Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3276: Chapter 3277: Secrets of the Deacon

The Consciousness Cloud of the Ghost Steward and the Consciousness Network of the Head Mirror Clan are somewhat similar. Both can perform certain information processing; however, the Consciousness Network tends to enable information flow, while the Consciousness Cloud leans towards information storage.

Simply put, the Consciousness Network of the Head Mirror Clan involves interaction among numerous individual consciousnesses, generating information flow through this interaction.

On the other hand, the Consciousness Cloud, with the Ghost Steward as the main subject, distributes ”verification codes,” allowing others to qualify for entry into the Consciousness Cloud and store the information they acquire.

This special talent is the foundation for the Ghost Steward’s ability to accumulate a vast array of intelligence information.

He can deploy his subordinates to various parts of the Mirror Domain, and as soon as useful intelligence is found, it can be immediately uploaded to the Consciousness Cloud.

This allows the Ghost Steward to possess an extensive amount of intelligence information.

Nevertheless, simply storing intelligence information doesn’t distinguish the Ghost Steward; another key reason for his rise to the position of ”Steward” is—through the Consciousness Cloud, he can leverage others’ computing power for Supercomputing Power Amplification.

In simple terms, the more people connected to the Consciousness Cloud, the stronger the Ghost Steward’s computing power becomes.

Computing power encompasses data processing ability, information analysis ability, and the ability to integrate diverse knowledge.

With the enhancement of these three abilities, the Ghost Steward can conduct in-depth analysis of the intelligence stored in the Consciousness Cloud.

Many hidden pieces of intelligence are actually concealed within seemingly innocuous information.

For example, the surface intelligence might be: the price increase of certain items.

But after computing power analysis, another conclusion might emerge: it’s the result of competition between multiple hidden powers.

Analyzing the part to understand the whole.

Storing diverse information and analyzing Big Data—that’s his fundamental ability to maintain his position as Steward.

”Quite a powerful ability.” Even Glaipnir couldn’t help but comment in the Mind Ribbon after hearing this intelligence: ”However, from my perspective, this Consciousness Cloud is somewhat similar to the Crystal Origin of Dreams.”

In other words, the Consciousness Cloud is a miniature version of the youthfulness of the Crystal Origin of Dreams.

Both can log into the same Consciousness Cloud for information processing from a distance beyond reach.

However, the Consciousness Cloud can only allow single individuals to log in to store information, while the Crystal Origin of Dreams can store information and facilitate human interaction.

The Crystal Origin of Dreams is considered an enhanced version combining the ”Consciousness Cloud” and ”Consciousness Network.”

If the Ghost Steward can issue qualification codes massively and rapidly store intelligence information, it could even play a similar role to the Log-in Device upon the arrival of the Calamity Puppet.

However, it’s impossible to fully replace the Log-in Device. When the Calamity Puppet descends, the Consciousness Cloud is completely dominated by the Ghost Steward alone, and unilateral decision-making inevitably induces doubts; whereas the Crystal Origin of Dreams allows the leaders of major forces and clans to gather together for collective decision-making.

More importantly, the Consciousness Cloud has a ”limit on the number of qualifications,” whereas the Crystal Origin of Dreams can pull in people without limitations, as long as there are Log-in Devices.

Additionally, the Crystal Origin of Dreams can serve as the last safeguard; as long as mental memory persists, one can transform into an Indigenous Person and survive in another form.

Glaipnir conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Consciousness Cloud. Although she felt that, in some sense, the Crystal Origin of Dreams is more perfect, she had to admit that its functions are too complex, while the Consciousness Cloud, due to its small size, possesses the attributes of speed, making it faster in intelligence gathering than the Crystal Origin of Dreams.

Thus, even if the Crystal Origin of Dreams were broadly deployed in the Daylight Mirror Domain in the future, having a certain intelligence collection capability, it’s unlikely to ever reach the current level of the Ghost Steward.

Unless, unfortunately, the Ghost Steward encounters an untimely demise.

”Looks like the Ghost Steward sending Sipolov to the Dog House is actually a manifestation of intelligence computing power?” Luigi said softly.

The Dog Deacon nodded: ”You could say that.”

Luigi: ”What about the Human Steward? The Human Steward should also have a special ability, right?”

According to the power ranking of Everything House, it goes Dog Deacon, Ghost Steward, and next is the Human Steward.

Among them, the Dog Deacon has the highest exposure, but is the weakest in power. The Human Steward, on the other hand, has the lowest exposure but is the strongest among the three.

