Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

Patting her chest lightly and offering sincere thanks, Charlotte knew exactly how to express herself as a new acquaintance.

"Yes, when communicating with someone, try to look them in the eye and keep your gaze gentle. This will help them accept those incredible truths and avoid hysterical outbursts."

Withdrawing her fingertips, like a tutor imparting knowledge, Ms. Mossang gently offered her guidance, her words full of patience.

"Been taught a lesson."

"I imagine you must have many questions. If you have any, feel free to ask me directly, and I will do my best to answer them. As an extraordinary person, you must first understand that the road ahead is uncertain."

Listening carefully to every word and pondering its deeper meaning, Charlotte, as she drew closer to the truth, no longer felt impatient for quick results.

Always remembering the true meaning of her role, the upright and kind Miss Watson should at this moment set aside the temptation of extraordinary power and focus more on how this information advances the case and the possibilities it brings.

So, with a slight frown and a hint of contemplation, she spoke again quite seriously.

“Ms. Mosan, although I still have a limited understanding of the Extraordinary Path, as you said, if these words symbolize a potion of a certain path, then following this line of thought and assuming that the real culprit in the disappearance case is an Extraordinary being, it seems that many inexplicable phenomena can be explained.”

"Whether it's a crime scene with no trace or the fact that the victim has been nowhere to be found to this day."

The girl's voice was slightly deep, yet magnetic, making people involuntarily tilt their ears to listen.

"...You're right. Each extraordinary path has its own emphasis. Concealing one's form and erasing traces are things that many Sequence Nine extraordinary individuals can do."

The speculation in the statement was confirmed; as mentioned earlier, Ms. Mossang did indeed draw inspiration from the case.

But more than this new clue, she noticed the girl's difference—

Countless people yearn to transcend the mundane and rise to extraordinary heights, even if it means falling into darkness. But this girl, even after touching the mysterious door, remains oblivious, focusing only on the progress of the case and the safety of the victims.

The goodwill that had been building up inside her, just as Singh described, showed her to be not only a thoughtful lady, but also a kind and upright girl.

"So that's how it is. Then what about Sequence Nine?"

Charlotte raised her question appropriately and spoke up as she heard it.

“Each extraordinary path has ten tiers, from Sequence Nine to Sequence Zero. They lead from the ancient gods down to the insignificant mortals, and Sequence Nine is the lowest rank in the ‘chain’.”

"True God?"

This is a follow-up question.

"Hush, call out their names with reverence. They are the pioneers of the path, the lamplighters at the forefront. They have pierced the veil of mystery and seen the truth of the world. The path we walk today is the trace left by them."

Raising her slender fingers draped in black veil, Ms. Mossang's expression became even more solemn, like that of a devout hermit.

"The first to ascend delivered divine pronouncements and bestowed protection, and those who fought against dragons, evil spirits, and alien species in the primordial era thus discovered a way to obtain extraordinary power."

"That is to use the spirit, the internal organs, the claws and teeth, the Jianmu tree, flowers and crystals, combined with other auxiliary materials, to make a magic potion, and then follow the corresponding ritual to consume and absorb it in accordance with the past of the simulated god, so as to master the power. This is common knowledge in all schools of mysticism."

Perhaps Ms. Mossant's description was quite grand and verbose, but Charlotte, who had experienced the trials of life, quickly grasped the key points and categorized and merged this lengthy document.

The path to becoming extraordinary boils down to two words: playing a role.

As for the true god who raises his head?

Charlotte chuckled inwardly. She was no fool lacking in knowledge; her compulsory education had always taught her to view these myths objectively. She would indeed approach them with reverence, holding only the humility one would show to the powerful who had ascended to the top.

However, when it comes to acting, this is the perfect way for her. Since arriving in this world, she has always worn the mask of an actor.

For example, right now, she is speaking to the dark-haired beauty with reverence and a thirst for knowledge.

"Then, do the gods worshipped by those churches rooted in Tingen really exist?"

"Yes, whether it is worshipping the Primordial Goddess, bowing to the Abyss of the Earth, or pursuing the supremacy of steam, they are all churches established by listening to divine pronouncements and practicing doctrines. However, they mostly operate in the form of universal churches, and most believers and even pastors are unaware of the source of extraordinary abilities, let alone the countless ordinary people struggling to make a living."

"Thank you for informing me, Ms. Mozanne."

Charlotte raised her hand to her chest to express her sincere gratitude; at this moment, her words came from the bottom of her heart.

"No, no need. You are a very good listener. If there is still anything you don't understand, you can talk to me about it."

