Chapter Twenty-One: The Fate Society’s Tragedy
This incident taught Luo Ling several important lessons.
First, being taught didn’t equate to mastery. Her mind might understand, but her hands sometimes rebelled.
Second, memories weren’t always reliable. Actual performance was limited by her own capabilities.
Third…
She shouldn’t cook again.
Yesterday, when Luo Ling and Elsa went out, they bumped into Eve and the others, who were also out looking for food. Hearing that Luo Ling was going to cook, they expressed interest.
Although initially hesitant, Cen Xiangyun, having tasted Luo Ling’s sister’s cooking in Jiangcheng County, assured them that it should be fine.
If the older sister was a good cook, her younger sister, who had learned from her, should be alright, right?
Luo Ling was also brimming with confidence. She possessed her sister’s memories. Cooking should be a piece of cake.
Thus, they boarded the ship of fools and, an hour later, regretted their decision.
Chicken so burnt it could be used as charcoal, vegetables so green they looked like they could be replanted, and an enamel pot with a hole burnt through it… Among these unspeakable culinary abominations, the only seemingly normal dish, fried ribs, tasted like a psychedelic trip, sending those who consumed it on a journey to visit their deceased great-grandmothers.
There was a beautiful fairy tale in Victoria about a little match girl who, on the verge of death, struck her last match to finally see her beloved grandmother. Miss Luo Ling could achieve the same effect with just a piece of fried rib.
Luo Ling pondered.
Something wasn’t right. She had followed her sister’s stir-frying technique, her sister’s ingredient proportions, her sister’s gas stove settings, and cooking time, replicating everything perfectly.
How could it go wrong?
It shouldn’t have!
“Maybe it’s the weather? Or the kitchen layout? Should the stove be here, and the sink there… Oh right, my sister always cooked at dusk, rarely after sunset, so maybe it’s the time…”
After coming up with countless excuses for her “delicious” meal, Eve, starving, finally snapped.
“Why don’t you just blame it on genetics?!”
“Oh, that’s possible too. Actually, my sister isn’t my biological sister… I don’t even know who my real parents are. Maybe they can’t cook either?”
“Get out.”
Of course, they could only apologize to the ingredients for their unfortunate fate of becoming Miss Luo Ling’s culinary victims, then discard the food.
After a night of torment, what was supposed to be a memorable culinary experience became a memorable experience of a different kind. They vowed to never let Miss Luo Ling near the kitchen again.
The next day, after her initial “victory,” Eve, for some reason, was eager to lead another commission. Cen Xiangyun, figuring free labor was free labor, agreed.
This time, they brought Elsa along. Luo Ling, having received an invitation from the Fate Society, was absent again.
After parting ways with the others, whose expressions were a mix of complexity and lingering fear, Luo Ling took her Fate Society ID and token, preparing to head to the designated location.
“But, they said the petals would be beneficial… I don’t feel anything.”
Luo Ling touched her forehead. Although there was nothing there now, she could still sense the faint outline of the amethyst flower.
Perhaps the benefits would manifest during combat.
Composing herself, Luo Ling opened the address given by the Fate Society and was surprised.
“…Victoria Opera House?”
As Victoria’s most famous landmark, Luo Ling was, of course, familiar with it. Lu Manqing had suggested taking photos there, but they deemed it too far.
Located in the Elizabeth district, closest to the royal palace, it was seven districts away from the Wellington district, practically across half of Victoria.
…That was quite a distance. Even by carriage, it would take a day.
“I should have left last night.”
Luo Ling couldn’t afford a carriage, and her abilities… coincidentally, none were suitable for travel.
Perhaps she could try sprinting in her Grotesquery form…
No, she shouldn’t use her Grotesquery form unless absolutely necessary.
Just as Luo Ling was pondering her options, a clear, girlish voice called out,
“Stop, stop… Miss, are you a ‘Diviner’?”
“Hmm?”
Luo Ling turned to see a carriage nearby. A young woman in a wide-brimmed hat peeked out, her eyes shining as she looked at her.
She wore an emerald green court dress, likely a noblewoman, but her movements weren’t particularly ladylike, though not as unrestrained as Eve.
Luo Ling glanced at the hourglass pendant filled with sparkling blue sand she was wearing. It was the Fate Society’s token, and “Diviner” was their self-proclaimed title.
“Sort of.”
Luo Ling nodded.
“Wow…”
The young lady’s eyes widened further as she attempted to step out of the carriage.
But her whalebone corset hindered her, and she nearly tumbled out.
