Tingen City, Awwa County, Loen Kingdom.
Zhou Mingrui, in his projected form, strolled through the crowd of passersby. He looked at the humans passing him with an empty gaze. They looked more like zombies than people.
It reminded him of modern times, when he would often walk and buy something late at night. He would encounter people exhausted from work, their condition exactly like zombies.
Zhou Mingrui looked up at the night sky where the crimson moon peeked from behind dark clouds.
It felt a bit surreal for him to see human life directly. Before, he could only watch from afar for fear of hurting them, but now, after the completion of the accommodation and the battle with the Celestial Worthy, Zhou Mingrui could move freely with his projection.
Zhou Mingrui had no specific destination. He just wanted to see humans up close so he could remember himself as a human.
Nighttime wasn't the best time, but it was suitable for him to move silently to watch Azulhod's actions.
Azulhod's owner surely still needed sleep as they hadn't become a Demigod yet, nor were they of the Sleepless pathway. So, now was his chance to inspect that annoying quill more closely.
However, Zhou Mingrui couldn't find Azulhod immediately. After all, it was part of the Ancient Sun God's Visionary pathway uniqueness. Thus, he needed a roundabout way to find it without the quill noticing.
In the silence of the night, he headed to a place where traces of Azulhod's owner had once been. This was based on spirit world information and the chaos caused by a released Wraith.
Zhou Mingrui didn't rush there because initially, he wanted to check on that unfortunate man named "Klein Moretti."
This projection's condition could vanish at any moment if he became unstable again, so he didn't want to use too much of his power beyond the limits of his consciousness.
On Daffodil Street, Zhou Mingrui stared at the window of Klein Moretti's room. He didn't plan to peek at a sleeping person. He just wanted to leave something as a gift.
It was one of the artifacts connected to a crimson star in Sefirah Castle.
If one day Klein Moretti faced life-threatening danger, the artifact would save him.
Zhou Mingrui pulled an object from the void, then sent it onto Klein Moretti's desk. The object was shaped like a charm, similar to the ones he gave Justice and The Hanged Man.
He even added words on a piece of paper beside the object. Words that read: "Use when you are in danger."
All of this process occurred without Zhou Mingrui needing to move from his current position outside the house. It was just a small thing, like a manifestation of a "miracle," that wouldn't drain his human side too much.
Perhaps it was a form of his responsibility for saving the poor man's life from the start. Regarding the other two people, Zhou Mingrui didn't care. They would remain ordinary humans, and he didn't need to pay them further attention.
After completing that small action, a slight ripple of emotion appeared, a sense of satisfaction as if he had finally done something "normal" and not "madness."
The fusion with the Celestial Worthy made his memories and impressions blurry. He sometimes thought of himself as the Celestial Worthy, but at other times he could finally remember himself as a human named "Zhou Mingrui."
The "madness" referred to was a wild desire to merge with everything, like the mistake the Celestial Worthy made by wanting to accommodate all existing sefirah.
Zhou Mingrui smiled and said softly to himself, "I won't make the same mistake."
A moment later, he frowned and rubbed his face. There was the sound of a sigh and a dry laugh.
"I am not Him," he whispered, trying to pull his focus back.
Minutes passed, his scattered focus returned, and he finally remembered his next destination.
With the spirit world, Zhou Mingrui could go to that place instantly without a long journey. This was called grafting his destination to the road in front of him temporarily.
As soon as he took a step, the surrounding scenery changed.
He was now at an abandoned ancient castle. An evil aura radiated from within.
"A descendant of Death?" Zhou Mingrui adjusted his glasses, then tapped the silver-inlaid cane he carried.
Immediately, he sensed a faint connection from the Wraith to someone in Tingen. No, it wasn't the owner of that annoying quill. Zhou Mingrui was certain the quill seemed to be monitoring this place, so he'd better not mess with the quill's game.
It would be too troublesome if the quill marked him.
As for someone who had some sort of connection with the Wraith...
Zhou Mingrui tracked it and found the person's residence. His interest was piqued, so he wanted to see the Death descendant connected to the Wraith.
Azik Eggers woke up from his chaotic dream with an expression of pain. Fragments of returning memories triggered excruciating pain while simultaneously filling the empty parts of his life.
He had a hunch that he would meet a figure who would help him regain his memories.
It started from the content of his dream where Azik saw a familiar ancient castle.
