Capítulo 986: Chapter 984: Brainwashing
On the other side.
A day later, in the eting room of the Truth Society Delan Branch, Richard t with the hurried Supervisor Long i’er.
This ti, Long i’er did not hold a rabbit as he did before, but sat directly in his seat and looked at Richard, asking, “Is the task in Saint Louis City completed?”
“Completed.” Richard nodded, took out the transcribed “Void Book” from his bosom, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Long i’er. “This is the upper half of the book you were looking for. It’s the original version. As agreed, I’m here to exchange it for the lower half.”
“Very good.” Long i’er nodded, took the “Void Book,” skimd through it, and put it away. Without any nonsense, he flipped his hand to take out a similar “Void Book” and handed it over.
This book, compared to the one from Saint Louis City, has a darker cover, showing a purplish-black color, while the Saint Louis City book is deep blue.
While handing over the book, Long i’er spoke with interest, looking at Richard and saying, “Wizard Richard, I hope this is your last ti making an unauthorized request, considering you’ve violated the organization’s regulations several tis already. I hope once you have the ‘Void Book’, you’ll truly comprehend that you’ve been on the wrong path all along and return to the correct one sooner.”
“Let’s hope so.” Richard responded expressionlessly.
Speaking, he took the lower half of the “Void Book,” not wanting to stay any longer, saying, “Then, if there’s nothing else, Supervisor, I’ll be leaving now.”
After speaking, he nodded as a farewell, stood up, and walked towards the door.
Just as he was about to reach the door, Long i’er’s voice called out from behind, “Wizard Richard, please wait a mont.”
Hmm?
Richard stopped in his tracks, frowned slightly, then relaxed his brow, looking at Long i’er without changing his expression and asked, “Supervisor, is there sothing you need?”
“Nothing much.” Long i’er stood up, walked slowly over to stand beside him, saying, “I just feel we haven’t communicated much. As an excellent mber of the branch, although you haven’t entered the core layer yet, your capabilities and potential are impressive. I think it’s necessary to talk more with you. You know, our organization does pay attention to its mbers, but… these days have been really busy for , which is why I neglected that.”
Pausing for a mont, Long i’er said, “Alright, if you’re not busy, why don’t you take a walk with ?”
Looking at Long i’er, Richard’s thoughts turned, unsure of the other’s intent, cautiously nodded and said, “Fine.”
Long i’er smiled, stepped forward, and led the way out of the eting room.
Then they passed through a long corridor to the base exit and walked out.
…
Outside the base, it was a vast field where nurous plants grew.
Richard walked forward with Long i’er who remained silent. Unable to read his thoughts, Richard felt a bit alert.
After walking several dozen ters, Long i’er suddenly stopped and looked ahead.
Following his gaze, Richard saw a gray mouse appear on a rock several ters away, cautiously scanning its surroundings, seemingly scouting its environnt or foraging for food.
After turning its head around once, the gray mouse noticed Richard and Long i’er, letting out a sharp “squeak”, and swiftly sprinted in the opposite direction.
Long i’er raised his hand, flicked a crystal-clear ice cone of more than ten centiters, pinning it accurately in front of the gray mouse’s escape path without killing it.
The gray mouse, startled, abruptly changed direction, running to the left.
“Whish!”
Long i’er threw another crystal-clear ice cone, blocking the gray mouse’s escape route.
The gray mouse was shocked again, shifted direction a second ti, and ran to the right.
“Whish!”
Long i’er threw a third crystal-clear ice cone, intercepting the gray mouse.
Now, the gray mouse had only one direction left, which was where Richard and Long i’er stood.
As if realizing the dire situation, the gray mouse looked over and let out a few despairing “squeaks”, then its body stiffened and fell straight to the ground.
Did it commit suicide? Or die of fright? Richard couldn’t help thinking.
Beside him, Long i’er suddenly burst into laughter and said, “It’s faking death.”
“Faking death?”
“Yes, faking death.” Long i’er smiled as he approached, grabbed the gray mouse by the tail and lifted it to eye level for a glance, then casually placed it back on the ground.
With its eyes tightly shut, the gray mouse cautiously cracked its eyes open for a peek, then quietly started moving away. Once it had moved a certain distance, thinking Long i’er and Richard couldn’t see it anymore, it bolted, disappearing across the field in no ti.
“See, it’s playing dead.” Long i’er watched the gray mouse leave and spoke to Richard with so admiration, “I must say, it’s a very smart animal, possessing intelligence comparable to human children. Yet, at the sa ti, we must understand, despite its cleverness, it still has limitations.”
Richard listened, feeling sothing stir within as he looked at Long i’er. He had a premonition that what Long i’er was about to say was the crux of the matter.
Indeed, the next mont, Long i’er said, “Wizard Richard, you know, like that gray mouse just now, it can never truly understand the world. Because, no matter how smart they are, they are just mice, not humans.
If they want to understand the world, the quickest way is not to explore slowly but to find a human Wise Man, try to communicate, ask questions, and then comprehend everything they’re told.”
“In a certain sense, aren’t we also like gray mice?” Long i’er continued, “We’re just a bit stronger. Wizard Richard, let tell you, I’ve t many intelligent people. But no matter how smart they are, their vision is limited. One must see, recognize, and admit one’s limitations to embrace a greater existence. Do you understand what I an?”
At the end, Long i’er looked over earnestly.
Richard blinked his eyes, looked at Long i’er and asked, “Is the so-called greater existence referring to God?”
“Ha.” Long i’er laughed, then turned serious again, “You could say that. Of course, from our organization’s perspective, it’s also known as absolute truth.”
“Absolute truth?”
“Yes, absolute truth – the absolute, infallible truth, is our ultimate pursuit. I hope one day you can wholeheartedly pursue it; then you can beco a core mber of the organization.”
“Wizard Richard, after you go back, ponder over my words solemnly. I hope by our next eting, so of your thoughts will have changed.” Long i’er turned to Richard and said. Without further ado, he transford into a golden light and shot skyward, strafing across the sky and disappearing into the northwest.
Richard watched Long i’er disappear, withdrew his gaze, pursed his lips, and muttered to himself, “Brainwashing? Preaching? Huh…”
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