Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 267: Evolution of Yin En, Ibon

Liu Xing contemplated for a moment and expressed his frustration, saying, "Lu Tianya, are you suggesting that the precious item Higashi Meizi values so dearly doesn't actually exist? And even if we could find it, it wouldn't have any effect?"

Lu Tianya sighed and replied, "It seems that way, but I can't be entirely sure. I can only say that if we can truly locate that cherished object, there's a possibility, perhaps around twenty percent, that it might work."

Hearing Lu Tianya's words, Juri Sonoda couldn't help but ask, "Lu Tianya, are there any other ways to awaken Higashi Meizi's consciousness? Maybe by having her meet someone familiar?"

Lu Tianya nodded and continued, "There's a slight possibility in that. If there is indeed such a person and we can arrange a meeting between them and Higashi Meizi, it's possible that Higashi Meizi could break free from the enchantment caused by that sorcery. If I remember correctly, the sorcery traps Higashi Meizi in a state of obsession with a day from her life before death, and during that day, that person should exist. So when Higashi Meizi realizes there are two identical individuals, she might recognize that she's living in an illusion. However, this approach carries risks, as when someone becomes aware of their own death, it can lead to a mental breakdown. So, unless it's absolutely necessary, I don't recommend it."

Lu Tianya's reasoning was sound, and Liu Xing couldn't help but agree. If he were in Higashi Meizi's shoes, living happily in an illusory world and suddenly being told that he was already dead, everything around him was false, his mental state would likely shatter. He might even blame the person revealing the truth.

Ming Hanxing sighed in resignation, "That's a tough situation, Lu Tianya. Are there really no other options? Are we going to abandon the Higashi Meizi lead? If we do that, solving the Morimoto Academy problem will become extremely difficult. Moreover, time is not on our side. Although we caught Morimoto Academy off guard today, once they recover, we'll be in trouble. It's not too late for them to settle scores."

Lu Tianya closed her eyes in contemplation for a moment before speaking, "Apart from the methods I mentioned earlier, I can only think of three alternatives. The first is to find a Taoist with sufficient abilities to break the sorcery. However, most of the powerful Taoists I know are reclusive and unlikely to leave their territories. I also don't have their contact information, so it would depend on whether you can find a willing Taoist. Of course, if you can't find a suitable Taoist, we could consider finding some nearby Yin Yang Masters, as they originated from Taoism and are more skilled in dealing with spirits."

"The second method is to take a direct approach and destroy the classroom. Sorceries like this usually require the caster to construct formations within the room for the magic to work continuously. I sensed the presence of a formation in that classroom earlier. However, my current abilities are inadequate to pinpoint the core of the formation, so we would need to destroy the entire room."

"The third method is the most troublesome one: finding Higashi Meizi's ashes. All spirits can recognize their own remains at a glance, whether they are bones or ashes. So, if we obtain Higashi Meizi's ashes, we can awaken her consciousness."

In Liu Xing's eyes, all three methods seemed challenging.

Firstly, seeking help from relevant individuals. If even Lu Tianya, an insider, couldn't find assistance, Liu Xing felt even less hopeful. Although he believed that Zhang Jingxu, as a player, might have the ability to help, he didn't know if Zhang Jingxu's module had ended. If not, involving Zhang Jingxu in this could be risky.

Secondly, using force to break the sorcery by destroying the classroom. Liu Xing finally understood why he had to undergo such a difficult Investigation Judgment.

However, Liu Xing believed it was feasible, especially with the assistance of the Red Eagle Security Company. They could easily plant explosives in the classroom. But the aftermath of an explosion in a school would be challenging to handle. After the Aum Shinrikyo cult's subway gas attack, the Island Nation police were highly vigilant about incidents related to cults, terrorism, and especially explosions in schools. If it were discovered that their group was responsible, they would be in serious trouble.

As for the last method, it was the most complicated. Higashi Meizi's ashes might have already been taken by her parents, lost, or even fallen into the hands of the Deep Sea Gospel Society. The best-case scenario would be if Higashi Meizi's ashes were still in Kyoto, and Juri Sonoda knew their precise location. In that case, Liu Xing's group would need to steal Higashi Meizi's ashes.

With all these considerations, Liu Xing had no choice but to say, "In that case, our only option now is to find Higashi Meizi's ashes. Juri, do you know where Higashi Meizi's ashes are currently located?"

Juri Sonoda nodded and furrowed her brow, "If I remember correctly, Higashi Meizi's ashes should be at the Fujiwara Shrine."

In the Island Nation, many people chose to place their loved ones' ashes in shrines to ensure better offerings.

However, Fujiwara Shrine was owned by the Deep Sea Gospel Society.

What was even more concerning was that the security around Fujiwara Shrine had increased significantly since Liu Xing and Ming Hanxing last visited. There were at least ten Deep Sea Gospel Society followers patrolling inside the shrine, and according to Miguel's surveillance, there were at least twenty more stationed nearby. They could reach Fujiwara Shrine within five minutes.

Therefore, secretly infiltrating Fujiwara Shrine to retrieve Higashi Meizi's ashes was out of the question. Even Miguel admitted his inability to help. Did they have no choice but to confront the situation head-on?