She answered the girl's questions without reservation, and as she said, even when the topic turned to the extraordinary, Ms. Mossang still found the conversation to be exceptionally smooth and pleasant.

“I am grateful for your generosity. During this narrative, I thought of a possibility: if becoming an extraordinary being requires drinking a magic potion and completing a ritual, then could this series of disappearances be a ritual performed by the real culprit in order to gain advancement?”

"..."

After a moment of silence, the black-haired beauty seemed to have figured something out, and her dark eyes became even dimmer.

“Sinner, the rituals of this path do indeed involve the need for killing.”

"I understand. So, Ms. Mosang, is it possible for an ordinary person to defeat an extraordinary one?"

Charlotte lowered her head slightly, biting her lower lip as if suppressing the turmoil of her emotions, clinging to her tiny hope.

"It's difficult. Even those at Sequence Nine possess special abilities. They can not only interfere with thought processes, but also have extraordinary physical strength."

Upon hearing this, the girl clenched her fists even tighter, unaware that the clenched fists had pierced her palms.

"...Is it only the extraordinary who can fight against the extraordinary?"

It was a barely audible murmur.

These words, though seemingly casual, startled Ms. Mosang.

Suddenly, Charlotte raised her head, filled with resentment and helplessness, and looked directly at the beautiful woman in front of her.

“Ms. Mosang, I cannot accept that a villain would harm innocent lives just for the sake of promotion. I cannot allow such a criminal to remain at large and disregard the lives of so many young women.”

The initial imagery serves as the finishing touch, bringing the story to a perfect close.

And so, naturally, the silver-haired girl earnestly said so.

"Therefore, I want to become extraordinary!"

P.S.: Please vote and post some updates. I'll update a few more chapters around midnight tonight, hoping to climb the rankings on Sunday. Hope you can click in and take a look (not mandatory).

Chapter Nineteen: The Beginning of the Sect (First Update)

"...Are you serious?"

For the first time, her mournful voice showed a strong fluctuation. Ms. Mossang looked at the girl quietly, seemingly hoping that it was just a passing whim.

But both his unwavering gaze and tightly pursed lips denied her pleas, revealing his resolute determination with crystal clarity.

"I was serious."

Charlotte repeated it, her tone remaining calm and unchanged.

"That's dangerous."

"Ignorance makes one delve into the fog without self-reflection, and incompetence makes one sink into the ocean, drifting with the current, not knowing where to go. These are more dangerous than anything else."

Mo Sang stopped his outstretched hand in mid-air, lowered his head, and his eyes were filled with even more grief.

She felt a pang of regret, regretting revealing her extraordinary existence to this kind and gentle girl.

"Even if this matter is ultimately handled by the churches that oversee supernatural events, even if your help is no longer needed and the real culprit is still brought to justice and judged, you must—"

Before the somber words could be finished, a slender white index finger was placed against the beauty's lips. Looking up, the silver-haired girl was shaking her head, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Ms. Mossan, perhaps, as you said, we, who are not involved, can remain indifferent and wait for this matter to become a trivial matter in the newspaper and fade from view.”

"Before the police station uncovered the truth and the relevant departments took over the case, there were already fourteen living victims in Tingen. Must we wait for those numbers to keep updating until they alarm the public before they will take notice of us from their high positions?"

"Yes, I'm sorry..."

Touched by her tearful eyes and questioned by her words, Ms. Mosang hurriedly picked up the fallen handkerchief, wanting to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

But Charlotte grasped her slender wrist with her other hand and whispered her denial.

"No, this has never been your fault, Ms. Mossan. We can ignore it, we can remain silent, but besides us, who else can speak up for them?"

Although every word was a denial, it pierced the woman's heart. The more she listened, the more guilty Ms. Mosang felt.

"Maids, textile workers, tailors, students... they are like a wisp of dust under this black smoke, inconspicuous even if they disappear."

"At least, I don't want to be able to tip my hat like a gentleman when I actually glimpse suffering, but then stride past it and turn a blind eye."

The girl's voice gradually faded, and the spacious front hall returned to silence, but the weight of her words had already broken down her defenses.

After a long while, he managed to utter the difficult words that came from his throat.

"I promise you."

With a bittersweet expression, yet also a hint of relief, Ms. Mosang reached out and cupped the girl's cheeks once more, letting those clear eyes gaze down at her.

“Miss Watson, you are so brave and kind. I don’t want those crazy, evil, and filthy things to pollute your mind and body, but since this is your will, I will no longer insist.”

