newbobooks Chapter 243 'Master of Knowledge'
Chapter 243 'Master of Knowledge'
Chapter 243 'Master of Knowledge'
Catherine Grey was deeply shaken when she heard her beloved grandfather Collins admit that he was a member of the secret organization.
She has joined the Extraordinary Affairs Court within MI9 as a defense attorney, defending cultists connected to secret organizations. She has learned a great deal about what kind of people these cultists are, so she often uses reverse defense, sending many cultists to the guillotine with a 100% success rate, earning her a great reputation.
She simply couldn't connect her beloved Grandpa Collins with those wicked secret organizations and cultists.
Collins noticed Catherine Grey's shocked gaze, but simply smiled and offered no explanation, instead keeping his eyes fixed on Evan.
He wanted to see what kind of nonsense Evan could come up with. If he couldn't, he wouldn't mind giving Evan a lesson he would never forget, letting Evan know that casually revealing other people's secrets was not a good habit.
Evan, seemingly oblivious to the malice in Collins' eyes, said with a calm expression:
"According to MI9 records, you have always been a key member of the Morse Penitentiary and once killed a demigod of the Church of Steam and Machines."
The last piece of information I received about you was that after successfully performing the ritual, you killed the other two demigods of the Morthian Order, stole an important item from the Morthian Order, and left the Morthian Order. Is that correct?
"Does MI9 have spies planted within the Morse Order? You seem to know quite a bit about it!"
Collins chuckled in response to Evan's words, which was tantamount to acknowledging the accuracy of the information.
Both Evan and Miss Sharon beside him felt a frantic warning from the spirit, as if they were about to be killed, but they were unable to do anything about it. Catherine Grey couldn't help but look at Evan with worry, but the usually lively and cheerful girl dared not make a sound.
Although Evan's spirituality was frantically warning him, he did not feel any corresponding panic. This was not only because of the courage given to him by "Bonaparte's perseverance," but also because he was certain that Collins would not lay a hand on him.
Collins has been lying low in the world for twenty years, trying to escape the pursuit of the Morse Order and the Hidden Sages, so it's impossible for him to easily make a move against Evan and expose himself.
Evan had already made it clear that Ms. Amanda possessed a Level 0 sealed artifact of the Fate Path, and that he dared to kill Evan.
They would then face the risk of Robert and Amanda coming directly to their door.
Furthermore, Evan could see that Collins genuinely loved Catherine Grey. Although he didn't know why, Evan was confident that he could use the effect of the 'Sunfire' charm in his pocket to hold Collins back for half a second, creating an opportunity for him to control Catherine Grey.
The needs of high-sequence strong individuals are sometimes quite simple and unpretentious.
You are one of the ten pillars of the long-established Order of Morse, a documented demigod of the Seeker Path.
However, the current situation is that you are clearly a Sequence 3 "Mystic Scholar" of the "Generalist" pathway, which means that you advanced through a different pathway back then.
After becoming a Sequence 3 'Mystic Scholar', your status in the Morthian Order was clearly higher, yet you still chose to defect, taking with you an important item from the Morthian Order.
Can I understand that you took away a Sequence 2 Extraordinary trait that is crucial to your promotion?
The needs of high-ranking powerful individuals are very simple and unpretentious: either collecting the corresponding potion recipes and materials, or figuring out how to digest potions.
Everything else has to wait.
Collins, as a newly promoted Sequence 3 demigod, was clearly a key figure being groomed by the Morse Penitentiary. However, at the moment of his promotion, he resolutely chose to defect, which made Evan wonder what could have made him abandon his years of hard work.
It is quite obvious that only the extraordinary characteristics required for ascension to angelhood have such great appeal, and the corresponding potion formula is still somewhat lacking.
Collins was not at all surprised that Evan had revealed his secret. After Evan admitted that he was Chris, it was not difficult for him to guess these things, so his expression did not change at all. He just looked at Evan quietly, waiting for him to say what he would say next, while maintaining his pressure on Evan, making Evan feel the threat of death at all times.
