World Occult Usage Guide

This voice!

Lin An was certain that he had heard the sound from the other side of the device somewhere, but he couldn't remember where.

For him, "forgetting" is a difficult thing.

Because of the implantation of Ansius's spirit, Lin An's thought structure is different from that of humans. Not only does he read at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people, but he also has an almost photographic memory.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Lin An gave an ambiguous answer.

"Hello, I'm looking for Lin Hainan."

"Lin Hainan? Why?" the voice repeated in confusion, then suddenly realized, "Oh, I think I know who you are, my friend."

Do you know who I am?
Lin An's heart skipped a beat, and he almost instinctively hung up the call, only to hear the latter continue speaking.

"Long time no see, Lin An. I'm so glad to see you alive and well. I'm Atiksha. I was your protector for a time. Do you remember me?"

"Ati-Ksa?"

The familiar pronunciation stirred up a memory in Lin An. Although he still couldn't remember where he had heard the person's voice before, he remembered the name.

"You're not that active old user from the World Tree Forum, are you?" Lin An asked incredulously.

In Hindi, the pronunciation is clearly "Atiksha".

“That’s right, it’s me.” Atiksha happily admitted, “Actually, we’ve met in real life, but because of the surveillance of the Black City, I didn’t dare to appear directly in front of you, my friend.”

Dude, you're truly the first person to use real-name registration for internet access.

Lin An thought silently.

"So it was you... the Lotus Kingdom boy who sneaked into the warehouse of the St. Anilov Foundation's Dietrich branch, destroyed the candles, and was encountered by my former teammate Melissa Slaine?"

"Yes."

“You were there when Adria Hughes held the ceremony.”

"Yes."

As Lin An questioned him, he became increasingly clear about the man's identity. He was a member of a conservative family and had once disrupted Adria Hughes's ceremony along with Sasaki.

As Lin An was being consumed by Anhus's memories, Attica transmitted a message to him and used a mysterious gesture to push away the ritual energy surrounding him, freeing his soul and consciousness from the ritual.

Therefore, it's not surprising that this person connected to Lin Hainan's device, since they belong to the same faction.

"Thank you for your help back then, Attica," Lin An said. "If it weren't for your intervention, no matter how clear-headed I was, I wouldn't have been able to escape those intertwined lights and shadows of consciousness."

“It’s alright, for the sake of the planet and humanity.” Atticha smiled languidly. “This is a moment to celebrate, because we both survived.”

Unsure of the other party's stance and purpose, Lin An returned to the original question.

"Atiksha, it's nice to meet you, but I originally wanted to use the device to contact Lin Hainan. Could you let me say a few words to him?"

“No, Mr. Lin is currently busy,” Atiksa politely but firmly refused.

"When will he have some free time?"

“Let me think…” Atiksha’s voice trailed off, and the long silence made Lin An almost think that the other man had left, until he spoke again, “He will send someone to find you in six months, Lin An.”

This answer is a bit nonsensical.

Lin An's lips twitched as he reminded Atiksha.

"Did Lin Hainan come with them too?"

"No, he's very busy and he's not with us."

"Back to digging up and repairing the railway again?"

“No, Lin An, he’s working on an archaeology-related project.” A rustling sound of something being rummaged through came from Atiksha’s end. “The so-called ‘railway construction’ is actually just a pretext to find a location.”

"Is he excavating some kind of ancient ruin?" Lin An frowned.
“Yes. He’s at the ruins and can’t leave easily,” Attica said slowly. “Mr. Lin’s men will tell you how to get there, and he’s waiting for you inside, my friend. He’s prepared with the truth.”

"Ruins? Ruins of what?"

“I’m sorry, my friend, Lin Hainan doesn’t want me to reveal any information beforehand. He says he has prepared everything you need for you.”

"He can't even manage his own life, yet he's trying to arrange things for me..." Lin An couldn't help but complain in a low voice.

Atiksha's tone sounded kind, gentle, and full of warm enthusiasm, but his attitude was firm and left no room for negotiation.

Lin An realized that the other party wouldn't tell him anything more about Lin Hainan, so he had to change the subject.

