Chapter 12
The Key to Joseph's Bloodline
After having eaten and drunk his fill, Matthew arrived at the council chamber.
He carried a small burlap sack and entered the room where Luke was.
Luke was sitting behind an old wooden table.
Luke showed no reaction to Matthew's arrival, acting as if he hadn't seen him at all.
He slowly took a crystal ball out of the drawer, then slowly closed his eyes, seemingly sensing the information within the crystal ball.
Matthew recognized that this crystal ball was different from the recording films he made; this crystal was specifically designed to record written content.
Generally speaking, some witchcraft or research is stored in this kind of crystal.
"Lord Luke."
Luke remained unresponsive to Matthew's calls, continuing to focus intently on sensing the contents of the crystal ball.
Matthew remembered that whenever his predecessor came to see him, he always had the same arrogant attitude.
Matthew knew it was just a show of force, a way for him to assert his power.
But this is fine too. Matthew plans to take this opportunity to open the panel and start observing the items in the room.
He remembered that the original owner of this body had always been very curious about one thing in the room.
It was a mirror with an antique pattern, made entirely of a peculiar material.
This mirror cannot reflect human appearances; it seems to be some kind of medium for communicating with other dimensions.
However, when Matthew's thoughts swept across the mirror, the system's pop-up notification disappointed him.
[Insufficient mental energy; item cannot be detected.]
"It seems this item is of a higher grade than I expected."
Matthew nodded, then had no choice but to give up.
His mind continued to scan the room, examining each item placed there.
【Name: Moldy Desk】
【Title: Damaged Mural】
【Name: Sea Stone Shackles】
【…】
As Matthew's thoughts swept across the huge bookshelf in the room, a clue caught his attention.
"Huh, what's this...?"
[Title: Book "The Traveler from the Continent of Gran"]
【illustrate:……】
[Extractable content: Chronicles of the Grand Continent (book content), Map of the Kingdoms of the Grand Continent (book content)...]
"Besides extracting substances from items, the system can even extract the contents of books?"
Matthew had never thought of using the system for books before, so he only just discovered this feature.
"If that's the case, then can the contents inside the crystal ball also be extracted?"
Thinking of this, Matthew turned his gaze to the crystal ball in Luke's hand.
【Name: Knowledge Storage Crystal Ball】
Ingredients: ...
[Note: This item contains details of a bloodline awakening ritual.]
[Can be refined: Joseph's Bloodline Key]
"As expected! The contents of the crystal ball can also be extracted!"
"Judging from the description, this ritual should be related to bloodline potential. If we can refine it, it might be used to unleash the potential of the Flame Devourer bloodline."
"No matter what, why not take it?"
"System, extract 'The Key to Joseph's Bloodline'!"
However, the system's notification the next moment was like a bucket of cold water poured on him.
[Note: Refining is not possible outside the specified range. Please move closer to the item before refining!]
"I never imagined that the function of extracting knowledge would have distance limitations."
Just as Matthew was thinking about how to get access to books.
A deep voice interrupted his thoughts.
Matthew.
"Lord Luke."
"Okay, bring the things over here."
Matthew's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward.
He put down the sack containing the recordings, and a dull thud came from the table.
At the same time, Matthew looked at the crystal ball not far from the table, quickly opened the system, and silently recited in his mind.
"System, extract 'The Key to Joseph's Bloodline'!"
However, the same prompt popped up again a moment later.
[Note: Refining is not possible outside the specified range. Please move closer to the item before refining!]
"The distance is still not enough. Does this mean that abstract content like knowledge, which has no physical form, requires physical contact with an object to be extracted?"
Luke picked up a recording and fiddled with it in his hand, then spoke.
"Matthew, the quality of recent documentary films has dropped a lot."
Matthew remained silent.
Although this batch of Dharma recordings was completed under Matthew's rush, he has produced hundreds of Dharma recordings.
Their manufacturing skills are so high that there's practically no possibility of quality issues.
Matthew could tell from Luke's tone that he had more to say.
"As you know, the school's pioneering progress has recently encountered a bottleneck."
"Those damned Snow Fangs seem to have sensed something; they've allied themselves with some native creatures."
"The school plans to take action against them in a month and wipe them out completely."
"Therefore, the school of thought urgently needs manpower..."
At that moment, Matthew had a bad feeling.
"Matthew, you did a very good job in the last Snowfang Clan conscription."
"Mold has a very high opinion of you, and after discussion, the school of thought believes you are someone worth cultivating."
"so……"
"You are being dispatched to participate in the next cleanup operation."
At this moment, Matthew's mood sank to rock bottom.
Although they knew the school would launch another purge against the Snow Fang Clan.
However, the school's mandatory conscription has always been a random assignment.
Matthew had been hoping he might not be selected, but to his surprise, the school assigned him directly this time.
"Mold..."
"We won't need to make these documentary films anymore."
"Go back and prepare well."
Luke put the documentary film into the cabinet and then fell silent, calmly staring at Matthew as if seeing him off.
Matthew glanced at the crystal ball so close to his eyes on the table, but ultimately did not make any rash moves.
He turned and left, walking towards the door of the room.
But just then, that deep voice came from behind again.
"Matthew, have you forgotten something?"
Matthew turned around in confusion and found Luke still sitting behind the table, but a rag had appeared on the table at some point.
"Did you forget to clean my room?"
Matthew then remembered that Luke had a habit of having every apprentice who came to him clean for him.
In fact, Luke only needs a Cleaning spell to handle tasks like cleaning and tidying.
However, Luke did not do that; he preferred to watch others clean for him by hand.
Because he enjoys this sense of power.
Luke glanced at Matthew, who was still standing there, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
"What's wrong? You don't want to?"
But to Luke's surprise, Matthew smiled broadly and shouted.
"Yes, I do!"
He grabbed a rag, looked at the crystal on the table, and said with a sincere expression.
"Sir, your crystal ball looks a bit dirty. Let me clean it for you!"