Chapter 130

Chapter 130

But the reflection is not incapable of interfering with reality.

Lin watched as each of his believers appeared in the mirror world, their faces changing. Sometimes they were the self-perceived image, sometimes the image others perceived of them, and at other times, an ordinary mirror reflecting them without any filters.

Just like the current image of the Blue Gem City Judge standing before the corridor, her reflection in the mirror was terrifying for a few seconds, even Lin did not know what these believers imagined when they looked at her. But most of the time, her reflection in the mirror remained stable, closely resembling her real appearance.

Strong-willed and unaffected by others' gazes, the similarity between her reflections inside and outside the mirror also proved that her self-awareness was profound and comprehensive.

However, Lin could adjust the perspective, easily allowing others' perceptions to overshadow her self-perception.

This "other" could be the escaped slaves in the submarine, who imagined this judge as a hideous monster, or it could be Lin himself... a form casually shaped by the deity.

In this way, the judge whose mirror image was covered would gradually align with the image perceived by others.

"The power of the mind changes reality first by changing people," Lin whispered, but he did not easily experiment with altering someone's will.

Before, he could change a person on a mental level, but that was more about influencing their emotions, controlling their actions, and forcibly creating blind spots in their thinking, rather than silently replacing one cognition with another, substituting one personality for the original.

No, that's not quite right. A person reflects countless different images in countless mirrors; the substituted personality might just be a moment the soul once reflected in a mirror.

Anyway, for Lin, all these things were easily malleable.

He had grown stronger, especially in the primary authority of the mind.

Stronger, unfortunately, still lacking in direct combat ability.

Lin: "..."

No way! At least next time, I can't rely on Hui Cui as the main DPS again!

Thinking of his superior, Lin felt his cheeks heat up. Fortunately, Moses was not in the divine realm, so he quickly thought of something else to distract his continuous thoughts.

Hmm, this strange voice appeared later than he expected.

He thought he would hear it during the divine war, when the mirrors in other cities were continuously lit, and the divine realm expanded. Unexpectedly, it only appeared now... Did I just break through some threshold?

Lin fell into thought, then his thoughts were interrupted.

It was the clergyman from the Bellringing Frost Crow Church who came with the Blue Gem City Judge. After staring at the dagger in Snow Claws' hand for seven or eight seconds, he clutched his chest and fell backward.

Moses, waiting for a response, twitched his lips, unsure whether it was the High Bishop being too excited or the evil god believer attacking Silver Cliff, and didn't know what expression to make.

Fortunately, the High Bishop was a mid-level professional; he didn't really faint. After taking a couple of breaths against the wall, he recovered and burst out with an even louder scream than before:

"It's true! It's a real Soul Box!"

After shouting, he rushed to Snow Claws, wanting to touch it but not daring to. Instead, he somehow produced a easel from behind him and a brush in his hand, asking Snow Claws, "Can I draw it?"

"Hey!" Jian Lan said, "You should ask me, right?!"

"Very clear thinking!" the High Bishop shouted again, "I can see the slow healing of the soul damage! This isn't the method used by necromancers to imprison souls; their imprisonment inevitably damages the soul. How did you do it... Wait, let me keep a record first!"

Snow Claws' lips began to twitch. She sensed the same madness in this clergyman as she did in Liang Zhang when he took notes.

Moses confirmed the extraordinary profession of this clergyman.

Clearly, he was a Soul Painter.

Not only did his quick sketch depict the dagger and the small Jian Lan, but also the warm colors enveloping Jian Lan's soul, transitioning from bright yellow to light orange.

Although Soul Painters were not combat-oriented, they possessed the strongest observational abilities, able to directly see souls and many things beyond them... Should I get Lin a pair of such eyes?

Moses thought, like seeing new candy in a store and considering whether to buy it.

The High Bishop shivered and finally stopped drawing.

Because Silver Cliff called him to a halt.

She also approached Snow Claws, calling out Jian Lan's name seriously.

Jian Lan stopped pounding on the transparent wall, stood straight, and saluted, "Judge."

"How do I..." Silver Cliff closed her eyes, then opened them, "How do I tell your mother about this?"

"..." Jian Lan opened his mouth but only let out a silent bubble like a real fish.

Silver Cliff turned her head and looked at Moses, who stood there with his arms crossed, and surprisingly said very politely, "Mr. Moses Guppy, I am the Judge of Blue Gem City, Silver Cliff Sargeant. Thank you for saving our city's guardian, Jian Lan Shalke's soul, and returning him to Blue Gem City."

Moses raised an eyebrow and replied not so politely, "Your gratitude should not be directed at me. The decision to save Jian Lan Judge's soul and the cost paid were made by my Lord Mirror Eye, who personally acted. Please thank Him."

"Praise Mirror Eye." Behind Moses, Qianxin said devoutly upon hearing this.

"Praise Mirror Eye." Panlu followed solemnly.

