The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 196: Supernatural Craftsmanship
In addition to the "coordinates" of Golden Island, Roland also took away a "mission preview" - Enid said that after Christmas, he might have to go to Bristol with Fernandez.

According to local church legend, some people have seen "angels" in the city.

The letter was accompanied by a pure white feather two or three fingers long. Both the church and the inquisition confirmed that it was indeed from an 'angel'.

Angel.

For Roland...

Another thing I haven't learned yet.

Angels are summoned creatures.

Different from alien species.

Summoning creatures is legal.

They belong to the gods, to the principles, to the ways, to the churches.

Ritualists who worship different crown gods master the summoning rituals of their respective paths.

For example, the Holy Cross.

The summoned creature of "The Path of Judgment" is a living "Holy Flame".

Two paths of wisdom.

The "Thinker" is the trace of the lamp, and the "Craftsman" is the spirit of steam.

As for the angels—

This iconic holy creature comes from the invocation ritual of the Path of Mercy.

This is the grace described in the Book of Eden, which has white wings and can only be seen by the pious, noble and kind.

The summoned creature will obey the ritualist's commands for the duration of its existence.

But holding such a ceremony usually comes at a high price.

According to Enid, the ritual to summon angels used the "heart of the devout" and the "tail feathers of seven white swans that were born and died in the same year."

In short, it is troublesome and demanding.

Generally speaking, when the ritualist is about to perform a summoning ritual, he is basically preparing for the upcoming battle.

Besides that, there are festivals.

For example, at the annual "Dedication Ceremony" of the Holy Cross, the contemporary saint summons angels in the presence of bishops and devout monks.

But this is not what Roland needs to consider right now.

Enid hands him a mask.

It records the coordinates of Jindao.

"You better be careful."
-
Miss Nina mentioned Jindao in her memory?
"right."

"I suggest you think about what you can give first."

"There are many people on Golden Island who collect knowledge all year round. You can even exchange it with the organizers - just think about it, everyone has to pay a 'secret' as a ticket every time they participate."

"Even if most of it is meaningless, as the organizer, how much have you learned over the years?"
-
Now that you said that, you must have some good suggestions.

"Steak chops one week and lobster pie the other week."

Roland: ...

The last time I dined at Randolph's, Wrench fell in love with the 'potato and lobster pie'.

The sweet and crispy lobster meat is wrapped in mashed potatoes and topped with anchovy sauce and lemon juice. If you don’t like mashed potatoes, you can also eat it directly with mayonnaise.
-
Fortunately, I got a salary increase.
-
Transaction.

"There are many things in Su Yue's memory that can be exchanged as 'secrets'. I will tell you when the time comes. By the way, you can find a woman named 'Helen Hawkins'."
-
Helen Hawkins?
"She belongs to the homeless camp, working as a broker. As long as there is knowledge or secrets of equal value in exchange, you may be able to get what you want from her."
-
This is also what Miss Nina remembers...

"That's right."

Roland had nothing to prepare.

Entering a dream has become as easy for him as twisting a wrench.

After returning to the pharmacy, Roland greeted his uncle on the sofa and quickly went upstairs.

Place the mask under your pillow.

then…

Waiting for the waves to send him into his dream.

…………

……

The reason why Jindao is called an 'island' is precisely because ritualists from outside need to enter by 'boat'.

Before Roland opened his eyes again, he heard the sound of waves hitting the rocks.

The creaking ship was rocked by the waves. No chart, rudder or sail was needed, not even wind.

The legless wooden boat seemed to know where its destination was. It rose and fell with the tide and slowly shuttled through the rocky jungle under the night sky.

The only sounds in the silent and lightless ocean were the waves and breathing. Roland was shrouded in darkness, but his eyes were lit up by the white flames in his sight - they could not penetrate the black fog at the bow, like an endless nightmare, and he didn't know which hell it would take the dreamer to.

He couldn't catch the time in his dream, and didn't know when each minute and every second passed - but there was no daytime here, and the ship was rocked by the waves like a baby for at least a whole night or more.

The salty smell became stronger and stronger, one dark night after another.

Instinct makes people particularly sensitive in the dark, especially when passing through the gloomy fog.

It's like peeling off layer of black cloth and walking into a crowded cage.

Until it hits a reef.

The wooden boat made a 'bang' sound and vibrated, and there was a rustling sound of sand and gravel rubbing against each other.

It was not until this moment that the black fog before my eyes suddenly dissipated.

——It was a huge stone city built on the mountain.

The gray ridge only appeared briefly for a moment and then disappeared into the layers of black fog.

There was a faint fire in front of the wooden boat.

Someone was standing on the shore holding an oil lamp, and he waved it towards Roland from a distance, as if he had long been accustomed to the "dullness" of these people.

"I assume this is your first time at King Island, sir or ma'am."

"Sir or Madam?" Roland held the side of the boat, but found that the wooden boat seemed to be nailed to the reef or the sand bank, and it was no longer shaking at all.

"Oh, it turns out to be a gentleman." The lantern bearer walked towards him. After hearing Roland speak, he confirmed his gender - of course, this also made him guess that Roland was indeed a 'newbie' who came to Golden Island for the first time.

He withdrew the lamp and raised his arm.

"Come on, sir, I'll give you a hand."

He was casual and talked like a friend.

Roland grasped the hand that stretched out from the darkness, used the hand's arm to push himself, and stepped down from the boat.

Look back again.

There is only thick black fog and waves.

The wooden boat was gone.

"You don't need a boat anymore, do you?"

Apparently, Roland's action was in line with what a 'newbie' should do. The lantern bearer laughed heartily: "I came here on a boat, but I don't need to rely on it to leave. Do you remember how you woke up every time you fell asleep?"

"I guess you didn't notice."

He held the lantern high to the side of his face, letting the flickering light illuminate his face.

It is a white mask that shows neither sadness nor joy.

This reminded Roland of 'Dancer'.

Then I remembered the mask.

Strange objects.

Heart hurts.

"Every newcomer who arrives on the island has a chance to decide his identity. Sir, before entering the city, you should still be able to feel the 'mystery' - make a face, and then, give yourself a name that you like or hate."

Said the lantern bearer.

"Give me another secret as a ticket."

Since Enid had previously explained the general process, Roland had thought it through early on.

"Hammerhead," he said.

wrench:……

Lantern bearer: ...

"I bet he's never heard such a stupid name."
-
This makes it easier to remember.

"Using 'it's easier to remember' as an excuse to cover up someone's stupidity in naming."
-
I originally wanted to call him Dahammer, because it sounds fierce.

"I must remind you, sir." The lantern bearer was silent for a moment: "... your name will be recorded in the identity register along with your 'face' - that is to say, unless something unexpected happens, you cannot change it until you are expelled."

Can't change it before being expelled?
"So... Sledgehammer?"

The lantern bearer remained silent even longer than before.

"The hammerhead is special enough, sir." He dimmed the oil lamp and said softly, "Nature is really amazing, isn't it?"

(End of this chapter)