Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Wednesday.

After the holiday ended, Lin returned to work at the Ceremony Department of the General Office.

As soon as he arrived at the office, he was pulled away by Mentor Hugo to accompany her to a regular meeting.

Although Lin had achieved multiple merits, he had only been in the General Office for nine weeks. There were still a few judges in the Ceremony Department who outranked him, had more achievements, and were more experienced. However, Hugo chose Lin to attend the meeting with her, making him feel like an insider for a moment.

However, once he sat down with Mentor Hugo in the large conference hall of Zone One, Lin understood why she had brought him along.

"… This time, the investigation is a city-wide mobilization," Hui Cui said from the podium. "We will be working together with the police department of the municipal government to screen the content of dreams across the entire city. You have already been informed about the relevant intelligence: the Silver Moon Maiden failed to seize the domain of dreams, and we also failed to keep the power of dreams within the Judicature. A new evil deity has emerged.

"He has become the master of dreams and can pollute anyone who dreams through their dreams. In this situation, no matter how absurd the dream content may seem during the investigation, it could be a sign of His actions or contain clues related to Him. We must pay attention."

At this point, Hui Cui's brows furrowed slightly.

But his demeanor remained calm, effectively reassuring those hearing this news for the first time.

"Although I urge everyone to remain vigilant, there is currently no way to guard against Him. We cannot prevent people from sleeping, nor can we stop them from dreaming while they sleep. After all, compared to the material world, the dream world is another realm.

"However, do not panic. Consciousness is ultimately linked to the body, and dreaming is both a spirit's wandering and a physiological activity of the brain. The Alchemy Association and the Church of the Mother of Blood have good news: the development of dreamless drugs has progressed smoothly and will soon enter the experimental stage."

Lin, who overheard this part, paused in his note-taking, tapping the tip of his fountain pen next to the word "dreamless drug."

Good grief.

Although Lin had adjusted his mindset after a cold and did not feel proud or complacent about obtaining the power of dreams, he realized he had underestimated this magical world.

To combat the dream god, they were developing dreamless drugs? Would it take just half a year or so for such drugs to become a free social welfare medication available to everyone, like birth control pills?

Birth control pills are funded by the Church of the Mother of Blood; who would fund the dreamless drugs?

If they gave him the money, he could swear never to intrude into anyone's dreams!

Hui Cui didn't notice any evil deity muttering below and continued explaining the standards for the dream screening operation before moving on to the next focus of work.

"In addition to screening dream content, we must also closely monitor black market transactions. Two days ago, a specialist dispatched by the Alchemy Association conducted another inspection of the site where the Deformed Sect held a bloody sacrifice. At this site, the specialist discovered alchemical devices used by the Deformed Sect to interfere with communication among judges and to locate judges during communication.

"The headquarters of the Judicature has notified all city branches that these alchemical devices are classified as Level Two controlled items. I want a detailed report as soon as possible regarding their origin, how they circulated to Spire City, and whether similar alchemical devices exist elsewhere in the city."

"Yes, Chief Judge."

The head of the Intelligence Department nodded.

"That's all. Dismissed," Hui Cui looked around at every face in the conference hall. "The memorial service for the fallen personnel is scheduled for Saturday, the commendation ceremony for Monday, and overtime may continue until the New Year. I have approved special overtime allowances for the screening operation, although it is insufficient to compensate for everyone's hard work… let's all work together."

Special overtime allowance, Lin's eyes began to sparkle.

But when he looked up at the Chief Judge, his mood became complicated.

Last night, while counting the few light sources he had activated in his mirror, Lin actually counted the Chief Judge.

At that moment, Lin felt as if lightning had struck him, causing his hair to stand on end. When he counted again and confirmed that the Chief Judge indeed had activated one of the mirrors around him, Lin could even see the contents of the documents the Chief Judge was reviewing through the brass base of the desk lamp. In short, Lin immediately cut off his observation and vaguely thought that lightning was unlikely to strike him in the underground city, but Contradictory Twin might shoot him dead.

But the Contradictory Twin believer he wanted to steal was only Snow Claws!

He hadn't intended to commit the grave sin of stealing a human apostle!

Lin couldn't sleep at all. After much deliberation, he sought out the omnipotent Teacher Moses.

"Are you sure you didn't receive any prayers?" Moses asked.

"My memory is quite good," Lin replied, "Since my awakening, I have only received unintentional prayers from Bai Li, you, Snow Claws, and Liang Zhang. I am very certain of this. But just now, I counted a few more light sources…"

"How many?" Moses asked in surprise, "Which ones?"

"Ahaha…" Because of the evil priest's aversion to the Chief Judge, Lin lied, saying one source was several, and now he had to awkwardly look away when asked who these people were.

So he didn't see the change in Moses' eyes and his increasingly unpleasant expression.

Moses realized that a recent guess of his had come true. He remained silent for a long time before saying, "Prayer is a method to establish a connection between a deity and a person, but it is not the only method."

Lin quickly turned back, adopting the posture of a student ready to learn, and said, "Please explain in detail."

"When you established a connection with Bai Li, did she pray to you?" Moses maintained a composed expression, almost coldly, "It was the remnants of my Lord near you that amplified your unawakened power, allowing you to meet Bai Li in reality through a mirror in a dream."

This was something Lin had analyzed himself. He recounted his awakening experience and shared his analysis with Moses, who found it reasonable.

But now Moses realized that the factors promoting Lin's awakening might not be limited to the remnants of the Conch Blower.

A connection was established with the Eye in the Mirror, but it wasn't based on faith or prayer.

