Chapter 426: Everything that bears the curse will eventually be transformed into an apostle
Chapter 426: Everything that carries the curse will eventually be transformed into an apostle
Everyone attaches great importance to the curse itself, but they all find William's words a bit sensational.
"Dean William, it's just a story. Is it so serious?"
Niebuhr raised his own doubts, and William retorted solemnly.
"Minister Niebuhr, you have to know how important 'meaning' is to a humanoid intelligent race like ours.
We are not machines, so we need meaning to rationalize any of our actions. Stories are the best packaging for meaning.
The connotation of a good story will have a subtle impact on its audience. And for those who are particularly invested in watching the story and keen to explore its meaning, this impact will be even greater!
Of course, I also know that most people just want simple entertainment and relaxation when reading stories. There are also people like everyone here who have been dealing with major practical problems for a long time and are not interested in stories.
Such people don't care about stories because they have found a meaning that rationalizes their actions. This is called faith at a larger scale, and spiritual support at a smaller scale.
People who can do this have their own stories, or they themselves are part of the story.
As for these illustrated books…
Due to space limitations, their narrative rhythm is very fast, and there are some big jumps between frames.
There are advantages and disadvantages to doing this. The disadvantage is that it will feel a little thin to people with solid concepts. The advantage is that it gives people room for imagination, which is very attractive to people who are still in the stage of establishing their values.
That’s why I say this is a very harmful story. For people whose values are not yet sound, once they read it immersed in it, it may lead them astray!
And what makes me most angry is that the narrative mode of this illustration book coincides with a series of works compiled by our art academy in recent months. This efficient narrative mode is the result of our internal collective labor.
Who in our art academy secretly uses the fruits of our labor in improper ways? This is no longer as simple as a simple prank!"
William finished a long speech indignantly, making Li De and others realize that he was serious and not exaggerating.
Li De was silent for a long time before speaking slowly.
"Dean William, you just said that this story is likely to lead people who have not yet established their concepts astray? So... what about children?"
This question stunned William.
"Children? Children! Why didn't I think of it earlier! Children have the richest imaginations! They also like images and colors more than words! The group that such things are most likely to attract is children!
Lord Protector, who created these things?! Showing these to children is a complete crime!"
William said emotionally, but then he slumped in his chair and said a little dejectedly.
"I really didn't expect that in the past, we thought we only needed to pay attention to the spiritual life of the workers and give them the right guidance, but we ignored the children, so that there was such a big vacancy in our work."
Li De comforted him.
"This was also an oversight on my part. Our major construction period just ended and we experienced several wars in a row. I didn't take into account the increasing number of newborns and the education of children, which was a new problem we encountered.
Now I can tell you clearly that these things are related to the Faceless Men who have been lurking recently. There is a curse in these illustrations. As for the leak of secrets from the Art Institute you mentioned, who do you think will leak the secret?"
Hearing that the illustration book was related to the curse, William's spirit suddenly became tense. As for the question Li De asked later, William shook his head and said after thinking hard for a while.
"I've been thinking about this too, but I don't have any clue. You also know that our management of the cultural field is relatively strict. All cultural workers must accept the belief in the light of civilization. There will never be any problems in this regard.
,unless……"
William's words stopped abruptly.
Regarding the spiritual construction of the Light of Civilization, Li De is the clearest. The Light of Civilization brings healthy bodies and high spirits to believers, and regularly organizes people's spiritual exchanges for learning. There is almost no soil for the survival of the dark side.
Li De was curious about what William meant by "unless".
"You can say whatever you want, and everyone in this room can keep it confidential."
Despite this, William still had some concerns. He glanced at Niebuhr before gritting his teeth and adding an attributive before speaking.
"What I want to say is just an unfounded conjecture, and I hope it will not affect our relations with our friendly countries.
There are not only our cultural workers in the Art Academy, but also exchange personnel sent by Zandalari, and they do not believe in the light of civilization."
William was also referring to part of the cooperative relationship between the Protector of the Vast Sea and Zandalari. The wealthy Zandalari liked the literature and art of the Protector of the Vast Sea very much, and even sent their personnel to exchange and learn. Similarly, the Guardian of the Vast Sea would also send priests there.
Learn the Loa faith of Zandalar.
After finishing speaking, William noticed that the expressions of Reed and Niebuhr had not changed much, and he felt relieved. He was just a cultural worker and did not want to influence high-level diplomatic decisions.
Li De, who understood William's difficulties, said immediately.
"Your guess does make sense. This is just an analysis of specific events. Don't worry too much. Niebuhr, would you like to share your opinion?"
Li De also looked at Niebuhr. He noticed that his student had been silent and seemed to be thinking about something.
"Ah, teacher, I also think this suspicion is reasonable, but I suggest that before investigating the Zandalari personnel, we should talk to Princess Talanji first. After all, she has given us so much help before, and we also
Some Princess Talanji feelings need to be considered."
After finishing speaking, Niebuhr smiled and shook his head.
