In Red Moon City, within an extremely spacious hall with a massive moon pattern carved on the ceiling, Nimrod sat on the highest seat, looking down at Vahar Soren, who stood respectfully below. He nodded with satisfaction.
After the crimson moonlight from the moon puppet entered the man's body, Vahar Soren had been polluted by the Primordial Moon. His entire being was now controlled by a newly born personality within him.
This was an irreversible fact. After all, even Mister Door and Roselle couldn't escape such pollution, let alone an Iron-blooded Knight.
From the beginning, Nimrod never intended to kill him. A living demigod could be useful in many ways.
Moreover, Vahar's identity as a member of the Soren family had considerable value. If utilized properly, he could help Nimrod gain certain benefits within Intis.
Furthermore, he was currently worried about the Ancient Scholar characteristic he lacked. He had leads on all the other characteristics he needed, but this Sequence 3 characteristic posed a significant problem.
The Diviner pathway was controlled by Antigonus and young Zaratul. The former was a half-mad Fool - approaching him would be pure suicide. The latter was trapped in the Misty Town, in the process of advancing to Secret Servant, serving as an experience package left by the Evernight for the protagonist.
Moreover, both were currently controlled by the Evernight. If he really went there, it would be quite ridiculous.
There was still a husky hiding in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, but that fellow was too cautious. Nimrod couldn't guarantee he could find Him.
Besides that, he could probably only obtain an Ancient Scholar's extraordinary characteristic from the Twilight Hermit Order. The Soren family influenced Intis's military and some parliamentary members, while the Twilight Hermit Order controlled most intelligence departments.
Through this connection, he could have Vahar Soren investigate the specific circumstances of relevant personnel or extraordinary characteristics, then use the "Planeswalker's" superior mobility compared to other Angelic pathways to forcibly seize those characteristics.
"I just don't know if I can still accommodate another Sequence 2 extraordinary characteristic. If possible, those sealed artifacts formed from Miracle Invoker characteristics aren't entirely out of consideration. After all, they should all contain an Ancient Scholar characteristic. If I can't accommodate them, I can still crush them into extraordinary characteristics and separate out the one I need."
Stroking his chin and considering the specific situations of those Miracle Invoker sealed artifacts from the original work, Nimrod quickly dismissed the idea.
Those sealed artifacts formed from Miracle Invoker characteristics were all sealed beneath the headquarters of various churches. He was certain that at least two Angels were stationed at each major church headquarters.
If he couldn't complete his objective in an extremely short time and got entangled by the arriving Angels, what awaited him would likely be divine descent.
The only Miracle Invoker characteristic he could obtain with some effort right now should be the Wishing Lamp in Bernadette's possession.
But Nimrod never intended to target this extraordinary characteristic from the start. Setting aside whether he could snatch it from Bernadette, who possessed the "Sage" and "Pale Emperor" sealed artifacts, the Wishing Lamp itself was quite problematic.
The main body of the Wishing Lamp wasn't the Miracle Invoker characteristic, but the Djinn sealed within it.
The Djinn itself was an Outer Deity, the "Son of Chaos" - the original source of both the "Black Emperor" and "Arbiter" pathways.
As one of the three Outer Deities directly conceived by the Original Creator, born simultaneously with the Mother Goddess of Depravity and the Mother Tree of Desire, the Son of Chaos was among the most powerful of all Outer Deities, with strength second only to the Pillars.
Yet such an existence had been completely swindled by the "Celestial Worthy of Heaven and Earth for Blessings" and trapped in a lamp as a chamber pot. This was truly disgraceful.
Those Miracle Invoker extraordinary characteristics sealed at the bottom of various sanctuaries also had various problems. Particularly one called "The Last Supper."
Just hearing that name, one could tell it was definitely related to the Ancient Sun God, that cosplay maniac, and absolutely problematic.
The name "Never-Ending Theater" reminded him of the Box of the Great Old Ones, which might also have issues.
Rather than struggling thanklessly against formidable opponents, it was better to pick some soft targets. It would just take a bit more time, and he could afford to wait.
Thinking of this, Nimrod spoke to the "reborn" Vahar Soren in a calm tone:
"Stay in Red Moon City for these few days. Wear a mask and follow Dean in handling some city affairs. You can return after the Intis Angels arrive in the Southern Continent. As for their interrogation of you, don't worry - unless a true god descends, they won't discover that you've already been reborn.
"After you return to Kadra, your main task is to lead the demigods stationed in the colonies to hunt down those Rose School of Thought demigods! I remember you have a cooperative relationship with a certain faction of the Numinous Episcopate? You can drag them into this war against the Rose School of Thought as well.
"It would be best if you could guide those two Angels to personally act against the 'Cursed King' and 'Divine Offspring.' If not, then shift the focus of the encirclement to those lower-sequence Rose School of Thought members. Kill as many of their forces as possible and reduce their sphere of influence.
"After the matter ends and you return to Intis, remember to investigate the intelligence departments and the Twilight Hermit Order. Find out if they still have any Ancient Scholars or Ancient Scholar characteristics, and report their specific intelligence to me.
"Through prayer, remember my honorific name: The Favored One of the Unique Crimson Moon, The Lord Who Roams Time and Space and Dimensions, The Eye That Watches Over the Mirror World, The Blank That Never Existed in the Past, The Great Savita Hermes."
"I obey your command, Your Highness."
Hearing Nimrod's instructions, this reborn Iron-blooded Knight crossed his hands over his chest in salute and responded respectfully.
He had never felt his condition was so good. Since gaining new life, the vigorous vitality filling his body made him feel as if he had returned to infancy, back to his mother's embrace. That feeling was so comfortable, so peaceful.
Moreover, whenever he entered deep meditation, he could hear the earnest teachings of a great existence.
He was telling him the meaning of life, the composition of the universe, the birth and decay of all things.
Seeing Vahar Soren's current state, Nimrod sighed, uncertain whether what he was doing was right.
"Alright, you may go."
Seeing the other transform into flames and disappear, leaving the hall, Nimrod chuckled, finding his earlier thoughts somewhat ridiculous.
A warmonger and colonist didn't deserve sympathy. Not killing him on the spot was already the greatest mercy he could show.
"Sigh, my biggest flaw is being too kind-hearted. I'll have to change that later."
Looking at the empty hall, Nimrod couldn't help but sigh, then his figure quickly faded and disappeared from the seat.