[Low-level xenogeneic slain. Memory vestige +10.]
The cold mechanical notification tone rang out abruptly in her mind.
Cyrene was curled up in her computer chair, the ethereal blue glow from the screen reflecting off her delicate and cute face.
The moment she heard the prompt, her finger on the mouse jerked to a halt. Immediately after, she leaned back, sinking into the soft backrest as her tense shoulders relaxed.
"Phew..."
"It looks like things are over on Phainon's end, and quite smoothly at that."
Her gaze refocused on the floating semi-transparent panel. Seeing that pitiful value of "10," Cyrene's relaxed brow furrowed slightly again.
She reached out her finger, habitually twirling a strand of her pink hair that hung by her temple.
"A single low-level xenogeneic only gives ten memory vestiges..."
According to the system's explanation, unlocking the next basic ability required at least one hundred points. That meant she would have to send Phainon out to clear nine more low-level xenogeneic species.
If it was for the sake of restoring Phainon's strength...
Cyrene cast her gaze toward the balcony. It was pitch black outside, with only the distant neon lights faintly filtering in.
"If I pour all ten points into Phainon, how much of his strength can he recover? I have a feeling it definitely won't be much."
She wasn't quite sure.
"Whatever, there's no use guessing blindly here. I'll just try it once he gets back."
Cyrene shook her head, forcing her attention back to the computer screen in front of her.
Currently, the monitor was packed with over a dozen search pages.
She had mostly figured out the background structure of this world; it didn't differ much from the modern society she originally came from.
What truly concerned her were the undercurrents hidden beneath seemingly calm news headlines.
The mouse wheel scrolled with a faint "click" sound.
"Serial gas explosions occur in old residential district downtown; experts say caused by aging underground pipes; site fully cordoned off."
"Rumor-refuting statement regarding the 'subway monster shadow' video circulating online: confirmed as CGI; rumor-monger has been administratively detained."
"Multiple fierce beasts escaped and have been shot dead at the West District Safari Park. Police remind: please do not visit West Outskirts Forest Park in the near future."
Cyrene's gaze swept over these headlines one by one, finally stopping at the photo accompanying the "gas explosion" scene.
Although the photo was very blurry and most of the area was obscured by police tape and thick smoke, she still keenly noticed an unnatural crack on the wall.
It didn't look like an impact pattern from an explosion; rather, it looked more like a mark left by the tearing of some giant claw.
"This kind of news only fools the uninformed."
Cyrene curled her lip, a flash of helplessness crossing her azure rhombic pupils.
As a veteran reader who had read countless novels in the past, she was all too familiar with this "official rumor-refuting" trope.
To maintain social order and avoid panic, packaging supernatural events as safety accidents was the standard procedure for the official authority of various countries when handling such incidents.
She extended her finger and lightly tapped several place names on the screen.
"West Outskirts Forest Park, Xinhai City Subway Station, Xingyang Residential District..."
These places had, in all probability, already seen the appearance of xenogeneic species.
They might even have already been cleared out by the special departments of the official authority.
At this thought, Cyrene flopped down onto the desk somewhat dejectedly, resting her chin on her arms while staring blankly at the space bar.
"Even if I know the general locations, it's useless."
Her biggest problem right now was—she couldn't find the monsters.
That so-called "xenogeneic detection radar" had a coverage range of a pitiful one kilometer.
In this massive city, one kilometer was practically a drop in the ocean.
[The detection range in the initial stage is indeed limited.]
The system's voice rang out at the appropriate time, still in that unflappable tone.
[However, you can consume memory vestiges to upgrade the detector and expand the search radius.]
"I know I can upgrade it, obviously."
Cyrene first rubbed her eyes, then while using the mouse to close those uninformative news pages, she replied crossly:
"But the core contradiction right now is that I don't have memory vestiges to upgrade the radar, and without the radar, I can't find xenogeneic species to farm memory vestiges. Isn't this just a dead loop?"
If she had to rely on this method of hoping for a stroke of luck, she feared the world would be finished before she even saved up her first pot of gold.
[Actually, there is an alternative solution that does not consume memory vestiges.]
Hearing this, Cyrene's hand—which was in the middle of closing a page—stopped.
She sat up straight and asked with curiosity:
"What solution? Don't tell me you want me to go out on the street and hand out flyers asking if anyone has seen monsters."
[You can utilize the information network of this world.]
The system ignored her snark.
[It is suggested that you post a high-priced bounty on the local supernatural enthusiast forum, disguising yourself as a second-generation rich person interested in supernatural phenomena to collect clues about recent abnormal events.]
[Though there will be a large amount of false information, if the base is large enough, you can always filter out real traces of xenogeneic species.]
Cyrene's eyes lit up instantly.
"Right! Why didn't I think of that!"
This was a classic "money-power" play!
She immediately sat up straight, her fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard.
Searching "Xinhai City Supernatural Forum," clicking to enter, and registering an account.
