Chapter Sixty-Nine: Drinking Together in the Snow

“Translating a forbidden book?” The bookseller’s body trembled, a look of bliss spreading across his face.

“My benefactor, so it turns out you sought me out not merely to claim a bounty, but to commit a crime together.” The bookseller, Shazo, rubbed his hands, a thirst for knowledge shining in his eyes.

Hearing your request, Shazo’s excitement was palpable: “Go on, benefactor, what book is it? I’m a repeat offender, fluent in eight rare languages, and have translated at least a hundred forbidden texts. One more is nothing. I haven’t read in so long that my mind is starting to deteriorate. I can’t wait any longer—please, bring it here at once.” The mention of translating a forbidden book sent Shazo into a frenzy of delight.

Chen Qi sensed that this man was drawn to translating forbidden books not for money, but for the sheer pleasure of it—a connoisseur of joy. Odd as he was, there was something trustworthy about him.

Let’s hope you’re as capable as you claim… Chen Qi picked up the Book of the Black Prison and sent it back into the game.

Seeing the confidence in his eyes, you took out the Book of the Black Prison.

“…”

Chen Qi blinked in surprise. The instant he presented the book, Shazo’s confident smile vanished, and he froze, turning as rigid as a statue of ice.

Chen Qi gritted his teeth. Could the bookseller have been frightened off just by the book’s cover? This display made him question Shazo’s translation abilities.

Then again, this was the book madly pursued by the Decayed Elder. For an ordinary criminal, failing to translate such a text was perfectly understandable.

Shazo’s thoughts seemed to be racing…

After a long while, Shazo blinked and refocused on you: “Sorry, benefactor, I was distracted. That book of yours startled me. Your story must be far more colorful than I imagined… I even suspect your previous identity as a Night Watchman was a ruse to acquire this book—a cover for deep infiltration. Your true identity must be terrifying, to possess such a forbidden tome.”

Well, that’s not far from the truth—I am, after all, a player.

Chen Qi continued to observe.

“May I have a look at the book?” Shazo asked.

You handed him the book.

“To be able to touch a forbidden book of this level… If ‘they’ found out, my bounty would at least quintuple.” Shazo flipped through the book, his expression growing ever more complex and tormented, muttering “Black Prison” under his breath.

After a long pause, Shazo bowed his head in contemplation and said, “No, no… Benefactor, the language protecting this forbidden book is truly terrifying. I’m lucky to have seen it before entering the Black River Prison.” With clear difficulty, Shazo pulled some white slips of paper from his collarbone. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be able to translate this book.”

Outside the screen, Chen Qi also looked troubled.

“Ordinarily…” Meaning, if certain conditions are met, you could translate it?

“To be honest, translating this book would drive anyone to temporary madness, destabilize the mind, and expose one to horrific psychic attacks. Still, I have some tools—I should be able to manage a few pages.”

Psychic attacks… Chen Qi swallowed. Shazo wasn’t exaggerating—even skimming the book earlier had made Chen Qi feel as though invisible knives were slicing at him.

You quickly specify that you only need the content after page five.

Shazo looked at you, surprised you had access to someone who could translate the first five pages. That didn’t match your previous story.

After translating the fifth page, Shazo’s face darkened even further.

“To think I’d be pushed to my limits as a forbidden book translator right here.” Shazo produced the white slips—prepared by his captors to forcibly erase his memories. He explained that he would have to use this “forgetting” method to lessen the pain, or he could not translate.

Erasure slips… Chen Qi had read about them on the forums.

They were simple, brutal book-attribute items, causing short-term amnesia but inflicting ongoing mental damage. For those with book-attributes, though, the side effects were less severe.

You saw both fear and rapture flickering in Shazo’s eyes. “This is exhilarating—truly exhilarating. It’s marvelous to still be alive.”

“If only I had something to make me even happier…” Shazo muttered, eyes gleaming with a death-defying resolve as he turned to page six of the Black Prison.

Was it truly that terrifying?

Chen Qi’s heart tightened. The manuscript radiated an ill omen.

Wait—something to make him happy. Chen Qi thought for a moment. For those with flower-attributes, what brings joy? He didn’t have any of the forum’s famed Enchanting Flowers or Joyous Masks, but he did have a bottle of Elation Wine acquired from the Flower Drunkard. According to its description, drinking it would induce euphoria and even enhance flower-attribute resonance.

Perhaps the Elation Wine could aid Shazo’s translation.

Chen Qi selected the item and offered the wine.

You retrieved the Elation Wine and a cup from Little Donkey’s pack and handed them over.

The bookseller, absorbed in the book, paused, uncorked the bottle, and the aroma of fine wine wafted out.

“Thank you, benefactor—I can sense the joy infused in this wine. It will help me endure the pain of reading,” Shazo said gratefully.

“Master… Something smells delicious. I want some too!” The Shadow Fox caught the scent and sidled over.

Wait—Chen Qi was surprised. Did the Shadow Fox consume things other than shadow-attribute items?

“By the Clocktower! Look what I see—a Calamity Beast, the Shadow Fox!” Shazo recoiled, trembling.

