Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3275: Chapter 3276: Ghost Steward’s Abilities

Overall, Little Red’s interpretation of "flavor" carries a hint of mysticism.

Even the Dog Steward, who discovered Little Red’s talent, sometimes doesn’t understand what exactly Little Red can smell or what information she obtains.

The only thing the Dog Steward can be sure of is that Little Red is most sensitive to the scent of "malice." As long as this malice is directed at Little Red or related to her, she can smell it out.

This is actually why Little Red isn’t afraid of Angel and the others, and even without hesitation, brought them to meet the Dog Steward.

Because Angel, Laplace, and the others are considered "good people" in Little Red’s judgment.

"Being able to detect malice and smell other special information, the most important thing is that everything happens unknowingly..." If Little Red hadn’t proactively said some strange things, Luigi wouldn’t even notice her peculiarity. Just this is enough to surprise Luigi.

Perhaps not as strong as initially imagined, but still not far off.

Especially at the Everything House, where Empty-hearted People gather, her abilities can be maximized.

When Angel learned of Little Red’s ability, his first thought was about the Star Servant in the Heart Space. The Star Servant also belongs to the Empty-hearted People; perhaps Little Red could help and get some hidden information from him?

However, this idea only existed for a moment, and upon reflection, it seemed unnecessary.

The Star Servant’s past is not actually important; what matters is his future.

If one really wants to concern themselves with the Star Servant’s past, after all, there’s the Wish Book. The hidden information within is enough for the Star Servant to decipher in the future.

While Angel was contemplating, Little Red had already returned to the guest room.

She excitedly ran to the table, returned the Steward’s token to the Dog Steward, and began to talk about the information she had uncovered.

"Sipolov indeed came to the Everything House. According to the information I found, he went to see the Ghost Steward. However, I didn’t find out the specific reason for meeting the Ghost Steward."

Dog Steward: "Going to see the Ghost Steward, what else could it be? It must be a commission. Sipolov’s identity is special, his commission is probably instigated by someone behind the scenes. However, whether this commission is about the Yingji Clan or about a specific person, is hard to say."

"But, no matter. Later, Sipolov will come, and then we’ll know the purpose of his visit."

The Dog Steward’s words left everyone stunned, even Little Red showed a puzzled expression: "Sipolov is coming to the Dog House? But, I haven’t received such news."

Dog Steward: "You don’t need to receive any news, the Ghost Steward will bring him over. You should wait outside, when he arrives, lead him to the guest room."

Although Little Red was still somewhat confused, since the Dog Steward said so, it seemed likely to be true. She nodded, following the Dog Steward’s instructions, and went outside the Dog House to wait for Sipolov’s arrival.

After Little Red left, Luigi muttered: "Is she your only direct investigator, letting a child handle all the matters?"

The Dog Steward awkwardly turned his head away: "She’s not the only one, it’s just that she’s the only one attending the gathering this time."

The Dog Steward’s direct investigators are few, and most of them are like him, have a "dead recluse" attribute. This time, the Dog Steward hadn’t originally planned to attend the gathering either, were it not for a direct command from the higher-ups, he would likely have stayed back place like the other direct investigators.

Since the Dog Steward attended the gathering, he naturally had to bring an investigator. Unfortunately, his subordinates had already vanished in the guise of commissions before the gathering began. Only Little Red had nothing to do, and since she also wanted to see the world, the Dog Steward brought only her along.

Luigi shrugged and didn’t delve further, returning to the main topic: "Why were you so certain that Sipolov would come over? Did you inform the Ghost Steward secretly?"

The Dog Steward shook his head: "No, I didn’t. However, while I didn’t inform the Ghost Steward directly, it’s somewhat similar..."

The Dog Steward did not hide and explained the reasons.

The Ghost Steward is the strongest in intelligence gathering at the Everything House. It can even be said that the entire intelligence reconnaissance system of the Everything House is led and created by the Ghost Steward.

Because the intelligence system is closely associated with the Ghost Steward, when Little Red holds the Dog Steward’s token to search Sipolov, the Ghost Steward certainly notices immediately.

