Northwest suburbs of Tivian, far outside Gale Fortress.
It was daytime, on a rolling hill, in a clearing between the trees. The transaction between Naifnis and the Netherworld Coffin Society had now officially begun. At this moment, Dorothy was also sitting in her carriage far away, observing the transaction scene using the perspectives of Naifnis and other small Corpse Puppets, and using the information channel to tell Naifnis in her mind how to respond to Lareina's words.
That's right, the words Naifnis had said to Lareina before, and even some of her actions, were all said and done after receiving Dorothy's on-the-spot instructions. Living Puppet manipulation belongs to the Extraordinary abilities of a Puppeteer. Without the protection of """Shadow""", it would be illuminated by """Lamp""".
But the information channel was different. The ability of the information channel came from the mysterious system Dorothy possessed. For today's transaction, Dorothy had conducted experiments... When she used the information channel to communicate with others, it would not be detected as abnormal by ordinary Hui Jian Lamps, whereas Living Puppet manipulation and Corpse Puppet manipulation would.
Regarding this situation, Dorothy initially thought that """Lamp"""'s detection effect for Extraordinary power only worked on the Extraordinary powers of this world, and since the system didn't belong to this world, it couldn't be detected.
But she was wrong in subsequent experiments. Dorothy used abilities exchanged from the system for testing. She used the Hui Jian Lamp to detect her use of Dragon Roar. As a result, she found that when releasing Dragon Roars like Slow Time, the Hui Jian Lamp actually reacted. The moment the Dragon Roar was released, the Hui Jian Lamp showed a purple anomaly. Under the detection of the Hui Jian Lamp, the Dragon Roar was considered an Extraordinary ability of """enlightenment""".
After the experiments, Dorothy was somewhat surprised. The facts proved that abilities from other worlds could also be detected by the Hui Jian Lamp, but abilities inherent to the system, such as the information channel, could not. This experimental result troubled Dorothy for a while. After much contemplation, she arrived at two possible conclusions.
First, Dorothy's previous conclusion was correct: """Lamp"""'s detection only works on the Extraordinary abilities of this world. The reason the abilities Dorothy exchanged could be detected was that, in essence, the abilities brought by these otherworldly knowledge, after arriving in this world, integrated into this world's power system, becoming the Extraordinary abilities of this world.
The best example is Sunlight Spear. In the Dark Souls world, Sunlight Spear is a miracle activated by faith, imitating Sunlight Gwyn. However, Gwyn does not exist in this world, and the power structures of the two worlds are not interconnected. Therefore, Sunlight Spear, upon arriving in this world, became a skill activated by """Lamp""". The energy consumed is this world's """Lamp""", so it must also be this world's power.
Similarly, although ordinary releases of Dragon Roar do not require consuming Spirituality, enhanced releases after complete mastery do require consuming """enlightenment""". Therefore, the otherworldly knowledge, such as the Dragon Roars Dorothy is currently using... is actually the result of being localized by the system. In some sense, these are abilities of this world, and the system's own abilities are the true external ones.
Second, the system's abilities might also be powers of this world. The system can link to other worlds, receive prayers, allow her to impersonate a deity through it, enable it to replace the guide to complete the promotion ceremony... She can consult it on certain issues, and it can even remind her that doing certain things might attract the attention of divine beings...
All these signs seem to prove that the system has some connection with this world. Perhaps it is also some kind of power in this world, but it is very special... or rather... very high-level...
The above were some thoughts Dorothy had about the nature of the system while verifying whether the system's information channel could be detected by """Lamp""". Although she had some experiments and deductions, Dorothy still essentially knew too little about the mysterious system in her mind, so she didn't spend too much time delving deeper into it.
Returning to the transaction scene, in the clearing on the hilltop, Lareina had now arrived at the wooden table, and Naifnis, clad in a long robe, followed closely behind, standing in front of Lareina. Both of them were now facing each other across a small wooden table.
"So, let's first see if both of us have fulfilled our previous promises..."
Lareina said this, then placed her hand on the lantern on the table and activated it. The lantern immediately emitted an orange-yellow warm light that ordinary gas lamps couldn't produce. This was clearly a Hui Jian Lamp.
The faint yellow light shone on Naifnis and Lareina, and the spiritual radiance of """Lamp""" was detecting them. Any Extraordinary items, talismans, Spirituality storage items, or even active Extraordinary effects, as long as they didn't have the protection of """Shadow""", could not escape the illumination of the Hui Jian Lamp.
After the Hui Jian Lamp shone for a while, a faint red light appeared on its indicator. After seeing this, Lareina opened her mouth and asked Naifnis.
"You have traces of """Cup"""'s Extraordinary ability on you... What is it?"
"Ah, that, it's just a tool to control those meat puppets..."