Evan pursed his lips, unimpressed by Collins's extreme pressure, and instead directly stated his own terms:
"Emperor Roselle once created a set of mysterious cards that recorded the recipes for potions from various extraordinary pathways—the Blasphemy Cards. I know where I can find the Blasphemy Cards from the 'General Knowledge' pathway. Would you be interested?"
Upon hearing Evan's words, Collins' expression completely changed. The subtle mockery vanished, replaced by an unusually fierce look as he stared intently at Evan, his dark green eyes becoming strangely empty and hollow.
Suddenly Collins let out a muffled groan, and both of his eyeballs exploded in their sockets at the same time, the shattered milky-white tissue flying towards Evan opposite him.
Evan simply turned slightly to the side to avoid getting these things on him.
Miss Sharon's expressionless face showed surprise.
Catherine Grey gasped in shock as she stared at Collins, whose eyes were hollow and whose flesh was mangled, completely bewildered.
Just as Catherine Grey was about to speak, a pair of spheres with small wings flew out of the thatched hut and landed precisely in Collins's eye sockets.
The small metal sphere split open in the middle, revealing the whites and irises of an eye—it was actually a prosthetic eye.
Collins blinked, as if adjusting for a moment, then smiled and said:
"He hunted geese all day, yet the geese pecked out his eyes. Emperor Roselle was right! And you, young friend, are no ordinary man either!"
Collins was much more polite at this point, clearly showing his deep apprehension towards Evan. Evan simply snorted in response but offered no explanation.
Collins must have seen the phantom of the "City of Calamity" on his body, which is why he was severely injured. However, he was not corrupted because he had a level 0 sealed artifact.
He's not Bernadette, and Evan has no obligation to explain too much to him. In fact, the less he explains, the more Collins will value him.
"I wonder where that blasphemous plaque from the 'General Knowledge' path is now. I hope you can tell me, young friend, and I will certainly reward you handsomely afterward."
For twenty years, Collins has been exploring the rules of the "Arcanist" role and has finally fully digested this cross-path "Arcanist" potion. So his next goal is to go to the Republic of Intis to seek the potion recipe of "Master of Knowledge" Sequence 2 of the "Generalist" path. Then, with the help of the "0" level seal he obtained from the Morse Ascetic, he will concoct the potion and eventually ascend to become an angel.
He had no interest in joining the demigod gathering that Evan had mentioned. In his eyes, a group of wild demigods could not offer him any real help, even if the organizers had '0' in their hands.
Even a top-tier sealed artifact could only earn him a second glance.
His meeting with Evan was merely a test to see if Evan could take good care of his only bloodline in the world and make arrangements for his affairs, since the future was unpredictable.
But to his surprise, Evan brought him a great surprise. He actually knew where the blasphemous tablet of the "General Knowledge" pathway was. How could he not be overjoyed?
"This card of blasphemy is in the hands of one of the powerful figures at the gathering I mentioned, the Queen of the Sea—the Mysterious Queen."
Evan looked curiously at the prosthetic eyes in Collins' eyes, feeling that these prosthetic eyes were not simple. Being stared at by them gave him the feeling that he could be decomposed into the most basic particles at any time. He couldn't help but wonder if these prosthetic eyes were the '0' level sealed artifacts that Collins took from the Morse Ascetic Society.
"It was indeed in her hands!"
Collins looked on with a sigh. He had previously speculated that the mysterious queen, Bernadette, might possess this blasphemous card.
But as a former high-ranking member of the Morse Ascetic Order, he was well aware of the Mysterious Queen's strength and the very troublesome sealed artifacts she possessed.
Furthermore, given that he holds the lives of the "Elemental Dawn" members in his hands, he can only rely on the Mysterious Queen as his last resort to obtain the potion recipe.
But things are different now. The mysterious queen is really at that party. If he joins in, there won't be a fight as soon as they meet, and there will be room for negotiation.
"Then please introduce me to your team, young friend. I won't treat you unfairly!"
Collins paused for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and said with a smile, perfectly illustrating what it means to be stubborn at first but humble later.
However, this only made Evan value Collins even more, because he always believed that those who achieve great things must be thick-skinned. If you're not thick-skinned, how can you seize every opportunity to rise in society?
