《I've Become the King of Villains in the Game》 Chapter 1 I am the Sacrifice Cold, damp. The squeaking of rodents echoed sharply and piercingly by his ear. Chen Lun struggled to open his eyes, a ny-degree tilted view appearing in his blurred vision, giving him an intense sense of unreality. "Hey buddy, how should we handle these guys?" "Heh... ording to the priest, they are to be sacrificed tonight." Chen Lun clutched his stomach, struggling to rise from the ground. He leaned against the wet, disgusting wall beside him, enduring the fire-like hunger in his stomach. As his vision slowly returned to normal, Chen Lun gradually regained his sense of reality. In the dim environment, he focused his gaze towards the source of the voice, looking past the iron bars of the prison, where two tall, thin figures in leather coats stood at the entrance. They were two men, casually leaning under the torch on the corridor wall, casting a pair of dim, dark shadows. Chen Lun noticed, both men carried a short sword at their waists. "Where am I...?" Chen Lun was slightly baffled. He vaguely remembered that he was engrossed in a holographic online game called Era of Mystery, acimed as the pinnacle masterpiece of the new generation¡ªsingr in its status, with countless global yers spending their sleeping hours in this game. Efficiently utilizing sleep time had long been recognized as the truth by the new generation, with holographic gaming being one of the main methods. Among them, Era of Mystery led the way and was indisputably rated as the most popr game world. Chen Lun''s memory lingered at thest moment, just when hey into the sleep pod, the door slowly closed, and he linked to the game world... "What happenedst..." As he recalled, suddenly a sharp pain shot through the back of his head. Chen Lun gasped, reaching to touch the back of his skull, only feeling a warm, sticky sensation on his palm. By the faint torchlight, he saw some not fully dried blood stains on his hand. Chen Lun cursed under his breath. "Fuck! Was I shot in the head?!" A scene he once saw in a short video shed through his mind¡ªa robust man at a barbecue stall swung a beer bottle like splitting a mountain; the bottle shattered on another guy''s head, and then he just fell straight, with thements section filled with ''goodnights''. Chen Lun slightly shook his head, stopping his wild thoughts. He didn''t know what had happened to him, perhaps there was a malfunction with the sleep pod equipment, and he had peacefully passed away in his sleep. What about now? Am I still in the game? Or maybe... "Monk Will''s team hasn''t produced results for several months; hopefully, tonight these guys will bring a surprise." "Hey, I think you''re just craving alcohol, already dreaming unrealistically for that two hundred Copper Kro reward..." The tall, thin figure couldn''t help coughing, as if he had phlegm stuck in his throat. He moistened his throat with saliva, breathed a long sigh, and then chuckled sinisterly: "The crap our team''s working on, shoving a few hundred more lives into it still won''t make a difference!" "What does it matter... Anyway, these guys were all orphans raised by the church; it''s time they gave their lives for the church!" The two guards slowly turned their heads, their backs to the light looking into the cell. "If they die, they die. If it works out, the priest will be pleased, and we''ll get some money too..." "Hehehehaha..." The two pairs of cold eyes swept over Chen Lun, who quickly bowed his head to avoid their gaze. After a while, the footsteps receded, and Chen Lun faintly overheard the two guards agreeing to go out for a drink, with othersing to take over their shiftter. But Chen Lun still kept his head down. If someone were to look up at his face from below, they would see his expression filled with shock. Just now, when the two guards turned back, Chen Lun caught a glimpse of the symbol on the side of their hats: under the torchlight, it was a glowing Red Apple insignia. "Red Apple Church..." Chen Lun muttered the name. How is that possible? Hadn''t the Red Apple Church from the "Era of Mystery"pletely perished two years ago? Why is it appearing again now? Had I traveled back in time? No! "Exit game!" Chen Lun raised his head and silently recited in his mind. After waiting for a full two minutes, Chen Lun didn''t dare to breathe, but nothing happened. The semi-transparent data frame that he remembered didn''t appear in his field of vision, and his heart sank. At the same time, he noticed that the prison was also holding seven or eight other young men and women. In the dim and damp environment, they huddled together, curled up against the walls. Most of them wore only a thin, tattered linen cloth, barefoot, discarded like cattle awaiting ughter. Shivering, they remained silent. Chen Lun shakily stood up, and he was fairly certain of one thing. He had most likely traveled through time, not only back to the past, but also into the game world of the "Era of Mystery"! And what awaited him was the sacrifice mentioned by the two guards. "It''s tonight..." Chen Lun rubbed his face somewhat frantically,pletely unaware that his hand, which had touched the wall earlier, had picked up a lot of moss and dirt, making his entire face filthy. Suppressing a strong feeling of hunger, he weakly lifted his footsteps and slowly walked toward the prison gate. His movements were gentle and slow, but they still attracted the attention of the other people in the prison. Their frightened eyes now held a trace of confusion, not understanding what this fellow locked up with them intended to do. Chen Lun''s hands touched the cold iron bars, then he firmly grasped them. He looked left and right, the corridor where a torch hung every few meters was empty. Chen Lun took a deep breath, then began to exert force with his hands, slightly shaking the iron bars of the prison, but it wouldn''t budge. He tried pushing the door too, which was even more solid and heavy than the bars. "Don''t waste your energy." The sudden voice made Chen Lun jump. He turned to look at a woman in the opposite cell. Under the firelight, the woman''s dirty face was expressionless, her mouth curling into a faint sneer. "No one captured here has ever escaped." The woman was sitting at the door of her cell, her head stuck between two iron bars, staring directly at Chen Lun. "Even if you did get out of here, there are countless guards outside... not to mention those monsters!" At that moment, Chen Lun saw extreme unease and fear in her eyes.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Everyone dies, dies horribly...hehehe..." The woman reached out her hand from the cell, her arm was very pale, but it was covered with wildly moving eyeballs, which destroyed any beauty and instead caused a twisted and grotesque disgust. "Look! I''m going to die too, just like them, hehehahaha!" Chen Lun suddenly felt nauseous, his head pounding as if it had been hammered. He felt dizzy, and his body stiffly fell backward. A gasp erupted from the people in the prison. In the moment before he lost consciousness, Chen Lun''s mind seemed to hear a voice: [Witnessing a Mysterious Contamination! Sanity Value decreased by 1 point!] [Warning! When Sanity Value reaches 0, you will enter a death state! Current Sanity Value is 4/5!] [Activate character panel!] Chapter 2 Panel Name: Chen Lun Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Temte: NPC (Countdown to 1.0 version public beta: 407 days, 5 hours, 18 minutes, 07 seconds) Level: 3 Experience: 0/120 Life: 26/40 (hungry, trauma to the back of the head) Physical Strength: 40/60 Sanity: 4/5 (slowly recovering) Main upation: None Sub upation: [Fisherman LV3] Attributes: Strength 4, Agility 6, Endurance 5, Intelligence 3, Faith 3 Special Attributes: Charm 7 (+2), Willpower 5, Insight 3, Luck 3 Skills: Quick Reflexes LV1 (Passive), Seafearing Bnce LV1 (Passive) Combat Power: 4 [Evaluation: A slightly handsome young fisherman, beyond thatpletely useless, a small piece of trash.] ... "¡ª¡ª Aaahhhhh!!" A piercing scream awakened Chen Lun. He swiftly climbed up from the ground, knelt, and looked up to see the woman in the opposite cell screaming in agony. Half hidden in darkness, her legs exposed under the firelight were sprouting numerous erratically moving eyeballs. Densely packed and terribly horrific. "Get back! Look again and I''ll smash your bones!" With a shout, Chen Lun''s view was blocked by a tall, thin shadow. Looking up, he saw a guard standing in front of him, looking down through the bars of the cell. The backlit figure''s eyes, full of malice and icy cold, made Chen Lun feel very ufortable, but as the situation was out of his control, he silently returned to a corner of the cell and sat down. "Ignorant fool! Wretched creature! Don''t be so curious about everything..." The guard red fiercely around at the other people in the cell, his small mustache slightly curving upwards. "Nobody is allowed to look out! Look once, and I''ll chop off a fingertip!" He adjusted the short sword at his waist, the guard and sheath making a slight, sharp noise as they rubbed together. The inmates of the cell shrank back in fear, turning their heads away from the sight outside. The guard huffed coldly, then turned away satisfied, but continued to grumble under his breath, with Chen Lun faintly hearing himin about words spoken by the Will monks. "Quick! Move quickly!" "Batch 4''s sacrifice has mutated, get her out and handle it!" Quick footsteps resonated in the corridor outside, Chen Lun maintained his bowed head, lifting his eyes only slightly to observe through the corner of his eyes as three or four guards in leather coats and rimmed hats lifted the woman from the opposite cell, threw her into a sack, and carried her away. They moved very swiftly, not wasting a moment, as if any dy would trigger something terrible. Chen Lun slowly exhaled the foul air from his chest, having already secretly guessed the truth. Based on his many years of gaming experience, the woman was very likely contaminated by something mysterious. Her body had mutated, and once her Sanity Value dropped to 0, she wouldpletely lose control and turn into a monster. By then, she would definitely be dead, only her body moving, a lump of decaying flesh driven by a mad will... "What should I do..." Chen Lun began to think. Being in the dungeon, he had no idea of the time outside, but he knew that the nighttime sacrifice was drawing increasingly closer. Sacrifice! The term wasn''t hard to understand, but in "Era of Mystery," a fantasy world containing elements of Cthulhu and new strange tales, it only served as a generic term, not merely a sacrifice to the Gods. Chen Lun knew very clearly that the Red Apple Church''s sacrifices were intended for the "Mysterious Objects" they gathered with tremendous human and material resources, and the offerings included various living beings, humans included. But in a way, these so-called sacrifices were more like a form of research. The Red Apple Church had always been covertly researching "Mysterious Objects," attempting to fully grasp the mysterious powers they held. At this moment, Chen Lun''s identity was that of a "sacrifice" for the "Mysterious Object" that the group of monks from the Will was responsible for! "Mysterious Objects" in "Era of Mystery" could be understood as "Spiritual Treasures" from fantasy martial arts novels, but unlike "Spiritual Treasures," these "Mysterious Objects" were even more bizarre and uncontroble. Their origins were unknown, their mechanisms of effect were unclear, and their characteristics and uses were all mysteries... Even its form of existence was unclear. Common objects such as pens, coffee cups or a gun... slightlyrger items like tables, chairs or even houses and cars. It could also be animals or living beings, like insects, kittens, puppies, creatures flying in the sky or swimming in the sea... It could even be a person. These "Mysterious Objects," unless a significant or massive number of lives were spent researching and experimenting, no one dared to use them casually, because it was very likely that one might die bizarrely before even beginning to use it. Seeing the woman''s grotesque changes just now, Chen Lun thought of a notoriously dangerous "Mysterious Object" contaminated by the Red Apple Church. The hallmark of anyone contaminated by it was their body being covered in eyeballs. "If it really is that thing..." Chen Lun wiped off his cold sweat, feeling a bad premonition. In his previous life, he was not a powerhouse yer. Unlike most, he was not keen on pursuing strength, only remaining in the middle tier; instead, he was more fascinated by the game''s background stories and worldviews. His favorite activities, aside from digging into the game''s side stories and traveling to experience local customs, were browsing various interesting posts about the Era of Mystery world on forums. Chen Lun remembered having read a detailed introduction about the Red Apple Church, which included information about that "Mysterious Object." "A-grade Mysterious Object: Sun-avoiding Potted nt" Transformed from a saint who renounced the faith of the Sun, it possesses a strong repulsion, especially deadly to the Transcendents of the Sr System. Legend says that the Tresor Empire''s Bixi Royal City had to be rebuilt once, and it was all because of it. This "Mysterious Object" belongs to one of the bosses of the Red Apple Church, the Deathly Quiet Nun, Floey. "Blood rains down on me as I calmly watch the sunflower bow its head after the rain, just as the sunflower watches the Sun burn to death." ¡ª Floey ... "I hope the ''Sun-avoiding Potted nt'' is not here..." Chen Lun felt the sweat flowing more and more, his back soaking wet, with a slightly sticky cold feeling. "I don''t want to be extremely unlucky and be buried along with these people!" "I have to find a way to escape quickly!" ording to the timeline, the "Sun-avoiding Potted nt" had not yet been fully mastered by the Red Apple Church at this time. They would definitely keep crazily sacrificing lives to experiment with it, but the problem was that this "A-grade Mysterious Object" was too dangerous, like a nuclear bomb ready to explode at any moment. These damn lunatics keep pushing the limits on the brink of destruction, but I cannot afford to be coteral damage. Chen Lun forced himself to calm down, took a few deep breaths, and thought seriously. He remembered fainting from the loss of Sanity Value after witnessing the woman''s deformation, and it seemed that he had also activated his panel at thest moment. "That''s right, the panel!" Chen Lun hurriedly pulled up his character panel, nning to find a way to save himself from it. After spending several minutes carefully reviewing it, he knitted his brows tightly. First, what caught his attention were his NPC temte and the countdown to the public test. The initial joy from the panel''s appearance quickly faded because it seemed he had lost his yer status and the resurrection ability relied upon as the Fourth Cmity. It also meant that his life was the only one he had. Meanwhile, the countdown reminded Chen Lun that his current timeline was set one year before the opening act of the game, just before version 1.0 when the Red Apple Church rampaged through the Empire. This signified that the Red Apple Church was still in hiding, with strength far less than their period of full glory. On the other hand, since the headquarters of the Red Apple Church was in the Royal City, they dared not sacrifice massive numbers of lives to experiment with "Mysterious Objects" under the royal family''s watchful eyes; hence, Chen Lun guessed that the dungeon he was in must be a remote branch of the Church. "This also means that they are understaffed here, which is good news."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om But Chen Lun did not let his guard down, as he still possessed no supernatural abilities, just an ordinary person. As for his inherent "Fisherman LV3," forget it, would he really show these brutally fierce church guards some high-end fishing skills? "The key lies in the Charm Value..." Charm Value affected the natural affection of NPCs towards yers, along with Willpower, Insight, and Luck Points, grouped as special attributes. The special thing about these four attributes was that they couldn''t be increased by adding points, making them particrly valuable. But the key Chen Lun mentioned was not about using his charm to persuade the guards to let him out, but the additional 2 points in the bracket following his Charm Value. "These are Charm Values added by equipment!" Chen Lun was all too familiar with this, which is why he noticed the key point at a nce. He hurriedly stood up and began searching himself. But like the other prisoners captured, Chen Lun wore only a tattered linen shirt, simply tied at the waist with a cloth band. "What could it be?" Chen Lun frowned, then suddenly looked down¡ª He had a handmade seashell ne hanging around his neck. "B-grade Mysterious Object (Damaged): Mermaid''s Song" Chapter 3 Starting with Mysterious Objects Chen Lun was shocked! A B-level Mysterious Object! Even though it had the word "damaged," it wasn''tparable to ordinary low-end items! In his previous life, he only had one B-level Mysterious Object, which he obtained as a reward after spending several months diligently digging into a series of hidden quests. At that time, major guilds backed by consortia even offered exorbitant prices to buy various Mysterious Objects, but there were few willing to sell, as Mysterious Objects were too precious, especially the ceiling-level B-level Mysterious Objects of that version. And now, he started the game with one. But Chen Lun, looking at the dirty, cramped cell before him, couldn''t help but remain silent, wondering whether this was luck or misfortune. He didn''t think too much because what was urgent was to find a way to escape from here. He took off the ne and observed it carefully in his hand. The casually twisted hemp rope was unremarkable, probably found at random. The focus was on the seashell the size of a fingertip threaded on it, the shell surface bearing intricate spiral patterns. [B-level Mysterious Object (Damaged) Mermaid''s Song] Item description: A seashell infused with Deep Sea magic power. Putting it to your ear, you might faintly hear the tranquil waves and the enchanting singing, possessing strong hypnosis abilities. Unfortunately, it suffered irreversible damage and retained only a fraction of its power... It seemed to be left behind by a beautiful Sea Demon, retrieved by a boy from the deep sea and then strung into a ne with poor craftsmanship. That night, the boy met the Sea Demon in his dreams, and he grew up... Item effect: Upon targeting, a judgment will be made, and those with Willpower below 25 points will be affected by hypnosis. Wearing it increases Charm +2. Item cost: Each use decreases Sanity -1. After reading the description, Chen Lun silently put the ne back around his neck. He was powerless toment on his original self''s dark history. The youthful yearning is always poetic. How could he scorn someone else? Besides, it was just the influence of the Mysterious Object that caused a spring dream. This boy, who grew up in a small seaside fishing vige, was also miserable. Probably, it was because he found this Mysterious Object that he ended up as an orphan... After all, ordinary people who are in long-term contact with Mysterious Objects are highly susceptible to corruption, and even if they do not turn into monsters, they could lose their sanity and die in madness. His family members, perhaps, died that way. And the lucky survivor who became an orphan was then targeted by the church and eventually became a sacrifice to the Mysterious Object. He hadn''t even been fed before he was identally killed for resisting the guard... Tragic, truly tragic! Chen Lun shook his head inwardly. This was the tone and theme in the Era of Mystery world, dark and oppressive, suffocating. Luckily, the ability of this B-level Mysterious Object was still quite good. Although it didn''t possess visibly great destructive power, in certain aspects, it held more value than those Mysterious Objects used inbat. Because the effect of hypnosis was not simply to put someone to sleep as the literal sense suggests, but it leaned more towards affecting the mystical powers of one''s mind. In other words, it could manipte hearts! For Chen Lun, who was well-versed in the plot and future direction, this was a Great Weapon for levering opportunities! But first, he needed to survive. After understanding his situation, Chen Lun had a vague n in mind. ng! At that moment, a loud noise. The iron door of the cell was violently pushed open. The crowd screamed in fright. Chen Lun looked up and saw two guards standing at the door. "Shut up!" The mustachioed guards fiercely ordered. The frightened young men and women immediately fell silent, only their unstoppable trembling revealing their panic. "Sister Floey, trouble you." The other guard took off his hat, slightly bowed with the grace of a noble, but paired with his bald head and fierce smile, it looked both absurd and terrifying. As he stepped back, a petite, delicate figure stepped forward and walked into the cell. Chen Lun gradually widened his eyes. The nun appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, draped in a dark red habit with a wide headscarf hanging down like a bridal veil, concealing her hair. Her entire figure was hidden under the red robe, leaving only her pale, delicate face exposed. Unfortunately, the beautiful and sanctimonious face had no expression, like a soulless marite. "Come and receive the Holy Communion..." A ethereal voice emanated from the nun. It was then that Chen Lun regained his senses and noticed that she was holding a te in her hand, filled with many biscuits and apples. Seeing the nun''s harmless appearance and under the impatient urging of the guards, the crowd finally mustered the courage to move forward and take the food. The long imprisonment had left them famished, and they gradually loosened up, picking up the biscuits and apples to eat voraciously. Chen Lun took a biscuit and an apple and silently walked back to the corner. Although he was also very hungry, he did not eat immediately but nced sideways at the young nun. Floey... This petite girl would be one of the future bosses of the Red Apple Church, known as the Deathly Silent Nun, a super viin from the "Moon Faction" Sequence, a ruthless character who could decimate a city on her own... But currently, she was still just a mortal. Even so, her presence here meant that the chances of the "Sun-avoiding Potted nt" also being here were greatly increased. The slight luck in Chen Lun''s heart was shattered, and the sense of crisis in his mind surged. "What to do? The beheading meal has already been delivered, next will be the sacrifice..." Chen Lun secretly panicked. Suddenly, he recalled the description of Floey in the post about the Red Apple Church, along with herplete background and life story.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun''s mind raced, piecing together the previous vague n until it slowly became clear. Suddenly, his restless heart calmed down, and after taking a deep breath, he touched the ne on his chest and decided to wait for an opportunity. Perhaps because the beheading meal was somewhat boring, two guards nced at the nun''s silhouette and, licking their lips, left first. Nun Floey still stood quietly in ce, like a serene saintess statue. In the filthy, dim prison surroundings, she seemed to emit a holy light. The sounds of chewing and munching were incessant around her, but they didn''t affect her in the slightest. She just silently fixed her gaze ahead, her eyes seemingly piercing through the hungry crowd, through the cold prison walls, looking at the night and gazing at the moonlight. "Wuu wuu..." Suddenly, the prison echoed with the soft sobs, which, though not loud, were quite piercing. Of course, this sessfully caught Floey''s attention. She gently shifted her eyes, bringing her gaze back and turning it towards the corner, looking at the dark-haired young man leaning against the wall. The man was of a simr age to her, and though emaciated, he was also handsome; however, due to malnutrition and fatigue from injuries, hisplexion was sickly pale. At this moment, his apple and biscuity untouched as he sat with his head lowered, shoulders trembling, and cried silently. Floey suddenly furrowed her brows, a slight fluctuation appeared in her eyes. For she faintly heard the young man calling out two words, two words that touched her icy heart. "Little sister..." Chen Lun raised his arm to wipe away his tears, his voice slightly louder. "Little sister, where are you? I miss you so much..." Floey''s breathing became a bit hurried, and she pursed her lips, seemingly hesitant. But in the end, she couldn''t resist and took steps toward Chen Lun. What she didn''t notice, however, was the smile that appeared at the corner of the young man''s mouth. Chapter 4 Hidden Task The background of Floey mentioned in the post from the previous life was not extensive. Perhaps it was because the yer who wrote the post did not have deep knowledge, but the information was adequate for Chen Lun toe up with a temporary n of action. Floey was born in a slum. Her father was a gambler, her mother a dancer, and she had a brother who loved her dearly. She was naturally pure and also exceptionally beautiful. The local ruffians and drunkards all wanted to take advantage of her, but fortunately, her brother always stepped up to protect and shield her. Although her brother was beaten and injured each time, he always managed to turn back to her with a bruised and swollen face, smiling broadly,forting and encouraging her not to be afraid. It seemed that as long as her brother was by her side, she could feel safe and happy. But the good times did notst, as famine and gue enveloped the town. Many civilians died in this natural disaster. Food became increasingly scarce, and prices soared. Floey''s already impoverished family could no longer make ends meet. Herzy father and harsh mother plotted to sell Floey to the family of Baron Nate in town. Although Floey was only fourteen and her long-term malnutrition had left her somewhat thin, her features and body had developed, and a future beauty was hidden under her delicate appearance. She would definitely fetch a good price. That''s what her parents thought. Of course, even though the family of Baron Nate had a not-so-good reputation. For instance, all the men in the Baron''s family had strange or even perverse predilections, and there were frequent rumors of maids dying suddenly. But Floey''s greedy parents did not care about these things. Fortunately, Floey''s brother prevented their parents from going through with this insane action. To protect his sister, he volunteered to work for the Red Apple Church in exchange for a substantial amount of money. At that time, the Red Apple Church was actively recruiting young adults, iming it was to build a statue for the Deity Rose. But many of the young adults who signed up never returned. The church exined that they were unfortunately involved in idents at the quarry. Because of the generouspensation, coupled with the church''s influence, the incident did not cause much of an uproar. Floey''s brother became one of the unfortunate and never returned. Before she could even grieve, she was sold to the church by her cold-hearted parents. It was only because the church was generous, the priest, Carter, who brought thepensation for her brother''s death, took a fancy to her, openly stating she was the perfect candidate to serve the Deity Rose... ... "What''s wrong?" Floey asked softly. The young man was momentarily stunned by the question and looked up at the nun in the red robe. But he quickly lowered his gaze and turned his head slightly, seemingly not wanting the holy girl to see his tearful, weak disy. "I... I miss my sister." "You have a sister?" "Yes." Chen Lun hugged his knees, curled up in the corner of the cell. His mind began to frantically recall scenes from his previous life. He was not lying; he really had a sister. Chen Lun once had a happy family, not wealthy, but without worries for food and clothing. Butter, his father passed away young due to a hereditary family disease, and both his sister and he suffered from the same affliction. Unable to cope with the pressures of life, their mother abandoned them and left home. The siblings, who depended only on each other for survival, had to rely on social welfare, but there was no extra money for treatment. Their family''s hereditary disease was veryplicated. Even with the medical technology avable at the time, it required a lot of money to control the disease, which was incurable. Later, his sister also passed away. Chen Lun was devastated. He really had no grand ambitions; he simply wished to see more and broaderndscapes in the short time he had left. Fortunately, there was "Era of Mystery," a holographic game that allowed him to lie in an old second-hand sleeping pod and experience an exciting life... "We were orphans, our parents left us at a very young age... Although the days I depended on my sister were tough, they were also very happy, sadly, I can never see her again." Chen Lun spoke slowly and calmly with his head bowed. He reminisced about the bits and pieces with his sister, moved by genuine emotions. There might have been a hint of deliberate sentimentality in the tears, but the sadness was real. Floey could clearly feel the mncholying from the young man. That emotion amplified further, involuntarily reminding her of her own brother, and she also overlooked the fleeting glimmer on the ne around Chen Lun''s neck. "Brother..." Floey tightened her fingers, appearing to have made a decision. She bent slightly, leaning closer to Chen Lun. "Eat the biscuit, but do not eat the apple, remember..." After whispering these words, Floey restored her expressionless demeanor and turned to leave.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Gained Floey''s affection, Bond with Floey established] [Initiated A-Rank Hidden Chain Mission: Serene Nun] Chen Lun was slightly stunned, then filled with great joy. It was just an act, yet he unexpectedly triggered a very rare hidden mission, and an A-Rank one at that! He fought off the headache after using "Mermaid''s Song" which again reduced his Sanity Value by 1, took a deep breath, and hastily perked up to check the mission description. [First Phase: Ensure Floey''s survival and rescue her from the Red Apple Church''s branch in Emerald Town. Mission considered a failure if Floey dies] [Mission Reward: 2000 Experience Points, 40 Silver Ducats, Floey''s affection, and 1 "Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance"] [Note: This mission will draw the animosity and attention of the Red Apple Church, please decide cautiously] "ept!" Without any hesitation, Chen Lun decisively epted the mission. Ignoring what the ultimate reward for the hidden mission was, the reward offered for the first phase was exactly the resource he urgently needed. Moreover, how could he just stand by and watch this poor girl suffer in torment... "My biggest w is that I like to meddle too much... s, being too upright isn''t good either, attracting the attention of the Red Apple Church definitely won''t end well." He wiped away the remaining tears from his face, almost moved to tears again by his own sense of justice. Although he yed the role of the pitiable to gain sympathy, even resorting to using his ne''s hypnosis ability, it was merely to foster a closer rtionship with Floey and hopefully increase the chances of escaping this ce. Receiving the hidden mission was a pleasant surprise; he had already nned to rescue Floey. In his past life, upon learning about this arch-viin boss''s tragic past, he had often felt pity for her. With such an opportunity now, he wasn''t about to let it slip away. Chen Lun contemted his next moves, tearing at the unleavened biscuit in his hand. The biscuit did not taste good, but Chen Lun was so hungry that he quickly devoured it. He heeded Floey''s warning, opting not to eat the apple but secretly stuffed it into a mouse hole in the corner of the wall. Soon, Chen Lun noticed something was amiss. The young men and women who had finished their "Holy Communion" stood up one after another. They had vacant looks and wide-open mouths, smiling foolishly like idiots. Stunned by this scene, Chen Lun realized sitting still would make him stand out, so he quickly stood up. Just then, footsteps were heard in the corridor outside the prison, and the shadows on the opposite wall grew closer. Chen Lun cursed under his breath and immediately mimicked the vacant-eyed, wide-mouthed, drooling smile of those around him. He blended perfectly into the group. Chapter 5 The Sacrifice Begins Footsteps quickly stopped in front of the prison door. Chen Lun saw a tall middle-aged man nked by two guards holding torches, blocking the prison''s iron gate. Floey followed at his side, her head slightly bowed. The man was d in a deep red Monk robe, and the short cape around his neck and elbows, as well as the ck rectangr panel with white edges that hung from his chest to his crotch, and in his hand, he held arge tome. "Just these few?" The middle-aged man with brown hair furrowed his brow, nced over the situation in the cell, and turned to question the guards with small mustaches. His tone was deliberately arrogant, tinged with impatience and anxiety. "Yes... yes, Monk Will." "Sturton and his bunch of good-for-nothings, the offerings they find get fewer each time! If that damned fat pig could spend more effort on the Church''s intentions rather than on eating, drinking, and making money, I''d have been able to leave this godforsaken town long ago!" Monk Will showed great anger, Chen Lun could even see his spit flying everywhere,nding on the faces of the guards with small mustaches. The corners of the mustachioed guard''s eyes twitched, but he dared not say anything. "He should repent! Kneel in Lady Rose''s garden and repent!" Monk Will grew increasingly irate as if he''d been holding back for a long time and now was erupting. "Hurry up! Take them to Chamber No. 7!" "Yes, Lord Will." The mustachioed guard immediately entered the cell with the torch and raised a hand to whistle at the group of sacrifices. Chen Lun noticed a simple Red Apple tattoo on the back of his hand, perhaps an identifier of the Church''s guardians. Whoosh¡ª! The whistle sounded as if it had some magic power, making the foolish young men and womenugh stupidly as they lined up and walked out of the prison door one by one. Seeing this, Chen Lun couldn''t help but sigh in relief, grateful for Floey''s warning not to eat that apple. Otherwise, with his miserly 5 points of Willpower, he definitely couldn''t have passed the test. He would have ended up as an easily manipted fool, obediently queuing up for death. Bang!! Chen Lun suddenly felt a huge force and pain, followed by him falling to the ground face first like a dog eating dirt. His face hit the hard floor, nearly knocking out his front teeth. "Damn it! ying dirty, huh!?" Although he didn''t check with his hand, Chen Lun was certain his teeth were loose, and he couldn''t help but curse inwardly. The intense pain was one thing, but what was unbearable for him was that those damned Church guards never wiped their boots. The ground was full of cow dung and dog feces brought in by their shoes, even building up in thickyers! He forced himself to suppress the urge to vomit and continued to act the fool, maintaining a stupid grin and vacant gaze. "Move quicker! You damn clod!" Monk Will vented his anger on Chen Lun, who was at the very end of the line. He kicked Chen Lun in the stomach twice more, nearly vomiting out his gall. "Just you wait..." Chen Lun gritted his teeth in silence. Enduring the severe pain, he picked himself up and continued to follow the line forward. Along the way, Chen Lun noted that this underground prison was vast, with at least a dozen cells. But it seemed to hold not many prisoners, with many empty rooms. This didn''t mean that the Church had victimized fewer people, on the contrary, it was because there were too many that they now faced a supply and demand crisis. After several twists and turns, the group of sacrifices, including Chen Lun, arrived at the door of a huge underground chamber. On one side hung a wooden sign smeared with blood, on which a number "7" could be vaguely seen. Entering the chamber, the scene inside appeared very spacious. Apart from the torches hanging on the walls all around, there was only arge square Altar in the center. On the Altary an old leather-bound notebook. Three or four guards wearing leather coats and brimmed hats saluted Monk Will with torches in hand, then Monk Will gestured with his hand: "We can begin now." The mustachioed guard nodded, then blew his whistle again. The man at the front of the sacrifice line walked straight onto the Altar, flipped open the leather notebook, and began reading. The environment was incredibly quiet, except for the faint noise of the torches burning, only the rustling sound of the notebook pages being turned could be heard. But suddenly, a painful and loud wailing broke the silence. "Ah!! Ahhh!!" Chen Lun only saw that the man appeared to have seen the most terrifying scene in the world. He straightened up, his hands covering his eyes and his mouth wide open to an exaggerated degree, as he let out a piercing scream. Suddenly, he tilted his head back and fell straight backward, his arched body no longer moving, dead with its limbs twisted in an unnatural pose. Chen Lun couldn''t help but shudder at the sight. "Goodness, Sanity straight down to zero, ruled an instantaneous death¡­ What on earth is the level of this ''Mysterious Object''? It''s not another one on the level of the ''Sun-avoiding Potted nt'', is it?" He secretly wiped sweat from his brow, as there were only a few people in their team, and it was almost his turn. The first man''s death didn''t cause any stir, the rest of the group was indifferent to the sight, still with the same dumbfounded expressions. Floey merely lifted her eyelids to nce at the scene and then lowered her gaze again as if she had long since be numb to it. Monk Will seemed increasingly impatient, making several hand gestures to signal the man with the mustache to quickly continue. Whew! The mustachioed man whistled, and the next woman stepped forward to flip through the notebook. But, predictably, within a few seconds, she fell to the ground screaming like the previous sacrifice, dying painfully with her hands covering her eyes. "Ah ah!! Ah!" "Ah ah ah!!" The young men and women in the same room with Chen Lun, one after another, read the weird leather notebook, all without exception experiencing a terrible, invisible assault. Their Sanity Values dropped to zero, and they died on the spot, mad. One man even became uncontrobly deranged due to the mysterious contamination. He trembled uncontrobly as if he were a gravely ill old man. His muscles and bones scattered like a disrupted jigsaw puzzle. But instead of dying immediately, he turned into a writhing mass of flesh that even tried to attack those around him. Luckily, Monk Will reacted in time,manding the Guardians to hack him to pieces, then stuffed the remains in a sack and dragged it away. Only a pool of corrupt blood remained, evidence that what had just happened wasn''t an unfounded nightmare. "Damn it! Useless! Total mess!" Monk Will cursed furiously. The unsessful sacrifice had made him lose all patience. The pressure from the Church and the Priest, along with the torment of having no hope of leaving, made him extremely frantic. "You!" Monk Will pointed at Chen Lun, his gaze full of malice enveloping thetter. "It''s your turn now, thest sacrifice!" He strode up to Chen Lun. Seeing thetter with a foolish look on his face, his cor soaked with drool, Monk Will couldn''t help but recoil in disgust and covered his nose. "If you fail again, I''ll chop you to pieces and bury you in Lady Rose''s garden! Do you understand?" Chen Lun grinned foolishly, as if he heard nothing. Monk Will seemed to realize it was useless to talk to a fool and took a deep breath, instructing the man with the mustache to whistle. Whew! The whistle sounded the very next second. Chen Lun''s heart tightened suddenly. What should I do! Should I make a move? No! "My Sanity Value can''t sustain the continuous use of the Hypnosis Ne, and with my current condition, I wouldn''t survive two strikes from a Guardian, there''s just no chance of sess¡­" Run? That won''t work either! "There are several Great Gates in the underground prison, and without keys, they can''t be opened. Not to mention the unknown number of Guardians outside, I probably wouldn''t even make it out of this dungeon¡­"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He fought back the urge to bolt and slowly lifted his foot. Then he movedboriously towards the Altar. With each step, the altar loomedrger in his vision. The weird leather notebooky quietly on it, waiting for Chen Lun to open it, to leaf through it. And then to die miserably like the previous sacrifices! Chen Lun knew that with his paltry 5 Points of Willpower, he wouldn''t withstand the contamination; there was no chance of surviving! Finally, with trembling hands, he picked up the notebook¡­ Chapter 6 I Died, But Not Completely Dead "Please stop the sacrifice first, Monk Will." Floey spoke slowly. Whoosh! The sound of a whistle rose! Chen Lun ceased his actions and secretly let out a sigh of relief. Monk Will, maintaining his raised hand gesture, turned his head to look at Floey with an unfriendly expression. "I hope you have something more important than the sacrifice, Nun." Floey looked at Will emotionlessly, shook her head slightly, and said in an ethereal voice: "The sacrifice is the suprememand, but the priest has said to prioritize the offerings for team four... This notebook has already consumed too many resources and efforts. Since there are no results, there is no need for further senseless waste." "Damn it..." Will angrily threw the bulky item onto the ground. "Don''t you threaten me with that old guy, Biqi." He walked up to Floey, pinched her face, and looked down intently into her beautiful eyes. "I know researching that shitty nt secretly transported from the headquarters is his most urgent task, but it''s not mine... This ce isn''t ruled by him!" Will pushed Floey away harshly, then turned around. "Continue!" Under hismand, the man with the mustache blew the whistle again. Chen Lun reluctantly opened the notebook. Whoosh¡ª The title page flipped open, revealing densely packed peculiar handwritten text. His eyes gradually widened, and his pupils constricted. "Ah! Ahhh!!" Chen Lun was seen clutching his head and copsing to the ground, screaming incessantly. His body contorted as he struggled, exhibiting the same symptoms as the previously dead sacrifices. Floey furrowed her brow, pursed her lips, and watched Chen Lun rolling on the ground with a hint of sympathy shing in her eyes. On her pale face was a red mark left by Will''s rough hand, which evoked pity. Monk Will clenched his fist in disappointment. After a moment of silence, he waved his hand, and a few guards immediately stepped forward. They picked up the ready sacks and started stuffing the corpses into them, preparing to clean up and remove them altogether. The man with the mustache approached Chen Lun''s body, which remained in a twisted pose, motionless. Just as he was about to lift the body into the sack, he suddenly heard a faint, eerie whisper in his ear. The mustached man was momentarily startled. Upon listening closely, he discovered that the source of the voice was the very corpse at his side! It was talking! The mustached man jumped back in reflex. "What''s wrong? Did the corpse scare you, you fool?" Will asked, his face darkening. "No... not that, Monk Will..." The mustached man''s eyes widened as he pointed at Chen Lun''s body. "It''s talking! By Rose above, it''s really talking!" "What!?" The body is talking? Will was taken aback, but then a thrilling thought crossed his mind. Could it be...? He strode over to Chen Lun''s body, squatted beside it, and bent down to listen. The murmured phrases wereing through faintly. It indeed was speaking! Will listened quietly to the content, which seemed to be saying: "... Long, long ago, an old man was gathering herbs on a mountain and stumbled upon a cave, its entrance hidden and dim, surrounded by bizarre jagged rocks..." Will''s pupils shivered. His astonished expression turned into ecstasy the next moment. "Quick! Help this guy up!" Will''s hands trembled in excitement as he pointed at Chen Lun. "He is the only sacrifice who did not die in the ritual. He understood the notebook''s content! Nun, quickly note down what he''s saying!" The mustached man and the other few guards looked at each other, then forcefully pulled Chen Lun up from the ground. Chen Lun remained with a foolish expression, sitting atop the altar and murmuring strange words as if possessed by an evil god. Soon, a guard d in a leather coat and brimmed hat rushed over with pen and paper, handing them to Floey for her to record in real time. Floey took the paper and pen, raising her eyes curiously at this man who had not died in the sacrifice. Only she knew in her heart that Chen Lun had not consumed the apple; he was not being manipted. This was all an act!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Yet she could not stop the ritual process nor did she know what he had seen in the notebook, nor what state he was in at that moment. Floey''s heart stirred slightly. "... The old man rescued a pangolin in the cave, and the pangolin told him that it had identally dug through Gourd Mountain, releasing snake monsters and scorpion demons. But it had seven gem-like seeds. After these seeds grew and sprouted, they could foster life as powerful as gods and demons. The pangolin also said..." Including Priest Will, everyone listened intently to Chen Lun''s narration. "The pangolin also said... also said..." Will grew increasingly impatient, but Chen Lun just kept repeating those two words. "What else did the pangolin say? Speak up! Hurry up and speak!" Will grabbed Chen Lun''spel in one swift motion,pletely forgetting that it was still covered in thetter''s drool. But Chen Lun, as if stuck in a loop, kept repeating just those two words, no more information forting. "Damn it!" Will was extremely frantic. Chen Lun watched his flustered look, barely holding back hisughter, keeping a facade of ignorance as if he only knew how to babble. Ignoring Will, his attention shifted to the notification that had popped up when he opened the notebook earlier. [You have uncovered hidden supernatural pathways plete)!] [Destiny Faction Sequence Nine Beast Tamer] [You have met the promotion requirements. Would you like to make this your main upation?] Hidden paths! Chen Lun suppressed his joy, silently choosing yes in his heart. On his panel, the main upation column went from nk to suddenly disying an entry - Main upation: [Sequence Nine Beast Tamer LV1] (Destiny Faction) The notifications triggered by the notebook weren''t just these. [You have discovered a Mystic Book of the Destiny Faction!] [Beast Tamer''s Handbook (Progress 4%) [Through careful reading, you gained 40 experience points] [Through careful reading andprehension, you have gained the Skill "Beast Speech"!] [Beast Speech LV1] Skill Description: Years of beast taming have allowed you to barely understand thenguage and emotions of animals, enabling you tomunicate with them rudimentarily. But please promise me, don''t make them solve calculus problems anymore, okay? Treating animals kindly is everyone''s responsibility; after all, they haven''t asked you to eat their excrement, have they? Chen Lun hadn''t paid much attention earlier, but looking at it now made his face darken further. If someone were to draw a crescent moon on his forehead right now, he could immediately debut as Judge Bao on the spot. Chen Lun began to reflect on himself. He had erred, tremendously! Due to the Red Apple Church''s style of operating, their obsession with Mysterious Objects was substantial. Furthermore, with the continuous deaths of the previous offerings, he had prematurely assumed that the sacrificial object would be a high-level Mysterious Object. Yet, he had overlooked one fact. Apart from himself, other NPCs couldn''t see the panel. They couldn''t trigger quests, let alone receive quest items. Thus, in their eyes, [Philip''s Diary] was just a book containing Mystic Contamination, a Mysterious Object! But in front of Chen Lun, it was merely a simple quest item. Though he wasn''t a yer, he still retained certain privileges only yers have. Chen Lun let out a long sigh of relief. Having narrowly escaped one disaster, he resolved toy low for a while. Revenge is a dish best served... even ten days is toote. Once he finished reading the hidden content in the diary, the Beast Tamer''s Handbook, and umted enough experience points, he was determined to show them a thing or two. "I understand now." Will thought for a long while, as if he had realized something. "He only flipped through the first two pages of the notes, that''s why he saw so little..." His expression became increasingly excited, and his breathing grew more rapid. "But from the broken phrases he recounted just now, the notes must record lost, valuable mythical history, and they might conceal supernatural knowledge not known to mankind!" "Great! This is excellent!" Will, struggling to contain his nearly insane joy, ordered with a flush face for the guards to take Chen Lun away. At thest moment, he hesitated, then added: "Give him something good to eat and let him have a bath. I''ve had enough of his pig-like stench! We need him to continue deciphering the notes for the church." "Yes, Priest Will." Chapter 7 Trust Me Before I knew it, three days had passed. The sunless life in the underground prison made it so Chen Lun could only gauge the passage of time by the number of times and the frequency with which the guard delivered meals. During this period, he had made no small amount of progress. Every day, he was taken to Cell No. 7 to interpret the diary, while Floey was responsible for standing by and recording the "mythical history" he dictated. As more and more content was recorded, Will''s mood gradually became less vtile. It seemed that the monk was beginning to see a bright future full of hope, and his spirits improved day by day. But Chen Lun just couldn''t stand to see him that content and immediately slowed the pace, sharing less content by the day, much like certain authors whose writings became increasingly brief. Will felt like strangling Chen Lun on the spot, but he dared not. Because, so far, Chen Lun was the only one who could survive in front of the diary, and the only one who could "interpret" its contents. Will even had to wait on him hand and foot, lest his impatience caused Chen Lun to read too much and lead to an irreversible ident. He was firmly in Chen Lun''s grip. Chen Lun had advanced the hidden Beast Tamer''s Handbook within the diary to more than halfway, amassing about five hundred experience points in various small increments. Beyond that, his luck exploded again as heprehended another exclusive skill of the Beast Tamer¡ª [Animal Mimicry LV1] Skill Description: By spending a long time with animals, you''ve learned to perceive certain techniques and traits from them, thereby obtaining superhuman strength that humans do not possess. Humans have limits, so stop trying to be human! But remember this, you''re supposed to learn their strengths, not their quirks or "specialties." If you have a genuine interest in things like headless fish or dead crabs then, pretend I didn''t say anything... ng. The prison door was opened once again. Floey walked in, holding a tray; Chen Lun stopped his push-ups and contemtion to get up and greet her. "You''re here." Chen Lun first peeked into the corridor to check for any guards nearby and, finding none, he took the bread and mushroom soup from her hands and thanked her. He took advantage of the guard''s cking off periods to secretly exercise, and even though this did little to boost his attributes, in his current dire situation, every little bit helped. Prison workouts were nothing to be ashamed of. In his previous life, he worked out at home in the same way, and it worked brilliantly, his body deteriorated by the day. In truth, it was just because his hereditary disease was so stubborn that exercise was no longer effective, and his fate¡ªwhen he would die¡ªremained unchanged. "You''re doing weird exercises again?" Floey sat down beside Chen Lun and watched as he voraciously tore at the bread. These past few days, she would asionally take advantage of the times the guards sneaked out for a drink toe over, and with increased contact with Chen Lun, she grew more and more curious about this man. In such an environment, he didn''t seem to be afraid and even managed to convey a sense of optimism and positivity to her. Strange indeed. But Floey enjoyed this feeling. Ever since her brother died, she had been abandoned by her cold-hearted parents and was eventually sold to the Red Apple Church. Everything she saw and heard was among the darkest and most bloodstained in the world. Plus the malicious words from the guards, the crude and harshnguages of Monk Will every day, and the asional glimpse of evil intent in Priest Carter''s eyes, had made Floey, already pessimistic and numb, even more desperate. But after getting close to Chen Lun, she found the sense of peace and security she once had when she was with her brother. Chen Lun ate quickly and choked, managing to swallow his food only after drinking a hot sip of soup. "Yeah, exercising." He put down his bowl, turned his head to look at the girl beside him, and felt an indescribable, strange emotion. She was a significant figure in the future¡ªone that could make yers cry out for their fathers and mothers.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun had seen more than one call to arms post on the forums attempting to rally yers to fight her, but every time they ended up soundly defeated, in total disarray. No matter if you were a top-ranked yer or a wealthy major guild, all were but flies to be swatted in front of the renowned Dead Silent Nun. Perhaps in the future, yers might conquer Floey, but in that version of the game, she was the ceiling, the insurmountable challenge, and remained so for several versions after. It wasn''t just yers who grew stronger; NPCs did too. Era of Mystery was aplete and authentic world, where every character had their own trajectory in life, their own growth. They were flesh and blood, had their own souls. This was the enduring charm of the game all along. Even so, no matter how often Floey tormented the yers, they still sought her out, day after day, as if she were their first love. It wasn''t just because she had stunning looks and a first-ss temperament, but also because of her regrettably tragic backstory... Alright, the vast majority of yers were admittedly drawn to her because of her beauty. In that major update, countless yers harboredplex feelings towards Floey, a mixture of love and hate they could not easily forget. Chen Lun was no exception. But what he cared about most was Floey''s miserable fate. He knew that Floey''s strength was inseparable from the "A-grade Mysterious Object, Sun-avoiding Potted nt." And this was the crux of the tragedy. Floey had been cultivated from the very beginning to serve as the vessel for the "Sun-avoiding Potted nt," a pawn of the church. They had ruthlessly snuffed out the innocence of a young girl and crudely forged her into a humanoid weapon. This also resulted in Floey''s eventual erasure of personality, turning into a soulless shell at the mercy of the Red Apple Church''s Sharp de. Chen Lun had oncemented this, but he was powerless to change it. Because this was the setting of the game, and Floey''s destiny had been determined from the moment the yers entered its world. "But now, I can change her destiny." Chen Lun thought to himself. A faint smile appeared on his face. Floey blinked in surprise, then quickly averted her gaze. "Are you nning to escape from here?" "Yes." Chen Lun admitted bluntly and then fell silent for a moment. "I n to take you with me." "!!" Floey''s gaze snapped back to Chen Lun, her eyes widening. "Don''t look at me like that; I''m serious." Chen Lun wore a serious expression. "I can tell that you don''t really like it here, but you feel trapped, unable to leave." Floey remained silent. He raised his palm, bent his index finger, and moved it slightly, a glimmer of light shing at his fingertip. Then he opened his mouth slightly and emitted a sharp, squeaky sound, identical to that of a rodent. Quickly, under Floey''s astonished gaze, seven or eight fist-sized ck rats swarmed from the corners and crevices of the cell, gathering at Chen Lun''s feet. Squeak, squeak, squeak! One of the rats jumped into Chen Lun''s palm, rearing up and squeaking at him. Chen Lun responded, and his smallpanions at his feet asionally added their input, prompting him to nod in reply. "They say there are threeyers here, a total of fourteen iron doors, with The Great Gate leading to the surface being especially sturdy. Also, there are more than twenty guardians scattered about." Floey covered her small mouth, and it took her a while to confirm softly, "You... are a Transcendent?" Chen Lun nodded and waved to disperse the group of rats. "Now I believe you can take me away... What do you need me to do?" Floey pursed her lips, her small hand hidden beneath the red robe clutching tightly. Ever since her brother died, she hadn''t experienced such a surge of emotion, not even when her parents betrayed her and had remained silent through it all. Only those who have been through the darkness yearn more for the light. Chen Lun leaned in closer and began to whisper in Floey''s ear. "I need you to do this... whispering indistinct sounds..." Floey felt the warmth by her ear, slightly ufortable, her cheeks beginning to flush. Yet at the same time, the light in her eyes grew brighter. Chapter 8 Three Gases Will "What are you staring for, let''s go." Chen Lun stood at the prison door, turned his head back, and spoke to Floey. "Go...?" Thetter was still immersed in the n Chen Lun hadid out, sitting in ce withouting back to reality. "It''s time for the sacrifice today, don''t forget that my identity is still that of the sacrifice here." Chen Lun shrugged his shoulders. To tell the truth, he was looking forward to this. If he wasn''t afraid of arousing Will''s suspicion by looking at the notebook for too long, he would prefer to live in the basement, taking care of all his eating, drinking, and other needs right on that altar. There was no chance of deciphering it; Philip''s words in the diary were pleasant to hear, and he loved it there. Floey uttered an ''oh'' in response, obediently stood up, and briskly walked out of the prison, leading Chen Lun towards Chamber No. 7. Just then, the little mustached man who had been cking off returned with another guard. Chen Lun instantly got into character, turning back into the drooling simpleton. The slightly alcohol-scented little mustache broke into a smile and tipped his hat in a salute. "Sister Floey, you really are a troublemaker." "Hmm." Floey responded coolly, her eyes always looking straight ahead.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om As they brushed past one another, the other guard turned his head and unabashedly swept his gaze over Floey''s figure. The malice in his eyes seemed to want to prate her wide dark red robe and see the scenery beneath. Floey, sensing something, slightly furrowed her brow. The guard licked his lips and chuckled softly, just as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt his vision darken. Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak! Several bats, appearing out of nowhere, flew onto his face, their sharp ws shing across his eyes. "Ah!" The guard cried out in pain, swatting his hands to fend off the bats, but they seemed fixated on him, chaotically tearing at his face with their sharp teeth. After struggling for a while, he managed to drive the bats away, but just as the bats took off¡ª p! The little mustache delivered another heavy p to his face, sending two teeth flying out with blood. This guard copsed to the ground with a bloodied face, his torn eyes no longer seeing clearly. He was confused and frightened, utterly stunned. What happened? What happened!? "Hey buddy, I was only trying to help you... uh, okay, I admit I might have been a bit too forceful, but I really..." "Bastard!" The little mustache''s drunken haze instantly cleared as he saw hispanion draw the short sword from his waist. "Whoa, whoa... calm down! Calm down!" The little mustache ced one hand on the hilt of his own sword and stepped back a few paces, but the guard, burning with anger, had already started to lose his sanity. "Stop it! You two idiots!" Just as he was about to take action, Monk Will arrived at the scene in time. He strode forward, his face grave as he reprimanded the two guards. Out of respect for the monk''s usual authority, they could only bow their heads and take the scolding. Throughout the whole incident, none of them noticed the inaudible sound emanating from the mouth of the simpleton standing by, giggling foolishly, nor the faint glow that shed from the shell ne on his chest. Having sent the guards away, Will, still bristling with indignation, walked up to Floey, nced at the idiotic sacrifice behind her, and his eyes shed with disgust. "Well done, nun, but you made me wait too long." "I am sorry, Monk Will." Will snorted coldly and turned to walk towards Chamber No. 7. "Now let''s move quickly." Floey didn''t say another word, tugged at Chen Lun''s sleeve, and followed Will''s pace. Soon, the three of them arrived again at the familiar basement. Back here, Chen Lun felt asfortable as if he were at home, delighted. After Will whistled, he couldn''t wait to step forward and opened "Philip''s Diary". Rustle rustle¡­ "Through careful reading of the ''Beast Tamer''s Handbook'' (Progress 63%), you''ve gained 10 Experience Points." "¡­You''ve gained 10 Experience Points." Chen Lun entered a mode of leveling up through reading, voraciously absorbing the knowledge within, watching Experience Points swish into his grasp, filled with a sense of aplishment. If Will wasn''t staring at him with eager eyes, he might have even eximed to himself, Knowledge changes Destiny! When the progress in the ''Beast Tamer''s Handbook'' reached 70%, Chen Lun chose to stop. His time was limited, and looking too long would likely arouse Will''s suspicion, so he needed to n his time wisely. He flipped through his notes again, arriving at today''s leisure activitymenting on the diary. "Sr Calendar 4399, February 23rd, clear skies... I can truly say I''m a genius in every respect. Since I stepped into the Mystic Realm of the Supernatural Sequence, I''ve met countless people, none as genius as me, ha-ha, ha¡­" Chen Lun maintained a stiff, silly smile as he quickly skipped past these unimportant bits. After flipping through a few pages, he suddenly stopped his fingers. "¡­I''m very fortunate that at the stage when I had just advanced to ''Sequence Nine Beast Tamer'', I developed and created this skill using my cleverness and intellect. I named it ''Friend of Animals''. Without it, how could I possibly have such a wonderful life¡­" "¡­That was truly an iparable experience, the majesty of the female brown bear, the wild nature of the lioness, the frenzy of the zebra herd... Dolphins are the cutest, mwah, nice. Oh, I forgot, except for the males, that feeling was terrible¡­" Chen Lun looked at the bottom of this page of the diary where there was also a crudely drawn smiley face. He slowly closed the notebook and shut his eyes. Philip, oh Philip! One''s hobbies can be unusual but should never be immoral, brother! Chen Lun looked at the notebook in his hands with disgust. Resolved to continue tomorrow, tsk tsk¡­ From the corner of his eye, he saw Will''s face turning angry with impatience, knowing he couldn''t dy any longer. So he slowly opened his mouth to start murmuring about that unfinished "forgotten Myths" about seven gourds. Floey was very dutiful in lifting her quill, ready to scribe on the parchment. "¡­The Purple Angel got lost in a poisonous mist, not recognizing her great-grandfather and her six angelic brothers after She was born. She shot beams of light with the Mysterious Object called the Purple Gourd, shattering her brothers'' hearts, causing them to fight and kill each other¡­" In the end, She sucked them into the Purple Gourd, and the great-grandfather wept tears known as sadness¡­" Will''s eyes reddened with excitement. He kept urging Chen Lun to continue, instructing Floey to record every word precisely. "Rose above! I¡­ I actually peeled back denseyers of history, understanding the true essence of the olden days!?" He grew increasingly uncontroble in his frenzy. "Yes, that''s right! It can''t be wrong! They correspond exactly to the Seven True Gods of the current world, this is their history!" "But who is that supreme ''great-grandfather''? The ''Serpent'' and ''Scorpion Demon'' that pushed Them to desperation, who could they be¡­!?" Will''s intense curiosity had him staring fixedly at Chen Lun, waiting for thetter to reveal the answers. But Chen Lun once again cut off at a critical juncture, perfectly timed. All he could keep muttering was: "Pangolin¡­ Snake¡­ Scorpion¡­" These three nouns repeated back and forth as he entered the loop mode. Will was inmed with impatience, the veins on his forehead prominently visible. At the same time, he couldn''t help but specte if there were some truths hidden within. "Maybe it''s symbolic of a High Sequence pathway in the Supernatural Realm...?" Floey set down her quill and softly expressed her own conjecture. Monk Will, upon hearing it, had a moment of realization, his face lighting up. "I understand now!" Chapter 9 Me, the Pangolin Will, although notorious for his low character, wasn''t entirely devoid of virtues. For instance, he had a high work efficiency that Chen Lun greatly admired. Believing he had understood some truth, Monk Will quickly called the guards and had them fetch a poisonous snake, a scorpion, and a pangolin. Snakes and scorpions were easy enough, but pangolins were a bit harder to find. Fortunately, the dungeon was built in the wild, right next to barren hills. After some effort, the guards finally caught a dozing pangolin in a cave. "Too slow, you idiots!" The guards, carrying iron cages and ss jars, rushed over but were met not with praise from Will but a tongueshing instead. Several guards, including a small-mustached one, hung their heads in reprimand, feeling a bit unjustly treated in their hearts. Monk Will didn''t care about that and took the three adorable little creatures from them. After sending all the guards out, he ced them in front of Chen Lun on the altar. Chen Lun silentlymended Will''s dedication to service. He continued to feign ignorance and first opened the small iron cage with the pangolin, taking it out. The pangolin was a little dim-witted, lying still on Chen Lun''s hands. [You have used the skill [Animal Mimicry LV1], learning corresponding traits from the target] [Ant-Eating] You have learned to eat ants, termites being your favorite, though bees aren''t off-limits... The corners of Chen Lun''s mouth twitched as he activated the skill again. [You have used the skill [Animal Mimicry LV1], learning corresponding traits from the target] [Tree Climbing] You have learned to climb trees, where you can be the happy creature you''re meant to be. Chen Lun cursed inwardly and once again expended Physical Strength to release the skill. Physical Strength quickly dropped below half, and he felt as if he had been through three fierce battles in a row, drained and trembling. [You have used the skill [Animal Mimicry LV1], learning corresponding traits from the target] [Burrowing] You have learned to dig and are extremely proficient at it, being able to excavate passable or concealed tunnels in the ground or walls in a short time. Heave-ho...atst! Chen Lun suppressed the joy in his heart, gently stroking the little pangolin''s head as a sign of encouragement. Monk Will, on the other hand, stared unblinkingly but couldn''t discern what Chen Lun was actually doing. For in his eyes, Chen Lun was just smiling stupidly at the foolish pangolin and then creepily touching it. By now, Chen Lun''s ns for the day had been perfectly achieved. He nned to make a clean getaway, his contributions hidden deep. Ah, to return tomorrow. Chen Lun knew that if things ended here, Will would not be convinced, so he decided to throw in something cryptic to steady him, letting him ponder over it slowly. "Earth... vast Earth... the sin of greed..." Looking at the pangolin in his hands, Chen Lun, with a quick twist of thought, came up with a mystic Supernatural Sequence pathway that somewhat fit: [Sequence Nine, Tomb Robber]. So he spouted some terms after making them up on the fly. Then, with an "Ah" he fell to the ground, unconscious. Will immediately showed an expression of not understanding, but profoundly shocked. "The [Earth Faction]''s Supernatural Sequence pathway... the sin of greed... Could he be referring to those people from the History and Ritual Association...?" Will racked his brains, and a glimmer of light shed through his mind, his expression slowly bing grave and serious. Based on the bad news received from other churches recently, and snippets of clues, he quickly pieced everything together and found a clear direction. "No, this message is important, I must pass it on to the Bishop immediately." Will casually instructed Floey to take Chen Lun away, while he himself hastened out,den with heavy thoughts. Only after the footsteps had faded away... "You can get up now." Floey squatted down and whispered softly. Chen Lun didn''t move a muscle. Floey slightly frowned and poked Chen Lun''s body with her finger. Still, he didn''t move a muscle. "..." "Did he really pass out?" Floey turned her head to nce at the basement door, finding no guards nearby. She continued to look down at the young man in front of her, with his slightly curly ck hair somewhat long, messily draping over his face. It appeared very clean, probably due to a recent bath. She hadn''t had the opportunity to observe closely before, but she had to admit that he was indeed handsome. The young man suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze quickly shifting first to Floey, then sweeping over the surroundings. He swiftly got up and patted the dust off his body. "Alright, let''s go." Floey was startled for a moment, then silently smiled and nodded. "Mm." Just as they were about to leave the basement, she suddenly turned her head to Chen Lun and said, "Priest Carter is about to return... If you truly n to take me with you, then please hurry." "He is also a Transcendent, with formidable power..." "I have witnessed him single-handedly kill a band of twenty robbers with ease." Chen Lun stopped in his tracks. Priest, huh? He had already learned about his geographical location through Floey. The remote town of Emerald Town in the eastern part of the Tresor Empire, and this priest was the person in charge of the Red Apple Church''s local branch. Commonly known as the big boss. Even if it was just a minor ce, it was still the Red Apple Church, a major force that ravaged the entire empire in game version 1.0. This priest was not to be underestimated. "I know, don''t worry, it''s almost ready." ... Another deep night came two dayster. The jail where Chen Lun was held was very quiet. However, curiously, there was no one there, only therge ck rats that asionally scurried out from beneath the pile of straw in the corner. These rats had tiny rocks and soil in their mouths and on their little paws, nimbly slipping out of the jail cell. They were very cautious, stopping now and then to listen and sniff, only moving when the guards weren''t paying attention, and in the blink of an eye, vanishing to who knows where.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om But after a while, they would run back again, over and over. Suddenly, the pile of straw heaved up, shook twice, then was gently pushed aside, and a dirty hand emerged from below. Following closely was Chen Lun''s sweaty head. He climbed out from underground not too quickly nor too slowly, then carefully covered the pile of straw back up. The whole process was smooth and nearly silent. Chen Lun sat on the ground, letting out a breath. He casually scattered the prepared breadcrumbs, and the big ck rats swarmed over, happily taking their rewards and departing. "After two days and nights of hard work, I''ve finally dug my way out..." Chen Lun wiped off his sweat, smiled, and grabbed a handful of clean straw to wipe his hands while thinking to himself. To avoid attracting the attention of the Church, he could only dig when the guards cked off. And these times were mostly at night and deep into the night because the little-mustached one would always coax the others to go out drinking and causing trouble. There were few people left in the nearby cells, and it had been a long time since the Church sent any new prisoners over. Chen Lun was grateful for the emptiness of the ce, which reduced the likelihood of being discovered. But to increase his chances of escape, he deliberately dug a longer distance for the tunnel, so he wouldn''t be caught as soon as he emerged, hence the extra time spent. "Tomorrow, I''ll finish reading the ''Beast Tamer''s Handbook'', and everything will be ready!" "Just wait and see if I don''t take care of you...!" Chapter 10 Dont Expect to Survive Late at night. On the western edge of Emerald Town, a towering, solemn Gothic building stood, its spires adorned with two angel reliefs on the exterior walls. The angels held a basket of fruits, filled with bountiful red apples, crowding around a goddess whose face was unclear. An elderly man with brown hair, dressed in a deep red robe, slowly walked along the deste street. He wore a gold apple pendant on his chest and held arge tome of scriptures in his hands. The elderly man finally stopped at the entrance of the church. "The Moon has many believers, missing a few doesn''t matter, does it..." He chuckled, pulling out a vial the size of a pinky finger from his bosom, filled about two-thirds with blood. The blood gently swirled inside the vial, emitting faintly glowing bubbles. "Hopefully, it will enjoy this delicacy." The old man stepped onto the stairs and strode into the church. ... Snap, snap, snap!! The next morning, Chen Lun was awakened by the p of Brother Will. Well, in fact, he had been awake earlier, but since it was all part of the act, one shouldn''t give up on thest day. However, Chen Lun decided he shouldn''t suffer without payback, so he noted this in his little book against Brother Will. "Lazy swine! Get up, it''s time to fulfill your great endeavor!" Brother Will looked at the foolish young man and disgustedly kicked him twice. "Let''s go." He adjusted his monk''s robe, stood up straight and confidently, and left the cell. Floey pressed her lips tightly, nced at Chen Lun, and followed closely behind with a cold expression. Whistle! The small mustache blew the whistle, Chen Lun grinned foolishly, and obediently walked out. When everyone re-entered the Basement No. 7, Chen Lun suddenly felt a bit reluctant. What a great ce for leveling, and they were about to leave it. He was very familiar with the workflow, and upon hearing the whistle, he immediately got to work. Pretending to be controlled, he obediently climbed onto the altar and went through the notes, his actions so sincere he could be called a model sacrifice. [By reading carefully, you gained 70 Experience Points] [You havepletely read the Mystic Book "Beast Tamer''s Handbook" (Progress 100£¥)!] [You have earned 1 Skill Point and 2 Attribute Points] [Through careful reading, you have realized the skill "Friend of Animals"!] [Friend of Animals LVMAX] (Passive) Skill Description: You seem to have a unique attraction that makes animals very close to you. Even the most cold-blooded and irritable beasts are willing to befriend you. When interacting with animals, Charm +10. Hey, friend, I believe you have finished my book and learned my skills. No need to thank me, I just want to benefit more people, allowing them to experience a wonderful life different from others... For some reason, every time Chen Lun saw Philip''s message, he felt a violent urge. He flipped to thest page of the notes, and the content of the diary was also nearing its end. "Sr Calendar 4407, February 4th, cloudy... Ahaha, Queller that old fellow truly is a big shot in the rats'' nest, I totally couldn''t match him after he transformed. [Gargoyle''s Skin] greatly restrains me, not to mention he is a Sequence higher than me..." "...They stole everything from my teacher, honor, status, even Life! They are the most disgusting thieves in this world!" "But I may not have a chance for revenge anymore, because I am about to die... To kill me, those stinky rats really spared no expense! Endless Alchemical Potions worth hundreds of Gold Pounds each were thrown at my face, oh heavens, they even ruined my handsome looks!" "...Maybe this is Destiny, stepping onto this extraordinary path of the Destiny Faction, I knew this day woulde. I will miss the days of traveling, my dear Maggie, I will think of you. ¡ª¡ªPhilip" "..." "..." "Oh yes, I have hidden all my savings and the extraordinary items I collected over the years in the backyard underground of Viscount Pompey''s house, I dug a¡ª¡ª" The diary abruptly ended there, the ink trailing off into a long nted line as if the writer''s hand had dragged the pen down while falling. Chen Lun closed the notebook, sighing softly. The timeline in the diary was considerably long, spanning about 8 years from the beginning to the end. It essentially recorded the adventurous journey of a foreigner named Philip after he stepped onto the mystical and extraordinary path. Howmentable! How poignant! "I just don''t know if Philip''s Legacy is still around..." Chen Lun thought to himself. He remembered that the officialunch of version 1.0, when the game actually began, was in the year 4419 of the Sr Calendar. Counting back one year and one month, the current time was approximately the year 4418 of the Sr Calendar. This meant that the content recorded in this journal was all a decade-old story¡ªgod knows what had happened during this period. [Triggered a C-level hidden quest: Philip''s Legacy] Quest description: Based on the content recorded in the quest item "Philip''s Diary," Philip had already anticipated his own death. On the eve of the battle, he hid all his savings from over the years underground in the backyard of the Pompey Viscount''s house in Amber City. Do you want my treasure? If you want it, then it''s yours! Go find it¡ª I''ve ced it all there! Quest reward: Unknown. "..." Chen Lun epted the quest and immediately felt that his power toin had risen again. He just wanted to know the real reason Philip was killed¡ªwas it because he had drawn too much hate? Monk Will saw Chen Lun closing the notebook, walked up expectantly, and gestured for Floey to start writing at any time. "Good, it looks like the notebook has been fully deciphered..." He revealed a cruel smile. "Nun, after he dictates thest part of these notes, take him to basement number 4. Feed him to that pot of nt, consider it recycling waste..." "Yes, Monk Will."