Chapter 153.3

“Moral education… is this really the Hope Alliance after all?”

On a cliff overlooking the Nordic coast, inside an ancient castle, a petite and graceful woman sat by the window. Her posture was dignified and elegant, like a beautiful oil painting. Outside, the sky was leaden gray; seabirds soared, and rolling waves crashed against the rocks, churning into thick banks of white foam.

The sea breeze tousled her flaxen curls and light lace dress. The thin veil covering her face fluttered, vaguely revealing horrifying, brownish-red scars—remnants of severe burns. In her hand was a bluish-gold badge.

Clearly, this woman had already paid her points and become a Councilor of the association!

“Are you still trying to use Hope Insects to influence everyone? But didn’t your previous failure prove they aren’t that useful? Besides, your Hope Insect… is already dead.”

The woman smiled and scattered a handful of grain out the window. Habitually fed seabirds swarmed to compete for it; a few bold ones even landed on her hand to peck.

Suddenly, she tightened her grip, snapping a seabird’s neck. Crimson blood stained her snow-white fingertips, which she smeared over the burn scars on her cheek. Yet the other birds seemed oblivious to their companion’s death, continuing to fight frantically over the grain.

“Still haven’t given up? Interesting. The benefit rules of this Mutual Aid Association are quite intriguing.”

“Only by making ‘significant contributions’ can one become a Knight…?”

She tossed the bird—now a mere carcass—aside, letting the waves sweep it away. Then, smiling, she plucked a white feather from behind her hair.

The feather was longer than a finger; it was from an owl.

In 586 BC, after their kingdom was destroyed and Jerusalem demolished by the Neo-Babylonian king, the Jews viciously cursed the Tower of Babel—known as the “Gate of God”—saying: “But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there… It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.”*

This owl feather was the curse left by the enslaved Jews of antiquity, which had transformed into mental pollution thousands of years later.

“I wonder if this prop from the Tower of Babel counts as a ‘significant contribution’?”

The woman chuckled softly, releasing the feather and letting it drift, swirl, and eventually vanish.

“If all the props from the 30th parallel north tours are gathered, can the Maria Butterfly be made whole?”

“I am very curious about that myself.”

Pioneer of the 30th parallel north tour, the Tower of Babel: Black Widow.

.

“Moral education class? Dream Chaser, did you actually start this association?”

Zhang Xingzang rested his head on Dream Chaser’s shoulder, grumbling. He had been badly singed by An Xuefeng’s flames, but his spirit was much more consolidated. With Dream Chaser’s soothing, he was nearly ready to mold a puppet for III-250 within two days.

Clay figures aren’t just about the shell; they require spirit. Legend has it that the original Clay Figure Zhang would live and eat with his subjects for at least six months, not just to observe them, but to imbue the clay with their very essence.

Tradition held that sculpting a healthy person would shorten their lifespan because their spirit was being “kneaded” into the work. Thus, once the figure was shaped, subtle adjustments were made without altering the likeness.

It was said that once, Clay Figure Zhang stayed with a subject for three years to finish a single figure. Halfway through, the figure began exhibiting supernatural signs; had it been completed perfectly, it would have been indistinguishable from the real person. So, when sculpting the legs, Clay Figure Zhang purposely made them longer.

Long legs symbolized longevity; with this difference, the figure wasn’t a perfect double and thus wouldn’t replace the owner, but would instead focus on protecting their peace.

Zhang Xingzang was a descendant of the Clay Figure Zhang lineage, though he hadn’t practiced the craft in the real world for years. Only after entering the tours and gaining his initial title did he reclaim the old art, eventually making a name for himself as “Clay Figure.”

Though his true body was sealed inside a small clay turtle, his essence—tempered by An Xuefeng’s flames—was now nearly identical to a normal person’s, allowing him to mold figures.

“No, this is his organization.”

Dream Chaser shook his head. “Moral education class… I hope he isn’t using Imosh Insects, but some other method.”

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Clay Figure Zhang couldn’t stand Dream Chaser’s disappointed tone and joked, “If they all fall in love with you, they’ll make your hopes their own!”

“Everyone falls in love with me? And then someone kills me out of obsession, or commits suicide over unrequited love, and it all ends in a mess?”

Dream Chaser replied crossly.

Clay Figure Zhang chuckled and fell silent. The two enjoyed their rare moment of peace and companionship.

Suddenly, Dream Chaser let out a surprised sound.

“How is there a new Knight so soon?”

As an Arbiter of the association, Dream Chaser could sense new members and promotions. He suddenly realized a new Knight had appeared!

Ordinary members becoming Councilors was expected; 100,000 points or equivalent props sufficed. Seven had already upgraded. Many others had contributed to earn points.

III-250 had designed the monetization very thoroughly. Even ordinary members could pay 100 contribution points (about 10,000 points) for a one-time, short-term experience of a rule.

The best value was paying 100,000 points at once to become a Junior Councilor and gain a permanent benefit rule.

Spending more to become an Intermediate Councilor granted two rules.

But the most frustrating part was that rules were assigned randomly for Junior and Intermediate ranks—you couldn’t choose! To swap a rule, you had to pay again.

Only at Senior Councilor rank could you choose any two rules freely.

“The rules available to Councilors might not be enough for some people.”

