Chapter 219: The Narrator
Cordova V1.84 was the Rune Body located in the center of the third testing ground, right beside the three of them. Its appearance was quite similar to Cordova's current look, except it lacked the rather bulky, semi-transparent external armor and didn't have his iconic giant staff. Many complex energy patterns were exposed on its exterior, flickering with sparks, clearly indicating it was an unfinished prototype.
"This thing is just a temporary placeholder; it's not meant for actual deployment," Lu Wei explained distractedly, pulling over a metal plate floating in mid-air and rapidly sketching on it. "I already tried my best to improve the Rune Body's combat capabilities during the last upgrade, but I barely optimized the energy system. I finally managed to free up some time these past two days... Hey, Little Gezi, why don't you give it some power?"
Ji Xiaoge stared blankly at the crystal ball in her hand, then looked at Lu Wei in confusion. "Teacher, how do I use this?"
【Rune Energy Extractor: Cordova Special Edition】
Quality: Common
Capacity: 0 / 250
Usage: Absorbs rune energy from designated units within a 10-meter radius. If used continuously after the energy is full, it will generate a small energy field with a 0.5-meter radius next to the extractor. Being within this energy field can slightly increase the recovery speed of Health, Stamina, Mana, and Acuity.
※Hyperlink※
Note: 'Designated units' refers to the general-purpose Rune Body compatible with Cordova.
【Remarks: Energy conservation and emission reduction are everyone's responsibility.】
Although the item description was straightforward and easy to understand, it was completely useless.
Because she didn't know how to 'use' the ball.
It's important to know that this game didn't have convenient operations like right-clicking to use, tapping with a finger to use, or pressing Q/E/R/C/V/B/Alt+C to use. In Innocent World, players had to open their mouths to eat, pull the trigger to shoot, and pour potions themselves from small bottles. There was absolutely no situation where you could consume health or mana potions from your inventory while swinging a big blade and fighting monsters through some operation.
Nothing else, just unscientific.
So, even though Ji Xiaoge's crystal ball and the Rune Body in front of her were very unscientific, her inability to use the ball was very scientific.
"How to use it?" Lu Wei, who was tinkering with a Self-Destructing Sheep, turned to glance at Ji Xiaoge, then impatiently pouted. "Just infuse it with some magic, elemental energy, battle qi, or whatever. Even an idiot can use this thing."
Mo Tan, who had charged a magic crystal lamp when he was 'Black Vatican', immediately understood.
But...
"But I don't have magic or anything," Ji Xiaoge flapped her wings, shaking her head at Lu Wei with a wry smile. "Teacher, you know that, don't you?"
Indeed, Ji Xiaoge, who only possessed the non-combat professions of 'Chef' and 'Battlefield Engineer', did not have such abilities. Her mana value wasn't even unlocked, let alone being able to inject energy into the Rune Extractor in her hand.
Mo Tan, who was well aware of this, also nodded in agreement beside her.
Like the 'Mo' character, the 'Ye Ge' character's panel only displayed Health and Stamina.
"I know you don't have magic," Lu Wei said without turning his head, not surprised at all. "But don't you have many things on you that contain energy? Little Gezi, you're an Engineer, you need to learn to use external forces, understand?"
Ji Xiaoge and Mo Tan were both dumbfounded.
"Ugh, you're so dense," Lu Wei impatiently turned around and pointed at Ji Xiaoge's inventory, huffing. "Didn't you make a kind of red powder a while ago? Use that."
Ji Xiaoge blinked. "spicy chili powder?"
"Yes," Lu Wei nodded, saying indifferently, "Exactly that spicy chili powder. Just use it."
"Isn't that a seasoning?" Ji Xiaoge blinked in confusion, then pulled out a crystal bottle full of bright red powder from her inventory. "This?"
Lu Wei nodded slightly. "Yes, that's it."
Mo Tan curiously leaned closer to take a look...
【spicy chili powder】
Creator: Ye Ge
Category: Consumable
Quality: Excellent
Weight: 500g
Usage: Seasoning, ???
