musicians of old

Chapter 816 Forward and Reversed
For the first time, Fanning addressed him by his first name.

"Now, let's talk frankly, as the second and third in line members of the discussion group."

He began pacing around the man's wheelchair.

"Your name is quite something. Mr. Scriabin's involvement with the Descent of the Gods Society, and the 'Snake' organization, has been investigated by your department for quite some time. You are aware that there is a dangerous individual in this world dedicated to spreading worm science, and you have taken action to destroy many meeting places."

"Investigate, this really needs to be investigated, I wholeheartedly support it."

"But coincidentally, the person who was previously the second deputy in the Special Patrol Department was someone like you."

"The worm cannot be eradicated, but it must be eradicated, otherwise the entire migration zone will become a dystopian zone. Pogreridge wants to maintain high-pressure control, but he cannot tolerate chaos. This matter is not easy to investigate. If another official organization were to handle it, it might not have achieved the same results as the Special Patrol. So, I should at least temporarily understand you as 'a historian who is loyal to the leader and has no other purpose,' and that is indeed how I understood you when we dealt with each other before."

The pale golden light in Fanning's eyes flashed and disappeared in an instant.

"You were in charge of the Special Patrol Department's specific implementation plan for the 'disenchantment ritual', or to be precise, it should be called 'transformation' or 'improvement'."

"You don't actually trust that weirdo named 'Guido Dolezo' in the discussion group because the Guidance School persecuted you in the past? Hmm, there must be a deeper reason. I guess, maybe the 'Disenchantment Ritual' itself is a bizarre and foolish unknown product. As a pioneer who ascends with his own key, Pogrerich needs to have some ideas about how to pass through the Dome Gate, such as the 'Resistance Ritual' or something. If his plan to pass through the gate is as foolish as those of Macias, Okgan, Bologna, and so on, then I'll look down on him a bit."

"You know the term 'resistance ritual'?" Mr. Wax in the wheelchair squinted.

Fan Ning smiled, stretched out his arm, and handed the phone, whose screen was cracked in several places, directly to the other person's face.

Monthly work summary to be completed

Feasibility Analysis Report on Anti-Resistance Ritual.√

Translate the Laquibers Manuscript.√

It was a fragment from Vincent's old work memo.

From the moment Fanning first stepped into the B-105 zone, fragments began to pop up one by one from the calendar notes.

“Speaking of which, I should be considered a ‘high-ranking official’s son’ in your department, or perhaps a key beneficiary of your pensions.” Fan Ning stretched his arms as he paced. “Your work is so secretive, you order others around, and you don’t always speak your mind. At first, I couldn’t figure out many of the intricacies, but you’re right. After actually walking through the ‘circular ruins’ and seeing this strange platform and altar with my own eyes, I have some ideas. Let me sort them out first. Do you think this makes sense?”

“First, look, one, two, three, four,” Fan Ning squatted down beside the man’s wheelchair and began counting the six-pointed star symbol in front of him.

"Two triangles, like this, like this, intersecting in this way, that makes six vertices."

“Your esteemed hall has collected seven artifact remnants of the God of Origin. There is one extra, and there is no place to put it. However, this six-pointed star clearly has a more important central position, so the number 'seven' matches up.”

"Furthermore, does this mean that the seven fragments may not have played the same role in the 'exorcism ritual'? The one placed at the center of the hexagram played a more special role than the other six?"

"So the question is, which piece of wreckage should be placed in the center to be 'correct'?"

"I guess the original word should have been this one in my hand."

A smile played on Fanning's lips as she toyed with the conductor's baton, "Old Days."

Mr. Wax raised his face and stared at him, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"This is the first thing that suddenly dawned on me. You wouldn't believe how deep and long-lasting my confusion has been about the 'Old Days.' I've been puzzled by what makes it so special. I can't say I fully understand it yet, but I think I'm very close to the truth, hehehe."

Countless things flashed through Fan Ning's mind: the mysterious "text message notification" at the beginning of the "time travel"; the morbid urging of "reproducing music" in his phone day after day; the tampered key engraved above the lighthouse of the Church of Enlightenment; the revelation of the Holy Sun Church and Saint Sebastian about the great work of the "Trinity".
The remnant of the source god, "The Old Days," is the core ritual artifact in the altar array of the "Exorcism Ritual"!
"But that's okay."

"We will proceed as your department has already done."

Fan Ning smiled slightly as he said this, and with a single hand, lifted and tossed the object—

"Pfft!"

The baton transformed into a jet-black parabolic streak of light, striking one of the points on the edge of the six-pointed star symbol!
Pale golden ripples spread out in concentric circles.

"You," Mr. Wax exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this.

“Look, since you’ve already reserved the core position of the altar for ‘Blade,’ my few items can just ‘sit in another spot’!” Fan Ning said with a smile.

"And there's a second thing."

"My commissioned Symphony No. 6 in A minor is currently more than halfway complete, and I feel quite good about it. Since your suggested creative direction involves me using this key to activate a ritual, this choice must be compatible with 'choosing the blade as the core of the altar.' Otherwise, if what I write is 'off-topic,' all my inspiration and effort will be wasted!"

"Master Fan Ning, I must say, you are truly a genius."

Mr. Wax remained silent for a long time before finally breaking into applause.

"Just by glancing at this six-pointed star symbol, you were able to connect so many clues and guess almost exactly what happened. I admire you. An artistic genius's insight into the mystical is indeed quite remarkable."

