NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42
“There’s some intelligence regarding the Dehydration Syndrome that I need you to deliver.”
Shax opened the conversation.
“Deliver it to whom?”
“To the Redemption Society.”
Aivana looked at the red-haired girl in front of her, gradually falling into deep thought.
She found herself increasingly unable to understand this girl… What else did she know?
“Then earlier?”
“I don’t want anyone else to know that this intelligence came from me,” Shax knew what she was doubting and continued, “I recommend you hand the intelligence directly to Adelle. Let her pass it on to her sister. I believe they will make the right judgment.”
Aivana took a deep breath, her expression finally turning serious.
The things Shax knew… were more than she had imagined.
“Tell me, what kind of intelligence is it?” Aivana said, “I can deliver it for you. I don’t need anything in return, because this intelligence about the Dehydration Syndrome is something I need. If the information is accurate, I will pay you the reward.”
Aivana was clearly someone who didn’t lack money and wasn’t trying to take advantage of Shax. Just like in the simulation, even when she found potion ingredients, she still paid Shax the compensation.
After a moment of deliberation, Shax began, “I need you to contact Adelle and tell her that someone is holding a replication ritual of the ‘Plague Messenger’ to the ‘Cholera Origin’ in the Clock Tower Lane District, near the Salvation Goddess Church bell tower.”
Aivana’s eyelids twitched. With each word Shax spoke, her inner shock grew stronger. By the end, she stood up abruptly.
“Are you sure?” Aivana realized her speech had quickened, “Where did you get this intelligence from?”
“My intelligence network.”
Shax did not provide a specific answer, but her response contained no lies.
Indeed, her intelligence network was entirely Shax herself.
Aivana paced back and forth for a moment, her mind racing.
Is this intelligence reliable? She was just an ordinary person.
But could an ordinary person produce a bottle of potion? Could an ordinary person know about the replication ritual she needed? Could an ordinary person instantly recognize a member of the Redemption Society and accurately call out one of their names, knowing their background in the church, which only a few people knew?
Shax’s intelligence network might be much more powerful than Aivana imagined.
When did Borough City have such an intelligence organization? Was it a society? A secret sect? What exactly was the composition of this organization?
If we look solely at what Shax has revealed, this organization has no ill intentions and even wants to help prevent a large-scale massacre.
“Thank you for your intelligence. I will convey it for you,” Aivana turned to Shax and said, “If the intelligence is accurate, I will pay the appropriate compensation.”
“Can I receive some advance payment?” Shax asked.
“Uh…” Aivana paused for a moment, then asked, “What kind of payment?”
“A female worker at Stone Match Factory, her name is Li Qi, is my sister. I need you to bring her out of the Clock Tower Lane District and protect her,” Shax said.
“Sure, I know the factory manager. I can immediately transfer her to my side to settle her,” Aivana promptly agreed after hearing Shax’s request.
Given the intelligence Shax possessed, the organization behind her couldn’t possibly fail to protect an ordinary person. This was likely a personal request from Shax.
Aivana also intended to use this opportunity to establish a connection with Shax… If she could learn more about the intelligence organization from Shax, that would be even better.
Things that could be solved with money were not issues for Aivana.
Shax used Aivana’s paper and pen to write a letter to Li Qi, telling her not to worry about herself, and handed the letter to Aivana to carry when she picked up Li Qi.
Only after confirming that Aivana had already gone to bring her sister out of Clock Tower Lane District did Xia’er finally relax.
Xia’er left the “Avenger” potion and informed Aivana that if she didn’t return, all the money equivalent to the “Avenger” potion should be given to Li Qi. Aivana agreed to this matter.
She bid farewell to Aivana, left the police station, and boarded a public carriage back to Clock Tower Lane District.
After spending some time returning home, it was already six o’clock in the evening, and the sun had completely set.
Having delivered the intelligence and resolved her sister’s safety, Xia’er finally had time to start handling the simulation matters.
Based on the previous simulation, Xia’er knew that she had been infected. She was even afraid to meet Li Qi, fearing she might transmit the infection.
Even when Xia’er left the potion for Aivana, it felt like she was making final arrangements—she was indeed prepared for the worst.
Even if she used up all her points and still couldn’t reverse the outcome of death, at least she could leave enough money for her sister to live comfortably for a lifetime.
Back in her room, Xia’er took out her notebook, took a deep breath, and began to think seriously.
With the intelligence already relayed, over time, they would undoubtedly become increasingly concerned about the information Xia’er provided. It was almost impossible to place patients near the Clock Tower Church anymore.
But Xia’er knew that things were far from over.
She needed to verify some things in the simulation.
Xia’er opened her notebook, picked up a pen, and wrote in Chinese:
[Go find Aivana to get Adelle’s location, and have Adelle take me to see High Priestess Yulis]
[After gaining Yulis’s trust, describe in detail the symptoms of the Dehydration Syndrome and the strange situation where body moisture is rapidly extracted. See if we can provide them with some insights]
[If they need to investigate, follow them throughout the process, understand every step clearly, to facilitate subsequent optimization]
Xia’er paused, as if she had thought of something. She mentally asked:
“System?”
「Hmm？」
“Will there be a system inside the simulated me?”
「Does this look like something cheap to you?」
「In the simulation, you will obtain a subsystem that can use all the abilities you already possess. Under the memory correction of the system, you won’t notice it’s a subsystem.」
“Then, can the simulated me with a subsystem still conduct simulations?” Xia’er asked.
This time, the system did not answer directly but instead, after a long pause, a box popped up:
「You can try: D」
What trick is this system playing now?
Xia’er opened the system’s simulation interface and saw the next scheduled simulation time.
「Tomorrow: June 20th, 19:00, 2023 (Consumes 10 Mortal Points)」
Two days later? So soon?
After hesitating for a moment, Xia’er continued writing in her notebook.
Xia’er gradually drew the system page format in her notebook, including each interface displayed when the pages were expanded.
If the subsystem in the simulated version of herself had a different interface from the real-world system, Xia’er would gain an unknown spiritual anchor point. As long as she saw the system interface, she could clearly distinguish whether she was in reality, a simulation, or a cutscene.
In this way, the simulated version of herself could instantly recognize that she was a character in the simulation and avoid the mental breakdown that happened last time.
【If your interface is different from mine, it means you’re the subsystem, and you’re the simulated version of me. You can rest assured. PS: This system talks a lot】
【Try simulating at 18:59 on the 20th and record what happens】
Xia’er put down the pencil, took a deep breath, and reopened the system interface.
This time, with prior intelligence, things should be resolved earlier. That extraordinary person might run away if discovered early.
If everything went according to plan:
“Tomorrow, No. 2.”
The silver light enveloped Xia’er.
…