, you recalled everything you had ever learned, from physics to chemistry. You gained the specialty: Divine Favor (Elementary).
February 2, 125. You met Chris Pound, the regional bishop of the Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmen. He recognized you as one of the god's favored and offered his support. Your conversation with Chris was eye-opening. This seemingly ordinary old man had lived for over 400 years, yet he was merely a regional bishop, with a hierarchy of at least four or five more powerful figures above him. You felt as though you had just glimpsed the bright future that lay ahead!
February 3rd to February 20th, 125. You were granted access to the vast collection of books in the church library. As you wandered leisurely through the sea of tomes, your soul found a long-lost sense of peace. You also discovered some interesting tidbits, such as the fact that the sun goddess Servais and the goddess of life and nature, Agnes, were sisters. They apparently shared a lover—the god of war, Blomfield—and quarreled often. Could divine beings really get caught up in drama worthy of "A Dream of Red Mansions"? You decided to set aside time each week to read here.
February 12, 125. As a transmigrator armed with knowledge from your past life, how could something as basic as a steam engine pose a challenge? When steam first pushed the turbine blades into slow rotation, even Archibald cried with joy, but you remained perfectly calm.
February - April 125. As you anticipated, the invention of the steam engine spurred great progress in the Kingdom of Byron. In just a few months, you also invented a steam loom and saw both technologies applied in mines and factories. Your fame, along with Archibald's, began to spread to other nations. Perhaps future textbooks would read: Zhou Ning invented the steam engine and led the First Industrial Revolution.
May 125. You began to study Goodwin's Life Alchemy. Upon further research, you were shocked by its sinister potential. You had never imagined it was possible to make people fall in love with you, or to gain superpowers by transplanting animal organs.
Perhaps due to your divine favor, you not only made significant achievements in science, but your skill in alchemy also rose rapidly, reaching the expert level in just a few months. Drawing inspiration from your past life, your memories of Harry Potter, and Goodwin's Life Alchemy, you successfully concocted a Love Potion, an Underwater Breathing Potion, and a Felicity Potion. Though you weren't sure if the latter actually worked, it became a bestseller in Louisa's shop.
Wait... Goodwin's Life Alchemy? A Felicity Potion?
Zhou Ning's focus snapped back to the present. Could this simulated world be the Apocalypse World? If he remembered correctly, Holweg Guy and the Life Alchemy Society were studying Goodwin's work. And two of the four heroes whose names were recorded in history were Louisa and Archibald...
Louisa was the founder of the Alchemy Society in the Apocalypse World, while Archibald, known as the Flame of Justice, founded Wick University.
Zhou Ning also possessed the formulas for the Underwater Breathing Potion and the Felicity Potion. Could he have been the one who left them behind in the simulator? The thought was terrifying.
"Continue the simulation."
May to September 125. With the help of the Church of Alchemy and Craftsmanship, your inventions spread from the Kingdom of Byron to the Kingdom of Falik and the northern Kingdom of Odlo. During these four months, Louisa's shop also boomed. Around this time, Pope Solomon Goss of the Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmanship summoned you to Abbot City, the capital of the Kingdom of Falik. Coincidentally, Archibald and Louisa were also keen to visit, so the three of you decided to set off together.
October 125. You arrived in Abbot City, a massive metropolis in the southwest of the continent, near the Darkland mining area. It is also the headquarters of the Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmen. But after arriving, something you witnessed left you with a deep sense of unease. It seemed the steam engine you created had become a breeding ground for something sinister.
Chapter 99: Before the Dawn
You find yourself in Abbot City, the capital of the Kingdom of Falik. It is a city of textiles and diamonds, but also a city in turmoil. The spread of the steam engine and the shift from cottage industries to factory production has created a massive population of unemployed workers, now reduced to vagrancy. Coincidentally, the Falik Code stipulates that any vagrant who fails to find work within a month can be reported and sentenced to slavery, giving their masters the right to force them to labor with whips and chains. As it says in Das Kapital, capital comes dripping from head to toe, from every pore, with blood and dirt.
Archibald is extremely worried about the situation. A group calling themselves the Curse God Cult has appeared in the city, secretly performing rituals to their ancient deity. The arrival of an Ancient God requires a great sacrifice of death, blood, disease, and hatred—and Abbot City is the perfect breeding ground.
But Goodwin, from within your ring, disagrees. He argues that this is an inevitable part of progress. He claims that across the entire Eastern Continent, especially in Falik, you could point to any city on a map and find the same squalor. Deep down, you are more inclined to agree with Goodwin. Reflecting on the history of your own world, Earth, you feel this painful transition may indeed be inevitable.
Reading this, Zhou Ning became certain that this simulation was set in the distant past of his own world. He hadn't expected to underestimate the Curse God Cult; their bloody war against the world began a thousand years ago. They possess a grim determination, an unwillingness to yield no matter the cost, much like Yi Xiaochuan and Princess Yu Shu.
The corner of Zhou Ning's mouth twitched as he continued to read the simulation log.
On October 12th, 125, while awaiting an audience with the Pope, you, Archibald, and Louisa temporarily go your separate ways. Archibald intends to investigate the followers of the Ancient God, while Louisa gets busy opening an alchemy shop. As for you, while seeking to better understand this world, you have also taken an interest in Goodwin's Life Alchemy. Beyond its more sinister applications of self-modification, the art has other merits. For example, using only blood and herbs, you can create minuscule, wriggling lifeforms. They split, spawn, and die within seconds in a continuous, thriving cycle, giving you the satisfying feeling of playing a sandbox god game. You have obtained Life Alchemy (Intermediate).
A week later, on October 19th, 125, you meet Solomon Goss, the Pope of the Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmen. Were it not for his title, no one would guess he was nearly 500 years old. The transcendents of this world are truly long-lived. With a complex expression, Solomon Goss informs you that Edgeworth, the God of Craftsmen, holds you in high favor and believes you to be the "Son of the Planes." He asks that you use your wisdom to create new inventions and expand the church's influence. In return, you will be rewarded with money, power, and strength. You wonder, Do I really look like someone who can be bought with money and power? Well, as it turns out, he's an excellent judge of character. You absolutely are.
