The very spot where a stroke ended was the starting point for the next design.
And at every junction, there were more circuits or extra lines and patterns, like a tangled mess of string.
If his Spirit level wasn't high enough, just looking at the pattern would have probably made him dizzy.
Fortunately, it didn't take long for him to memorize the entire pattern of the Soul-Devouring Rune.
At the same time, he took out a blank sheet of parchment, drew it once, and only stopped after confirming there were no mistakes.
[You have successfully drawn a rune, unlocking the Rune Tree of Knowledge. Evaluation: Runology is a great invention that infinitely raises the upper limit of the Extraordinary system. Congratulations. Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level +1.]
'Rune Tree of Knowledge?'
Wei'en hurriedly opened his panel to check.
Rune Tree of Knowledge: Introduction to Runology, Soul-Devouring Rune Lv. 1 (0/1)
[Note: The level of a single rune represents its drawing success rate. A level 1 rune has a 10% success rate, and so on.]
"Only a ten percent success rate..."
Wei'en looked at the newly appeared runology section and the rune level after it, and only one feeling surfaced—he was seriously short on survival points!
He could already foresee that after he started learning about Magic Potions, a similar knowledge tree would be unlocked.
By then, just leveling up a single formula or a single rune would be enough to completely drain his survival points!
What was even more crucial was that "Introduction to Runology" couldn't be leveled up with points like the Gonzalez language could.
This meant he could only increase the number of runes on the Tree of Knowledge by constantly learning new rune patterns, and only then could he upgrade individual runes. This undoubtedly made advancing in runology much more difficult.
Of course, this would also include Magic Potions, alchemy, and all future knowledge-tree-type abilities...
Thinking of this, Wei'en closed the panel.
His Spirit level wasn't high enough now. It wouldn't be too late to put points into the Soul-Devouring Rune after he was promoted to Intermediate Wizard Apprentice.
DONG, DONG DONG...
Just then, the bells of Krimms Cathedral rang out.
Only then did Wei'en realize it was already eight in the morning. "Perfect timing. Time to head to work!"
Before long, he was dressed and ready.
He wore the dark green uniform of the Secret Investigation Department, a holster hanging at his waist containing that silver-white firearm.
Wei'en looked at himself in the mirror. "Just as handsome as I imagined. You've done it again, Wei'en Loft."
Even if life is terrible, one shouldn't forget to smile.
That was probably his thought at the moment. Just living in a world like this was already an extremely difficult thing.
Then, Wei'en packed up the things on his desk, put them in his pocket watch toolkit, and activated the Rune Array in his room.
"Morning, Wei'en."
"Morning, Sister Kali."
Kali, dressed in a pure white skirt, was standing under the sign for the Morris Clinic. Seeing his attire, she smiled. "Congratulations, Wei'en, on passing the interview for the Secret Investigation Department."
Wei'en locked his door. "Actually, the interview was pretty simple..."
It was basically just a formality. There was no questioning or examination of any kind; he just signed the papers and was hired.
What was more absurd was that after he was accepted, there was barely any pre-employment training or orientation...
If Lisi hadn't been somewhat responsible, his knowledge of the Secret Investigation Department would likely be zero.
"As long as you passed, that's what matters. Besides, that uniform suits you well..."
Wei'en struck a handsome pose. "Of course, I..."
"What's wrong with you?"
Yuan's voice appeared 'at just the right moment.' He stood behind Kali, glaring at him. "Wei'en, don't you make that face at my Kali. It's really ugly!"
"..."
'But it's a really handsome pose!'
Wei'en ignored him and instead pretended to be in thought. "Sister Kali, does the holy covenant of the Dawn Church say what punishment liars receive?"
Kali caught on. "The Dawn forgives anyone's unintentional words, but liars are easily tainted by filth and turn into twisted monsters."
"Kali, you should spend less time with this kid in the future. He's a bad influence," Yuan said resentfully, looking as if his precious daughter was being led astray.
"It's not like that..."
"Exactly, Uncle Yuan. You're overthinking it."
After they spoke, the three of them couldn't help but laugh.
Wei'en remembered the mission issued by the Liaison Officer last night and casually asked, "Sister Kali, you were at Krimms Cathedral yesterday, weren't you?"
"Mhm,"
Kali was all smiles, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents. "I was! How was it? Did you feel the radiance of the Dawn?"
"Radiance? Not so much. But I did see that glowing orb that rose into the sky yesterday."
"It was breathtaking, wasn't it?"
"I... guess so,"
Wei'en hesitated for a moment before asking, "I was just wondering, who was the naked woman inside the orb of light?"
"A-HEM, HEM, HEM..."
Hearing his question, Yuan began to cough violently, his face turning ashen—it was unclear if it was from choking or from anger.
Kali's pretty face also changed color, but to an alluring pink. She stammered, "Naked... W-Wei'en, you-you saw it?"
Wei'en looked at the two of them, baffled, and nodded. "Yeah. It was so obvious, how could I not see it? Why are you two reacting like this?"
"Wei'en, I never thought you were such a vulgar person, to use such blasphemous language toward the Holy Favored of the Dawn." Yuan glared at him. "I'm starting to regret recommending you for the Secret Investigation Department!"
Wei'en: "..."
'What is he even talking about?'
'Did they both really not see that stark-naked woman?'
"Baba, don't say that to Wei'en. He's new to the Caster City State, he doesn't know about the Dawn yet... Oh! I have to get to school."
Before she could finish, Kali covered her face and ran off, leaving Yuan and Wei'en staring at each other.
"Uncle Yuan, you really didn't see that woman?"
"I didn't see a woman, but..." Yuan's face twisted into a snarl as he looked at him. "Right now, I don't like the look of you one bit. Die!"
He then shook his head, and in the blink of an eye, he had rushed in front of Wei'en, fists swinging.
"Huh? Ah—What for?"
Wei'en didn't even have time to react before a fist connected with his face.
"You dare speak such disgusting words in front of my precious daughter, the purest believer of the Dawn Church, and you still ask me why?"
"Not the face..."
A good while later, Wei'en finally arrived at the Secret Investigation Department at 102 Dumitru District.
"All I did was ask about that woman. Was it really necessary...? Look what he did to my face, it's all swollen!"
'Could that woman have been Sister Kali?'
'No, that's not right. The woman in the orb of light yesterday didn't have golden hair; it was silver-white.'
'And her face didn't look like hers, either.'
'Or maybe, she's connected to Yuan and his family somehow?'
'Looks like I'll have to investigate this properly. If she really is connected to them, I'll have to think carefully when I report back about the wraith...'