Today, they too are going to their deaths.

After a period of discussion about how to quickly popularize extraordinary education.

Cui Xun had to admit that he had underestimated the intelligence of this group of brain-dead cultists in doing bad things, and at the same time overestimated their moral bottom line.

He had barely started by discussing compiling teaching materials and selecting teaching venues and tools when some beasts quickly steered the conversation toward inhumane matters, enthusiastically discussing efficiency and countermeasures.

"The key to awakening spirituality is the spirit and the language of the ancient serpent, not gestures. What if the apprentices rebel against us after mastering the gestures? Cutting off their hands is inevitable. To prevent these blood money generators from escaping, amputating their limbs is also a last resort."

"Extreme emotions are the key to going from zero to one. I have heard of several types of rapid and effective extreme training methods from believers in other regions. For example, putting apprentices into water tanks where they can only breathe by lying on their backs, while constantly playing the words of the ancient serpent, threatening them with suffocation, and forcing them to study desperately."

"I know of a herb overseas that can improve concentration and learning ability. We can pool our money to open up channels and buy some for our apprentices."

Cui Xun gleaned a seemingly useful idea from among the group of extraordinary individuals and was about to offer encouragement when the beast added, "These herbs are extremely addictive. Once consumed, they cannot be discontinued. One must take them regularly, otherwise, one will suffer from intense itching and mental breakdown. Besides accelerating the learning process, they can also be used as a means for us to control our apprentices."

Cui Xun felt that the followers of the Snake Worship Cult were very useful, but some of the despicable ones were better off killed.

They felt they were high-ranking believers, close confidants of the mentor, and would not be treated this way, just as small capitalists fantasize that big capitalists treat them as human beings while looking down on others.

What kind of interesting expressions will they make if their reliance is exposed on the spot?

I'd like to see some.

But in order to find more people who deserve to die, Cui Xun patiently watched from the sidelines, waiting for the believers to come up with even more explosive suggestions.

"Tsk, have you no moral compass? I wonder who was spouting that nonsense just now." Even the pirate captain couldn't stand it anymore and tried to offer a more reasonable suggestion, "Couldn't you do a screening process and then invite the families of the talented individuals into a protected area and treat them well?"

One follower of capitalists exclaimed in surprise, "That's such a waste of money! Supervision, feeding, and housing all cost money; it's not just a matter of locking them up for a few days. Besides, what if they're orphans and don't care about their families? Doesn't that mean we have to spend money to screen who values ​​family ties?"

The pirate captain sighed, "That's why I can't talk to you sweatshop people."

Such a stark contrast made Cui Xun cross the pirate captain off his kill list.

Congratulations to him for winning the Survival Award in the "Worst of the Best" competition.

So, what's the best way to kill the others next?

A more meaningful way to die? A more brutal way to die? A more artistic and intimidating way to die?

Perhaps as a mentor, he shouldn't have cut back on his own manpower, but as a human being, Cui Xun couldn't tolerate certain cult members living on.

"Knock knock." A knocking sound rang out on the door.

Kovo Gray stood beside the door that had been blasted open by the knights, a forced smile on his face. "Hello, I've brought the ransom."

Cui Xun didn't expect that the person who came to pay the money was an acquaintance. Now, seeing Gray as the bishop of the Snake Worship Cult gave him a strange feeling.

Cui Xun stood up and said leisurely, "You all continue your discussion. I will take care of this guest."

The believers had no doubts, but simply to show their respect for their teacher, they temporarily stopped speaking.

Cui Xun approached Gray and invited, "Come with me. I think that knight would love to see you."

Gray said awkwardly, "Can I not come? Shouldn't it be a cash-on-delivery transaction? I brought the money, and now I just want to take the person away."

As he spoke, Gray held up the small leather bag he was carrying and showed it to Cui Xun.

A crown coin, worth five small gold coins, makes a slight clinking sound when shaken, while banknotes, property certificates, checks, jewelry, and gems fill the rest of the room.

Cui Xun estimated that this might be much more than what was demanded in the extortion letter, but what he wanted to talk about now was not money.

He waved his finger and said seriously to Gray, "That won't do. I need to discuss private matters with you. If you don't accept, I'll have to bring your corpse in for a chat."

