Chapter 916: Chapter 913: "Demon Hunt Order (Part 1)
[Question 1: How many points would you give the game "The Cat and Her"? (The full score is five.)]
"Five points."
[Question 2: How many points would you give the game "Louyue Nation"? (The full score is five.)]
"Five points."
[Question 3: How many points would you give the game "Girl Dream Plan"? (The full score is five.)]
"Five points."
Su Ming’an didn’t expect the questions on this questionnaire to be so straightforward. These games are indeed good games, giving full marks is no problem.
[Question 4: How many points would you give to the Deity? (The full score is five.)]
Su Ming’an narrowed his eyes: "Zero points."
[Why?]
Su Ming’an said, "What do you think?"
Turning the world into this, still has the nerve to ask for a rating? Doesn’t the Deity have any points in mind?
[No counter-questions, please answer in a statement.]
Su Ming’an thought for a moment and still replied seriously: "As the ruler of the world, what have you given to humanity, and what have you taken away from them? Have you made them feel happiness or pain? From my perspective, your actions are undoubtedly failing. Of course, my view is just limited to people’s pain. If you provide me with more information, I might reconsider your motives."
The questionnaire didn’t pause and continued to the fifth question.
[Question 5: What do you consider destiny to be?]
Su Ming’an said, "Is this a game survey questionnaire or a philosophical question?"
[No counter-questions, please answer in a statement.]
Su Ming’an thought for a moment: "Destiny is ’non-existent’ and ’void’.
[Do you believe destiny is a non-existent thing?]
Su Ming’an said, "No. It’s just that once I start thinking about destiny, this question immediately falls into the void because I can’t determine the boundary or measure of the term ’destiny’, nor can I confirm what doing so counts as destiny. Thus, restricting all possibilities into this word is meaningless and only leads to paradoxes, ultimately revealing that uncertain things don’t mean they don’t exist. Such things don’t need to be forcibly proven or disproven, skepticism itself is worth doubting."
The questionnaire still didn’t pause:
[Question 6: What do you think is the theory of good and evil?]
Su Ming’an felt slightly speechless: "Deity, you can go on forums and take a look, a bunch of people discussing these kinds of questions, you might find it enlightening."
[Question 7: Do you think ’self’ is the most valuable thing in humans?]
Su Ming’an said, "Second most valuable. I think ideals are first."
[If one day you must choose between the two, which would you choose?]
Su Ming’an said, "I said ideals are first, so I’d definitely prioritize ideals."
[If only by slaying yourself can you achieve your ideals, would you wield the sword against yourself? Please answer "yes" or "no."]
...What kind of ominous question is this?
Su Ming’an suspected it was because he had given the Deity zero points earlier, which caused the Deity to deliberately ask him such a heart-wrenching question.
"Depends on the situation." Su Ming’an didn’t give a definitive answer to avoid the Deity exploiting this to set a trap.
But from his inner perspective, the answer to this question is undoubtedly,
[Yes.]
...
[Question 8: What type of games do you look forward to appearing in the future?]
Su Ming’an answered without hesitation: "Simple, warm, healing, ones where you can sleep."
[Question 9: What do you want to train Alice to be like?]
Su Ming’an turned his head and looked at Alice. Alice was picking lilies. When Su Ming’an looked at her, she seemed to sense it and glanced up at him.
"Sss." At this moment, Alice suddenly took a sharp breath, a cut appeared on her finger.
"Did it pierce through?" Su Ming’an noticed her injury.
"It hurts." Alice grimaced in pain. She was naturally a bit sensitive, her perception of pain extremely intense, even just a small prick would feel very painful to her.
Su Ming’an brought over the medical kit from the house and crouched to disinfect her: "Don’t get distracted next time, even though picking flowers is a small thing, you may encounter increasingly important things in the future, I don’t want you to be distracted."
Alice looked at him and suddenly laughed. She seemed to think of something very funny, laughing so hard that she leaned back and forth, even her fingers were trembling.
"What’s so funny?" Su Ming’an said.
"Detective Sir, you seem like a mother from kids’ mouths, reminding me of everything." Alice laughed while covering her mouth.