Azik hurriedly got up to paint the scene in his dream, afraid he would forget it.
His chaotic mind made him irrational, so he thoughtlessly painted on the wall using his own blood.
The bloody scribbles depicted the ancient castle in his dream.
When his scribbles were finished, Azik heard a tapping sound from behind, followed by someone's voice.
"A fine painting. Do you want to meet your child?"
Zhou Mingrui looked at the bloody painting with surprise and confusion.
It seemed this Death descendant's condition wasn't right.
He couldn't divine the cause right now because it required a large amount of divinity. Something related to Death, who almost became a Great Old One, was very dangerous information for his balance.
Upon seeing the person's appearance, his assumption was fulfilled. The Wraith turned out to be the child of the Death descendant in front of him.
The Death descendant turned and stared at him warily. He seemed to instinctively know that Zhou Mingrui was not a figure he could fight.
Zhou Mingrui pretended not to see his wariness and explained casually, "I'm interested in history and ancient relics, so I traveled around and found a castle like the one you painted. There is an evil ghost haunting it; it seems the Wraith is connected to you."
"Wraith?" The Death descendant frowned, and his expression turned terrible as if some memories were triggered.
A long time passed without further conversation until the Death descendant asked, "Where is that place?"
"Lamud Castle. You can go there right now and calm your child." Zhou Mingrui didn't wait for him to respond and immediately grafted the surroundings with the area around the ancient castle.
The Death descendant's expression shifted indescribably. There was pain from memory fragments, wariness, and shock, but no fear.
Zhou Mingrui was impressed because this was the first time he met someone who wasn't afraid of him.
Unlike the naive Miss Justice, the Death descendant clearly knew about him. Zhou Mingrui felt that tonight's journey was very interesting.
He generously pointed to the ancient castle and said, "Go there."
After all, he wouldn't interfere further and enter the quill's radar.
The quill might notice the Death descendant's arrival, but it wouldn't detect Zhou Mingrui's presence.
The Death descendant turned to the castle and, as if possessed, walked faster and faster toward it, as if something was calling him.
Zhou Mingrui watched from outside and heard the roar of the Wraith being soothed.
A strange sensation enveloped him, similar to when Miss Justice praised him for his advice on the selection exam.
The world had acknowledged his action and given him an anchor for his human side.
His pitch-black eyes changed slightly, with a small dot of light visible.
Zhou Mingrui closed his eyes to feel the sensation longer. Moments of himself as a human were triggered. His memories as a university student, discussing with friends and lecturers, then helping people in social activities.
When the sensation subsided, Zhou Mingrui's consciousness strengthened. He was now certain of the effect of the world's acknowledgment as his anchor, something that could make him human.
A long time passed until Zhou Mingrui opened his eyes to see the Death descendant standing not far from him.
The Death descendant's face looked pale, but there was a sense of relief radiating as if he had found a clue to his confusion.
The Death descendant bowed slightly toward him to show gratitude, then said softly, "You have helped me find a clue to regain my memories. Is there anything you want from me?"
Zhou Mingrui nodded and smiled. He had thought about this before meeting the Death descendant.
The identity of the Death descendant in front of him was a university lecturer, named Azik Eggers.
When the word "university" popped into his mind, he had a desire to try something.
He needed to be more active in interacting with humans, but he also had to ensure not to bring danger to them.
If there was someone who could guide him without being afraid of him, then that person was Azik Eggers.
With a respectful tone, Zhou Mingrui answered, "Be my teacher."
Azik Eggers was stunned where he stood. A figure more powerful than him asking to be his student?
He didn't believe it was just a joke because the figure said it respectfully and clearly not in jest.
From his perspective, the figure was shrouded in darkness; even his appearance wasn't clear. However, from his tone of voice, the figure was like a young man seeking guidance.
What kind of guidance would such a powerful figure want?
Azik considered this matter very important. On the other hand, he wanted to repay the figure for reuniting him with his child.
The figure seemed to see his hesitation, so he added, "I need someone to guide me to be human."
That was a shocking statement.
"I don't think I'm human either. After remembering a few things, I have lived for a long time," Azik replied, shaking his head helplessly.
"You have lived in human society, so you must know many things. I need that knowledge from you, someone who has lived for a long time but maintained his humanity." The figure extended his hand and revealed his name, "My name is Zhou Mingrui. Are you willing to be my teacher?"
