Lucian: "?"
Who are you pointing at?
But such a story would indeed be far more logical than the one Cristoforo mentioned.
After all, how could a black-hearted merchant lending at exorbitant rates overlook legal clauses? That would just be knowingly breaking the law.
Cristoforo's eyes lit up: "A story about an impostor intelligence merchant scamming the real intelligence merchant?"
"That sounds pretty interesting, but the real intelligence merchant wouldn't be that foolish, right?"
Lucian fell silent for a moment: "I think the black-hearted merchant who overlooked the law in your story is even more foolish."
Cristoforo scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly: "Is that so... That makes sense too."
"As the saying goes, reality doesn't have to make sense, but plays like ours must, or else readers will 'send razor blades' our way."
"But I didn't expect you all to have your own insights into interesting stories."
"Speaking of which, having come to Ragunna from other regions, you must have had quite a few experiences. Asking for your opinions was indeed the right call—it's even more effective than gathering inspiration alone."
Lucian shrugged: "Who gathers inspiration at an auction? You must have your eye on some auction items, right?"
Cristoforo was taken aback, then burst into laughter, holding his belly: "I didn't expect Mr. Lucian to be so perceptive."
"To be honest, I'm actually looking to see if there are any long-lost ancient play manuscripts."
"...That's right, besides wanting to write some more worldly stories, the story about the saint I mentioned to you last time..."
As he spoke, Cristoforo pulled out a few manuscript pages from his bosom and handed them to the group.
"This is the story I've written about Saint Fleurdelys. Could you read it and give me some suggestions?"
Lucian took the manuscript and was stunned. About Saint Fleurdelys?
He looked down, seeing the title on the manuscript: The Martyrdom of Saint Fleurdelys (Unfinished Draft) Act Three, Scene One.
Lucian carefully read through Cristoforo's manuscript.
This section described the story of the once Black Tide and Saint Fleurdelys.
She had once been injured and fallen into a coma due to the Black Tide's erosion, receiving divine guidance—the wounds of the divine body needed to be healed by one connected to its power, or else the Black Tide would not cease.
Under the threat of the Black Tide, Saint Fleurdelys refused the guard escort and insisted on heading east to the High Seat of the Heavens to fulfill her mission and resolve the Black Tide crisis.
The Brand Lantern priests were moved by the saint's purity and bravery, calling her the Enlightened One.
But the saint was humble, denying this.
She emphasized fulfilling her duties to prevent further sacrifices in Rinascita.
She harbored hope, firmly believing in the power of will and faith, that daylight would ultimately triumph over night.
At the bottom, there was also Cristoforo's annotation.
Historical records state that after the saint's journey, the Black Tide receded, but the saint forever left us, returning to the embrace of the divine.
There are rumors that she exhausted all her power to contain the Black Tide.
The reason for the title of Enlightened One remains to be examined, as does whether the saint truly was the prophesied Enlightened One.
And what exactly happened after the saint's departure, whether the legendary High Seat of the Heavens exists, and what could have so gravely wounded the Sentinel that it has yet to heal.
This was an unfinished draft, and Cristoforo had noted at the bottom that anyone knowing more details could offer any suggestions or corrections.
The group returned the manuscript to Cristoforo, who looked expectant: "...What do you think?"
Lucian pondered for a moment. As a Fractsidus member, Cristoforo handing them this manuscript must have deeper intentions.
Moreover, since meeting Cristoforo, he had been talking almost exclusively about the saint's story. Could Fractsidus's purpose in Ragunna be related to the saint?
If the saint had truly departed, why was Cristoforo so enthusiastic?
Lucian speculated that either the saint had left behind something or a story crucial to Fractsidus.
Or that the saint wasn't dead yet.
Back then, on Mt. Firmament, Fractsidus's goal had been to verify the second resonance hypothesis.
And the second resonance had been successfully verified, so was their visit to Ragunna this time to verify something about the saint?
Zani had said earlier that Rinascita's history was very chaotic, divided by later generations into several eras.
This story wrote of the saint and the Black Tide; if it was the Black Tide, it should be from the era of Napoli II...
Rover mused: "It looks pretty good. What you've written seems to be a play, right?"
Cristoforo clapped his hands and laughed: "Exactly! I'm planning to complete this manuscript before Carnevale."
"Then invite a few actors to rehearse it and perform it during Carnevale."
Carlotta nodded slightly in encouragement: "The martyrdom segment of the saint is quite moving."
Cristoforo nodded: "That's the climax of the entire script, after all. I'm thrilled that you like it."
"Maybe I'll even be awarded the Laureate by the Sentinel at Carnevale, hahaha..."
Lucian cleared his throat: "Actually, if you want to write something more worldly, I have a very good suggestion."
"Oh?" Cristoforo's eyes lit up with interest. "What does Mr. Lucian propose?"
Lucian chuckled:
"How about: Reincarnated as Jinzhou's Intelligence Officer, Only to Be Loved by the Montelli Family's Second Miss."
Carlotta: "?"
Without a word, Rover slapped Lucian to the ground.
"It sounds even less interesting. Better to write Reincarnated as Jinzhou's Intelligence Officer, Only to Be Confined by Rover."
On the Pioneer Association's forums, there were indeed many such whimsical novels.
For example: Arriving in Ragunna, I Claim the Laureate at Carnevale, Establishing a Top Family, Making Other Families Green with Envy, From Family Son-in-Law to Family Decision-Maker...
Carlotta fell silent. Your primary task right now is to read less on the Pioneer Association forums.
But listening to it, Lucian's title was still a bit more appealing. Rinascita's system was quite strict; others wouldn't dare truly joke about great families.
Cristoforo wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Lucian really dared to think big...
But such a title did give him inspiration.
How about writing Returning to the Black Tide Era, Saving Rinascita Single-Handedly...
Cristoforo nodded to himself inwardly. Just the title alone was enough to ignite passion.
But saving Rinascita or whatever wasn't that interesting. Better to write Becoming a Fractsidus Craftsman, Step by Step to Organization Leader, or Leading Fractsidus to Rule Solaris...
But stories like that could only be kept for private appreciation...