Chapter 99: Rast: How about a Beauty Scheme?
When Grey came back to her senses, the boy was no longer in front of her.
It was as if the encounter on that winter night was just a dream she had conjured.
All that remained was the gently swaying door and the small wooden box on the dining table, proof that Rast had once been there.
Grey picked up the tiny wooden box and gently opened it.
Inside the box lay a beautiful crystal hairband, reflecting a molten gold-like brilliance under the warm orange light.
On the edge of the hairband was a small note.
【Adult Happiness.】
【In the days to come, learn to dress yourself well and maintain a beautiful and strong appearance in front of others.】
【If I see you looking lost and pitiful on the streets again, it will break my heart.】
Grey took out the crystal hairband—
Then carefully placed it on her head.
She always liked to mess up her hair with a head pat at the first meeting, yet gave me such a gift.
Brother Rast, I didn’t expect you to have such a twisted sense of humor.
Feeling the faint warmth left on the hairband, Grey’s lips curled slightly.
Today was not only the graduation ceremony celebrated by the newly initiated Guardians…
It was also Grey’s own eighteenth birthday.
She had planned to quietly keep this fact to herself as if nothing had happened.
After all, the last person who knew about Grey’s birthday and celebrated it for her had long been buried in the ruins of Frozen Water Town.
Little did she expect—
After eight years, she received a birthday gift that belonged to her on the day of her adulthood once again.
This birthday.
She was genuinely very happy.
…
【Your bond with Grey has deepened, the “Library of Fools” has gained new power.】
【’Fate’ · Grey’s current bond level is 6.】
【You have unlocked a new original text — ‘Fate Ripple’.】
A deep blue prompt flashed in his mind.
Rast, who had returned to his room, paused slightly in his steps.
The bond level with Grey had made a breakthrough, this was within his expectations.
After all, this witch who held fate in her hands…
At this very moment, was merely a girl who had just turned eighteen, newly initiated as a Guardian, with a still inexperienced heart.
Compared to Ciser, who had lived for who knows how long, the difficulty of raising bond levels was entirely on a different scale.
Moreover, long before Grey was a little girl, he had already left a profound imprint in her heart.
Whether it was her admiration and dreams of becoming a Guardian, or the very name Grey itself, were all bestowed by Rast himself.
Memories beautify a person, and nostalgia and longing continuously ferment emotions.
Nights spent tossing and turning, countless thoughts and memories during midnight returns…
To this day, after an eight-year reunion—
Longing and reminiscence turned into reality.
The bond level leapt to new heights, which was entirely reasonable.
Rast even suspected that if he were willing to put in a little more effort—
It shouldn’t be too difficult to further raise the bond level to level seven.
In the system of extraordinary beings, level seven holds a special significance.
It signifies true legend, marking the threshold between the mundane and the divine.
If that were the case, wouldn’t there be some special feedback when the bond level breaks through to level seven?
Of course, this was just a thought.
If Rast was correct.
His bond with Grey would probably remain forever fixed at this level, never to advance.
After all, according to the plan Ciser had given him—
Regardless of whether the mission failed, resulting in his complete demise.
Even if he were able to execute it smoothly, he would become a traitor in the eyes of the other Guardians, including Grey.
There would be no turning back.
“However, that’s just how it is,” he murmured silently.
An ignorant and foolish child can only grow up after experiencing pain.
And the naïve, inexperienced girl who still believes in glory and dreams…
Appears beautiful and splendid, but is merely a flower blooming under the protection of others’ wings, sheltered in a greenhouse.
Only after tasting the bitter wine of betrayal can she truly transform.
Then, grow into a—
Guardian capable of shouldering the Civilizational Fate.
…
Rast’s thoughts stirred, and his consciousness began to sink into the ocean of spirit, starting to review his newly acquired ability.
[Fate Ripple: As the Nexus of Fate, you are both the creator of the story and its ender.