[On November 7th, 125, you meet a new companion, a girl named Jasmine Kronin. She is a priestess of the Sun Goddess and one of the deity's favored. She is exceptionally beautiful, and Archibald begins to pursue her. But there is a complication: she is only sixteen, and she is a beastkin.]
From November 125 to November 126, with the full backing of the Church, you invent lithography, create and improve the screw-cutting lathe, and develop steam-powered ships. You even begin researching steam trains for rapid continental travel. This period is one of smooth progress, and the Church even secures you a noble title. However, there are also darker developments. Archibald's investigation uncovers numerous leads on the Curse God Cult, and your steam engine appears to be a catalyst for unrest. Numerous deaths occur in the western district of Abbot City as workers at several textile mills begin to smash and destroy the new machinery.
[History from your past life tells you there are solutions. If you were the King of Falik, you would turn your gaze to the vast ocean. Opening up new lands could alleviate some of the domestic conflict.]
On January 1st, 127, the first day of your third year in this world, you meet King Augustine IV of the Kingdom of Falik. He is a bloated man who nonetheless possesses a surprising majesty that leaves even a transmigrator like you in awe. Thanks to your inventions and the Church's efforts, you are granted the title of Baron and the right to establish your own noble family.
During the ceremony, a golden holy light descends from the heavens. Blessed by the gods, you learn that you have gained a miraculous power known as a "Clan Motto." From this day forward, as long as you and your descendants adhere to this motto, you will be granted great power.
After a moment of contemplation, you declare your family motto: Knowledge is power. As you do, a bolt of insight flashes through your mind.
[January 127 - December 135: As a result of this public display of divine favor, you begin to attract a growing number of followers. The Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmen gradually surpasses the Church of the Earth to become the dominant religion in the Kingdom of Falik. Your own power grows in tandem.]
You purchase a luxurious estate in Abbot City and hire a highly capable butler, Brock Bradenlaizer.
For the next eight years, your life is one of charmed success, like that of any chosen hero. You marry the stunningly beautiful daughter of a prominent nobleman and have a son and a daughter. Your power continues to grow. Pope Solomon Goss retires, and your old acquaintance, Chris Pond, succeeds him. Louisa becomes the new High Priest, effectively placing the Church of the God of Alchemy and Craftsmen under your control. Your friends have also changed significantly. Archibald is now one of the most powerful knights in Abbot City, favored by the God of Earth. Jasmine has become a devout priestess in the Ascetic Church, though you know she harbors a secret affection for you. Goodwin, however, is the most frustrated of all. You have been too busy to practice Life Alchemy, and his constant complaints are met only with your smiles and reassurances that you'll get to it "next time."
[In addition, you have politically sidelined King Augustine IV, becoming the de facto ruler of the kingdom. On your orders, countless steamships have set out to sea, serfdom has been abolished, and the masses of unemployed artisans have found new work, greatly easing the acute social tensions. You have also secured an alliance with the neutral Ascetic Church. After the new year, you plan to force Augustine IV to abdicate and forge the kingdom of your dreams.]
On January 1st, 136, the first day of the new year, you are assassinated on your way to the palace in a plot orchestrated by royalists, the Curse God Cult, and another unnamed religious sect. Like so many ambitious heroes, you die before the dawn.
You are dead.
The simulation ends.
Summary: A brilliant life. You transformed the world with technology and earned the favor of a god. You were one step away from becoming king and fundamentally changing the world, but you fell at the final hour. Days after your death, the Cult of the Damned orchestrated a mining disaster, sacrificing 2,000 miners at the Dakelan Mine to summon the evil god Nyastra. Your friends managed to seal the god away beneath the mine. They then founded a city on the site, also naming it Dakelan. In your honor, during the subsequent Age of the Four Heroes, Dakelan was nicknamed the City of Tranquility. Despite the controversy surrounding your life, you were remembered as one of history's greatest scientists and one of the ten greatest individuals who changed the world. For reasons unknown, however, your deeds were eventually buried and forgotten by later generations.
Rating: C-
World Exploration: 41.8%.
Because your exploration exceeded 40%, you have been awarded 18 Crossover Coins.
For your significant impact on the world's scientific history, you have been awarded 15 Crossover Coins.
Keep up the good work!
Chapter 100: A Bountiful Harvest
[Your alignment has shifted. Current Alignment: Chaotic Neutral → Lawful Neutral.]
[Simulation complete. Host, please select your reward.]
[1. Randomly obtain three skills and feats acquired during the simulation.]
[2. Randomly obtain three items acquired during the simulation.]
Zhou Ning was speechless.
To be honest, the first half of the simulation had gone perfectly. It felt like destiny itself was on his side. Zhou Ning thought he was playing the part of Emperor Roselle from Lord of Mysteries, or perhaps even Napoleon—a man riding the tides of an era to the pinnacle of power and fortune. But the ending had completely blindsided him. That wasn't Napoleon... that was Dong Zhuo! It was a textbook re-enactment of Dong Zhuo's assassination from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
However, this trip through time had been strangely different from the previous ones. Many details from the simulation corresponded perfectly with reality.
For instance, he had complained in his past life about how the Felixir Potion, Veritaserum, and Aphrodisiac Potion in the game were blatant rip-offs of the potions in Harry Potter; their names, effects, and even the brewing methods were nearly identical. According to the simulator, he—the time traveler—had invented them during this simulation, which finally explained the connection.
Furthermore, he had been one of the four legendary heroes, just as the old woman, Jasmine, had been. Even though he died prematurely and never participated in sealing the ancient god Nyastra, history wasn't a game of mahjong that would be canceled just because one player didn't show up. The other three had simply carried on without him.
Thus, Nyastra was still sealed, and the kingdom of Darklan was still founded, perfectly aligning with the historical record.
This raised a critical question: Did his time travel cause these events, or did it fail to change anything at all? Was he merely an instrument of established history? Because if the outcome of history was predetermined, then it was always fated for four heroes to seal Nyastra and found Darklan. It was always fated for a brilliant scientist to invent the steam engine and trigger the First Industrial Revolution.
So, what would happen if, in the next simulation, I became a Joker-like villain bent on world destruction? How would the ending change then? Would it impact the real world?
The thought filled Zhou Ning with a sense of keen anticipation.
As for the rewards…
It was a simple choice. Zhou Ning selected the first option without hesitation.
