Soul Trigger

Chapter 658 Suspicion
Sika froze for a moment, and then the floor was crushed layer by layer.

Being a patrolling knight, he reacted quickly, a grin spreading across his face as he pulled out a wine jug:

"Intoxicated!"

Ethanol gushed from the wine jug, transforming into layers of fragrant shields that blocked Ji Li's path.

At such high speeds, if these shields were to be shattered, Pulitzer would only be met with a drunken stupor and collapse.

If he tried to avoid it at this moment, he would have fallen into Sika's trap, and all he would have faced was a hand-to-hand combat and falling to the ground.

But to everyone's astonishment, the ethanol that filled the sky retreated as if avoiding a plague before Ji Li could break through it.

Before Sika could make a further move, Ji Li's tall figure was already in front of him, and a punch came crashing down—

boom! ! !
The strong wind blew away all of Jessica's hair wax, causing her hair to stand up and be pulled backward.

A cone-shaped shockwave of water vapor exploded behind them, causing the wooden floor of the indoor stadium to collapse layer by layer!

Staring at the fist hovering in front of her, Sika froze for a full half second before forcing a smile:
"Wow... amazing."

The next moment, a jet of water burst out from behind Ji Li and slammed into his face.

Sika abruptly took two steps back. He wasn't injured, but his movements quickly became unsteady and unsteady.

That was the ethanol shield he had just released.

Aiquier stared blankly at Ji Li. What momentarily stunned her wasn't that Pulitzer had taken down a full-fledged knight, but rather Pulitzer's current appearance:

"Pulitzer, what's wrong with you?!"

"Don't go over there..."

Angelica raised her hand to stop Aquile, her gaze serious:
Evilification... This shouldn't be an ability that the Soul Noble system should be able to master, or is it also a kind of 'Reef' rule?
"Pulitzer, who am I?"

Ji Li, in his dark-colored merman form, turned his head:
“Angelica Laurent. Madam, do I consider myself to have won?”

"Kisame" is the name of the personality entity given by the Ascension Agreement after the materialization of "Deep Sea Reef". Calling it a shark beast is not wrong.

Hearing Ji Li's slightly distorted but normal tone, Angelica's serious expression suddenly relaxed.

Thankfully, I still retain my rationality.

She raised the red drink that had appeared in her hand without her noticing and took a sip:
Can I exit this state?

"of course can."

"Exit immediately!"

Ji Li did not insist any further and returned to human form.

Seeing his brother turn back, the shock in Aiqui's eyes instantly faded, and then a burst of light flashed.

Angelica, standing beside her, was lost in thought:
It can freely switch between human form and demonic form while retaining its sanity.

It's just unclear whether this is related to the fact that the duration of the effect is still short and it can still be controlled.

Perhaps if this continues for too long, he will be unable to maintain his rationality in this state?
But in any case, this kid can use abilities similar to a knight's "soul weapon," so even if he's truly become an evil spirit, he's still a good prospect... no, a lucky genius.

"It's like a werewolf transformation... So, does Pulitzer mean he defeated Sica?"

Angelica looked at Aquile, then slowly nodded:

"Yes."

"How many pounds can we get?"

"How much... pounds?"

Noticing the glint in Aquile's eyes, Angelica fell silent:
"It's not about how many pounds..."

Although both "Soul Nobles" and "Mourners" belong to special types of fused personality relics, their initial spiritual quality level is often determined by the fused resting object or personality relic...

Even so, "Reef" is only an apprentice level three, which is just a projection level three extraordinary... Even with the "evil spirit" buff, you killed a regular knight as soon as you became an awakener.
This is very unspiritual.

However, the reef's abilities do have some effect on the Wine Knight's spiritual ethanol and liquid manipulation...

Angelica watched as the remaining liquid from the water cannon swirled around Ji Li's claws, and felt somewhat relieved:
"7000 pounds."

"7000...?!"

Aquile's pupils suddenly contracted, and after a gasp, he realized:

"Only 7000?"

Although this was an amount she would never have dared to dream of normally, compared to the shock of the money, it seemed that the appearance of that old man was more impactful. Only seven thousand?

“The highest Awakened I can sign is a 7000-pound allowance,” Angelica said, her lips twitching.

"Oh……"

Only then did Aquile look towards the field—

With £3700 plus £7000, you'll win a total of £10,000 in allowances.

This has reached the level of the Red Maple Town mayor's public income...

It seems like our family is about to skip straight from the comfortable middle class to the middle class!
Equilton's dream.

Just then, the wine knight, who had been swaying unsteadily, finally returned to normal and saw Ji Li walking towards them with ease.

