Chapter 126: Gang Boss Ciel and the 'Coroner'

Gang Boss Ciel and the 'Coroner'

【Contact Tara in advance, give her the misfortune rules and that passage of Old Ansu script, have her return to the secret monastery of the Divine Advent Church to investigate】

【This way, by the time I arrive, I should be able to receive Tara’s reply】

【Incidentally, I can try to get some information about the Reconstitution Rituals for first-tier potions from Tara, see if there’s an optimal reconstitution plan】

【If the optimal plan is obtained and can be implemented quickly, prepare the potion and Reconstitution Ritual, making it convenient for me to directly complete the ritual and drink the potion upon arrival】

Ciel stopped writing, reread the previous text, paused slightly, and added some supplementary notes to the preceding text.

【Lucy and Oppold are both proud individuals, definitely not easy targets. Letters should primarily guide them; you can add some fabricated misfortune rules, controlled by you through rule-breaking to reprimand them】

【These things cannot be thought up in a short time; you need to figure them out yourself. Good luck, my simulated self】

【Whatever method you use, the ultimate goal is to obtain the sealed artifacts in their hands. This is for verification】

【Good luck】

Ciel put down her pen.

Now, she would entrust more detailed content to her simulated self, letting her handle it. After all, that was also herself; their way of thinking wouldn’t differ greatly.

Moreover, plans she devised out of thin air might not necessarily proceed smoothly during implementation and could encounter many variables. These adjustments had to be made by her simulated self.

All she could do was wish her simulated self smooth sailing later.

Ciel opened the system and clicked into the simulation interface.

The current system time was 8:01 AM. Her simulated self only had five days...

This amount of time was clearly insufficient. Those were two third-tiers, not just any random cats or dogs on the street that could be easily manipulated.

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It remained to be seen what her simulated self could achieve.

Even if she couldn’t obtain the sealed artifacts from those two, completing one Reconstitution Ritual to earn Fate Points would suffice.

After drinking the potion, she could use 【Spiritual Summoning】 to summon Little Left near them and steal their sealed artifacts.

As long as she could last until the end of the simulation, she could use the system descriptions to figure out what those two sealed artifacts really were.

Having determined the general plan, Ciel no longer hesitated and directly started the simulation.

“Future Days.”

“No.0.”

Dazzling silver light flashed before Ciel’s eyes, completely enveloping her vision. She gradually lost control of her body...

...

【Future Days】 Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

【Holy Year 741, June 29th, 12:58】

【Countdown – 23:59:59】

The silver light in Ciel’s eyes gradually dissipated, revealing the silver-white system prompt box in her field of vision.

The arrival time wasn’t earlier. It seemed her simulated self hadn’t caused any major trouble.

The sky was gloomy. Berren City was experiencing light rain again. Raindrops hit the umbrella above Ciel’s head, making “pitter-patter” sounds.

Regaining control of her body, Ciel looked down and suddenly realized she wasn’t holding an umbrella at all.

She turned her head and saw she was walking on a street in Clock Tower Alley. To her left, a man holding a black umbrella and wearing a dark grey newsboy cap was holding the umbrella for her.

Upon noticing her glance, the man lowered his head further, seemingly avoiding eye contact with Ciel.

Ciel: “?”

What kind of stunt did my simulated self pull for me this time?

Ciel looked back. Following behind her were over a dozen men and women wearing black rain ponchos and trench coats. They all wore dark grey newsboy caps. Upon seeing Ciel turn around, they all lowered their heads deeply.

Who are you people?

One woman wearing a black rain poncho, holding something in her arms, hurried to Ciel’s side, extended her hands, and presented a notebook she held to Ciel.

“Boss, for you.”

This notebook...

Ciel didn’t say much, just reached out, took the notebook, and opened it directly in the rain.

She noticed her own attire had also changed: a black trench coat with a shoulder cape and black gloves, plus a black bowler hat... This elaborate outfit gave Ciel a strong sense of déjà vu.