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Floey turned to look at him with a strange expression on her attractive face. Will''s smile paused, and he couldn''t help frowning. "What are you staring at me for, Nun?" Floey did not answer him. Will suddenly realized something and sharply turned his head. Whoosh! Whoosh! Snap! After a screeching sound of breaking wind, there was a crisp snap. Will only saw a swiftly moving blur, and the next second, he was choked by the hand of the dark-haired young man. What was horrifying was that the other''s arm, like a writhing snake, illogically coiled around his neck again and again, tightly locking it. [Animal Mimicry LV1] [Serpentine Incarnation] [You have learned to temporarily twist your body like a snake, along with other partial serpentine characteristics.] Will stared at Chen Lun''s disappearing grin, his face emotionless, and he immediately realized he had been tricked. The other was not being manipted at all! All these days had been an act, all a pretense! When had he gained such strong power...? It must have been that notebook! "Ugh! Ugh...!" Will tried to speak, staring fiercely with bloodshot eyes, but he couldn''t utter a single word. Incapacitated by the sensation of suffocation, he fell into an unparalleled fear. He grabbed at Chen Lun''s snake-arm with both hands, desperately pounding, but it was to no avail. "I really should thank you for sending the guards away to keep the secret... It saved me a lot of energy." Crack! Chen Lun exerted force with his hand; the coiled snake-arm suddenly jerked, instantly twisting Will''s neck around. [¨C58] Bright red fatal damage popped up above Monk Will''s head, and his life bar was instantly emptied. Monk Will copsed to the ground. His body faced down while his head was turned up in a bizarre posture. Chapter 11 Im Not Playing This Role Anymore [Killed a Will Priest of Red Apple Church, gained 20 Experience Points.] [Warning: Your actions have attracted the enmity and attention of the Red Apple Church!] Chen Lun curled his lip; he had never intended to be on good terms with the Red Apple Church anyway, so let them be hostile. Instead, he was more concerned that the death of Will only awarded him 20 points of experience. How stingy! But there was nothing he could do; even though the other party had some status in the Red Apple Church as a monk, he was just an ordinary person. In the eyes of the system''s judgment, he wasn''t worth much. [Triggered a C-level mission: Mercy] Mission Description: You''ve killed Will, a monk of Red Apple Church, and you must be prepared for their retaliation. Will you have mercy and take the opportunity to free the wretched prisoners? Mission Reward: 500 Experience Points and 800 Copper Kro. Chen Lun thought for a moment and decided to ept the mission. The money reward was pathetic, but he urgently needed the experience points. Moreover, rescuing those sacrifices was also a blow to the Red Apple Church. Rewards, saving people, backstabbing. Three birds with one stone, indeed a beautiful deal. "What should we do next?" Floey approached Chen Lun, nced at Will lying on the ground gazing up at the starry sky, and then looked away, no longer concerned. "You''ve killed Will, and it won''t be long before the guards outside notice something''s wrong, and then they will heavily surround this ce." Chen Lun leisurely collected the diary from the altar and then turned around. "I''ve dug a tunnel in the corner of my cell that leads outside, escape through there first." "What about you?" Floey asked with a hint of confusion. "I have other things to do, and with me drawing their attention, you''ll have an easier time escaping." Chen Lun crouched down, called arge ck rat using Beast Speech, and then sent it outside the basement to look around. Soon, the big ck rat scurried back in and reported the situation with a couple of squeaks. Chen Lun stood up and looked at Floey. "There are only two guards outside now; you can easily slip past them." Floey silently stared at him for a while before she finally said, "...Alright, then I''ll go first." "Yeah, take care of yourself." After speaking, Chen Lun sat on the altar and began to ponder his next move. Hints about the prison''syout that the rats offered slowly emerged in his mind, along with the patrol distribution of the guards. "I still don''t know your name, can you tell me?" Floey''s ethereal voice came through. Chen Lun lifted his head and saw her standing at the door, turning back to look at him. He was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "You can call me Chen Lun." "Okay... My name is Floey." "I know, that''s what they all call you." For the first time, Floey smiled; she looked back at the man on the altar deeply before leaving the room. "You be careful too." ¡­ After Floey left, Chen Lun purposefully waited some time, his thoughts bing clearer by the minute. Then footsteps echoed from the entrance of the basement. Side by side, a man with two small mustaches and another guard cautiously pushed open the iron door. "Monk Will?" What greeted their eyes was Will''s angry face, blocking their path. "You two idiots! Didn''t I tell you not toe in!?" The men with the small mustaches were startled and immediately lowered their heads submissively. "I''m so sorry, Lord Will! We just came because..." Mid-sentence, Small Mustache realized something was wrong. The voice of Monk Will had changed, and... why was his back turned to us? "Not good...!" Before Small Mustache and hispanion could draw their swords, they looked up to find Monk Will''s body already hurtling toward them. Bang!! The two were knocked off bnce by the tremendous force, while Chen Lun''s figure agilely darted out from behind the door. His hands shot out simultaneously, his arms transforming into sinuous serpents, tightly winding around the necks of the two guards. The mustachioed man and hispanions'' eyes bulged, their faces flushed red with no sound escaping their throats, as they watched their bodies being slowly dragged into the underground basement. Bang! The door to the basement closed slowly. A whileter, when The Great Gate opened again, a figure d in a leather coat and wearing a brimmed hat walked out from inside. [Killed a Red Apple Church Prison Guard, gained 10 Experience Points]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Killed a Red Apple Church Prison Guard, gained 10 Experience Points] The guards weren''t very strong, perhaps because they had the profession of "Prison Guard," their panel attributes were slightly higher than Chen Lun''s current ones. But they were still just ordinary people and were no match for a Transcendent stepping into the Mystic Realm. Chen Lun pulled out the set of keys he had taken from the mustachioed man and headed straight for the cell where the sacrificial offerings were kept. The key ring had keys for all the cells in the prison. On the way, he casually opened his panel and invested the umted 1000-plus Experience Points entirely into his Main upation "Beast Tamer," leveling up seven times on the spot. [Main upation Level increased, you feel your body has been strengthened, Life Limit +140, Physical Strength Limit +70, Sanity Limit +1, Strength +2, Agility +7, Intelligence +4] [You gained 7 Skill Points, 7 Attribute Points] Then Chen Lun spent 4 Skill Points to upgrade "Animal Mimicry LV1" to max level 5. Chen Lun''s panel then changed to the following¡ª Name: Chen Lun Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Temte: NPC (Countdown to Version 1.0 Public Beta: 401 days 11 hours 12 minutes 25 seconds) Level: 11 Experience: 10/190 Life: 180/180 Physical Strength: 110/130 Sanity: 6/6 Main upation: [Sequence Nine Beast Tamer LV8] (Destiny Faction) Sub upation: [Fisherman LV3] Attributes: Strength 6, Agility 13, Endurance 5, Intelligence 7, Faith 3 Special Attributes: Charm 7 (+2), Willpower 5, Insight 3, Luck 3 Remaining Points: 4 Skill Points, 9 Attribute Points Skills: Quick Reflexes LV1 (Passive), Seafaring Bnce LV1 (Passive), Beast Speech LV1, Animal Mimicry LVMAX, Friend of Animals LVMAX (Passive) Combat Power: 17 [Evaluation: A newbie stepping onto the Mystic Path, the floor Combat Power of a Transcendent. Apart from a randy gori, perhaps no one would take you seriously...] Chen Lun ignored thement. Then he nodded his head in satisfaction. Just as he was passing a corner, two guards walked toward him. As they drew closer, one of them turned his head in confusion and took a few good looks at Chen Lun, who pulled his brimmed hat down. "Hey, wait a minute, buddy..." One stood in front of Chen Lun with a torch while the other ced his hand on the hilt of the short sword at his waist. Chen Lun noticed that their gaze fixated on the back of his clean hands, immediately realizing they had be suspicious. Because there was no simple Red Apple tattoo on the back of his hand! "It''s an intruder! Take him down!" Chen Lun sighed inwardly. He knew he couldn''t hide for long, but he didn''t expect to be discovered just after leaving, though he had never intended to rely on stealth and assassination to pass this level. The guards drew their swords with a cling, but Chen Lun was faster and had already drawn the regtion short sword at his waist, sweeping it horizontally. A cold glint flickered, crossing the throats of the two men. [-97][-98] Two bright red damage numbers popped up. Rip¡ª Blood spattered as the burning torch and the guards'' bodies fell to the ground. ng! The sword that was just drawn by the guard now fell as well. "Hey! What''s going on over there!?" "Quick, check it out!" Voices and footsteps approached rapidly from the end of the corridor. Chen Lun remained calm, merely waving his hand, and his index finger shone with light while he emitted a piercing cry. Suddenly, dozens, perhaps hundreds, ofrge ck rats scurried out from all directions of the dim hallway, squeaking wildly as they pounced forward. Against the mottled walls lit by firelight, the shadows of three or four guardsing in for support were instantly brought down. Then, apanied by the rats'' squeaking and gnawing sounds, terrified screams echoed through the corridor. ¡ª Arghhh!! Chapter 12 Leaving Without Disturbing In the dimly-lit No. 4 underground chamber. Flickering mes danced, with a lit white candle standing at each of the four corners of the central altar. A potted nt that resembled a sunflower stood quietly on the altar, its head bowed and body bent as if wilting. A wrinkled, aged hand held a small ss bottle, carefully pouring the blood within onto the nt. A blood bead, glimmering with dull specks of light, fell and dripped onto the sunflower. The blood bead was immediately absorbed by the leaves of the sunflower.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Within the next second, the sunflower seemed to regain a bit of vitality, slowly straightening its body, revealing its "true face". In the middle of the sunflower was a baby''s face, eyes tightly closed, as if in a sweet slumber. "Wahhh!!!" Suddenly, it opened its eyes, revealing pupils filled entirely with pitch ckness and malice, bursting into loud cries. The eerie, owl-like raspy wails, apanied by rings of ck light, vibrated in all directions. Whoosh! All the torches and candles in the chamber were extinguished. The priest was forced into a corner by an inexistent gale, even feeling his soul about to be blown from his body. Fortunately, the wailing onlysted a few seconds before the bizarre sunflower drooped its head again, plunging into silence. The priest wiped the sweat from his brow, still shaken, and said in a deep, hoarse voice, "It seems it doesn''t much like the scent of the moon¡­ But it clearly belongs to this Sequence, so why is this happening?" The old priest approached the altar once more, looking down at the powerful Mysterious Object with a profound gaze. Suddenly, he noticed the potted nt extended a thin tendril, pointing in a certain direction outside the underground chamber. It seemed something out there was drawing its attention. "Hmm?" Following the tendril''s direction, the old priest turned to look, but could only see the iron door of the chamber. ng! The prison''s iron door was opened. "Hurry up and seize the chance to escape; I''ve killed the nearby guards," Chen Lun said softly, standing before several sacrificial victims who huddled together like frightened quails. But they acted as if they hadn''t heard him and huddled together even more fearfully, shrinking into a corner. "Please...please don''t kill us." Chen Lun paused, then looked down at his attire, a leather duster and cap, with a short sword at his waist. Realizing that these poor souls mistook him for a church guard, he casually removed his disguise, returning to his usual humble cloth clothes. "I''m not a bad guy, got it?" Chen Lun shrugged helplessly. Upon seeing this, the sacrificial victims finally believed Chen Lun''s words, but they still didn''t dare to step through the prison''s great door. Chen Lun sighed softly. "I''ve given you the chance; if you don''t want to die, then you better hurry and go," he said, dropping the statement and walking away. "Thank...thank you! Please tell us your name, benefactor!" Chen Lun turned back to see one of the girls bowing to thank him, her eyes filled with hope. Unconcerned, he waved his hand and strode towards the upper levels. "I, Chen Lun, never leave a name when doing good deeds. If you really want to know, just call me Red Scarf!" "??" Leaving the girl bewildered, Chen Lun had already arrived at the great gate leading to the upper level. He unlocked the iron gate with a key, immediately drawing the attention of several guards in the area behind the door. Before they could react, Chen Lunmanded a swarm of rats in Beast Speech to surge toward them. He himself followed closely behind with his short sword, making sure they were finished. Previously, he had given arge ck rat a set of keys with instructions to deliver the keys to each imprisoned sacrificial victim. As long as those people weren''t too foolish to not know how to open a door, they should be able to take advantage of the chaos and escape. With him drawing fire here, the mission to rescue the sacrifice was essentially aplished. Chen Lun wiped the neck of thest guardian, and in the eyes of the other party who died with their eyes wide open, he cleaned his blood-stained short sword on their body, before sheathing it. ng¡ª Crack! [You have killed a Red Apple Church Guardian, gaining 10 Experience Points.] Chen Lun stood still, ncing at the church guardians'' bodies strewn haphazardly across the ground. Without exception, they had been savagely bitten by the great ck rats, their faces a bloody, unrecognizable mess, with a fatal sh across their throats. Woof! Woof woof!! A burst of ferocious canine beast roars followed. Chen Lun turned his head and was met with the stench of blood and a gaping maw full of dense, sharp teeth that blocked his vision. Crack!! The gaping maw snapped shut, the sharp fangs shing and grinding with a loud noise. Chen Lun rolled away like a donkey dodging the attack. But he still got a fine cut on his cheek that oozed beads of blood. [You have been attacked, Health -1] [You have been infected with bacteria, fallen into the state of [Minor Rotting Poison Syndrome], Life -1 per second,sting 10 seconds.] He frowned and sized up the assant. It was a strange, big dog with skin so ulcerated it revealed the muscles underneath. On one side of its hideous head, there was an additional, deformed half-head. Only one eye filled with madness and the desire to kill was visible, along with half a set of sharp teeth. "Another one of those infernal creations researched by the Red Apple Church..." Chen Lun recalled information about the monster as he watched the half-dog drooling from its open mouth. This was a supernatural creature created by the Red Apple Church using diluted [Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance], not as powerful as a real Transcendent, but far stronger than the ordinary church followers. If it were to kill those ordinary church guards, it would be all too easy, crunching them one by one like snacks. "Do you think I''m afraid of you? Gou gou gou?" Chen Lun stood up, short sword in hand, and slowly walked toward the rotting hound. Woof! Woof woof woof!! Woof woof!! Soon, three or four more ulcerated figures burst from the darkness, their ferocious eyes all fixated on Chen Lun. Chen Lun smirked with contempt, then started walking backward at double the speed. Besides, he kept an eye on tworge figures d in heavy armor and wielding long spears, who were slowly approaching from behind the rotting hounds. The dim armor bearing the Red Apple insignia nked as they moved, indicative of its weight and sturdiness. Swoosh!! The heavy-armored guardians pointed their spears at Chen Lun, closing in slowly, clearly engaging in battle mode. "Good fellows, so the elite monsters havee too!" Chen Lun didn''t intend to tangle with them here; he turned and ran. As long as he got back to his own cell, he''d be able to escape through the pre-dug tunnel. Both parties were in a chase, and even with Chen Lun''s Agility Attribute at 13 Points, it wasn''t easy to shake off the pursuit of the four rotting hounds. Chen Lun sprinted through the cramped corridors, the wind whistling in his face. But the sounds of pursuit and the beasts'' breaths didn''t fade; they grew even closer. "This won''t do, I must deal with the four dogs behind me," Chen Lun thought. Judging by the relentless rotting hounds'' form and speed, even if he managed to escape into the tunnel, they would catch up. At that time, in the narrow space of the tunnel, his fighting ability would be impeded. "Damn it! Die, all of you!" Chen Lun, in the midst of rapid movement, made a split-second decision, turning abruptly and swinging his sword in a vertical sh. Striking right at the rotting hounding at him head-on! Chapter 13 You Cant Leave Hiss!! The dagger plunged deeply into the decayed hound''s brain, sttering rotten flesh mixed with filthy blood. [-72] The yellow critical damage popped up. But even striking the vital part was not enough to kill it, and Chen Lun only felt a more turbulent force from the dagger. The severely injured decayed hound resisted violently, and Chen Lun pressed down his sword-holding hand, wrestling with it, while his other arm shot out fiercely. In this process, he employed his Serpentine Incarnation trait, tightly coiling his arm around the rotten dog''s neck. Then he forcefully pulled out the dagger. "Die!!" With a twist of the dagger, he stabbed upward into the decayed hound''s jaw. With a muffled "put," the dagger deeply prated its skull and promptly poked out from its fontanelle. [-110] The bright red fatal damage number.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Chen Lun flung his hand, sending the dog flying, crashing against the wall before falling to the ground. Yet the decayed hound was still breathing. It wouldn''t die anytime soon, which showed its tenacious life force. Chen Lun knew that such supernatural creatures possessed a passive skill that granted immunity to fatal wounds, simr to the "Real Man Five Seconds" from an old MMORPG in his previous life. The difference was, once the time was up, they would still die. Argh woof woof! Argh!! All of this happened in the blink of an eye, and the next second, three more decayed hounds followed, pouncing towards Chen Lun. They spread out in a triangle, squeezing Chen Lun''s remaining space to dodge. Any ordinary person would definitely be tackled and bitten to death under such an attack! But Chen Lun contorted his body in an unnatural way, slipping through the gap of the encirclement. His neck that had bent 180 degrees slowly returned to normal, and he turned his head and shouted. Invisible sound waves dispersed, and the attracted bats immediately fought with the three decayed hounds. Chen Lun didn''t stop, taking up his dagger to join the fray. At the same time, he switched to Beast Speech again, calling forth a swarm of rats. The decayed hounds, being monsters fused with mysterious substances, were not opponents for the bats and rats. The threerge dogs didn''t care about these small creatures'' nips and bites, swinging their heads to bite without hesitation. They could kill severalrge ck rats or bats in one bite. Chen Lun knew the bats and rats wouldn''tst long, but at least they served to momentarily distract and entangle the enemy. Seizing this opportunity, he stepped forward and swung his dagger harshly, decapitating half the head of a decayed hound that failed to dodge in time. Half a head, dragging torn skin and spinal bones, this prevented the dog''s head from hitting the ground. Bang!! Chen Lun delivered a side kick, powerfully striking the injured rotten hound on its abdomen. Thetter whimpered and rolled away, unable to get up from the ground. He took several deep breaths, sighing helplessly. Theserge dogs were supernatural creatures catalyzed by mysterious substances,cking any sanity. Otherwise, with his professional skill level, he could have made them turn coats on the spot and recognize him as their master! The swarm of rats and bats was steadily defeated by the decayed hounds. Seeing this, Chen Lun did not dare waste time and, grasping his dagger, re-entered the battle. In less than ten seconds, Chen Lun had knocked down the remaining tworge dogs. With no time to finish them off, two armored guards also arrived, thrusting their long spears at him! Whoo whoo!! The spears, flickering with cold light, stabbed directly at Chen Lun''s chest and abdomen, barely giving him time to breathe, forcing him to dodge urgently. Fortunately, relying on his high Agility Attribute, he narrowly escaped. Chen Lun leaped backward into a roll, quickly widening the distance between him and the two armored guards. He looked up at their towering figures and imprable armor, then at his own dagger, now nicked, and his expression changed. "Living holds no pleasure, dying no fear¡­" Chen Lun roared, his face grimacing as he hurled his dagger. "Come, let us decide life or death! Even barehanded, I will smash your tin cans to pieces!!" In his hysterical roar, the dagger flew, hitting the chest of one of the armored guards. Bang!! The dagger wailed mournfully as it spun helplessly to the ground. The two armored guards looked up, but the corridor was now empty. "..." Chen Lun had already made his escape after throwing the dagger. He would be foolish to fight them to the death, as their heavy spear would either kill or seriously injure him if it struck, and breaking through their defense was another problem altogether. Without the four dogs entangling him, those two lumbering fellows were only fit to eat his dust. "Huff..." Chen Lun, panting heavily, returned to his original cell and without a moment to rest, dove into a pile of straw. "Floey must have escaped by now, right?" He thought to himself. In the pitch-ck, cramped tunnel, Chen Lun crouched down and used the Serpentine Incarnation, his tongue transforming into a long snake''s tongue. Hiss, hiss... "The scent tells me there are remnants of Floey here." This also meant that Floey had indeed escaped from the tunnel. He transformed back into human form, let out a deep breath, and felt a weight lift from his heart. After spending some time, Chen Lun crawled through the winding tunnel. He pushed aside the dead branches and leaves covering the exit and crawled out. The harsh sunlight poured down, causing Chen Lun to be extremely ufortable for a moment. He raised his hand to shield his eyes and slowly stood up. "Breathe in¡ª!" Chen Lun squinted, taking in big gulps of the fresh air outside¡ªthe fragrance of flowers, the freshness of the soil. As well as the long-lost scent of freedom. At this moment, all he wanted to do was shout¡ª Dobby is free! "I''m curious, how did you manage to do it?" An elderly voice came from not too far away, startling Chen Lun abruptly. He bent down reflexively and looked to the side. To avoid being discovered by the Church, he had purposely taken a long detour to dig here, a deserted grove a few hundred meters from the underground prison. In theory, there should be no one here! He saw an elderly man with brown hair standing under a tree, d in a deep red Priest''s robe, holding a withered Sunflower nt. At his feet, Floey was sitting against the tree. She looked desperate, her lips pursed as she cast aplicated nce at Chen Lun. "Floey..." Seeing this, Chen Lun inwardly cursed. No wonder he hadn''t received a notification aboutpleting the mission to rescue Floey. The culprit was that old man. "Run!" Floey suddenly spoke, her voice filled with urgency. "He can''t escape." The Priest said emotionlessly. He slowly put down the potted nt. The half-dead Sunflower seemed to sense something attractive nearby, stretching a branch slowly towards Floey. "It seems indeed that it has undergone some new mutations stimted by the power of the moon¡­" The Priest watched with interest as the small branches moved closer to Floey, who shifted back in fear. Suddenly, he heard a series of small but dense noises that grew louder. Squeak squeak squeak!! The Priest turned his head in surprise. From the tunnel behind Chen Lun poured out a massive swarm ofrge ck rats, apanied by arge group of bats. A dark mass surrounded Chen Lun as if he were their king. "Die!" Chen Lun watched the old man coldly and pointed a finger, directing the swarm of rats and bats towards the Priest! "A Transcendent..." Priest Carter, realizing the means by which his opponent had escaped the prison, remarked. "But this is far from enough." Smack!! He waved a hand, and seven or eight bats rushing towards him exploded in mid-air, their flesh and blood scattering like rain. The Priest charged forward, thunderously stomping countless rats to death, grinding them to a pulp. Carter revealed a cruel smile and reached out arge hand towards Chen Lun. "Interesting¡­ a rare Destiny Faction Transcendent!" "I must study you thoroughly, you cannot leave!" Chapter 14 Priest The dry, pale hand, like an eagle''s talon and bulging with veins, tried to crush Chen Lun''s head! Chen Lun, relying on his flexible body and high agility attribute, suddenly ducked his head, and the whoosh of the wind passed over his head. A cold glint shed in the priest''s eyes. His fingers clenched into a fist and smashed downward! Bang!! Chen Lun''s back was struck by this punch, feeling as if a hammer had mmed into him, his body bending downward again. He felt a sweetness in his throat and immediately coughed up blood. [-68]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om White characters emerged. Priest Carter''s punch took away one-third of Chen Lun''s life force! If he sustained two more punches like that, Chen Lun would be done for right there. Whoosh, whoosh!! Chen Lun enduring a punch was not out of stupidity, but for the sake of this moment. He suddenly stretched out his hands and pped onto the priest''s arms. The hands of the Serpentine Incarnation twisted and writhed, climbing up the priest''s arms like two pythons, tightly entwining around them, and restraining him! The priest''s brows furrowed slightly, sensing something bad. The next second, arge swarm of rats and bats rushed from behind and piled onto him. Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak! The huge, ck rats and bats, as if mad, opened their mouths and swung their ws, ferociously tearing at Priest Carter. "Ah ah!" In no time, Priest Carter''s body seeped fresh blood, turning him into a bloody figure. "Get off! Disgusting reptiles!" Priest Carter roared angrily, struggling to break free. Bang!! Chen Lun''s hands, taut like two strings, suddenly snapped back, feeling an intense, burning pain. The rats and bats clinging to the priest were also scattered, flying in all directions. The priest''s robe was riddled with holes from the biting, standing raggedly in front of Chen Lun, looking extremely pitiful. Carter lifted his blood-drenched face, revealing a fierce smile. His fingers clenched into a fist, making a crackling noise of bones. "You shouldn''t have angered me." He finished speaking, stepped down, and like a cannonball, charged straight forward. "Die!!" A wildly fierce punch smashed toward Chen Lun''s head, and the sound of the air exploding resounded once again. Chen Lun dared not contend head-on and had to use his agility advantage to dodge. Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! In the furious sound of tearing air, Chen Lun faced peril at every turn. Priest Carter hardly seemed like an elderly old man, but more like a fierce humanoid beast. His fists swept through with afterimages, fiercely attacking Chen Lun, who often had to dodge four or five times before finding a moment to counterattack. But his counterattacks were nothing more than a slight nuisance to the priest, adding up to a mere dozen points of damage, even less severe than the rat and bat swarm from earlier. "Roar!!" Priest Carter let out a monster-like roar, and a powerful, heavy cross punch came hurtling forward. The strong gust nearly lifted Chen Lun''s hair, making his scalp tingle and his eyelids twitch. He was going to be killed in an instant! He was going to die! The fist, buzzing with explosive force, barely grazed past Chen Lun''s nose. A droplet of sweat sshed and disappeared into the ground. In a critical moment, Chen Lun deployed the Serpentine Incarnation again. His entire body leaned back, his neck twisted to one side, narrowly avoiding the lethal punch. Without stopping, his neck suddenly extended forward, his head turning around facing the priest as he opened his mouth. Buzz¡ª!! [Animal MimicryLVMAX] [Ultrasonic Wave] [Skill Description: You have learned the vocal techniques of bats, temporarily acquiring the ultrasonic wave trait] A strong ultrasonic wave apanied by air pressure burst from Chen Lun''s mouth, aiming directly at the priest''s face. Priest Carter paused for a moment, his ears ringing, as if countless insects were buzzing beside them. His vision suddenly blurred, and a strong wave of nausea surged, with blood slowly trickling from his ears. "Die!!" Strike him while he is down! Chen Lun, taking advantage of the Priest''s momentary control by the Ultrasonic Wave, raised his right arm high, his fingers together like a de, and swiftly chopped down! Bang!! The hand-chop brutallynded on the Priest''s neck! The Priest''s eyes immediately scattered, his head bending at a ny-degree angle. Chen Lun could even clearly feel the vibration from the opponent''s bones breaking. Crack! With his head askew, the Priest copsed to the ground with a thud, kicking up dust. Chen Lun gasped for breath, his body drenched in sweat. He felt his Physical Strength was nearly depleted, standing with wobbly legs. "This old guy is really tough..." Chen Lun remarked. Looking up, he saw Floey firmly bound by the branches extended from the Sun-avoiding Potted nt, her face filled with fear yet unable to move. "But no kill notification, trying to deceive me?" His gaze hardened, and he stomped his foot down on the Priest''s head. Crack! The Priest''s pale, withered hand, moving faster than it seemed, grabbed his ankle. "Quite smart, but you are too weak!!" The Priest sprung up from the ground, kicking Chen Lun in the stomach. Bang!! Chen Lun''s eyes widened, he had prepared in advance, so why couldn''t he react in time! His body bent like a cooked shrimp, flying backward. Boom, boom, boom... The powerful kic energy let him maintain inertia, rolling and dragging across the ground, stirring up dirt and gravel. Only when Chen Lun crashed into the base of arge tree with a loud noise did he stop. Chen Lun was covered in blood, lying on the ground and struggling to lift his head. Priest Carter''s robes were torn, his body seemingly inted by three sizes, like a balloon turning into a muscr giant. "Butcher..." Chen Lun spat out a mouthful of blood, uttering the Supernatural Sequence term. [Flesh Faction][Sequence Nine: Butcher] Most of the Transcendents from the Red Apple Church pursue this sequence, known for their strong Life Force, healing ability, andbat capabilities. The burly Priest revealed a ferocious expression, his eyes filled with madness and murderous intent. "...You are undoubtedly going to die." At this moment, the Priest''s figure was three meters tall, charging like a giant bear, the ground trembling. Hum¡ª! Chen Lun, shakily standing up, saw this and once again unleashed an Ultrasonic Wave attack. But this time, he saw a hint of scorn on the Priest''s face. The gold apple pendant hanging around the Priest''s neck suddenly burst into a golden glow, emanating a calming aura. The muscr giant-like Priest Carter continued his advance with a powerful sense of oppression, unaffected by Chen Lun''s sonic attack, as if it were a mere breeze. "Wow!!" At this moment, the Sun-avoiding Potted nt erupted once again, the baby face in the Sunflower crying loudly, its branches extending more rapidly, wildly dancing in the air. The branches binding Floey tightened abruptly, and as a mere mortal, she couldn''t withstand it, instantly feeling asphyxiated. Her eyes widened, filling with bloodshot streaks, and blood flowed from the corners of her mouth. Seeing this, Chen Lun knew it was bad, if things continued like this, Floey might die here first. He grabbed the seashell ne at his chest and performed Hypnosis on the oing Priest. [Sanity-1] Chen Lun endured the intense headache, staring straight at his enemy. A faint blue light shed by. The Priest''s raised foot suddenly froze. His fierce expression seemed to struggle, but as a member of the Flesh Faction, his Willpower Attribute was not outstanding, and the Priest couldn''t pass the high demand of a 25 Points in Willpower assessment! He was sessfully hypnotized! Chapter 15 You Call This Tickling But the next moment, Chen Lun nearly burst into tears. "Damn it, what the hell!? Even if it''s crippled, it''s still a B-rank Mysterious Object, and you can''t control it!?" The gold apple pendant on the priest''s chest once again burst into light, stronger and more intense than before. The hypnosis effect released by Chen Lun through "Mermaid''s Song" was dispelled! "Ahhh!!!!!" The crying of the "Sun-avoiding Potted nt" grew louder, causing Chen Lun''s eardrums to sting. A ck light ring fluctuated, passing through the bodies of both the priest and Chen Lun, making them tremble simultaneously. It was a pain like one''s soul being dragged out, apanied by a profound emptiness, as if their heartbeats were about to cease. Chen Lun knelt on the ground, bowed his head, and gasped heavily, like a fish out of water. "Ah¡ª¡ª!" Floey screamed miserably. Chen Lun''s heart tightened, and he looked up. He saw countless branches of the "Sun-avoiding Potted nt" weave into two "giant pythons," plunging violently into Floey''s eyes! The petite girl had already copsed on the ground, letting the strange nt bore into her brain. The baby face in the center of the sunflower closed its eyes and fell into slumber, yet its mouth revealed a sweet smile. The scene was incredibly eerie! Chen Lun clenched his teeth and was about to rush forward to rescue her, but was blocked by a massive figure. "Where do you think you''re going?" The priest stood with his back to the sun, his cold eyes gazing down at Chen Lun from beneath the shadow. "I told you can''t escape!" He brought his hand down with a violent p, the pressure of the wind growing intense. In his desperation, Chen Lun had no choice but to dodge to the side. Boom!! The ground caved in, forming arge pit, and debris flew towards Chen Lun, causing an intense stinging pain. Floey''s body trembled slightly, as if she were enduring unimaginable pain, her life slowly ebbing away. "Brother..." Floey whispered softly and then fellpletely unconscious. Chen Lun looked at her and clenched his fists. Since crossing over, Chen Lun hade to see this girl in a new light. She wasn''t the cold-hearted, influential person who only knew ughter and treated people like ants, the viinous boss from his memory of the future. Chen Lun had crossed over to a time before Floey waspletely transformed by the Red Apple Church into a soulless, human Sharp de; the current her still retained her humanity, warmth, and innocence. He would not allow his appearance to cause Floey''s premature death. This was not the Destiny he wanted to change! "If you make me fail the A-rank hidden consecutive mission I''ve finally received, I will show you what cruelty is..." Chen Lun said without a trace of emotion on his face. Boom!! The priest bared his teeth in a hint of madness and violently punched Chen Lun in the face! "Cruel? Do you mean your concept of cruelty is just tickling me?" The priest''s deep and hoarse voice slowly said. The next second, Priest Carter narrowed his eyes and looked down at the motionless ck-haired young man beneath him. Chen Lun somehow had raised his arm in time, blocking it beside his cheek, holding off the priest''s heavy punch. His entire arm was covered in dark golden scales, neatly arranged like a puzzle, radiating extreme beauty under the sunlight. [Animal Mimicry LVMAX] [Carp Armor] [Skill Description: You learn to grow scales like a pangolin, temporarily gaining strong physical defense capabilities.] Chen Lun slowly raised his head, revealing pale yellow vertical pupils of a snake, his expression fierce. The scales spread slowly, covering half of Chen Lun''s face and neck in dark gold.N?v(el)B\\jnn [All sacrifices have escaped, you havepleted the C-rank mission: Mercy] [You have received the mission reward: 500 experience points and 800 Copper Kro.] [You have killed a Supernatural Creature, the Rotting Hound, and gained 70 experience points]*4 Chen Lun received a prompt the moment before the priest made his move, with two waves of rewardsing one after another, as if they had agreed to arrive together. He thought, "That''s just in time," and spent all of the nearly one thousand experience points he had umted to level up five times. As his panel received an all-around upgrade, Chen Lun allocated all 14 umted attribute points into Strength, which surged to 22 points. It wasparable to the priest''s and even slightly surpassed him. "And now?" Chen Lun lifted the arm blocking the punch and twisted, transforming into the Serpentine Incarnation. His arm, covered in scales like a Golden Python, coiled around the priest''s thick arm. Then he violently twisted it! "Aooo!!" The priest''s inhuman scream pierced the air as Chen Lun ripped off his arm, tearing itpletely from its root! The pangolin''s scales had a strong cutting ability; paired with the snake body''s entanglement, it was virtually a living meat grinder. Priest Carter staggered a few steps while howling in agony, holding the stump of his arm as blood spurted wildly. Chen Lun knew that such an injury was not fatal to a Transcendent from the Flesh Faction. Perhaps, before long, the priest could even grow a new arm. So he once again unleashed the hypnotic power of the "Mermaid''s Song," enveloping the priest. The priest''s golden apple pendant on his chest autonomously protected him, once again emitting a gentle golden light that neutralized the hypnotic effect. "Don''t bother... scum..." Gasping for breath, the priest mockingly whispered. "It can defend against most mental-type supernatural powers, allowing me to remain alert at all times." But Chen Lun was not discouraged. He hadn''t run out of tricks; in fact, he never intended to use hypnosis to control the priest in the first ce. Everything was within his expectations. "Wah!! Wah!!" The Sun-avoiding Potted nt, finally provoked, opened the ck eyes on the baby face in its sunflower middle, and a branch shot out piercing the air. The spear-like branch, moving with a speed beyond the priest''s reflexes, prated his chest from the back. Spurt! Blood jetted out! "What...!?" The priest''s eyes widened, his mouth gaping. The branch wrapped around the golden apple pendant on his chest and then violently retracted, cing it into the baby''s mouth to be crunched down to nothing. A valuable Mysterious Object was just eaten like that. The priest had no time to grieve because he now truly felt "heartache"! Arge hole gaped in his chest, and one could even see his damaged heart still stubbornly beating within his ribcage. Seeing this, Chen Lun revealed a cold, triumphant smile. The poor priest knew nothing of the Sun-avoiding Potted nt. NPCs couldn''t see the panel information; of course, they didn''t know it originated from a High Sequence Transcendent who had renounced the Sun faith and turned into this after death, repelling all forces associated with the Sun Faction. As the priest kept using the golden apple pendant imbued with the Sun''s power before the nt, it was like he was seeking trouble with the Xie Family by boldly entering theirtrine with antern, looking for Xie Te. "Aarghh!! Die!!" Enraged like a madman, the priest charged at Chen Lun. His remaining arm fell like a hammer, but with a p, it was firmly caught by Chen Lun''s hand. "You''re the one who''s going to die...!" "Die!!!" Chen Lun roared. Turning his waist, lifting his knee, then ferociously kicked out. With a sonic boom apanied by waves of air, the kicknded on the priest''s forehead like a meteor strike. Bang!!! [Animal Mimicry LVMAX] [Scorpion Tail Needle] [Skill Description: You''ve mastered the traits of a scorpion''s tail flick when hunting or defending, and can temporarily poison your enemy.] Shick¡ª!! Arge head soared into the sky, trailing hot blood in an arc before tumbling to the ground. The priest''s robust torso, now without support, spewed a column of blood and fell thunderously to the ground. [You have killed Carter, a Transcendent of the Red Apple Church, Sequence Nine Butcher from the Flesh Faction, and you''ve gained 1000 Experience Points!] Chapter 16 Two Months Chen Lun let out a breath. "The kill prompt has already appeared, try jumping up to punch me again?" Saturated with sweat, he looked at the headless corpse on the ground and curled his lips. No longer wasting time, he stepped over the body and walked under a nearby tree, approaching Floey. By this time, Floey hadpletely lost consciousness, her eyes a mangled mass of flesh and blood. Two streams of bright red blood flowed from the empty eye sockets, making her already pale little face even more pitiable. The nearby "Sun-avoiding Potted nt" was left with an empty pot, the mysterious sunflower within it having vanished without a trace. Seeing this, Chen Lun''s expression condensed. It had already burrowed into Floey''s body. "Why did this happen...!?" Chen Lun subconsciously thought of Floey in his previous life. Back then, she had already been sessfully merged into a high-sequence killing weapon by the Red Apple Church, given the title "Nun of Silence." But she hadn''t integrated with the "Sun-avoiding Potted nt"; she merely possessed it and treated it as merely a weapon. The current state of being parasitized and entangled was clearly beyond Chen Lun''s expectations. Generally speaking, let alone "Sun-avoiding Potted nt," which was a high-risk "A-level Mysterious Object," even the lowest-level "D-level Mysterious Objects" posed a death risk to mortals who came near. Floey, merely a mortal, hadn''t been killed outright by it, which was truly strange. [A-level Hidden Chain Task: Silent Nun Sequence One, Complete!] [Sessfully rescued Floey alive from the Red Apple Church''s Emerald Town branch!] [Task Reward: 2000 Experience Points, 40 Silver Ducats, Floey''s Affection, and [Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance]*1] [Floey''s Affection Increases!] [Unlocked A-level Hidden Chain Task: Silent Nun Sequence Two!] [Sequence Two: Under the premise of ensuring Floey''s survival, steal the "A-level Mysterious Object Sun-avoiding Potted nt" from Red Apple Church''s Emerald Town branch. Task failure if Floey dies] [Task Reward: 4000 Experience Points, 10 Gold Pounds, Floey''s Affection, and [Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance]*2] [Warning: "A-level Mysterious Object Sun-avoiding Potted nt" possesses powerful mysterious powers, please act with caution!] Chen Lun''s eyebrows rose, his expression turning strange. Just as he received the task prompt, the next round of prompts popped up again. [A-level Hidden Chain Task: Silent Nun Sequence Two, Complete!] [Sessfully stole the "A-level Mysterious Object Sun-avoiding Potted nt" from the Red Apple Church''s Emerald Town branch, with Floey alive!] [Task Reward: 4000 Experience Points, 10 Gold Pounds, Floey''s Affection, and [Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance]*2] [Floey''s Affection Increases!] Chen Lun, looking at the flooding prompts, felt extremely odd. I haven''t even done anything, and it''s alreadyplete!? What a stroke of luck! "Why not just go ahead and settle a dozen more rounds of rewards for me...." Chen Lun hoped thus. It was like when your dad sends you to buy soy sauce, but the storekeeper hands you a pack of your dad''s favorite cigarettes. When you get home, your dad praises you for being thoughtful, and what was initially meant to be another errand turns out to be perfectly arranged! Not to mention, I deserve rewards! Must have rewards! Two sets of math homework! Plus a grand package of mock exam papers for all subjects! [Unlocked A-level Hidden Chain Task: Silent Nun Sequence Three!] [Sequence Three: Under the premise of ensuring Floey''s survival, obtain a piece of [High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance]. To counteract the mystical pollution of the "A-level Mysterious Object Sun-avoiding Potted nt," maintain rtive bnce, and help Floey gain basic control of the "A-level Mysterious Object Sun-avoiding Potted nt." Task failure if Floey dies.] [Task Reward: 10000 Experience Points, 30 Gold Pounds, Floey''s Affection, and [B-level Mysterious Object Poem of Blood and Soul]*1] [Warning: Floey will be thoroughly polluted and die 59 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes from now! Hurry up!] Chen Lun''splexion changed. Two months! Just when he thought Floey had escaped one disaster, it turned out to be just an extension of her time until death. He couldn''t help but think from another perspective, why did the Sun-avoiding Potted nt give Floey this kind of "preferential treatment"? That''s right, it''s "preferential treatment"! An ordinary person, if it burrowed into their brain like that, would have died countless times. Others would directly lose control from pollution and turn into monsters, not be allowed to struggle on for two months.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om It seemed intentional. It was as if there was something in Floey that attracted it, making it unable to resist drawing close to her. Yet, due to the vast difference in their life hierarchy, Floey was unable to bear it and was bound to copse. The Sun-avoiding Potted nt seemed to be trying to integrate with her while also striving to protect her body. But the most it could do was merely dy the time of death... It needed help! Chen Lun paused, recalling the key item described in the third ring of the mission¡ª a portion of the High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance! "I''ve got it..." Chen Lun finally understood why the Red Apple Church had chosen Floey to be the vessel for the Sun-avoiding Potted nt. It was precisely because of Floey''s unique nature, coupled with the fact that the Red Apple Church was never short of Supernatural materials rted to the Flesh Faction. A portion of the High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance, they could absolutely produce it, but it would certainly be tampered with! In order to make the rapidly strengthening Floey obediently bow down and be apliant Sharp de of the Church! But now there was a problem. Where could Chen Lun find a portion of the High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance!? In this world''s pathway through the Supernatural Sequences, those called High Sequence were all above Sequence Four. At this stage, for him to scheme for something of this level was no different from Awai actively seeking out Brother Jay. But now was not the time to linger. With the prison having caused such amotion, the members of the Red Apple Church would surely begin a manhunt soon; he had to leave this ce quickly. Chen Lun exhaled a breath of foul air, set aside his worries, andposedly picked up the unconscious Floey. He carefully checked his surroundings and saw that the Priest''s body had disappeared, transformed into a thumb-sized red badge, gleaming under the Sun. Chen Lun didn''t linger, picked it up, and quickly left. Ten minutes after he left, a fat man dressed like a Monk in a red robe, leading several dozen sword-carrying guards, came to this location. Among them were several heavily armored spear-carrying Guardians, with seven or eight rotting hounds at their feet. Sniff sniff... The leading heavily armored Guardian led a rotting hound, which collected scents with its grotesquely fierce big head on the ground, finally barking madly towards the woods. The fat Monk held a handkerchief in his hand, incessantly wiping sweat. Seeing the chaotic signs of the battle on the ground and the pool of Priest''s blood leftovers, he turned pale with fright. Wobbling his ball-like body, he ran over. Then, bending down painfully, he picked up a piece of the Priest''s robe fragments, and shivered as he said: "Oh my god, this is the end... it''s all over¡­" Monk Sturton''s fat face was streaming with sweat, his mouth quivering. "By Rose above, Priest Carter has already gone to the Lady''s Garden... Even the Priest has fallen in battle!?" He quickly turned around and shouted to his subordinates: "Quick! The murderer has not gone far, catch him!" Chapter 17 Caravan Hitching a Ride with the Wind The lush grasnds spread under a thick canopy of trees. Through the gaps between the branches, one could even spot a distant small vige and a few tall windmills, slowly rotating in the sunlight. A gentle breeze blew, dispersing some of the stifling heat. A small merchant caravan was making its way along a country trail. About a dozen horses of various colors, grouped in threes, pulled three wagons, surrounded by a dozen leather-armored guards for protection along the way. All three wagons were of the same specification, with smaller front wheels andrger rear wheels. The front and rear wooden nks of the wagons, including the tops of the boxes, were loaded with well-packaged goods, securely fastened with tarpaulins and ropes. The exterior of the carriage was painted with the image of a silver dragon head, the emblem of the "Silver Dragon Trade Association." Leading the caravan at the front was a middle-aged bald man on horseback, apanied by a young rider. The youth sported aical yellow mushroom haircut. At that moment, the young man looked back at thest wagon, pondering something. "Jett, what''s the matter?" The bald man asked softly upon noticing. "Ah¡­ Mr. Walsh, it''s nothing, but I just find it odd. Why would a nun from the Red Apple Church be attacked by wild beasts out here in the wilderness?" "Perhaps it was an unfortunate encounter on the way to that apple orchard¡­ I heard that the Red Apple Church has an orchard outside the town, and the fruits they pick are distributed to the town''s poor." Bald Walsh shook his head in pity. "Oh, the poor nun¡­ She was so young too." He then brought his fingers together at his brow, and afterwards raised his fist towards the sky with a backhand gesture. "May the Constetion bless her." This was the prayer gesture of the Constetion Sect. Jett, standing by, couldn''t help but scoff inwardly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om How could the deities of the Constetion ever bless a nun from another church? Were the Luminous Queen and Lady Rose very familiar with each other? But he dared not voice these sphemous thoughts. Jett kept his gaze fixed on thest wagon. He always found the two people who sought the caravan''s help mid-journey suspicious, but since Mr. Walsh had agreed to let them ride, he couldn''t say much else. The curtain of that wagon was pulled back. A ck-haired young man popped his head out, giving him a bright, innocent smile. Taken aback, Jett returned an awkward smile, then turned away and looked no further. Chen Lun disyed a yful gaze, leaning against the window edge as he fiddled with the seashell ne on his chest. "Had it not been for this, catching a free ride would have been impossible¡­" After escaping from prison, he had no clue about his bearings. In the wilderness, he didn''t know how far the nearest town was. Rather than staggering around like a headless fly, it was better to find someone to lead the way. Fortunately, having encountered this caravan, he used the "Mermaid''s Song" to "persuade" the caravan steward, catching a ride. Although the wooden carriage, d in iron, was constantly jolting, it was better than walking on foot. Even though Chen Lun was a Transcendent, he was not known for his Endurance, and he also had to take care of the frail Floey by his side. This not only saved him energy but also gave him brief moments to think and space for reflection. Gazing at the beautiful scenery outside, Chen Lun''s slightly restless heart gradually calmed down. "There''s no lead on Floey''s third-level task for now. The primary goal is to find a ce to rest up first. Let''s head into town, Floey and I are too conspicuous right now¡­" A wounded nun and a ragged young man certainly looked suspicious. Then, Chen Lun took out the loot he got from killing a priest. A small red Ghost-face badge. [D-level Mysterious Objects Surging Badge] Item description: A badge infused with the power of flesh, wearing it grants surging strength and vitality. The ghost face on it seems lively, showing a ferocious smile when you''re not staring directly at it. It seems to have been left by a church priest, containing mysterious substances and transcendent properties from his death. "Eat, eat more, you are the hungry Butcher, you are the incarnation of Strength¡­" Item effect: After wearing, Strength +2, Endurance +2. Item drawback: More prone to hunger, increased appetite. Chen Lun casually pinned it to his chest, a [Mysterious Object] that added 4 attribute points; the side effects weren''t too severe, not bad. "I''ll just use it for now, and when the yers arriveter, I can sell it at a high price¡­ to help them. I''m really kind!" Too righteous! Chen Lun wiped away the tears he shed from his own sense of righteousness. Although this was just a low-level [Mysterious Object], if it was called a divine artifact in the early version, then it was a divine artifact. Because such items are rare. Chen Lun stretched out his hand to caress the breezeing through the window, squinting his eyes. Before crossing over, that tiny elite at the top of the pyramid was beyond his reach. He hadn''t even made it into the first tier, but that didn''t diminish his influence among the yers. Roaming the world alone, he embarked on a solitary journey. Exploring countless hidden side quests within this vast world and the stories behind them. Experiencing customs starkly different from reality, he recorded and posted them on the game''s built-in forum for yers to relish. The yers affectionately called Chen Lun "Mysterious Crawler." Wherever he crawled, he wrote, seemingly privy to every little secret. Of course, he needed to make a living. Chen Lun frequentlypiled some of the more intense side quest narratives and bizarre stories into volumes. Apanied by screenshots ofndscapes he collected along his travels, they sold incredibly well. For his regr customers, he also produced some cherished scenic screenshots... Just how exceptional were they? Well, he had visited every somewhat notable female character. The proper kind, of course. How could yers'' screenshots be called sneaking shots? I''m just checking if they are clipping! Chen Lun turned to look at Floey beside him. Her eyes were currently wrapped simply with a strip of bup, her body leaning against a pile of leather and wool fabrics, deep in sleep. Despite the substantial bumps of the carriage ride, Floey showed no signs of waking up. Her nun''s coif was removed, revealing light golden long hair that made her resemble a delicate porcin doll. "I''ll take it one step at a time; I still have plenty of options." Chen Lun muttered to himself. "Not only to change her destiny... but also for the third ring of the hidden quest. The reward is too generous; I can''t get stronger without it, and if I can''t get stronger, I can''t help the yers, which would leave me crying with guilt." Just then, Chen Lun suddenly noticed that the caravan had slowly stopped. Noisy human voices gradually came from outside. "Stop! Halt!" "Who''s in charge of this merchant caravan?" At that moment, amanding shout came from outside the coach, followed by heavy footsteps. Chen Lun didn''t peek out curiously but silently lowered the curtain, observing through a crack in secret. He hadn''t noticed they had already arrived at the bridge checkpoint leading to the town. The caravan steward Walsh dismounted his horse and approached a burly officer d in chainmail armor. "That would be me." Walsh presented his identification along with the trade association''s pass, handing them to the burly officer. "I am one of the stewards of the ''Silver Dragon Trade Association,'' you can call me Walsh... What happened in Emerald Town?" Walsh noticed that the number of guards at the checkpoint far exceeded the norm, arousing his suspicion. The burly officer nced at the documents briefly before handing them back to Walsh. "Nothing much, just that a priest from the Red Apple Church in Sturton mentioned there is a highly dangerous murderer lurking nearby. We have to inspect your caravan''s carts." "Sir, that is not in ordance with the rules." Walsh objected. The burly officer shrugged his shoulders, stepping aside to make way. "Sorry, I trust there''s no issue with your caravan, but these are the orders of the Red Apple Church... ording to the ''Sun Codex,'' they have the authority to do so." As the burly officer spoke, a fat man in a deep red robe led the church''s guards toward the front of the caravan. A tall armored guard even held tworge dogs draped in red cloth. The purpose of hiding the rotting hounds was probably to avoid causing panic among themon folk. Although the Red Apple Church wasn''t afraid, the priest from Sturton didn''t want to stir up unnecessary trouble. "Make way!" Several guards in Red Apple Church leather coats brandishing swords ordered, causing the caravan guards to step aside. Watching the church guards inspect his caravan''s three carts and cargo, assistant Jett was not only indignant, but rather expectantly anticipating. He was looking forward to the scene of these guards dragging that young man out of the cart. "Perhaps some yokel from the fields abducted a church nun, even blinding her eyes, then desecrated her..." Jett indulged in his fantasy, vaguely excited. As for the deadly murderer the Red Apple Church mentioned, Jett hadn''t considered that angle. It hardly seemed likely for that young man. Soon, a church guard came to the front of thest cart. Under Jett''s anticipative gaze, the guard lifted his dagger, parting the curtain. Inside the cart, a church nun and a young man dressed in tattered bup, resembling a beggar,y there. The young man was looking at him, a politely smiling face. "Hello." Chapter 18 Are You Trying to Harm Me, Boy? "There are no suspicious people." The guard moved the shortsword away, and the curtain fell back into ce. "Not here either." "Same here." Several other guards reported loudly in session. Monk Sturton wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and waved his hand to let them pass. "Alright, go ahead." "Praise the Rose." Walsh took a deep breath, tipped his hat with a slight bow to the fat monk, and then motioned for the caravan to continue moving forward. Jett was utterly dumbfounded by the scene. What''s going on!? No suspicious people!? My god, you have a Red Apple Church nun lying right next to a homeless man, right under your noses! Are you blind! Open your eyes and look! Jett roared inside his heart. Half of the caravan''s wagons had already crossed the bridge, but the rotting hounds led by the armored guard had be somewhat restless. Woof! Woof woof woof!! Just then, the rotting hound suddenly started barking furiously at the wagon where Chen Lun was. Chen Lun''s brow furrowed inside the wagon. "Have they detected it? These dogs are really annoying..." He had previously used "Mermaid''s Song" to hypnotize the Church guards and avoided the inspection, but inevitably caused some fluctuations in supernatural strength. Ordinary people couldn''t feel it, and nor could most transcendent beings, but the rotting hound, a kind of supernatural creature, sensitively sniffed out the traces. The guards were suddenly rmed. As if facing a formidable enemy, they all drew the swords at their sides and stood on guard in front of the wagon. Two armored guards with long spears walked with heavy steps, one from the left and one from the right, closing in in a pincer formation. Jett, this youngster on the sidelines, watched themotion excitedly, almost apuding the dogs. Well done! Such good dogs! Chen Lun sat in the wagon, slowly straightened up, and inclined his ear to listen to the noise outside. "I still have 7,000 Experience Points in reserve, enough to max out my Sub upation and boost my Attributes... It''s not hard to fight my way out." He was not panicked at all, ready to burst into action at any moment. "What are you doing!?" Monk Sturton suddenly shouted at the guards. The subordinates halted in confusion. "I said let them pass! Are you disregarding my orders!?" The fat monk scolded them angrily, thenmanded them to move aside and not block the way. Jett was shocked. Has this fat man eaten so much he''s lost his mind? It''s clear there''s something wrong with that wagon! "Monk sir, I want to report ¡ª there''s something in that wagon..." "Seize him!" Sturton turned sharply, staring fixedly at Jett. Two Church guards immediately went forward and grabbed Jett, leaving the mushroom-haired young man stunned. "I suspect this man has connections with the murderer, detain him here and gag him!" "No... no, Monk sir, I..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Sturton paid no heed, waving his hand to have his subordinates gag him. Caravan steward Walsh was taken aback, not understanding what had gotten into his assistant to have angered the Red Apple Church. "Sir, Jett is..." "Enough, don''t speak anymore!" The fat monk kept wiping his sweat, visibly impatient. "You folks can go in first,e backter to pick up the people." Walsh seemed to understand something, stayed silent for a moment. He thanked the fat monk, bowed, and then turned to leave. Before leaving, he gave Jett a helpless look. Watching the caravan slowly disappear at the end of the bridge, Monk Sturton breathed a sigh of relief. He had only been going through the motions to avoid reprimand from the bishop. Something major had happened at the Emerald Town branch; the apple orchard prison was almostpletely wiped out. Priest Carter was killed, and the sacrifice had escaped... The most serious issue was the theft of two "Mysterious Objects," especially the Sunflower potted nt! He knew how much the upper levels of the church valued that item. The matter had blown up, and it frightened him just to think about it. But he didn''t want to confront the mastermind behind it all directly. No matter whether the Transcendent was hiding within the merchant caravan or not, Sturton wasn''t willing to gamble, his own life was more precious! "I''m not getting involved in this mess... I''d better report to the bishop early." Sturton, trembling, threw his soggy handkerchief onto Jett''s head. Rose above, this guy almost got me killed... "Beat him hard for me, his hairstyle reminds me of the disgusting roasted mushrooms from yesterday! Absolutely revolting!" Jett suddenly started crying grievously. You want to beat me just because of that? ... Upon entering the town, Chen Lun parted ways with the merchant caravan. Before leaving, the caravan steward, Walsh, stopped Chen Lun. "You... You''re a Transcendent, aren''t you?" Walsh asked somewhat uncertainly. Despite hitching a ride all this way and even being searched at the outpost, this bald steward hadn''t exposed him. Although hypnosis was part of the reason, Chen Lun still felt the man was decent and easy to get along with. So, he tactfully dodged the question. "Transcendent...? What''s that?" Chen Lun waved his hands repeatedly. "I''m just an ordinary farm youth; I don''t understand a word of what you''re saying." However, hearing this made Walsh even more certain. So the bald steward quietly passed him a coin. "Sir, this is a ''Silver Dragon Trade Association'' token, presenting it will get you high-end treatment at any of our association''s branches. Including but not limited tomissions, storage, auctions, and purchasing etc..." Chen Lun took the coin, casually pocketing it. "I''m not, I don''t have, don''t talk nonsense. This is a misunderstanding, I really am not any Transcendent... Alright, I have things to do, I must be going now." After saying this, Chen Lun waved his hand and quickly left with Floey in his arms. Watching his retreating figure, Walsh smiled softly and led the merchant caravan towards the town''s trade association. "Silver Dragon Trade Association... " Chen Lun avoided the crowd, walked past several streets, and stopped in an alley. He took out the coin he had just pocketed and ced it in his palm. [You have discovered a token: Silver Dragon Coin] Item description: A rare coin carved from special stone, silver-white in color, with the Silver Dragon Trade Association''s unique dragon head logo engraved on it. Presenting it at the Silver Dragon Trade Association will grant ess to high-end treatment only a few can enjoy. Chen Lun was aware of this trade association, having dealt with them frequently in his previous life. They were somewhat unscrupulous as traders, but as the saying goes, it''s all rtive to thepetition. Compared to other smaller associations, Silver Dragon Trade Association might have been a bit tough on prices, but they had never shortchanged clients on quality or service. Importantly, they had significant backing. The headquarters of this association was in Beryl Royal City, standing unchallenged for many years, which spoke to their substantial strength. Moreover, after realizing his identity as a Transcendent, that bald steward hadn''t made a big fuss. It seemed he was quite experienced and knowledgeable about the Mystic Realm. Chen Lun secured the coin safely. "Well then... now that I have this thing, I might as well try that n..." He eyed a nearby inn, nning to settle down there. Emerald Town was far from bustling, rather, it appeared quite deste. This remote town was nothing like other advanced cities; the sceneries it offered were exceptionally backward. The buildings were all ancient styles, not renovated in hundreds of years, and the deteriorating stone roads were filled with manure and garbage. The attire of the residents more resembled those from the medieval era in his previous life, entirely different from what Chen Lun remembered. "Curved de Inn." Chen Lun looked up at the dpidated wooden sign and walked into the inn, carrying Floey. Chapter 19 The Boss Opens a Room Ding-a-ling... He pushed open the inn''s door, and the old bell nged to life. It was still the afternoon, and there were only a few scattered patrons on the ground floor. Most of them were aged drunkards, shabbily dressed. They nced up at Chen Lun and then paid him no more attention, returning to their poor-quality drinks. A few patrons, reeking of alcohol, noticed Floey cradled in Chen Lun''s arms and shed understanding smiles. The innkeeper was a plump middle-aged woman, who was napping behind the counter with her head wrapped in a scarf. There was also a big orange and white cat on the counter,zily staring at Chen Lun. The plump woman raised her head when she heard the noise. "What do you need?" She nced at Floey passed out in Chen Lun''s arms and scoffed disdainfully. "Mostly vacant rooms upstairs, 30 Copper Kros a night." Chen Lun didn''t waste words with her, pretending to take money out of his pocket, he secretly drew several Silver Ducats from the panel. Several silver coins appeared in his palm, then he ced them on the counter. "Pick a quiet one for me, I''ll stay for two days... and prepare some food and water, the rest is a tip." The world''s mary system was unified. Copper Kros, Silver Ducats, and Gold Pounds exchanged at a hundred to one progression. By standard living costs, 10 to 20 Silver Ducats could easily meet the needs of a three-person civilian family for a month. The panel was very user-friendly in this regard, allowing free deposit and withdrawal of currency. It functioned as a sort of alternative money purse between the panel and reality. The plump woman raised her eyebrows, surprised by Chen Lun''s generosity. She scooped the silver coins which clinked as they dropped into a drawer below the counter. Then she turned to find the keys on the wall. Meow... The big orange and white cat approached Chen Lun and rubbed his fingers with its head. Chen Lun smiled and yed with it for a moment. The plump woman took down an old set of keys and handed one to Chen Lun, somewhat astonished by her cat''s reaction. "It seems to like you, strange..." She then pointed upstairs. "The third room from the end of the corridor."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Thank you." Although a young man bringing a wounded nun from the Red Apple Church to an inn seemed suspicious, stranger magical things weren''t unheard of. Moreover, Emerald Town was just a remote little town in the Eastern part of the Empire, where the local sheriff was virtually nonexistent. As long as there was money to be made, the innkeeper didn''t care much. "Hey, kid, you''re much bolder than I was at your age!" Just as Chen Lun was about to head upstairs, he suddenly heard a drunkard shout. "A nun from the Church, ah... Ah ha, she''s a woman who serves the Gods; who doesn''t want to y God once in their life...?" Chen Lun turned and nced at him. The old drunkard grinned, showing his uneven yellow teeth. "What are you trying to say, sir?" "10 Copper Kros, let this old Ham take a turn at being a god, how about that?" He guzzled down his drink, emptying the wooden cup in one go. After belching, he staggered over to Chen Lun. He leaned in and whispered: "Don''t worry, it''s our secret. I won''t report you to the Red Apple Church..." "Damn it! Ham, I''m warning you, stop causing trouble in my inn!" The plump woman furiously chided, hands on her hips. Ham just shrugged his shoulders innocently, ignoring the innkeeper. He chuckled softly, reaching out to touch Floey''s face, but his hand stopped midway. Meow¡ªow! The plump woman''s cat suddenly bristled, yowled, and pounced on the drunkard''s head, wildly scratching his face as if mad. "Oh! You damn cat! Get off!" The drunkard was knocked to the ground, struggling desperately. The other patrons nearby didn''t help. Instead, they stepped back,ughing heartily. Chen Lun kicked the drunkard gently in the chaos, it was so soft that thetter didn''t even notice. Then he nonchntly picked up Floey and turned to go upstairs. If he was seeking his own death, he couldn''t me Chen Lun for that. ... Chen Lun gently ced Floey on the bed and poured himself a ss of water. "Panel." He pulled out a chair and sat down, taking a sip of water. Name: Chen Lun Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Temte: NPC (Countdown to version 1.0 public test: 401 days 05 hours 25 minutes 47 seconds) Level: 16 Experience: 7000/240 Life: 140/230 Physical Strength: 90/150 Sanity: 4/6 (Slowly recovering) Main upation: [Sequence Nine Beast Tamer LV10 (MAX)] (Destiny Faction) Sub upation: [Fisherman LV6] Attributes: Strength 24 (+2), Agility 15, Endurance 8 (+2), Intelligence 8, Faith 3 Special Attributes: Charm 7 (+2), Willpower 5, Insight 3, Luck 3 Remaining Points: 7 Skill Points, 3 Attribute Points Remaining Assets: 10 Gold Pounds 37 Silver Ducats 800 Copper Kros, [Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance] *3 Skills: Quick Reflexes LV1 (Passive), Seafaring Bnce LV1 (Passive), Beast Speech LV1, Animal Mimicry MAX, Friend of Animals MAX (Passive) Combat Power: 21 [Evaluation: Transcendents are ashamed of you, but at least you have learned how to climb in the Mystic Realm.] Chen Lun allocated the surplus experience points and maxed out his Fisherman sub upation, bringing his total level to 20. His attributes rose as a result, and he gained 2 skill points and 2 attribute points. The Fisherman sub upation is amon lifestyle career, so its growth attributes are not strong. It''s mediocre: every two levels provided Chen Lun with 1 point of Agility and 1 point of Endurance, better than nothing. Next, he maxed out the skill [Beast Speech LV1]; the skill''s limit was level 3, which only cost Chen Lun 2 skill points. The maxed [Beast Speech] was no longer limited to ordinary animals, giving Chen Lun the ability tomunicate with some supernatural animals or conceptual animals. As for the two passive skills of [Fisherman], Chen Lun did not n to waste skill points on them because there were many more uses for skill points in the future. Therefore, he had a surplus of 7 skill points and 5 attribute points. He wasn''t going to use these saved points now, but would keep them in reserve to deal with various unexpected situations. Chen Lun nodded in satisfaction; he had improved in all the areas he could. If he wanted to level up further, he would either have to add a sub upation or consider advancing his main upation. "Advancing the sequence now is premature, and I alsock the corresponding Supernatural Knowledge as a prerequisite..." Chen Lun sighed. In his past life, he followed the Mystic Path of the Moon Faction; now, he was with the Destiny Faction. Because the Destiny Faction was a hidden path, Chen Lun was very unfamiliar with it. There weren''t many posts rted to this path, and few yers who took it. Chen Lun''s impression of this path was that it was barely noticeable. Because the Destiny Faction had no significant presence in the game version at the time, neither among yers nor NPCs. Perhaps it would be prominent inter versions, but that was irrelevant to Chen Lun; he couldn''t see it. "From now on, I can only grope my way forward..." Chen Lun didn''t consider this path weak. Compared to other paths at the low sequence stage, his evaluation of his main upation, [Sequence Nine Beast Tamer], was very high. It had strong adaptability and versatility, and the upper and lower limits depended on the individual. Take the skill [Animal Mimicry] for instance; although it could only retain up to 10 animal characteristics, the effects of freely mixing and matchingbinations were quite nice. Chen Lun got up and walked to the window, contemting his next n. "Ying..." At that moment, Floey made a slight noise on the bed, slowly waking up. "Where is this?" Chapter 20 Why are you so nice to me? Floey weakly rose to her feet. She began by looking around her, realizing she was in darkness, and reached out to touch the strips of linen wrapped around her face. Then she fell silent. Chen Lun slowly walked up to her and waved his hand in front of her face. "Can''t see anymore, huh... Well, your eyes were damaged after all." He propped his elbow on his knee and cupped his chin, thoughtfully observing the nun sitting at the edge of the bed. Although young and wearing a baggy robe, she already had the makings of the authoritative figure from her previous life. Given Floey''s current affection for me, I guess doing something shouldn''t cause any trouble... "Are you staring at me because you want to do something shameful?" Floey shook her head and raised her face towards Chen Lun, staring straight at him. "Uh... I thought you couldn''t see?" Chen Lun was startled. Could it be that she had seen through his thoughts? "I''m only blind, notpletely sightless." Floey sorted out her hair, tucking the messy light golden strands behind her ear. "It has given me heightened senses; I can''t see, but I can feel." The "it" Floey mentioned clearly referred to the Sun-avoiding Potted nt. Chen Lun rolled his eyes. "You should have said so earlier. I was nning to buy you a new set of clothes. You can go buy it yourselfter." "New clothes...?" Floey looked puzzled. Was he staring at her just to buy clothes? Chen Lun pulled a chair over and sat down by the bed. "Would you like to keep wandering around in the robe of the Red Apple Church? I''m really afraid they won''t be able to find us then!" He grabbed his own linen garment and sniffed it; a strong scent of sweat almost overwhelmed him. "My clothes need changing too. The inn offers bathing services. I''ll take you there after we eat something." Floey quietly "watched" him, and after a while, she said softly, "Thank you." ... The food provided by the innkeeper was quite good. Perhaps because Chen Lun was quite generous, they were served not just bread and water, but also tworge pieces of roastmb and a pot of stewed meat. After eating and drinking their fill, Chen Lun took Floey downstairs. The bathhouse was a separate single-story building on the side of the inn. He did have a bit of a gentleman''s demeanor after all and didn''t make the blind girl go buy clothes by herself. After sending Floey into the bathhouse, Chen Lun went shopping nearby. He bought several ready-made outfits at the tailor''s shop, as well as shoes, a backpack, and some other misceneous items that might be needed. He neatly folded Floey''s clothes and ced them outside the door, secured by a pair ofdy''s leather shoes, and then he went to enjoy a refreshing bath himself. Upon exiting the bathhouse, Chen Lun saw Floey, dressed in a long ck dress, waiting for him outside. Under the setting sun, her light golden hair fluttered with the wind, and a ck silk ribbon was wrapped around her face. That was something Chen Lun had secretly taken from the tailor''s shop while the proprietress was not looking. "Not bad, looks good," Chen Lunmented. It wasn''t just good-looking, it was impressive. He had underestimated Floey''s ability. He was at fault. Floey seemed a little surprised. "Really?" Since being sold to the Red Apple Church, she had never worn attractive clothes, always donned in a nun''s robe. But soon her tone dimmed a bit. "Too bad I can''t see it." Chen Lun sighed silently. "You might have a chance to recover in the future... Since you know about the Transcendents, you must realize that the Mystic Realm offers many possibilities. Restoring your sight is not entirely out of reach." Floey seemed convinced by Chen Lun''s words, and a smile appeared on her pristine face. "It''s okay; I already know from it that I may not live long..." She slowly spread her arms, letting the breeze pass through her. Chen Lun could see, her joy was from the heart. "But even if it''s just a month or two of freedom, I''m happy, and whether I can see or not doesn''t matter much anymore." Chen Lun shook his head. "Don''t worry, I won''t let you die." Floey paused for a moment, lowered her hands, and slowly approached Chen Lun. "Why... why are you so good to me?" "I don''t seem to have done anything to deserve your sacrifices." "Uh..." Chen Lun was at a loss for words. He could hardly say it was because he had seen her tragic future, to prevent her from bing the viinous boss who wouldter be sent by the Red Apple Church to hunt him down, he had no choice but to rewrite her destiny. Of course, Chen Lun had another ulterior motive. That was because Floey was extremely popr, perhaps she could serve as his "poster girl" after the yers arrived. In any case, it could never be because of the rewards of a Grade-A hidden serial quest... I, Chen Lun, am a simple, kind-hearted, and just person! "Floey... because you remind me of my own sister," Chen Lun said earnestly. Floey was slightly stunned, seemingly convinced. She lowered her head, pursing her lips, and whispered in an ethereal voice: "Thank you... Other than my brother, no one has been so kind to me." ...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Late at night, the Purple Moon hung high. A monk from Sturton hurried to an inconspicuous apartment. He hesitated, pacing a few steps, continually wiping sweat from his brow. "Although I''ve already reported the situation to the bishop, the bishop is far in Amber City... It will take a while for him to arrive." The stout monk looked around. This was the central area of Emerald Town, the environment rtively better, with guards carryingnterns asionally seen patrolling the empty streets. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he stuffed a letter into the mailbox outside the fence, then turned and left. "Just to be safe, I should notify the Shelter as well, and have them start a manhunt around the town." Sturton walked briskly, as if something terrifying was chasing him. "That guy who killed Father Carter and destroyed the apple orchard prison is probably hiding in town. Rose above, please don''t let me run into him." On the surface, there were only three Transcendent powers in Emerald Town. The Red Apple Church, Moon Church, and the Empire''s official organization, the Shelter. Because the rtions between the churches were not good, in the absence of his own bishop, Sturton chose to seek help from the neutral Shelter. Reporting on his fellow monks might be embarrassing, but Sturton didn''t care. Even if it was the face of the Red Apple Church at stake, it was nothingpared to his own precious life. Sturton walked through several blocks and returned to the front of the Red Apple Church on the west side of town. He suddenly noticed a figure stumbling and falling at the church doors. "Huff... Huff..." The figure copsed on the ground, breathing heavily, apparently in great pain. Sturton cautiously approached. He soon realized it was just a drunken drunkard. Relieved, he cursed under his breath. Just as he was about to step over the man to enter the church, the drunkard suddenly called out to him. "Wait... wait a minute!" "If you wish to receive Rose''s aid, listen to thedy''s gospel, pleasee early tomorrow and line up," said Sturton impatiently, turning to leave. "Don''t go!" The drunkard grabbed hold of Sturton''s robe. The stout monk immediately frowned and shook him off in disgust. "Get away! Damned drunkard! Watch it, or I''ll immediately call the church guards to lock you up!" "Monk, sir! I... I have to denounce someone!" The drunkard lifted his head; it was old Ham, who had caused trouble at the Crescent Inn during the day. He was now sweating profusely, his face turned ck, speaking tremulously as if he had contracted some bizarre illness. "He... He has kidnapped a nun from your church... right in..." Before he could finish, Ham suddenly screamed. Immediately thereafter, he copsed to the ground, spitting ck bile, and died on the spot. Sturton was startled, and after examining him closely, he realized that the man had been poisoned! "Could this be a warning from that Transcendent to me!?" The stout monk was horrified by his own spection. "I must call back all the church guards outside!" He immediately turned and ran towards the church. Stumbling along the way, he almost mmed his head into the Great Gate. Chapter 21 Departure Today Chen Lun stood by the window, watching the Purple Moon in the night sky. "High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance..." This type of supernatural substance generally forms when a Transcendent or Supernatural Creature dies. The spirituality-less corpse can no longer contain the mystery within, thereby releasing the remnants as "Mysterious Objects." If the corpse is severely damaged, or if the process of transforming into a "Mysterious Object" is interrupted, it will result in an iplete residual mystery, turning into mere mysterious substance. Moreover, if a "Mysterious Object" is subjected to an attack much stronger than itself and its structure ispletely destroyed, it will also turn into corresponding mysterious substance, varying from one piece to several pieces. But the mysterious substance cannot be destroyed; it seems to be the most fundamental unit of manifestation in the transcendent domain. Chen Lun calmed his mind and recalled for a while, indeed thinking of several methods to obtain the High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance. However, most of the methods involved tasks, events, and locations that were far away and currently inessible. Or they were too dangerous; with his current strength, the possibility of even making an attempt was almost zero. The risk of death was too high, not worth the gamble. After several rounds of screening, to his knowledge, there was only one viable method to obtain this high sequence material at the current stage. "Amber City, ''Big Stomach'' Dolly!" The reason he remembered so vivid was because of an incident that had caused quite a stir on the forums at the time. In his previous life, a small guild had identally triggered a side mission in Amber City that required them to protect a distinguished council member. Initially, they thought it was not difficult, but subsequently, the guild members involved in the mission died one after another, eventually leading to the failure of the mission. They didn''t get any reward, and instead were investigated by the authorities due to the council member''s death, causing the guild members'' Levels to nearly drop by one. The president of this small guild thenined on the forum, which actually attracted the attention of manyrge guilds and top gamers. As they delved deeper, the gamers unearthed an assassination organization called "Circus." The assassin responsible for assassinating that council member was named Dolly, nicknamed "Big Stomach," a Transcendent of the Flesh Faction who was halfway into the Mid Sequence. Although Dolly was strong, he was not invincible. In the face of the fearless Fourth Cmity, he soon expired. After killing him, one of the lone gamers who hade just for the excitement, luckily snagged a piece of loot. To everyone''s surprise, it turned out to be a High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance! At that moment, the gamer smartly fled, hid, and logged off, executing a series of maneuvers that were exemry. It was only after some time that this gamer handed over the high sequence material to the force he had joined, reaping substantial benefits before being identally exposed. Some were angry, some were curious, some envied, and others were puzzled. How did a mid to low Sequence NPC drop high sequence material? No one knew, and it remained an unsolved mystery. Chen Lun had another reason for seeking out this "Big Stomach" Dolly. It was the ce where Philip''s Legacy was buried, the home of Viscount Pompey, located in Amber City. Thus, although Amber City was far, it was a must-go destination for Chen Lun. Dolly became the most feasible option among the many. What was uncertain, however, was whether Dolly at this time point would be in Amber City. Even if he was, it was not clear whether he had the High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance on him. Because the incident happened a year after the public beta, which was still over two years away from the current time. "I won''t think about it too much. Nothing is ever certain, trying is always better than doing nothing at all." Chen Lun made up his mind and nned to start his journey immediately. "But before that, there''s another thing I need to do..." In the evening, Chen Lun made a trip to the town''s Silver Dragon Trade Association. Using a Silver Dragon Coin, he met Walsh again and submitted amission to him. Thinking about this, he felt a twinge of pain. "5 Gold Pounds, halving my assets!" He picked up the water ss from the table and took a big gulp to extinguish the bitterness in his heart. Then he nced at Floey, who was sound asleep on the bed, draped his cloak, and leapt straight out of the window. Afternding, he vanished into the night with a few quick moves. Once Chen Lun had left, Floey slightly turned her head, "gazing" toward the window. "I hope you return safely..." The enchanting Purple Moon cast moonlight into the room through the window. In the dim light, a broad figure was leaning against the chair behind the desk. Knock, knock, knock... The sound of knocking arose. "Come in." The door opened, and a young man wearing a white uniform walked in. He marched straight to the desk and ced a letter on it. "Team Leader Ralph, this is a tip-off letter we just received..." "Hmm." The man named Ralph, a middle-aged man, sat up, the moonlight illuminating his face, revealing a rugged man with a beard. He picked up the letter and asked in a deep voice, "Who brought it?" "The stationed Investigator saw that it was a Sturton Monk from the Red Apple Church." Poor Sturton thought that no one would notice his sneaky behavior, but every move had been observed. Ralph let out a coldugh, then opened the letter to read it. No wonder his subordinates specifically brought it to him, ordinary tip-off letters are usually reviewed by the Investigators below. Since it''s rted to the Red Apple Church, it mustn''t be a trivial matter. After a while, Ralph put down the letter, his disdainful smile growing even more apparent. "He actually said that a dangerous wild Transcendent had appeared in town, hoping that I could sniff this guy out." Sturton furiously denounced the Transcendent''s arrogant behavior in the letter. And spected that it might have bigger schemes that could cause unimaginable harm to Emerald Town. Although the Shelter indeed is an official organization of the Empire for containing Transcendents and Mysterious Objects and suppressing any unstable elements from the roots, Ralph somewhat couldn''t understand why the Red Apple Church, which was nomunity service organization, would disclose this information for no reason. "Either it''s a trouble not even the Red Apple Church can resolve, or they want to use us to achieve some purpose." Ralph lit a cigar. He tapped the desk with his fingers, knocking twice. "Send some Investigators to stake out near the Red Apple Church, and monitor their every move." "Yes, team leader." The young Investigator in white uniform ced his left hand on the right chest, bowed slightly, and then left.