[You have chosen option one.]
[You have acquired the feat: Divine Favor (Primary).]
[You have obtained the clan motto: Knowledge is Power.]
[You have acquired the life skill: Life Alchemy (Intermediate).]
[You have obtained a new recipe: Bloodworm Refining.]
A torrent of knowledge flooded his mind. Not only did a new skill and feat appear on his panel, but the previously empty "Clan Motto" section was also instantly filled.
[Divine Favor (Primary)]: Blessed by Edgeworth (the Fallen God of Alchemy and Craftsmen), you possess a faint trace of divine power. Learning ability is greatly increased, experience gained +10%, Spirit +5, and Willpower +5.
[Clan Motto: Knowledge is Power (Not Fully Unlocked)]: Activation phrase: "Knowledge is Power" (mental recitation). Temporarily increases the effectiveness of all skills (excluding life skills) by 40% for 3 minutes. Effectiveness scales with accumulated knowledge. Requirement: Must read at least 2 books daily to maintain and grow its power. Full unlock requires Rank ≥5 and Legendary Level ≥5.
[Life Alchemy (Intermediate)]: A set of alchemical techniques capable of creating life. Use with caution!
Excellent. Zhou Ning let out a satisfied sigh. This feat, Divine Favor, was another elite-tier ability. While it didn't directly boost his combat power, its practical effects were immense—in his opinion, it was just as valuable as his other elite feats.
The clan motto was a complete surprise; it hadn't appeared at all during the simulation. A 40% boost to all skills was powerful enough to elevate an elementary skill to an advanced one, or an advanced skill to the master level. With my epic Vampire Zhou Ning summon card gone, I finally have another powerful trump card.
There was also the new formula for Life Alchemy. Zhou Ning opened it and saw it was for the squirming organisms he had created from blood and herbs in the simulated world. The insects I summoned from the Blood Kingdom using the Book of Blood Sacrifice had the same name. Were they the same thing? The thought was terrifying, and he had little interest in finding out.
Although this simulation had cost him 30 time-travel coins and ended on a sour note, the gains had undoubtedly far outweighed the losses. Zhou Ning was content.
Just then, a long-absent red dot appeared on his taskbar, signaling a completed quest. He opened it and saw that the progress bar for his [Literary Life] quest was finally maxed out at 5000/5000, marked as 'Ready to Claim'.
He clicked to receive the reward.
[You have completed [Hidden Quest: Literary Life (II)]. You received [Random Template Reward Card] x1, 1 Skill Point, and 50,000 Experience Points. A new hidden quest series has been discovered.]
[Random Template Reward Card: Use to receive a random template for permanent use.]
Now this is a real prize! A grin spread across Zhou Ning's face. Unlike the previous temporary templates, this one was permanent and had no restrictions. The possibilities were endless. If I get someone like One-Punch Man, I'll be set for life!
[Accept new hidden quest: Literary Life (Part III)? Yes/No]
He selected 'Yes,' and a new hidden quest appeared in his log.
[Hidden Quest: Literary Life (Part III)]: You have always harbored a dream of becoming an author. Continue to pursue this dream by completing a lifetime reading total of 10,000 books (current progress: 5,000/10,000) across both the real world and simulations.
[Quest Tip: Read ten thousand books, and the words will flow from your pen as if by magic. This is the third step of a long journey. Go forth, future great author!]
[Quest Rewards: Random Reward x1, Gold Skill Point x1, 80,000 Experience Points.]
Of course.
Though he'd expected it, Zhou Ning still felt a headache coming on. The quest literally meant ten thousand books. Now he had another five thousand to get through. God only knew how long that would take.
After taking stock of his gains, Zhou Ning opened his inventory and used the Random Template Reward Card.
[You have used the Random Template Reward Card and received the random template: Ordinary Office Worker Zhou Ning.]
A black light pulsed as the card became three-dimensional, revealing a version of Zhou Ning in a blue suit with a blue and black skull-patterned tie. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and his expression was cold and indifferent as he stared forward.
[Character: Ordinary Office Worker Zhou Ning]
[Personality: Calm, Disciplined, Obsessive-Compulsive, Homebody, Hand Fetishist.]
[Talents: Acting (Blue), Extreme Calmness (Blue)]
[Skills: Killer Queen (Expert), Disguise (Intermediate).]
Zhou Ning: ...
Judging by the skills, this template is quite powerful. But after seeing so many incredible templates, this one just doesn't bring the same thrill of surprise.
Chapter 101: Unexpected Attack
While the Crazy Clown template was likely weaker in pure combat power, Zhou Ning was certain his own current abilities were far less practical, at least before he awakened the 'Loser' trait.
Zhou Ning, having witnessed the previous simulation, knew that combat prowess wasn't everything. A lunatic adept at toying with human nature, completely devoid of a moral compass, was truly terrifying.
It would be incredible if the Crazy Clown had an ability like Killer Queen, Zhou Ning mused. A Crazy Clown with Killer Queen's power would be an apex predator, a character who might even have a shot at killing the vampire version of himself.
I'll test out this template tonight and see what it can do, he decided. Maybe I'll find some unexpected surprises.
His remaining rewards included some unused ordinary skill points. Most players spent them on life skills, which couldn't be improved with experience points alone. However, in the Apocalypse game, ordinary skill points could only upgrade skills below the expert level; anything higher required gold skill points. After some consideration, Zhou Ning decided to save them. He was confident he could get his puppet alchemy to the intermediate level within a day or two, and using the points to jump directly to advanced would be far more cost-effective.
The next morning, Zhou Ning headed to the school library in high spirits. His clan's motto, 'Knowledge is Power,' required him to read at least two books a day. On top of that, he had a hidden quest called 'Literary Life' that also demanded it.
What a coincidence, he thought. It's like everything was arranged just for me.
Today, Zhou Ning's main goal was to find historical books from the Age of the Four Heroes and any information on the ancient Modoric people. The last simulation had piqued his interest in that period of history.
Besides, he found the idea of reading history books that praised his past self rather amusing.
The history section spanned the fourth and fifth aisles, a vast and intimidating collection. Realizing it would be difficult to find what he wanted on his own, Zhou Ning walked back to the entrance and approached the librarian.