Listening to Lareina's words, Naifnis said this. Then she extended her hand wearing thin gloves, showed a ring on it, and then took it off. As a result, two of the three coachmen standing in the distance lost their vitality and fell to the ground. Then Naifnis took out a button from her body, and the last standing coachman also fell to the ground.
"There's so much cargo in this batch, it's a bit difficult to transport it all without some helpers." Saying this, Naifnis walked to the side, placed the two meat puppet control tools she was holding on the ground where the Hui Jian Lamp couldn't reach, and then returned to the wooden table, in front of Lareina. At this time, the Hui Jian Lamp shone on her, and the indicator light no longer showed any other colors. This indicated that Naifnis currently had no other active Extraordinary effects on her. And in Lareina's eyes, Naifnis's soul could already be felt; she wasn't using any """Shadow""" Extraordinary items to block the Hui Jian Lamp.
'This thief can perceive spirits, so she should also be an Extraordinary of """Silent""". Holding two meat puppet control tools seems to have some connection with """Cup"""... Could she be...'
Seeing the scene before her, a thought arose in Lareina's mind, a thought about guessing the identity of the person before her. As a Chalk rank Extraordinary, she had a certain understanding of the hidden world. The spiritual combination of """Cup""" and """Silent""" immediately brought to mind only two possibilities: one was the Order of Rot of the Fetal Garment Cult, and the other was the treasure-hunting societies active in North Africa and various ruins worldwide. The actions of the person before her were clearly closer to those greedy treasure-hunting societies.
'Alright... I thought it was someone else who dared to be so bold, turns out it's that group of thieves...'
Staring at Naifnis before her, Lareina thought this in her heart. At this moment, she was already guessing in her mind whether the person before her was a member of a certain treasure-hunting society. It should be known that this group of thieves, originating from North Wu, were found all over the world. Although their main profession was grave robbing, they had a lot of side businesses, and theft and extortion targeting other Extraordinary societies or forces were also common occurrences.
"So now... you've confirmed it, right? I've brought the goods, so what about your reward?" At this moment, Naifnis said to Lareina. Listening to Naifnis's words, Lareina remained silent and waved to a subordinate in the distance. Then that subordinate quickly ran over with a small bag. After taking the bag, Lareina took out items one by one and placed them on the table.
These items were several bundles of pound banknotes of the largest denomination, three books of varying thickness and age, and a badge engraved with a skeletal crown and a closed single eye. After placing these items one by one, Lareina held the Hui Jian Lamp and shone it on them again. After confirming there was nothing unusual, she spoke.
"This is the ransom you wanted, six thousand pound, three secret transmissions, and the Holy Emblem of the Immortal King of the Underworld. Hmph, as a thief, do you also wish to worship the Holy Will of His Majesty the King of the Underworld?"
"More or less. After all, those of us in this line of work deal with the dead every day. Holding this feels like being protected by His Majesty the King of the Underworld, which makes me feel more secure."
After hearing the words echoing in Dorothy's mind, Naifnis held her composure and responded to Lareina, then wanted to reach out for the item on the table, but was stopped by Lareina.
"Wait a moment, your goods have been inspected, but ours haven't."
Lareina said this, then gave a look to her subordinates around her, who then all began to move the boxes. Several of them even summoned some skeletons from the woods to help.
Just like that, with the busy work of the skeleton puppets and Lareina's subordinates, the boxes on the two carriages were unloaded one by one and placed on the ground. Lareina's subordinates began to inspect each box.
After Lareina's subordinates opened the boxes, they examined the condition of the Corpse Coffin inside, checked the Ghost warnings on them and the condition of the essences inside the coffins. They also used the Hui Jian Lamp to carefully check the boxes and coffins for any other Extraordinary traces attached besides their own, to prevent things like being tagged with a Beacon for tracking. The iron coffin containing the sealed Wooden Hoof was especially checked.
Inspecting over forty boxes of goods one by one required considerable time, and Naifnis and Lareina were also watching the inspection of the goods from the side. Their attention was focused on the goods.
At this moment, behind a tree behind Naifnis, a figure was hiding. He occasionally peeked out, observing Naifnis in the distance. That was Carle.
Carle, Lareina's subordinate, had quietly hidden in the shadows at some point during the goods inspection. Hidden in the shadows, with a solemn expression, he observed Naifnis not far away while taking out a small, thumb-sized bone blade from his body, which had been sharpened to an unusual degree.
Holding the bone blade, Carle's eyes were fixed on Naifnis. He then activated the Ghost attached to the bone blade, causing the blade to float in the air. With a focused expression, this extremely tiny bone blade shot rapidly towards Naifnis in the distance. However, its target was not Naifnis herself, but the long robe she was wearing.
The bone blade flew at a very low altitude. Under Carle's control, it flew towards Naifnis almost skimming the ground. This bone blade did not directly attack Naifnis, but instead, at a tricky angle, cut off a small corner of the hem of Neff's robe, letting a small piece of fabric fall to the ground. After cutting, it quickly retreated. Naifnis only felt her robe seem to lift slightly inadvertently, and thinking it was the wind, she didn't pay much attention.