Ciel scanned the information left for her in the notebook, written in Chinese, and gradually felt relieved.

【Holy Year 741, June 24th, 12:00 PM】

【Four hours have passed, I still haven’t thought of a particularly good plan】

【The main reason is that I cannot contact transcendents now; even contacting Tara will bring misfortune upon myself】

【Contacting Tara counts as breaking the rules. I want to try if I can use this as a “punishment” for the other two】

【In the afternoon, they will visit Avena. I’d better figure out a solution before then】

【My previous thought was indeed correct. Without my own faction, having to do everything personally wastes a lot of time】

Ciel turned the page and continued reading.

【Holy Year 741, June 24th, 8:00 PM】

【In the end, I still decided to contact them via letter as a “teammate.” Plotting against third-tiers is unwise, especially “Favored” Lucy】

【If she rolls heads twice with the “Strong Luck Coin,” she might just arrest me on the street. Before absolute luck, all schemes seem laughable】

【She likes to gamble, but I don’t】

【Anyway, if worse comes to worst, you’ll have Little Left steal the sealed artifacts, won’t you】

【The letters have been secretly delivered through Avena. Now just waiting for their reaction】

Turned the page.

【Holy Year 741, June 25th, 11:00 PM】

【They did receive the letters, but I cannot observe their reactions】

【Fortunately, Avena attended the banquet and brought back information about the two】

【Both Lucy and Oppold learned about each other’s misfortune rules through the letters I wrote】

【But they both seem to think the other sent the letter and almost fought at the banquet. Naturally, they don’t quite believe the rules and benefits mentioned in the letters... This brought me great misfortune】

【I must do something to make them believe】

【By this time, Tara should have arrived in Berren City. Tonight, I will seek out Tara, contact the transcendent, and escalate the calamity】

【I can use transforming “save files” to shield myself from disaster, but they will suffer greatly】

【Holy Year 741, June 26th, 4:00 AM】

【Although there were some incidents, after Tara saw the “Divine Servant” at Amy’s place, she still regards me as the so-called “Mother Goddess.” She can still be used】

【Now, Tara has returned to the Divine Advent Church. Perhaps by the time you arrive, Tara will have just returned with news】

【Regarding the Reconstitution Ritual, Tara does have a complete, high-success-rate “Coroner” Reconstitution Ritual, just this... Forget it, it’s a simulation anyway, you should be able to accept it, right】

As expected...

-

The idea was good, using information asymmetry to control two third-tiers, but the actual implementation encountered many obstacles.

Neither Lucy nor Oppold were fervent believers; they wouldn’t revere her as a god just because of spiritual summoning and other information.

Their long lives in high positions prevented them from easily bowing to others, unless faced with a “terrorist organization” like the “Judicator’s Court” that could overpower them, making them cooperate slightly, but even that was limited.

Ciel continued flipping through the pages.

【Holy Year 741, June 26th, 12:00 PM】

【Avena relayed news that, for some unknown reason, Oppold dismissed all his attendants and moved into Clock Tower Alley. Lucy also holed up inside Deton Manor and hasn’t shown her face since】

【As for why Avena knew, it’s because at yesterday’s banquet, she once again invited everyone to hold a transcendent salon at Avena’s manor. Both of them declined for different reasons】

【Looks like misfortune taught them a lesson】

【I don’t know what they encountered. Anyway, I was only almost hit by a runaway carriage and then almost hit my head on a rusty nail someone placed on the adjacent wall while dodging the carriage, and it cost me 5 Fate Points】

【The next letters are crucial. This step determines whether I can gain their trust and also affects whether I can obtain their sealed artifacts】

【But there’s one thing I’m very curious about】

【When Lucy followed the rules, she could gradually control the “Strong Luck Coin,” perhaps her potion digestion also became smoother】

【When Oppold followed the rules, he also gained the benefit of potion digestion, even allowing his originally mutated body to gradually recover】

【What about me?】

【Except for contacting Tara that one time, I’ve barely contacted any transcendents these past few days. Why haven’t I felt any changes in my body?】

【Or has the change already happened, I just haven’t noticed yet?】

【Perhaps I can consider experimenting】

Indeed.