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Remember, don''t draw the attention of Priest Carter from the Red Apple Church." The Investigator responded again, exited the room, and closed the door. Click. Ralph swiveled his chair to face the window showing the Purple Moon, puffing rings of smoke. "That old lunatic even dares to kill believers of the Moon Church, truly a madman. Let''s observe for a while and let them bite each other." Chapter 22 Tonight, the hunt for the Church ``` The solemn Red Apple Church. Under the nightfall, the side profile of an angel reliefs on the outer walls of the spire ovepped with the Purple Moon, casting an enchanting glow. A dense flurry of footsteps approached from the end of the street. Two heavily armored Guardians with the Red Apple emblem on their chests led the way, holding torches as they advanced toward the church. Dozens of church sentries formed a long procession behind them. Some guards even held dog leashes, the rotting hunting dogs draped in red cloth obediently following the group. Upon arriving at the church, the procession streamed inside through The Great Gate in an orderly fashion, leaving only two sentries at the entrance. Inside the church. The prayer room. A young womany crumpled on the floor in disheveled clothing, a deep gash on her throat, her blood spread all over the ground. Clearly, she had been dead for some time. Sturton''s plump figure, garbed in a Monk''s robe, stood not far from the body. In his hand, he held a beautifully crafted short knife, its shining de still dripping with blood. "Rose above, why is there no response yet..." Sturton wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief in his other hand, his beady eyes fixated on a Golden Goblet upon the praying altar. The goblet was filled with fresh blood that asionally rippled outward. After a long while. An old voice came from the goblet: "Sturton, this is the third time you have called upon me... I hope you can provide a convincing reason." "Bishop, sir!" The rotund Monk was overjoyed, hastily drawing closer to the goblet. "When will you journey to Emerald Town? The Transcendent who destroyed the Red Apple prison is likely hiding right here... As long as you arrive, that guy won''t have a chance to escape!" The blood in the goblet stilled for a moment, and just as Sturton began to doubt, the old voice spoke again: "Will warned me before, and now it seems that the criminal is most likely a Transcendent from the History and Ritual Association, who disguised himself as a sacrifice to infiltrate the prison, and eventually rebelled and killed our Priest Carter¡­" "Their goal is clear; it''s the Sunflower [Mysterious Object]... The upper echelons of the church have made some guesses about it; it''s highly likely to be what remained from a Saint who caused the copse of the Royal City of Beryl over ten years ago." "Had not the Sun Church and the Shelter put on dual pressure, Lafa would not have secretly transferred it to a remote small town like Emerald Town... But how exactly did those damned rat peoplee to know of this...?" Suppressed fury resonated within the old voice, and Sturton mopped his brow frequently. He wanted to remind but dared not remind the Bishop, not wanting to know these secrets at all. "Could there be a traitor within the church?" Sturton asked in a low voice. The blood in the goblet paused again. "You really have a pig''s brain, Sturton! Who among the followers of Rose would dare to betray!?" The old voice scolded, then seemed to temper its rage, gradually calming. "Forget it, you wouldn''t understand even if I told you¡­ Right now, all you need to know is that the sinner will not escape, the church will make him into fertilizer for the garden." "After Carter''s death, there''s a gap in the church''s Transcendent Combat Power in Emerald Town, but you don''t have to worry about him... No matter where he flees, he will eventually reunite with his aplices, bringing along the stolen items." "The church has already identified those behind this operation, such that I cannot leave at the moment... but their time of death is near." "Just keep yourself hidden for a while, and do not call upon me again unless it''s for something significant." The old voice faded, and the blood within the Golden Goblet became still. Sturton felt more anxious rather than reassured after hearing the Bishop''s words. Since the Priest''s death, he had been in a state of extreme insecurity. "I''ll just stay in the church and not go out for a while..." He exhaled deeply, turning to leave. Suddenly, he noticed arge ck rat on the floor, staring up at him. "A rat...?" ``` Sturton was startled. Therge ck rat squeaked, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The portly monk, watching the mouse flee, felt an increasing unease. "Why has a rat suddenly appeared..."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He had heard of some strange transcendent abilities in the Mystic Realm and, just to be safe, he hastily chased after the rat in the direction it had gone. But as he stepped out of the prayer room into the courtyard outside, he unexpectedly saw a chaotic array of guardian corpses on the ground. Without exception, each of their necks was twisted 180 degrees, and their bodies bore numerous tiny bite marks. The flesh was a mutted mess, utterly horrific. "!!" Sturton jumped in fright, trembling as he took a few steps back. "It''s... it''s here! That guy really dide to kill!" Why didn''t I hear anything? How did it get all the way inside the church? Sturton immediately ran back to the prayer room, picked up the Golden Goblet, and grabbed a hand crossbow hidden underneath the prayer altar. Then he returned to the courtyard and ran towards the back door of the church. As he pushed open the iron gate of the courtyard, he suddenly heard a shrill dog yelp. Followed by that, the rotten carcass of a hunting dog was flung at his feet. It was gasping for air, clearly on the verge of death. Looking up, he saw a man concealed in a cloak seizing a short sword from the hands of a church guardian, forcefully piercing it through the other''s body. The guardian let out a scream, spraying out ring fresh blood. Thunk! The body fell, the rimmed hat rolling off to one side. Then Sturton saw severalrge ck rats gathering around the cloaked man, one of the familiar rats jumping into his palm, squeaking. As if it was whispering secrets to him. The scene was exceedingly eerie, causing Sturton to feel chills down his spine. This man, could he be the criminal who killed the priest and stole the "Mysterious Objects"¡­? Chen Lun let out a wry smile upon hearing the little rat''s report. Turned out the nonsense he had spouted on the spur of the moment was actually reported to Red Apple Church by that guy, Will. No wonder they were so off the mark; the Transcendents of the History and Ritual Association, who walked the path of the Earth Faction, did indeed love to steal, especially from other people''s graves. However, what Chen Lun didn''t know was that it was precisely because the History and Ritual Association had recently excavated the grave of a certain high-level member of Red Apple Church that they were utterly convinced of this deduction. Chen Lun bent down to let the rat go, then turned his head to look at Sturton. Thetter felt a cold shiver down his spine, as if he had fallen into an ice cave. "Heretic! ept your death!" The hoarse roar exploded in his ears. Two armored guards strode forth from behind Chen Lun, their long spears aimed directly at his head as they brought them crashing down. Crack! Chen Lun turned and raised his hands, grabbing the spear shaft below the spearhead. The fierce and heavy strike instantly halted. The two armored guards hesitated for a moment, noticing that the cloak-wearing man''s hands, now visible, were covered in dark golden scales. ncing slightly, they could see under the hood of the cloak, a pair of vertical pupils like those of a venomous snake. "Die!" They heard a single, indifferent word. The next second. Bang!! Bang!! A surge of tremendous force apanied by intense pain sent the two armored guards flying outwards. Boom! Their heavy bodies crashed onto the stone pavement, fracturing it with cracks. Numerous bricks shattered into gravel, flying everywhere. The armored guards'' breasttes were dented as if hammered, creating arge crater, and the bodies inside were probably not spared. Beneath their fully sealed helmets, fresh red blood slowly began to seep out. Chapter 23 No Escape Chen Lun pulled off the helmet of a heavily armored guardian, revealing the face beneath. It was a face covered in tumors, grotesque and hideous. He still had faint breaths, even though he had sustained such severe injuries, he had not died. "Indeed, they are all freaks catalyzed by the Red Apple Church using diluted Mysterious Substance..." Chen Lun thought to himself. Just like the rotting hounds, products of the underworld, the Red Apple Church experimented on living people. The monsters they created were immensely strong and resilient in their life force. It could be said that these monsters were no longer human but should be ssified as Supernatural Creatures. Devoid of self-awareness and personality, they were like wild beasts.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun violently stomped down, crushing the skulls of two creatures. [You have killed Red Apple Church heavily armored guardians, gained 100 Experience Points]*2 Turning his head to look where the fat monk had been, he found it empty. Chen Lun chuckled softly. "Can you escape?" "Escape! As long as I get to the Shelter, I won''t die!" Under the Purple Moon''s night, Sturton ran frantically down the deserted streets, gasping for air. He had run out of the back door of the church courtyard, heading straight for the Shelter in the town center. Along the way, he continuously prayed to the Golden Goblet in his embrace. But even though the blood in the goblet was nearly spilt, there was still no response. At that moment, a stray cat crossed the street, nearly tripping Sturton. "Damn it!" He cursed angrily and continued to run forward. But he suddenly realized that more stray cats had appeared in the middle of the road ahead. Sets of green eyes stared at him, making his heart nearly stop. Tap¡­ Tap¡­ Tap¡­ The sound of boots on the cobblestone road echoed slowly from behind. Sturton spun around in a panic. He saw a figure cloaked in a cloak, who had appeared at some point, slowly advancing towards him. He shouted loudly, whether to boost his courage or to attract the attention of others. He then quickly pulled out the hand crossbow and aimed it at Chen Lun as he squeezed the trigger. Although there was no crossbow bolt loaded, nor did he draw the string, a crimson arrow flew out, streaking a straight red line towards Chen Lun. Whiz¡ª!! Chen Lun had been on alert since Sturton drew his hand crossbow, but he still couldn''t react in time as the arrow shot towards him. The arrow was too fast! Chen Lun could only violently twist his body to the side to avoid vital spots, letting the bolt only graze his arm as it passed. The red line grazed the scales on the armor, sparking as it disappeared into the air behind Chen Lun. A small cut was left on his arm, oddly, with not a drop of blood flowing out. [You have been attacked by the C-level Mysterious Object Tongue of Gluttony, health -12] [You are in an extreme state of hunger, health limit temporarily reduced by 23] Suddenly, a strong sense of hunger surged. Chen Lun felt weak as if he needed to have a huge meal right then. Even if a live cow was ced in front of him, he could tear and devour it alive. The wound on his arm began to worsen, the surrounding flesh as if being gnawed by an invisible maw, disappearing tracelessly. Fortunately, the Mysterious Power attached to the wound was minimal, and the disappearance of the flesh soon stopped. It was as if the invisible maw had stealthily withdrawn. Chen Lun, enduring the pain, saw this happen and grew even more cautious of the hand crossbow-shaped Mysterious Object, preparing himself for Sturton to continue firing. But after pulling the trigger once, the fat monk copsed to the ground, out of breath as ifcking oxygen. The hand crossbow and the Golden Goblet fell to one side, with blood slowly streaming out of the goblet. Chen Lun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Hmm¡­ just a normal person, unable to bear the cost of using the Mysterious Object a second time." His thoughts raced, and he violently charged toward Sturton. But just then, the blood spilled on the ground suddenly boiled, flowing back into Sturton''s mouth and nostrils like rivers returning to the sea. "Ergh¡­ Ahh!!" Sturton''s body convulsed, as if he was enduring unimaginable pain. Whoosh! He leapt up all at once, lunging at Chen Lun with more agility than before. ng! Hiss¡ªcrack!! Five pitch-ck ws scraped across Chen Lun''s raised arm, sparking against the scales. "Sinner! How dare you attack the Red Apple Church!" The voice that came from Sturton''s mouth had changed, as if it were another person, old and deep. His face was contorted with bulging veins, his eyes were white, and he bared his teeth in a ferocious grimace. "What''s there not to dare..." Chen Lun kicked him away. "I''ll also dig up your church''s graves and burn your church down with fire!" "Heretic!!" The possessed Sturton no longer seemed human, but like a monster, he swung his sharp ws and attacked again. During the battle, Chen Lun found that his opponent''s strength and agility had been forcibly enhanced, making him extremely difficult to handle. Hiss¡ª!! The ws scraped the ground, sending sparks flying and leaving several deep scratch marks. Chen Lun narrowly dodged the w attack, reaching out with both hands. His arms, transformed into snakes, wrapped around the opponent''s arms, immobilizing his most dangerous ws. Sturton frowned deeply, sensing trouble. Then, Chen Lun''s serpentine arms violently churned, the sharp dark golden scales slicing through, instantly tearing off the ws. Phut! The corpulent monk retreated a few steps, lifting his bleeding severed arm with a ghastly expression. "What kind of supernatural ability is this...?" "Damned ratman! Whose grave did you dig up? Or was it some sort of alchemical potion?" Watching the guy wildly specte, Chen Lun sneered silently. "When you''re dead, you can go down and ask for yourself." "You dare desecrate the Rose!?" Sturton roared in fury. "Ahhhh!!" He began to scream hysterically, and the skin on his entire face peeled off instantly, turning into a bloody, skinless beast''s head within moments. "Shameless." Chen Lun critically remarked. "Die!!" Sturton attacked again, his speed significantly increased. The beast''s head snapped viciously, the air exploded with a loud bang. Chen Lun bent his neck to dodge the deadly attack and countered with a punch to his face. Bang!! Sturton''s body swayed. Chen Lun heightened his figure, and once more an elbow fell from above like a warhammer, striking the back of his head. Bang!!! Sturton faced down, smashing into the cobblestones and sinking deep into them. His body twitched a few times, theny still. Chen Lun looked down at the corpse, the sound of snapping bones echoing in his ears, and a sudden sense of danger overcame him. He swiftly dodged backwards. Just as he leaped, Sturton''s body suddenly swelled, and then exploded like a bomb! Boom!! Blood rained down like a shower, apanied by fragments of bones and viscera, solemnly closing the scene of the battle on the deste street. Fortunately, Chen Lun was quick enough to avoid the st. Otherwise, with the power akin to real explosives, he would have been injured. Gurgle gurgle... Sturton''s disfigured beast head rolled to Chen Lun''s feet. Its one remaining eyeball swiveled, locking onto the figure in the cloak, filled with rage and a hint of madness. "''History and Ritual Association'' scum, this battle is not our church''s failure but merely the prelude to your sinners'' judgment." "Well, you bettere find me then..." Chen Lun kicked the head with the tip of his boot. He then looked down from a height, staring into that eyeball, making eye contact. "I''ll be in Emerald Town waiting for you, if you daree, I''ll smash your brains out." "Damn you! You..." The beast head tried to say more but was suddenly kicked away with a foot. Chapter 24 I am about to set sail The beast-head statue from Sturton had flown through the air like a leather ball. It then followed an arc downward and, with a ssh, fell into the nearby river, disappearing without a trace. Beneath the cloak of night, not a single ripple remained. [You killed a monk from the Red Apple Church, Sturton (possessed by Bishop Newman), and earned 500 experience points.] [Your actions have had far-reaching impacts; the Red Apple Church now considers you an enemy and will initiate a manhunt!] Chen Lun disregarded the ring red alert box with disdain. He walked a few steps to the spot where Sturton had fallen, bent over, and picked up two items. [D-level Mysterious Object: Golden Goblet] Item Description: A specially made goblet from the Red Apple Church, functional in pairs, capable of long-distancemunication. Pour the fresh blood of a virgin into the goblet to establish vocalmunication with another goblet holder for twenty-four hours. Ah, the bright red craft, the aroma of a virgin, your soul shall serve as the messenger, bringing forth my gospel ¡­ Chen Lun looked at the golden chalice and frowned slightly. He squeezed it forcefully, and the goblet in his hand creaked. Suddenly, a tremendous strength seemed to exceed its threshold, and with a bang, it shattered into pieces. A [D-level Mysterious Object] was thus destroyed. "Huh¡­ hateful thing, mustn''t be left intact!" Chen Lun destroyed it not solely because the item''s description was disturbing. It was more because it came from the Red Apple Church and could very likely have been tampered with. It would be troublesome if it were used to track him down. It was of little use to him anyway, better to destroy it. The golden fragments in his hand slowly softened and then turned into a golden mud. The color gradually faded, merging into a red ball resembling "flesh mud." [You''ve obtained a Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance] Chen Lun added it to his panel, bringing his total to four portions. This was incredibly precious and useful. Whether for crafting Transcendent items, forging artificial [Mysterious Objects], or advancing in Sequence, it had its uses. Next, Chen Lun examined the hand crossbow. [C-level Mysterious Object: Tongue of Gluttony] Item Description: An old, wooden mini hand crossbow, easy to carry. On one side of the crossbow, there are sharp, tooth-like patterns indicating it''s imbued with the power of flesh. No need to load crossbow bolts; simply pull the trigger to fire a bait arrow, attracting spirits from the Spirit World to devour the target. It seems to have originated from a benevolent gourmet. He was passionate about cooking various delicacies to entertain guests. Until one day, a visitor from the Spirit World knocked on his door. Thus, the gourmet made himself into a delicacy, serving himself to be enjoyed ¡­ Item Effect: The person hit will temporarily lose 10% of their life limit, up to a maximum of 30%. They will also fall into an extreme state of hunger. Item Cost: Each bolt fired will significantly reduce physical strength, depending on the circumstances. Chen Lun found this [Mysterious Object] surprisingly high-quality and effective, evenparable to some of the lower-tier [B-level Mysterious Objects]. A hand crossbow that, in a sense, came with unlimited ammunition. Its lethality was stunning, the higher the health of the target, the greater the benefit, making it a nemesis for "blood tanks"! The cost of drawing physical strength was insignificant, Chen Lun even wanted to shout out loud¡ª Come! Drain me! Chen Lun tucked the hand crossbow into his waist and turned to walk back. As hunting down Sturton had taken him away from his path, there were still some remnants near the Red Apple Church that needed clearing. To provide a better gaming experience for all yers arriving in this world, Chen Lun decided he would manually weaken the version''s antagonistic forces. His spirit of heroic sacrifice for the yers brought tears to his eyes once again. "Who knows what else is hidden inside that church ¡­?" "These heretics undoubtedly oppress their neighbors and exploit themon folk. I must confiscate all their illicit gains!" The more Chen Lun thought about it, the faster he walked. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared at the end of the street. ¡­ Inside the Red Apple Church. The prayer room. Chen Lun quietly stood by the female corpse. He sighed softly and closed her wide-open eyes. Behind him, on a long bench, was a small box. It contained all the valuables Chen Lun had collected from scouring the entire church. During the search, he found some tbreads, which he ate to alleviate his hunger. The remaining guards of the church and the rotten hounds were also ughtered by him, earning him a decent amount of experience points. Moreover, Chen Lun uncovered a secret passage leading to the outskirts in a hidden corner, which he guessed connected to that previous prison. With silence all around, Chen Lun transferred all the brimming coins in the small box to his panel. 176 Gold Pounds, 684 Silver Ducats, and 3455 Copper Kros! It was indeed a substantial gain, and Chen Lun unapologetically epted it. Bang!! Chen Lun quickly turned his head. A fiery gust of air and a piercing sound passed by his ear, followed by a hole suddenly appearing in the prayer podium, sending wood splinters flying. "Don''t move! Shelter investigator! Please cooperate with the investigation!" Chen Lun slightly tilted his body and saw two young people at the door wearing white uniforms. Each of them held an old-fashioned single-handed flintlock gun, with one of them having smoke rising from the muzzle, clearly having just fired. Chen Lun narrowed his eyes and raised his hands towards the two. The Shelter...n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om An official Transcendent organization of the Empire specializing in containing and suppressing [Mysterious Objects] and rogue Transcendents through force. Chen Lun was very familiar with them. In his past life, this force had the most yers joining. Although the Shelter was not one of the Seven True Gods'' forces, it was backed by the Royal Family. It possessed immense power and offered numerous advancement paths and rewards to choose from. "Just the two of you?" Chen Lun asked, his tone as if he were chatting with two old friends. "Don''t think about ying tricks, our colleagues are guarding outside, and the group leader is already on his way... Although you are a Transcendent, we have captured countless Transcendents with our own hands, you can try it if you don''t believe it." One of the investigators said coldly. "But now you have only two guns, are you sure you can hit me?" "Why are there always arrogant fools like you, daring to challenge the authority of the Shelter..." The two investigators exchanged nces almost imperceptibly, reaching a consensus. They prepared to open fire together, to take down this guy in front of them. But the next second, they heard a strong yet seemingly distant noise. The two immediately saw stars, a nauseating feeling washing over them. Before they had time to pull the trigger, they felt overshadowed by a tall figure, and the next second, severe pain came from their abdomen. Bang! Bang! Chen Lun knocked the two down with two punches, picking up their flintlock guns. This kind of firearm was a ck tech weapon crafted by the Transcendent workshop under the Shelter, capable of loading ten lead bullets at once. Although not a "Mysterious Object", it was poprized among regr investigators. Almost everyone had one, and it was extremely intimidating. If more than three investigators fired at once, even low-sequence Transcendents would likely kneel. After all, those of a low sequence had not yet escaped their fleshly bodies, with almost a certain death under dense firepower. Five minutester. Chen Lun stood at the church door, looking at the group of four investigators lying in a row on the ground, still sping each other in unconsciousness, and shook his head slightly. Then he moved the female corpse over there, cing two gold pounds on the eyelids of the dead woman''s eyes. "This is all I can do." He raised his hand and fired a shot into the church door. Bang!! The bullet hit a pre-arranged oil jug, igniting sparks that set aze the straw stack below. The mes rose high, gradually engulfing the entire church. Chen Lun turned and left. Behind him, a sea of fire. Boom!! The long-standing church copsed, with the fire bing more terrifying, like daylight. Many residents, awakened in the dead of night, hid behind their windows, witnessing this unforgettable scene. Some excited, some silent, some calling out to the gods or whispering prayers. Ralph stood not far from the church, quietly stopping. The investigators Chen Lun had knocked out had now awakened, standing behind him with their heads down, not daring to make a sound. "Team leader, should we pursue him? That guy might not have gone far..." "Pursue?" Ralph snorted coldly, turning around and took a puff of his cigar. The smoke blew in the face of the talking investigator, stinging his eyes so he couldn''t open them. Yet he dared not really close his eyes, having to endure, tears streaming down. "With just a few of you acting on your own?" After he finished speaking, silence fell on the scene for a moment. "You should thank her." Ralph pointed to the female corpse on the ground. The few investigators looked at each other. Ralph bent down to pick up the gold coins from the eyelids of the female corpse, holding them in his palm, somewhat lost in thought. "The reason he didn''t kill you might also be because he hoped the Shelter could provide her a decent funeral." He flicked his finger, and the gold coin fell into the hand of one of the investigators. "Go then, find the Moon Church, bury this female corpse... and also find her family and give them somepensation." Ralph rubbed his temple, looking troubled. "Consider it us cleaning up the Red Apple Church''s mess." "Yes, team leader." Ralph tossed away the cigar, stamped it out, and looked into the distance. "Miscalcted, huh." ... Outside the town''s big bridge. Chen Lun sat in the carriagepartment, taking onest look at Emerald Town. Under the dim light of dawn, the town appeared incredibly peaceful. [Completed B-level Side Quest: The Shattered Emerald Apple] [You sessfully destroyed the Emerald Town branch of the Red Apple Church and received the following rewards: 5000 experience points, 20 gold pounds, Floey''s affection, 3 * Low-Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance, and 1 point of regional renown] [Red Apple Church''s affection for you has decreased; they will regard you as a mortal enemy, pursuing you relentlessly until death!] Chen Lun smiled slightly at thest prompt. This mission was triggered when he infiltrated the Red Apple Church and killed the first guardian. He was very satisfied with the rewards, especially the regional renown. It was akin to a type of reputation, effective on all NPCs. It was not just a charm value; there were more unexpected benefits. For example, after joining a faction, some rare items and precious rewards required a certain level of renown to qualify for ess. However, correspondingly, obtaining renown was extremely difficult, hardly essible to ordinary people. "Where are we going now?" Floey sat beside him, quietly asking. "To the future." Chen Lun jokingly said, chuckling lightly. Then he shouted to the outside of the carriage: "Uncle Walsh, let''s go!" "As you wish, Your Excellency." Chapter 25 Six Days The carriage traveled along the main road. Though it was known as the main road, it was really just a wider gravel path, far from smooth. The iron-d wooden wheels of the carriage bumped and jolted, making the ride lessfortable for Chen Lun inside the carriage. Thankfully, the seat and backrest were padded with soft leather filled with cotton, easing some of the difort from the rough journey. Floey appeared quite pleased, however. Leaning against the window, she gazed around curiously. If her eyes hadn''t been covered by a piece of ck silk, one might truly think she was fascinated by the scenery around her. Chen Lun noticed that Floey slightly tilted her chin up and twitched her little nose twice, as if smelling the fresh air of the outside world. The light from the rising sun made her face seem radiant and clear. "Uncle Walsh." Chen Lun stuck his head out and called towards the bald man driving the horses at the front. "Lord Jack." Walsh turned his head and, lifting the round hat off his head, respectfully replied. "Jack" was just a pseudonym made up by Chen Lun, and he was aware that he might need other identities in the future. The story he told the Silver Dragon Trade Association¡ªto hire them to escort him and Floey to Amber City¡ªwas also concocted by Chen Lun. A brother and sister from the countryside, on their way to their rtives in the big city¡­ As for why they could afford to pay 5 Gold Pounds for the journey without batting an eye, it''s because the siblings were lucky enough to have touched the hearts of the Red Apple Church. It was the Red Apple Church that sponsored the impoverished siblings. Thanks to Monk Will, Monk Sturton, and Priest Carter... oh, and Bishop Newman in a distantnd. All of them, such very, very good people! Chen Lun had it all figured out, should someone inquire about his origins, he would shower them with gratitude, adopting an air as if he simply couldn''t wait to tell everyone. As for the fact that the Red Apple Church in his "hometown" of Emerald Town was burned down by evildoers, Chen Lun would profess ignorance. A single outburst of pain ought to bring tears to people''s eyes. "How long will our journey to Amber City likely take?" Chen Lun asked. "If all goes well, we should arrive by the evening of the seventh day," Walsh considered and answered truthfully. Generally, formon people to travel such distances to another ce, they would usually take a train or steamship,bined with walking. But Emerald Town is too remote for that. The nearest train station or dock requires trekking through difficult terrain to reach, very backward and isted. On the roads through the wilderness, one also has to be wary of bandits and thieves that could appear out of nowhere, apse in attention could cost one''s life. The world of "Era of Mystery" is certainly fantastic. Advanced cities with steam punk, backward countrysides with swords and magic, bizarre areas with outright sci-fi technology¡ªit''s a blend of Elizabethan, Victorian, and Yanan-like eras across dimensions. "Seven days..." Chen Lun couldn''t help but nce at Floey beside him, knowing the girl had less than two months left to live. Spending over a tenth of that time on the road reduced even further the time they had to seek the materials needed for their mission; the situation was truly urgent. Floey seemed to sense Chen Lun''s gaze upon her, turned her head "to look" at him, and smiled. She naturally also heard what Walsh had said. "It''s okay, let''s think of it as a trip... I''ve never been to faraway ces, and now that I think about it, I''m quite looking forward to it." "Then I can''t let you die even more. Since you love traveling so much, once your ''illness'' is cured, I''ll take you to even more distant ces to see." As Chen Lun spoke, he suddenly envisioned a scene. In his past life, he had traveled alone to those rarely trodden ces, the journey filled with stunning and breathtaking vistas. If Floey were there with him, the yers might just kneel on the spot. My goodness, the BOSS is taking someone for a walk! Of course, that was impossible now... With his intervention, Floey''s destiny was already shifting. That emotionless older sister who killed without batting an eye, the solemn nun of the Red Apple Church, would no longer exist. What remained was just herself, Floey. Floey seemed to pick up on Chen Lun''s amusement, and although she didn''t know what he was thinking, his positive emotions affected her, making her smile grow even wider. The coachman Walsh was feeling sentimental. Lord Jack truly was a good older brother! For the sake of his seriously ill sister, he braved the long and arduous journey to seek treatment for her! He was so moved that he even thought of giving a discount on the fee to the young miss and the young master from his tradingpany, returning some of the hiring charge. But then he remembered, Lord Jack surely, as a Transcendent, wasn''tcking in money, and the thought of refunding money was immediately dismissed. Another thought crossed his mind: I should charge more. ... Six dayster.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The carriage was suddenly stopped by someone. It was quite irritating to be intercepted close to Amber City, and Chen Lun couldn''t help frowning. After a journey full of hardships, he hadn''t been able to properly bathe or enjoy a good meal. The inns they stopped at along the way weren''t up to much, and Chen Lun was looking forward to properly indulging once they reached Amber City. At that moment, mor was heard from outside the carriage. The curtain of Chen Lun''s carriage was tapped twice, and then lifted. A member of the apanying guards stood outside with his head respectfully bowed, speaking to Chen Lun: "Lord Jack, unfortunately, we''ve encountered robbers. But please rest assured, with the reputation of the Silver Dragon Trade Association, we pledge to protect you and Miss Floey to the death." Chen Lun nodded silently. "I believe you." Typical escort hires like this usually involved seven or eight fully-armed guards. Small bands of robbers stood no chance against them and didn''t intimidate them. The curtain was drawn again, and Chen Lun could hear Walsh negotiating with the other party. But for some reason negotiations fell through, and soon the clear clinking of metal scraping and cursing sounded from outside. That was followed by the shing of swords. "Should we go down and take a look?" Floey whispered. Chen Lun suddenly felt it oddly strange that such a group of robbers would appear when they were not far from Amber City. Moreover, they dared to directly confront the well-equipped and coordinated guard team. These robbers either had overwhelming numbers or some backing, or they were simply foolish. "Stay in the carriage and don''t move; I''ll go have a look." Chen Lun nodded and said, lifting the curtain and stepping down from the carriage. As soon as he got down, he saw the guards engaging with the robbers not far ahead. The situation was as Chen Lun had expected: dozens of robbers were being butchered in a one-sided ughter before the guards. Their rusty axes and sickles chopping on the guards'' armor caused no real damage, while the guards'' Sharp Swords easily sliced through their leather armor and hemp clothes, drawing blood with every strike. "Lord Jack." Walsh, who was standing by the carriage, saluted Chen Lun. "What caused them to start fighting all of a sudden?" Chen Lun nodded in response and then asked. Walsh appeared to be somewhat angry as he pointed at the bandits and said: "At first, I wanted to give them some money to send them on their way, but those scoundrels insisted on checking the carriage... Even if I, Walsh, should die in battle here today, I would never allow these filthy bastards to vite the lord and the miss!" Chen Lun knew the bald man was making mere pleasantries, aware of his own status as a Transcendent. If it really came down to it, he couldn''t simply stand by and watch others die. Chen Lun had no intention of intervening until Walsh''s next words piqued his interest: "Lord Jack, I suspect these people are involved in human trafficking..." Chapter 26 Stop fighting "Continue," Chen Lun was intrigued. "Usually, bandits like them, upon seeing a convoy not carrying goods, would not bother too much, since it''s a thankless task... But just now, these men were very aggressive, insisting on searching the carriage to see who was inside." At this moment, Walsh leaned over and whispered: "Actually, in big cities like Amber City, it''smon for nobledies and madams to go missing, only to be auctionedter in the ck market or other small circles... Even if they aren''t women, some handsome young men are also very popr." Realizing something as he spoke, Walsh hastily added: "Lord Jack is elegant and as dazzling as the Constetion, and Miss Floey is stunningly beautiful, more mesmerizing and radiant than the Moonlight... I fear these disgusting fellows might harbor ill intentions." Chen Lun raised an eyebrow. I didn''t expect you to be this kind of person, Walsh! You really don''t know how to speak! Picking such tant truths to say, it''s embarrassingly frank. Although I am thin-skinned, you could speak a bit more to toughen up my fragile heart. "Big cities are indeed chaotic... So the bandits would not kidnap those who are less attractive or older men? Are these bandits discriminating!" Chen Lunined indignantly. "Well, not exactly. If someone looks wealthy and of high status, they would also directly kidnap for ransom," Walsh exined. Chen Lun shook his head; nowadays, even bandits choose their targets based on benefits. Without a solid backing, it''s tough to survive. Just then, when everyone thought the battle''s oue was sealed, the situation suddenly changed. The leader of the bandits pulled out two Iron Gloves and slipped them on, each knuckle embedded with sharp steel spikes. The man caught a guard''s shing attack bare-handed, producing a crisp sound, then clenched his fist and hammered the guard''s abdomen. Bang! As the Iron Gloves collided with the armor, Chen Lun noticed small holes at the edge of the gloves opening, ejecting a stream of air. The guard cried out in pain and was thrown backward. All onlookers were shocked; how did these refugee-like bandits suddenly be so powerful? And what kind of ck technology was in those ck Iron Gloves? One punch could dent the armor and render a guard incapacitated! After defeating his opponent, the bandit leader, with a face full of excitement, rushed towards the next guard. The initially routed bandits were suddenly reinvigorated, while the guards became hesitant and chose to avoid this man. Just as the bandit leader thought he could wreak havoc, a st suddenly rang out¡ª Bang!! The next second, pain struck. His raised fist had not yet fallen when he noticed a blood hole in his left chest. He staggered back a few steps, then thudded to the ground. Blood began spreading from under him. [You have killed the bandit leader, gaining 10 Experience Points] The onlookers turned their heads and saw a young man in a white shirt, trousers, and leather shoes, with slightly curly ck hair, standing straight in front of the carriage, holding a Flintlock Gun aimed their way, with wisps of smoke rising from the gun''s muzzle. "Stop fighting," Chen Lun twirled the gun, blew on the muzzle, and holstered it... Thanks to the brother Investigator from the Shelter, he too had enjoyed the thrill of dispatching someone instantly. With the death of the bandit leader, coupled with the deterrent of the firearm, the bandits scattered like birds and beasts. At Walsh''s shout, the guards did not pursue but instead turned to attend to the injured. At that moment, Chen Lun received a notification. [Trigger D-level Task: Pursue the Defeated Bandits] Task Description: You encountered an ambush by bandits, but they crumbled before your formidable strength. Being provoked, will you choose to pursue them? This group of bandits blocks the road, kidnaps hostages, and there seems to be some earth-shattering secret hidden behind them¡­ Task Reward: 300 Experience Points and 500 Copper Kro. Chen Lun had grown ustomed to the cheeky prompt box. In his previous life, when he first started ying "Era of Mystery," he often got lectured by the prompts. At that time, many yers cursed andined on the forums. One of them mentioned receiving a task that supposedly involved a peerless Mysterious Object, only to struggle through the task and end up with a [D-grade] self-refilling coffee pot. If that were all, it would have been fine, at least providing a constant supply of drink on the go. Until one day, the yer poured a mysterious yellow-brown liquid from the coffee pot¡­ The catch with this [Mysterious Object] was that you had to finish drinking it, or you would forcibly enter a state of thirst, reducing all Attributes for ten days. A ten-day debuff of weakness was almost worse than being killed. With no choice left, the yer had to steel himself and gulp it down. Not to mention, this coffee pot was mostly likely irritating. The task prompt was not wrong, this pot was indeed peerless. Oddly enough,ter on, many curious wealthy individuals sought to buy it from him, turning the affair quite magical. Chen Lun originally did not want to ept this task, as the rewards were too meager. But he soon realized, he should not get arrogant just because he had be wealthy. Experience Points and money could never be too much! The journey to strengthen oneself must never stop! So after epting the task, he had Walsh and his group stay put at the original location. Meanwhile, he had them securely store the suspicious Iron Gloves for him to examine upon his return. He then nodded to Floey, and turned to chase in the direction the bandits had fled. ... Chen Lun followed the footprints of the bandits, leaving the main road and entering a dense forest. The ce was somewhat eerie, with very tall trees and lush branches and leaves blocking the sunlight. The ground was covered with a thickyer of fallen leaves, which crunched underfoot, and every now and then, various strange sounds could be heard from around. Caw¡ª Caw¡ª A crow flew through the woods, dropping feathers of ck. It pped its wings, slowlynding on Chen Lun''s arm. The crow turned its head, its intelligent little eyes looked at him, and then it cawed a few times. Chen Lun handed over several beetles he had casually caught along the way, and the crow swallowed them one by one after tilting its head back, then cawed two more times before pping its wings and flying away. Chen Lun had obtained the information he wanted and continued onward in one direction.N?v(el)B\\jnn "There''s a camp, isn''t there, with roughly a dozen people..." About ten more minutes of walking, Chen Lun faintly saw some firelight. He slowed his pace and parted a few bush leaves to clearly see the scene in a clearing up ahead. It was a bandit camp about the size of a small basketball court, with arge fire burning in the center, next to which hungrge animal thighs, and a few scruffily dressed men were boiling a pot of unknown soup. A few other men were sharpening weapons¡ªaxes, sickles, daggers, kitchen knives, a whole mess of things. In a corner, the stolen goods were stacked up neatly in crates. A slit that looked like it had been cut open revealed some Metal Ingots and coal. Next to this pile of goods were severalrge iron cages, containing exclusively men, who were all without exception both old and ugly. "How is this different from what Walsh described?" Chen Lun was puzzled. What did these bandits capture these men for¡ªcould there really be buyers with such strange tastes? A burly man sat legs akimbo on a chair, toying with a short sword in his hand. Beside him stood the bandits who had earlier blocked the road, now looking dejected like grade-schoolers being scolded for failing an exam. "What a bunch of rubbish!" the burly man cursed. "That hyena bastard is even worse! Messing up is one thing, but he also lost the ''Mad Hand'' sent by the higher-ups!" Chapter 27 Double Guns Will Tell Me the Answer "It''s none of our business, boss!" One of the underlingsined. "It was the Hyena boss who sent us up, he said with ''Mad Hand'' we could definitely handle that group... Seven or eight guards escorting, mostly someone with a status, we couldn''t lose by capturing them. But we didn''t expect that the kid who came out of the carriage had a firearm, and shot the Hyena boss dead with one shot!" "A firearm?" The burly man frowned, seeming to realize things were a bit tricky. "It seems the kid you''re talking about is no small fry, but we can''t afford to lose ''Mad Hand.'' Since there''s only one firearm, it''s not like we don''t stand a chance." He stood up and pulled out a pair of Iron Gloves identical to those worn by the former bandit leader and put them on himself. Fist against fist, they nged twice. "Let''s go! Catch up with them!" "Move out!" Upon hearing themand, all the underlings instantly raised their weapons, pumped as if injected with chicken blood. "No need to chase, I''vee myself." Just as the bandit leader was gearing up to leave with his henchmen, sharply preparing to set off, they suddenly heard a man''s voice. He was startled and looked up. He saw a young man walking out of the bushes at a leisurely pace. "Boss! It''s him!" The sidekick next to him recognized Chen Lun and immediately alerted his leader. The burly man first surveyed the surroundings, found nothing suspicious, and then a mocking smile appeared on his face. "Just you alone?" "Hmm." Chen Lun responded indifferently and slowly walked towards them. The bandit leader''s smile became more ferocious and terrifying, and he signaled; his underlings surrounded Chen Lun, holding various weapons in a pinching trend. "You dare to follow us here alone? Who do you think you are? A hero?" He raised his iron fist, flexing his fingers, making a crisp metallic friction sound. Chen Lun then drew the Flintlock Gun from his waist holster and pointed it at the burly leader in front of him. "Oh ho, wow... Look everyone, what is this, a firearm!" The burly man seemed not to care at all; he spread his hands and looked at his underlings. "Didn''t your mom ever tell you, read less of those lone hero stories and stay home and drink your milk?" Laughter erupted from the underlings surrounding them, their eyes filled with excitement and mockery. In the corner of the camp, the people locked in iron cages, seeing this scene, couldn''t help but sigh silently. They had thought there might be a rescue, but it was just a young man full of notions of heroism. "Why didn''t you call more people beforeing here to die alone!" One of the men cursed angrily, mming the iron cage, muttering some ugly words. "I quite admire him." Another young man with blond hair was sitting in another cage, wearing a top hat with a White Feather and draped in a dirty cloak. A pair of dark green eyes watched the standoff in front, his handsome face showing a look of satisfaction. "He has a bit of my youth''s grace, admirable and pitiable." "Shut up, you bbering pretty boy!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The enraged man shouted. The blond young man rolled his eyes and immediately stood up, pointing at the man and shouted back. "If you bark like a dog one more time, believe it or not, I''ll knock you out with two punches when I get out?" "Oh, bring it on! Could you have been caught by just keeping your mouth shut?" The others locked up pressed their hands against their ears, looking speechless, clearly used to such quarrels. While facing off with the bandits, Chen Lun raised an eyebrow and asked: "I''m very interested in those Iron Gloves you have, can you tell me where you got them from? " The bandit leader looked at Chen Lun, his eyes turning icy. "It seems you still don''t understand the situation. Without your guards, just with one firearm, what can you do? At most, fire one shot, and we''ll capture you, then clean you up and sell you to the ck market... Seeing you''ve been coddled quite well in your greenhouse, delicate and tender, I believe many buyers will like you! Now..." Chen Lun silently pulled out a second gun. The bandit leader''s eyes twitched, and the words died on his lips. "No worries, you don''t have to tell me; the dual guns will give me the answer." Chen Lun, holding two Flintlock Guns, one pointed at the burly man, the other at the surrounding underlings. "Go! Don''t be afraid of him! Even with two guns, he can only fire two shots! After two shots, he''s no threat!" At that, the underlings roared and charged forward. But as the gun barrels targeted them, they simultaneously took a step back. Though those were the words, no one wanted to be the unfortunate one to take the first bullet. "Damn! A bunch of useless fools!" The burly man cursed angrily. He immediately took the lead, striding forward and swinging his fist at Chen Lun. Seeing this, the other underlings also rushed forward. Bang! Bang!! Two gunshots sounded almost simultaneously. Two flowers bloomed, almost simultaneously. One underling''s forehead burst into a spray of blood, falling to the ground. Another bullet was blocked by the muscr man''s Iron Gloves, sparking a me. "Quick, get him! He can''t shoot anymore! Capture him! I want to torture this kid harshly!" The muscr man, still frightened, looked at the bullet mark on his glove and roared angrily. Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang bang!! A rapid session of gunshots echoed continuously, instantly stiffening his expression, then revealing a look of disbelief. "What... what''s going on?" Flintlock Guns are supposed to load one bullet per shot, right!? What is this!? Which shot is this already!? The ck-haired young man swiftly moved his hands as if ying a beautiful piano melody. Walking, turning around, pulling the trigger... His dual guns continuously spat out mes and smoke, as one underling after another screamed and fell. They were powerless to fight back, it was like a ughter! Thud! Until thest bandit fell. Chen Lun looked at his Flintlock Gun with a helpless expression, smoke still trailing from the barrel. "Well¡­ out of ammo." His barely audible mutter was heard by the bandit leader, who suddenly shuddered. "Opportunity!" The burly figure lunged at him like a fierce tiger, his iron fist raised high and then smashing down. The ck metallic glove, emitting a st of air, shot straight towards Chen Lun''s head! Bang!! The bandit leader''s face filled with disbelief as he stared wide-eyed. He slowly lowered his head, seeing the Flintlock Gun pressed against his left chest, emitting smoke. "You aren''t..." A heart-piercing pain struck, draining all his strength. After that, he followed in his underlings'' footsteps, falling to the ground, dead on the spot. Chen Lun holstered his gun and crouched down, looking at the corpse. "Gotcha, fool." Unfortunately, the bandit leader could no longer hear him. [Eliminate Bandit Camp, D-level Task: Pursue the Poor Until Complete!] [Task Reward: 300 Experience Points and 500 Copper Kro.] Chen Lun disregarded the prompt box and directly stripped the Iron Gloves from the corpse, examining them closely. "Is this glove¡­ the ''Mad Hand''?" Originally, he had nned to go back and study a pair, but here was a ready-made one. He was quite curious about this gadget. Equipped by an ordinary person, itsbat power soars, and in some ways, it could be considered ck-technology brass knuckles. [Mad Hand¨CMechanical Glove] Item Description: An inferior imitation of a masterpiece by craftsmen that ended up being birthed. The crude craftsmanship has castrated the originally precise and powerful function, retaining only the most basic striking enhancement effects. Of course, you could also use it for handling hot pots and pans; at least the heat instion is still pretty decent... "Is this all?" Chen Lun immediately lost interest in it. To an ordinary person, the glove might be a decent weapon, but for him, it was hardly useful. Not to mention the slight increase in striking power, for the current Chen Lun with 22 Strength Attributes, plus the [Surging Badge] which could reach 24 Points, it was basically ineffective. As for the added protection, just covering the hands with ayer of scale armor would be several times tougher than this glove. Moreover, wearing it even affected the experience. Here, it''s aboutbat experience. However, he could consider finding an opportunity to throw it to the Shelter for research, scooping some benefits, as they would certainly be happy to equip each Investigator with a pair of such gloves. With a Flintlock Gun for distance and Iron Gloves for closebat, perfect! Furthermore, Chen Lun discerned some trickery from the prompt description and noted down this information. He stood up and walked into the camp past the scattered corpses. The ce was very spacious, everything was clearly visible. Heading straight to a corner of the camp, he first noticed seven or eight people locked in a cage, casting hopeful nces at him. Chapter 28 The Bard By the stacked goods, an axe leaned. Chen Lun walked over, hooked the axe with his foot, and it spun into the air, which he then grasped by the handle. ng! With one swing of the axe, the brass lock on the iron cage ttered to the ground. He then went on to break the locks on the other cages one by one, freeing the people captured inside. "We really can''t thank you enough!" Several men who had gained their freedom hurried over to Chen Lun, bowing deeply. Among them was the previously irate older man, who now held nothing but genuine admiration. Looking at this ck-haired youth''s attire and considering the strength he had shown by single-handedly wiping out the entire bandit camp, he certainly was no ordinary person. For such a powerful figure, even though he looked young, it had be instinct to respect him sincerely. "We are all craftsmen from nearby and not wealthy; we have no idea how we could ever repay your kindness." Someone asked. "There''s no need." Chen Lun waved his hand. He had originally juste to hunt down the bandits; saving people was just something he did incidentally, yet the identities these people revealed reminded him of the descriptions of Iron Gloves'' items. Craftsmen, huh... "Why did these bandits capture you?" "Well... we are not sure, but in their previous conversations, they seemed to mention needing to make something, which is why they were kidnapping people everywhere." Chen Lun nodded. That made sense. But he quickly noticed that among these burly, sizable craftsmen, one did not fit in. Blond hair, blue eyes, wearing a pointy hat adorned with a mboyant feather, draped in a cloak, with a small harp tucked at his waist. Most importantly, even though covered in dirt, his unique aura and handsomeness could not be concealed. He was only perhaps a tiny bit less handsome than himself. "You? You can''t possibly be a craftsman too, can you?" Seeing Chen Lun''s puzzled look focused on him, Alec confidently smiled. He stepped forward, ced his left hand over his right chest, and bowed deeply, nodding as a gesture of respect. "I am Alec, a great wandering bard." Chen Lun raised an eyebrow. The blond young man raised a finger and said loudly, "Although I am very grateful that you offered assistance, Alec actually didn''t need it.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om I could have escaped by myself, but I chose to stay to observe the bandits'' daily lives more closely for inspiration... They too are a reflection of the oppression under the Empire, and I wish topose poetry about this." "Don''t listen to his nonsense!" One of the craftsmen, the irate older man, suddenly shouted. "This guy ims he once forged divine artifacts, which led the bandits to capture him! A guy who can''t even lift a hammer, boasting to the heavens¡ªit''s an insult to us craftsmen!" Alec, veins popping and face flushing red, hands on his hips, yelled back, "Shut up! I was not boasting!" "I''ve tolerated you for too long, you big talker!" The irate older man charged forward and punched Alec right in his handsome face, knocking him to the ground with his mouth bleeding. "Bastard!" Angrily, Alec got up and started fighting back. However, due to the huge difference in build and the fact that the big and strong irritated older man worked daily with hammers and bellows, he knocked Alec down again with just a few strikes. Chen Lun did not intervene, his arms crossed, watching with interest. The irate older man, having blown off steam, led the way once more in bowing to Chen Lun. "There are many viges nearby; we forge farming tools here to make a living. If you ever need anything, you cane to us." "Yes, although our skills might not match those in the military camps, the weapons we produce are definitely not inferior!" Chen Lun smiled and nodded, and the group of craftsmen then left together. He turned to look at Alec, who had gotten back to his feet and was wiping the blood from his mouth corner with his sleeve. "You said you''ve forged divine weapons?" "Uh... of course!" Alec seemed to havepletely dismissed the recent beating, regaining his confident demeanor. He flicked his blond hair and took out the small harp from his waist, beginning to y and sing: "It was a nearly two-meter-long greatsword. Forged from seabed metals mixed with celestial debris, adding the blood of the Extreme West evil dragon and the fangs of the Lord of Blood, and embellished with tricolor crystals and multicolored gems. I once used it to y the great beast of the North Sea and also used it to chop off the head of the Nightmare Knight of the South... s, it broke during the battle with the Overlord from the Far East and was lost..." p p p... Chen Lun apuded enthusiastically. "Well done. A captivating song, and the story is great too. It seems you are indeed suited for this line of work." "This is not a story!" Alec, enraged and embarrassed, stopped ying. "Although you saved me, you can''t insult me! This is so rude! It''s not something a gentleman should do! I challenge you to a duel! I need to restore my noble dignity as Alec!" Alec looked around and then picked up a kitchen knife from the ground. As he raised his head ready to fight a life-and-death battle with this dark-haired young man, he found that thetter had already turned and walked away. "Wait! Don''t go!" Alec chased after him, frustrated. ... "I am telling you the truth, why don''t you believe me!?" Alec gasped for air. Chen Lun nced at him and continued to walk briskly forward. Alec gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, running back to Chen Lun''s side. "Hey, listen, I..." "Fine, fine, I believe you." Chen Lun finally lost his patience and spoke seriously. Alec''s eyes widened, joy spreading across his face. "Really...really? That''s great... Uh!" He suddenly regained his confident expression and coughed twice. Having already concluded that Alec probably had issues with his head, Chen Lun ignored him and continued walking on his own. Alec silently followed beside Chen Lun. After walking for a while, he nced at Chen Lun and couldn''t help but speak again: "Um well, do you want to hear more about my glorious past?" "Absolutely not." Chen Lun shrugged his shoulders. Alec had a conflicted look on his face, seemingly stifling hard feelings. "All right, go ahead." Chen Lun resigned himself, hoping this modern-day torture would end soon. Alec seemed to hit a switch and started to sing vividly. During the process, he even pulled out a small harmonica for apaniment. Truth be told, aside from his tall tales, he actually sang quite well. The guy''s voice was intrinsically maic, clear and ethereal. Coupled with his handsome looks, if his mind were a bit more normal, he could probably sweep countless young girls off their feet. Oh wait, and countless noblewomen too. Chen Lun filtered out most of his embellished bragging, and roughly made out the content of Alec''s song. It was essentially about his travels around the world, where he went from ce to ce ridding folks of evils and ying monstrous dragons to be a hero. Beyond the Tresor Empire that incorporated the central and eastern parts of the continent, he also stepped foot in the northern Byron Kingdom, the western Beelzebub Kingdom, and the southern Shuoli City ¨C the three major vassal states. He even drifted across the endless oceans of the continent and encountered numerous formidable foes. But by this point, Chen Lun could hardly listen any longer, fortunately, they had already walked out of the dense woods and back onto the main road. He hurried to the carriage, taking two steps at a time. "Hey, why don''t you be my sidekick? You must greatly admire me after hearing my stories!" Alec shouted from behind. Chen Lun acted as if he heard nothing, and just told Walsh to get moving, then climbed into the carriage. The carriage started moving again, and Alec continued to chase behind. "Hey! Jack! I have lots of fans, are you sure you don''t want to consider this?" Exhausted from the chase, he ultimately gave up and watched the carriage disappear down the road, cursing under his breath. Inside the carriage, Chen Lun breathed a sigh of relief, finally shaking off that guy. But then, he suddenly furrowed his brow. Hold on, I never told him my name, so how did he know it? Chapter 29 Outer City District ``` "That guy¡­" Chen Lun mused. In his past life, he had never heard the name Alec; he was supposed to be just an ordinary bard. But when he called out his assumed name, Chen Lun always felt that something was off. Peering out the window of the carriage and looking back, Alec''s figure was no longer on the road. "What''s wrong?" Floey, sensing Chen Lun''s mood, spoke up. Chen Lun sat back down and shook his head silently before adding, "Nothing, just ran into a strange fellow." Floey did not press further and changed the subject, "Will we reach our destination tomorrow?" "Yes¡­ tomorrow we''ll arrive at Amber City." Chen Lun stopped dwelling on it, as the most urgent task at hand was to find Dolly in Amber City and acquire the "High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance" from him to maintain the bnce of the contamination in Floey. In the process, he hoped toplete the third stage of the hidden quest and hopefully find "Philip''s Legacy." These were all things that could boost his strength. There was anticipation in his heart, and even more so, visions of the future¡ª To grow stronger and establish a foothold! To have enough power and reach a certain height before the arrival of 1.0 version beta yers. Only then would Chen Lun feel truly secure. Having lost the unique yer interface, he did not know if he could still resurrect after death. Although he was an NPC, he still retained the ability to ept quests and inspect item information¡­ But he dared not gamble on the privilege of resurrection that only yers had. One has only one life. ¡­ Amber City. This major city in the eastern part of the Tresor Empire was far more developed and bustling than the backward small town of Emerald Town, not to mention muchrger in area. ording to the administrative divisions of the entire continent, one empire and three affiliated kingdoms. Not counting other smaller self-proimed kingdoms, aside from Beryl Royal City, the Tresor Empire was divided into the Six States. Each state had ten cities. Each city wasposed of a central city, seventy-two markets, and countless small towns. Amber City was one of the more prominent cities among the seventy-two markets of Fossil City in the Gem State, known for its culture, nature, and art. As the carriage gradually approached Amber City, the main gravel road gradually turned into neatly paved stone pathways. Along either side of the road stood square stone pirs and ck iron streetmps. Each of these streetmps, every nightfall, would be lit with kerosene bymplighters, brightly illuminating throughout the night. Clip-clop, clip-clop¡­ The carriage moved slowly. In the distance, the tall city walls became increasingly clear, with densely packed low houses on both sides leading to the city gate. "It''s the smell of stewed beans..." Floey lifted the curtain and sniffed with her delicate nose, murmuring softly. She was very familiar with this scent, as it was often part of her childhood meals. From within the carriage, Chen Lun could see numerous women with aprons and headscarves busying themselves with cooking and cleaning. They were working right at the doorsteps of their humble homes, with children ying around them and then darting into the dense houses nearby. "Their men mostly go into the city to work during the day ande back out to their homes after work is done." At that moment, Walsh, the driver of the carriage, spoke. Chen Lun was well aware of this fact. Those living here were the poor who did not qualify for permanent residence inside the city. They were also an indispensable part of keeping Amber City running. Among the crowd preparing to enter the city, there was no shortage of carriages, but even more were pedestrians with backpacks and hawkers carrying baskets selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Walsh presented the trade caravan''s certificate along with five Copper Kros per person for the entry fee, and the Tresor Empire soldiers waved them through. Passing through the long city gate corridor, under the dim lighting, Chen Lun could see walls stered with notices and warrants. But most were yellowed and torn due to the wear and tear of time, and due to neglect in cleaning, they had umted in thickyers. Soon, the surrounding mor rushed into their ears. ``` ``` Entering the inner city is what truly counts as entering Amber City, where it''s apletely different world from the outside. The carriages slowly passing by with the jingling of bells, the newsboys running about, hawking cigarettes and newspapers, the vendors setting up stalls in therge squares, and the Church monks preaching loudly. Floey seemed very excited, constantly listening to the sounds of the new world. It was only at this moment that she appeared to be a girl her age should be. "Master Jack, we''ve arrived at our destination." Walsh prompted. The carriage soon stopped in front of a three-story building, the location of the Silver Dragon Trade Association in Amber City. However, this was not the Inner City District. Although there is another branch in the Inner City District, Chen Lun asked to stop here. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to move around in the Inner City District, but that area belonged to the wealthy elite and was very strictly secured. With Chen Lun''s current unregistered identity, plus having to take care of Floey, moving around there would be difficult. Therefore, he nned to settle down in the Outer City District for the time being and make some ns. "Thanks, Uncle Walsh." Chen Lun got off the carriage first, then turned to extend his hand, but suddenly remembered Floey wasn''t actually blind. Just as he was about to retract his hand, Floey''s small hand reached out first.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun was momentarily startled. Floey gave him a sweet smile. "Master Jack, you truly are an admirable big brother." Walsh took off his hat and extended hisrge hand. "Themission entrusted to our Silver Dragon Trade Association has been sessfullypleted. It was a pleasure doing business, and I hope we can relieve your worries again in the future." "It was a pleasure." Chen Lun extended his other hand and shook his. Walsh suddenly felt a chill in his palm. Looking down, he found two glittering gold pounds. "Master Jack, this..." "Consider it a tip for all of you. One of the escorts even got injured for me and my sister, and I feel very remorseful... Well then, farewell, Uncle Walsh." Walsh looked up to see the young man already walking away with Miss Floey. He couldn''t help but feel that Master Jack was a truly generous gentleman. I didn''t even ask for more money. ... The two walked a long way along the street. Chen Lun originally wanted to let go of Floey''s hand but didn''t seed. Floey''s small hand clung tightly, and she whispered in a low voice: "Isn''t it very conspicuous for a blind girl to walk without someone leading her?" "Uh...? That seems to be true." So Chen Lun stopped worrying about that and started to survey the surrounding area to see where would be suitable to settle down. Soon he saw a sign for renting lodging at the entrance of a flower shop. Chen Lun, leading Floey, stopped in front of the notice, noticing that a metal te was mounted on the wall. Denton Street number seven. After looking at the rental sign for a while, his gaze moved through the ss window of the flower shop next door to a woman inside. The elderly woman, with her hair turning gray, was meticulously tending to the flowers in the shop, past many colorful fresh blossoms. Knock knock... Someone tapped on the ss twice. Thedy turned her head, revealing a kind-looking face. Despite the wrinkles, one could still see traces of her former beauty. When she saw the young man leading the blind girl, she smiled and waved her hand while mouthing the words: "Come in, children,e in." ``` Chapter 30 Number 7 Denton Street Chen Lun and Floey pushed the door open. After polite greetings, he expressed his interest in renting an apartment to the flower shop owner, and then received a warm wee. Through a pleasant chat, Chen Lun learned her name was Caroline. Mrs. Caroline was thendlord of the entire building and ran the flower shop downstairs. Located on a street corner, there were also two adjacent shops, which were a coffee shop and a bookstore, both of which had already been rented out. The building wasn''t tall, just four stories high. Besides the ground floor shops, each floor could amodate two households, and now there was only one apartment still avable on the top floor. "Come, have a cup of flower tea, children." Mrs. Caroline enthusiastically poured them both a hot cup of tea. Chen Lun thanked her. After receiving the hot tea, he ced one cup in front of Floey and reminded her to be careful as it was hot. Mrs. Caroline nodded to herself, feeling very satisfied with the siblings. The brother was gentle and honest, while the sister was demure and quiet. Both had manners and deportment that suggested a well-bred upbringing, not like ordinary folk. Another important point was that they were both very attractive, which would make her happy every day. It was just a shame that the girl named Floey was blind, which was quite pitiable. Luckily, her brother had stood by her side, bringing her all the way to Amber City to seek out rtives, just to treat her eye condition. Mrs. Caroline, who was sensitive and emotional, felt her heart melt and sighed to herself several times. "Little Jack, if you want to rent the empty apartment on the fourth floor, it will only cost you 5 Silver Ducats a week... Oh, of course, if you''re short on money for the time being, you can owe it." Though located in the Outer City District, this area was on the main thoroughfare and close to the bustling downtown district, and the rent should have been several times higher ording to the market rate. But Mrs. Caroline deliberately lowered the rent. Even the other tenants weren''t paying the standard market price to live here. Though Mrs. Caroline wasn''t short on money, she did have certain requirements for her tenants. They must be clean, have no bad habits, hold a decent job, and most importantly, have a kind heart. "Thank you, Mrs. Caroline... Here are 20 Silver Ducats, we''ll stay for a month first." Chen Lun handed over a small bag filled with silver coins.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He added: "Since we''vee to stay with rtives, we''re not sure how long we can stay, so we''ll just stay for a while." "Oh, Little Jack, you don''t have to do that." Mrs. Caroline pushed the money bag back and lowered her voice, saying: "You and your sister have just arrived in the big city, and there will be many ces you''ll need to spend money, so don''t rush to pay me the rent..." She then took both their hands and walked them out, and Chen Lun, having no choice, took back his money bag. "Come, I''ll show you upstairs... Your neighbors are all friendly people, and I believe you can be friends." "That''s very kind of you, but will the flower shop be all right without anyone to look after it?" Chen Lun and Floey were escorted out of the flower shop and asked. Mrs. Caroline waved her hand with a smile. "No problem, business isn''t good at the flower shop, I just tend to it when I feel bored." Saying this, she led the way into the stairwell. Just as Chen Lun and Floey followed Mrs. Caroline and disappeared into the stairwell, two youths emerged from a small alley across the street. Both were wearing brown leather jackets and striped skinny jeans, one of them smoking a cheap cigarette,ughing as he said: "I didn''t expect that staking out the kid would yield such an unexpected find..." He gave a look to the other. "Go back and report to the boss, bring more people, I''ll keep watching here so we don''t let these two little fat sheep get away..." "Alright, then keep a close eye, that man and woman are definitely worth a high price!" The other youth licked his lips and left first. "Especially that girl, tsk tsk¡­ prettier than the honorable congressman''s daughter, makes the maids at the Bird and Flower Tavern look like a pile of Xie Te!" ... Mrs. Caroline led Chen Lun and hispanion up the stairs. The wooden floor seemed rather old, creaking softly with each step. "Sorry, this house was handed down from my husband''s grandfather; it''s quite old." Mrs. Caroline exined as they walked. Upon reaching the third floor, she pointed to a door down the left corridor. "This apartment is where Connie and her father live. Connie is a diligent girl, attending sses at the nearby technical college during the day and working outside at night to take care of her sick father, Mr. Hood." After finishing, Mrs. Caroline pointed to the right. "And here live the three Moriarty siblings, all good children. The brother goes to work at a foreign tradepany in the city center early every day, taking care of the life of his younger brother and sister¡­ Oh right, I''ve heard that the sister Melissa and Connie are ssmates." Chen Lun felt that the introduction sounded vaguely familiar, as if he had heard of these three siblings somewhere. Without delving deeper, he and Floey followed Mrs. Caroline up to their new home on the fourth floor. Mrs. Caroline led them into the room on the left side. The room was notrge, a ssic three-bedroom, one living room, one bathroom, one kitchen, and one balcony setup. The furniture was allplete and though somewhat old, it was very clean. Chen Lun was very satisfied with it. "You''ve really gone to a lot of trouble, Mrs. Caroline. Floey and I really like it here." "Oh, is that so? That''s just wonderful¡­" Mrs. Caroline also seemed very pleased, and she then cautioned, "Now, little Jack, you will probably need to buy some household items and other sundries. You should be frugal with your money¡­ If you don''t mind, in the mornings and evenings, you could bring your sister to join me for meals on the second floor." "Thank you, Mrs. Caroline." Chen Lun had been somewhat worried; he had so many things to do, with so little time, and couldn''t take care of Floey much. It was a relief that she could have meals at Mrs. Caroline''s, saving him quite a bit of trouble. "I''ll pay you additionalpensation, Mrs. Caroline." Mrs. Caroline was about to refuse, but seeing the young man''s earnest expression, mature and handsome, "It''s a matter of proper courtesy for a gentleman, please don''t decline it." "Well¡­ okay then." Seeing this, Mrs. Caroline truly couldn''t refuse such a kind and handsome young man, and her opinion of the siblings rose once more. "An extra Silver Ducats each week, then it''s settled!" Sheughed a few times, covering her mouth, then turned and left the room. "Oh, by the way, your next-door neighbor is a young man who lives alone. He might seem a bit cold, but he''s actually quite a nice person." Mrs. Caroline paused at the doorway, said her piece, and then bid them goodbye and left. After closing the door, Chen Lun took a look around. He set down his backpack first, then poured a cup of water for himself and Floey andfortably sank into the sofa. "It''s been a long time since I''ve rested like this¡­" "What are we going to do next?" Floey sat opposite Chen Lun, her ethereal voice reaching his ears. "I''ll go outter to buy some stuff. You just stay home and don''t go out, um¡­" As he spoke, Chen Lun seemed to realize that this might not seem fair to Floey, almost like another form of confinement. So he continued, "If you feel bored, you can walk around the neighborhood, but don''t go too far¡­ After all, your situation is quiteplicated right now." Floey nodded lightly. "Okay, I know. I''ll just wait here for you toe back." As she spoke, she paused slightly on the word "home." Chapter 31 Amber? Gotham! Evening. Passersby on the street hurried along, seemingly all quite busy. Chen Lun walked among them with his hands in his pockets, appearing somewhat out of ce. He had nned to go out and buy some things, and also to take a stroll around. To familiarize himself with the surrounding environment and see if he could gather some useful information. That''s when he suddenly remembered, when he left his apartment, he had bumped into that gloomy young man in the corridor. At that time, the other party didn''t seem to care about Chen Lun, their new neighbor. They passed by each other in silence, and the young man went straight into his own room. The sound of the door closing was a bit loud, revealing some annoyance. In that brief nce, Chen Lun saw anxiety and fear on the young man''s face, presenting a worried look. But Chen Lun wasn''t curious about his affairs, so he didn''t take it to heart. It was just when passing by the flower shop that he casually inquired about it with Mrs. Caroline. Mrs. Caroline informed him that the young man''s name was Kent, who seemed to be a middle-ss youth who hade to Amber City to study. "Excuse me, sir, I need to get past." A man''s voice came through. Chen Lun looked up and saw a group of people wearing short, blue capes. He stepped aside to make way. One of them held a long pole with a fiery tip, while another tacitly opened the cover of the streemp, allowing theirrade to light the wick inside. As the streemps were lit, they continued on to the next one. "They''remplighters..." Only then did Chen Lun realize that it had gotten dark.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He had wandered the vicinity for over half an hour without any result. However, the way he had been looking around nervously throughout his walk seemed to attract the attention of the patrol guards. Luckily, seeing that his dress did not resemble a hoodlum, plus the points he got for his good looks, they let go of their suspicion. However, this also served as a reminder to Chen Lun that he needed to get a proper identity for himself and Floey soon. Otherwise, getting caught would be troublesome. Just as he was about to turn back and stop by the general store to pick up some household supplies, he suddenly furrowed his brow. Chen Lun silently quickened his pace back. When passing a narrow alley, he suddenly turned and walked in. Soon after, four youths wearing leather caps and rough hemp dusters with cinched waists appeared at the entrance of the alley. "He went in here." "Could he have seen us? Is he trying to run?" "No worries, this is a dead-end alley, he can''t escape. Chase him!" The few youths exchanged a few words and dashed in. By then it waspletely dark, and the cramped alley was pitch ck, one couldn''t see one''s own hand in front of them. The four of them almost tripped over a garbage can as they ran in and cursed under their breaths before they had to slow down. "Dammit, where did that kid go?" "How could he see in the dark like this..." Bang! A muffled sound, followed by the noise of someone falling to the ground. "What was that sound!?" "Did you guys hear that?" Bang! Another sound simr to the first one rang out. The remaining two felt chills go down their spines. "Hey, guys, what do you say we get out of here first?" "Mike, I just felt something beside me..." Bang!! The man spoke halfway and then there was silence. Thest one left, Mike, trembled as he stepped back. "Bor, Boom, Aireno... are you guys still there? Hey! Answer me! Stop messing around, damn it!" Suddenly, he saw a pair of emerald green vertical pupils light up in the darkness in front of him. His heart skipped a beat, urban legends he had heard shed through his mind, and he felt a shiver, his heart stopping for a moment. The next second, however, he heard a deep, icy voice from the darkness: "Answer me, who are you? Why are you following me?" ``` Mike was about to spout some nonsense when a faint blue glow flickered across his field of vision, and without realizing it, he found himself blurting out the truth. "My name is Mike, and these are mypanions..." Five minutester. Chen Lun walked out of the alley as if nothing had happened, heading towards Number 7 Denton Street with a resigned expression on his face. Through hypnosis, he had already gleaned information about that group of people. They were just four low-level thugs who, seeing him alone and well-dressed¡ªlike someone with money¡ªhad decided to try their hand at extortion. It was that simple, noplex schemes, no mastermind behind the scenes. He had thought he might stumble upon some big fish, but it had been a false rm. However, he had not killed them. After all, he was new in town and didn''t want to cause too much of amotion over a trivial matter. The guy he had hypnotized would wake up remembering nothing. "I need to remind Floey when I get back, the security around here is terrible," Chen Lun thought to himself. The area did have Patrol Guards, but their work attitude could notpare to even a tenth of that in the Inner City District. As he was one block away from the flower shop, he suddenly heard a faint scream. Through the light of a nearbymp post, Chen Lun saw a figure being beaten at the corner of the wall. "Are you sure this ce isn''t called Gotham City?" The thought flickered through his mind. Howe just wandering around today, he had encountered this kind of thing twice? "...Remember, kid, if you don''t pay up by tomorrow, your body will end up in the sewers of the cesspool," "Cough, cough... Stop hitting me, I''ll pay you back tomorrow!" As Chen Lun approached, he suddenly realized that the man being beaten looked familiar. Upon closer inspection, it was the neighbor he had met when leaving the house, a young man named Kent. His appearance was pitiful, kneeling on the ground with a blue and swollen face, begging two men in leather jackets and tight pants. "Heh, we actually know you don''t have the money... How about this, we''ll give you a bit of advice. Just introduce the girl living in your building to the Bird and Flower Pub, and you can hold off on paying the money for now, how does that sound?" The man said with a sinister tone. "You mean Connie? Cough... I''m not close to her." "Not close? You''re fooling nobody!" With that, the two men started pummeling Kent all over again. It wasn''t until Kent''s screams turned hoarse, and he began to beg incessantly, that the two men stopped. "I... I indeed used to be her ssmate, but I dropped out after just two months of sses," Kent said in a strained breath, struggling to speak. Seeing that the two men were about to hit him again, Kent hurriedly said: "But I know where she works, I know the boss there. I can get her fired first, and then... then force her into your territory!" After saying this, Kent seemed to resign himself, took a long breath and leaned against the wall to rest. "Good, then we''ll wait for your news. Remember not to drag it out too long, or you''ll regret it," The two men threatened before turning around and leaving. Chen Lun seemed to overhear something and had not nned to get involved, but because they were neighbors, he decided to ask about the situation. "Hey, do you need some help?" Chen Lun spoke as gently as he could. To his surprise, Kent red at him fiercely, looked down sullenly, and continued to mutter to himself. Chen Lun shrugged silently; it appeared he was not needed. Then came the sound of footsteps in the street. Chen Lun looked up to see a young girl passing by who happened to look in his direction. She had a delicate and attractive face, but at the moment, she was looking at Chen Lun with disdain before quickly moving on. "??" Chen Lun was puzzled. Why would she look at me like that? He turned to look at Kent, who now resembled a beaten pig, and suddenly understood something. Don''t tell me I''ve been mistaken for one of the extortionist thugs? Am I the clown here? ``` Chapter 32 Iron Fist Strike Outer City District. The Sewage Slum. This area is the edge of the city''s waste discharge, close to a huge sewage channel. To call it a channel is an understatement; it''s more like a spacious "moat" for the city.