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"The Opposite Hammer?"
Black Swan pondered for a moment before offering her analysis.
"Judging by its design, it doesn't resemble an ordinary tool, yet neither does it appear to be a weapon meant for slaughter."
"Considering the name, could it be something intended for use on people?"
Seeing how methodical her reasoning was, Sylvester couldn't help but smile.
"As expected of Black Swan—sharp and perceptive."
"That's right. This Curio was created by highly intelligent werewolves from a certain world. Its function is quite simple. Once struck by it, the target's temperament undergoes a drastic shift, instantly transforming into the complete opposite of their previous personality!"
"It actually has such an effect?!"
Black Swan's expression turned astonished at Sylvester's explanation.
As a Memokeeper, the influence of memory on personality was one of her fundamental studies.
There were indeed many cases where through 'memory surgery' and specialized guidance, profligate wastrels had turned over a new leaf. Likewise, certain wealthy individuals guilty of countless misdeeds had, through such procedures, eventually become kindly elders with excellent reputations—simply to live more easily.
But without exception, they had paid tremendous costs and borne the risk of surgical failure.
Even for a Memokeeper as skilled as herself, it required immense effort to achieve similar results as safely as possible.
It wasn't that her level was insufficient.
It was that humans were truly too fragile. A single misstep could result in failure. A perfectly normal person one moment might become an imbecile the next.
To knead and reshape a person's memories at will—perhaps only Fuli could accomplish such a feat.
And yet the hammer before her could directly invert a person's personality.
This was far beyond mere memory editing or guided memory techniques!
And the transformation happened instantly?
Realizing this, Black Swan's heart inevitably stirred with excitement.
She looked at the hammer as though gazing upon a sacred relic of the Path of Remembrance.
Forcing her rising breath to steady, she asked Sylvester for confirmation.
"Shopkeeper Sylvester, has this item been tested in practice?"
Please don't let it be an unverified laboratory prototype.
Something of such value—if it turned out to be a false delight, that would be truly unbearable.
Expectation in Black Swan's eyes nearly overflowed like liquid.
Sylvester met her gaze and chuckled softly.
"Of course."
Those two words doubled the joy on her face.
What Sylvester said next only deepened her astonishment—and her regard for the small hammer.
"The inventor of this used it to turn his wife into a gentle and charming lady. After that, he used it on the sheep tribe—his lifelong enemies."
"As a result, lazy sheep became combative and aggressive, strong sheep grew listless, clever sheep hid beneath trees giggling foolishly, and mild sheep could no longer suppress their violent impulses. And even…"
Sylvester paused, his tone turning solemn.
"Even those sheep who lacked fangs and relied on iron fences for protection suddenly rose up, captured the wolf, and planned to throw him into a stew pot as their first taste of meat in their lives—to eat him."
"Sheep… wanting to eat a wolf?!"
Black Swan exclaimed in disbelief.
So, this Curio didn't merely alter personality—it could override the innate biological distinctions between carnivores and herbivores, directly affecting instinct?
The degree of reversal was far too extreme.
She instinctively questioned him.
"Shopkeeper Sylvester, you aren't joking, are you?"
"Of course not."
Sylvester replied calmly.
"If those sheep hadn't accidentally been struck again by the Opposite Hammer and reverted to normal, that wolf would have become the first wolf in history to be eaten by sheep—forever nailed to the pillar of shame for his kind."
Black Swan: "…"
Should that wolf's luck be considered good or bad?
Though he narrowly escaped death, the sheep's drastic transformation had been caused by his own use of the [Opposite Hammer].
And even if he hadn't actually been eaten, 'almost being eaten' was humiliating enough.
For this story to have reached the Xianzhou Luofu through Sylvester, its widespread circulation hardly required further speculation.
The wolf may have been unfortunate, but the Curio he left behind was undeniably valuable.
Used against the virtuous, it would undoubtedly create desperate criminals.
But if turned upon the wicked, how much loss of life and wealth across the star seas might be prevented would be incalculable.
If this were brought down upon the head of a leader of the Annihilation Gang, perhaps it wouldn't instantly transform them into a benevolent organization—but fracturing such a reckless group into pieces would be entirely possible.
And what about the memory bubble obtained earlier? If this hammer were brought down upon Stelle's head, would that imaginative Nameless not become a rigid and serious old scholar?
And if one dared to go further—what if the hammer struck the head of an Aeon?
Would the Aeon of Elation become the Aeon of Sorrow? Would Preservation turn into Invasion? Would the vengeful Aeon of The Hunt repay grievances with kindness? Would the compassionate Abundance become a true plague of longevity? Would Nihility grow lively like Aha?
Hiss—
Compared to such a world-upending upheaval of the cosmos, Miss Stelle's memories suddenly seemed innocent and gentle.
And if Aeons were forced to walk contrary to THEIR own Paths… would THEY self-destruct on the spot?
"This…"
Black Swan was nearly frightened by her own thoughts.
From her expression alone, Sylvester could roughly guess what she was imagining.
So, he spoke up to shatter the fantasy.
"Ahem, Miss Black Swan, whether this Curio can alter a target depends on your own strength."
"While the Curio grants a certain enhancement and can affect those slightly stronger than you, crossing an entire tier of power is still impossible."
"Phew—"
Black Swan smiled and nodded.
"That would only be reasonable."
Even if its effect wasn't quite so absolute, this Curio's power was by no means trivial.
At the very least, to followers of Elation, it possessed immense disruptive potential.
If placed in the hands of other unrestrained Memokeepers, they might well use it to strike the dull and boring, manufacturing interesting memories in bulk.
Truly a fascinating—and dangerous—item.
After putting the hammer away, she turned her gaze toward the pink door panel.
Its appearance was certainly eye-catching, but surely it wasn't merely an ordinary door?
"Shopkeeper Sylvester, what is this door used for?"
"This item is called the [Anywhere Door+]."
As he spoke, Sylvester stepped out from behind the counter and pressed the door panel against the wall.
He explained slowly, "Before opening it, simply imagine your destination. When you open the door, you'll find that the space beyond is exactly where you envisioned."
"This isn't some special projection technique. As long as you step forward, you will truly set foot upon that land."
"Such a convenient Curio actually exists?"
Black Swan murmured.
"There's something that convenient?!"
Feixiao blurted out almost simultaneously, though her voice carried far more excitement.
She couldn't help it.
She was about to escort Hoolay to the Xianzhou Yaoqing for transfer, and her greatest concern was something going wrong along the way—allowing him to escape.
With this, wouldn't it be possible to directly connect the prisons of the Xianzhou Luofu and the Xianzhou Yaoqing, transferring the prisoner in a single second?
It would be effortless and worry-free.
"Of course. Watch."
Sylvester casually named a location.
"I'm going to Penacony. Hmm—let's say, the Golden Hour."
With that, he pulled the door open.
Beyond the frame lay the bustling and most prosperous district of Penacony.
Elegantly dressed crowds filled the streets, chatting animatedly and reveling freely, bursts of carefree laughter ringing out from time to time—while around the edges of the doorway remained the familiar minimalist décor of the trash can shop.
"How miraculous!"
Feixiao couldn't stop marveling at the stark contrast.
Black Swan said nothing.
Instead, she stepped directly through the doorway.
Feixiao watched with her own eyes as Black Swan walked back and forth between the two utterly different worlds.
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