[Low-Level Xeno Killed.
Memory Imprints +10]
The cold, mechanical notification abruptly echoed in her mind.
Cyrene was curled up in her computer chair, the faint blue glow from the screen illuminating her delicate and adorable face.
The moment she heard the notification, her fingers, which were gripping the mouse, froze abruptly.
Then, she leaned back, sinking into the soft chair back as her tense shoulders relaxed.
“Phew…”
“Looks like Phainon’s side is finished, and it went smoothly.”
Her gaze refocused on the floating, translucent panel.
Seeing the pitiful “10” points, Cyrene’s previously relaxed brow furrowed slightly again.
She raised her fingers, habitually twirling a strand of pink hair that fell beside her temple.
“Does killing one Low-Level Xeno really only give ten Memory Imprints…?”
According to the System’s explanation, unlocking the next basic ability required at least one hundred points.
That meant she needed Phainon to eliminate nine more Low-Level Xeno.
But if it was to restore Phainon’s strength…
Cyrene’s gaze shifted toward the balcony.
Outside, it was pitch black, with only the faint glow of distant neon lights filtering in.
“If I infuse all ten points into Phainon, how much strength would he recover?
I have a feeling it definitely won’t be much.”
She wasn’t quite sure.
“Forget it.
Pointless to guess blindly here.
I’ll just try it directly when he gets back.”
Cyrene shook her head, forcing her attention back to the computer screen in front of her.
At this moment, the monitor was densely packed with over a dozen search result pages.
She had already figured out the basic framework of this world; it wasn’t drastically different from the modern society she came from.
What truly concerned her were the hidden undercurrents beneath the seemingly calm news headlines.
The mouse wheel scrolled, emitting a faint “click-clack” sound.
“Serial Gas Explosions in Old Downtown Residential Area; Experts Blame Aging Underground Pipes; Site Completely Sealed Off”
“Official Statement Refuting Viral ‘Subway Phantom’ Video: Confirmed as Special Effects; Rumormonger Detained”
“Multiple Escaped Predators from West District Wildlife Park Shot and Killed; Police Advise: Avoid West Suburb Forest Park Recently”
Cyrene’s gaze swept over each headline, finally settling on the accompanying photo from the “Gas Explosion” scene.
Though the photo was blurry, with most of the area obscured by police tape and thick smoke, she still keenly noticed an unnatural crack on the wall.
It didn’t look like an impact pattern from an explosion; it resembled more the marks left by some giant claw tearing through.
“This kind of news only fools the uninformed.”
Cyrene pursed her lips, a hint of resignation flashing in her azure, diamond-shaped pupils.
As a veteran reader who had devoured countless novels, she was all too familiar with this “official debunking” playbook.
To maintain social order and prevent panic, supernatural events were repackaged as safety accidents.
This was the standard procedure for official bodies worldwide when handling such incidents.
She extended a finger and lightly tapped several place names on the screen.
“West Suburb Forest Park, Xinhai City Subway Station, Xingyang Residential Area…”
These places had most likely already seen Xeno appear.
They might even have been cleaned up by the government’s special departments already.
At this thought, Cyrene slumped dejectedly onto the desk, resting her chin on her arms and staring blankly at the spacebar.
“Even though I know the general locations, it’s useless.”
Her biggest problem now was this: she couldn’t find any monsters.
That so-called “Xeno Detection Radar” had a pathetic coverage range of only one kilometer.
In this massive city, one kilometer was like a single grain of sand in the ocean.
[Initial detection range is indeed limited.]
The System’s voice chimed in at the right moment, its tone as calm and unruffled as ever.
“Of course I know it can be upgraded.”
Cyrene first rubbed her eyes, then replied irritably while closing the useless news pages with her mouse:
“But the core issue now is that I don’t have Memory Imprints to upgrade the radar, and without the radar, I can’t find Xeno to farm Memory Imprints.
Isn’t this a vicious cycle?”
If she had to rely on sheer luck to stumble upon them, she feared the world would end before she even earned her first pot of gold.
[Actually, there is an alternative solution that doesn’t require consuming Memory Imprints.]
Hearing this, Cyrene’s hand, which was closing the pages, froze.
She sat up straight and asked with a hint of curiosity:
“What’s the plan?
Don’t tell me it’s to have me hand out flyers on the street, asking if anyone has seen monsters.”
[You can utilize this world’s information network.]
The System ignored her sarcastic remark.
[It is recommended that you post a high-value bounty on a local paranormal enthusiast forum, posing as a wealthy second-generation heir interested in supernatural phenomena, to gather clues about recent abnormal events.]
[Although there will be a large amount of false information, with a sufficiently large sample size, you can eventually filter out genuine Xeno sightings.]
Cyrene’s eyes instantly lit up.
“That’s right!
Why didn’t I think of that!”
This was a classic “money power” strategy!
She immediately sat up straight, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Search “Xinhai Paranormal Forum,” click to enter, register an account.