"However, you must remember first that the enemy of the extraordinary is not only villains, dark wizards, or mythical creatures, but also themselves..."

With a slight movement of her lips, the black-haired beauty exerted a gentle pressure, her fingertips sinking into the girl's cheeks, her dark eyes reflecting Charlotte's slender figure.

Her tone became desolate and sorrowful.

"Potions are mixtures of spirits, organs, claws, and other things. We drink them in the hope of gaining abilities that originally belonged to extraordinary species."

"This is an unnatural evolution, and it will be more or less affected by residual mental influences. There may be no symptoms for the time being, and others may not be able to detect it, but it is definitely hidden in the heart."

After a moment of silence, Ms. Mossang added her postscript.

"If one cannot digest this extraordinary power and eliminate those etched traces, and rashly moves towards a higher order, one will gradually become confused and approach loss of control..."

Unmoved by the gravity of her words, Charlotte continued to gaze directly into the beautiful woman's eyes, unwavering.

"You reap what you sow; every gain comes at a price, and this is an immutable truth."

It is an interpretation of will, an expression of enlightenment.

"Furthermore, by whatever means, becoming extraordinary will more or less enhance one's psychic awareness, enabling one to hear voices that others cannot hear and see things that others cannot see."

“Being constantly subjected to such insane ramblings and misled by illusions, once coupled with alternative stimulation, or if one’s mind becomes unsettled and one succumbs to desires, one will also gradually descend into madness.”

"When things get out of control and you fall into madness, there are only two outcomes: mental death and physical collapse into a monster, or physical collapse and mental transformation into an evil spirit."

A gust of cold wind blew in through the open wooden window, the kerosene lamp flickered, and even the clear, cold voice lost its firmness and became trembling.

“Ms. Mossant, when you were silent and carefully choosing your words, I thought that you had something difficult to say, and that you had to endure suffering to become an extraordinary person.”

The response was still resolute.

"So my answer will not change, and my request will not change either, Ms. Mossan, what should I do to become an extraordinary one?"

Mo Sang loosened his grip, turned his head away, and no longer looked at the girl's pretty face, only whispering.

"...Join the Church of the Primordial Goddess, the Church of the Abyss of Earth, or the Church of Steam Supreme. Within the system, devoutly worship the true God and gain enough merit to securely receive a potion and learn the complete ascension ritual."

After listening to the former's explanation, Charlotte immediately crossed out this path.

As an atheist, it is really difficult for her to sincerely worship God. Accumulating merit requires time and energy, and she only has one month's worth of savings left, perhaps even after deducting the day that has already passed.

Moreover, working within the system means limited freedom, restricted movement, and the need for regular mandatory work. Now that she's in another world, the girl has no interest in experiencing the exhaustion of fixed-time work and constant commuting.

and so--

"Ms. Mossang, may I ask which religious sect you belong to?"

Her face stiffened, and Ms. Mossang slightly raised her lips, revealing a smile tinged with bitterness.

"I am merely a guardian who, by chance, obtained a potion and entered the extraordinary world. I'm sorry, I cannot help you on your path to becoming an extraordinary being."

Seeing that the other person was unwilling to talk about their experiences, and knowing that their relationship was not close enough, Charlotte would not press for details at this moment and ruin the goodwill.

After all, she had already received another option from Sophby: a complete potion recipe and advancement ritual.

Therefore, the rest of the time will be left to my own interpretation. The fact that I cannot get to know Ms. Mosang well now does not mean that there will be no opportunity in the future.

“How could that be, Ms. Mossant? Knowledge is the most precious treasure. In just a few minutes, I have gained knowledge that I may never have been able to understand in my entire life.”

"I will never forget your kindness."

Looking at the rather serious girl, and those silver-gray eyes, Ms. Mosang stared blankly for a moment. After realizing her daze, a faint blush appeared on her face beneath the black veil.

"There are still some parts of the text you just asked me about that haven't been explained yet. Let me explain them to you again now."

Gathering her skirt, she moved to Charlotte's side instead of sitting diagonally opposite her, and lowered her fingertips, using the guise of instruction to mask her awkwardness.

So when Singh carried a large file from the inner room back to the front hall, he caught a glimpse of the distinguished man sitting to one side with the silver-haired girl, their eyes lowered as they discussed matters with utmost gentleness, occasionally exchanging smiles.

That Ms. Mossant actually had expressions other than silence, and even smiled at others?

Feeling incredulous, he was about to speak when he saw the two of them stop talking at the same time, turn their gazes toward him, and remain silent in surprise.

"Uh, did I show up at the wrong time?"