"Do you have any historical texts about the Age of the Four Heroes? Or any information about the ancient Modoric people? Anything at all would be helpful."
Only then did Zhou Ning notice that the librarian had changed. A girl with orange hair and patched clothes sat at the desk. He took a quick glance; she was well-endowed and quite beautiful. Wait, isn't that the player-favorite, Chrissy Bradenreiser?
"Shen Ichiro... oh, sorry, old habit," she said, blushing. She quickly turned and went to the card catalog drawers behind her. "This question is free, but I'll have to look it up." She found the drawer labeled "Modoric" in the history section, pulled out a card, and then pointed Zhou Ning toward the shelves.
"There's only one book on the Modoric people: The Customs and Tales of the Old World by Scott Murray. That's in the fourth column, second row. As for the Four Heroes, there are twelve books, but only three are historical texts. With your current authority, you can only borrow one: A Study of Historical Documents of the Four-Hero Period by Edwin Henry. You can find that in the third column, fourth row."
Zhou Ning was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected historical records from that era to be so scarce.
After thanking her, he went to the shelves Chrissy had indicated and retrieved the two books.
Back in his dormitory, he eagerly opened the first one and began to read. A moment later, Zhou Ning frowned. The text was ancient, and more than half the words had faded into illegibility.
Just then, a prompt appeared before his eyes:
[You are currently studying archaeology on your own. Due to your willpower, your proficiency has increased by 2 points (Extreme Calmness +0.2, Divine Favor +1)]
He refocused on the page.
"The Age of the Four Heroes was a time of profound mystery and immense grandeur. Legend has it that during this era, the weather remained stable, and the three seasons still existed: Budding, Growing, and Fruiting... Each season was governed by its own goddess."
"During this period, the gods still favored the human world, and supernatural powers were extremely common. The Four Heroes stood at the pinnacle of these powers, the legendary agents of the gods."
"According to surviving historical records, the steam engine we now use extensively was invented by one of the Four Heroes. Historians generally attribute it to Sir Archibald, the Flame of Justice."
"...As for the names and origins of the Four Heroes, only two have historical records: High Priestess Louisa Wright and Archibald MacLeish, the Flame of Justice. The legends of these two have persisted for nearly 600 years, and even now, the Kingdom of Westfalic still retains the hereditary titles of their descendants."
"Regarding the other two heroes, based on incomplete historical records, one of them was likely assassinated. There are two theories regarding his death in the historical community: treason and blasphemy. It's as if his deeds were suddenly and forcibly erased from history, leaving them shrouded in mystery."
"...So until now, we can only remember them through the statues standing on the banks of the Seton River."
Zhou Ning raised his eyebrows. As expected, nearly all traces of his existence had vanished into the river of time. He was, however, curious about what Jasmine had done.
A muffled voice, Jasmine's, echoed in his mind. "Don't ask me. I don't remember either."
Zhou Ning smiled and didn't press the issue, turning his attention back to the book. He continued reading until his progress bar hit 5002/10000, then finally leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief.
He hadn't found any useful clues in the two books. The section on the Four Heroes was a complete mess; all he learned was that his descendants might be living in the Kingdom of Westfalic. The book about the Modoric people was even less helpful. It only mentioned they were a minority group from the ancient Kingdom of Luins who had a custom of preserving important documents in Modoric Cubes. It also claimed that ancient alchemy originated with them.
The good news, however, was that as soon as he finished reading, another prompt appeared.
[Your proficiency in archaeology has reached 100%, and you have obtained the life skill: Archaeology (Elementary)]
[You have obtained historical fragments x2]
Oh well, he thought. It never hurts to have another skill.
Zhou Ning stacked the books on his desk to be returned the next day. Then, he put on his hat, left the dormitory, and headed for his alchemy laboratory, planning to advance his puppet alchemy to the advanced level in one go.
As he rounded the final corner of the alley leading to his lab, an alarming sense of crisis washed over him.
Almost instinctively, Zhou Ning dropped into a crouch and threw himself to the side.
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning seared the spot where he had been standing. If he had hesitated for even half a second, he would have been a smoking pile of charcoal.
Chapter 102: Meteorologist
The moment he stood, a revolver appeared in Zhou Ning's hand. Guided by his Observation Haki, he fired at an empty spot on the distant wall.
"Bang!"
Following the rapid burst of gunfire, the empty space rippled like water, and a man in a sophisticated tuxedo materialized. He nimbly rolled to the side, scattered a burst of powder into the air, and snapped his fingers. "Hurricane!"
"Woo!"
An obscure word in ancient Faric echoed, and a hurricane so powerful it was nearly visible erupted from the man's location. The wind tore the hat from Zhou Ning's head and sent it flying. Before he could react, he felt his feet leave the ground as he was tossed into the air like a small boat in a storm.
A Meteorologist?
The sudden hurricane whipped Zhou Ning's hair across his face, making it difficult to see. Though he'd lost the initiative, he remained calm and fired at the ground below.
The recoil from the shot propelled him out of the hurricane's main force, allowing him to nimbly adjust his position in mid-air.
The man in the tuxedo seemed unsurprised. At some point, he had raised his arms, a black scroll now held between his hands.
"Wind Blade!"
As he chanted in ancient Faric, the scroll burst into flames, unleashing a barrage of green wind blades that shot toward Zhou Ning.
-32, -27, -31, -23...
Without hesitation, Zhou Ning was instantly encased in a golden-red battlesuit. Wings unfurled from his back. He glided, enduring four or five hits from the wind blades, and watched his health bar drop by more than half. Just as quickly, the battlesuit vanished. His coat whipping in the wind, he ignored the pain and aimed at his opponent. He executed a floating shot in mid-air, sending a fiery red bullet spinning toward the man.
Crack!
The tuxedoed man's figure shattered into pieces.
Combat data instantly appeared.
[Your Floating Shot hit ???, dealing 34 damage. An additional 95 damage was negated by a Substitution Technique.]
[Based on your level, you can obtain the following information.]
————
Name: ???
Total Level: 44
Class: Meteorologist/Killer
Attributes: Strength ?, Agility 72, Vitality ?, Willpower ?, Spirit ?, Charisma 56
Health: ?
