Chapter 70
After Aivina left the room, Charles opened the handbag containing five vials of potions and began to peruse the ritual for replication that he had purchased alongside them.
Each organization has its own interpretation of the replication rituals for different pathways of potions. These rituals are derived from the experiences of those who have successfully advanced, and while each individual’s ritual may have subtle differences, those available for sale are certainly not the most effective solutions.
The true best, or rather the closest to optimal solution, is likely held by large organizations that possess a wealth of extraordinary individuals along the same pathway.
For instance, the Russell family predominantly follows the "Detective" pathway, so their advancement plan for "Detectives" is undoubtedly a product of countless trials and optimizations.
Similarly, the Church of the Savior Goddess has a far deeper understanding of the "Ascetic" pathway than others, and their replication ritual for "Ascetics" is likely the one closest to a formulaic success rate.
However, despite both being "Ascetics," the number of "Missionaries" in the Holy Ascension Church far exceeds that of the Church of the Savior Goddess. This indicates that the Church of the Savior Goddess has not discovered, or perhaps has not utilized, the optimal solution for the second-tier "Missionary" replication ritual.
This is likely because the Holy Ascension Church has no qualms about proselytizing; their "Missionaries" can brazenly brainwash ordinary people or first-tier extraordinary beings without concern for their feelings or the church's reputation, as long as they can convert more into fanatical believers.
After reviewing the replication rituals for the five extraordinary pathways, Charles frowned slightly.
Most of these pathways’ rituals were not suitable for integration with Charles's plans.
Aside from "Adventurer" and "Detective," the other three pathways required the potion to be consumed beforehand, followed by the completion of the replication ritual.
For example, the "Blood Painter" pathway necessitated drinking the potion in a normal state, then creating artworks while in a mentally tainted condition, culminating in an exhibition. If more than three people exhibited signs of mental breakdown or madness after viewing the exhibition, the ritual would be considered complete.
However, Charles suspected this was not the optimal solution.
Ordinary people needed to drink the potion to gain some abilities to create artworks that could drive others insane.
But Charles did not require that; she could first use the [Pages of the Otherworld] to embed madness within the artwork, and only then find an opportunity to drink the potion.
Yet there was one pathway that Charles might have already completed, or could complete at any time.
The "Butcher" potion, when consumed, required the dismemberment of a first-tier extraordinary being, or the dismemberment of ten ordinary people followed by hiding the bodies for over five years, to be considered complete.
This potion was also one that Charles believed could be consumed after the act was completed.
Ordinary people were generally no match for a first-tier extraordinary being, let alone dismembering one, so they would have to drink the potion first. But Charles had no such concerns.
Charles committed these rituals to memory, planning to complete them whenever the opportunity arose during simulations. After all, engaging in rituals was never a bad idea.
The immediate priority was to complete the "Avenger" ritual, ensuring that Charles would not be defenseless when facing a second-tier extraordinary being.
From her old canvas bag, Charles took out her notebook and pencil, sitting at the table, contemplating the potions before her.
The second-tier replication ritual was not simple for Charles.
To judge a second-tier heretic, one must drink the potion during the process and then deliver the verdict...
Setting aside how to determine this heretic—after all, Charles did not believe in any faith—capturing a second-tier being was not something she could manage alone.
She needed to find assistance within the simulation.
Currently, Charles had a fairly complete plan that required only two simulations.
First, she would enter the "Gambler" save file, collaborating with Jiti as a cultist to capture Yulis for judgment, helping Jiti eliminate the Church of the Savior Goddess and fulfill their original plan.
As long as the Holy Ascension Church's identification of friend and foe was accurate, Charles could gain Jiti's trust through information from the Church of the Savior Goddess.
After assisting Jiti in clearing out the Church of the Savior Goddess, Charles would then directly enter the "Avenger" save file, using the information obtained from Jiti to inform Yulis, leading her to cleanse the Holy Ascension Church's stronghold and capture Jiti for judgment.
