NOVEL WEB Chapter 128
“This is more chaotic than I imagined.”
I had thought that being a Count would mean a respectable status and considerable wealth, but I was clearly mistaken.
“I don’t want to eat this!”
“Aida, there are many people outside who are starving because they have even less than this. You shouldn’t complain.”
My younger sister, Aida, threw the bread aside and burst into tears, while our father, Count Bradley Somerset, sternly scolded her.
I glanced at the food before me, realizing that the dining scene in a noble household might not be much different from an ordinary family.
On the table lay a thin, unidentifiable soup and bread as hard as rocks.
Certainly, these were not appetizing dishes even for a child.
Determined to eat, I attempted to dip the bread into the soup, but just as I broke it apart—
Crack!
Did I just hear the sound of wood splintering?
Chapter 128: The Simulated Self – Xia’er
Xia’er half-wrapped herself in a coat, lying on the desk with her eyes tightly shut.
Suddenly, Xia’er, who was in a light sleep, felt a sensation akin to falling from a great height. Her body trembled violently, and she woke up abruptly.
Her knee accidentally hit the bottom of the desk, causing the entire table to shake. The small candlestick on the table lost its balance and tilted to one side, almost spilling the melted wax onto the table.
But Xia’er was quicker than the candlestick. Instinctively, she reached out and steadied the candlestick.
The candle on the candlestick, which had only a short stub left, did not fall over, but some of the melted wax that had not yet solidified poured onto Xia’er’s hand.
The sharp pain and burning sensation completely jolted Xia’er awake. After straightening the candlestick, she calmly walked to the washroom and rinsed her hand with tap water to clean off the hardened wax.
One minute later, Xia’er returned to her room with her hand still red. She habitually took out her pocket watch and checked the time.
Two o’clock in the morning…
Since Adelle left, Xia’er had been sleeping intermittently for about seven hours.
From another perspective, her sleep was very regular; within 20-30 minutes, she would wake up due to strange dreams, but she could never remember the content of those dreams, feeling only a hazy state of mind.
However, this feeling eased slightly after several subsequent sleep cycles.
With the additional mental recovery provided by “Calm Thinking,” Xia’er now felt that her mental state had recovered quite well.
Xia’er looked at the “Infinite Manual of Forgetting” in the system warehouse and confirmed the contents once again before taking it out.
She made some modifications to the contents inside.
She still needed to find a corpse, and she still needed to stitch together the woman whose memory was stored in the quill pen. However, this time, Xia’er would no longer be the one to summon the quill pen or drag it into the Other Realm to extract its uniqueness.
Instead, it would be done by the simulated Xia’er, directly completing all the goals and plans.
Now, compared to her own practical experience, Xia’er valued her mental health more.
If the simulated self were to completely collapse due to this plan and fail to live until July 1st at 8 PM, it would indicate that Xia’er needed to optimize her ideas further.
Currently, her Mortality Point number was 187, so she didn’t need to risk her life for saving 10 Mortality Points.
It would be tough on the simulated Xia’er, though.
After thoroughly modifying the plan, Xia’er placed the “Infinite Manual of Forgetting” back in the system warehouse and double-checked the contents through the warehouse icon.
The first goal was to find a safe period of time to recover her mental state using a sedative.
The second goal was to find a way to help Aivana advance.
The third goal was to draw out the quill pen without killing Lucy and Obold.
The fourth goal was to extract the uniqueness from the quill pen without revealing any information.
“Hmm…”
Xia’er nodded.
Finding a safe period and helping Aivana advance were now top priorities.
If these two goals could be achieved, they would significantly alleviate Xia’er’s current mental pressure.
Come on, simulated me…
“Tomorrow.”
“No. 4.”
The system screen flickered white and disappeared from Xia’er’s sight.
Xia’er remained seated, with no changes in the placement of candles or objects around her, and she didn’t feel any power or whispers related to the Inspector.
After a moment of silence, Xia’er opened the system’s simulation interface.
The familiar system screen appeared before her, showing her Mortality Point number as 187, but the text in the simulation interface was completely distorted, emitting a strange aura.
Clicking would take her into deep simulation.
She opened the system warehouse and saw the infinite manual, displaying the targets she needed to complete.
So, this is what it feels like to be the “simulated self”?
This is just another mission.
Curse reality’s self.
Xia’er let out a sigh, imagining the countless times her simulated self might have sighed in the past.
…
Xia’er took out her notebook and began writing:
[Sheng Year 741, June 25, 2-hour mark]
[Starting now, I will record any periods where I do not encounter any doom. You can use a longer duration to take the sedative and recover your mental state.]
Xia’er closed the notebook, putting it along with a dip pen and ink bottle into Adelle’s potion pack, then clipped the pack to her belt.