Although the Ghost Steward doesn’t know why the Dog Steward is investigating Sipolov, the act of inquiry shows the Dog Steward’s interest in Sipolov.

With years of cooperative tacit understanding, once the Ghost Steward confirms the Dog Steward’s interest in Sipolov, he will surely have Sipolov come to the Dog House.

Luigi: "So, you are certain Sipolov will come, just based on years of tacit cooperation with the Ghost Steward?"

The Dog Steward nodded: "Yes. However, even without Little Red’s inquiry, under normal procedures, Sipolov would come to see me."

Luigi: "Why do you say that?"

"Because a Steward’s commission differs from a regular commission."

A regular commission only requires both parties to sign a contract and ensure it progresses smoothly. But a Steward commission invariably involves a major event, which often has strong repercussions.

Moreover, the commissioner may hide some information, resulting in even more grave repercussions.

To prevent such scenarios, all commissions taken by Stewards must have the commissioner visit the Dog Steward. Using the Dog Steward’s "ability," they can scrutinize the commissioner’s heart, confirm there is no hidden information before signing a commission contract.

However, this procedure of having the Dog Steward identify the commissioner’s heart is generally reserved for the final steps.

Sipolov just arrived at the Everything House today, and may not necessarily go through this process.

However, due to Little Red’s inquiry, the Ghost Steward will likely take some action. Estimably, this procedure will be expedited.

Therefore, regardless of anything else, if Sipolov intends to undertake a Steward commission, he will surely come to see the Dog Steward, it’s just a matter of time.

The Dog Steward’s response provided Luigi with clarity.

However, the mention of the Ghost Steward in the Dog Steward’s answer sparked another curiosity for Luigi.

Currently, although the Everything House reveals three Stewards externally, with the Dog Steward being the most visible, information about the Human Steward and Ghost Steward is extremely scarce.

According to Gutalace, the three Stewards possess unique abilities. The Dog Steward is capable of insight into hearts, but what are the abilities of the Ghost Steward and the Human Steward?

Faced with Luigi’s inquiry, the Dog Steward pondered for a moment and didn’t refuse.

As Sipolov isn’t here yet, talking about it would be fine. However, information about other Stewards makes up the secrets of the Everything House.

"I can tell you, but not directly."

In other words, the Dog Steward would express it in a more veiled manner, simultaneously clearly stating: "Even if you guess it, it has nothing to do with me. Also, I hope that you do not spread these matters."

Luigi assured with a pat on his chest.

After all, the Dog Steward is barely considered Laplace’s Temporal Body. While Luigi might set traps for others, he surely won’t do so for the Dog Steward.

The Dog Steward contemplated for a moment, started contemplating his terminology, then seemingly struck with inspiration, turning to Laplace: "Does His Excellency remember the Loneliness of the Storm Moth?"

Laplace nodded: "I remember, it’s a story I told you."

Originally, during the time when the Dog Steward was under Laplace’s research, Laplace occasionally shared Pan-Dimensional Plane stories with the Dog Steward during idle moments.

These stories, were seen by Laplace through the reflection of the Sea of Void Mirror.

Although called stories, they all truly exist.

Among them, there’s a story titled "The Lonely Wind Moth."

The wind moth is a peculiar life form, entirely made of wind and cloud, but whether it is an elemental creature, Laplace does not know. Elemental creatures come in all shapes, but the wind moth has only one shape: insect.

Wind moths live in a gaseous plane, where they are nearly the only species.

From the reflection of the Sea of Void Mirror, the intelligence form of the wind moth cannot be discerned, but details reveal that wind moths are community creatures. They gather and live for years, forming a unique communal civilization.

However, once Laplace discovered some exceptions among the wind moths; they were born within the community but eventually chose to leave solitarily.

This scenario is quite special. Initially, Laplace thought the wind moths might be similar to penguins.

When communal penguins migrate, the main group moves in the same direction simultaneously. Yet occasionally, there are one or two penguins with "rebellious spirits," who deviate from the main group and head alone to distant mountains.

Such penguins that lose the group inevitably die within a short time.

Even if someone tries to intervene and correct the penguins’ direction, they still change course, actively heading towards death.

