novellhall Chapter 68: Curse Removal and Amulet
Chapter 68: Curse Removal and Amulet
After hearing about the old man's many titles, Ivan felt genuine admiration.
He took a deep breath, put the bag into his suit pocket, and then spoke.
"Doctor. I discovered something on my way here."
He sat up straight and recounted, word for word, how Alcott controlled the female students and how the Phoenix Brotherhood operated.
As Armitage listened, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
After Evan finished speaking, he tapped the table lightly with his knuckles.
"The Theosophical Society..."
He sighed.
"We've also received some updates about them."
"They are indeed conducting research related to the Old Gods."
He adjusted his reading glasses.
"Have they already started using their abilities to control civilians...?"
"I can guess what will happen next with my own two feet."
The old man's voice carried a heavy weariness, a weariness born from having experienced too much.
Then he snorted coldly.
That groan carried a suppressed killing intent belonging to an old soldier, something he had held back for many years.
"Those capitalists don't care."
He squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.
"We'll take care of it."
He raised his head and looked directly at Evan.
Those old, cloudy eyes suddenly became as sharp as an old sword drawn from its sheath.
"My faction."
He spoke slowly.
"The principle is to avenge wrongs and settle grievances."
"Only in this way can one remain steadfast and focused when facing true fear."
"Since he has a grudge against you, that's perfect."
He tapped the table with his finger.
"Arkham".
"You're in charge of investigating this line."
He paused for a moment.
"I'll cover for you."
Ivan straightened his back slightly.
"Remember this."
Armitage softened his tone again.
"Don't harm ordinary people excessively."
Ivan paused for a second before asking a question that truly concerned him.
"What if those guys he controls attack me like madmen?"
Armitage countered with a question.
"Does that still qualify someone as an ordinary person?"
Ivan grinned.
"Of course not."
Armitage nodded in satisfaction.
"An apprentice-level cultivator cannot permanently control a person's desires. The effect lasts for a maximum of 6 hours, and a maximum of 6 people can be controlled simultaneously."
He tapped the table with his knuckles.
"Under these circumstances, he was still able to gather so many people around him..."
"This shows that they are not all simply victims."
Hill sneered and uttered four words.
"Each has their own ulterior motives."
Evan nodded thoughtfully.
Having acquired his identity as a member of the University of Michigan, he also gained a preliminary understanding of the organization.
The fact that someone can be trusted by both Richard and Hill is itself a form of endorsement.
Moreover, Armitage is a legendary investigator at the University of Michigan.
From that unwavering "we'll take care of it" just now, one can clearly see the old man's deep-seated hatred of evil.
All of this points to one conclusion.
The University of Michigan is likely one of the few organizations in the supernatural world that still retains a conscience.
After making his decision, Armitage leaned back in his chair and continued speaking.
"However, since the other party is a cultivator apprentice, it means that in addition to the manipulation of desires, he has mastered at least one or even two additional extraordinary characteristics."
He tapped the table lightly with his knuckles.
"You must pay attention to this."
"Cultivators are notoriously weak in terms of physical strength. So, nine times out of ten, they will use other extraordinary characteristics to strengthen their bodies."
"Besides being physically weak, cultivators have another core flaw: they cannot control their desires."
Ivan was taken aback: "A cultivator who can control his desires... can't control his own desires?"
Armitage chuckled: "If he could control himself, he wouldn't be a monk."
In an instant, Ivan understood: "So, what cultivators cultivate is the control over their own desires?"
Armitage nodded: "Yes, that's where the name comes from."
Ivan quickly and carefully memorized this important intelligence.
"Doctor. I had a conflict with Alcott on the train. He seemed to have used his powers on me."
He subconsciously touched his chest.
"I felt my will to resist... seemed to decrease briefly for a moment."
Hill suddenly grabbed Evan's elbow.
"You can actually sense a cultivator's control over your desires?"
