Chapter 216: Dionysus HQ and sacred scrolls

    (Levi Strauss POV)

    Unbelievable. The sight before me shattered every expectation I had of a cult''s hidden sanctuary.

    Festivity and joy filled the underground chamber. Animated conversations mixed with theatrical performances, creating an atmosphere more akin to a celebration than a secret gathering.

    "This..." The word escaped me involuntarily.

    "What do you think?" Elena asked beside me.

    I glanced between her and the lively scene. "This is nothing like what I imagined a cult hideout would be!"

    Elena''s knowing smile suggested she''d heard this before. "Everyone has that same look their first time here. Come on, there''s an empty table over there."

    As we walked, I took in the diverse crowd. Dwarves, demons, and elves mingled freely with humans - no trace of the usual racial tensions. Instead, they shared wine and laughter like old friends.

    "Another recruit, Sister Elena?" A dwarf called out as we passed.

    Elena''s simple nod triggered a flood of suspicious comments.

    "Make sure he''s not a spy!"

    "Did anyone follow him?"

    "If he''s a spy, we''ll have to silence him!"

    My throat went dry. The burly dwarves, fierce-eyed demons, and stern elves suddenly seemed less festive and more threatening. Even the quiet humans watched me with calculated gazes, wine cups in hand but ready for action.

    "He''s 99% safe, everyone. Don''t worry," Elena joked, though her words carried weight.

    "That means there''s 1% chance he''s a spy!" a demon spat.

    A human''s cold voice cut through the tension. "As long as he doesn''t bring the law down on us or empty our wine stores, I don''t care."

    These people would absolutely kill me if they suspected anything, I realized as we took our seats, a chill running down my spine.

    Elena noticed my obvious fear. "Don''t mind them. They''re just protective," she assured me. "Once they know you, they''ll treat you like their closest friend."

    I nodded uncertainly, taking in the chaotic celebration around me. The theater performance commanded one corner, while dancers spun nearby, collecting tossed coins from appreciative watchers.

    "Why is there a theater here? And those dancers, and-" I pointed to a woman strumming a guitar in the distance, her voice carrying over the crowd. "She''s singing. It all seems so... random. What''s really going on?"

    Elena''s patient smile suggested she''d heard this question before. "You can''t truly understand until you''re a follower of Dionysus. Only then will you see why we have theater, dance, song, and even that bard telling stories in the corner."

    Her cryptic answer only confused me more. "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    Instead of explaining, Elena reached into her robe and pulled out a folded paper. "Rather than questions, you should read this prayer to Dionysus. Become a follower - then everything will make sense."

    I took the paper skeptically, unfolding it to find an actual prayer.

    "Go on," Elena encouraged. "Recite it with true faith in your heart, and He will answer. Then you''ll be an official follower of Dionysus."

    I recited the prayer, trying to fill each word with faith and meaning. Nothing happened.

    "You''re not truly opening your heart," Elena observed. "He won''t take halfhearted devotion seriously."

    "But I am serious," I protested.

    Intelligence: 15

    Charisma: 12

    Willpower: 10

    Available Career Paths:

    - Stage Actor

    - Musician/Bard

    - Dancer

    - Storyteller

    - Filmmaker

    - Festival Organizer

    Select your path to begin earning Faith Points}

    "What... What is this..." I whispered, drinking in every detail as more text shimmered into existence, explaining the system''s intricacies.

    The scroll revealed everything about me - not just basic attributes, but potential paths I could follow. Each career offered different ways to earn Faith Points, which could be exchanged for divine favors.

    As a filmmaker, for instance, I could accumulate points through creating works that moved people''s hearts. Those points could then be used in the Followers Shop for various blessings.

    Looking at my current balance - 1 FP - I noticed I could exchange it for a cup of Dionysus''s sacred wine.

    "This is incredible!" I exclaimed, marveling at the divine system''s elegance.

    ***

    (3rd Person POV)

    At Hellfire Studio, preparations for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo''s Nest" were underway. John approached his protagonist role with newfound confidence, knowing his abilities had been divinely enhanced.

    The sacred scroll Arthur had gifted him proved invaluable. Not only could John track his talents precisely, but the Followers Shop allowed him to pray for items or attribute improvements - provided he had sufficient Faith Points.

    Converting Faith Points into real talent required significant dedication - 1,000 FP for a single Talent Point in the Followers Shop. John had spent 2,000 FP to increase his acting talent by two points, but the results were remarkable. Even this modest improvement had transformed his performance abilities dramatically.

    John had also been getting along well with his co-stars. He was particularly excited about working with Vivienne, a famous actress he had admired for a long time.

    At the same time, he was immersing himself deeply in becoming Randle, exploring potential approaches to perfect the character.

    Meanwhile, Arthur observed a steady growth in his Divine Points since implementing the "Divine Revelry System." Nearly 70% of his followers were pursuing entertainment-related careers to earn Faith Points.

    However, Arthur couldn''t help but wonder if the advanced levels of the "Divine Revelry System" might eventually include careers related to electronics, such as programming, game development, or other computer science fields.

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