Su Ming’an was speechless.
"Administer the medicine yourself." Su Ming’an left the medical kit behind. He has a partner relationship with her, not raising a child for real; the positioning can’t be wrong, don’t let her become someone who relies on him.
After closing the door, Su Ming’an still turned back to take a look, and it just so happened he met Alice’s gaze through the screen window. She showed a fox-like smile, as if expecting him to look back.
Su Ming’an immediately turned his head and looked at the panel of the questionnaire.
"...I want to train her to become," Su Ming’an slowly said: "the kind of person she wants to become."
The questionnaire reached the final question:
[Question 10: — Are you really going to step out of the small town?]
Su Ming’an’s hand holding the tea trembled a little.
"If I say I’ll never leave the small town, can you give me a perfect pass?" Su Ming’an said lightly.
The panel displayed two white words:
[Yes.]
Su Ming’an let out a laugh: "It seems there’s indeed a huge truth hidden outside, you’d rather make such a promise, desperately want me to stay."
The panel flickered with white text: [Whether you leave this small town or stay, it is what I expect. Whatever choice you make will be what I expect. So, it doesn’t matter.]
Su Ming’an’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You are very confident, thinking that no matter what I do, I can be guided to the destiny line you hope for and achieve the ending you desire?" Su Ming’an said.
The panel flickered with white text, revealing a large word:
[Yes.]
"Then let’s wait and see." Su Ming’an said.
The questionnaire panel dimmed, and the ten questions were over.
Subsequently, Su Ming’an took Alice out to purchase items. The supplies for the first half of the year were almost exhausted, and Alice needed new clothes and accessories.
Walking through the cobblestone street, Su Ming’an took Alice to a carriage. The groom waved his whip, the wheels rumbled, and Alice leaned against the window, curiously looking at the street scene.
The streets of the Steam Age have a natural visual sense of strength, with large machinery connected by rivets standing in staggered positions. Although their appearance is rigid and heavy, you can observe the precise and detailed steel chains and gears inside, exuding a strong sense of contrasting beauty. These machines mixed with the architectural style of the Victorian Era create a strong visual impact under the intricate and luxurious structures.
The audience in the live broadcast room was amazed, eagerly wanting to experience this era firsthand.
"Detective, where are we going?" Alice was very excited; this was her first time traveling far.
"To see the Princess." Su Ming’an opened a newspaper bought from the street and was hit by a strong smell of ink. The front page of the newspaper wrote about "Huo Muli’er Founding a Nation" and "Frequent Exotic Species in Burg Castle." Just now, when he was buying the newspaper, a Royal City Knight informed him that Her Highness the Princess was waiting for him on the airship "Mist Number," which was to depart today.
Upon reaching the port, Su Ming’an held his hat down as he got off the carriage, extending his hand toward Alice, who took it and lightly jumped down, her light green ruffled dress rustling.
A massive airship appeared before them, like a giant wheel quietly floating on the sea. Brown-gray long steel plates extended on both sides, like a pair of wings about to soar. An elderly man came to greet Su Ming’an.
The sea breeze blew Alice’s black hair as she looked at the vast sea, her eyes beaming with joy.
"Do you like the sea?" Su Ming’an asked, holding her hand and walking on the deck.
"I do." Alice blinked her eyes: "It’s like a huge blue gemstone."
Su Ming’an recalled someone before who liked the sea: "As for the sea, if you can avoid liking it, it’s better not to."
Alice raised her head: "But liking is something uncontrollable. Just like how I like the Detective, it’s something that can’t be stopped. Even if you tell me not to, my eyes can’t move away from the sea or you."
Hearing these words, Su Ming’an’s expression froze for a moment but then relaxed, remembering Alice’s emotional intelligence score of 12 points. This child has always been articulate.
Passing through multiple guards, Su Ming’an led Alice into a room inside the airship. The room was based on dark brown wood, and sitting behind the table in the sunlight was a girl with flax-colored hair, wearing a crimson long dress, imbued with elegance and dignity.
