Super Righteous Player-Chapter 1129 - 180: Play by the Rules

The current situation seems somewhat different from Annan’s initial judgment.

Annan could tell that what he was saying was sincere, not an act.

The Tower Master named Julius is indeed a very responsible person.

He does not seek greater power and prefers to give up power to maintain reason, with the purpose of improving his work.

He practices the way of mediation, using himself as an example and guiding those who follow in his footsteps.

...Although this is not a path that needs much guidance.

Such an excellent Wizard... a duty-bound clan leader and Tower Master, would he really become an accomplice with Ingrid?

To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Annan does not intend to be secretive, deducing based on the other party’s behavior pattern and the scarce information revealed—many tragedies happen under the situation where "one party does not speak clearly, and the other party does not seek clarification."

It is well known that riddlers should be locked up in Arkham.

And with the confidence Annan has now... there is indeed no need for him to be evasive.

He is not only the ruler of the Winter Duchy but also a future deity.

Seeing Julius’s reaction, he probably also knows about the "Book of the Celestial Chariot."

...However, this fact could sidey prove that Julius does recognize Ingrid. Otherwise, with his social circle, it would be nearly impossible for him to know all this. Even among gods, there are only so many who know that "Annan is the Celestial Chariot."

Annan suddenly felt nostalgic.

If it were "Black Annan," another self, what would he do?

He would probably be at home, thinking calmly. He would not venture to the Magma Forbidden Tower or delve into danger without clarifying things. He might not even come to the kingdom himself, but would ruthlessly send players to charge into battle.

But for the current Annan—rather than thinking, he is more inclined to ask; rather than plotting, he prefers to adapt to situations.

"Although it may be a bit rude..."

So, Annan stopped pondering.

He directly asked, "But there are some things I need to confirm first, Lord Julius.

"...Do you know Ingrid?"

"I do. You are talking about the ’Eternal Maiden’ Ingrid, I certainly know her."

Julius’s calm and gentle voice rose in the void: "She is the Tower’s Child I have chosen."

Julius did not hide this fact.

"Then why—"

"I also know what you are here for, Your Majesty Annan."

Julius interrupted Annan.

He just made a calm and open voice: "But I must clarify first... Ingrid is no longer here.

"About a few hours ago. Probably when you were on your way, she had already sensed it."

"...Is it the divination ability of the Idol Wizard?"

"Unless there’s a surprise, it is."

Julius gave an affirmative answer: "After all, she was once the Tower Master of the Thousand-Faced Phantom Tower, a Gold-tier Idol Wizard. Even though she has now forsaken most of her power, her essence remains unchanged."

"Forsaken power?"

Annan keenly discerned the most important piece of intelligence.

Julius did not respond ambiguously.

Instead, with a tone almost unchanged, gentle and soft, he replied: "Yes. She voluntarily gave up her position as the Tower Master and therefore fell back to the rank of Silver.

"Although she still has a Stigmatized soul and could have advanced back to Gold, she did not. Until now, Ingrid remains just a Silver. As to the specific reason, Your Majesty, you should know."

"...Is it because it’s not convenient for a Transcendent of the Gold rank to interact with mortals?"

Annan immediately guessed the real reason: "She is no longer the Tower Master... so if this advancement fails again, she won’t be able to step back down to Silver rank."

There are not many professions that can be "abandoned".

Upon reaching the Gold rank, one’s soul essence changes fundamentally from that of mortals. Just knowing the Curse Bindings of Gold rank can create immense soul pressure. Even speaking the true name of another can possibly lead to being sensed by them. Most abilities of lower-ranked Transcendents are directly immune to a Gold rank Transcendent.

Although Annan took down many enemies of the Gold rank when he was Silver... that was because he had the Book of Truth and the Philosopher’s Stone.

If Ingrid maintained her Gold rank status, it’s almost impossible for her to start from scratch and nurture a Transcendent capable of advancing to Gold, one who would harbor "love" as an essential element for the advancement.

Just projecting "love" towards Ingrid could spontaneously trigger a suppression of one’s life essence, making one quiver uncontrollably.

Simply put, if one became too emotionally involved with her, they would lose sanity.

——And this process, it’s just too much like some sort of ritual.

Even if Ingrid erased her own memories, the other person might sense the essence and thereby harbor doubts. Without "complete love," there can be no sublimation through love.

...Moreover, it is indeed "some kind of ritual" for her. This means she can’t even claim innocence through "making vows."

"Obtaining [love] by suppressing your own power, huh?"

Annan scoffed: "Isn’t this just like a young lady hiding her identity to experience love? If one cannot place one hundred percent trust, build love based on understanding with the other party... then such ’love’ obtained in this way is nothing but a lie.

"Even if the relationship can continue after coming clean, it is only because ’the other party doesn’t mind the status’ or ’they think it doesn’t affect much,’ or ’they find this new truth to be even better’.

"In other words, after quantifying and affirming the love between them, it’s ’not worth’ letting it lead to a fallout.

"——But she needs the purest form of love, right? The kind of [love] that could sublimate into an element, unfading with time..."

"I indeed tried to persuade her."

Unexpectedly, Julius did not disagree with Annan’s statement: "I told her at the time, ’This will complicate and impurify your [love].’ She countered by saying—since she had already ascended to Gold rank, it’s an irrevocable fact. Therefore, no matter what, this love is definitely not pure, and so she must choose a plan that can ’conceal this impurity’."

Annan slightly furrowed his brows upon hearing this.

Could it be that Ingrid and Julius’s relationship is close enough to exchange her true plans...

But if their relationship is that good, why would Julius reveal this information?

As if hearing Annan’s thoughts,

Julius spoke gently: "The reason she could become the Tower’s Child is actually to gain ’power that can be discarded at any time.’

"She has her own path and will not deviate by an inch because of external factors. It is this nature of [not coveting the inheritance of the Magma Forbidden Tower] that makes her most eligible for the inheritance according to the rules. By the rules, I must give her the position of Tower’s Child.

"Even compared with the Storm Tower that suppresses natural disasters around the world... the [destructive power] of the Magma Forbidden Tower is undoubtedly the most formidable. Only those who do not care for this power but can control themselves not to use it are qualified to inherit this position.

"Arthur, even if it’s you returning anew, you are not more suitable than Ingrid to inherit the Magma Forbidden Tower. Able to master the inheritance of the Thousand-Faced Phantom Tower, having once been the ’Faceless’, Ingrid could almost handle any profession."

His voice was warm and polite, so polite it was nearly humbling.

It seemed emotional, yet emotionless.

Julius then said: "You were indeed my chosen successor back in the day. But you are indeed not as excellent as her—and it is the fairness of these rules that I must maintain."