Chapter 194: Zaratul

"September 18th, the Baron's wife is truly a stunner..."

Roselle wrote this line in his diary, his eyes drifting, seemingly recalling that intoxicating night.

"But this is the last time, absolutely the last time!"

"I just became a Sequence 6 'Expert of Mechanics' a few days ago; in this entire backwater town, I am already above others, comparable in status to a Baron."

"But is dominating a small region what I need? What I want is this world!"

"I cannot continue to fall; I need to go to a bigger stage, to the capital of the Solomon Kingdom, where there is greater room for advancement."

"Moreover, I learned from the Church that the decadent lives of the high-ranking nobles in the empire are even worse than the Baron's family! Truly... I am envious."

Roselle closed his diary, packed his clothes simply, and walked out of his house.

After two or three years of effort, he was now a Sequence 6 "Expert of Mechanics" of the "Savant" Pathway, a sequence known in ancient times as "Artisan."

This already surpassed the Bishop of the "Artisan" Church in the backwater town where he lived, and he had the opportunity to become a high-ranking member of the Church.

This was also the confidence that allowed Roselle to dare to venture to the capital; a Sequence 6 could be considered a figure of some standing in a place as complex as the capital.

"Time to go! The Church's mechanical ship is on schedule." Roselle looked at the home where he had lived for two years, said goodbye to his parents in this life, arrived at the riverbank, and boarded the mechanical ship prepared by the Church.

The technology within the "Artisan" Church was hundreds of years ahead of what ordinary people could see, but the power sources for these mechanical ships and mechanical carriages were all Beyonder items, not suitable for widespread popularization.

"I am already an 'Expert of Mechanics'; after arriving at the cathedral in the capital, I must also set about crafting my persona as a scientific genius."

"Fortunately, the steam engines of the entire world are still in their initial stages; I can make improvements, and I must hurry to build sailboats, otherwise, they will be created by those lunatics from the Dream Sect."

Roselle was full of ambition.

"Long time no see, Mr. Roselle." While Roselle was admiring the scenery along the bank, an old man wearing a black robe, with deep, dark eyes and a long, thick white beard at his mouth, appeared beside him.

"Mr. Zaratul?" Roselle looked with surprise at an old friend in the occult.

He and Zaratul had met during an occult exchange, and afterward, with both parties harboring their own intentions, they maintained a certain connection, becoming "friends across generations" on the surface.

"Are you returning to the capital?" Roselle asked curiously.

This ship was carrying some Beyonders and nobles who wanted to go to the capital.

"Yes, I haven't returned to my family for a long time."

Probably for hundreds or thousands of years.

Although that "Half-Fool" of the Antigonus Family had already retreated to the Hornacis Mountain Range, that hunt in the Fourth Epoch had frightened little Zaratul, making Him hide everywhere, not daring to return to the capital.

"Zaratul..." Roselle muttered this surname in his heart; in the Solomon Empire, this was a true Duke family, extremely noble.

In his heart, this old gentleman must surely be from this illustrious Duke family.

"To be able to reach Sequence 6 in three years, you have even more talent than I imagined." Zaratul looked at Roselle and praised.

"I still have to thank the old gentleman for your guidance; if it weren't for you, I might have needed more time to fully comprehend the Acting Method." Roselle was very proud, but he still had to be humble with his words.

"I only mentioned acting once, and you already understood it; this is your own talent." Zaratul's deep eyes looked at Roselle, seemingly wanting to see something.

Roselle felt a moment of discomfort, but his expression remained as usual; he was very skilled at dealing with such old monsters.

"It is a pity that you chose the 'Savant' Pathway; this pathway is safe enough in the early stages, but you will inevitably face many dangers later on." Zaratul said.

"Oh?" Roselle raised an eyebrow, wanting to fish for more information, but such knowledge itself had immense value; there was no such thing as a person this generous.

"The secrets hidden in the Sequence pathways are more than you imagine." Zaratul spoke with implication, seemingly waiting for Roselle's question.

This old man, is he trying to bait me... Roselle's thoughts shifted, and he asked curiously, "Then which pathway does the old gentleman follow? Please forgive my offense, I am truly curious."

"My Sequence 9 is 'Diviner'." Zaratul said indifferently.

It really is "Diviner"... Roselle's mind was filled with the Law of Beyonder Characteristic Convergence.

He believed it was the "ability" on his person that had piqued Zaratul's interest.

As for the Silver Medal?

That was impossible; until now, apart from him, no one could even see it, and all methods of divination were ineffective before it.

The corner of Roselle's mouth curled into a mocking smile, "Do 'Diviners' only ever say half of what they mean? It's very easy to get beaten up like that."

"Heh, only in this way can I arouse your curiosity and make you willingly cooperate with me." Zaratul chuckled, directly stating his purpose.

"Cooperate?" Roselle's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts racing, "What do you want me to do for you?"

"You are still far too lacking right now." Zaratul looked at Roselle with deep meaning, "I am optimistic about your future."

"You will surely become a big shot in the Beyonder world in the future; I don't mind investing in advance."

Roselle's spirituality was slightly touched; he felt the Silver Medal on his chest stir slightly—that was a "Diviner's" glimpse into Fate!

After becoming a Sequence 9 "Savant," the Sequence 9 abilities he chose from the Silver Medal were "Divination," "Open Door," and "Steal."

These three abilities were the most typical and the foundations of the three related pathways he knew of.

In that instant just now, Zaratul had performed a divination regarding his future, and perhaps even seen some images in the future!

"I don't mind cooperating with the old gentleman; after all, from the first moment I saw you, I felt a special familiarity, just like my grandfather whom I have never met."

Roselle spoke glibly; in the mutual probing between two foxes of different sizes, their relationship grew increasingly tight.

"Then how do you think I should act after arriving at the capital?"

Roselle was probing Zaratul's stance.

"I feel the Antigonus Family is a good entry point; you can befriend their family members."

The Antigonus Family, another Duke family!

But it is said that the Antigonus Family in the capital is now just a "branch," and the main personnel have all moved to the "headquarters" in the Hornacis Mountain Range.

And the Antigonus Family and the Zaratul Family seem to be at odds...

Damn! I haven't even reached the capital and I'm already caught up in the struggles of the great noble families!