Chapter 405: I Really Want to Report the World for Exploiting Underage Labor
“Well… I’ll give you this thing, Sister Xiao Han… I don’t have the right to hold onto it.”
Qiu Ruxin said this, viewing this item as a “disaster,” the root cause of her family’s destruction, and something she couldn’t control. Now that she learned its high value, she understood that, despite recognizing its potentially unknown worth, she was not blessed enough to deserve it.
Exchanging it for the protection of a powerful figure might help her escape her current predicament.
It felt odd; although she had still been unlucky in recent days, it was not as frequent as before, leading her to believe that Sister Xiao Han must have the ability to control such things.
“Eligibility… don’t think that way. You absolutely have the right to hold this. It is your opportunity; you just need to endure.” I held the pendant but made no move to return it. “I will add my summoning runes to it as agreed before, and I will continue to protect you.”
“This…”
“Does that make you hesitate?”
“No… not at all.” She shook her head.
“I can briefly explain what this thing is. This type of item is known as an Extraordinary Item. It requires a cost to gain benefits. From the current situation, it seems the cost you’ve paid is luck. Have you sensed any benefits you’ve gained?” Seeing Qiu Ruxin’s expression, I decided to be candid with her.
The concept of Extraordinary Items was not unusual, but I said nothing about the “Extraordinary Knowledge” aspect. Besides, “Extraordinary Knowledge” was merely my speculation; there might be Extraordinary Items that do not possess “Extraordinary Knowledge” yet emanate information comparable to it.
“Extraordinary Item? But…” Qiu Ruxin now looked rather troubled. “I haven’t felt any benefits…”
“Haven’t felt them?” I frowned slightly, a bit surprised.
Qiu Ruxin’s inability to sense anything was likely due to her lack of perception, much like how the Extraordinary Item, Ling Nan’s Heart, drained countless amounts of flesh and bl**d just to manipulate the luck invisible to ordinary people.
The most direct way would be for me to experience it personally; it just meant my luck would worsen, and at worst, I could treat it as unlocking the alchemical collar and bearing the curse of misfortune.
“I’m sorry… I’m not lying… I truly don’t know what benefits I’ve gained…” Qiu Ruxin, a bit anxious, wanted to prove she wasn’t lying, her voice tinged with urgency.
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault. I’ve seen other Extraordinary Items, and I can only say that the powers of Extraordinary Items are beyond the grasp and perception of ordinary people.” I comforted her.
It seemed searching for a breakthrough with Qiu Ruxin was futile, but at least I understood what the side effects were—a simple deterioration of luck, which I could endure. I just didn’t know whether this deterioration was permanent or temporary.
After all, compared to the Extraordinary Item Ling Nan’s Heart, which permanently lost flesh and bl**d, once consumed, they wouldn’t return unless regenerated or through other means.
Thus, I was very cautious about this Extraordinary Item, hesitating whether to use it, fearing that my luck could be permanently depleted.
I didn’t want to be unlucky for the rest of my life.
“By the way, I want to ask, after this thing leaves you, does your luck improve?”
“Luck? I’m not quite sure… but I don’t know if it’s just my impression, but it feels… should be a bit better than before.”
“A bit better.” I nodded. It seemed like it didn’t return to its original state all at once… no, not necessarily!
I suddenly thought of a possibility that Qiu Ruxin might still be the owner of this Extraordinary Item, just as I had held Ling Nan’s Heart, but the true owner was that first-generation lord, so I couldn’t utilize that Extraordinary Item until he “logged out.”
Wanting to find out if Qiu Ruxin was still the owner of this Extraordinary Item at this moment, couldn’t I just try?
I looked at the Extraordinary Item in my hand, preparing to use it.
My intention was merely to test whether it was usable now. After confirming, I would stop immediately, ensuring that my luck wouldn’t be consumed too harshly.
As I tried to communicate with this Extraordinary Item, the Thread of Fortune subtly glimmered with a golden light, as if it was “sternly” informing me before I could even test the result that it was an item with an owner.
In the next moment, as I had anticipated, I failed to use it; the Extraordinary Item was not activated successfully.
