The test

Lies didn't ask why. He went up to the second floor, found a red cloth, and hung it at the entrance of the "Carnivore" Bar.

Lumian then sat down at the rebuilt bar and enjoyed the seasoned roast beef with soft, delicious Bread.

As time went by, more and more customers entered the "Carnivore" Bar because Lies made a Wooden Frame, posted the new menu and corresponding prices on it, and placed it on the street.

Of course, this behavior is not the main reason why customers come to the store.

The most important factor is that the prices of the food on the menu are unbelievably cheap, since the Boss doesn't profit from the difference.

Customers came with a try-it-out mentality, not too confident about the "Carnivore" Bar which had changed Boss. They repeatedly confirmed whether the price was really this low, without any extra charges, and whether the portion size and quality of the food could be guaranteed.

These are lessons learned from being scammed by unscrupulous merchants in Morola.

Those unscrupulous merchants also had something to say, "We've all been Banishment to Morola for serious violations. Do you expect us to operate with integrity? Anyway, the Morola Residents' Code doesn't include anything about not being able to arbitrarily mark prices for books or selling inferior goods. The law enforcement won't come to inspect the kitchen's hygiene conditions."

Most customers dared not speak out against this; the unscrupulous merchants who could be taught a lesson by them had already been eliminated, and those remaining were people they couldn't afford to offend.

They often regret not leaving a few unscrupulous merchants they could control to ensure food quality and reasonable prices through daily oversight.

Often, murder is not the best solution.

"If I had understood this principle, I wouldn't have been Banishment to Morola!" A forty-something Exiles, holding a beer with white foam on top, expressed his opinion on the matter.

His gaze kept shifting back and forth between Julie was temporarily Bartender, hoping to attract the beautiful woman's attention with his words and actions.

The cheap price was the reason they came in, and the attractive Bartender was the reason they didn't want to leave and ordered an extra drink.

Lumian forked a piece of beef, grilled to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, savoring the wonderful combination of Lies's secret seasoning and the fresh, juicy meat.

He wondered if Ludwig should be appointed head chef after leaving Morola.

We can't waste Cook's talent!

After lunch, Lumian, carrying a glass of strong liquor, strolled around the lobby posing as the Bar Boss, piecing together Morola's current situation from various customers:

Not long after the Banishment City was established, social classes emerged among its residents, with strength being the primary criterion for division.

Today, the Beyonder have firmly occupied key positions in Morola, controlling resources such as food, meat, vegetables, dairy products, various minerals, Factory products, sales channels, and street-front shops. Ordinary Criminal without supernatural powers can only choose to serve them, working on Farm, in Mine, Ranch, and Factory. Those in better circumstances are considered employees, while those in worse circumstances are roughly equivalent to slaves.

For these ordinary Criminal, the greatest dream is to gain the trust of a powerful Beyonder, and after winning a duel, to receive Beyonder Characteristic that the other party doesn't need as a reward.

"This is practically the Heaven the ' Iron and Blood Cross Order ' imagined," Lumian remarked with amusement after sitting back down at the bar.

As a former member of the "Iron and Blood Cross Order," although he always secretly mocked those embarrassing "Sermon" and "Ritual," he still managed to grasp the main tenets of the "Iron and Blood Cross Order" through them:

They wanted to create a nation where Beyonder no longer had to hide, but earned their status through strength.

That seems to be the case in Morola now.

Lumian was about to finish the rest of his liquor and go upstairs to find a quiet place to read and study when he suddenly saw the gentlemanly-looking Gusin walk into the Bar.

They arrived pretty quickly... Has someone been watching this place all along? Lumian toyed with the glass in his hand.

Gusin sat down next to him, removed his Medium-Height Silk Top Hat, and said to Julie, who was dressed in a white shirt, black waistcoat, and Black Waistcoat, exuding a unique charm, "A glass of Lenzqi Julie."

--Morola has a limited selection of alcoholic beverages; Rye Beer, Lenzqi, and Red Wine are the most popular.

Lumian took out paper and pen from the "Traveler’s Bag" and started writing and drawing on the bar counter.

Gusin waited until Julie handed him the Lenzqi, took a sip, and then looked straight ahead and smiled, saying, "You made a decision faster than I expected."

"I don't want to be bound like this either," Lumian replied meaningfully.

His true meaning was that he didn't want to stay in Morola for too long, but Gusin heard it as him also not wanting to accept the rule of the Church of Knowledge any longer.

"This is the choice of all the strong; Goshawk will not associate with Sparrow," Gusin praised.

Lumian was still sketching when he chuckled and said, "Now, you need to convince me, let me know that you have a future and hope, and that I won't stand with losers."

