Chapter 34: Incomplete Laws

Inside Mountain Tiger's home, the Crown floated in mid-air, facing Ke Lu's "Queen," attempting to negotiate.

"Granted," Ke Lu's voice lacked its usual icy detachment, now imbued with a regal authority befitting an Imperator.

Ke Lu hadn't made this decision lightly.

Under normal circumstances, she would have refined the gem without hesitation.

Why?

Because she refused to take unnecessary risks.

As the Secret Realm Core, it possessed immense power.

Even Mountain Tiger's Power Level surpassed theirs, let alone the core representing the entire Secret Realm.

While she could suppress the core with her Imperator's Majesty, she remained vigilant, lest the core find an opening to counterattack.

Ke Lu understood this perfectly; she wouldn't gamble with her life.

Her confidence in negotiating stemmed from an additional trump card: Hysilens, who now stood silently at her side.

"Imperator, I'm late," Hysilens murmured, bowing slightly. Having arrived at the tail end of the battle and sensed the Ruby's offer to negotiate, she had remained concealed until now.

Through her Siren's Song, she had hypnotized everyone except Ke Lu, perfectly concealing her presence.

"It's fine," Ke Lu said calmly. "You've arrived at just the right moment."

With Hysilens by her side, she had firmly seized the initiative in this negotiation.

Power, after all, was the ultimate foundation of everything.

"I will ask, and you will answer truthfully. No deception," Ke Lu's voice carried an irresistible authority.

"Very well," the Secret Realm Core replied, visibly relieved. Ke Lu was now its only way to break the stalemate, and it genuinely harbored no malice toward her.

But human hearts are unknowable, let alone the mind of a non-human entity. The Core couldn't be sure if Ke Lu would trust it.

Still, Ke Lu's apparent lack of hostility was a promising start.

"What are you, and what is your relationship to the Mountain Tiger?"

The Ruby didn't conceal the truth. "I am the Secret Realm Core, and also a wisp of lingering will left by its mother to protect it."

"Why is your fusion with the Mountain Tiger so incomplete? And why have you imprisoned it?"

This was the crucial question. If the Ruby's claims were true, complete fusion should have been effortless.

"Why hasn't the Mountain Tiger fully become the Lord of the Secret Realm yet? Instead, it claims to be 'trapped in a cage'?"

The Ruby explained patiently, "My purpose is to protect it, but..."

She glanced at the unconscious Mountain Tiger and sighed. "Its hatred is overwhelming, so intense that it threatens to destroy the entire Secret Realm."

"Even after sealing its memories, it remains the same."

"If it were to become the Lord of the Secret Realm, the entire realm would be reduced to ashes, which contradicts my original mission to safeguard it."

So that's why, Ke Lu mused.

Having just glimpsed the hidden memories, she understood the Mountain Tiger's past. This explanation made sense, dispelling some of her suspicions.

"In that case," Ke Lu asked, "why not choose another being as the Lord?"

The Ruby replied, "Nearly all the other eligible candidates in this Secret Realm participated in the rebellion against its parents."

"Even if there were exceptions, I wouldn't consider them. I can't risk them changing their minds."

"If you hadn't demonstrated the ability to refine me, I wouldn't have proposed this deal."

"If you try to forcibly refine me, I'll have no choice but to self-destruct."

Ke Lu sighed, impressed by the protective instinct of a mother guarding her child.

"How much do you know about the outside world?" Ke Lu asked.

"About as much as a normal person," The Ruby said. "We're part of this world's Laws too, so observing the outside is effortless."

Ke Lu: "Then, as far as I know, the outside world is aware of the existence of the Lord of the Secret Realm. Why haven't you been refined?"

A question had always been unresolved in Ke Lu's mind: If the Lord of the Secret Realm wields such immense power, why has no worldly powerhouse ever truly become one?

She had looked through countless ancient texts, formulating many guesses, but always lacked solid verification. The records in those tomes were either vague or contradictory.

This question had also troubled the academic community for a long time.

The Ruby said: "It's not that they don't want to, but there's no way."

"Because this world was born with inherently incomplete Laws."

Incomplete Laws? What the hell? Ke Lu had a premonition that this would lead her to the deepest core of this world.

"The Lord of the Secret Realm is also known as a God."

"The Secret Realm Core, then, can be called Godhood."

"To become a God, one must first possess the complete Law. Unfortunately, the Law is fragmented, making it impossible for beings from the outside world to ever achieve Godhood."

Ke Lu: "Secret Realms are part of the world too. Why can the beings within them become Gods?"

The Ruby paused, considering how to explain it more clearly. "The Law is fragmented, but not entirely missing. If the Law required for a small world like a Secret Realm is a bowl of water, the entire world would need an ocean."

"Based on my speculation, if an external being were willing to transform themselves into a Secret Realm being, they might become the Lord of the Secret Realm. But this is just my theory; there's no precedent for it."

No wonder the System needed me here, Ke Lu thought, already about 70-80% confident about this fragmented Law. Still, she asked, "Which Law is fragmented?"

The Ruby replied, "The Law of Law."

Just as I suspected, Ke Lu thought. Otherwise, the System wouldn't have mentioned the Cerydra Template, and someone else would likely have been assigned this task.

Having said all this, the Ruby's voice carried a hint of curiosity. "You're quite exceptional. You're the only external being I've ever seen with such complete development. It's quite puzzling."

Of course, according to the game lore, Cerydra was a demigod of Law.

This conversation with the Ruby further convinced Ke Lu of the System's legitimacy.

Based on her experience reading novels in both her past and present lives, Ke Lu knew that many systems ultimately turned out to be the final bosses.

However, this System seemed genuinely dedicated to helping this world. As someone possessing the Law of "Law," she might hold the key to perfecting this world's Laws.

[What else would it be?]

The long-silent System finally chimed in.

"Alright, I get it. You're a legit System," Ke Lu thought, communicating mentally. "Then, let's cooperate."

Snapping back to reality, Ke Lu asked, "What are the terms of the deal?"

The Ruby's voice, usually calm, finally carried a flicker of emotion. "I want you to allow my children to continue living after you become the Lord of the Secret Realm, and ensure they retain sufficient power to maintain their position within the Secret Realm."

"And," Ke Lu could practically hear the Ruby gritting its teeth, "annihilate those who betrayed us."

"Only then will I allow you to assimilate me. Otherwise, I'd rather self-destruct."

"Agreed." Both parties found the terms mutually acceptable.

"I have a mission for you, Hysilens."

Ke Lu glanced sideways.

"According to the list provided by the Secret Realm Core, capture all the traitors. No problem, right?"

"Of course." Hysilens's figure slowly materialized in the air.

The Ruby's glow visibly faltered for a moment.

It hadn't detected when Hysilens entered the Secret Realm at all, a realization that plunged it into even deeper silence.