The past was built upon collecting unique characteristics.

"..." Morian opened his mouth, but finally sighed helplessly, "Are you really sure?"

Charlotte nodded vigorously at these words, as if she had seen a glimmer of hope:

"That's right!"

……

After staring at the girl for several seconds, Morian finally gave in.

"……All right."

"But you have to promise me that if things go wrong, you'll signal me and evacuate immediately. Don't be reckless."

"Okay, I promise you!" Charlotte gave a sweet smile.

However, for some reason, Morian felt that the smile had a sense of a successful conspiracy.

Well, since I can't persuade him, I can only try my best to prepare and minimize the risks... he thought to himself.

On the bright side, the young lady carries a lot of protective gear with her, so ordinary attacks really can't hurt her.

After a moment's thought, Morian picked up the circled map and pointed to the missing areas.

"This area is a trading district, and it's very quiet at night. There are many secluded alleys and deep lanes. If an assassin were to make a move, they would likely choose such a hidden place."

Recalling the scene he had witnessed the previous night, he described it cautiously.

"According to the plan, you will play the role of a young lady returning home late, taking a detour along a secluded path."

"Do I need to actively explore some alleys?" Charlotte asked suddenly, listening intently.

"...Okay, but please be careful."

"I will lie in wait nearby, keeping a safe distance from you. When the killer appears, we will subdue him immediately."

Morian took a badge out of his pocket and handed it to her:

"After this item is infused with spiritual energy, it will emit a wide-area light, which you can use to send a signal."

Charlotte nodded slightly, making these key points a mental note.

In the following period, the two repeatedly confirmed the specific details of the operation.

It wasn't until Charlotte was about to leave that Morian specifically spoke up to give her these instructions:

"Charlotte, to be honest, I care more about your safety than whether this case can be solved. Remember, the prerequisite for success is to ensure your own safety first."

"Hmm... Let's get to that area two hours early tonight and familiarize ourselves with the surrounding roads to prevent any accidents. Safety first."

"Yes, I understand," Charlotte chuckled. "Sir, you really don't need to worry too much. I won't push myself."

...Morian suddenly felt that he might have been a bit long-winded, but such instructions were essential before taking action.

"Alright then." He just smiled in the end. "That's settled then, see you tonight."

"Okay, see you tonight."

Charlotte smiled and replied, then stood up, straightened her skirt, and walked towards the door.

Soon, the office returned to calm.

Watching her departing figure and the wooden door closing again, Morian couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.

After rubbing his temples, he focused his gaze on the stack of yellowed parchment on the tea table.

Those were the promotion documents the girl brought; we'd been discussing the action plan and hadn't had a chance to look at them closely yet.

Not only this document, but also the materials I bought at the Extraordinary Gathering have remained unread due to various trivial matters.

It was only around 10:30 in the morning, and there was still a long time before the agreed-upon time for the operation. There was nothing important to do before then.

Since that's the case, why not take advantage of the time we still have and do some research?

It's time to fill the gaps in our knowledge of the occult.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Morian immediately got up from the sofa and went to the bedroom.

A moment later, he took out the materials he had bought at the last extraordinary gathering from his bedroom and placed them on the edge of the tea table.

After doing all that, he picked up the top document and began to read it carefully.

The parchment has a somewhat rough texture, and perhaps because it has been preserved for so long, the writing on the documents has faded a bit.

Fortunately, its specific meaning can still be discerned with the naked eye.

The opening was a short and useless preface, which Morian raised an eyebrow at and skipped over, his gaze sweeping over the text below.

Immediately, the record of the first destiny came into view.

[An Extraordinary Journey - "Disciple"]

Materials required for advancement to the second stage: one contract certificate, a small piece of rotten wood, and a pinch of stardust.

The core ingredient is a mysterious spring.

Promotion Ceremony: Witness the promotion of a second-stage person or extraordinary being. If the other person succeeds, you will also succeed in your promotion. If the other person fails, you will also fail.

Witnessing another person advance to the second stage? What a unique ceremony...

Morian's lips twitched as he watched, and he couldn't help but complain in his mind.

No wonder Earl White mentioned that "disciples" need to go through "witnessing". Perhaps in the subsequent promotion stages, "witnessing" all sorts of things is also used as a ritual?

He shook his head and continued scrolling down.

[An Extraordinary Destiny – "A Thousand Faces"]

Materials required for advancement to the second stage: one bottle of Phantom Butterfly Scale Powder, one Mirror Flower, and one Echo Shell.

The core ingredient is psychedelic skin.

Promotion Ceremony: Within one month, you must integrate into seven completely different social circles under seven different identities without letting anyone discover your identity. If the required number of days is met, you will be promoted.

This is rather interesting... Morian silently commented.

I guess that's how the head maid Ava got here, right?

However, playing seven different roles within a month without giving himself away is quite challenging.

Thinking of the head maid who always had a blank expression, and how she switched between different identities, his expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.

Scrolling down, there are records of two other destinies, each with different promotion materials and rituals. Some require a specific environment, while others require specific actions.

Sure enough, every path has its own way of being... Morian put it down and picked up the remaining document.

This document is completely different from the previous ones; it is no longer a method for advancement in a specific destiny, but rather an introduction to an extraordinary system.

Morian read the passage quietly, his eyes scanning line by line.

Based on the above content, the term "Ascended One" exists more as an old-fashioned term.

The more widely accepted term is "free agent".

Furthermore, the term "Lv1" is not precise enough.

That's just a way for some people to make things easier by omitting the specific name; in the truly extraordinary world, almost no one uses it.

The document states that at the end of the last century, the Phenomenon Bureau mobilized most of its top scholars to integrate all extraordinary knowledge.

They divided free people into seven levels, which eventually formed a complete system.

Each stage of advancement brings a qualitative leap and entirely new changes.

Morian's gaze followed the downward movement.

The first stage is called "Beginningless".

This stage is equivalent to the initial entry into the extraordinary realm, a process in which spirituality transforms from "nothing" to "something." Free individuals are able to initially utilize the characteristics of their own destiny and acquire some abilities that surpass those of ordinary people.

However, at this stage, most free men are not much different from ordinary people in terms of physical strength, and handguns and firearms can still threaten their lives.

The second stage is the stage in which he is about to be promoted.

It is called "First Embrace".