"I've instigated dozens of Riot, and I haven't been caught by the Church of Knowledge yet. Isn't that the best reason?" Gusin took another sip of Lenzqi.

Lumian shook his head:

"In my hometown, there's a proverb that says, ' One swallow does not make a summer.' What does that mean? The early arrival of a few swallows doesn't prove that the corresponding season has arrived. It's very unwise to make hasty judgments and conclusions based on a single phenomenon."

"What do you need me to convince you about?" Gusin tilted his head.

Lumian smiled:

"Complete my test."

Gusin paused for a few seconds, then chuckled and said, "Shouldn't organizations like ours be testing new recruits to see if they're qualified? How come in your place, it's become the new recruits testing the organization?"

"It depends on the strength and importance of the newcomers, not Past experience." Lumian had an expression that said, "I don't necessarily have to join you Insects in a Riot; I can organize my own team."

Gusin took a sip of his Lenzqi, and after a while, asked, "What do you want us to do?"

Lumian smiled without saying a word, and only after finishing the sketch did he push the Paper in front of him to Gusin:

"Find this person."

The painting depicts Albus Medici.

Lumian's sketching skills were not high, but with the "Hunter's " Precision control of his wrist and fingers, and his deep memory and mental reconstruction of the image, he still painted Albus Medici with great life, and that Aggressiveness and disgusting temperament jumped off the paper.

"Him?" Gusin picked up the drawing paper and asked as if to confirm.

Lumian nodded slightly:

"His real Albus Medici; I don't know if he used a pseudonym in Morola."

"Medici..." Gusin repeated the surname in a low voice.

He folded the drawing paper, stuffed it into his pocket, and then picked up the glass of Lenzqi again.

You can test us, but we also need to test you.

You must prove that you are capable enough.

"Killing the original Boss of this Bar isn't enough?" Lumian asked with a smile. "Or, would you like to have a duel with me?"

Gusin maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, shook his head, and said, "We have already acknowledged your strength; now we need to test other aspects."

Lumian held the glass of wine, turned his head to look at Gusin, and waited for him to continue.

Gusin glanced around, his gaze lingering for two seconds on the irresistibly Charm Julie.

He lowered his voice:

"The Church of Knowledge's rule over Morola is based on an object in the Underground Mausoleum of the Cemetery. Our ultimate goal is to storm that place and take control of that object."

"That's extremely dangerous. We've found a similar place to Temperance our members. Your test is to enter that Underground region shrouded in the Fog of War, overcome the difficulties along the way, and reach the location we've marked."

The goal is still "0-01"? Lumian pondered for a few seconds and said, "Okay, when can we start?"

"Tonight." Gusin finished the rest of his Lenzqi, paid for the drinks, and got up to leave the "Carnivore" Bar.

Lumian glanced at Julie and noticed that the "Witch" was keeping her head down, obediently and reservedly dealing with the flirting and harassment from the Patron, seemingly completely unaware of her conversation with Gusin.

Heh... Lumian chuckled to himself, put down his wine glass, and went upstairs.

Trier, Memorial Hall District, 9 Orosei Street, Apartment 702.

"Jenna should be back in the next day or two, right?" Franca stood by the living room window, muttering to herself with a mix of melancholy and fear.

In the deep night outside the window, illuminated by the lights of various lamps, her face appeared and disappeared in the intermittent light, like a mesmerizing dream.

Suddenly, she saw Bainfel, the "Penitent," dressed in Black Clerical Robe and resembling a charred corpse, emerge from the void, holding a letter in his hand.

A letter? Who sent it to Lumian? Uh, Bainfel appearing here means the Messenger really couldn't locate Morola, even with a special Contract... Franca took the letter, smiling politely as she said, "Thank you."

Bainfel nodded, turned around, and disappeared into the night seeping in through the window.

Franca immediately let out an "Oh," and muttered, "I'd like to get on your good side, could you please introduce me to a Messenger..."

As she spoke, she raised her right hand and smelled a complex scent from the letter—a mixture of cosmetics, perfume, Grass, Flowers, and spices.

A letter from a woman? Franca, Commission with the Lumian, muttered to herself as she opened the letter and began to read its contents:

I don't know whether I should address you as Mr. Louis Berri or Mr. Lumian Lee.

"During this time, through Riya, I truly came into contact with the Mysticism circles of Matani Province, acquired a lot of Mysticism knowledge, and also realized that I am actually not weak at all, it's just that I lacked experience before and didn't show it, really."

"Of course, I also realized how big the gap is between us, and how vast the world is outside of Matani Province."

I think I'm willing to help your friend, and I hope you'll keep your promise.

"Amandina."