As Reilly continued his report, his brows furrowed slightly. "I personally believe that the lack of incentive in the reward pool is why we aren't attracting top hunters for rating evaluations."
Rhett thought for a moment, then nodded lightly. "Understood. That's an easy problem to solve. I just completed a trade with the Beast God World recently and acquired a large batch of Body Tempering Spring Water. I'll keep the top-tier spring water for those close to me and for those with outstanding contributions. As for the rest, divided into high, medium, and low grades, you can add them to the exchange pool for the transcendent hunters."
"Of course, the Body Tempering Spring Water must be listed as a top-tier reward. Only S-ranked hunters will be eligible to exchange for it, and it must come with one condition—they must become citizens of the Green Kingdom!"
Reilly's eyes lit up. "I understand. Many other kingdoms have been trying to imitate our hunter guilds, but this move is brilliant, Father. By securing these hunters as citizens early on, we can greatly reduce the risk of losing them in the future. After all, their points won't be transferable between nations. Having earned a significant number of points and obtained titles, most people won't want to leave unless the benefits elsewhere are vastly better."
"That's called a sunk cost," Rhett said with a smile, patting Reilly's shoulder. After a brief pause, he asked, "How are the prisons in various regions? Are they still stable?"
Reilly hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and responded, "Very stable. We not only imprison the most heinous criminals of the Green Kingdom but also fugitives from other nations. I've made sure they're kept in a state of semi-consciousness, barely clinging to life, locked in special opaque alchemy cages. Dick manages the controls, and to him, it feels like a simple game of roulette, executing one death row inmate after another."
"Mm... You've thought of everything. These young family members' minds are still too fragile. If they are forced to carry out too many executions, it could leave psychological scars," Rhett nodded, satisfied. Reilly had proposed this solution half a year ago, and Rhett had immediately approved it.
If his three sons were tasked with harvesting fate points, the loss would be too great. Tuck had already reached Level Six Earth Knight, Reilly had just broken through to Level Five Magus with the help of the Snow Elf, and Tylers had become a Level Four Magus. If these three were to harvest the points, even killing a Sky Knight would only yield a pitiful amount of fate points.
And how many death row Sky Knights existed in the world?
After much thought, they had to rely on the next generation. Reilly's idea had resolved a significant issue. In the past six months, Dick, who was still an ordinary person, had harvested thousands of fate points, and Rhett's "wallet" had filled up again, ready to be spent on simulations.
Reilly's expression turned somber as he cautiously asked, "Father, when will we see Mother again?"
Rhett hesitated for a moment, contemplating. "Maybe next time. I have some other leads I need to investigate, some of which even concern your mother. So... let's hold off for a bit longer."
He was referring, of course, to the mysterious connection between Heisenberg and the Undead Patriarch from ten thousand years ago. He was eager to uncover the truth behind the soul passage and what kind of impact this had on the world—what kind of plots had been set in motion.
Reilly took a deep breath and solemnly said, "Understood, Father. Currently, there are no major events or significant projects within the kingdom, so I would like to accompany you."
Rhett thought briefly. "Hm... No problem. What about Tuck and Tylers?"
"Tuck took his wife and children on a trip some time ago and won't be back for another two or three months. Tylers should be at the Alchemy Tower. Should I go fetch him?" Reilly asked.
"Go ahead, I'll wait for you on the terrace."
Reilly's face lit up with excitement. "Understood, Father!"
In the simulated space.
When Reilly and Tylers arrived on the terrace, there was no need for words. The three of them naturally placed their hands together.
In an instant, the world around them shifted, and they found themselves in the twisted colors of a seven-hued void.
Rhett floated silently.
Tylers, having heard they were entering the simulation world, could barely contain his excitement. "Father, where are we going this time?"
"Back to ten thousand years ago..." Rhett muttered softly, though he didn't immediately start the simulation as he had in the past.
He tried several times, searching for the right moment when a Saint-level individual had just fallen. Without reaching Saint-level strength, it would be nearly impossible to contend with the Undead Patriarch.
[Please select the initial time for the simulation world.]
"Nine thousand nine hundred years ago."
[Please select participants.]
"Me, Reilly, Tylers."
[Each simulated day consumes 1 fate point. Would you like to begin the simulation now?]