Azik finally couldn't refuse the request because he had a hunch that this would be the beginning of a great change in this world.
Whether it was a good or bad change, it all started from his answer.
After a fleeting consideration of the unknown future, Azik shook the figure's hand and told him his name, "Azik Eggers. From now on, you are my student."
Notes:After reaching an agreement with Azik Eggers, who was now his teacher, Zhou Mingrui chose to follow him and listen to his story.
Even though he already knew and guessed several things based on feedback from the spirit world, hearing it directly from a descendant of Death still intrigued him.
It seemed Azik Eggers had calmed the Wraith in that ancient castle. In the end, he had a reunion with his deceased child.
As for the outcome, Zhou Mingrui didn't care too much because it was no longer his concern. He left the matter of the Wraith entirely to Azik Eggers.
They returned to Azik's residence, with Zhou Mingrui taking a seat while gazing at the crimson moon slowly emerging from behind the clouds.
Azik sat in the chair across from him, also looking out the window. It wasn't an awkward silence, but rather a tacit understanding between two powerful figures.
"I have recovered a few memories about figures like you. Since I am now your teacher, you can ask me anything. Of course, I will answer based on what I know," Azik began, shifting his gaze to Zhou Mingrui.
Zhou Mingrui's pitch-black eyes turned to Azik as he considered his words. Then, he asked, "Do you know Klein Moretti?"
That unfortunate man seemed to have a certain connection with Azik Eggers. Zhou Mingrui had caught a glimpse of it through divination.
As he suspected, Azik's expression turned worried as he answered, "He is my student at Khoy University; is there a problem with him?"
The case involving those three unfortunate people wasn't public knowledge, so clearly, Azik didn't know that Klein Moretti was involved with the Antigonus notebook.
The corners of Zhou Mingrui's mouth lifted. "He, along with two of his friends, performed a forbidden ritual because of the Antigonus notebook."
Zhou Mingrui didn't explain further, such as how that ritual had awakened him, for now, because Azik Eggers didn't need to receive information that was too overwhelming.
Azik frowned as he muttered the name Antigonus several times.
"That rings a bell, but I can't remember it clearly. Does Antigonus have something to do with you?" Azik clearly wasn't stupid, knowing Zhou Mingrui had intentionally mentioned Antigonus to test his reaction.
"You could say that. Klein Moretti and his two friends are safe for the time being, but I don't know what will happen to them later," Zhou Mingrui said with indifference, as their future fate would be determined by the annoying Azulhod.
He mentioned this to Azik with two purposes. First, he wanted Azik to pay special attention to Klein Moretti. Second, it also served as a warning to Azik that something was wrong in Tingen.
Azik understood the implied meaning and nodded. "I will watch over them."
Zhou Mingrui continued, "I might not interfere much with what happens in this city later, but if you need my help, you can contact me. Occasionally, I will come and ask for your advice on acting like a human. If I cannot come, I will send you a letter. I assume you must have a messenger."
If no problems involving his divinity arose, Zhou Mingrui could stroll around Tingen again in this projection form.
However, if something happened and he needed to stabilize himself, having someone who could guide him through letters was something he looked forward to.
Azik seemed to have expected this and took out a copper whistle from his coat pocket.
He handed the copper whistle to Zhou Mingrui, saying, "You can send letters to me with this."
Zhou Mingrui weighed the copper whistle for a moment, then put it away.
"Thank you. I won't disturb you any longer tonight. Until we meet again," he said as his figure gradually faded, becoming part of erased history.
Azik Eggers stared at the empty chair across from him for a long time.
Zhou Mingrui's consciousness returned to Sefirah Castle after his short stroll.
He sat in the high-backed chair as usual while examining the copper whistle from Azik Eggers.
There was something stored in that copper whistle—a part of the Death uniqueness.
He didn't plan on letting Evernight accommodate the Death pathway.
Since Azik Eggers was now his teacher, he certainly wanted to help his teacher become free from being a Vessel of Death and raise his sequence to become the new Death.
Zhou Mingrui wanted to prepare a bargaining chip to escape the arrangements of the Ancient Sun God and Evernight.
If he let them have everything, in the end, he would be the only one losing everything. As the saying goes, you can't bet on just one person and let your fate be decided by them.
It was exactly like if Evernight obtained the Death pathway, which could later control a part of the River of Eternal Darkness; then Zhou Mingrui would be dependent on her.
