Chapter 729: The Arrival

Franca, while setting up the ritual, thought to Lumian:

"The mirror's coordinates cannot be described in language; they can only be obtained through mystical bestowal, and the 'Magic Mirror Spirit Communication' technique cannot achieve this—I intend to perform normal spirit communication."

Her created 'Magic Mirror Spirit Communication' greatly extended the duration of spirit communication and the number of answers the target spirit could provide, but it was limited by the mirror as a medium, losing all possibility of other interactions.

"With normal spirit communication, the things we can ask are extremely limited…" Lumian pondered for a few seconds, "First question: have him give us the coordinates of the 'Overseer's' mirror. Second question: where is the classical silver mirror used to hold the ritual and communicate with their leader? Third question: who are the 'Mirror People' connected to him, where are they, and what are their real identities? Answer in order of importance."

After answering the third question, the 'spirit communication' ritual should naturally end; Lumian even suspected Moran Avini couldn't possibly list all his 'Mirror People' on this line, so he demanded they be ranked by importance, starting with the most significant—either the highest-ranking or most responsible 'Mirror Person'.

"Classical silver mirror?" Franca asked in confusion.

"Yes, Moran Avini has a mirror identical to the classical silver mirror you once owned—it's the key tool for communicating with Mirror Rousseau." Lumian replied simply.

As he spoke, he crouched down and searched through Moran Avini's pockets and pant legs.

He regretfully discovered the Minister of Industry carried only several large-denomination banknotes and some loose change, totaling 3, 12 Faelkin.

Besides cash, there was a golden pocket watch of exceptional mechanical artistry, an exquisitely embroidered handkerchief, and a wallet crafted by a private designer and artisan.

None of them possessed extraordinary power!

Lumian couldn't help imitating Franca and silently cursed inside:

"Poor bastard!"

Actually, he understood: as the current Minister of Industry, Moran Avini was under tight protection by official Exalted Ones, and it was unlikely he kept any magical items or Exalted weapons on him, to avoid exposing his anomalies.

—He was Sequence 5 'Punisher Knight' of the 'Judgment' Path; if he revealed this fact to the two major churches, he could never explain the origin of his potion formulas and Exalted traits—he had only declared himself an Exalted One of the corresponding Path during the contract signing, without specifying his Sequence, and afterward lost all legitimate opportunities to acquire items, forced to rely on 'Brokers'—something official Exalted Ones could never know.

For Moran Avini, he didn't truly need the 'Overseer' to arrange a covert operation to create a legitimate chance to acquire magical items, because 'Mirror People' could pass objects through mirrors; whenever he needed a specific item to achieve a goal, he could simply contact the appropriate ally and have them 'send' it over, returning it immediately after use.

Lumian sighed, gathered up the banknotes and pocket watch, and stood up.

As he watched Franca complete the spirit communication, he spoke to Jianna, who was still writing her letter:

"You shot very decisively just now—no psychological burden at all?"

"This isn't combat—we've been having friendly conversations with Moran Avini for a long time; I even felt like we'd become friends."

Jianna glanced at Lumian, smiled faintly as she wrote on the protruding rock before her:

Are you worried that I'm suppressing psychological distress and will collapse? Are you trying to work as a part-time psychologist and give me therapy?

Anthony Reed, who had been quietly listening and perfectly playing the role of 'observer', awkwardly touched his nose.

That seemed to be his job.

But he could tell neither Jianna nor Franca needed counseling.

Lumian didn't directly answer Jianna's question; he smiled and said:

"You haven't killed many people either."

"If we hadn't shot him just now, would you have acted? Even if you felt like we'd become friends with Moran Avini, I'm sure you'd have blown his head off without hesitation." Jianna smiled as she countered.

Lumian let out a "huh."

"I'm different—I've killed countless people."

Jianna looked at him again:

"Moran Avini confessed his crimes—he dragged the real Moran Avini into the mirror, imprisoned him for a while, then brutally murdered him. For executing a criminal, I feel zero psychological pressure."

"You've changed…" Lumian feigned a sigh and joked, "Back then, you relied on police and official power to punish the wicked."

Jianna didn't reply, because Franca had finished the spirit communication.

Amid the flickering green-tinged candlelight, Moran Avini's spirit appeared above his corpse, visible to all who had opened their Spirit Sight.