Status: Healthy
Skills: Weather Conversion (Expert), Marksmanship (Expert), Mysticism (Advanced), [Other Unknown]
[All other information is unknown]
————
Zhou Ning's lip curled. Just another professional in his forties. Was this the best they could send?
The single shot had barely dented the opponent's health. His figure re-formed a short distance away, and he immediately began chanting another spell.
"Rainstorm!"
He scattered a pinch of light-yellow powder, and a downpour answered his call. In an instant, Zhou Ning's vision was filled with dense, falling raindrops, driven by a howling wind that splattered water everywhere.
Zhou Ning shook the rain from his hair as his momentum carried him to the ground. Ignoring the pain, he rushed forward. Knowledge is power, he thought.
As he recited the six-word clan motto, his dark eyes deepened, and a dazzling flash of lightning sparked within them. An image flooded Zhou Ning's mind: the man in the tuxedo altering the weather again, this time to summon a ball of lightning. Nearby, a thief lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. If his opponent triggered a weather chain, the situation would become dire.
This amplified Observation Haki is incredible. Zhou Ning took a deep breath and accelerated.
In his skill bar, the [John Wick] icon began to flash.
His sudden burst of speed surprised even the man in the tuxedo. Just as Zhou Ning had foreseen, a packet of powder appeared in the man's hand a moment later. The short, obscure ancient Faric spell rang out again.
"Thunder and Lightning!"
At that same moment, a terrifying, colorless aura, visible to the naked eye, erupted from Zhou Ning as he charged forward. The domineering force spread out in all directions, so immense that even the soybean-sized raindrops were blasted away, creating a large, dry vacuum around him.
-115!
The impact of his near-expert-level Conqueror's Haki caused the tuxedoed man to freeze for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Ning unleashed his full power, aiming to inflict a lethal amount of damage. Thanks to his clan training, his Conqueror's Haki was advanced enough to be imbued into his attacks. He unleashed a devastating three-hit combo, each strike infused with both Armament and Conqueror's Haki. The powerful sequence nearly depleted the man's focus bar, and his health plummeted to a critical level in an instant.
Less than a second later, the man in the tuxedo snapped out of the stupor, his face contorted in pain. Feeling his life force rapidly fading, he panicked and shouted, "Get out here now! Do you want to see me die?"
Again, a vision flashed through Zhou Ning's mind: an iron-black dagger materializing from the void, plunging toward his back.
Zhou Ning narrowed his eyes. He aimed for the man's chest and activated Evasive Shot. Retreating rapidly, he fired four consecutive shots, depleting the last of his opponent's health.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
[You have killed ??? (Lv. 44). You gained 22,000 experience.]
[Bonus for killing a target 10+ levels higher: +300% experience. Total experience gained: 66,000.]
Zhou Ning's final shot was executed perfectly. The backward momentum from his Evasive Shot carried him just out of reach of an iron-black dagger that had silently emerged from the shadows.
With only one bullet left and his focus nearly depleted, Zhou Ning's eyes remained perfectly calm. He fired his last bullet at the spot where the dagger had appeared. Blood sprayed through the air, and a vague black shadow flickered into view before vanishing. The presence faded away.
He ran.
Zhou Ning smiled bitterly and shook his head, glancing around. Someone had already called the police. Ian was rushing over with a few day watchmen. The sky was still pouring rain and buffeted by hurricane-force winds—a lingering effect of the Meteorologist's ability.
His hat was gone, the sleeves of his new eight-victore coat were torn in several places, and the whole garment was covered in dust.
This is annoying, he thought. But the biggest problem isn't my coat. It's the corpse on the ground.
The tuxedoed man's body lay on the street, riddled with more than ten gunshot wounds. There was no denying who had done it.
"Mr. Sternwell?" Ian's gaze went from the body on the ground to the bizarre weather before settling on Zhou Ning. "What happened here?"
"My alchemy lab is just down that alley," Zhou Ning said, sticking to the truth. "I was attacked by two people on my way back. He was one of them. The other was some kind of thief, but he escaped."
While the watchmen inspected the scene and collected clues, Ian examined the body. He grimaced slightly. "Personally, I believe you," he said, "but you still have to come down to the station to give a statement and wait for the autopsy results. It's standard procedure."
Zhou Ning nodded helplessly.
I never thought I'd end up in a jail cell.
Chapter 103: St. Raymond's Cathedral
Old Vic Street, Docklands East Police Station.
Zhou Ning sat helplessly on a stool in the inspector's office. The chair opposite him was empty.
Nearly forty minutes had passed since he'd been brought in, and still, no one had come. Zhou Ning figured they were giving him the cold shoulder.
About twenty minutes later, the door to the office finally opened, and the familiar black-haired Sherlock entered. He sat across from Zhou Ning and said in a grave voice, "I'm sorry, I did my best. If you're convicted of murder, you're looking at a minimum of fifty years in prison."
Zhou Ning stared back. Is this guy crazy? How childish can you be?
Seeing Zhou Ning's half-smile, Sherlock pursed his lips. "That doesn't scare you? Fine. Come and sign this. The deceased has been identified. He's an assassin from the Coverdale Cross. Someone must have hired him to kill you. So, what do you think? Want to apply to join the Day Watchers? They probably wouldn't dare kill a Day Watcher. And even if you die, it's considered martyrdom, and you'll get a pension."
"No, thanks." With a tired look, Zhou Ning took the documents from Sherlock. All he wanted was a peaceful life, so why did trouble insist on finding him? To live quietly, like a plant soaking up the sun—that was my goal... Ugh, I'm getting sidetracked.
He was almost certain Harrison Rivers had sent the assassin. No one else had a motive. As for the reason… Harrison must have realized he was the one who infiltrated his house that night. Or perhaps he didn't need to be certain; mere suspicion was enough for him to act.
"Then why don't you tell me who you pissed off so badly that they'd hire the Coverdale Cross to deal with you?" Sherlock dropped his smile, his tone turning serious.
What should I do? Should I tell the Day Watchers about Harrison Rivers?
The thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately made a decision. It was worth a try.
Although Zhou Ning didn't fully trust the Day Watchers—they concealed, and even lied about, the methods for resolving distortions—they were undoubtedly allies on the same side in the fight against the Curse Cult.
After glancing over the documents and confirming everything was in order, Zhou Ning signed his name and pushed them back toward Sherlock. "I already have a guess," he said with a wry smile. "It must have been someone sent by Harrison Rivers."
