SCIAW: Chapter 459/461

Chapter 459: A More Complex Hidden Method

She carefully got out of bed, making sure not to disturb her still-sleeping sister.

Shiho quietly left the room, gently closing the door, and went alone into the living room.

The slight chill in the air made her feel unexpectedly refreshed.

“Lord, has he gone out?”

She looked up at the clock. It was already past nine.

“…I woke up too late.”

In just three more hours it would be noon, and honestly, she felt today’s wake-up time was far too late.

Normally, she would go to bed around two or three in the morning and wake up by seven.

But Shiho also knew why she and her sister had slept in so late today, and why her sister still hadn’t woken up yet.

She sat down on the sofa and, for the first time, completely let go of her ladylike composure.

“This kind of relaxed feeling… it’s really nice.”

There was no research weighing on her, nor the fear of Gin pointing a gun at her.

“In the future, I can research what I truly like.”

But with her current power, she knew she would need to set up her own laboratory and even cultivate the necessary experimental materials herself.

The Planter’s abilities were truly versatile. They could transform soil, purify pests and diseases, and create the conditions for life. Truly a chosen path for cultivation.

“Once safety is guaranteed, I can establish a laboratory.”

Even without Ren’s detailed explanation, Shiho understood that her new power required deeper familiarity before she could pursue greater strength.

Which meant she had to use it more often.

And then there was the matter of continuing research on APTX.

Shiho thought for a moment, then slightly shook her head.

The medicinal ingredients for that drug were far too precious. Some couldn’t be bought with money at all. Not to mention, those rare materials would not only attract attention from the Organization, but also from the police.

“Click.”

The sound of the front door opening interrupted her thoughts.

Shiho immediately stood up and walked quickly to the entrance.

She saw Ren walk in, wearing a thick coat and carrying several bags in his hands.

Shiho hurried forward to take them.

“Let me help.”

The bags looked heavy, yet once she held them, they felt surprisingly light. She glanced at her hands in disbelief.

“Did I… get stronger?”

“Yes. Much stronger.”

“If a Planter can’t even lift a hoe, how could they cultivate? Each Sequence corresponds to a different profession, and naturally they specialize in different areas. Your main pathway is the Planter, so with that power, your physical strength also improves.”

Shiho then realized that beyond extraordinary spirituality, her body had also been enhanced.

“What about Sister…”

“Different pathways enhance different aspects at each node. Your sister is a Secrets Suppliant of Sequence 9. At this stage, she has stronger spirituality than you and is far more skilled at ritual magic, which is something you lack.”

Shiho nodded slightly.

This was her first time hearing such information, but it made sense.

Different Sequences naturally led to different powers and specialties. Otherwise, there would be no need for such divisions.

She carried the two bags easily into the kitchen.

Sure enough, they were filled with various ingredients.

Shiho began sorting them, placing items neatly into the refrigerator, which had more than enough space.

Her eyes soon landed on a stack of instant noodles.

Ah, so the Lord likes instant noodles too. Could it be that he isn’t good at cooking?

Shiho wasn’t particularly skilled herself. At most, she could slice some sausage and vegetables into instant noodles, maybe fry a couple of eggs.

Thinking this, she leaned out from the kitchen bar counter.

“Lord, I’ll prepare breakfast today…”

“Hmm. If you can handle it, I’ll leave it to you. That works out well, I need some time to prepare a few things.”

Shiho’s sharp eyes noticed the two small boxes in Ren’s hands. They looked like jewelry cases, the kind meant for earrings.

So, creating artifacts required a physical vessel.

She knew those artifacts were intended for her and her sister.

Not wanting to disturb him, she turned back to the kitchen and began adding nutritional elements to the otherwise unhealthy instant noodles.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Ren began preparing extraordinary artifacts for the Miyano sisters.

What he needed to craft this time was actually very simple: a cognitive impairment effect targeting ordinary people and extraordinary beings below Sequence 8.

Anyone who looked at the sisters would not perceive them as Shiho and her sister. Instead, a layer of misdirection would cover their identities.

This meant there was no need to alter their physical appearances with artifacts. A simpler method was enough. By filtering perception at the cognitive level, no one would recognize them.

But then there were fingerprints and DNA.

Those two were troublesome. In the world of Lord of the Mysteries, such things didn’t exist. But in modern times, this technology was everywhere.

Oh, right. Wouldn’t it be better to just conceal fingerprints and DNA altogether?

The concealment authority of the River of Eternal Darkness could block even the gaze of True Gods. Compared to that, modern science was nothing.

So, conceal all key information to prevent detection, then use cognitive impairment to stop recognition by appearance.

