Chapter 601: Use Power While You Have It (Final Three Days—Request Monthly Votes)

Lu Mi didn't urge Lu Jianuo; he wanted to see what decision this "physician" would make.

After a while, Lu Jianuo gathered his courage and asked:

"Will you also take Ludwig with you?"

"Of course." Lu Mi glanced at Ludwig, who was eating grilled baby octopus.

If not for the "0—01" data he'd received from the Church of Knowledge, he wouldn't have wanted to keep carrying this child around—but Ludwig had now shown some usefulness.

In the future, he might even be used again as a "Loki" trap.

Lu Jianuo swallowed hard and said:

"I can take care of Ludwig for you, so you won't have to worry about him when you're working, unlike before when you'd just leave without warning."

Of course… Lu Mi wasn't the least surprised by Lu Jianuo's decision.

He tilted his chin slightly and said:

"Why?"

Lu Jianuo smiled awkwardly:

"This trip opened my eyes—I've seen so much, been attacked, and now I realize how insignificant a Sequence 8 is in the esoteric world, how powerless against danger. Yes, if I returned to Trier and opened a clinic, secretly using my 'Physician' abilities, I could easily become middle class—maybe even enter the upper class, ha—but I fear becoming too famous will draw attention from official Exalted Ones. Trier isn't like Sangtagang; it's far less tolerant of wild Exalted Ones.

"Besides, dangerous Exalted Ones are always active around us. I don't want to be caught next time with no ability to resist."

"If you don't attend esoteric gatherings and just run a clinic as a doctor, you won't get dragged into dangerous events. Ordinary thieves and bandits are no match for you," Lu Mi replied offhandedly.

Lu Jianuo shook his head:

"The Exalted One who gave me the relic and made me a 'Planter' once told me: once you enter the esoteric world, you can never escape. Strange events will always surround us. With good luck, you might live to die of old age; with bad luck, you'll end up like him.

"I didn't believe it at first, but events over the past half-year have made me feel its truth more and more. I did nothing—yet the alley collapsed, and a strange tree grew. Before you hired me, I dreamed I became a figure inside a painting, unable to return to reality. When I woke, I was wanted. This time, I just cared for Ludwig properly, stayed out of everything—and still got attacked for no reason…"

Hmm… Lu Mi's expression grew increasingly strange:

These things you're describing… they all seem to be my doing…

And yet you're still following me…

Is this another manifestation of how Exalted Ones always encounter esoteric events? You're not caught in those events—you're caught in me…

Lu Jianuo continued:

"I've seen 'Teleportation,' giant waves—other Exalted abilities. I'm no longer satisfied with just Sequence 8. I think staying with you will bring me more chances and opportunities."

Lu Mi stared at Lu Jianuo, wondering whether someone had planted a suggestion in him to follow him, or whether he'd been "tamed" by Ludwig and now wanted to be his nanny.

Lu Mi had originally thought Lu Jianuo, as a Planter, must have ties to the Church of the Earth Mother—but during this time, he'd closely observed and found no extra communication between this guide and the Fertility Conclave or any clerics of the Church of the Earth Mother. He seemed genuinely unfamiliar.

Seeing Lu Mi no longer objected, Lu Jianuo smiled ingratiatingly:

"I have a gift for languages. I can teach myself the Southern Continent's Dutan tongue. If you pay me 300 Fering per month and promise me a share of the spoils, I'll stay as your guide, personal physician, child caretaker, and half a fighter."

"Fine." Lu Mi pulled out ten thousand Fering in total. "This is the remaining 5,000 Fering from before. And since you were attacked, per our agreement, I'll pay you an extra 5,000 Fering—ten thousand total."

Lu Jianuo happily accepted his agreed payment and began packing his belongings.

Lu Mi took the chance to count his cash: he still had 1,000 Fering's worth of gold, 76,000 Fering in coins and banknotes, and 2,000 Jin Lisuo left unspent.

As long as he didn't buy Exalted essences, potion formulas, magical items, or high-end esoteric knowledge, this money would last him a long time.

The next morning, boarding the ship bound for southern Feneport under the identity of the great adventurer Louis Berry, Lu Mi walked toward the first-class suite, glancing sideways at the quiet, well-behaved Ludwig, and asked thoughtfully:

"In your memories—or rather, the part from 'Loki'—is there a strange creature that looks like a lizard but is tiny, able to crawl into a human's mouth, translucent and hazy, seemingly a spirit, with brown-green scales and ink-green eyes?"