"I previously discovered a connection between Harrison Rivers and Elvis. After Elvis's death, I began tracking Harrison and found he owned a house at 15 Ropeway. Inside, there was an altar identical to the one I found at Jason Nat's Haunted House. On that altar, I also discovered a red, goat-horned idol with a ferocious expression."
Just as he expected, Zhou Ning saw Sherlock's expression shift. "Are you certain it was Sir Rivers himself?" he asked hurriedly.
"Yes. He attacked me at 15 Ropeway, and I nearly died. His family motto, 'All things are created by human will,' had a powerful restraining effect on me. Fortunately, I'm a decent escape artist and managed to get away. He didn't recognize me then, but I saw him again last night at Duke West's banquet."
Everything Zhou Ning said was true, save for a few minor details. He simply changed the source of his information from a forum to his own supposed tracking of Harrison.
"I understand," Sherlock said, his face heavy. As a high-ranking member of the Day Watchers, he was well aware of the Rivers family motto. This was a major incident involving one of the kingdom's nobles; he had to report it immediately.
"Would you mind coming with me to see Mr. Qian?" Sherlock asked.
"Not at all," Zhou Ning nodded without hesitation.
Zhou Ning followed Sherlock out of the police station and into a Day Watcher carriage, which set off toward Witsel Church Square.
Sitting in the bumpy carriage, Zhou Ning glanced at the pensive Sherlock and asked casually, "How's the giant situation? Any new clues?"
Zhou Ning had visited Woodgate Park once himself in the past few days but hadn't found anything. However, his quest progress had continued to increase and was now at 17%, which he assumed was due to Sherlock's efforts. He was curious to know more.
"Not many clues," Sherlock said, shaking his head. "The giant appeared once more, this time at the lake in Upden Park. A total of thirteen people witnessed it. Other details are still under investigation."
Upden Park is north of the Docklands, near the edge of the city, Zhou Ning mused. It's at least a two-hour drive from Woodgate Park. That's a strange distance for it to travel.
Not long after, the carriage passed the Statues of the Four Heroes on the banks of the Seton River. Zhou Ning couldn't help but lift the curtain to look. The two figures in front were the familiar Archibald, the Flame of Justice, and High Priestess Louisa. The man in the back, wearing a hood and reading a book, was supposed to be his simulated self. He was handsome, even with half his face covered, but he didn't really look like him.
"What is it?" Sherlock asked, noticing Zhou Ning staring out the window.
"Nothing," Zhou Ning said, shaking his head with a complicated smile.
About ten minutes later, they stopped near Witsel Church Square, and the two of them proceeded on foot.
Zhou Ning followed Sherlock into the square, which was dominated by a spire-shaped cathedral built from white marble.
St. Raymond's Cathedral.
The headquarters of the Sunlit Church.
Construction on the cathedral began in the year 376, the vault was finished in 507, and the entire structure wasn't completed until 969, a process that took over five centuries. It was a typical Gothic design, with five bronze doors separated by six massive square columns. The effect was magnificent.
Zhou Ning followed Sherlock through the fourth bronze door. The church's interior was dim, lit only by the side windows, which were filled with stained glass. The central sun emblem was inlaid with tens of thousands of pieces of mithril, embellishing its rays and symbolizing the justice and benevolence of the Sun Goddess.
Legend held that a nail that had killed the god of death, Ikkil, was embedded in the center of the Holy Sun Emblem. As you walked into the church, the sun's rays, shining through the emblem, seemed to sparkle like diamonds, creating an atmosphere of extreme sanctity.
Even without any faith in the gods of this world, Zhou Ning couldn't help but bow his head in this sacred space.
This had nothing to do with faith and everything to do with the sheer shock of such wealth. The Holy Sun Emblem alone, inlaid with mithril, must have cost no less than a million Victars.
The impoverished Zhou Ning could only shed tears of poverty.
Following Sherlock into the church, they turned left and pushed open a door that revealed a downward staircase.
"Stay close," Sherlock said in a low voice.
The stairs went deep underground, lit by gas lamps on both sides. After about three minutes of descent, they reached the bottom, where Zhou Ning saw a heavily guarded subterranean base.
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he could faintly hear the roar of a wild beast from somewhere nearby.
Sherlock walked to the third door and knocked. Qian West's voice came from inside: "Come in."
"Wayne? Sherlock? Is something wrong?" Qian West asked with a smile as he looked up.
Inside was a small room. Sherlock walked over to Qian West and quietly relayed the information Zhou Ning had provided. Qian's smile vanished, his expression turning solemn.
Chapter 104 Skill Upgrade
After a silence of more than ten seconds, Qien West looked at Zhou Ning again. "Wayne," he asked, "do you have any details to add to what Sherlock said?"
Zhou Ning considered it for a moment before answering without hesitation. "Yes."
"That night, when I entered 15 Ropeway, I discovered an altar and several paintings. The man in the portraits was named Norman Rivers. I don't know if it was my imagination, but I saw the man in the painting wink at me. Right after that, I ran into Harrison Rivers. Oh, and by the way, I also brought the statue from that place with me."
To prove his point, Zhou Ning took out the evil statue, still wrapped in silk, that he had retrieved from Elvis's box. As he expected, Qien West's expression changed, and he quickly signaled for Zhou Ning to put the statue away.
"Your account is consistent with what I know. Norman Rivers was the 15th Viscount Rivers but was demoted to baron because of his political stance. Harrison is the 19th," Qien West said slowly. "Your words are highly credible. I will officially launch an investigation into Harrison Rivers."
"However," Qien West added, changing his tone before Zhou Ning could speak, "Harrison Rivers is, after all, a hereditary noble and an important official in the Kingdom of Bryston. His position is crucial. No action will be taken against him until we find conclusive evidence."
"I understand," Zhou Ning said with a nod and a smile.
Whatever the outcome, just getting the Sunwatchers to pay attention to Harrison is a victory. As long as I can disrupt his plans, I'll eventually find an opportunity to strike back.
Next, Qien West asked about some specific details, which Zhou Ning explained thoroughly, omitting only the existence of the forum and the "mirror."
