They all call me Great Master

As the second cup of rich, sweetened hot cocoa continued to waft its tempting aroma through the "Spirit Medium Parlor," the thick sweetness of the first cup had already completely restored Arthur's spirits.

He placed the two whiskers that Pendragon had just shed, along with the one from before, into a test tube and then deposited them directly into [Atos's Box].

Then, with a wave of his hand.

The [Atos's Box] that was placed in the corner vanished from the sight of ordinary people, but there was still a faint outline visible to Arthur.

'Quite a nice [Hide] Trait, sufficient to handle most situations!' he thought to himself, satisfied.

With a nod of approval, Arthur then turned his attention to the secret techniques he possessed: [Arrow Guiding Technique], [Noise Technique], [Rope Animating Technique], [Touch of the Vampire], [Eulogy of Ilos], [Lockpicking Technique], [Memory Technique], [Wand Combat Technique], [Smoke Mirror Usurpation], [Kolodi's Holy Wood Shield].

Of course, there was also [Hand of Void] that he had already learned.

There were plenty of secret techniques, but with only 60 XP points, and considering the 'Spirituality' requirements and some secret techniques requiring special materials, the only ones he could learn were: [Arrow Guiding Technique], [Noise Technique], [Rope Animating Technique], [Lockpicking Technique], [Wand Combat Technique], and [Hand of Void].

Among them, [Lockpicking Technique] required 10 XP and a strand of hair from a deceiver—before Arthur had time to think about what a deceiver's hair might be, the judgment already passed.

Undoubtedly, his own hair would suffice!

'I actually count as a deceiver?'

'I'm just a simple Spirit Medium, after all!' Arthur emphasized in his mind.

But the fact wouldn't change.

Reviewing the available secret techniques, Arthur first chose [Hand of Void]!

Invisible hands, really useful, those who use it, know it.

Afterwards, he learned [Noise Technique], [Arrow Guiding Technique], and [Lockpicking Technique] based on functionality.

By doing this, he still had 10 XP points left. If sufficient XP was supplemented later, Arthur intended to learn [Wand Combat Technique].

[Wand Combat Technique] and [Rope Animating Technique] were similar, both involving animating an object, but compared to [Rope Animating Technique], a magic wand had better fighting ability and could become a stable helper. Considering the increase in 'Spirituality' after stacking secret techniques, Arthur was prepared to give up [Rope Animating Technique].

Of course, if his 'Spirituality' was sufficiently stable, Arthur would adapt accordingly.

The first to be improved, [Hand of Void]—

[Consume 30 XP, Hand of Void Lv2→Lv3]

[Hand of Void Lv3: Your 'Hand of Void' has improved again, and you've begun to notice the differences in your 'Hand of Void.' They are stronger and cover a wider range than the regular 'Hand of Void;' Effect: Using Spirituality as the basis, it consumes physical strength to create two 'Hand of Void' in Glyphic Language Ei a to serve you.]

(Note 1: Omitted)

(Note 2: The 'Hand of Void' is invisible but touchable and can be damaged. When it reaches the damage limit, the 'Hand of Void' vanishes. When one of the two 'Hand of Void' disappears, you can replenish it, but only one 'Hand of Void' at a time.)

(Note 3: The current level of 'Hand of Void' can lift items up to 20 kg, moves at the speed of an adult running normally, and the maximum distance from its creator is 10 meters.)

(Note 4: After creating the 'Hand of Void,' the creator will continuously consume physical strength, which will increase when the 'Hand of Void' lifts an object. When two 'Hand of Void' are present, the consumption of physical strength doubles. When one 'Hand of Void' remains and the other is replenished, the consumed physical strength is for two 'Hand of Void'.)

(Note 5: Omitted)

(Note 6: Omitted)

...

The instant his knowledge synchronized with his body, Arthur could clearly feel a chill on his heart tracing the pattern of a palm.

Initially, only the thumb and index finger's joints were outlined, but now, the middle finger's joints were also there.

"Ei a!"

[Glyphic Language] escaped his lips, and after feeling out the differences of [Hand of Void] at Lv3, he instinctively thought, 'I can carry more bombs now!'

Of course, aside from bombs, with its current strength, speed, and range, [Hand of Void] could also wield a dagger to unleash surprising attacks from the shadows.

However, it wasn't as satisfying as using bombs.

In the roar of explosions, everything is reduced to smithereens!

As for wielding a longsword in combat?

Not enough strength!

Too slow!

If he continued to upgrade, there would be...

Hm?

While pondering, Arthur subconsciously looked at the XP required for the next level of [Hand of Void] and then frowned.

100 XP! Enjoy more content from empire

[Hand of Void] at Lv4 actually required 100 XP!

According to the previous pattern, [Hand of Void] at Lv4 should have required only 40 XP, but now it demanded 100 XP!

Arthur's gaze immediately returned to the description of [Hand of Void]: Discovering differences!

Could it be completely different at the next level?