This method was more complicated than simply making fake faces, but unlike fake faces that could fail, this method had no flaws.

After deciding on the solution, Ren immediately began creating the cognitive impairment earrings.

And this step, compared to the rest, was much simpler.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 460: Sister, it’s me

He infused the ability of thought misdirection he possessed into the earrings, shaping it as a blessing and transforming them into cognitive impairment earrings.

Their primary function was to cause people to misperceive the wearer, preventing recognition of their true identity.

Hmm, that should be sufficient.

After confirming the abilities of the extraordinary item he had just crafted, Ren was certain that his skills in creating artifacts were still intact.

The next step was concealing the Miyano sisters' information. Once that was done, combined with the earrings, their identities could be completely hidden.

The scent of instant noodles suddenly drifted through the room.

Ren's attention shifted toward the kitchen. He leaned over and saw Shiho busily moving about, her actions orderly but clearly unskilled. Even a scientist proficient in research could still be clumsy in the kitchen.

Fortunately, she was only making instant noodles.

One could see Shiho carefully trying to add nutrition to the otherwise unhealthy noodles, frying eggs while cutting vegetables and boiling the noodles.

Ren did not interrupt, simply waiting for her to finish.

Soon, Shiho was done cooking.

She served the noodles and vegetables into three bowls, placing a fried egg into each one. Breakfast was complete.

Still not very good at this.

Looking at the vegetables she had chopped, rough and uneven—Shiho once again felt that she was not suited for housework.

When she turned around, Ren was already standing outside the kitchen counter.

"My Lord, it's ready."

"Mm. Since you're finished, you can also try the Cognitive Impairment Earrings I just completed."

Following Ren's words, Shiho finally saw the earrings inside the gift box.

They gave off a faint silvery sheen. The design was simple, not eye-catching, just a pair of plain silver earrings.

But Shiho thought that this choice was perfect. Considering their special function, an ordinary, unobtrusive style was exactly what they needed.

"My Lord, how exactly do we use them?"

"It's simple. Once you put them on, the effect remains active. But for you and your sister, once you wear them, you must not take them off at any time."

"Thank you very much, My Lord."

Shiho bowed again in gratitude.

"For my sister and me, simply wearing these earrings continuously to avoid being targeted by the Organization is already the easiest price to pay."

She looked at the two pairs of earrings, then picked one up. Without even using a mirror, she smoothly fastened it to her earlobe.

The earrings were not conspicuous, serving only as decoration, yet they still added a hint of maturity to her appearance.

"My Lord, how will I know if they are working?"

"They impair cognitive recognition. For example, when you see someone familiar on the street, you subconsciously search your memory for information about them. With cognitive impairment, that process is disrupted. Unable to connect the face with memory, you simply won't remember who that person is.

"Even if a core member of the Organization stands before you, they won't believe you're Shiho Miyano. In their eyes, you'll be an unrelated stranger.

"Of course, this effect is absolute for ordinary people without spirituality. But for those with extraordinary power, the earrings will only work as long as you don't actively speak to them."

I see.

From this simple explanation, Shiho realized just how unreasonable this ability was.

A function designed specifically against ordinary people.

But she was also certain. As long as she wore these earrings, no one in the Organization would ever recognize her or her sister again.

Normal searching relied on facial recognition. With cognitive impairment, that method became useless, and the chance of finding them would naturally drop to nearly zero.

With this realization, Shiho felt a weight lift from her heart.

The past two days had truly been blessings. Not only had she and her sister met a Lord who sheltered them, but they had also been granted power and even an artifact that erased their fear of pursuit.

The heavy burden that had pressed on them for over a decade was finally gone.

And as for whether anyone in the Organization had awakened spirituality? Shiho was certain—absolutely not.

Which meant her sister only needed to wear the earrings to completely conceal her identity.

"Shiho, you can test it with Akemi."

Prompted by Ren, Shiho had the same thought.

Glancing at the steaming bowls of noodles on the counter, she quickly steadied herself.

"My Lord, please wait. I'll go wake my sister so she can eat."

"Mm, go ahead."

With excitement, Shiho walked swiftly to their room. She couldn't wait to show her sister the artifact created by the Lord.

She gently pushed the door open, only to see her sister already sitting up on the bed.

"Huh?"

Akemi, who had been in a daze, suddenly focused when she saw the girl at the door.

She didn't recognize the person. But since this was the Lord's residence, she assumed the girl must also be a believer.

"Good morning. May I ask, are you also a believer of the Lord?"

Hearing her sister's question, and seeing the unfamiliar expression directed at her, Shiho froze, unable to bear it.

"Sister, it's me."

