Otherworld Bone Dragon Operation Guide

Chapter 186 Zeflin's Investigation
Su Ming also breathed a sigh of relief. Zi Jin really kept her promise and wouldn't act recklessly without a good opportunity.

With the drone running low on battery, he performed a SAR scan, pressed return to home to retrieve the drone, and stuffed it into his backpack.

The two walked towards Turkmenistan. The cold wind whipped up the snow on the ground, stinging their cheeks. Violet shrank her neck and wrapped her scarf tighter.

Su Ming adjusted her hat for her. "Violet, once we get to Bubing City, will Catherine be allowed to leave?"

“Yes, I know her divine will,” Violet replied. “I have already had her establish a formal contract based on this, so there won’t be any problems.”

"Divine Heart?" Su Ming asked.

“It’s about choosing the core of your faith,” Violet explained. “The faith in the God of Light is a large system, and the specific name of the god that each person calls upon and the core doctrines they practice are not the same.”

"It's so complicated," Su Ming said. This system in another world, which uses faith to strengthen spiritual power, is completely different from his previous understanding.

“Both Catherine and I rely on our faith in the God of the Mind to solidify our spiritual world, which serves as the foundation for enhancing our power,” Violet explained. “Therefore, the price of the collapse of the God’s Mind is enormous. The specific details are also an absolute secret, otherwise it would be easy to be targeted.”

"Then how do you know Catherine's divine heart?" Su Ming asked.

“Because I helped her choose it,” Violet replied. “Chastity, isn’t that good!”

"You're choosing virginity for Catherine?!" Su Ming's eyes widened. What kind of grudge did this person hold against her?!
"So, little dumpling is actually—" Su Ming immediately thought, "Catherine only has one partner, "who is also your nephew?"

“No, it’s the opposite. Neither Little Dumpling nor Iser is related to me,” Violet replied. “They are definitely not my brother Vioas’s children. They don’t resemble me at all. Can’t you tell?”

This was a bit of a challenge for Su Ming. He wasn't actually very good at discerning these kinds of details. While he wasn't exactly face-blind, he often failed to recognize someone he'd met once a few days later when they met again.

"As for whose children they are, it's not necessarily that of that good-for-nothing Ignash, but it's definitely one person's," Violet asserted.

"Then why did Catherine say that?" Su Ming was a little confused.

“She’s just habitually releasing smokescreens to conceal her true divine heart,” Violet replied. “If I don’t tell you this secret, who can guess it?”

Su Ming thought to herself, this was indeed very different from the impression Catherine gave off; indeed, those who play tactics are all dirty-minded.

"May I ask about your divine heart?" he asked curiously. Inwardly, however, he wondered if it might also be—

“It’s spiritual,” Violet immediately replied, cutting off his train of thought. “So don’t guess wildly, and whatever you do, don’t reveal it!”

Spirituality is indeed very suitable for scholars, but there is one thing Su Ming doesn't understand.

“If this divine mind of spirituality is known, what is there to target?” he asked, puzzled.

“My spirituality influences my decision-making style, and at Catherine’s level, it’s something she can judge and utilize,” Violet sighed. “That’s why I can never beat her in tactical games. Knowing each other inside and out is just that complicated!”

"Does spirituality make you more inclined to use creative methods?"

"Yes."

He's fine with general matters, but when it comes to tactical choices, he tends to take unconventional approaches. This is indeed something that can be easily countered, Su Ming understood.

“But you have helped me make up for this weakness,” Violet said. “Now that we use ‘creative’ methods, it doesn’t matter which way we are being captured.”

So what if you can guess it? The method you're going to use doesn't exist in your understanding!
****
The two quickly returned to the city, picked up the odds and ends they had purchased, and headed towards where the snowmobiles were parked. Violet offered to take the millet wine, the jar swaying back and forth in her hands, making a soft clinking sound.

The girl even hummed a song happily. Su Ming sighed and quickly followed her.

"What do you mean by mastering the field of natural rhythms?"

“Literally, I can now use this domain freely,” Violet replied casually.

Su Ming was extremely shocked. He stopped and looked the girl up and down. "So you've entered the Saint Rank?"

"What's the problem?" Violet asked curiously.

Because she was afraid of the cold, the girl was dressed very bulkily, wrapped in a thick scarf and wearing woolen gloves, looking exactly like a little teddy bear. In addition, her disguised face was chapped and wrinkled, making it really hard for Su Ming to equate this image with the highest combat power in the other world.