Her voice carried an uncontrollable shock.
"And they even precisely identified the species?"
Evan gave a vague explanation.
"It was just a feeling. I suddenly felt very peaceful. A kind of peace that shouldn't have been there in that situation."
Armitage looked Ivan up and down, a hint of interest appearing in his eyes.
"It seems you are quite spiritually sensitive."
"I've heard that you haven't even scratched the surface of many things."
"I happen to have some time today."
He turned to look at Hill.
"Adolf, if you're tired, go and rest. I'll give him a simple lesson on the basics of breaking spells and making amulets."
Hill visibly relaxed after hearing this. The exhaustion from working non-stop these past few days was evident in her eyes.
"Thank you, Doctor."
She bowed slightly to him.
"I'd like to use the meditation room on the third floor."
Armitage nodded.
"Go."
Hill's footsteps faded away along the wooden staircase, eventually disappearing in the direction of the third floor.
Only Armitage and Ivan remained in the office.
The old man took out a perfectly polished amber stone from the drawer, placed it in his palm, and began to slowly rub the crystal-clear little stone with his thumb.
"magic."
He spoke slowly.
"A rather broad vocabulary. A vocabulary that can encompass all extraordinary fantasies."
"To mortals, the extraordinary is equivalent to magic."
"But for us..."
His fingers paused for a moment, and the amber reflected the sky outside the window.
"There is no essential difference between magic and a farmer's hoe or a soldier's gun."
Ivan listened intently.
"The essence of magic is the extension of extraordinary qualities."
Armitage put down the amber stone.
"It uses external forces to amplify our extraordinary abilities or to activate capabilities that we cannot normally use."
"Day of the week, lunar phase, ley lines, holidays, etc., all these factors affect the power and success rate of magic."
He picked up the amber again, stood up, and walked around to the desk.
He tapped the stone with his thumb.
"For example, today is Saturday, and the corresponding planet is Saturn. This day is the most suitable for casting spells such as protection, defense, and exorcism."
"Perfect."
He turned to look at Evan.
"Right now, you're more eager for the undoing of the curse and the amulet."
"Today is a good day for teaching."
Evan raised his hand curiously.
"Professor, I understand breaking the curse. It means removing the curse."
"What exactly are the uses of those amulets?"
Armitage smiled.
"There are two main types of amulets: talismans for warding off evil and amulets for protecting the wearer."
"The purpose of an amulet is to ward off evil spirits and protect the wearer from certain threats."
He held up the amber stone.
"They are generally made of natural materials with protective properties. For example, silver can repel thirsty creatures. Amber can repel insects."
"The function of amulets is to sense and attract."
He sat back down at his desk.
"You can attract wealth and harmony through amulets. You can also use them to sense the presence of certain things, or to provide the wearer with blessings in a specific direction."
Ivan nodded in conclusion.
"Amulet for warding off evil: Mostly made of natural materials, its purpose is for defense."
"Amulet: entirely handmade, its function is similar to a tool."
Armitage nodded, his eyes showing a hint of approval.
"That's a very accurate summary, kid."
He put down the amber stone, took an old-fashioned fountain pen from the drawer, and drew a simple circle on a piece of parchment spread out on the table.
"And the essence of breaking the curse is a kind of extraordinary overlay."
He made circles with his pen.
"You are enveloped by something extraordinary, and you will be affected by it."
"To remove the effects, you need to hedge with another extraordinary ability or implement a new overlay."
"The two extraordinary abilities cancel each other out, thus eliminating the effect."
He raised his head.
"but."
"The prerequisite for actively breaking the curse is that you must fully master a supernatural characteristic."
He looked directly at Evan.
"Have you mastered it now?"
Ivan shook his head helplessly.
"I'm not an apprentice yet, Doctor."
Armitage hesitated for a few seconds.
"Wait a moment."
He stood up and walked towards the small, closed room next door.
It seems there's something he wants to give to Evan.