Ciel also noticed this problem.

Oppold and Lucy both gained benefits when following the rules. In contrast, Ciel seemed unchanged, which puzzled her slightly.

Was it because she hadn’t become a transcendent yet? Did she exploit a bug in the rules, preventing the “reward” from being distributed?

Ciel continued reading downwards. Soon, her gaze locked onto the night of June 27th.

【Holy Year 741, June 27th, 11:00 PM】

【Something happened】

【In the previous simulation, when they only had a partial understanding of the rules and were mostly kept in the dark, they didn’t choose to take any action】

【But this time, with the hints I provided, Oppold already guessed some things—one of Avena’s suicide messengers was discovered and killed by him. He started using the free time within the rules to act】

【Just this afternoon, Lucy died at Deton Manor. I bet her “Strong Luck Coin” today, June 27th, definitely landed tails twice】

【But strangely, after Lucy died, the “Strong Luck Coin” on her disappeared】

【I am seventy percent certain Oppold took it...】

【Fortunately, he is now in the light, and I am in the dark. He definitely cannot imagine that the other chosen one is just an ordinary person】

【It’s just that Avena’s situation might be somewhat dangerous. I have already written to Avena, asking her to take Nia and leave Berren City for a few days to hunt, avoiding any unfortunate incidents】

Lucy died first?

For a “Favored” to be killed so easily, the only possibility was that her “Strong Luck Coin” landed tails twice consecutively, causing her to lose all her good luck.

Ciel was somewhat surprised that Oppold dared to act so directly...

Would Oppold be punished by the rules?

Or was mutual hunting actually permitted within the rules?

With such an unexpected event, she definitely couldn’t continue providing any clues to Oppold, otherwise, she might become the prey herself.

Ciel quickly flipped to the next page.

As expected, her simulated self decisively gave up providing clues to Oppold, instead observing quietly, watching if disaster would suddenly befall Oppold or herself.

Before letting Avena leave, Ciel asked her for a batch of helpers, all corrupt police officers from Clock Tower Alley. Using these people wouldn’t cause any psychological burden.

To monitor all of Oppold’s actions in Clock Tower Alley comprehensively, the simulated Ciel implemented a major plan.

After the leader of the Blackwater Gang died, the gang was currently leaderless, internally fragmented into several groups, fighting almost daily over territory. The situation with collecting “protection fees” also worsened, reaching a point where even the Church of the Savior Goddess wanted to intervene.

The simulated Ciel used that batch of corrupt police officers to arrest the leaders of the splintered Blackwater Gang factions on a large scale, executing them centrally. She then directly took over the remaining remnants, formally renaming the gang the Blood Letter Gang.

This way, Ciel could control a major force entrenched in Clock Tower Alley without contacting transcendents. Members of the new Blood Letter Gang would keep an eye on Oppold’s movements for Ciel.

Such surveillance would definitely be noticed by Oppold; it was only a matter of time. However, Ciel didn’t need to worry about this issue, because she only needed to stay in this world for 24 hours before leaving. Even if Oppold could detect a slight anomaly, it wouldn’t have any impact.

As long as Ciel used Little Left to get both sealed artifacts stored on Oppold before leaving.

However, one point made Ciel puzzled.

Oppold killing Lucy didn’t trigger any misfortune...

This made Ciel somewhat worried about the “person” or “thing” behind the rules.

Could the ultimate goal be like a Colosseum, forcing the three to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor?

Ciel temporarily put aside her thoughts and looked at the attachment tucked inside the notebook.

It was a high-success-rate Reconstitution Ritual for “Coroner,” given to Ciel by Tara.

