The black sun hangs high

Chapter 225 Three Options
Justine's bold conjecture once again confirmed the stereotypes that the residents of Vaan held about the mage community.

In many people's eyes, spellcasters are always mysterious, cold and paranoid. When they display their extraordinary creativity and imagination, they often unleash amazing destructiveness and terrifying madness.

Hugh sat up straight and carefully examined the gentle-looking female mage in front of him.

It's hard to imagine that such a face could come up with such amazing ideas.

So Hugh asked, "Ms. Justina, besides me, has anyone else heard of these ideas of yours?"

Upon hearing this question, a bitter smile appeared on the female mage's face. She nodded and said, "I was too excited at the time, and I never imagined that there would be so many traitors lurking within our ranks. Therefore... therefore, I raised this issue directly at the regular meeting."

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Through the memories “provided” by Bourva, Hugh almost immediately verified what Justine had said. He could even sense the shock and terror felt by the members of the Black Sun Society when they heard this audacious idea through the emotional fragments left behind by Bourva.

Their reaction precisely validated the correctness of Justine's research direction.

Hugh casually refilled Justina's empty water glass with some magical water, then asked seriously, "So... Ms. Justina, if you were to continue your research according to your previous plan, what would you do?"

Hugh's question made Justina raise her head, her eyes becoming as bright as the magic lenses that mages often use in experiments—she stared intently at the young man in front of her.

As a magic scholar who resided in the city of Seren, Justina had certainly heard of Hugh Ernst's "great name".

She knew, of course, that this name had nothing to do with magic scholarship and research in the past, but through the explanations and introductions of the other members of the Law Committee, and the exchanges the two had just had, Justina had a vague idea in mind—she realized that if she wanted to verify those bold conjectures and put them into practice, then this young man in front of her could become her greatest help.

Then Justina said, "According to my idea, in order to truly have an impact on those monsters, we must effectively interfere with their minds... In other words, we must inject them with a will and mind that has enough influence through some method."

"In my initial vision, there were three ways to try to achieve this goal."

Justina took a sip of the magical water in her glass, then couldn't help but frown. Although the water that Hugh created was full of magic, it didn't taste very good.

After swallowing the water with difficulty, Justina said, "The first method is to try to capture enough samples and influence them first. After successfully imbuing them with some kind of will and thought, we can release them back into the city's population, allowing them to gather and merge with their own kind... In this way, we can continuously modify and influence that huge monster group through these samples."

"Merlinler and his colleagues had conducted this kind of experiment on shapeshifters several times. They wanted to use this method to cultivate a shapeshifter population that was not hostile to humans and could be controlled. However, these experiments all failed. Although the shapeshifters' thinking and instincts are malleable, they still have individual differences and cannot be completely integrated or have an effective influence on each other."

Justina took a breath and added, "But perhaps this method would be effective within the city of Seren, since those monsters can completely merge with each other, but..."

Hugh shook his head in denial: "But they already have too many memories. To achieve this goal, we would probably have to collect samples from half a city, which is unrealistic... Moreover, they are growing very fast and may already be able to discern our intentions."

Justina nodded, and then she continued, "The second method is relatively simple. In the process of studying the previous samples, I found that although these monsters are constantly learning our knowledge, everything they do ultimately serves their own reproductive and devouring instincts. This means that in the selection of knowledge and memories, they will be more inclined to those parts that can help them find and capture prey."

Justina put down her water glass, raised her right hand, and held up three fingers: "The specific time, the specific location, and the types and quantities of prey that may be obtained... Just like other magical creatures in Vaan that have a strong need for hunting, they are very sensitive to this kind of information. If we can successfully convey this kind of information to them, we will have the opportunity to set up a huge trap and snare."

Hearing this, Hugh nodded slightly.

Justine's second idea coincided with the plan that Hugh was considering.

For the offspring of the Dark Abyss, this method has a high probability of success. As long as they can find ways to forge information that interests them and use their hunting instincts to create the corresponding illusions at specific times, they will have the opportunity to successfully gather these dangerous hunters together.

At that point, people could try to bind these monsters using special large-scale magical rituals, or inflict sufficient damage on them by creating a powerful magical explosion...

This approach certainly cannot eradicate the Dark Abyss offspring, but if the vast majority of the offspring in the city can be mobilized and gathered together in a short period of time, there is an opportunity to create a brief safe gap, open the sealing ritual, and allow the survivors in the city to evacuate successfully.

However, Hughes didn't rush to express his opinion. He asked, "Then, what about the third method?"

"The third method..."

Justina's expression flickered slightly. She hesitated for a brief two seconds before saying in a low voice, "The third method can perhaps be considered an extension of the first plan... Its goal is also to interfere with the will and choices of these monsters."

Justine paused at this point.

Hughes noticed that the female mage's gaze seemed to linger for a moment on her missing left arm.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "The will and spirit of these monsters are interconnected. If a sufficiently firm, powerful, and absolutely advantageous individual is mixed into these wills... then, could this will, through its own abilities, become the supreme ruler among them?"