According to Gutalace, the Human Steward’s direct investigators only take combat orders.

From this perspective, is the Human Steward’s special ability related to combat?

Confronted with Luigi’s curiosity, the Dog Deacon didn’t respond directly; instead, his ears twitched, and he turned to Angel: ”You are a Human Wizard, in your understanding, which type is generally the strongest among peers?”

Angel was slightly moved; he hadn’t expected the Dog Deacon to suddenly ask him. Listening to its implication, could the Human Steward be a Human Wizard?

Angel didn’t inquire further; he followed the Dog Deacon’s question, answering, ”The Bloodline Wizard is unanimously acknowledged as the strongest in peer combat.”

The Dog Deacon nodded and turned away, remaining silent.

Seeing the Dog Deacon silent for so long, Luigi initially didn’t understand what it meant. Until the Dog Deacon’s two paws humanely spread outward, Luigi realized: ”That’s it?”

The Dog Deacon nodded: ”That’s it.”

Luigi questioned: ”The Human Steward is a Bloodline Wizard? What about his ability? Merely being a Bloodline Wizard, doesn’t seem particularly impressive.”

The Dog Deacon rolled his eyes, lazily turning away: ”That’s all I know. The Human Steward has not been at Everything House for years, and I never leave Everything House, so naturally, our interactions are scarce...”

”Anyway, I haven’t witnessed the Human Steward’s ability. Or rather, among the Six Stewards, only the Ghost Steward knows what ability the Human Steward possesses. After all, the Ghost Steward often cleans up the Human Steward’s messes, and through intelligence analysis has probably determined the Human Steward’s ability. Other Stewards mostly know as little as I do about the Human Steward.”

Seeing Luigi’s skepticism, the Dog Deacon thought for a while before adding: ”I once heard a rumor that the bloodline the Human Steward integrates with is quite strong.”

In other words, the Human Steward’s special ability might lie in his bloodline.

But this is ultimately just the Dog Deacon’s speculation; the actual situation remains an unknown.

Luigi, seeing that the Dog Deacon truly had nothing more to say, switched from the topic of the Human Steward to other matters.

For example, besides Dog, Ghost, and Human, the other three Stewards whose names haven’t appeared in the outside world.

The Dog Deacon: ”Regarding the other three Stewards, I know similarly little. It’s not that I’m intentionally hiding anything, but we simply aren’t on the same interface.”

The term ”not in the same interface” refers to the fact that the other three Stewards aren’t in the Daylight Mirror Domain.

The codenames for these three hidden Stewards are: Goose Steward, Vine Steward, and Blood Steward.

Of which, Goose Steward’s whereabouts are unknown, seemingly tasked with missions in other worlds.

While Vine Steward and Blood Steward are in charge of assignments in the Gloomy Mirror Domain. This means they reside permanently within the Ghost Phantom corresponding to the Daylight Mirror Domain.

It is because these three stewards never returned to the Daylight Mirror Domain that their names are unknown to outsiders. This isn’t due to Everything House deliberately hiding them; it’s purely a difference in circumstances.

After asking this question, Luigi did not continue to inquire, but Angel curiously asked: ”Why is Everything House called ’Cross’?”

Additionally, the Dog Steward mentioned earlier that the Ghost Steward was saved by the creator of Everything House. Who exactly is this creator?

To Angel’s question, the Dog Steward provided only one answer: ”Cross is the creator of Everything House.”

However, regarding specific information about Cross, the Dog Steward was entirely unwilling to say more.

Even when Laplace spoke up, the Dog Steward shook his head, refusing to speak. From Luigi’s indirect probing, it can basically be confirmed that the reason the Dog Steward kept silent was due to a ”contract.”

In truth, the Dog Steward and the other stewards also signed contracts, prohibiting them from discussing information about other stewards excessively. But this contract is relatively mild and has some loopholes, so through indirect expressions, the Dog Steward can let Angel and the others know about the other stewards’ information.

But when it comes to Cross, the creator of Everything House, the Dog Steward dared not mention it, because the contract signed with this figure is of extremely high level, covering many aspects, making it difficult to find loopholes.

Moreover, the cost of violating the contract is something the Dog Steward cannot bear.

So, even though Laplace spoke, the Dog Steward chose to refuse.

The only thing Laplace could say, regarding information related to Cross, was whether he is currently at Everything House.

