"The personal charm bonus is 95, with two symbols adding 10 points, for a total of 208 points. Judgment passed."
Hearing Yiluna say "95 points of charm," the young Cultists Dion's mouth twitched, and he subconsciously touched his face, asking his companion:
"Although I haven't seen Xia De Hamilton with my own eyes, isn't 95 points of charm a bit too exaggerated? Professor, are you sure your Miss Pa Wo said that the success rate of this operation is higher than eighty percent?"
"No need to be nervous. After all, he's the rumored lover of the Duchess. Hamilton is just the Church's optimal solution, but not a guaranteed win."
Professor Ons recalled Miss Pa Wo's description of the banquet after the Lakeview Manor feast:
"His charm is indeed worth that many points."
Dorothy in the darkness held back her laughter, while those who had seen Xia De nodded subconsciously.
"Charm" not only refers to appearance but also to conversation and temperament. Only Yiluna knew that she had only read out the most basic points. In addition to charm, Xia De's rhetoric was also astonishing, and in terms of "social credibility," Xia De also had the special identity of an "MI6 agent," an identity that could directly pass this judgment, but Yiluna did not explain.
Xia De's parchment list, although it looked as long as the other two parchments to others, contained an astonishing amount of content. Yiluna's frequent frowning when checking it was actually because there were too many letters, and at least a third of them she couldn't recognize.
If he could participate in this story as Xia De's Ring術士 identity, Yiluna couldn't imagine Xia De losing.
In short, the people trapped inside the relic went through an extremely thrilling story in just a few minutes, but at this moment, what Xia De was experiencing was merely walking out of the Prophet Association.
Patrolling police officers happened to pass by the entrance of the Prophet Association. The officers glanced at Xia De, then continued forward, not even coming over to question him.
"Those pursuing the thief successfully entered Silver Cross Avenue. Now, before them is an empty street and a cold night wind. The night is so enchanting, but no one is enjoying themselves at this moment. The thief could appear at any time; they must prepare quickly. So, what should they do next?"
A hoarse voice came from all directions. The silver hourglass on the table turned over again, and it was still Professor Ons who spoke first:
"【Night Prowler】Joggeli Deus invites 【Charming Lady】Lydia Pungelo to conduct a joint investigation to ascertain the current location of 【God Thief Jack】."
"【Charming Lady】Lydia Penggeluo accepts the invitation to conduct a joint investigation to ascertain the current location of 【God Thief Jack】."
The Cultists also spoke, their expressions much more serious, clearly a key step in the plan.
The black-robed "Keeper" announced:
"To investigate the whereabouts of 【God Thief Jack】, a total of 1000 points is required. For joint investigation, the points of the two can be added together."
"What?"
The big-bearded captain of the Creation Church was startled:
"Doesn't this mean—"
"Yes, 【God Thief Jack】, whose whereabouts could never be found in reality, now has the possibility of being found in the ‘dice story collection,’ though the possibility is slight, it is still a possibility. I'm sorry, Chosen One, although the game has just begun, it has already ended."
The professor grabbed the dice and threw the points:
"Points 54, One-Ring Warlock basic investigation bonus 107, symbol bonus 40, using the Miracle 【Breath of Wind】 with an amplification factor of 1.5 to investigate traces in the wind, obtaining an investigation bonus—"
He threw the dice again:
"The Miracle obtains an investigation bonus of 54 multiplied by 1.5 equals 81, using the keeper-level relic magic eye 【Insect Eye】 to obtain an investigation value of 200, drinking the potion 'Inspiration Potion' to obtain an investigation value of 66, totaling 548."
The puppet representing 【Night Prowler】Joggeli Deus on the table glowed slightly, indicating that he was using power beyond ordinary reason.
"The luck is not bad; it just exceeds half of 1000."
The professor nodded with satisfaction.
The seventeen-year-old girl was still frowning, a posture she had maintained since the beginning. She wasn't thinking about how to win; only she knew that if she truly manipulated Xia De as she pleased, she couldn't possibly lose this game.
The young Cultists kissed the holy emblem of "mr. doom" and also threw the dice:
"Points 67, One-Ring Warlock basic investigation bonus 85, symbol bonus 50, using the Miracle 【Darkness Perception】 with a 1.6 times coefficient, obtaining an investigation bonus—"
He threw the dice to determine the effect of the Miracle:
"The Miracle obtains an investigation bonus of 78 multiplied by 1.6 equals 124, using the Document-level relic 【Detective Constantine's Police Handcuffs】 to search for criminals who know the specific case, obtaining an investigation value of 350, drinking the potion 'Inspiration Potion' to obtain an investigation value of 66, totaling 742."
The professor curved his lips and met Yiluna's gaze:
"Total investigation points 1290, exceeding 1000 points."
"【Night Prowler】Joggeli Deus and 【Charming Lady】Lydia Pungelo have obtained the location of the criminal 【God Thief Jack】."
The spiritual light emanating from the two puppets standing together instantly swept across the entire table. At the west outer wall of Yodel Palace, a brand new puppet appeared—that was the target this time.
"Look, relic versus relic, the power of the relic triggered a Miracle. If this were done in reality, 【God Thief Jack】 could never be found, because before the theft, it couldn't even be determined if he existed. But now, simply because the values are sufficient, the judgment has passed."
Professor Ons showed no expression of triumph; instead, he was very serious:
"Chosen One, what will you do? Miss Pa Wo thinks highly of you; you shouldn't disappoint her."
Yiluna watched the three puppets on the table move slowly. Before receiving commands, the puppets would spontaneously engage in corresponding activities. Joggeli Deus and Lydia Pungelo were moving towards the direction of 【God Thief Jack】, while Xia De was pacing at the entrance of the Prophet Association.
