Naheh (2-in-1)

[Divine Spell Scroll - Protection Rune: When activated, it generates a shield that absorbs the next (120) points of damage (your class level * 20) for 10 seconds. The rune disappears after use. Can be engraved on: Upper Armor.]

[Divine Spell Scroll - Clarity: When actively activated, grants the Clarity effect, instantly removing current abnormal statuses and control effects, and granting 35% Resilience for 10 seconds. The rune disappears after use. This effect does not stack with other resilience effects. Can be engraved on: Head.]

(Resilience refers to the ability to control and mitigate damage, such as Bai Xiaowen's Heart of Sincerity.")

[Divine Spell Scroll - Swiftstep Rune: When activated, grants a movement speed bonus of 60% for 10 seconds. The rune disappears after use. During this time, you are immune to slowing effects of priority (7) and below. Can be engraved on: Feet.]

"This... should be considered an enchantment, right? They're runes engraved on equipment, a trump card that can turn the tide of battle once used," Bai Xiaowen said.

"These things are very useful, but unfortunately they disappear after one use, and they're quite expensive..." Li Shuyi said.

Indeed, these Divine Runes are not cheap. The cheapest one, the Clarity Rune, requires 2000 Merit Points, while the Protection Rune requires a whopping 3000 Merit Points!

"If the runes can be used continuously after being inscribed, then it will be far more than a few thousand Merit Points, possibly tens of thousands," Bai Xiaowen said with a smile. "In the Ancient Egypt Plane, it is very difficult for a normal awakened team to accumulate a few thousand merit points, let alone tens of thousands... It's no fun to see them but not be able to get them. The Spirit Realm Rules are not that boring."

After a pause, Bai Xiaowen checked the team's merit points page. "We've accumulated 6408 merit points in the Ancient Egypt Plane, enough to buy two or three Divine Runes. Let's each choose one first."

Of these 6,000+ merit points, 4,500 were mission rewards, and nearly 2,000 were rewards for killing enemies in the high-intensity battle that day. Although the war involving tens of thousands of people was difficult, the rewards were also very substantial.

"Xiao Wen, should I choose the Clarity Rune?" Li Shuyi asked softly.

The Clarity Rune only costs 2000 merit points and is an additional means of removing control effects, making it very cost-effective. It is mainly used in battles against Awakened players.

For example, in league matches, when facing ranged classes like mages and archers, having an extra means of breaking free from crowd control would greatly increase Li Shuyi's chances of winning.

Besides the Green Lotus Seed (priority 6), Li Shuyi only had one blue accessory Eclipse Badge (priority 4), which wasn't very useful. After thinking about it, she realized that she really needed a 7-priority crowd control removal item.

Bai Xiaowen shook his head. "Don't choose this. From now on, we'll mainly be fighting side by side. We have squad skills to Tether, the Butcher's hook, and my Targeted Airdrop... Most importantly, we have the Bone Warlock's Yellow Heaven skill, which is a 7-priority crowd control removal skill."

"As for the CUAA league, with the emergence of King of the Hill Mode, individual battles should be less frequent; team battles will remain the main focus. And even if it does happen... it's not worth wasting a Divine Runes."

Li Shuyi nodded, and she finally chose the "Reflection" rune, which cost 3,000 Merit Points.

[Divine Spell Scroll - Reflection Rune: When actively activated, it grants a reflection effect, causing the next single-target spell aimed at you to be reflected back at the caster. The rune disappears after use. Inscription slot: Upper Armor/Shield.]

Although Reflection Rune can be inscribed on both parts, Divine Runes are unique, and it is impossible to inscribe two identical runes at the same time.

Since Li Shuyi doesn't need a shield, engraving one on her upper garment is enough.

Bai Xiaowen chose the "Phantom Strike" rune, which has a unique effect. Once activated, the next single-target physical attack will trigger the Phantom Strike effect, creating a phantom that replicates the attack and its effects, and increasing attack speed by 20% for 10 seconds. This rune is engraved on his hand.

After acquiring the two Divine Runes, I spent 10 seconds inscribing each of them.

After being engraved, strange symbols and characters appeared on the equipment, shimmering with a faint light. Fortunately, the light from the Divine Runes, like the quality and enhancement level of the equipment itself, can be hidden.

With the remaining few hundred merit points, Bai Xiaowen bought several bottles of "Purified Nile Water." Although this stuff was rather useless, it could have miraculous effects in certain situations.

