Chapter 301: The Divine Rank

Charlot Mecklenburg's first reaction to the task was: Why not just kill them all?

But he quickly realized that such a plan was impractical.

Slaughtering prisoners had always been considered ominous throughout history. Particularly now—Menielman and his West Wind Knight Order had already accepted the surrender of too many pirates. Executing them all at once would scatter the morale of those who had previously surrendered.

Absorbing all of them was also out of the question.

Some mid-to-low-level pirates might still retain a shred of humanity, but this group consisted either of Herolf's loyal guards from the Golden Rams Fleet or the crew of his magical alchemical warships. They were full of scoundrels and criminals, with few exceptions. Many had committed heinous crimes, and among them were a number of Transcendents. Allowing such individuals into the fleet would inevitably grant them influential positions, which could jeopardize Menielman's decision-making.

Charlot hesitated for less than a minute before reaching a straightforward decision: convert them all into Labyrinth Guards.

Cappadocia had undergone only one labyrinth transformation, but now Charlot had an abundance of diary pages, and the city itself had no shortage of ships. Accomplishing two more labyrinth transformations was far too easy. By turning this group of vicious pirates into Labyrinth Guards, the issue could be resolved fundamentally.

This was a distinction between Transmigrators and the native people:

Charlot hadn't even realized it himself, but when he encountered tragedies unrelated to himself, his human nature led to pity. However, when faced with matters that involved his own interests, his choices became ruthlessly pragmatic.

In simple terms: Friends are people; enemies are not.

Without consulting Menielman, Charlot escorted the surrendered prisoners back to Cappadocia.

In truth, his presence was unnecessary for the siege of Saint Michael Island. With Menielman now in possession of the First Rose of the Empire, Herolf had no chance of leaving the island as long as Menielman refused to allow it.

Charlot swiftly completed two labyrinth transformations, elevating Cappadocia to the same status as Machubi and Silver Dove Castle—cities that had undergone three transformations.

He then conducted a round of investigations. Though the inquiries were not exhaustive, Charlot managed to single out several dozen pirates who were beloved by the public and had decent reputations. The rest were all converted into Labyrinth Guards.

When the transformation was complete, Charlot’s diary emitted a sudden thought:

Charlot Mecklenburg has gained over 2,000 Labyrinth Guards, including nine Transcendents. This grants 10 opportunities for labyrinth transformations and allows for one summoning of Agmirlas.

Charlot hesitated for a long time before deciding to temporarily set aside this “opportunity.”

Constantly summoning evil gods... that’s no way to live.

Having returned to Cappadocia, Charlot chose not to leave again for a while. He used this time to transform every window and mirror in Cappadocia into extensions of the Infinite Mirror World.

The Van Gogh Clan’s Infinite Mirror World was a domain where each silver mirror condensed would grant an additional extraordinary ability.

When Charlot condensed his first mirror, he awakened the ability Mirror Spirit.

Every time he looked into a mirror, a Mirror Spirit possessing power equal to his own would form within it.

Destroying a Mirror Spirit would enhance the ability’s strength.

If a Van Gogh clansman felt unprepared, they could avoid entering the mirror. Mirror Spirits were merely reflections of their owners’ strength and would dissipate after a short time, as they lacked any independent source of sustenance.

Once a Mirror Spirit in a specific mirror was destroyed, it would not reappear for any other Van Gogh clansman. Instead, they would only see the master of that Mirror World.

Though one could claim the mirror by defeating its master, the Van Gogh Clan generally refrained from killing their own kind. Vampires rarely killed fellow vampires.

When Charlot condensed his second mirror, he awakened the ability Mirror Gate, a life-saving skill.

With his third mirror, Charlot gained Mirror Weapon, though he didn’t immediately check its details as he was already condensing his fourth mirror.

Mirror Weapon allowed him to mimic the combat techniques of his enemies.

However, this mimicry was purely superficial—it lacked the essence of the original techniques. Just as Mirror Spirits couldn’t replicate extraordinary abilities outside the Van Gogh Clan or the properties of Transcendent artifacts, Mirror Weapon was similarly constrained.

When Charlot condensed his fourth mirror, he awakened Mirror Palace, an ability that hardly needed elaboration.

Van Gogh clansmen who reached their third mirror were often already at mid-to-high rank, and those who condensed a fourth were typically in the upper stages of high rank, with a rare few even reaching the Saint rank.

Charlot, who had achieved this purely through the power of evil gods, was in an entirely different category from proper Van Gogh clansmen.

Aside from cultivation, Charlot no longer paid attention to Saint Michael Island.

Transforming Cappadocia’s windows and mirrors into parts of the Infinite Mirror World, Charlot suddenly sensed a massive Mirror World that belonged to him. It originated from the Queen Bee, which had docked at Cappadocia and been reflected in several mirrors. The two Mirror Worlds overlapped.

Without hesitation, Charlot snapped his fingers, linking Cappadocia’s Mirror World with that of the Queen Bee, merging the two into one.

In the next moment, Charlot’s Mirror World expanded drastically, encompassing not only Cappadocia but also the seas the Queen Bee had traveled.

