The Righteous Player(s)

Chapter 363: The Former Annan

It took half a minute for the Faceless Poet to disappear completely.

The minor tremor that filled the air and gave off a tingling sensation gradually dissipated.

Even after the sensation dissipated entirely, Annan still felt a throbbing sensation on his skin.

It felt like the auditory hallucinations when he entered a quiet room after being exposed to noises for a long time.

At the same time, it felt like the shudders entering a warm room after exposure to the cold wind. The chill did not retain at skin level but seeped deep into the muscle, blood, and bone.

Such a sensation was often referred to as [Remains].

That was the origin and meaning of those [Influence].

Using a large-scale Trascended power would leave traces in this world and spawn the corresponding Influence. That was also one of the prices of utilizing the Trascended power. Like Annan’s only chaos spell at the moment. He would be granted an Influence just by using it.

Like a groove carved into the bottom of a river with a stone, although it would gradually dissipate over time, it would continue to affect the surrounding world until it dissipated.

Similarly, those who hold the [Truth] were manifestations of concepts.

Their existence would alienate a specific range of the world around them via Their [Truth]. This kind of Influence on the soul level could only be felt by Transcended, who had a keen intuition and specialized in perception.

The older and more powerful the deities were, the more they could restrain their influence on the outside world; the newer deities and powerful beings who hadn’t grasped the truth would destroy the surrounding.

This was precisely why the abnormal feeling inflicted upon Annan when the Faceless Poet appeared was weaker than the Venerated Skeleton. If she dedicated her attention, those traces would be hidden completely. Similar to the Silver Sire’s presence, no one on the street would be able to perceive the deities.

Things like “Leviathan’s remains” would still exist on the beach long after she was gone.

Unfortunately, there was a problem here.

Annan would generate [Influence] as well.

He remembered it clearly.

When he saw Salvatore’s magic mirror that could reveal his soul’s essence, he was directly influenced by observing his soul.

Additionally, it was an Advanced Influence.

Had Annan’s soul already produced a certain degree of alienation?

But Annan’s soul did not sublimate yet.

It was not just a matter of not having a vessel.

Annan’s level was so low at the beginning. When he advanced to the Silver Rank, he removed many impurities in his body.

Even if Annan were in his second life, he would not have “reset all his stats and skill points”.

Consider what the Faceless Poet said, “Knowledge has weight” and “You don’t have to carry weight yet”.

Could it be that I ventured on the ritualist path in my first life? Such thoughts popped into Annan’s mind.

If that were the case, then it would have explained everything.

Vasily Manning mentioned to Annan that thirteen-year-old Annan had left Austere-Winter alone a year before the Rotten Man attacked. Very few people knew about this.

Since Annan was so weak and did not have a bodyguard, how could the Grand Duke rest assured to have Annan leave the Austere-Winter Dukedom alone?

Unless Annan was not alone at all.

It was true that there were “no people” around him, but there was a deity.

The power of ritualists came from Transcended knowledge. Annan, as the successor of the Austere-Winter, was more suitable for learning this kind of knowledge than the Manning brothers. At the same time, Annan was also a transmigrator. He might have matured earlier than others. At thirteen, he gained the ability to protect himself and met many deities through the ritual. This narration was entirely possible.

That was why Annan could hold the “Ritual: Prophetic Fragment” previously, even with the shortage of materials, and completed a small part without side effects. At that time, he managed to catch a glimpse of the future.

The reason being Annan was a ritualist who had lost his memory!

Although he lost his memory about these rituals as if he had forgotten the relevant expertise, his affinity and proficiency with ritual were still there!

“So that’s the case…” Annan muttered.

Old Nolan smiled and walked to Annan, “Do you have any questions now?”

Seeing his reaction, Annan raised an eyebrow and asked rhetorically, “So, you have long guessed that I lost my memory?”

This ordinary-looking old man did not withdraw his kind and gentle smile.

“It was just speculation. I wasn’t sure of it previously.

“You said you would marry Kafni when you grow up when you were young. Although I was not there at the time, I heard my eldest son say it.”

For real? Annan hesitated for a while.

But after thinking about it carefully, it appeared that this was indeed what he would say.

In the current situation, he role-played a handsome fourteen-year-old youth who was fanatical about earning players’ rapport. If he were to role-play a nine-year-old child, Annan would capitalize on his age and identity to get benefits.

Relying on the innocent standpoint of “children’s words carried no harm”, he would capitalize on it to earn more rapport points and get a wife with a good appearance, status, and personality. That was indeed something that Annan would do.

If that were the case, it would explain Kafni’s attitude towards him.

It seems I have to adjust my attitude toward Kafni.

Although I don’t remember it now, this is what I did in the past.

Now, of course, I need to take responsibility for it.

Not to mention Kafni is cute.

But…

Annan threw a side glance at the Old Crow.

Although he did not hold any opinion on the Geraint family, their attitude in expressing that “I’m going to use you later on” still made Annan feel a little awkward.

Perhaps this was one of the aftermaths of losing the fourteen years of memory as a nobility.

The former Annan must have adapted to the situation that people would be used anytime and anywhere.

“Did you invite the Faceless Poet over?”

“No, that’s not the case.” The old man immediately defended, “She came here after learning that you had come to Noah’s capital. Before that, I didn’t know that you and the Faceless Poet knew each other.

“Of course, I don’t even know that you are associated with many true deities.”

In the name of Faceless Poet, I will keep this a secret. Nolan promised Annan so.

Eugene Geraint, on the side, also swore an oath to the Faceless Poet.

“Then, I would like to ask,” Annan thought for a long time before asking, “How much do you know about ‘Nicholas Flamel’?”

“The one from the Denizoya Kingdom?” Old Crow replied flatly, “His actions have been under our surveillance. This includes his traveling route, transactions with everyone, apprentices and assistants, and experiments.

“He tried to avoid our surveillance. But he soon discovered that the Noah Kingdom is filled with our ‘eyes’, and he couldn’t even do that as a [Great Sage].”

“No, I mean… Do you know anything about what he did?” Annan added.

Nolan and Eugene looked at each other.

Eugene took the conversation over and asked, “Is it because he was the Jade Tower Master?”

“No, he betrayed all humanity, which nearly caused the Epoch Disaster.” Annan took a closer look at the expressions of the two and suddenly smiled. “It seems that the Crow isn’t all-knowing.”

No wonder he was able to stay in the capital without any worries.

His Majesty the King did not know about Nicholas’ story.

Although there was no stone hammer yet, they should still be wary.

Feeling Annan’s harmless ridicule, Nolan smiled helplessly, “We only know what we know.”

As he spoke, Eugene took a bottle of wine from the top of the wine cabinet.

The old man got up and poured Annan a glass of wine himself.

This was a wine that was green as jade. The color made it appear poisonous, but it had no taste.

“This is the ‘Gift of Spring’, one of the gifts of the Bone Burying Church. It’s for hospitalization but not the price of intelligence.”

Nolan gave a simple explanation and then said seriously, “In addition to selling intelligence, we are also interested in acquiring intelligence.

“Please explain in detail, Your Highness. The price is negotiable.”