Bai Xiaowen then took out a bottle of "Highland Drake Strength Potion".

This level 10 potion has a purity of 97%. According to the formula for calculating potion bonuses, theoretically, 5 points of Strength multiplied by 97% purity will increase the Strength value by 4.85. However, according to the rounding principle, the final 0.85 Strength will be converted into a percentage probability.

Bai Xiaowen has an 85% chance of gaining the full 5 points of basic strength enhancement after drinking this potion, and a 15% chance of only gaining 4 points.

Bai Xiaowen's mental fortitude is much stronger than before. The pain from the third potion was not enough to break his will, and he successfully survived the strengthening process. The final result was also relatively smooth, without triggering the 15% chance of bad luck.

At this moment, Bai Xiaowen's base strength reached 24 points, base agility 21, and base constitution 23, which fully met the equipment requirements for the "Commander’s Cloak". He then changed out of the Tribal Feather Cloak and put on this cloak.

This cloak itself exudes a powerful aura, with its high collar and broad shoulders covering not only the back but also the shoulders. When the arms hang naturally, the hands are not visible, adding to the boss-like presence.

This is somewhat similar to the "Justice" military coat that the Marine Admirals wear in the anime "One Piece," which Bai Xiaowen once watched, never falls down no matter what, except it's missing two sleeves.

"Beautiful." Li Shuyi's eyes sparkled.

"Well, at least I've finally gotten rid of that primitive-style cloak..." Bai Xiaowen said with a smile. "Let's go, to the Ptah Legion, let's get to work."

"Is the investigation into the Silent Tongue going to start with the Ptah Legion?" Li Shuyi followed Bai Xiaowen's footsteps. "Do you think the Silent Tongue is really an internal traitor, colluding with Sammet?"

Bai Xiaowen said, "That's not necessarily true. However, I think if I were Sammet, to rebel against the Pharaoh whose power was firmly established, I would have to unite the frustrated sects, families, and officials within Egypt. Perhaps I had been in contact with the Silent Tongue, so I should at least know some intelligence, right?"

After a pause, Bai Xiaowen continued, "Since the Pharaoh has ordered a clandestine investigation and forbids us from directly questioning Sammet, then let's go to the Ptah Legion and find Sammet's most trusted confidants for questioning."

Ptah Legion Base.

"Hello, Dio, my friend. I'm currently extremely busy and I'm afraid I don't have time to entertain you."

General Samp, who was indirectly "rescued" from the Hittites army by Bai Xiaowen, is now the legion commander of Ptah. He immediately gave Bai Xiaowen a warm bear hug.

"It's alright, Samp..." Bai Xiaowen smiled. "First of all, congratulations on your promotion. Also, I have official business to attend to this time."

Bai Xiaowen revealed the Pharaoh's Gold Token.

Samp's expression changed slightly, and he became even more polite to Bai Xiaowen. He waved away several guards and said, "Speak, my friend, what do you need me to do?"

It seems that this Pharaoh's token is more effective than expected.

Bai Xiaowen put away the token. "There should still be 'that person's' confidants in the Ptah army, right?"

Samp lowered his voice and said, "Yes, the first thing I did upon taking command of the Ptah Legion was to bring them all under control... on charges of delaying military operations. The best outcome for these disloyal traitors is endless hard labor, or simply sending them to meet Osiris."

As expected, the Pharaoh sent his trusted general here precisely to carry out a major purge. This purge will certainly weaken the Ptah Legion, but a legion that is absolutely loyal to him is what the Pharaoh desires.

The Pharaoh showed no mercy to Sammet, first stripping him of his military command, then eliminating his military allies, and finally purging his domestic supporters...

By the time Sammet was cornered and wanted to make a desperate attempt, it was already too late.

Bai Xiaowen shook his head, ignoring the feud between these two ostensibly brothers, and said instead, "I need to interrogate these people. Who are the highest-ranking among them?"

"Let me take a look at the list..."

Samp picked up a papyrus from the stone table and pointed to a name on it. "The commander of the fourth line is named... Zehu Dinacht, and his two adjutants. Should I send two experienced men to help you interrogate them?"

Bai Xiaowen smiled and said, "No need."

This Commander Zehu was Bai Xiaowen's superior, the one who had taken on the identity of a chariot commander. Now, Bai Xiaowen has transformed into the Pharaoh's trusted Imperial Guard, and even the legion commander has to treat him with respect, while Zehu has become a prisoner.

