Chapter 1990

After Old John finished the story, he watched Xia De absorb the broken blade with the card.

Thus, Xia De had harvested one "Butterfly Card" each in Tobeisk, Coldwater Port, Midhillburg, Huntington City, Randall Valley, and the Green Lake region. One for each region seemed like a coincidence, but it didn't matter for now; after all, the world was so big, and the current six cards were enough for the girls at the Sixth Ring.

After the relatively cheap antique transaction was completed, the next item was the "luck" item Xia De wanted. In fact, the "Golden Apple" Xia De gave to Yiluna last month could increase luck, and it was a long-term increase without side effects. But Xia De would certainly not take back a gift he had given, and besides, Yiluna's eighteenth birthday gift should certainly be more formal.

So far, Xia De had encountered many items that could increase luck from Old John, such as the "Golden Rabbit Foot" from Old John's friend, or the "Oak Luck Potion" from the 【Hermits of the Forest】. But this time, the thing he brought out was even more astonishing; it was an iron rod.

"I really can't imagine what this thing has to do with luck... A relic?"

"Yes, a relic."

Old John nodded:

"Keeper-level relic 【Sudden Fate】.

Being struck on the head by this thing can briefly increase one's own luck. Of course, one must ensure their skull is very hard before using it; ordinary people certainly cannot bear it. This relic is guaranteed to bring luck the first time it takes effect, but subsequently, as the number of times it is used on the same individual increases, the probability of being plagued by misfortune will become greater and greater. Therefore, I do not recommend you use it a second time. Also, note that in addition to the aforementioned misfortune, there is a possibility of acquiring an incurable persistent migraine after use, so you must use it with caution."

"Sudden Fate..."

Xia De had previously encountered a relic that worked by hitting the head with a stick; that was when he first met Yiluna, and she used the Document-level relic 【Beast Tamer's Memory Eraser】 from her team.

"If I hadn't known you for so long, I would definitely think this relic was you playing a joke on me. Old John, how much for this relic?"

"Sell? Certainly not for sale, but it can be rented."

The old man revealed a mercenary expression, and Xia De nodded:

"Of course, name your price. I won't take it away now; I'll come to get it when I need to use it."

"How strange, I've noticed that in the last month, you haven't been bargaining much when you come to me. Have you inherited a large fortune again, or have you finally managed to live off a woman thanks to that Duchess?"

He asked curiously, and Xia De thought for a moment:

"Then I'd better bargain; I really shouldn't waste money casually. How about a rent of 1 pound?"

"Detective, you aren't here specifically to joke with me, are you?"

Xia De did not intend to try heading to the Moon Bay region immediately, of course, because there were still some things he hadn't finished dealing with. The normal Time Key could already be used, and he had also kept this month's Black Time Key unused. After using the Black Time Key, he would be able to see the long-haired Luweiya again; he really wanted to see her.

However, the most important thing was to go and report to Miss Danister the clues he had discovered from the book of Laplace Klein Howard.

But when Xia De returned home with Little Mia, the first thing he saw was a pile of gift boxes stacked in the foyer:

"Oh, it's their gifts."

The program list from last night was said to be a gift for Xia De, but in fact, no one would forget the real gifts. Xia De checked and found that there were not only birthday gifts from the girls who could come to his side, but even Miss Bernice, Miss Aurora, Miss Sylvia, Grandma Cassandra, and Sister Daifulin, who was far away in the New Continent, had all sent gifts.

He even saw gifts from Miss Rita Swift and Margaret, and after opening them, he found a tie and a trench coat.

【Look at the very bottom.】

Prompted, Xia De moved all the boxes aside and saw an unmarked envelope on the carpet. After opening it, he found a color photograph inside—that is, a black-and-white photograph colored with pigments. Difa, wearing a maid's long dress, stood by the window, smiling and looking in the direction outside the photo. The sun was bright, the years were peaceful, and the beauty remained as beautiful as ever.

Xia De blinked and turned it over to the back, only to see written in flowery letters—【Happy Birthday, Xia De】.

He couldn't help but reveal a smile, and "She" in his ear also sighed:

【This is the true witch's method. If Angelina Cavendish is truly one of the witches' chosen ones, then she might have to contend with this maid of yours.】

"I can't see how Angelina could win against Difa in any aspect; this isn't looking down on Angelina... Wait a moment, when did Difa become my maid?"

【When you thought Mia was your cat.】

The gentle smile remained exactly the same as before.

Because he had made an appointment with Miss Danister in advance, Xia De projected himself to St. Byrons at exactly two o'clock in the afternoon.