Aiquier frowned, and his two fists collided, instantly encasing his arms in resilient red arm armor:
Can I try again?

This wine knight Sika doesn't look like much.

Angelica glanced at Aquil and gestured to Sika.

The latter, who had just recovered, looked like a miserable working person. After giving Ji Li a look as if she were a ghost, he readjusted his demeanor.

Ten seconds later, Aquile was lying on the ground:

"Why……"

Angelica shook her head:

"Although Sika is not good at hand-to-hand combat, that is only relative to other awakened individuals of the same level."

In other words, you two are simply not on the same level.

"Then Pulitzer and he aren't even on the same level, are they?"

Aquil was somewhat unconvinced.

It's one thing for my brother to be capable, and it's another to make a lot of money, but it's quite another for him to be better than me.

How come this math geek is better at hand-to-hand combat than his own top athlete?

Angelica glanced at Ji Li, especially at the ethanol liquid that occasionally surrounded him:
"Welcome to the world of idealism."

The red-haired girl pouted.

They were saying they'd protect Pulitzer, but now who's protecting whom...?

"Don't be discouraged. Different benzoin have different strengths and each has its own problems."

As for Sika… forget Pulitzer, even the 'Reef' itself, when it went out of control as a resting place, would only be able to take the beating.

Angelica offered some words of comfort to the newbie:

"Everyone, get ready. If there are no problems, let's sign the agreement. As for Pulitzer..."

She hesitated for a moment:
"If you're willing to choose combat personnel..."

"Sorry, that's not my concern."

Angelica sighed:
"That's a pity. I'll report it to my teacher and try my best to get her to improve your treatment, but be prepared for the institute to reject your offer."

"It doesn't matter. I'm already very satisfied."

Ji Li smiled slightly.

This little test didn't earn him much in terms of cognitive or arrogance points, but he did gain some from the guilt he felt within the Moon Devourer—

Hey.

However, it wasn't from Aquile, but from Sika, who was drinking with a miserable expression.

He was somewhat unconvinced; "Reef's" abilities were a complete suppression of his bloodline.

"Let's go then. Let's go to the inner room; I've prepared a pen..."

"Wait a minute, Captain."

Sika raised her hand:

"Will you still have to pay for the compensation yourself?"

Angelica froze, turning around to see the messy wooden floor, and paused for a moment:
"...Reimburse me."

After confirming that both agreements were signed and correct, Angelica, with a flash of her hand, stored them in her spatial item under Aquile's curious gaze:

"Well then, congratulations on joining the Royal Internment Center."

Aquile:
"So, will we go to a specialized school later?"

She was a little reluctant to leave her friends at school, mainly Aunt Duke, since there was still a year until graduation.

“No need,” Angelica said.

"Since you have chosen the civilian profession, you do not need to participate in the full-time combat training within the organization. When you go on to further your studies, there will be special options."

"So, what do we do now?" Ji Li asked.

"We will do our best to teach you about the spiritual ecology and psychology of the White Island, and at the same time provide you with some self-study materials."

Afterwards, I will act as your temporary superior and will remotely instruct you after this mission is completed, until further notice.

Of course, there's another reason why you're part of the shelter..."

Angelica, sipping her red drink, looked directly at the two of them and said solemnly:
"The situation in Red Maple Town is somewhat complicated right now. As locals, you should be able to provide some effective assistance. Especially Pulitzer..."

Controlling water flow and having an affinity for fluid properties are the fundamental rules of the 'Reef.' Can you control my blood?

Control your blood?

Ji Li paused slightly, then suddenly thought of a possibility.

He raised his palm, closed his eyes, and tried it out:
"No."

He wasn't faking it; he genuinely couldn't do it.

Blood, as part of the effect of the unity of spirit and flesh, is firmly locked onto the human spirit like a trinity. Trying to influence it directly through spiritual matter is no less difficult than trying to pull the other person's soul with spiritual matter.

Moreover, reefs control liquids and tend to contain inanimate objects, while blood is too closely associated with living things.

However, rules are rules. If the "deep-sea reef" is pushed to a certain extent, it might actually have a direct impact on the blood in the human body.

Ji Li still has a considerable amount of cognitive index, which is far from enough to push him to the Mingzhao level, but it is still possible to pull "Deep Sea Reef" to the Dominator level.

Angelica raised her hand, and the gushing blood quickly congealed into a blood sphere in her palm:
"now what?"

Under the curious gazes of Aquile and Sika, Ji Li focused his attention once more.

The blood sphere fluctuated for a moment, but no major changes occurred.

Aquilind breathed a sigh of relief, his expression becoming more relaxed.

