Illimitable Until Death

Chapter 962: IUD-Chapter 957 The Artifact That Grants Everything

“Huh? Why didn’t you catch him? Why not?” Inside the audience chamber, Aqua was pestering Fang Li relentlessly.

“That indecent guy is definitely suspicious! I swear on my title as a goddess, anyone who can control such evil power is absolutely not a good person! Hurry up and catch him already!”

Aqua clung to Fang Li persistently, to the point where he started getting annoyed.

“Didn’t I already tell you? Even if you catch him, it would be useless.” Fang Li said to Aqua.

“Everyone here knows that pig definitely did something shady just now. But the only people who noticed that power were you and me. Even if we accuse him, he can just throw the blame back at us, claiming we’re slandering him. Without solid evidence, there’s no way to arrest him.”

That was why Fang Li had stopped the others from going after Alderp.

Just like he said, even if they caught up, it would lead nowhere.

“In fact,” Fang Li added, “if he decides to counter-accuse, you might end up in trouble instead. After all, no one saw him using that power, but everyone saw you casting magic. If he claims he never used any evil power and instead says you bewitched everyone with your goddess powers… what will you do then?”

“What?!” Aqua blew up immediately, shouting, “He dares accuse me, the ultra-beautiful and brilliant Goddess-sama, of using evil power?! I’ll send every Axis cultist in the world to punish him!”

…Honestly, that might actually happen.

If it came to that, the royal family’s judgment wouldn’t even be necessary.

The Axis Church alone would make sure Alderp was punished so severely he’d regret being born.

After all, the Axis Church was infamous for slandering both the Demon King and official state religions, a cult of absolute problem children.

Letting them ruin a noble’s life would be child’s play.

“J-Just calm down, Aqua.”

“That’s right, let’s not stoop to his level, okay?”

“Let the royal family handle this. Don’t cause more chaos, Aqua.”

Kazuma, Megumin, and Darkness clearly had the same idea as Fang Li and quickly stepped in to stop Aqua.

Seeing the situation, Claire and Rain exchanged glances, then turned toward Iris.

“Princess Iris,” Claire said seriously, “I believe this matter warrants a thorough investigation.”

“I agree,” Rain added, unusually voicing her opinion.

“We don’t know how Lord Alderp was able to use a power that manipulates others… but if it’s true, then, ”

“I understand,” Iris nodded, picking up Rain’s point.

“If Lord Alderp has really been using that kind of power all along, it would explain why he’s on the royal family’s blacklist… yet no evidence of his crimes has ever been found.”

Undeniably, Alderp had used that power to erase anything that could be used against him.

That’s how such a despicable noble had managed to remain above the law, even daring to act so brazenly before a princess.

“The real question is, what was he trying to accomplish?” Fang Li raised the artifact box in his hand and addressed the group: “Since that idiot was willing to use such a power just to deliver this artifact, and even planned to gift it to the current prince, then this artifact must be capable of achieving something significant.”

Reminded by Fang Li’s words, everyone’s expressions turned serious once more.

“Now that I think about it…”

If that wasn’t the case, then why would Alderp need to use mysterious power just to deliver an artifact?

Clearly, something fishy was going on, right?

Fang Li turned his gaze toward the artifact inside the box in his hand.

On this unusually shaped yet simply designed necklace, there was actually an inscription.

To Iris and the others, that line of text probably looked like some kind of magical incantation from an unknown origin.

However, if Kazuma and Aqua saw it, they would immediately recognize it.

Because that text wasn’t in this world’s language.

It was written in the language of a modern world from another dimension.

“Your stuff is my stuff. My stuff is your stuff. Let’s switch.”

That was the inscription.

Fang Li guessed that this was most likely the activation phrase for using the artifact.

So, Fang Li took the necklace out and handed it to Aqua.

“Aqua,” he asked, “Try to recall, what does this artifact actually do?”

“Let me see.” Aqua snatched the necklace and examined its design.

Her eyes then caught the inscription.

Tilting her head in thought, she muttered:

“I do kind of remember sending out something like this…” Before she even finished muttering, Aqua suddenly clapped her hands.

“I remember now!” Aqua shouted.

“This is an artifact that lets people exchange bodies!”

Everyone was stunned on the spot.

“An artifact… that swaps bodies?”

“What kind of weird junk have you been handing out, useless goddess?!”

Kazuma said, completely ignoring politeness.

“What possible use does this thing even have?”

The others clearly had the same thought.

They all looked around at each other in blank confusion.

Only Fang Li and Iris exchanged a glance, and in that moment, they both understood the true implications.

“Lord Alderp intended to give this body-swapping artifact to Ani-sama…” Iris said quietly.

“That means, he planned to exchange bodies with Ani-sama… to gain the prince’s status and power… and maybe even aim for the throne.”

Her words were a rude awakening for the rest.

“And that’s not all,” Fang Li added.

“If used strategically, this artifact is basically the same as getting everything you’ve ever wanted.”

If your body grows old, just switch into a young one, and achieve pseudo-immortality.

If you covet someone’s status or identity, just swap into their body and claim their life.

Hell, if Alderp wanted to become the Demon King, he could aim to steal even his body.

That’s the kind of item this was.

“That damn Alderp!” Darkness said, furious.

“He dared to carry out such an outrageous scheme!”

“Unforgivable!” Claire cried.

“Absolutely unforgivable!”

One after another, the others voiced their outrage.

Clearly, they now thoroughly despised Alderp.

Only Fang Li was thinking about something else.

“If this artifact’s only function is to swap bodies… then what was that mysterious power Alderp used all about?”

Just as that thought surfaced in Fang Li’s mind, a voice echoed deep inside his consciousness.

“Serial Number 11273: B-Rank Side Quest Triggered, Shadow Pursuit.”

Quest Details: Investigate the true nature of the power used by plot character Alderp and expose all of his crimes.

Quest Reward: 30,000 Exchange Points.

The system notification caused Fang Li’s eyes to narrow slightly, and his thoughts deepened.