This didn't mean he was hostile to Evernight; he just wanted to make himself not part of their puppets.
.....
After considering when he would stroll around Tingen again, Zhou Mingrui finally glanced at the crimson star that continued to emit light.
It was time to look at that crimson star because his spirituality no longer warned him.
Zhou Mingrui pulled the crimson star out of concealment, then listened to the layered prayers filled with despair.
The prayers came from a young man who wanted to save his parents and the City of Silver.
"Forsaken Land," Zhou Mingrui muttered as he opened the connection and saw directly what the young man was doing at this moment.
When Zhou Mingrui saw the condition of the young man's parents, he knew they would die soon.
His spirituality didn't warn him this time, which confused him. Because it wasn't impossible for him to want to save the young man's parents.
Then, what was the problem with the previous time?
Was it because he hadn't been that stable yet?
After the short stroll to Tingen and receiving feedback from Azik Eggers, it seemed his human side had strengthened.
Zhou Mingrui watched the young man take a crystal ball, which connected him to the crimson star, and place it in his home while praying every day.
His parents' condition continued to worsen, and the young man grew more desperate.
Zhou Mingrui actually didn't want to carelessly save human lives again, but those layered prayers awakened his human side.
He closed his eyes for a moment to glimpse the young man's future, then with a thought, he pulled the young man's astral projection into Sefirah Castle.
Derrick Berg had received a warning from the Chief of the City of Silver Council that he must immediately kill his own parents, or they would become evil spirits.
He had delayed it until now, hoping for a miracle where his parents could be saved.
In one exploration on the outskirts of the City of Silver, his parents found a strange temple with that crystal ball. After several checks and finding no problems, the City of Silver Council didn't cleanse it and left it alone without taking the crystal ball.
Occasionally, patrol teams would pass by to check on it. Patrol teams had been warned not to carelessly offer prayers in any temple, so Derrick was the only one doing it out of a desperate attempt.
When he saw his parents return in a severely injured condition, and then was asked to immediately end their lives with his father's sword, Derrick fled to that temple.
His father had told him that the temple was very strange and might connect to an unknown and very dangerous existence.
However, whatever existence it was, Derrick felt it was better than getting no response from the god they worshipped, the Creator worshipped by the City of Silver, the god who had abandoned them in this cursed land.
Derrick dragged his father's blood-stained sword and came to the temple.
In front of the crystal ball, Derrick made a prayer from the bottom of his heart.
After receiving no response several times, Derrick began to give up, but he finally brought the crystal ball to his home because he could no longer go back and forth to the temple.
After all, upon inspection, there were no issues; the crystal ball wasn't a Sealed Artifact or a mystical item, it was just like an ordinary crystal ball with strange symbols.
The Chief allowed him to take the crystal ball after inspecting it personally. The Chief considered it a form of consolation for Derrick, who would soon carry out his duty to kill his parents.
The execution day finally arrived; Derrick prayed for the last time to the crystal ball in his home.
Just when he thought this was the end, that no god would save them, a red light suddenly appeared from the crystal ball and devoured him before he could scream.
.....
In a world of thick gray fog, Derrick looked around with a blank expression.
At that moment, he felt a gaze and turned toward where it came from.
His pupils trembled violently as he stared at the blurry figure hidden by the gray fog. The figure sat in a high-backed chair with a long table before him.
Derrick's body trembled as an instinctive reaction of fear. He was just an ordinary person now, but he could sense the figure was extremely dangerous.
However, he had been summoned here because the crystal ball exploded with red light.
If that figure was a mysterious, god-like existence, then his parents and the City of Silver might be saved.
With that thought, Derrick suppressed his fear and asked respectfully, "Are you a god?"
The figure observed him and answered after a moment of silence, "You can call me The Fool."
The figure neither denied nor confirmed Derrick's question. However, from his tone, which sounded indifferent, the figure might indeed be a god.
Derrick bent his legs, then bowed and pleaded, "Mr. Fool, please save my parents and the City of Silver. I will do anything you want. If you want my soul, I will give it."
He didn't dare look at the god-like figure, so he didn't see the figure shake his head.
"I don't need your soul. Regarding your request, it is you who saves them, not me. Stand up and sit here." The figure tapped the table to make Derrick lift his head.
