Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 1727 Oracle
"So, you want to conduct an experiment?"

I met Shangluo at the Hermanubis Panoramic Studio.

Hermanubis wasn't really suited to staying in Cybernia for too long, so he always came and went in a hurry—staying there was almost like suffering from altitude sickness for him.

However, this panoramic studio can simulate Yaru's environment, so he can come here at any time to talk to Shangluo.

"Yes, we want to conduct a very important experiment here—I'll tell you straight: we plan to convert the phlogiston given by the oracle into a phlogiston and then extract the artifact from it."

"Ah, it's a very difficult plan. But why are you telling me?"

[Hehehe, because this is science, we have to use dogs as test subjects first.]

"???"

“Don’t listen to her nonsense. What I mean is, this is on your roof. As the upstairs resident, it’s my duty to inform you when this kind of renovation work is being done. I feel it’s my obligation as a neighbor.”

“You’re too kind,” Hermanubis stood up. “If every Roman emperor were as understanding as you, I think the cooperation between Aru and Rome would not have ended here.”

"So, you have no objections?"

"He had no objections until the extinction of the prime minister."

Shangluo was taken aback: "What do you mean by 'annihilation'?"

His vocabulary is sometimes archaic, using concepts not commonly used in modern times. For example, "灭相" (miè xiāng) means "knowing the ultimate nature of all things and having no objections to them," a way of expressing degree.

“Ah, I’m sorry,” Hermanubis said, bowing. “I’ve been a bit out of line. I carefully considered every word I spoke to you all earlier, hoping to avoid any misunderstanding. Please forgive me for what I’ve said now, as it was unthinking.”

"You're being too polite." Shang Luo shook his head. "With such formalities, one chef here is enough. We should all be more comfortable."

"So, when will the experiment begin?"

"If you have no objections, we will begin immediately, since all the necessary elements are ready."

In the main hall of Delphi, vines and moss spread up the ancient steps.

This is the ancient sanctuary of the Temple of Apollo, and the heart of the oracle.

In ancient Greece, successive leaders of Greek city-states sought oracle from Apollo here—usually in times of desperation. The Greeks would not collectively come here to seek divine advice unless absolutely necessary.

However, this is just a simulation of Delphi for now.

"Wow, they even simulated moss! The level of detail is amazing." Apollonia bent down and touched the floor. "That's it, that's the feeling."

“Hmm,” Phaethon looked around, “that’s about it.”

“I have a question,” Shangluo asked. “I’ve never been inside the Oracle Temple in Delphi. But why is there moss here?”

“Because of that.” Phaethon pointed ahead—

A triangular stool sat there, with a fissure in the earth right in front of it. The smell of sulfur emanated from it, along with high temperatures and moisture, like a humidifier from hell.

Because the room maintains a consistently high temperature, humidity, and dark environment, it is indeed very suitable for moss to grow. The Oracle also uses these old mosses as decorations, just like the lampshades of the Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion are "semi-old".

Apollonia, holding the hem of her skirt, walked up the steps and sat down in the seat that belonged to her but which she had never used.

【Ahhhhhh!】Apollonia covered her forehead, turned her head three times, and stretched out her hand, trembling as if she had been electrocuted. 【I am a goddess. My little ones, you have become arrogant!】

"You have a headache?"

This is a ritual! Do you understand what a ritual is?

Phaethon said helplessly, "Because the oracles of Delphi are essentially poisoned by sulfur. They can only receive messages from 'heaven' when they are dizzy from inhaling it, so that's their nature. So you can't blame them for being stupid. Anyone would become stupid if they were poisoned like this every day. I also think that the priests who stand here all day have become less intelligent as well."

"Good heavens, there's also the matter of diazin gas? Are you Tadalin? Come to think of it, Rome does seem to have three." He thought of a real-time strategy game he had played before, in which there was indeed a group of crazy aliens who were sucking sulfur gas from a crack in the ground.

[What is diazine? Let me check... Hmm? I'm not crazy! I've never inhaled diazine; I was just imitating the old oracles.]

“Oh~~” Shangluo nodded, “But our ritual needs to be a little more ‘normal’. After all, we’re not trying to recreate a crazy oracle, but a proper oracle.”

In a sense, the essence of oracle services is to invoke the spirits of Apollo to answer questions. However, the image of the priest sitting on a triangular stool inhaling sulfurous smoke is so famous that it has been used in many works of art.

Shangluo felt there was a similar scene in "The Matrix"—when Neo went to see the Oracle, the Oracle looked like an ordinary middle-aged woman, but she was sitting on a triangular stool in a kitchen while talking to Neo. She was also smoking as she spoke.

The triangular stool and smoking are obvious symbols in certain cultural groups; they are symbols of oracles. These symbols are as clear as seeing a red-faced, long-bearded figure wielding a large sword in a play—that's Guan Yu.

"Yes, that's true." Apollonia straightened her clothes and sat up straighter. "Mortal, what do you desire?"

"That's more like it. But it feels like it's missing a puff of smoke?"

I don't smoke.

“You can’t not smoke, I have to light one for you. How about this, wait a moment.” Shang Luo went upstairs to the control room, found Yan Qiu who was sitting there, and retrieved a component for an incense burner, which he then placed in front of Apollonia.

"It has to be shrouded in smoke to look right."

Okay, that's settled then. Let me see... Hmm, let's begin: What would you like to ask?

"Ah, Your Majesty Apollonia, how can the Spear of Dionysus be forged?"

"That won't do." Apollonia waved her hand. "You can't just get me into character; you have to get into character too. I'm playing the role of a prophet here, so you have to be a little more sincere, right? What you did just now was so fake."

"I'm not an actor, how can you expect me to act like it's real?"

"How about this, let Yanqiu demonstrate for you?"

A moment later, Yanqiu arrived.

"Ah! Respected Apollonia, how can the Spear of Dionysus be forged?" Yanqiu stretched out her hands.

(End of this chapter)