Gray said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I'll do as you say. As for the ransom..."

Cui Xun said calmly, "Take him in."

And so, Cui Xun led Gray through the menacing believers and arrived at the room where the knights were temporarily imprisoned.

The moment the door opened, Gray froze.

He had long suspected that his defeated sister might be in bad shape, but he never expected to witness such a rare sight.

The knight, now bound by armor after her helmet was removed, still managed to slowly move herself toward the narrow window high above, using only her neck muscles and teeth.

The floor, walls, and surrounding furniture were covered with her teeth marks, and you could even see her drool.

Looking at the knight, Cui Xun couldn't help but feel respect.

If Grey hadn't arrived quickly enough, the knight might have actually escaped. But why did she run away even after writing the blackmail letter herself?

The knight turned his head, looked at the "mentor" and Gray who had pushed open the door, and exclaimed in surprise, "Gray! What are you doing here?!"

Gray cried out in a panic, "I've brought the ransom to rescue you!"

The knight's expression shifted from shock to grief, then to collapse, finally settling on a numb indifference, as if nothing was amiss. She deliberately ignored the crawling tracks beside her, feigning calmness as she said, "Since the escape plan has failed, then paying the ransom is indeed the only option."

Cui Xun realized that this was actually the knight's quick thinking. She probably had hidden some code in the extortion letter, hoping that Gray would find it and then gather reinforcements to break through the stronghold. But now she was pretending that she only wanted to escape.

However, Cui Xun had anticipated this possibility and had someone use magic to alter the contents of the ransom letter while maintaining the handwriting.

The innocent Gray is probably already being labeled by the Knight in his mind as an ignorant fool who can't understand code and forced her plans to fall apart.

Unfortunately, the mentor's persona is that of a fun-loving person, and he won't explain the truth at a time like this. So, we can only ask Mr. Gray to make a small sacrifice in order to maintain the mentor's persona.

Cui Xun chuckled lightly, letting the matter of the knight's attempt to escape go: "I'm easy to talk to. Since you brought the money, I don't care what you originally wanted to do. After you hear what I have to say, you can leave."

Cui Xun closed the door, reset the sound-blocking spell, and then first released the knight from his restraints.

The moment the steel transformed from a restraint into protection, the knight resumed his normal standing posture, displaying the proper etiquette of a knight, and waited for Cui Xun to state his next condition.

Cui Xun looked directly into the knight's eyes and began the conversation in a tone as casual as if discussing dinner: "You represent the royal family, right? You hate the Serpent Cult, and its followers can become your heroes. I happen to want to purge some stubborn elements and hope to gain some assistance."

"We can certainly make some exchanges, using the lives of some believers in exchange for a deeper cooperation."

The knight narrowed his eyes and said suspiciously, "I've heard of a few bishops who deceive believers and make them cover for the enemy, but I've never seen one who actively trades to kill believers. I thought your brains had been marinated in the process of mastering supernatural powers."

Cui Xun countered, "How many bishops have you met, and how much have you analyzed the psychology of the Serpent Worshippers? How can you be so sure of our thoughts?"

"This world is far larger than just the Serpent Cult. The moment we master the secrets of the serpent, we may all be believers, but when we truly become independent, who cares about the path we came from?"

"Is trading so strange?"

Gray, standing to the side, gave a look that said, "Ugh, is this something I should be listening to?" and hesitated before shrinking further into the corner. The knight remained silent for a while before reluctantly accepting Cui Xun's explanation: "Then, tell me exactly what you want us to give you."

Cui Xun stated directly: "The right to independent education."

The knight vehemently denied it: "That's impossible! The royal family would never allow you to establish your own extraordinary lineage!"

"Even if I could help you split the Serpent Worship Cult?" Cui Xun's venomous voice sent a chill down the knight's spine.

The royal family would certainly disdain such conditions proposed by other followers of the Serpent Worship Cult, since the vast majority of people are too weak to influence the cult, and the royal family is unlikely to expend a lot of resources to support its followers. However, it is quite different when a powerful figure like the mentor proposes such conditions.