"Yes!"
With each selection made, the seven-colored light twisted and spun once again.
The world around them shifted rapidly.
This time, Rhett finally sensed the aura of a Saint's fall.
But what shocked him was that more than just one Saint had fallen—there were over ten!
Rhett's heart skipped a beat, and his expression grew heavy as he eagerly began the simulation.
As the world formed around him, Rhett felt a momentary dizziness before waking from a brief "death."
However, as soon as he opened his eyes, he felt a sharp, suspicious gaze filled with killing intent directed at him.
A chilling aura filled the air, pressing down on Rhett's soul.
Immediately on edge, Rhett glanced around at the dark sky... No, this wasn't the sky. It was the seafloor!
Looking around, he saw countless whirlpools swirling in the depths, bursting bubbles, and red blood staining the water. The mangled corpses of more than ten human Saints floated in the water, their limbs torn apart.
Suddenly, a gray mist condensed into a sword of light and shot out from a shadow deep in the sea.
In the blink of an eye, Rhett, still groggy from his recent revival, quickly cast a Rocklight Shield around himself, imbuing it with the Profoundness of Vibration. The gray misty sword barely touched the shield before it melted like butter in the heat, turning into drops of liquid that sizzled and corroded the barrier.
Rhett's heart pounded with alarm. Not only was this attack unlike any form of Profoundness he had encountered, but the mist seemed to be able to corrode his Profoundness, much like the Blood Demon's original essence—but even more aggressive.
Thankfully, the fully mastered Profoundness of Vibration proved powerful, and under its effect, the gray mist sword's liquid evaporated quickly.
"Hmm?"
A voice filled with doubt and surprise echoed from the shadows.
"A resurrection? The Profoundness of Vibration? You're not Mosley. Who are you?"
Four questions rang out one after the other, filling the sea.
A shadow suddenly condensed into a human form, but the figure remained shrouded in a thick, black fog, making it impossible to see their face.
However, the moment Rhett heard that voice, his expression shifted dramatically, and he quickly shouted:
"Heisenberg? What are you doing here?!"
Upon hearing his name, the shadow didn't seem surprised. After all, these Saints had been pursuing him, so there was already some mutual understanding between them.
But something about this man before him was strange—the face was familiar, but his demeanor and speech were unsettlingly different.
For a long moment, Heisenberg remained silent, before finally squeezing out a few words:
"How… are you still alive?"
Rhett narrowed his eyes, carefully considering how best to communicate. After all, this was a brand-new timeline in the simulation.
Originally, his plan had been to arrive at a later point in time, meet a more experienced Heisenberg who had delved deeper into alchemical fusion, and obtain more advanced knowledge from him.
Moreover, he still wanted to uncover the relationship between Heisenberg and the Undead Patriarch and whether Heisenberg had been involved in the creation of the soul passage...
Weighing his words carefully, Rhett decided to respond, "I am a subordinate of the Undead Patriarch..."
But before he could finish, a gray misty sword of light flashed toward him.
"Hmph, nonsense!" Heisenberg's expression twisted with irritation. The more Rhett spoke, the less credible he sounded, filling Heisenberg with a growing sense of danger. He decided to strike first.
"What's going on with Heisenberg? How has he changed so much in just a hundred years?" Rhett's expression darkened. Seeing Heisenberg's sudden assault, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. But he had no choice but to fight back.
"Profoundness of Vibration!"
"Profoundness of Condensation!"
Two attacks shot out in succession, one after the other. The sea roiled as two earthen-yellow beams of light, like long, surging rainbows, streaked toward Heisenberg with terrifying speed.
Heisenberg swung his black staff with force, and a ghostly figure suddenly appeared. Its face twisted with malice, shadowy tendrils swirling around it, and black mist spread out, wrapping toward Rhett.
This ghost wasn't the manifestation of any known dark profoundness, and Rhett recognized it instantly.
Recalling his previous simulation and the mysterious connection between Heisenberg and the Undead Patriarch, he had every reason to believe this power also originated from the Underworld!
The ghost's wail instantly dimmed the power of Rhett's piercing strike, effortlessly dissolving it.
As the ghost advanced toward Rhett, the pressure on his soul grew heavier.