“Atiksha, now that Lin Hainan has entered a mysterious ‘ruins,’ can you tell me about yourself—or your situation?”

"No. Don't create unnecessary worries and confusion. Just do what Mr. Lin asked you to do. Because on your way forward, the simple truth is often hidden in the complicated and trivial matters."

That sounds very reasonable, but in the end, it means you don't tell me anything.

Lin An rolled his eyes and suddenly changed his questioning style.

“If only you had said that sooner. Lin Hainan told me to stay in the rainforest for six months, but while I was spreading the name of the god, I unknowingly made contact with a force outside the rainforest.”

"What kind of force?"

"The Red Poppy Merchant Guild from the Kingdom of Flanders."

After he finished speaking, Atiksha was speechless for a while before hesitantly asking, "Lin An, my friend, is the 'connection' you're referring to positive?"

“Just a nodding acquaintance.” Lin An glanced at the floating Kevin. “The mistress of the Red Poppy Merchant Guild, Count Mariette van Hofwegen, will be entering the rainforest in six days.”

“I see. The Red Poppy’s activities near Bantu have inadvertently affected you,” Atiksha pondered. “If you don’t mind, we will negotiate with the Hofwegen family to have them withdraw their influence from the rainforest.”

Lin An hadn't expected Atiksha to be so agreeable.

This Lotus Kingdom youth once made Mishi a legendary figure with just a glance, and he also withstood Adria Hughes's ritual to awaken himself. He must be at least a source-level mystic, and perhaps even a "demigod".

If the conservative families led by him exert pressure, the Red Poppy Chamber of Commerce would likely not dare to act rashly.

Has Countess Mariette's crisis been resolved?
“Cast away your worries and anxieties, my friend.” Atticha’s voice was deep and innocent, like that of a calf without a care in the world. “When the heart and breath are intertwined and purified, the spirit will shine brightly.”

“There’s one more thing, Atiksha,” Lin An started a new conversation. “Since the satellite signal isn’t working, how do your communicators operate? Why is your equipment exactly the same as the [Red Poppy Merchant Guild]’s? Is this some kind of family secret?” “Yes.”

Atiksha only answered the last question.

"Agnya technology?"

“Yes.” Attica remained calm. “Lin An, Mr. Lin has already prepared everything you need.”

Although Lin An hadn't spent much time with Atiksha, he figured out his logic for answering questions. Atiksha didn't lie, and he had three ways of responding to any question: "Yes, no, no comment."

However, if Lin An is right about something that he says "no comment," he will honestly affirm it.

Premium version of [Devil's Dice]?
Lin An stopped talking, realizing it would be impolite to ask any more questions.

When he first spoke with a core member of a powerful family, it was best not to be too aggressive or pry, especially since the other party was his savior and was even going to help him negotiate with the Red Poppy Merchant Guild.

“Now, all you have to do is watch time go by and wait for the flowers to bloom,” Atiksha said kindly. “I look forward to the day when we can truly meet, my friend.”

"Okay, thank you, Atticha."

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

To save energy, Lin An exchanged a few polite words with Atticha and then hung up the call. He still needed to receive a message from the Countess and observe her movements.

Hopefully, under pressure from Atticha and the conservative aristocratic families, the Red Poppy Merchant Guild will persuade the Countess to abandon her idea of ​​entering the rainforest.

However, Lin An always felt that she couldn't give up so easily.

First, the Chamber of Commerce had to silence Edward Roberts to prevent him from spreading rumors to the West about the Chamber's various atrocities in Bantu, such as sewage discharge, collusion with warlords, and poaching of wild animals, which would affect the "deviation value" of the Red Poppy Chamber of Commerce president.

Secondly, the Chamber of Commerce seems very persistent in hunting down Zai, perhaps because they have their eyes on the "glitter" the priest gave him.

Finally...

Lin An's gaze shifted to the dejected Kevin. Plans really do change. He had already killed the Countess's only child, so the hatred between them was unlikely to be easily erased.