Liu Xing glanced at the people present and knew that forcibly taking Higashi Meizi's ashes from the Fujiwara Shrine was impossible. They were outnumbered and lacked the necessary weapons.

However, at this moment, Ming Hanxing shared his viewpoint, saying, "I don't think Higashi Meizi's ashes are at the Fujiwara Shrine. When the Deep Sea Gospel Society had Higashi Meizi play the role of the Red-Clothed Female Ghost, they would have taken extra precautions and placed her ashes in a more secure location. The Fujiwara Shrine's defenses seemed lax when Ryusei and I entered, so it doesn't appear to be the kind of place where valuable items would be stored."

Ming Hanxing's reasoning made sense, but it raised a new question: Where could this more secure location be?

Liu Xing's first thought was Morimoto Academy, specifically Daikubo Sosuke's room, where he was associated with the "Crow."

However, Juri Sonoda chimed in, "If they wanted to store something valuable, I think that small building next to the Old Teaching Building is suspicious. I remember that the small building has never been opened as far as I know. Moreover, during my first year, there was an earthquake that caused some damage to the small building. Normally, such unused buildings would be demolished, but this one was repaired. It seems like there's something inside that small building."

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, recalling that he had also been suspicious of that small building when he first saw it. Its architectural style didn't match the Old Teaching Building or the Archives Room, making it stand out. Moreover, it seemed unnecessary.

Now, it appeared that the small building held some secrets.

With this in mind, Liu Xing made a quick decision and said, "Alright, let's change our plan for tonight. We'll still visit the Old Teaching Building area, but this time, we'll start with that small building. Nobita, please try to buy a few hatchets, as we may need to force our way in, and we could encounter danger."

Nobi Nobita nodded and left to find a place to purchase hatchets.

At that moment, Ling Ishikawa, who had just finished showering and changed into clean clothes, walked out of her room and remarked, "Ah, it's been a while since I had a bath. Feels great."

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but ask, "Ling Ishikawa, where have you been these past few days? You said you were going to Flame Bar to keep an eye on Professor Honda, but then you suddenly disappeared and ended up in some strange place. Most importantly, you managed to return."

Ling Ishikawa rubbed the back of her head and replied with some helplessness, "I didn't plan for things to go this way. When I followed Professor Honda into Flame Bar, I saw him drinking with a few other people who seemed to be his classmates. I could tell because Professor Honda took out a large photograph from his bag, and typically, you only have such photos taken for family portraits or graduation photos. But Professor Honda and the others didn't look like that at all."

"Later, I sat at the bar, occasionally glancing at Professor Honda. Since Flame Bar was crowded at the time, he didn't notice my presence. After all, I had only briefly encountered him before. However, when I was getting ready to leave the bar, I suddenly felt like my body was being controlled. I involuntarily walked to the booth where Professor Honda and his friends were sitting, and Professor Honda looked at me with a strange smile."

"Then, everything started spinning, the noisy sounds around me disappeared in an instant, and when I regained consciousness, I found myself in a pitch-black, silent space. Fortunately, the four Monsters I told you about appeared quickly; otherwise, I might have gone insane in that pitch-black space. In those two short minutes, I was already on the verge of losing my sanity."

"But even in a one-on-one fight, I couldn't defeat any of those four Monsters. So, I had to resort to strategies like 'encircling Wei to save Zhao,' 'making distant friends while attacking nearby enemies,' and 'luring the enemy deeper.' Eventually, I managed to deal with those four Monsters. Then, a door appeared in front of me, and I decisively pushed it open and walked out. I found myself in a barren plain, not far from a tall tower that resembled the mage towers I've seen in some fantasy movies. Although I was worried that the owner of this mage tower might be an evil wizard, I was desperate, hungry, and there was no sign of human habitation nearby. So, I had no choice but to try my luck and head for the mage tower."

"As a result, the mage tower's owner, who introduced himself as Serak, warmly welcomed me. By the way, it was indeed a mage tower because he dressed exactly like the wizards you see in movies and TV shows. Serak provided me with food and shelter, allowing me to rest. Afterward, he asked about my identity and where I came from."

"Unfortunately, I had to lie and say I was an orphan with the alias Yin En, who had been separated from my family at a young age. Serak seemed to accept that and even fabricated a backstory for me, saying that I probably came from a city called Ikuwa. He claimed that the Ikuwa's Deer Goddess Church expelled many residents every year, and it was near this mage tower."

"Then, Serak told me that he was a well-known mage among the Hybriers and that he was looking for an apprentice to pass on his magic. Since he thought I had potential and was an orphan like myself, he offered to teach me magic. At that time, I thought I might never return, so I reluctantly agreed to become Serak's apprentice."

"But I had only been Serak's apprentice for a day when I was listening to his teachings and meditating. Suddenly, I heard your voices. When I opened my eyes, I found myself sitting in a dusty classroom. So, I came down in confusion and saw all of you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xing and Ming Hanxing exchanged shocked glances. In the world of the Cthulhu Mythos, someone who had been expelled from the city of Ikuwa by the Deer Goddess Church, became an orphan, and apprenticed under Wizard Serak, was undoubtedly Ibon!

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