Chapter 58
“There are some, but not many. Once you reach a certain level of nobility or wealth, some people can learn a few secrets, but the number of those who choose to become extraordinary is very small,” Aivina explained. “The mortality rate is too high, and not everyone is qualified to pursue a certain path. If things go awry, it could spell disaster for an entire family.”
“If you go through all that trouble just to become a first-tier extraordinary, you still risk being shot, and you have to endure the torment of whispers day and night... Not everyone can accept that outcome.”
So that’s how it is.
Those in lower classes can’t access it, and those in the middle tier are often unwilling to take the risk. Families like Aivina’s, which are involved in the extraordinary, are few and far between.
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at Aivina’s home. Charles didn’t get out with her since she had nothing to take with her.
The second-tier “Judicator” potion and her personal belongings were safely stored in the guest room, far safer than carrying them out.
After buying the appropriate potions at Dutton Manor, Charles would need to start considering his promotion in the simulations.
From previous simulations, Charles had roughly figured out a few conditions for gaining destiny points within them.
Breaking the predetermined death yielded the most stable rewards, followed by killing above one’s tier, then exceeding the requirements of the replication ritual, exploring things like touching the “Otherworld,” and finally, doing nothing at all, which earned a consolation prize from the system.
To ensure he could consistently earn more destiny points than needed in each simulation, achieving a balance, Charles knew he had to put effort into the replication ritual.
Even for a first-tier ritual, it had to be grandly organized to maximize the destiny points earned.
Then, in each simulation, he aimed to complete as many second-tier “Judicator” replication rituals as possible. He hadn’t yet opened the sealed letter regarding the ritual requirements, planning to organize everything after his shopping was done.
After about five minutes of mentally planning his path to strength, Aivina returned, holding a handbag, and climbed back into the carriage. The “Crown Guard” Nia, who had accompanied her, took a seat next to the driver.
“Here you go,” Aivina said, handing the elegant black handbag to Charles. “It has anti-theft features, but still, be careful while you’re holding it.”
“Got it.”
Charles took the bag with both hands, suppressing his excitement as he slowly unfastened the golden clasp and opened the small bag.
Inside lay a neat stack of hundred-pound Su banknotes, quietly resting.
Charles slowly reached out his right hand, grasping the stack of Su banknotes, feeling their weight and thickness, a wave of indescribable satisfaction washing over him.
So much money...
He resisted the urge to smell the bills, awkwardly fastening the clasp again to protect the bag.
Across from him, Aivina watched Charles clutching the handbag with an adorable expression. Though her face remained impassive, she began to ponder something silently.
Charles... seems really interested in money...
It was a pity he was still wearing a mask; she couldn’t see his face. He must look as cute as a cat guarding its food, right?
“Charles, let me see that potion Adele gave you,” Aivina said.
“Sure.” Charles pulled the vial from his pocket and handed it to Aivina.
After a quick inspection and a test with a tool, Aivina returned it to Charles, saying, “It’s safe to drink.”
Charles took the potion, lifted his mask slightly, and downed it in one go before putting the mask back on.
“Take off your mask first,” Aivina said, a bit exasperated. “Put the bag aside, come over here, and I’ll help you disguise yourself.”
“Okay.” Charles moved to sit beside Aivina, removing his mask.
“Turn around.”
Aivina adjusted Charles’s position by holding his shoulder, then pulled out a crystal potion bottle and a hair tie from her waist pouch.
The liquid inside was a grayish-blue, emitting a slight mist. After removing the cap, she poured the liquid over Charles’s head.
Charles felt a slight coolness on his scalp and curiously asked, “What is this?”
“Dye potion,” Aivina replied. “Made from some spiritual materials, it can change your hair color, giving you a certain extraordinary aura. It’s easy to shape and won’t damage your hair.”
Charles had intended to ask how much it cost, but remembering who Aivina was, he held his tongue.
For a true heiress of a super family, the concept of money didn’t exist.
If something could be solved with money, it wasn’t worth worrying about.
After Aivina finished dyeing Charles’s hair, she seemed unsatisfied and began to braid it. Using a black satin ribbon, she quickly tied a small ponytail on either side of his head, then curled the ends with her fingers.
Looking at his reflection in the carriage window, Charles noticed that while his hair color and style had only slightly changed, his entire aura felt completely different.
If the previous Charles had seemed more mysterious and dangerous, now he exuded a regal composure, resembling a true heiress—though judging from a financial perspective, one who was about to go bankrupt.
“Done?”
“Done.”
After hearing this, Charles put on his mask and returned to his seat across from Aivina, leaving her with a look of disbelief. She muttered softly, “I didn’t even get to see it…”
But Aivina didn’t dwell on it for long; there was plenty of time ahead. She prepared to explain to Charles about the place they were heading to.
“Charles, once you become a member and exchange your chips with us, they’ll require you to participate in a game,” Aivina explained in detail. “At that point, just choose a simple card game and lose 50 pounds worth of chips. That’ll be your entry fee.”
“There’s a rule like that?” Charles felt a pang of sympathy upon hearing this.
50 Su pounds... It was something he wouldn’t have dared to think about before, and now he was just going to hand it over...
“There’s no choice; they have the most comprehensive offerings and can guarantee relative safety,” Aivina shook her head. “If you really had materials that were impossible to find elsewhere, you wouldn’t think their entry and handling fees were expensive.”
After hearing all this, Charles’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
Just then, the carriage returned to the private clinic. After picking up Adele, it turned around and sped toward Dutton Manor.
The carriage headed away from the center of Boleyn City, eventually leaving the city and following the cobblestone road leading to the woods, heading toward a small hill.
This was Creek Mountain, which Charles recognized. After all, Boleyn City was primarily flat, with only some hills nearby, and the closest mountain was Creek Mountain.
The carriage stopped in front of a massive manor situated halfway up the hill. After Charles and the others disembarked, two attendants approached them at the manor’s entrance.
“Welcome to Dutton Manor... May I see your membership credentials?” The lead attendant bowed slightly, checking the cards of the other three before turning to Charles.
“We three are her sponsors,” Aivina explained. “Please take her to get her credentials.”
“Of course, miss. Please follow me.” The attendant stepped aside, allowing Charles to follow.
“Charles... um... we’ll wait for you in the hall,” Adele almost let Charles’s name slip but quickly corrected herself.
“Okay.”
Charles replied and followed the attendant into the manor.
Curiously, he surveyed the interior, which looked quite similar to Aivina’s home and didn’t resemble the casino he had imagined. It felt more like a wealthy person’s vacation lodge.
Soon, Charles was led to the reception room, where piles of chips were stacked, and a man sat in the middle of them, a cigar dangling from his mouth.
“Newcomer?” The man glanced at Charles and said, “Chips are at a rate of 100:80. The credentials are on that table. Just leave the amount you want to exchange, and take the credentials to that room over there. Someone will assist you.”
Charles didn’t respond; he simply exchanged 100 Su pounds for eight chips worth 10 pounds each, took a credentials card, and walked toward the room the man had indicated.
As he examined the chips, he noticed each one had a mark, which dashed his hopes of exchanging for a large bag of chips next time.
From first impressions, he found the place quite unappealing, feeling somewhat haphazard.
When he opened the door to the room, he frowned slightly.
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