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Enormous drainage pipes, like train tunnels, are lined up beneath the embankment, tirelessly discharging the city''s sewage night and day. This waste water follows the channel out of the city, merging into rivers, and ultimately reaching the eastern ocean. But because of the inefficient discharge, the Sewage Slum constantly umtes a vast amount of waste water, causing the district to be filled with a foul stench, hence the Amber City residents dub it the "Stench District." Though despised, the Sewage Slum attracts countless lower-ss residents who flock here to live. For those who don''t wish to hustle in and out of the city every day, or who take pride in staying in the city long-term, the Sewage Slum is simply the best choice. Of course, being a hotspot for crime due to the mixture of people and poverty, even Patrol Guards and police officers refuse to set foot here, leaving it in a state of near anarchic self-determination. It is also the shadow beneath the great city. The only tavern in the Sewage Slum, the Flower & Bird Tavern. This is one of the few ces where the residents of the Sewage Slum can find entertainment, and because it''s cheap. For just one Copper Kro, you can join the fun, whether it''s to gaze at scantily d maids or to cheer on brawls and fights. Currently, the tavern is packed with patrons, noisy and muggy, with maids weaving through the crowd with their trays. A man dressed in a short leather jacket and striped tight pants pushed the door open and walked in. "Hey, Lenny," the heavily made-upndy greeted him warmly as she saw him. "I''ve got some things to take care of, I''lle find you to y after I''m done..." He smirked as he groped her, then made a beeline for the interior. The patrons quickly got out of his way upon seeing him. An inattentive fool bumped into him, about to curse out loud. When he saw who it was, he immediately stepped back and bowed apologetically. Fortunately, the man didn''t want to waste time and merely gave him a cold nce before walking away. The drunken bumbler broke out in a cold sweat. This was a member of the Iron Fist Gang; offending him would definitely lead to suffering! The Flower & Bird Tavern was Iron Fist Gang territory, and ying here required sharp eyes or nobody would know if their own body might be floating in the sewage channels tomorrow. The man in the leather jacket passed through the kitchen to reach the courtyard out back, which had arge open space with wooden posts and targets set up. These targets were dressed in ragged clothes and straw hats as if to simte human figures. A tall building and two warehouses enclosed the area behind the open space. He briskly walked into the building, where dozens of gang members, all wearing leather jackets and tight pants like him, gathered. On an extended couch at the farthest end sat a broad-shouldered, bear-like man. He was dressed in a suit and shiny shoes,bing back his hair neatly, and smoking a cigarette. "Boss Gary, I''ve got it all figured out." The man in the leather jacket bowed respectfully. "Talk." The sturdy man exhaled a puff of smoke, ufortably loosening a button on his waistcoat. "That kid came here by horse carriage, an outsider with a very pretty girl, seems to be his sister... They are both well-dressed, but they only moved into number seven on Denton Street." "Well done," Gary praised him, drawing thest puff before crushing the cigarette in the ashtray. "So it seems they''re probably young folks who''vee to the big city to seek out rtives or for education..." He seemed to remember something and became noticeably restless. "People like them, with no status or background, are the perfect targets to strike at... Find an opportunity to kill the boy and snatch the girl! But be discreet, don''t cause too much of a scene. It may be chaotic in the Outer City District, but Iron Fist Gang doesn''t call all the shots." "Understood, boss." The man in the leather jacket acknowledged and then gestured to several card-ying brothers as they left the building. Gary slowly leaned back on the couch, exhaling deeply. "Hopefully, this will buy us some more time from Lord Fedman..." ... ``` Click, click, click! ck! Fingers stuffed a row of lead bullets into the chamber and slid the cover shut. Chen Lun looked at the four flintlock guns and two pairs of iron gloves on the table with satisfaction. "It''s a pity that there isn''t much ammunition left¡­ Those investigators didn''t think to bring more, always scrimping and scraping, so disgraceful!" Chen Lun''s face showed his displeasure. Pity their misfortune, angry at theirck of spirit! This was out of concern for their lives, definitely not because he hadn''t scrounged enough bullets toin about. "Here, take this gun for self-defense." Chen Lun handed a flintlock gun to Floey. Floey took it and caressed the engravings, revealing a slight smile. "Thank you." Chen Lun packed up the weapons on the table and stood up, ncing at the clock on the wall. It was exactly 9:20 in the morning. "Let''s go, it''s time for a meal." "Are we dining with Mrs. Caroline on the second floor?" Chen Lun nodded in surprise. "Of course, we''ve paid for it!" Although he knew that one silver ducat for meals was definitely not enough, Caroline''s generous food and warmth couldn''t be bought with money. But Chen Lun had taken note of this kindness. If any short-sighted fool dared to cause trouble at the flower shop, he would certainly carve a flower in their arsehole. If possible, it would be better if the troublemakers knew where Dolly was. Even better if it was Dolly himself causing the trouble. And maybe inform them of Viscount Pompey''s residence, too. Getting something for nothing is always delightful! Chen Lun''s eyebrows twitched, and he couldn''t help but look forward to the arrival of such troublemakers. As he and Floey left the room and descended to the third floor, they suddenly heard a bout of quarreling. "I won''t go! How many times must I say it? The medicine from the Red Apple Church is definitely problematic, why won''t you listen? Dad!" A girl''s angry voice shouted. Followed by the sound of a door mming shut. Chen Lun then saw the chestnut-haired girl fromst nighte storming into the corridor, apparently preparing to go downstairs. Her features were not stunning, even wed with some freckles, but they were pleasant to look at. At this moment, Connie''s face still bore some tear stains, and she seemed surprised to see two peers in the corridor. Then, noticing Chen Lun, she seemed to remember the scene fromst night, frowned, and turned to leave. "¡­" Chen Lun felt helpless and couldn''t be bothered to exin. He proceeded with Floey to the second floor and ran into Mrs. Caroline just in time. "Oh, little Jack, and the beautiful little Floey¡­ Come on in, I was just about toe up and call you two." "Thank you for your trouble, Mrs. Caroline." Following her inside, Caroline had alreadyid out the prepared breakfast on the dining table. Mrs. Caroline''s roomyout was the same as the other tenants'', but her decorating made it look more elegant and luxurious. And with a touch of girlishness. The room was dotted with vases of neatly trimmed flowers everywhere, and one could smell a fresh fragrance as they walked in. "Eat up, this is a rice dish with fish and eggs I carefully prepared. I believe you''ll like it." Caroline walked to the dining table and lifted the cover off the dishes. A rich scent of cream assailed their senses, and Chen Lun''s appetite was greatly piqued. ``` Chapter 33 33rd Chapter A Day in the Life of a Runner This was Chen Lun''s first breakfast at Mrs. Caroline''s ce, and his first meal of rice since he had crossed over. He was silently moved to tears and expressed great satisfaction. Mrs. Caroline''s cooking was stunning; the aromatic rice was stir-fried in butter with eggs, and topped with chopped celery, cod, and shrimp, all very fresh and tender. Although Chen Lun wasn''t a fan of fish, he ate everything up and then contentedly drank a cup of floral tea. "Is that your husband, Mrs. Caroline?" He noticed two picture frames on the cupboard and couldn''t help but ask. Turning around, Mrs. Caroline looked back, smiled, and responded, "Oh yes, that''s my husband, Henry... and our son, Oliver." "Then, are they also in Amber City now?" Chen Lun asked aloud. Mrs. Caroline fell silent for a moment. "No, Henry sacrificed himself for the Empire many years ago... and so did Oliver." Mrs. Caroline stood up, picked up the photo album, and wiped the dust off it with a handkerchief. The photographs showed a young Mrs. Caroline and Mr. Henry in military uniform, and another one of their son, Oliver. "They bravely gave their lives in an overseasnding operation... May the Sun''s radiance shine on them forever." Mrs. Caroline said a prayer quietly, then put the photo album down. "I''m very sorry, Mrs. Caroline." Chen Lun said apologetically. Floey nced at him, and through her ck silk scarf, her look seemed to carry a slight reproach. "It''s okay, little Jack, it''s all in the past..." Mrs. Caroline''s smile returned, and she came over to refill Chen Lun''s floral tea. "Flowers bloom like fire, as does loneliness. Time may make us forget, but as long as I remember them, that''s enough..." Chen Lun looked at this white-haired woman, unsure of what to say. Mrs. Caroline had spoken of a battle, of which he had heard; the Tresor Empire had long covetednds beyond the maind. The nearest huge ind to the Tresor Empire was beyond the Far East. This ind was known as Mist Ind, inhabited by people and civilization alike. The overseasnding operationsunched by the Tresor Empire were essentially colonial wars. Yet for many years, all had ended in failure. Even until several versionster in a previous life, the Empire''s n to colonize had still made no progress. What unknown, powerful force resided on Mist Ind, able to repel the Empire''s incursions? "Mrs. Caroline, your cooking is wonderful. May I learn from you?" Floey put down her spoon, looked up, and asked with a smile. Mrs. Caroline, surprised and then delighted, sat down next to her. "Of course, little Floey." Chen Lun was also surprised by Floey''s question. But he guessed her intention was likely to divert Mrs. Caroline''s sorrowful emotions. Indeed a good girl. "Remember to cook the cod in milk beforehand, and do not break it into pieces..." Listening to Mrs. Caroline excitedly discuss the nuances of making fish and rice casserole, Chen Lun gave Floey a thumbs up. Floey responded with a faint smile. Afterward, Chen Lun expressed his gratitude for the hospitality to Mrs. Caroline and then left. Walking out of the building, he nned to start his day''s routine. Passing by a coffee shop next to the flower store, he noticed Connie and Kent sitting under an outdoor parasol. Kent was talking animatedly, gesticting wildly, but Connie was unmoved. She sat with her arms crossed, somewhat lost in thought. Chen Lun didn''t bother with them, nor did he care, and chose to leave directly. In the alley across the street, two young men from the Iron Fist Gang listlessly smoked. "Hey, buddy, why not just go in and nab that foreign girl!" "You must be crazy, this street is under the special care of Viscount Pompey in the Inner City District, especially that flower shop. I heard thendy, Mrs. Caroline, is the widow of a warrade of Viscount Pompey... If you''re looking for trouble, don''t drag me into it!" The young man who proposed the capture was startled. "How did you know about this!?" "Don''t forget, the boss often goes out to drink with the big shots from the Inner City District. I overheard a subordinate officer mention itst time." The young man discarded his cigarette butt and tugged at his leather jacket. Another guy, however, was somewhat impatient. "So what do we do now? That out-of-towner girl hides in there all day... It''s the guy whoes out to stroll around; why not tie him up first, then make him bring out the girl?" The one who had thrown the cigarette butt helplessly took off his felt trilby, scratching his head. He looked at hispanion as if staring at an idiot. "You could try that, but if he calls the police, by the next day, we''ll definitely be in the drains." "Alright, alright, let''s wait a bit more!" ... Chen Lun bought a newspaper and sat down on a bench in the square. On a temporarily constructed wooden tform nearby, a Monk from the Red Apple Church still stood today, tirelessly preaching. "Ah, magnificent Lady Rose, thank you for bestowing upon us health and vigor, passion and fervor¡­ Yourpassionate gaze showers upon humanity, casting seeds in the garden that grow into trees¡­ The holy insects consume the apple, their secretions turn into nectar, showing mercy to the ailments and the suffering of mankind, easing their pains and misfortunes¡­" The Monk descended from the tform with a face full of pity for the world. Two Church Guardians, whose origins were unknown, each held a tray with several small boxes on them. Many excited observers rushed forward, eagerly purchasing those small boxes. "Praise Rose." The Monk lightly touched his left chest and forehead with his forefinger, spread his fingers wide, and made a prayer gesture as if holding up the sky. Chen Lun watched the red-robed Monk and could not help but snort in ridicule. Oh Red, you''re deceiving people again, eh? Why not take a break and do some sacrifices or something? Chen Lun was well aware of what was inside those small boxes. It was a secretion from a Supernatural Creature known as "nectar," which had healing and health-enhancing effects on the human body. The side effects were not significant, just morally wrong.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Because it reduced lifespan and had a slight addictive quality. Small, supernatural maggots excreted these secretions after consuming the apples, creating the nectar. Chen Lun felt disgusted just thinking about it. But thesemon people did not know this and were instead willing to give huge "donations" in exchange for this miraculous medicine. He sighed lightly; the Red Apple Church was indeed very good at this. "Hey, do you think the tax cut proposal by Viscount Daniel will pass?" "How likely is that? It''s totally impractical." Two office workers were chatting on a nearby bench, catching Chen Lun''s attention. He felt that something sounded familiar, so he flipped over his newspaper. Sure enough, he saw a slightly overweight middle-aged man holding forth in arge section, the very Viscount Daniel who had been the subject of much discussiontely. "Sigh, Viscount Daniel is a kind and upright good person; it''s just unfortunate that the council never considers such views." "A good person? I doubt it... His proposals are clearly impractical and doomed to fail. Mostly they''re just published to attract attention and gain votes. I heard he''s nning to run for a seat in Fossil City¡­" The tone of the speaking office worker was somewhat disdainful, indicating he wasn''t quite fond of the legitor. Hispanion seemed slightly annoyed. "How can you regard Viscount Daniel like that? He''s one of the few in Amber City who truly considers themon people!" "Oh please... With this proposal, for example, Amber City''s finances simply can''t support the operations of the city after such a tax cut. If that happens, there won''t even be a Lamplighter to light the streetmps at night. Just don''t fall into a ditch when you go out!" The two office workers started arguing, but Chen Lun wasn''t paying close attention. Because he suddenly remembered something¡ªthe Viscount Daniel was, indeed, the very person the small guild had protected in his past life. And it was the same Viscount who would end up being killed by Dolly¡­ Chapter 34 Kent is willing to guide you Chen Lun folded the newspaper neatly and tucked it into the slit of the bench''s backrest before walking away. Perhaps the next resident to rest here could catch up on the recent major events in Amber City for free. He nced at the sky and slowly made his way to Number 7 Denton Street, where the flower shop was located. On his walk, he continued to ponder the connection between Councilor Daniel and Dolly, hoping to find some trace of Dolly''s current whereabouts through this thread. But after all, Dolly''s attempt to assassinate the councilor wouldn''t ur for two more years, and current clues were too scarce to make any deductions. Chen Lun sighed to himself. It had already been two days since he arrived in Amber City, and he still hadn''t made any substantial progress. "Time is of the essence... If that doesn''t work, I''ll have to take a risk and probe into the Inner City District." The Inner City District had ample security forces, backed by the Shelter and various Churches. The strength of Amber City''s official Transcendents was not something a small ce like Emerald Town couldpare with. Unless absolutely necessary, Chen Lun did not want to take such risks with his own safety. Returning to Number 7 Denton Street, he went straight upstairs to his home. When he opened the door, he was taken aback for a moment. In the living room, he saw Floey chatting with a visitor. And the visitor was none other than Connie, who lived downstairs. "You''re back," Floey''s ethereal voice said with a hint of joy in her tone. "This is¡­?" Chen Lun poured himself a ss of water and looked at Connie with curiosity. With her lips pursed, the girl looked up at him with some struggle, took a deep breath, and said: "Mr. Jack, I... I think you must be in need of a maid. Miss Floey can''t see with her eyes, and daily life must be inconvenient... I should be able to help." After an initial hesitant start, Connie spoke more fluently as she continued. "And I can also clean,under clothes, and keep the room tidy... I would only need 2 Silver Ducats a week, no, 1 Silver Ducat and 50 Copper Kro is enough." Having said that, Connie looked expectantly at Chen Lun. Chen Lun frowned slightly. He and Floey had too many secrets and did not want toe into close contact with ordinary people. Connie was constantly paying attention to the expression of the dark-haired young man. Seeing Chen Lun frown, her heart sank. Just as Chen Lun was about to decline, Floey spoke up: "Connie has lost her job, and she doesn''t want to trouble Mrs. Caroline too much, because Mrs. Caroline has helped her a lot." Upon hearing this, Chen Lun recalled the words said by Kent who was beaten up the night before. Perhaps Connie''s job loss had something to do with that fellow. He looked at Floey and thought that having someone to talk to her might not be a bad thing after all. He trusted that Floey, with her intelligence, would not casually reveal anything about the Mystic Realm. "Aren''t you still in ss?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun sat down with his ss of water and asked as he drank. "I get off ss at four in the afternoon every day. I''lle here on time to clean, and on weekends, I can apany Miss Floey for a walk," Connie said uneasily. "Hmm, alright then, you can take care of the cleaning... Let''s make it a weekly sry of 2 Silver Ducats, is that alright?" "Yes! Thank you, Mr. Jack!" Connie was visibly happy. She stood up, clutching her small hands, and then turned her gaze to Floey. "Thank you too, Miss Floey!" Floey responded with a smile. "So should Ie to work tonight, Mr. Jack?" "Ah, no need, you cane tomorrow night instead." Chen Lun sensed a lively change in the girl before him; she had seemed somewhat rundown before. Although he did not want to dampen Connie''s enthusiasm, he still needed to think about his next n for the evening without interruptions. "Okay, Mr. Jack." Connie curtsied to the man, who seemed younger than she was, and respectfully left the room. She carefully closed the door behind her as she exited. Turning around, Connie took a deep breath and revealed a radiant smile. At this moment, her heart was filled with immense joy; after losing her job, the world felt dark, but now, a ray of hope had appeared. Her family''s finances were dwindling, she still needed to attend sses, and her father depended on timely doses of "Fruit Nectar" from the Red Apple Church to sustain his life. If she couldn''t find work quickly, things would only get worse. She was filled with gratitude towards Mr. Jack, who had provided her with hope. She also slightly changed her initial impression of him, no longer simply seeing him as a bastard who enjoyed bullying others. ... The Riverside Slums. The Flower and Bird Tavern''s courtyard. Gary, the boss of the Iron Fist Gang, had just seen off a distinguished guest from the Inner City District¡ªthe Fedman butler. His face was gloomy as he violently swung his hefty arm, throwing a punch forward. Bang!! The straw hat spun off into the air, as a deep imprint was left on the wooden post in front of him. "Damn it!" Then he rushed forward, unleashing a ferocious barrage of punches at the post, seemingly venting his inner restlessness. "Money!" Bang!! "Craftsman!" Smack!! "What''s the use of hurrying me!? I''m already looking for a solution!" Gary roared, leaping up with a turning whip kick, the powerful strike cutting through the air and screeching loudly. Bang¡ª¡ª!! The kick uprooted the post, sending it flying away with a whistling sound. "Boss, we''ve captured the guy." A gang member in a leather jacket approached, speaking with reverence. Gary turned, maintaining a stern face, as two more men tactfully moved close. One cut and lit a cigar for him while another draped a felt coat over his shoulders. Then, two gang members brought in a battered and bruised young man, Kent, who was Chen Lun''s neighbor, and forced him to kneel before Gary. The man trembled, not daring to look up. He had just witnessed the boss of the Iron Fist Gang kick the post into the air and was terrified. "I... I''ve already caused Connie to lose her job. Just give me a bit, a bit more time, and I swear I''ll force her toe work here!" His voice was filled with begging. But Gary just shook his head, as if he found Kent too slow or had little hope for the situation. Despair filled Kent''s heart. He could almost see Gary waving his hand in the next second, and then imagine himself being dragged away to be cruelly killed and thrown into the drainage ditch. Perhaps it was a burst of desperate instinct to survive that sparked an idea in Kent''s mind. "Boss Gary! In the building where I live, two outsiders have recently arrived, and they look very rich! One of them is a very beautiful girl, and she''s blind... I can figure out a way to help you capture her!" Gary stopped smoking his cigar and stared at him, pondering in silence. As Kent anxiously awaited a response, Gary finally spoke: "What''s your n?" Joy sparked in Kent''s heart. After a moment''s thought, he shared his n. Chapter 35 Little Rich Lady Floey Another day had passed. Evening. Chen Lun once again finished his day''s patrol, returning to Number 7 Denton Street full of guilt. When he opened the door, however, he didn''t see Floey''s figure. "Huh? Where is she?" He looked around the room but still couldn''t find her. Chen Lun walked out of the room, puzzled, ready to ask Mrs. Caroline. Just then, he happened to meet Kenting upstairs. The scene was just like their first meeting two days ago. Only this time, Kent''s face had less gloom and more hurt. As he looked up and saw Chen Lun, Kent quickly averted his gaze and tried to pass by with his head down. "I know everything." As they brushed past one another, Chen Lun suddenly spoke. Startled, Kent nearly tumbled down the stairs. His heartbeat quickened, and he tried hard to control his emotions, maintaining an appearance as normal as possible. "Know... what exactly?" Kent turned back, a look of confusion on his face. "Your name, of course, Mr. Kent." Chen Lun answered as if it were a matter of fact. "Or what else could it be?" "..." Kent breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately, an inexplicable irritation arose. He frowned and snorted coldly, no longer paying any attention to Chen Lun, and walked straight into his room. Just as he was about to close the door, a hand stopped it at the threshold. "Wait a moment, Mr. Kent." Kent looked up and saw the ck-haired young man with a polite smile, looking straight at him. "What else do you want?" He was impatient, wanting to get rid of the annoyance as soon as possible. He still had lots of unpacking to do, and the Iron Fist Gang members were waiting for him outside. "Have you seen my sister? The Miss Floey who lives next door." "Sorry, I haven''t seen her." Kent''s voice was harsh, his indifference palpable. Chen Lun was somewhat surprised, slightly furrowing his brows. "That''s odd¡­ what about Miss Connie? Have you seen her? She''s currently part-time maid at our ce, and ording to her, she should have finished sses by now and would be here to look after my sister Floey¡­" Upon hearing this, Kent''s impatience instantly transformed into anger. The mere mention set him off. In fact, he had already learned about this from Connie. At the time, he had wondered why his smooth-talking couldn''t persuade Connie to go to Silver Ducats, concluding that it was this guy''s interference. Damn it! All my efforts gone to waste! Everything was messed up by this foreign bastard! "I haven''t seen anyone! I haven''t seen anybody!" Kent struggled to control his expression, speaking in a cold voice. "Is that all? Sir? Now would you please move your hand from the door? Otherwise, don''t me me if it gets crushed!" "Oh, sorry¡­" Chen Lun withdrew his hand, looking embarrassed. "Really sorry to disturb you, Mr. Kent." With that, Chen Lun turned and left. Kent watched the ck-haired youth''s disappearing back, his facial expression growing more and more fierce. The Iron Fist Gang should have dealt with those two girls by now... Next up is you, you son of a bitch. I''ll watch as they throw you into the sewer. You''ll choke to death on sewage, you bastard! "Cough, cough!" Connie''s face turned red as she coughed twice. "So sour..." She held a cold drink in her hand, walking along the street with Floey. It was nightfall, and the ck streetmps on the side of the road lit up, one after another. "Miss Floey, how does your ''Gold Pounds Earl'' taste?" Connie curiously looked at the sealed paper cup Floey was holding. "It''s delicious." Floey maintained a smile. She turned her head slightly towards Connie and offered the milk tea enhanced with cream. "Do you want to try it?" "No... no, thank you, Miss Floey." Connie was startled and quickly waved her hand. She was simply curious why Miss Floey would enjoy milk tea without a hint of sugar. She herself was silly for having chosen a fruit tea that was too sour and couldn''t bear to throw it away.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Because she was strapped for cash, Connie seldom afforded herself the luxury of consuming at a coffee shop. This time, it was Miss Floey who had paid for the outing, and Connie was witnessing for the first time someone carrying a bag containing dozens of Gold Pounds, proceeding straight to a coffee shop to buy a drink. When Miss Floey opened her purse, Connie could only see the glow of gold before her eyes. Oh my, she was so wealthy! "Miss Floey must be of noble lineage¡­" At that moment, Connie was extremely surprised and secretly guessed in her heart. Then she nervously scrutinized every customer in the coffee shop, as if worrying someone would notice the money and harbor ill-intentions. Fortunately, there were few customers in the coffee shop at the time, and they did not pay much attention to them. However, Connie still softly reminded Miss Floey, asking her to not bring so much money the next time. The Outer City District was not very peaceful, and it would be unfortunate to encounter a robber. Miss Floey was surprised upon hearing her words, not having realized that what was in the purse were Gold Pounds. As Connie had thought, it was indeed the case. The money was given to Floey in advance by Chen Lun, and Floey simply assumed it was just a bag of Silver Ducats. "Mr. Jack is too kind to Miss Floey¡­" Connie truly envied her. But that gave way to a sense of inferiority. "Perhaps only a girl as angelic as Miss Floey could be treated this way." She felt somewhat disheartened. "But why would Mr. Jack bring Miss Floey to live on Denton Street?" Many questions arose in her heart, yet Connie did not dare to ask aloud, as that would be rude. She held Miss Floey''s hand and strolled by the street. Turning her head to see the ck silk ribbon covering Floey''s eyes, Connie felt somewhat sad for her. "She is such a sentimental and kindhearted girl¡­" Floey "looked" ahead, her face maintaining a smile. Her strong perception allowed her to "see" Connie''s expression and emotions clearly. Then, Connie pulled out two blue tickets from her pocket and said to Floey: "Tomorrow is the weekend, and I originally nned to take you for a walk in the park... But since Kent has two tickets for tonight''s Dolphin Opera House, let''s go see an opera instead." After speaking, she realized something and hurriedly added: "Actually, the seats in the Opera House are all too far from the stage to see clearly... but the sound is loud, you can hear it." Perhaps feeling that her exnation was weak, Connie looked dejected. On her way back from ss today, Kent had stopped her, wanting to invite her to the Opera House tonight. Connie turned down Kent, indicating that she had to work a part-time job cleaning and take care of Miss Floey in the evening. Kent walked away sadly, but he left the two tickets with her. She had initially nned to decline, but then she thought of Miss Floey, thinking they might enjoy going together. Tickets to the Dolphin Opera House weren''t cheap, costing 3 Silver Ducats each, and Connie usually wouldn''t indulge in watching a y. If they didn''t go, wouldn''t that be a waste? After hearing what she said, Floey paused. "An opera..." This was somethingpletely new to her as well. Immediately, her face broke into a smile. "Okay, let''s go to the opera, I''m looking forward to it." Chapter 36 Big Brother, Dont Kill Me The Dolphin Opera House was located near the inner ring of the Outer City District, a few blocks away from Denton Street. If one took the main road, it would be a longer detour. Connie, who was familiar with the area, knew a shortcut that only took about fifteen minutes to walk. When Floey heard that the shortcut wouldn''t take long, she suggested they walk. The two of them, one in front of the other and holding hands, slowly made their way to a secluded alley. Passing through here and turning a corner, they could see the Dolphin Opera House. The shops on this street were all old ones selling second-hand items and clocks, and most were closed at this time. The few that still had lights on showed no signs of life. Connie, who had previously worked nights, was used to this and wasn''t scared. She evenforted Miss Floey beside her, telling her not to worry. "Kent did a good job," she said. But just then, Connie suddenly heard a deep male voice in front of her. Looking up, she immediately felt chills run down her spine. More than ten men had surrounded them. "Grab them! And be quick about it!" At themand of their leader, the rest of the men rushed forward with fierce smiles. Connie''s heart raced, and a wave of fear and dread overwhelmed her. "Miss Floey, run!" She grabbed Floey''s hand, trying to turn and escape. But before they had taken more than a few steps, those menacing men in leather jackets blocked their way, reaching out to grab them. "Got you, Biqi!" The man''s hand firmly grasped Connie''s arm¡ª Crack! Kent had just shut the door when he suddenly heard an odd noise. He carefully observed and realized something was stuck in the door. ncing up along the door gap. What met his eyes was a pitch-ck gun barrel. "!!" Kent''s heart skipped a beat, feeling as though his soul was about to leap out of his body. Looking up further, he saw the ck-haired young man who should have already gone downstairs, staring emotionless at him. "I''ll ask you once more, did you really not see them?" The flintlock gun was pressed against Kent''s forehead, the cold touch making him shiver. "No... I didn''t," he stammered. Cold sweat streamed down his face, but Kent dared not wipe it away. A hint of disappointment crossed the ck-haired young man''s face. "Since that''s the case, you''re of no use to me, time to die!" His fingery on the trigger, ready to pull. Thump! Kent suddenly dropped to his knees. "Don''t! Don''t kill me!! I know everything, I know it all!!" He copsed in a moment, crying out in agony. Kent was truly scared; he feared being shot by the other party at any second. The man before him seemed like a lunatic, unpredictable and mercurial. This fear was far more intense than any threat from the Iron Fist Gang. Chen Lun pushed the door open and then slowly closed it behind him. He held a gun in his hand, pointing it at Kent, and casually sat down on a chair. "Tell me everything you know," hemanded. The seashell ne on Chen Lun''s chest emitted a faint blue light. Kent''s eyes went nk, and he began to speak involuntarily. "It was the Iron Fist Gang leader, Gary, who told me..." Ten minutester. Having heard Kent''s story, Chen Lun understood the causes and circumstances, as well as the despicable tricks of the Iron Fist Gang. From the moment he had met Kent in the stairwell, he had noticed something was off about him. After a brief exchange, he sensed that everything about the man, from his heartbeat, breathing, facial expressions, sweat secretion, to even his blood flow, indicated that Kent was hiding something. A regr person could not deceive Chen Lun, a Transcendent. "What... What have you done to me!?" As Kent came to his senses, not understanding what had happened, he was suddenly filled with terror and confusion. He didn''t have time to think much, and what seemed toy before him now was a dead end. "Please don''t kill me! The Iron Fist Gang forced me! They scammed all my money and then demanded it back; if I didn''t pay, they threatened to kill me! I had no choice but to work for them! I''m sorry! I repent! Please spare me..." Kent pleaded. But seeing Chen Lun indifferent, he seemed to think of something else. He then began trembling as he got to his feet and started frantically searching the room. Chen Lun raised an eyebrow but didn''t stop him. What did he want to do? Chen Lun was curious. Soon, Kent, with a look of joy, came up to Chen Lun holding an old book. He handed it over like presenting a treasure. "This is a treasured heirloom of our family; my grandfather gave it to me when I left. He said it was very valuable and definitely worth a lot of money!" Chen Lun, however, didn''t even give it a nce and simply scoffed. "If it''s so valuable and expensive, why didn''t you sell it to pay off your debt? Or give it directly to the Iron Fist Gang?" Kent''s smile stiffened. He felt thest sliver of hope in his heart shatterpletely. He was not lying; this book was indeed a treasured possession of his family. His grandfather had repeatedly told him to look through it often, saying it would be of great help to him and might even lead their family to prosperity in the future. But he had never seen anything special in it, considering it merely a sentimental old book.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun casually took the book, nced at it. "Recorder Ken Bernie''s Memoirs" His eyes slightly narrowed; a possibility shed through his mind. Kent suddenly noticed that the flintlock gun he had pointed at himself had been put down by the dark-haired young man. He couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Whew! The cool breeze blew through the quiet street. Carrying a pungent scent of blood. Connie stood frozen, unbelievingly staring at the scene before her. The man who had been holding her arm just a moment ago nowy in a pool of blood, with a gaping hole in his chest, slowly oozing blood. Turning her head, she saw Floey holding a flintlock gun, its barrel still smoking, which had appeared out of nowhere. "Xie Te! That bitch has a firearm!" "Don''t be afraid, she has already shot Lenny dead; she''s out of bullets!" The other men, after their initial shock, had regained theirposure. After a brief exchange, they charged again. Bang! Bang!! Two more gunshots rang out. The first two men who rushed forward fell under Floey''s flintlock gun. "What!?" The members of the Iron Fist Gang stopped in their tracks. They never expected that the two women they thought would be easy targets were so tough to handle. Especially the beautiful blind girl, who had pulled out a flintlock gun capable of multiple shots. It''s unheard of! How could there be a flintlock gun that can fire multiple shots!? "Everybody, put on your Mad Hands!" At that moment, one of the men shouted. In a flurry of delicate metallic friction sounds, the remaining gang members from the Iron Fist Gang put on iron gloves. "Biqi, don''t think you''re the only one with a firearm¡­" They then each pulled out a strangely shaped firearm, short in body and red at the muzzle like a trumpet. Then they aimed their firearms at the two women. "Miss Floey, what¡­ what should we do?" With so many firearms pointed at them, Connie felt her heart jump to her throat. Her mind was nk, not even wondering how Miss Floey could urately shoot and kill three men, being blind. Floey couldn''t help but frown slightly. She wasn''t afraid of dying, but she worried about Connie suffering the same fate. "Alright¡­ don''t hurt Connie, I''ll go with you." Chapter 37 Hunger Blossoms ``` Under Nightfall. Denton Street, number seven. Kent burst out of the pitch-dark corridor like a madman. Across the street in the alley, two members of the Iron Fist Gang who had been waiting spotted him, and couldn''t help but frown. "What''s this kid doing? Made us wait so long for nothing!" "Hey, something seems off... he looks panicked." Kent dove into the alley, and upon seeing the two young men in leather jackets, he saw them as saviors.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om His face lit up with joy. "Let''s go! Hurry, take me with you!" He immediately lunged into the arms of one of them. The two Iron Fist Gang members exchanged a nce, seeing the confusion in each other''s eyes. "??" "Damn it, get off me, hey!" The leather-jacketed man who got a full embrace from Kent was somewhat disgruntled, a grown man like himself shouldn''t be hugged like this by another man. He didn''t want to be misunderstood by his brothers in the gang and attract countless fencing enthusiasts. "Leave... take me out of here..." A faint voice came from his embrace. Kent''s mind shed back to thest scene before he fled through the door. Those indifferent eyes of the dark-haired young man, his regretful expression, and his t voice: "You shouldn''t have touched my people, Mr. Kent..." The other party extended two fingers and lightly stroked his neck. The cold touch made his body tingle. A sudden pain followed, and Kent was puzzled. But fear surged, driving him to run out... At this moment, the two Iron Fist Gang men quickly flipped Kent over. Seeing his condition, they both jumped in fright. Kent''s face was congested with blood, veins protruding, eyes bulging and filled with blood vessels, his expression terrified. One of them crouched down, ced a hand on his chest, and bent down to listen for breathing, but there was none. "Damn it! He''s dead!" The man cursed. He had just run over, full of life, and looked more than capable ofpeting in a sprint race. But how could he just... like that? "Look at his neck! What is that!?" Reminded by the other, the leather-jacketed man turned to look and saw two dark holes on Kent''s neck. They looked like wounds, but there was no bleeding. Urban legends he''d heard of shed in his mind, and it was easy for him to associate them with some monster. "Could it be vampires...!?" "Bullshit, it''s clearly snake bites! He was poisoned to death!" "..." The two guys exchanged a few words in a low voice and then fell silent, both feeling incredulous. He was supposed to go home and pack his bags, how did he suddenly get bitten by a venomous snake. Then they heard slow but clear footsteps. Looking up, they saw a man walking towards them with the light behind him. "Hey! Get lost! Did you hear me?" The two Iron Fist Gang membersid down Kent''s body and stood up to shout at the stranger. Suddenly, the figure of the man vanished before their eyes. "!!" They were stunned for a moment. Then both felt fingers lightly brushing their necks. After a cold sensation came a slight sting. When they turned their heads, the stranger had already walked far down the street, leaving only his back in sight. "Damn it, you...!" "Ugh¡ª!!" Two thuds. The two Iron Fist Gang members fell to the ground, their eyes wide open. Their death unable to be said simr to Kent''s, it was exactly the same. Snake''s Kiss marks appeared on their necks just like those on Kent''s. [Killed ordinary members of the Iron Fist Gang, gained 20 Experience Points]*2 [Triggered C-ss task: King of the Sewage Beach] [Task description: The Iron Fist Gang from the Outer City District of Amber City has bared their ws at you, will you respond with sharpened fangs? Kill them! Destroy them! Or enve them! Show them who the King of the Sewage Beach is!] [Task reward: 1000 Experience Points, 1 Gold Pound, and [Mad Hand Prototype Diagram - Palm Fireworks]*1] ``` epted. Chen Lun walked forward indifferently, heading towards the Dolphin Opera House. [Animal Mimicry LVMAX] [Snake''s Kiss] [Skill Description: You have learned to imitate the bite of a venomous snake and inject toxins, and the trait is not limited to your teeth.] He didn''t choose to shoot rashly. Such a loud noise would easily draw unwanted trouble. Previously, there hadn''t been much use for this animal trait, but now it was quite suitable. Chen Lun''s chilly whisper faintly echoed through the streets: "Iron Fist Gang..." "Wee to Sewage Beach, you two lovelydies!" The entrance to Sewage Beach at night. A group of Iron Fist Gang members surrounded Connie and Floey, intending to take them to the Floral Tavern. At the edge of some steps, there was a rusty iron te covered in filth, marked with the words "Sewage Beach." One only needed to walk down the broad staircase to reach the area of Sewage Beach. Not even the Lamplighter woulde here to light the streetmps, so it was pitch-dark all around. "Move it, Gary the boss must still be waiting for our good news!" One of the men urged, admiring the flintlock gun he had snatched from Floey''s hands. "What a fantastic gun! It''s so much better than our ''Raging Fire''! Definitely need to show it to the boss, and then have those craftsmen really learn!" At that moment, Connie suddenly cursed: "Get lost! Don''t touch me!" She defiantly shook off the hand trying to grope her. The men in leather jacketsughed, not caring about her wrath at all. One of the guys turned to leer at Floey, eyeing her up and down before licking his lips. "Hey, this foreign girl is really something. I wonder if boss Gary will let us have a go?" "Ah ha, keep dreaming! This is a present the boss ns to give to a big shot in the Inner City District! If you dare touch her, the boss will definitely twist your head off! And not just the one on your neck!" The others burst intoughter. "Ha ha¡ªAh!!" Theughter stopped abruptly, reced by a scream. Everyone was shocked. An Iron Fist Gang member had a scarlet crossbow arrow sticking out of his chest! The crossbow arrow dissipated like smoke, but the man who had been shot screamed even more miserably. The wound expanded at a visible rate, as if an invisible mouth was tearing and nibbling at it! "Hungry! I''m so hungry!" He suddenly roared in a low voice, eyes red, and grabbed apanion next to him to bite. This bestial act startled the others. The unlucky one caught by him wasn''t quick enough to react and was bitten through the carotid artery, blood spattering out. In just a moment, two peopley in a pool of blood, one dead and one severely injured. The remaining Iron Fist Gang members were both shocked and furious. Across a road, under the dim moonlight, a man slowly walked over. His face wasn''t clear, but he was holding a hand crossbow, and there was a stray dog at his feet. Lift hand, aim, pull the trigger... "Get down!" An Iron Fist Gang member shouted. But it was toote. The light twang of the string was apanied by a red streak across the night. Whoosh¡ª! Another man in a leather jacket fell to the ground, screaming in pain. "I''m so hungry!!" His flesh disappeared out of thin air as he struggled to get up, wanting nothing but to gorge. "Eat! I want to eat back what I''ve lost!" Bang! The nearest man in a leather jacket punched him in the face to avoid being bitten. The Mad Hand unleashed a burst of air, greatly increasing the force of the punch. The powerful impact immediately broke his neck. The guy''s head tilted to one side, he staggered a few steps, then fell to the ground with a thud. Dead on the spot. "Damn it! What the hell is this thing!" A few Iron Fist Gang membersy on the ground, shivering with fear. As the man slowly approached, they could see his true face. A young man with curly ck hair, looking at them expressionlessly. His emerald green vertical pupils radiated coldness. "Have you ever seen hunger blossom?" Chapter 38 Everyone Must Die "Fuck it! Let''s go all out!" A member of the Iron Fist Gang cursed aloud. He scrambled up and charged at Chen Lun, swinging the iron fist of Mad Hand fiercely, wanting to smash this strange man''s head with one punch! Smack! Chen Lun casually raised his hand and caught his fist. Hiss¡ª! Steam jetted out from the air holes on either side of Mad Hand, but the flesh that enveloped it remained perfectly still. The Iron Fist Gang member''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Mad Hand... blocked?!" Woo!! Chen Lun''s other hand clenched into a fist, drawing a long shadow. The next instant, itnded heavily on his face. Bang!! The entire face of the Iron Fist Gang member fractured, like crumbling blocks. His body reeled backward, flung several meters by the powerful impact, and smashed to the ground with a thud. "Mr. Jack, so amazing!" Connie couldn''t help but cheer secretly. When the chaos had erupted, Floey had taken the opportunity to pull her aside to hide. Now, seeing Chen Lun arrive, both of their hearts experienced different changes. Connie was incredibly excited. She had already despaired, knowing what it meant for her and Miss Floey to be brought here. The notorious Iron Fist Gang was the nightmare of Outer City District''s residents, and the muddy riverside was a ce even more feared, akin to hell. Facing these men, the future for two young girls would likely be worse than death. "Kill them! Mr. Jack!" Connie gritted her teeth and quietly cheered Chen Lun on. Floey turned her head towards her with some surprise. Seeming to notice Floey''s "gaze," Connie awkwardly shrank her head back. Oh my God! That''s so udylike! Why did I say such vulgar words?! Floey turned her attention away from the socially dead Connie and focused entirely on the man. "He has appeared again... at a time when I am in trouble. Just like brother..." Floey pursed her lips, then shook her head slightly. "No, not the same." Bang!! An explosion sounded. Countless fine nails and shards of ss sprayed towards Chen Lun. Feeling a trace of danger, Chen Lun quickly dodged to the side. Hiss hiss hiss... The strangely shaped Blunderbuss, much like a short-barreled shotgun, had an even broader area of destruction. Even with Chen Lun''s level of Agility, he couldn''tpletely dodge it at such close range. He took a hit on one arm, his pristine white shirt tearing open in several ces. "He''s been shot! Fire at will and kill him!" The Iron Fist Gang member who had fired the gun shouted excitedly. Upon hearing this, the other men in leather jackets also pulled out their Blunderbusses and began shooting at Chen Lun. Bang! Bang bang bang!! A continuous barrage of sts, as small objects overwhelmed Chen Lun. Nails, ss shards, steel pellets, and even pebbles struck him all over, covering several meters around him. He had no space to dodge! "Mr. Jack! No!" Connie cried out, unable to watch and covering her eyes. Although Floey knew Chen Lun was a Transcendent, she had never witnessed him fighting in battle. Her heart couldn''t help but race. Crackle and pop!! Such saturation firing tore Chen Lun''s clothes to shreds. Dust filled the air. The Iron Fist Gang members looked thrilled. "You blind son of bitches, daring to mess with us, this is what you get!" Ptooey! A man in a leather jacket spat on the ground out of spite. Woof! Woof woof! The stray dog that had followed Chen Lun barked furiously at the Iron Fist Gang members. "Shit! And you, you damn dog!" An Iron Fist Gang member loaded his Blunderbuss with nails and raised it towards the stray dog. "You go first, little dog." The dust cleared, revealing the figure of Chen Lun. He waved his hand behind him, and the stray dog understood his gesture, whining twice before scampering off. "Good boy." The leading task wasplete; it could now retreat with its mission aplished. "Hell!" The members of the Iron Fist Gang stared with wide eyes. This guy is still not dead!? With that intense gunfire just now, even an iron man should be riddled with holes! Beneath Chen Lun''s tattered clothes shimmered a dark golden light. He lifted his head and grinned ferociously. Although the Carp Armor protected him, the sheer number of forced [-1] damage still caused him to lose a chunk of his health. "Everyone present here is going to die!" As his words fell, his figure had already vanished. The guy who was about to shoot the stray dog suddenly shifted his arm, firing the blunderbuss forward. Bang!! ¡ªAn ident urred! The blunderbuss in his hand exploded in a sh, scattering fragments and nails in every direction. "Damn it!" He cursed, his body covered in fine wounds. Luckily the protection of the iron fist covered his hands, or he would have lost his entire palm! Whack¡ª!! A side kick. The Iron Fist Gang member, who had just been relieved that he wore the Mad Hand and escaped the blunderbuss threat, had his head and above parts vanish in an instant. As if wiped away by an eraser. The headless body fell with a thump, stirring up dust. "Kill him! Kill him now!!" The remaining few members of the Iron Fist Gang screamed with red-necked horror. Bang! Bang! Bang! The one who had taken Floey''s flintlock gun fired three shots in a row. The figure bathed in a dark golden glow dodged left and right like a specter, appearing in front of the shooter the next second. All empty shots. A pair of killing intent-filled green vertical pupils stared squarely at him. "No!!" An arm shot out like a python, the hand grasping and biting down on his neck. "Arghhhh!" Chen Lun grasped him like a rag doll, tossing him toward the others. With a few clinks, they all copsed twistedly on the ground. "Let hunger blossom..." Chen Lun pulled the trigger twice. Whirr whirr¡ª! The bowstring of the Tongue of Gluttony trembled, and two crimson crossbow bolts hit two men squarely. "Hungry!!" The men struck by the arrows suddenly rose in a frenzy, grabbing and savagely biting into the person beneath them. Screams and gnawing sounds intertwined. Unable to stomach the bloody scene, Connie looked away. Thest two, mouths filled with blood, turned on each other, biting and consuming one another. Until they were destroyed. "Phew...!" Chen Lun exhaled. Using the hand crossbow had drained quite a bit of his Physical Strength.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He could have killed these Iron Fist Gang members in a more effortless way. But he chose not to. Not just because they dared toy hands on Floey and disrupted his ns. Another reason was, he wanted to test the hand crossbow in realbat. The results satisfied him. "Mr. Jack, are you all right?" Connie hurried over. Floey picked up her flintlock gun and secretly hid it behind her back. She looked at Chen Lun as usual, then in silence, her expression softened with concern. Chen Lun shook his head. The animal-like features on his body had vanished, and he had returned to his original appearance. "I''m fine." Connie was quite shocked to witness Chen Lun''s inhuman performance, but she dared not ask too much, feeling that Mr. Jack was bing more and more mysterious. The supernaturals were too much of a worldview shock for Connie to digest all at once. "Floey, you go back first," Chen Lun instructed. "Mhm." Floey didn''t ask what he was going to do but nodded obediently. Chapter 39 Im Here to Kill (Please follow!) Woof woof! The stray dog appeared again. It wagged its tail and darted to Chen Lun''s feet. "You haven''t left yet? Perfect, I need your help with something." He patted the dog''s head. Then his fingers moved slightly, and a faint light appeared on his fingertips. He opened his mouth slightly and let out a loud meow. Meow! Meow!! Responses came from all directions. Immediately, countless green eyes emerged in the darkness. Connie and Floey were startled. There were at least thirty to forty different stray cats gathering around. "They will escort you back, don''t worry." Chen Lun turned his head to look at the two girls. "Ah... is this, is this all real?" Connie was first startled, then somewhat dazed. What a surreal night this has been. They encountered danger, experienced a rescue, witnessed a perilous battle, and now were being escorted home by so many kittens! Woof! The stray dog, like a lead big brother, led the other cats around the feet of Floey and Connie. It seemed to signal, don''t worry big brother, with us here, no horny dogs wille harassing them! "Be careful." Floey said softly. Chen Lun nodded, giving a reassuring look. Just don''t know if Floey could understand it... Afterward, Floey took Connie and followed the cats and dog away. Watching them disappear from view, Chen Lun bent over and picked up a blunderbuss from the ground. [Raging Fire ¨C Homemade Firearm] Item Description: Craftsmen have developed this gunpowder flintlock gun through self-study and creation, with rough craftsmanship and distinctive ideas, this weapon was made. The widened muzzle endows it with potent lethality at close range and does not restrict the ammunition used. A handful of crushed iron sand, and it sts a person to bits!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Of course, its negligible w is that it''s not very stable, prone to barrel explosions, and a bit cumbersome to use... After reading the description, Chen Lun couldn''t help but think of those iron fist gloves. "Mad Hand... could it be specifically crafted to be used with this thing?" The more he thought about it, the more it seemed so. He also admired the craftsmen who created these items. Their thought process was incredible... He turned to nce at the sign next to the stairsbeled "The Drain" and walked straight down. When he truly entered The Drain, his first impression was that it was filthy, messy, and stank! A foul smell hit his nose right away. Chen Lun frowned slightly and quickened his pace. He passed by many cottages along the way, most of which were dpidated. Since the Lamplighter would note here to lightmps, the residents would hang a simplentern at their doorways. It was like a candle covered by a fishbowl. The faint light shone across the embankment walkway, directly opposite therge and wide "sewage moat". Not far away, a neon sign flickered, and he could vaguely make out the words "Flora and Fauna Tavern". Soon, Chen Lun arrived at the entrance of the tavern and pushed open The Great Gate. ng! Noise and heat waves hit him in the face. Inside, it was bustling and extremely lively. In stark contrast to the dead silence and chill outside, it was like a different world. A bunch of drunken patrons nced at him, then paid no more attention and continued to immerse themselves in the pleasures of gambling and flirting with the maids. "Hey, handsome, looking for some fun?" The mboyantly dressed proprietress came over, smiling obsequiously. A hint of wariness shed in her eyes. Although the young man with ck hair was dressed in tattered clothes, his appearance and demeanor clearly did not fit in with the surroundings. Moreover, the chill emanating from him now made people shiver involuntarily. "Madam, may I ask if the Iron Fist Gang''s stronghold is here?" Chen Lun asked politely in a soft voice. The tavern mistress leaned in close, and the smell of her cheap perfume was somewhat overpowering, making him want to sneeze. "Excuse me... sir? Are you in the wrong ce?" Thendy vehemently denied entry, revealing a strained smile. She had a strong premonition that this man was definitely here to cause trouble! An officer from the Security Office? Or some guy from another gang? Chen Lun gave her a slight smile, pushed past her, and headed straight inside. He had already gotten his answer from the woman''s behavior. "Sir? Sir! Where are you going!?" Thendy suddenly became anxious, feeling that she couldn''t stop this man, so she ran back to the counter. She took out an old walkie-talkie from the drawer below, ready to tip off the Iron Fist Gang members in the courtyard. Squeak! At that moment, severalrge ck rats darted out and bit her hand. "Ah! Damn it!" Thendy was startled, and the walkie-talkie fell to the ground in pain. Then those few rats immediately picked it up and carried it away like a coffin, quickly fleeing the scene. "??" Thendy froze. "The rats... The rats took my walkie-talkie!?" Chen Lun roughly pushed past the drinkers and maids blocking the way, causing a chorus of grumbles and gasps. "You little punk!" A scruffy drunkard who looked like he hadn''t bathed in decades red, reaching out to grab Chen Lun''s cor, ready to give him a good lesson. But a flintlock gun was promptly pressed against his forehead. "Sir? If you want to die, I can assist you," Chen Lun said with a smile. "Sor...Sorry!" The drunkard instantly broke into a cold sweat, his raised hand retracted to his chest, showing an ugly smile as he slowly backed away. "Ah¡ª!!" A scream erupted. The maids in the store were so frightened by the scene that they hid. Other patrons also began to get up in a frantic rush, distancing themselves amid a morous uproar. Chen Lun ignored them and kept moving forward. A number of cautious drinkers had already sensed something was amiss and quietly left the tavern. Chen Lun passed through the kitchen, snatched up a chef''s knife on the way. He then pushed open the door and entered the courtyard. "Who''s there!?" A voice called out in challenge. Iron Fist Gang members were practicing their strikes on wooden targets in the yard when they heard the door open and looked over. "Your good friend, Jack." Two men in leather jackets exchanged nces, one ran towards the building, and the other came forward. "Jack? Don''t know him." He said coldly. "If you''re in the wrong ce, get lost already!" "Heh... not likely," Whoosh¡ª A sh of cold light. The sharp chef''s knife shed across the man''s throat. The leather jacket man gurgled a few sounds, clutching his neck as he copsed. Then Chen Lun threw the chef''s knife in his hand, which sliced through the air with a shriek and struck the other man in the back. Due to the momentum of running, that man lunged forward several meters, convulsed on the ground, and theny silent. Chen Lun strode forward. The light from the tavern behind him shone through the window, casting his shadow long, dragging it toward the building. Passing by tworge warehouses, Chen Lun faintly heard the sounds of nking inside and pondered for a moment. But he didn''t have time to care, heading straight into the building. At that time, there were only a handful of Iron Fist Gang members in the hall, and boss Gary sat on a sofa like a king, reading some documents. "Hey! Who are you!?" Seeing a stranger waltzing into their gang''s territory, a few of the card-ying Iron Fist Gang members abruptly stood up. They stared at Chen Lun with wariness. Gary also shifted his gaze from the documents in his hands to the stranger at the door, his eyes narrowing. "Who might you be? Coming to our Iron Fist Gang thiste, do you have pressing business?" "... Murder." Chapter 40 From Now On, Listen to Me (Please Follow!) "Kill him!" At Gary''smand, the Iron Fist Gang members immediately charged toward Chen Lun. Theckeys in the courtyard had been silent, mostly already killed by this man. He squinted, pondering. He casually took out a cigar from the box, cut it, and lit it up. "Aside from the big shots in the Inner City District, no one dares to talk to me like this..." "Since you''re so eager to seek death, I''ll grant you your wish!" Gary spoke slowly, puffing out smoke, looking unfazed. He had faced men seeking revenge before, but those men had long since merged with the sewage in the drainage ditches. Bang bang! Two gunshots rang out. The two Iron Fist Gang members who were in front fell to the ground. The rest of the gang members were startled, halting their advance. "A repeating firearm!?" Gary''s finger paused, fixating on the flintlock gun in Chen Lun''s hand. "Are you an Investigator from the Shelter?" He rose slowly, his expression grave. Gary was not just a simple gang leader; he had connections with many prominent figures in the Inner City District. Many shady and dirty tasks were entrusted to him, through which he gained rtionships and assistance from those figures. It was these intricate connections that allowed him to be the King of the Sewage Beach in the Outer City District. Naturally, Gary had heard some secrets about the Mystic Realm. "What about an Investigator? Kill him!" Gary''s eyes glinted with ruthlessness. If that was the case, he couldn''t let this man leave alive! There were secrets hidden here, and if the Investigator found out, the big figures behind him would surely make him regret it. The Sewage Beach wasn''tcking others who could take Gary''s ce as boss. As for the possibility of offending the Shelter by killing an Investigator, Gary believed someone would help him smooth over the trouble. "Fire!" On hearing their boss Gary''s order, theckeys pulled out their Iron Gloves and blunderbusses. They then surrounded and attacked Chen Lun. Bang bang bang bang...!! Shotgun pellets and ss shards burst from the barrels, crackling like fireworks, showering towards Chen Lun. Chen Lun, already on guard, didn''t take the hits like before. The moment these men pulled out their weapons, he leaped forcefully, grabbing one to use as a human shield. A burst of muffled thuds followed, and the Iron Fist Gang member used as a meat shield was riddled with holes on the spot. Covered in blood, he was as good as dead. Holding the body with one hand, Chen Lun leaned out to counterattack. Bang bang, several gunshots, the lead bullets urately hit the enemies'' heads, bursting into blossoms of blood. Seeing the blunderbuss couldn''t harm Chen Lun, the remaining few leather jacket men decided to tighten their Iron Fists and charged for hand-to-handbat. Bang!! The body, riddled with shards of metal and ss, flew out, crashing into one man, knocking him down. Chen Lun followed immediately,nding a punch on another Iron Fist Gang member''s face! The punch, driven by 24 points of Strength, was an immense pressure that a regr person couldn''t withstand. The man''s skull shattered instantly, and he flew backward, spitting out blood and broken teeth.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Enough! A bunch of useless trash!" Gary dropped his cigar and leaped forward, kicking straight down from above. Whoosh¡ª! His burly body fell down, his kick chopping like a battle axe. Crack!! Chen Lun turned and raised his hand to block, staunchly catching the kick. Gary''s pupils shrank, taken aback. He was very clear about his own strength. Due to regrly injecting the "high-concentration nectar" provided by the butler Fedman, he had developed physical abilities far beyond those of an ordinary person. His kick that could prate a steel te was blocked by this "Investigator" with one hand!? "Haven''t you eaten, sir?" Chen Lun''s face appeared from behind his arm, with a polite smile. "You don''t have the strength to hit people, and you call yourself a gang member?" "Bastard!!" Gary was infuriated. He leaped into the air, and as he twisted his body, another foot shot out like a cannonball. In the process, the bulging of his muscles even tore the leg of his suit pants. Bang!! The leather shoe hammered mercilessly into Chen Lun''s palm. But the next instant, the rebounding force caused Gary''s leg to go numb! The other''s handprint didn''t budge at all, and he himself felt as if he had stepped on an iron wall. "The strength is decent, but it is still far from that old fellow at the Red Apple Church," Chen Lun said softly. Gary''s heart tightened, knowing that he had encountered a formidable enemy. He took a leap back to create distance, catching sight of the dark golden scales slowly retracting on the back of Chen Lun''s hand. His heart pounded wildly! "A Transcendent!?" Gary eximed. Sweat poured down like rain, and he felt as if he had hit rock bottom. Why did he have to provoke a Transcendent!? "Who exactly are you? If I have offended you in any way, I sincerely apologize to you!" Gary said gravely. He was someone who knew the score; facing an opponent he could not contend with, he immediately chose to bow down. The other was most likely not an Investigator; the Transcendents of the Shelter were all the big shots with group leader''s status. Although Iron Fist Gang was rampant in the Outer City District, it was not significant enough to attract such attention. Seeing this, the other members of Iron Fist Gang looked at each other, a sense of fear growing within them. Even boss Gary was softening up? How terrifying was this man!? "Haven''t you been looking for me?" Chen Lun moved closer step by step. "And even nning to capture my sister?" Gary quivered violently, his body freezing in ce. He instantly understood the identity of the man before him; this was the out-of-towner his men and Kent had been talking about! Damn it, an out-of-towner!? This was not a littlemb with no background or status. But rather, a bloodthirsty python! A terrifying beast! Gary no longer had time to vent his anger on his subordinates and that idiot Kent; now he only wanted to save his life. Plop! Gary Bent, the leader of Iron Fist Gang, knelt before this young man. His burly, strong body could not withstand the fear at this moment. "I, Gary Bent, apologize to you! I am willing to pay any price, only begging for your forgiveness and to spare my life!" Gary lowered his head, speaking in a slightly hoarse voice. The members of Iron Fist Gang who were lucky enough to survive could hardly believe their eyes at this scene. Their boss Gary, who was decisive in killing and has a heart of stone, was actually kneeling! He was begging that dark-haired youth for mercy! Gurgle. A man in a leather jacket swallowed, not daring to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead for fear of drawing attention. Chen Lun looked helplessly at the spineless guy in front of him. Can''t you show a bit of backbone? Rise in rebellion, rush at me in a fit of hysteria, let me ughter you effortlessly, no? You''re making this difficult for me. Suddenly, Chen Lun seemed to think of something, a contemtive look shing in his eyes. "You said, any price is eptable?" He slowly walked to the sofa and sat down, picking up the documents Gary had been looking at earlier. They contained some financial reports, funds from the Sewage Beach and the Outer City District industries, as well as certain expenditures that were not specified. "Yes, sir, any price," Gary said through clenched teeth. He had already prepared himself for a significant loss, but as long as he could survive, nothing else mattered. "Since that''s the case." Chen Lun tossed the documents in his hand away. "From now on, this ce answers to me." Chapter 41 King of the Sewage Beach Gary jerked his head up. "Your... Your Excellency? What do you mean by this!?" He looked utterly shocked. He had only intended to bleed himself dry to save his life, but now the other party was indicating they wanted to take over the ce. "Those two warehouses outside, they''re full of the craftsmen you''ve captured, aren''t they?" Chen Lun''s tone was light, as if he was discussing something perfectly ordinary. However, to Gary''s ears, the words rang like a thunderp. "You...!" Gary quickly suppressed his emotions and took a deep breath. "It seems you''re already aware," he said. Chen Lun nodded and casually threw a pair of Mad Hand and a Blunderbuss onto the table with two ttering sounds. "You kidnapped so many craftsmen just to make these two things?" A faint light radiated from the seashell ne at Chen Lun''s chest. A struggle shed in Gary''s eyes, then he sighed and his expression became one of resignation. "You guys,e over here!" He beckoned without turning his head. "Boss." The remaining members of the Iron Fist Gang looked at each other and hurried over. Just as they arrived at their boss''s side, however, Gary suddenly exploded into action. He sprang to his feet, punched one man in the throat with crushing force, elbowed another in the temple, and then grabbed thest one by the neck. The man''s face turned red, staring at his own boss in disbelief. Grimness spread across Gary''s face. "Sorry, but tonight''s events can''t get out. The things I said can''t be heard by you guys either." With that, he squeezed tightly and snapped the neck of his underling. Thump! The body fell to the ground. Chen Lun watched the scene with interest, gaining a deeper understanding of the Iron Fist Gang leader''s ruthlessness. Only then did Gary turn around to face Chen Lun, with a respectful expression on his face: "Your Excellency, capturing the craftsmen was not my idea, but an order from Butler Fedman..." Chen Lun became intrigued. "Butler Fedman?" "He''s the butler of Councilor Daniel of the Amber City council," Gary said in a grave voice. "A long time ago, Butler Fedman found me when I was still just a nobody lurking around the Sewage Beach. He had me establish the Iron Fist Gang and gave me a great deal of help... Later, one day, he gave me a blueprint and told me to capture craftsmen to make something for him, but the results have never been satisfactory..." Chen Lun frowned slightly. He hadn''t expected the Iron Fist Gang to be connected to that councilor. Could there be a rtion to the future "Glutton" Dolly? "Do you still have that blueprint?" Chen Lun asked. Gary shook his head slightly. "The original blueprint has been taken back; now there''s only a copied version left... It''s underneath the second-tost drawer to the right of where you''re standing, there''s a hiddenpartment." Following Gary''s direction, Chen Lun opened the hiddenpartment in the drawer and retrieved a copy of the blueprint. But after a nce, he shook his head in disappointment. [Mad Hand Prototype Drawing - Palm Fireworks (Copy)] Item Description: Structural analysis and manufacturing drawings for a mechanical glove. A badly deformed copy that had significantly diverged from the original design... "No wonder the Iron Gloves that were made were such rubbish; it''s not entirely the craftsmen''s fault that their skills weren''t up to par," Chen Lun mused to himself. He then recalled the mission he received before arriving, in which one of the rewards was the original blueprint. Looking at the worthless copy in his hand, he felt a sudden sense of disappointment. "Recently, Butler Fedman has been urging ever more insistently, and the Iron Fist Gang has to hand over arge portion of their monthly ie to him," Gary continued. "Do you know what his purpose is?" Chen Lun asked. Gary shook his head, saying, "I don''t know, Your Excellency." Chen Lun pondered. Intuition told him that everything was the will of Congressman Daniel. What exactly did he want to do? An ordinary politician, gathering funds and weapons, could he be thinking of rebellion? Chen Lun couldn''t help but be amused by his own spection. In the face of the two colossal forces, the Sun Church and the Shelter, no one or organization dared to talk about overthrowing the Tresor Empire. Not even the Red Apple Church!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om In his previous life, they ravaged the Empire but still met their ultimate demise. If Congressman Daniel was really that naive, he didn''t deserve his many years of high-standing influence. Only the mysterious can confront the mysterious, only the extraordinary can kill the extraordinary! This was the unwritten rule of the Mystic Realm. Of course, except for the Low Sequence. Chen Lun fell silent. "How much liquid funds does the Iron Fist Gang have now?" He asked a question of personal interest. Gary hesitated and slowly said, "Yesterday, Butler Fedman already took this month''s ie... There are still 7 Gold Pounds and over 40 Silver Ducats in the gang." He looked a bit embarrassed. Raising his head cautiously and noticing the polite yet eerie smile on the young man with ck hair, his heart skipped a beat. Thus, he quickly added, "I have also stashed some money myself, about 40 Gold Pounds." He had originally intended to use this money to save his own life, but now it seemed he still couldn''t keep it. Chen Lun nodded in satisfaction. "Good, then you take 45 Gold Pounds for me, and have your craftsman make me a batch of lead bullets." After offering praise, he issued the order directly. At the same time, he used the "Mermaid''s Song" once more to perform deeper hypnosis on Gary. This was to prevent a betrayal from Gary once he left. Gary''s eyes became vacant for a moment and then returned to normal, but his expression became more respectful, even with a hint of eagerness to please. "I shall obey your will, Your Excellency." He ced his left hand on the right side of his chest and bowed in salute. Then he turned and went upstairs, returning after a short while with an exquisitely carved wooden box, which he gently ced on the table. Chen Lun opened the box, and inside, the glittering Coins shone brightly, pleasing him greatly. Using the box lid to block the view, he secretly extended a finger into the box to touch the Gold Coins, bringing them all into the panel. p! The lid closed. "Next, I will entrust you with two matters, which you must treat as your most urgent tasks." Chen Lun spoke gravely. "Please instruct me, I will do my utmost!" Gary seemed somewhat excited, showing a readiness toplete the tasks as if fulfilling Chen Lun''s wishes was a great honor for him. Chen Lun silently marveled at the astonishing effect of "Mermaid''s Song." It was almost like turning an enemy into his madly devout follower, akin to brainwashing. But there were significant limitations, as it had little effect on those with strong willpower. Also, many psychic defensive Mysterious Objects had a restraining effect on it. The golden apple ne once worn by Priest Carter was a typical example. "Help me investigate recent news about Viscount Pompey, and get me his family''s detailed address. Also, keep an eye on someone named ''Dolly.'' Any rted intelligence must be reported to me immediately." "Yes, Your Excellency." [You have in many members of the Iron Fist Gang and sessfully enved their leader, Gary,pleting the C-level task: King of the Sewage Beach!] [You receive the task reward: 1000 Experience Points, 1 Gold Pound, and [Mad Hand Prototype Drawing - Palm Fireworks]*1] Chen Lun stood up and slowly left the territory of the Iron Fist Gang. He left behind a ground littered with corpses and the Iron Fist Gang''s leader Gary, who remained bowed in salute for a long time. Chapter 42 The New Sub Occupation When Chen Lun returned to Number 7 Denton Street, it was alreadyte into the night. The Purple Moon was obscured by drifting clouds, dimming the light. He dimly made out a petite figure standing in front of the stairway. "You''re back." A familiar ethereal voice drifted over. Upon hearing the voice, Chen Lun realized the person waiting for him here was Floey. "Haven''t you slept yet? Standing here waiting for me?" Chen Lun replied, then added with a light chuckle, "Let''s go, head upstairs to rest." Floey quietly stood in the darkness without speaking, merely giving him a slight smile. "Mhm." Floey followed Chen Lun upstairs, returning to the room on the fourth floor. As soon as he opened the door, Chen Lun saw a furry creature pouncing toward him. "Hey! It''s you again, you dog!" Chen Lun eximed in surprise. It had been dark outside, and he hadn''t paid much attention, but it appeared this fellow was a ck-and-white Border Collie. It had been roaming outside for quite a while, its fur dirty and matted. At first nce, it looked like a ck dog. The dog licked his hand, eyes pleading for favor. "You aren''t nning on sticking around, are you?" Chen Lun eyed it sideways, his expression curious. The dog whined softly a few times, and its wagging tail slowly stopped. It lowered its head and slowly walked toward the door. At the doorway, it turned its head for onest look at Chen Lun. Seeing no reaction from Chen Lun, it turned to nce at Floey. Unfortunately, Floey, being blind, didn''t catch the dog signaling with its eyes. "Truly a drama queen¡­" Chen Lun sighed internally, then beckoned with his hand. "All right, you can stay for now." The stray''s tail shook like a windshield wiper, and it trotted back with its tongue out. It tried to jump up to give Chen Lun a doggy hug but missed as Chen Lun dodged. It thumped onto the ground with a flop. The dog looked up at Chen Lun with a pitiful expression, but Chen Lun turned to Floey. "Floey, have Connie give it a bath tomorrow." "Sure." Floey nodded. She stood in the living room, sensing Chen Lun turning to head to his own room, and spoke softly, "Thank you." It was unclear if she was thanking him for taking in the dog or for saving her just in time. Chen Lun didn''t turn back as he waved his hand. "Get some rest soon, it''s veryte." With that, the door gently closed. Chen Lun pulled up a chair and sat down. The table faced a window, through which he could see the Purple Moon, half-hidden behind clouds. He silently imed his mission reward in his heart. Suddenly, a blueprint appeared in his hands, drastically different from the one he had seen at the Iron Fist Gang stronghold. [Mad Hand Prototype Blueprint - Palm Fireworks] Item Description: A painting imbued with supernatural power. A mysterious realm''s master painter had copied a mysterious object, a peculiar mechanical glove. If a highly skilled craftsman were to study it long enough, there might be a small chance to create an exact replica. Chen Lun nodded. This was indeed how the Mad Hand should look; whatever the Iron Fist Gang had created was a mess... Having secured the blueprint, he had a premonition it would be useful in the future. Then, he took out an old book he had received from Kent. "Recorder Ken Bernie''s Memoirs" When he first saw the book, he had a hunch, and now was the time to test it. He opened the book and began to read. Soon, he felt invigorated. [You''ve discovered a book containing valuable knowledge about a sub-profession!] [By careful reading, you''ve gainedplete knowledge of the sub-profession!] [Recorder] [You meet the conditions to inherit it; would you like to make it your new sub-profession?] Chen Lun''s eyebrows shot up, and he naturally chose to inherit it. [You''ve learned the skill [Transcription LV1]!] Just as he had guessed, this book indeed hid that sub-profession. He was secretly delighted. Recorder was a rather special subupation. One might say it was useless or that it was incredibly powerful because its contribution tobat power was minimal, yet it was a top-tier logistical subupation. In the past life, it was exclusive to a small group of high-end lifestyle yers and only thoserge guilds had the resources to nurture one. Because it was very rare and cost a fortune. In the "Era of Mystery," transcendent sequence knowledge was a consumable item. For instance, after Chen Lun finished reading the "Beast Tamer''s Handbook," if a second person read it, they would gain nothing. But having the Recorder subupation allowed one to transcribe any transcendent sequence knowledge by consuming corresponding mystical substances. This transcribed transcendent knowledge was effective. Simply put, it could achieve mass production of Transcendents. However, this was limited to knowledge of low sequences, and each transcription consumed arge amount of Sanity Value. Therefore, therge guilds had to provide sufficient mystical substances and precious items that could restore Sanity Value to continuously acquire transcendent knowledge. This was where the cost came in. Aside from the consortium-backedrge guilds, ordinary people couldn''t afford it. But even though it was costly, anyrge guild would desire to have more Recorders. Only then could they have a corepetitiveness and attractiveness greater than other forces. Lone wolves would be more willing to join them, just for a ticket to the transcendent world. "Era of Mystery" was different from the usual holographic online games; the main upation was not preset from the beginning. To be a Transcendent, one could only rely on their own efforts and opportunities. Otherwise, they would remain ordinary for life. Many yers entered the game and were unable to find transcendent knowledge, which left them frustrated. In thete phase of the past life''s version 1.0, Chen Lun had seen many ordinary yers stuck at level 30, without a main upation. It was quite tragic. But in fact, they just needed to join arge guild, and after signing a contract, they could get a piece of transcendent knowledge for free, thus bing a Transcendent. But clearly, these yers were not willing to kneel and ept restrictions. They would rather be mediocre than lose their freedom! But was there a way to obtain transcendent knowledge while standing upright? There wasn''t before, but now there was. Chen Lun thought that once yers arrived, he could use this subupation to duplicate various transcendent knowledge for sale¡­ to help. But knowledge isn''t free, as you understand. This was to cultivate the yers'' respect for knowledge, to let them study diligently, and understand the noble principle that knowledge changes destiny. Chen Lun was very moved by his own good intentions. He decided he must charge even more, to make them feel the weight of knowledge. He believed thatpared to freedom, money was nothing. Chen Lun spent nearly 3000 experience points to max out the Recorder subupation level. He then invested 4 Skill Points to max out Transcription LV1. Transcription LVMAX provided an additional memory function, which imprinted acquired transcendent sequence knowledge in his mind. He no longer needed the original books to transcribe. Subupation level increased, you feel your body has strengthened, Life Limit +20, Physical Strength Limit +10, Sanity Limit +2, Intelligence +4, Faith +2 You have gained 9 Skill Points, 9 Attribute Points Total Level reached 30. This was the level cap for yers in public test version 1.0, but not Chen Lun''s level cap. Because he was not a mystical yer. "Now, I onlyck the transcendent knowledge for advancing to Sequence Eight¡­ no rush for that," Chen Lun pondered, then silently thought: "Panel." Name: Chen Lun Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Temte: NPC (Countdown to version 1.0 public test: 391 days, 02 hours, 34 minutes, 15 seconds) Level: 30 Experience: 11000/380 Life: 234/280 Physical Strength: 112/180 Sanity: 6/8 Main upation: Beast Tamer LV10 (MAX) (Destiny Faction) Sub upations: Fisherman LV10 (MAX), Recorder LV10 (MAX) Attributes: Strength 24 (2), Agility 16, Endurance 9 (+2), Intelligence 12, Faith 5 Special Attributes: Charm 7 (+2), Willpower 5, Insight 3, Luck 3 Regional Fame: 1n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Remaining points: 12 Skill Points, 14 Attribute Points Remaining Assets: 221 Gold Pounds, 721 Silver Ducats, 4755 Copper Kro, Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance *7 Skills: Quick Reflexes LV1 (Passive), Seafaring Bnce LV1 (Passive), Beast Speech LVMAX, Animal Mimicry LVMAX, Friend of Animals LVMAX (Passive), Transcription LVMAX Combat Power: 32 Evaluation: You are a qualified low-end Transcendent, very adequately low-end. Chapter 43 A Man Who Loves to Read is Really Handsome (Thanks and Additional Updates) The following morning. Chen Lun sleepily pushed open his bedroom door. After a battle the previous night, both his body and mind were weary. He nced up to find a striking figure mopping the living room floor. "Good morning, Mr. Jack." Connie stood up, wiping the sweat from her forehead, and gave him a radiant smile. Clearly, her mood was good today. "Good morning, Connie." Chen Lun responded and entered the bathroom. After freshening up, he came out just in time to see Floeying in through the door. The freshly-bathed dog, wagging its tail excitedly, darted out from behind Floey and pounced at Chen Lun''s feet. "Did you go to Mrs. Caroline''s for a meal?" Chen Lun asked Floey while patting the dog''s head. "Hmm¡­ I learned how to cook some dishes from Mrs. Caroline, I made these with her." In Floey''s hands was a te filled with some meatballs and pies, along with an apple and a cup of tea. She pursed her lips, facing Chen Lun, her tone filled with anticipation: "I brought some over; would you like to try?" Chen Lun smiled and took the te. "Of course." Floey revealed a smile. She quietly listened to Chen Lun''s footsteps until he stopped by the dining table. Chen Lun set down the food and noticed Connie, still cleaning. "Have you eaten, Connie? Would you like to join me?" Connie seemed somewhat flustered and quickly shook her head. "No¡­ no need, Mr. Jack." She pointed in the direction of the door. "I''ll go downstairs to make breakfast soon, and I need to prepare one for my father too." "Alright then." Chen Lun shrugged and started eating. He picked up a meatball, and under Floey''s expectant "gaze," he popped it into his mouth. The delicious juice overflowed, with a hint of the unique smoky vor of smoked meat and a touch of fruitiness. "Delicious." Chen Lun eximed in surprise. "It seems you have a real talent, Floey." "Thanks for thepliment." Floey giggled softly, covering her mouth, and elegantly sat down on the sofa. It could be said that Chen Lun was veryfortable with his breakfast today, perhaps it was psychological, but he could feel the care put into making this meal. After eating, Connie promptly came over to clean up. Chen Lun wiped his mouth with a napkin and took a sip of tea. "Connie, I heard you are taking courses at the technical college?" "Yes, Mr. Jack. I study mechanical theory at Cypress Leaf Technical College in Amber City. I''m very interested in that area of knowledge." Connie''s lips curled up as she mentioned this.