Soon after, Charlot sensed a third Mirror World, this one from the mirrors he had left on Saint Michael Island.

He then perceived a fourth Mirror World, originating from Menielman’s First Rose of the Empire.

The Mirror World was a false realm; Charlot couldn’t use it to travel to places visited by the Queen Bee unless there was an exit. Fortunately, Saint Michael Island and the First Rose both had “exits.”

Taking advantage of this, Charlot incorporated these two Mirror Worlds as well.

However, whether it was the First Rose or the Queen Bee, both were ships that couldn’t traverse land. Consequently, Charlot was unable to connect the two small Mirror Worlds in Strasbourg. His vast Mirror World remained confined to the seas.

While Charlot was sensing the expansion of his Mirror World, a sudden roar drew his attention. Peering through a mirror, he saw Herolf, the Golden Ram, in a dimly lit underground chamber, seemingly performing some secret ritual.

Charlot was slightly startled. Although he had left mirrors on Saint Michael Island, none of them should have been in that location. He quickly realized that Herolf had deliberately brought a mirror down with him.

Within the Mirror World, Charlot moved effortlessly, arriving at the mirror in question. Looking out, he saw Herolf devouring something while glaring at the mirror and growling lowly.

Charlot extended a finger to the mirror, causing words to appear on its surface:

“Are you looking for me?”

Herolf sneered coldly. “That’s right. I knew you’d come.”

“Let’s make a deal!”

Charlot raised an eyebrow. “A deal? What could we possibly have to trade?”

Herolf’s lips curled into a smirk. “Above the Saint rank, lies the Divine rank!”

“I’ll give you Saint Michael Island. In return, you help me ascend to the Divine rank.”

Charlot chuckled. “And then you’ll kill us all?”

This proposal sounded absurdly unreliable.

Herolf sneered. “You’ve met the Saint Michael spirit many times by now, haven’t you? He’s a Divine rank being!”

“If I ascend to Divine rank, I won’t be able to kill you.”

Charlot couldn’t comprehend this logic. It was certainly not something taught at university.

He did know about the Divine rank. Ancient philosophers of the human race were rumored to have reached it.

Among the Byron Vampires, both Dukes and Princes were Divine rank beings, often referred to as evil gods.

He also knew that above the Divine rank lay the Demigod rank, but knowledge of such realms was highly forbidden. Even universities prohibited students from accessing it.

No one alive knew why, as no Divine rank being had ever been seen after reaching that stage—at most, they left traces.

Curious, Charlot asked, “That guy doesn’t seem normal. Does reaching the Divine rank always lead to that kind of outcome?”

Herolf bit into whatever he was holding. Charlot caught a glimpse of it but forced himself to look away. The pirate king calmly said, “He’s incomplete.”

“An incomplete Divine rank being might lose many things—human thought, emotions, or even something inexplicable.”

Charlot grew even more intrigued. “Then why do you want to become Divine rank?”

Herolf was silent for a long time before replying, “You wouldn’t understand. Not until you’ve reached the Saint rank yourself and acquired wealth and power beyond measure.”

“Saint Michael Island has always had a chance to elevate a Saint rank to an incomplete Divine rank. I hesitated in the past but ultimately gave up.”

“This time, I admit I’ve lost. But abandoning Saint Michael Island to flee? I can’t accept that.”

“The most valuable thing on Saint Michael Island is the chance to ascend to the Divine rank.”

“This time, I won’t hesitate. I’ll become Divine rank, even if it’s incomplete.”

“No matter how incomplete, the Divine rank is not the same as the Saint rank.”

Charlot tilted his head. “Then why come to me?”

Herolf let out a series of cold laughs. “Because the other four may also want to become Divine rank beings!”

“And you’re the only one who won’t. This opportunity is exclusive to those at the Saint rank and above.”

“Also...”

“Charlot Mecklenburg, I sense the aura of an evil god on you. You’re no saint yourself, so you’re sure to help me with this.”

Charlot shrugged, feigning innocence. After a long contemplation, he asked, “What do you need me to do?”

Herolf tossed a scroll of parchment into the air.

With a flicker, Charlot conjured a Flame Dragon’s Hand, snatched the scroll, and brought it into the Mirror World.

Unrolling the parchment, Charlot’s expression shifted subtly—it was a magical contract.

Once signed, the contract would invoke the attention of the Serpent of Fate, and any violator would face the punishment of this Divine rank god.

Charlot mused:

This contract alone might be as valuable as a high-level magical weapon.

Herolf’s plan is likely genuine, but I don’t trust him any more than he trusts me.

This situation is full of conspiracies.

Perhaps I should just leave now and profit from this magical contract? Would Herolf cough up blood in frustration?

Weighing the pros and cons, Charlot deliberated endlessly—not on whether to agree but on how to extract even more from Herolf.

Herolf claimed Charlot wouldn’t understand, but how could he not?

It all boiled down to one thing: fear of death.

Even the emperors of ancient China committed absurdities out of this same fear.

Compared to that, Herolf’s desperation seemed almost childish.

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