Justina pursed her lips tightly and added, "I... I roughly calculated it before. Their control over magic is limited, which means their mental strength is very weak when it is dispersed."

“Based on our previous calculations, we might need ten spellcasters of the Stream level or higher, or perhaps just two or three mages of the Lake or Valley level…” Justina’s voice grew even softer, but she still managed to squeeze out the rest of her words through clenched teeth: “I could try extracting some components from those monsters and modifying them into usable potions to alter human bodies, allowing them to retain their original will and become…”

"Okay, I understand what you mean."

Hughes raised his hand, interrupting Justine's reply.

Clearly, the third method Justine mentioned is similar to the "backup plan" that the Black Sun Society had prepared for its members.

The difference lies in the fact that Justine's idea is based on a more definite calculation result, and what she hopes to do is to use the indomitable will of those victims to replace the chaotic thinking of those monsters, thereby achieving ultimate control over these unstable groups.

Hughes' fingers lightly rubbed against the cold black sun scepter twice, and almost as if possessed, he asked, "Are your calculations accurate?"

"We need to verify it again, after all, those monsters have grown a lot, and the final answer may be different."

Hugh stared at the female mage in front of him for a few seconds, then stood up and asked, "Mage Justina, if it weren't me standing in front of you now, but the Hermit Gent or one of your other colleagues, would you tell them about the third option?"

"Perhaps...no."

Hughes nodded, turned and walked toward the ward door, saying, "Have your colleagues prepare the experimental equipment and containers. I'll figure out the sample problem; just give me a rough estimate. As for whether to tell your colleagues all these plans, that's your decision, but I believe that Hermit Gent, as the current temporary leader of the base, has the right and must know about these alternative plans."

After saying that, Hughes gripped his cane and walked out of the ward.

Hugh had already made some mental preparations for what might happen in Seren, and he wasn't the only one who needed to be mentally prepared.

At dawn, before leaving the Legal Committee's residence, Hughes specifically sought out the Hermit Genet.

By this time, the taciturn temporary leader had learned about the three plans proposed by the mage Justina, and as a result, he seemed to have become even more silent, his posture and expression as he walked were like a sad yet resolute stone statue.

"It won't be long before people from Iris Street come knocking on our door... Gent the Hermit, don't be too resistant to them. To break the current deadlock, everyone in the city must unite."

Hugh said to Genet, "I know General Boots may not be trustworthy, but for now, we'd better put aside some of our previous ideas and beliefs."

"I understand your idea."

Gene nodded: "But we probably can't leave this base for a while. It's the safest place in the whole city of Seren, and Justina and the others need a stable place to conduct experiments. We also can't let the Eye of Mel fall into the hands of others."

"You don't need to leave; you just need to take over a portion of the Iris Street soldiers."

Hugh said, “They might change some of the flags around your base to create the illusion that Iris Street has taken over the area. Of course, you will be in command of these soldiers... As for the other survivors in the city and forces like the Brotherhood of Three Colors, I will handle them.”

"Are you sure you don't need any help?"

Genet reached out and pressed down on the Demonbane Silver Longsword he carried with him: "If you need, I can bring about ten mages to assist you. Clearing out the Tricolor Brotherhood shouldn't be a problem."

"No, there's no need to clean up these guys. They are real manpower after all, and there's no need to waste them on this kind of thing."

Hugh shook his head: "However, you need to send some people as soon as possible to transfer the survivors in the vicinity during the day... especially the areas I marked on the map. I have confirmed that most of the residents in these buildings are ordinary, scattered survivors. They need the most help and are most vulnerable to injury due to the upcoming changes."

After saying that, Hugh glanced in the direction of the Eye of Mel's arcane room and added, "As for the Eye of Mel, I still suggest that you continue to use it. Keep sending messages every day. You don't need to send an application to Mellinler. Just truthfully 'report' to them about the changes and progress of those monsters."

Gene nodded, then couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Ernst, no, Mage Ernst... I have some personal questions, could you please answer them?"

"please say."

“You are indeed no ordinary mage, you are very powerful... My instincts and the mystical instruments I wear constantly remind me of this.”

Genet looked down at Hugh: "But I'm puzzled. Why are you doing all this, and why are you so confident about how things will develop?"

Hugh shook his head and laughed, “Giant Hermit, from beginning to end, I’m not the only one making efforts and trying. Asking such a question will sadden those who have already died… When they were going to their deaths, they probably didn’t have the time or opportunity to think about ‘why’, right?”

"As for your question, I can tell you clearly that my confidence comes not only from the power I possess and my understanding of those monsters, but also from the many more people willing to fight for Seren City. Their numbers are actually far greater than we imagine... Believe me, Gent the Hermit, everyone is just waiting for a signal."

"It will take anywhere from two days to a week to wake up more people, and by then we will naturally know what to do next."

(End of this chapter)