"Dean William, you are worrying too much. I always consider issues from our own standpoint. I was thinking about another thing just now. I seem to understand how this curse works."
Everyone's eyes lit up and they motioned for Niebuhr to speak quickly.
"The key to unlocking this curse is this story. According to what Dean William said, if you read this story with immersion and agree with the ideas conveyed in the story, then the spiritual world will be open to the curse, and people who look at this illustration will naturally also
He was cursed."
Niebuhr's words startled William.
"You mean I'm cursed?!"
Others also looked at William curiously, showing no signs that he was cursed.
Niebuhr explained with a smile.
"Of course Dean William was not cursed. Just when he was about to be cursed, the curse was blocked by the light of civilization.
Do you still remember that when William just read the illustrations, his expression was briefly confused, and then there was a light in his eyes and his eyes became clear again.
The light of our civilization has been blessed by the guardian dragon king. It enshrines three loa and a wilderness demigod to maintain power and pursue a belief that transcends the original power. Those who believe in it have absolute faith, self-confidence, and will.
How can one's power be easily shaken by a mere curse?"
After Niebuhr finished explaining, everyone nodded in agreement, and Kel'Thuzad suddenly spoke with enlightenment.
"This also explains why the enemy would choose to attack children. If we do not rely on force and only use mental tricks, it will be really difficult for the adults of Hanhai Protector to be influenced."
Anachronos looked at the golden beetle statue he brought, and his thoughts suddenly opened up.
"It turns out that this is a curse based on faith and will. No wonder it is also on this golden statue. According to its shape research, this was originally a golden statue inlaid on the altar of the ancient god during the prehistoric Dark Empire period.
It seems that using faith to curse is one of the ways the ancient gods enslaved life, but today faith has quietly put on the cloak of this entertainment product."
The outspoken Jack didn't want to listen to these people talking about theories and concepts, so he interrupted their communication.
"So is there a way to figure out how this curse will harm people? At least hundreds of children have been cursed, and we can't delay any longer."
Jack's words woke everyone up, and Kel'Thuzad held his chin and made a suggestion.
"If you want to find out what kind of curse it is, it's best to find someone who is struck by this curse. Then it will be clear."
Everyone rolled their eyes at Kel'Thuzad. How could such a method be used? In the end, Niebuhr, who knew the most about curses, sought the answer.
Niebuhr was also slightly ashamed.
"Actually, what the Magister said is indeed an effective method. Early troll clans also liked to use living people when studying curses. Of course, we no longer need to do this. We have a more humane and effective method.
To trigger and guide this curse in the early stage, you still need to trouble Captain William, because you have the special skills to immerse yourself in the story, and at the same time, you have the rational thinking of an adult and can control the rhythm of triggering the curse.
Of course, you don’t have to be afraid. The curse in the illustration book will definitely not harm you, because I will impose another curse on you.
I have told you that you don’t need to be afraid. Curses are divided into harmful and harmless ones. The curse I am going to release on you is a harmless curse."
Kel'Thuzad, who was keen on research, stood up and came closer.
"What are you going to do?"
Niebuhr made preparations methodically with his hands and answered his question at the same time.
"The death curse, I will use it to connect Dean William with a beast, and the beast will bear all harm including the curse for Dean William until death."
William was frightened after hearing what he said. Are all the things trolls play so scary?
The beasts chosen for death were carrion-eating hyenas that humans hated as dogs. These guys were cunning, cruel and had no economic value: their fur was rough and ugly, and their flesh was full of parasites. It was perfect to be used as a substitute for the curse.
William started reading again with some trepidation. He had to say that the quality of these stories was very high.
But it is precisely because of this that William gnashes his teeth in hatred. The higher their quality, the greater the harm.
This time, in order to facilitate the guidance of the curse, William specifically cleared his mind to fully accept the storyline in the album. Sure enough, with William's obsession, the curse in the album emerged again.
Unlike the last time the curse was pushed back by the power of faith in the light of civilization, because of the existence of the curse of death, the curse fell directly on the scavenging hyena.
Niebuhr was chanting a spell at a faster pace, making the curse take effect quickly, allowing people to see its true face.
"Aww..."
The curse began to take effect, the scavenging hyena let out a howl, and its body began to undergo horrifying changes.
Twisted flesh has grown in the middle of its hair, and its head is wrapped in bloated flesh tentacles! It is turning into a faceless man!
At this time, William also called out, which scared Niebuhr and quickly cut off the curse of death, trapping this terrible Curse of the Faceless Man on the body of the hyena.
Li De'an, who was watching the whole process, was sitting where he was. He just shook his hand and killed the Faceless Coyote with a flash of silver light.
After confirming safety, William was breathing heavily with a frightened expression on his face. For a long time, he recalled the feeling of immersing himself in this story just now.
What kind of illustrated story is this? It is clearly a prayer swearing surrender to the ancient gods!
William was glad that the curse did not really happen to him. He whispered the words that echoed in his mind when the curse was activated.
"Everything that carries a curse will eventually be transformed into an apostle."