Late at night, Tivian North Suburb.
Inside number 17, Green Shade Town, Dorothy still sat at her desk in her study. At this moment, her will was linked to the distant Naifnis through the information channel, obtaining the latter's sight and hearing, and fully hearing the conversation between Naifnis and Boyle's butler, Nu Nuo Te.
After listening to Nu Nuo Te's words, Dorothy was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help but scratch her head.
'That... it seems... it seems... this matter... seems to have a little bit to do with me as well...'
Scratching her head, Dorothy thought somewhat awkwardly. It was clear that the precious Spirituality that Nu Nuo Te had just mentioned to Naifnis, used to maintain extraordinary items against curses, was very likely 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment), which Dorothy had intentionally colluded with Beverly to maliciously inflate the price of not long ago to pit Eight Point Nest.
At that time, Dorothy, who had just fought a divination battle with Eight Point Nest, while leaking information to Beverly, used divination to stimulate Eight Point Nest, causing them to panic and rush to buy the maliciously inflated 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment), pushing the price of 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) to skyrocket in the Tivian extraordinary market. This action not only affected Eight Point Nest but also spread to the entire hidden world of Tivian. Seeing this unusual surge in the price of 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment), various hidden societies began to worry, considering whether they should also buy and hoard some at a high price, which has caused the price of 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) not to drop until now.
Dorothy made a lot of money from this wave, but what she clearly didn't expect was that the impact of her previous actions was significantly more far-reaching than she had initially anticipated. For example, the current situation of the Boyle family was something she hadn't foreseen.
'I didn't expect such a situation to occur... But fortunately, this matter is quite easy to resolve now. Isn't it just 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment)... Give it, and I can also get a look at Grandpa Neff's stolen treasure...'
'If it can absorb 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) Spirituality to counter curses, then that means the main Spirituality that creates that kind of curse is actually'Silence', right? It makes sense that the undead in the ancient tomb curse tomb robbers with'Silence' Spirituality.'
Dorothy thought this way. As the instigator of this incident, she naturally had to help deal with it. Fortunately for her, she didn't lack 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment).
Then, Dorothy began to write on the "wen hai hang zhi" in front of her and used the puppet mark to remind Naifnis to check.
...
East Tivian, the Boyle family mansion.
Inside the study on the fourth floor of the mansion, Naifnis and Nu Nuo Te were standing here. After listening to Nu Nuo Te's words, Naifnis's face showed deep worry.
'I didn't expect... Father's problem was actually due to the curse that Grandpa said he brought back. Is the curse of North Africa so powerful? It can cross thousands of miles and curse us along the bloodline...'
Naifnis thought this way. The thought that this wave of curses was not only directed at her father but also potentially transmitted to her made her fear even deeper.
"Grandpa Nu Nuo Te, the sudden increase in the price of that precious Spirituality is indeed one reason, but don't we have some reserves at home for emergencies?" Naifnis asked Nu Nuo Te, and the latter sighed in response.
"Alas... there were some reserves, but who would have thought that the power of the curse would suddenly increase drastically, exhausting the stored Spirituality all at once? Just as I was about to make an emergency purchase, I happened to catch up with the sharp rise in the price of this Spirituality, which led to the current situation."
Nu Nuo Te said this. Since the price of 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) is very expensive, buying a little more will significantly increase the price, so unless one is particularly wealthy, it is impossible to purchase and hoard a lot at once. Therefore, the Boyle family's 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) Spirituality reserves would not be too much.
After hearing Nu Nuo Te's words, Naifnis finally understood that this incident was caused by the sudden strengthening of the curse and the surge in the price of Spirituality overlapping, which was a very low probability event that would not normally happen.
"Then... Grandpa Nu Nuo Te, what should we do now? We can't just do nothing now."
Naifnis said anxiously to Nu Nuo Te, and the latter replied in a deep voice.
"Alas... Now I plan to sell some of the family's properties and find a way to raise enough cash to buy some Spirituality for emergency use, just to get through this wave for now."
"However, the master is currently unconscious, and I am just a butler with no right to dispose of the Boyle family's property. Therefore, Miss Naifnis, you must come forward. This is why I sent a telegram asking you to return urgently. Some legal emergency procedures must be handled by Miss you."
Nu Nuo Te said seriously. For them, the immediate priority was to quickly recover cash. Although the price of Spirituality was ridiculously high, after selling some of the Boyle family's properties, they could still raise some money.
