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Chapter 248: The Artifact Fragment in the Simulation
🕑 Added 2024-09-26 05:31:28 +0000 UTCRhett did not respond immediately, as the plan he had in mind couldn’t be revealed, not even a tiny bit. The best course of action was to investigate through a simulation.
With a thought, Rhett activated the system.
"Do you want to start a text simulation? Each year simulated will consume 5 Fate Points."
"Yes, simulate one year."
[Kington Calendar, Year 478, June 13]
A message from the palace announced that the intelligence you provided had made a significant contribution. Through Hogus's efforts and citing the substantial rewards from the Reem Kingdom and the strengthening of relations between the two countries, you were granted the title of Marquis!
[June 15]
You visited the Dalton Merchant Guild's coastal branch, where you inquired with Vice President Darsil for more detailed information about Cow Island. You also handed him the Rainbow Shell, asking him to take it to Cow Island to investigate its origins.
[June 18]
Firegrace broke through to become a Tier 1 magical beast.
[June 19]
A Level 6 Knight attacked Darsil, stealing the Rainbow Shell from him. However, you, having anticipated the attack, intervened in time, saving Darsil and severely injuring the assailant. After questioning him, you learned that his name was Loda Galen, and discovered that he was a descendant of the Water Mage Saint Mozassi, who had conducted extensive research on the Merman Empire thousands of years ago. Over the millennia, Mozassi's family had fallen into decline, but in the family’s ancient texts, it was mentioned that before leaving this world, the Merman King had left behind an artifact fragment for unknown reasons. According to Mozassi’s speculations, this fragment not only helps to locate the aura of the Higher World but also has other mysterious uses.
[June 20]
You traveled to Loda's home in Twilight Island's Sunset Town. After some searching, you found the Merman bloodline. Then, you soaked the Rainbow Shell in the Merman blood. A miraculous scene unfolded—the shell emitted a powerful devouring force, absorbing the Merman blood completely and turning a pitch-black color. The once bright and beautiful shell was now replaced with a sinister aura.
[July 17]
You arrived in the capital and, under the watchful eyes of many, participated in the ennoblement ceremony. From that day forward, your fief was expanded several times over, encompassing the entire southwestern frontier, making you the first Marquis in the history of the southwestern border!
[August 13]
You returned to your territory, reviewed the letter left by Heiphas, and distributed the bloodline potion to Tuck. That same day, Tuck consumed the Saint-level bloodline potion, greatly enhancing his talents.
[Subsequently]
You did not linger long and, taking Tuck, Taylors, and Dick along with sufficient Raven’s Wrath potion, set out for the Dark Mountains.
[Kington Calendar, Year 479, March 1]
Lawrence broke through to become a Level 3 Knight. By this day, you had slain one Tier 7 beast, three Tier 6 beasts, thirteen Tier 5 beasts, forty-two Tier 4 beasts, 103 Tier 3 beasts, 205 Tier 2 beasts, 412 Tier 1 beasts, and 749 sub-Tier beasts.
[March 2]
You left the Dark Mountains with Taylors and Dick, heading to the Reem Kingdom’s Circle Tower to visit the Saint Heiphas.
[May 4]
You arrived at Circle Tower, where, after explaining your purpose, Heiphas soon agreed to meet with you. He sincerely thanked you for the timely intelligence you provided. After exchanging pleasantries, you quickly shifted the topic and presented the Rainbow Shell left by the Merman King, explaining its origins and requesting his help in studying it.
Upon learning that it was an artifact fragment left by the Merman King, Heiphas was shocked and took the matter very seriously, agreeing to assist you on the spot. However, after some initial experiments, he encountered difficulties with the artifact fragment and suggested that the research might take more time, asking if you would mind if he invited other Saint-level friends to help. You had no objections and readily agreed.