Derrick didn't dare resist and sat in the designated chair.
Derrick looked at the corner of the table in front of The Fool and asked softly, "Mr. Fool, what must I do to save them?"
He knew that The Fool hadn't directly rejected his request, but also hadn't directly granted it. That meant there was still a solution to save his parents and the City of Silver.
At that moment, Derrick saw The Fool produce something from the void, and then the object flew in front of him.
Derrick saw a transparent square object like a charm with the symbol of a pupil-less eye and convoluted lines.
"You can transfer the severe injuries on your parents to other parts of their bodies that can bear it. That object is an artifact, so it has no limit on how many times it can be used. The negative effect is that I will know whoever uses it."
In short, whoever used it would be noticed by The Fool.
Derrick was very surprised that such an artifact existed. This was the first time he had heard of an artifact that could transfer severe injuries on vital body parts to non-vital parts.
Suddenly a problem arose: how would he explain the origin of this artifact to the Chief of the City of Silver Council?
As if knowing his thoughts, the figure continued kindly, "You can tell your Chief about me, but only him. He must not leak information about me to others without my permission. Do you understand?"
Derrick's eyes trembled and watered; he didn't expect the mysterious existence to be so reasonable and kind beyond his expectations.
As for how to explain to other council members, that would be the Chief of the City of Silver Council's business, not Derrick's.
The brownish-yellow-haired youth hurriedly nodded, then stood and bowed respectfully. "Mr. Fool, what must we do to repay this?"
He was certain the existence wouldn't give such an extraordinary artifact for free.
The figure tapped the table with his finger as if thinking about it.
After a few minutes of silence, during which Derrick inexplicably felt the figure looked confused, the mysterious existence answered, "I am interested in history and lost ancient civilizations. You and your Chief can provide any information regarding the history of ancient civilizations; if you find some relics, that would be better."
Was that equivalent to a damage transfer artifact?
Derrick didn't know because he himself wasn't sure what The Fool meant by ancient civilizations.
He didn't dare ask further and chose to ask the Chief of the City of Silver Council, who was more knowledgeable.
"I will convey it to the Chief," Derrick replied gratefully.
The Fool nodded. "Your second request cannot be granted directly. You need to find a way to free the City of Silver from that place. I can only tell you that there is an exit from the dark environment of the City of Silver; regarding where that place is, you need to find it yourselves. To do that, you need to become strong."
Derrick was surprised and joyful because that information meant there was a world out there that didn't have pitch-black darkness or danger lurking everywhere.
He had to tell his Chief immediately, and they needed to conduct further exploration to find that "exit."
Derrick had also thought about how to become strong. He was actually considered to choose the Giant pathway like the Chief of the City of Silver Council, but now his mind changed.
He wanted to be a guiding light for the people in the City of Silver to find that "exit." He wanted to be the sun that was only ever mentioned in the City of Silver's legend books.
Various thoughts raced through his mind as he just realized there were many chairs beside him and across from him. He immediately asked, "Mr. Fool, has anyone other than me ever come here?"
The figure confirmed, "They asked me to host a gathering they call the Tarot Club. They exchange information and necessary materials."
Derrick's eyes lit up. "Mr. Fool, may I participate?"
The Fool fell silent for a moment, then agreed, "Of course. Before that, you need to choose your codename like them from that pile of cards."
Derrick looked at the pile of tarot cards conjured in front of him. He didn't hesitate as he chose "The Sun" card.
He became the third member of the Tarot Club.
Notes:Forsaken Land...
Zhou Mingrui thought of that cursed place which had been sealed off from the outside world. Even some orthodox gods couldn't recklessly go there, or they would be corrupted.
In that place, there was also an entrance to the Western Continent, shrouded in gray fog.
"It's not the right time." Zhou Mingrui shook his head slowly, stopping his wandering thoughts.
After sending The Sun back to the real world with the artifact, Zhou Mingrui considered for a moment whether it was time for him to reveal his honorary name.
His humanity was growing stronger, and he was far more stable than when he first awakened in this era.
Now, the two charms he gave to Justice and The Hanged Man might have another use one day. They would protect them at critical moments, like the charm he gave to Klein Moretti.
However, the problem was that Zhou Mingrui had to create a new honorary name. Not part of the Celestial Worthy that he used to use.
If he revealed the Celestial Worthy's honorary name, which would indeed still refer to him, it might cause great turmoil in the real world.
