Chapter 225: Plymouth (5000+)

"Do you want to join some secret gatherings?"

Cornelius thought for a moment, picked up a memo, wrote a few lines on it, and handed it to Aaron: "I only know of one secret gathering; this has the way to enter... Well, it doesn't require an introduction; as long as you enter, you are a guest. Of course... I don't need to tell you about the danger, right?"

"Thank you for your generosity."

Aaron stood up and put on his hat: "Then... I shall take my leave."

"Aaron... my friend..."

Bruce stood up and gave Aaron a fierce hug, feeling somewhat reluctant to part.

"Parting is only for the next reunion, no need to be too sentimental. Once I get settled, I will write to you with my contact information."

As a district where the middle class gathers, Jeston District does not have the homeless and beggars seen everywhere like in the Lower City District, nor does it have the brightly dressed gentlemen and ladies seen everywhere like in the Queen's or Black Gold districts.

A flicker of light shone in Aaron's eyes, eventually turning into a trace of determination.

'And then, when it is time for the ascension, I will need many spectators...'

Aaron did not have the slightest confidence in redeeming the madness of a Pillar-level existence.

'To put it bluntly... half the credit for this belongs to me... Well, although a lot of my half of the credit was actually scientific progress pushed by other occultists who impersonated me and used my name...'

"Romank's capital of romance is about to host the Sixth World Art Expo..."

He sipped his coffee and picked up the newspaper provided by the cafe: "Members of the Sodom Royal Family visit Tiesage..."

His footsteps veered, and he walked into a remote, deserted alley, took off his coat, threw it into the 'Carnivore's Satchel', and quickly changed into a new outfit.

Inside the Cat's Eye Cafe.

Xiling District is the dock area, filled with a large number of docks and warehouses.

And the areas with the worst public security are the Lower City District and the Waste City District, which are adjacent to factories, have the poorest living conditions, are rampant with gangs, and breed countless crimes.

'The influence required by the 'Furnace', at least to leave a distinct mark in the Secret History, is something I certainly won't lack...'

Sodom is the royal surname of Invis, and the Sun King in history, his full name should be Arthur Sodoma!

And the current king, after ascending the throne, changed his name and called himself—'Arthur VI'!

There is a lot of news in the newspaper. By reading it, Aaron can vaguely feel a corner of this world—competitive yet integrated, dark yet great, with civilization constantly advancing and developing.

'Perhaps... one day in the future...'

'It doesn't necessarily have to be 'Dawn'; perhaps the Invis Kingdom later obtained the support of other 'Luminary' Pillars? For example, the 'Unmelting Ice'?'

The pedestrians on the streets here are mainly middle-class families; their attire, while leaning towards high-society fashion, also carries a bit more of a free and unrestrained air.

While reading the newspaper and drinking cocoa, Aaron made a recent plan: "First... find a place to stay. It can't be too good; places that are too good have high security checks, and I don't have any credible fake identification yet..."

The next moment, Aaron took out some materials and performed a simple 'Anti-Divination' ritual for himself.

In the occult world, it is believed that beyond the aforementioned eight districts, there is another area existing in the shadows of Plymouth, controlled by Extraordinaries, known as—the Black Queen District!

In the slums of the Lower City District, almost everyone's wish is to make money! To earn enough money to move to a higher-level district with better security and a more beautiful environment.

This is a matter that leaves Aaron somewhat puzzled.

Immediately, Aaron took out a piece of human skin and wore it on his face.

Only then did Aaron let out a long sigh of relief.

Plymouth is very large. Besides the Queen's District, where Mitra Palace and the Parliament Building are located, there are seven other districts: Green George, Black Gold, Jeston, Xiling, Bakin Darlin, Lower City, and Waste City.

Finally, he tossed a coin, and after confirming that it was safe now, he slowly walked out of the other end of the alley onto the street and merged into the flow of people.

Among these, the Queen's District is the political center of Invis, with a large number of noble mansions distributed there, while the Black Gold District and Bakin Darlin District are both financial centers and residential areas for wealthy merchants.

"Then, it is to enter the local Extraordinary circle and look for clues about organizations like the 'Craftsman Brotherhood'. Well, the 'Sunset School' is also fine; I can try to join... not to gain knowledge and ascension, but merely to know the movements of their upper echelons... If I can find one or two lunatics who hope to become vessels for the descent of 'Dawn' or other 'Luminary' Pillars, that would be even better."

'How much of a price did mortals pay to become a Hidden Existence? How much madness did they accumulate?'

He sighed softly, feeling the weirdness of the 'Secret Source Power'.

'Well, finally dropped that burden.'

"Speaking of which... the Investigation General Bureau is not an organization that cannot be considered. Looking at Yagebu, he doesn't lack high-level 'Luminary' Talismans, and there is the 'Spear of the Sun King', which means there must be corresponding channels..."

The previous portrait of 'Mother of Nature' really scared him a bit.

When the hands stroking his cheeks were lowered, his face had become completely different from before—his features were deep, his lips were thin, and a pair of wine-red eyes seemed to contain the vitality and vigor unique to a young person, shimmering under the light.

Aaron chose a seat by the window and ordered hot cocoa and cake.

Even as a 'Spirit of Delusion', worshipped by former believers as holding the authority of reason and redemption.

After all, judging from the secret history obtained from Yanan Town, the Invis Kingdom should have completely broken with 'Dawn'.

If those talismans were all treasures from the previous honeymoon period, that would be a bit too many.

'Is that... Lin and Olivia? Or a brand new existence born after merging? From Cornelius's description, Her state is not good, suspected of having a split personality?'

Class and opposition have never been so obvious, so... despairing!

Jeston District.

Aaron walked out of the clock shop and disappeared into the vast crowd, but his heart suddenly felt a sense of relief.

'I even suspect... there was already a complete Mysterious System within the 'Secret Source', and it is just being revived through my hands...'

"As expected of Plymouth, the news is even international."

These are all long-term plans.

That is why Aaron feels the relationship between the Sodom Royal Family and the Pillar 'Dawn' is very subtle.

'Well, looking at the Extraordinary paths chosen by those investigators in the Investigation Bureau... they are concentrated on Shadow, Darkness, Underworld, and Luminary... The 'Cleaner' who erases memories is clearly the 'Shadow' path, which feels like it has inherited quite a bit of the Fabri Dynasty's occult foundation. The paths among the higher-ups are more complex, though... That Xisituosi, should be a 'Tower' Extraordinary?'

'His remaining Fifth Primordial Substance is of little use to me now, and putting it into the Ascension Ritual might even lead to an imbalance. However, through him, I might be able to catch clues about 'Tower' Non-human Existences...'

(End of chapter)