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun silently nodded. He got up and returned to his room, sooning back with two items that he ced on the table. "Connie, take these things and study them." "Are these... the weapons from those thugsst night?" Connie picked up the Mechanical Glove and Blunderbuss, her face showing surprise, then she looked excitedly at the items in her hands. "Although they look roughly made, the ideas behind them are quite unique!" "I''m d you''re interested." Chen Lun said with a smile. Then he got up and walked towards the door, turned his head back to Floey and said: "I''m going out for a walk, I''ll be backter." "Okay, be careful out there." Floey said softly, facing him. ... The news about Viscount Pompey and Dolly had been handed over to Gary. Chen Lun alone could never match the efficiency of the entire Iron Fist Gang. They were an underground force in the Outer City District, skilled in gathering intelligence from various sources. Moreover, with Gary''s familiarity with the Inner City District and his acquaintance with many important figures, it wouldn''t be long before they had some results. Now, Chen Lun had other ns. Such as reading. After descending the stairs, he headed straight to the bookstore next to the flower shop. From Kent, he had obtained "Recorder Ken Bernie''s Memoir," which had sessfully granted him the "Recorder" Sub upation. This had given Chen Lun an insight. That was to seize every opportunity to acquire Supernatural Knowledge, as a seemingly unremarkable book might conceal a treasure. "The Old Cripple''s Bookstore." Chen Lun nced at the wooden sign and pushed open the door. An old man sitting behind the counter looked up at Chen Lun but didn''t n to stand up. "Please feel free, but do not soil or damage the books." He stroked his presbyopic sses and continued to look down at the thick tome in his hands. Chen Lun walked a few steps inside and noticed that although the bookstore was small, it was not short on books. Bookcases filled three walls, and anothery horizontally across the middle. He walked to the back and even noticed a mini spiral staircase leading up to an upper partition. Chen Lun looked back at the old man, who was absorbed in reading, paying no mind to him. So he quietly climbed the spiral staircase to the upper level. The space was cramped and narrow; he couldn''t even stand straight but had to bend over. There was a window in the wall, and the lighting wasn''t too dim. Simrly, the bookcases against the walls here were filled with books. Some books even piled up in a corner because there was no space left on the shelves. "I''ll start from here then." Chen Lun nodded in satisfaction. With such arge base, his chances of finding a book containing "treasures" were greater. Time always slipped away quietly while reading. He didn''t know how much time had passed. Chen Lun''s attention was suddenly caught by a familiar voice. "Mr. Tao Te, I''m here to return a few books." "Oh, Miss Caroline, please do... and by the way, you look beautiful today." Then Mrs. Caroline''s lightughter followed. "You''re always so witty, Mr. Tao Te." "The Sun as my witness, I''m just an honest old chap." Chen Lun put down the book in his hands and descended the spiral staircase. Mrs. Caroline was holding two books, chatting with the bespectacled old man behind the counter. "Hey, Little Jack!" Mrs. Caroline was somewhat surprised to see Chen Lun, but she quickly greeted him. "I just went upstairs looking for you. Little Floey said you had gone out; turns out you were here reading." She walked over slowly, smiling kindly: "In my hometown, Amethyst City, there''s a saying, ''A man who loves to read is like the Sun, not even with both hands can you block his brilliance.''" "Miss Caroline is saying you''re a bright young man,d," the old man interjected. Mrs. Caroline gave him a yful nce, which elicited a chuckle from the old man. "While loving to read is a good thing, you shouldn''t skip meals... Luckily, we can still make it back in time for dinner." Mrs. Caroline set down the books in her hands and motioned for Chen Lun to leave with her. Chen Lun looked outside at the evening sky; it was already night. "Thank you for your trouble, Mrs. Caroline." "You''re too polite, Little Jack... Speaking of which, Little Floey and I learned a specialty dish that''s perfect for dinner tonight, and you can have a real taste soon." "I look forward to it." The two of them chatted briefly. He followed Mrs. Caroline out of the bookstore, heading toward the hallway. Yet, he sighed to himself. Unfortunately, he had rummaged through every book in the bookstore''s upper partition and hadn''t found any with Supernatural Knowledge. Although this was to be expected, today''sck of findings still bothered him slightly. "I''lle back tomorrow and take another look..." Chapter 44 Ill Just Take a Look Knock, knock... The sound of knocking echoed. "Mr. Jack." Chen Lun opened the great gate, and Connie stood outside, her face full of excitement, holding a mechanical glove and a blunderbuss in her hands. "Mr. Jack, I think I have some ideas, but I''m not sure if they''re feasible..." "Come in and talk." Chen Lun invited Connie into the house. The two sat down in the living room, where Chen Lun made her a cup of tea, which made Connie somewhat embarrassed. "Thank you, Mr. Jack." "You''re wee." Chen Lun nced at the clock on the wall; it was 8:30 in the morning. It seemed that Connie was very interested in Mad Hand and Raging Fire, full of enthusiasm,ing over early to share her aplishments. Fortunately, it was the weekend, so Connie didn''t have to go to school; otherwise, she probably would have been preupied with this matter even there. "...If we modify the internal structure as I envision, and reinforce the barrel, the firearm could likely have its stability significantly increased, reducing the chances of a burst barrel..." Connie pulled out a piece of paper filled with structural drawings and annotations. Chen Lun nced at it briefly, not fullyprehending but simply appreciating the neat handwriting of Connie. "...Moreover, this weapon seems not to be too demanding on the ammunition, but I still think steel balls would be most suitable to decrease wear and increase its lifespan..." "As for this mechanical glove, I always feel like it''s missing something, leading to some structurally redundant and ineffective designs..." Connie spoke continuously for over ten minutes, still appearing somewhat unfulfilled at the end. During this process, she talked about "the effect of the ratchet pawl," "the basicw of gear meshing," as well as "the number of instantaneous centers of mechanisms" and "the three-centers theorem," to all of which Chen Lun simply nodded. He maintained an expression that said "continue, I understand you." She took a sip of tea and nced at Chen Lun with a slight embarrassment. "Connie, it seems you indeed have a gift in this area. If you believe this approach is correct, then go ahead and try it." Chen Lunplimented her, sipping tea to conceal his own ignorance of the subject. In fact, he had allowed her to study Mad Hand and Raging Fire not truly to make improvements, but purely to see how talented she was in this field. It turned out, the girl was mostly a genius. "Ah, thank you..." Being recognized was very fulfilling, and Connie felt very happy. She suddenly remembered something, her expression turning troubled. "It''s just, Mr. Jack, if I am to modify the firearm, I need some tools and materials. I don''t have them at home, I need to borrow them from a nearby workshop..." Connie spoke very tactfully, but Chen Lun knew she was short of money, so he generously gave her ten gold pounds. "Mr. Jack, that''s too much; I just need to buy some materials, and pay some usage fees. Plus, I know the people at the workshop, hehe..." However, Connie only took one gold coin and pushed the rest back. Chen Lun smiled, taking out another and cing it in Connie''s hand. "The extra is your reward." "Thank you... Mr. Jack, you truly are a generous gentleman, I, I must have misunderstood you before..." Connie blushed, visibly embarrassed. "It''s all right." Chen Lun shook his head unconcernedly. "Well then, Mr. Jack, I should get going now." Connie bowed slightly, took her things, and left. After she was gone, Floey appeared behind Chen Lun. "You seem to admire her a lot?" "Yes, she is very talented in mechanics. I was only trying her out, but it turns out I really found a gem." Floey nodded, not continuing the topic about Connie, but instead asked, "Are you going to Mrs. Caroline''s for dinner?" "Uh, no need, you go today." Chen Lun waved his hands awkwardly. He couldn''t help but recallst night''s dinner at Mrs. Caroline''s. Mrs. Caroline first felt regret over Kent''s sudden departure; she seemed to know something too. Shembasted those gang members from the Outer City District at the dinner table, suggesting that Kent was likely driven away by them. Chen Lun just kept his head down and ate. Kent had been killed by him, and he didn''t feel it was appropriate to say much. Wearing the Surging Badge, he had a big appetite and just focused on his meal. Besides, Mrs. Caroline continually inquired whether he had found work yet, discussing how tough life in the Outer City District was and asking about matters concerning moving in with rtives. Chen Lun couldn''t possibly tell the truth, so he glossed over it with a few words. At that time, Floey was quietly observing on the sidelines. Fortunately, she eventually spoke up to ask Mrs. Caroline about cooking, which shifted her attention away. Chen Lun couldn''t help but feel appreciative. She truly was an understanding and considerate girl. ... Chen Lun had settled for breakfast with two bread rolls and a cup of coffee from a caf¨¦ downstairs. After crumpling the paper wrapper of the finished rolls, he threw it into a trash bin and walked straight into the bookstore he had visited yesterday. The old man, hearing the sound of the door, was a bit stunned. He probably didn''t expect Chen Lun toe over to read books so early in the morning. "Good morning, Tao... Mr. Tao Te?" Chen Lun remembered that Mrs. Caroline had called him that yesterday. "Yes, Tao Te." The old man pursed his lips and adjusted his sses. "Good morning, youd." After greeting him, the old man pulled out the thick tome he had been reading yesterday from the drawer behind the counter. Chen Lun couldn''t be bothered with the impolite old fellow. Everyone else calls me mister. He walked to the very back, nning to start reading from there. He had covered the upstairs entirely yesterday and hoped to find something today. Time passed. The sun rose to its zenith and then set into the evening. "Sigh..." Chen Lun put down the biography he was holding and sighed in resignation. He had flipped through all the books on the first floor, yet he had found nothing. Fortunately, he didn''t have to read them thoroughly; just skimming a few pages was enough to know. If no notification box popped up, then it was certainly just an ordinary book. The old man cast a nce at Chen Lun. "Are you looking for a book?" Chen Lun nodded in admission. "Yes." He replied offhandedly, getting ready to leave.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Searching for books containing supernatural knowledge was a tricky matter to exin to this old man. However, as he was about to leave, he suddenly shifted his attention to the thick tome in the old man''s hand. Surely it couldn''t be this one? "Tell me what book you''re looking for; I know every single one here like the back of my hand," Tao Te said, with a hint of pride on his face. Seeing his confidence, Chen Lun said: "Do you have any old books that look like they''ve seen years, or some strange books with mysterious content...?" Chen Lun knew well that regr bookstores generally didn''t house supernatural knowledge. Even if they did, it was only the very low-tier kind. High-tier supernatural knowledge, if identally seen by ordinary people, could lead to the reader''s Sanity Value resetting to zero, causing death or the loss of control that ultimately provoked terrible chaos. Thus, if there really were any high-end supernatural knowledge, it would have been confiscated by the Shelter long ago. The bits of supernatural knowledge that lingered among the public were mostly "the ones that got away," but these too were limited to Low Sequence knowledge. If seen by ordinary people, they wouldn''t trigger major incidents of mystical contamination. At most, they would find the books strange and the contents mysteriously unclear. Only those who really understood could extract the mystical supernatural knowledge from them and thus step through the great gate of the Transcendent''s world. "No!" The old man shook his head decisively. Chen Lun was speechless; was this old guy messing with me? "Mr. Tao Te, may I take a look at the book you''re holding?" "No." The old man refused. "..." "Mr. Tao Te, if I find the book is good, I will pay money for it." Chen Lun looked earnest. Tao Te looked up at him, removing his sses. "I got this book a few years ago, but the content is all about tomb and mausoleum knowledge. I''m nning to carefully choose and design my future tomb..." "Just let me have a look." "10 Silver Ducats." p! Chen Lun pped a Gold Pound onto the table. "Hey, you really are rich, kid!" Tao Te grinned, handing over the thick tome. [You have discovered a Mystic Book of the Earth Faction!] [Tomb Art Appreciation Collection (Progress 4%)] [By rigorously reading, you have gained 20 Experience Points] [You have discoveredplete knowledge of a pathway to bing Transcendent!] [Earth Faction Sequence Nine: Tomb Robber] Chapter 45 Tomb-Robbing Ancestor Chen Lun ``` Could it really be a Mystic Book!? Chen Lun felt surprised. At the same time, he had already made up his mind in his heart to get his hands on this book. Although he currently did not have any Mysterious Substance from the Earth Faction to transcribe this Supernatural Sequence''s Mystic Knowledge, it did not hinder his "stockpiling." Once he prepared the materials in the future, he could carry out the transcription. "Mr. Tao Te, are you really not going to sell this book?" "I''ve said many times, it''s not for sale." The old man grew a bit impatient and extended his hand to signal for Chen Lun to return the book to him. "Give me back my money." Chen Lun raised an eyebrow, unwilling to show weakness. The old man was somewhat ovee with anger, blowing his beard and ring at the young man. "We had an agreement, just a look! And you,d, wouldn''t happen to be eyeing a plot ofnd in Amber City for tomb raiding, would you?" The old man looked at Chen Lun with suspicion. "Mr. Tao Te, although you are older than I am, you cannot use that to insult my character." Chen Lun looked disdainful. "You should be able to see that I am not so destitute that I need to sustain myself by tomb raiding." The old man didn''t take his words to heart and said with a peculiar tone while adjusting his sses: "That''s hard to say, you might just be psychologically twisted, simply wanting to satisfy your own desires by desecrating others'' graves." "..." Chen Lun could tell that the old man probably wasn''t worried about him doing anything bad, but simply didn''t want to sell the book to him. "Mr. Tao Te, just tell me straight, what will it take for you to sell the book to me." Chen Lun said bluntly. Until thest resort, he was not willing to use supernatural means to profit. Although the old man was detestable, he himself was not so unfair as to bully the weak and snatch away his belongings. Mr. Tao Te chuckled twice. "I hear you''ve been dining at Caroline''s ce? Umm... I''d like to taste the dishes she prepares." His expression turned serious right after. "You get what I''m saying to you,d!?" "I get it." Chen Lun nodded, turning and walking out of the bookstore. As the old man started to imagine himself having dinner with Miss Caroline, the door to the bookstore was opened once more. Chen Lun had returned. But this time, he was followed by Mrs. Caroline. "Oh, Mr. Tao Te, I hear you wanted to taste my afternoon tea?" Mrs. Caroline held a tter in her hand, filled with a few leftover baked cookies and some crumbs. "Unfortunately, this is all that''s left." Mr. Tao Te''s face immediately stiffened. But he quickly regained theposure befitting an old gentleman, smoothed his reading sses, and smiled politely as he took the te from Mrs. Caroline''s hands. "Oh, the beautiful Miss Caroline, yes, I... I''m famished." Then he turned around. The young man had already vanished without a trace with his book, and even the gold coin on the table had mysteriously disappeared. ... Chen Lun was in a good mood. He held in his hands the "Future Homebuyers'' Guide" belonging to Mr. Tao Te. For some reason, he could always picture a scene in his mind¡ª A group of yers carrying shovels posting on forums, gathering before vanishing into cemeterieste at night. They dug the earth while discussing topics like "striking it rich," "climbing the ranks," and "Woo Hoo, takeoff!" The air was filled with cheer among the graves. The nobility was frustrated, the police officers were under tremendous pressure, and the History and Ritual Association was utterly bewildered. Where did all these shameless ratse from!? "That''s none of my business..." Chen Lun whistled a tune and carefully put away the "Tomb Art Appreciation Collection." ``` This book could represent a ticket to a Supernatural Sequence, and with his Sub upation as a Recorder, it was truly a hen that couldy golden eggs! When he reached the third floor, he suddenly heard Connie arguing with her father, Mr. Hood, once again. "I need more ''nectar''! Can''t you go buy some for me quicker!?" A feeble yet irritable voice came through. "Dad, you really can''t take that stuff anymore! I''ve looked into it, and everyone who has used that drug never ends well." Connie retorted. "What do you know, they ended up like that because they didn''t continue taking it, you can''t stop ''nectar'' abruptly!" "But we''re out of money, dad."N?v(el)B\\jnn Connie''s tone was somewhat helpless. "If there''s no money then go make some! Do you still expect me, an old man, to go out and earn money now!?" "Oh my God, how can you talk to me like this..." Connie ran out of the house heartbroken again. She bumped into Chen Lun in the corridor, looking somewhat embarrassed. Chen Lun handed her a handkerchief. "...Thank you." Connie took it and lowered her head to wipe the corners of her eyes. "Connie, take this money and buy medicine for your father." Chen Lun handed her a Gold Pound. "Did you hear all that, Mr. Jack...?" Connie shook her head and refused, gritting her teeth and saying: "I''m not going to give dad that medicine from the Red Apple Church anymore." Chen Lun sighed silently. Her father''s condition was probably beyond salvation. Not to mention the deep affliction by ''nectar,'' abruptly stopping might also lead to sudden death within a short time. But this was Connie''s family matter, and as an outsider, it wasn''t his ce to say much. "I''m sorry, Mr. Jack, I...I think I need a walk." Connie''s emotions were somewhat downtrodden. Chen Lun stepped aside to let her pass, and Connie walked out in silence. Watching her figure disappear from view, he shook his head slightly and returned to the fourth floor to open the door to his room. Seeing him return, Floey got up from the sofa and handed him a letter. "What''s this?" Chen Lun took the letter, puzzled. "Mrs. Caroline sent it, said a strange man gave it to you." Floey exined. Chen Lun already had a hunch¡ªit was probably from ackey of the Iron Fist Gang. He took the letter back to his room, sat at the table, and opened it. "¡ªDear Sir, Butler Fedman has sent a message that he wille again tonight. If you need, you can be present in person, and I will cooperate with all your actions.¡ªYour humble follower, Gary" Chen Lun crumpled the letter in his hand, rubbed it into scraps, and scattered them in the waste basket. He pondered for a moment. Since Fedman was the butler of Congressman Daniel, he must possess a lot of information. If he could control Fedman, he might gain more insider details. If through him he found out Daniel''s intentions, perhaps he could leverage those clues to find "Glutton" Dolly... Chen Lun wasted no more time. He greeted Floey and left the house again. Using the gradually dimming twilight, Chen Lun concealed his form and hastened towards the swamnds. Before long, he arrived at the entrance of the Flower Bird Tavern again. He pushed the door and entered. The heavily made-upndy''s face changed drastically upon seeing Chen Lun but then remembered something, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She forced a smile and approached. "Sir...Boss Gary is waiting for you in the back courtyard." Chen Lun noticed the vintage inte in her hands and revealed a polite yet odd smile. "Aren''t you going to notify him? Don''t worry, there won''t be any rats causing trouble this time." Thendy suddenly widened her eyes. Chapter 46 You Threaten Me A carriage slowly came to a halt at the entry stairs leading down to the waterside dock. The door of the carriage opened, and a middle-aged man in a suit vest stepped out. His hair was meticulouslybed back, with a few strands of white adding a touch of mature charm. "Let''s go." Fedman covered his nose with his hand, his face set in a grim expression. "Every time Ie here, I feel as if I''ve taken a bath in a cesspool." A hint of disgust flickered in his eyes. Two tall bodyguards in ck suits nked him, descending the steps together. ng! The door to the Mermaid''s Song tavern was thrown open. Thendy, her face almost brimming with obsequiousness and fawning, approached them, but before she could speak, she was pushed away by the bodyguards. "I''ve told you many times, keep your distance, dy''!" He emphasized the word dy" with a pause. Fedman didn''t even grant her a nce, walking straight in while still holding his nose. Thendy''s eyes twitched, and she stepped back, feeling aggrieved. The tavern patrons all stood up to clear a path, taking off their dirty hats and bowing. A few serving maids, carrying trays, watched Fedman carefully, making the charming middle-aged man feel uneasy. He frowned and, apanied by the two bodyguards, made his way through the kitchen to the backyard. The underlings of the Iron Fist Gang seemed to have received notice of an important visitor. About a dozen of them were waiting in the courtyard for Fedman''s arrival and saluted in unison upon seeing him. Although some brothers were missing, this was normal for them. The Outer City District was chaotic, and the waterside dock was even more so¡ªa battlefield of gang violence. The Iron Fist Gang, stationed here, was asionally harassed by other gangs. Deaths in these scuffles weremon. The good thing about the waterside dock was that it was never short of people; many strong young men wanted to join the Iron Fist Gang. In the past two days, twenty new recruits had been inducted. "Sir, Boss Gary is waiting for you inside," said an elderly member of the Iron Fist Gang with respect. He recognized this well-dressed figure who often came to see Boss Gary. Although he didn''t know the specifics of their discussions, it was clear that Gary held this man in high esteem. "Hmm." Fedman hummed a monosyble and entered the building. But when he went in, he found not Gary waiting for him on the sofa. It was a ck-haired young man. The other person did not look like a member of a gang, but more like a young student deep in his studies at the academy. Handsome and extremely neat. His demeanor and poise revealed a confidence that was intimately familiar to Fedman; he had seen it in the nobles of the Inner City District. The ck-haired youth smiled at him politely, with a hint of appraisal in his gaze. Gary stood by his side respectfully, looking every bit the part of a sycophant. "Who might you be, sir?" Fedman''s brow furrowed tightly, a bad feeling rising within him. Then, he nced at Gary again and asked with suppressed anger, "Gary, what is the meaning of this!?" The sturdy man did not answer him, standing there like a humble statue. Chen Lun stood up. "Are you the butler of councilman Daniel?" "It seems some disloyal dog has told you some things." Fedman let out a cold sneer. "But you shouldn''t interfere in matters here because that''s asking for death... no matter who you are!" Chen Lun was too impatient to waste words with him. If this guy wasn''t willing to talk, Chen Lun had his ways to make him talk. With a flick of his hand, a flintlock gun appeared in his grasp. He raised his hand, pulling the trigger and firing at the two bodyguards. Bang Bang!! The lead bullets hit the bodyguards in the arms, piercing through their suit jackets and blossoming into flowers of blood. The bodyguards reacted swiftly; the moment Chen Lun drew his gun, they shielded Fedman with their bodies. They quickly raised their arms and turned, using their arms to protect their heads, thus avoiding being instantly killed by a shot to the head. "Eh?" Chen Lun was somewhat surprised. He hadn''t expected two ordinary people to be able to react to his speed. After being shot, the two bodyguards grunted and quickly drew their guns, returning fire at Chen Lun. Bang bang! Bang bang bang! Their flintlock guns, like the one in Chen Lun''s hand, were products of the Transcendent workshop with rapid-fire capabilities. The bodyguards, having undergone professional training and likely military veterans, were extremely urate shooters, and the rapid-fire firearms in their hands were an added advantage. But Chen Lun was faster, darting through the tables and columns like a Spirit Cat. Not a single lead bullet hit its mark, as they only kicked up clouds of wood and stone dust. In a sh, he was in front of them. A sweeping leg kick. With a whoosh of wind, theplexion of one of the bodyguards changed drastically as he attempted to block with his crossed arms.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡ªBut it was clearly in vain. It was like being hit by an iron bar as the powerful kick not only shattered his arms but also prated through his chest and back. His bones cracked loudly as he screamed and was thrown aside. With several loud bangs, after crashing through a few tables and chairs, that bodyguard was buried under debris and did not move again. [Kill: Professional bodyguard (High-concentration nectar enhancer), awarded 100 experience points] A notification popped up. But Chen Lun paid no attention to it and dodged the iing dagger with a sidestep. Whoosh¡ª! The other bodyguard''s face was stern as heunched a continuous ferocious attack on Chen Lun with a short dagger. In the brief pause after the fourth stab, Chen Lun threw a powerful punch. His dark gold fist, covered in Carp Armor, not only broke the dagger in the bodyguard''s hand but also smashed into his abdomen. Spewing out blood, the bodyguard staggered backward a few steps and then fell to his knees. [Kill: Professional bodyguard (High-concentration nectar enhancer), awarded 100 experience points] All of this happened in a few breaths, before the others even had time to react. "Damn it! A Transcendent!?" Fedman cursed, turning to run towards the door. "Stop him!" At that moment, Gary shouted. The remaining members of the Iron Fist Gang, unaware of the truth, paused momentarily before rushing to block the entrance. Seeing the way out blocked, Fedman turned around with a gloomy face. "Do you know what you''re doing?" He stared at the slowly approaching young man with ck hair and said in a deep voice. Noticing the scales on the back of the young man''s hand receding slowly, his eyes twitched. "Even if you''re a Transcendent, you can''t kill me... You have no idea what you''ll face." "By your logic, is Daniel the congressman not the real mastermind then?" Chen Lun asked with a polite smile. "Spill everything you know." He activated the "Mermaid''s Song" hypnosis ability and covered Fedman with it. A dark light burst forth from Fedman''s arms, neutralizing Chen Lun''s psychic influence. Then, a painting flew out from under his vest, unfolding swiftly in midair. Whoosh! The rough oil painting depicted the back view of a long-haired woman, with four or five vague ck spirits swirling around her. "Ah! Aaah!!!" Fedman screamed. Four of five dark shadows flew out of the painting and entered Fedman through his mouth and nose. "The power of the soul¡­ Is this the Moon Faction''s Sequence Nine Medium?" Chen Lun frowned. In just a few seconds, Fedman had turned into a ''ck figure''. Covered in shadows and emitting ck smoke, he red at Chen Lun with a fierce look on his face. "You troublemaker, you deserve to die!" "Are you threatening me?" Chen Lun asked with a polite smile. Chapter 47 The Clue is Broken Bang!! Fedman, contrary to his usual behavior, leapt over like a specter andnded a punch on Chen Lun''s face. Chen Lun''s head shook slightly. Half of his cheek was covered by Carp Armor, and one of his eyes turned into a green snake pupil. The young man with ck hair revealed a sinister smile even more ferocious than Fedman''s. "I thought it was some incredible ace up your sleeve, but it turns out it''s just a ''Medium''..." Chen Lun was all too familiar with the Moon Faction''s Supernatural Sequence, as he had followed this path in his previous life. Sequence Nine: Medium Possessing mysterious powers of mediumship, capable of simplemunication with the Lost Souls, and temporarily strengthening oneself by borrowing spirit. "This is not your power, but the power recorded by that strange painting..." Fedman turned a deaf ear and roared as he threw another punch at Chen Lun. Thetter shifted his position and easily dodged the attack. "Five Lost Souls'' blessing? That''s all there is to it." "Die!!" Fedman lunged forward with a heavy elbow strike. Crack!! Chen Lun casually waved his hand and knocked his arm away, causing him to lose bncepletely. "Not to mention you''re just an ordinary man, how much Supernatural Power can you exert?" The young man''s indifferent voice reached Fedman''s ears. Fedman''s eyes widened in disbelief at the oue. Bang¡ª!! A blur of a shadow so fast it was almost indistinct crossed his retina. The next second, Fedman felt a severe pain in his abdomen. A step-in kick from Chen Lun sent Fedman flying. He spun in the air, tumbling twice before crashing heavily onto the ground. "Ugh!" Fedman coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Two dark shadows emerged from his ears and dissipated into nothingness. "Damn it! How... How can he be so strong!?" Fedman was frantic, struggling to get up but failing to do so. If it weren''t for the support of the Lost Souls, that kick would have killed him. An image shed through his mind¡ªa silhouette glimpsed in the study, conversing with Daniel. Fear and loyalty spread in his heart, eventually erupting. "You won''t get any information from me, so die!" Fedman roared hysterically, eyes ckened as he leaped from the ground. Mid-air, he lunged directly at Chen Lun, face filled with madness as he bellowed: "Even if we have to perish together, I will not betray!" The ck smoke on Fedman''s face grew denser, now obscuring his features. His voice emanated from the smoke, low and firm yet twisted and distorted. "This guy''s lost it... He wants to die with me?" A thought shed through Chen Lun''s mind. Immediately, he took decisive action, not wanting to capsize in a gutter. Scorpion Tail Needle! He rotated and stomped, shattering the air with a kick. Bang!! Fedman was sent flying out, over the doorstep of the building,nding on the stairs, unable to rise for the moment due to the Supernatural Toxin. "Fire!" Chen Lun signaled, and Gary immediately understood, issuing an order. The underlings of the Iron Fist Gang donned their Iron Gloves and fired their Blunderbusses at Fedman. A barrage of crackling and popping shots rang out. Fedman exploded into a grotesque monster, with three anguished human faces emerging on his neck and chest. "Arghhh...!!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Nails and shards of ss showered upon him. He howled in agony and eventually ceased struggling. After the dust had settled, Chen Lun walked out of the building. Looking down at the slightly twitching Fedman, he stomped on his head, crushing it! [By killing Daniel''s Butler Fedman (with the Lost Souls'' blessing), you''ve earned 500 Experience Points.] "Ugh!" "Ergh, ugh!!" Many of the Iron Fist Gang''s underlings knelt on the ground, painfully vomiting after witnessing the uncontroble transformations of the supernaturals. Some of them even rolled on the ground, clutching their heads. Fortunately, Fedman had died quickly; if they had watched for too long, they likely would have all dropped dead. Had a few more undergone mysterious contamination and uncontroble mutations, it would have spread like a gue, causing an uncontroble chain reaction. Of course, Chen Lun wouldn''t allow such a scenario to unfold, lest he attract the attention of the Shelter. "Have someone clean up his body, seal it up, and find a ce to bury it." Chen Lun was worried that the Iron Fist Gang would carelessly throw Fedman''s body into a drainage ditch, so he specifically gave this instruction. "Yes, Your Excellency." Gary bowed behind him. He had been enhanced with high-concentration "Fruit Honey" and had a higher resistance to mysterious contamination, so he wasn''t vomiting like his underlings. He just felt some mild difort, which he could tolerate. Chen Lun frowned, nudged Fedman''s body with the tip of his shoe, and found nothing of value on it. The scroll had also be a useless sheet of white paper. He sighed inwardly; the clue had ended here. But Chen Lun was not discouraged, for he already knew this whole affair involved Councilor Daniel. Now that he had a target, he would eventually rify things, sooner orter. "Finish the two tasks I''ve assigned you as soon as possible. If you encounter trouble you can''t handle, notify me just like you did this time." Chen Lun instructed Gary onest time before leaving directly. "I shall heed Your Excellency''s will!" Gary touched his chest and bowed. ... The next morning. After a simple breakfast, Chen Lun began reading in his room. With the time fromst night included, he had almost finished the "Tomb Art Appreciation Collection." Around noon. [Through careful reading, you have gained 220 Experience Points.] [The Earth Faction Mystic Book "Tomb Art Appreciation Collection" (Progress 100%) has been fully read!] [You have gained an additional 1 Skill Point and 1 Attribute Point.] Chen Lun exhaled deeply, having finally exhausted the resources within the book. Although his Main Profession could only have one entry, preventing Chen Lun from inheriting "Tomb Robber," he could still gain the corresponding experience through reading. However, since it was not from his own "Destiny Faction," the gain was halved. The original 1000 Experience Points were reduced to 500 Points. "The books in the bookstore downstairs no longer hold any value for exploration. I hope the Iron Fist Gang will bring some good news soon," Chen Lun mused. After putting away the "Tomb Art Appreciation Collection," Chen Lun nned to go downstairs to Mrs. Caroline''s and grab something to eat. As soon as he opened the door, he heard amotion in the hallway. Rushing to the third floor, he found it crowded with people. Many of the local neighbors were present, and even residents from across the street hade over in considerable numbers. "Oh, little Connie, don''t me yourself... Mr. Hood has simply returned to Lady Rose''s embrace," Mrs. Caroline consoled, holding Connie in her arms. Connie clung to Mrs. Caroline, her shoulders shaking uncontrobly. Discover more stories at empire "...Sob sob, it''s all my fault, I shouldn''t have decided to stop dad''s medicine on my own! It''s all because of me, it''s my fault!" Connie cried, her emotions running high. Chen Lun stood outside the crowd, peering through the half-opened door, he could see into Connie''s living room. A many motionless on a rocking chair. "Connie''s father has died." Floey appeared beside Chen Lun, speaking softly. She shook her head slightly and sighed softly. "It''s because of the withdrawal from ''Fruit Honey.''" Chen Lun nodded to show he was aware. Chapter 48 Funeral ording to thews of the Tresor Empire, the requirements of the "Sun Codex," and traditional funeral rites, the dead must be buried on the same day. A taciturn monk from the Moon Church, about thirty years old, stood quietly in the corner of Connie''s room, waiting. Mr. Hood had already been ced in a in coffin, now positioned in the middle of the living room. Mrs. Caroline''s flower shop was closed for the day, as she wanted to spend more time with Connie, the poor little girl. At this time, several neighbors on good terms with Mrs. Caroline were sitting on the couch, surrounding Connie in the middle, whispering words offort to her. But Connie''s spirits were not high, and she responded sporadically. Chen Lun watched them, thinking about certain matters. His future nscked a technical talent like Connie, because he needed to establish an organization simr to a Shelter''s extraordinary workshop that could continuously produce equipment. Whether it was for trading with other powers or for harvesting the wallets of yers upon their arrival, it would be very useful. He appreciated Connie''s talent and nned to take her with him when he moved to the Inner City District. But obviously, now was not the time to speak of such matters. Chen Lun nced at the Moon Church monk in the corner and turned to whisper to Floey by his side, "Take extra care of Connie these next few days." Floey turned her head to "gaze" at Chen Lun for a few seconds and nodded lightly with pursed lips. "Mm." Chen Lun seemed to sense a slight sense of grievance in Floey''s emotions, and he was momentarily taken aback before realizing his tone was not right. "Sorry, I just..." "I know." Floey''s ethereal voice came through. "Connie has enough talent in mechanics; she can help you." "No, I''m not apologizing for that." Chen Lun smiled at her. "My words just now might have given you the wrong impression, and I didn''t mean tomand you. I don''t want you to do things you''re reluctant to for my sake. Moreover, you are my greatest support for the future, Floey." Floey looked somewhat surprised, then serious. "But I am going to die soon..." Chen Lun exhaled deeply, his gaze returning to the living room. "I won''t let you die." His tone was very calm. Floey''s heart trembled, but she felt the weight of his words. This was the second time she heard Chen Lun make a promise to her. Unlike the first time, she had taken it merely as constion, because the entity within her had told her the chances of survival were slim to none. Perhaps there was a slight chance if she returned to the Red Apple Church, but she preferred death over going back. Hearing these words again, Floey felt an inexplicable sense of relief. For some reason, she actually believed him. "Can I really help you..." Floey murmured softly, almost inaudibly, as she gazed at the side profile of the dark-haired young man. Time swiftly moved towards evening. The setting sun bathed the entire city in orange-red. The Moon Church monk conveyed to everyone that it was time for the burial. Giving rtives an afternoon to say their farewells was quite humane. Mrs. Caroline and the others stood up, and Connie, with tears in her eyes, expressed her gratitude to the monk. The monks of the Moon Church slowly walked in from outside and carried the coffin away. They were dressed in ck robes, with hoods covering their heads, their strong and muscr arms visible from the sleeves. Two monks easily lifted the coffin and carried it off. The crowd followed the people from the Moon Church to the cemetery. At dusk, the monk recited an elegy for Mr. Hood, as the ck-d neighbors and locals bowed their heads in silence. A funeral is a sacred affair, expressing the living''s respect and remembrance for the one who has passed. Death, for people, is a significant process. And in such a world where supernatural existences aremonce, it''s filled with mystery and enigma. The Moon Church handles funeral-rted matters in the Empire, dealing with death day in and day out. In his past life, Chen Lun had personally participated in some activities of the Moon Church. His assessment of this church could be summed up in two words¡ª Solemn. Unlike the eye-catching Red Apple Church, the Moon Church is rather low-key. Church members, regardless of rank, from top to bottom, all carried a solemn demeanor. They spoke little, as though they regarded themselves as servants of death. Death, after all, is a journey from mor to silence.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "The death of one person is but an additional grave to the world, but to those who rely on each other for life, it''s as if the entire world has been buried in graves... Miss Connie, please restrain your sorrow. We will all reach the moon after we die, and leaving this world is merely stepping onto the road towards the moon," said the Moon Church''s monk in a soft voice. His finger traced an arc in the air, finally touching his own lips with a point. This was the prayer gesture of the Moon Church. Soon after, the monks began to lower the coffin into the grave and used iron shovels to dig up earth to cover it. "I once longed for death, but then I became indifferent..." Floey stood beside Chen Lun, watching this scene and murmured softly. Chen Lun nced at her, offeringfort: "None of what happened in the past was your fault, Floey." The shadows of her childhood and the darkness within the Red Apple Church had nearly destroyed her heart. "But I seem to have be more timorous, I now begin to fear death," Floey turned her head, her ck satin gaze fixed on him. Chen Lun was startled. He suddenly thought of that countdown. 47 days left. Floey''s life had only 47 days left. If they could not find the "High Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance" within this one and a half months, then Floey''s body would no longer be able to maintain the massive supernatural strength of the "Grade A Mysterious Objects Sun-avoiding Potted nt." Floey would be inundated by corruption, ultimately extinguishing her personality and losing control, turning into a monster. Chen Lun took a deep breath. "Don''t worry, I''ve alreadye up with a n." "Mhm, I believe you," Floey "gazed" at him for a while, finally nodding and showing a small smile. Experience tales at empire It was then that the Moon church''s monk, holding a ss bottle, approached each of the mourners at the funeral. "Please let your sorrow fall and turn into a remembrance for the deceased and a constion to the living," he said, holding the tear bottle, collecting the tears of the crowd. Perhaps Mr. Hood had not had a good rtionship with the neighbors and locals during his lifetime; there were few who shed tears for him. Only Connie cried the most grievously. Lastly, the monk handed the tear bottle to Connie, whispering a few words to her. Connie nodded as she epted it, expressing her gratitude to the monk. Chen Lun knew what he had said; it was mostly instructions for Connie to ce the tear bottle at home. When the tears inside the bottle dried up, it would mean that the departed had reached the moon. But Chen Lun was curious, how could a believer of Rose possibly reach the moon? He couldn''t help but shake his head. Chapter 49 Even a Dog Would Shake its Head After the funeral ended, the sky had already darkened. Once the crowd had dispersed, Mrs. Caroline invited Connie to dine at her home.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Back at number seven Denton Street. Floey and Mrs. Caroline were busy in the kitchen while Chen Lun and Connie waited in the living room. "Thank you, Mr. Jack." Connie''s eyes were somewhat swollen, and she said softly with her head lowered to Chen Lun. "The Gold Pounds you paid for my father''s funeral, I will work hard to repay you... But I''m sorry, right now I, I may not be able to engage in the research on weapons." Chen Lun picked up his teacup, took a sip, and waved his hand. "Don''t be under pressure, Connie, you don''t need to hurry to repay me the money." After setting down his teacup, he consoled her: "Research won''t suffer from a little dy, what''s most important right now is that you take care of yourself, and not let sorrow take control. If you have time, you can go for a walk in the park with Floey to clear your mind." Connie nodded silently and gave Chen Lun a forced smile. The dinner that followed made Connie feel a warmth she had never experienced before. The kind Mrs. Caroline told her many past stories about how she had pulled herself together after losing her husband Henry and son Oliver. Miss Floey encouraged her by her side, and with Mr. Jack sharing some interesting anecdotes, Connie felt her grief lighten a little. The dinner was sumptuous, and it was said that most of it was personally made by Miss Floey, which surprised Connie greatly. The dishes were delicious and healing. What healed her even more was the kindness of people. ... Late at night. Chen Lun came out from the washroom, heading back to his room to prepare for bed. As he passed by the window, however, he noticed two figures standing under the streetmp across the street. "Hey, buddy, are we just going to wait here?" A man from the Iron Fist Gang, smoking a cigarette, said sullenly. "What else? This was a task personally assigned by boss Gary. And don''t forget, the one living here is a non-human entity; let''s justplete our mission properly." Hispanion seemed to remember something, shuddering at the thought. Immediately he stretched out a hand. "Give me one, I''ve smoked all mine." "Dammit, you always say that!" As the two talked, they suddenly saw a dog dart out from the opposite building''s hallway. Under the dim glow of the street light, they could just make out its shiny ck and white fur. Woof woof! The dog ran straight up to them, barked twice with its head upturned, and then lifted a front paw and gestured. "The hell! It''s like it''s talking to me!" "Give it the letter." "What...?" The Iron Fist Gang underling suddenly realized his mate was staring up at the building across the street. He followed the gaze in that direction and vaguely saw a dark-haired young man watching them from the fourth floor window. "Give it the letter!" Hispanion urged him again. It took a moment for the man in the leather jacket toe back to his senses, trembling as he handed the letter he had in his embrace to the dog. The dog took the letter in its mouth, gave him a disdainful look, and then slunk back into the hallway without a backward nce. The Iron Fist Gang underling stood dumbfounded for a while until the cigarette burned his mouth, snapping him out of it. "Truly bizarre! I''ve just been snubbed by a dog!?" The Border Collie returned to the room, and Chen Lun took the letter, petting its head. The dog happily wagged its tail. Experience exclusive tales on empire Tearing open the envelope, he inspected the contents in the moonlight. "¡ªRespected Sir, I have gathered information about the recent situation of Viscount Pompey as per your instructions. He often went out to meet friends and attend variousrge events and venues, and asionally went to the artificial forests in the Inner City District to hunt. Beyond that, he mostly stayed on his estate and read books¡­ There''s another piece of news. This informationes from a good friend of Viscount Pompey, Baron Barnie, and its authenticity is very high. It''s said that Viscount Pompey''s daughter, Miss Reba, fell off a horse and injured her leg and is currently recuperating at home. He is very distressed and wants to find a private tutor for Miss Reba. Here is the detailed address of Viscount Pompey''s home: No. 9, Second Avenue, Inner City District, Pompey Manor¡­" "Additionally, regarding this person ''Dolly'' you mentioned, no clues have been found so far. I hope you can forgive my ipetence. I and the Iron Fist Gang will do our utmost to search for his whereabouts for your sake. ¡ªYour humble follower, Gary." Chen Lun read the letter, crumpled it up, and destroyed it. He leaned back in his chair, finding afortable position. His eyelids drooped as he pondered. A momentter, he struck a match, and lit the oilmp on his table. Then he picked up a feather quill and, dipping it into ink, wrote another letter. The content of the letter requested Gary to create a fictitious identity for him and Floey. Although it was to be fabricated, the identity had to be legitimate, capable of withstanding scrutiny from the Security Office of the Inner City District. This wouldn''t be too difficult for Gary, given his connections with many influential figures in the Inner City District. It was akin to fabricating the identities of two individuals, followed by registering them at the Security Office. Chen Lun specified his own identity as a schr from out of town, whose research focus was ¡ª Literature and Nature. One of his ns was to apply for a job as the private tutor of Viscount Pompey''s daughter, thus infiltrating Viscount Manor before opportunely searching for the "Philip''s Legacy." However, this was just a backup n. If there were a simpler way to infiltrate and directly snatch the item, all the better. As for Floey''s identity, Chen Lun had Gary fabricate the title of an impoverished noble from out of town and apply it to her. While nobility was rare, when considered across the entire Tresor Empire, it was a vast group. An obscure noble''s title, especially from out of town, would be difficult for someone to verify its authenticity. As long as Floey didn''t often attend noble gatherings andrge events, and her behavior and dress fit her identity, she was unlikely to be exposed. In fact, Chen Lun wasn''t worried about this at all. With Floey''s looks and demeanor, even if she were dressed as a maid, she wouldn''t be able to hide her unique Charm. Chen Lun put the letter he''d written into a brand-new envelope. He looked down from upstairs and saw that the two Iron Fist Gang members had already left. He felt a bit helpless and was fretting when he caught sight of the dog at his feet, still wagging its tail and looking at him. "You really are a good dog!" Woof! "Dog!" "What?" Two members of the Iron Fist Gang walked down the quiet street when one of them suddenly eximed. Looking back, they saw the familiar dog charging towards them. "It''s that again! Why is it chasing us!?" "Could it be that his lordship is dissatisfied with us and wants to have it chew us to death?" The two looked at each other. "Run!" Two men in leather jackets sprint for their lives down the street, with arge ck and white dog hot on their heels. Until one stumbled over rubbish on the ground. When he looked up, hispanion was already far away, leaving only a receding figure. "Damn it!" The fallen guy cursed, enduring the pain. "Am I going to die? Oh my goodness, I''m still so young, I haven''t even touched the hand of a maid from the Flower Bird Tavern, I haven''t..." The dog, too, was panting heavily, having run up to him. The Iron Fist Gang member had closed his eyes to await death, but no pain came after a long while. Slightly opening his eyes, he saw a dog face staring at him, a letter in its mouth. Most importantly, its eyes seemed to regard him as if he were an idiot. "Xie Te! To think I''d be looked down upon by the same dog twice in one day!?" Chapter 50 Preparation and Invitation Two dayster. Gary from the Iron Fist Gang had brought Chen Lun what he desired. Two sets of identity documents and the corresponding tokens. The identity document was a newly inked card, encased in a thin leather wallet. Chen Lun opened it to see that on his identity card, the name column read Jack Spett. His status, as he had requested, was an out-of-town schr from Peacock City in Bronze City, Rock State. Continue reading at empire The other document, a diploma, noted his studies at Oakwood Academy, with a focus on literature, history, and nature. These proofs bore the seal of the Amber City Inner City District Security Office and the signatures of the reviewing officials. "Nicely done." Chen Lun praised satisfactorily. After breakfast, Chen Lun casually handed Floey her identity documents along with a copper badge. "What''s this?" Floey asked curiously. "Necessities for us to move around in the Inner City District," Chen Lun exined with a smile. "Keep them safe and if we''re inspected, just show them... Remember, you''re no longer a nun from the Red Apple Church, but ady from a declining noble family from out of town, Floy Wolf." Upon hearing this, Floey instantly realized that the items in her hand were fabricated identities. "Are we preparing to leave this ce? To the Inner City District...?" She nodded and asked softly. Her fingers gently traced the pattern on the copper badge, and the name of a family surfaced in her mind¡ª Wolf. This noble family from out of town''s ancestors didn''t matter anymore; likely there were no descendants left. With this name, Floey could live securely in the Inner City District. "Yes, we should be leaving in the next couple of days," Chen Lun answered softly. Floey suddenly felt a hint of reluctance. Although she had only lived at number seven on Denton Street for about a week, she had grown somewhat fond of the ce. "Don''t worry, we''ll have the chance toe back and visit Mrs. Caroline," Chen Lun said as he ruffled the back neck fur of the border collie, which looked confusedly at him. "And you don''t need to worry about Mrs. Caroline being lonely by herself, I n to leave this guy here." Woof! The dog spun around in ce, visibly reluctant. Chen Lun simply ignored it. He did not know the situation in the Inner City District yet, and taking Floey with him was already a stretch on his resources. If Connie ultimately agreed to go with them, they would need to be even more cautious. It was better to leave the dog here to keep Mrs. Carolinepany, at least providing it with a shelter, so it didn''t have to roam any longer. Knock, knock. Just then, someone knocked on the front door. Chen Lun went to open it, and Connie stood outside with a smile on her face. "Mr. Jack, I''ve finished modifying the firearm!" Chen Lun raised an eyebrow, surprised at her efficiency. Seeing the undeniable fatigue on her face and the bandages on her fingertips, Chen Lun guessed that she must have been fully engrossed in her research these past couple of days. Perhaps it was also a way for her to forget her pain. Connie took a seat on the sofa and ced the modified blunderbuss on the table. "With my design, its stability has greatly increased, and it''s unlikely to misfire anymore." Chen Lun picked up the blunderbuss to inspect it. [Raging Fire - Custom-made Firearm (Improved Version)] Item description: A carefully modified flintlock gun with clever design enhancements to improve stability without any reduction in firepower. The expanded muzzle allows for formidable lethality at close range with no restrictions on the type of ammunition used. A small steel ball can be shot with such force that it makes you cry in pain! "An excellent modification, I didn''t misjudge you, Connie," Chen Lun put down the blunderbuss and smiled as heplimented her. Connie blushed and hesitantly picked up the mechanical glove again. Looking at it, her tone carried a hint of discouragement: "I designed several ns for this mechanical glove, but none of them worked... I tried adding some functions to it, but that didn''t seem right either. Instead, it became impractical." Chen Lun knew that the glove was actually a failed imitation, crafted by the craftsmen of the Iron Fist Gang by copying the design of another. Lacking the true soul. He looked at Connie, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm, so he took out the [Mad Hand Prototype Drawing ¨C Palm Fireworks]. Connie was extremely surprised when she saw the exquisite painting. "This painting... so this is what it''s like!" She seemed very excited, pointing at the mechanical glove in the painting. "This weapon is forged in imitation of the glove in the painting, but the forger got it wrong, it shouldn''t be like that! Its structure may beplex, but its function should be simple, rted to fire... I feel me, light, and change from it!" Connie stared at the painting,pletely absorbed. As if the patterns on it were revealing answers to her, speaking of secrets that were felt rather than said. Chen Lun did not disturb her, quietly sipping his tea. Noon arrived. Suddenly, Connie felt the painting in her hands wasn''t just a sheet of paper, but a piece of red-hot iron. Her palm grew warm and the painting subsequentlynded on the table. She felt a bit dizzy and nauseous, and began to feel an overall sense of heat. "Don''t look at it anymore, have a cup of tea and rest." Chen Lun said softly. He knew that Connie''s difort was due to staring for a long time at an item that possessed extraordinary powers, causing her Sanity Value to decrease and her body to react adversely. Connie reluctantly nodded, choosing to heed Mr. Jack''s advice and shifting her gaze away from the painting. "Mr. Jack, if I could observe that painting frequently, I''m confident I could forge the mechanical glove depicted on it!" Connie took a sip of the tea, saying firmly. She then added: "It will bepletely different from this kind of mechanical glove." Connie gestured towards the Mad Hand on the table. Chen Lun nodded, seeing that Connie truly understood the drawing. He also grew more eager to recruit this talented individual. "Don''t look at the painting for too long, it could harm you," he cautioned. Connie had already sensed that the painting had a kind of magic power that mysteriously conveyed extensive knowledge about mechanical forging. But at the same time, it contained a threat, giving her a constant sense of danger, as if her hair were standing on end. "Connie, what are your ns for the future?" After resting a while, Chen Lun casually asked. Connie looked at the teacup in her hands and was silent for a moment. "I n to repay your money and then move to the technical academy to study knowledge in peace." "Are you interested ining with me to the Inner City District?" Chen Lun inquired tentatively. Connie looked up in surprise.N?v(el)B\\jnn "I have high hopes for your talent, Connie. Just so you know, I might need an excellent assistant like you in the future toplete my ns. If you are willing to go with us to the Inner City District, I can sponsor your studies at a better academy, and you won''t have to worry about the expenses for research either." Chen Lun offered Connie the invitation earnestly. Connie''s eyes widened. After musing for a moment, she fidgeted with her small hands. "Thank you for your esteem, Mr. Jack. But I know my skills are still far from adequate. May I have some time to consider your offer?" Connie was tempted, but she did not immediately give a reply. Chen Lun nodded in understanding. "Hmm, Floey and I may be leaving in a couple of days. Take your time to think about it." Chapter 51 Night Exploration Night. Under the Purple Moon, the Outer City District was engulfed in darkness and silence. In contrast with the distant Inner City District, this ce seemed more like a stagnant pool of water at the moment. Separated by a wide river, one could vaguely see many tall buildings in the Inner City District in the distance. Their lights were brilliant, like stars in the night sky. Reflected on the ink-ck river were rivers of stars, the all-night revelry of the wealthy. If one looked long enough, it seemed as if one could hear the clinking of wine sses and loudughtering from over there. Chen Lun had been standing behind a tree by the river for quite some time, observing a grand bridge through the railing. The bridge was manned with checkpoints, five people per team, with several teams on rotation. "By crossing this bridge, one can enter the Inner City District from the Outer City District..." Read exclusive content at empire Chen Lun thought to himself. He hade here under the cover of night, intending to scout out the situation in the Inner City District in advance and prepare for the uing n. The separation between the Inner and Outer City was quite rigid. To prevent people from crossing the river, railings five to six meters high had even been erected on both banks. The metal railings, coated in ck paint and spaced narrowly apart, were no wider than a palm, and their tops were as sharp asnce points. Anyone attempting to climb over the railing would risk disembowelment if they were not careful. Moreover, on the surface of Amber River and along the shore of the Inner City District, police officers and Guardians patrolled in intersecting routes, leaving virtually no blind spots. This was probably due to the chaos of the Outer City District. The Inner City District was home to those at the upper echelons of power and money; if free passage were allowed between the two areas, it could pose a danger to the residents of the Inner City District. The more noble a person was, the more they feared interacting with the lower sses. The clear division that Amber City has formed today owes much to the influence of the elites on the council. "This is indeed strict..." Chen Lun sighed; infiltration seemed difficult under such conditions. But he did not need to infiltrate. "Luckily, I already have an identity proof, at most I''ll just be questioned." After a brief pause, Chen Lun moved quickly, like a swiftly gliding ghost, and disappeared from his spot. In front of the bridge checkpoint, two Guardians who had just finished inspecting a merchant caravan''s carriage were standing idly, and soon they saw a tall figure of a man approaching slowly. "Sorry, please present your identity proof." One Guardian, with a short sword slung at his waist, stretched out a gloved hand. Chen Lun handed over a small leather booklet. The Guardian opened the identity proof to check it, scrutinizing the ck-haired young man in front of him under the light of the streetmps on both sides. Seeing the well-dressed man holding a book, just as described in the identity proof. The Guardian handed back the identity proof and touched his left chest with his right hand in a salute. "Mr. Jack, may the Sun shine upon you." He gestured with an open hand and then stepped aside to let him pass. Chen Lun nodded his head and walked straight onto the bridge under the watchful eyes of several Guardians. Walking on the bridge and overlooking the river on one side, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of reflection.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Indeed, as he had expected, it would be extremely difficult to navigate the Inner City District without an identity proof, let alone get past this checkpoint. Once he really entered the Inner City District, the first thing to do was to find a fixed residence to avoid being frequently questioned. After crossing the bridge, Chen Lun arrived at an exceptionally wide street. The view was quite astounding. The streets were paved uniformly with greyish-blue stone bricks, with tall and orderly buildings on both sides. Most of those buildings appeared to be various shops, among which Chen Lun also found a branch of the Silver Dragon Trade Association. Unlike the Outer City District, electricity was widely used here, as if there were twopletely different systems operating on their own. Colorful signs gleamed in the night, with carriages and well-dressed pedestrians weaving through the streets. In a daze, Chen Lun seemed to see the shadow of his previous life. He walked along, following street signs to Viscount Manor located on Second Street. Fashionably dressed women in groups were often seen on the streets. Some would even turn their heads to wink at Chen Lun, then leave with a giggle. If at that moment Chen Lun approached them with his maic voice and said, "Beautiful miss, please give me the chance to invite you for a coffee," Then the likelihood of these women providing their contact information would probably be one hundred percent. But he had no time to flirt. After taking nearly two hours and detours, Chen Lun finally found Second Street. And by that time, it was already deep into the night. The Inner City District is situated on elevated terrain, and it gets higher the further you venture inward. Gazing out from over the railing here, one could see the broad Amber River and the pitch-ck expanse of the Outer City District. "No. 9, Second Street, Pompey Manor." He had arrived at the perimeter of a vast estate. The rustling sound of the wind stirred the lush trees within the manor, casting dancing shadows that swayed gently. Peering through the borate floral ck railings, one could vaguely make out awn and, in its deepest reaches, several vis with lights shining brightly. Walking around the perimeter fence, Chen Lun mentally estimated the area''s size. "Sorge... how shall I search?" Chen Lun couldn''t help frowning. As he was pondering, suddenly his expression changed, and he quickly hid behind a tree, concealed in the shadows. The sound of footsteps followed soon after, as two Security Office officers withnterns in hand, and a big dog on a leash, passed by. "... Lately, the order from above has been to extend our patrols," one sighed. "I was hoping to spend more time at home with my daughter." "Can''t be helped, just endure it, buddy." After the incident at the Garten Restaurant, even the son of Congressman Lawson died there, so strengthening security is inevitable." The two officers chatted idly, with one of themining. "Those damn extremists, tomit such a heinous act...!" "You believe the exnation from the higher-ups? Forget it, I saw investigators from that secret department at the scene, this was most likely not the work of ordinary people..." As they gradually walked away, the big dog at their feet seemed to detect something and stood still, refusing to move. It stared intently at where Chen Lun was hiding, and let out a soft, low growl. The officer noticed the tension in the leash and also became aware of the dog''s abnormal reaction. "What''s wrong, Charlie?" Following the direction of the dog''s gaze, the two officers looked toward a tree outside the fences of Pompey Manor. Years of experience told them something was off in the shadows behind the tree. They exchanged nces and, as if on cue, pulled out their batons, moving in a pinching motion and slowly approached Chen Lun. One of them even put a whistle to his lips, ready to blow it at any moment to call for backup from nearby officers. Chen Lun''s heart tightened. He didn''t want to be discovered, as it would disrupt his ns. His index finger glowed faintly, and he beckoned to the big dog. The dog sprang free from its leash and raced over to Chen Lun, passing the officers. "Charlie!" Before they could react, the dog named Charlie ran back to their feet. Wagging its tail, it presented a Silver Ducat it had held in its mouth. "Huh... a Silver Ducat? Haha, what a good boy!" "Since when did Charlie learn to pick up money? Buddy, I think we might get rich off of him..." The two officers breathed a sigh of relief, kidding with each other for a few moments before leaving with the dog. The big dog looked back and saw a thumbs-up emerging from behind the shadow of the tree. Its tail wagged even more energetically. After the officers had gone, Chen Lun stepped out from behind the tree. "It seems I was too optimistic." He nced at Viscount Manor beside him, musing to himself. His original n was to find an opportunity to sneak in, locate "Philip''s Legacy," and leave. But now, the n seemed rather unrealistic. Pompey Manor was toorge; even if he used animals to search inside, it would take a considerable amount of time. And he couldn''t afford to be seen frequently in this area, as it would raise suspicions. "Better use the alternative n... infiltrate the manor first, then look for a chance to search." Having made up his mind, Chen Lun prepared to leave. As he passed by The Great Gate of Pompey Manor, two middle-aged maids happened toe out from inside. They carried several parcels, apparently preparing to go out. "... Miss Reba has been so temperamentaltely, it''s such a headache." "No worries, the Viscount has already found a candidate for a family tutor, it seems to be a professor from the Iris Academy, who will being over in a few days... " "Then Miss Reba won''t be so idle, always teasing us for fun." Chen Lun walked past them with an unchanged expression, but his heart sank. Someone was chosen? Was the alternative route blocked too? Chapter 52 Farewell "Oh, little Jack, and the adorable little Floey, are you leaving today?" Mrs. Caroline stood at the entrance of her flower shop, saying with a look of reluctance. "Yes, Mrs. Caroline." Chen Lun nodded. He was holding a suitcase, and Floey, in a ck dress, stood quietly by his side. Today, she wore a ck cloche hat, her pale gold hair cascading down like a waterfall from behind the hat. "It''s such a shame... Mr. Kent left without a word, the Moriarty siblings moved away, and now you two are also heading to the Inner City District.... The whole building will be empty." Mrs. Caroline was quite upset. Just then, a striking figure came running down the stairs. "Mr. Jack! Miss Floey! Please wait for me!" Connie, carrying bags big and small, ran over, panting. Bang! She set down her luggage heavily and looked up. "Mr. Jack, I... I''ve made up my mind, I want to go with you!" She pursed her lips, a bit embarrassed. A smattering of freckles adorned her flushed cheeks, making her whole face resemble a strawberry. Chen Lun looked at her and couldn''t help butugh. Partly because Connie had chosen to ept the olive branch he had extended, and partly because her current appearance was quite charming. "It looks like you''ve made up your mind, Connie." "Yes, Mr. Jack." Connie nodded emphatically, then shed a brilliant smile. Chen Lun extended his hand. "Wee to my team." "Thank you for your trust, I''ll work hard!" Connie reached out her little hand, and they shook hands warmly. Mrs. Caroline was surprised, speechless at the sight of the three. After a while, she shook her head slightly. "It seems I was wrong, even Connie is leaving... Now it really will be just this olddy left." Your next read is at empire Then she looked down at her Border Collie, somewhat amused. "You''re not leaving too, are you? Babu?" Chen Lun had named the dog Babu, and, hearing Mrs. Caroline''s words, it seemed quite eager to try. But before it could take a step, it was intimidated back into its ce by Chen Lun''s stern gaze, obediently crouching at Mrs. Caroline''s feet. It wagged its tail and even nuzzled her hand, allowing her to stroke it. "Oh, good boy!" Mrs. Caroline was pleased, clearly, there was one who did not want to leave.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Connie hid on the side, covering her mouth to stifle a giggle, and Floey couldn''t help but smile as well. "Mrs. Caroline, we must be going, but we''lle back to visit Number 7 Denton Street when we can." "Alright, little Jack... Oh wait, just a moment!" Mrs. Caroline seemed to recall something and dashed upstairs. After a short while, she came running down with a notebook in hand. "This is a cooking manual I wrote myself. Every time I cooked for Henry and Oliver, I would note down some insights... They always praised my cooking, and over time, this notebook became full. Now I''m giving it to you, little Floey, hoping it can help you." Mrs. Caroline said as she handed it to Floey. "Thank you, Mrs. Caroline." Floey epted the notebook, and discreetly turned her head, ncing at Chen Lun. "I will study it well." ... Inner City District. Number 45 on First Avenue, Daniel''s apartment. In the study, a middle-aged man paced back and forth. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. He took a cigar from the box on the desk, cut it open, lit it, and took a deep inhale. As the smoke filled the room, his repressed, low voice rose: "Fedman went without returning... The Iron Fist Gang dare not make a move; was it the work of other gangs from the Outer City District?" His face was as still as water, his gaze deep and distant. "To take out two elite bodyguards together, it can''t be just any ordinary force." Daniel gloomily slid open the French windows, and a light rain began to fall outside. The rain pattered on thewn of the garden, sshing up droplets of water. Whoosh¡ª He exhaled another puff of smoke. "Damn... My butler has vanished off the face of the earth, how are things supposed to continue?" It felt as if there was a lump in his chest, and he had no idea how to vent it. Just then. A painting hanging on the wall of the study eerily came to life. It depicted arge mouth with irregr teeth¡ªsome square, some round¡ªvery abstract. Five tongues stretched out from the mouth, each varying in thickness and length. The background was a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, which at first nce, caused dizziness and disorientation. "Daniel." Therge mouth in the painting opened and closed, speaking in humannguage. Hearing his name called, Senator Daniel''s face changed color, and he hastily discarded his cigar, closing the French windows. Snap! "Your Lordship, the Painted Gentleman." He approached the painting, speaking with respect. "How goes the research on the item?" "Research..." Daniel clenched his teeth, looked up at the painting, and instantly felt a splitting headache. He quickly averted his gaze, looking down as he spoke: "There was progress, but my butler Fedman has disappeared after going to the Outer City District. I still don''t know the situation with the craftsman." Therge mouth in the painting closed slightly, the corners turning up in a sinister smile. Then it emitted a spine-chilling snicker. After a moment. "I can choose someone else, Daniel," said therge mouth in the painting. Upon hearing that, Daniel''s heart skipped a beat. "I''ve dealt with your enemy for you, that... Senator Lawson? He is currently consumed by the pain of losing his son and might act recklessly. If I turn and back him, I''m sure he''ll be more than happy to assist me, willing to pay any price." Daniel''s courage faltered, and he involuntarily swallowed his saliva. He let out a long breath, surreptitiously wiping the sweat from his forehead. "No, Painted Gentleman, Lawson can''t help you... he has no foundation in the Outer City District, he can''t organize the manpower needed to forge that weapon for you." "Oh?" Therge mouth in the painting paused. "But it seems you have also lost the ability to serve me. Assistance is mutual, Daniel, you can''t keep dragging your feet and not delivering what I want." "Just give me a little more time! Your Lordship, the Painted Gentleman..." Senator Daniel clenched his fists. He took a deep breath and straightened up. "I will dispatch new personnel as soon as possible toplete yourmission." "Very well, I''ll give you another half a month''s time... But the amount of money owed next time, I''ll need double, aspensation for your breach of trust." Senator Daniel kept a stoic face, squeezing a single word from his throat: "Fine!" The colors on the painting twisted, therge mouth slowly closed, the disordered tongues and uneven teeth retracted. Eventually, the painting stilled, no longer changing. Senator Daniel, veins bulging on his forehead, left the study without a word. In a painting studio at the other end of the Inner City District. A young man suddenly lifted his head, staring at a painting on the wall. The hand in the painting, bizarre with seven fingers, began to move. One of the fingers extended, its sharp nail writing within the painting. The nail, like a knife, traced over the flesh of the canvas, inscribing a line in blood¡ª "After half a month, assassinate Senator Daniel." Chapter 53 A Dazzling Entrance Inner City District. No. 9 on Second Street, Pompey Manor. The early morning sunlight was full of vitality, seemingly illuminating the entire world and brimming with energy. The great gate of the manor emitted a long creaking sound as it was pulled open from the inside. Four or five maids worked together to swing the gate wide open and secure it, while an elderly man resembling a butler stepped out. He raised his hand, d in a white glove, to adjust his deep blue cravat at his chest, then waved to the maids. "Professor Ulysses will be here shortly, don''t disgrace the Viscount," he said. "Yes, Mr. Binose," they replied. The old butler stood erect, hands crossed in front of him, standing by the gate, quietly awaiting the arrival of the distinguished guest. Second Street was located at the heart of the Inner City District, where the residents were either rich or noble. Consequently, the nearby environment was considerably pleasant, with both greenery andyout giving a sense offort and luxury. Compared to other parts of the Inner City District, the buildings here were more aesthetically pleasing and grandiose. The structures were spaced widely apart, providing a broad view that was refreshing to the spirit. Moreover, the elevated terrain allowed for a distant view of the entire Amber City, enticing many middle-ss families to use their leisure time for strolls in the area with their loved ones. Viscount Pompey was a low-key person, not well known by the general popce of the Inner City District. Pompey Manor had stood on Second Street for many years, yet few people knew what went on inside. "Hey, look over there," said someone. A group of young women dressed in light yellow shirts and brown skirts passed by. They were students from the nearby Laburnum Girls'' School, each carrying a regtion satchel. One of them pointed at the entrance to Pompey Manor, drawing the attention of herpanions. "Is Viscount Pompey expecting a visitor?" one of them asked. "Oh, have you forgotten about Miss Reba in the second year? She ignored the advice on the excursion and hurt her leg riding a horse... I overheard my mother and her friends talking, and Viscount Pompey has found her an excellent tutor, who is said to be a schr from a public academy," another whispered. Another student disyed an expression of surprise and recognition, saying softly, "No wonder Mrs. Megan has been in a foul mood during ssestely; it''s probably because she wasn''t asked." "Giggle..." The girls covered their mouths andughed. At this moment, a carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance of Pompey Manor. The coachman, wearing a tall top hat, disembarked and lifted the curtain of the carriage. A middle-aged woman of distinguished attire stepped down, her head adorned with a wide-brimmed hat. "Oh, it''s Lady Ulysses!" the students eximed in surprise. "I know her; she''s a professor at the Iris Academy and author of the ''Elk Poetry Collection''..." "I''ve also read that book, it''s simply marvelous!" The students conversed in hushed tones. "Miss Reba is so lucky to be educated by Lady Ulysses." "Well, her father is Viscount Pompey after all..." When Mr. Binose, the old butler, saw the middle-aged woman descend from the carriage, he confidently strode forward with his chest puffed out. "Lady Ulysses," he greeted her. He saw her removing her gloves, readying for a hand-kissing greeting. Unexpectedly, thedy turned and lifted the carriage curtain again, and under the gaze of all present, a tall and handsome young man emerged. Dressed in a ck suit with a felt cape over his shoulders and a ck top hat on his head. He slowly stepped down from the carriage, taking a moment to look around. Upon seeing the group of female students, he gave them a polite smile. "Oh! My goodness! Who is that gentleman?" "He''s so handsome..." Suddenly, Mr. Binose, the butler, was taken aback. He did not know who this young man was, arriving with Lady Ulysses in the same carriage. Immediately afterward, Mr. Binose felt a weight on his hand and looked down to find Lady Ulysses had already extended her hand to him. "May the Sun shine upon you, mydy," he said. He kissed the back of his fingers and blessed her. After Mrs. Ey had put her gloves back on, Binose looked at her with puzzlement. "May I ask who this is?" "Oh, this is my good friend, Mr. Jack," Mrs. Ey introduced to Binose. The old butler nodded, shook hands with Chen Lun, and greeted him warmly. "But¡­ Mrs. Ey, Viscount Pompey invited you alone to dine today." Binose said politely, pausing especially on the word "alone." He suspected that this groomed young pretty face must be Mrs. Ey''s love interest. Yet from what he knew, it was unlike Mrs. Ey to be so impolite. It was very probable that this pretty face, upon hearing of her invitation from Viscount Pompey, had the audacity to tag along uninvited. There was no shortage of people from the Inner City District wanting to ingratiate themselves with Viscount Pompey. "Oh, I believe Viscount Pompey wouldn''t mind," Mrs. Ey said with a smile. Binose felt displeased and cast a nce at the young man with ck hair, without showing his feelings. Thetter, however, keenly noticed his gaze and returned a polite smile. "Mrs. Ey, surely you understand the reason Viscount Pompey has invited you¡­" "Yes, I am well aware," Mrs. Ey cut off Binose''s words, promptly made an apologetic gesture, and added: "Mr. Jack is here for this reason. I have been unwell recently and may not be able to continue as Miss Reba''s tutor, but I rmend him." "Him? This¡­ gentleman?" Binose looked incredulous. Setting aside the fact that he had never seen this young man before or heard of any academic achievements to his name, his appearance and age did not seem to fit that of a distinguished schr. Even with Mrs. Ey''s rmendation, the Viscount would certainly not agree. "I shall exin the matter personally to Viscount Pompey, Mr. Binose," Mrs. Ey whispered. The old butler was silent for a moment and finally nodded. "Follow me, both of you." He and a few maids led the way, guiding Mrs. Ey and Chen Lun into the manor. The path stretched deep into the estate, with broadwns on either side much like a prairie, covering arge area. Chen Lun looked around with interest as he walked. He had found out about Mrs. Ey''s whereabouts in advance from the clues at the Iris College and waited at her doorstep until he managed to board the carriage using the hypnosis capabilities of "Mermaid''s Song." The effort had taken a considerable toll on him. To save time, he had frequently used the Hypnosis Ne, which by now had depleted over half of his Sanity Value.