"Hamilton goes to this location."
She pointed to the location of "God Thief Jack" on the map.
"He hasn't investigated the target and has no reason to do so."
The voice shrouded in darkness said, its tone seeming somewhat cold, which made the very excited Angelina lean closer to her sister again.
"Hamilton tracks Joggeli Deus and Lydia Pungelo."
Yiluna gave another instruction.
"He doesn't know the other characters in the story and has no reason to do so."
The Keeper's voice once again stopped Yiluna's instruction, and the voice became even more uncomfortable.
Yiluna pursed her lips, turned, and discussed with Miss Green and Mr. Modero:
"This round of the hourglass will take at least ten minutes to run out. I still have time to think. I won't give an instruction now."
The High-Ring Sorcerer at the table shook his head slightly:
"If you're planning to delay your turn so that the characters controlled by me and Dion cannot proceed to the next round's action judgment, then you're thinking too simply. Even if you delay for ten minutes, after ten minutes, we will still directly enter combat to capture 【God Thief Jack】. You're only delaying your failure by ten minutes."
Yiluna remained silent, still pondering how to properly utilize Xia De's power. She couldn't let Xia De conduct an investigation at this moment, because the basic investigation value that had to be spoken aloud was terrifyingly high. Although Yiluna didn't know the values of the other Four-Ring Warlock, the basic investigation value of up to "5821" was clearly not right.
Even the number "5821" on the parchment was still constantly fluctuating, sometimes breaking through six digits, a phenomenon Yiluna completely couldn't understand.
At this moment, Xia De was still feeling the wind at the entrance of the Prophet Association. He had not received Yiluna's command for a long time, so he knew Yiluna had encountered a problem.
【So what will you do?】
"She" whispered in Xia De's ear. Xia De looked at the street scene of Silver Cross Avenue:
"This isn't a game for me. It's the game players who need to follow the rules, not story characters like me."
He thought to himself, scanning his surroundings:
"The activation of the 【dice story collection】 requires three controlled characters, and they must be in opposing factions. The game has a cheat method that allows selecting special characters in addition to ordinary human characters, so the Ring術士 using this angel-level relic must have chosen Ring術士 as controlled subjects like me."
It was already past nine in the evening. Even in the city center of Tobesk City, the Steam City, there was almost no one on the streets. Xia De looked into the distance:
"So, unfamiliar Ring術士, affected by whisper element, are the other story characters."
【Yes, look ahead. The man and woman appearing together, the whisper element on them is consistent with the whisper element affecting you.】
Joggeli Deus and Lydia Pungelo thus passed in front of Xia De. Their steps were normal, and their expressions were quite normal, like ordinary men and women out for a stroll, completely unaware that they were being controlled by an invisible "hand."
The patrol police seemed not to see the two, and the two seemed not to see Xia De. So Xia De, in the wind, watched them walk into the distance:
"I'm not a game player. The relic's characteristics are not meant to bind me. What I want to do is the story that is happening. My next action is easy to explain: the weather is too cold. Since the instruction is for me to leave the Prophet Association, then I can only go home, which is very reasonable."
When only their backs were left, he put his hands in his pockets and officially left the entrance of the Prophet Association, following them. That was also the direction towards Saint Delan Square. In fact, no matter which direction one walked on Silver Cross Avenue, it led towards Saint Delan Square.
Although Xia De often thought Yiluna was not mature enough, he deeply trusted Yiluna's judgment and wisdom. Sure enough, after he followed the two strange Ring術士 from a distance, he suddenly had an urge to "stroll along Silver Cross Avenue according to his current thoughts."
This did not align with his true thoughts, so it must have been an instruction given by Yiluna.
Xia De sighed and continued walking along Silver Cross Avenue. Four minutes later, the two walking ahead suddenly stopped and then disappeared into the shadows that the streetlights couldn't illuminate.
But even in their disappearance, Xia De could still perceive the whisper element, knowing that the two were entering a "stealth" state.
"Could it be that they, through the power of the 【dice story collection】, really found 'God Thief Jack' and are preparing to capture that thief?"
But no matter how strong Xia De's perception was, he did not find any trace of the thief who stole from Dorothy nearby. Yiluna had not given Xia De the next instruction for a long time, which meant she couldn't let Xia De directly approach God Thief Jack's location.
"In that case, I can't stop beside these two, because I have no reason to do so. I can only keep walking forward, but God Thief Jack must be nearby."
Xia De pondered, passing by the two blatantly "stealthing" on the street, and continued walking forward.
【Look ahead.】
"Hmm?"
Looking up, a familiar figure appeared in the distance down the street.
"Dorothy?"
The Golden-haired girl, holding a cat and carrying a sword, wrapped only in Xia De's coat because she had left in a hurry, ran from the southern end of Silver Cross Avenue.
Although the street was very brightly lit, she seemed not to see him, looking anxiously behind Xia De. Xia De understood this phenomenon: he was a story character affected by the 【dice story collection】. When the "Keeper" was not narrating the story, no one could notice him; he could even strip naked now and it wouldn't make it to tomorrow morning's newspaper.
The Golden-haired girl in the distance, whether Dorothy or Leia, could not break this rule even as a Ring術士, just as Priest Augustus could not realize the existence of "Luvia Annett" in the group during the "Darkness Domain" incident until Xia De reminded him.
The Golden-haired girl got closer and closer. Just as Xia De began to think of a way to get her attention, the cat she was holding looked at Xia De with bright eyes, tilting its head:
"Meow!"