When filling out her personal profile, she paused slightly, then skillfully set up a "more money than brains" second-generation rich persona for herself.
The recharge interface popped up.
Cyrene glanced at the dizzyingly long string of numbers on her mobile banking app—that was the "start-up capital" the system had arranged for her.
According to what the system had explained when Phainon went out earlier, this body didn't have a so-called "original owner" but was created directly.
As for this body's "parents," under the system's technology of small-scale cognitive modification plus data intrusion, a pair of nouveau riche parents who made their fortune through stocks was fabricated.
Then, these parents both perished in an overseas tour, leaving behind an inheritance of over a hundred million.
Although this "both parents dead, owning a car and a house" setting was a cliché that made one want to complain, she had to admit it did save her a lot of trouble.
"Ten thousand yuan... that should be enough, right?"
She directly recharged ten thousand forum coins, which was definitely a huge sum in this niche forum.
(1 Huaxia Yuan equals 1 forum coin; forum coins can be withdrawn as Huaxia Yuan.)
Immediately following, a post titled "Buying for high price! Looking for real supernatural events that occurred recently in Xinhai City; come quickly if you have photos and proof!" was pinned and featured.
Having done all this, Cyrene added a few thousand more yuan to purchase the forum's exposure service.
Looking at the several "worshipping the tycoon" replies that instantly appeared below the post, she clapped her hands with satisfaction and gave a long stretch.
"Done. Next is just waiting for people to reply."
Just then, a faint sound of landing came from the balcony.
The sound was very light, like a cat jumping down from a high place.
But this sound was still clearly audible in the silent room.
"Cyrene, I'm back."
A warm, familiar voice drifted in with the wind.
Cyrene turned around immediately to see Phainon standing in front of the French window.
The white robe on him was still as clean as new, without even a single wrinkle. That golden greatsword had been put away, and he stood tall, bathed in the moonlight.
"So fast?"
Cyrene stood up quickly and walked to the balcony, her gaze scanning Phainon up and down.
"You're not hurt, are you? Was that xenogeneic powerful?"
Although the system had guaranteed it would be fine, she always had a stone hanging in her heart until she confirmed it with her own eyes.
Phainon looked at the girl before him with concern on her face, a flash of warmth flickering in the depths of his eyes.
He shook his head gently, his tone as relaxed as if he had just gone to the convenience store downstairs to buy something:
"Even more fragile than expected. I only needed one strike to heavily injure that low-level xenogeneic."
"That's good then..."
Cyrene breathed a total sigh of relief and patted her chest.
Then, as if remembering something, she immediately pulled up that floating panel.
Her gaze locked onto that [Memory Vestige: 10] value.
"Right, system, I want to give all these ten memory vestiges to Phainon now."
She turned to look at Phainon, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"Though it's not much, even mosquito legs are meat; it's better than nothing."
[Command confirmed. Please silently recite 'Use memory vestiges to restore Phainon's strength' in your heart.]
Cyrene nodded, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.
'Use ten memory vestiges to restore Phainon's strength.'
As the thought fell, a strange ripple rippled through the room.
Cyrene opened her eyes to see the number "10" instantly return to zero, transforming into countless tiny ethereal blue light points that flew out of the panel like fireflies.
They circled in the air once before slowly merging into Phainon's body.
Buzz—
A faint blue light pulsed from Phainon's body. His originally somewhat pale complexion seemed to redden a bit, and that faint, intangible pressure around him solidified slightly.
But this light came quickly and left just as fast.
After only two or three seconds, the blue light vanished completely, and everything returned to calm.
"How was it?"
Cyrene leaned in a bit closer and asked nervously.
"Do you feel anything? Like power surging up? Or the seal loosening?"
Phainon closed his eyes to feel for a moment, then slowly opened them.
Looking at Cyrene's sparkling eyes, he gave a bit of a pained, bitter smile:
"The feeling... is very faint."
He raised his hand and made a fist in the air.
"It's like pouring a cup of water into a dried-up lake. Although I can feel the existence of that energy, as for the recovery of my overall strength... it can only be described as a drop in the bucket."
Hearing those words "a drop in the bucket," the light in Cyrene's eyes dimmed visibly.
"Oh... I see."
She slumped her shoulders with disappointment and let out a sigh.
"It seems that wanting to restore you to your peak truly is a massive project."
Ten memory vestiges didn't even make a splash; wouldn't it take thousands or tens of thousands of points then?
Cyrene raised her hand somewhat gloomily, prepared to close the panel that had already returned to zero.
However, just as her fingertip was about to touch the close button—
Ding!
A notification tone, clearer and louder than before, rang out in Cyrene's mind without warning.
Cyrene was startled, her hand jerking back.
On the originally empty panel, a line of golden text was slowly surfacing.
[Detected that Phainon's act of slaying the low-level xenogeneic was observed by a witness.]
[This act has left a deep sense of shock and wariness in the witness's memory.]
[Additional reward settlement in progress...]
[Memory Vestige +100]