When Bai Xiaowen captured the Hittites scouts, Zehu refused Bai Xiaowen's request to see the legion commander. Bai Xiaowen initially thought he was trying to claim credit for the crime. But now it seems things might not be so simple.

Fate is truly wondrous.

When Zehu saw Bai Xiaowen, he didn't feel there was any connection between Bai Xiaowen... or if there was, it was a tragic one...

The interrogation went smoothly. Commander Zehu had no intention of remaining loyal to his master Sammet, who had lost power. He answered Bai Xiaowen's questions without hesitation.

In order to "treat him leniently," Zehu even told Bai Xiaowen about things he hadn't asked, truly without holding back.

Unfortunately, Zehu was not the "key figure" that Bai Xiaowen was looking for. Although he held the highest military rank among Sammet's confidants, he was far less trusted than Sammet's trusted guards.

Zehu knew virtually nothing about who Sammet had associated with in Egypt or what contact he had with the Hittites.

However, Zehu provided a clue.

"Lord Dio, although I am unaware of the details, I know someone who definitely does!"

It was a bit of a mouthful, but Bai Xiaowen still understood. "Who is it?"

"His name is Naheh. He was born a slave to Sammet, but he was highly trusted by Sammet. He was often the one who relayed Sammet's orders, including doing some shady things," Zehu, his voice tinged with Naheh.

Bai Xiaowen nodded, walked out of the interrogation room, and found the new legion commander Samp, again:

"Is there a guy named Naheh on the list? Although he's a slave, he's Sammet's most trusted confidant, and he must know a lot of secrets."

Samp examined the list carefully, then shook his head and said, "No... This only lists those with military ranks."

Samp did his best, cooperating with Bai Xiaowen to search the entire Ptah military camp, but they found no trace of Naheh.

"It seems he's already escaped. This guy is definitely not a simple slave..."

Bai Xiaowen squinted. "We must report to the Pharaoh and immediately launch a city-wide manhunt, under the pretext of capturing runaway slaves."

"Won't doing this alert him and allow him to escape?"

Bai Xiaowen held a piece of paper in her hand, browsing through Naheh's background information.

I'm going to let him escape!

The ancient Egyptian Kingdom was bordered by the Red Sea to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Nile Cataracts to the south, and endless deserts to the west. Only the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast connected it with West Asia.

This is precisely why the Egypt pharaohs valued hegemony in the Syria region. The geographical location of the ancient Egyptian Kingdom led to its natural isolation, making trade and exchange with West Asia extremely necessary.

In the Nile Delta region, near the Memphis in Lower Egypt, there is a small village called Im Village.

The village is named after an ancient man named Imhotep, who invented a new construction method that led to the early form of the pyramids. From then on, pharaohs of all generations began to build pyramid tombs for themselves on a grand scale.

A tall, thin man in a white robe, riding an unremarkable skinny horse, arrived at the entrance to Im Village.

He dismounted and looked at the sparse wooden and stone houses and the rising smoke from their chimneys. A look of undisguised joy appeared on his travel-worn face.

Leading the horse, the tall, thin man walked to the end of the village, to a dilapidated wooden house.

The wooden house had been abandoned for a long time, covered with a thick layer of dust, and cobwebs formed on the door frame, indicating that no one had lived there for a long time.

The tall, thin man let out a long sigh. He tied his horse to a nearby doorpost and took off his robe to prepare for cleaning.

Who is it?

Suddenly, the tall, thin man straightened up alertly, his sharp, hawk-like gaze sweeping over.

"You must be Naheh? You're so late, we've been waiting for you all day."

The two people came out from behind the abandoned wooden house.

"It's you..." Naheh's eyes narrowed slightly. These two were none other than the two key figures who had captured the Hittites scouts and ruined their master Sammet's important plans: Chariot Commander Dio and his vice-captain!

However, the panic was quickly masked, and Naheh regained his composure.

"You've mistaken me for someone else. My name isn't Naheh, my name is..."

"No need to make excuses, Naheh. I have a very good memory. Although I only glanced at it, I can't forget that you were standing next to Commander Sammet back then," Bai Xiaowen said with a smile.

Happy holidays everyone, and happy holidays to me too! Hoping for your minimum monthly votes at the beginning of the month!