"Eh?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 461: This "Misfortune" is an Arrangement

After hearing her sister's voice, the face that had been blurry in her memory suddenly shifted, becoming clear and familiar again.

She hadn't noticed the slightly ill-fitting pajamas her sister had changed into yesterday, but now she finally realized.

"Shiho, you are…"

"An item created by the Lord."

Shiho lifted her hand and pushed back the brown hair covering her ear, revealing the silver glint of the newly acquired earring.

"As long as we keep wearing these earrings, when others see us, they won't think of Shiho Miyano and Akemi Miyano.

"For those with spirituality, we must be careful not to speak to them first, or we'll be exposed immediately. That's why it was only when I spoke that you recognized me, Sister.

"So, Sister, do you think there are people like us in that organization?"

Akemi didn't even need to think. She immediately shook her head.

"Impossible."

Yes, impossible.

Although Ren said that all things have spirituality, meaning every living being possesses it, if spirituality does not become a power one can control, then it is no different from life itself. You may possess it, but you cannot wield it.

Therefore, those who cannot become Beyonders are not qualified to use spirituality.

And the only way to become a Beyonder is through the Lord's grace.

Which meant that no one in the Organization could possibly track down the sisters now.

With this answer clear in her heart, Akemi finally felt sober.

She even shed tears she could no longer hold back.

After so many years of enduring, she could finally live under the sunlight with her sister.

"Don't cry yet. It's already 9:20. The Lord has already returned with the groceries. If we keep stalling, we'll end up delaying breakfast…"

Reminded by her sister, Akemi quickly restrained her emotions.

Knowing the exact time, she hurried to neaten her pajamas, then went out to wash up.

Soon, the two sisters were dressed neatly and entered the living room.

Akemi saw Ren smiling at her, a playful tone in his voice.

"You can finally rest easy now. How did you sleep last night?"

"Very well. I don't have to worry about the Organization anymore, and Shiho was rescued. This is a result I never dared dream of."

Akemi admitted her thoughts openly, without hesitation.

"Mm. I can tell from your expression that you're in good shape."

Ren nodded. Akemi now carried the air of a mature older sister.

"Now that you two have escaped, the Organization is in chaos. Their biggest secret has been exposed to the Police, and even the APTX formula has fallen into their hands.

"If nothing unexpected happens, both the Organization and the Police will begin keeping a close watch on you."

Both sisters understood immediately. The next stage would be the most troublesome.

Without protection, they would become targets of both sides in an instant.

"Because of the conflict between the Police and the Organization, our actions are now seen as the work of a third party. And the surviving researchers from that stronghold have already been detained. It won't take long before the disappearance of a key figure is confirmed.

"The Police will then deduce that their target is Shiho.

"From the researchers' statements, once they start investigating from Shiho, Akemi's identity will soon be exposed as well.

"At that point, the Police will conclude that Akemi, who vanished with Shiho, was the true instigator of the third party."

"When that happens, both the Police and the Organization will launch a full-scale search for you."

The sisters already knew this truth, which only made them feel all the more fortunate now.

Especially Akemi. She understood clearly that even if Gin had kept his promise to her, with her limited abilities she could never have truly protected Shiho.

Shiho also disliked her own talent because of this.

"That APTX again… Every time it's involved, misfortune follows."

Ever since she inherited responsibility for APTX, Shiho felt her life had been cursed with bad luck.

"Mm, you're right. But it may not be that APTX itself brings misfortune. More likely, your parents turned this misfortune into a way to protect you both."

"Eh?"

The sisters froze when the topic shifted to their parents.

Ren leaned his chin against the back of his hand, his eyes smiling as he looked at Shiho and explained slowly.

"Shiho, don't you think there are many researchers in the Organization? Surely there are scientists like you, maybe even ones far more accomplished?"

Shiho thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.

She had talent in biology and APTX research, surpassing her peers, but she was not the most outstanding among all those scientists. Younger researchers couldn't compare, but many older ones clearly surpassed her.

"Then why do you think you became Sherry in that Organization? You are excellent, but not the most excellent in this field."

Shiho fell silent.

"It's normal you don't understand. That APTX was jointly developed by your parents. After they disappeared, no other scientist in the Organization could continue the project. Not because they lacked skill, but because the APTX itself seemed to reject them. No one else could make progress.

"But you were the only exception.

"You not only continued the research, you even advanced it rapidly. That has to mean something, doesn't it?"

Shiho finally understood the real reason.

She had never thought deeply about it before, but now she realized that both her and her sister's paths had already been arranged long ago.

Why could she inherit APTX research while no one else could? The answer was clear.

"Beyonder characteristics… Is that the answer, My Lord?"

"Correct answer."

(To be continued.)