Chapter 45
**Chapter 48: The First Past Simulation and "Old Friends" (Dawn)**
"Reality"
"June 18, 741 AD, 18:28"
"Evaluation: The ways you can die are really increasing, aren't they?"
"Is it beautiful, the Otherworld? If used wisely, it can bring you unexpected rewards. Lucky you, you survived."
"Clearly, you could have unlocked an ending where you lived to the end—following that bishop back to the Vatican. But you chose a more dramatic death. Too bad you didn’t get to see the splash when you fell into the water; I can only give that a zero."
"Take this; it’s what you deserve based on your performance."
"Reward: Fate Points *8"
"Fate Points: 29"
Xia Er gradually awakened from the unbearable ringing in her ears, returning to reality. Without the protection of the Glimmering Bishop, her mind still hadn’t fully recovered from the remnants of the Otherworld.
But there was no more time for her to dwell on it. She had already informed Aivina of her reporting plan, and she didn’t know when Aivina would meet her end. Without a contact, her sister’s survival would be at risk.
She quickly opened the system and accessed the points shop, soon spotting what she wanted.
"[Otherworld Page (Bloodstained, Damaged, No Information)]"
"Fate Points: 3"
"[Bishop's Handwritten Letter (Includes Church Emblem)]"
"Fate Points: 5"
"[Gaze of Death (Awakened)]"
"Fate Points: 128"
"......"
The bishop's emblem might be a supernatural item, so it made sense that removing its mark would cost 5 points.
But why did the Otherworld Page cost 3 points? Wasn’t it something she had written herself?
And the Gaze of Death... it was even more expensive than the potion.
Xia Er tentatively clicked on the Gaze of Death, and a more detailed description appeared before her eyes.
"[Gaze of Death (Awakened)]: A special sealed item. Once awakened, within a 7-meter radius, or after 21 days of awakening, it will explosively enhance all diseases, parasites, and viruses within a 700-meter radius, with effects gradually decreasing from the center outward. If left untouched for 7 days after the outbreak, it will automatically deactivate."
"Side Effects: The holder's metabolic rate will accelerate, gradually increasing to 14 times the original rate."
The triggering conditions were laid out before Xia Er.
The first simulation, which would occur 16 days later, would likely coincide with the first outbreak of infection. Someone had placed the sealed item, the Gaze of Death, in the sewer and awakened it on June 13.
The second simulation's outbreak would correspond to the first triggering condition—someone had come within 7 meters of it. That person was Adele, whose body still lay in the sewer.
If the murderer had indeed hung the item in the sewer and awakened it on June 13, waiting for the complete outbreak on July 4, then the ritual planner likely drank the potion on June 13, as they couldn’t be sure no one would enter the sewer, especially in a chaotic area like Bell Tower Alley.
As long as she returned to the past before June 13, she would have a chance to expose the ritual planner who drank the potion...
If the ritual was disrupted after drinking the potion, and if they witnessed everything without being harmed by the potion, they would definitely come looking for Xia Er.
The premise was that Xia Er had to thoroughly disrupt the ritual.
What Xiu said about the "toxicologist" and their pathological narcissism towards the poisons they created might just be the key to Xia Er's breakthrough.
Time was of the essence.
She opened the simulation interface and looked at the past simulation.
"[Past: 6 Days (June 12, 741 AD, 11:30) (Cost: 10 Fate Points)]"
Xia Er frowned slightly.
Although it wasn’t a return to the past of dozens or hundreds of days, this timing was still a bit ambiguous.
Six days ago, the ritual planner might not have consumed the potion yet. If she startled them, they might abandon all their previous plans and choose not to drink the potion to avoid exposure.
At this noon hour, she would have to act by the next morning, June 13, at the latest.
She could only pray that by then, the planner had already drunk the potion.
Xia Er exited the simulation interface.
She exchanged the Otherworld Page and the Bishop's Handwritten Letter, placing them in her "Warehouse," leaving her with only 21 Fate Points.
If she had indeed startled the planner, she would take another look at the Otherworld Page to see where that dual-eyed radiance was.
If the planner hadn’t started drinking the potion yet, that radiance would definitely be in their hiding place, in the place they deemed safest.
Being able to pinpoint their hiding place would essentially lock in their identity.
Xia Er took a deep breath.
"Past, No. 2."
Xia Er didn’t know at which point in the future the mole would receive news, nor did she know when Aivina would be dealt with. All she could do was hurry, and hurry even more.
...
"[Past]"
"June 12, 741 AD, 11:30"
"Countdown -23:59:59"
A white light flickered before Xia Er's eyes. When she opened them again, the night outside had turned to day, and she was no longer at home.
At that moment, Xia Er was sitting at the back of a long table, while below her was a wide podium. She could only hear the teacher's lecture and the soft whispers of some students.
She quickly opened the system to confirm that the items she had exchanged were still safe in the warehouse. Then, she stood up from her seat, grabbed her bag, and hurriedly made her way down the steps toward the exit.
"Xia Er? What’s wrong?" The male teacher on stage looked at her in confusion, a hint of bewilderment flashing through his mind.
When did Xia Er cut her hair?
Am I seeing things?
That girl, usually so serious in class, was now just walking out with her backpack. The noble children wouldn’t dare to act so brazenly.
"Sorry, I’m not feeling well. I’m taking the day off." Xia Er didn’t look back, leaving only those words behind, along with a stunned teacher.
"Uh... is that Xia Er?"
"Did I see that wrong? When did she become so... arrogant?"
"She looks so cool..."
The classroom buzzed with chatter, but soon quieted again when the teacher tapped the podium.
At that moment, Xia Er quickly exited the campus and boarded a public carriage heading to the outskirts of Bell Tower Alley, arriving there shortly.
Since she needed to cause some disruption, she had two plans, but each required her to check things out in person and seek help from an "old friend."
Ten minutes later...
Xia Er arrived at Bell Tower Alley, stopping after turning a corner. About ten seconds later, a tall, thin man wearing a newsboy cap turned into the alley.
He seemed unaware of Xia Er leaning against the wall of the alley, trying to walk past her, but the short knife hidden at his waist fell to the ground with a sharp clatter.
He quickly bent down to pick it up, but the next moment, he found the knife slowly floating in front of him.
"Bo Er, where is Solari?" Xia Er's calm voice came from behind him, sending a chill down his spine.
What... is happening?
Bang—
The blade slammed into the wall beside him, embedding itself halfway into the red brick, the sound startling Bo Er so much that he trembled.
"I’m giving you three seconds to lead the way."
"3..."
"I’ll take... I’ll take you..." Bo Er nodded repeatedly, feeling an invisible force tightening around his throat.
A devil... it’s a devil...
**Chapter 49: I’m Here to Help You Complete the "Instigator" Ritual (Sixth Update)**
After witnessing the supernatural power, Bo Er had no intention of playing tricks. He led Xia Er directly to the Black Water Bar.
Even at noon, the Black Water Bar was still bustling, but when the newsboy-hatted man and Xia Er entered, the entire bar fell silent, all eyes turning to them.
At that moment, Solari, surrounded by a crowd, maintained a calm expression, though the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Bo Er, come here." Solari slowly raised his head and spoke to Bo Er.
Bo Er's legs trembled, and he stood frozen in place. Even when Solari spoke, he didn’t dare to move an inch.
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