[June 5]
Since arriving at Circle Tower, you had been staying there, waiting for news. On this day, Heiphas contacted you, stating that after a month of research with several Saint-level experts, they confirmed that the shell did not belong to this world. Coupled with historical records, they further confirmed that it likely came along with the projection of the Merman King. Moreover, based on the specimens of the Merman King's body parts revealed by Heiphas’s Saint-level friends, it was proven that the shell contained a trace of the Merman King's aura. Heiphas explained that the artifact's function was to devour other life forms to nourish the possessor of the Merman bloodline. However, due to the artifact's advanced crafting methods and materials, only those with Merman blood could use it; humans and magical beasts did not meet the criteria. Forcing its use would have unpredictable and severe consequences!
[June 9]
Butler Sweta and the cook Maru finally confessed their feelings for each other and became a couple.
[Text simulation ended. Do you want to continue simulating?]
“No!”
The light screen gradually faded, and Rhett deeply pondered the content of the simulation.
His mind was filled with shock!
The Rainbow Shell was an artifact fragment?
Originally, he had only intended to use this simulation to gather some information and see if he could lure out the person who had long coveted the Rainbow Shell. After all, in a previous simulation, he had learned that someone on the Eastern Blue Coast might know the secret of the Rainbow Shell.
But he never expected that this shell was an artifact fragment!
Even more interesting was that the person obsessed with the Rainbow Shell turned out to be a descendant of Mozassi, the Water Mage Saint who had written one of the books that Carlton had sent to Rhett regarding the Merman Kingdom’s research.
Rhett couldn’t help but marvel at how small the world was—such coincidences could still happen.
But upon closer reflection, it all seemed to make sense, didn’t it?
After all, how many people could truly understand the deep history of the Mermen, and how many could have access to information about artifact fragments? It couldn’t be just any ordinary person.
So, if this individual was a descendant of the Water Mage Saint Mozassi from thousands of years ago, it all made perfect sense...
Returning to the present, the simulation revealed the truth about the Rainbow Shell, and even enlisted the help of Saints to study it, only to learn that the shell originated from a Higher World.
Furthermore, its ability appeared to be designed to accelerate the growth of Merman bloodlines by devouring life and nourishing the user!
Rhett was deeply troubled by this. “Why does that sound so sinister?”
Moreover, the ability to devour others and feed oneself wasn’t new to him. The products of the Blood Elf, the Dark Elemental from a previous simulation, and now this shell—each seemed to share this dark ability.
The similar traits led Rhett to sarcastically wonder, “Is everyone in the Higher World a demon?”
Of course, sarcasm aside, he knew that not all cases were like this. For example, the Sand Elemental, Snow Elemental, and Shock Elemental hadn’t shown any evil tendencies, indicating that even beings from other worlds could be good, bad, or neutral.
Sighing, Rhett felt a sense of regret. Knowing it was an artifact fragment, it seemed he couldn’t use it, as it was a Merman-exclusive artifact. As a human, he could only look at it wistfully...
“After all, using it with other races will have extremely serious side effects... Wait, side effects?!”
Rhett had just absorbed all the simulated content and, after some thinking, suddenly realized that those so-called side effects didn’t seem to apply to him.
At this realization, Rhett paused, then a wave of joy surged through him!
What kind of severe consequence could there be? Worst-case scenario, he’d die!
With the ability to simulate reality, he could completely ignore any backlash and freely obtain the power without consequence...
Suppressing his excitement, Rhett brought his thoughts back to reality and said to Darsil, “It’s nothing, just pure curiosity about Cow Island.”
Now, his mind was set on heading to Twilight Island as soon as possible. Cow Island was no longer important to him because Twilight Island was less than a hundred kilometers from Cow Island. Loda might have been active on Cow Island, but it seemed he didn’t have many ties there.
Aside from obtaining the artifact fragment, the spatial ring was also an invaluable treasure, one Rhett was determined to acquire!
After a quick glance around, Rhett exhaled softly and said, "Darsil, thank you for your help. This coastal branch is indeed an unforgettable place. But I've stayed here for quite some time, and I just remembered something I need to attend to. I must take my leave..."
