Chapter 297: Vyke's Finger Maiden
Both Wuxin and Wushang frowned, especially Wuxin. He felt that Ten'i's state was becoming more and more wrong. She used to just have a somewhat peculiar personality, with logic in thinking about problems different from ordinary people.
But now, seeing how Ten'i communicated with Mercenary Tao, he felt that these two were becoming somewhat similar.
Kaito Shirogane and Ten'i seemed oblivious to the strangeness of the others, or rather, they didn't care.
Kaito Shirogane took the tea from the woman's hand, and Ten'i took the opportunity to say:
"The so-called [Tarnished] can be considered a special title. It won't be bound by the Golden Order. Of course, the power of Grace is no longer that strong, but it still retains the two most important characteristics."
"First, possessing the characteristic of [Return to the Erdtree]. As long as there is a Golden Erdtree alive in the world, the Tarnished can be resurrected through the Golden Erdtree after death."
"Second, under the guidance of a Maiden, the Tarnished can also use the power of Runes to strengthen their abilities."
Kaito Shirogane drank the tea. It wasn't particularly delicious, just had a faint fragrance.
He turned his head to look at the Golden Erdtree outside the window and didn't continue asking about the [Tarnished] title. Instead, he changed the subject.
"How did [9527] get this thing, and how was it destroyed?"
Although Godskin · Minoru Hiranaka's strength was mediocre, it was because he was just an ordinary person with low strength, without special bloodline enhancement. Moreover, the Golden Erdtree in the Naruto world had just been planted, and he hadn't received much grace.
But for [9527] to seize multiple Golden Erdtree saplings, they must have gone to a world where the Golden Order was flourishing.
In places like the Lands Between, Dragon Lords and Giants were successively flattened by the Golden Order army. Even Outer Gods could be sealed. To snatch such a huge harvest in that kind of world was simply not something a farming team famous only in the Second or even Third Tier could do.
Ten'i didn't hide it. The dust had settled on this matter. all the turmoil was just a means for her to thoroughly flatten those farmers of [9527] and the subsequent greedy information brokers and diviners.
"Mr. Mercenary Tao probably also wants to ask me how I, a mere slave, successfully counter-killed those veteran Reincarnators..."
When she said this, her eyes looked towards the imposing Kiyoshi Ri. Kiyoshi Ri also sensed the woman's gaze. Her expression became colder. This woman was indeed similar to Mercenary Tao, radiating a special malice anytime and anywhere.
Just like this look, it was obviously trying to sow discord between her and Mercenary Tao.
She was implying that she (Kiyoshi) might also counter-kill Mercenary Tao.
Kiyoshi Ri appeared docile, but to say she had completely submitted was naturally impossible. However, having this thought pointed out in advance still made her lower her eyelids.
Wushang became increasingly curious about this masked woman. This powerful aura didn't seem like an unknown person. He was thinking about which well-known Reincarnator had recently gotten involved with Mercenary Tao or disappeared.
Kaito Shirogane sipped his tea, looking composed, completely ignoring this provocation. In his view, the lively thoughts of these people were all useless efforts.
In this world, only power was real and true.
He could dominate Kiyoshi Ri not because of the contract, but because he defeated Kiyoshi Ri. If it was so back then, it was even more so now that he had become much stronger.
He was stronger, so he was the master.
Ten'i seemed to just mention it casually, without intention to provoke. She continued to explain.
"Many times, even if I have nothing, as long as I can make others believe that I can grant them many things in the future, then those people will be influenced by me..."
With just a few words, Kaito Shirogane understood this woman's method. Just like in the Naruto world, this woman was probably very adept at information, situation judgment, and strategy.
She was a typical "Intellectual" type Reincarnator in traditional infinite flow stories.
Therefore, she helped [9527] find a way to trigger hidden missions and events with extremely high rewards, and finally obtained the rewards accompanied by some sacrifices.
For a farming team, there wasn't much friendship between members. Sacrificing a very small number of people to gain greater benefits was easily accepted by the team.
This woman was like this, weakening [9527] bit by bit, while accumulating wealth for the team and making her "strategy" trusted by the team.
In the end, with just a little bit of news, [9527], which had reduced personnel but possessed excessive resources, collapsed and became the target of hunting.
Snap!
Ten'i rubbed her fingers and snapped them. A woman wearing a long robe, with white cloth hanging down from both sides of her hat to cover her neck, walked out from behind the Golden Erdtree.
A [Slave Shackle] hung around the woman's neck, but unlike those plot characters seen in the market who were used as sex slaves, this woman had spirited eyes. Obviously, she was an expensive type brought out along with [Information] such as thoughts, experiences, and abilities.
This was a Finger Maiden, a maiden who believed in the [Two Fingers], possessing the ability and responsibility to guide the Tarnished.