Everything you do, even the most casual and unintentional actions, will create ripples in a calm lake, stirring layers of disturbance and waves.
Just like that classic tale, where a butterfly flutters its wings in a tropical rainforest and conjures a storm on the other side of the sea days later…
As the source of the story, countless tales arise because of you, and countless tales will also fall because of you.
The trajectory of fate will change because of you, and the fates of countless beings will be rewritten by your thoughts…
Even if you remain entirely unaware of it.]
Sure enough, the new original text he obtained from Grey was another ability described in quite a riddle-like manner.
And like the previous “Nexus of Fate,” it was directly forced upon himself, making it impossible to uninstall.
It was even more absurd than the previous Nexus of Fate, which at least had a simple-to-understand panel boost stating, “Your resistance to time-based skills has greatly increased.” This time, “Fate Ripple” was a full riddle.
Fortunately.
For the riddle-like information of the Library of Fools, Rast now had some of his own guesses.
Next was the time for verification.
Knock knock knock—
The door was knocked, interrupting Rast’s thoughts that were jumping around.
“Come in.”
As Rast’s voice echoed.
A faint shadow silently flowed through the gap of the door and entered his room.
Then, in front of Rast.
The faint shadow gathered into a distorted human form.
This figure was completely composed of pitch-black shadow, making it impossible to discern its exact features.
It faced Rast, bowed, and spoke softly.
“Sir Rast.”
“According to the leader’s instructions, this operation against ‘Paradise’ is under your full command, and I will serve as the Vice Captain of the Guardian team.”
The voice was equally indistinguishable as male or female, yet it was quite respectful.
As it spoke, the pitch-black shadow began to flow slowly.
Then, in front of Rast, it transformed into several books.
“Additionally, the long-tier extraordinary knowledge of the ‘Tower’ that you require—”
“Including all the Guardians’ files that are currently not dispatched and can be mobilized from the headquarters of the Watchtower… along with all the information collected regarding ‘Paradise,’ I have brought it all to you.”
“If you have any subsequent demands for extraordinary resources, or requirements for team member selections and training, you can directly tell me, and I will carry them out on your behalf.”
Looking at the shadowy figure in front of him, Rast pointed to the surrounding undulating shadows: “What’s going on with your appearance? Is this a sequence ability or a supernatural power?”
A respectful voice immediately replied from the shadow: “I am a sixth-tier of the ‘Shadow’ long-tier sequence, with the ability of ‘Shadow Servant.'”
“Then what should I call you?”
“Sir Rast, you may simply refer to me as ‘Shadow Servant.'”
Rast nodded slightly, his fingers brushing over the several books, feeling their somewhat rough texture.
Shadows are an ancient term popular in the Night World for this long-tier sequence.
In the present world, they are often called “Mind Demons.”
For Rast, this was an old acquaintance.
Back then, when he and Hiltina encountered an assassin from the secret organization Bronze Rose in Frozen Water Town, it was a Shadow Sequence.
He indeed had a deep relationship with Rast.
At that time, his Night Blade from the Library of Fools had yet to awaken, and that Bronze Rose female assassin was already buried deep below.
Otherwise, Rast would indeed be curious to see if he could establish a bond with that assassin.
After all, the bond level panel in the Library of Fools had never mentioned a distinction between positive and negative.
Positive friendships, love, and family ties are one form of bonds.
Then the negative hatred, especially profound enmity… should also be deemed a form of bond.
After all, he and Hiltina had hands-on killed each other.
This life-and-d*ath bond should rightly be considered a bond level of 10 without a doubt, right?
If given a chance, he would definitely try it out.
Such thoughts flashed by, and Rast quickly flipped through the books while examining the shadow that flickered in front of him.
A sixth-tier extraordinary being, with abilities that sounded combat-oriented.
Even within the headquarters of the Guardians, this would definitely be a top-tier figure, a core member of the organization…
Excluding those stationed at the Broken Coast and several key human gathering points, the number of sixth-tier Guardians freely available for combat in the Watchtower headquarters would definitely not exceed three.