Previously, Ciel had also bought a Reconstitution Ritual from Deton Manor. The content of that ritual was very simple.

Drink the potion first, then excavate three corpses and piece them together. Once the newly stitched corpse regained the ability to move, the ritual could be completed.

But the Reconstitution Ritual Tara gave her, currently before Ciel, was clearly much more complex...

It required drinking the potion, then excavating two fragmented transcendent corpses for stitching and reconstruction. The final product had to be almost indistinguishable from a normal human.

The more exquisitely the stitched corpse resembled a normal human, the faster the potion would digest.

What kind of “Coroner” is this? Might as well call it “Grave Digger” or “Necromancer.”

-

Fortunately, this Reconstitution Ritual didn’t require “Cooking”... If guessing based solely on the name, Ciel felt “Butcher” was the most likely path to use “Cooking” knowledge.

After all, broadly speaking, the term “Butcher” refers to someone who slaughters, processes, or sells livestock.

Ciel closed the notebook in her hand, looked at the group of people following her, and was momentarily stuck, unsure what to say.

Judging from their respectful and fearful attitude towards her, her simulated self must have used quite a few bloody methods when dealing with those remnants.

The notebook recorded that her residence had moved back to No. 44 North-South Stone Street in Clock Tower Alley. It seemed she bought it directly using the Blood Letter Gang’s funds.

The potions and other things should still be there.

Ciel didn’t speak, just walked towards North-South Stone Street according to memory. The burly man beside her quickly followed with the umbrella.

While walking, passing by a glass display window, Ciel saw her current appearance. Her long hair behind her was tied into a low ponytail, hanging down her back. A strong gangster vibe practically emanated from her.

Taking over the Blackwater Gang is one thing, but making everyone wear newsboy caps while she herself wears this trench coat, bowler hat, and ponytail... Berren City really resembles Birmingham.

Reborn, I established the Razor Gang on the Shanghai Bund to be Makima, right?

She really got carried away with it.

But the overall thinking wasn’t flawed. Unable to rely on Avena, she could only utilize these ordinary people.

With corrupt police backing Ciel, plus the previous bloody clean-up methods, the people below wouldn’t dare rebel for some time at least.

These people had already been trained by the simulated Ciel, making them easy to command.

Within these 24 hours, she would use them to continue monitoring Oppold, while she herself had to digest the potion within 23 hours and wait for Tara’s intelligence.

Finally, reserve 1 hour to steal the sealed artifacts from Oppold. If necessary, having Tara disguise herself as Judicator’s Court to lure Oppold away wouldn’t be a problem. At worst, let Tara make a heroic sacrifice; it would count as her dedicating herself to the god in her heart.

The plan had taken shape in her mind. The next step was implementation.

Transcendent corpses were indeed hard to find. If this were a Past Days simulation, Ciel knew many people who could become corpses. But in reality, they were all dead, leaving the Future Days simulation Ciel with no corpses to use.

If absolutely necessary, she could ask Tara to dig graves at Deton Manor for her. There were many corpses there; perhaps she could even find an opportunity to steal Lucy’s body.

Unfortunately, Braque’s body was completely absorbed, and Kitty’s body became the Divine Servant’s vessel... Unsure if the Divine Servant counts as a corpse after death.

If it counted, plus Lucy’s corpse, she would have one third-tier transcendent corpse and one with a second-tier vessel, a spiritual creature corpse of unknown strength.

Such an exaggerated configuration, likely no other “Coroner” could achieve. If stitched together like this, who knows what Ciel would create? Would it have a more positive impact on potion digestion?

Perhaps she should ask Tara about this. Counting the time, if things went smoothly, she should have already returned to Berren City.

Not many people used umbrellas in the light rain. It was currently the short lunch break at noon, and there were quite a few pedestrians on the road.

Many people, upon seeing this procession, quickly moved to the sides of the road, afraid of provoking the plague gods.

