825 A Discovery


    After sifting through the mountain of data avable to him, Aron took a break to rest and spend time with his family. This time away from hisb allowed him to solidify his thoughts and carefully n his next course of action. Once he felt mentally refreshed and confident in his approach, he returned to hisb, ready to resume his research.


    Aron was now prepared to use a small amount of his saved SP (System Points) to supplement the remaining gaps in his research. He understood that achieving satisfactory results independently would take centuries—time needed for the necessary technologies to be fully researched and matured. Instead, leveraging the SP would allow him to expedite the process, ensuring that his universal simtion could be essed with the utmost security.


    The universal simtion was, without a doubt, one of the most critical assets maintaining the empire''s strength. Aron was determined to protect it at all costs, ensuring that only he and those he permitted would have ess to its vast repository of knowledge and resources.


    “First, let’s buy beginner knowledge about the faith-aspect mana and see if there are additional things we need in our n,” Aron said as he opened the system panel and began typing in his request.


    The system immediately disyed a list of options avable to him, each with varying levels of detail and cost. Without wasting time deliberating, Aron chose the cheapest option that fit his immediate needs. Momentster, he approved the assimtion process from the system, leaning back slightly as he prepared for the flood of new information to integrate seamlessly into his consciousness.


    {It was a smart move to not even think of touching the faith-aspect mana,} Nova remarked after she finished analyzing the newly assimted knowledge. She had essed Aron''s updated brain data, making her fully aware of the intricacies of faith mana, even at a basic level.


    “...” Aron remained silent in response, his expression unreadable. Despite only acquiring the beginner-level understanding of faith mana, it was enough to send chills down his spine.


    “He almost fucked all of us,” Aron finally said after a long pause. His voice carried an undertone of lingering fear, as the weight of what the empire had narrowly avoided began to sink in.


    {That is an understatement, sir,} Nova replied tly.


    With just the beginner-level understanding of faith mana, Aron now grasped a disturbing truth: unlike Laifu, who was essentially the sole controller and embodiment of life mana, faith mana was entirely different. Itcked a single consciousness or centralized controller. Faith was inherently fragmented, varying across every individual in the universe. This meant that many powerful beings, each with their own unique inclinations, could tap into and manipte faith mana to a certain degree for their own purposes.


    This revtion caused Aron and Nova to quickly piece together a troubling realization. The strange, iprehensible words uttered by Rick Ashley before and during his death were likely tied to another entity—or entities—who used faith mana. These entities seemed to exploit faith connection threads as conduits for gathering energy and using it as fuel to carry out their own desires, potentially bypassing the limits of their physical forms entirely.


    However, since this knowledge was still at the beginner level, itcked aplete exnation of who these entities were or how they tapped into faith mana. Many aspects remained open-ended, limiting how much could be extrapted from it. Despite these gaps, it was enough for Aron to make a firm decision.


    "Have Mnemosyne update her operative directories and ensure she filters every brain data file for any anomalies simr to those found in individuals connected to Rick Ashley," he instructed Nova in a grave tone. "She should start by re-vetting all current users and apply the same protocol to all future new entrants from other civilizations who log into the universal simtion as part of the initial onboarding process. Make sure she notifies me immediately if she discovers anything simr or even remotely close to that pattern. Send her the knowledge we’ve gained about faith mana so far, so she can factor it into her actions."


    With the looming threat posed by this unknown force, Aron''s priorities had shifted drastically. What began as an effort to consolidate control over the Astral Conve to minimize variables now transformed into a critical mission—one he knew he had to aplish at any cost.


    From the knowledge he had just acquired, Aron now had undeniable proof of what he had long feared—the "unknown unknowns." These entities not only existed but were likely stronger than him, wielding abilities he had never encountered before. This realization made one thing painfully clear: he needed to act decisively to awaken the system''s consciousness.


    At this moment, he likened himself to a child holding a vast knowledge vault. His limited understanding allowed him to search only for what he already knew existed, leaving countless unknown possibilities beyond his reach. Awakening the system''s consciousness was his best hope of gaining a guide, one capable of helping him navigate these treacherous waters and ensuring he was no longer caught off guard.


    If he seeded in awakening the system’s consciousness, he hoped it would act as a guide, helping him navigate the vast unknown and avoid being blindsided by entities like the one connected to Rick Ashley. Aron was certain that even more dangerous forces existed—ones he couldn’t even begin to search for because he didn’t know where to look or what questions to ask.


    This sense of vulnerability fueled his determination. Now, more than ever, his path was clear. He needed to reach the next stage of his journey as quickly and efficiently as possible, minimizing risks and ensuring the empire’s survival in the face of the vast, hidden threats lurking in the shadows.


    Every step forward now carried immense weight, for he was ying a game with stakes higher than he had ever imagined.


    {She has already started following the orders,} Nova reported moments after Aron issued hismands.


    Aron remained silent, his heart pounding as he anxiously waited for Mnemosyne to finish scanning the brain data of all citizens whose consciousness was connected to the universal simtion. @@novelbin@@


    {It’s going to take her quite some time to go through all of them, so I suggest we continue with the research while we wait,} Nova added when she noticed his quiet anticipation.


    “That’s true,” Aron replied, exhaling deeply as he closed his eyes for a brief moment, seeming to center himself.


    When he opened them, the worry that had been etched into his face moments earlier had vanished, reced by a calm, focused demeanor. It wasn’t that his concerns had disappeared—no, they were merely pushed to the back of his mind,partmentalized as he acknowledged that worrying wouldn’t expedite the process or change the oue.


    Redirecting his focus, Aron opened the system panel once more and began searching for the knowledge required to aplish his current goals. He understood thatpleting the current project was not just a task but a critical piece of therger puzzle in his overarching n. There was no time to waste, and he was determined to use every moment productively.