Chapter 534
The compartment holding the "Mastermind Sage's Toy Box" was shrouded in starry black mist.
The original toy box was expanding and cracking, seemingly being eroded by the black fog. But soon, a multi-faceted box, almost identical in style yet even more bizarre, appeared within the system's repository.
It resembled a polyhedral Rubik's Cube, but with each flip revealing more faces, each one unique—like different dimensions of "faces" stacked together, making it impossible to count how many existed simultaneously.
This was no ordinary item... In an instant, Xiar made a judgment about the polyhedral "cube" before her.
She focused directly on the polyhedron, and its information unfolded before her eyes.
「【“Mastermind Sage's Endless Armory】: A special sealed item. By using this item, one can consume Reason or Spirit to extract a sealed weapon from the “Mastermind Sage's Endless Armory” and gain the methods and experience for its use. The type of sealed weapon adapts to the user, with a duration of 1 hour, extendable by continued consumption.」
「Side effect: After each use, the host will forget all methods for using the sealed items.」
Every use... Not only does it consume Reason or Spirit, but it also causes one to forget the methods for all other sealed items?
What a domineering sealed item...
However, for Xiar, this side effect wasn't too significant. Even if she forgot the methods for other sealed items, she had the system and could record them in the Endless Manual.
But what did "adaptive" mean in the context of this armory?
「Adaptive: The “Mastermind Sage's Endless Armory” will automatically select sealed weapons that align with the user's path.」
At this point, Xiar's eyes lit up.
Adaptive based on the path?
So, if she used different paths, the weapons she drew would also differ?
So far, she had only encountered one sealed item with a limited path.
That was the "Sewing Seal Ring of the Spider Demon Doctor," obtained from the genuine Keybearer, which could only be used by the "Gardener" and the "Coroner" to utilize the final "Spider Demon Enhancement Serum."
Sealed items with limited paths must be more suited to the current path... This armory seemed to solve Xiar's problem of only being able to use the "Deadly Blood Roland" across different paths.
What a treasure.
This was something that could genuinely enhance her immediate combat power. In battle, having one more sealed item or one less could significantly influence the outcome.
After observing the sealed item for a while, Xiar didn't take it out immediately; instead, she closed the repository interface.
It would be best to test this sealed item in a simulation. It claimed to produce "weapons," but it didn't specify what kind of "weapons."
What if the "weapon" was so large that it blew up the entire villa, or if it had severe side effects upon extraction? That would be a disaster for Xiar.
After all, with the previous experience of the "Mastermind Sage's Toy Box," Xiar had grown somewhat distrustful of this "Mastermind Sage."
She couldn't shake the feeling that the creator of this sealed item was a bit unreliable.
Xiar opened the system shop and clicked on the basic subjects interface.
As expected, "Music" appeared among the basic subjects.
Xiar immediately upgraded "Music" to Lv.3, spending 5 Fate Points, and also raised her previously unupgraded "Painting" from Lv.2 to Lv.3. The total cost for these upgrades was 8 Fate Points.
Now, Xiar's Fate Points balance stood at 429.
All her subjects had reached Lv.3.
Just as Xiar finished upgrading her subjects, a knock echoed from the door—Tala had arrived.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Come in."
In Xiar's mind, her perception had already sketched out the figures at the door: it was Tala and the cloaked figure of Peirsi.
"Let's go."
Xiar stood up and led Tala and Peirsi out of the room.
She needed to find Mond and prevent her memories from being probed by Imogen.
While Mond was still in Ansu City.
Fortunately, Xiar had already learned of Mond's temporary residence in the simulation, so she headed straight there with Tala and Peirsi.
At the junction of the West District and the South Bank, outside a standalone building very close to Tala's hideout, a carriage was parked on the road.
This quiet area, still largely undeveloped, was indeed perfect for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle.
"He's inside," Peirsi said from the carriage, looking at Tala. "Two people."
"Two?" Tala glanced at Xiar, waiting for her command.
"And the other one is?" Xiar asked Peirsi.
"A male, Level 1," Peirsi replied honestly.
"Oh." Xiar nodded, feeling reassured. "Let's go."
A Level 1 male in Mond's home could only be the "Blood Painter" Pikeman, who knew Mond's address.
Peirsi's figure flickered, transforming into a white shadow. Xiar and Tala got out of the carriage, pushed open the door, and entered the room.
By the time Xiar climbed the stairs to the second-floor room, Pikeman and Mond were already kneeling on the wooden floor, heads bowed towards the door.
As soon as Xiar entered the room, Mond had completely become a follower of "Sadana."
As for Pikeman, he had long been converted into a follower of the Holy Church by Tala in Berun City.
"How would you like to arrange her, Lord Xiar?" Peirsi asked, looking in Xiar's direction. She used the same title as Tala, but her tone lacked much reverence.
Now, Peirsi followed Xiar's orders more because of Tala's influence.
"Set sail," Xiar said calmly. "To the New World."
Sending Mond across the ocean to another continent would minimize the chances of Imogen finding him so soon.
"There are a group of 'missionaries' already sent to the New World. She can take a letter of introduction and help establish the Holy Church there," Tala added.
Originally, Tala had planned to accompany the ship to the New World, but she had felt the call of the divine servant as soon as they set sail and had decisively jumped ship.
Peirsi stayed behind to handle the aftermath for Mond and Pikeman, while Xiar and Tala returned to the carriage.
"Do we have any plans for today?" Xiar asked Tala.
"Aside from going to practice the piano with Lady Aivina in half an hour, there are no other scheduled activities."
"Then let's go."
Practicing the piano wasn't Xiar's main goal for this trip; she primarily wanted to meet Aivina.
She had already noted down the subsequent promotion ceremony and formula for the "Psychologist," which was precisely what Aivina was missing, making it perfect to hand over to her.
Additionally, she needed to discuss some matters with Aivina.
Specifically, to persuade Charles and William to delay the repeal of the Corn Laws.
If the repeal process continued, even if Mond was not here, Imogen would still be sent to resolve these issues.
Recently, it was best to avoid any further entanglements with North Ansu and maintain the tacit policies of the Strong Sound period.
When the carriage carrying Xiar and Tala arrived at the Krolar residence, Xiar noticed that the Russell family's carriage was already parked nearby.
It seemed Aivina had arrived early, perhaps eager to see Xiar.
After knocking, the maid who opened the door seemed already familiar with Xiar and led her and Tala directly to the music room.
Soft piano melodies floated from within, accompanied by the elegant strains of a violin.
Xiar gently pushed the door open, not wanting to interrupt the performance, but the moment she did, both instruments fell silent.
"You've come," Krolar said, looking at Xiar with a smile. "You finished the book I gave you yesterday, right? Come, let me see if you've made any progress."
As Krolar spoke, she stood up, making way at the piano, while Aivina set down her violin, watching Xiar.
"Good morning, Teacher Krolar," Xiar said, giving a slight bow. Then she turned to Aivina, who wore a neutral expression, and smiled. "Morning."
"Shall we play a duet?" Aivina asked, putting down her bow. "Or do you want to try yesterday's piece?"
As a scion of a great noble family, especially one like Charles's old-fashioned lineage, Aivina had learned a great deal from a young age, always being taught to become a proper lady.
Though later on, Aivina's life diverged significantly from the term "lady," she had not forgotten the lessons she had learned.
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