Chapter 435
Or perhaps, it was simply the wrong potion...
Xia'er didn’t say this outright, as she wasn’t entirely sure herself.
“I understand,” Xia'er nodded and said, “I’ve been to the Otherworld a few times. Once I’ve figured out the nodes there, I might be able to help you see what lies ahead.”
As soon as Xia'er spoke, Henry’s eyes lit up, and his breath became a bit heavier.
Been to the Otherworld a few times...
How can this person make a trip to the Otherworld sound as casual as a stroll in the market?
Henry instinctively stood up, but was quickly pushed back down by Peierxi’s pale figure.
He sat back down on the stool, looked up at Xia'er, and said, “Your Excellency, may I introduce you to our Pope? If he agrees, you could observe and even interact with the Otherworld nodes up close. We need not become enemies.”
“Will it be troublesome?” Xia'er frowned.
She didn’t have much time, and she didn’t care who she might offend in the simulation.
“It won’t be. I can ask the Pope right away... and we can go together with you and your entourage.”
“I believe the Pope will make a wise decision... We welcome anyone who wishes to collaborate on the study of the Otherworld nodes—like Professor Lafayette and Qiangyin.”
It was clear that they would welcome anyone beneficial to the research of the Otherworld.
“Lead the way.”
Xia'er didn’t want to waste any time and urged him on.
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PS1:
SORRY! Failed to add more!
But the good news is, my schedule is back on track!
Tomorrow! Tomorrow I’ll definitely start with 6K! Aiming for 6K, striving for 7K!
Let’s go! Tomorrow’s me!
Good afternoon!
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PS2: A recommendation for an orange-themed novel, “The Little Princess Reborn, Charm Increased by 100 Times”
Chapter 231: The Great God of the Otherworld (4026 words)
“Please wait a moment.”
Inside the Holy See, Henry stood before a pair of intricately designed double doors. After giving a slight nod to Xia'er behind him, he turned and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock—
Henry waited only a moment before the door swung open, revealing the scene inside to Xia'er.
Contrary to Xia'er’s expectation of a resplendent space, the area behind the door resembled a completely unadorned “minimalist” shell of a house. Aside from the wooden structure and some rustic tables and chairs, the vast space was devoid of any flashy decorations.
Xia'er’s gaze swept across the expansive area and landed on a figure dressed in a deep blue robe, standing before a massive stained glass window.
The figure seemed unaware of Xia'er’s arrival, gazing out at the scenery beyond the colorful glass until Henry stepped into the room and spoke slowly.
“Your Holiness, may I introduce a distinguished guest?”
Upon hearing Henry’s voice, the figure in the deep blue robe slowly turned to face Xia'er and the others.
As she caught sight of the figure’s face, Xia'er felt a sense of unease creeping in.
What on earth is that?
Beneath the deep blue hood was a terrifying silver metal face—engraved with various twisted triangular symbols, writhing like worms.
If it had just stood there motionless, Xia'er might have thought it was some horrifying piece of artistic iron sculpture, but when it moved, it certainly evoked a sense of... mild discomfort.
It turned out that her previous belief that the “Crown Guard” path’s individuals being consumed by potions was quite normal was because their mutated armor was still somewhat stylish, unlike the horror before her.
It seemed that this Pope was also a high-level path of the “Detective,” at least above the “Crown Guard.”
“It’s been making noise since earlier, Henry...” A metallic buzzing voice emanated from the terrifying iron-faced figure. “What have you done?”
The voice was indistinguishable in gender, but judging by the tone, it sounded more like an older woman—mainly reminiscent of Niya.
However, the Pope continued to ignore Xia'er and the others, as if her eyes were only on Henry, the first to enter.
Henry seemed accustomed to the Pope’s behavior. He stepped forward, half-kneeling, and said, “A very important guest has arrived, Your Holiness.”
“It’s making noise, Henry.” The metallic buzzing voice sounded again, and the figure referred to as the Pope began to pace anxiously, “It won’t stop...”
Suddenly, as the Pope paced, her gaze seemed to inadvertently catch something, and she froze in place.
She saw the little Zuo still perched on Xia'er’s shoulder.
“Otherworld! Be careful! Henry!” The Pope quickly bent down, yanking Henry’s collar and throwing him backward. She raised her right hand, and the crimson gauntlet began to burn and melt, boiling iron coalescing into a massive curved blade.
Even from nearly fifty meters away, Xia'er could feel the heat wave rushing toward her—the colorful glass closest to the blade was already showing signs of melting!
The unmasked intent to kill made the little Zuo on Xia'er’s shoulder stand up straight, its back arched in vigilance as it watched the terrifying iron figure, ready to flee with Xia'er at the slightest movement.
Xia'er made no move; even an ordinary person could see that the Pope’s mental state had reached a precarious level.
At this point, one could easily say she had completely lost her mind.
Tara and Peierxi, who had been standing behind Xia'er, stepped forward, one on each side, shielding Xia'er, while the other followers of the Holy See also formed a protective circle around her.
But just then, the heat wave that had distorted the air began to dissipate, and the curved blade on the Pope’s arm transformed back into its original iron gauntlet, even the initial defensive posture vanished.
Only the burned sleeve of her robe remained as evidence of what had just occurred.
“Who are they? Henry.” A normal woman’s voice emerged from within the iron armor, completely devoid of the earlier metallic noise.
“That distinguished guest is Xia'er, Your Holiness,” Henry finally stood up, stepped forward, and bowed his head, saying, “She is a powerful researcher of the Otherworld, and I thought perhaps we could reach a collaboration...”
The term “powerful” was not Henry flattering Xia'er; being able to summon the Otherworld gate at will warranted any grand description.
“Otherworld?” The Pope looked at the little Zuo on Xia'er’s shoulder.
As her gaze fell upon the little Zuo, the metal on her face seemed to come alive, twisting as if her mental state was once again unstable.
But the Pope seemed unfazed; she slowly walked toward Xia'er, stopping less than five meters away.
“What collaboration?” A calm voice emerged from beneath the iron mask, surprisingly composed.
“Your Excellency Xia'er wishes to observe the Otherworld nodes, and in exchange, she can help us gather some information during her next exploration of the Otherworld,” Henry quickly followed, speaking of the collaboration, but his heart was extremely anxious, glancing at Xia'er from time to time.
In truth, Xia'er hadn’t explicitly agreed to the collaboration, and Henry knew this, but Xia'er didn’t seem inclined to refute Henry’s words, which eased his mind considerably.
“May I see your right hand?” The Pope didn’t continue to inquire about the details of the collaboration but instead looked at Xia'er and directly asked.
“You are being too rude to Lady Xia'er, Your Holiness of the Order of the God of Order...” Tara began slowly.
Xia'er gently placed her hand on Tara’s shoulder, signaling her to refrain from defending her.
Feeling Xia'er’s hand, Tara fell silent, no longer continuing.
You want to see my right hand?
As soon as the Pope spoke, Xia'er knew what she was after.
Xia'er’s right hand bore the marks of being eroded by the Otherworld—only those who had also been affected by the Otherworld could perceive it.
Like Aivina and Niya, they could vaguely see some phantoms.
Xia'er stepped forward, approached the Pope, looked up at the iron mask, and raised her right hand.
“Terrifying energy...” The Pope gazed at the writhing tendrils emerging from the fissures in Xia'er’s right hand, murmuring in disbelief, “How is this maintaining your sanity? This is incredible...”
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