"Well, that's the only way now. No matter what, let's suppress the curse first..."
After listening to Nu Nuo Te's words, Naifnis also nodded in agreement. Just at this moment, she suddenly felt something unusual.
"Uh, that... Grandpa Nu Nuo Te, I'll go to the washroom for a moment and be right back."
After a slight pause in her expression, Naifnis said in a hurry, and Nu Nuo Te naturally nodded without any reason to stop her.
Then, Naifnis immediately opened the door and walked out of the study, went into the washroom, and then took out a history book from her bag. After opening it, she saw Dorothy's handwriting on the book.
Holding the book, Naifnis carefully read the information Dorothy had written to her. The more she read, the wider her eyes opened, and the more she couldn't help but smile slightly at the corner of her mouth.
"'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) Spirituality... Is that so? Rose Cross, it turns out to be a society specializing in the study of 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment)... That's great..."
After reading the text in the book, Naifnis couldn't help but murmur. The anxiety on her face disappeared. Then she immediately put the book back in her bag and quickly walked out of the washroom. With a light pace, Naifnis quickly returned to the study.
"Grandpa Nu Nuo Te, where is the extraordinary item that resists the curse?"
Returning to the study, Naifnis asked Nu Nuo Te. Hearing Naifnis's words, Nu Nuo Te was slightly stunned, and then he spoke.
"That item is protected in the underground secret room at home. Why are you asking this, Miss?"
Nu Nuo Te asked Naifnis, and Naifnis hesitated for a while before slowly speaking.
"Uh... Grandpa Nu Nuo Te, you don't know, but I'm not completely ignorant of the extraordinary and the hidden. I joined a society that studies the mysterious at school, and I've actually learned a little bit..."
Naifnis said this to Nu Nuo Te. After listening to Naifnis's words, Nu Nuo Te frowned slightly and spoke.
Friendly reminder: The website is about to be revised, which may cause the reading progress to be lost. Please save your "Bookshelf" and "Reading Record" in time (screenshots are recommended). We apologize for any inconvenience caused!
"Crown University... there's actually a society that studies the hidden? How can a group of students do such dangerous things! Miss, you need to quit quickly!"
Nu Nuo Te said in a serious tone. After hearing his words, Naifnis paused, then continued to speak.
"Hey... this is not the time to talk about this, Grandpa Nu Nuo Te. What I want to say is that I learned some knowledge about extraordinary items when I was in the society. Therefore, I want to go and see what that real extraordinary item looks like. As the heir of the Boyle family, I should have the right to see this extraordinary thing that concerns the life and death of our entire family."
Naifnis said this to Nu Nuo Te. Hearing Naifnis's words, Nu Nuo Te paused, then nodded and said.
"Of course, Miss, you have this right, but I still want to advise you. Just look at these things, and don't get obsessed, let alone think about studying them in depth. This is very likely to bring great disaster."
Nu Nuo Te instructed Naifnis, and Naifnis also nodded seriously.
"Okay, I will remember. So now, Grandpa Nu Nuo Te, take me to the basement to see."
Naifnis said this. At her repeated requests, Nu Nuo Te also couldn't refuse, so he walked out of the study and went down the stairs. Naifnis followed closely behind.
Soon, Nu Nuo Te led Naifnis to a collection room on the first floor. Here, Nu Nuo Te triggered a mechanism behind a painting, and then a wall in the collection room opened, revealing stairs leading down. Nu Nuo Te carried a gas lamp and walked down the stairs, and Naifnis followed closely behind, looking around curiously along the way. This was her first time visiting the hidden part of her home.
Soon, the downward stairs reached the end. Nu Nuo Te and Naifnis were now standing in front of an iron door. Nu Nuo Te opened the iron door with a key and entered an underground room, lighting the gas lamp inside.
The light illuminated the dim space, allowing Naifnis to see the scene in the room. It was not a very large underground space. The room was generally empty, and in the center of the ground, there was a large magic circle built with stones. The main body of the magic circle was a closed eye, and in the very center of the eye's pupil, there was a stone seat. A metal scepter was inserted on the stone seat.
This scepter was about one person's height, made of dark yellow metal, but it was impossible to distinguish what metal it was from the color. The scepter was engraved with intricate carvings, and the head of the scepter was an eagle-shaped decoration with wings. The entire scepter was exquisitely made, and just looking at its appearance was a very valuable work of art.
"This is... the extraordinary item that has protected our family from curse invasion for so many years?"