Given that real Xia’er had already wasted a lot of time and slept for seven hours, there were now less than seven days left for the simulated self.
Just enough for 162 hours, which is six and a half days plus a bit more.
For the first two days, Xia’er should avoid any contact with the extraordinary to prevent affecting the “safe period” goal, which is the primary concern.
Now, Xia’er hopes the safe period comes later, so she wouldn’t have to perform the last two dangerous actions…
Of course, this is just wishful thinking.
The success or failure of these actions directly relates to the survival of real Xia’er, leaving no room for carelessness.
What Xia’er can currently do is avoid supernatural investigations, except for finding corpses.
This can be directly written to Aivana, even if simulated Aivana detects something, as long as she gets the method to obtain the corpse, real Xia’er can bypass Aivana and get the corpse directly.
If no suitable corpse is found, Xia’er might have to try contacting Tara, as there are plenty of ordinary cultists, and suitable corpses should not be lacking.
After determining the target, Xia’er started writing the letter, expecting to wait until morning for a reply.
This would allow her to record the time from now until morning, checking if she can accumulate eight hours of safety time. According to Adelle’s description, the sedative effect lasts six hours, plus two hours of buffer, which should meet the mental recovery needs.
After waking up the maid across the street to pass the message, Xia’er returned to her room and tried to sleep.
She had many tasks ahead, and any mental recovery would be beneficial.
Real Xia’er could rest sufficiently with the “safe period” found, and the more mental recovery, the closer the simulation result would be to her peak mental strength.
After recording everything she did in the notebook, Xia’er blew out the candle and continued sleeping on the desk.
After about five hours of intermittent sleep, Xia’er faintly heard the familiar rhythmic knocking downstairs.
Not fully asleep, Xia’er got up and went downstairs.
Opening the door, she saw two maids standing there, holding Aivana’s reply.
“Thank you…”
Xia’er thanked them and was about to close the door.
But one of the maids couldn’t resist asking, “Miss Xia’er, are you okay? You look a bit pale…”
“Me?”
Xia’er felt that her mental strength had recovered about 70-80%, and said, “I’m fine, thank you for your concern.”
Politely thanking the maid, Xia’er closed the wooden door and took the envelope upstairs.
Opening the envelope, Xia’er took out the letter from Aivana.
As expected, Aivana mentioned in the letter the incident of Adelle bringing medical tools to her house last night and inquired about her health.
Seemingly considering Xia’er might have some undisclosed concerns, Aivana didn’t mention coming over herself, only stating in the letter that she would talk to Adelle to understand the situation.
Though sometimes childish, Aivana still showed maturity beyond her years, at least not causing trouble when Xia’er was safe.
At the end of the letter, Aivana introduced a tailor to Xia’er and also explained how to obtain the corpse.
Aivana wasn’t unfamiliar with the Inspector’s replication ritual process.
Knowing that Xia’er wasn’t going to digest the Inspector potion herself, Aivana mentioned the method to obtain the corpse in the letter.
“I’m quite interested in this. Let’s discuss the details of the dress together.”
With Xia’er, we began to delve into the intricate details of the dress and started sketching the design by hand.
Since Xia’er had seen the original version of the dress, she could describe its general feel in detail. Combined with the elderly lady’s professional expertise, about an hour and a half later, a rough draft of the design was already completed.
The elderly lady seemed to have never seen such a design before. According to her, the design was very retro in aesthetic, yet it was bold in its use of accessories, especially the red-gold color scheme, which gave off a luxurious feeling.
The elderly lady was very willing to help Xia’er make this dress, but when Xia’er heard the production cycle, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
This formal wear was very complex, and all the accessories would need to be custom-made, requiring coordination with corresponding craftsmen. The latest possible delivery time might be several months, while the earliest would be three weeks.
Three weeks… too long.
Unless she spent a mortality point to simulate over a month and then bring the reality into existence using mortality points.
To spend 100 mortality points just for a dress… even Xia’er found it a bit unaffordable.
Thinking that there wouldn’t be much need for money afterward, Xia’er took out the Su Pounds she got from Aivana and placed six hundred Su Pounds in front of the elderly lady.
“Can you make it in five days?”
Xia’er looked at the elderly lady and said, “It doesn’t need to be perfect, just similar overall. If any craftsman’s assistance is needed, I can contact Miss Aivana to help find them.”
Indeed, the power of money was incredibly strong.
After Xia’er placed the six hundred Su Pounds on the table, the elderly lady’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, she nodded in agreement.
She probably saw more than just a pile of bills; she saw a set of middle-class townhouses in An Su.
Xia’er left two hundred Su Pounds as a deposit and her address before leaving the tailor’s house.