But if he doesn't kill Kevin, he won't be able to contact Attica, and his personal information could easily be collected by them and sent to the Red Poppy Merchant Guild, or even reach the ears of the Black City, leading to his identity being exposed.

Now that he's dead, Lin An can't "revive" him.

Feeling Lin An's gaze, Kevin raised his head, and even with his usually calm eyes, a hint of panic flashed across them.

"Brother Chicken, do you know about 'Agnya' technology?" Lin An asked casually.

"What is that?" Kevin asked in confusion.

"Knock knock knock!"

The sound of knocking on the thatched hut rang out, and after receiving Lin An's permission, Apu poked half his head in from outside.

"Lord Ancestral Spirit, I have brought what you requested."

"Thanks, Ap." Without saying a word, Lin An turned the Philosopher's Stone. A bright light flashed and disappeared. Kevin looked closely and saw that he had turned a wicker dummy that Ap was holding into metal.

Just as Kevin was puzzled, a strong pulling sensation rushed down on him, forcibly stuffing his soul into the metal dummy, turning him into an alchemical puppet.

"Forest ranger, what are you trying to do?!" A sense of foreboding washed over Kevin, and he immediately shouted, "I've already cooperated so much, you can't continue to mistreat prisoners of war!"

"Don't worry, we're just short-handed at the breeding farm recently, so you can work there as a 007."

"Are you asking me to be a secret agent?"

"Who mentioned James Bond to you? I'm asking you to be on duty at midnight every day and work until midnight the next day, 7 days a week, commonly known as 007."

"This is inhumane! This violates the Geneva Convention!"

“The only ‘Geneva’ I know is ‘Geneva refund’,” Lin An smiled slightly. “I’ve discovered that the souls of legendary-level mystics are quite robust. You can sustain this level of work for at least seven days, right?”

Kevin's eyes widened in disbelief: "You're asking me to do this? I'm not some Hutu with agricultural capabilities! Noble blood flows in my veins! I'm a member of the noble Van Hofwegen family!"

"Even if you're an animal, it won't work."

Lin An ignored Kevin's wailing and decided to make him work in the fields for a hundred hours first. He believed that he could get more information out of him in order to get rid of him.

Lin An removed the power source from Lin Hainan's communication device and placed it into Kevin's communication device, his eyes deep in thought.

The father was at a "ruin site," not rescuing his laboratory that had been destroyed by the flood...

Atiksha mentioned that he and they were not together. Does this mean that Lin Hainan has been "acting separately" from the conservative families?
Although Lin An guessed that Lin Hainan hadn't told the truth back then, his current contact with Atiksha made him unable to stop his imagination from running wild.

How much of what Lin Hainan told him was true?

Can I really trust him?
What exactly happened during the years he went to sea at the age of eighteen?
Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Lin An looked at the green data in front of him and sighed deeply.

Regardless of the truth, regardless of whether the Countess will enter the rainforest, and regardless of whether the Red Poppy Merchant Guild is an irreconcilable enemy, he must possess sufficient power to avoid being passive.

Lin An never wants to experience April 1st in Dietrich again.

…………

Dozens of kilometers away in Mbanbuka, a woman dressed in soft cheetah skin stretched and watched the fleeting equatorial sunrise drift through the velvet floor-length curtains, transforming into the blazing sun high in the sky.

Her breakfast consisted of a bagel, a bowl of cheese salad, and guacamole spread on the bagel.

Just as the countess was leisurely enjoying her lunch, an unexpected call came in, causing her pupils to contract slightly.

"Connect."

As soon as the words were spoken, a hoarse, slow, deliberate voice came from behind.

Good morning, Countess.

"Hehe, good morning, I'm having a bagel." Despite the countess's reply, there was no smile on her face. "Did you need something, Your Excellency Jacob?"

"Let me make this clear from the start: I have no complaints about your recent actions, as I greatly appreciate your dedication," the male voice said. "Please do not take this notice as an order; it is merely a piece of advice."

"Ah, please speak." The countess quickly sat up straight.

“Someone doesn’t want you to enter the jungle, for now,” the male voice said slowly. “Meet me at Lacono, Mariette.” (End of Chapter)