Chapter 741: Reminder

In the Memorial District, Apartment 702, 9 Aurorasee Street.

Franca waited a while before Jian Na returned.

She sniffed, then asked Yihuo ly:

"Have you been drinking?"

Weren't you going to the Market District to seek opportunities to portray the "Witch"?

Did you deliberately get drunk to lure enforcement?

Jian Na removed her black cloak and said to Franca with a somber expression:

"I met Lumian."

"Ah?" Franca paused, stunned. "He's in the Market District? Didn't he go to the Aurora Society to meet Mr. K? I thought he hadn't returned because he was taken away for testing and to choose his reward…"

Jian Na did not conceal anything; she recounted nearly verbatim Lumian's condition and his words.

"I see…" Franca's emotions turned complex.

She understood Lumian's current feelings, felt even greater sympathy for the "Muggle" Aurora's plight, and remembered that the Aurora Society's deity—the suspected Ancient Sun God of the Third Era—had returned in some manner, and that the Ancient Sun God was most likely an earlier transmigrant, just like herself and others!

Transmigrants harming transmigrants… The "April Fools" were like this, and so was the Ancient Sun God… Franca sighed silently, deciding she would summon Lady Hela's messenger right away to inform the Vice President of the Fuzzy Baboon Research Society about the Vortex operation of the Truth School and the role the True Creator played in the disaster at Keducun, and to request an all-members gathering soon.

She didn't intend to publicly warn every member of the Fuzzy Baboon Research Society to beware the True Creator or the Ancient Sun God; some truths, when known by those below a certain level, become disasters—after all, He who speaks is known.

Franca merely hoped to alert Hela and other organizers of the Fuzzy Baboon Research Society, so they could indirectly warn other members.

Moreover, Franca felt that while the "Supervisor" of the Truth School was undoubtedly powerful, that was not the most terrifying aspect of him and his allies.

What unsettled Franca most was the ability and willingness of the "Brokers" to foster cooperation among once-dispersed, warring, even mutually hostile cults of false gods; the "Inn" plan was the embryonic form of this change, and the Vortex affair might represent a Jieduanxing achievement.

Facing these now-cooperating cults, Franca wanted all the forces she was connected to to mobilize and coordinate with one another; for this, she was willing to freely provide Hela, the half-god likely hiding behind the Church of Night, all intelligence on the Vortex and the "Mirror Person."

She had already written a letter on this matter, seeking the "Judge" Lady's opinion, and received the reply: "Yes."

"How is he now?" Franca asked with concern, considering whether she should go over and keep Lumian company until dawn, drinking with him to show support and comfort.

"He's fine for now," Jian Na replied after a few seconds of recollection. "Perhaps it's also because the deity worshipped by the Aurora Society is too distant; the hatred is real, yet profoundly illusory, and cannot possibly be touched for a long time."

In this regard, she still had authority to speak.

Franca hummed in agreement, then turned her thoughts to what she must do next.

At dawn, she immediately visited Clarice, summarizing her experiences in brief to the "Black Witch," who praised her and asked what she needed recently; Franca did not hesitate and requested materials for the "Pain" elixir.

At the time, the "Black Witch" neither accepted nor refused, only told her to return in two days and urged her to quickly locate the "Mirror Persons" assigned by Moran Avini, adding that she could ask for help if needed.

Among the "Mirror Persons" assigned by Moran Avini—whether Griffiths, Palia, or Karatanza Tamara—none used their real names in reality; investigation could only rely on their vague identities. Franca hoped to obtain official "assistance" through "007," and also wanted to check whether any members of the Fuzzy Baboon Research Society belonged to the Morse Ascetic Order—this was also one reason she requested an immediate all-members gathering.

The only "Mirror Person" whose identity was certain was Spott, Deputy Minister of the Trill Police Department; Franca had confirmed his status before dawn and found that the "Mirror Person" had vanished—this seemed to be the escaped "Supervisor" using some method to warn the "Mirror Persons," perhaps by rapidly spreading news of Moran Avini's mishap.

…………

After finishing the remaining absinthe and seeing Jian Na off, Lumian rubbed his temples and returned to his bedroom.

Under the crimson moonlight filtering through the curtains, he saw a letter folded into a square on the table.

"The 'Magician' Lady? She just left not long ago," Lumian frowned slightly and picked up the letter.

The letter was indeed from the "Magician" Lady, containing only a few short paragraphs:

"I forgot to tell you just now: while tracking the 'Supervisor' of the Truth School, we encountered Loki."