"When exactly will you let me go back? Vyke will go crazy if he can't see me. I must guide him... He is the man who will eventually become the Elden Lord..."
The woman's figure was somewhat shrinking, holding her hands in front of her chest, which was a sign of fear.
But when the woman mentioned the man named [Vyke], there was light in her eyes.
Seeing this performance, Kaito Shirogane had a strange look in his eyes.
Tsk, the would-be Lord Vyke's maiden, huh...
Wuxin immediately stepped forward to explain, but Wushang walked over roughly, grabbed the Maiden's hand, and under the golden light, he obtained the ability to exchange Runes for power.
The Maiden looked very reluctant, but Wushang simply said:
"You don't want Vyke to eventually go crazy seeing only your corpse, right?"
This petite Maiden then obediently guided the power of Grace for him.
This way of adjusting blessings through a Maiden was a helpless move for the warriors of the Golden Order in the Lands Between after losing Grace, but it was the most ideal way for Reincarnators.
Hearing the name Vyke, Kaito Shirogane also understood the timing of [9527]'s entry, and even roughly guessed the woman's method.
It was nothing more than utilizing the powerful strength of the Ancient Dragons and the Golden Order to maneuver among political groupings, and when the Elden Ring shattered, waiting for an opportunity to act, successfully "stealing" the reward. Before leaving, she captured the Maiden of Vyke, the powerful Dragon Knight who had the potential to become the new Elden Lord.
Light flashed in Kaito Shirogane's hand. It was the Golden Rune that Ten'i traded to him earlier.
He played with this Golden Rune and didn't rush to ask about the [Tarnished] milestone. Instead, he suddenly asked:
"You are very afraid of me. Why?"
This question was very abrupt. Even Wuxin, who was comforting the Finger Maiden, turned his head, not understanding what madness Mercenary Tao was up to again.
Only Ten'i knew Kaito Shirogane's true meaning.
Indeed, Mercenary Tao had a fierce reputation. It was normal for ordinary Reincarnators to be afraid of him.
But ordinary Reincarnators would at most think of not offending him or not approaching him.
But this woman was different. Whether in the Naruto derivative world or back in the Space, this woman behaved overly attentively, as if she was very afraid of his dissatisfaction.
Gifting Golden Runes, sharing large events, and actively bearing the risks caused by large events.
This almost fawning attitude wasn't like the action of an "Intellectual," or rather, a true "Intellectual" must have seen a reason why she had to do this to make such a choice.
What Kaito Shirogane asked was exactly what Ten'i saw.
Ten'i thought for a moment and nodded. She raised her right hand and suddenly shared an information panel.
[Talent: Rat - 2nd Stage (Hundred Click) (Similarity 94%) (S-) — A special soul grants you the ability to intervene in the probabilistic world. You can foresee multiple world lines based on your own spirit and make choices. Unchosen world lines will disappear. Observing the probabilistic world will cause damage to your brain and spirit. Continuous observation will cause deviation to your own existence. Observing the same world multiple times will generate probabilistic entropy. Excessively high probabilistic entropy will lead to the disappearance of your own world line.]
"Mr. Mercenary Tao, you are very abnormal. I guess you also sensed your own abnormality. Although you don't know it, because of this talent, I thoroughly felt your terror in the Naruto world."
"I am not some intellectual. I just chose the only correct answer after hundreds of trials and errors. That's all."
"And, Mr. Mercenary Tao, your talent seems not to have stabilized yet?"
"I know too well the power of a talent that is difficult for the Space to anchor once it finally takes shape. Mr. Mercenary Tao, my fear of you is a reasonable and correct choice."
Ten'i said a lot in one breath. Kiyoshi Ri finally raised her eyes at this time, looking seriously at this woman who was also somewhat psychologically twisted. The other party was indeed very smart. At least, she hadn't realized this before fighting to the death with Mercenary Tao.
Kaito Shirogane also noticed the words [2nd Stage] in the woman's talent. He remembered the Goddess hinting to him before that he should choose to let Her help him anchor his talent and choose to advance.
That was a path to become strong quickly.
Now seeing this woman's 2nd Stage talent, the power of this effect indeed somewhat overturned his cognition of [Talent Abilities].
Almost more exaggerated than the Chosen Ones he had seen.
Although the ability [Rat] in [Juni Taisen] could be considered a "BUG," considering the limitation of the user's own strength ceiling in that world, it wasn't invincible in the end.
But in the hands of special beings like Reincarnators who could continuously strengthen themselves as long as they didn't die, this talent that could fully allow for trial and error and then choosing the optimal solution was, in a sense, invaluable.
Kaito Shirogane's eyes shifted to the woman. The greedy malice emitted in that instant was captured by Ten'i.
What a truly greedy monster... Mercenary Tao.
(End of Chapter)
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