World Occult Usage Guide

Chapter 114 "The Seeker of Knowledge"

Taking advantage of the recent chaotic battle with the Dawn Association, Lin An successfully used the knight's sword to remove the communication devices on both sides.

Hill was getting increasingly frustrated, but she was helpless and had no choice but to use the black card to send Lin An the next instructions.

"Approach Thunderbird and follow these steps to untie the restraints."

As Lin An walked over, he chatted casually with Evancia. After a few seconds of thought, she chuckled and crossed her arms to hide behind the Thunderbird statue.

"It seems Professor Emmett has told you about me. Aren't you afraid your organization will overhear?"

"Don't worry, if she were still listening, she'd probably already ordered you to humanely euthanize me." Lin An smiled nonchalantly. "Senior, your last task is to silence me, isn't it?"

“You saw right through me.” Evencia raised an eyebrow. “You’re not as rigid and naive as you seem. Well, that piques my interest. For the sake of the alumni association, I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

"You must have seen that torn page of the notebook. Isn't the information about 'Comers' it contains tempting enough? It is precisely because we know so little about that world that we two seekers of knowledge must cooperate."

Evensia smiled without saying a word.

"That notebook contains a lot of information about 'Comers.' Senior, do you know what 'magic is my essence' means?"

Lin An continued speaking to himself.

"Whether it's the medium, the level of pollution, or the radiation level, it's all related to individual behavior."

"Oh……"

A strange light flashed in Evensia's eyes. As a "wild mystic" who had been recruited, she could only learn some ambiguous information with the permission of her superiors.

Lin An's insightful observation connected her previous guesses and explained many of her confusions.

The junior student has some real skills.

Observing Evancia's expression, Lin Wen made a preliminary deduction about her "level of knowledge" and continued speaking.

“Each medium has a different way of acquiring radiation levels, such as the ‘Judges’. They increase their radiation levels through bloody killings, and the deaths of ordinary people or mysterious individuals can become stepping stones for them to become stronger.”

"The 'prophet' blends into the crowd, increasing radiation levels when making prophecies, and decreasing pollution when others believe in and fulfill the prophecies; the 'mother of desire' ignites people's desires, increasing radiation levels, and can also transfer its own pollution to others."

In fact, Lin An didn't know how the "Mother of Desire" could increase radiation levels, but he spoke ambiguously, so Evancia wouldn't suspect anything.

"Then, what about the 'seeker of knowledge'?"

Because she was most curious about her own medium.

"During the process, you must have discovered that seekers of knowledge have two different abilities. One is related to 'acquiring' knowledge, and the other is the power of this knowledge itself. They are mystical arts in different mediums. We can only increase our radiation value by using the latter."

For example, collecting and unlocking illustrations are basic functions of the Mysterious Encyclopedia, but they do not bring any benefits. Lin An must consume mediums and use mystical arts that are not his own.

He kept scrutinizing Evensia's micro-expressions; the woman was taciturn and it was difficult to discern her thoughts.

Lin An was unsure of the differences between other seekers of knowledge and the system, after all, he had never heard of a mystery that could talk to its master or "go on strike" on its own initiative.

"However, it is extremely difficult to obtain a stable medium for 'seekers' to use mystical arts."

Evancia's micro-expressions became more varied, confirming Lin An's suspicions—she was unaware of how the medium was obtained.

Taking a deep breath, Lin An said in a cryptic tone, "This brings us to the words recorded in the notes. Whether you can continue to use mystical arts is related to your nature."

"Go on," Evensia urged, unable to bear the silence any longer.

"Sorry, senior, I've said enough." Lin An removed the Thunderbirds' restraints, laid them flat on the ground one by one, and waved his hand. "Your turn."

Lin An is someone who understands the "Commerx" world very well.

His intelligence was very valuable.

That being the case...

Evensia's mindset underwent a subtle shift, and she pressed the communication device on the side of her ear.

Because Hill forcibly woke up "White Dove," his voice was filled with exasperation.

"Warlock, keep a close eye on that person! And turn your radio on full blast, I need to keep listening!"

What an anxious woman. Evensia thought, she couldn't survive in a casino with that kind of mentality.

"The room signal seems to be weak, always intermittent. After all, it's underground, and the surrounding walls have been specially treated to prevent signal tracking."

"Mark my words!"

"Yes, inspector."

Evancia ripped off the communication device and threw it outside the door. Hill heard the door creak shut, followed by a faint static sound on the other end.

“Damn it…” the deacon gritted his teeth.

She glanced at the flashing surveillance footage on the electronic screen beside her. A drone was waiting on the rooftop of the Mirage Casino, ready to fly to the agreed-upon pick-up location at the MGM Grand Hotel across the street when the time was right.

"Time is limited, so let's keep it simple."

After seeing Hill off, Evancia blinked her two heterochromatic eyes.

