Chapter 507: Mid-Term Settlement (8)

How the information regarding Amrita’s death managed to significantly raise the adjustment value.

And how Lennok himself deduced and accepted why he couldn’t speak of that fact, which was the most natural course of action.

At least, with things unfolding this way, Lennok wouldn’t be subjected to any more suspicion or interrogation.

“That’s an interesting thought.”

Maiya, who had been lightly brushing off her hands behind Logier’s back, smiled.

“If you think about it that way, we can also re-evaluate why the adjustment value reached the eighth stage.”

“…Maiya, what do you mean?”

“What if it’s not just the fact of Amrita’s death itself, but the circumstances of how she died, that signify the crucial adjustment value?”

“…”

Maiya quietly mused, completely ignoring The Doctor’s words.

“If the causality of the Old World, which we thought was completely over and closed, is still connected, then it wouldn’t be meaningless…”

‘Sharp.’

Lennok showed no reaction, but inwardly he admired Maiya’s intuition.

Her words precisely pinpointed the fundamental reason why Lennok had revealed Amrita’s death here and now.

Amrita’s death involved a very complex process, but the core point was the fact that a high-ranking Apostle had gained immortality similar to a Foreign God and then died.

The calamities floating in the Outer Sea are not bound by the world’s cycles of creation and destruction.

Therefore, conversely, it’s clear that their actions are closely related to the causality of the Old World.

Lennok was aware of this, which is why he surmised that Amrita’s death, stemming from the actions of the Foreign Gods, would affect the Old World’s causal adjustment value.

Even though Maiya had no idea that the Foreign Gods had temporarily gathered in the Far Eastern Branch to choose Lennok.

She had deduced that the reason for the excessively strong causal volatility might lie in the events that occurred around Amrita’s death.

It was almost unbelievable that she had thought that far, based on a single comment from Sabrina, a spellcaster of speech magic, who had keenly observed Lennok’s subtle nuance.

Perhaps it was the insight fitting of a formidable enforcer, once considered the best in the machine city, Machina.

Others who naturally understood the meaning of Maiya’s words nodded.

“So, the reason or method of Amrita’s death affected the Old World’s causal volatility.”

“In that sense, it’s understandable that Victor couldn’t explain the reason, but…”

“It’s meaningless unless he can vouch for it himself.”

Soryu said coldly.

“Rather than that, it would be best to prepare for the chaos that will unfold across the continent due to Amrita’s death. If that information is true, the Guido Cult’s standing on the central front will drastically diminish.”

“You said they signed a truce with the Order Alliance. Will they make a move if this information spreads?”

“Not immediately. They’ll weigh the justification against the practical gains before making a decision. It’s a difficult problem.”

“The news will spread everywhere before long… Just the absence of cultists using Apostle spells will cause more people to grow suspicious…”

“…So it’s information whose value will plummet quickly despite its importance.”

“And he got an 8-stage adjustment value with that information…”

“Are you sure this is your first time participating in the settlement?”

Only then did the other members’ expressions turn awkward, realizing that Lennok had maximized his gain from information whose value would soon depreciate.

While the information that Amrita had died and the Apostle spells were sealed was incredibly shocking and invaluable.

Its significance was too crucial for the Guido Cult to hide, making it information that would quickly become public.

Should they respect his ability to acquire such information a step ahead of Pandemonium, or should they be wary of his shrewdness in discarding it at the opportune moment before its value disappeared?

Lennok faintly smiled behind his mask, knowing these emotions were clearly readable, almost palpable.

It was precisely for this purpose that he had bothered to take the time to participate in Pandemonium’s mid-term settlement.

“Then let’s begin the settlement immediately. Whoever wishes to go first, step forward.”

“I’ll go first.”

Following The Doctor’s words, Sabrina swiftly stood before the arm of the God Statue she had touched.

As the tightly clenched fist of the God Statue opened, a few faded sheets of paper appeared within it.

Following Sabrina, Logier and Chevyen, in turn, picked up the papers spread on the hand.

Vernon, instead of joining the line, was chugging down alcohol next to Lennok, his face burning with frustration.

“Damn it. I was planning to learn about 2nd World liquor manufacturing methods in this settlement… because of that damn filter…!!”

Hadn’t he agreed to yield his settlement reward to Lennok in exchange for Lennok’s filter?

Only then did Lennok realize the concrete meaning of “settlement” and looked at Vernon.

“To be precise, it seems like old-world information or data is exchanged as compensation, corresponding to the causal adjustment value you input.”

“Of course! Why else would we bother with this crap?”

Vernon shouted, reeking of strong alcohol.

“My adjustment value for this settlement wasn’t that high anyway. I exchanged it for your filter with tears of blood. Normally, I could use it for much more valuable information!”

“Vernon, what useless nonsense are you spouting to a special trait spellcaster?”

Sabrina scoffed, putting away the paper she held.

“You worry about yourself. Don’t get so drunk you stick your nose where it doesn’t belong and end up dead.”

“Sabrina. What did you get this time?”

“Are you crazy? Why would I tell you that?”

Sabrina snorted sharply.

“Only thoughtless people like Vernon blab about what they got. True masters hide their intentions until the very end.”

“Ha!! It’s probably historical records like Old World language systems or character arrangements, obviously.”

“…”

At Vernon’s words, Sabrina suddenly fell silent and averted her gaze.

