The-Chrysanthemum-Codex：Ash's-Ascension

Chapter 7: Unlocking Secrets

Lockpicking is an art that demands a precise balance of skill, tools, experience, and intuition. To master it, one must possess all four in equal measure, for they are the cornerstones upon which the entire craft is built.

Ash’s movements were painstakingly slow as he carefully maneuvered a slender wire into the tiny holes on the metal orb—an Artifact of Roland Continent, no less. He knew better than to rush; after all, who could predict what kind of defensive countermeasures might be hidden within the intricate mechanisms of a Dou Saint's Artifact? If he accidentally triggered some sort of Dou Qi trap, the resulting blast could easily spell the end of his new life, sending him spiraling into yet another reincarnation.

The fear of the unknown mixed with an unwavering confidence in his own abilities transported Ash back to his previous life as a master thief. The thrill of risking everything, using expert technique to unlock unimaginable wealth—it was intoxicating, a sensation that far surpassed the grudging satisfaction of doing good deeds under the coercion of the Chrysanthemum Codex.

Millimeter by millimeter, Ash advanced the wire into the mechanism. His heart raced as three of the wires met resistance, while the fourth slid in effortlessly. His pulse quickened—this sensation was all too familiar. Was it possible that this was a "Four-Key Ascending Lock"?

A Four-Key Ascending Lock was a fiendishly complex structure, akin to a series of nested safes. Each keyhole revealed the next only after the previous one was opened correctly, requiring an intricate sequence of maneuvers. The challenge of such a lock would be enough to stump even the most seasoned locksmith.

“If this really is a Four-Key Ascending Lock, then the first step is to rotate the lock counterclockwise, then turn the first lock core clockwise while gently lifting upward.” Ash’s thoughts raced as he carefully executed the steps.

A soft click echoed from within the metal orb, and the second keyhole opened up. Ash’s lips curled into a triumphant grin. “Yes! It’s working! Now for the second layer—there should be a screw inside. I need to grip it with three rigid wires, rotate clockwise, and press downward. Damn, these wires are too thick—I’ll need to file them down a bit…”

Click, click, click! Three more distinct clicks followed as Ash deftly unlocked the remaining layers. The metal orb responded immediately, beginning to shift and morph in his hands. It expanded, the intricate metal seams splitting apart before reassembling themselves into a new shape.

Ash’s sharp eyes drank in every detail of the transformation, his mind racing to memorize the sequence. “Damn, it’s like something out of a sci-fi movie… like a Transformer.”

In a matter of seconds, the metal orb had reformed into a small hammer, which landed lightly on the grass at Ash’s feet.

The twilight sky above the manor cast long, eerie shadows across the garden as Ash examined the hammer. A sense of triumph surged within him, but it was tempered by caution. He had learned to expect the unexpected in this world, and this Artifact was no exception. What other secrets did it hold?

Meanwhile, in a different part of St. Ironspire City, within a sprawling estate shrouded in gloom, another drama was unfolding. Chalman, his face swollen and bruised from the earlier encounter, stood before his father, the Duke Joseph—a descendant of the Storm Dou Saint and the Minister of Rites for the Roland Empire.

"Father, lend me the family’s guardian Dou Saints! I need to settle the score with Paru!" Chalman demanded, his voice laced with fury. His eyes burned with the desire for revenge, his ego bruised far more than his body.

Joseph, a rotund man with a face that seemed more suited to a shrewd merchant than a noble, shook his head slowly. “Chalman, Paru is nothing but a useless boy who can’t even cultivate Dou Qi. Why waste your time on him? Besides, he is a descendant of the Holy Dou Saint. Today, he beat you for a just cause—protecting the helpless. If you seek revenge for that, it would be a violation of the Holy Church's laws.”

“But I can’t let this go unpunished!” Chalman protested, clutching his chest as a sharp pain shot through him. He quickly reached for his coat pocket, only to find it empty. His face turned ashen. “Father… my Artifact, the Ram Horn Hammer… it’s gone! And… someone else has claimed it as their own!”

“What?!” Joseph shot to his feet, slamming his hand down on the table with such force that it rattled the room. “Impossible! Your Ram Horn Hammer is a Third-Level Artifact! To force it to recognize a new master, one would need the power of a Ninth-Level Dou Saint! But in the entire empire, only Father Ferdinand is a Ninth-Level Dou Saint!”

“Father, I’m telling you, my connection with the Artifact has been severed!” Chalman’s panic was evident as he paced the room, his mind racing. “It must have been Paru—he was the only one I fought today. But no… that doesn’t make sense.”

Chalman quickly dismissed the notion, shaking his head. “Paru can’t even cultivate Dou Qi. Even if he somehow stole my Artifact, he wouldn’t be able to force it to recognize him as its master! And the most powerful person in the St. Rudolf family, Raymond, isn’t strong enough to force a Third-Level Artifact to submit!”

Joseph’s brow furrowed in thought, his mind working through the possibilities. “The only explanation is that you lost your Artifact, and it was found by a Ninth-Level Dou Saint. We must alert the city’s guards immediately—have them search every inch of St. Ironspire City!”

“Yes, I’ll go at once!” Chalman replied, his voice trembling with urgency. He turned to leave but hesitated, his anger flaring once more. “But what about Paru? Are you just going to let him get away with humiliating me?”

Joseph’s face softened into a calculating smile, his eyes gleaming with a cunning light. “Oh, Chalman, my dear son. You are the heir to the Storm Dou Saint’s legacy, and I cannot allow a fool like Paru to disgrace you. But remember, Paru acted within the bounds of the law to protect those wretched commoners. According to the Church’s laws, he has committed no crime—in fact, he should be praised. So we must find another reason to deal with him.”

