LotM: Surviving as a Marionette

After waiting one night and confirming that this place could indeed shield the ravings caused by the moon, Elder Holloway hurriedly departed on his journey, leaving behind Olson and the young generation of Abrahams who had come together.

In the office that appeared chaotic and twisted due to the intersection of modern craftsmanship and Fourth Epoch style, Olsen set down the decorative craft lamp on the desk and looked toward Don.

"Elder Holloway went back to discuss with the other elders. He values this place highly," Olson said, considering Don's situation. "However, Don, there are also dissenting voices within the Abraham family."

He spoke earnestly: "You need to be careful. Even those who stayed behind may not all be trustworthy."

Having once been an Angel family with countless Sealed Artifacts and potion formulas, their former glory made those old fossils who were still immersed in it unable to extricate themselves, unwilling to humble themselves and cooperate intimately with outsiders. Regarding Olson's proposal, some agreed while others naturally opposed.

Those who agreed, like Elder Holloway, came with sincerity.

Within the Theater With Curtains That Never Draw were Abraham marionettes as well as Abraham demigod-level Beyonder characteristics. Some of these came from mid-sequence powerhouses who had disappeared together with Mr. Door during the War of the Four Emperors. Returning them to the Abrahams was a kindness they could never repay.

The opposition, however, would be more obsessive: Good, since you have methods and owe us favors, then serve us! Serve the Abrahams!... That sort of thinking. These people whose minds couldn't turn corners were quite dangerous.

However, Olson hadn't revealed his friend's specific identity, and had also managed to conceal the corresponding divination directions and Spirit World feedback. Even Elder Holloway was only brought here after confirming the other party had no malicious intent and came with sincerity.

He couldn't possibly bring back a few more enemies for Don—that would be so impolite.

As for whether those who came had ulterior motives, Olsen couldn't guarantee, but if they dared cause trouble here...

"It doesn't matter whether they're trustworthy or not. There's no potion called 'Trust' in this world. For people who've only met once, only interests serve as the carrier binding the two parties together," Don was quite open-minded. "If they think they can snatch this Sealed Artifact from my hands, I don't mind letting them try..."

Bringing a few Travelers to serve as his marionettes would actually make him grateful to Olsen.

For him, who couldn't perform Spirit World teleportation, having more Traveler marionettes was always good.

At most, he'd just hang a few more pieces of dried jerky from the ceiling.

With all the high-sequence Beyonders of the Abrahams having been called to their deaths, even if they possessed some Grade "0" Sealed Artifacts, using these uncontrolled dangerous Sealed Artifacts carried considerable risk in itself. On his territory, even if they were branch families with high-sequence Beyonders among the Apprentices, when facing someone who could control a Grade "0" Sealed Artifact and almost ignore negative effects, it was still uncertain who would emerge victorious.

Olsen obviously remembered they were inside that Sealed Artifact: "...Let's not talk about this."

Staying here always made one feel a chill down their back, as if something wanted to hang them up.

Thinking of his previous experience, Olson shuddered and got goosebumps.

What a fine Traveler... The theater core slowly withdrew its gaze. Too bad he was that neurotic's friend, otherwise hanging him up to dry and having him shout "Miracle" a couple times would surely sound wonderful.

Olsen: "I think I heard something..."

"It's nothing, don't mind it." Don's gaze moved away from the marionette behind Olson. "By the way, Olsen, would you like to teach students something?"

"Huh?"

"Astrology, history, geography, languages—even teaching magic tricks wouldn't be out of the question..." Don smiled. "I plan to temporarily separate ordinary people from Beyonders, and I don't intend to have marionettes completely replace all the teachers."

"That's not impossible." Olson thought about it and smiled as well. "Just don't mock my teaching skills when the time comes."

How could anyone mock the insight and understanding of a Sequence 5, a main member of the Abrahams?

---

Olsen left the office to meet with the other Abrahams and tour the campus some more.

Don leaned back against his high-backed chair and let out a long breath.

"Next time I get a Bionic Marionette, I'll definitely make one for myself first."

Don rubbed his neck.

When Olsen had answered Elder Holloway's questions earlier, he had firmly stood on Don's side. Obviously, even if the Abrahams weren't planning to take risks, Olsen himself had decided to follow Don all the way.

You don't need many friends—having one or two who you can confide in is wonderful.

In this era, these were especially precious.

Don opened the system interface.

[Mission information updated.]

[Side Mission: Establish a Secret Organization (Phase One).]

[Your final choice was to establish a new secret organization. Ah, of course, this doesn't mean your choice was wrong. Those more ancient secret organizations always have all sorts of strange rules, and joining them might not be a good choice... So first, before establishing a secret organization, you need some like-minded friends and a fixed location for communication to form a complete secret organization prototype, right?]

[Mission Reward: Mystery Gift Box ×1]

[Mission Status: Completed.]

[Reward distributed.]

[This side mission has entered Phase Two.]

[Side Mission: Establish a Secret Organization (Phase Two)]

[You've selected a fixed communication location! Let me see, what? You actually chose a Sealed Artifact?! This is truly a bold decision. Oh, my friend, your courage is admirable, and your friends are equally respectable.]

[So, after establishing a secret organization prototype, you should formulate corresponding rules and regulations. Well, you understand—a secret organization without rules and regulations is like mysticism without Daviddi Morrison... You ask who Daviddi Morrison is? Oh, that's just an ordinary vagrant.]

[Please establish comprehensive secret organization rules and regulations!]

[Mission Progress: 0%]

[Mission Reward: Mystery Gift Box ×1]

A black gift box bound with red silk appeared in Don's hand.

[Mystery Gift Box.]

[Quality: System Exclusive.]

[A gift box that can produce all sorts of strange things—Beyonder characteristics, potions, spirituality materials, Beyonder creatures, elixirs of immortality, inexhaustible springs, oil dredged from the seabed, extinguished stars from the sky, bodies of Ancient Gods, a corner of the sun, shadows from behind the curtain... Everything is here, there's always something you want!]

"This is what the system called a Mystery Gift Box?"

Don shook the gift box; it felt empty inside, as if there was nothing there.

The description seemed like a blind box.

Ancient God's body? Emmm, was this the kind of thing that would make him drop dead instantly upon opening?

[Note: Items from Mystery Gift Boxes cannot affect the host.] The system supplemented.

"So even if I open an Ancient God's corpse, I can use it as a marionette?" Don raised an eyebrow, then untied the red silk and opened the gift box.

"Let me see what good stuff is inside."

(End of Chapter)