The Akademiya's notice rippled through Gandharva Ville like a stone cast into still water. Rangers and scholars, far from the power center, whispered briefly about "abnormal information sources," then returned to their duties. The Void system still functioned smoothly, pushing filtered knowledge daily. Life, on the surface, was unchanged.
But Orien knew: beneath this calm, dark tides stirred.
Cyno's blade had been drawn. The only question was: from which direction would it strike first?
"I need to move faster." Pressure settled over him. Before the Akademiya or Matra locked onto him, he needed strength—and the next card to disrupt their plans.
He spent another 10,000 Break Value, converting it into raw power. His energy reserves and physique soared again, now surpassing even many Vision-bearers. He still lacked combat arts and bursts, but his immense energy pool gave him endurance unmatched.
He left 20,000 untouched, resisting the urge to gamble, and opened the upgraded system shop. Among the offerings, one caught his eye:
[Skill: Stealth and Concealment (Advanced) — Greatly reduces presence, blends into environment, evades most detection (including elemental perception). Cost: 8,000 Break Value.]
Perfect.
"Redeem."
Knowledge flooded in—how to breathe, move, and suppress energy flow. He melted into the shadows of the hut. Even he could barely sense his own presence.
"Worth every point." Orien grinned.
Now for intel. He recalled the shattered Void Terminal fragment.
[Shattered Void Terminal: A damaged fragment retaining a faint information-stream interface. With special means, may connect to the Void network backend (risk unknown).]
Dangerous—but irresistible.
"System, analyze and link. Pull data on recent hotspots, anomalies, and especially directives about the 'sky screen.'"
[Analyzing fragment… simulating protocol… low-level anonymous link established… connected.]
Information stormed into his mind—trivial debates, daily logs, public bulletins. The system filtered ruthlessly, extracting only what mattered.
[…Sky Screen… conclusion: neither elemental construct nor dream projection. Possible extradimensional interference. Threat level under review.]
[…Matra involvement confirmed. Priority surveillance on unusual entrants or suspicious behavior within Sumeru.]
[…Project acceleration ordered. Material collection facing resistance. Aaru Village unrest intensifies.]
[…Wisdom Lord directive: halt unnecessary Void access. Tighten "Canned Knowledge" control.]
[…Divine Knowledge extraction experiment #17 failed. Stability lacking. More "samples" required.]
[…Lesser Lord…]
Connection severed.
[Warning: High-level trace detected! Link forcibly terminated!]
Pain lanced through Orien's temples. Just a glimpse—and they nearly caught him.
Still, the haul was priceless.
"So. The Akademiya already labels the sky screen a threat. Cyno is investigating. Their 'god-making project' falters—short on materials and samples. Aaru Village resists. And… Canned Knowledge. That's the crack."
He recalled how Haypasia, through illicit Canned Knowledge, linked to Scaramouche's mind. A path worth probing.
But first, medicine. His head throbbed from the backlash.
"Gandharva Ville has the 'House of Health.' Time to visit."
The clinic sat on a quiet platform, its treehouses scented with herbs. Few patients waited.
Inside, a green-haired girl in nurse's attire organized medicine. She turned at his steps, smiling softly.
"Welcome. How can I help?"
Orien blinked. Collei. Out of uniform, gentler, more composed.
"Miss Collei? You work here?"
She flushed. "Y-yes. Master Tighnari asked me to assist, to learn carework… and interact more with people." Her voice faded shyly.
"That's great." Orien smiled. "I've had headaches, maybe from the storm and stress. Do you have something soothing?"
"Headaches? Please sit. I'll check."
She pressed lightly at his temples, cautious yet gentle. "Not severe. Likely tension and fatigue. I'll prepare balm of Mint and Calm Flower. Massage twice daily should ease it."
"Perfect, thank you."
As she prepared the mixture, the door slammed open.
A young woman in Akademiya garb stumbled in, pale, eyes hollow, muttering.
"Knowledge… wisdom… wrong… illusions… all illusions…"
"Faruzan-senpai?!" Collei rushed to steady her.
Faruzan clutched Collei's arm with desperate nails. "Canned… it's canned! Voices in my head! Too many voices, too much knowledge! My skull will burst! Help me!"
Canned Knowledge. As Orien suspected.
Collei tried to calm her. "Breathe! Focus on me! Orien, please call Master Tighnari! He's next door!"
"On it!" Orien sprinted out—just in time to meet Tighnari hurrying from another walkway, face grim.
"Mr. Orien?"
"The clinic—"
"I heard." Tighnari nodded, eyes dark. "Another case. Abuse of Canned Knowledge… it grows worse."
Inside, he and Collei worked swiftly, steadying Faruzan with sedatives. Her delirium broke into sobs:
"…Bought from Port Ormos black market… promised ancient rune knowledge… but chaos, desert visions, Scarlet King… and a giant puppet…"
Puppet. Scaramouche.
Orien's eyes narrowed. Confirmation—the Akademiya's plans and the Fatui's scheme bled into each other.
At last, Faruzan quieted, unconscious.
Tighnari emerged weary, anger flickering in his eyes. "Stable, for now. Third case this month. Those black-market Canned Knowledges are poison. Not just broken fragments—they carry dangerous will-shards."
He fixed Orien with a meaningful gaze. "Avoid them. Pursuing wisdom is fine. But stray, and you'll end like her."
"I understand. Thank you." Orien bowed, then, feigning curiosity: "But if it's banned, how—"
"Profit," Tighnari sighed. His ears drooped. "And… certain Akademiya trends… seem to tolerate it." He stopped short, unwilling to say more.
Collei brought Orien his balm. "Here, Mr. Orien. Twice daily. Massage gently."
"Much obliged." He paid, then left.
But his mind churned darker than ever.
The Akademiya's decay. The spread of Canned Knowledge. The god-making project. The Matra's hunt.
All threads converged. And Faruzan's screams were proof.
"Almost time."
Back in his hut, Orien summoned the system. From the Void fragment, he had snippets of secret reports. From the clinic, he had the raw voice of a victim.
"System, make a new trailer."
"Focus: Sumeru. Expose the black market of Canned Knowledge and its psychic rot. Show the victims' pain. Highlight the Akademiya's silence."
"End with title: The Poisoned Apple of Wisdom: Canned Knowledge, the Akademiya, and Fallen Scholars."
"And scroll Cyno's decree at the bottom."
A bomb, aimed straight at Sumeru's heart.
"Broadcast the trailer. Across the continent."
[Trailer generated. Distribution in progress.]
At his window, Orien smirked coldly.
"Looking for the anomaly, Cyno? Don't worry. I'll come to you."
(End of Chapter)
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