Just as Ciel was about to reach North-South Stone Street, a figure almost made Ciel stop in her tracks.

Oppold!

Oppold, covered in coal dust, having just come out of the coal processing plant, was wiping his face with a dark grey towel while walking towards Ciel, ultimately having his path blocked by the group Ciel led.

Must not show weakness. He doesn’t know who I am.

Ciel made a decision almost instantly. She slowly looked up, swept her cold gaze over Oppold before her, her slightly narrowed eyes filled with the indifference and contempt one might reserve for looking at inferior swine.

At this moment, Oppold was also internally frustrated.

Why must he, a third-tier transcendent, work in a factory for over ten hours?

Doing this kind of lowly work infuriated Oppold. What infuriated him even more was the mysterious person hiding in the shadows, proactively feeding him intelligence.

He initially thought this was all a transcendent gambling game set up by the third-tier “Favored” Lucy, leading him to directly break ties with her.

Only later, after killing Lucy, when the letters continued to arrive, did Oppold realize the sender was someone else.

But he had already discovered the secret within this “conspiracy”...

The secret lay in the sealed artifacts...

As long as he could gather the sealed artifacts, something better would surely happen, and he would seize this opportunity.

He was more than seventy percent certain that the mysterious sender’s strength was inferior to his own, otherwise, they wouldn’t need to rely on suicide messengers to deliver letters; the mysterious person could just inform him directly.

Moreover, after he killed the messenger, he faced no retaliation, further solidifying his internal speculation.

Although he was currently in the light while the enemy was in the dark, give him some time, and he would definitely investigate thoroughly and drag out the person hiding in the shadows.

He looked at his right hand, completely indistinguishable from an ordinary person’s, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Just two sealed artifacts brought such significant change... What if all three were gathered?

Just then, he stopped his steps and looked at the group of people before him.

These bottom-feeding dregs again...

According to the misfortune rule, Oppold had to save up enough shillings each week, no more, no less, obtained entirely through work.

But these Blackwater Gang dregs started collecting protection fees from him. After simply teaching a few of them a lesson, he thought they would stop, but unexpectedly, they intensified their efforts, seeking revenge.

If not for the fear that killing too many people would attract the attention of the Church of the Savior Goddess and get him kicked out of this area, Oppold wouldn’t tolerate these sewer rats for even a second.

If it were before, how could he encounter such blind people?

But when he lowered his head and saw the young woman under the black umbrella, Oppold was instantly stunned.

“Scram.” A sharp word spat from the young woman’s mouth.

-

Oppold, however, said nothing, just stepped aside, his gaze constantly sizing up the young woman.

When did the Blackwater Gang get such a beautiful leader? The gang boss’s daughter?

And she’s actually an ordinary person?

And that gaze... If any man looked at Oppold like that, he would definitely gouge out their eyes.

But when that young woman looked at him like that, Oppold couldn’t muster even a trace of anger.

Now, Oppold developed a great interest in that young woman. However, he decided to put personal feelings aside for now and focus on resolving the immediate problem first.

Oppold continued walking in the opposite direction, while Ciel inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it wasn’t her who directly killed him in the simulation.

Otherwise, if “Nemesis” activated, everyone would know Ciel wasn’t simple, definitely raising Oppold’s suspicion.

At the same time, Ciel’s vigilance increased significantly.

Berren City’s heavy industry had only just begun developing. The city scale wasn’t very large yet, let alone shrinking it down to the scope of Clock Tower Alley. Running into acquaintances was simply too easy.

Ciel had to remain constantly vigilant, trying her best not to meet Oppold personally. Otherwise, she likely wouldn’t be able to win at all, unless she could set up a 【Spiritual Summoning】 formation in advance—but even if she could, she didn’t have enough people with transcendent characteristics to sacrifice.

Unless she sacrificed those investigators inside Deton Manor again... Although sacrificing transcendents from orthodox churches was somewhat extreme, this was a simulation, not reality. If necessary, Ciel would implement it.