Looking at the scepter in front of her, Naifnis murmured, and Nu Nuo Te beside her also nodded in response.
"Yes, this was obtained by the old master in North Africa, one of the most precious treasures, a scepter with the ability to resist curses. It is this thing that has protected the old master and the entire Boyle family for decades, but now it lacks the Spirituality to support its operation, so its effectiveness is constantly weakening."
Nu Nuo Te replied. Hearing his words, Naifnis nodded and then stepped forward, walked to the scepter inserted in the stone seat, and carefully examined the object in front of her.
'According to Miss Dorothy, the Spirituality this thing lacks is called 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) Spirituality. Although this thing is very precious outside, it is nothing to the Rose Cross, which studies 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment). You and I both have a certain amount of 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) Spirituality in our bodies now, and we just need to inject it.'
Recalling the information Dorothy had just written to her, Naifnis thought this way. After a period of diligent "study" recently, Naifnis had read three or four secret transmission and extracted a lot of "Qi" (Awakening/Enlightenment) from her body. According to Dorothy's suggestion, she could now inject these "Qi" (Awakening/Enlightenment) into the scepter to restore its function to full operation.
Without much hesitation, Naifnis, who trusted Dorothy greatly, gently placed her hand on the scepter, and then, following the method Dorothy taught in the book, began to inject the 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) Spirituality in her body. Immediately, the scepter on the stone seat emitted a faint purple light. Seeing this, Nu Nuo Te, who had been watching from behind, couldn't help but be stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"What, what? This is..."
Nu Nuo Te, who had taken care of the scepter for decades, naturally knew what the current state of the scepter meant. It was receiving Spirituality!
"How is that possible? There are clearly no storage objects now... How could there be Spirituality injection? Could it be..."
With a look of disbelief, Nu Nuo Te looked at Naifnis, who was standing in front of the scepter. Just as he was about to say something, a sudden change occurred.
Suddenly, the gas lamp in the underground secret room flickered, and the surrounding light dimmed without warning. The temperature of the air in the secret room suddenly dropped by several degrees, and a cold chill suddenly crept up Naifnis's spine.
'This is...'
Naifnis felt that something was wrong around her. Logically, injecting Spirituality into an extraordinary item should not cause this situation. Just as she was feeling confused, a voice sounded.
"Don't try to hide behind that cowardly shelter anymore! Boyle!"
A scratching, sharp voice, like scraping a blackboard, sounded out of nowhere in the secret room, startling everyone inside. Along with this voice, a phantom gradually appeared in the air of the dim secret room.
It was a withered, translucent phantom, a tall and completely dehydrated mummy. The mummy was wearing a solemn robe adorned with luxurious gold pendants, and on its head was a crown decorated with a rearing cobra. Its withered face had no moisture, and green flames flickered in its dark eye sockets.
"Ah ah!!"
"Be careful, Miss!"
The appearance of the mummy phantom in mid-air directly startled Naifnis, causing her to release the scepter and take several steps back, letting out a loud cry. Seeing this, Nu Nuo Te immediately pulled out a small knife engraved with inscriptions from his waist and threw it at the phantom, but the knife passed directly through the phantom.
'This... is not a physical body, nor a spirit body... is it just a pure illusion?'
Seeing this scene, Nu Nuo Te thought to himself. At this moment, the mummy phantom spoke again. The voice it emitted was not Prit language, but everyone present could understand it.
"Davis Boyle, you insignificant... vile... shameless thief! You must pay for your actions, even if you are dead and return to the primordial soul, your bloodline will bear the price for you! Don't think about hiding forever!"
With a roaring tone, the mummy phantom shouted loudly in the secret room. Listening to its words, Naifnis roughly understood that this was probably the manifestation of the so-called curse. The immediate priority was to quickly continue injecting 'Qi' (Awakening/Enlightenment) into the scepter to bring its state to its best to resist the curse.
Thinking this way, Neff immediately stepped forward to prepare to grab the scepter again. However, after only taking one step, a feeling of weakness swept over her entire body, and at the same time, her consciousness began to blur, and her whole body became extremely weak.
Just like that, the weakened Naifnis fell to the ground, and the mummy phantom continued to shout.
"Don't try to hide in the cowardly shelter anymore, I won't miss this opportunity! All Boyles must die! This time your souls will be eternally enslaved by me, don't think about returning to the primordial!"
The mummy phantom shouted. In order to prevent the shelter from being activated again, the curse that cursed the Boyle family directly hit Naifnis.