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Bearing the dull ache in his head, Chen Lun let out a silent breath. "I have finally made it inside. Now the task is to persuade Viscount Pompey to ept me as his daughter''s tutor¡­ If needs be, I shall resort to ''Mermaid''s Song.'' But he had a feeling that this matter was not going to be straightforward. The manor was vast, and it took Binose and the two others more than ten minutes to arrive at the vi entrance. "The Viscount anddy Pompey, as well as Miss Reba, are waiting inside," He pushed open the brown wooden The Great Gate and gestured for them to enter. "Pleasee in." "Thank you," Mrs. Ey nodded in thanks, adjusted her wide-brimmed hat, and walked in. Chen Lun followed closely behind her, nodding to Binose in acknowledgment as he passed by. The old butler watched the young man expressionlessly, yet he was thinking about the scene of him being sent away by Viscount Pompey shortly. "Another daydreamer," he thought. Chapter 54 Must Take Her Down (Please Follow!) "Wee, Professor Yi." The living room on the first floor of the vi was very spacious. The decorations inside were also extremely luxurious. A middle-aged blond man with a mustache rose from the sofa. He approached Mrs. Yi, elegantly took her hand, and kissed the back of her fingers. At this moment, two females, one older and one younger, came over; they were Mrs. Pompey and her daughter, Reba. Reba was sitting in a wheelchair, pushed by Mrs. Pompey. "Mrs. Yi, good morning." They greeted Mrs. Yi with a friendly kiss on the cheek. "Good morning, esteemed Viscount Pompey, the beautiful Mrs. Pompey, and the lovely Miss Reba." Mrs. Yi politely responded. Viscount Pompey turned and nced at the young man beside her. "Who might this be?" "Oh, Viscount, this is Mr. Jack, a good friend of mine..." Mrs. Yi began introducing him to Viscount Pompey. During this time, Reba in her wheelchair was secretly sizing up Chen Lun. "He''s really handsome..." She thought to herself, blinking her moist eyes while her long eyshes fluttered. "More handsome than the other young nobles." After a brief introduction by Mrs. Yi, Viscount Pompey nodded lightly. "It''s a pleasure to have you visit Pompey Manor, Mr. Jack." He extended his hand as he spoke. The voice of Viscount Pompey was very calm, without affectation or any warmth. "Since you are a friend of Mrs. Yi, you must join us for breakfast shortly." "It is my honor, Viscount." Chen Lun shook his hand, showing a polite smile. But a hint of gravity shed in his eyes momentarily. Untraceably, he nced at a ring on the Viscount''s ring finger. Viscount Pompey nodded, quickly released the handshake, and signaled to the butler, Binose. "Shall we talk over breakfast then?" "As the host wishes, Viscount." Old butler Binose got the hint, and called upon the maids to prepare breakfast. Some maids went to the kitchen to inform the cook, while others began setting up the dining room. Everything was organized smoothly. As everyone took their seats, and before the dishes were served, Mrs. Pompey spoke up: "Mrs. Yi, Reba''s education for the next few months will be entrusted to you." "I haven''t yet had the chance to exin, Mrs. Pompey." Mrs. Yi had already taken off her wide-brimmed hat, handing it to a maid. She adjusted her coiffed hair, and her expression was apologetic. "Please forgive me, my body hasn''t been feeling welltely, I''m afraid I might not be up to the task." Mrs. Pompey and the Viscount looked at each other, a trace of confusion visible on their faces.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om If that were really the case, Mrs. Yi wouldn''t have epted the invitation. Viscount Pompey frowned slightly. As far as he knew, Mrs. Yi was in good health. The current excuse clearly seemed contrived. "For this reason, I have found Mr. Jack. He is not only a good friend but also a schr I admire... Mr. Jack has only recently arrived in Amber City, but his capabilities are beyond doubt." Mrs. Yi said, smiling. "He happens to excel in literature, history, and nature, making him an excellent choice for Miss Reba''s tutor." Upon hearing her words, Reba''s eyes lit up. But both Viscount Pompey and his wife''s expressions darkened simultaneously. The Viscount eyed the young man beside the dining table and said bluntly: "I have met many young people who are eloquent and can talk about anything, yet are idiots when ites to taking action." His words were hardly diplomatic, and both Lady Ulyf and Chen Lun sensed the distrust in them. "I don''t think this is appropriate, Lady Ulyf." Lady Pompey did not distrust Chen Lun''s talents; rather, she was concerned that he was a young man. If he were to be Reba''s private tutor, it might endanger her daughter''s reputation. Moreover, his handsome appearance was a dangerous signal for Reba. Facing the resistance from Viscount Pompey and his wife, Chen Lun''s expression remained unchanged, still smiling. He nced at the diamond-encrusted gold ring on Viscount Pompey''s hand. "That ring... it''s a Mysterious Object ssed as a spiritual protector, now this is troublesome." Unable to use "Mermaid''s Song" for hypnosis, convincing Viscount Pompey solely based on eloquence would be very difficult. While he was quietly pondering his strategy, Reba suddenly spoke: "Let''s give this gentleman a chance, mom and dad." Seated gracefully, she coquettishly tugged at Lady Pompey''s arm. "I really long to learn, staying at home is so boring." "But, Reba..." Lady Pompey showed a hint of difficulty. But as she looked at her daughter''s lovely face and pitiable expression, she finally relented. "Alright... let''s give this gentleman a chance." She looked at her husband, who grimaced in response. Just then, the maid came in with breakfast, and the butler, Binose, lifted the lids. Viscount Pompey tucked a napkin into his cor, grabbed a knife and fork, and prepared to dig into a steak. "Since that''s the case, after breakfast, Mr. Jack will give Reba her first lesson." He spoke in a rather unenthusiastic tone. He had already decided that after today, there was no need for this man toe back. Nobility still required maintaining certain decencies; he couldn''t just disrespect Lady Ulyf outright. The Viscount''s family breakfast wasvish and the meal luxurious, everyone ate happily. After the breakfast ended, Lady Ulyf took her leave. Possibly for the peace of mind not leaving her daughter alone with a stranger, Chen Lun was arranged to teach Reba in the garden. Under arge parasol on thewn, there were white carved wooden tables and chairs set up. Chen Lun sat opposite Reba, holding a "Tresor Literature Anthology" and taught straight from the text. His gaze moved beyond the book, observing Viscount Pompey and his wife walking in the garden. Their eyes asionally swept over, wary of any improper behavior on his part. Read exclusive adventures at empire "Mr. Jack, where are you from?" Reba clearly wasn''t listening, instead, she asked with curiosity on her face. Butler Binose, with his hands sped behind his back, stood not far away, fulfilling his "supervisory" duty. "Ah, my hometown is in the distant Rock State Bronze City, Peacock City... Miss Reba, please focus on the lesson, otherwise, I might not be able toe here to teach you tomorrow." Chen Lun shed a smile, causing Reba''s eyes to widen immediately. Sunlight poured down, shining on the face of the young man with ck hair, making it gleam. Her face involuntarily flushed. "No, I''ll tell my father that you teach very well..." Old butler Binose couldn''t help but roll his eyes. Was he being ignored? He grew increasingly disdainful of Chen Lun; just reciting from the textbook verbatim, this level counts as a schr? Any moderately literate person picked off the street could do better! "Miss Reba, how do you view literature?" Chen Lun diverted his attention away from Viscount Pompey and his wife and asked Reba softly. He was determined to start from this young girl. He must win her over! Chapter 55 He said Im cute (please follow!) The culture of this world was steeped in content rted to faith. The faith of the Seven True Gods spread across the entire continent, and the Tresor Empire officially supported two churches, namely the Sun Church and the Moon Church. The remaining ones such as the Constetion Sect, Red Apple Church, History and Ritual Association, Hailing Group, and Madman School, although allowed by the empire to preach within its borders, were restricted and controlled in various aspects. As a result, the mostmon beliefs among the empire''s citizens were those in the Sun and the Moon. If they held reverence for the Moon Goddess, then their fervor for the Sun was unparalleled. The Sun represented the Empire. The literature of the Tresor Empire was also deeply influenced. "I don''t like the Sun." Reba whispered. "That''s why I find literature so dull, it''s all praises to the Sun, nothing novel... Plus, the Sun often makes me so hot, I''m drenched in sweat every time I wear a dress outside!" The butler, with his sharp hearing, perked up his ears and captured every word Reba said without missing a beat. He couldn''t help but raise his brow, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening. Binose knew Miss Reba was usually quite lively, but he didn''t expect her to be somewhat rebellious. Although not everyone in the aristocratic circle was a believer of the Sun, believing in the Sun was politically correct. The Sun King wouldn''t care which Righteous God the people below believed in, nor had others the right to interfere. But for a noble, believing in other Righteous Gods was not conducive to integrating into the group and could even lead to subtle ostracization. "So what does Miss Reba like?" Chen Lun put down the textbook and asked with a smiling face. "I love the Moon! I''ve told my parents many times that I want to believe in the Moon Goddess, but they disagree." Reba appeared somewhat despondent. She lifted her head to look at the dark-haired young man in front of her, her eyes filled with a glimmer of hope. "Mr. Jack, could you write a poem about the Moon for me?" Here ites! Chen Lun secretly chuckled. He had deliberately steered Reba this way, just to do something that would leave a deep impression on her. It was clear that Viscount and Lady Pompey valued their daughter greatly, and as long as she insisted on keeping him as a tutor, the likelihood of his staying was very high. "Of course, Miss Reba... Writing poetry is the most basic skill of a literary schr." Chen Lun gracefully touched his chest and bowed slightly. Binose secretly scoffed, almost spitting out his saliva on this shameless fellow. Although Miss Reba was yful, being a noble, she still had an appreciation for art. Not to mention that Viscount and Lady Pompey were right here, did he really think he could get by with just a couple of makeshift poems? This would only lower Miss Reba and her parents'' opinion of him, turning their already slight fondness into outright disdain. Rustle... Continue your journey with empire Chen Lun took the expensive pen from Reba''s hand and began writing on the paper. Smelling a faint fragrance, he cheerfully finished the poem in one go without pausing. Reba watched the handsome man intently, almost starry-eyed. "My goodness, he''s really good-looking, and¡­" She reluctantly moved her gaze from Chen Lun''s face to the paper, her eyes gradually widening. "¡ªHe quietly casts his gentle glow, filling the valleys and forests, once again, my soul, clears away all troubles. He gently sends his loving gaze, illuminating my dreams cold and deep, like a grandmother''s doting eyes, watching over my destiny¡­" Chen Lun capped the pen and gently set it down. This poem was adapted from a ywright from a past life, Goethe, modified slightly to fit the world view here. "This poem is truly beautiful¡­ Mr. Jack, does it have a name?" Reba asked curiously, her cheeks flushed. "''To the Moon''." Chen Lun answered with a smile. Reba, clutching the paper dearly, suddenly whispered a bit embarrassingly: "Mr. Jack, could you please add a line that says ''A poem for Reba'' at the top?" Chen Lun smiled. He took the paper, picked up the pen, and wrote another line at the end: "¡ªTo lovely Miss Reba, may the Moon Goddess watch over her forever." Reba held the poem, unable to contain her joy. He called me lovely! Really!? At that moment, Viscount Pompey and his wife "identally" came nearby while taking a stroll. Seeing their daughter in a daydreaming state, Lady Pompey sensed trouble. "Reba? Reba!" She called twice before Reba snapped out of it. The blonde girl immediately straightened up, fixing a stray hair under her soft white hat. Lady Pompey hurried over to the butler and whispered a few questions. Binose whispered back, causing Lady Pompey''s expression to turn rather odd. "What''s wrong?" Viscount Pompey asked. Thedy promptly informed her husband of the unfolding events, and the viscount was intrigued. Thisd wrote a poem, and it has fascinated Reba so much? "Reba, let''s see what great poem Mr. Jack has written." "No way!" Reba immediately refused. Viscount and Lady Pompey were helpless, so the viscount had to say: "Without knowing Mr. Jack''s abilities, we can''t befortable letting him teach you, Reba." "I don''t care!" "..." Viscount Pompey took a deep breath and decided to use his usual method with his daughter.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "Then you will have to pay Mr. Jack''s weekly sry yourself." "!?" Reba was stunned for a moment, then tried to stand and argue with her father, forgetting that her leg was still in a cast. "Ah!" She swayed and fell toward the ground. Chen Lun quickly stretched out a hand, gently caught her wrist, and then eased her back into the chair. The whole process was smooth,posed, and impably courteous, stopping just at the right moment. Viscount Pompey, his wife, and the nearby butler Binose hadn''t even had a chance to exim before Reba was out of danger. "Please be careful, Miss Reba." Chen Lun said softly. "Uh... Thank you." Reba stared at him, then nodded. Viscount Pompey and his wife breathed a sigh of relief and also thanked Chen Lun. While Reba was still regaining her senses, Lady Pompey quietly took the paper from the table. She held it in her hands, sharing the text with her husband. Beautifully penned, the poem talked about the moon. "This..." After reading it, Viscount Pompey felt it somewhat absurd but could not use Chen Lun of desecrating the Moon Goddess. Meanwhile, Lady Pompey nodded repeatedly, a pleased smile appearing on her face during her contemtion. "Kellie, what do you think?" The viscount asked tentatively. "It''s great, but I think it would be even better if Reba''s name was reced with mine... Ah, I mean, this poem is quite mediocre, not worthy of Reba. I think you understand, Pompey." Lady Pompey coughed lightly and said, maintaining her usual countenance. The viscount''s face instantly darkened. Chapter 56 The Home in the Inner City District Chen Lun''s dinner was settled at Pompey Manor. Viscount Pompey couldn''t ovee thebined willpower of his wife and daughter and eventually decided to let Chen Lun stay. "I hereby officially employ you as Reba''s home tutor, responsible for her literary and nature studies," Viscount Pompey wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin and gestured with his hand. The old butler handed over an employment contract and a small purse to Chen Lun. "A weekly sry of 2 gold pounds and 80 silver ducats, is that eptable?" Chen Lun epted, stood up, and bowed to the viscount. "Of course, it is my honor, Your Lordship." Viscount Pompey nodded and nced at his daughter Reba beside him. The blonde girl was sneakily ncing at her new tutor, sauce still unattended at the corners of her mouth. Suddenly, the viscount felt a headacheing on, reminding himself to keep a close watch, lest this foreignd entice away his precious daughter. "Thank you for your hospitality, I shall take my leave now," Chen Lun took his cape and hat from the maid''s hands, turned, and gave a respectful gesture to Lady Pompey. "Farewell, beautiful madam." Lady Pompey was delighted, feeling pleased to beplimented by a handsome young man. She nodded reservedly in response. However, Reba next to her couldn''t help but grip her fork tighter, causing it to tremble. "And of course, the lovely Miss Reba, farewell." Chen Lun finally bowed to Reba, then proceeded to put on his hat and turned to leave. Reba immediately beamed with joy, dropping her fork and yelling at Chen Lun: "Goodbye, Mr. Jack! Don''t forget toe early tomorrow for my lesson!" Chen Lun, without looking back, waved his hand to show he heard. Lady Pompey frowned and scolded Reba, such a disgrace, how could the daughter of a Viscount Pompey be so impolite! Notdylike at all! Viscount Pompey didn''t bother to intervene, feeling that his wife was probably no better. He waved his hand, indicating Binose to apany him to the study, truly a headache. Chen Lun, having stepped out of the manor, whistled. Today, well, was a triumph for the tterer. A fewpliments, and a weekly twenty-eight it earns. "Next up, to find the inheritance Philip hid within the manor..." Chen Lun looked back at the massive Pompey Manor onest time and then departed. ... At a small manor in the southeastern part of the Inner City District. This was where Chen Lun had chosen to settle down, slightly out of the waypared to the bustling city center but still not cheap in rent. He had also employed two maids and a coachman, and rented a carriage from a livery stable. The misceneous expenditures amounted to a total cost of 9 to 10 gold pounds a month. The bulk of it was for the rent of the manor and the carriage, with the manor costing 5 gold pounds per month and the carriage 1 gold pound. To ride a rented carriage in Amber City, one trip would cost between 70 and 80 copper kros. Since he often needed to go out, and Floey and Connie used it as well, he rented one for convenience. "The money I earn as a teacher at the viscount''s ce is just enough to make ends meet... Life is difficult." Chen Lun sighed to himself, entering his own small manor. Passing by a recently renovated warehouse, he coincidentally saw Connie talking at the warehouse door with a group of burly men. A generator rumbled near the warehouse, and a light was on above the doorway. Connie had a blueprint in hand, pointing and giving instructions, while the men asionally nodded in agreement. "Connie." Chen Lun approached and greeted her. Seeing him, Connie stopped the conversation and gave Chen Lun a smile. "Mr. Jack, I''vepleted the task you entrusted me with," She indicated the group of men beside her. After settling Floey and Connie in the Inner City District the day before, he had sent a letter to Gary, asking him to send someone to pick up Connie for a trip to the mudts. Connie personally selected ten craftsmen from the Iron Fist Gang to bring back to the Inner City District. For this, Chen Lun paid a hefty sum in gold pounds to Gary to bribe the managers at the Security Office, arranging emergency official identities for these ten craftsmen. Of course, since all these craftsmen had been captured by the Iron Fist Gang, Chen Lun had instructed Connie in advance to select them under the guise of hiring, choosing only those who volunteered toe. Looking at it now, it seemed quite satisfactory, Chen Lun nodded in approval. For the time being, these people were staying in the small manor, organized by Connie to start researching and forging. Chen Lun believed that with Connie, the "brain," directing them, the "hands and feet," their efficiency would greatly improve. "You''ve done a good job, Connie." Chen Lunplimented her. "And Floey?" "Miss Floey is studying inside the house; she has been researching the dishes all afternoon and is waiting for you toe back to dine together." Connie seemed somewhat pleased; she mentioned that she had recited Mrs. Caroline''s cooking manual for Miss Floey. After giving a few instructions to the craftsmen, she followed Chen Lun towards the detached vi. For now, the warehouse only had some simple forging tools; Chen Lun had instructed Connie to order a batch of small-scale machinery, which might take some time to arrive. His wallet shrank once again. But he believed that it wouldn''t be long before he could earn back double. "Uh, have you not had dinner yet?" Chen Lun had already eaten at Pompey Manor and was still quite full. "Not yet." Connie shook her head and came closer, speaking in a negotiating tone: "Mr. Jack, could you let me be the maid here? Miss Floey needs someone to take care of her..." She suddenly paused, seemingly remembering the kidnapping incident that night and how she had held back Miss Floey, and her face flushed with embarrassment. It''s still uncertain who will be taking care of whom. "Connie, you are not a servant now, and I hope you will treat me as a friend... If you like, you can also act as the butler here. After all, I''m rarely here, and it indeed needs someone to manage." Chen Lun said with a smile. Connie was touched by these words and nodded vigorously. "Mr. Jack, please rest assured, I will keep everything in order here." As the two talked, they entered the detached vi. This ce certainly couldn''tpare to the luxurious Pompey Manor, but it was far better than the conditions in the Outer City District. The first-floor hall was spacious, with aplete living room and kitchen. The second floor had rooms for the maids and craftsmen, while Chen Lun, Floey, and Connie lived on the third floor. The attic on the fourth floor was for storage, and that''s where Chen Lun would keep his "goods."N?v(el)B\\jnn When Chen Lun first rented this ce, he had arranged some things and then set out, leaving the organizing and tidying to Floey and Connie. "You''re back." Floey was waiting at the door. "Let''s have our meal... I''ve already prepared dinner." She said, smiling and leading Chen Lun and Connie to the dining room. The table was full of food, and Chen Lun was touched by the sight, but he really couldn''t eat any more. Connie was obviously hungry, and since Floey''s cooking was indeed very good, she ate with somewhat less concern for appearances. "Eat up, why aren''t you eating?" Connie''s cheeks puffed up as she looked at Chen Lun with curiosity. "It''s delicious, Mr. Jack." "Uh... I''m not very fond of fish." Floey also turned to "stare" at him. Whether it was an illusion or not, Chen Lun felt that mixed with her anticipation was a sense of threat. "Eat! I really love fish! You have to know I grew up by the sea, fishing every day; this is the taste of home!" Chen Lun pped his chest, his palm hitting the Ghost-face Badge. Come on, brother! Make me hungry! He ate with tears in his eyes, the fish head dangling from his mouth, swaying as he chewed. Seeing Floey''s satisfied expression, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But then he saw her get up and bring over several new dishes from the kitchen. It was still the fish he hated the most! "..." Chapter 57 Baron Barnies Horse Died The next morning. Chen Lun left the small manor without eating breakfast. ¡ªbecause he had not digestedst night''s food yet. "The feeling of going to work in a horse carriage isn''t bad." Chen Lun remarked in the carriage. The roads in the Inner City District were very smooth, without bumps, much better than his previous experiences in a carriage. Soon, the carriage arrived at the entrance of Pompey Manor. Chen Lun instructed the coachman toe back in the evening to wait for him here. The coachman nodded, bowed, and then drove the carriage away. At the entrance, a maid had been waiting for a while, and upon seeing Chen Lun alight from the carriage, she opened The Great Gate just enough for him to enter. The Great Gate was too heavy, and fully opening it was a bit difficult for the maid. "Mr. Jack, Viscount Pompey is having breakfast. He said if you arrived early, you could join him," Binose said to Chen Lun as they reached the vi entrance. "No need, I already ate before I came. Please thank His Excellency the Viscount for his kindness, Butler Binose," Chen Lun nodded, politely replying. "Then please wait in the living room for a moment, Miss Reba''s Nature ss will start at ten o''clock," Binose led Chen Lun to sit on the living room sofa, greeted him, and then left. Watching the old butler disappear around the corner of the living room, Chen Lun idly surveyed his surroundings. Many framed paintings hung on the walls, mostly oil paintings. It was unclear whether it was the preference of the era or just Viscount Pompey''s personal taste. Just past nine o''clock, Chen Lun heard the rapid sound of wheels rolling. Reba approached him by herself, pushing her wheelchair. "Huff... Good morning, Mr. Jack!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om She seemed very excited, and her attire and makeup appeared deliberately styled, looking even prettier than the day before. "Good morning, Miss Reba." Chen Lun stood up, removing his hat in preparation to bow. But he saw Reba quickly remove her whitece gloves and swiftly extend her hand towards him. He was slightly startled, then saw Reba looking at him with flushed face, expectantly. "You look very beautiful today, but this outfit might not be suitable for my Nature ss," Chen Lun took Reba''s hand and kissed it on the back. Reba did not hear his words. He kissed me! Did he smell the perfume I deliberately sprayed on my hand today? Is it too pungent? "Ahem, ahem!" Lady Pompey coughed twice and walked over quickly. "Good morning, Lady Pompey." "Good morning, Mr. Jack." After amiably greeting each other, Lady Pompey said to Chen Lun: "Hearing of your arrival, Reba left breakfast unfinished and pushed herself here with her wheelchair." Saying this, she squinted and red at Reba. Reba, unfazed, stared back. "Ah, I''m truly sorry for that, it seems Miss Reba is very eager to learn," Chen Lun feigned apology, showing an embarrassed expression. "In that case, may we begin today''s lesson?" "Yes, yes!" Reba nodded, ignoring her mother''s watchful presence, and pushed herself towards the door. Fearing she may stumble on the doorstep, Butler Binose hurriedly followed her. Ten minutester. Chen Lun sat under a sun umbre, sharing his views on Nature with Reba. Honestly, he actually felt quite passionate about this topic. Whether it was his past experiences exploring maps alone or his understanding after bing a "Beast Tamer." "...Animals are an indispensable part of Nature, look at this snake," he said, pointing at a venomous snake on the table and spoke eloquently. Reba, already frightened, paled and huddled up in her chair, not daring to move. The green scales shone under the sunlight, its small body coiled up, lifting its little head and staring at her. "It... it''s staring at me!" Reba said with a tremble in her voice. "Oh no, this is just a fake snake, as I said, merely a prop," Chen Lun picked up the venomous snake and ced it in his palm. "See, it won''t bite. Don''t be scared, Miss Reba,e, feel it." "Ah!" Chen Lun grabbed Reba''s hand and gently ced it on the snake. Cold, with a tangible texture. Reba slowly opened her eyes and her face gradually revealed a look of surprise. "It''s really fake... but it looks so realistic, it''s amazing." In the distance, Viscount Pompey, not quite at ease, nced at his wife. "That''s really a fake snake?" "Yes, Binose has already checked," Lady Pompey exined. "Besides, Mr. Jack is a schr, not a madman, no one would carry a venomous snake in their pocket." She said, then shifted her attention back to Chen Lun. This dark-haired young man had a certain charm while lecturing, which was no wonder why his daughter Reba liked him. Chen Lun finished discussing each part of the snake in detail, along with its habits and origins. Reba''s eyes shone with realization and admiration. She had never attended a ss so seriously, and although she didn''t like such knowledge originally, once Chen Lun lectured, she firmly memorized it. What she didn''t see, however, was that when Chen Lun unnoticeably stuffed the "fake snake" into his pocket, it "identally" fell onto thewn. Like a drop of green water, it fell into the green ocean and disappeared without a trace. This scene also went unnoticed by the Binose and Viscount Pompey couple. "Let it go check out the backyard first¡­," Chen Lun thought. "Hey! Be careful!!" Suddenly, everyone heard a loud shout. Chen Lun looked up to see a brown stallion bursting out from the other end of the garden. It galloped vigorously, dashing recklessly, followed by a male servant desperately chasing after it. "Ah!!" Reba screamed. The Pompey Viscount couple and the Binose Butler were all startled. They saw the horse charging straight towards the parasol where Reba was! If it hit her, Reba would definitely be in mortal danger! "Stop it quickly!" Viscount Pompey roared. But it was already toote. In an instant, amid a loud crash, the horse knocked over the tables and chairs, toppled the parasol, and then rushed towards Reba. Bang! A dull thud followed byplete silence ensued. "Reba!" The Pompeys rushed over immediately. With the toppled parasol blocking their view and path, they had to go around to the back. Their hearts pounded, fearing to see their daughter in a gruesome state. But what they saw was Mr. Jack supporting Reba on the side, with a horse lying on the ground, bleeding from its mouth. "Oh, thank heavens, Reba, you''re okay." Lady Pompey rushed forward anxiously, embracing Reba. "Thank the Sun for its protection." "No, Mom, you should thank Mr. Jack. He saved me," Reba said surprisingly calmly to Lady Pompey. Her words were also overheard by Viscount Pompey and the Binose Butler, everyone stared at Chen Lun in surprise. A "frail" young man subdued a runaway stallion? What a joke! They merely thought that Chen Lun had pulled Reba away from the collision at a critical moment, and the horse happened to die on the spot. Only then did their spection seem to make sense. "This horse was fed something strange, which caused it to go mad, and ultimately its heart burst and it died," Chen Lun exined after examining the horse''s corpse. This made them even more certain of their assumption. Only Reba knew that it truly was Mr. Jack who subdued the mad horse and saved her. At that critical moment, she had widened her eyes in fear and saw Mr. Jack step forward, standing in front of her. With just the extension of one hand, he struck the mad horse down, as if swatting a fly. Upon waking up, she could hardly believe it. Was he an Angel? No! He was her knight! Chen Lun quietly made a shushing gesture towards Reba, who blinked back in understanding. Don''t worry, Mr. Jack! This will be our secret! "What was up with that horse!?" Viscount Pompey asked sternly, facing the btedly arriving male servant. "Viscount, I¡­I''m not quite sure," the servant swallowed nervously. "In fact, it had run amok before, but the specific reason is unknown." "When did this happen?" The servant nced at Reba. "That time when Miss Reba secretly rode it to school..." Viscount Pompey frowned. So, was that the reason Reba injured her legst time because of this insane horse? He couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Luckily,st time Reba only injured her leg. Viscount Pompey suddenly realized how inappropriate it seemed to think this way, but he didn''t dwell on it further. Then he sternly asked: "Where did this horsee from?" "It¡­ it was you, Viscount, who brought it from Baron Barnie''s ce!" Viscount Pompey stiffened. He remembered now, this horse was indeed one he had obtained from his friend, Barnie. Damn! Chapter 58 This Regent Uncle is Awesome Baron Barnie was invited to Pompey Manor as a guest the next day. Chen Lun arrived on time in the morning to clock in for work and discovered a unique carriage at the entrance of the manor. After entering the vi, he saw a slightly portly middle-aged man sitting on the sofa, chatting andughing with Viscount Pompey. "Come, Barnie, let me introduce you." Viscount Pompey enthusiastically introduced Chen Lun to his good friend. "This is Mr. Jack, the tutor I found for Reba," said the Viscount. "Hello, Mr. Barnie." Chen Lun extended his hand in a friendly manner. Baron Barnie sized him up with a few nces and shook his hand with a smile. "So young, I didn''t expect Mr. Jack to be a schr at such a young age..." He immediately turned his head and asked Viscount Pompey with a look of curiosity, "I remember you had Mrs. Elove, didn''t you?" Viscount Pompey smiled awkwardly and exined briefly, brushing over the matter lightly. The Viscount then told Chen Lun that Reba had been frightened the day before and was still resting. He suggested Chen Lun to look around the vi on his own and feel free to wander around the manor. After speaking, he and Baron Barnie settled back onto the sofa. Chen Lun picked up on the implicit message from Viscount Pompey; he didn''t want his conversation with Baron Barnie to be disturbed. "It''s about the horse yesterday..." He thought to himself. Viscount Pompey probably wanted to clear up the matter with Baron Barnie, but considering the old friend''s face, he wouldn''t let outsiders be present. Chen Lun found Butler Binose, who was directing the maids to clean in another hall. "Butler Binose." He walked over and greeted him. "Mr. Jack, what can I assist you with?" The old butler saw him, stood up straight, and said with a smile. Through Chen Lun''s performance over the past two days, Binose had gained a better impression of the young man. It was evident that Viscount and Viscountess Pompey were not as repulsed by him as they were at the beginning. As the manor''s butler and someone who had served under two generations of Viscount Pompeys, the old man would naturally align more with the master''s opinions and, as a result, show a slightly better attitude towards Chen Lun. "His Lordship indicated that I could tour the vi, and I''d like to visit the study, if that''s alright?" Chen Lun said politely. Binose had an expression of realization. "Oh, of course, Lord Viscount wouldn''t turn away a schr who loves knowledge... Especially since he is Miss Reba''s tutor." The old butler gestured towards the upstairs with his hand. "Come, Mr. Jack, please follow me this way."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun followed Butler Binose upstairs. The spiral wooden staircase was spacious and bright, as the maids scrubbed it clean every day. On one side of the second floor, there was an exhibition hall filled with artworks. Without lingering, the old butler led Chen Lun through and entered the other side of the exhibition hall. "This is it, Mr. Jack. If there''s anything else you need, you can find me." After saying this, he bowed slightly and left. Chen Lun looked around at the books that filled the room, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, well, with so many books¡­ there''s got to be one with supernatural knowledge, right!?" He thought to himself and got started right away. The library was located on the side of the art exhibition hall but was slightlyrger than the exhibition space. A chandelier hung from the ceiling with eight light bulbs, illuminating the entire library. The ce was airy and the bookcases lining the four walls reached the ceiling, neatly filled with variousrge volumes. Two woodendders were ced on the side for easy ess to the books. In the middle of the library was arge desk and several chairs for sitting down to read and transcribe. For Chen Lun, this was very nice! Time flew by swiftly. He had not yet finished flipping through the books on one wall when he picked up a thin, yellow-covered book and began to read. [You have discovered a Mystic Book of the Nature Faction!] [On the Instinct of Survival (Progress 5%) ] [Through careful reading, you''ve gained 25 Experience Points.] [You have discoveredplete knowledge of a hidden supernatural pathway!] [Nature Faction Sequence Nine: Wildman] Chen Lun''s face lit up with joy. "There is one! And it''s another hidden pathway!" Could I be of a lucky lineage? It must be! He took the book in his hands and hurried down the wooden stairs. He sat down at the desk, read intently, not wasting any time. Another hour passed. [On the Instinct of Survival (Progress 15%) ] [Through careful reading, you''ve gained 50 Experience Points.] [Through careful reading, you have gained some understanding and haveprehended the skill [Survival of the Fittest]!] [Survival of the Fittest LV1 (Passive)] Skill Description: Your years as a Beast Tamer have given you a deeper understanding of nature. In the animal kingdom, it''s survival of the fittest, a naturalw of selection. With your ability to draw parallels, you can enhance your own Attributes by observing the ways in which animals survive and thrive. This is limited to Strength, Agility, Endurance, Charm, and Insight, and allows for a one-point increase to the cap of each, not to be granted again. "A passive skill that enhances one''s own Attributes?" Chen Lun was somewhat surprised. Such skills are quite rare, and though the Attributes they enhance are limited, the benefits are permanent. After all, one must be strong oneself; panel Attributes are the foundation of strength. He was very satisfied with the skill. Chen Lun allocated 4 Skill Points to it, pumping them in instantly to max it out. [Survival of the Fittest LVMAX (Passive)] Skill Description: ...limited to Strength, Agility, Endurance, Charm, and Insight, with each cap increased by 5 points, not to be granted again. "Five Attributes, each can be raised by 5 points, adding up to 25 points...?!" This was a considerable number! It was almost like gaining the profits of leveling up 10 levels out of thin air. And it includes two Special Attributes, Charm and Insight, which cannot be increased with Attribute Points and are extremely valuable. "I''ve hit the jackpot... Thankfully, the Destiny Faction pathway I''m on oveps with this Nature Faction pathway." Chen Lun mused to himself. Theoretically, each Sequence could only acquire skills rted to its own path through the corresponding Supernatural Knowledge. But there were exceptions, such as the situation Chen Lun was in now. In his past life, he had vaguely guessed from these phenomena that perhaps each Sequence had unknown connections and secrets to one another. Knock, knock. The soft sound of two knocks at the door. Chen Lun turned to look, and the old Butler Binose was standing at the door, making an apologetic gesture. "I apologize for interrupting your reading, Mr. Jack. The Viscount invites you to join him for lunch at the dining room... In addition, the Viscount''s family and Baron Barnie will be going out this afternoon to visit the Verdant Scream Zoo. The Viscount has asked me to inquire if you would like to apany them?" Chen Lun stood up and stuffed the yellow-covered book he had been holding into a corner of the bookshelf. As his hand left the spine, he couldn''t help but stroke it a few times, reluctant to part with it. "This book is amazing, I''ll grace it with my presence again next time..." He then turned to the door and disyed a polite smile. "Of course, I would be delighted to apany them, it would be my honor." Chapter 59 A Trip to the Zoo At the luncheon. Baron Barnie sipped fine wine,ughing and chatting with Viscount Pompey and his wife. It was evident that the issue with the horse hade to a conclusion. Chen Lun ate in silence, listening to their conversations about amusing incidents within the noble circle, and thetest decisions from the parliament. "Little Reba, that horse caused you to fall and hurt your leg, and it almost hit you afterwards... Uncle Barnie feels very guilty, so let me apologize to you here." Baron Barnie raised his goblet, smiling and nodding to Reba who sat across the table. Reba quickly put down her knife and fork, also lifting her own wine ss. "It''s okay, Uncle Barnie... It wasn''t your fault; I was the one who was being yful." After both had drunk the red wine, Viscount Pompey began talking about the afternoon itinerary. "Barnie, I heard that the main investor behind the Tweety Zoo is Earl Bradley?" "Oh, it seems there''s nothing that can escape your notice, Pompey... Yes, Earl Bradley has invested a considerable sum there." Baron Barnie, having finished his meal, took the napkin a maid handed him to wipe his mouth and spoke with enthusiasm. "The ce is doing well at the moment; so many people visit every day... With so many tickets sold, the return is a handsome amount of gold pounds. It''s truly enviable! They''ve just received two new elephants; we could go see them." Reba, upon hearing this, showed much interest and immediately started coaxing Mrs. Pompey. Overwhelmed by her pestering, Mrs. Pompey agreed as if cating a child. After all, the n was to visit the zoo in the afternoon, and spending extra time to see the elephants was not an issue. "Mr. Jack, you''lle too, won''t you?" Reba turned to Chen Lun and asked, her eyes brimming with anticipation. "Of course, Miss Reba." "That would be wonderful!" Reba seemed very happy and then, remembering to be moredylike, she lowered her voice and added: "You''ll have to teach me about the animals, just like a lesson." "No problem, consider it an outdoor practical ss," Chen Lun replied with a smile. After the luncheon. Butler Binose had the carriage prepared in advance, with Mrs. Pompey and Reba in one, and the three gentlemen in another. This arrangement made Reba pout with dissatisfaction. The carriage left the manor''s great gate and traveled down the road. Baron Barnie sat across from Chen Lun, looking at the young man andughing: "Mr. Jack, you are quite aplished for your age, having diagnosed the precise cause of death of my horse with just a simple examination - truly worthy of a schr in this field..." However, Viscount Pompey sitting beside him, revealed a puzzled expression and cast an inquiring look at Chen Lun. "Does the study of nature also include knowledge of veterinary medicine? The situation was urgent yesterday, but in hindsight, it does seem a bit presumptuous... Mr. Jack?" [Baron Barnie''s affection towards you has decreased, he is now in a hostile state!] Chen Lun saw the notification and also noticed Viscount Pompey''s suspicion. "There''s something off about Baron Barnie!" He thought anxiously, though he kept his expression unchanged. He wondered what Barnie and Viscount Pompey had discussed that had allowed the horse incident to blow over. But Chen Lun knew that the horse had consumed food containing superhuman strength, which had caused it to be frenzied. Based on Reba''s encounter, it was very likely that the attack was specifically targeted at Viscount Pompey''s family. However, the superhuman powers that could make a horse act to this extent weren''t limited to a single sequence, and Chen Lun could not yet specte which it might be. "Viscount, I purposely learned about veterinary science in the past for my studies," Chen Lun lied with a straight face. Viscount Pompey nodded, not pursuing the topic any further. Baron Barnie, on the other hand, gave him a deep, probing look. After a while, the carriage came to a stop. The group alighted, and not far away stood a grand archway with guardrails extending on both sides. Arge sign hung above the gate¡ª "Tweety Zoo". Streams of people came and went as Butler Binose tied the carriage to the post outside and returned after paying for the entrance tickets. He took responsibility for pushing Reba''s wheelchair, while Mrs. Pompey opened a floral umbre to shield her daughter from the sun. The group slowly entered the zoo. "Mr. Jack, I heard you''re from out of town? This trip with us is also a way to show you around the city." Baron Barnieughed heartily. Chen Lun nodded politely to him and then said in a soft voice: "Thank you, Baron, but I believe the most convenient way to understand a city is to find out how its people work, love, and die. I''ve stayed in the Outer City District for a while and I already understand it quite well." Baron Barnie''s smile stiffened, and he said no more. "Mr. Jack, so you''ve actually stayed in the Outer City District... Is it fun? I''ve never been there. I want to go see it too, but my parents don''t allow it." Reba looked at Chen Lun with curiosity. "It''s not fun there, Miss Reba." Chen Lun said evenly, ncing at Mrs. Pompey beside her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om "The life you have now is one those from the Outer City District dream of, yet cannot attain." "Is what Mr. Jack saying true, Mom?" Reba turned her head to Mrs. Pompey for confirmation. Mrs. Pompey nodded. "Yes, Reba, there are many bad people in the Outer City District; they do evil things all day long just to move to the Inner City District. Do you remember the son of Congressman Lawson? That young man was killed by someone from the Outer City District..." Reba was sessfully frightened by her mother''s words and covered her mouth. Immediately, she looked at Chen Lun, her gaze once again filled with familiar admiration. Mr. Jack is so amazing! The bad people of the Outer City District can''t do anything to him! "Kellie, don''t talk about these things with Reba." Viscount Pompey and Baron Barnie, walking ahead, turned back and instructed his wife. Mrs. Pompey patted Reba on the shoulder and teasingly said: "Our dear Viscount is very concerned about you, Reba." The group saw many animals along the way; to Chen Lun, these were not anything exotic. But here, only residents of the Inner City District have the financial resources and time to visit often. The cost of a ticket isn''t much, but to the poor, it''s half a month''s expenses. "Mr. Jack, are those two goris... kissing? Are they a couple?" Reba pointed at arge cage, where two ck goris were embracing, and asked curiously. "Uh, no..." Chen Lun nced over and exined to Reba: "They''re both males; They just fought over mating and are nowforting each other. Kissing for them has a reconciling meaning, much like how we shake hands." "Ah...?" Reba was somewhat surprised. The others also heard Chen Lun''s exnation and were surprised by it. But remembering Chen Lun''s identity, they silently chose to believe this exnation. Such is the charm of authority. [You have witnessed the courtship process of the goris! [Survival of the Fittest LVMAX (Passive)] is activated!] [Strength +1, Agility +1, Charm +1] Chen Lun was slightly taken aback, not expecting the skill activation criteria to be so simple. He looked around, suddenly filled with anticipation. Chapter 60 Beast Tamer Makes an Appearance Along the way, Chen Lun followed Viscount Pompey and his group as they toured the zoo. Whatever they visited, he observed. Whenever something interesting came up, Reba would ask him like a curious child, and Chen Lun would always exin on the spot. The Viscount Pompey couple felt fortunate that this knowledgeable family tutor could join them, adding more significance to this trip. For the most part, the visit didn''t trigger the "Survival of the Fittest" passive skill; it was only when animals were seen eating or courting that Chen Lun actually received the corresponding attribute points. Even so, by the end of the round, the attributes he could collect were fairly substantial. Just then, Chen Lun suddenly noticed Baron Barnie, who was walking ahead, slightly moving his hand behind his back. The motion was natural and didn''t attract attention. But Chen Lun squinted his eyes. He slightly tilted his head and scanned the surrounding crowd. A young man selling ice cream from a small cart seemed to lower his cap brim because of the ring sun. In arge iron cage nearby, a staff member was feeding azy tiger. Two women were distributing Circus flyers, vigorously promoting the evening''s show. Everything seemed normal. "Oh, Pompey, excuse me for a moment; I drank too much at lunch," Baron Barnie said to Viscount Pompey. The Viscount nodded in understanding and then asked everyone to wait under the shade of trees for Baron Barnie''s return.N?v(el)B\\jnn Chen Lun frowned as he watched Baron Barnie''s departing figure. At that moment, a disturbance arose from the crowds around, followed by tourists up ahead turning around and running frantically. "Ah¡ª¡ª!!" They screamed, panicked, as if they had seen something terrifying. Seeing this, Viscount Pompey''s family also grew nervous. "What happened? Binose?" Viscount Pompey asked, frowning. The old Butler Binose stared at the crowd for a few seconds and shook his head. "There are too many people; I can''t see clearly... Your Excellency, should we leave now? It might be dangerous here." Viscount Pompey nced in the direction Baron Barnie had left, then looked at his wife and daughter. "Let''s not panic everyone; let''s wait a little longer, Barnie hasn''te back yet, and I''m worried he doesn''t know the situation." Boom¡ª¡ª! A trumpeting sound, apanied by the trembling of the ground. Behind the crowd, two massive beast shadows appeared; they were two frenzied elephants! They charged toward the crowd, causing injuries to many bystanders in their path. "Your Excellency the Viscount, let''s hurry up and go!" Binose urged anxiously. "Damn it! How could this happen! Let''s go!" Viscount Pompey bit his lip, directing everyone to avoid the crowd and leave along the side under the shade of the trees. ng! Suddenly, an ice cream cart came crashing sideways, blocking the path of Viscount Pompey and his group. The crowd was startled, and Lady Pompey let out a brief scream. The young man wearing the cap took off running, disappearing into the crowd. All around was chaos and noise, seeing the path blocked, Reba clutched the corner of Chen Lun''s clothing in fear. "Don''t be afraid, Miss Reba," Chen Lun said softly. Reba nodded a bit reassured. Roar!! A loud roar and a conspicuous yellow-brown fierce beast broke out of its cage. "Don''t panic, everyone! This way!" The two women distributing flyers yelled loudly. Panic spread as they pushed through the crowd, intentionally squeezing refugees to one side. Seemingly helping to evacuate, they actually split the crowd,pletely blocking the escape route for Pompey''s family. The tiger that had escaped its cage, drooling, charged violently toward the group with the Viscount. "Watch out! ¡ª Barnie!" Viscount Pompey''s heart skipped a beat, instinctively calling out to the old butler. Barnie, old and steady, gradually calmed down after the initial panic. He instantly understood the viscount''s intent, spun Reba''s wheelchair around, taking the lead to clear the way. However, the old butler, due his age, couldn''t push through the crowded throng of people. As the tiger lunged, Barnie gritted his teeth and stood in front of Viscount Pompey to protect him. At that critical moment, everyone heard Mr. Jack''s voice from behind: "Little cat! Come here!" Whiz¡ª! A sharp whistle. The tiger roared and bypassed the old man trying to risk his life, attacking the dark-haired young man instead. Chen Lun lowered his finger from his lips, dodged to the side, and evaded the tiger''s pounce. In the blur of their crossing paths, he raised his hand, fingersing together like a beak plunging into water, and gently pecked at the tiger''s nk, quickly withdrawing his hand. The sequence of movements was as quick as lightning, unnoticed by the onlookers. The tiger, failing in its attempt to bite, rolled on the ground, roaring in pain, but unable to rise. On Chen Lun''s thigh, the pitch-ck gloss on his fingertips slowly faded, returning to normal. [Animal Mimicry LVMAX] [Stork Peck] [Skill Description: You have learned the characteristics of a shoebill stork, able to momentarily harden your fingers and deliver explosive damage] This was a new trait Chen Lun had acquired from a rare shoebill stork he encountered during the tour, using his Animal Mimicry ability. Simultaneously, he also obtained another ability characteristic [Stork Stomach], which gave Chen Lun powerful digestive capabilities. At the same time, Chen Lun pruned away such trash traits as [Ant-Eating] and [Tree Climbing], allowing his ten characteristics to excel in their respective areas, adopting a well-rounded development route to adapt tobat in various situations. "This tiger... just like the crazed horse yesterday." Chen Lun took a quick nce at it and thought to himself. The tiger, having lost its sanity, could not bemunicated with, so Chen Lun had no choice but to physically subdue it. "Mr. Jack!" Reba eximed in rm. Viscount and Lady Pompey and Barnie were all shocked, turning their heads to stare at Chen Lun. They hadn''t expected the frail-looking tutor to willingly draw the fierce tiger''s attention to protect them. "Are you hurt? Mr. Jack!" Reba wheeled herself over, asking with concern. "Don''t worry, I''m fine." Chen Lun shook his head. "It didn''t catch me, just fell over itself." Seeing the tiger Chen Lun pointed at, writhing on the ground in agony, everyone felt a lingering fear. When ferocious animals are caged, they are merely objects of human entertainment; once they break free, they transform into fierce beasts of nature. Dragging humanity back to the primal fight for survival, where the strong live and the weak perish! "Now is not the time for chit-chat, let''s get out of here." Chen Lun warned. Viscount Pompey nodded and directed Barnie to lead everyone to push through the crowd and escape into the distance. Chen Lun turned around, eying two rampaging elephants, pondering briefly. "Your Excellency the Viscount, you go ahead and leave; I''ll go back and look for Baron Barnie." Viscount Pompey, concerned for his old friend, nodded as well. "Take care, Lord Jack. We''ll wait for you outside." Show respect to the man who saved his family''s life, Viscount Pompey used an honorific. Chen Lun turned and walked back, under Reba''s worried gaze. He had just received a mission. [Trigger D-ss Mission: Beast Tamer''s Debut] [Mission Description: A zoo riot has erupted at Green Tree Zoo, it''s time for you to perform! Tame the wild animals and shine on your own stage!] [Mission Rewards: 800 Experience Points, 70 Silver Ducats, and 1 [Low Sequence Mysterious Substance of the Destiny Faction]] Chapter 61 The Great Mr. Jack Actually, the task was just something he took on in passing, because he had already nned to go back and find Baron Barnie. The chaos at the zoo and the deadly trap set for the Pompey family today were mostly inseparable from him, and Chen Lun was ready to capture this ringleader for a thorough interrogation. "Mommy!" In the middle of the street, a little girl cried out, pushing the unconscious woman lying on the ground. Two elephants trumpeted and flung aside everything in their path with their thick trunks. The mother and daughter had been knocked down by the crowd during the turmoil at the zoo, and in trying to protect her daughter, the mother had unfortunately hit her head and fallen into aa. Roar¡ª! In the midst of the thunderous vibration, an elephant had already approached, casting a massive shadow over the little girl. Those at the back of the pack looked back to see this scene and their hearts skipped a beat. They didn''t have the courage to go back and save the girl, so with clenched teeth and faces showingpassion, they turned and fled. The elephant lifted its foot, and in the next second, it would stomp the mother and daughter into a pulp! Boom!! A tall figure appeared out of nowhere, leaning an elbow against the side of the elephant. The tremendous impact made the elephant stagger, and the earth trembled beneath it. [Rhinoceros Impact]! The little girl''s eyes widened as she looked at the figure standing in front of her and her mother, her thoughtsing to a halt. Her face was still streaked with tears, and she wore a nk expression.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The next second, she felt herself lifted into the air, cradled in someone''s arms. "Take care of your mom and don''t let the monsters take her away, okay?" The girl heard a man''s voice and felt arge hand stroke her head, then she soon realized that she and her mother were inside a small shop, beside several young tourists hiding under the counter, who gave her awkward smiles. Chen Lun returned to the center of the street, blocking the way for the two elephants. Seeing the "little guy" who had knocked into it, the elephant was particrly enraged and swung its long trunk forward. [Bear Strike]! The white exoskeleton on Chen Lun''s elbow vanished, his fingers spread, and a pad appeared in his palm, pping the elephant''s trunk away. Roar!! The long trunk swung wildly in the air like a swing broken by a capricious child. Seeing itspanion at a loss, the other elephant charged over to relieve it. Chen Lun leaped on the spot, nimbly flipping onto the elephant''s back and grabbing its ears, then pped its forehead with his palm. [Bear Strike] strikes again! Boom!! The elephant''s vision shook immediately, dizzy and disoriented, its front legs copsing unwillingly onto its knees. Roar¡ª Chen Lun tugged at its ears and made trumpeting sounds close to its ear, trying tomunicate with it. "These two elephants aren''t influenced by supernatural powers, so you could try to ''convince'' them." The task specified "tame" rather than "kill," and Chen Lun had also noticed they were merely provoked by humans. He believed that with his professional expertise and high Charm attributes, he couldplete the physical "persuasion." After several minutes ofmunication, the anger of the two elephants subsided, and they regained their calm. A big part of the reason was that they couldn''t beat him. In their feeling of fear and awe, they chose to submit. [You have sessfully tamed the furious elephants,pleting the D-level task: Beast Tamer''s Entrance!] [Received task rewards: 800 Experience Points, 70 Silver Ducats and [Low Sequence Destiny Faction Mysterious Substance]*1] Chen Lun didn''t pay attention to the prompt for the time being, and had the two elephants stay put. He then headed towards the location where Baron Barnie had previously disappeared. What he didn''t notice was that in the small shop where the little girl was, among the group of young tourists, a man excitedly picked up the camera on his chest and pressed the shutter several times at his retreating figure. "Oh my god! By the Sun! He actually subdued two furious elephants all by himself!" Chen Lun searched the men''s restroom but found no trace of Baron Barnie. He went outside and flicked out his tongue to collect Barnie''s pheromones, but to no avail. "This guy is very cunning, he never came here... He probably left straight away." Thinking about it was normal. If he really was the mastermind, he wouldn''t stay at the scene to secretly observe unless he was extremely twisted. Chen Lun set this matter aside for the time being and kept it in mind. Ten minutester. Viscount Pompey''s family, anxiously waiting outside the zoo''s great gate, saw a tall figure approaching from afar. They hurried forward to meet him. "Mr. Jack, are you all right?" The Viscount asked. "I''m fine, but I haven''t found Baron Barnie either," Chen Lun shook his head. A hint of regret appeared on Viscount Pompey''s face. "May the Sun bless him, I hope Barnie can take care of himself." After a prayer, the Viscount turned to Chen Lun again, looking serious. "Mr. Jack, thank you so much for your actions just now... You are truly a great and noble person! If it weren''t for you distracting that tiger, I''m afraid Binose and we..." Chen Lun feigned a look of lingering fear and gently waved his hand. "Actually, I just acted instinctively at the time, subconsciously believing that my deep research in animals would allow me to control the situation. Fortunately, it tripped over itself, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable." "In any case, we are very grateful to you, Mr. Jack!" Viscount Pompey sincerely thanked Chen Lun, and both Lady Pompey and Binose also gave him grateful looks. Especially Reba, her eyes brimming with almost overflowing admiration. At the Pompey Manor dinner table. The Viscount took out fifty gold pounds as a token of appreciation, but Chen Lun declined graciously. He joked that he simply wished to take a few books from the study, as knowledge was priceless. The Pompey family was greatly surprised. They hadn''t expected anyone to be so indifferent to fame and wealth, solely pursuing knowledge, whichmanded their heightened respect. Chen Lun''s image once again surged in their minds, bing that of a schr both profoundly knowledgeable and bravely fearless. Viscount Pompey dered on the spot that the money must be epted, and that books from the study were his to take as he wished! Chen Lun gratefully epted with dignified righteousness. "Pfft¡ª" On the way home, he couldn''t help but snicker quietly to himself. Fifty gold pounds in the bag, and in the study, apart from that yellow-covered book he hadn''t finished, he wondered if there was any other supernatural knowledge... This was like Emperor Qin Shi Huang getting a shock from touching an electric wire, a total win. Suddenly, his expression changed slightly. "Stop the carriage!" ttering¡ª The coachman pulled the carriage over to the side of the road. Chen Lun lifted the curtain and stepped down while the coachman looked at him with a puzzled face. "Sir?" "Stay here and don''t move... wait for my return." Chen Lun surveyed his surroundings and then dashed off in one direction with a stern face. During the day at the zoo, he had improved his Insight by four points using "Survival of the Fittest" and had suddenly felt a whiff of danger while he was in the carriage just now. His sixth sense told him that someone was watching him. "Who could it be?" Chen Lun flitted undermpless shade, moving only within the shadows each time. The sense of imminent danger was not strong, but it was there, faint yet perceptible, like being targeted by a gun. Bang!! A gunshot pierced the quiet night! Chapter 62 Who is Trying to Frame Me ``` The bullet hit the trunk of the tree, splintering wood chips. In his line of sight, the tall figure disappeared into the shadows. "Damn it!" Hiding behind a building, the assassin cursed. In a nearby corner, another masked man urged. "Hurry up and find him. Finish the job within thirty seconds; the patrolling guards will be here any minute!" "Got it!" The assassin replied impatiently, about to change positions when arge hand suddenly grabbed his protruding head. Crack! The strength in the hand was immense, and the man realized he couldn''t break free. Looking up, he saw the unexpressive face of his assassination target. The other man''s face was hidden in backlight, leaving only a pair of cold vertical pupils! The assassin made a snap decision, withdrawing the short dagger from his waist and stabbing towards Chen Lun''s abdomen. ng! The expected sensation of the de piercing flesh didn''te, and the assassin''s face turned pale. The sharp dagger seemed to have struck steel, ringing out clearly. That fleeting dark golden sheen was thest color in his vision. Chen Lun shoved the hand holding the assassin''s head, then pulled back, his five fingers snapping together at the man''s throat. Blood-stained fingers wiped across the assassin''s cor, and he turned to walk away. Thud! The assassin had just copsed to the ground, clutching his neck. [You have killed a member of the ck Knife Brotherhood, gaining 50 Experience Points] "The ck Knife Brotherhood... Who''s put a price on my head?" Chen Lun sneered. The ck Knife Brotherhood was a notorious assassin organization, simr to the Silver Dragon Trade Association, but all their business involved human lives. Chen Lun had reached the end of the alley. On either side were narrow passageways leading to different streets, but he saw no other suspicious figures. "Got away? Lucky you..."N?v(el)B\\jnn Chen Lun muttered to himself. He straightened his top hat and turned to leave. As his footsteps faded into the distance, a ck-clothed assassin perched atop the wall let out a sigh of relief. He leaped from the wall, rolling on the ground to break his fall. As he raised his head, preparing to retreat, his hair stood on end; he heard a voice by his ear: "Quite the somersault." Turning his head stiffly, he saw his intended victim quietly standing by his side, smiling at him. "Death!" The assassin reached for his gun to shoot, but felt a sharp pain in his wrist. Chen Lun kicked his hand, breaking it as it reached inside his coat. He then grabbed the assassin by the neck, lifting him as if he were a little chicken. "Who wants my life?" A dim glow emanated from the "Mermaid''s Song" on his chest, trying to hypnotize the assassin. Unexpectedly, the assassin''s body stiffened, and he began bleeding ck blood from all orifices, dying on the spot. "The Conspiracy Faction''s contract. I should have known..." Chen Lun casually tossed the corpse to the ground, and scowled in frustration. [Trigger C-level mission: Clouds of Conspiracy] [Mission description: It seems you''ve been drawn into a plot! Someone is targeting Viscount Pompey with a series of murder schemes, and you''ve inadvertently touched someone''s interests! Find out the mastermind behind the scenes. Snuff out the conspiracy and schemes!] [Mission rewards: 1500 Experience Points, 2 Gold Pounds, Pompey''s Affection, and a copy of "Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mystic Book" *1] "Find nothing!" Chen Lun epted the mission but had no intention of searching for any mastermind. ``` Although he coveted the [[Flesh Faction]] Sequence pathway listed in the task reward, Chen Lun had more important matters to attend to and neither had the time nor the inclination to bother with it. Since the task didn''t set a time limit, he decided to put it aside for now. The most likely condition for failure would be the death of Viscount Pompey, but as Chen Lun spent most of his days in the manor, he was ready to kill anyone who dared toe after him. Images of Baron Barnie shed through his mind, and the situation mostly likely had something to do with this man. "Bring it on, I was worried I wouldn''t be able to catch you." ¡­ The next day, Chen Lun arrived early at Pompey Manor. While Reba was still resting, he sneaked into the study to read. The Yellow-covered book containing [[Nature Faction]] supernatural knowledge was thin, and Chen Lun took two hours to finish reading it. [By carefully reading, you have gained 450 Experience Points] [Nature Faction Mystic Book ''On Survival Instinct'' (Progress 100%) has beenpletely read!] [You''ve additionally gained 1 Skill Point and 1 Attribute Point] "Not bad at all!" Chen Lun gave himself a thumbs up and then pocketed the Yellow-covered book, nning to take it home after work. Just as he was about to search the study for the next "treasure," his interest was interrupted. It was his old friend Binose, who knocked on the door and tactfully reminded him that it was time to go down for lunch. Today''s lessons were scheduled in the afternoon, and it was already the time for lunch. During the luncheon. Chen Lun chatted with the Viscount about the Pompey Family, indirectly inquiring for some information. Originally, he just wanted to know about some past history, but inadvertently, he learned that Viscount Pompey had an adopted son. "Vigrey is the son of myrade-in-arms. That ''overseasnding battle'' was extremely brutal, and myrade rests forever on that ind... His wife remarried afterwards, leaving only Vigrey behind, so I adopted him." Viscount Pompey looked mncholic, sipping his drink and reflecting: "Vigrey is just like his father, wholeheartedly dedicated to the Empire, and still actively engaged in military service abroad, seldom returning home." During this, he had Butler Binose bring over an album to show Chen Lun a photo. It was a young man with brown short hair, in military dress, and not given to smiling. Chen Lun found him somewhat familiar but couldn''t remember where he had seen him before. After the luncheon. Reba rolled over excitedly with a newspaper in hand. The wheelchair made a rumbling noise on the floor, scaring Binose, who was ready toe to the rescue at any moment. "Mr. Jack! You made the headlines!" Chen Lun took the newspaper from her, and following Reba''s guidance, he found himself featured in arge section. "¡ª¡ªUproar at the Emerald Scream Zoo! Tiger unleashed! Elephant kills! Mysterious young man casts magic to subdue the beasts? Controls the ferocious animals!?" After reading the title, he saw a photo of himself standing next to two elephants, revealing only a blurry profile. Chen Lun frowned. The news report was quite detailed, as if it had witnessed the entire process in person. Moreover, it was highly exaggerated, specting conspiratorially about Chen Lun''s identity and "magic." The article failed to mention the injured crowd but instead fabricated a two-digit death toll, implying the suspicion towards his "magic." Although not stated outright, there was an insinuation that he caused the tragedy. "The Cypress Leaves Post alwayses up with such sensationalist ''stories,'' if not tabloids then rumors..." Butler Binose, who had finished reading along, sarcastically expressed his opinion. As if he had thought of something, Viscount Pompey came over and whispered to Chen Lun: "This newspaper, just like the zoo, is owned by Earl Bradley. The negative impact of the zoo incident is too great, they probably want to find someone to shift the attention... You may be approached by a special department in theing days, Mr. Jack." He patted Chen Lun''s shoulder. "But don''t worry, I''ll handle them for you... However, it would be best for you to stay in the manor for the time being. I''m concerned they might use some methods against you." Chapter 63 Planning Small manor. Room on the third floor. Chen Lun sat by the window, looking down at his own arm. Gurgling... Beneath the skin covered in dark golden scales, his muscles slowly writhed, his entire arm snaking around. The serpent''s head rose, revealing two fangs glowing with a faint green luster. ¡ª Those were two of Chen Lun''s fingers. "The ''Serpentine Incarnation,'' ''Snake''s Kiss,'' and ''Carp Armor''... Is it already the limit to exert three Attributes at the same time?N?v(el)B\\jnn This is still because they are rtivelypatible with each other, otherwise such an effect would not be achieved." Chen Lun dispelled the changes on his arm and began to think and analyze. Since bing a Transcendent, he hadn''t systematically nned his power system. After his trip to the zoo, he had gained quite a few new Attributes. After sorting and picking, the ten memory slots left by ''Animal Mimicry'' contained only those he felt were of special value. He intended to make sensible arrangements for himself, allowing his powers to be utilized to a more perfect effect. ''Molting,'' ''Serpent Senses,'' ''Scorpion Tail Needle,'' ''Stork Stomach,'' ''Stork Peck,'' ''Rhinoceros Impact,'' and ''Bear Strike,'' plus the previous three made a total of ten. The former ''Ultrasonic Wave'' he had also eliminated, as its slight controlling effect ovepped with the Hypnosis Ne, and was even far inferior. "It''s a pity that even after obtaining flying Attributes, I still can''t fly at all..." Chen Lun sighed inwardly. This was the limitation of Sequence Nine, something he couldn''t change through human effort. Perhaps after he advanced to Sequence Eight, he could try again. An ascension in Sequence not only brings new transcendent powers but can also cover the prior Sequence Abilities and lift their upper limits. "I''ll try then to integrate the ten Attributes into one, which will most likely produce a qualitative change." Chen Lun felt that it was feasible and was filled with anticipation. He then looked at the equipmentid out on the table, the three ''Mysterious Objects'' he currently possessed¡ªa ne, a hand crossbow, and a badge. Ignoring the word ''damaged,'' neatly one each from B, C, and D. "With the 16 Attribute Points stored in the panel, I''m about as close as I can be to the limit of Sequence Nine, and against a Transcendent of one Sequence higher than me, it''s not impossible to put up a fight." Chen Lun rested his chin on his hand and mused, wearing the Dragon King''s characteristic Nike smile: "Underestimating me would be a ''lese-majesty,'' and I''d flip them on the spot!" "Mr. Jack, it''s time to eat!" Connie''s call came from outside the room, and Chen Lun switched his face like a Sichuan Opera performer, reverting to normal. "Wait a moment, I''ll be right there." He packed up the items on the table and got up to leave. Floey, as usual, had cooked a hearty lunch, not only delicious but also filling, generous in portion. But Chen Lun was no longer a simpleton; with ''Stork Stomach'' and ''Surging Badge'' doubling up, he ate all that came without refusal, leaving nothing behind. Fortunately, there was no fish, which he disliked, making the meal exceptionallyfortable. Lately, Connie hadn''t been going to school, busying herself in the manor''s warehouse, her appetite quiterge as well. The two of them cleared the food on the table, and Floey nodded repeatedly, a look of satisfaction and contentment on her face. Chen Lun was thinking of ways to help Connie get in touch with the Iris Academy, nning to send her there for further study. It would be a good time to find Mrs. Ulysses, a professor there. The ''Mermaid''s Song'' Hypnosis must have worn off by now, but subconsciously, there should still be an impression and fondness for Chen Lun, only needing another round of hypnosis when the timees. "By the way, Floey, I''ll be moving to Pompey Manor for a while tomorrow." After lunch, Chen Lun said as he sipped tea. Although he was not afraid of the so-called special department investigations, since Viscount Pompey had invited him, he was naturally willing to stay at the manor for a while, which was also more conducive to his search for ''Philip''s Legacy.'' Floey was slightly taken aback, while Connie''s face showed a curious and gossipy look. "Mr. Jack, that viscount''s manor must be veryrge, right? And since you''re employed as that viscount''s daughter''s tutor, could there be any... sparks of love?" After saying this, Connie immediately realized she sounded like one of those gossipingdies from the Outer City District, not verydylike at all. "Ah... No, no, I didn''t mean that." Her face turned red as she embarrassingly muttered about boiling a kettle of water, then got up and slipped away. Floey silently cleaned up the dinner tes, and after a while, a ethereal voice softly said: "Can I move over and live with you? Connie is busy every day, and I''m a bit bored alone." Chen Lun thought for a moment. In a couple of days, when Connie went to the academy, leaving Floey alone here would indeed be dangerous. Someone had secretlymissioned an assassin from the ck Knife Brotherhood, and it was uncertain whether they would find his small manor. "Of course, you can. Thene with me tomorrow." He nodded and said. A smile appeared on Floey''s face. ... In a corner of the Inner City District, there was an art studio. The Great Gate was pushed open, and Baron Barnie strode in with a grim face. The empty studio held only a young man, who was back to him and immersed in painting. The walls were covered with bizarre oil paintings, and the area around was scattered with paints and canvases, chaotic with an artistic atmosphere. But Baron Barnie clearly had no interest in appreciating the art. He walked up behind the young man and said in a deep voice: "Vigrey, something''s gone wrong. The Pompey family didn''t die..." The young man''s painting brush paused, then he continued painting without interruption. Baron Barnie furrowed his eyebrows and took a deep breath. "I need your help now, Vigrey! A Transcendent hase to the Pompeys'', and he''s after me. I have to hide and can''t show up for the time being." The young man set down his paintbrush and sighed. "How many times have I told you not to call me by that name?" He slowly turned around, looking at Baron Barnie expressionlessly. His brown curly hair fell over his forehead, revealing a pair of indifferent eyes. "Alright... Mr. Dolly, can you help me now?" Baron Barnie made a helpless gesture and leaned in to ask. The young man turned back to his easel, picked up the paintbrush, and outlined a golden-haired girl on the canvas. "No." Veins popped on Baron Barnie''s forehead. "Dolly, this is a task assigned to us by the Oil Paint Baron! If you stand by, we will both suffer when the timees!" "I know... but don''t trouble me because of your ipetence." The young man pondered for a moment, seemingly contemting over his painting. He dabbed some blue paint and added radiance to the golden-haired girl''s eyes, ultimately giving her the appearance of Reba. "I have more important things to finish." "What things?" Baron Barnie knitted his brows, feeling irritable. "None of your concern..." "Dolly!" The young man ripped the canvas off the easel, and "Reba" was severed in two. He got up, shaking his head. "This is terrible, absolutely terrible... not even one percent as good as the Oil Paint Baron. Do you think Ick talent in painting, Barnie?" Looking at the young man talking to himself, Baron Barnie took a deep breath and asked in a serious tone: "How much time do you need?" "Give me another week. Once I''m done with my business, I''lle to assist you." "Fine." Chapter 64 Who Moved My Inheritance (Thanks and Adding More) The next day. Chen Lun brought a few sets of clothes to change into, and together with Floey, they took a carriage to Pompey Manor. He greeted the Viscount and exined that his blind sister had no one to look after her at home, requesting to stay at the manor together. As Chen Lun expected, Viscount Pompey was surprised but immediately nodded in agreement. "Mr. Jack, so you have a sister that needs care..." "If I may be so bold, I have yet to meet anyone in the Inner City District who surpasses you in character and morality." Viscount Pompey praised. Then he called for Butler Binose, instructing him to arrange amodations for Chen Lun and Floey. "Since Mr. Jack is willing to trust me, please feel at ease living in the manor and treat this ce as your own home." Chen Lun took off his hat and bowed with his hand on his chest. "Thank you, Viscount Pompey." Floey stood by his side, quiet as a beautiful doll that could not speak, and followed Chen Lun in bending the knee to the Viscount. Binose led Chen Lun and Floey to the backyard, where there were several unupied vis. Chen Lun had no particr requirements for his surroundings; after all, he was only staying temporarily for a couple of days to search for "Philip''s Legacy" more conveniently. However, the environment of Pompey Manor was very good, arguably the best in the Inner City District. In the backyard, there were severalrge trees with robust growth, with one tree even featuring a swing hanging from its branches, decorated with woven flowers on its ropes. Seeing it, Chen Lun thought of Reba; perhaps she used to y here as a child. "Here we are, Mr. Jack... You and Miss Floey may select any room you like here; each has an en suite bathroom. If you need anything, you can call for the maids ore find me," Binose said. He bowed slightly, then withdrew. Chen Lun and Floey had just put down their luggage and had not yet started to unpack when they heard shouting from downstairs. "Mr. Jack!" Chen Lun went downstairs and saw Reba sitting in a wheelchair, her face flushed as she looked up at him. "I heard from father you moved in..." She stopped midway when she saw the young girl who came with Chen Lun, and her expression changed slightly. "Is this...your wife?" Reba asked cautiously. Chen Lun couldn''t help but smile, and Floey spoke from his side: "I''m his sister, Floey." "Ah... So you are Miss Floey. Nice to meet you, I am Mr. Jack''s student, you can call me Reba!" Reba said, with a hint of joy in her eyes. So it''s just his sister! I still have a chance! Reba breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as she reached out her hand to Floey. "Miss Floey, you are very beautiful... no wonder you are Mr. Jack''s sister." After she finishedplimenting, Reba noticed the ck silk covering Floey''s eyes and realized that she was blind, which made Reba awkwardly think of retracting her hand. But to her surprise, Floey gently took her hand.N?v(el)B\\jnn "You are very beautiful too, Miss Reba." Reba''s expression turned strange. Floey''s voice was truly pleasant to hear, but since she was clearly blind, was she ttering her by saying she was pretty? However, Reba couldn''t say those words out loud; it would be too impolite. "Thank you for yourpliment, Miss Floey." After exchanging a few more words, Reba suddenly remembered something and looked apologetically at Chen Lun. "Did I disturb you, Mr. Jack? You haven''t even unpacked your luggage, have you?" "It''s okay, it''s just two sets of clothes..." Chen Lun said. He sensed something and nced past Reba towards the door, seeing a sh of green. "I n to go out and take a walk in the backyard, Miss Reba." Chen Lun said apologetically. "Ah... Please feel free, Mr. Jack." Reba immediately turned her head to look at Floey. "I think we have a lot to talk about, Miss Floey, can I befriend you?" "Of course, Miss Reba." Floey said. Reba looked pleased, carefully taking Floey''s hand, which stiffened slightly but did not pull away. "Mr. Jack, I would like to chat with Miss Floey here for a while, is that okay?" Chen Lun nced at Floey, saw her keeping a smile without resistance, and then nodded his head and walked towards the door. After Chen Lun''s figure disappeared at the doorway. Reba silently sized up Floey. She had to admit that the other''s appearance and temperament were fantastic, surpassing her own in certain respects. Reba suppressed the slight envy and jealousy rising in her heart and asked softly: "Miss Floey, do you know what kind of food Mr. Jack usually likes?" Floey smiled, her ethereal voice softly saying: "Fish." ... Hiss hiss... A small emerald green poisonous snake flicked its tongue, crawling onto Chen Lun''s hand. He casually sat on a swing, receiving the information it had gathered these past few days. A momentter. Chen Lun frowned, looking at the little snake on his hand. "Are you sure...?" The snake looked up at Chen Lun, silently flicking its tongue. After a long silence, Chen Lun''s heart sank. ording to the information conveyed by the