The coachman, startled, rushed to help her. But the girl the young lady called “Diviner” had already appeared beside the carriage, gently catching her.
“Be careful.”
Luo Ling said calmly, brushing off the dust from the young lady’s dress.
“My lady…”
The coachman arrived, but the young lady ignored him completely.
“You appeared beside me so quickly! Is that your special power? Wow, so cool…”
“…Just a bit faster than usual, not a special power.”
Luo Ling was speechless, but she could tell that this young lady was an ordinary person.
In Victoria, most ordinary people could perceive some abilities and Grotesqueries, though it still carried the risk of mental instability.
But this was the first time Luo Ling had encountered someone so enthusiastic.
“Diviner Miss, Diviner Miss, can you teach me your special power? I’ll pay any price!”
The young lady clung to Luo Ling, her big green eyes filled with hope.
“Special powers can’t be taught… wait, I can teach you a little, but there’s a condition.”
Luo Ling had intended to refuse, but seeing the carriage, an idea came to mind.
She couldn’t teach her abilities, nor could she awaken an ordinary person without aptitude, but she could let her use her abilities a few times.
However, out of caution, Luo Ling wouldn’t let her use anything too extraordinary.
Some simple telekinesis or clairvoyance would suffice, which she could achieve using her spores.
“Really?” The young lady blinked, overjoyed. “Okay, okay! Any condition! My family is rich!”
This was the first time she had encountered a Diviner willing to teach her special powers. Everyone else had refused.
“My lady…”
The coachman’s face fell, glaring at Luo Ling.
He considered her a charlatan. He knew a bit about “Diviners,” understanding that their abilities were innate, not something ordinary people could learn.
“I don’t need money. Just lend me your carriage to Victoria Opera House.”
Luo Ling pointed at the carriage, saving herself the travel expenses.
“Huh?”
Both the young lady and the coachman were stunned.
“How about… something else?”
The young lady asked tentatively.
“This way, Miss.”
The coachman, however, readily invited Luo Ling into the carriage.
“Alright.”
Luo Ling was puzzled by their contrasting reactions, but it didn’t matter. Reaching her destination was more important.
The young lady reluctantly boarded the carriage, but the thought of learning special powers made her giggle.
“Can we go faster? I have an appointment.” Luo Ling asked.
“…Few people have said that to me.” The coachman’s eyes sharpened, giving Luo Ling a thumbs-up. “Just you wait.”
During the journey, Luo Ling learned that the young lady’s name was Odeletta, and her family wasn’t a ducal family of Victoria, but one of the Grand Dukes of the Germanic region.
However, the relationships between the royalty and nobility of these regions were… complex. They could all trace their ancestry back to common relatives, so even in Victoria, their treatment was similar.
The reason Odeletta was reluctant to go to the Victoria Opera House was because her family’s castle was in the Elizabeth district, where the opera house was located.
Going there meant going home, and she was currently running away from home…
So, it was understandable.
Luo Ling was amused by this young lady’s childishness. In her own time, girls her age would be buried under the pressure of college entrance exams.
Well, not really. Given Odeletta’s status, she likely didn’t face such pressure.
In exchange, Luo Ling “taught” her how to use abilities.
Except, it was Luo Ling’s abilities.
Luo Ling took out three strands of silver-white hair from her White Witch form and discreetly attached them to the back of Odeletta’s head, allowing her to briefly experience clairvoyance.
Although it felt like copyright infringement, and a certain Mr. Sun might protest, it was undeniably effective.
Odeletta immediately started exclaiming in surprise. Even after Luo Ling deactivated the effect, she pestered her to teach her more.
Of course, Luo Ling refused. Too much exposure to such things could drive an ordinary person insane. She told Odeletta that she could only use it three times, finally quieting her down.
The day passed quickly. As the sun began to set, Luo Ling finally arrived at her destination: the Victoria Opera House, located in the heart of Victoria’s most prosperous district, Elizabeth.
Odeletta reluctantly parted ways with Luo Ling, dragged home by her coachman, her runaway adventure concluded.
The surrounding streets were filled with luxurious carriages and elegantly dressed nobles. Luo Ling’s somewhat masculine suit was unusual, let alone the fact that she was a lone young woman.
However, her necklace quickly caught the attention of several attendants, who approached and bowed respectfully.
“Esteemed Diviner, is this your first time at the opera house?”
“Yes, how did you know?” Luo Ling took out her ID. “I’m looking for this…”
She noticed that the attendants also wore similar IDs.
Just without the token.
“Because you seem unaware,” the attendants replied respectfully, “that the Victoria Opera House belongs to the Fate Society.”