Darsil maintained his smile, "I hope to see you again soon. I'll walk you to the door."
"Until next time."
Twilight Island, Sunset Town.
After leaving the Dalton Merchant Guild, Rhett immediately departed Azure City, heading straight for the place where the Water Mage Saint’s descendant resided.
Even though the simulation had provided him with a wealth of information, making further questioning unnecessary, the ancient Merman bloodline preserved by the Saint Mage would be crucial in activating the artifact fragment.
Upon arrival, Rhett had already disguised himself, donning a new set of clothes and concealing his aura.
Knock, knock, knock.
At the door of house number 13 in Sunset Town, Rhett knocked on the dark golden door.
Soon, the door creaked open, and an elderly man with short blonde hair looked at the unfamiliar face with suspicion. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Rhett saw the man and deliberately showed a hint of excitement. "Are you Master Loda? I’ve heard of your extensive knowledge and wanted to ask you some questions. I recently found a shell that seems quite mysterious, and I was hoping you could help me understand it."
"A shell? Don’t bother me..." Loda’s expression was rather impatient. Rhett’s aura only marked him as a Level 1 Mage, someone entirely unremarkable in his eyes.
Although Loda was known in town as a scholar, that was just his cover. He had committed many crimes, from robbery to arson and murder.
Faced with such an insignificant request, he initially intended to close the door and return inside. However, a flash of doubt crossed his mind as he recalled a distant memory from his family’s records.
Suddenly, the impatience vanished from Loda’s face, replaced by thoughtful curiosity. "Are you alone?"
"Of course, I’m a traveler, wandering from place to place," Rhett replied with a smile, patting the worn backpack he had deliberately bought from a second-hand market.
Loda’s lips curled into a smile as he eyed Rhett, "Then please, come in. Every sincere learner deserves respect. I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
"Not at all, Master Loda’s virtues are admirable!" Rhett feigned excitement and quickly entered the house.
Loda shut the door and watched Rhett’s back with a flash of coldness in his eyes as he followed him.
The living room was well-lit and spacious, with furniture that appeared to be of fine quality. Rhett intentionally looked around, feigning wide-eyed curiosity as if he had never seen such luxury before.
Seeing this, Loda’s smile remained, growing more convinced that Rhett was just a curious traveler seeking knowledge, nothing more.
Loda first went to a corner room and returned with two bottles of chilled dark beer, placing them on the table. "Traveler, may I see the shell you brought?"
Loda had indeed recalled a shell described in his family’s ancient texts—specifically, a shell-shaped artifact.
Had it not been his Saint-level ancestor who left the description, he might have scoffed at the idea. But out of trust in his ancestor, he was willing to investigate any potential opportunity.
Rhett took a sip of the dark beer, letting out a satisfied belch, then opened his bag and presented the Rainbow Shell to Loda.
"Oh? This shell is quite beautiful, but it’s not uncommon along the Eastern Blue Coast," Loda remarked, his tone casual.
But in truth, his mind was in turmoil!
He had seen this shell before. The ancient texts left by his ancestor not only described it but also included a sketch. The shell in front of him matched it exactly!
Loda’s heart was in turmoil, a silent prayer echoing in his mind, "So, it’s true. Ancestor Mozassi didn’t lie..."
He was brought back to reality by Rhett’s question: "Master Loda, are you familiar with this shell? I found it on a beach and have never seen this type before. Can you tell me anything about it?"
Loda quickly nodded, his face softening into a kind smile. "Indeed, I’ve done some research on such shells."
Rhett’s face lit up with feigned joy, "That’s wonderful! Could you explain it to me?"
"Of course, I’ll even give you my notes, where I’ve recorded everything I’ve learned about this shell."
"Master Loda, you are incredibly generous."
"Haha, it’s a small matter. But I’m curious, before coming to me, did you ask anyone else about this shell?" Loda asked, trying to sound casual.
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