Chalman looked at his father, confusion etched on his bruised face. He was eager for revenge, but he didn’t understand what his father was planning.

Joseph’s smile widened, his fat fingers drumming lightly on the table. “My son, you are fifteen years old now, aren’t you? And if I’m not mistaken, Paru is also fifteen…”

He waved his son away with a dismissive hand. “Go now, and leave Paru to me. I will ensure you have a legitimate reason to end him once and for all.”

…

Within the St. Rudolf Manor, Ash let out a triumphant cheer, leaning down to examine the small hammer that had just materialized before him.

It resembled a ram's horn hammer from Earth, entirely golden, with a handle just over thirty centimeters long. One end of the hammerhead was cylindrical, while the other split into two curved prongs, resembling the horns of a ram. The entire tool gave the impression of a ram’s head, a symbol of strength and resilience.

“Not bad at all,” Ash murmured to himself, his grin widening as he imagined using it to break into a high-security vault. Chuckling at the thought, he reached out to grasp the hammer's handle and lift it.

But the hammer didn’t budge.

Ash frowned, tightening his grip and exerting more force, yet the hammer remained firmly in place.

"Right… Artifact requires Dou Qi to be wielded!" The realization hit Ash like a ton of bricks. “Damn it! What good is stealing something if you can’t even use it? This is infuriating!”

Despite his frustration, Ash knew there was nothing he could do. Aside from the thirty-six lotus flowers on his backside, he was just an ordinary human, completely devoid of the so-called Dou Qi that powered such Artifacts.

It was as if a patch of nettles had taken root in his heart—an unbearable itch that he couldn’t scratch.

Still, there was some consolation. According to Lumian, unlocking an Artifact would sever its connection to its previous master. At the very least, Ash wouldn’t have to worry about being caught red-handed.

The sun dipped below the horizon, its final rays fading as night enveloped St. Ironspire City. The dark sky mirrored Ash’s mood, casting a pall of gloom over the city and the young thief’s thoughts.

Lamps flickered to life within the manor, their warm glow chasing away the shadows and illuminating the vast estate as if it were midday.

It was time for dinner.

Ash trudged back to his tower, his spirits low. When he reached the entrance, he found Karn Bloodfury squatting at the door, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Young master, where’s the roasted veal you promised me?”

Ash managed a smile, pushing his frustration aside as he led Karn Bloodfury into the tower. The first floor of the tower served as Karn Bloodfury’s bedroom and the shared living room for the three of them. The furnishings were sparse—bare stone walls, a single oversized wooden bed, and a set of redwood chairs and a table.

Alfred Pennyworth, ever the diligent servant, was already setting the table, placing utensils with the care and precision of a man who took pride in even the smallest of tasks.

“Uncle Alfred,” Ash said, his voice light as he tried to lift the mood, “how about we have roasted veal tonight? I promised Karn Bloodfury.”

Alfred shot a reproachful glance at Karn Bloodfury, who shrank back slightly under the old man’s gaze. “You, child, can’t you be more considerate? Half of the young master’s allowance goes to feeding you, and now you want roasted veal? It’s only the thirteenth today—do you want the young master to eat black bread for the rest of the month?”

“Oh…” Karn Bloodfury’s shoulders slumped in disappointment as he mumbled, “I guess I can go without…”

Ash, intrigued by the conversation, asked a few questions and quickly learned about the monthly allowances given to the three sons of the Rudolf family. Alfred didn’t know how much Franklin received, but Lumian, the eldest, received one gold coin per month—equivalent to one hundred silver coins.

And Ash, the third son, received only ten silver coins.

Ash asked about the prices of food and goods in St. Ironspire City, and with his innate sensitivity to financial matters, he calculated that ten silver coins had the purchasing power of a little over a thousand dollars from his previous life.

A thousand dollars, to support three people, including a towering, gluttonous brute—saying they were living hand-to-mouth would be an understatement. Their situation was indeed quite tight.

A surge of anger rose within Ash. Raymond was being excessively cruel. Sure, his son had been a fool and couldn’t cultivate Dou Qi, but he was still his own flesh and blood. How could he be so miserly?

Looking at the meager dinner—a plate of steak and a bowl of pea soup—Ash slammed his knife and fork down on the table, his frustration boiling over. “Karn Bloodfury, when I make a promise, I keep it. Tomorrow, I’ll find a way to get you that roasted veal!”

“Young master, you’re not thinking of borrowing money from Lumian, are you? That’s not a good idea. Lumian already has to spend a lot entertaining other nobles and ladies. He’s not exactly well-off himself,” Alfred cautioned.

“No, I’ve got my own plan,” Ash replied with a sly grin, picking up his utensils again. Inwardly, he thought, The wealthy of St. Ironspire City had better stay indoors tomorrow!

Alfred, ever the worrier, continued to ramble. “Oh, Lumian’s a good lad, but he’s always too generous with those noble ladies. Even with his allowance and the Dou Saint stipend, he’s always in debt.”

“Dou Saint stipend? So Dou Saints actually get paid?” Ash asked, curiosity piqued.

“Indeed,” Alfred replied, nodding. “Lumian is a Third-Level Magic Dou Warrior, so he receives fifteen silver coins a month from the Holy Dou Saint Church.”

Ash playfully punched Karn Bloodfury in the chest. “How much is Karn Bloodfury’s Dou Saint stipend? With his strength, I bet it’s enough for all the roasted veal he could eat!”

Karn Bloodfury’s expression darkened, and he mumbled reluctantly, “Young master, I don’t get a stipend. I’m a slave—I can’t cultivate Dou Qi.”