Seeing Su Ming’an, the girl extended her hand, wearing white gloves: "Hello, Detective. I am Avetina."
"Hello, Your Highness." Su Ming’an shook hands with the Princess.
As Avetina withdrew her hand, Alice suddenly extended hers: "Hello, Your Highness! I’m Alice!"
Avetina was briefly stunned, then gave a bright smile and shook hands with Alice: "Hello, Miss Alice."
What followed was a boring conversation, during which Alice sat quietly in the chair, listening to the exchange between Su Ming’an and Avetina.
...
[Avetina: Regarding this Talent Awakening Formation, I’ve never seen such a miraculous array... Can you really only use it three times?]
[Detective: Yes, only I can use it.]
[Avetina: In the past, no one would believe such words from you. But recently, with relics being unearthed, did you acquire such techniques in a relic? That’s why the technology is so unique.]
[Detective: Relic?]
[Avetina: Hmm? You don’t know? Recently, various nations have been excavating major relics. These relics date back hundreds of years. Many adventurers have found technology and magic in these relics far beyond our era, like a vaccine capable of treating cholera or a communication device for remote communication—things we don’t have in our era. It’s hard to imagine how they were made hundreds of years ago... It’s like a technological gap.]
[Avetina: Our history only has records for a few decades, always in a buried state. It’s hard to imagine what happened hundreds of years ago.]
[Avetina: Since you don’t know about the relics, how did you obtain this technology that transcends the era for talent modification?]
[Detective: ...Ah, actually, I found it in a relic.]
[Avetina (slightly smiling): Oh, really? Well then, as you say.]
[Avetina: As you can see, the Royal Family struggle is intense, and I am not the only heir. Six months ago, after you grasped this technology, you chose to report it to me first. I suppose you have already decided where to stand. So, I am willing to trust your words.]
[Detective: Alright. (What Royal Family struggle? What kind of strange side plot am I involved in? I only know the Princess as the sole royal heir... Forget it, it doesn’t affect me.)]
...
Su Ming’an drew a second Talent Awakening Formation for Avetina, and when she needed it in the future, he would come to draw a third one, considering it a long-term agreement.
"Recently, exotic species are frequent; be cautious on your way back." Avetina smiled as she looked at him: "By the way, why not come along with me on the airship to the neighboring city? There’s a newly opened relic there. As a detective, maybe you can find something good in the relic."
Su Ming’an thought for a moment and declined. His primary goal was to nurture Alice, and he didn’t want to cause trouble before she matured.
"When Alice is a few years older, I’ll take her to the relics." Su Ming’an said.
...
"Ding Dong!"
[Due to the favorability of (Princess Avetina) rising to 60 points, you have joined (Princess Avetina’s) Royal Faction.]
[You have received (Princess Avetina’s) promise. Henceforth, Alice can go to the relic without the need for noble proof, directly heading there.]
[You have received (Princess Avetina’s) recommendation. Alice can directly enter the Royal Academy to study any course, without a recommendation letter.]
...
Su Ming’an’s eyes lit up. These two rewards were valuable, significantly reducing the cost of nurturing Alice.
Avetina chuckled a few times, smiling elegantly: "Lately, I always feel the world is changing rapidly. Ah... by the way."
She thought for a moment and reminded: "The Royal Family’s diviners have recently discovered that these strange changes are brought about by something called the ’Eye of the Old Days,’ which is a necklace like an eyeball. The Royal Family is issuing a summons to the world. If you find something similar, please report it to us. We suspect it might bring disaster to the world."
Su Ming’an was startled, but seeing Avetina’s calm expression, she shouldn’t know that the Eye of the Old Days was with him.
With twenty thousand Kel returning to Burg Castle, Su Ming’an felt a bit apprehensive. The Eye of the Old Days is a bound item on the detective, unable to be actively discarded. If he wants to continue playing this game, he cannot turn in the Eye of the Old Days.
...For now, he can only keep it a secret.
Su Ming’an had a hunch that when the Eye of the Old Days, this ticking time bomb, goes off, it will be the moment this warm, peaceful life comes to an end.