"His condition has changed noticeably; it seems some problem occurred during his resurrection after the Prayer of the Sea, causing the former leader of the Secret Order, the master of Dirlan Castle, to revive within him in some manner."

"Zarathustra has returned from death and become a servant of the Celestial Sovereign—yes, but He has not yet fully taken control of Loki's body, nor has Loki been completely extinguished; they have become a spiritual and soulful chimera, in a highly unstable state."

"For now, do not consider seeking Dirlan Castle or expending Loki's remaining resurrection chances; avoid any places where he might find you."

Zarathustra… Franca mentioned him; the former leader of the Secret Order played a significant role in Rossel the Great's growth, yet ultimately betrayed the Emperor… Fomenda Solen of the Solen family seemed to have been driven mad and entered the Fourth Era's Trill by design of both Him and the Emperor… Is Loki's current state half-dead? When Zarathustra fully takes control of his body, he will die completely—what a pity… Lumian felt a slight regret that he couldn't personally end Loki's final life, but felt no intense sorrow or resentment.

He had already killed Loki twice!

Burning the letter, Lumian paused briefly, then left the bedroom and sat across from Ludwig, who wore a yellow thick cotton robe and matching sleep cap, watching the boy rapidly gnaw on a cold, bone-in beef steak.

Ludwig was completely unaffected by Lumian's gaze and continued his eating.

After nearly a minute, Lumian tentatively asked:

"Would you be willing to call me godfather?"

Ludwig looked up at him briefly, then lowered his head again, picked up a bowl of banana puree, and spooned it into his mouth.

Lumian changed the question:

"Would you be willing to obey my orders, accept my command, and cultivate mutual understanding?"

This time, Ludwig didn't even lift his head; his mouth kept moving.

Lumian watched silently, then slowly took something from "The Traveler's Satchel."

It was a silver-colored eyeball inside a glass jar—the Supernatural Trait of the Path of the "Lucky One," Sequence 7, which had reformed after the "Torture" gauntlet shattered.

Instantly, Ludwig lifted his head.

Lumian ignored Ludwig's gaze and slowly took out a few other items—the "Serial Killer" Supernatural Trait among them—and placed them one by one on the dining table.

Only then did he smile and say to Ludwig, wearing the yellow thick cotton sleep cap:

"Would you be willing to call me godfather?"

Ludwig fell silent for several seconds, then whispered softly:

"Godfather."

Lumian pressed further:

"Would you be willing to obey my orders, accept my command, and cultivate mutual understanding?"

Ludwig answered without hesitation:

"Yes."

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the pile of items before Lumian.

Ah… Seeing this, Lumian sighed silently.

One can drive a person with "food," but one cannot rely solely on "food," or else the person will obey only when food is present and ignore you when it isn't—this likely fails to meet the requirements of the "Ironblood Knight" ritual.

As thoughts swirled, Lumian pointed at the pile before him and smiled:

"Since you acknowledge me as your godfather, you may choose one item."

"But there is a condition: you must answer two or three questions."

Ludwig hesitated, then tightened his baby-fat cheeks and said:

"Fine."

"Which one do you want?" Lumian extended goodwill first.

Ludwig glanced left and right; he wanted to eat everything, and couldn't bear to leave any behind.

Finally, he overcame himself, made his decision, and pointed at the "Serial Killer" Supernatural Trait:

"That one!"

So he really wants a Supernatural Trait… Can this be made into a magical dish or cocktail? Lumian put away the other items and smiled at Ludwig:

"First question:

"Which Path does your innate Supernatural ability belong to? What are its characteristics? What is your approximate Sequence level?"

He hoped to find inspiration for subduing this sealed angel from Ludwig's Path information.

"That's three questions," Ludwig muttered quietly.

Lumian pretended not to hear.

Seeing his protest was useless, Ludwig chewed on a piece of dried beef and mumbled:

"It's, it's…"

He seemed to have forgotten his original name, so he invented one:

"It's the 'Gourmet' Path."

"No wonder you always look like you're savoring 'food' and various 'ingredients,'" Lumian said, unsurprised.

Ludwig added seriously:

"Simply put, it's a Path that gains supernatural power through hunger and consumption."

"The corresponding Sequence 9 is called 'Vagabond'—losing everything else, constantly searching for food, yet barely surviving."

Weren't you the ultimate embodiment of the "Vagabond"? You even lost your mind, yet never forgot eating… From this description alone, it's unclear what abilities the "Vagabond" possesses… Lumian refrained from voicing his sarcasm.

Ludwig also did not elaborate on the "Vagabond" Sequence, but continued:

"Sequence 8 is the 'Glutton.'"

(End of Chapter)