She couldn't imagine that her brother's recent awakening could affect a knight of Lady Laurent's caliber; she might just shut up on the spot.

She overlooked the fact that Sika next to her was already withdrawn.

But Angelica remained unfazed, clearly expecting this to be the case.

She then gradually reduced the pressure until Ji Li finally managed to control a tiny drop of blood, at which point she finally stopped.

"Ms. Laurent, has this already begun?"

After watching from the sidelines for a while, Aquile finally couldn't help but ask a question.

Angelica shook her head, and Sika, who was still withdrawn beside her, also turned serious.

"Captain, you mean to..."

"Yes."

She glanced at Sika:

"You noticed it too?"

"No, not at all... I just made some connections based on Pulitzer's abilities."

Angelica nodded, glancing at the outwardly confused Ji Li and the genuinely confused Aiquier:
"The resting place of the Dead Water Knight is called the 'Mercury Grail,' the specific rules of which are unknown, but the basic rules of mercury exist within his abilities."

Since Pulitzer's abilities can affect Sika's spiritual ethanol and my spiritual blood, they can naturally affect his spiritual mercury as well, since mercury is also a liquid.

"Wait a moment..."

Aquil interrupted their conversation, saying with a somewhat troubled expression:

"If I understand correctly, you two are discussing... how to deal with the Dead Water Knight?"

Angelica and Sika looked at her:

"Yes."

Angelica has indeed begun to suspect the Dead Water Knight... Ji Li scrutinized Angelica's expression.

Ji Li had already suspected something when she tried to control her own blood, and now it has been confirmed.

It's a good thing that Angelica suspects the Deadwater Knight, because Ji Li also suspects him.

In this way, he doesn't even need to do much guiding or pull in the direction of the investigation; he can naturally reach a consensus with the Knights team, and it's a genuine consensus, not a pretense.

However, the silly younger sister was completely baffled by this:

"But wasn't he reinforcements? Was it because of what he and O... and 'Raven' said?"

"According to him, those words were just his way of stalling for time to answer 'Raven's' questions, and logically it makes sense."

But aside from one thing, why did the raven ask him about 'Odin's abode'?

"And another thing," Sika's eyes darkened, "that guy didn't care whether I lived or died when he attacked the 'Raven' servant."

Angelica nodded:

"Besides these, his appearance was also very coincidental."

Even if they arrived ahead of time, they should have been informed beforehand. Yet, they appeared at such a coincidental time and place, just in time to block the raven's attack.

Moreover, their attitude is completely different from their previous hesitant and dragging-out approach when requesting reinforcements.

In short, there are many suspicious points about him. Apart from the questions 'Raven' asked him, I haven't found anything that can be considered evidence yet.

Ji Li: "So your current goal is to investigate the Dead Water Knight and the Raven?"

“They must all be investigated,” Angelica said.

"Our original mission was to deal with the reef on you. It got out of control upstream, causing some casualties and a large-scale breakup."

Now that the reef has appeared here, causing another major incident, not only does Red Maple Town happen to be home to 'Odin's Abode'.

Now that the reef has merged with you, we no longer need to investigate it, but there are signs of deliberate manipulation behind this, and we cannot ignore it.

"From the current perspective, the ultimate mystery points to the sacred site in the local Odin belief legend, and the 'place of indulgence' mentioned by the raven."

In this, both the Deadwater Knight and the Raven may have played some kind of role.

If my guess is correct, both are extremely dangerous, whether it's the treacherous Deadwater Knight or the powerful Raven.

"That……"

Aiquier and Ji Li exchanged a glance:
"What should we do?"

"Awaiting instructions."

Angelica said:
"The spiritual essence that erupted during the fog, which is the same spiritual essence that erupted during the reef's power, was tainted with the aura of another spiritual essence, most likely the spiritual essence possessed by someone who had previously come into contact with the reef."

"That wisp of spiritual energy also appeared on another person at that time..."

“Who?” Aquile blinked.

Of course, Ji Li specially provided the tomb keeper.

"He appeared at the scene out of nowhere, and he was a hidden Awakened One. His spiritual aura was also related to the fog."

He must be connected to either the Deadwater Knight or the Raven, so I plan to investigate him first, and use him to test the Deadwater Knight's attitude.

Isn't this exactly what I was thinking...?

Ji Li was secretly happy:

"What about the raven?"

Angelica breathed a sigh of relief:

“I will call for special reinforcements directly from my teacher. The Dead Water Knight and the Raven, although I have coincidentally advanced to the sixth rank of knight, it would be difficult for either of them to deal with us.”

Especially the latter…

(End of this chapter)