Xia’er didn’t mind spending the money, since she could directly exchange the dress for real in reality—she couldn’t wait five days for the old tailor to finish making it.
“Safe time” had been secured, the dress and the sewable corpse were ready, now Xia’er needed to help Aivana digest the “Psychologist” potion during the wait.
Checking the time, it was exactly noon, which was lunchtime.
Xia’er stopped a carriage, reported Aivana’s address, and began recording everything in Chinese today in the carriage so she could refer to it when she returned to reality.
When she finished recording everything, the carriage arrived at Aivana’s manor.
After paying the fare, Xia’er got off. The guard opened the door without even reporting, and a maid led Xia’er inside.
Most of the staff in the manor had seen Xia’er before, and the butler had instructed that Xia’er should be brought directly to the young mistress if she came.
At this moment, Aivana was eating lunch and seemed surprised to see Xia’er. On the other side of Aivana, Adelle was still munching on steak, seemingly unaware of Xia’er standing at the door.
“Would you like to join us?”
Aivana pointed to the chair next to her and said, “I’m not very hungry today. I just wanted to talk about you with Adelle.”
Aivana didn’t ask for another set of utensils, but pushed her unused ones towards Xia’er, knowing Xia’er wouldn’t mind these small details.
“Where is Nia?”
Xia’er sat next to Aivana and casually asked.
Only then did Adelle notice Xia’er sitting opposite her, swallowed her mouthful, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and said, “Xia’er? What brings you here? How are you feeling?”
Xia’er, who hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch, picked up Aivana’s fork and started eating the food in Aivana’s plate without hesitation.
“She went to check the security arrangements for tonight’s banquet. She’ll be back later,” Aivana adjusted her glasses and curiously asked, “Do you need her help?”
“No, just make sure she doesn’t meet me directly when she returns,” Xia’er said straightforwardly, “I’ve been cursed. Meeting an Extraordinary Person brings bad luck, and the higher their rank, the worse the luck.”
Aivana looked puzzled.
Curse…?
In her memory, no Extraordinary Path had such a capability…
“Not an Extraordinary Person, a Sealed Object,” Xia’er explained, seeing the confusion in Aivana’s eyes.
“Oh…”
Aivana nodded. If it was a Sealed Object, it made sense.
Was this why Xia’er had left the manor earlier?
“Is the matter unresolved?” Aivana asked.
Meanwhile, Adelle, who had been ignored despite her concern for Xia’er’s health, noticed Xia’er’s complexion had improved slightly and continued eating her steak, seemingly indifferent to being ignored.
“Not yet, almost done,” Xia’er put down her cutlery and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Then, realizing she hadn’t replied to Adelle, Xia’er looked at her and said, “Adelle, thank you for your concern. I’m much better now.”
“Huh?”
Adelle looked blankly at Xia’er, seemingly forgetting what she had asked moments ago.
Once she confirmed Xia’er’s condition hadn’t worsened, Adelle turned back to her meal, oblivious to the previous incident.
“No worries, keep eating,” Xia’er silently watched Adelle, then turned to Aivana, only to see Aivana wiping her mouth with a napkin.
She wasn’t sure if Aivana was trying to hide a smile.
“Is there anything I can help with?” Aivana asked after putting down the napkin.
She knew Xia’er wouldn’t come to her without a reason. Xia’er didn’t seem to be there for fun.
“Yes, I do have something I’d like to trouble you with,” Xia’er didn’t hide anything. In the simulation, efficiency was key, so she laid out everything straightforwardly.
“I can help you find a brainwashed Second Rank Extraordinary Person to help complete the ‘Psychologist’ replication ritual.”
Xia’er looked into Aivana’s eyes and said, “One isn’t enough, two or three will do.”
Brainwashed cultists?
All members of the Arrival Sect in Borough City were dead, where could she find a brainwashed cultist, let alone a Second Rank one?
Cultists were deeply hidden, but Xia’er spoke as if they were common weeds, easily plucked.
“Are you looking for a trustworthy ‘Psychologist’?” Aivana asked.
She didn’t need anyone else to help with the replication ritual, even if she couldn’t find a brainwashed cultist or Extraordinary Person right away, she had ample time to wait.
After all, she currently faced no risk from potions.
If Xia’er urgently wanted her to advance, the only explanation was that Xia’er needed a trustworthy “Psychologist,” and that person was herself.
Xia’er needed her.
“Yes,” Xia’er nodded directly, “I need a trustworthy ‘Psychologist’ to treat me.”
“Treat you?”
Aivana recalled the incident where Adelle had taken a medical kit to Xia’er’s home, and asked curiously, “Is it related to your mental pollution issue?”
“Yes,” Xia’er nodded.
“A ‘Listener’ helping might be too dangerous.”
“A ‘Listener’ would be too dangerous?”