Chapter 713: Choice

Because it was summoning his own messenger, Lu Mi didn't hold the ritual in the name of Mr. "Fool" again, simply and directly letting "Penitent" Bainfer, who was wearing a black clerical robe, looked like a charred corpse, and had black fire sticking to parts of his body, appear in front of him.

"I want to sign another contract with you." Lu Mi proposed the request with a smile.

He used ancient Feynapotter to briefly explain the power of fate, the special contract, the sharing of abilities, the possible price, and the negative influence, waiting for Bainfer to make a decision himself.

Bainfer was silent for a few seconds, and gave a response in a low voice:

"If you are not worried about the negative influence, I have no problem."

"What will the negative influence be?" Lu Mi asked cautiously.

In Bainfer's hollow, dark eye sockets, the dark flames acting as pupils jumped twice:

"This depends on your choice."

"I can hand the final step of the contract completion to you. After you know the specific negative influence, you can decide for yourself whether to let the contract be established."

Different choices, different negative influences? What choice? Lu Mi, with curiosity and doubt, spat out the "Secret Words of Fate," letting those silver-white and black symbols, characters, and patterns fall on the imitation parchment, forming a short, powerful, mysterious, and evil contract document.

With the help of the connection brought by the "Secret Words of Fate," Lu Mi sensed Bainfer's traits and abilities.

This "Penitent's" power was closely related to shadows and darkness, but most of it seemed to be immersed under the dark water surface. Lu Mi could detect their existence but couldn't distinguish what they specifically were.

The two abilities floating above the "water surface" were "Shadow Activation" and "Spirit Realm Shuttle," and the trait was "Ancient Corpse."

It just so happens there is "Shadow Activation"... This is probably what Bainfer deliberately showed me... He is indeed very special, completely different from Spirit Realm creatures like "Headless Bride," "Abscessed Severed Hand," and "Human-Faced Mantis"... Being able to communicate in a true sense is indeed much more convenient... Lu Mi sighed while further understanding the ability of "Shadow Activation."

This is an ability used actively. It can activate one's own shadow and others' shadows. The former can be used to swap positions with the main body, escaping fatal damage when it cannot be dodged. The latter will entangle the target corresponding to itself, affecting his actions, but it cannot cause too much damage, and it is difficult to completely restrict the other party.

Fast activation and producing effects in an instant are the biggest advantages of this ability; otherwise, it couldn't be used to substitute for death and block damage. The disadvantage is that only one shadow can be activated in the same period of time.

As a substitute, if the activated shadow dies, Lu Mi needs to wait for a sunrise or sunset to regenerate a shadow, and shadowless people are very afraid of sunlight, instinctively afraid.

Before, it was the instability of superimposing emotions and desires. Now, it's superimposing the fear of sunlight? If I really encounter a middle-sequence Beyonder of the "Sun" domain in the future, won't I not even dare to open my eyes? Fortunately, this is a negative influence that only appears after the shadow substitute is lost and won't be maintained all the time... Lu Mi looked at Bainfer and asked sincerely:

"What sacrifice do you need to collect, or rather, what price do I need to pay?"

Up to now, he still hadn't figured out what negative influence signing a contract with Bainfer would have.

"Penitent" Bainfer, whose bones were left with only a shallow layer of charred skin, answered:

"Any one of the magical items on your body."

Any one... Is this the so-called choice? Does the choice of which magical item to sacrifice directly relate to the final negative influence obtained? Lu Mi had a sudden realization and began to count the magical items he possessed in his mind.

His first reaction was "Arrogant Armor." After all, he couldn't effectively use this sealed artifact now. But looking at Bainfer's charred corpse-like appearance, he felt that this wasn't sacrificing an item, but trying to murder his own messenger. Besides, he couldn't use "Arrogant Armor" for the time being, but Fu Lan Ka, Jianna, and Anthony had no problems. Lu Mi had taught them the corresponding usage techniques long ago.

The core is one sentence:

Don't wear it, just use the negative effects, let the negative effects be triggered by the target!

As for the slightly more profound one of triggering the negative effects himself to exchange for indiscriminate range-type damage, he couldn't teach it. That had to be played on the spot according to the environment and the characteristics of the enemy. Anyway, Witches should like this method very much. It's very effective for bullying targets without substitute abilities!

"Secret-Peeping Glasses," "Torture" gloves, "Eye of Truth," "Lie" earring, K's finger, "Hate Movement" bone flute, "Rage of the Sea" brooch, "Traveler's Bag," remains of Omi Bella's umbilical cord, expired lucky coins and unlucky banknotes that had become normal items, "Serial Killer" Beyonder characteristic... Lu Mi remembered these items one by one.

Excluding things that weren't magical items, excluding things that were very useful to his current self, Lu Mi finally decided to pick one from "Secret-Peeping Glasses" and "Eye of Truth."

Their abilities had a certain overlap, and keeping one was enough.

After a brief weighing, Lu Mi chose to sacrifice "Eye of Truth" to Bainfer.

He felt that in the case of controlling the usage time, the negative influence of "Secret-Peeping Glasses" was smaller than "Eye of Truth." And "Eye of Truth" only had the trait of seeing the truth, while "Secret-Peeping Glasses" could at least be used to draw pictures and makeup with supernatural effects—after Lu Mi became a "Monk," he could effectively restrain the painting impulse generated by wearing "Secret-Peeping Glasses." When needed, he could draw; when not needed, he could completely not draw.

