Chapter 209: Divine Initiation

After listening to Dai Lik's account, the Chief of Silver City, Ke Lin·Yi Li Ya Te, did not relax, but took Dai to the place where Silver City's psychoanalyst Ai Fu Luo was.

Dai looked at the lady opposite, wearing a black dress, hair tied in a long braid, delicate features, and instinctively shouted, "Ms. Ai Fu Luo."

Ai Fu Luo smiled and nodded, and after Dai sat opposite her, gently asked:

"Do you have anything you want to say?"

Dai instinctively looked up, and suddenly noticed that the other's eyes had become pale‑gold vertical pupils at some point.

His thoughts instantly became hazy; Dai seemed to enter a sleepwalking state.

Ai Fu Luo's pale‑gold vertical pupils quietly stared at the boy before her, like an emotionless spectator.

In the next moment, within those pale‑gold vertical pupils, rings of faint light formed, creating a vortex that built a maze.

In his daze, Dai felt himself drifting, surrounded by endless darkness and countless vivid colors.

Though he should have remained in that muddled state, Dai suddenly became clear‑headed.

He saw a mysteriously flickering candle flame and saw Ms. Ai Fu Luo, whose eyes were pale gold, sitting opposite him.

Ai Fu Luo looked at the hypnotized boy before her and asked in a gentle voice:

"What have you been doing during this time?"

Dai kept the previous state and answered calmly:

"I saw Da Ke on the training ground; when I talked to him I found something off, he wasn't the same as I remembered."

"At the last gathering I asked others for help; they told me Da Ke had been contaminated by the True Creator, and I reported this to the Chief."

Ai Fu Luo glanced at the Chief beside her and continued, "Was that your own choice? Or their suggestion?"

"They think a problem of this magnitude can be solved by Silver City. Moreover, the True Creator's goal is not Silver City, not the God‑abandoned Land, but the world beyond."

"Compared to the True Creator, A Meng's existence is more dangerous to Silver City."

Ai Fu Luo's voice grew unusually gentle as she asked, "What is the God‑abandoned Land?"

"We are the God‑abandoned Land; beyond it lies a world with sunlight, seas, and normal things, without the monsters and dangers hidden in darkness."

Dai recounted all the information he knew; he even felt that even without Mr. Fool's protection he would be fine, as these were exactly what he intended to tell the Chief.

Ai Fu Luo's expression was not calm; in her gaze toward the Chief there was unmistakable worry and longing.

Ke Lin only gave a slight nod, indicating to continue.

Ai Fu Luo quickly steadied her emotions and asked, "How much do you know about the True Creator, A Meng, and that great being you pray to?"

"Long ago the True Creator was not an evil god; in the world beyond the God‑abandoned Land it was a deity of orthodox belief. Later it became an evil god, and the orthodox belief turned into its seven deities. A member at the gathering said the True Creator's state was off, which made it dangerous."

"A Meng is a cunning, dangerous existence; it is a blasphemer and a god of deceit."

"It seems to be in conflict with the being that convened the gathering; A Meng's avatar that parasitized me was discovered, and it sent its angelic minions to purify."

"But at the last gathering I felt that great being didn't seem to care much about A Meng's appearance."

Dai remained in his "confused" state and relayed all he knew about the True Creator and A Meng. Apart from information involving Mr. Fool, he did not state it explicitly, using "great being" as a substitute.

Finally, Ai Fu Luo asked:

"Where did you get that axe and the Sun Path demonic elixir formula?"

"I traded for the axe with other members at the gathering; the Sun Path demonic elixir formula also came from trade. I like the Sun Path; I want to be the light that illuminates darkness."

As he spoke, Dai couldn't fully restrain his emotions, and his voice rose slightly.

Ai Fu Luo did not become suspicious; after listening carefully she turned to Chief Ke Lin and said:

"He isn't lying; he couldn't lie, I have the power of the Crown of Glory."

Ke Lin gave a gentle nod and said:

"In this condition he shows no signs of evil, corruption, or contamination."

After speaking, Ke Lin rose and left the room, addressing the shadow in the corner outside:

"Dai can be released at any time; for now we consider him safe, and must constantly monitor his state during prayers or rituals."