Soon, Ciel returned to her residence at No. 44 North-South Stone Street. On the street by the door, two figures wearing newsboy caps were already pacing.

Upon seeing Ciel’s group, the two young men quickly stood at attention, heads bowed.

Ciel stood before the door, opened it. Behind her, the burly man’s voice sounded.

“Boss, that man just now...”

Ciel paused slightly while opening the door, looked back at him, and said, “Keep watching, don’t get discovered, and don’t do anything to him. Just record his movements... You can go back now.”

“Yes.” The man bowed deeply towards Ciel’s departing figure. Only after the wooden door closed did he heave a sigh of relief and turn back to the others.

“Dismissed.”

None of them knew where their inexplicable fear of Ciel came from. Perhaps only Ciel herself knew best.

Ciel had just returned to the living room, feeling slightly relieved upon seeing the familiar setting. Just as she was about to look for the potions she left in the room, she opened the door and froze.

Tara was scrambling off her bed in panic, adjusting her church robes while quickly climbing down, looking towards Ciel.

“What are you doing?” Ciel sighed inwardly.

You people from the Divine Advent Church don’t seem quite normal.

No, not just not quite normal.

Quite perverted.

“It’s not like that, Lady Ciel, please let me explain!” Tara plopped down onto her knees directly before Ciel and said nervously, “I originally just slipped in with the intelligence to wait for you. But during meditation, your lowly servant sensed your great and warm aura in the sanctuary. I felt my thoughts open up, my thinking speed accelerated significantly, many previous doubts were resolved easily, and I entered a state of enlightenment...”

“Then when I came back to my senses, it became like this...”

The further Tara spoke, the more nervous she became, even accidentally biting her tongue several times. Only after finishing did she lower her head somewhat guiltily.

“Oh.” Ciel nodded expressionlessly.

Translation:

She slipped into my room, smelled my scent on the bed, and then rolled around in it.

Previously, Kitty had an unusual obsession with her legs and feet. And Tara, thin and small before her, actually felt something towards her scent...

Sigh... Ciel sighed silently in her heart.

If she didn’t still have use for Tara, she would want to dismember this pervert right now, making her stitching material for her “Coroner” Reconstitution Ritual.

“The intelligence.” Ciel asked.

“Here, Lady Ciel. I went back and checked; this matter is indeed recorded in the books.” Tara handed a letter towards Ciel, continuing, “Sorry, I couldn’t bring the book out... but I recorded everything that should be recorded.”

“This is a compiled translation of texts related to the Ancient Era, recording many deeds related to the Mother Goddess and the church from the Ancient Era. The writers were mostly priests or church transcendents from that time.”

Ciel opened the envelope, unfolded the paper inside, and saw the information marked with red lines.

【《Era of Holy Advent》】

【183-7-13】

【...】

【This item is ominous. Contact by non-fated individuals will surely invite calamity. Those who suffer disaster but do not die, if they do not obey the rules, will surely die from inexplicable events, none survive】

【Not a divine artifact, should be sealed】

【...】

There were many missing parts here, and looking at the context, it resembled a dark version of the ancient era’s “Peach Blossom Spring.” A group of missionaries arrived at a cellar and found this “sealed artifact.”

But everyone who came into contact died from inexplicable disasters. Even those who survived by figuring out the patterns eventually died from inexplicable natural or man-made calamities.

The entire text basically described the terror of this sealed artifact, but it indeed bore a strong resemblance to Ciel’s experiences.

Fated person...

Now, seeing the word fated, Ciel basically defaulted to it being related to the system.

Were the items held by the three of them fragments of a dismantled sealed artifact?

Or was it one sealed artifact, targeting the “parts” in their hands?

At least now, Ciel could be ninety percent certain this matter wasn’t related to people.

This was a sealed artifact that existed since the Ancient Era.