“But shouldn’t there be changes when you advance in rank?” Su Ming gestured, “like a sudden surge in mental power or magic power.”

"Why?" Zi Jin was even more puzzled. "Power increases gradually. The so-called ranks are just evaluation criteria—does your knowledge level skyrocket when you get a university degree on Earth?"

"of course not."

“That settles it then. The path to development after reaching the Saint Rank is still long,” Zi Jin said. “I have successfully removed the key obstacle of the domain, but there is still much cultivation to come.”

Su Ming suddenly remembered, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to fight me when we got back?"

"Yes!"

"So you're planning to use the power of your domain to bully me?"

“A domain is the mark of a Saint-level being. I’m training you on how to fight against Saint-level beings.” Zi Jin smiled.

"No, please let me do what a novice at this level should do." Su Ming resolutely refused.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"...No way!"

****
Father Zeflin, who was abandoned in the city of Ries, has lost a lot of hair in the past few days.

Originally, he was supposed to be working alongside Iser and Gerus, simply following orders step by step. But unexpectedly, Catherine got into trouble, and the two of them quickly left, leaving him, the assistant, to become the leader.

Their mission remained unchanged: to continue investigating the abduction of the northern girls. Acosta was merely a "supplier," with buyers above him. They had to uncover the kidnappers' identities and rescue any other potential victims. As for why Acosta dared to kidnap the princess of the Cold Mountain royal family, how he did it, and what his motives were, that was a matter for the Cold Mountain royal family to worry about. He'd be lucky to even figure it out.

With Princess Daphne in his possession, protecting her safety was naturally the top priority. After handing over Princess Daphne to the guards of the Cold Mountain royal family, Zeflin led his priest squad back to Riss City to continue his investigation.

They discovered that during their absence, the merchant Acosta's house had been completely cleared out, all the corpses and remains gone without a trace. A fire had even been set on the ruins, burning everything beyond recognition.

Zeflin immediately approached Lord Morton, who was in charge of the city of Ries, demanding an explanation. Morton stated that the Ries city security forces had suffered heavy losses and were powerless to stop the vandals, and that he knew nothing about their identities or origins.

Regarding the appearance of a puppet that looked exactly like his son at the scene, Lord Morton unsurprisingly dragged out Alessandro, who had been knocked unconscious, and claimed that his son had been attacked and imprisoned, and that his identity had been taken over during that time.

Even Zeflin wouldn't believe such nonsense. But without concrete evidence or a clear direction for the investigation, he wouldn't even know how to proceed if he were to break off relations!
The damaged puppet at the scene was hastily inspected. Although it bore no markings, its craftsmanship was exceptionally high, with superb materials and workmanship. There was no doubt that Lord Brunenf was the only puppeteer in the North capable of producing a puppet of this caliber.

Zefferin used the town's communications tower to send a message to the church priest in the Brunenf territory, only to learn that Brunenf had just been announced to have died of illness. The priest had visited to pay his respects and had seen the body with his own eyes. Brunenf had no external injuries, but his face looked very uneasy.

Zeflin calculated the time and found something suspicious. But the man was already dead, and it was highly unlikely that he would come to control the puppet when he was seriously ill and dying, which made this clue even more perplexing.

Ultimately, Zeflin concluded that he was simply not suited for this job!
As a priest, besides studying magic and doctrine to elevate his spirit, he spent his free time listening to confessions. He knew perfectly well who had slept with whom in Shafur, but seriously investigating cases was far too difficult for him.

****
It was lunchtime when Zeflin walked into a restaurant, ordered a bowl of bean soup, and then became secretly saddened.

But before the soup was ready, a travel-worn figure walked in; it was Rupert, the sheriff of Shafur.

Zeflin saw an acquaintance from the same town and waved. The other person's eyes lit up when he saw him and he immediately came over.

"I've finally found you!" Rupert took off his coat and sat down opposite Zefferin.

"You were looking for me?" Zeflin asked, quite surprised. "Captain Rupert?"

Although the city of Lis is not particularly far from the town of Shafur, traveling there in the dead of winter is not easy.

“I’m no longer the sheriff,” Rupert said, and then began to explain.

The scoundrel Benny Finn deserved to die, but he was Lord Whicott's brother. When the capture of the murderer in Shafur failed, the lord began taking his anger out on the townspeople.