"Praise Mirror Eye." The others in the hall echoed, though not entirely in unison.

"..." Silver Cliff finally felt that these people were indeed followers of an evil god.

But even if she had accidentally mentioned Mirror Eye's name, she wouldn't join in the praise here. Silver Cliff straightened her lips, skipped the gratitude part, and asked directly, "What else did you come to Blue Gem City for besides returning Jian Lan?"

"Oh," Moses smiled and turned sideways, gesturing to the people behind him, "Perhaps you don't know, Ms. Silver Cliff, because Jian Lan Judge mentioned this matter somewhat disjointedly... The soul damage did affect his thinking a bit, didn't it? Allow me to introduce these people. They were originally slaves oppressed by the four major sects, forced to labor for them. Jian Lan Judge saved them, misguided but pitiful souls.

"Jian Lan Judge reportedly applied to your court for a plan to provide relief for these unfortunate people when he last returned to Blue Gem City. They wish to receive the protection of civilization, Ms. Silver Cliff. What do you intend to do with them?"

Silver Cliff planned to refute, as Jian Lan emphasized this in the radio conversation. But the identity of these escaped slaves was no longer just that of escaped slaves, didn't this apostle understand?

Just as she was about to speak, Moses interrupted, "Ordinary citizens deceived into believing in an evil god, if willing to convert, the court will give them a chance, don't you have relevant procedures internally?"

Silver Cliff frowned.

She said, "Who could possibly make the believers of the Heart's Master change their faith?"

The information about the Original Authority of Mirror Pupil had indeed leaked out. Moses was not surprised and relayed Lin’s words from before:

"Their hearts are free. If you cannot convert them, it is because you have not tried hard enough.

"Even ordinary people are not blind sheep; their feet will lead them to the better side. Do you, Lady Silver Cliff, lack confidence?"

As he finished speaking, Qianxin whispered behind Moses, vowing never to change his faith.

Among the other escaped slaves, a few wavered, looking at Silver Cliff with hopeful expressions, but more bowed their heads, hiding their reluctance to change their beliefs, which was evident in their changing expressions.

Unfortunately, even with their heads lowered, their attitudes were clear. Thus, Moses could see that his Highness’s naive kindness had not been understood by the Chief Judge of Sapphire City.

He couldn’t help but click his tongue in his mind, reining in his smile, his handsome face turning cold like ice, and he emphasized, "Of course, you can choose to deal strictly with these ordinary people, including the tens of thousands of slaves in similar situations at the Dark Sea Cave. It’s just a sea of blood, what’s so terrible about that?"

"Even tens of thousands of people..." Silver Cliff slowly said, "If they are followers of an evil god..."

"After the destruction of the Dark Sea Cave," Moses interrupted her again, "where can those tens of thousands of slaves go if they do not wish to die?"

Silver Cliff, interrupted for the second time, clenched her hands.

But before anger could rise, she noticed the key phrase.

Silver Cliff loosened her grip slightly and asked, "Destruction of the Dark Sea Cave?"

"Yes," Moses clasped his hands together in front of his chest, feigning piety, and said, "Destroying that evil place is the will of my Lord."

Lin, yawning while listening to this negotiation in the Divine Kingdom, thought, "Huh?"

His voice echoed in Moses’ mind, but Moses ignored it.

The idea of destroying the Dark Sea Cave was Lin’s own suggestion, and the Holy Mermaid had not lied, so all Moses needed to do was wait for Silver Cliff to take a new stance.

His Highness had too high an opinion of the Tribunal, believing that as long as they negotiated properly, they could secure fair treatment for these escaped slaves. But Moses, who remembered the pre-New Calendar era, knew how brutal the Tribunal had been during the war.

Perhaps the Tribunal had changed over the years.

But Moses did not want to take that risk.

Instead of begging the Tribunal and its judges to show a little sympathy for these escaped slaves, it was better to offer something of value and a common enemy.

Many cities on the western coast of the continent, due to the existence of the Dark Sea Cave, had suffered far more attacks from the followers of the evil gods than inland cities.

The Tribunals of these cities were eager to resolve all the issues caused by the Dark Sea Cave.

As Moses had anticipated, Silver Cliff Sargeant finally showed clear hesitation.

After a moment of silence, she conceded, "This matter may require some time to discuss—"

"No problem, we can take these people into the care of the Bellringing Frost Crow Church!" the Sun Bishop interjected. He had been waiting for a long time to find a Mirror Pupil professional to discuss the creation of the Soul Box but found no opportunity.

Unable to hold back any longer, he put away his sketchbook and brush, earnestly saying, "We can also provide financial assistance first!"

Silver Cliff wanted to facepalm.

Just as she was about to say "No," a strange voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

The Sun Bishop also turned around in surprise, looking for the source of the voice.

The voice in his mind said, "I heard you, keep your word."