Free Web NovelChapter 341: Chapter 341 "All Things" Power_1
"A star seedling like you was almost eliminated? Seems like the selection criteria were indeed strict," Aiden commented.
"The initial selection criteria were only based on rhetoric. Singing and acting were nurtured later," Sophie shook her head, "In the field of intelligence rhetoric, I was only mediocre, basically struggling on the edge of passing."
"She’s also a candidate, not an examiner, how could she have helped you?"
"Didn’t I say earlier that I underwent confidential training? Sometimes that training is done in pairs, with both individuals keeping a secret while attempting to extract information from the other. The secrets each person holds are somewhat related, and there’s a risk of revealing one’s own secrets while trying to probe the other person..." Sophie explained, "For a while, I was paired with Susan, and she was a bit better than me in this area."
"Did she purposely let you win?" Aiden understood.
"Yes, she made some concessions for me, uncovered my information, but didn’t disclose it, so that I wouldn’t be eliminated," Sophie said.
"Were you two that close already at that time?"
"No, we had just met not long before that," Sophie replied.
"So, was she the type of good Samaritan who’d jump into a well to save someone?"
"She said it was a favor to me. She claimed she didn’t have the capacity to strive for first place and just wanted to be selected ordinarily, hoping that I would lend her a hand if she ever encountered trouble," Sophie elucidated.
"So you’re saying she’s your benefactor? Selling a favor, she seems to understand the value of playing the long game, though it’s a bit risky," Aiden laughed, "But if she had encountered someone ungrateful, it would have been all for naught."
"At least I’m not, which proves her judgment wasn’t bad," Sophie said seriously, staring at Aiden.
"So, did you eventually repay this favor?" Aiden asked.
"Hard tosay, the more exchanges of favors there are, the murkier it becomes. I’ve helped her a few times, and she’s helped me a few times, so in the end, no one keeps that account," Sophie said.
"Isn’t that what friends are supposed to be like?" Aiden remarked.
"Yes, we were... friends. Intelligence merchants live behind masks, and it’s almost impossible to have friends, so being able to stick together and eventually become partners is miraculous," Sophie sighed, "which is why I feel I ought to do something."
"If you really think that way, you should have done something from the start. If she also considered you a friend, she must have been very disappointed when you complied with the organization’s arrangements... Well, let me be clear, if it were me, I would cut ties with such a friend," Aiden suggested.
"I hope for an opportunity to explain, but that assumes you can complete my request. No matter how eloquent I am, I can’t speak with the dead," Sophie stated.
"Fortunately, she’s still alive; otherwise, the news of the death or disappearance of a famous singer would have already hit the headlines. Speaking of which, how much time do I have left? Or maybe I should ask, when does the Judge plan to make his move?"
"Traveling from Black Iron City here is quick, but killing someone while ensuring his own safety, I reckon he’ll need some time to prepare, at least before I was jailed, the organization hadn’t detected his activity in Silvertown," Sophie pondered, "But I guess he’ll act within this week because next week ’I’ will be leaving Silvertown, and I bet a stalker doesn’t like searching the world for their prey."
"I don’t have time to play bodyguard to a singer; need to think of a way..." Aiden considered, "But before that, I need some intel on the opponent. You shouldn’t charge me for that, right? Though you didn’t meet him in the capacity of a receptionist, he wouldn’t have revealed his bottom line to you, would he?"
"He’s not that foolish, but I’ve managed to obtain some indirect intelligence, and after checking with the organization... we can be fairly certain," Sophie said in a lowered voice, "The man holds two divine words, one is the ’Material’ authority’s ’Myriad’ ability, and the other is the ’Void’ authority’s ’Suspend’ ability."
"Explain it to me a little, please."
"The ’Myriad’ ability controls the reactions and changes of matter; within his domain, phenomena like electricity release, combustion, cold, synthesis and decomposition, destruction and restoration, can be manipulated with relative precision. You can understand it as him being able to control most physical phenomena within his domain after using the divine word."
"Sounds particularly suited for frontal combat. If I stand in his domain, could he electrocute me instantly?" Aiden frowned.
Mercerized mercury automatons could be extremely vulnerable to this ability; if unlucky, the automatons might even be stolen by the opponent.
"You should be grateful that he’s still far from fully wielding his authority. According to information from the Smiling Scales, if he possesses only this divine word, his domain wouldn’t extend beyond ten meters, and it would last for about five minutes. If a saint or a dominator used this ability, they could probably change the weather of an entire city with ease."
"At least it’s shorter than a gun’s range," Aiden mused, "Perhaps I could shoot him from outside his domain..."
"That’s impossible. Even if he can’t use the ’Myriad’ ability in time to disintegrate the bullet, the ’Void’ authority’s ’Suspend’ ability can negate the interaction of a designated object with other things. If he designates your gun and bullet, the shots you fire would pass through him like phantoms. If he designates himself, then he becomes invincible, but at that time, he wouldn’t be able to interfere with anything else. Luckily, he should only be able to designate one object of interaction."
Aiden realized this was one of the abilities Qiqimora possessed, though this warlock was evidently further from his authority than Qiqimora.
"A strong combination for head-on combat, both offensively and defensively," Aiden massaged his temples, "I guess someone like this wouldn’t lack combat experience, which makes him difficult to deal with."
"Don’t you possess a unique authority? Besides, you have an overwhelming advantage in intelligence," Sophie pointed out, looking at Aiden.
"That’s true..." Aiden agreed with the statement.
The advantage of intelligence was not to be underestimated. That he managed to wrest the Wordless Code from the hands of the Red Shark Pirates was due to overwhelming them with intelligence—this was his consistent style. Unlike Melifilia, who thrived on challenging the unknown and seeking thrills, he preferred to fight battles with assured outcomes, and intelligence was a necessity to achieve this.
"Does that guy have any accomplices, or any connections that could be useful for cooperation?" For added assurance, Aiden double-checked.
"He shouldn’t have any," Sophie stated with certainty, "After all, his motivation for killing me is... rather personal."
"Alright, I’ll go have a talk with the protection target as soon as possible," Aiden nodded thoughtfully.
"You’re going to see Susan?" Sophie was taken aback.
"I think this matter requires her cooperation."
There was a moment of silence, and Sophie nodded, "Okay, I hope you can explain it to her properly..." freewēbnoveℓ.com
"I will," Aiden looked into Sophie’s eyes and said, "But before that, you’ll need to pay the agreed reward."