The college's grand library seemed to be so quiet no matter when it was. The red-haired sorceress was drinking tea on a sofa in the open space under the huge armillary sphere in the center of the library, and the coffee table in front of her was piled high with various documents that seemed like they would never be finished.

The two students who were helping to set up the ritual stood up and left. Seeing Xia De's gaze turn toward one of them, Miss Danister smiled and said:

"What, are you interested in male students too?"

"Of course not, the one just now was..."

Xia De turned his head, no longer looking at the student with a tail behind him.

"Yes, a Dragon-born, with bloodline from a Green Dragon. What, you've even seen the college's elves, why are you curious about the Dragon-born?"

She casually stated important information about the college:

"Among the current students at the college, pure-blooded humans only account for forty-three percent, while pure-blooded students of other races account for eighteen percent, such as Miss Emilia of the Moon Creek Clan, whom you know. The rest are mixed-blood students; the thirty-nine percent ratio is slightly less than that of pure-blooded humans. As for the college professors, humans like me are actually in the minority. Isn't Professor Kajia of the History Academy, whom you are familiar with, a mixed-blood elf?"

She thought for a moment and added:

"Actually, my great-grandmother was also a mixed-blood elf, but by my generation, the bloodline doesn't show at all."

"Perhaps the power of the Red Moon is a manifestation of elven bloodline."

Xia De guessed, but the sorceress shook her head with regret:

"My great-grandmother came from the Wind-Chaser Clan. Like most elves, they revered the ancient god 'Father of the Infinite Tree,' rather than the minority who revered the ancient god 'Silver Moon Sage.' However, after I was promoted to the Thirteenth Ring and became the college librarian, those distant elven relatives from who knows which generation were very happy to try and climb the social ladder with me... Alright, alright, we've digressed."

She shook her head, but Xia De still wanted to continue the topic:

"You know, I met the second principal of St. Byrons in the past, Miss Fiona Delage, and she was a Dragon-born."

"Yes, although this principal is far less famous in the current era than our college founder, Miss Mana Feilian, Miss Delage also made outstanding contributions to the establishment and stable operation of the college. According to college records, the land we are standing on was acquired because of her."

She suddenly remembered that Xia De had once submitted a report about that principal, and had also inquired many times about the origin of this land at the beginning of this year. Recalling the content of that report, which was now considered to be of high value, as well as the ancient witches who had appeared around the "God-Awakener," the red-haired sorceress pursed her red lips, and her left leg under her skirt rubbed against her right leg:

"Speaking of which, what is your opinion of that Dragon-born principal?"

Xia De immediately understood the real intention of this question:

"Hmm..."

He blinked, finally deciding not to play dumb or lie, but also not to say anything related to the past:

"The perfume she wore smelled very good."

Miss Danister burst into laughter:

"That answer really has your style. Alright, alright, has your curiosity been satisfied? Let's get back to today's main topic. My elective course has ended, and I gave a very high score to the report you submitted on the practical application of the mixed use of March power. So, what is the matter this time?"

"I have, I mean, the God-Awakener has roughly browsed through the notes left by Laplace Howard and discovered some valuable clues."

"Oh?"

She changed from her previous posture of leaning against the sofa to sitting upright, while Xia De requested to use the poetry manuscript pages to send a portion of the notebook content he had copied directly over.

Thus, Miss Danister had a student go to the Student Management Office to directly retrieve the notebooks Xia De had just transmitted. The one responsible for this "task" was the elf Emilia, whom Xia De could occasionally see at Miss Danister's place. When she came to deliver those notebooks, she even winked at Xia De with a smile.

And Miss Danister listened to Xia De introduce the situation while looking at the content of the notes:

"The information provided by the God-Awakener last month was not wrong. That complex Sun, Moon, and Star ritual array, which served as the core ritual of the 'Edwards God-Ascension Technique,' was indeed created by him based on the patterns on the back of the Luo De cards. This idea appeared before the diviner defected from the Divination Association, but the time point when the ritual pattern was completely constructed and perfected was probably between 1803 and 1805, which is about fifty years ago."

"This is very interesting. The ritual array on the ground of the Night Temple in Randall Valley, as well as the ritual array I discovered in the Karas Mountains, were formed long before fifty years ago."

Miss Danister said, and Xia De nodded. Therefore, it could be certain that the symbols remaining on those two ancient ruins were all related to the long-haired Luweiya and the "Past." Since the Night Temple could allow him to travel through time in violation of the rules, the high tower in the Karas Mountains should, theoretically, also be a backup plan left by the long-haired Luweiya for her next self in the Sixth Era.