From the Ship of Fools to Earl of Wugang

While martial law and the manhunt in the capital were tightening day by day, Edmund in Dusk Harbor was doing quite well.

After the phone to the old relief center office was connected, he would call a voicemail address located overseas every morning to hear a few words of weather forecast that changed with the date.

"The south bank is clear; three cargo ships have already entered the port, and the fourth is expected to arrive later..."

After listening to the recording, Edmund deleted it as agreed, and then wrote down several sets of numbers in the ledger.

This means that after passing through layers of offshore companies, trust accounts, and fictitious trade contracts, the first batch of religious funds has been liquidated.

Over the past few days, his account has seen an additional 200,000 Divine Eagle Gold Coins, and several other remittances are still flowing into his wallet.

The establishment construction also went smoothly: the cleanup work was largely completed, and the sign hanging at the entrance was replaced with the official "Laurel Knights Maritime Survey Office".

The underground boiler room was also equipped with drainage ditches and ventilation pipes according to his requirements, and it can be converted into a ceremony room once all the materials arrive.

After observing the count for a period of time, Edmund's opinion of him improved considerably, so he entrusted him with the task of recruiting personnel.

He believed that as long as he paid close attention and kept a close eye on things, the count's previous failures would become valuable experience and help him in the future, rather than an obstacle.

The Earl has already contacted two retired naval divers, an old navigator, and a mechanic, and Edmund will need to find time to have them come in batches for interviews.

On the afternoon of the third day, the ordered computer, monitor, and external modem finally arrived.

Edmund placed the equipment in the innermost room of the office, personally changed the door lock, and spent an afternoon completing the system installation, telephone dialing, and basic encryption configuration.

Regaining internet access lifted his spirits. Real-world issues like identity, distance, and borders were troublesome, but the internet could at least help him overcome these obstacles.

He first logged into his private email and wrote a letter to Rebecca, telling her that he had safely arrived at the Moral Union; his previous abrupt departure was not an intentional severance of cooperation, the server and the MUD project were still working, and finally asked her not to trace the source of the email.

After writing it, he deleted two seemingly superfluous apology sentences and pressed the send button.

As a collaborator on an internet project, Rebecca's value is currently irreplaceable.

After processing the emails, Edmund began to rebuild the access path from his memories.

Hours later, the crucible made of characters on the interface was still outrageously ugly.

Welcome back to "The Alchemist's Cauldron".

Last time he came, he missed out on some of the knowledge he wanted to learn. Now he has enough money in his account to take all the knowledge he can learn with him.

Thinking back to what he gained from encountering that ghoul in the Dionysus script last time, Edmund first searched the spirit world.

[How to observe the dream world without a full astral projection? Reading fee: 600 pfennigs.]

[Basic configuration of reality anchoring, return, and dream protection. Reading fee: 800 pfennigs.]

[Reverse use of the spirit summoning ritual: Allows one's senses to approach the threshold of the spirit world. Reading fee: 1200 pfennigs.]

......

Upon arriving in the new country, the currency was converted to the local currency.

However, the Divine Eagle Gold Coin is one of the common settlement currencies in the Western Continent. He paid for each item one by one to unlock it, and copied the key points into his newly purchased hardcover notebook.

These answers mostly covered basic principles, which filled a gap in Robert Young's notes.

Beginners should avoid letting their complete soul leave their body. They can use dreams as a buffer, maintaining an anchor in reality through familiar, rhythmic sounds and objects bearing their true name...

One respondent mentioned that many séances can be modified to change "summoning the spirit" into "making the caster's senses approach the spirit's location."

Edmund recalled the contents of Kelley's necromancy: sulfur to cut away the world's surface, white candles for omens and communication, and a salt ring to protect the caster...

Once he finds the right way to modify it, he will have the opportunity to actively observe the Dream Realm.

Immediately afterwards, he purchased a batch of Q&A about the second-tier "elite".

This part is even more confusing.

The rituals, materials, and symbols used in different approaches vary greatly, but only three common conditions can be identified:

Solidify the core abilities of the first stage, enabling the soul to bear more spirituality; complete a practice that aligns with the essence of the path; and finally, solidify the changes that have already taken place through appropriate rituals.

The transmission of core methods is more stable, while derivative methods can often acquire targeted capabilities more quickly.

Some people on the forum insisted that only those who follow the main theme are qualified to pursue high positions, while others ridiculed this view as the arrogance of those who have a complete lineage.

After reading the debate, Edmund temporarily decided against taking sides prematurely.

The cult's actions were spiraling out of control, and he had no time to wait for the perfect choice.

The traveler's path, or a suitable derivative path, he chooses whichever path provides the clues first.

By the time the night of molting arrived, the hardcover notebook was nearly a third full.

In the evening, Edmund locked up the computer room and returned to his room at Wangchao Fort.

He took out the glass jar containing the facial mask, scooped out the translucent film, and applied it to his face as instructed by Ms. Xiao.

The cool membrane quickly adhered to his skin, and his nose, jaw, and cheekbones slowly changed according to his imagination.

Edmund was prepared; he sculpted a face for himself resembling Leon's from the Resident Evil series from his previous life, and then slightly softened a few overly prominent features.

The young man in the mirror had light-colored hair parted to the side, a defined jawline, and slightly tired eyes. He looked like a young police officer who had just finished a night shift, and that didn't detract from his good looks.

He changed into an ordinary dark suit, carefully concealed his revolver, equipment, and cash, and then poured himself a small glass of strong liquor.

After it had completely darkened, Edmund left Fort Dawn alone. He changed taxis at the foot of the hill, and finally got off two blocks early to walk to the club, which was much quieter than usual.

Today, even the taxis waiting on the street corner for business to end have almost disappeared. The notice board for the public performance stands on one side of the lobby, with the program name written on it in purple paint: Amethyst.

The doorman, dressed in a black tuxedo, glanced at Edmund before opening the door, checking as he took off his trench coat that the face mask was still properly attached.

The numbness from the membrane has spread to the upper lip, so smiling will probably feel a bit stiff.

Therefore, he decided to try to avoid showing any enthusiasm tonight.

Some of the tables and chairs in the club lobby were removed, and the audience was scattered in front of the stage.

Everyone wore ball masks and watched the quiet performance on stage: the dancers dressed in skirts made of dried leaves and carrying nets.

[Rhyming verse - Words of Quiet Repose: Unable to sleep, I listen intently. The breeze whispers among the branches.]

[The first-tier influence closely aligns with the pillar 'Mist,' which discerning apprentices can easily identify. If collected properly, it can be used as material in rituals or to deepen understanding of certain techniques.]