Perhaps, it was a prolonged gaze that did not demand anything from Lin but only gave.

From whom?

Someone Lin avoided mentioning in front of him.

At the time, on the same subway and even in the same carriage as the soon-to-awaken Lin, carrying the remnants of the Conch Blower.

Was Lin really awakened because of Bai Li? Moses began to doubt.

Before Bai Li, could someone else have lit one of Lin's mirrors earlier? Perhaps Lin, asleep at the time, did not notice, and then, due to Bai Li's declaration of offering everything, overlooked the silent gaze that accompanied her?

Moses tightly pressed his lips together.

"Maridis, the prince I serve now is so young as a human and so young as a deity."

What should I do...

"...Just like saying your true name in front of a mirror doesn't necessarily convey the sound to your ears," Moses explained with a muddled mind, "the successful prayers to you so far have all been accompanied by a sense of petition when they called out your true name and divine name. So, even without calling your name..."

"Even without calling the name," Lin speculated, as Moses spoke too slowly, "as long as there's a petition, a connection can be established?"

"No," Moses chose his words carefully, "it's because there has been direct contact and conversation with you. This contact replaces the step of calling the name, and then, there must be a strong emotion directed clearly at you..."

"Ah," Lin immediately understood, shuddering, "the Chief Justice really dislikes Mirror Pupil?!"

Moses, who had been thinking for a long time about how to say it: "..."

Moses, who was thrown off by Lin's words and forgot what he wanted to say: "Huh?"

Why would you jump to dislike?

Doesn't he need to worry about Lin's emotional issues at all???

***

Lin didn't notice his priest's inner turmoil.

He felt his analysis was spot on.

Lin found it hard to imagine that the Chief Justice could harbor such intense emotions—on par with faith and prayer—for anyone—wait, does the intense emotion Moses mentioned need to match faith? Forget it, he'll ask later—because he had never seen the Chief Justice lose control of his emotions.

Even after Lin took away the power of dreams, Hui Cui could still make a calm judgment, prioritizing dealing with the projection of the Silver Moon Maiden first.

So, the Chief Justice's feelings towards Mirror Pupil, though intense, probably weren't hatred, right?

But looking at the shots the Chief Justice fired at Mirror Pupil, could those shots be said to lack intensity? They were very intense.

It was dislike, it was aversion.

Lin felt it must be this kind of emotion.

If this reasoning holds, the impact on the Chief Justice once his identity as Mirror Pupil is revealed will be significant.

Moses was right; he needs to keep his distance from the Chief Justice. This way, if his cover is blown, the psychological impact on the Chief Justice can be reduced, and his guilt for deceiving the Chief Justice can also be lessened.

Lin, determined, saw that Mentor Hugo had something to discuss with the Chief Justice after the meeting, so he made an excuse not to go along and returned to the Ceremony Department on his own.

Back at the Ceremony Department, he immediately started working.

In last week's battle, many buildings were damaged, and the rituals set up within them were also destroyed. These needed to be checked, repaired, or completely re-established by the ritualists, one by one.

This inspection and repair required concentration and meticulousness. By the time Lin finished his assigned area, the workday was over.

He wanted to continue working and earn some overtime pay, but Mentor Hugo sent him away, saying he must not have slept well last night and needed to rest.

How could he sleep well, with "the Chief Justice hates you" looping in his mind every time he closed his eyes.

Even though he knew this "you" referred only to Mirror Pupil and not to him, Judge Lin, his exhausted state still kept him tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Fortunately, he could quickly clear his mind during work and study, otherwise he might have made mistakes today.

Lin returned to apartment 203 in the Peppermint Oil building, visited Blue Phosphorus, prepared dinner, and ate it with Short-tailed Black Spot. Deciding he shouldn't remain in this inexplicable low mood, he resolved to focus back on his duties as a deity.

He needed to solve a small problem for his believers and his colleagues, the judges in Tieliu City.

Lecai Xikadir, despite the pressure of rumors and surveillance by the court, managed to avoid leaving any traces, indicating he was no ordinary person.

Let's see what secrets this heretic is hiding.

***

Tieliu City.

Once again, it was the end of the rehearsal for "The Brave on Board."

In the dressing room, Bai Li put on her coat, looked in the mirror, and observed the blue glass bead pendant hanging around her neck.

She bought it from a second-hand market with the reward money she received. Her master told her that He had altered the seal on her fear and left a blessing in the glass bead. When she was ready to face her fear, she could remove the bead. If removing it proved too difficult, she could put it back on.

After receiving it, Bai Li tested it without hesitation.

As for the result... well, she was now wearing the glass bead properly.

Then, Bai Li adjusted the leather belt under her coat, ensuring that the dagger was securely fastened in a position where she could easily draw it.

This was a thank-you gift from Huan Banxiang, given to her the day before.

"Hmm... a dagger?"

"Yes, yes! Thank you for saving me!" The Hisike dog-person wagged its tail, "I thought for a long time about what to give you. My archaeologist colleague found fragments of your letter opener at the burned site... uh, I'm not saying it's bad to carry a letter opener."

Huan Banxiang thought for a moment and then smiled.

Her azure eyes sparkled with light, and she said seriously to Bai Li:

"But I think you need a weapon, right?"

A weapon indeed brought a sense of security.

For Bai Li, who did not have a city firearm permit and had never trained at a shooting range, a dagger was the most suitable choice.

She checked the dagger once more before leaving the dressing room.

She was being cautious because she had just agreed to Lecai Xikadir's invitation to have dinner together.