It was nothing like the Starlight Lizards the "Children of the Sea" became.

Ludwig shook his head:

"No. Neither does the memory of the Batting Black Worm."

Lu Mi fell silent, watching Lu Jianuo open the suite door in the manner of a servant.

An hour later, with a mournful whistle, the ship set sail from Sangtagang.

After nearly two hours of sailing, the weather worsened. Waves surged, and strong winds drove passengers back into their cabins.

Watching the dim sky, swirling clouds, and towering waves, feeling the ship rise and fall, many first-time sailors grew anxious.

They noticed the sailors seemed calm, utterly unfazed, and asked for confirmation:

"Is this normal at sea? Not dangerous at all?"

A local Sangtagang sailor grinned and replied:

"It's common, but still a bit dangerous.

"If the wind and waves get any stronger, we'll have to find a nearby port to shelter.

"But don't worry—this year's Sea Prayer Ceremony was a great success. The current 'Sea Viceroy' will protect us. No shipwrecks will happen!"

"Sea Viceroy…" The passengers heard this and grew even more uneasy.

They had all attended the Sea Prayer Ceremony's festivities in Sangtagang—pleased, yes, but they didn't believe the "Sea Viceroy" had any real power over storms.

Amid this unease, they suddenly noticed the towering waves had calmed.

Though the clouds above and the winds around remained fierce, the sea itself seemed held down by an invisible hand, its surface unnaturally still.

The local Sangtagang sailors erupted in cheers:

"Long live the Viceroy!"

"Praise the Sea Viceroy!"

The passengers stared at each other, speechless.

Inside the first-class suite, Lu Mi sat in a rocking chair, drinking Manzan wine neat, a Dutan language primer resting on his knees.

He clenched his right fist and pulled it sharply downward.

Part of the clouds above suddenly sank, forming a terrifying funnel.

Sunlight poured through the massive opening, striking the suite and illuminating Lu Mi's book, brightening the room.

Lu Mi withdrew his hand, turned a page, and thought: the Sea Viceroy's ability is truly useful at sea.

Too bad he could only use it one more day.

…………

Deep in the night in Trier, Angoulême returned home and automatically turned on his radio transmitter-receiver.

Soon, a telegraph tapped in.

Seeing the header was "Dagger," Angoulême's brow furrowed:

"Two good news, one bad. Which do you want first?"

"I know—you'll pick the good news. I'll just tell you.

"First good news: the humanoid artifact has been found and contained. You don't need to travel to Feneport anymore—you can focus calmly on investigating the 'Man in the Mirror.'

"Second good news: after communication, we've confirmed the group controlling the humanoid artifact might return it to you. We're willing to mediate, but you must provide all data on the artifact in exchange. Of course, 'might' doesn't mean 'will'—no payment is required until an agreement is reached.

"The bad news? Heh—heh. There's a traitor in your church. The humanoid artifact was stolen because of a mole. We're certain of this."

"Go, '007.' Your chance to earn merit has arrived!"

After reading it all at once, Angoulême felt a strange sense of relief: after the humanoid artifact vanished, church leadership had suspected a mole and conducted a purge—but found nothing. The case was clearly flawed, but all five "Purifiers" assigned to it had passed scrutiny; their failure had been due to accident.

"Looks like the mole is hiding very deep…" Angoulême muttered to himself.

…………

In the Memorial District, Apartment 702, 9 Aoluosaijie.

Franca sat propped against the bed, chatting in the telegraph group, waiting for Jianna's return.

This companion visited the Opera District once a week to see plays, returning past midnight—but the exact day varied, and she disguised herself to avoid being followed and patterned.

Nearby, Anthony was busy infiltrating the circle of psychology enthusiasts, hoping to meet a real "psychologist."

"Seems like I'm the only one idle… no feedback yet on the 'Man in the Mirror'…" Franca wasn't the type who needed to be constantly busy; she excelled at finding joy in life.

As Franca thought of Jianna, Jianna had just finished the final play, pulled on a hat with a black veil, and rose to leave the theater, still filled with lingering audience members.

At the exit, she patiently waited in line, moving slowly outward.

Suddenly, Jianna felt a slight tremor from an object on her person.

She instinctively reached out and touched it—the "Mirror World Fragment" from the Tamara family tomb.

ps: Last three days—please vote for monthly tickets~

(End of Chapter)