Whether it was the orthodox gods or the Outer Gods, they would think the Celestial Worthy who had awakened, not him.
They didn't know that Zhou Mingrui had reached a limited agreement with the Celestial Worthy. Even that was beyond the predictions of the Ancient Sun God and Evernight.
Regarding the Celestial Worthy's scheme, it was still a perfect resurrection, but it still required the right time, which was why the Celestial Worthy allowed him to take over.
In the end, Zhou Mingrui knew that in their battle, the Celestial Worthy had won.
Who could guess the intentions of the most cunning god like the Celestial Worthy?
Zhou Mingrui only had limited time to experience being human. So, he wanted to utilize that time well and increase his humanity for the second round of battle with the Celestial Worthy later.
Zhou Mingrui's fusion with the Celestial Worthy came at a great price: losing his human side until only divinity remained, influenced by traces of the Celestial Worthy's consciousness.
Occasionally, if Zhou Mingrui let his guard down, he might become the Celestial Worthy. That was why, for a long time until he managed to gather a few traces of humanity, he confined himself in Sefirah Castle to deal with that madness.
Now, he had many options for what he could do with an interesting discovery. The world's acknowledgment of his actions in saving or changing human fates turned out to provide him with an anchor for humanity.
It felt like he was pulling off a massive scam and deception against fate. So, the change and acknowledgment were like the audience's applause for a great performance that turned fate upside down.
That was what was called god acting. The world's acknowledgment was the same as the faith of followers. Similar to the abstract Wheel of Fate pathway, where their anchor lay in the acknowledgment of fate.
Zhou Mingrui felt he increasingly understood various things he had previously missed. He tapped the table with his fingertips, clearing some chaos in his mind and pulling memories of several important things to note.
The corners of his mouth lifted as his gaze finally shifted to the cluster of crimson stars hidden in the gray fog.
A fleeting thought materialized onto the parchment in front of him. There, his new honorary name was written as The Fool, his current identity which was not part of the Celestial Worthy.
"The Fool that doesn't belong to this era,
The mysterious ruler above the gray fog,
The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck."
This new honorary name wouldn't be detected anytime soon as long as the Tarot Club members didn't spread it carelessly. Zhou Mingrui could prevent information from spreading through the spirit world, so there was still time to prepare if he had to face other gods.
Zhou Mingrui made the parchment disappear, then closed his eyes to rest. Even though sleep wasn't enough to restore his humanity in large amounts, it could calm his raging spirituality.
If he used his spirituality too much, he wouldn't know when he might suddenly become the Celestial Worthy without realizing it.
After all, that was the result he had predicted, and all his efforts were still worth it.
He wanted to be human again.
The City of Silver was shrouded in darkness, with only occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the surroundings.
Derrick watched the ball of light shatter into small pieces, then red light seeped into his hand, forming an invisible connection between him and the entity called The Fool.
It wasn't over; the red light in his hand didn't disappear but grew brighter and seemed to manifest an object from the void of history.
Derrick caught the object, which was an artifact from The Fool. Initially, he thought he would have to hold a sacrificial ritual to receive it, but apparently, it wasn't needed.
Somehow, The Fool sent it directly to him without going through normal procedures.
Also, Derrick didn't know The Fool's honorary name yet; the existence seemed to intentionally hide it, so Derrick didn't dare ask.
Derrick was only told that he could participate in the Tarot Club when the time came. He would be given a warning a few moments before the Tarot Club started to prepare himself.
It took a long time for Derrick to gather his thoughts from the shock. Then, he remembered the urgency of his parents' condition and the warning from the Chief of the City of Silver Council.
Derrick hurriedly gathered the shattered pieces of the ball along with the artifact, then rushed to meet the Chief of the City of Silver Council, Colin Iliad.
.....
In the office of the Chief of the City of Silver Council, Colin Iliad received an unexpected surprise from Derrick's visit.
His eyes observed the shattered pieces of the light ball, which contained no evil whatsoever. Then they shifted to the object called the damage transfer artifact.
He fell silent for a long time after listening to Derrick's honest account, and his face changed slightly upon hearing the entity's warning.
Only he was allowed to know, and he was not permitted to spread it. This was different from the evil gods Colin knew.
Evil gods and dangerous entities would be happy if their names were spread so there would be more blood sacrifices for them.