Trait: Scorching Purgatory
【Remarks: One scoop burns a bowl of rice.】
Mo Tan: "..."
It felt a bit different from normal spicy chili powder. Did the remark have an extra word? That suddenly changed trait was quite intriguing...
"Teacher, this is a failed product," Ji Xiaoge said, somewhat astonished, shaking the spicy chili powder in her hand. "It's too spicy."
Lu Wei rolled his eyes. "What does it being a failed product have to do with how spicy it is? It's a great thing! Stop talking nonsense and quickly sprinkle it on the extractor."
Ji Xiaoge said 'Oh' in confusion, then pulled out the stopper of the crystal bottle and carefully poured a little powder onto the ball.
The next second, a crimson light suddenly burst forth. The Rune Energy Extractor: Cordova Special Edition in the girl's hand emitted crisp humming sounds, then quickly began to spin. An unseen suction force spread out, and countless blue light bands extended from Cordova V1.84, surging towards the ball one after another.
"This girl is a genius," Lu Wei said softly to Mo Tan with a wrinkled smile, not without pride. "She actually created a medium with a purity comparable to the Root Flame. Every tiny particle of that powder can resonate with the surrounding fire elements. I was startled when I checked the sample before; the rune detector malfunctioned for the first time. That thing actually judged that I was standing on a volcano, tsk tsk, Little Gezi's future is limitless..."
Mo Tan immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Although he didn't know what the 'Root Flame' Lu Wei mentioned was, the fact that the bottle of stuff was essentially a seasoning was already bizarre enough!
"Indeed," he finally managed to say, nodding stiffly in agreement after a long moment of stunned silence. "Her future is limitless..."
The spherical extractor only worked for less than twenty seconds before stopping, filled with a faint blue light. Cordova V1.84, not far away, was completely drained of energy, the energy patterns on its torso entirely dimmed. Its originally upright body slowly slumped to the ground, curling into an OTZ pose and becoming motionless...
"Very good, this extractor is for you," Lu Wei nodded, then walked to Cordova V1.84, pulled out a precise crystal-embedded device from its waist, and while skillfully disassembling it, instructed Ji Xiaoge: "This thing reacts to most types of energy. You can use it to test the things you usually tinker with. Later, I'll add some other functions for you. If you make good stuff like spicy chili powder again, remember to tell me immediately."
Ji Xiaoge put the Rune Energy Extractor: Cordova Special Edition into her inventory, then looked at the bottle of spicy chili powder in her hand with a complex expression. "Thank you, Teacher..."
"No problem," Lu Wei waved his hand, then carried the largely disassembled device to the Self-Destructing Sheep. He turned back and called out, "Don't just stand there, both of you, come help! Little Gezi, bring two lumps of high-strength adhesive."
"Okay."
"Teacher, that's called sticky bean paste... not adhesive."
...
At the same time
Tian Zhu Mountain, Third Outer Mountain, a certain floor of the Inverted Library
Dozens of books, some new, some old, floated quietly in mid-air. They were all open, and countless words continuously appeared on their blank pages, then mysteriously disappeared within tens of seconds, only for a large amount of new content to emerge again, and then disappear once more... repeating endlessly.
They rotated steadily around a hunched figure, sometimes far, sometimes near, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, like planets orbiting a star.
"Well, it's not in Ania's prophecy poems either, that old fool..."
The hunched star sighed, gently flicked his thin index finger, and two ancient, worn books detached from their orbits, silently returning to their rightful shelves.
A minute later, two new tomes joined the myriad planets, automatically opening under some will, displaying all that they contained.
Before this hunched 'Narrator', even the most forbidden nightmare scrolls would be incredibly obedient.
The 'Narrator's name was Albus Dia Card. He was the librarian, cleaner, and administrator of the library, and also the fifth-ranked High-Rank Observer on Tian Zhu Mountain.
Although he appeared to be just an unremarkable, balding, hunched human elder, even the short-tempered Lu Wei showed Albus three parts deference. This wasn't because the latter possessed immense power or authority, but simply out of respect for the elderly...
