“The Academy probably thinks the same way. After all, I haven't heard of any Letter-based Ring術士 who just enrolled being able to immediately obtain a Secret Keeper Level relic.”
Doctor Schneider also agreed with Louisa. After all, Ring術士 are quite cautious when it comes to fate.
Just by staring at that die, Xia De felt a strong urge to take it out of its setting. But fortunately, the die was still contained, and Xia De could completely resist this temptation.
However, he still placed a finger on the die, wanting to feel its cold metallic touch.
In his mind, the murmuring woman's voice suddenly rang out:
【Although the path of fate branches at your feet, if you have a useful tool, why not choose the appropriate path? From 1 to 20, and then from 20 to 1, you see your peculiar fate in the rolling die. Now is the time to roll the die...】
“Are you sure you want me to roll the die now?”
Xia De asked back in surprise, and the murmur in his ear sounded:
【Outsider, when you step onto this path of fate, the choice has always been in your hands. But sometimes, some reasonable attempts can help you understand your fate more fully. Through my vision, I have seen interesting things for you. Do you have the courage to challenge luck?】
Xia De thought for a moment. He was quite clear that his “other self” had peculiarities. Although he didn't know if this was a characteristic of an Outsider or if the other party had a problem. But the murmuring voice's actions so far had all been trustworthy. Although he was full of worry and suspicion about this world rampant with mystery and strangeness, Xia De was also willing to occasionally show some trust.
Before the Doctor and others could object, he picked up the die and let it fall onto the coffee table.
The sound of the metal die hitting the wooden coffee table startled everyone present. But the die quickly settled, with the number “20” facing upwards. Xia De didn't feel that surprised; he just heard the pleasant laughter of the woman in his ear.
【Although you always don't believe it, I am you.】
The four people all looked at the number without speaking. After a long while, the Doctor finally reminded him very seriously:
“This time it's 20... This is your relic; we have no right to interfere. But I must remind you, Xia De, people are not always so lucky. This impulsive act brought a gift of fate, but next time it might not be the case.”
“Every gift of fate has already been priced. This 20... will probably consume a lot of your luck for a long time. I have always firmly believed in the ‘Law of Conservation of Luck.’”
The Writer also said, but Priest Augustus, as a clergyman, pointed out that the conservation of luck was an unfounded superstition.
Xia De accepted these admonitions, but he did not intend to explain his motives for doing so. The unique female voice in his mind was a secret unique to him, a characteristic of an Outsider. It was enough that he knew this himself; at least for now, he would not tell anyone else about it.
The “good thing” of rolling a 20 could not be observed yet, but according to the characteristics of the die, Xia De would know sooner or later, so he just needed to wait.
After all matters concerning Xia De's official joining of the Academy were completed, the Doctor opened the bottle of champagne to celebrate that the group finally had five people.
Xia De didn't particularly like drinking, but since it was a celebration, he didn't decline. While the Doctor was pouring wine for everyone, he curiously asked if these books would be considered a disclosure of the Academy's secrets if he took them back and accidentally lost them, but the Doctor told him not to worry about this:
“First-year textbooks and materials don't have much precious value. It's not that this Knowledge isn't precious, it's just that it can be obtained through other channels, so even if you lose them, you only need to spend more pounds to buy another set at the Academy. Only in the second year will some books be encrypted.”
This made Xia De much more relieved. The Doctor, the Writer, and the Priest, all as experienced individuals, encouraged Xia De to study hard and unanimously believed that his main task now was to inscribe his first Ling Rune.
“The ‘Basic Theory of Ling Rune (Part 1)’ course will provide recommendations for inscribing the first rune based on the Ring術士's talent. What recommendation did the Academy give you? Is it 【Light】?”
“Yes.”
Xia De said, flipping through the book in his hand.
“Generally speaking, the Academy recommends inscribing a rune representing an element as the first Ling Rune, because it will be simpler. You already have 【Silver Moon】, which has a very good affinity with 【Light】 and 【Star】, and you even actively created 【Light Spell】. But 【Star】 is too complex for a first-year, so it's indeed 【Light】.”
The Doctor laughed, then got up and pulled out a book from the pile and handed it to Xia De:
“‘crazy light chaser,’ a mad novel written by an unknown Writer in the fifth epoch, which gained 【inspiration】 through its civilization. This is a translated copy. Trying to inscribe 【Light】 by reading it is the most suitable method. Of course, few people can directly obtain light. If you can obtain any extended concept Ling Rune, it will be considered qualified.”
Before today's gathering, the Doctor had already shared with the other members of the group, via letter, the news Xia De had obtained regarding the sage-level relic 【God's Box】 and the Mercury Blood organization. They all agreed to pay Xia De 1 pounds each for this information.
Xia De did not take the four pounds, which included Luvia Annett, who was not in Tobesk City, but used the money to pay off part of his 10 pounds debt for the month. The remaining 6 pounds would have to wait a little longer, as he still needed pounds to support himself and Mia.
It is said that orange cats have very good appetites, and Xia De needed to be prepared.
The Doctor was very efficient, and before the morning meeting ended, he informed Xia De of another good piece of news:
“I found news at the real estate agency that the house at Saint Delan Square Six, the entire three-story house including the land, was the property of the original Sparrow Hamilton Detective. Did he leave a will?”
“He did, I locked it in the cabinet.”
Xia De was momentarily dazed by this good news, completely unable to believe that he had inherited the entire house. All the gloom since coming to the Steam Age seemed to dissipate because of this news. He didn't even realize how much he yearned to have a home of his own.
Priest Augustus's expression was normal, and Louisa looked at Xia De in surprise:
“Hamilton, you will never be short of pounds in this life.”
“But.”
Xia De didn't celebrate too early but looked at the Doctor. The Doctor indeed continued to speak using this conjunction, his expression conflicted, not knowing what tone to use:
“But don't be happy too soon, that house has a problem. Saint Delan Square Six was bought by Sparrow Hamilton for 300 pounds two years ago when he came to Tobesk City.”
“How could it be so cheap? Even if it's a haunted house, it wouldn't be...”
Louisa asked with a frown. Although 300 pounds was a lot, it should be known that this was Tobesk City, the capital of the Delarion Kingdom, one of the two major human kingdoms in the material world. Northern Pearl, City of Fog, and the convergence point of Old Continent civilization—these were all its titles.
And Saint Delan Square Six was a building complex from which one could directly see the “Yodel Palace” from the windows. The soil there was more valuable than gold.
The Doctor had a clinic, the Priest lived in a church, and only the Writer was currently living alone, renting an apartment in the Tobesk University District, and was very sensitive to housing prices. Not counting the land, a whole house in the Saint Delan Square area, let alone 300 pounds, even 20,000 pounds wouldn't buy you one.