Chapter 283: All Because of the Moon

The Illuminus Organisation, also known as the Illuminati or the Guangming Bang, meaning "the enlightened" or "the illuminated," was founded on May 1, 1776, by Adam Weishaupt in Bavaria.

Its initial purpose was to provide access to books and scientific knowledge then banned, as well as alchemy, but over time it became a name adopted by numerous societies in both history and modern times.

In stories set against a Western esoteric backdrop, roughly three out of ten involve the Bavarian Illuminus Organisation, and no matter what misfortune occurs, blaming it almost never fails.

This is a purely esoteric organisation—just the name alone makes it a top-tier villain with high prestige—but in the War Maid world where alchemy truly exists, it has utterly failed.

Because of Feni.

Among the alchemists of the Bavarian Illuminus Organisation, some sought to "deconstruct the world," others pursued the Philosopher's Stone, and some aimed to achieve "perfect flesh," yet simultaneously, a strong faction sought to master—"the power of the gods."

Yes, the power of the Anunnaki.

Among the alchemists were those who persistently resisted the dominators and sought to lift the curse of Balal placed upon humanity; unlike Feni's approach, they resolved to use divine power to break the divine curse.

But because Feni held extreme disdain for alchemy as a "heretical path," the Bavarian Illuminus Society clashed with Feni multiple times.

Yet each time, the Illuminus Society was defeated due to Feni's control over sacred relics, and so for a long period while Feni still lived, the Illuminus Society chose to operate in secret.

A vast organisation like the Illuminus was cowed by an ancient witch—does this place also follow the lunar law that the older, the stronger?

Modern technology cannot harm the noise created by heretical techniques centuries ago; alchemists who mastered heretical techniques could not defeat a prehistoric female ghost and sacred relics—then surely the Cambrian-revived trilobite Great Saint could easily crush humanity (Genius Strategist).

Yet it is precisely this heretical technology that Jia Ji is pursuing.

According to intelligence provided by Feni, he is now heading to Western Europe, where alchemy reached its peak; for him, who has long roamed the Eurasian continent, this is an utterly novel experience.

Seated on the plane bound for a foreign land, Jia Ji watched the scenery flash past the window; the bright moon appeared and vanished between swiftly drifting clouds, while far below, on the calm sea ten thousand metres down, faint waves occasionally rose, reflecting tiny glimmers under the gentle moonlight.

The entire world seemed peaceful, clear, and silent, as if no struggle or war had ever existed; one could not perceive that upon the eternal moon, there lay a curse dividing humanity.

This scene of night blanketing all things in stillness reminded him of a conversation—or rather, an exchange—that occurred shortly before he left the Second Division.

"How could this be!"

The blue-haired Fangren, seeing his revered uncle shattered by a single blow, cried out in shock as if witnessing a spinning dancing frog.

Although he had already witnessed Jia Ji's power, Feng Mingyi still had faith in their commander—how could that man possibly lose?

"No one is invincible—I've lost too, even utterly defeated," Jia Ji admitted without concealment, extending one index finger. "The key is whether you can rise again after falling."

…… In truth, Feng Mingyi still felt fear, even terror.

If Jia Ji had not arrived in time to stop her friend's final song, what would she have faced? The girl who saw herself as a "sword" dared not and would not imagine it—otherwise, her "sword" might have cracked.

Yet she could not deceive herself—it was because her sword was not sharp enough, fast enough, keen enough that this situation occurred.

It was her failure.

It was her failure as a "Fangren."

"What, then, is the sword of a Fangren?"

Jia Ji tapped the girl's forehead with his finger, producing a crisp sound; he was not surprised by her confusion and inner turmoil, and in response to her question, he said:

"As a Fangren, if you are to correct humanity's deviant path, yet cannot remain on the righteous path yourself, you lose all meaning. But… since you wield the power to correct others, you must also possess the strength to correct yourself."

Since you are a War Maid, let battle reveal your true heart.

"I don't know exactly how to do it—but stick to your own principles! I think that's incredibly cool! That's all you need!"

"Cool?"

She heard words she couldn't understand.

"Yes."

Jia Ji nodded, then seemed to recall something: "A genius swordsman once said: First, you must be extremely handsome. Then your sword technique must be cool—every strike and sheath must be cool. Your aura must be arrogant, your swordplay must be arrogant, the atmosphere must be lonely, your swordplay must be lonely. The names of your techniques must be otaku, their effects must be otaku."

He used the word "cool" so many times—it must have been truly cool.

"I believe you, Yi, possess every quality that swordsman described. Whether or not you become an excellent Fangren, at least you can become a cool swordsman."

The blue-haired girl nodded thoughtfully.

"Master, who was that swordsman?"

Xiang asked curiously.

"The moon waits for snow; when night ends and dawn breaks, snow melts and the sun rises—the moon departs in silence, leaving only its final purity on the riverbank, offering it to the reluctant fallen leaves."

He did not directly answer Xiang's question but recited a poem; at this moment, Jia Ji's face showed a rare trace of regret.

"If I were to seek an opponent now, it would be him—the strongest man under the moonlight—the 'Keeper of Madness,' Yu Mingfang Shouyu! Too bad—we'll likely never fight. Life is truly lonely as snow!"

……

Bathed in starlight and moonlight that stirred memories, the roaring airliner was like a meteor slicing through the heavens, relentlessly flying toward its destination.

If this journey succeeds, he will obtain the alchemical technology capable of solving all problems—and prevent the Third World War in his world…

But after success?

If the goal he has fought for all along is achieved, what will he have left to do?

—The path ahead need not be questioned.

"Let me prove the title of strongest in Northern Dipper Fist! At least before I fall, let me see how far I can go!"

But before that—

The final target of this journey is—

—"The Miracle Killer"

—Caro Mars Dinhaim!

(End of Chapter)