snake, it had thoroughly scouted the backyard of Pompey Manor, but found no trace of any underground space. "Could there be an oversight?" Chen Lun thought to himself. He did not want to miss this opportunity because he very much needed it at this stage. From the descriptions in "Philip''s Diary," it can be roughly inferred that Philip had likely transcended the Low Sequence before his death. Because his opponent was very likely a Mid Sequence Transcendent from the Earth Faction, and facing such an enemy, Philip must have been at least a Sequence Seven presence. After all, the disparity between Low Sequence and Mid Sequence in terms of strength is vast. Without a qualitative leap, Philip could not havested that long. Therefore, "Philip''s Legacy" is extremely valuable, equivalent to the belongings of a Mid Sequence Transcendent, and he was also from the same sequence path as Chen Lun, which would be of extraordinary help to him. "Let''s keep looking, can''t just give up like this." Chen Lun released the snake, then summoned a few mice, asking them to help search the manor for any signs. Since he was staying here for the next few days, if there were any clues, he could take the items at the first opportunity. Chen Lun spected about "Philip''s Legacy"; if Philip had written thest entry in his diary just before his death, then it meant his body would also be here, ultimately releasing his spirituality which would turn into "Mysterious Objects." Chen Lun was very eager to get his hands on this "Mysterious Object" and also hoped to acquire the supernatural knowledge required to advance to "Sequence Eight." "In my previous life, I never heard of a yer obtaining this opportunity; could it have been unintentionally obtained by an NPC?" Chen Lun suddenly thought of Viscount Pompey''s ring, a "Mysterious Object." "Could it be that the Viscount identally discovered this legacy and then imed its contents for himself?" He thought to himself, nning to search in the Viscount''s vi, perhaps there he would find something. Chapter 65 Cats and Fish Meow... A faint meow sounded in the back courtyard of the manor. Chen Lun looked towards the sound and saw a small white kitten hiding under a tree, calling out. It seemed somewhat malnourished, shivering. Chen Lun walked over and gently picked it up. Looking into the kitten''s amber-colored eyes, he felt a hint of longing and pleading. From its weak cries, he gathered some intermittent, fragmented information. This was a stray cat''s kitten, struggling to survive the hardships of life, abandoned by its mother. Starving and cold, it had sneaked through a gap in the manor''s fence and, upon seeing Chen Lun, inexplicably took a great liking to this human, wanting to stay close to him and depend on him. "Lucky you, I was just about to go grab something to eat," Chen Lun stuffed it into his pocket and turned to leave. Afternoon. After finishing teaching Reba, Chen Lun burrowed into the vi''s study to continue his "treasure hunt." Binose the butler had specially instructed the maid to prepare a bowl of milk for the little white kitten. After eating and drinking its fill, it perked up and jumped around on Chen Lun''s desk. "Did youplete the task I gave you?" Chen Lun''s gaze shifted from the book in his hand to the little creature beside him. The little white kitten tilted its head in confusion, seemingly unaware of what he was talking about. "Well... you''re too young to be a spy; that would be too much to ask of you." Chen Lun smirked. He had originally wanted the little white kitten to scout around the vi and confirm whether Viscount Pompey had already obtained Philip''s Legacy, but clearly, it was too young to understand suchplex instructions. "Go y then," He stood up and continued to search through books. There were many books in the study, but with Chen Lun''s efficient searching, more than half had already been gone through. As evening approached, he still had not found anything. Looking at thest wall of books remaining, Chen Lun sighed internally. "Supernatural Knowledge is indeed rare, even in the viscount''s study, I''ve only found one piece so far..." At that moment, as usual, Binose knocked on the door, informing him that dinner time had arrived. Chen Lun put down the book in his hand and left with the little white kitten. At the dining table. "Mr. Jack, I specifically instructed the cook to prepare a dish for you, hehe!" Reba said. She turned her head to look eagerly at Chen Lun, her cheeks flushed. She had initially nned to keep it secret and wait until Mr. Jack saw his favorite dish before reminding him, then make an impression on him. But Reba couldn''t hold it in. "Oh? I really appreciate your thoughtfulness, Miss Reba," Chen Lun smiled. Reba''s heart leaped with joy, and she hurriedly signaled the maid to lift the lid. "Mr. Jack, this is a fine ck cod," Binose added from the side. He knew Miss Reba''s intentions and gave her his support. "Oh, I really like it... Thank you so much, Miss Reba, you are truly a thoughtfuldy." Chen Lun cut a tiny piece of fish, forked it into his mouth, and chewed, showing an expression of enjoyment. In reality, he swallowed it directly. Reba was overjoyed and cast a grateful nce at Floey sitting next to Chen Lun. If it weren''t for Miss Floey, she wouldn''t have known that Mr. Jack liked fish. She was grateful that Floey had shared this secret, which had earned her praise from Mr. Jack. Come on, Reba! You must deepen your rtionship with Miss Floey and win over Mr. Jack eventually! Floey slightly turned her head, sensing Chen Lun''s bitter emotions, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "Mr. Jack, please eat, it will affect the taste if it gets cold..." Reba urged. "Ah, of course." Chen Lun sensed trouble, his finger hooked slightly under the table, emitting a faint light. Meow!N?v(el)B\\jnn The little white cat leapt up, jumped onto the table, and then snatched the fish from the te. The action was done in one fluid motion,pletely ignoring everyone else. "..." Reba was stunned, as were the Binose butler and Viscount and Viscountess Pompey. "Aha! It seems that Miss Reba''s kindness is irresistible even to a little kitten..." Chen Lun chuckled, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere. Hearing this, Reba''s sullen mood slightly improved, though she secretly regretted it. ... Time quickly passed a week. A sensational piece of news spread through the entire Amber City¡ª Congressman Daniel was assassinated! Countless residents were outraged, a good man who dared to speak up for and act on behalf of themon people, was brutally murdered! "Protest! The Security Office of Amber City is ineffectual!" "It must be Congressman Daniel''s proposals and stances that touched the interests of the nobles, they must have sent someone to assassinate His Excellency! The murderer must be severely punished!" Arge number of residents holding signs paraded on the streets like a dragon. There were also many workers who even went on strike, wearing dirty uniforms, joining the ranks and shouting themselves hoarse. However, such situations mostly urred in the Outer City District. The Inner City District remained serene, and although the death of Congressman Daniel was shocking, it merely startled the elites, with many middle-ss individuals actually pping in approval. There had recently been an incident at the Garden Hotel, where Congressman Lawson''s son died, and now there had been an assassination, leading to the death of Congressman Daniel. The elites felt insecure, so they covertly pressured the Security Office, hoping to improve the safety of the Inner City District. Each year, a hefty amount of taxes maintained the police and guards, how could they allow these high-ranking individuals to live in constant fear? Only a few elites, through the channels of the special department in the Shelter, came to know some undisclosed secrets. They breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously making statements, as long as it did not concern them, they were actually safe. Outer City District. Low Tide Floral Bird Tavern. Today, the ce was unusually empty, without a single customer. The heavily made-upndy leaned against the corner, her eyes wide open, blood spilling from her mouth, with arge hole torn through her chest and abdomen. Clearly, she had been killed. In the backyard, the ground was covered with bodies, all members of the Iron Fist Gang. A brown-haired young man stood erect at the building''s entrance; at his feet knelt a headless corpse, burly in stature. The headless corpse''s neck wound was jagged, as if a beast had bitten off the head. "Sir... sir, I don''t know! I really don''t know that person''s identity!" A member of the Iron Fist Gang cowered before the young man, terrified. This unfamiliar man barged in, started ughtering without a word, even Gary the boss was killed by him in one move. It was just a fleeting glimpse; it seemed the stranger merely made a gesture, and Gary''s head vanished! Fear spread in his heart, he dared not lie, spilling everything he knew. "So, it was this person who killed Daniel''s butler and took some of the craftsmen...?" The young man muttered to himself, looking forward. After killing Daniel, the Oil Paint Viscount had him take over Daniel''s unfinished business, so Vigrey came to Low Tide. He shifted his gaze down to the headless corpse at his feet. "Control the gang leader, scout out news about Viscount Pompey and ''Dolly''? It seems the Transcendent within Pompey Manor is indeed him..." The young man''s face showed contemtion and murderous intent. "When was I exposed...? It shouldn''t be, could it be divination-type supernatural methods?" He pondered for a moment, then decided to make a trip back to Pompey Manor. Everything there was already considered his possession; no matter who this unknown enemy was, they were not allowed to covet it. Chapter 66 Unexplained Hostility Boom! A ball of me enveloped in ck smoke mmed against the steel te, instantly ckening it as the scorching air wave pushed outward in all directions. Boom!! Another me followed, this time condensed into a basketball-sized fireball, which with a thud smashed onto the steel te, sticking to it like a persistent maggot and burning incessantly. It wasn''t until a few minutester that the mes extinguished, and the steel te was burned red-hot, leaving behind some pits and melted traces on its surface. "Well done, Connie," Chen Lun looked at the mechanical glove he was wearing and sincerely praised her. Connie''s originally nervous expression instantly turned into joy. "Thank you for your praise, Mr. Jack. This is the first prototype I made based on the drawings; I thought it had failed." The entrance of the small manor''s warehouse. Chen Lun and Connie were testing the newly produced weapon. It looked slightly different from the previous Mad Hand, with more patterns on the surface, and under the reinforced ss, many precise gears and some small mechanical devices could be seen. [Unnamed - Mechanical Glove] Item Description: A weapon made by a highly talented craftsman, imitating from a painting with "Mysterious Objects." It can spray mes, or in high-power mode, shoot high-temperature fireballs. Paired with special synthetic fuel, it can adhere to targets, causing continuous burning damage. Flip a hand for stunning sparkles, cover a hand to annihte. "No, it''s very sessful, Connie," Chen Lun smiled, took off the glove, and handed it back to Connie. "Since it''s your creation, you should name it." Connie seemed surprised, then with a bit of excitement said: "Mr. Jack, let''s call it ''Connie Number One''! Those famous creations in history are named after their creators; I also wish..." While speaking, Connie became somewhat embarrassed and her voice lowered. Chen Lun couldn''t help but smile. He nodded, agreeing to the new glove''s name. Although it wasn''t very elegant, it was a great respect to Connie. [Connie Number One - Mechanical Glove] "Very good, Connie, take this money, it''s the reward you deserve," Chen Lun took out a small pouch containing a dozen Gold Pounds. Connie tried to refuse, but it was firmly ced in her palm. "Your efforts and hard work should not be erased, Connie." Chen Lun smiled at her, then said: "I have already made arrangements with the Iris Academy; in a few days, you will be able to go there to study... When you find the time, arrange for the craftsmen to continue producing ''Connie Number One,'' also we need to produce some Blunderbusses and ammunition..." Chen Lun instructed her and left the small manor. Connie looked at his retreating figure, her hands tightly clutching the money pouch, moved. "Don''t worry, I won''t let you down, Mr. Jack!" ... Walking along the road, Chen Lun noticed that there were more patrol officers than usual. It was due to the death of Senator Daniel. Chen Lun''s face was grim with thought. Things seemed to be heading in an unexpected direction¡ªone he hadn''t anticipated. Daniel, who should have died two yearster, was assassinated ahead of time. Who was the assassin? Was it still "Big Appetite" Dolly? What had caused this butterfly effect to ur...? Had he unwittingly pped his wings? Lacking too many pieces of the clue puzzle, Chen Lun found it difficult to deduce the whole picture at the moment. But he knew that this matter had something to do with the Iron Fist Gang. He remembered what Daniel''s butler, Fedman, had said just before his death... Perhaps it was because of him that the control of the mastermind over the Iron Fist Gang and those craftsmen was severed, thereby affecting a series of subsequent events. After all, it was rted to the biggest matter he had been involved with concerning Senator Daniel. "We''ll face the soldiers as theye, and the flood as it rises," Chen Lun let out a breath. From his decision to save Floey, it was clear that Chen Lun was not afraid of the butterfly effect. Clutching to an "all-knowing" advantage for the sake of keeping the plot on track was a coward''s act. Having crossed into this world, he had chosen to follow his heart, so he must press forward fearlessly. Chen Lun could benefit from his knowledge of the plot and was not afraid of the world line shifting due to his intervention. Because he believed in himself. ... Today Reba didn''t want to go to sses. She nagged her parents for a long time and finally convinced them to let her take a day off. The backyardwn of the manor. Reba sat on a swing, gazing at Mr. Jack who was reading nearby. Floey was ying with a kitten at the table, their asional lightughter mingling with the cat''s interactions. The bright yet not dazzling sunlight poured down, creating a rxed scene in the manor. [By diligently reading, you have gained 195 Experience Points] [Constetion Faction Mystic Book "Please Observe Patiently" (Progress 100%) has been thoroughly read through!] "You have gained an additional Skill Point and Attribute Point." Chen Lun exhaled and set down the book in his hands. It was the second book containing Supernatural Knowledge he had found through aprehensive search in the study these days. Although he had not found any evidence of Viscount Pompey obtaining "Philip''s Legacy," the acquisition of Supernatural Knowledge had alleviated some of his frustration. "The only two pieces of Supernatural Knowledge in the study, I''ve already reaped the benefits from..." Chen Lun felt secretly pleased. Apart from Experience Points, Skill Points, and Attribute Points, he had gained a new Sequence pathway, the "Constetion Faction, Sequence Nine¡ªHunter." Counting the Supernatural Knowledge in his possession, he unknowingly had umted four pieces. Constetion, Earth, Nature, and Destiny... Two Sequences of the Seven True Gods and two hidden Sequence pathways offered more choices for the yers when the time came. Chen Lun thought, when other yers desperately sought the path to transcendence, those who encountered him would agonize over which to choose. He was really looking forward to such a scene. "Miss Reba, Master Vigrey has returned; the Viscount requests your presence," Butler Binose approached the backyard, bowed to Chen Lun''s Floey, and then turned to Reba. "I understand, Mr. Butler," Reba said. She declined Binose''s offer and, looking at Chen Lun, inquired expectantly:n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Mr. Jack, could you push me there?" "It would be my pleasure, Miss Reba." Chen Lun packed up the book, walked over, and gently lifted Reba into the wheelchair. Mr. Jack is so strong! His embrace is also very warm! Reba looked ecstatic, while Floey walked up holding a white cat, its tail identally brushing Reba''s face. "Achoo!" Reba sneezed and immediately covered her face in embarrassment. Oh, heavens! Mother Moon above! I... I just behaved so impolitely in front of him! How embarrassing! Mr. Jack surely won''tugh at me, will he? The anticipatedughter didn''te, and Reba felt the wheelchair begin to move. Turning her head to sneak a peek, she saw Miss Floey giving her an apologetic expression. ... Everyone arrived at the Viscount''s vi. Upon entering the hall, Chen Lun saw Viscount Pompey and his wife chatting on the sofa with a young man. "Reba, aren''t you going to greet your brother?" The young man with brown hair stood up and smiled at Reba. "Ah... Brother Vigrey," Reba said. The young man turned to Chen Lun and extended his hand. "You must be Miss Reba''s tutor, Mr. Jack, right? I''ve heard about you from my father. Thank you for your guidance to Reba and for your help at the Teary Zoo." Chen Lun shook hands with him, his gaze sharpening momentarily. He then smiled politely as usual: "It''s what I ought to do, Mr. Vigrey." After the two sat down, Viscount Pompey introduced: "As I mentioned before, this is my foster son, Vigrey. He is on a routine leave, so he came to visit." The young man smiled and nodded at Chen Lun. But a warning light lit up in Chen Lun''s mind. The moment they shook hands, he received a prompt¡ª "Vigrey''s affection towards you has decreased; he is now hostile!" Moreover, he sensed a strong threat emanating from this young man. He is a Transcendent! The young man with brown hair scrutinized Chen Lun, thinking to himself as well. He sneered inwardly. "It''s you, then..." This return, he distinctly felt that Viscount Pompey and his wife were far less enthusiastic about him than before, and even Reba seemed a bit distant. This made him angry, as if something of his had been taken away by someone else. "Mr. Jack is currently staying at the estate, right?" Vigrey revealed a smile. "After dinner, I will visit you... to seek some advice on literary matters." Chapter 67 Midnight Skirmish Night. The first-floor hall of the backyard vi. Chen Lun and Vigrey sat opposite each other at the long table. Floey had gone back to her room early to rest, and now only the two of them were in the hall. "Mr. Jack, I heard you''re a schr from out of town?" Vigrey poured himself a ss of strong liquor. The orange glow from the electric light passed through the ice in the ss, merging with the amber color of the alcohol, distorting the young man''s face. "Yes, Mr. Vigrey. Ie from an inconspicuous small city in Rock State..." Chen Lun picked up his ss and took a sip of milk. "Didn''t you want to talk to me about literary matters?" Vigrey didn''t respond to him and nced at the milk in his hand, chuckling softly. "Mr. Jack''s preferences are... quite unique." "Drinking milk at night helps with sleep. I suggest you try it, just one ss, and you''re guaranteed to sleep better than a baby." Chen Lun gulped it down and let out a milk burp. Veins popped on Vigrey''s forehead, and his voice turned colder. "Jack, I won''t beat around the bush with you... the mystery circle of Amber City is not something an outsider can get involved in." Chen Lun wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. In a nutshell, the other party''s words meant that the waters of Amber City were too deep for him to fathom. But Chen Lun didn''t take the other''s threat seriously. Since he wanted to quickly increase his Strength, it was inevitable that he would get involved in some struggles. If possible, he would also like toy low in one ce like the supreme sword deity of a small town. But there was no time to allow for that. Whether it was Floey''s death countdown, the arrival of the 1.0 version public beta yers, or even theter ravaging of the Empire by the Red Apple Church... if these things were left unchecked, then Chen Lun''s Destiny would gradually slip out of his control. He didn''t like the feeling of losing control. And it was too cowardly to hesitate and hold back. Chen Lun looked at the indifferent young man and thought it was a pity. If only he had the "Scout" function that came with the yer panel. Although he couldn''t getprehensive and specific information, he could know some basic details about the other party to make judgments. "Let me remind you again, Jack, Pompey Manor and Outer City District''s sewer beach craftsman are Sir Oil Paint''s things... In Amber City, no one can touch his stuff, not the Church, not the Shelter!" Vigrey said in a cold voice. "Why not?" Chen Lun retorted with a polite smile. "This Sir Oil Paint you mentioned... is he a Saint? Or an Angel?" Saints and Angels are titles of respect for High Sequence Transcendents. Saints have transcended the mortal shell and even all Life on earth; they are neither human nor ordinary Transcendents. They have stepped into the category of Mythical creatures. Angels, on the other hand, are beings closer to the end of a Sequence. Each Sequence path has a countable number of Angels. They have another name¡ªSub-Gods. If Sir Oil Paint is such a powerful being, then it''s not just Amber City; even the Sun Royal Family of the Royal City of Beryl wouldn''t dare to offend him lightly... "Jack, you''re courting Death!" No sooner had Vigrey spoken than he vanished from the chair. The next second, he was propping himself up over the table, pressing down arge hand towards Chen Lun''s head! Bang!! Chen Lun countered with an uppercut. [Rhinoceros Impact]! A strong surge of air sted outwards. The chair Chen Lun was sitting on instantly disintegrated. Vigrey snorted coldly, arge mouth full of sharp teeth appeared in his palm and viciously snapped down! Crack! Squeak¡ª!! Vigrey''s eyes narrowed. He saw that on his fist held in his palm, ayer of dark gold scales had grown, and white exoskeletons covered the knuckles. The serrated teeth scraped over, emitting a grating noise. [Carp Armor]! Vigrey was surprised that even therge mouth in his palm couldn''t chew through this hard bone, so he let go and abandoned the grip. He pushed away Chen Lun''s fist, brought his five fingers together to form a de, and then shed towards Chen Lun''s neck. A row of sharp teeth emerged along the edge of Vigrey''s palm, like a meat saw chopping down! ``` Swoosh¡ªHiss! Chen Lun dissipated the features on his arm and executed "Serpentine Incarnation," his body twisting to dodge the attack. Vigrey''s hand turned into a de, slicing off one side of the solid wood table as it brushed past the corner. With a thud, a loud bang resounded! Sawdust and dust filled the air. Suddenly, a gust of air pierced through the dust and struck Vigrey fiercely. Bang! "Scorpion Tail Needle"! Vigrey raised his hand to block Chen Lun''s kick, the great impact causing him to retreat two steps. His entire arm started to engorge, muscles bulging and veins protruding as it turned into a "red giant arm" as if filling with air. Vigrey furrowed his brow, spread his hand, and saw the big mouth in his palm writhing ufortably. Then he vomited, expelling a pool of ck blood. "Supernatural Toxin?" Vigrey''splexion turned ugly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Flesh Faction Sequence Eight¡ªGourmet"? From across the debris of tables and chairs, Chen Lun spoke softly. "I thought you could eat anything." Vigrey didn''t say a word. The Transcendent known as Jack was not weak, and Vigrey had not gained an advantage. Since his opponent was not a weakling that could be squashed easily, he had no intention of continuing to stubbornly fight without knowing the other''s capabilities. He gave Chen Lun a cold look, flung his arm to restore it to normal. Without another word, he turned and walked out the door. As soon as Vigrey''s figure disappeared from sight, Chen Lun exhaled a breath of foul air. He lifted his arm and inspected it, noting a clear bite mark on the back of his hand. A faint pain was alsoing from his calf, where hisst kick was blocked by Vigrey''s hand de, inadvertently causing a cut from the counterforce. "Fighting above one''s level without using my trump card is still somewhat challenging..." Chen Lun sighed inwardly. Although both sides were just probing and did not go all out in the recent exchange, Chen Lun had more or less gauged his current limits. If he let loose, he was confident he could barely hold his ground against his opponent. But as time went by, he would likely be defeated. After all, the opponent was a Sequence higher than him, and the "Gourmet''s" abilities were far from limited to what had been seen. It was also possible that the opponent had unknown trump cards. Of course, if Chen Lun used his trump card, the oue would remain uncertain. Simultaneously, Chen Lun also noticed some clues. "This Vigrey... resembles ''Dolly'' a lot!" Based on his memories, the "Big Stomach King" Dolly was a Sequence Eight "Gourmet," a Transcendent who had half-stepped into the Sequence Seven "Ghoul." If he timed it right, Vigrey in two years could have reached that stage. But on this alone, Chen Lun could not be certain. Because Dolly was a fat man with distorted facial features and ugly appearance. These characteristics Vigrey did not possess. But one could not rule out the possibility that he might turn into that due to some ident along the original timeline in the next two years. Chen Lun secretly kept this spection to himself. "Are you okay?" A ethereal voice carried from behind him,ced with concern. Floey hade down the stairs unnoticed and was standing nearby. She had been startled by the noise of the fight but was unable to assist, which left her feeling dejected. "I''m fine." Chen Lun said with a smile. Looking at the disastrous state of the hall, he felt a headacheing on, unsure of how to exin it tomorrow. Was he supposed to tell Viscount Pompey that he had fought with his son? And why was there a corner of the table sliced off? Were the two of them fencing in the middle of the night? As Chen Lun was lost in thought, a voice suddenly resounded in his mind: "Internal test begins! Countdown: 11 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds..."] ``` Chapter 68 Internal Testing?! "Internal test!?" Chen Lun was startled. He suddenly realized he had missed this information. Because in his previous life, when he first encountered "Era of Mystery," it was already the public beta version 1.0, so he had no recollection of any internal test. Now that he thought about it, there indeed had been a three-day internal test. For yers, the flow of time between "reality" and "game" was inconsistent, achieving a 1:5 ratio. The official exnation was that it maximized sleep time, thus extending human lifespan in such an innovative way. The three days of internal testing, converted to this world''s time, amounted to two weeks. Chen Lun casually sat down on a chair and began to ponder. As he reminisced, he remembered more and more. It seemed that there were tens of thousands of slots for the internal test, and these were extremely valuable, even fetching hundreds of thousands of dors. Because apart from a very few slots that were randomly selected from the public, most had already been reserved by big guilds, elite yers, and streamers. An internal test was an early advantage, allowing one to familiarize themselves with the game world and get ahead from the starting line. As the world''s first global holographic online game at the time, "Era of Mystery" contained endless business opportunities and wealth, which big consortiums could not afford to miss. "The first batch of internal test yers will arrive tomorrow morning, then..." Chen Lun mused. "But Amber City can''t be the ''Novice Vige,'' so meeting them will require a long journey and that isn''t feasible with my time constraints." After a moment of contemtion, Chen Lun dismissed the idea of seeking them out. Tens of thousands of internal test yers might seem like a lot, but spread out across the entire Sun Continent, they were like a drop in the ocean, unable to make even a small ssh. Instead of going to great lengths to find them in some remote towns, it was better to wait for opportunities toe. He nned on leveraging the Iron Fist Gang''s intelligence advantage in the Outer City District to keep an eye out for him. If they spotted anyone who might be a yer, they could report back to him in a timely manner. ... The next morning, bright and early. Eight o''clock sharp. In Gem State, Fossil City, Emerald Town. Outside a rural farm fence, dozens of figures suddenly appeared out of thin air. "Has the game started?!" "Am I in the game world now?" "Damn! This is way too realistic!" All were dressed in in linen robes, resembling lower-ss civilians. Almost every one of them wore expressions of shock and curiosity, with a few yers even flopping to the ground to y with the weeds and soil. "Wow! Not only does the soil smell like soil, the grass smells like grass... and how is this cow dung smell so authentic?! Ew!" A male yer holding a clump of what seemed like old recipe ingredients vomited a few times, yet looked thrilled. In the corner, a few yers were slightly moreposed. Though equally curious about the new environment, they did not engage in any shocking performance art. A young man sporting a ''Pris'' game ID stood quietly in ce. He nced at the sessor of the old ways and those dancing yers, then turned and walked toward the farm by himself. "Hello hello! Nice to meet you, my name is Su Keying!" A female yer with wine-red hair ran up to him, calling out. Pris stopped walking and looked up at the top of her head. "Did you use your real name as your game ID?" "Ah... haha, yes, I debated over it a long time when I was lining up to enter the game and ended up using my own name." Su Keyingughed. Pris turned around and continued walking inside, not intending to chat with this woman. But Su Keying followed him, behaving familiarly. "Is there something you need?" Pris nced at her. Su Keying pouted and rolled her eyes at him. "Can''t you be less cold... We are, after all, among the first batch of internal testers, we should help each other." "Then why don''t you go find those others?" Pris pointed behind him without turning his head. Su Keying turned to look back and saw several fellows joining the old n, vomiting in ce. But they seemed to be enjoying themselves, even jumping into the farm to roll in the dirt. She chuckled softly and turned back around. "I think you''re more reliable." Su Keying pped her chest and continued: "I''m a full-time broadcaster and also run my own video channel, where I like to record content primarily focused on game narratives... This time, I finally got a slot in the closed beta and I n to create some initial material." "That''s great, I''ll definitely watch your video," Pris said indifferently. "Hey, let''s coborate... If we run into trouble, we can help each other out. I can let you have the resources first, how about that?" Su Keying said. "We''ll see when the timees." Pris leaped from a haystack into the farm, and Su Keying quickly followed. "You¡­" She pursued relentlessly, gritting her teeth. As they walked, they saw a farmer wearing a straw hat busy in the stable. "Hello? Is there anything we can help you with?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Pris stepped forward and tentatively asked. The farmer turned around and looked at them, his face immediately showing surprise. How did two strangers suddenly barge into his farm?! Just as he was about to scold them, he paused sharply, then his expression turned to realization. He pointed towards two other barns and casually said: "There are tools over there; you can help me cut the grass in the fields, collect and pack it¡­ or you can feed the livestock or fetch some water." The farmer paused, tapping his head. "Right, there''s also a room whose roof has been damaged. If you can fix it, that would be even better. Don''t worry, I''llpensate you." The next second, both Pris and Su Keying received a mission prompt. They exchanged nces and tacitly epted the mission. Pris nced at his panel and tentatively used the "Scout" skill on the farmer. Name: Tom Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Level: 4 Life: 50/50 Profession: [Farmer LV4] Attributes: ¡ª¡ª Skills: Vigorous Thrust LVMAX, ¡ª¡ª Combat Power: 5 [Danger Level: Medium] [Affection: Indifferent] [Evaluation: Even if he''s a weakling, he can still stab you hard with a hay fork!] Pris didn''t like attacking NPCs without reason; he decided to try doing the task first. Su Keying had the same idea but did not follow Pris to fetch tools right away; instead, she walked up to the farmer and started conversing with him. Perhaps it was because the character Su Keying created looked good, coupled with her gender, the farmer''s attitude towards her was noticeably better than his attitude towards Pris. After chatting for a while, Su Keying noticed that slowly other yers had also starteding in. She politely excused herself and left. The yers behind them saw what they did and guessed that they could receive missions from the farmer, so they surged forward in a swarm. Su Keying headed straight to the barn where Pris had alreadye out holding two sickles. "Here." Pris handed one to her, and Su Keying took it, chuckling softly. "Heh, seeing as you''re so proactive, I''ll share some intelligence I''ve just gathered with you¡­" Pris raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. Su Keying lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously: "As long as we earn enough for five Copper Kro entry tickets, we can enter Emerald Town. There are bound to be more opportunities there than out here in the wilderness, and, I heard that the Red Apple Church in town is being reconstructed. Maybe we can join them, might just give us a chance to gain supernatural strength!" Chapter 69 The Newbies Stick Together (Please Follow!) Emerald Town. Under the scorching sun. The ruins to the west had been cleared, and at this moment, a group of people were diligently working on construction. The recruited men were covered in dust, shouting as they carried and transported stone blocks together, while the women cooked arge pot of vegetable mushroom soup on the side. Pris wiped the sweat from his forehead, finding his hands caked in ck dirt. He sighed quietly. "This won''t do. Just being treated as low-levelborers doing simple and repetitive physical work..." Su Keying walked over, handing him a bowl of vegetable soup. Pris thanked her and felt a bit more spirited after taking a sip of the soup. Afterpleting their tasks on the rural farm and earning a few dozen Copper Kros, they had rushed to Emerald Town. As the farmer had mentioned, the Red Apple Church was indeed rebuilding their church, so they promptly signed up to participate. But contrary to their expectations, they didn''t even meet the steward monk, just two church guardians who were here to direct them. Thus, their n to join the church and obtain supernatural knowledge fell through. "It''s never that simple after all." Pris drank the soup to thest drop, returned the bowl to Su Keying, and remarked with a sigh. "It''s not entirely fruitless... You unlocked the ''Worker'' sub-upation, and I unlocked the ''Cook'' sub-upation," Su Keying said, offeringfort. "Those people still at the farm probably have their upation fields nk on their panels." Pris thought of the other yers and couldn''t help but sneer. Before they left, they saw yers who couldn''t bear it any longer attacking the NPC on the farm, though for unknown reasons. Perhaps they wanted to kill the farmer to seize the farm''s resources and wealth, or maybe they were simply testing the game mechanics... or they even considered that NPC as a monster to farm for experience to level up. However, all yers who acted were killed by the farmer with a single strike from a pitchfork. Even though he was just an ordinary NPC from a "Novice Vige," dealing with these new yers who had just entered the game was quite easy. What was moreughable, after resurrecting, those few guys were chased and killed again by the farmer''s dog, and that dog even stood guard at the "Resurrection Point" outside the farm. Having used up their three daily resurrection chances, those yers had wasted their day. The precious closed beta time was frittered away, and if they continued to court death the next day, using up all ten weekly resurrection opportunities, they could pretty much consider their participation in this closed beta a bust. "Do you know how this church got destroyed, Pris?" Su Keying suddenly asked. Pris snapped back to reality, surprised. "Wasn''t it because of an idental fire...?" That''s what he had heard from the workers when he arrived, but he quickly realized Su Keying wouldn''t be asking if that was the case. "What did you find out?" Pris suddenly felt that partnering with this woman wasn''t such a bad thing. Su Keying indeed knew something, and she giggled. "I just learned from ady that, a month ago, the Red Apple Church was attacked. All the clergy and guardians here were killed, and the church was burned down by that person." Pris was taken aback when he heard this. As an experienced gamer in the online gaming world, he always prepared well before diving into a new game. Even though the information released before the official start of "Era of Mystery" was limited, he had captured some through various channels. Among other things, he knew that the entire Sun Continent had factions for the Seven True Gods, and that each represented a path to a Supernatural Sequence and was a significant force holding supernatural powers. The audacity of someone attacking the church so brutally meant they were no ordinary thug! "Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt." A man''s voice came through, and Pris and Su Keying turned to look. They saw three men approaching, d in the same bup robes as themselves, with their game IDs disyed above their heads¡ªclearly, they were three yers. "I''m an executive of the ''Hall of Valor'' guild, Horseman... These two are members of the ''God''s Love'' guild, Doghead Gold and Forget No Taboo." The leading man, "Horseman," extended his hand with a smile. "Are you interested in cooperation? We could start by exchanging information." Pris and Su Keying exchanged a nce and nodded. He shook hands with Horseman and asked, "What kind of cooperation?" "Let''s talk somewhere else, it''s too hot here." The Horseman pointed helplessly to the sun above and tugged at his soaked cket. "Fine." Pris replied curtly. He turned around and applied to quit his job as a church guardian, and ended up getting only one-tenth of his wages, a mere few Copper Kros, along with a bout of scolding. But he did not care. The group found a shady spot to rest, and the Horseman sat down before speaking first: "There are few people in the internal test; you two managed to arrive here ahead of the main force, so I''m sure you''re wise enough to understand the importance of gaining an early advantage... Our coboration would definitely yield better results than going at it alone." The others nodded, showing agreement with his statement. The Horseman continued: "To show my sincerity, let me share some internal information from our guild... Remote towns like this usually have an official Supernatural organization, a Shelter, and one or two other Church factions. Although they are the most direct channels to obtain Supernatural Knowledge, the difficulty is extremely high." Pris hummed in acknowledgment, mentioning the futile effort he and Su Keying had made at the Red Apple Church today. "You can''t do it like this..." The Horseman shook his head. "The three of us never nned to go there from the start; the difficulty is too high, the cycle too long, and since the Empire offers opportunities in every town, there''s no need to stubbornly stick it out here..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Doghead Gold and Forget No Taboo both chuckled lightly. "We took a wolf hunting quest at that farm. Lucky for us, we even unlocked the battle Sub upation of ''Wolf Hunter''..." Su Keying pursed her lips in annoyance, finding these two guys truly obnoxious, wondering what they were showing off for here. She promptly shared some of the information she knew as well. The Horseman''s eyes lit up after hearing her. "The person you''re talking about, is he still in Emerald Town? Someone capable of taking down a church branch single-handedly must be a Transcendent... If we can start with him, our chances of obtaining Supernatural Knowledge would be greatly improved." "He should have left already; I saw the wanted poster the Red Apple Church posted..." Su Keying took out a piece of paper she had collected. It depicted a young man with ck curly hair and an indistinct face, the name Jack written below him, and his suspected identity as a member of the History and Ritual Association marked, along with a bounty of 100 Gold Pounds. If Chen Lun saw this wanted poster, he would certainly be surprised. Because the Red Apple Church had even employed the Divination Faction''s Supernatural power to learn his alias, and the cost must not have been small. This showed just how deep the Red Apple Church''s hatred for him ran. "Such a pity..." Learning that the tough character wasn''t in town, the Horseman shook his head regretfully. He immediately suggested: "We need to make the most of the precious time of the internal test and not waste effort here. It''s better to explore the surrounding map and find a big city first, so we can get ahead of others when the official test starts..." "But we''re out of money; the cost of a long journey would be considerable." Pris frowned as he spoke. The Horseman smiled, pointing out the disadvantage of lone wolves: theck of crucial information. "There''s usually a train station near small towns; we can take that to the nearest city. The price isn''t expensive, just a few dozen Copper Kros will do." "Let''s think about it." Pris said. The Horseman nodded, and Pris stepped aside to whisper a few words with Su Keying. In a little while, the two came back. "All right, we agree to this n, what do we need to do?" "Good..." The Horseman nodded in satisfaction. "It''s a bit of a distance from here to the train station, and we don''t have enough money to hire a carriage and guard, so we have to walk... There are likely to be robbers and wild monsters like thieves along the way, higher in level and very dangerous. So, we not only need to gather enough fare in the shortest time but alsoe up with a way to get a set of gear to protect ourselves on the road." Pris and Su Keying nodded. "Okay, we''ll act separately and set off before tomorrow!" Chapter 70 Do Not Conspire with Those of a Different Number (Asking for Follow-up Reads!) Chen Lun moved a wooden box and arrived at the fourth-floor attic of his small vi. He ced the box in a corner of the attic and covered it with a ck cloth. Several simr boxes were already neatly arranged nearby, containing blunderbusses and some ammunition, all crafted by the team led by Connie. There were already thirty to fortypleted pieces. After the initial adjustments, along with Connie''s guidance, the craftsmen had improved rapidly, and the team''s efficiency had increased significantly. Chen Lun had once handed a repeater flintlock gun to Connie for disassembly, but she had stated that she couldn''t replicate it because it used some special materials and parts. Without blueprints, she couldn''t manufacture it. Chen Lun felt regret for a while, and finally, he could only sigh andment that the Shelter''s supernatural workshop was damn cunning with such a good security mechanism. Then, he took out a pair of "Connie Number One", the first piece truly crafted. The previous prototypes had been taken back by Connie, as she had found several ws and had improved them. "These gloves, to a certain extent, are better suited to handle low Sequence Transcendents... Their lethal capacity is stronger than a regr firearm,parable to a typicalbat series [D-ss Mysterious Object]." "And I can mass produce these. This is indeed a great path to fortune," he mused. Chen Lun stored them away as one of his trump cards. After tidying up the attic, he nned to have his coachman take him to Pompey Manor to teach Reba. Currently, it was almost certain that "Philip''s Legacy" was not in the backyard, and Viscount Pompey seemed not to have got his hands on this "treasure", so Chen Lun decided to focus his efforts on rescuing Floey. In this period, apart from Vigrey''s probing, everything else had been calm, and he and Floey had moved back to his small vi. With only a month left, time was of the essence. He had pinpointed Vigrey, Viscount Pompey''s adopted son, a [Sequence Eight - Gourmet] Transcendent, who was very likely Dolly himself. However, the night after their encounter, Vigrey had left the Pompey Manor. ording to the Viscount, it was because the military had urgently recalled him, interrupting his leave. But Chen Lun silently doubted this exnation. Clearly, Vigrey had decided not to stay at the manor after his probing attempt failed, avoiding conflict with Chen Lun. Now, this man was most likely hiding in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any time. Baron Barnie, the ck Knife Brotherhood, now Vigrey and his so-called "Oil Paint Viscount", Chen Lun treated it as if being infested with lice, and overwhelmed in debt - one more problem didn''t make a difference. All these issues revolved around Pompey Manor, linked to that [Ominous] mission. With the enemy hidden and him exposed, he was at a great disadvantage. Chen Lun continued to build up his strength while awaiting the moment to counterattack. "Recently, Connie hase up with some great stuff, and I''ve integrated two characteristics to develop a new skill... you''d better not let me catch you, or you''ll have hell to pay!" ... A few dayster. CLANG CLANG... WOO! Pris sat on the train, watching the scenery outside the window. Their group had gone through struggles and hardships and had finally managed to board the train to the major city. Leaving Emerald Town for the train station, they encountered four groups of bandits. The smaller groups had three to four robbers, while therger ones had about a dozen. If there were fewer enemies, they could fight desperately to kill one or two, but with more, they faced annihtion. Lately, they had wisened up, fleeing immediately when the odds weren''t in their favor. The bandits, encountering such prey, would chase them for a distance before giving up. Then, they would bypass that area and continue their journey. On average, each person had died two or three times on the road; it was quite a challenging journey. Fortunately, the Resurrection Point wasn''t too far from where they died; otherwise, it would have been really nerve-wracking. This was the price of pioneering uncharted territories, but once they got through it, the future was bright. DING DING DING! "The next stop is Amber City tform! If you''re getting off, hurry up! The stop willst only half an hour!" A middle-aged man in a uniform and cap, ringing a small bell, reminded passengers along the aisle. "We''ll get off here in a moment. The next major city is even further, a five to six-day journey, and we don''t have that much time," Horseman said, sitting across from Pris. Pris and Su Keying nodded, indicating they understood. The train soon arrived at the station, crowded with a throng of people carrying backpacks and suitcases. After undergoing checks by police and Empire guards, Pris and hispanions were issued temporary identity cards, restricted to activities within the Outer City District. Once out of the train station, Horseman asked about their next n. "We should split up to gather information more efficiently," Pris, not used to taking orders, which was why he preferred to work alone than join any guild, agreed reluctantly. "Then let''s add each other as friends and stay in touch online if there''s any news,"N?v(el)B\\jnn The Horseman neither agreed nor disagreed, simply showing a face full of regret as he spoke. After Pris and Su Keying had added each other as friends with the group, both parties went their separate ways on the spot. Walking away, Doghead Gold sneered. "Those two fools really can be naive. By following us, they could have shared some internal information. Fighting alone in such a big city will definitely make it hard to move an inch." The Horseman nced at the two of them andughed, "Forget it, everyone has their own ambitions. When they regret it, they''ll have to offer valuable information to exchange for our help." He pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Speaking of which, what is the initial goal of your ''God''s Love''?" "What do you think, Brother Horseman? Our Three Major Guilds'' think tanks all more or less have the same direction¡ªfirsty down an informational foundation to pave the way for the main forces toe." Forget No Taboo chuckled lightly. "Don''t tell me your ''Hall of Valor'' isn''t doing this." The Horsemanughed heartily, then patted Forget No Taboo on the shoulder. "Of course, that''s exactly it... So no need for me to say where we''re headed next, right?" "Let''s go, find the big shots in the Outer City District, join them. Although we can''t get Supernatural Knowledge, it''s a good ce to establish a foothold." Forget No Taboo said. The three figures gradually disappeared into the distance. Pris and Su Keying stood outside the train station, discussing their next move. However, after a long while, neither of them had any clue. "We can''t possibly go back to manualbor, right? Isn''t that the same as just switching ces to work..." Su Keying said, despondently. "No choice, we don''t have much money left. We might have to sleep on the streets tonight." Pris said calmly. Upon hearing this, Su Keying suddenly became furious, her eyes widened. "No way! I still want to find a ce to take a bath... This game is too realistic, I feel like I stink!" "That''s great, you can record all these experiences to capture the harshness and realism of this world." Su Keying rolled her eyes. "Please, no one wants to watch the daily life of a beggar, okay?" They chatted briefly, and seeing that it was gradually getting dark, decided to take a walk around first. Unknowingly, the two arrived at Denton Street. But they hadn''t taken many steps before they encountered two patrolling guards. "Hey! You two!" The guards looked at their attire, a hint of contempt shing in their eyes. "Show your ID." Pris nced at the guards'' armor and shortswords, and obediently handed over the temporary identification they had gotten from the train station. After the guards casually nced at it, their eyebrows furrowed. ng! One of them drew his shortsword on the spot, pointing it at Pris and Su Keying. "Your temporary ID has expired! Come with me to jail now!" Su Keying was startled, and Pris''s heart sank. He knew that these two guards saw them as neers and were nning to extort them. Money could solve the problem, but the issue was they had no money! If they were captured and kept in jail, this beta test would basically be blown. "¡ªWhat should we do?" Su Keying sent a private message surreptitiously. Pris began to feel a slight headache. Chapter 71 Exploitation Connie came back from ss. Today was her first day attending courses at the Yellow Iris Academy. The teacher''s lecture was excellent, and although she already possessed some of the knowledge, she gained a fresh perspective on it. In addition to that, there was a lot of knowledge that couldn''t be learned in the Outer City District, such as Horsemanship, chess, music, and dance... and every month, there were special etiquette teachers who taught them the various etiquettes of high society, as most of the graduates from Yellow Iris Academy could find a decent job in the Inner City District. These etiquettes were essential Skills for survival in the Inner City District. There were a lot of middle-ss and even wealthy merchants in the Inner City District whose alma mater was this academy. But the only thing that made Connie distressed was that her ssmates seemed to look down on her. Somedy, upon learning that she came from the Outer City District, dubbed her "Miss Grease Spot." Even the life administrator, Mrs. Judy, took her aside to advise her not to wear clothes stained with machine oil to ss next time. Connie somewhat anxiously set down her bag, thinking if she should take some time to go out and buy new clothes. Mr. Jack had rewarded her with a substantial sum of money, and it was time to rece the old clothes she had worn for many years. Her eyes caught sight of a letter on the desk, and her face suddenly changed color. "Oh no! I forgot about the task Mr. Jack entrusted to me!" She eximed in rm, snatched up the letter, and dashed out the door. Mr. Jack had written this letter a few days ago, asking her to deliver it to the Iron Fist Gang, to their boss Gary. It was just that she had been so busy in the warehouse these days, and she was particrly looking forward to school today, that she''d forgotten about it. Speaking of the Iron Fist Gang, Connie had always been astonished. Initially, she and Miss Floey were nearly kidnapped, but Mr. Jack saved them. Unexpectedly, the entire Iron Fist Gangter became a vassal of Mr. Jack, with their boss Gary obeying Mr. Jack''smands. Descending to the second floor, she pushed open the door of the coachman''s room, preparing to have him drive her to the Outer City District. The coachman in bed, upon seeing Connie open the door, hurriedly stuffed the book he was holding under the pillow and then awkwardly stood up. "What are you reading, coachman?" Connie looked at the suspicious man with a skeptical eye. "Ah... nothing much, just some misceneous books." The coachman said, turning his body and with all seriousness added, "Are you looking to go out? Miss Connie, I''ll get ready right away!" Connie, in a hurry, didn''t press further. But she did catch a glimpse of the magazine poking out from under the pillow, whose cover seemed to feature the long legs of ady in ck silk. Connie''s face turned slightly red as she turned and left the room. "It seems unlikely that Mr. Jack would also enjoy these types of magazines... He''s a true Gentleman." Connie thought to herself. Once the carriage reached the Outer City District, Passing by Denton Street, Connie pulled back the curtain to see if Mrs. Caroline was busy in the flower shop, to greet her in passing. Instead, she saw a man and woman, both looking like lower-ss civilians, being questioned by the Patrol Guard. Seeing this, Connie''s brow furrowed slightly. She was suddenly reminded of Mr. Jack and Miss Floey. They must have experienced simr situations when they first arrived in Amber City, hadn''t they? Having lived in the Outer City District for many years, Connie knew all too well the greed of these Patrol Guards. They did not actively pursue criminals; instead, they often troubled the lower-ss civilians, demanding bribes. Connie called for the carriage to stop and stepped out. "...If you don''t want toe with us to jail, you can, for a bail of 20 Silver Ducats, we''ll let you off today," came the self-righteous voice of the guard from a distance. "Is there any chance you could lower that amount? We don''t have that much money on us," Keying pleaded pitifully, but the guard was unimpressed and scoffed instead. "No money? That''s fine, youe with us, and we''ll let your man go." "He''s not my man! And what exactly do you two old lechers think you''re doing!?" Keying suddenly exploded in anger, cursing outright. That was it! Pris couldn''t stop it in time, and now things had escted. Having angered the guards, they had no room to maneuver and might be directly imprisoned, or even killed on the spot if they resisted. Even if they were resurrected, they would likely be wanted and have difficulty moving around in the Outer City District.N?v(el)B\\jnn "Fine! Come with us now!" The corner of the guard''s eye twitched, and he brandished his sword on the shoulders of Su Keying and Pris, threatening them. Su Keying still wanted to resist, and the guard was about to prod her with his sword to give her a taste of pain. "Stop!" Connie shouted. All eyes turned toward her. The guard sized up the girl, her uniform grubby, a typical girl from the Outer City District. "I would advise you not to meddle in this, girl," he said menacingly. "They are new servants hired by Jack''s estate, you''ve misunderstood... Here are 20 Silver Ducats, let them go," Connie said, taking out a handful of silver coins and sliding them over after counting them. Su Keying and Pris looked at the girl who was a stranger to them in surprise, not expecting her to be willing to help them out. The two guards were stunned, not expecting to encounter such a fool. The lead guard took another look at Connie, unable to tell that the girl actually had some money. "You heard wrong, I said it''s 20 Silver Ducats per person, so that''s 40 Silver Ducats for two," the guard said with a smile. A greedy glint flickered in his eye as he nced at Connie''s purse. Connie suppressed her anger and remained silent for a few seconds before taking out another 20 Silver Ducats from her pocket. "Wait, how can you, a girl from the Outer City District, have so much money? I suspect you''re involved in a crime, possessing ill-gotten wealth... Show us your identity proof," the guard said, no longer interested in the Silver Ducats in Connie''s hand, but staring intently at her purse. Inside it, there must be at least a few dozen more Silver Ducats, and perhaps even Gold Pounds! "Miss... perhaps we should just let it go, and we''ll go with them," Su Keying said through clenched teeth. Even though she knew this was just a game, everything felt so realistic that Su Keying didn''t want to see a good person get in trouble because of her. It would be no big deal to just die and waste a Resurrection opportunity. However, since she had not joined any forces or epted any quests and had no connections with the people or things of this map, it was possible that the Resurrection Point would not be within Amber City. She might just miss this beta test; as a small livestreamer, her desire to chase after early advantages was not that strong. After all, she had recorded some material along the way, enough to make a pretty good video. But the loss for Pris would be much greater. As a lone wolf, missing this beta test would greatly increase the difficulty to break into the first tier. She would find a way to make it up to himter. Su Keying inwardly sighed. "Hey! It''s not up to you to say if this counts or not..." the guard said with a sneer. He pointed his short sword at Connie. "What Jack estate, never heard of it! Their identities are unknown, and they are suspected culprits. Now, you''re very likely the mastermind behind them, and you muste with us!" By now, quite a crowd had gathered around, pointing and discussing the situation. But most of them, used to such sights, shook their heads and walked away. "Oh! Connie!" The voice of Mrs. Caroline came through. She was holding scissors and a fresh flower, hurrying through the crowd. "What has happened here?!" Chapter 72 Saving Connie "Mrs. Caroline, we are just doing our routine duty, so please don''t interfere." A hint of dread shed across the guard''s face. The flower shop under the Viscount Pompey Brewis''s patronage was well-known to these Patrol Guards from the Outer City District. If it wasn''t necessary, they certainly didn''t want to offend Viscount Pompey. Connie was unaware of the rtionship between Mrs. Caroline and Viscount Pompey, so she didn''t want to get Mrs. Caroline involved and simply shook her head in silence. The two guards exchanged a look, knowing they couldn''t drag this out any longer. "Alright, break it up!" One guard started to disperse the bystanders, while the other prepared to escort the three away with his sword at the ready. At this moment, the coachman tied the horse to amppost and hurried over. He sensed that something was amiss; Miss Connie seemed to be encountering trouble. He then remembered something Mr. Jack, his employer, had instructed him. "Miss Connie." The coachman approached Connie and discreetly handed her a silver badge. "Mr. Jack said to use this if you run into any trouble." Connie''s face lit up with joy as she took it. "What are you whispering about?!" The guard scolded. Connie sneered and shoved the silver badge in the guard''s face. "Are you sure you want to arrest us?" "?!" The two guards were taken aback. The silver badge they were now looking at bore a family crest with the inscription "Pompey Brewis" below. They couldn''t fail to recognize it; it was the badge of identity for Viscount Pompey. Nobody dared to falsely im the name of a local noble in Amber City lightly, as it was too easy to be exposed and arrested for the impersonation. To produce the crest of the Viscount Pompey demonstrated a significant connection. The guards felt a growing anxiety, immediately realizing that trouble was brewing. "Ah-ha! So you do know His Excellency Viscount Pompey... Why didn''t you say so sooner?!" The guard wiped the sweat from his forehead with a smile. "Truly sorry, we made a mistake... Alright, then you''re free to go." "You derelict scoundrels!" Mrs. Caroline, having grasped the cause of the incident, reproached them angrily. Poor Connie had just lost her father, and life must have been difficult since apanying little Jack to the Inner City District. And now, back in the Outer City District, even the guards were extorting her ¡ª it was an insult she did not deserve. "I will definitely write to the Security Office! I''ll see you two sorry excuses get what''sing to you!" Mrs. Caroline rebuked. The two guards were somewhat irritated but helpless. If it came to a confrontation, they would be the losers. After all, if the matter reached the Security Office and disturbed Viscount Pompey, their immediate superiors would certainly punish them. So, apologizing profusely, the guards quickly skedaddled. Mrs. Caroline continued to curse at their retreating backs, while Connie stepped forward to console her.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Miss, thank you very much for your help." Keying expressed her gratitude. Connie turned her head and, looking at the man and woman, revealed a slight smile. "It was nothing..." Pris suddenly thought of the "Jack Estate" the girl had mentioned and wondered if it could have any connection to the notorious "Jack" who was wanted by the Red Apple Church in Emerald Town. Pris discreetly used "Scout" on Connie without drawing attention. Name: Connie Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Level: 13 Life: 120/120 Profession: [Craftsman LV10 (MAX)][Butler LV3] Attributes: ¡ª¡ª Skills: Genesis Genius LV2 (Passive), sh of Genius LV3 (Passive), Integration Mastery LVMAX (Passive)¡ª¡ª Combat Power: 12 [Danger Level: High-Level] [Affection: Friendly] [Evaluation: You don''t want to know what weapons she''s carrying because by the time you see them, you''ll be dead! A friendly reminder, her boss is no simpleton...] Pris was startled, never having expected this seemingly harmless girl to be so strong. That orange Danger Level signified she was not someone to be trifled with. As for the description of her boss mentioned in the evaluation, could it really be that ruthless individual? If so, this could be a great opportunity! "¡ªKeying, this girl is an opportunity! Cling to those coattails, and there might be a surprise in store!" Pris sent a short message. Keying was slightly taken aback, then looked towards Pris and nodded gently to show she understood. "Miss, we are from the rural...the countryside, strangers here, looking for a job to make a living...May I ask about the ''Jack Manor'' you mentioned, do they still need people? Please rest assured, we can work without pay, as long as we have a ce to eat and stay!" Keying said to Connie with a pitiful look. These lines were all dictated privately to her by Pris. Connie showed a troubled expression, wanting to help the young man and woman but not feeling that she could make decisions for Mr. Jack. "Oh, so young Jack has already secured a foothold in the Inner City District?" Mrs. Caroline asked. "Yes, Mrs. Caroline... Mr. Jack has bought arge manor and is now tutoring Viscount Pompey''s daughter, Miss Reba." Connie spoke of Mr. Jack with great pride. She briefly discussed their situation after moving to the Inner City District, and Mrs. Caroline repeatedly marveled, believing that Jack was no ordinary person and was bound to make something of himself in the future. Mrs. Caroline then recalled something, fell silent for a moment, and then smilingly invited Connie to sit in her flower shop. Pris and Keying were also included in this invitation. Connie, thinking that she still had to deliver a letter for Mr. Jack, felt somewhat troubled. "Let''s go, Connie,e in for a cup of flower tea... I''ve missed you so much since you left." Faced with Mrs. Caroline''s warm invitation, Connie finally nodded. Discover stories with empire She nced at Pris and Keying and said with a smile: "Then follow me for now. I need to ask Mr. Jack about the job, so I can''t give you an answer just yet... But Mr. Jack is a kind and upright gentleman, I think he will help you." Pris and Keying were immediately overjoyed. Everyone entered the flower shop and took a seat while Mrs. Caroline prepared some flower tea for them. "Just a moment, Connie..." Mrs. Caroline said softly. She then left the flower shop and went up a side staircase. Pris sipped the flower tea and suddenly received a short message. "¡ªPris friend, this is Horseman. We''ve found an opportunity in the Outer City District, near the sewer strand. There''s an underground force called ''Iron Fist Gang'' with lots of benefits. Come quickly. Also, I''ll tell you a secret, the boss here, ''Mr. Dolly'', is a Transcendent!" Pris was slightly startled and turned to look at Keying, who also had a surprised expression, it seemed she too had received the message from Horseman. "¡ªWhat do you think? Shall we go?" Keying asked. Pris frowned slightly, he didn''t want to let go of the opportunity at hand. "¡ªWait for a bit." The trio representing two major guilds wouldn''t be sharing an opportunity for free, and upon going there, they would most likely have to pay a price. If it had been earlier, Pris might have gone, but now that he had met Connie, he had a choice. Opportunities found on one''s own are always the best. Soon after, Mrs. Caroline came downstairs with two letters in her hand. She handed one to Connie. "Connie, could you please deliver this letter to little Jack for me, and have him pass it on to Mr. Pompey... And tell him that I don''t me him, Henry has always seen him as the best of friends." Connie tipped the letter in her hand, noticing there seemed to be a metal object within. "Of course, Mrs. Caroline." Mrs. Caroline let out a sigh of relief, as if she had let go of years of pent-up feelings. She smiled, waved the other letter in her hand, and looked at the three young people. "Don''t worry, I will surely report those two guards who troubled you!" Connie was touched but amused, feeling the warmth as well. She thanked her, finished her flower tea, and stood up ready to say goodbye. Just at that moment, Pris and Keying suddenly received a mission alert¡ª [Triggered D-level Mission: Save Connie!] Mission description: Entrusted by her boss Mr. Jack, Connie is to deliver a letter to the Iron Fist Gang at the sewer strand. However, times have changed, and the Iron Fist Gang has a new leader. If Connie steps into the territory of the Iron Fist Gang, she will be in danger! Whether to reason with Connie to stop her from delivering the letter is up to you. Mission reward: 200 Experience Points, 1 Silver Ducat, and increased Affection with Connie. Chapter 73 This NPC is Problemati Pris was taken aback. He had not expected things to fall into ce so coincidentally¡ªthe faction the Horsemen had joined turned out to be Connie''s enemy. "How will you choose, Pris? I, for one, won''t just stand by and watch her walk into death." Su Keying sent a message and gave him a look. Pris pondered for a moment and then nodded. "All right, we''ll take this mission path and take a gamble!" "At least you have some conscience; she just helped us a moment ago." Seeing Su Keying''s text message, Pris rolled his eyes secretly.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Woman, aren''t you getting too caught up in this drama? It''s just a game! Pris was simply considering the matter from a perspective of benefit; they needed only to pay a trifling price to earn her favor, making it easier to get close to the big shot behind her. That was much better than joining the faction of the Horsemen. Over there, one could work oneself to death without any guarantee of reward. More importantly, the Horsemen represented two major guilds. At the moment, they were treating them courteously on the surface, but once the open beta started and their main forces settled in, they would no longer show any mercy. They would certainly use all means to drive away a lone wolf like him in order to monopolize the benefits. Years of gaming experience had given Pris a clear understanding of these guild yers. Pris and Su Keying epted the mission. "Miss Connie, are you going to... the Underwater Shallows?" Su Keying stood up and inquired. Connie looked surprised but nodded anyway. "Yes. The two of you just wait here for me. I''ll be back after I''m done with my business, and then we can go back to the Inner City District together." Your journey continues with empire Su Keying secretlymunicated with Pris, choosing her words carefully. "Miss Connie, I heard that the Underwater Shallows is quite chaotic. The biggest gang there, the ''Iron Fist Gang,'' their boss Gary was recently killed. Could there be danger if you go?" Su Keying expressed her concern. Connie was startled. "Is what you''re saying true?" She looked puzzled. "Howe you two know this?" "Uh... The friends who came with us, they went to make a living at the Underwater Shallows and told us the news." Su Keyingposed her speech and directly sold out the Horsemen. After hearing this, Connie looked troubled, holding the letter from Mr. Jack and then looking at Mrs. Caroline''s letter. "Are you sure about your information?" Connie asked again for confirmation. "Positive!" Pris and Su Keying nodded in unison. Connie no longer hesitated; she immediately bid Mrs. Caroline farewell and prompted the two to leave with her. Once out of the flower shop, the three boarded the carriage. "I will exin this matter to Mr. Jack... I''m very thankful for your warning." Connie pondered for a moment; if what these two said was true, then she was indeed in danger. Pris and Su Keying were delighted. They both received a missionpletion prompt, and Connie''s affection towards them had increased. When the carriage passed the checkpoint on the bridge, Connie likewise took out the Pompey n Emblem to vouch for Pris and allowed them to enter the Inner City District without any issues. After passing through multipleyers of protection, Pris inwardly felt grateful for how right his decision had been. "We are very lucky; this Inner City District should be a high-level map for us. Being able to enter here, we''ve already pulled ahead of the other yers." Su Keying saw the message from Pris and also felt joyful. "Let''s hope that meeting the big shot behind Connie will bring us some gains." "Hmm." Pris was secretly expectant. Dusk was falling. The carriage moved slowly and eventually entered Jack''s Manor. After getting off the carriage, Pris and Su Keying curiously observed their surroundings, while the coachman informed Connie that he needed to go to Pompey Manor to pick up Mr. Jack. Connie nodded and watched the carriage leave again. "You two can rest in the living room on the first floor of the vi, and Mr. Jack will be back soon." Connie said softly. Pris and Su Keying nodded, their faces full of anticipation. When Chen Lun finished work and boarded the carriage, the coachman informed him of the day''s events. "Connie brought two people back?" Chen Lun was inwardly puzzled. Back at the manor, he found Connie waiting for him at the entrance. After getting out of the carriage, Connie handed over both letters to him and exined the events that had unfolded. "You''ve worked hard, Connie," Chen Lun said with a smile as he put away the letter. Connie, however, shook her head, clearly embarrassed. "I''m sorry, Mr. Jack, I failed toplete the task you gave me on time... and I also brought back two people without permission..." "It''s okay, go and rest." Chen Lun consoled her, then added a word of caution: "Next time you encounter strangers who are both unfamiliar and odd, be careful. You can let me know first." "Yes, Mr. Jack." Connie, with a shy look of embarrassment, bowed and left. Watching her leave, Chen Lun sighed to himself. Connie''s kindness was excessive, and if she were to encounter someone with malicious intent, it could very well harm her. He decided to find an opportunity to tell her the story of "The Farmer and the Snake"... However, it was also due to meeting those two people that they had been able to save Connie with their warning. Chen Lun then reflected on himself. His old gamer mentality hadn''t fully shifted yet; now that he was in this dangerous world surrounded by living, breathing people, he should be more considerate of their safety. "For tasks like delivering messages next time, I should have animals do it..." After contemting, he thought of the Iron Fist Gang. "As for what those two said about Gary being killed...?" While the Iron Fist Gang wasn''t critical to him, they were useful for handling various trivial matters. Normally tied up with countless tasks, the gang saved him time. Having them taken away was, to say the least, quite irritating. Since Connie had brought back the two who knew something, it was time to inquire further. And moreover... "Those two are probably yers." Chen Lun squinted his eyes. He walked straight into the vi and immediately spotted Pris and Su Keying sitting on the sofa. The two sat upright, neither seeming to interact, both seemingly lost in thought. Chen Lun knew that they were probably using the panel for privatemunication. "Ahem!" He purposely coughed, and the two startled in response. "Mr. Jack... Hello!" Su Keying stood up and forced a smile. The young man with slightly curly ck hair before her was oddly handsome. Dressed in a ck suit with a short cape, topped with a top hat, he slowly removed his brown leather gloves. An indescribable sense of mystery and a formidably powerful aura washed over them. "¡ªIt''s him, isn''t it?! Though I don''t know the specifics of his appearance, the characteristics of the man on the wanted poster are very simr to his!" "¡ªIt shouldn''t be wrong... Wow! This NPC is terrifying!" Pris replied with a brief message, internally shocked. Because he had discreetly used "Scout" on this "Mr. Jack." Name: Jack Spett Race: Human (Eastern Continent) Level: ¡ª¡ª Life: ¡ª¡ª Profession: ¡ª¡ª Attributes: ¡ª¡ª Skills: ¡ª¡ª Combat Power: ¡ª¡ª [Danger Level: Extremely Lethal] [Affection: Indifferent] [Evaluation: My advice, kid, is to leg it as far as you can...] In the game, once over Level 20, no basic information was visible. Coupled with the deep red Danger Level, Pris felt almost breathless. [Jack''s affection for you has decreased, currently it''s loathing!] "?!" Pris was taken aback. What did I do? Why does he loathe me on sight?! He nced at Su Keying, but her expression remained unchanged. "So it''s directed at me, then," Pris thought, feeling a lump in his throat. "Prying into others'' privacy is very impolite, Mr. Pris," Chen Lun said with a polite smile as he pulled up a chair to sit and gestured for them to take a seat as well. Pris was in turmoil. He... he actually knew I used "Scout"?! What kind of NPC is this! There''s something wrong with him! He must be cheating, right?! Chapter 74 Let You Guys Have a Look at the Precious Treasure Chen Lun chuckled secretly to himself. He nced inadvertently over the heads of the two, at the two gleaming game IDs that clearly revealed their status as yers. This was something Chen Lun had not anticipated. It turned out that just like the yers, he could see their game IDs¡­ With this, wouldn''t the yers have nowhere to hide in front of him? Furthermore, as an old yer himself, he also knew the habits of yers, which was to initiate a "Scout" when they encounter NPCs they can''t get a read on. This was a panel function that NPCs couldn''t sense. But Chen Lun was not your average NPC, he was a yer in NPC''s clothing. These little tricks, he had long since seen through them. "Pris and Su Keying¡­ It''s these two, what a coincidence." Chen Lun was somewhat surprised. He knew both of these yers in front of him, with Su Keying even being an old acquaintance. In his past life, Su Keying could be considered his peer and rival. Both were storyline gamers, one streaming and recording videos, the other selling guides and weaving tales. Su Keying had more than once expressed her disdain, stating Chen Lun was always distorting the storyline, concocting tall tales, being a paparazzi to female NPCs, shameless to the core. She called on her fans, especially her female fans, to boycott Chen Lun. But Chen Lun never stooped to her level, just saw her as another sheep to be sheared whenever they met, and afterwards, he would even send her a private message to thank her for advertising for him, which made his business even better. It infuriated Su Keying every time, causing her to have a fit during her live streams. As for Pris, he was even more famous. An old hand at online games, his presence was felt in all the popr games of the past. He was known for his solitary nature and formidable strength, attracting many fans who sought him out. Prister joined the world''s first holographic online game, "Era of Mystery," and carved out a name for himself, reaching the apex of the yer pyramid. Because he took the "Magic Faction" Sequence path, he was revered by the yers as "Sorcerer King Pris," although there was a more down-to-earth nickname ¨C "Brother Pr." "I heard from Connie that you''re looking to work for me?" Chen Lun said. "Yes, Mr. Jack¡­"N?v(el)B\\jnn Pris repressed his shock at the man, replying respectfully. Chen Lun pondered. Pris and Su Keying exchanged nces, feeling somewhat nervous. "Having you work as servants in my manor is not out of the question." Hope dawned on both of them. "But..." Chen Lun smiled faintly. Pris felt a tightness in his chest, thinking, could it be that he had lost the bet? Was the opportunity slipping away just like that?! "I feel you would be wasted on mere servitude¡­ you both have greater potential, I see it in you. Would you like to join my team?" "!!" Pris and Su Keying''s eyes widened. [Jack''s affection towards you has increased, currently at Friendly!] [Jack has extended an offer of recruitment, would you like to join the "Jack Manor" faction?] Chen Lun toyed with the panel in secret, adjusting the affection toward both of them. After some consideration, he felt he indeed needed these two yers to serve as pawns to establish his brand and spread his fame. Only if they reaped benefits from him would more people be drawn to him after the public beta. An influential gamer and a savvy broadcaster. A perfect match! Pris, seasoning with experience, was well aware of how fortunate it was totch onto such a benefactor during the closed beta. He sent a quick message to hurry Su Keying and in the next second, he chose to ept. [You have epted Jack''s offer and joined the "Jack Manor" faction!] Pris''s fingers trembled slightly. He felt as if he had returned to his teenage years, rediscovering the initial excitement and satisfaction of his early days in online gaming. Su Keying took several deep breaths, secretly activating the recording function on her panel. The exceptionally handsome man in front of her was sure to boost her viewership! She''d record him, get some multi-angle shots; she was bound to go viral! "Oh, by the way, there''s a favor I''d like to ask of you..." Chen Lun acted as if he had just remembered something. "Please, do tell, Jack¡­ my lord." "What do you know about the Iron Fist Gang down at the Outer City District''s mudts?" [You''ve triggered a Level D Quest: Curious Jack!] ``` Task Description: Jack is very curious about the Iron Fist Gang, tell him what you know and you''ll be rewarded based on the value of the information. You can rest assured, Mr. Jack is a generous, upright, and kind gentleman, he will definitely not let you suffer. Item Reward: Depends on the situation. Chen Lun quietly expressed his amazement, realizing that he indeed could initiate tasks for yers like an NPC... However, the difficulty of the tasks and the rewards could not exceed certain limits. These limits, indicated by his panel, are to be measured by his own strength. The rewards were either to be distributed by the panel or by himself. "I''m not stupid, letting the panel pay me is too good an opportunity to pass up!" Chen Lun thought to himself. Pris and Su Keying didn''t even think twice before epting the task. This was an opportunity to make an impression in front of a key figure¡ªthey had to seize it! "Lord Jack, my friends have told me..." Pris conveyed the information the Horseman had shared with him earlier, and while doing so, he sent a message to the Horseman: ¡ª"Brother Horseman, I''m very interested in what you said, can you share more details? I need to prepare." The Horseman replied promptly, with a hearty and covertly luring tone, detailing the current situation of the Iron Fist Gang beneath the water tforms for Pris. He even divulged what color underwear the low-ranking members of the Iron Fist Gang were wearing, sparing no detail for Pris. Read thetest on empire The Horseman probably only thought to deceive Pris and Su Keying into going there, serving as freebor to show off in front of Mr. Dolly. He had no idea that Pris would trante and ry this information to Chen Lun. "Very good, it seems you know a lot," Chen Lun looked deeply at Pris. From the seamless nature of his narration, Chen Lun deduced that Pris wasmunicating with someone on the fly. He hadn''t expected that the one upying the Iron Fist Gang would be the Glutton "Dolly"... If he really was Vigrey, then there would be even more suspicions about him. Moreover, it seemed that other yers hade to Amber City and joined the current Iron Fist Gang. "Perhaps these two yers could be used as spies for real-timemunication..." Chen Lun thought to himself. After such a long search, he had finally found traces of Dolly, and it was time to take action. [Your information has pleased Jack,pleting D-level quest: Curious Jack!] [Received quest rewards: 500 Experience Points, 20 Silver Ducats, and an increase in affection from Jack!] Pris and Su Keying were overjoyed. But the surprises were far from over, they just saw the young man with ck hair flip his hand and p two oddly shaped weapons onto the table. p! [Wrath¡ªHomemade Firearm] Item Description: A flintlock gun intricately crafted by a genius artisan, extremely stable and powerful. The expanded barrel can deliver immense damage at close range and is not restricted by ammunition types. A handful of small steel balls sprayed at you will make you cry with pain! "Good stuff!" Pris took a deep breath, eyes glued to the weapons on the table. "Since you''ve joined mymand, I won''t treat you harshly... This is a very precious weapon. Back in the day..." Chen Lun picked up the blunderbuss, gently caressing it. His demeanor was extremely careful, as if he was afraid of dirtying or damaging it. He suddenly remembered that boastful bard and had a sh of inspiration. "Back in the day, I used it to shoot down a flying dragon. These two guns have been greatpanions of mine..." Chen Lun showed a hint of reluctance, slowly handing the two guns over to Pris and Su Keying. "I''m lending them to you for now, if you perform well in the future, they might be gifted to you as a reward." "Yes, Lord Jack! We will definitely work hard to show our worth!" Pris suppressed his excitement and solemnly received the blunderbuss. Su Keying was also secretly amazed, carefully tucking the blunderbuss away, verified the recording was still ongoing, her excitement barely concealed. This man actually killed a flying dragon?! I will edit this first-hand material with all my skills, making it the opening shot to promote my video series! And it wasn''t over yet! The young man with ck hair then took two more items out of his pocket... ``` Chapter 75 There are Bigger Treasures Pris and Keying discovered that a prompt box appeared above NPC Jack''s head¡ª [Exchange] Both of them chose to open it without discussing. At the same time, the two items on the table also disyed their respective descriptive entries. [D-ss Mysterious Object - Surging Badge] Item description: A badge imbued with the power of flesh that, once worn, grants surging strength and vitality. It seems to be a remnant of a church priest who, after being murdered, had his mystical substance and supernatural characteristics solidify into this badge. Eat, eat more, you are the starving Butcher, you are the embodiment of strength¡­ Item effect: Wearing it grants +2 Strength, +2 Endurance. Item cost: Increases hunger, increases food consumption. Supernatural items?! Mysterious objects! Desire surged in Pris''s heart, knowing that owning this small badge could significantly enhance his strength. Equipment that directly adds +4 points to attributes is a rare find! "And besides, the ''murdered church priest'' mentioned in the item description¡­ wouldn''t it be the Red Apple Church priest he killed in Emerald Town?!" Chen Lun''s image was refreshed once again in Pris''s mind. Even more powerful and unfathomable! Although Keying found the equipment to be formidable, she didn''t crave it as much as Pris. Instead, she focused on the price of the equipment, her gaze intensifying. [Exchange price: 100 Contribution Points + 60 Gold Pounds + Low Sequence Mysterious Substance *2] "This expensive?!" Keying was startled. She understood Contribution Value and Gold Pounds; one represented contributions to a faction, likepleting tasks, and the other was thergest denomination of currency in this world. As for Low Sequence Mysterious Substance, she was not very familiar with it, but it seemedplex, likely a very precious material. She had none of these items. Pris, seeing the price, couldn''t help but internally wail. How could he afford this at his current stage! Was this not just to tantalize him?! The two turned their attention to another item, a piece of paper filled with text, its torn edges jagged as if ripped hastily from a notebook. [Supernatural Knowledge - Destiny Faction Sequence Nine (Hidden Pathway)] Item description: A sheet containing supernatural knowledge, imbued with the path to [Destiny Faction], and once read, one can acquire the Main upation [Sequence Nine - Beast Tamer]. Only mystery canbat mystery, only the transcendent can conquer the transcendent! "!!!" The breath of Pris and Keying hitched. Their hearts beat uncontrobly fast, as if they were about to burst from their chests the next second! Supernatural knowledge! Hidden Sequence! "I must get my hands on it!" This time, the thought emerged in both of their minds. Chen Lun, sensing their rapid breathing, sneered silently. The "big pie" he set out had hooked them. It was the supernatural knowledge he had transcribed using his only piece of [Low Sequence Destiny Faction Mysterious Substance]. [Exchange price: 500 Contribution Points + 500 Gold Pounds + Low Sequence Mysterious Substance *5] The exorbitant price made both Pris and Keying shudder. But they did not give up because of it. This was a hidden Sequence openly priced and ced in the shop! Unlike the main profession pathways of the Seven True Gods, even though the game officials did not explicitly say so, any somewhat experienced yer knew that hidden professions might not always surpass regr ones, but they definitely had unique advantages. Moreover,bels like "rare", "special", and "high difficulty" strongly attracted loners like Pris. Without relying on luck externally or toiling within official supernatural organizations,pleting a series of difficult tasks, this was something you could get your hands on just by gathering the necessary exchange conditions! The way Pris and Keying looked at the ck-haired youth changed. "¡ª This is our secret, we must cling tightly to this thigh, and not let the information out!" Pris sent a message. Keying pondered for a moment and nodded. "¡ª I know, when the public testes, we will rely on this opportunity to take off. By then, I will edit the material, so other yers won''t know that supernatural knowledge and mysterious objects can be obtained here." Chen Lun watched them fall silent, knowing they weremunicating. Faced with such a big opportunity, he would definitely hold on to it tightly, keep it to himself, and not tell anyone. But unfortunately, this was not something that could be hidden. "I still need you to advertise for me a lot more..." Chen Lun thought silently. He opened the game''s built-in forum. This was a feature that appeared after the start of the beta test. Chen Lun had tried it before and could only browse like a visitor, not being able to post, forced to be a "permanent lurker." Whether it was a bug caused by crossing over or some other reason, he wasn''t sure. By now, the forum already had many posts, enthusiastic discussions from yers across the Sun Continent. But so far, no yer had posted anything about bing a Transcendent. Chen Lun casually nced at a few posts and then closed the forum. This forum would surely have posts about him in the future. Even if Pris and Su Keying did not actively advertise, they would be involuntary billboards for him among the yermunity. ... The next day at noon, Chen Lun was about to head out in a carriage. He just happened to run into Pris and Su Keying, who had juste online to find him. "I still have to go to work, look for me in the evening if you need something."