"Hmph, if that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Rhett's eyes burned with anger. Since Heisenberg refused to communicate, there was no need to hold back. Otherwise, his own life might be at risk soon.
"Profoundness of Dissolution!"
The seawater rippled with earthen-yellow waves.
Brilliant patterns spread through the water, and soon the entire seabed seemed to become a world of earth elements. Under the influence of the fully mastered gravity space, Heisenberg's body was immobilized, his expression betraying a hint of panic.
In the next moment, a piercing strike shot out as fast as lightning. It seemed plain and unremarkable but was aimed directly and accurately at Heisenberg's chest!
Heisenberg's pupils contracted. His mental energy surged, and the ghost immediately reversed direction.
The ghost seemed almost unaffected by the gravity space, quickly turning around and speeding toward the incoming strike. Tendrils of black mist formed shadowy tentacles, intertwining and tangling together.
However, this time, Rhett's piercing strike carried the potent power of dissolution.
The shadowy tendrils melted away like snow under the sun. The ghost's form quickly faded, howling in agony as it glared at Rhett with terror before retreating frantically back into the staff.
"Damn it!" Heisenberg's expression changed drastically. He hadn't expected that even the trump card given to him by the Undead Patriarch would be useless against the opponent in front of him. What now?
At that moment, the ghost's interference had bought him some time, and the grip of the gravity space on him was weakening.
Heisenberg felt a surge of hope.
Boom, boom
The seabed rumbled.
Heisenberg finally broke free from the gravity space, his body flickering with black light before vanishing from sight.
He had activated the Profoundness of Invisibility, and even Rhett, with his terrifying combat power, couldn't detect Heisenberg's presence for a moment.
"This guy..." Rhett's face darkened as he clenched his right fist tightly. Was he really going to let him escape?
Given Heisenberg's current state and his hostility, letting him go would make it incredibly difficult to track him down again...
Suddenly, a thought crossed Rhett's mind, and his expression shifted slightly. He spoke with feigned calmness:
"Heisenberg, I suggest you stop running. Aren't you curious about the truth behind Tymos?"
"Do you really believe that as the top Saint at the time, his cruel treatment of you was truly his own choice?"
His words, carried by the wind elements, spread rapidly through the sea.
Rhett maintained an air of confidence, though in reality, he wasn't sure if this would work on Heisenberg.
Fortunately, he hadn't overestimated the effect. Barely two seconds later, the seabed stirred violently, and the black mist dispersed as Heisenberg's figure reappeared a hundred meters in front of Rhett, head slightly bowed. His voice was low and haunting:
"What did you just say..."
A hint of delight flickered in Rhett's heart. His ploy had worked!
Recalling what he had previously learned from Heisenberg, Rhett carefully chose his words and continued, "You should know better than anyone what I'm talking about. You're not curious as to how I know about Tymos taking you in?"
Heisenberg clenched his fists, his mind in turmoil. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Why…?"
"Because everything was orchestrated by the Undead Patriarch. Every step—taking you in, tormenting you, and even… eventually saving you and offering redemption in the darkness. He had seen your extraordinary talent early on and devised this scheme to push you toward the path of alchemy, so you could fully realize your potential."
As Rhett's words hung in the water, the underwater space suddenly fell silent.
Only the sound of Heisenberg's increasingly ragged breathing and the rapid thumping of his heart could be heard.
Heisenberg stared at Rhett, his eyes filled with disbelief. The words Rhett spoke seemed so absurd.
But strangely, he couldn't find any grounds to refute them. Everything seemed to fit together logically.
After all, this was a secret he had never shared with anyone. Apart from the Undead Patriarch, he couldn't think of anyone else who would know.
"No, no... impossible... This has to be false..."
Like a person whose faith had been shattered, Heisenberg's eyes showed a flicker of confusion, his stance becoming unsteady, and his entire body relaxing.
This would have been the perfect moment to subdue him. With a well-timed strike, Rhett had a 90% chance of capturing Heisenberg.
But seeing Heisenberg's current state, Rhett decided to hold back and observe his reaction instead.
Sensing Heisenberg's indecision, swaying between belief and disbelief, Rhett carefully calculated his next move. He decided to add fuel to the fire.
"You came to this seabed for the soul passage, didn't you?"