……
“I apologize for summoning you in this manner, Miss Luo Ling.”
Fiona, in a lavender evening gown, sat beside Luo Ling. Beside her tall and elegant figure, even Luo Ling seemed petite.
On stage, opera singers performed, the audience below captivated.
Of course, some were asleep.
The melodious singing and elegant classical music created a refined atmosphere, though Luo Ling wasn’t particularly fond of it.
“Just tell me what you need.” Luo Ling asked.
“…Miss Luo Ling is very straightforward.”
Fiona observed Luo Ling’s impassive expression.
“I hear that often.” Luo Ling shrugged.
“Alright, then I’ll get straight to the point. This is a request that cannot be known by the Company.” Fiona took a deep breath. “I know your identity is special, and you have many friends in the Company, but this request must remain absolutely confidential. I’m willing to pay extra for your discretion.”
“Hmm?”
Luo Ling’s interest was piqued. A secret the Company couldn’t know?
“The Company values your suspected status as a Seventh Path Awakened One, but I don’t. I’ve always valued your ability to freely traverse the Realm of Nothingness.” Fiona said gravely. “I need you to find something in the Realm of Nothingness. There might be no results… but the payment remains the same.”
“Alright, go on.” Luo Ling nodded.
Fiona paused, then slowly explained,
“Four years ago, Victoria experienced its seventy-fourth Boundary collapse. But it was a strange collapse. There were no unusual Grotesquery incidents, no warning signs. It just happened suddenly. No one was prepared.
“Two districts lost a third and a quarter of their area, respectively, becoming part of the Realm of Nothingness. Unfortunately, one of our elite teams, consisting of six eighth-order Awakened Ones, was on a mission in that area. After the collapse, we lost contact… their fate is unknown, but they’re likely deceased.
“This was the Fate Society’s most devastating loss, a wound that hasn’t healed.
“We tried asking the Company for help, but they refused, claiming the Realm of Nothingness was too dangerous. But my intuition tells me there’s more to it. The Company is profit-driven. They possess Sacred Tools that allow brief travel within the Realm of Nothingness. Simple reconnaissance shouldn’t be a problem, yet they still refused.
“Until you appeared, Miss Luo Ling. Now… you’re our only hope.”
Fiona looked at Luo Ling pleadingly,
“To avoid arousing the Company’s suspicion, we’ve never shown any interest in the Realm of Nothingness, not even when you first joined. We waited until the Company’s attention shifted away from you.
“Now the Company has assessed you as a Judgment path Awakened One, with a higher inclination towards the Sin and Thorn path, essentially ruling out the possibility of you being a Seventh Path Awakened One.
“I even invited you here specifically. The Victoria Opera House is the Fate Society’s headquarters, completely shielded from the Company’s surveillance.
“Our request isn’t complicated. If you can find them and bring them back… that would be ideal. But if not, even some of their belongings would be enough.
“Even if you find nothing, our gratitude won’t diminish. So, Miss Luo Ling… will you accept?”
A Boundary collapse four years ago.
Luo Ling thought of Iris’s Kingdom, a peaceful and tranquil dusk.
Yet, during that very dusk, Victoria experienced a Boundary collapse.
Why?
And the Company’s attitude towards this collapse seemed strange.
Perhaps Luo Ling had found the perfect location to “rewrite reality.”
However, recalling the leader’s cryptic words yesterday…
“Such an opportunity will present itself soon.”
Luo Ling felt a surge of irritation.
“I don’t want to get involved in your conflict with the Company, but if it’s just rescuing people or retrieving their belongings… I can accept. But I can’t guarantee success, please understand.” Luo Ling replied.
Fiona sighed in relief. This was indeed the Fate Society asking for Luo Ling’s help. The initiative was in her hands.
As long as she agreed, it was enough.
“Of course.” Fiona smiled. “Do you need any support? Equipment? Or Sacred Medicine? Anything within the Fate Society’s capabilities, I’ll do my best to fulfill your request.”
Luo Ling thought for a moment, then recalled her current predicament.
After a moment of contemplation, she asked,
“Can the Fate Society access the Taboo Slate?”
“Huh? Isn’t the Taboo Slate public…”
“I mean, see the original.”
Fiona frowned slightly.
“In that case… the Speakers should be able to. I owe a favor to a Speaker, which I can transfer to you. However, I must warn you, it’s a bit of a waste. It’s meaningless.
“Since it’s such a minor request, Miss Luo Ling, I’ll also offer you a High-Risk Grotesquery Sacred Tool.”
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