Just like that, as time passed little by little, the forty or so boxes of goods on site were all inspected. All the boxes were immediately reclosed after being checked and approved, and the coffins were reloaded into them.
"Madam Lareina, we have finished the inspection. There are forty-two Corpse Coffins in forty-two boxes, almost without any problems. No additional Extraordinary traces were found, and the essences are all inside the Corpse Coffins. Except for one that showed signs of being opened, the rest are completely fine."
Standing in front of Lareina, a subordinate reported to her. After hearing the report, Lareina looked at Naifnis nearby, and Naifnis, after a slight pause, replied.
"We were just trying to see if we could open a coffin without triggering your Ghost warning. It failed. This was just an attempt for us as thieves to challenge ourselves, no need to mind it."
Naifnis said this. The Corpse Coffin that showed signs of being opened was the one Kapak tried to open in the warehouse. It was precisely because of this attempt to open the coffin that Dorothy discovered the Ghost warnings on these coffins.
Listening to Naifnis's words, Lareina did not immediately respond. She glanced again at the stack of wooden boxes nearby, then spoke.
"Leave the one that shows signs of being opened, and move all the others onto our carriages to be transported away."
"Yes, Madam."
After receiving the order, the subordinate began to get busy again. At this moment, Naifnis continued to speak.
"You are truly cautious, Madam. So, since you have finished the inspection, I can take the items now, right?"
Naifnis said this, looking at the items on the table. Listening to Naifnis's words, Lareina nodded. Seeing this, Naifnis smiled and responded politely.
"Pleasant transaction, members of the Corpse Coffin."
After speaking, Naifnis picked up the money, secret transmission, and badge from the table in front of her, put them in her prepared bag, then turned and walked to the spot where the flesh puppet props had been placed. After picking up the props and putting them back on, the fallen coachmen stumbled to their feet.
"Well... farewell, everyone."
With that, Naifnis, clad in her long robe, got onto the carriage. The Corpse Puppet coachmen drove the three carriages away from the scene, slowly descending the gentle slope of the small hill and gradually disappearing into the woods.
Lareina watched the disappearing carriages, standing still on the spot. At this moment, Carle slowly approached her. In his hand, he was holding a small piece of black fabric.
"Madam, the item has been successfully obtained..."
Carle respectfully handed the black fabric to Lareina. After taking it, Lareina examined it for a couple of seconds, then snorted coldly and said.
"Hmph... Using a piece of clothing as a medium, although it's far from achieving a curse for killing, it's enough to inadvertently curse her with temporary Spirituality failure."
Murmuring, Lareina squatted down, took out a jar from inside her cloak, and placed it on the ground. After opening the lid, Lareina activated her Spirituality. Then, withered yellow weeds crawled out like worms or snakes, wrapping around the piece of clothing that belonged to Naifnis, eventually forming a small scarecrow around the fragment.
This was a curse doll constructed by Lareina using a medium from the cursed person. With this doll, she could curse the source of the medium. The strength of the curse was largely determined by the strength of the connection between the medium and its source.
A medium can be anything connected to the cursed person. The stronger the connection, the stronger the curse power that can be applied. While using a piece of clothing as a medium has much less curse power than hair or flesh and blood, it can still inflict some minor curse effects.
Lareina prepared to use the piece of Naifnis's clothing as a medium to cast some minor curses on her, making her immediately fall slightly ill. This illness would damage Naifnis's Spirituality, significantly reducing her ability to perceive Ghosts.
Next, Lareina would send her Ghost to follow Naifnis, letting it possess Naifnis's body and track her all the way until she was far from the An Yin Bureau headquarters before taking action. Alternatively, she could track her all the way back to the opponent's stronghold and retaliate against their entire organization.
Generally, this method of using Ghosts for reconnaissance is ineffective against Extraordinary of "Silence". However, for an Extraordinary of "Silence" who is unknowingly cursed to fall ill and lose their Spirituality, the situation becomes different.
Just like that, Lareina stared intently at the curse doll in front of her, mobilizing her own Spirituality to apply curse power to it. Using the piece of clothing within the doll as a medium, she began to fully concentrate on cursing Naifnis, who had left not long ago.
Meanwhile, in faraway East Tivian, in the basement of the Boyle family, on the dark golden bird-shaped scepter inserted into the large magic circle, a faint stream of light was shimmering.
At the moment the light shone on the scepter, an open Golden giant eye suddenly appeared in Lareina's mind. That giant eye seemed to open from the sky, overlooking the earth and seeing through everything. Its penetrating gaze stung Lareina's soul, causing her extreme pain.
"Ahhhh!!!"
Along with a scream, the curse doll in Lareina's hand suddenly shattered. She herself fell backward in the pain of her spirit being torn, looking at the people around her in astonishment.