Seeing his distress, you reassured him, urging him to translate quickly; the fox would not harm him.

“All right, benefactor. I’ll do my best.” Shazo steeled himself and looked at the book as if facing a mortal enemy.

He stopped speaking, warmed the Elation Wine over the fire, and drank deeply.

You wiped down the Debt Collector’s long blade and took a sip of the wine yourself.

Outside the hollow, snow fell heavily. Inside, you and Shazo, along with Little Donkey and the Shadow Fox, shared this brief moment of tranquil companionship, warmed by the fire and the wine.

It was truly an excellent wine—one sip brought a smile to your face.

Shazo was wholly absorbed, his expression shifting between pain and ecstasy, as if his mind were being both stabbed and drifting through a sea of flowers.

With your permission, the Shadow Fox lapped at the wine, immediately flushing and collapsing in your arms, nuzzling your stomach.

You waited for Shazo to finish translating…

After a long time—

The blizzard’s howl faded.

You drank the last mouthful of Elation Wine and looked to Shazo.

He flashed a cocky, supremely self-assured grin.

Bolstered by the wine, Shazo managed to turn to page fifteen before, utterly spent, he began erasing his memories again and again.

“This book is incompatible with my attribute, yet I succeeded all the same. It feels incredible!” Shazo exhaled, exhausted, and handed you five sheets filled with translated text. “Benefactor, this is my limit. The following pages concern opening and closing gates, which is beyond my capability.”

You have obtained five pages of the Black Prison’s translated text!

At last!

Chen Qi could not suppress his excitement. He immediately examined the five pages. Shazo’s translation seemed solid—many details matched the first five pages.

From this, he gained a clearer understanding of the rituals recorded in the Book of the Black Prison.

Beyond the New Capital lies a most unusual place, known as the Black Prison, where countless monsters and criminals are held, its existence spanning at least a millennium.

As for how the Black Prison came to be, where exactly it lies, and what manner of place it is—these remain mysteries.

Only those whose attributes are Blade or Void can come into contact with the Black Prison. This is a necessary condition.

The Book of the Black Prison describes how to access the prison, how to reach it, and how to seize its immense power for one’s own use.

One who studies the book can extract and control the power of the Black Prison. For this reason, the rituals within consume little spiritual energy.

Whereas most forbidden books simply drive their readers insane, failure to master this one can result not only in madness, but also in releasing some unspeakable horror from the Black Prison, causing catastrophic devastation.

For its danger, the Book of the Black Prison is indeed among the most perilous of forbidden tomes!

Only with powerful mental resilience can one hope to study it in full.

Chen Qi took note, relieved he possessed an innate talent for enhanced mental resistance.

These three pages detailed three rituals—one a dance within black fire, one a control technique, and one a rather peculiar duplicate-creation method.

Compared to the basic Black Prison Fire ritual, these three were far more potent—but also much harder to master, requiring high attributes and special equipment.

Chen Qi stored the five pages and continued reading.

Shazo, now seated and recovering his composure, said, even with much forgotten, he sensed the book might relate to the place he was being sent.

Drinking another sip of hot Elation Wine, Shazo admitted he was too young and inexperienced to translate the rest. Among those he knew, only the “Chronicler” and a certain enigmatic criminal could attempt it.

He exhaled, gazing skyward. Though his memory was fragmented, he had just surpassed his own limits.

What an interesting experience… He glanced outside; the snow had stopped.

“Benefactor, I’ve noticed this heavy snow will continue for quite some time. If you plan to explore this land, seek out a criminal friend of mine. He dropped many items from above—like the Snowguard, which you’ll find easily in this weather. Benefactor, you’ll need it. It can help you withstand this bitter cold.”

The Snowguard… Chen Qi made a mental note. He would definitely need it.

Shazo stood, exited the hollow, and gazed into the white expanse. The blackness had receded…

But the winter engulfing the entire Eighth District had only just begun.

Suddenly, Shazo’s pupils contracted. He whirled, laughing madly, “Hit me! Quick!”

What? The abrupt prompt startled Chen Qi.

Wait—could it be…

Without hesitation, Chen Qi commanded his character.

You leapt forward and landed a heavy punch.

Shazo’s expression shifted; he shot you a meaningful glance.

You stepped outside the hollow and peered into the snowy distance, spotting a tiny black dot.

The dot grew larger.

A line of black text flashed before you:

Out there, where sky and snow blurred into one, a towering, jet-black figure advanced relentlessly toward you.

The Shadow Fox instinctively hid within your shadow.

Your eyes widened. The figure was clad head to toe in heavy black armor, dozens of chains radiating doom coiling around its body.

Scalding chains sizzled as they melted the snow.

You recognized the distant silhouette—none other than the Black River Prison’s blade turned outward: the Prison Hunter.

Special thanks to Misty Dust for the 500 coin tip, and to Fat Dragon’s Roar for 100 coins! And thanks to everyone for your subscriptions and votes!

Seems I’ve overestimated my writing speed this time.

(End of Chapter)