When filling out her personal profile, she paused for a moment, then skillfully crafted a persona for herself: a “rich, naive, and eager” second-generation heir.
The top-up interface popped up.
Cyrene glanced at the dizzyingly long string of numbers on her mobile banking app, the “startup capital” the System had arranged for her.
According to the System’s explanation when Phainon left earlier, this body had no so-called “original owner” but was created directly.
And this body’s “parents” were also fabricated through the System’s small-scale cognitive modification and data intrusion techniques, creating a pair of nouveau riche parents who had made their fortune in stock trading.
Then, this couple tragically died together during an overseas trip, leaving behind an inheritance of over a hundred million.
Although this “parents deceased, with a car and a house” setup was cliché enough to make one want to complain, it had to be said that it saved her a lot of trouble.
“Ten thousand…
that should be enough, right?”
She directly topped up 10,000 Forum Coins, an amount that was definitely a huge sum on this niche forum.
(1 Huaxia Coin equals 1 Forum Coin; Forum Coins can be withdrawn as Huaxia Coins)
Immediately after, a post titled “High Reward Offered!
Seeking Authentic Paranormal Events in Xinhai City Recently, Those with Pictures and Proof, Come Quick!” was pinned and highlighted.
After finishing all this, Cyrene added a few thousand more to purchase the forum’s exposure service.
Seeing the several “Worship the whale” replies that instantly appeared below the post, she clapped her hands in satisfaction and stretched lazily.
“Done.
Now I just have to wait for people to reply.”
Just then, a faint landing sound came from the balcony.
The sound was very soft, like a cat leaping down from a high place.
But in the silent room, it was still clearly audible.
“Cyrene, I’m back.”
A warm, familiar voice drifted in with the breeze.
Cyrene immediately turned around to see Phainon standing before the French windows.
His white robes were still pristine, without a single wrinkle.
The Golden Greatsword was sheathed, and he stood bathed in moonlight, looking exceptionally tall and straight.
“So soon?”
Cyrene quickly stood up and hurried to the balcony, her eyes scanning Phainon from top to bottom.
“Are you hurt?
Was that Xeno strong?”
Although the System had assured her there would be no problem, a stone remained heavy in her heart until she could confirm it with her own eyes.
Phainon looked at the girl before him, her face etched with concern, and a trace of warmth flickered in his eyes.
“It was even weaker than I expected.
I severely injured that Low-Level Xeno with just one strike.”
“That’s good…”
Cyrene let out a huge sigh of relief, patting her chest.
Then, as if remembering something, she immediately pulled up the floating panel.
Her gaze locked onto the value: [Memory Imprints: 10].
“Right, System, I want to give all ten of these Memory Imprints to Phainon now.”
She turned to Phainon, her eyes filled with anticipation.
“It’s not much, but every little bit counts.
It’s better than nothing.”
[Command confirmed.
Please silently recite “Use Memory Imprints to restore Phainon’s power.”]
Cyrene nodded, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.
‘Use ten Memory Imprints to restore Phainon’s power.’
As the thought formed, a strange ripple spread through the room.
Cyrene opened her eyes to see the number “10” instantly drop to zero, transforming into countless tiny, ethereal blue light motes that flew out from the panel like fireflies.
They circled once in the air before slowly merging into Phainon’s body.
Hummm…
A faint blue glow enveloped Phainon.
His slightly pale complexion seemed to gain a touch of color, and the subtle, oppressive aura around him solidified slightly.
But the light came as quickly as it went.
After just two or three seconds, the blue glow completely vanished, and everything returned to calm.
“How is it?”
Cyrene leaned closer, asking nervously.
“Do you feel anything?
Like power surging back?
Or the seal loosening?”
Phainon closed his eyes to sense the change for a moment, then slowly opened them.
He looked into Cyrene’s bright, sparkling eyes and gave a wry, reluctant smile.
“The feeling…
is very faint.”
He raised his hand and clenched it into a loose fist.
“It’s like pouring a single cup of water into a dried-up lake.
I can feel the energy, but as for restoring my overall power…
it’s just a drop in the bucket.”
Hearing the words “a drop in the bucket,” the light in Cyrene’s eyes visibly dimmed.
“Oh…
I see.”
She slumped her shoulders in disappointment and sighed.
“Looks like restoring you to your peak state is going to be a huge project.”
Ten Memory Imprints didn’t even make a ripple.
Wouldn’t it take tens of thousands of points then?
Cyrene raised her hand in frustration, preparing to close the panel that had already reset to zero.
However, just as her fingertip was about to touch the close button…
Ding!
A notification sound, clearer and louder than before, rang unexpectedly in Cyrene’s mind.
Startled, Cyrene jerked her hand back.
On the previously empty panel, a line of golden text was slowly appearing.
[Detected: Phainon’s kill of a Low-Level Xeno was observed by a witness.]
[This act left a deep impression of shock and awe in the witness’s memory.]
[Calculating additional rewards…]
[Memory Imprints +100]