However, the strange thing was that what prevented my failure was not the Extraordinary Item itself but… the fortune!
That moment of testing, although a failure, also let me understand that fortune was not merely closely related to this Extraordinary Item; rather, fortune was an essential structure of this Extraordinary Item!
Just like how the soul material of that first-generation Ling Nan City Lord had become a part of the Extraordinary Item, and even resurrection spells could not revive it, it was such a relationship.
“This!” I was shocked, barely able to believe it!
The fact that fortune had become part of the make-up of this Extraordinary Item sounded preposterous!
It seemed there was an enormous secret or story that I was unaware of lurking behind this. Unfortunately, I could not witness it firsthand.
But this also indirectly confirmed that the formation of this Extraordinary Item seemed to be related to a script; otherwise, how could fortune become a part of an Extraordinary Item?
Furthermore, combining with my earlier speculation that this Extraordinary Item might possess “Extraordinary Knowledge,” I could infer or hypothesize much more information!
Even the world’s will and the layout of the script, and… if the Excavators were searching for the secret of “Extraordinary Knowledge,” could it be the truth?
Moreover… the fact that both the world’s will and script need to be involved in forming the Extraordinary Item indicates that its formation is crucial for this world, otherwise, fortune wouldn’t be involved.
So… if I were to hypothesize bolder, combined with Qiu Ruxin being the Child of Fortune, could it be that she is merely a “tool” bearing the side effects of the Extraordinary Item?
And the benefits are enjoyed by the whole world?
On top of what the academy head told me about the world’s secrets, if this world is the previously mentioned small world, then the small world may instinctively find ways to enhance its world level, striving to develop into a larger world…
And what is the essence of the Child of Fortune?
A laborer expelled by the world’s will to sustain the world!
Laborers and tools are essentially similar, so this speculation is not without basis; it’s just that Qiu Ruxin, as this laborer, was already being exploited by the world’s will before she even left home!
I really wanted to report this small world for exploiting labor, especially underage labor!
“Hey, Sister Xiao Han?”
“Mm? Sorry, I was thinking about some things. Where were we?” I suddenly snapped back to reality.
I had been thinking too much just now, but I lacked definite evidence to prove that everything developed that way.
However, this didn’t mean that what I thought earlier had no significance; at least… the things I was about to do were starting to have some planning, not leaving me clueless.
“We were talking about luck being a bit better than before.” Qiu Ruxin reminded me.
“Oh, we got to this point.” I nodded. Considering my earlier failed attempt to use the Extraordinary Item, I understood that Qiu Ruxin was likely mistaken, “I may have to tell you something not so good.”
“What is it?”
“Just now, I attempted to use it, but I failed; it seems to have formed some special connection with you, so you might want to hold onto it after all; I won’t take it.”
“Connection…” Upon hearing my words, Qiu Ruxin’s mood visibly sank. Did this mean she would never be able to break free from this relationship? Yet she remained unwilling to give up. “Is there truly no other way?”
“Are you referring to severing this connection?” I asked knowingly.
“Mm!” Qiu Ruxin nodded heavily.
“The depth of this connection far exceeds your expectations and understanding.” I carefully chose my words. I did not intend to reveal concepts like fortune and scripts to her, instead using other euphemistic ways to explain, “If it comes to it… the only way might be if this world is destroyed.”
“The world destroyed? How… how is that possible?”
“Maybe?” I shrugged.
After all, it wasn’t baseless; if the world is destroyed, the world’s will would cease to exist, rendering the maintenance of the script unnecessary; luck would dissipate, and the Fortune Seed would likely collapse, consequently severing the only connection between her and this Extraordinary Item. But at that time, would the Extraordinary Item collapse due to the loss of its fortune composition?
“Right! Sister Xiao Han, didn’t you mention that our world is going to collide with yours? If that happens, then am I…”
“This… I really don’t know.” Hearing Qiu Ruxin say this, I felt somewhat powerless.
The fusion between worlds would definitely be led by the main world; even if not, the Extraordinary Witches from the Witch Academy and other academies would ensure that it remained dominant.