The ranking of High-Rank Observers had nothing to do with strength or status, merely with the different fields they were responsible for. Albus was even older than the first-ranked High-Rank Observer, and relatively younger individuals like Lu Wei and Leisade had even been watched by him as they grew up.
His seniority was self-evident...
Time quietly passed, until the books around Albus had almost all been replaced, when a crisp sound of wind chimes suddenly rang in his ear.
"Hmm?" The Elders frowned slightly, then gently stroked the black ring on his left thumb, and slowly asked, "Is something the matter?"
A blurry image appeared before him, speaking in a somewhat distorted voice, "Esteemed Lord Dia Card, Li Fo Astor has been waiting for you in the Main Hall for a long time."
Albus shook his head, then smiled gently at the image before him. "Alright, the smell of ink always makes one forget time. Tell him I'll be there soon."
"As you command, my Lord."
...
Two hours later
Tian Zhu Mountain, Third Outer Mountain, Main Library, Thirteenth Floor
"It is an honor to meet you, esteemed Lord 'Narrator'." A young human man nervously stood up and bowed deeply to the elder who had suddenly appeared before him. "I am Li Fo Astor."
Albus shook his head, and with a single thought, made the other person straighten up involuntarily. Then he turned his head, looked around, and asked the young man he had never met before with a smile, "Have you been waiting for me on this floor?"
"Y-yes, I'm interested in some of the books on this floor, and I don't get many chances to come here," Li Fo said with a slightly embarrassed smile. He was still holding a copy of "The Northwest Pearl in Audan's Eyes."
Albus nodded gently and mused, "I remember the thirteenth floor is... where records of the Western Continent's recent three millennia are kept, right?"
"Precisely," Li Fo replied respectfully. "However, 'recent' is relative for you. In my eyes, events over two hundred years old are already history."
"I hope you don't think I'm just showing off my age, young man," Albus shrugged and looked at him kindly. "You should already know why I called you here, right?"
Li Fo's expression became serious. "Travel to the Shavin Empire on the Southwest Continent, protect Emperor William Burke, investigate the cause of Deputy Faraosis's Disappearance, find the mastermind behind the Bansher City bloodbath, and depending on the situation, either eliminate them or request support."
"That's right, you passed the assessment," Albus smiled and nodded, saying softly to Li Fo, "Although you are not a native of Tian Zhu Mountain, you are the most outstanding probationary Deputy of this generation. We believe you can handle this task very well..."
Li Fo immediately raised his right hand and placed it over his heart. "I will certainly not disappoint the expectations of the Lords."
"Enthusiasm is good, but remember to prioritize safety. Although there is no conclusive evidence, my intuition tells me that the darkness lurking in that place is extraordinary," Albus seemed to feel a chill. He tightened his gray robe, and his normally placid gaze showed a rare hint of seriousness. "You should know that two Deputies have already died there... Although the little fellow Lu Wei created didn't strictly die, you are not an artificial soul that can be continuously resurrected."
Li Fo stood upright with a solemn expression, and said in a deep voice, "I will be careful."
"That's good," Albus nodded slightly, then took a bookmark from his sleeve and handed it to Li Fo. "Take this; it might help you in times of danger... Oh, by the way, before you go to Teron, you'd best make a detour to Konda Territory to investigate the reason for Konda Bohe's Disappearance. I personally suggest starting from the border near the northern part of Teron."
"Thank you very much," Li Fo put aside the copy of "The Northwest Pearl in Audan's Eyes" in his hand and took the bookmark from Albus with both hands. "I will go investigate first."
"Then, good luck, Li Fo."
"I will not fail."
...
Five minutes later
Albus casually picked up the non-fiction book left on the thirteenth floor and gently flipped through it.
"The Great Migration... The Golden Dragon King's Three Hundred Harem... The Demise of a Great Dynasty... adventurer Town Anka... Thief in the Night..."
He recited the table of contents while gazing out the window at the brilliant Prosperity Star filling the sky.
"The thirteenth floor, recording the Western Continent... I hope I'm just overthinking it..."
Chapter 216: The End