However, Ciser directly assigned the Shadow Servant to him as the Vice Captain, allowing Rast to command freely.
One could only say that the leader of the Guardians had a strong determination for this “Destruction of Paradise” plan.
But he wondered… whether this “Shadow Servant” was aware of the matters regarding the Gravekeepers that Ciser had later assigned to him.
He needed to find an opportunity to probe.
With that in mind, Rast quickly glanced at the first two books.
These two books contained primarily handwritten notes regarding the long-tier extraordinary knowledge of the “Tower,” likely written by Ciser himself, with the ink stains still fresh.
This extraordinary knowledge was the key for Rast to rise quickly.
Before heading to “Paradise,” Rast prepared to spend several months, even half a year, fully digesting the knowledge related to the long-tier sequence of “Tower.”
Otherwise, with his current meager second tier, doing anything would be quite inconvenient.
With that in mind, Rast set the first two books aside.
Then, he picked up the third book.
It was intelligence collected and compiled by the Guardian organization, even after sending out reconnaissance teams for probing.
About that Netherworld, or rather the “Paradise” intelligence.
“What are your thoughts or suggestions regarding the plan to destroy Paradise?”
Rast looked at the Shadow Servant, who seemed to be seated in a chair, and through the shadows, he could feel the serious expression.
“In my view, to say that we aim to destroy the entire country…”
“However, the one core truly worthy of concern within Paradise is just one person—”
“That is, the Queen of the Netherworld.”
Though the Shadow Servant held a high rank, it seemed to possess a nature akin to an excellent employee or a workaholic.
Clearly, it had prepared ahead of time and even anticipated what questions Rast would ask.
At the moment Rast posed the question, the Shadow Servant answered swiftly without much thought.
“The entire Netherworld is actually solely supported by that Queen by her own power.”
“Furthermore, the core that maintains the entire Netherworld—the relic of the God of d*ath—is equally in the hands of that Queen.”
“In other words, if we find a way to defeat the mistress of the Netherworld… then we won’t even need to intentionally do anything, as the entire Paradise will collapse without effort.”
The Shadow Servant seriously proposed.
“However, that Queen is not easy to deal with.”
“She should possess a rank of five or six and is not completely unbeatable… but it seems she has mastered some ability that can directly interfere with the rules of d*ath.”
“Additionally, that ‘God of d*ath’ relic on her grants her the ability to momentarily exhibit powers akin to a legend in the Netherworld’s domain.”
“Moreover, that Queen of the Netherworld hardly leaves her palace, which is located at the center of Paradise City.”
“To strike against her, one must cross the entire royal city, which poses considerable obstacles for both entry and retreat.”
The Shadow Servant also produced a book and displayed the densely written strategic plans on its pages to Rast.
“I have drafted several battle plans in advance.”
“However, without exception, these plans will require taking on immense risks, engaging in battle with a likely legendary power in the enemy’s territory.”
“And even if successful, our Guardian team will inevitably pay an extremely heavy price.”
“Casualties of over half would be the most optimistic expectation, and total annihilation is also highly likely.”
“Of course, as Guardians, necessary sacrifices cannot deter us…”
The Shadow Servant’s voice was serious and firm, carrying an unwavering determination.
But immediately after, Rast raised his hand to interrupt.
“Actually, I think we have a simpler plan.”
“What?”
The Shadow Servant looked up in confusion.
Although he respected Rast’s authority as the commander due to Ciser’s appointment, he could also sense that Rast’s aura was quite weak, at best only at the second or third tier.
In terms of tactical operations, he did not believe his commander could devise a plan far superior to his own in the span of just a few minutes.
“Since she is the Queen of the Netherworld, she must be a woman, right?”
Rast’s voice paused slightly, cold and indifferent.
“Then…”
“How about a Beauty Scheme?”
(End of Chapter)