"I have two 'cognition' schemes. One is to curse a person to death through ominous signs, which is swift, efficient and effective. After the individual dies, some new information will appear in my mind. After analysis, I can use about 35 to 50% of that person's abilities."

"The transition between life and death provides a wealth of information, much like a 'carousel.' However, according to my rating system, only a limited number of individuals are affected in involuntary situations."

"Senior, what you mean by receiving payment," Lin An said with a wry smile, "so you were referring to me."

“It’s a fragment of the ‘reader’ within you,” Evencia said calmly. “I said ‘involuntary circumstances.’ And you are a ‘reward’ given voluntarily by the supervisor, a considerable amount of knowledge.” “Does my will matter?”

"I don't need your mystery. I'd rather waste opportunities than act rashly when it comes to the unknown. I'm a seeker of knowledge, not an omnivore. Recognizing mysteries that don't suit me will only increase my contamination level."

Can't we include incompatible mysteries?
My "Mysterious Encyclopedia" is quite open to everything, just like Kirby in StarCraft. It can generate entries for anything without having to worry about any rules or restrictions.

In fact, Ainx was based on two seeds that were the same starting point: "ominous signs" and "love spells," but the system did not have this trait.

If we had to pinpoint its basis, it would be an "illustrated guide".

"Second, use this eye." Evensia pointed to her brown, strange right eye, "Fall in love with the other person, become partners, with love as the medium, souls intertwined, and then the other person's information will appear in my mind."

"The amount of information it provides depends on how much this person 'loves' me. Although it can be used for all mystics, regardless of their rating, it takes a lot of time and the final result is never satisfactory. There are far too few people in modern society who dare to give their true feelings."

"Why don't you use this method to get the 'repeater'?" Lin An removed the last restraint strap and neatly folded it on the ground. "We're alumni, maybe our personalities will be compatible, and it might even save me from death."

Evensia shrugged noncommittally.

"It's your turn. Tell me how to reliably acquire the 'Seeker' medium."

"Are you really not planning to cooperate with me, senior?" Lin An changed the subject.

"..."

"You won't lose anything; it's a very safe bet."

“There’s never such a thing as a safe bet.” Evensia paused for a moment, then looked at Lin An’s strange actions. “What exactly are you doing? Did you receive instructions for more than just moving this statue of the local deity?”

"Shhh."

Lin An continued speaking, gesturing with his hands.

"Why do you think you awakened as a 'Seeker of Knowledge'? It's because of your endless curiosity about the mysticism, so you've been walking down this path and will continue to maintain that endless curiosity."

"Without further ado."

“Aren’t you curious about my mysterious prototype? Aren’t you curious about the power of the Thunderbird? Aren’t you curious about the information about ‘Comers’?” Lin An hugged the long table in the conference room and moved it to one side. “The path of a seeker of knowledge is always full of adventure.”

"I thought it was a research project."

“After all, we need to collect different mysteries, and find the right opportunities to use them in order to obtain more mysteries.” Lin An spread his hands. “In a way, it’s like gambling, using the initial capital to win more money.”

Evancia seemed lost in thought.

"Would you like to attend a lecture on 'pollution levels' next, senior?"

Evensia frowned, though she wanted to nod eagerly, but she restrained herself, a habit she had developed from years of gambling.

Don't be arrogant or complacent when you win, and don't sigh and complain when you lose. Even when you are in dire straits, you should maintain a calm and composed attitude.

However, Evensia had already sensed that things were starting to go wrong.

If we intervene now, we won't hear Lin An's words; if we don't intervene, Lin An will...

"Okay, go ahead and tell me."

After a moment's hesitation, she turned around, picked up the communication device outside the door, and held it in her palm.

As long as "White Dove" is still around, the situation remains under her control.

The inspector would not ignore Lin An's unusual behavior.

"Unfortunately, get out of class is about to end."

Countless invisible hands made of energy extended from behind Lin An, lifted the Thunder Bird statue, and placed it in the center of the hall. Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and the earth and walls rumbled.

"Ok?"

Evancia's face turned pale, and she quickly put her communication device back on and spoke to the other side.

"Inspector, why are you activating it now! He clearly didn't release—"

"Humph."

Given her previous perfunctory attitude, Hill's demeanor was somewhat cold.

Anyway, things were done smoothly. Unexpectedly, Lin An was exceptionally obedient. He promptly followed the instructions when Black Card sent a message, completing Hill's plan step by step.

This is a significant improvement compared to the chaotic situation I was in just now.

Unfortunately, it couldn't be kept in the end.

A hint of relief flashed in Hill's eyes, and he said coldly to Evancia, "Why aren't you following? Don't forget our deal."

"So you knew...you could see..."

As Lin An's figure rose with the bursting smoke, a thought suddenly flashed through Evancia's mind.

Is this a series of scams?
"They're probably conspiring to play me!"

Yes, that must be the case!

Otherwise, the current anomaly cannot be explained!
She gritted her teeth and quickly followed.

(End of this chapter)