Franca wasted no time; as she removed the glass-like 'mirror clasp' from her cuff, she addressed Moran Avini's spirit:

"Tell me the coordinates of the 'Overseer's' mirror."

Moran Avini's blurred, sinister face instantly twisted.

But now that he was dead, no longer bound by strong self-restraints, he soon could not resist the spirit communication's effect, extending his right hand to signal Franca to give him the 'mirror clasp'.

Franca, prepared in advance, immediately handed it over.

Moran Avini's spirit gripped the cuff button; a flash of dark light surged from his body and seeped into the glass-like clasp.

After retrieving the 'mirror clasp', Franca quietly exhaled.

The most important task was done; everything after was extra gain!

Franca's spirit became lively; she eagerly questioned Moran Avini's spirit:

"Do you have a silver classical mirror, one you can use to… wait a moment…"

She suddenly realized this counted as a question, and quickly rephrased:

"Where is the classical silver mirror used by the 'Overseer' to communicate with your leader?"

Lumian had already confirmed it wasn't on Moran Avini's person.

Moran Avini's spirit answered coldly and stiffly:

"It's with Griffiths. When I need it, he sends it to me through the mirror."

Franca's face lit up with joy, then she cursed aloud:

"Damn!"

She realized she couldn't make Moran Avini give the mirror's coordinates for Griffiths.

Only one question remained; she had to first ask who the 'Mirror People' connected to Moran Avini were and what their real identities were—she couldn't add a request for mirror coordinates!

Lumian and Anthony instantly understood why Franca cursed herself, but there was no way around it—some questions depended on prior answers, and mirror coordinates couldn't be obtained via 'Magic Mirror Spirit Communication'.

Calming her emotions, Franca looked at Moran Avini's spirit and organized her words:

"Who are the 'Mirror People' connected to you? What do they do in reality? Start with the most important in status and responsibility."

Moran Avini's pale, blurred face twisted again; he answered with great struggle yet extreme stiffness:

"There's Griffiths—he's essentially my deputy. His original form is a core member of the 'Moss Ascetic Order'; he's using our help to gradually raise his status within the 'Moss Ascetic Order', hoping one day to bring this secret organization into the alliance to break the seal of the Fourth Era's Trill…"

"Moss Ascetic Order"… Wasn't that the secret organization opposing Empress's eldest daughter Bernadette's 'Elemental Dawn'? I recall they're mostly 'Seeker of Secrets' Path Exalted Ones… I wonder if the Research Society has any members from the 'Moss Ascetic Order' or 'Elemental Dawn'—there must be others like me who belong to more than one secret organization… Franca listened intently and attentively, not interrupting Moran Avini's account.

Moran Avini mentioned the second 'Mirror Person':

"Karatanza Tamara, a member of our branch of the Tamara family—he joined the military and is now a Colonel, using the killing of Ruin Kingdom spies as cover to openly display his Exalted abilities…"

"Palia, her original form is a mineralogist; she has joined the 'Trill Cave Association' to conceal her efforts to locate weak points in the seal…"

"Spott, Deputy Minister of Trill Police, Police Commissioner—his original form was contaminated during a mission, then ambushed and dragged into the mirror by Griffiths and Karatanza, so the Mirror Spott could emerge and replace him…"

As he spoke, Moran Avini's spirit grew increasingly ethereal, ready to vanish at any moment.

At that moment, Jianna finished her letter and turned to Lumian:

"I'll go summon the Messenger of the 'Judgment' Lady now."

No sooner had she spoken than a distant, ethereal voice echoed in the ears of Lumian, Franca, Jianna, and Anthony:

"No need to summon."

Lumian, Franca, Jianna, and Anthony all sensed it simultaneously and turned their gazes toward the hollow side of the quarry.

In the dim environment lit only by carbide lamps and candles, brilliant starlight coalesced in the air, swiftly forming a dreamlike double door.

Without sound or motion, the door opened, and a massive pumpkin carriage, pulled by countless gray rats, rolled out.

Inside the carriage sat three ladies: one was the 'Magician', wearing a cream-colored long dress with gold embroidery and a high collar; one was the 'Judgment', with shoulder-length golden hair and a gray-white knight's outfit with brown leather armor.

The third lady wore a purple robe adorned with mysterious patterns, with an astrolabe and other items hanging at her waist, and spectacles perched neatly on her nose.

In her left hand she held a strange lamp, covered in mysterious patterns, golden in surface, shaped like a water jug.

(End of Chapter)