Laplace initially thought wind moths share this "call of the mountains," responding to some distant call, departing willingly, to meet a heroic demise.

But Laplace later found out she was wrong.

Those solitary wind moths did not die; they lived alone, roaming outside the wind moth community.

After some time of study, Laplace finally confirmed an answer.

These lonely wind moths do not know a community exists at all.

The world for them, consists only of themselves.

This is not a description of selfishness, but an objective fact.

Wind moths do not possess normal life forms’ eyes, nor do they employ an energy perspective to explore their surroundings. Since the world they survive in is gaseous, it’s unnecessary to check the outside environment.

The reason wind moths gather is their shared frequency.

By relying on a common frequency, they sense other companions around, no matter how far, companions with the same frequency can be summoned to their side.

This is the truth of wind moth gathering.

And those lonely wind moths don’t wish to be alone; they have a frequency entirely different from other wind moths. The mismatch of wavelengths prevents them from sensing the others’ existence.

In their world, only they exist, no other wind moths.

They don’t yearn for distant mountains; they are the mountains themselves.

This is the story of "The Lonely Wind Moth."

Everyone understood the story’s implication, but didn’t know why the Dog Deacon told this story now.

Luigi: "Does this story relate to the Ghost Steward?"

The Dog Deacon nodded lightly: "Core-related. In some sense, the Ghost Steward’s birth is somewhat similar to the Lonely Wind Moth."

The Dog Deacon didn’t continue further but took a detour to another matter: "You should know about Mirror Mountain, right?"

Luigi nodded.

Mirror Mountain is the territory of the Head Mirror Clan. The Head Mirror Clan is quite peculiar; they seem like a humanoid race, but their shell doesn’t matter at all.

What’s important is their "consciousness."

The Head Mirror Clan is a consciousness stream tribe. Their consciousness can move among all the clansmen of the Head Mirror, thus their core is consciousness, and the humanoid body can be shared. This purely consciousness-stream tribe, internally communicates by consciousness, and externally uses "synthesized conversation."

The Dog Deacon surely wouldn’t abruptly mention a topic without purpose; mentioning Mirror Mountain must have a reason.

Luigi pondered for a while: "Could the Ghost Steward be a Head Mirror Clan member?"

The Dog Deacon didn’t respond directly, but its smile confirmed Luigi’s speculation.

Then, the Dog Deacon continued: "Actually, the Head Mirror Clan, in some measure, is much like a wind moth community."

Though the Head Mirror Clan interacts with the outside world, they use a clever way, occupying shells to interfere with the Material Realm.

Yet the true inner essence, the core of the Head Mirror Clan—is still consciousness.

Due to sharing consciousness waves, they build a consciousness net, flowing, merging within the network, forming a true consciousness community.

While wind moths, use sound wavelengths, forming a unique communal shape.

Indeed, there are similarities.

Luigi: "Considering both, could the Ghost Steward be an anomaly of the Head Mirror Clan? Like the lonely wind moth, disconnected from the Head Mirror Clan’s consciousness net?"

Although the Dog Deacon didn’t utter a word, its eyes affirmed Luigi’s guess.

Then, the Dog Deacon narrated a spider being parasitized while continuing to weave a web story.

Combining previous stories, the Ghost Steward’s outline has gradually emerged.

The Ghost Steward, born into the Head Mirror Clan, but it couldn’t interact with the Head Mirror Clan’s consciousness net at all, meaning from the start it was ostracized by the clan.

Moreover, when the Ghost Steward was banished, it didn’t even possess a spare body, its pure consciousness was exiled.

Later, the Ghost Steward obtained help from the founder of the Everything House, luckily occupying a human shell.

This human, had just traversed the Sea Eye, an Empty-hearted Person, coincidently picked up by the Tooth Fairy.

Perhaps due to traversing the Sea Eye, this Empty-hearted Person was forming a special talent, and when the Ghost Steward merged into the Empty-hearted person’s body, the special talent entwined with the Ghost Steward’s consciousness.

Ultimately, the Ghost Steward not only gained a body but also obtained a special talent.

—Creating a Consciousness Cloud.