This entity called The Fool was not simple and seemed far more dangerous than ordinary evil gods. That was because The Fool still possessed rationality with unknown schemes.
Although Colin was extremely wary, he didn't show it on the surface and gave Derrick praise for his honesty. That child had great potential to free the City of Silver from this cursed land.
Colin understood the entity's arrangement in intentionally sending Derrick to be the liaison. It was a signal of cooperation. regarding what The Fool actually wanted, Colin would prepare for the worst possibility.
For the time being, he would choose to gamble. He would gamble his own safety for the City of Silver.
Derrick was just a liaison, so the one The Fool was actually targeting was him, the leader of the City of Silver.
There must be something or a certain relic The Fool wanted, according to what Derrick said.
The Fool wanted knowledge of ancient civilizations along with their relics.
Colin remembered something and stared at the artifact Derrick brought. He then said in a deep voice, "Let's meet your parents."
First, Colin would verify the artifact's function.
....
Sounds of groans of pain could be heard from the two coffins in the room. The coffins were closed to avoid seeing the condition of the people inside who had gruesome wounds.
Medical treatment in the City of Silver couldn't heal fatal severe wounds, so the worst outcome was for them to wait for death and be killed by their relatives to avoid becoming evil spirits.
Derrick's body trembled upon hearing those sounds of pain, and he immediately looked at the Chief to ask for permission to use the artifact.
Colin held the artifact and had examined its function. He saw no other side effects besides what Derrick had reported.
Being watched by an unknown entity like The Fool was clearly not a good thing, but saving lives was indeed far more important.
If something happened, Colin would take responsibility to atone for it because he chose to bet hope on the possibility of the entity's help.
Colin stepped forward and opened the lids of the two coffins. He signaled for Derrick to stay in his place near the door without needing to look at his parents' condition right now.
Derrick was just an ordinary person now, not yet a Beyonder; clearly, the one responsible for using the artifact was Colin.
Colin's eyes shone to see the points of fatal wounds and locations that could be transferred. He channeled his spirituality into the artifact and felt a sensation like connecting with something distant and endless.
That feeling was only for a moment, but it gave Colin immeasurable fear. He instantly felt like he was being watched right now.
His vision changed with the addition of red and white dots at the locations of fatal wounds. If he dragged the red color to the white dot, then the fatal wound would move.
That knowledge was sent to his mind by the entity through the artifact.
Colin moved his hand and touched the fatal wounds on their bodies, then moved them to their arms. A cracking sound appeared, and Colin saw their arms break horribly, while the fatal wounds on their vital organs vanished as if they had never existed.
His pupils trembled violently as he felt that this artifact was truly far more valuable than he thought.
It was like the first life-saving artifact for the City of Silver.
After their wounds were suddenly transferred, their groans subsided, replaced by sighs and hisses.
"What... What happened?"
"How did the wounds disappear?"
Both of Derrick's parents stared at their respective arms in shock and checked for the fatal wounds that were previously there, but had now vanished.
"Chief, what is this? Is this a healing artifact?"
They finally saw Colin stunned in his place.
Colin gripped the artifact tightly and said, "You must go to the healing hall to treat your arms immediately. I will share information regarding the new artifact at the Council meeting."
He turned and nodded briefly at Derrick, then rushed out toward his office. He needed to prepare a reasonable explanation for the other Council members without mentioning The Fool.
On the other hand, Derrick looked at his parents with teary eyes. His hanging heart finally fell in relief and gratitude.
"Derrick!"
Derrick ran to them and hugged them.
In his heart, he held deep gratitude for The Fool. He would definitely bring the City of Silver out of this cursed land toward a better world.
In his sleep, Zhou Mingrui felt the artifact being used, but he didn't need to wake up to supervise directly. He would just keep the recording to watch later.
After all, without his supervision, the artifact still functioned as it should. With a small part of authority in that artifact, namely Grafting and Fooling, Zhou Mingrui finally found a use for an artifact that had long been in his pile of collections.
He used to make that artifact for his old followers; unfortunately, they didn't need it, so he threw it into the trash pile, no, his collection of useless items.
Finally, the artifact had a great use and was considered valuable, at least for now.
Zhou Mingrui felt an emotion called satisfaction. It made him feel his efforts to help the kid from the Forsaken Land were not in vain.
He might share that feeling with his teacher, Azik, to know if he had done something right.
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