After nearly half an hour, Qien West finally nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you for your hard work," he said with a smile. "Go back and get some rest. I'll have Charlotte contact you if anything comes up. By the way, it looks like there might be a thunderstorm later. There are a few umbrellas behind the door. Take one."
Zhou Ning's lip twitched. After interacting with him a few times, he'd discovered that this gentleman truly enjoyed showing off his meteorological skills. But who was he to turn down something free? After bidding farewell to Qien West, Zhou Ning grabbed an umbrella and left the office.
Once Zhou Ning was gone, Qien West's smile vanished. He looked toward the wall on his right. "Bishop Drest, what do you think of Wayne Sternwell's testimony?"
A secret door on the right slid open, and a middle-aged man with a kind face walked out. He wore a silver-white priest's robe with a sun emblem on his chest. "It's very reliable," he said with a smile. "Most of it is true, though he's clearly hiding a few things."
Qien West sighed. "His background is so mysterious that even the Sunwatchers can't figure it out. It's normal for him to keep some secrets. As for Harrison Rivers… I may require the Church's assistance later."
Drest nodded. "Exorcising evil is a sacred duty for clergy like us. What do you plan to do?"
"We'll keep watching and investigating. We'll wait for him to reveal his true colors before we act. We need conclusive evidence to deliver a fatal blow." Qien West paused for a moment. "…I even suspect that the former King's death is connected to him and that book."
At the mention of the book, he seemed to recall something and immediately fell silent. It seemed that the book itself was a taboo subject.
Zhou Ning followed Sherlock out of the cathedral, taking the same route back. Just as they stood on the steps, the heavy rain began to fall, exactly as predicted.
"Mr. Qien's weather forecasts have always been uncannily accurate, with an 85% success rate even with our unpredictable weather and tides," Sherlock remarked, holding up an umbrella as they walked toward a carriage parked across the square. "Oh, and by the way, you should be careful for the next couple of days. We can't investigate Harrison Rivers directly; we have to go through proper procedures."
As they settled into the carriage, Sherlock added, "Are you going back to Wake Forest University now? After I drop you off, I have to continue the investigation into the Giants. And now there's this Harrison Rivers issue on top of it. I really owe you one."
"I'm heading back to my alchemy lab," Zhou Ning replied. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked cautiously, "I was wondering, what's the salary for a Sunwatcher?"
"Intern members get 50 Victa per month, ordinary members get 80, senior members get 120, and captains get 300. The pension is ten times that," Sherlock answered without hesitation. "So, are you interested in joining?"
Three hundred a month… that's what I'd make in five years as an assistant teacher. No wonder Sherlock was so committed to this job.
"Not at the moment," Zhou Ning said with a slight curl of his lip.
Although he was intrigued by the special sub-class of Sunwatcher, he hadn't forgotten that Sherlock was still working at three in the morning during the Holweg incident.
It was almost 6:00 PM when they returned to College Street. Zhou Ning said goodbye to Sherlock, opened his umbrella, and stepped out of the carriage, heading toward his alchemy laboratory.
Inside, Zhou Ning lit the whale oil lamp and took a deep breath. He felt utterly exhausted. According to his original plan, his puppet alchemy skill should have been approaching the advanced level by now, and he could be happily grinding away in the game. But then all of this had to happen.
And the worst part is, neither Qien West nor Sherlock even thought to offer me dinner. What a bunch of stingy civil servants!
Fortunately, he had left some bread and milk in the lab.
After he'd eaten, Zhou Ning took off his torn coat, hung it on a rack, and prepared to start crafting the intermediate mechanical structure. Just then, there was a sudden knock at the door.
Confused, Zhou Ning opened it to find a young man dressed as a postman.
"Good evening, sir. A letter for you."
"A letter for me?" Zhou Ning took the envelope and, after seeing the postman off, opened it with some curiosity.
> Mr. Sternwell,
>
> Greetings.
>
> I have news regarding the book by Windgun you asked me to find in the second-hand book circles. However, the seller is asking a very high price. If you are interested, please come to No. 52 Mumen Street before 8:00 PM on Wednesday to discuss the details.
The letter was signed "Charles Scott," a name that was, at first, unfamiliar.
Zhou Ning thought about it for a moment before it clicked. It was the second-hand bookseller he had met during his first visit to the underground market. He had asked the man to keep an eye out for any of Windgun's books. He hadn't expected to hear back after nearly half a month.
Today was Tuesday, which meant he could get another book by Windgun tomorrow night. The thought filled Zhou Ning with anticipation.
After reading the letter, Zhou Ning closed the door and returned to his work on the intermediate mechanical structure. Having made them before, the process felt quite familiar.
[You completed a mechanical crafting. Quality: 85. You gained 9600 experience (Divine Favor +10%, Legendary Degree +5%). You gained 28 proficiency points (Divine Favor +7, Extreme Calmness +2).]
[You completed a puppet alchemy crafting. Quality: 85. You gained 8400 experience (Divine Favor +10%, Legendary Degree +5%). You gained 26 proficiency points (Divine Favor +6, Extreme Calmness +2).]
What surprised Zhou Ning was that his Divine Favor expertise increased his proficiency growth by 25% and his experience points by 10%. At this rate, the time he needed to level up his puppet alchemy would be greatly reduced.
He worked until 2:00 AM, and upon finishing the third intermediate mechanical structure, Zhou Ning finally saw the long-awaited notification:
[Your proficiency has reached 100%. Puppet Alchemy has been upgraded to the intermediate level.]
[You have mastered a new recipe: Puppet Mechanical Hound.]
Chapter 105: Ordinary Office Worker
[Puppet Mechanical Hound: Click to summon a small pet that can help you in battle or be used for viewing.]
The Puppet Mechanical Hound required a lot of materials, but it seemed useless, so there was no need to craft it for the time being.
Zhou Ning didn't hesitate. After raising Puppet Alchemy to Intermediate, he immediately invested a valuable skill point to raise it to Advanced. The game panel immediately displayed a prompt:
[Your Puppet Alchemy has reached an advanced level, and you have acquired a new skill: Energy Conservation.]
[You have mastered a new recipe: Robotic Arm.]
[Robotic Arm: Click to summon a flexible robotic arm, which needs to be fixed to a wall or shelf to assist you with tedious tasks.]