Whether driven by ambition, ideological conflict, or simply a desire for more, with his power, the Serpent Cult is no longer his own faction, but a tool he can use.

Moreover, it is clear that the cult of snake worship hates traitors more than enemies, and mentors can draw a lot of fire away from the royal family.

If all of this isn't a venomous snake plotting to infiltrate the kingdom, then this is certainly a good thing.

However, given that the kingdom seems to be riddled with holes and the royal family's attitude towards the Serpent Cult remains ambiguous, the potential damage caused by the mentor, this venomous snake, seems to be far less than the potential benefits he might create.

The knight hesitated, then said, "I need to discuss this with higher-ups. I'd like you to tell me more specifically what you want to do."

Cui Xun stated frankly, "I want a fairer right to extraordinary education. I want everyone in this world to have power, regardless of where that power comes from."

Gray interjected, "This is too dangerous. It's like everyone having a revolver. The result would be shootings all the time."

Cui Xun pointed out, "Each person has a revolver. You can't stop other people's guns, but extraordinary power is not just about attacking. It also has defense and survival, and at the same time, it allows people to express their creative passion with words."

"Furthermore, before I can provide extraordinary education, I must first promote general education, which will also benefit you."

"The various machines of the Royal Academy of Sciences are driving people out of the factories, and a large number of workers are becoming a destabilizing factor. They may take up arms at any time and break out into large-scale bloody conflicts with others."

"You need a way to rein them in, and I think education is a great answer. It can stabilize the situation and benefit you and most ordinary people as well."

The knight cautioned, "But the nobles will not agree, especially those who depend on the factories."

"Even if they don't need workers, they want workers to remain cheap and without choice so that they can easily recruit workers when necessary."

Cui Xun affirmed, "Yes, they are indeed not obedient enough, so the nobles that the royal family cannot deal with can be handed over to the Serpent Worship Cult to kill."

"Because a branch of the Serpent Cult assassinated a nobleman, you also decided to assassinate your followers. Before the situation became completely irreversible, the leaders of both sides confirmed that it was an outsider's doing, so they decided to put aside their past grievances and unite."

"What do you think of this script? And you also have a near-perfect assassin."

"That man in hunting attire tracked down the mastermind behind the turmoil and almost took my life, while he probably only suffered minor injuries."

The knight frowned, unsure who nearby could be stronger than her. Gray was even more bewildered, asking uncertainly, "Are you referring to a tall, strong, dark-haired man who exudes a sense of resilience?"

Cui Xun confirmed, "Yes, that man called himself Cui Xun."

It feels really strange to praise Cui Xun as a mentor.

Gray's feelings went beyond mere surprise. He truly hadn't expected that the person he'd bumped into on the street would be such a powerful figure. Even the knight couldn't help but marvel at his useless brother's recruitment abilities.

But there's a minor issue.

Gray said awkwardly, "I don't have his contact information."

Cui Xun reassured him, "It's alright. I feel he's exhausted after a day of searching, and since he failed to kill me, he'll definitely need to seek reinforcements. He'll come looking for you tonight at the latest."

Gray felt something was off: How come you, an assassinated bishop of the Serpent Cult, know more about that mysterious powerhouse than we do?

But before Gray could raise his questions, the knight, who knew his useless brother's true abilities, pressed down on his shoulder and reminded him in a rather serious tone, "Gray, I hope that you can properly introduce that mysterious powerhouse to me after this."

Sister, it wasn't that I acted carelessly this time. It's just that he's really too mysterious. We only met by chance, and our relationship is purely based on mutual benefit.

Can you please stop using so much force? My shoulder is going to be crushed!

Gray didn't speak, but despite his pained expression, he conveyed the message to Cui Xun with crystal clarity.

Ignoring their playful banter, Cui Xun continued seriously, "Now, let's discuss the specific list."

"Who should die, who should be warned, who is qualified to conduct extraordinary education, and who are the ones who can be educated? Finally, here are a few specific policy recommendations."

"Of course, I understand that you are not high-ranking individuals who can speak with me."

"Therefore, I hope these suggestions will allow the person I am speaking with to make arrangements as soon as possible."

"I'm looking forward to the long talk that follows."