Dream Chaser smiled. As an Arbiter, III-250 had given him a “backdoor,” allowing him six rules—comparable to a Vice President.

[Rule 1: Members of the association find it easier to gain favor and titles from top-tier spirits.]

[Rule 2: Members of the association find it easier to gain the friendship of Ancient Insects.]

[Rule 3: Members of the association find it easier to establish relationships with Abyssal creatures in Abyssal Nodes.]

[Rule 4: Members of the association will have better luck.]

[Rule 5: Members of the association will gain more advantages in confrontations and battles with Ancient Ones.]

[Rule 6: Members of the association have stronger resistance to mental pollution during 30th parallel north tours. (Hidden rule; available to Knights and above.)]

There was likely a Rule 7, which Dream Chaser guessed was also 30th parallel north related and exclusive to Knights and above.

In truth, Knights only had one more rule than Senior Councilors, but the value lay in the exclusive Rules 6 and 7 regarding the 30th parallel north.

III-250 was very strict here: money couldn’t buy a Knighthood; one had to make a “significant contribution.”

“A significant contribution… the new Knight ‘Beauty’.”

Dream Chaser said, “That must be Black Widow. She probably surrendered a prop from the Tower of Babel.”

“The Tower of Babel… wait, I remember back then, wasn’t Black Widow the one who built the Tower of Babel?”

Zhang Xingzang asked, confused.

Dream Chaser said, “That man died, and Black Widow inherited his token.”

“So that’s it… Hey, Dream Chaser, do you really intend to help III-250?”

Clay Figure Zhang said lazily, “Aren’t you afraid of him becoming a second Life Jester? After all, they have similar bloodlines and the same mutation type—they might even be brothers.”

“I will see for myself exactly what kind of person he is.”

Dream Chaser patted Clay Figure Zhang’s head. “For the next tour, I will be his guardian.”

“As expected, you’ve really grown up, Dream Chaser.”

Clay Figure Zhang sighed. “You’re no longer that little tour guide who could be tricked by a mere slogan.”

“Heh.”

Dream Chaser smiled, then suddenly asked:

“How did An Xuefeng talk to you about ‘Deep Connection’? Tell me.”

“Uh… that’s probably not a good idea.”

Clay Figure Zhang chuckled awkwardly. “That’s a private topic between us tour party leaders. It’d be embarrassing to tell you tour guides.”

“Indeed.”

Dream Chaser remained expressionless. “He did talk to you about Deep connection.”

“Ha… haha.”

Clay Figure Zhang’s expression stiffened.

.

“Wei Xun, is it really okay to make Black Widow a Knight?”

Yu Hehui looked somewhat worried.

“She handed over props related to the 30th parallel north and paid enough points and props. She made such a massive contribution—of course she’s qualified.”

Wei Xun smiled, carefully stowing the pure white owl feather.

Roughly speaking, aside from the “Astrologer’s” Lost and Ancient Maya, he had seen at least some props from almost all other 30th parallel north tours.

“Come, look at this.”

Today was a massive harvest since the association opened. Black Widow paid her way to Knight, and seven others became Junior Councilors. But to Wei Xun’s surprise, Bee Master had gone all out, spending his entire fortune to reach Intermediate Councilor!

Clearly, the association’s rules were an invaluable opportunity for the ambitious who lacked a chance and wanted to gamble everything.

But Wei Xun had no time to count his spoils; the Travel Service’s latest tour notice had appeared!

[Itinerary information]

[Tour name: Suburban Beijing Funeral Palace]

[Level: Extremely dangerous]

[Specific itinerary: Undetermined]

[Group type: 10-person small tour group, private vehicle, dual tour guides]

[Tour guides: III-250, B-125]

[Dates: Departure 9.20 Wedsnesday – Return 9.30 Saturday]

[Tour description: Omitted]

“Everything is set except for the specific itinerary and tour description.”

Yu Hehui opened his mouth but said nothing. His anxiety reached its peak upon seeing the notice.

The details wouldn’t be revealed until the moment of departure; only the name offered a hint. The difficulty of an “Extremely dangerous” tour was already evident.

Even though Wei Xun had made such preparations, accumulated so many supplies, and even contacted Dream Chaser as a guardian, Yu Hehui was still worried.

This is an Extremely dangerous tour! It’s a terrifying tour where there are multiple attacks even while on the bus! Can Wei Xun really make it through?

“The tour is about to begin. Tomorrow, the day after… the day after that, we’re going to see Clay Figure Zhang to make puppets.”

Wei Xun remained calm. “Then I’ll go see An Xuefeng tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

Yu Hehui asked instinctively, “What do you want with Captain An?”

“To establish a moderate connection.”

Wei Xun smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly as he let out a soft breath.

“The thought of not seeing An Xuefeng for the next ten days… it makes me feel terrible right here.”

He tapped his chest over his heart and laughed. “I have to enjoy it to my heart’s content.”

The author has something to say:

The new tour will begin near the end of tomorrow’s chapter, and fully kick off the day after.

Extra update for you all,mwah!

Yu Hehui: ?? Is it really appropriate to use the word “do” when talking about a connection?

Dream Chaser: Is this even reasonable?!

An Xuefeng: This is quite “Ganges” (very reasonable).