"Indeed! Some rituals operate in both forward and reversed modes. Although the 'Exorcism Ritual' cannot be considered an ordinary ritual, it is similar in this respect. I have named its reversed mode the 'Resistance Ritual'!!"

Fan Ning nodded upon hearing this, and with a wave of his hand, another colorful stream of light and a wisp of sweet blood mist fell into the other two corners of the six-pointed star.

One spot then bulged unevenly, and beautiful water vapor began to rise and drift, while another spot collapsed, forming a pool of red water.

“Its time of stagnation is noon, its key number is three, its witness number is seven, hmm,” Fan Ning also took off his backpack, twirling it in his hand as if aiming in some direction, “So, the reversed core remnant designed by your hall is ‘Blade,’ and the dominant key that activates it is ‘-1.’ Interesting, ‘Unclaimed Hammer’ is ‘-1,’ and ‘-1’ is ‘Unclaimed Hammer.’”

“Conversely, if we work backwards, the core remnant in the sequence should originally be ‘The Old Days,’ and the dominant key that activates it is different from ‘-1’. Hmm, then it’s either ‘0’ or ‘1’? Perhaps ‘1’ is more likely? Whew.” Fanning exerted force with his right arm.

He threw his backpack far away as well. Wherever it went, a dark brown, film-like substance spread out, and the scene of time and space began to distort and fold. The corner where it finally landed seemed to be filled with a pile of dark, sharded glass-like material.

Fanning clapped his hands to indicate that the job was done.

“Thank you for your choice based on trust,” Mr. Wax, who had witnessed Fanning’s actions throughout, said.

The other party's cooperation exceeded my expectations. "Old Days", "Hidden Lamp", "Spring in the Painting" and "Red Pool" were now placed in the four corners of the six-pointed star!

“No, no, no, it’s not that serious.” Fan Ning shook his head, kicking his feet repeatedly to clear away the surrounding sheet music, revealing a small open space where he placed his composition paper and pen. “Actually, it’s precisely because I don’t trust anyone that I won’t make decisions for any of you. Whether it’s the ‘exorcism ritual’ or the ‘resistance ritual,’ I’ll just watch from here. You handle it first, and I’ll handle it later.”

“Master Fan Ning’s words are quite interesting. One is a ‘discussion group’ that’s there to resolve trouble, and the other is a ‘dangerous group’ that’s there to create trouble. What other group is there? Even if we’re discussing the situation in the mortal world, both the Western Continent and the Southern Continent are now within your sphere of influence!”

"Oh, so you still divide it this way. That makes sense, simplifying the issue. But then we come back to the beginning, Mr. Scriabin. So, to which side should your objective be considered?"

"."

"I guess you can't answer this question right now, and neither can your department. If you answered someone else immediately, it would mean you're fooling a fool, but since you didn't answer, well, thank you for not taking me for a fool."

Fan Ning smiled faintly as he finished speaking, then turned around and gazed at the cliff edge at the edge of the high platform.

"Because you are experiencing a 'conflict'."

Fan Ning uttered each word carefully.

It's less like "explaining" and more like "paraphrasing".

"Oh, this sentence, I have a vague feeling, or it may be my own imagination: someone said to me in a withered history that I am 'experiencing a conflict'."

"Since 'noon' is approaching, I will share this sentence with you equally."

"Letting history unfold unchecked, leading to rebellion and chaos, gathering restless witnesses who collectively form a dangerous part of the ritual—think about the cost. The 'debts' are already plentiful—the debts of the South, and other debts, hehehe~"

“The cost is incalculable.” Mr. Wax sighed softly. “Master Fanning, everything has a price. In fact, I have a much lower chance of witnessing the end than you do, but everyone is caught up in it.”

“If there is something I care about in the ‘countless’.” Fanning did not turn around, nor did he continue with the second half of his statement.

That's all for this.

He stood alone on the edge of the six-pointed star, peering through layers of eerie, rust-red fog at the distant, faintly visible lighthouse, his hand rummaging in his trouser pocket.

As he looked down, he slowly unfolded a chocolate foil in his hand.

The silvery material is wrinkled, and many parts have turned black due to oxidation. There are also several tears that appeared when it was unfolded.

It looks like it's been sitting around and worn for quite some time.

And
Silver.
Fanning seemed to be recalling something, and then pulled out more crumpled candy wrappers from his pocket.

Red, orange, purple, white
Has that much time passed?

Are there really that many colors and styles in the designs?

maybe.

Fate is indeed unpredictable.

Reunion brings joy, wandering and drifting, then reunion again, then solitude once more.

"I'll go there once and then come back with a good ending."

"Hey, the last time everyone was here was for the First Symphony, and now we're at the Sixth Symphony. Shouldn't we all be together?"

What if we get separated?

"I will find you."

"Perhaps some people are on their way, but perhaps some can't find their way here, or perhaps some have already come." Many voices echoed in my mind, and this sentence was Mr. Wax's.

"I mean, if it's completely dispersed."

"I will find you."

"."

Fanning looked up at the blurry orange patch of light on the horizon.

The time should be getting closer.

After standing there lost in thought for an unknown period of time, Pogrerich, who had been sitting silently in the center of the six-pointed star behind him, finally slowly rose to his feet.

Fanning also sensed something and turned her head.

It turns out that there are several narrow, spiraling staircases at the edges of the top of this tower.

It seems that quite a few other people have climbed up.