Moreover, in the "Avenger" save file, Charles could drink the potion immediately after delivering the verdict.
If all went smoothly, this method would be the quickest way to complete the "Judicator" replication ritual and achieve advancement.
The key to executing the plan successfully lay in gaining Jiti's trust through the already acquired "Sadana Mark" in the "Gambler" save file.
This was no easy task; Charles was prepared to waste a save file to figure out the best approach, with three simulations costing 30 fate points.
Exchanging 30 points for a successful advancement to a second-tier "Judicator" seemed worthwhile to Charles, especially since each simulation could continue to earn her fate points.
Charles opened the simulation interface to check the days available for simulation. The past simulations had already reached over a hundred days ago, which she passed on, while the upcoming simulation was set for two days later.
[Upcoming: 2 Days (Year 741, June 22, 15:05) (Cost: 10 fate points)]
If possible, Charles preferred a simulation like the previous one, just an hour later, without so many variables.
However, simulating two days later was also acceptable; at least she could record what happened during those two days.
Yet, since she had decided to enter the simulation using the "Gambler" save file, there was one crucial matter to address.
That was to resolve the issue of "brainwashing."
The previous brainwashing occurred when the opponent used a white shadow to control Charles into drinking the potion, implanting some subconscious mark while her mental defenses were weakened against the potion.
Charles closed her eyes and recalled her feelings from that time.
She hadn’t felt brainwashed; rather, she genuinely felt a warm familiarity with Jiti, as if her words were as comforting as a mother’s.
When they both recited, "Mother Goddess Sadana above," she experienced a profound sense of joy, feeling that believing in the "Mother Goddess" was truly wonderful—even though she had no concept of what the "Mother Goddess" was.
If all went as expected, upon entering that save file, she would sync into that brainwashed state.
At that point, she might become difficult to control; she wouldn’t think to check her notes, but instead would be consumed with thoughts of how to contact the organization and assist them, only realizing what had happened after waking up 24 hours later.
This required a perfect coordination between her future self in the simulation and her current self...
Charles picked up her pencil and wrote in her notebook in Chinese.
[You’re already familiar with gathering information midway; I don’t need to elaborate further.]
[I need you to keep "Gambler" Charles in a conscious state upon arrival; I can’t think about this matter myself.]
[If I think of a method, "Gambler" Charles will also have that memory, but what you think of, she won’t remember.]
[I need you to control "Gambler" Charles, using the "Substitute Saint's Corpse" in a way she cannot refuse, to pierce her body, collect her blood, and awaken her.]
["Gambler" Charles arrives at 15:05 on the 22nd.]
[Be quick, and ensure she cannot resist.]
[Best of luck.]
Charles set down her pencil, carefully reviewed what she had written, and once satisfied, directly opened the simulation interface.
She could no longer think about how to awaken "Gambler" Charles; if she thought of any method, the Charles in the simulation would likely come up with something similar, after all, they were the same person.
"Upcoming, No.3."
A blinding silver light burst forth before Charles, and as her fate points dropped from 64 to 54, her consciousness began to detach...
[Upcoming]
[Year 741, June 22, 15:05]
[Countdown -23:59:59]
As soon as she opened her eyes, Charles heard a buzzing and whispering in her mind, but she could see nothing before her.
She could feel that she was sitting in a chair, but her legs were immobile.
It felt as if her hands and feet were bound by something, but the bindings were loose enough that she could break free with a little effort.
"Oh, Mother Goddess..."
Charles let out an instinctive exclamation, as if uttering those words could grant her strength.
Whoosh—
A rush of wind swept by, and Charles instinctively tried to raise her hand to shield her eyes, but the bindings prevented her from doing so.
Sizzle—
A sharp pain shot through her abdomen, causing Charles to curl up like a shrimp, toppling the chair to the ground.
With a sudden burst of strength, she tore apart the bindings and reached up to remove the blindfold covering her eyes.
But in that instant, she felt her spirit and consciousness being drawn away, plunging her into an endless darkness.
Table of Contents