The answer is: He is not.

Cross is not only absent from Everything House, but possibly, like the Goose Steward, not in the Mirror Domain at all.

But where Cross specifically went, the Dog Steward couldn’t say, nor does he know.

Angel also did not press the Dog Steward too much; the question was asked just to satisfy his curiosity, without the need to force the Dog Steward to violate the contract to learn information about Cross.

Afterward, they chatted casually.

The topics included the composition of Everything House and some reasons why the Dog Steward came to Everything House. Noteworthy from this information is that Everything House is indeed not a ”localized” organization. Most of Everything House’s composition consists of Empty-hearted People and outsiders.

True local races are very scarce within Everything House.

Perhaps it is due to such composition that Everything House appears more like a ”neutral” organization independent of all groups in the Daylight Mirror Domain.

Other information was not particularly noteworthy.

...

After chatting for about five minutes, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

The Dog Steward stopped talking, lifted his head, and looked toward the curtain not far away.

Shortly after, just outside the curtain, Little Red loudly called the Dog Steward’s name. Once the Dog Steward said ”come in,” Little Red led a man who appeared imposing and majestic inside.

”Steward, Sipolov from the Yingji Clan wants to sign an entrustment contract here.” Little Red hopped toward the Dog Steward.

Her demeanor was slightly different from when facing Angel and the others earlier. Though she was still somewhat lively, now she finally had the appearance of an assistant.

The Dog Steward turned his head to look at the towering figure: ”Your name is Sipolov?”

With the Dog Steward’s inquiry, Angel also lifted his head, glancing toward Sipolov.

”Yes, I am Sipolov. The Ghost Steward sent me here to have an entrustment contract verified.” Sipolov also saw that apart from the Dog Steward, there were three other people present, but he did not think much of it, only assuming they were under the Dog Steward.

Previously at the Ghost Steward’s place, he saw quite a few people as well.

From his perspective, the Ghost Steward had many subordinates, so surely, the Dog Steward would have them too.

But, it seemed there weren’t many people here?

Just as Sipolov thought this, the Dog Steward lightly coughed: ”They are my guests, not subordinates.”

Sipolov was stunned for quite a while before suddenly recalling that one of the Dog Steward’s abilities was to perceive people’s thoughts. What he had just thought was clearly perceived by the Dog Steward.

Silently and without a trace of energy fluctuations, his thoughts were so effortlessly discerned.

Indeed terrifying...

Sipolov dared not think further, quickly halting his thoughts, and showed an apologetic expression to the Dog Steward: ”I was too presumptuous.”

The Dog Steward shook his head: ”There’s no need to apologize. Actually, I shouldn’t have told you they were guests, but their situation is slightly different. They are here for you.”

At this moment, Sipolov was still puzzled, not understanding the Dog Steward’s meaning.

Until, Sipolov saw a young man with cat ears across from him, taking out a familiar Dragon Scale from his chest pocket.

Upon seeing this Dragon Scale, Sipolov paused momentarily, gently opening his hand.

A continually twisting and transforming black flame began to rise from his palm.

And within this black flame, there existed a faint golden glow; within the golden glow, a long-handled weapon seemed to exist.

When the outline of this weapon surfaced, the Dragon Scale in Angel’s hand began to emit a constant glow, seemingly resonating with the long-handled weapon.

Sipolov lowered his head, looking at the lance within the black flame, and a flash of comprehension passed through his eyes.

Indeed, it is that Dragon Scale!

”This is my favor exchange with Mr. De!”

The reason Sipolov exchanged the favor was due to his unique Heart Fire. It was a kind of special dynamic Heart Fire, requiring coordination with the current state and choosing appropriate weapons during battle.

As a Knight who roams the battlefield, Sipolov often needs to switch several weapons in a single battle: long-range, mid-range, guided, close-combat, shield-type, pure-physical, energy attack... this also makes him feel cluttered and cumbersome every time he uses weapons.

To solve this problem, he wanted to find someone to customize a weapon uniquely for himself.

Sipolov met many artisans for this purpose. Unfortunately, whether Yingji Clan artisans or blacksmiths from other cities, none could meet his requirements.

Ultimately, he found a solution in the Hundred-Dragon Divine Kingdom. By exchanging favors, he obtained a customized, transmutable Knight’s lance from Mr. De.

And it’s precisely because this lance was crafted personally by ”Mr. De” that it resonates with the Dragon Scale held by Angel in mutual correspondence.