Lennok looked at her with a somewhat pitiful expression.

Vernon cackled as if he had expected it.

“Well, it’s obvious what a speech spellcaster would want from Old World information, isn’t it? If it’s not a purely personal objective, it’s too obvious it’ll be information related to one’s own Hierarchy.”

“Oh-ho.”

Lennok smiled.

“Does that mean I can take your words to imply that your power is closely related to alcohol?”

If Vernon’s statement didn’t exempt himself, then his unusually strong fondness for alcohol might be in the same context.

Come to think of it, since Lennok first met him, Vernon had never stopped drinking.

It was extremely strange behavior for someone who liked alcohol to such an extreme degree.

It would be understandable if there were some condition that allowed him to unleash his full power while intoxicated.

But Vernon merely cackled at Lennok’s sharp question.

“Huh, is that how it is? Did I inadvertently spill all my secrets?”

“…”

“Well, just kidding. Of course, it’s that. Isn’t it obvious?”

Vernon chuckled at Lennok’s calm gaze shining through his mask.

“In my case, it’s hard to hide my state or conditions anyway, so I find it more comfortable to just openly display them.”

“It would be stranger if people didn’t notice a drunkard swaggering around.”

“Indeed…”

Lennok understood Vernon and Sabrina’s words.

While it’s generally advisable to conceal one’s abilities or Hierarchy.

If one has acquired a spell or a Miniature Universe that is inherently difficult to hide, then trying to conceal it is pointless.

If you display it openly instead, cautious individuals might even perceive it as a manufactured flaw and become wary.

Lennok, who constantly pondered about concealing his identity, true nature, and Hierarchy, found an unexpectedly relatable point in this.

Perhaps she sensed something from Lennok’s somewhat lukewarm reaction.

Sabrina, who had been subtly watching Lennok, quietly waved her finger at him.

Simultaneously, a faint string of characters extended from her fingertip.

[In that sense, why don’t we exchange more information?]

Did she have something to say that she didn’t want others to hear?

While Lennok stared at it, Sabrina wove more characters.

Rearranging the already formed string of characters, she naturally created a new sentence.

[Like information about the death of the 10th Apostle Amrita. It was quite shocking, actually.]

“…”

[Personally, I need information that is highly important yet highly volatile. If you know something, I’d like to exchange more.]

Since the settlement was almost over, did she want to make time to trade information with Lennok separately?

He had somewhat expected this after seeing what the other members were doing, but he hadn’t imagined Sabrina would be the first to approach him.

He had thought that a spellcaster of speech magic, who could lend her power in various ways, wouldn’t often need to request help due to a lack of information.

Lennok quietly selected a few characters from the string and lightly tapped them.

Simultaneously, a reply emerged from Sabrina’s characters, transforming into a new sentence.

[Before the settlement ends. You set the place.]

Perhaps she hadn’t expected him to reply by touching her characters? She looked at his mask with a slightly surprised expression, then nodded.

Vernon, who had been standing cluelessly next to them, picked his nose and asked.

“Then Victor. How will you use my share? Should I go out and get the settlement first?”

“…No.”

Lennok shook his head.

“First, I’ll use my adjustment value.”

Vernon’s submitted Old World artifact, the fountain pen, had a 4-stage adjustment value. Lennok’s had an 8-stage value.

Typically, it would be logical for Lennok to use Vernon’s allocated 4-stage adjustment value first to get a feel for it, then proceed with his 8-stage settlement.

But Lennok, knowing this, stepped forward ahead of Vernon.

Lennok immediately walked towards the God Statue.

Soryu, Maiya, and the Blood Elder still hadn’t confirmed their settlements.

The furball rolling on the God Statue’s head, The Doctor, eyed Lennok, his eyes gleaming.

“Speaking of which, unlike the others, you haven’t stated what you desire. Would you like a brief explanation?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Basically, it outputs corresponding Old World knowledge or data based on the causal fluctuation adjustment value you input. Think of it as a scale. Since you’ve caused a significant fluctuation in the data stored within the God Statue, it stabilizes itself by releasing an equivalent amount of data in return.”

“…”

“Since she already said it herself, take Sabrina’s case as an example: ancient character arrangements from the 1st World are a good illustration. It’s knowledge closely related to the daily life and culture of a destroyed world, not difficult to collect through Old World artifacts or information, and immensely helpful to her personally.”

The Doctor’s eyes shone sharply.

“Conversely, what you request can easily reveal your ultimate goal or the type of spellcasting you wield. You’ll have to choose carefully.”

“I understand.”

“Do you need time to think?”

“No, I’ll go right away.”

Lennok fearlessly bowed slightly before the God Statue’s eighth arm and poured in more mana.

As the eight eyes of the God Statue opened simultaneously, it slowly began to extend its eighth arm towards Lennok.

Kugugugung…!!

The other members also watched from behind, muttering.

“The settlement is working properly. There’s no problem with the God Statue’s function itself.”

“What is he planning to obtain by using an 8-stage adjustment value first?”

An 8-stage adjustment value, which had appeared only three times in the entire mid-term settlement.

He had to exhaust all of it to gain information about the Old World that even Lennok didn’t know.

He had already decided what to request.

Kikirik…!!!

Lennok stepped onto the God Statue’s hand, formed a hand seal, and infused his intent. Simultaneously, a clear string of characters began to emerge.