Zhou Ning's eyes lit up. The new Energy Conservation skill was quite good; it passively saved 20% of all materials used, which was a solid bonus.
The [Robotic Arm], however, gave him a bit of a headache. The device sounded similar to Dum-E, the robotic arm assistant used by Tony Stark in Iron Man. Not that it was a bad thing, but the problem was that it was probably all for show. How smart could it possibly be if it was powered by an alchemy array?
It'll probably be an artificial idiot. The materials were extremely expensive, and its alchemy array was incredibly complex. He conservatively estimated it would cost nearly 600 Vekta to build.
This was a rather steep price for the perpetually broke Zhou Ning.
But no matter how much he complained, he still had to make it. What if it worked better than he imagined?
After resting for about ten minutes, Zhou Ning started preparing herbs for his daily routine of formula deductions.
[You spent 8000 experience points, Gastrodia elata x1, Leech powder x1, Spotted tiger grass x1, and knotweed x1, and deduced a new recipe: Transformation Potion.]
[Transformation Potion: Expert-level alchemy formula. Requires Gastrodia elata, Leech powder, Spotted tiger grass, and knotweed. After taking it, you will be transformed into another person for 30 minutes.]
"What? A Transformation Potion?" Zhou Ning couldn't believe his eyes. What a stroke of luck!
This had to be the work of the simulator. It was almost an exact copy of the Polyjuice Potion from Harry Potter—a shameless ripoff, but undeniably useful. It was a must-have item for any situation, and one Zhou Ning had coveted for a long time.
For the next few days, in addition to crafting the necessary Devil Fruits, the robotic arm and the transformation potion would be the focus of his efforts.
Once he had everything planned out, Zhou Ning opened his pocket watch to check the time. It was only 2:40 AM. Being young, he was full of energy, and his night had just begun. There was still time to play a game.
After his last trip, Zhou Ning still had 33 Time Travel Coins left. His goal tonight was to test the strength of the [Ordinary Office Worker · Zhou Ning] template. There was no need to rush back to the [War of the Gods] storyline just yet.
He opened the backtracking interface and hesitated for a moment, weighing his three options: [Lost in the Fog City], [Infinite War], and [Across the Four Seas]. In the end, he chose to replay [Lost in the Fog City].
He was still missing two collectibles from the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure world. According to the descriptions in the Hall of Rare Items, one was likely the bow from the Stand-granting bow and arrow, and the other might be the remains of a saint or the bloodline of a Pillar Man. He'd be satisfied if he could acquire any one of them during this trip.
Zhou Ning was very confident in this template. With this setup, how could I possibly lose?
[Preparing for backtracking... Time Travel Coins -20]
[Please select the time travel mode...]
[1. Select a random template to travel.]
[2. Select an existing template to travel.]
Zhou Ning chose 2 without hesitation and entered the backtracking phase.
Three cards appeared before him: the disposable template [Godfather · Zhou Ning], the [Peerless Hero · Zhou Ning], and the permanent template [Ordinary Office Worker · Zhou Ning].
He locked onto [Ordinary Office Worker · Zhou Ning] and began the simulation.
[Matching in progress...]
[Match successful. In this parallel world, you are an ordinary office worker. You crave a normal life, pursuing an existence as placid as a plant's. You hate fighting, believing it to be both empty and endless. Beneath your elegant exterior, you harbor a peculiar hobby: you adore perfect hands, whether they belong to others or to yourself.]
[Current world exploration level is 86.7%. Please be aware of fellow travelers.]
[When you die in this replay, the game ends.]
[Note: When using a template, you can freely choose the time and location of your entry.]
[Note: In Retrospective Mode, the template character possesses strong subjective initiative. Ordinary Office Worker · Zhou Ning's alignment is Absolutely Neutral. You have no control over the character's behavior in this mode.]
[You are considering your destination.]
You chose Rome, Italy, 1938.
[You traveled back to Rome, Italy in 1938. From this moment on, the wheels of history began to turn.]
Zhou Ning had carefully considered this time and place. It offered a reasonable chance of obtaining the Pillar Man's bloodline and coincided with the period when the vampire version of himself might be lurking in England.
According to the JOJO timeline, the bow and arrow wouldn't be discovered in Egyptian ruins until 1986. As long as he wasn't completely out of the loop, he should have a good chance of getting them.
On March 9, 1938, you stood penniless and alone on the streets of Rome. The vast city, an open-air historical museum dotted with squares and churches, was not particularly prosperous due to the Great Depression and the recent invasion of Ethiopia. But it was precisely this blend of classical and modern culture that gave you a long-lost sense of peace. You adjusted your blue suit. Perhaps living here wouldn't be so bad. Pursue a grand cause like other time travelers? Fight the Pillar Men or explore Egyptian ruins? Sorry, but my greatest wish is to live a quiet, inconspicuous life.
On March 10, 1938, despite only speaking English, you found a decent temporary job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. You worked from nine to five and earned 100 lire a day. The only drawback was that the owner's wife was old, and her hands were not particularly beautiful, which displeased you.
From March 11 to April 20, 1938, the days passed as peacefully as you had hoped. An ordinary job, an ordinary salary, an ordinary life. But some things were quite extraordinary. You read in the newspaper about Zhou Ning, hailed as the greatest scientist of the century, who had won three Nobel Prizes and invented over 260 things, including the airplane, the wireless telegraph, and the optical interferometer. Then there was Dio Brando. Perhaps due to the butterfly effect, he never became a vampire but instead became a formidable athlete and physicist. Seeing the newspaper photo of his bizarrely contorted pose, frozen mid-motion with a look of pure superiority on his face, you couldn't help but feel a strange sense of temporal dislocation.
[During this time, you also became quite popular with women in Italy, dating several pretty girls with beautiful hands. The moment you held their hands, you felt a powerful urge to sever them and keep them for yourself. However, you restrained yourself, believing that there is a certain beauty in appreciating something you cannot possess.]
April 21, 1938. Today was a Roman holiday. To celebrate the founding of Rome in 753 BC, all archaeological sites and museums were open to the public free of charge. You also enjoyed a long-awaited day off. In a corner of the city, you saw a historical site guarded by German soldiers. You suspected this might be where the Pillar Men slept, but what did that have to do with you? You left without a second glance.
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