"Although Dai is safe, the one who established contact with him may not be; its relationship with A Meng and the True Creator is likely hostile, and that inter‑realm conflict is also a crisis for Silver City!"

"Yes, Chief." A respectful voice came from the shadow.

The hypnosis ended, and Ms. Ai Fu Luo gently reminded Dai that he could leave.

The Chief and others should temporarily trust Mr. Fool. Though watchers still exist, they are only necessary insurance.

In the eastern district of Bei Ke Lan De, a basement resembling a temple.

Mr. A, clad in a black robe with a hood, knelt quietly before an inverted giant deity statue.

He tilted his ear, as if listening to something.

After a brief pause, Mr. A suddenly raised both hands, snapped off his right index finger, and shoved the blood‑soaked piece into his mouth to chew.

With a "crack!" sound, Mr. A's throat twitched twice, and the finger piece was swallowed into his stomach.

His body shivered violently, then he extended his still‑bleeding right hand, writing words on the floor with his blood.

Upstairs in the basement, Lei Ke Dun and You Li An·Jin were discussing the workers' mutual aid organization.

Suddenly, Lei Ke Dun seemed to sense something, looked down at the floor beside the carriage, his eyes flashing a faint purple glow that vanished instantly.

Suppressing his curiosity to peek, Lei Ke Dun turned his gaze away and laughed lightly:

"It seems a divine decree has arrived."

"Divine decree!" You Li An's eyes widened, surprise and excitement evident.

Lei Ke Dun nodded slightly, then brushed past the topic:

"Do you plan to merge the scattered workers' mutual aid groups into a workers' association, a true association belonging to the workers?"

You Li An's expression flickered with a hint of emotion, then he shook his head:

"The workers' association is pressured by nobles and the rich, yet it has also received recognition from the kingdom and the church."

"Other similar organizations cannot obtain official recognition."

"The foundation of the Workers' Association is the workers, and its core is also the workers; as long as the workers acknowledge you, that is enough."

Leike Dun slightly shook his head, offering a different view.

"Divine Envoy, you are correct, and moreover, the Ruen Royal Family would be delighted to see conflicts between this worker class and the rich and noble, as long as they remain within a tolerable range."

"That is also one reason they tacitly allow us to preach widely among the lower‑class populace of Beikeland."

Mr. A left the basement at some point, came upstairs, and as he pushed the door open, he continued to supplement Leike Dun's previous words on his own.

"Mr. A!" You Li An instantly turned and saluted the entering Mr. A.

It seems that the cooperation between the Ruen Royal Family, the Aurora Society, and the Witch Sect ultimately only harms themselves; the Aurora Society and the Witch Sect will each achieve their own goals in the end.

"Divine Envoy, what do you think a new, wholly worker‑owned Workers' Association should be called?"

Mr. A's gaze lingered on Leike Dun, paused briefly, and then asked.

"Hmm," Leike Dun rubbed his chin with his right hand and, after a moment of thought, said:

"Red Cross Mutual Aid Society! Use a blood‑stained red cross as the emblem—how about that?"

Mr. A's pallid face showed a hint of a smile, and he lightly nodded:

"A blood‑stained cross closely matches the Lord's image and won't be conspicuous."

"Perhaps soon you'll see news of the Red Cross Mutual Aid Society in the newspapers."

Changing the subject, Mr. A voluntarily mentioned the divine revelation he had just received:

"The Lord has given me some insight."

You Li An had already clasped both hands together, holding them before his mouth and nose in a prayerful posture, earnestly listening to Mr. A's forthcoming words.

Sensing Mr. A's and You Li An's fervent attitude, Leike Dun felt somewhat out of place here.

Mr. A paid no mind to Leike Dun's demeanor and continued to recount the content of the revelation:

"Lord, we have found the Fool's dependents and believers, right here in Beikeland."

"The Fool's honorific name is:"

"A Fool not of this age;"

"The mysterious sovereign above the gray mist;"

"The Yellow‑Black King who holds good fortune."

Mr. A spoke in ordinary Ruen language, stammering out the Fool's honorific name.

Leike Dun listened in silence, his gaze involuntarily drifting to the spot on his left forearm.

Does it have no communication with the True Creator? Or, has it already become a completely independent entity now?

(End of Chapter)