Lu Mi took out the strangely shaped "Eye of Truth" and handed it to Bainfer.

Just as Bainfer took the glasses that seemed to be intertwined with flesh and blood vessels, Lu Mi suddenly sensed what the negative influence of signing the contract was:

In scenes closely related to Bainfer's past, he would see the truth that shouldn't be seen.

It's fine if it only involves occasions related to this messenger's mysterious background. Otherwise, I would have to end today's ritual early and wait until I find a suitable contract object to make a new choice... Using the words that Aurora and Fu Lan Ka had both said, seeing the truth that shouldn't be seen is equivalent to a sudden death reservation... Lu Mi weighed it and responded to Bainfer in a deep voice:

"The contract is valid."

As his words fell, the short, evil contract burned without fire, turning into silver-white and black symbols, characters, and patterns, which connected head to tail and fell onto Lu Mi's arm position.

Lu Mi lowered his head and looked at his shadow, seeing it twist on its own, seemingly dancing a powerful dance.

A smile appeared on Lu Mi's face.

About ten seconds later, his shadow calmed down.

Lu Mi thanked Bainfer, ended the summoning, and put away all the items placed on the altar.

"Success?" Fu Lan Ka asked with anticipation.

She wasn't doubting that Lu Mi couldn't handle his own messenger, but was worried that the ability characteristics didn't meet the needs or the negative influence was too great.

Lu Mi nodded and briefly talked about the situation of "Shadow Activation."

While walking toward the exit of this quarry cavity, he said to Fu Lan Ka, Jianna, and Anthony:

"Now we can formulate a plan to deal with Mo Lan Avigny."

"Fu Lan Ka, you contact the 'Black Witch' and say that we are going to act soon, but in order not to disturb the family and hidden forces behind Mo Lan Avigny, we don't need her to watch from nearby for the time being. We just hope she gives an emergency help charm that can contact her through a mirror to guard against the 'Mirror Person' hiding helpers. Hmm, it just so happens to test the attitude of the 'Black Witch' toward the Tamara family's 'Mirror Person.' Also, tell that person from the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' church that they can prepare to release water;"

"Jianna, you write a letter to 'Justice' to inform her of our plan, in case the 'Black Witch' and the 'Mirror Person' are in the same group."

"Anthony..."

Lu Mi's thoughts raced, thinking about various details, and assigned different tasks to his companions.

Fu Lan Ka, Jianna, and Anthony didn't passively accept the tasks but actively provided their own ideas, helping Lu Mi check for omissions and complete the brainstorming.

After returning to Apartment 702, No. 9 Aurosai Street, Anthony left early to continue mixing in the Trier Psychological Doctor Trade Guild, while Jianna changed into a black hooded long dress with a darker feel and seized the time to find opportunities to play a "Witch."

Soon, only Lu Mi and Fu Lan Ka were left in the apartment living room.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, and a long silence echoed in the air.

Lu Mi broke this atmosphere as if nothing had happened:

"How is the digestion of Jianna's 'Witch' potion?"

"The progress is very good." Fu Lan Ka breathed a sigh of relief secretly, "She has found a way to play a 'Witch.' If you go to the market district to inquire, you will hear a legend that a witch appears late at night to punish those restless drunks. Some drunks claim that they fell into a small river flowing with ice cubes, some woke up the next day with pain all over, some have severe headaches as soon as it gets dark and dare not drink again. Their common point is that they have encountered someone dressed as a witch. Hmm, and some drunks have disappeared since then..."

Fu Lan Ka's voice became lower and lower, switching to the tone of telling a horror story.

"The ones who disappeared are seriously criminal drunks? The others are guilty of beating family members, bullying passersby, molesting women, etc.?" Lu Mi combined his understanding of Jianna and made a guess with a smile.

"Right." Fu Lan Ka nodded heavily with a bright smile.

"Aren't you afraid that the 'Black Witch' will hear this rumor and send someone to investigate?" Lu Mi thought for a moment and said.

Fu Lan Ka became proud and pointed to herself:

"Me, me, in the Witch sect, I am responsible for market district-related affairs!"

She then sighed:

"Jianna really has talent. In less than a month, she figured out a mature acting plan. Before I advance to 'Pain,' she might be able to digest the 'Witch' potion."

"If it weren't for those things, she should be a very talented theater actor. Acting is exactly her strength." Lu Mi expressed agreement.

The two fell silent again.

After a few seconds, Fu Lan Ka put on a posture of being ready to die and said:

"That, that, in the Mirror World, and near the altar, those things I said and the behavior I showed, you absolutely cannot tell Jianna, you cannot tell anyone else!"

Lu Mi asked back with a "blank" face:

"Did you say anything abnormal or do anything abnormal at that time?"

"I remember not..."

Fu Lan Ka was stunned for a moment, then revealed an "I understand" expression.

She stood up with a relaxed smile, walked to Lu Mi's side, and patted his shoulder gratefully:

"Good brother!"

She felt that all the awkwardness ended here.

…………

A few days later, while Mo Lan Avigny was attending a meeting between ministers, Lu Mi appeared around the villa provided to him by the government.

PS: There are still many chapters in this volume. Although it is expected to end this month, it is not necessarily at the beginning of the month.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 714 =====