As for whether the world’s will would be consumed by the main world’s consciousness in the process, I couldn’t say whether this included the script.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t help Qiu Ruxin sever the Fortune Seed; back then, my successful strike was merely a coincidence, and I can say that if I were to attempt that again, it would certainly not work.
“However, anything is possible; maybe a miracle will occur?” I forced a smile to comfort Qiu Ruxin, “So before the conclusion you hope for arrives, you must keep this secret safe, not letting anyone know, and… I suspect the secrets those Excavators seek might involve you.”
“Involve… me? How is that possible? What right do I have…”
“That’s why it’s my speculation.” I shook my head with a smile, not explaining further. After all, Qiu Ruxin was the Child of Fortune, so many matters concerning her were beyond question.
But… didn’t those Excavators discover that Qiu Ruxin was the Child of Fortune?
Moreover, those Excavators had entered this world long before she was born; even the name Excavator existed then, so… it was highly likely that a Child of Fortune was already acting as a tool back then.
Qiu Ruxin mentioned that this pendant was passed down; it might very well be from her grandfather or father, with this green pendant being the root of all problems.
After chatting with Qiu Ruxin for a bit and calming her emotions, ensuring she was okay, I returned to my guest room.
Although I had become a homebody these days, I hadn’t neglected my meditation practice, and I occasionally went to the gym to keep fit because even a few days without exercise can leave one rusty.
Back in my bedroom, I spent the rest of the day focusing on this pendant.
Before leaving, I learned its name from Qiu Ruxin; it is called “Tears of Wild Growth.” Looking closely at the green gem, it did resemble a droplet, so calling it a teardrop was not wrong, as this thing was indeed filled with bl**d and tears.
As for the origin of this name, Qiu Ruxin didn’t know; she had only heard it when she wasn’t the owner of the pendant at that time.
She was unaware of any further information.
That night, in the deep hours, I applied the runes of the Reverse Summoning Spell on it through alchemical “enchantment” methods.
Since it was an Extraordinary Item, I naturally couldn’t utilize alchemy in a destructive way, so I used other methods and spent some time.
Looking at the final product, the pendant that resembled a green gem, I only needed to hold it in both hands to trigger the ceremony, then the Reverse Summoning Spell would automatically unfold. At that time, this runic ceremony would connect with me, the one who mastered the spell, allowing me to be summoned.
After confirming everything was foolproof, I placed it in the storage equipment and sank into a deep sleep on my bed.
After all, the research from these past days had indeed exhausted my energy, and I needed a good night’s sleep. Moreover, the various arrangements in my guest room were quite tight.
Although it was a high-end hotel, since arriving in this world, I had to realize that there was no safe place here.
I slept very soundly, and throughout the night, nothing unexpected occurred.
When I naturally woke up, the light outside was already faintly shining, indicating morning had arrived.
“Ugh… waking up early again. Have I really reduced my need for sleep this much?” I murmured to myself, but I understood that this should be the effect of deep sleep.
For students of the Witch Academy, achieving deep sleep isn’t difficult; once meditation is successful and they don’t focus too much, consciousness seamlessly transitions into deep sleep, ensuring excellent sleep quality.
After a quick freshening up, I took out the incense burner to prepare for the morning routine meditation.
However, just halfway through my meditation, I was abruptly interrupted by a loud, hurried knocking on my door.
“Who is it?” I sighed, calming myself, and walked to the door.
Upon opening, a uniformed attendant stood there.
“Is there something wrong?” I assessed him, questioning why he would knock so violently if there was an urgent matter; didn’t he realize how impolite it was?
“Dear guest, we apologize. A large number of explorers have been detected in the area where our hotel is located, and a large-scale melee has occurred. For your safety, please come with me to the underground levels of the hotel to avoid the risks; otherwise, our hotel will not be responsible for any personal injuries caused by these explorers.”
“Oh, I understand. I’ll head there shortly.” I replied blandly, but internally surprised that even this high-end hotel would take precautions against those Excavators?
As for hiding?
If a fight broke out, who would end up hiding was still uncertain.
