CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 323 SACRED RELICS: THE TERRIFYING SOCIAL CLOCK, TICK-TOCK!_3

"Nonsense, even a fool knows that the most important thing in an assassination is... firepower!"

Yet, the chief justice leading the trio gave a completely different answer: "That would be intelligence. A skilled assassin would design at least three assassination schemes for different targets, and four to five contingency plans. Torrent Castle Baron, you actually evaded the long-range sniper and didn’t directly break into the ambush we had prepared in advance. I must commend your caution. But this is where it all ends."

Just then, a sea breeze passed through (daytime brings the sea wind, nighttime the land breeze), dispersing the nearby smoke and dust. Unexpectedly, a tall Old Continent-style grand clock tower was revealed in its place. Half illusory and half real, it seemed to be hidden in another dimension, completely unscathed by the triple saturation bombing.

Moreover, on the gold dial at the top of the clock tower, not only were there the normal numbers from 1 to 12, but each number was also annotated with an age. These were 0 years, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, 16 years, 18 years... seemingly symbolizing a human’s life and corresponding to key milestones. The sword-like minute hand suddenly pointed towards Byron, anchoring his real age and automatically adjusting to the position corresponding to 18 years old. It then gradually lit up and quickly returned to its original point.

What is this thing? It seems it wasn’t an artifact officially in possession of Hightins.

Unlike the serpent staff musket, Byron had never seen this clock tower-like artifact before. And just as he was barely distracted by this peculiar clock tower for a moment, his vision blurred, and suddenly, he had been unwittingly transferred to another space.

Below his feet was a huge dial. He was standing right at the tip of the minute hand, which was as thick as a yardarm, exactly at the origin point of 12 o’clock/0 years old. Wanting to move, he found himself inexplicably bound by some mysterious rule-power, able to move his body but not his feet. Looking up, the other two assassins were nowhere to be seen, while the chief justice was standing on another, stubbier hour hand, quietly stopped at the five o’clock position, representing 18 years old. One hour hand and one minute hand were slowly rotating at an imperceptible speed.

At this moment, the chief justice, hands behind his back and looking confident of victory, glanced over at him and kindly explained, "I’ve seen your record. Compared to the many lowly commoners of the Kingdom, you could be considered to have some talent and luck. However, it’s a pity that you’re out of luck, picked the wrong side, and provoked someone you shouldn’t have. You’re about to die. But I can be merciful enough to let you die knowing the reason. Dying in front of this specially borrowed First-Level Relic - Social Clock will be an honor for you. Of course, if you can successfully make it past each life milestone, and you’re not dead by the time the minute hand catches up with the hour hand, I’m willing to give you a chance for a fair duel. Hahaha..."

He spread his hands, showing Byron the immense clock face in front of him.

Social Clock?

As Byron pondered this unfamiliar term, his [Nautical Logbook] also swiftly read the surface information of this Sacred Relic.

"The so-called ’Social Clock’ is defined in social psychology as: ’a psychological clock of the key milestones in an individual’s life.’ Simply put, it’s: whatever age a person is, they should be doing what is expected for that age! It reflects the societal expectations placed on each individual by the community. For instance, before reaching adulthood, during their student days, a student is expected to study hard, get good grades, and secure admission to a good school. If their exams at the end of a term go poorly, they’ll likely face a barrage of criticism, or even the ’culinary punishment’ of stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork. Once they graduate and enter society, they should find a decent, good job, earn more wealth than their peers, and buy their own property. As soon as their work stabilizes, if they are unmarried, they will be relentlessly pressured by those around them to get married. After marriage, the pressure to have children begins. Having one isn’t enough, neither is two; only after the third can they catch their breath a little. After having children, they then worry about their children’s future, the center of their life shifts, and the cycle repeats with each generation. Birth—Learning—Advancement—Employment—Promotion—Marriage—Childbearing... This clock represents society’s default standards and the collective unconscious’s measure of public morality."

Looking at the clock’s age scale before him, Byron had already guessed its murderous rules. Indeed, it seems our lives are divided by these ages into predefined trajectories, each phase filled with things that must and ought to be done. The principle is to conform to societal expectations. Society has a consensus on the appropriate ages for major life milestones like marriage, having children, and retirement. If you pass the relevant age range, the number and quality of potential romantic partners others introduce you to drop significantly, implying you are no longer good enough for them. This consensus exerts intense social pressure on individuals, forcing them into specific roles when they reach certain ages. Everyone has such a "Social Clock." Based on comparisons with peers, it reminds us whether we are reaching important life benchmarks at the appropriate times. If not, a multifaceted punishment mechanism is immediately triggered. Thus, the Social Clock is never nebulous. It exists in the nagging of parents, the subtle hints from friends and relatives, and the pointing fingers of strangers... Here, it has been directly materialized. Pulled from the vast sea of collective human subconscious, it formed a real [Sacred Relic - Social Clock].

Ability effect:

"Once caught in the dial, the ’social qualification trial’ begins. If you fail to achieve the expected accomplishments within the corresponding time frame, you are forced to lose the corresponding time—that is, your lifespan! Here, you can’t hide, you can’t escape. Resistance is not permitted; rebellion is Heresy. Countless ’children of others’ constitute the standard answer to the exam of life. Only by becoming like them can you qualify as a functional member of society, a cog in the machine!"

Requirement:

"May target only one person at a time. The cost is that the user of the clock must undergo the same trial as the person being tested."

As the true nature of the Social Clock became clear, Byron, who rejected all constraints and would rather die than forfeit his freedom, immediately looked extremely displeased. Underneath the chief justice’s mask, an unpleasant smile appeared.

During these moments, as he watched the execution of those who failed to conform to societal norms, he felt an immense pleasure in passing judgment from a moral high ground. We who have gone through this are all like this, why should you be an exception? Rebel!

"Trial begins! The first milestone: age 0!"

TICK-TOCK!

"Basic requirement: After birth, being able to breathe independently, cry, ask for milk, have healthy limbs, no hidden illnesses, and not become an unnecessary burden to the family or be abandoned by parents on the spot."