Chapter 22: Shackles
Kaden, with her communication skills, quickly became friends with Ruby.
For someone who once worked in the Governor's Office, this was a piece of cake.
After all, she could handle even those hypocritical politicians with ease, so tackling a medieval little maid with no insight was a walk in the park.
Despite Kaden being known for her caution, this caution was mainly aimed at her equals.
Like Li Yu, and perhaps other transmigrators from another realm like her.
Although over this past month, Kaden had dealt with most of them and didn't find anyone particularly noteworthy.
As for the original inhabitants of this continent, given the technology and civilization gap of nearly a thousand years, in Kaden's eyes, they were as blind and ignorant as infants.
With Ruby's help, Kaden successfully managed to skip the line and arrived at the Temple early the next morning.
By this time, Ruby was full of admiration for Kaden, this new Servant of the Double Rest Sect seemed to know everything and was approachable, witty, and funny.
For a girl of her age, Kaden had a fatal attraction.
Along the way, Ruby would occasionally steal a glance at Kaden, only to quickly look away when caught, her ears turning slightly red, like a startled little deer.
Upon entering the Temple, Ruby instinctively stopped and asked Kaden to go ahead and receive the oracle.
But Kaden gently said, "The queen sent you to divine for the army; this is important, so there's no need to defer to me."
"Oh, oh, oh." Ruby nodded quickly like a pecking chicken before proceeding with two temple guards to the central stone platform.
Ruby first bowed to the stone platform, then completed all operational procedures with the help of a young Servant.
When she returned, her face was full of joy.
"Looks like the result is good," Kaden remarked, "The queen and her army will surely triumph this time."
Ruby said excitedly, "Our lord Sabbath gave the oracle, saying it would be a great victory. The three of us went up one by one for instructions, and this was the result each time."
"Great, I suppose it's my turn now."
Kaden smiled gently and walked to the stone platform, where the person responsible for interpreting the oracle for the followers today was a young male Sabbath named Da Vinci, whose real name, Kaden recalled, was Wu Yang, a freelance illustrator in his previous life.
When Kaden reached Wu Yang, she didn't rush to click on the electronic dictionary on the platform but pointed to the wall behind him, "Did you paint that? Does it have a name?"
Wu Yang looked in the direction Kaden pointed, it was a mural he was halfway through creating.
The mural's sky was taken up by a massive thundercloud, with some winged Wing Tribe falling continuously accompanied by Thunder.
The entire painting used an extremely stark contrast of light and shade, giving it an inexplicable sense of solemnity and sanctity.
"Oh, it's Divine Punishment, that's the painting's name, Divine Punishment."
"It's beautiful, even though I don't know much about art, I can tell it's a masterpiece, you must have been very famous in another world."
Wu Yang shook his head, "I was just an ordinary illustrator."
"Here, your talent won't go unnoticed. These works will be passed down for millennia like this Temple and might become tourist attractions in the future, with art students eager to mimic your paintings.
"And surely, they will discover your painting skills that surpass the ages."
Wu Yang felt a bit embarrassed by her words, rubbing his nose, "Is there something I can help you with?"
Kaden winked at him, lowering her voice, "Yes, I'm actually here this time because of a relationship problem. I've fallen for someone and want to confess, but I'm not sure it will succeed, it would be too embarrassing if it fails."
Wu Yang was already accustomed to such things, "Yes, some people do use the Holy Artifact to predict their love life as a substitute for a confession."
"Hmm, I can understand the Chinese characters on the electronic dictionary... so, could you just tell me how to operate it myself, since I'd rather my crush not be known."
Seeing Wu Yang hesitate, Kaden quickly added, "I know you have your duties, you don't need to go too far, just stand to the side, you can still watch me as long as you can't see the words on the electronic dictionary."
"Alright then." Wu Yang thought for a moment and decided there was no issue, with four temple guards standing next to the platform, they could handle most emergencies.
So he agreed, "You just have to follow the prompts to input."
Kaden thanked him again, and Wu Yang stepped aside.
Kaden looked at the black and white text that appeared on the screen.
Welcome to the [Uncertainty Life Simulator beta version].
Each user is only allowed one simulation per month.
Start simulation? Y to start. N to cancel.
Kaden pressed the Y key.
A line of small text appeared on the screen again.
Please fill in the simulation time: __ months. (Note: The longer the time, the lower the accuracy)
Kaden thought for a moment and filled in 7.
The screen first went dark, then lit up again.
The accuracy of this simulation is 56%.
[Month 1: As the queen's advisor, you joined her expedition, arriving at the Golden Valley and achieving a good start.]
[Month 2: You are unstoppable, the war progresses smoothly, and you easily reclaim the Golden Valley.]
[Month 3: You are satisfied with the current progress of the work.]
[Month 4: You have a suitor; she confesses to you, but you have no interest; however, for work purposes, you eventually accept her.]
[Month 5: You are satisfied with the current progress of the work, your lover is deeply in love with you and is willing to do anything for you.]
[Month 6: You are satisfied with the current progress of the work.]
[Month 7: You feel accustomed to your current life, although the sanitary conditions are not ideal, and you really miss sanitary pads, your job is progressing smoothly, and the target seems resigned to his fate.]
Kaden read through the simulator's text swiftly, then without hesitation, clicked exit, and simultaneously, a look of disappointment appeared on her face.
Wu Yang, by the side, asked, "How was it, not too successful, huh?"
Kaden sighed, "I guess I'm not very attractive, externally, at least not now."
"What a pity."
"Who isn't saying that, but it's okay, I'm not a little girl anymore, I won't cry or whine, just need some time to digest it, and I'll soon bounce back. Besides, we all have the mission given to us by Sabbath."
"You deserve better."
Kaden thanked Wu Yang once more, and then walked out of the Temple.
Once leaving the Temple, a smile immediately surfaced on her face again, for after reading Li Yu's profile, she had thought of using the simulator to test Li Yu's loyalty.
This way, if Li Yu ever harbored thoughts of betrayal, the simulator would give a preemptive warning.
Initially, the Double Rest Sect probably didn't anticipate that their purchase of this piece of equipment would one day become his shackle.
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