'What will be different about [Hand of Void] at Lv4?' he wondered, anticipating yet delighted.

He was eager to see the transformation of [Hand of Void] at Lv4.

He was happy that reaching Lv3 of [Hand of Void] hadn't increased his 'Spirituality'!

```

This gave him more room to maneuver!

Then it was "Noise Technique," "Arrow Guiding Technique," "Lockpicking Technique"—

"Noise Technique Lv1: The creator of the first Noise Technique is untraceable, but most people use it for pranks, or to scare away stray cats and dogs; Effect: Based on spirituality, it consumes a bit of physical strength, silently recite the Glyphic Language Hei to generate a loud noise within a 12-meter radius of the caster."

(Note: The loud noise is about 80 decibels)

...

"Arrow Guiding Technique Lv1: The court jester 'Harrington' of the Empire invented this secret technique to showcase his throwing knives skill, but it was unstable.

After the research of several scholars of mysticism throughout the ages, it evolved into a more effective Arrow Guiding Technique; Effect: Based on spirituality, it consumes a bit of physical strength, chant the Glyphic Language xiu to control a flying arrow or shoot an arrow from your side."

(Note 1: You can only control one flying arrow at a time, and likewise only shoot one arrow.)

(Note 2: It is not possible to catch a flying arrow and immediately shoot it back; it must land first.)

(Note 3: The power of the shot arrow is equivalent to that of a soft bow.)

...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Lockpicking Technique Lv1: Carmen was a gentleman thief in the Silver Age, robbing from the rich to help the poor, no lock could stop him until he started balding in his middle age; Effect: Pull out one of your hairs, chant the Glyphic Language Ka to turn it into a master key."

(Note 1: The pulled hair can only be used once.)

(Note 2: The vitality of the pulled hair lasts for 3 seconds.)

...

When the synchronization of knowledge and body was complete, Arthur's attention was once again drawn to "Lockpicking Technique," and when he saw the words 'middle age' and 'balding,' he couldn't help feeling a chill on the top of his head.

'No way!'

'The Kledos Family doesn't have the balding gene!'

Arthur recalled his grandfather and uncles with certainty about this.

Likewise, without increasing 'spirituality,' Arthur immediately turned his attention to "Noise Technique" and "Arrow Guiding Technique"—both just Level 1 secret techniques, they clearly could not meet his needs.

Looking at the remaining 10XP, after a slight hesitation, Arthur chose "Noise Technique," which as a "Spirit Medium" would provide him more operational space.

"Noise Technique Lv2: Although most people still believe it's only good for pranks or driving away stray cats and dogs, as the level increases, its effect undergoes some changes; Effect: Based on spirituality, it consumes a bit of physical strength, silently chant the Glyphic Language Hei to create a loud noise or some rustling sounds within a 12-meter radius of the caster."

(Note 1: The loud noise is about 90 decibels.)

(Note 2: The rustling sounds can be the breeze through a window, the rustling of leaves, or even footsteps.)

...

'Hei!'

Arthur silently chanted in his heart, and immediately footsteps—somewhat vague but definitely footsteps—echoed in the corridor outside the "Spirit Medium Parlor."

Hearing these footsteps, Pendragon became alert and crawled out of the "Cat's Nest," heading towards the parlor door.

Before Pendragon could peek out, Arthur picked him up.

"A successful experiment—the Evil Spirit has gone far away!"

As Arthur spoke words that Pendragon didn't understand, his eyes pondered.

'Spirituality still hasn't increased!'

'Is it really difficult to increase spirituality with ordinary secret techniques, even when stacked?'

'This is news to me!'

As Arthur thought, he held the Orange Cat and walked towards his bedroom, with the invisible "Hand of Void" carrying the equally invisible "Atos's Box" behind him.

The long night ended as Arthur lay in the bedroom three floors underground, falling asleep while cuddling with Pendragon.

With the rising sun, a new day began.

Last night in South Los, it was a peaceful Christmas Eve.

No gunshots, no explosions, no bloodshed, no killing, and no death.

It was all very quiet.

Newsboys' calls were still filled with vitality—although there was no real big news, the gossip regarding a young "Spirit Medium" continued to sustain newspaper sales.

People went on with their daily routines, getting up, washing, eating, going to work, or going to school as usual.

Arthur woke up at the crack of dawn not because of his biological clock, but because Pendragon had jumped directly onto his abdominal area—even with a 1.8 "Physique," Arthur felt a momentary loss of breath.

"Cat food or dried fish?"

Looking at Pendragon rubbing against him, Arthur asked.

"Meow~"

Pendragon looked up, showing its watery round green eyes.

At that moment, Arthur abandoned his original choice and decided to prepare some chicken breast for Pendragon instead.

But at that moment, someone knocked on the gate of No. 2 Cork Street—

Tap, tap-tap.

"Is this the residence of 'Spirit Medium' Lord Kledos?"

"I have a matter I wish to entrust to you!"

```