"Due to some minor matters, I will be unable to attend Ms. Amanda's party for the time being. Ms. Sharon will act as my recommender instead!"
Evan introduced Miss Sharon to Collins again, and Miss Sharon rose and bowed once more.
"Although I won't be attending the party for the time being, I have been in contact with the mysterious queen, and I will write to her to inform her that you will be attending the next party."
"he?!"
"Yes, Ms. Bernadette was officially promoted to angel recently!"
Collins quickly grasped the key words; he had previously thought Evan was exaggerating when he said there were angels at the party, but now he was certain it was true.
Moreover, it was the mysterious queen, the object of his trade.
Collins' teeth started to ache, which would greatly hinder the deal he wanted to make, affect his bargaining power, and even make him hesitate, wondering whether he should participate in person.
After all, facing an angel directly is incredibly stressful; one wrong move and you could become their spoils of war, given that their previous stance was far from friendly, but rather hostile.
But as a seasoned demigod, Collins also possessed a ruthless and decisive side. He immediately made up his mind that he had to go, otherwise he might miss this opportunity. So, with a bright smile on his face, he said:
"Please put in a good word for me with the Queen, young friend. I will repay you handsomely afterward!"
Being able to communicate with the Mysterious Queen was definitely not an ordinary relationship; it could very well influence the Mysterious Queen's attitude. Collins kept raising his regard for Evan in his mind.
Meanwhile, Catherine Grey and Miss Sharon looked at Evan with strange eyes. Whenever a woman was associated with Evan, they always thought of his reputation as a "playboy".
But then I thought, "The mysterious queen is actually an angel," and it seemed impossible.
After all, the more you learn about the extraordinary world, the more you understand the meaning of the word "angel".
How could a high and mighty angel be seduced by "male beauty"?
Evan readily agreed to Collins' request.
While treating Evan with a friendly demeanor, Collins didn't forget Miss Sharon either. After looking her up and down, he smiled and said:
"I was active in the Southern Continent a hundred years ago, developing the power of the Moss Ascetic Order, so I had some dealings with the Rose School."
"I happen to possess the potion recipe for 'Puppet.' If I manage to obtain the recipe I desire this time, I can give it to you as a reward!"
Upon hearing this, a startling light flashed in Miss Sharon's eyes. Since her teacher's death, her greatest pain had been the lack of a recipe for further advancement, leaving her in a passive defensive posture against the Rose School's pursuit of the Hedonistic faction, unable to mount an effective counterattack. (Only killing a demigod would truly sting the Rose School; a Sequence 5 doesn't count.)
But Sharon soon realized why Collins had offered her such a generous reward.
Collins clearly saw through Sharon's identity and also realized how much Evan valued her. The reward he gave Sharon would only be paid after the "thing was done," meaning that he would only receive the reward after Sharon got what he wanted, not the reward for introducing him to the party.
This reward was meant for Evan's ears. Collins was using this method to urge Evan to help him persuade the Mysterious Queen to make a deal with him. Whether Sharon could obtain the potion formula depended on whether the deal could be reached.
On the other hand, it shows that she is very generous. Miss Sharon, who only helped a little, was able to get a Sequence 4 "Puppet" potion recipe. So, wouldn't Evan, who contributed a lot to it, get even more? This can bring endless imagination.
Evan immediately understood Collins's meaning. Looking at Miss Sharon who was looking at him, he sighed inwardly, "No wonder she is a senior demigod who ruthlessly tricked the Morse Penitentiary and is still alive and well. She is even preparing to be promoted to angel. Her mind works really fast!"
He didn't offer Evan any conditions at all; he simply used Miss Sharon to make Evan's expectations grow infinitely in his mind, making him eager to do things for him.
"This guy shouldn't be a 'craftsman,' he should be an 'audience member' and manipulate people's hearts."
Now that Miss Sharon's potion recipe is tied to him, even if Evan was originally prepared to stand by and watch, he can only help facilitate the deal between the Mysterious Queen and Collins.
At the same time, Evan was also somewhat tempted by Collins' compensation.