The mayor and officials of the town of Chafon were all punished. Rupert, as the captain of the sheriff's team, was not spared. He was convicted of failing to maintain order, dismissed from his post, and given an additional twenty lashes.

"Twenty strokes?" Zeflin was somewhat surprised. The flogging involved stripping the victim naked and whipping them with a large, barbed whip; twenty strokes would leave them severely injured, if not dead. "This is utterly inhuman." He then looked Rupert up and down, noticing the normal color on his rough face. "You don't look like you've been tortured."

“I have to thank that adventurer gunslinger for giving me a few gold coins. I bribed the executioner and only got a minor scratch before being thrown out,” Rupert explained. “I’ve done my duty by keeping his secret; he should have given me more than he paid. He should have given me more!”

"If you dare to reveal anything about his affair with Lord Iser, you won't even need a flogging; you'll be beheaded on the spot!" Zeflin exposed. Nobles don't care about redemption; letting a suspect escape is enough to get him executed immediately.

“However, I can’t stay in Shafur Town any longer. I want to go to Dawn Territory,” Rupert said, revealing the purpose of his trip.

Zeflin now understood his purpose: "You've come to me for a guarantee, haven't you?"

For ordinary citizens, Dawn Territory will accept them after a simple review. However, for someone as capable as Rupert, a guarantor is required to prevent the infiltration of those with ill intentions.

"You oak leaf seeking the protection of the light, are you not afraid that the god you worship will be displeased?"

“What’s there for a casual believer like me to be particular about?” Rupert ripped the wooden emblem of the nature god off his neck. “I’ll immediately replace it with the sun emblem—I’ll go wherever I can get a decent meal!”

"There's no point in expecting anything from this guy," Zeflin sighed.

The restaurant waiter brought out the bean soup; although it contained a few slices of meat, it was so bland that there wasn't much oil in it. Zeflin tapped the table with his finger. "As for the guarantee, it depends on your sincerity."

Rupert immediately understood. He quickly reached into his pocket, pulled out a gold coin, and slammed it on the table.

"Hey, there's still one coin left from the gunman's payment!" He waved to the waiter. "Here, bring two plates of vegetarian cakes! Father, eat as much as you like, it's all you can eat today!"

Zeflin laughed in exasperation, "You invited me to dinner, but you couldn't even afford a pie with filling!"

However, he suddenly thought of something, and looked at his old friend again, his eyes gradually turning malicious.

The waiter brought over the flatbread, and Rupert asked for a clove of garlic, which he devoured with relish. He tucked the gold coin and the Nature's Emblem back into his pocket, exchanging them for a dozen or so copper coins, completely unaware that Zefferin's gaze had shifted to one of admiration for cattle and horses.

"How wonderful! They even offered it to me willingly!" Zeflin exclaimed, his previously melancholy mood vanishing instantly.

****
When Su Ming and Zi Jin returned to the Youth Civilization Train, the train's preparations were nearing completion, and Fu Yin, Hanst, and Yunier were becoming increasingly skilled.

"You saw the White Scatter Cavalry's camp in Turkmen City?" Catherine asked in surprise, unfolding a map. "It's quite far from Bubing City."

Bubing City is the largest city in the Northern Icefield and the only stronghold of the Cold Mountain Royal Family there. Located in the central part of the second-tier icefield, the White Scattered Cavalry should normally be deployed within the Bubing Province, centered around the city.

It is indeed very strange that they would travel all the way to Turkmenistan.

"Winter training?" Su Ming asked.

“There’s a slight chance,” Catherine said. “I really want to grab one and interrogate him.”

This is also a restless one, Su Ming thought to himself.

He checked the train's preparations and assisted in completing the cleanup work. Once everything was in place, the boilers began to preheat, and Hansst and Eunice brought out the fish cakes they had prepared long ago from the kitchen.

Su Ming had smelled the aroma long ago and began to savor the seasonal food of the Winter Solstice Festival in this other world. The food was soft and tender, full of the fresh aroma of fish and meat; it was indeed worth the painstaking preparations of these two foodies.

Zijin picked up a small piece of fish cake and reached out to feed the little dumpling, but her hands were grabbed by Yuni and Su Ming at the same time.

Faced with two questioning gazes, Violet had no choice but to give in, "Fine, I won't feed her anymore."

(End of this chapter)