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun lifted the curtain and said casually. "..." Pris and Su Keying stood there, watching the carriage leave. After a while, "So even big shots have to wake up early for work? Is it thatpetitive?" Pris remarked. Su Keying rolled her eyes and asked softly, "What do we do now?" "What else can we do... Just stroll around nearby for a bit. Time is precious; maybe we will trigger some quest." After Pris finished speaking, he headed straight outside the manor. Su Keying pouted and then followed. Chen Lun sat in the carriage, nning to visit Pompey Manorter to ask for a leave from the Viscount. He wasn''t going to teach Reba that day and was preparing to take a trip to the shallows. Having found out about Dolly''s whereabouts, he decided to take the initiative. The carriage stopped in front of the manor. Chen Lun got off and walked in. But when he arrived at the Viscount''s vi, he found something odd. "Good morning, Mr. Jack," Reba, sitting in her wheelchair, gave him a smile. "Good morning, Miss Reba." Chen Lun replied. Reba kept smiling and nodded, but said no more. Chen Lun frowned secretly, feeling that Reba was a bit off today. "Mr. Jack, the Viscount and his wife are having breakfast, please wait a moment," Butler Binose approached and bowed as he spoke. Chen Lun nodded. Shortly after, Viscount Pompey and Lady Pompey came out. "Reba is in a bit of a bad mood today, please don''t take it to heart," Viscount Pompey said. "Of course not, Viscount," Chen Lun replied, eyeing the Viscount and his wife for a bit before suddenly doning a polite yet eerie smile. "Why would I take offense with a dead person?" Binose''s face changed color. Viscount Pompey and his wife were slightly taken aback. Suddenly, Chen Lun whirled around, the back of his hand shing, ripping through the upper half of Reba''s body! [Bear Strike]! Boom!! Blood spurted like paint, and fear was frozen on Reba''s face. Chapter 76 Blood and The Eternity of Love "What have you done?!" Binose bellowed hoarsely. Chen Lun ignored him, stepping forward and swinging his hand. The dark, sharp fingers sliced across Viscount Pompey and Lady Pompey''s throats. "Ugh...!" The Pompey couple''s eyes widened as they clutched their throats and fell to the ground with a thud, blood pooling around them. "Ah, ah!!" Binose fell to his knees, shouting the Viscount''s name. "Why?! Why did you kill them?!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om He was extremely agitated, his old face flushed red, his eyes bloodthirsty, staring fixedly at Chen Lun. Chen Lun nced at the old butler and sighed silently. "Butler Binose, take another good look, they are not the Pompey family." "Hmm...?!" Binose turned his head and saw that the three bodies on the ground had disappeared. Only three nk canvasesy on the ground, with oil paints scattered all around, resembling abstract paintings. Binose was stunned. Chen Lun stood quietly, ncing at the mess on the floor. Ever since Reba had greeted him, he had sensed that something was amiss. When the Pompey couple appeared, he finally identified the problem¡ª This family had no heartbeat. Moreover, there was a faint, distinct smell of paint about them. "What happened here before I came?" Chen Lun asked. Binose''s mind was nk, he took a few breaths to calm down. "... His Lordship the Viscount received a letter this morning, and then took his wife and daughter out." "Went out? Where did they go?" Chen Lun continued to inquire. Binose slowly stood up, realizing the gravity of the situation. He thought for a moment, then said: "His Lordship the Viscount mentioned he was invited to take his family to Lord Barnie''s house to appreciate a painting¡­" "Lord Barnie... the Oil Paint Baron..." Chen Lun roughly pieced the matter together in his mind. He asked Butler Binose for the address of Lord Barnie''s house, then left quickly. "Lord Jack, are you going to find the Pompey family?" Binose asked loudly behind him. Seeing Chen Lun stop in his tracks and turn to nod, the old butler solemnly bowed: "Lord Jack, please be careful, the safety of the Viscount''s family rests on you!" "Don''t worry, I am Reba''s teacher," Chen Lun said with a smile. "I won''t let my student and her parents be in danger." After saying this, he turned and walked away, under the grateful gaze of Butler Binose. ... In a corner of the Inner City District, a painting studio. "Dolly, how much longer?!" Baron Barnie asked impatiently. "Patience is the fuel for creating masterpieces, please let me embellish it a bit more." The brown-haired youth sat on a low stool, painting with his brush. In front of him, Reba and the Pompey couple sat together, all smiling, their postures elegant, serving as his most qualified models. But the Pompeys'' eyes were filled with fear, staring fixedly at the young man in front of them, their emotions incredulous. Their bodies uncontrobly fixed to the chairs, but their minds still functioning. Viscount Pompey hadn''t expected that his foster son, Vigrey, and his good friend Barnie, would turn against his family. These two familiar people suddenly became strangers. "I am prepared to name this painting¡ª''Eternity of Blood and Love.''" Dolly stood up, a small knife pinched between two fingers. He approached Viscount Pompey, sliced open the chest of his foster father with the knife, and cut off a palm-sized piece of skin. Blood flowed out, but Viscount Pompey''s face still maintained a smile, only his eyes revealing pain and anger. "Oh, father, don''t look at me with those eyes... I am merely preserving a legacy of fame for you." Humming a tune, Dolly then moved in front of Lady Pompey. In her terrified gaze, he plucked out a bone from her finger. "Father''s skin, mother''s bone..." Dolly ignored the nearly copsing gazes of the Pompey couple and walked towards Reba. "Oh, and of course, the daughter''s blood. Only such materials can create a masterpiece of the ages!" He revealed a slightly crazed smile, gently brushed Reba''s lovely face, and wiped away the tears that slid down. "Dear Reba, don''t cry, it will hurt your brother''s heart." Dolly gently pressed the knife against Reba''s lips. Cold, sharp. Reba was inexplicably terrified, calling out in her heart for the name of that knight. Mr. Jack! Please help me! Please save Reba, and mom and dad! Dolly grabbed Reba''s hand and slid the knife across her palm. Blood gushed out, and Dolly excitedly licked it. "Mmm¡ªThe fragrance of a virgin." He then opened his own hand, and therge mouth in his palm devoured the skin of Viscount Pompey, the bone of Lady Pompey, and Reba''s blood. p! Dolly abruptly clenched his fist, showing a joyous expression, his cheeks flushed. He seemed as if he had taken a strong drug, turned to the easel, and began painting rapidly. "Once the work ispleted, my family will forever remain in the painting, bing real puppets... I will turn over half of the Pompey Family''s fortune to the Viscount Sir Oil Paint, and the title of Viscount will fall upon my head." Dolly said while painting. "What about my share?" Baron Barnie was puffing on a cigar, slightly taken aback. Dolly suddenly stopped painting, turned around, and appeared enlightened. "Forgot to tell you, someone else took your share." Before Baron Barnie couldprehend the meaning of these words, a dagger suddenly pierced through his chest. An unknown masked man had appeared behind him, poking his head out. "Amoner also wanting to meddle in such affairs, hmm..." He gently pushed, and Baron Barnie fell face down to the ground. Baron Barnie felt severe pain spreading throughout his body, as a pair of ck boots came into view. "What a fool..." The masked man, cloaked in ck, wiped the dagger clean on Baron Barnie''s blue shirt, sheathing it. He looked at Dolly, his blue eyes void of emotion. "Viscount Sir Oil Paint told me you needed help here." "Yes... but you weren''t necessarily supposed to act, Crow, you were just insurance, understand?" Crow turned, his cloak billowing, and vanished in the next second. The studio echoed with his voice: "Whatever, just make sure my share is given to me on time." Dolly didn''t turn back, continued painting, his lips curled into a cold smirk. "''Circus'' organization... After this mission ispleted, perhaps Viscount Sir Oil Paint will rmend me for membership." Inner City District Third Street. Chen Lun walked out of a vi. On the wall next to the Great Gate, it was marked "Third Street, Number Twenty-One, Barnie''s." He looked back once, and in the distance, he saw a young maid slowly closing the door. "Not here..." Chapter 77 Full Video Recording Downstairs of the studio. Horseman and his two fellow yers were blending in with the ranks of the Iron Fist Gang''s underlings. They grouped up and took positions separately, guarding the entrance to the staircase leading to the studio. This street was rather secluded, a corner of the Inner City District. Most of the shops here were empty, and the residential buildings were uninhabited. "Horseman, we''re really lucky. We just joined the ''Iron Fist Gang'' and got a C-level mission," Doghead Gold was smoking a cigarette on the side, and afterward clicked his tongue in praise,menting on how high the game''s realism was¡ªthe feeling of smoke entering the lungs was hardly different from reality. "Yeah... What''s more important is that the mission reward even includes Supernatural Knowledge. If weplete this mission, we''re basically sky-rocketing to heaven, stepping directly into the ranks of the Transcendents. With such speed, we can be considered the first batch of yers to be Transcendents in the beta test!" Horseman said with augh. His tone contained a hint of excitement, and then suddenly it turned serious as he said: "However, we can''t take it lightly. The rewards are so generous, the difficulty must be extremely high!" "It shouldn''t be much of a problem. ''Mr. Dolly'' is very strong. With him leading the way, we can just ck off... As newbies, it''s impossible for them to give us an unsolvable mission," Forget No Taboo said, arms crossed and looking rxed. "It''s just a pity that Pris and that woman were so stubborn to note here with us. They missed such a rare opportunity..." Horseman shook his head with augh, a hint of schadenfreude in his gesture while Doghead Gold snorted and stomped out his cigarette. "Once we be Transcendents, I''m actually looking forward to their expressions..." "Huh?" Horseman suddenly showed a look of surprise. Doghead Gold and Forget No Taboo looked at him with puzzled expressions and asked aloud. Horseman chuckled twice and exined: "Pris sent me a message..." Doghead Gold scoffed. "He must be struggling to get by in the Outer City District, huh? That''s the problem with solo yers, always overestimating themselves... I originally thought this Pris, being an experienced yer, would have some tricks up his sleeve, but that''s it?" "You guessed right," Horseman said. "I''ll invite them over. That woman is a small-time streamer; let her record the process. It can serve as a promotion for both of our guilds." "¡ªPris bro, we''re currently at the end of Luanhuan Street,e over now. We''re in the middle of a mission, have that female streamer with you start recording, shoot a promotional clip for us, and afterward, we''ll rmend you to join the gang." Horseman sent a message. He quickly received a reply: "¡ªOkay, I''ll be right there, and I will have Su Keying record the whole process." ... Bang!! The Blunderbuss shot out a burst of light, and countless steel pellets sprayed over Horseman''s body. A fatal red damage indicator popped up above his head. [You have been killed by yer Pris!] Horseman''s eyes widened in shock as he watched the man and woman, then dissolved into a beam of white light and disappeared. Bang!! Another gunshot rang out. Su Keying, looking excited, fired her Blunderbuss at Doghead Gold and killed him with one shot. Thest one left, Forget No Taboo, stood dumbfounded, staring at the pair. "What... what are you doing?!" "Doing a mission!" Pris grabbed a handful of steel pellets and stuffed them into his firearm, then aimed and pulled the trigger at him. Bang!! Forget No Taboo turned into a beam of white light and followed hispanions. [You have killed yer Forget No Taboo! Gained 1 Contribution Degree point!] Pris had a smile on his face. "Did you get it all on tape?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Yeah!" Su Keying nodded vigorously. "Enemies!" The other members of the Iron Fist Gang finally reacted, pulling out their outdated versions of Mad Hand and Raging Fire, and started pursuing the two of them. "Go! We just need to lure them away!" Pris spoke and took the lead, running down an alley. Su Keying stuck out her tongue at the Iron Fist Gang''s underlings, then turned to follow Pris. Half an hour earlier, they had been found by Mr. Jack. Mr. Jack assigned them a task that required them to find theirpanions and kill them. In the face of the task reward, Pris epted without hesitation. It wasn''t only about yers with whom they had briefly cooperated; even long-time friends, as long as the reward was sufficient, Pris would kill without error. Of course, if such a situation really urred, Pris would stillpensate his friends afterwards. After all, he was a Shark Hand without emotions but understood the concept of sharing. "¡ªPris! Have you gone mad? What good does killing us do for you?!" Horseman sent an exasperated message. Pris nced at it and promptly deleted the friend. "Damn!" Horseman cursed, standing in the backyard of the Iron Fist Gang''s base, with Doghead Gold and Forget No Taboo walking out of the building behind him. This was their Resurrection Point. "Damn it! Ruining our good deeds! Wait until the public test starts, we will definitely make these two scumbags pay!" Doghead Gold cursed and Forget No Taboo also had a grim face. "We don''t have to wait for the public test, let''s go now!" Horseman said in a deep voice. "We can''t just let this go, our task hasn''t failed yet, if we rush over now, it''s still not toote!" The three of them, fueled by anger, quickly left the sewers and headed for the Inner City District. Luckily, they had identity proofs given to them by Mr. Dolly, allowing them to enter and leave the Inner City District, otherwise it would have been difficult. After Pris and Su Keying led away the Iron Fist Gang''s underlings. A carriage parked on the side of the street, its curtains lifted, and a person stepped out. It was Chen Lun. He instructed the coachman to leave first and then walked straight up the stairs, looking up at the second floor''s studio wooden door. He checked his equipment, then ced two ink bottles at the top of the stairs, pulling out a transparent thread to secure them. Bang! He kicked open the wooden door. Whoosh¡ª!! A sharp knife stabbed from behind the door. Chen Lun frowned, raised his hand and flicked his fingers. His pitch-ck fingers struck the de, emitting a clear ringing sound. As the sparks flew, a masked man in ck robes appeared before him. The masked man kicked out. Chen Lun responded with a knee, his expressionless face unchanged. Rhinoceros Impact! Bang!! The two were evenly matched. The masked man uttered a sound of surprise and doubt, then turned his hand, another short knife appeared in his palm, shing down fiercely. Chen Lun was quicker, turning his knee into a push. Scorpion Tail Needle! The knife was only half a hand''s distance from his face when it came to a sudden stop and was flung away. The masked man leaped back, clutching his abdomen, staggering on his feet. He squinted his eyes. "Supernatural Toxin!" Click, the door closed on its own. The young man who had been painting paused his movements and stood up. He nced at the masked man, Raven, and chuckled lightly. He had been tricked by this move before, and now seeing someone else in the same plight, he couldn''t help but feel a little schadenfreude. "You''vee, Jack." The brown-haired young man turned to look at Chen Lun, casually tossing aside the brush in his hand. "I thought you wouldn''te. It seems I underestimated your courage and arrogance." The Pompeys stood like statues with a smile, but their eyes were sad. Their gaze shifted to Chen Lun, changing from surprise to hope, and then from hope to concern. Reba''s gaze was the most intense, and two more tears fell from her eyes. He hade! He really heard my call and came to save us! Chapter 78 Two Against One, No Martial Ethics "What a pity, my masterpiece was almostplete." Dolly sighed with regret.N?v(el)B\\jnn "But killing you and continuingter is not toote." "Dolly..." Chen Lun looked at the brown-haired youth, thinking that his guess wasn''t wrong. The adopted son of Viscount Pompey, Vigrey, was indeed Dolly. How he turned into an ugly, fat man in the next two years was no longer important. "How rare, a Transcendent of the Destiny Faction, yet only a Sequence Nine... Today, you''re dead for sure!" The masked man Crow spoke in a cold voice. "Don''t act yet, I want to y with him... I must return the favor from that night." Dolly flexed his five fingers. The very next second, his figure shed, and he appeared in front of Chen Lun, his palm heading straight for him. Dolly''s strength and Agility were well-bnced, Chen Lun estimated both around 30 points; he could onlypete with his strength, far behind in agility. Using "Serpentine Incarnation" for a surprise might allow him to dodge temporarily, but after being figured out, his situation would plummet dramatically. Bang!! The dark golden scales shed with the white exoskeleton-covered fist, creating an explosive sound. A twitch appeared in the corner of Dolly''s eye. "It''s that tough hide again!" He opened his mouth wide, the corners splitting towards his ears. Then Dolly''s head zoomed in fast,pleting a biting motion with incredible speed. Crack!! Dolly bit through Chen Lun''s hair, his constantly wriggling teeth grinding together like gears, emitting a grating noise. His eyes swiveled, catching sight of Chen Lun''s neck bent at an odd angle, dodging the strike. "Like a snake... wriggling like a disgusting earthworm." Dolly''s face, twisted into a ghastly expression, spoke in a strange voice, filled with disdain. Gurgle... No sooner had he spoken than Chen Lun''s left arm became serpentine, coiling upwards, trapping Dolly''s right arm, locking it in ce! The following second, Chen Lun''s right fist struck deep into Dolly''s left chest. Bang!! Dolly couldn''t dodge and took the punch head-on. The impact of "Rhinoceros Impact" prated the protective membrane over his sternum, piercing straight through his heart. "Cough!" Dolly spat out a mouthful of blood. Taking a deep breath, his face twisted even more ferociously. "A good punch, I like it a lot." Chen Lun''s eyes narrowed slightly; Transcendents of the Flesh Faction were indeed troublesome to deal with, with such tenacious life force... Not to mention he was a Sequence higher than him. A soft click. He drew his repeater flintlock gun, pressing it against Dolly''s chest and pulling the trigger. Bang! Bang bang bang!! With a pained cry, Dolly took the first hit, then forcibly broke free from Chen Lun''s hold. He dodged the following shots, deflecting stray bullets with his hand. "You should be dead!" Dolly growled and bit off his own thumb, chewing and swallowing it in his mouth. Blood flowed profusely from his hand, but he was unfazed. Instantly, his veins bulged, his eyes turned blood-red, and he lunged forward again, his fingerless hand bing like a flesh-slicing knife, his other hand''srge mouth extending a long tongue. Every move he made was apanied by waves of air pressure! Strength and agility clearly surged! Whoosh!! Chen Lun used "Serpentine Incarnation" to twist his body but didn''t fully evade the de palm, and a gash appeared on his face. As he tried to retreat, his leg was entangled by the long tongue emerging from Dolly''s palm. In the next moment, Dolly''s kick came hurtling! Bang!! Chen Lun was sent flying, crashing into the wall and creating a dent, with cracks spreading like a spider web. ``` The grotesque paintings hanging on the wall crashed to the floor in a cacophony of cracks and snaps. Chen Lun slid down the wall, staggering to his feet. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but fortunately, the protection from the Carp Armor spared him from losing a significant chunk of his Life. "Such disgusting defensive power..." Dolly clenched his fists, letting out a raspy, coldugh. "Crow, let''s join forces. I don''t want to waste any more time." "It''s about time... Tough and fleshy opponents are my favorite, heh." The masked man said. A sense of crisis surged in Chen Lun''s heart. Facing Dolly one-on-one, he had always kept an eye on the masked man nearby, holding back in order to prevent a surprise attack, and therefore only utilizing seventy to eighty percent of his strength. Handling Dolly was already challenging enough, and now with the addition of another Transcendent, he feared he might fall into a significant disadvantage. Two against one, no honor inbat! Dolly attacked once again. As he moved, his body swelled like inting to the size of a small giant, almost reaching the ceiling. His palm transformed into a serrated meat cleaver, swooping down in a vertical chop! Whoooosh!! In such a form, Dolly''s Strength must have soared to over 40 points, nearing 50. This was the threshold for a Low Sequence Transcendent''s Attributes, and Chen Lun was unwilling to confront it head-on. He dodged to one side, avoiding Dolly''s attack. But in the next moment, a sharp dagger appeared in front of him! Whoosh! With space being encroached upon, Chen Lun had no choice but to raise his hand to protect his throat, his whole body now covered by the Carp Armor. Hisssss! The de scraped across the scales, producing a startling shower of sparks. Chen Lun took the opportunity to wrap his serpentine arm around the masked man''s hand and, leveraging his position, burst out from his side to escape the encirclement. But it seemed that his opponent had already anticipated his intentions. The masked man let out a coldugh and struck back with his hand. Extending a finger, it pierced Chen Lun''s back like an iron drill, the tough dark-gold scales shattering under its force. With a flick of that finger, arge chunk of flesh was ripped from Chen Lun''s back. Chen Lun grunted, rolling forward to increase the distance. "Hidden Path: [Conspiracy Faction] [Sequence Eight ¨C Locksmith]..." He muttered under his breath. This was an advanced Sequence of [Sequence Nine ¨C Thief], possessing the supernatural ability to "unlock," and specializing in Agility and assassination. "This is bad... I''mpletely outpaced." Chen Lun knelt on the ground, his back throbbing with searing pain as blood surged out, soaking through his shirt. His back turned to the Pompeys, the grisly wound was a sight that quickened their heartbeats. On seeing it, the three of them couldn''t help but feel their hearts race. Viscount Pompey had not expected that it wasn''t just his closest foster son Vigrey who was a Transcendent with mysterious powers but also Reba''s home tutor, Mr. Jack. However, Mr. Jack seemed to be at a disadvantage at the moment. Viscount Pompey wanted to speak, but felt helpless to intervene. Viscount Pompey closed his eyes, simply hoping Mr. Jack wouldn''t lose his life over this. Mrs. Pompey and Reba''s eyes showed their anxiousness, especially Reba; she desperately wished Mr. Jack would quickly knock that ingrate Vigrey to the ground. Mr. Jack, please be safe! You can do it Mr. Jack!! Dolly and Crow, big and small, turned to look at the ck-haired youth kneeling on the ground. "There''s no point in struggling, Jack," Dolly said in a deep voice. As he spoke, Crow had already shed through the air like a phantom, appearing in front of Chen Lun. A knife stroke to the head! With the "unlock" feature embedded in this stroke, Crow''s deep blue eyes shed with cruelty, as if he''d already seen the dagger act as a key, slicing through Chen Lun''s shell-like defenses and cutting him in two! Danger! "Panel." Chen Lun thought coolly. With a flick of his finger, he allocated all 17 remaining points to Agility. [Current Attributes: Agility 38!] ``` Chapter 79 The Killing Blow Whoosh¡ª!! The dagger flew like lightning, cutting Chen Lun in half! But the crow''s smiling eyes faltered, because he felt he hadn''t cut through anything solid, just shed through the air. "Be careful!" Dolly warned, rushing in right after. Chen Lun''s speed had nearly doubled, dodging the crow''s attack and already reaching his back. Hands braced against the ground, he kicked at the crow''s lower back. Scorpion Tail Needle! Thud!! The crow screamed in agony, his body flying forward like a cannonball. Midair, he coughed out ck, contaminated blood, soaking his mask. With a fierce look in his eyes, just before crashing into the wall, his hands burst into a bright pattern. The anticipated loud crash did not ur. Instead, the crow passed through the wall like a ghost, vanishing from sight. Whoosh!! The next instant, he traversed space, appearing from beneath Chen Lun''s feet. The dagger aimed to sever Chen Lun''s entire leg! ¡ªBut this strike also missed. "His speed has increased!" The crow burst from the ground, his throat erupting with frustrated words. Chen Lun''s figure drew a ck Z in the room, bursting through the door with a bang and rushing out. "He''s trying to escape!" The crow shouted coldly. Immediately, he flung his ck robe, his body flying out like a dark bird, with the hem fluttering behind him as he pursued. "Watch out for tricks!" Dolly warned in a deep voice, following him out. The crow, just having charged out of the room, caught a glimpse of Chen Lun''s figure sh past the stairwell below. He pursued with a determined face,pletely overlooking a clear thread on the ground. Twang¡ª! The thread was tripped by his boot, pulling loose the cap it was connected to. Extreme danger surged in the crow''s heart. ncing over, he noticed two ck ink bottles at the corner of the stairwell entrance. He wished to use "Locksmith" to escape through the floor beneath his feet, but suddenly, a whistle sounded. Swoosh! His mind grew hazy, stunned for a moment. The next moment, the ink bottles erupted in blinding light. "No..." Boom!! A deafening explosion rang out, with light and smoke diffusing far and wide. Countless tiny metal shrapnel tore through the air and smoke, piercing the crow''s body and shredding everything in close proximity. "Fuck!" Pris, who had been watching the scene while hiding, couldn''t help but curse. Behind him, Su Keying rolled her eyes, then quickly her expression turned to one of excitement. The camera was still rolling, capturing all thebat action! Bricks and rubble scattered by the shockwave, Dolly who had been about to step out of the room, was forced to retreat back inside. With a dark expression, he dusted off his clothes and gritted his teeth: "How can there be such a stupid person?!" [You have killed a member of the "Circus" organization, Crow¡ªLocksmith of Sequence Eight (Conspiracy Faction), and gained 3,000 Experience Points!] Standing at the stairwell, Chen Lun''s mouth curled slightly. The shell ne on his chest dimmed after a brief glow. The bomb that Connie meticulously crafted was truly useful¡­ After absorbing the mechanical knowledge contained in the prototype drawings of Mad Hand, she created the weapons as per Chen Lun''s request. They were powerful, quick to activate and camouged. Chen Lun named these special bombs "Red Ink," symbolizing using the enemy''s blood as the ink to write their dismal endings. But due to theplex production process, they could only be handcrafted by Connie for now, and the only two avable were used here. Additionally, they were expensive to make¡ªone bottle of "Red Ink" cost five Gold Pounds, which made Chen Lun somewhat reluctant to use them. "Looks like the crow has turned into ''spicy bird dings,'' scattered all around, unlikely to be separated out into Mysterious Objects¡­" Chen Lun surveyed the surrounding smoke and privatelymented. "Jack!!" The smoke was dispelled, and a disproportionately muscr little giant leaped down the stairwell. Dolly''s face, bulging with veins and eyes bloodshot, was fixated on Chen Lun. He mmed his fist down, the back of it covered in haphazard teeth like a meaty meteor hammer. Boom!! Dolly''s hammer strike, like a small explosive, created a crater in the ground. Chen Lun''s Agility was already above his, and being outside with more space to maneuver made avoiding his attacks all the easier. Chen Lun moved aside, revealing dark golden scales covering his exposed skin. He looked at Dolly with a pair of emerald vertical pupils. "If you have any aces up your sleeve, you''d better use them now¡­ or you will die." He said coolly. Dolly sneered back, offering no response. With a stomp, his massive body bore down across the space. The dark-haired young man pulled out a small hand crossbow and aimed it at him, pulling the trigger. Thunk! A red sh cut through the air, incredibly fast. Dolly''s heart skipped a beat, barely having time to raise his hand to protect his head. A red crossbow arrow pierced his sturdy arm. "Ugh!!" The intense pain, along with a surging hunger, tormented Dolly. The crossbow arrow dissipated with the wind, vanishing without a trace, but the flesh at the wound was as if gnawed away by an invisible maw, its whereabouts unknown. The hideous wound was a ghastly sight to behold. "To handle a beefy bull like this, I still have to rely on it..." Thinking so, Chen Lun raised his hand and loosed two more arrows. The Tongue of Gluttony spat out, the bowstring trembled! Swish swish! Dolly''s body wasrge and an easy target. Two crossbow arrows, one on the left and one on the right, plunged into his thighs. Boom! The flesh on Dolly''s thighs was devoured by an invisible mouth. Without the support of his muscles, his massive body knelt on the spot. He gritted his teeth against the pain and hunger, realizing that if this continued, he was in danger of dying.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "You''re forcing my hand! Jack!" Dolly said through clenched teeth. He flipped his hand, and a scroll flew from his body. Whoosh¡ª! The scroll unfurled to reveal a tightly closedrge eye in the center, surrounded by spiraling oil paints. If one looked closely, they could see that the eyshes of this eye were all curved fingers, attached around the eye, gently twisting. Utterly eerie! The eyelid of therge eye lifted slightly, revealing a small part of the pupil underneath. The red, yellow, and blue oil paints were distinct and profound, as if hiding some dreadful power. After a nce, Chen Lun felt a chill down his spine, a strong sense of crisis washing over him. "I can''t let it open!" He put away the hand crossbow and switched to the blunderbuss. He charged forward, raising the gun and firing at the scroll in mid-air! Bang! A barrage of steel pellets struck the scroll, causing it to shudder violently, but it wasn''t truly damaged. Pupil in Painting continued lifting its eyelid slowly. Seeing this, Chen Lun immediately switched to his great weapon, the Connie No. 1 mechanical glove. He fine-tuned his fingers, power at full st! Bang!! A half-meter diameter fireball shot out, mming into the scroll. The high temperature, apanied by rolling ck smoke, engulfed the scroll. The mes turned the scroll to ashes, only the pattern of the eye in the middle was still struggling to hold on. The eyelid trembled slightly, seeming to be affected. Effective! Chen Lun was inwardly ted. "Ahh¡ªDie!!" With all the strength in his good arm, Dolly pushed forcefully, propelling his entire body towards Chen Lun by the reaction. The scroll gifted by Jazz Painter was hisst card, he couldn''t let it be interrupted! Just a little more time, and once Pupil in Painting was fully opened, the tide of battle would be definitively turned. Bang!! Upon their fists colliding, Chen Lun felt his entire arm go numb, the massive force seemed almost enough to shatter him. Fresh blood spilled from the corners of Chen Lun''s mouth, he persisted with gritted teeth, his mechanical glove gripping tightly onto Dolly''s fist. Next moment, it burst into me, spewing forth from his palm. Dolly tried to get away, but Chen Lun held fast, the fire clinging to Dolly, causing his upper body to be continuously scorched. "Ah ah ah!!" Dolly turned into a man of fire, struggling and wailing. Chen Lun nced at the scroll in mid-air; the eye was already half-open, with tears of blood putting out the mes on the scroll. Not good! Chen Lun knew time was of the essence; he must quickly eliminate Dolly, who was in his way, and then stop that eye! Both handsshed out like two great snakes, biting into the sides of Dolly''s waist. Snake''s Kiss! Supernatural toxin injected, rendering Dolly even weaker. Chen Lun immediately transformed his fingers to fists. Rhinoceros Impact! Bear Strike! Then, elbows, palms, knees, and kicks followed in rapid session! A series of moves too fast for the naked eye to see struck Dolly, emitting a series of muffled thuds. Dolly stood rigid, staggered on the spot like a drunk man. Chen Lun''s eyes hardened. "Die!!" His fingers came together, staining ck. Swoosh¡ª!! Stork Peck! His entire hand plunged into Dolly''s left chest, hot blood flowing down his arm. Then¡ª Scorpion Tail Needle! Chen Lun''s fingertips pierced the heart, injecting supernatural toxin again. The finishing blow! Chapter 80 Conclusion Dolly tensed up and copsed with a boom. His huge body shrank, bing loose and ck, his muscles and bones all destroyed by dense strikes. His bulging veins darkened, the supernatural toxin had spread throughout his body, death was certain. A few secondster. [Killing Oil Paint Baron''s Assistant Vigrey (Dolly) [Sequence Eight - Gourmet] (Flesh Faction), gained 3500 experience points!] A prompt popped up, but before Chen Lun could catch his breath, the Pupil in Painting had almost fully opened. Boom!! He only had time to throw out onest fireball. Through the heat-distorted air, from inside the me, he could see that the eye was fully open. The pupil''s primary colors spun, and Chen Lun felt as if his heart had been struck hard. Thump!! Chen Lun staggered backward two steps, blood spilling from his mouth and nose. [You have suffered a [Bewitch Heart] mental shock, Sanity -2, Life Points -100!] The Pupil in Painting gurgled as it rotated its pupil, and after giving him a nce, it seemed tock the strength to continue the attack. Immediately, the "eyshes" ¡ª countless fingers stretched out from the damaged, charred painting, dragging Dolly''s body into the scroll. Then, the scroll burned to ash in the mes, disintegrating with the wind. [Puppet master Baron Barnie and Vigrey (Dolly) are dead,pleted Grade C mission: Clouds Gathering!] [Received mission rewards: 1500 experience points, 2 Gold Pounds, Pompey''s affection, and [Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mystic Book] *1] "Whew..." Chen Lun stood in ce, letting out a breath of relief. Continuous high-intensitybat had drained a lot of his Physical Strength, and his injuries were not light, his life points were nearly depleted. Thatst look from the Pupil in Painting almost killed him instantly! "That''s [Constetion Faction] [Sequence Seven - Heart Thief]''s ability... a Mid Sequence Transcendent!" His heart sank. Now that Dolly had been killed by him, but he didn''t get the anticipated Mysterious Substance from the [High Sequence Flesh Faction], because his body was dragged away by the Pupil in Painting... The Oil Paint Baron behind Dolly is most likely a Mid Sequence Transcendent, and that Mysterious Substance from the [High Sequence Flesh Faction] is very likely to be in his hands. Otherwise, it doesn''t make sense how Dolly in his former life came to possess this mysterious substance. "Oil Paint Baron..."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Through his encounters over this period, those oil paintings imbued with supernormal powers, they must havee from this Oil Paint Baron. "An unknown path of a Mid Sequence Transcendent, huh..." Chen Lun immediately felt an immense pressure. Being a level higher was manageable, but a whole tier higher was a bit far-fetched. To advance from [Sequence Eight] to [Sequence Seven] meant entering the level of Mid Sequence Transcendents, and a qualitative change in overall strength urred. Many weaknesses ordinary mortals had were no longer weaknesses, and they were also difficult to kill by ordinary means. And from the current clues, the abilities the Oil Paint Baron had revealed included [Moon Faction] [Sequence Nine - Medium] and [Constetion Faction] [Sequence Seven - Heart Thief], it''s unknown if he still has any other abilities hidden, nor what specific Sequence path he possesses. "Better wrap up the current situation first..." Chen Lun sighed internally. He walked toward the stairs, intending to go to the studio to rescue Pompey''s family. Suddenly, he stopped, spotting a sh of light where Dolly''s body had been. ''Huh?'' He quickly went to the spot of the light, bent down, and picked up a small pendant with a ck skull. [Token - Society Pendant] Item Description: It appears to be a token of a secret society, presenting it can prove one''s membership and sessfully participate in society activities. The pendant''s designer seems to have a fondness for the deceased, hence they used it as a symbol. "Hmm... some trinket, don''t know what bird use it''s good for yet." Chen Lun casually put it in his pocket and turned to go upstairs. Just then, a burst of footsteps came, followed by a man''s loud shout: "Pris! Our mission has failed! You this bloody...eh?!" The Horseman three yers seemed as if a stasis spell had been cast on them, freezing in ce. They saw Pris and Su Keying hiding in the corner, turning their heads to look at the three of them with strange expressions on their faces. They also saw a dozen members of the Iron Fist Gang gathered around, staring at them in admiration. One of the guys even gave them a thumbs up, seemingly in praise. Lastly, they saw a ck-haired young man leaning against the railing on the stairway, looking down at them expressionlessly. The area was a mess, like a parking lot that had been hit by a tornado. Doghead Gold secretly cast "Scout" and, shivering all over, hesitantly sent the information to his twopanions. The other two, upon seeing it, shuddered as well. "¡ªI knew this task wasn''t going to be that simple." Bang Bang Bang! Three gunshots rang out, and the three Horsemen once again transformed into white light and disappeared. The Iron Fist Gang''s members didn''t seem surprised by this scene. [Kill yers Horseman, Doghead Gold, and Forget No Taboo! Earn 300 Experience Points and 1 Attribute Point!] Chen Lun raised an eyebrow. So the rewards for killing yers were this generous?! His gaze shifted to Pris and Su Keying, and both of them, startled, quickly receded back like groundhogs, vanishing by the wall. "Forget it... I''ll try again during the public test when there are more people." Chen Lun muttered to himself and put away his flintlock gun. He continued upstairs. Pris and Su Keying were panting heavily, having just about believed they were about to be casually killed by Mr. Jack. That indifferent look, the ease of his actions, was exactly the style of a ssic major viin. "Taskpleted! Did you get the prompt?" Su Keying asked. "Got it... We''re one step closer to that hidden pathway to Supernatural Knowledge!" Pris took a deep breath. Su Keying, reviewing the video yback, picked a few exciting clips to show Pris. "Hey, don''t you think Jack is quite handsome?" She elbowed Pris, giggling twice. "??" Pris looked at her with a strange gaze, as if viewing an obsessed fan. "Yeah, he''s alright." He said casually. Su Keying rolled her eyes and closed the panel, disappointed. "You don''t know anything... Wait till I edit the video; when I post it, this NPC is definitely going to attract a lot of female fans!" "Just don''t reveal any secrets about him." "I know! Annoying!" Chen Lun reached the second floor; the stairwell entrance had been sted open by "red ink", with fragments of the protective walls exposing bricks and steel reinforcement inside. "As expected, it was blown to pieces..." Chen Lun found remains of a crow among the debris scattered on the floor. Three pieces of [Low Sequence Conspiracy Faction Mysterious Substance]. Although it was regrettable that he couldn''t obtain aplete [Mysterious Object], these spoils were not bad. He stored the mysterious substances in his panel and entered the studio. "Mr. Jack!" Reba looked at the door with a surprised face, and then her look turned to one of urgency. "Please, save my father and mother!" Chapter 81 The Viscounts Collection "What''s wrong, Reba?" Chen Lun approached. "No matter how much I call them, they won''t wake up, sob sob..." Reba sobbed, kneeling on the ground. Chen Lun found that the Pompey family had already broken free from control, but at the moment, the Pompey coupley on the ground, motionless. He went up to check and found that their wounds were very deep, seeming to have reached the arteries, and due to excessive blood loss, had fallen into aa. Their faces were now pale, their breathing faint, looking as if they were at death''s door. Reba knelt beside her parents, appearing very helpless. "Don''t worry, Reba, Viscount Pompey and thedy will be alright..." Chen Lunforted her. Fortunately, the wound on Reba''s palm wasn''t deep, and she was not in any serious trouble now. She nodded, seemingly trusting Chen Lun a lot. After reflecting for a moment, Chen Lun immediately took out two portions of the "Low Sequence Flesh Faction Mysterious Substance" from the panel, and stuffed the two blood-red "meatballs" into the mouths of the Viscount couple. The Mysterious Substance of the Flesh Faction contained an exceptionally strong Life Force, distinct from the "nectar" of the Red Apple Church. This Mysterious Substance was much purer and more advanced; the two were not even in the same league. It had no side effects and could even prolong life. Healing the blood loss symptoms of two ordinary people, it was more than enough. However, using it so bluntly was a bit wasteful, like using rocket fuel to cook rice over a fire. But Chen Lun had no better option at the moment. He could only use it for the emergency; saving lives was crucial. After swallowing the Mysterious Substance, the Pompeys'' faces quickly regained color, and their weakened state visibly improved at a noticeable rate. The wounds on their bodies began to heal, and even the severed finger of Mrs. Pompey miraculously grew back. Seeing this scene, Reba was overjoyed, her gaze towards Chen Lun even more intimate and worshipful. "[Reba''s Affection has increased! It is currently Reverent!]" Chen Lun raised an eyebrow. He hadn''t expected that Reba''s affection for him had already grown so high. Affection levels, from low to high, are mortal enemies, hatred, hostility, disgust, indifference, neutral, friendly, close, respected, reverent, and worship. Generally speaking, the initial affection level is indifferent. In less than a month, he had already raised Reba''s affection to reverence. If "Era of Mystery" was a dating sim, he would probably be at the final stage of getting what you want. As Viscount Pompey and his wife slowly came to, they were first confused and then gradually calmed down. When they realized they were in a safe state and their injuries were healed, they began to inquire. Reba excitedly told her parents how Chen Lun had fought valiantly to defeat the viins and used miraculous methods to bring them back to life. "I can''t thank you enough, Mr. Jack, you''ve saved our family once again." Viscount Pompey stood up and gave Chen Lun a heartfelt salute. "[Viscount Pompey''s Affection has increased! It is currently Respected!]" Next to him, Mrs. Pompey also showed her gratitude and curtsied to him. The notification of the increase in affection came once more, like the Viscount, reaching respected. Chen Lun raised his hand to stop the Viscount from continuing his thanks. "Your Excellency the Viscount, we should leave this ce first." "You''re right." Viscount Pompey nodded, taking his wife and daughter, and followed Chen Lun out of the studio. ... Back at Pompey Manor. The Viscount''s family was still shaken, feeling as if the day''s events had been a nightmare. Viscount Pompey graciously hosted Chen Lun for a meal, with many words of thanks. The Viscount became slightly intoxicated after several bouts of toasting. He began to sigh and express regret at hisck of judgment, not only failing to discern the insidiousness of his old friend Barnie but also not suspecting his adopted son Vigrey of harboring intentions to harm them. When it came to the Mystic Realm, he suddenly fell silent. After the dinner. The Viscount soothed his wife and daughter, then asked Chen Lun to stay behind. "Mr. Jack, please stay a moment, I have something to show you." Viscount Pompey said earnestly. Chen Lun nodded. He noticed Reba sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed away by Lady Pompey. She turned her head to look at Chen Lun and revealed a grateful smile. Chen Lun took off his top hat and ced a hand over his chest in response. Immediately after, Viscount Pompey led Chen Lun up the wooden staircase of the vi, heading upward. "I really can''t thank you enough, Mr. Jack..." Binose followed beside Chen Lun, whispering. "It was nothing, Butler Binose." Chen Lun waved his hand dismissively. But respect was even more evident on Binose''s face. "You truly are a noble person." [Binose''s affection for you has increased! It is currently at adoration!] Chen Lun raised an eyebrow. Does this mean I''ve gained full ess to Pompey Manor? Viscount Pompey took Chen Lun to the art gallery, then lightly twisted the sword''s scabbard on a suit of knight''s armor to the left. Click click... Chen Lun watched in surprise as the wall beside it slowly moved, revealing a small side door. "Forgive the crudeness, Mr. Jack, but what lies beyond here is my true collection..." Viscount Pompey said. He extended a hand, gesturing for Chen Lun to go inside. When Chen Lun entered the hidden door, he found the space inside wasn''trge, but every item on the shelves was exquisitely beautiful and supreme. Jewelry, gems, and even weapons of all varieties wereid out in abundance. They shone brilliantly under the dim light. "No wonder the small animals I dispatched found nothing here..." Chen Lun suddenly noticed a deer head mounted on the wall; its eyes turned to meet Chen Lun''s gaze for a moment. [Grade C Mysterious Object - Wall-mounted Deer Head] Item Description: A mystical specimen containing powers of nature, outwardly a deer head, identical to its appearance in life. It is suspected to be a remnant of a supernatural creature that, even in death, was protecting someone it wished to protect. Item Effect: Provides detection and protection, able to iste malicious gazes and hide objects desired to be protected. When an intruder is detected, it will emit a warning and release a deadly poison gas to kill the enemy. Item Cost: Ensure the continuation of the Pompey bloodline, otherwise suffer a curse. Chen Lun shifted his gaze away slowly. It seems the Pompey family is not as simple as it appears. He mused silently. "Mr. Jack, please feel free to choose any item from my collection," Viscount Pompey said. Chen Lun nced at the viscount, realizing that he must understand the supernatural objects here were of great use to him. Only such priceless mystical items could be worthy of his enormous gratitude. Perhaps this was an opportunity that only presented itself after a certain level of affection was reached. Chen Lun passed by row upon row of exhibits, seemingly indifferent to the treasures worth a fortune. His attention was suddenly captivated by a drop-shaped sapphire earring. Stepping forward, he gently picked it up and received a prompt: [Grade C Mysterious Object - Maggie''s Tear] Item Description: An earring containing natural powers, shaped like a drop of sapphire. It seems to be the crystallized tear of a supernatural creature. "If I see you, years since we''ve met, so near yet so far, both real and surreal. How should I greet you then? Only with tears, only with silence..." ¡ª Maggie Item Effect: Can block most mental attacks, mystical contamination, and divination probes, and can enhance sanity recovery speed. Increases charm by +5 when worn.N?v(el)B\\jnn Item Cost: After triggering protection, emotions be hypersensitive for twelve hours. Chapter 82 The Past "Maggie...?" Chen Lun silently muttered the name. He had some recollection of it; it seemed to appear in "Philip''s Diary", likely the person Philip loved. But what he hadn''t expected was that Maggie could be a "Supernatural Creature"? Upon further reflection, he realized that this was just Philip''s taste and he came to terms with it. He picked up the Sapphire Earrings and signaled to Viscount Pompey. Thetter bowed slightly, touching his chest in agreement. Then, Chen Lun looked around the collection room again, scanning each item. His mood gradually turned joyful and expectant. "Perhaps Viscount Pompey actually obtained "Philip''s Legacy"? Otherwise, how could an ordinary person possess so many objects from the Mystic Realm..." He thought to himself. Looking up, on the top of a cab, a rolled up whip rested quietly. Chen Lun tiptoed to take it down, noting a sh of nostalgia on Viscount Pompey''s face. "??" Chen Lun forcibly controlled himself not to think too much, focusing on the whip in his hands. "Supernatural Item - Philip''s Whip" Item Description: A painstakingly customized whip for a Transcendent, used tosh and motivate oneself to keep advancing on the supernatural path. Of course, it was asionally used for entertainment. Hey! Buddy, you are really lucky! With this, guaranteed your path to bing stronger won''t be dull... Don''t thank me too much, I am just a pioneer exploring the way forward for you. Item Effect: Enhances a designated "Sequence Nine - Beast Tamer" skill, limited to one. "..." Chen Lun remained silent. He sneakily nced at Viscount Pompey and noticed the nostalgia had turned into embarrassment, which soon turned into encouragement. What exactly do you mean by that expression, Your Viscountship?! Chen Lun couldn''t help but silentlyin. "I am just doing this to be stronger, just to be stronger, stronger..." He silently reminded himself, pretending nothing had happened as he epted the whip. After checking the collection room onest time, Chen Lun found the final item that could be of help to him. "D-grade Mysterious Object - When the Grape Matures" Item Description: A token of engagement received by a Transcendent, seemingly transformed from a casually picked supernatural fruit, appearing as a ring set with a sapphire. It contained longing. "We will meet again, won''t we? Maggie... Still on that prairie, by thatke, under that grapevine." ¡ª Philip Item Effect: Dimensional storage space of 5 cubic meters. Item Cost: Express love to it periodically. "Finally, a storage-type mysterious object..." Chen Lun secretly rejoiced. Days without a "backpack" were tough; the things he could carry were limited and inconvenient. Now with this "little backpack", he could finally carry the "stock" from the attic and some supernatural items with him, safe and convenient. "Your Viscountship, just these three items," Chen Lun, holding the three selected items, returned to the entrance. It''s not that he did not want the other treasures, but he knew when to stop. He had already secured the most valuable items avable, and the rest, though precious, were just ordinary items. No need to overly wear out his wee in exchange for goods. As for the deer head on the wall, it was of no use to Chen Lun, and he also did not want to bear the cost. It could stay here to guard the Pompey family. "Mr. Jack, won''t you take a bit more? If you''re not satisfied, I can take you to an auction to choose some more..." Viscount Pompey asked. Chen Lun smiled and waved his hand. "This is sufficient, Your Viscountship. I am very fond of these three items, thank you for your generosity," "If Mr. Jack is pleased, that''s wonderful," Viscount Pompey ordered Binose to close the secret door, his face showing admiration. Mr. Jack really is noble in character, not greedy or arrogant, knows when enough is enough, and understands restraint. Moreover, he is a Transcendent from the Mystic Realm, worthy of deep association. It was clear that Reba was fond of him, if only... "Forget it, this is not for me to consider." Viscount Pompey reminded himself silently. As he was descending the stairs, Chen Lun suddenly realized that the task "Philip''s Legacy" had not beenpleted. "Eh¡­ Has it not all been taken yet? That shouldn''t be the case, I checked everything in the collection room." He was somewhat puzzled.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om After a moment of thought, Chen Lun tentatively asked Viscount Pompey: "Your Excellency Viscount, may I ask if you know a person named ''Philip''?" Viscount Pompey suddenly stopped in his tracks. A look of surprise appeared on his face, and even Binose by his side looked at Chen Lun in astonishment. "Mr. Jack, you knew Teacher Philip?" Viscount Pompey said. "I have read his works." Chen Lun maintained a look of admiration on his face, but he felt puzzled inside. Teacher Philip...? Hearing Viscount Pompey''s reference to Philip and seeing the butler''s expression, he suddenly realized something. It appeared that Philip had a deep rtionship with the Pompey family. Back in the living room on the ground floor. Binose personally made tea for both of them, and Viscount Pompey, holding his tea cup, slowly began rying the past. It turns out that Philip had once served as the family tutor for Viscount Pompey, and that was more than a decade ago. In his youth, Pompey was uneducated; his father, the previous Viscount, found him a home tutor, who was Philip. Philip was young but learned and was also humorous and witty. The two quickly became friends and he frequently took him to the zoo. "Speaking of which, when Mr. Jack wasst with us, it reminded me of Teacher Philip back in the day¡­" Viscount Pompey smiled, taking a sip of his tea. "Back then, he would often use a whip to punish me¡­ of course, without the teacher''s discipline, there would be no Pompey of today. I am very grateful to him, as Teacher Philip saved an indolent noble youth." He set down his tea cup, his face full of emotion. "Unfortunately,ter the teacher went on a long journey, and I went to join the military, and we lost contact with each other." Chen Lun listened silently, his fingers twitching slightly. It was as if he had traveled back in time, bing the yer who delves into the plot of the story, which made him feel pleased. "Later, we moved, and although we left contact information at the old address, we have never received news from the teacher¡­" Viscount Pompey said slowly, his tone low. Chen Lun''s heart skipped a beat. Moved?! So this ce was not the real "Pompey Manor"! "No wonder the task ''Philip''s Legacy'' has not shownpletion¡­ because the burial site is not here at all!" Chen Lun thought. He organized his thoughts and naturally asked Viscount Pompey for the old address of the manor. "Oh, it''s in the western part of the Inner City District, near Lona Port¡­ No. 4 Wains Street." Viscount Pompey seemed a bit forgetful, and under the reminder of Binose the butler, he then narrated it clearly. Chen Lun nodded, not continuing on this topic. In his mind, however, he nned to visit this old address to retrieve the "Philip''s Legacy." Just as he was preparing to get up to leave, he suddenly remembered a letter Mrs. Caroline had entrusted to Connie to pass on. "Your Excellency Viscount, this is a letter from Mrs. Caroline of No. 7 Denton Street in the Outer City District, entrusted to me for you¡­" Chen Lun took the letter from his pocket and ced it on the coffee table. And he ryed Mrs. Caroline''s words: "She said, ''She doesn''t me you, Henry will always be your best friend''..." He then bowed and left. At thest moment as he left The Great Gate, he turned back to see Viscount Pompey taking a medal out of the envelope, holding the letter in his hands, tears streaming down his face. Chapter 83 Pigeons Occupy the Magpies Nest (Please follow!) Late at night. After leaving Pompey Manor, Chen Lun headed directly to the old site mentioned by the Viscount. On the west side of the Inner City District, near the ocean, Lona Port stood. The Purple Moon reflected on the sea surface where several huge ships were docked, and vaguely, numerousborers could be seen dragging small boats loaded with cargo. Chen Lun withdrew his gaze and left the terrace at the end of the street. He entered a small alley on the other side and, after numerous turns, arrived at the entrance of a manor. This was Number 4 Wans Street. However, the Great Gate was locked, and the que at the gate had been removed, indicating that no one currently lived there; it was an empty house. Chen Lun looked around and, seeing no one passing by, braced himself against the railing and leaped inside. He did not linger, nor did he enter the vi building, but went directly to the back. ording to "Philip''s Diary," the inheritance was buried in the backyard. "What is this...?" Chen Lun stopped in his tracks. He saw tombstones standing in the backyard, separated by carved stone materials, neatly arranged. "It turns out to be a cemetery."N?v(el)B\\jnn Chen Lun walked on the little stone path, his eyes scanning over the inscriptions on the tombstones. A few belonged to the Pompey Family members, but most were soldiers who had perished in the "Overseas Landing Battle," it seemed all were personally inscribed by Viscount Pompey. "These soldiers¡­ were the Viscount''srades? Or subordinates...?" Chen Lun guessed. Here, he even found the tombstones of Mrs. Caroline''s husband, Henry, and their son, Oliver. "...My benefactor, a dear friend entrusted with my life." This was the epitaph on Henry''s tombstone. "...A beloved child, an excellent son, a brave man." This was the epitaph on Oliver''s tombstone. Below the epitaphs of the two men, both had Viscount Pompey''s name and date inscribed. Fresh flowers were ced in front of the tombstones, not yet wilted. Chen Lun sighed. He continued walking deeper and discovered a stone Spirit Temple, its doors securely sealed. Chen Lun''s eyes narrowed slightly, and his fingers brushed against the crevice of the door; he then used "Serpentine Senses" to flick out his tongue and collect pheromones. "Someone has been here... but it wasn''t Viscount Pompey, nor Mrs. Caroline." Logically, such Spirit Temples are generally the resting ces for those of high status, and even for worship, the doors would not be easily opened. Chen Lun heightened his alertness and pushed open the door to enter. Vertical pupils do not possess night vision capability, but they can detect heat. At this moment, his vision was pitch ck, and he detected norge creatures. With his tongue flickering, he slowly moved to a corner of the Spirit Temple. A suspicious stone b showed signs of having been moved; he extended a finger and easily lifted the heavy stone b, revealing the long staircase below. "There''s actually a hidden passage here..." Chen Lun was surprised. If it weren''t for the pheromone traces indicating that someone had entered this ce, he might have missed this entrance. Chen Lun put on the Sapphire Earrings on his right ear and touched the Grape Ring on his index finger. After checking his gear, he walked down the passage. As he descended, a light appeared ahead,ing from oilmps lit on the walls. "There really is someone!" He became more cautious. At the end of the corridor was a Bronze Gate, carved with various animal and nt patterns. Just as he was about to push the door open, the Bronze Gate was opened from the inside. ng! A backlit figure appeared in his line of sight, followed immediately by a hoarse female voice: "Hey! Look what I found? A lucky Tomb Robber!" As soon as she finished speaking, the woman extended arge hand towards him. "Today is your lucky day, sir, because you''re about to move into a free new home right here, in this coffin...haha!" Bang!! Two palms collided. "Huh?" The woman''sughter stopped, and she let out a confused sound, stepping back. "A Transcendent?!" The next second, the woman attacked again, mist emerging from her body, and faint sounds of waves emanating from within. A straight punch, with a spiral of wind forming around the fist, extinguished the oilmps nearby. Smack! Smack-smack!! Chen Lun executed a "Rhinoceros Impact," turning the outer part of his fist to bone, and collided head-on with three punches. But he quickly realized that the impact of each punch was dissolved by the opponent''s whirlwind and water-flow-like movements. The real damage was less than a tenth. "A Transcendent from the ''Deep Sea Faction''..." Chen Lun thought to himself. The next second, he quickened his attack pace, taking control of the rhythm of the fight. "Bear Strike," "Rhinoceros Impact," and "Stork Peck" were used in session, bing more adept. Ping-ping-pang-pang, the sounds echoed in the enclosed underground crypt. The woman grew more and more astonished as they fought, unable to see through the man before her, but she could tell that his strength was not inferior to her own. "Lightning!" She eximed angrily, arcs sparking between her fingers, with blue-white phosphorescence flickering faintly in the mist. But in a blink, she lost sight of the man. "Where?!" "Behind you!" A calm male voice made her hair stand on end. Thud!! Chen Lun struck with a back elbow, the powerful impact hitting the woman directly in the back of the heart. She grunted, tumbling forward. The arc in her palm extinguished, the mist around her dissipating, she got up awkwardly and turned her head to look at Chen Lun. "Who exactly are you?!" The woman asked sternly. Chen Lun nced at the ornament on the woman''s chest, and realization dawned on him. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and casually draped it over his face, revealing only a pair of emerald vertical pupils. The handkerchief was a gift from Reba, but he had never used it before. Now, it was just right for the asion. "One of us." Chen Lun feigned a hoarse, deep voice. He then took out the ck skull token he had obtained from Dolly, holding it between his fingers and gave it a shake. "..." In the dark, the woman wore an expression of speechlessness. Your voice is clearly different from before, and this disguise is too amateurish. And that piece of cloth covering your face, how perfunctory it looks, is this supposed to be child''s y?! However, she didn''t want to fuss over these details; ording to the rules of the secret society organiser, ck Skull, possession of the token granted one the right to attend the meeting. "Come inside, fortunate... gentleman." The woman had no more to say, taking the lead into the inner parts of the crypt. Chen Lun followed closely behind. As his sight shifted from darkness to light, he saw the scene inside clearly. A crude incandescent bulb hung from the low ceiling, barely illuminating the space. Under the dim light was a wooden round table, with six people currently seated. They all watched Chen Lun with expressions ranging from indifference to curiosity, calm to inscrutable. "He has the society''s token, so I let him in," came the coarse feminine voice beside Chen Lun. He nced slightly to the side, finally seeing the person he had fought ¡ª a woman with pale yellow crew-cut hair, also masked, but with two scar lines over her eyelids, deep-set eyes, and a sharp gaze. "No problem, since he has the token, he''s qualified to join the meeting." A burly figure at the head of the round table spoke. He wore a ck skull mask that only revealed his eyes, which looked calm. "I am the society''s host. You may call me ck Skull; and how should I address you?" Chen Lun surveyed the seven people briefly, then lowered his gaze and in a raspy, deep voice, he said: "Spade." Chapter 84 Mysterious Society (Please follow!) "Mr. Spade, um... please take a seat." ck Skull hummed thoughtfully and then raised his hand to indicate that Chen Lun could sit down on one of the empty chairs. Chen Lun nodded, casually picked a chair, pulled it out, and sat down. "Since we have a neer, why don''t we all introduce ourselves first?" ck Skull leaned back slightly, resting against the back of his chair. The first to echo him was the rough woman who hadpeted with Chen Lun. "You can call me ''Fin.'' If there''s any ''towing'' business, you can find me." The so-called "towing" is ng, simr in nature to pimping, but more straightforward. This involved directly kidnapping women and delivering them to clients, or kidnapping clients and forcing them to spend money. Chen Lun could smell a hint of the sea and a fishy scent on her, indicating that this woman probably lived around Lona Port, and might even work at the port on a regr basis. "Is she [Sequence Eight-Navigator]...?" He silently guessed in his heart. The other five individuals then introduced themselves one after another. A short-haired woman wearing a white mask called herself "Spirit Cat," and Chen Lun could not feel any supernatural fluctuations from her. The middle-aged man beside her, wearing a skeleton mask inscribed with ancient text, had a robust voice and calm demeanor, and called himself "Miser." An elderly-looking man with a hunched back wore a gray hat that covered his face, showing only a few strands of gray beard, and he called himself "Knowledge." The other two especially caught Chen Lun''s attention. A slovenly, bearded man, wearing no disguise, with an indifferent gaze and dressed in a linen robe typical of the lower ss, stared straightforwardly as he simply stated two words: "Iron Hammer." Thest one was dressed in a ck suit with a white shirt underneath, but oddly had a silver pot upside down on his head... it was unclear how he managed to see clearly. He reluctantly spread his hands, and from the silver pot, a muffled male voice emerged: "You can call me ''Gentleman,'' neer." Chen Lun nodded in acknowledgment but did not respond. He was inwardly cautious. The mysterious society hidden in the old site of Pompey Manor had gathered seven individuals from the mystic realm, six of whom, excluding "Spirit Cat," were Transcendents. And their Sequences were not low. At least, Chen Lun had not sensed the presence of any Sequence Nine. "I wonder if ''Philip''s Legacy'' has been taken by them..." Chen Lun felt a headacheing on. "It seems that our ''Big Eater'' Mr. might mostly have been killed by Mr. ''Spade''... Tsk, when did Amber City have such a strong figure." Gentleman chuckled softly. Spirit Cat nced at him and countered: "It''s also possible that he picked up the token." "Hehe..." Gentleman shook his head, and the silver pot on his neck swayed slightly. Miser spoke up from the side: "That doesn''t exin how he found this ce." "Could it be that ''Shelter'' captured ''Big Eater'' and exposed our meeting ce?" Knowledge spected. Upon hearing the word "Shelter," everyone fell silent and a chill fell over them. "There''s no need to be nervous, everyone..." ck Skull spoke softly. "Just a ''Shelter'' alone can''t harm us, perhaps Mr. Spade''s information was given by Big Eater... Let''s not specte any further, it''s pointless." He tapped the table and continued: "Let''s start today''s proceedings, beginning with the trading segment." Chen Lun looked at ck Skull with surprise, wondering why he was giving him an alibi. As the initiator of the secret society, ck Skull seemed tomand considerable authority, and upon hearing his words, everyone stopped dwelling on how Chen Lun found the ce. "Two portions of [Low Sequence Moon Faction Mystic Substance] in exchange for supernatural items, who wants it?" Fin took out two crumpled bits of paper, brutally unfolded them to reveal two ck, glossy balls tinged with purple. The group fell silent for a moment until Gentleman finally spoke up: "Have you been hunting Moon Church monks again? Be careful, you might get caught one day..." "Mind your own business, Urinal Head." Fin scoffed. Gentleman shrugged his shoulders and said no more. "I''ll take them," Iron Hammer said tly. "What will you exchange for them? Let me rify, I don''t need Mystic Substance." "How about this?" Iron Hammer took out a strangely shaped "umbre," whose hooked end actually served as a stock and handle, equipped with a trigger, resembling more a two-handed flintlock gun. "A man-made [ss D Mysterious Object]? How does it activate? What''s the cost?" Fin was intrigued and promptly inquired. "Open the umbre, pull the trigger, and it fires supernatural incendiary bombs... drawing body moisture as ammunition." Iron Hammer was sparing with words, exining briefly. "Good! It''s a deal!" Fin pushed the two ck purple pills forward and reached out for the umbre flintlock gun. But unexpectedly, Iron Hammer pressed down on the barrel of the gun. "What do you mean?" Fin furrowed her brow. "Not enough." Iron Hammer said, then quickly added: "Add another 50 Gold Pounds." Fin fell silent for a moment, nodded, and grudgingly took out another portion of the "Low Sequence Moon Faction Mysterious Substance." "The market price of ''Low Sequence Moon Faction Mysterious Substance'' is around 50 Gold Pounds, which is reasonable." ck Skull reminded from the side. Iron Hammer didn''t respond verbally, just nodded slightly, epted three ck Purple Pills, and handed the umbre gun to Fin. Following that, there were two more transactions, mostly barter, seldom involving currency. At this stage of their transcendent journey, they rarelycked money. Rather, their aim was to grow stronger in the Mystic Realm and progress further along their Sequence path. "Mr. Spade, do you have any needs to voice?" ck Skull asked. Chen Lun noticed that everyone was looking at him and knew he had to do something to avoid suspicion. So, he chuckled lightly, took out a portion of the "Low Sequence Conspiracy Faction Mysterious Substance," a small gray ball. "I''m very interested in Sequence paths other than the Seven True Gods. If anyone has Supernatural Knowledge, here is a down payment¡­ we can discuss the specifics in private, and you can set the price." Chen Lun did indeed need ascension knowledge, but he couldn''t be upfront about it. "The hidden Sequences outside of the Seven True Gods¡­ ''Destiny,'' ''Conspiracy,'' and ''Nature,'' these three Sequences are very rare; I don''t have them." ck Skull shook his head. After whispering among themselves briefly, everyone else also fell silent. "Alright then, if anyone has relevant information, you can also sell it to me. I will pay with a low sequence Mysterious Substance." Chen Lun feigned regret and said in a somber voice. "Well, if no one else has transactions to make, then let''s begin open discussion." ck Skull chaired the meeting. The atmosphere of the society was slightly rxed and more at ease. "I''ve heard that the recent turmoil in the council is intense. After the assassination of Mr. Daniel, Mr. Lawson is flourishing, as if he''s found a powerful backer¡­" The Gentleman joked. "From what I know, it''s a Mid Sequence transcendent, very powerful...and he possesses a ss A Mysterious Object." The miser supplemented. The others were all stunned. "Are you sure it''s a ''ss A Mysterious Object''?!" Fin said in surprise. Such a level of Mysterious Object, she had not only never seen, but had not even heard of, which was incredibly rare. "That''s not his property." The miser said indifferently. The others quietly spected whether this powerful backer of Mr. Lawson had stolen something from a church or robbed some association''s foundation. After discussing this topic further, Spirit Cat spoke: "¡­Count Bradley is truly a fool. His wife has long had a lover, and he has been kept in the dark." "Perhaps he is not unaware, but pretends to be." The Schr coughed twice, chuckling he-he. "If the Countess''s new lover is a powerful transcendent, then Count Bradley would probably not dare to utter a word¡­ That''s reality." Others nodded in agreement. Between ordinary people and the Mystic Realm, there really is a deep chasm. No matter how distinguished your identity or how vast your wealth, before a powerful transcendent, you are just a fragile life that can be extinguished in a snap. Even if there is a warrant from a Shelter, one could easily flee to another district. Unless criminal charges are enormous, the Empire would not dispatch excessive forces to pursue. Chen Lun remained silent, reducing his presence while quietly gathering intelligence. Half an hourter. ck Skull stood up to end the meeting. "Old rules, everyone leave one by one in order. The next meeting is three days from now, if there''s any unexpected event, a code will be published in the newspaper to reschedule." Then, he motioned for Chen Lun to lead the way out, leading him to a side door inside the crypt. Entering the side door, Chen Lun found another dozen branching passages that seemed to lead to different exits. He then realized that the old site of Pompey Manor was just one of the entrances. ck Skull escorted Chen Lun to the exit, then nodded and turned back. Chen Lun noticed that on the cuff of his sleeve hung a bell about the size of a fingertip. He memorized this detail. Exiting, Chen Lun found himself back at the drainage ditch in the Outer City District, a massive outflow of the drainage canal.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "Who designed this hideout¡­" Chen Lun marveled inwardly. Hidden and well-connected, it truly was the ideal choice for a Safe House. Suddenly, a name shed through his mind. "Could it be Philip¡­?" The exact words in the diary were, "¡­I''ve hidden all my savings and collected transcendent items over the years in the underground of Viscount Pompey''s backyard. There, I dug a¡ª" Dug a subterranean maze?! Chapter 85 Jack Wellesley Jack Estate. The third floor of the small vi, Chen Lun''s room. Whoosh... Chen Lun sat at the desk, slowly closing a book. [Through careful reading, you have gained 500 Experience Points.] [The Flesh Faction Mystic Book "Art of Butchery" (Progress 100%) has been fully read!] [You have additionally gained 1 Skill Point and 1 Attribute Point.] [You have discoveredplete Supernatural Pathway Knowledge!] [Flesh Faction Sequence Nine¡ªButcher.] "The ''Sequence Nine'' Supernatural Knowledge in my hand has reached five copies... very good." Chen Lun revealed a satisfied expression. Now that he had half of the ten Sequence pathways in hand, even though he couldn''t use the excess ones, it gave him the pleasure of collecting them. After storing the book in the Grape Ring, he was about to take out a whip for study when he discovered that the ring had suddenly "gone on strike," unable to open the dimensional space. The amethyst iid on the ring was dull and lusterless, seeming to have lost its strength. Chen Lun was slightly taken aback, then immediately thought of the cost of using it; it needed an expression of affection from time to time. "Er..." Chen Lun opened his mouth, suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Perhaps someone with objectophilia wouldn''t have any psychological barriers." Hemented, and immediately said to the ring in his hand: "You are truly beautiful... Just look at thatrge gemstone of yours, sparkling and shining, look at your curved body, smooth and sleek, ah, how I passionately adore you, muah!" After speaking, Chen Lun even smacked a kiss on it. For a long while. "..." The Grape Ring showed no reaction. "Hmm..." Chen Lun pondered. Taking a deep breath, it seemed his way of expressing affection was too greasy. It preferred something lighter and couldn''t take it, so he decided to change to a more subtle approach. He took the ring off and held it in his palm. Scouring his mind for derations of love from literary greats of the past era, he finally settled on Shakespeare. Gazing at the ring, his eyes filled with love, he spoke in a deep voice: "Doubt that the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love. The ring circles the finger, shining brilliantly. Held in hand at this moment, hand to heart. I love you, like a midsummer night''s dream¡ª" In the next second, the Grape Ring burst into a radiant purple glow, seeming to be very pleased. Chen Lun revealed a smile. Outside the door. Floey''s hand, about to knock, paused in mid-air. Connie looked on in surprise, covering her mouth with her little hand. "Is Mr. Jack practicing a confession?" Connie wore a curious expression, her cheeks blushing. "I wonder who the object could be? Viscount Pompey''s daughter, Miss Reba? Or..." Knock knock! Floey''s knock interrupted Connie''s murmuring. "Excuse me." Floey said softly, then pushed the room door open. Connie was dumbfounded by the scene inside the room, while Floey, holding a tray, trembled slightly. They saw Mr. Jack with his perfect back turned, holding a whip in his hand, raised high as if he was about tosh himself. As he turned his head, there was Floey holding a tray with afternoon tea, her face showing surprise, with Connie covering her little mouth, totally incredulous. "If I said I was training, would you believe me?" Chen Lun smiled. "Mr. Jack, you, you...!" Connie stammered her words before turning to flee.N?v(el)B\\jnn Floey regained herposure and ced the te on the table as if nothing had happened. "I made you some afternoon tea, with cookies and milk." Then she turned to leave, and when she reached the door, she said softly, "I am a blind woman; I cannot see." Chen Lun noticed a slight blush on her cheeks. "..." You''re stating the obvious with your eyes covered, aren''t you?! Chen Lun silently ridiculed her remark, then told himself it was okay, considering it a perk for his people. "Cough, could you close the door for me, Floey... I''m going to train." Chen Lun stressed the word "train" very emphatically. Floey replied with a faint voice of a mosquito, then closed the door and left. p! Floey trembled at the sound. Through the door, she heard the sound of whipping and then hurried away. In the room. Chen Lun wore a deadpan expression, mechanically whipping himself. "Philip, oh Philip, how I wish you were still alive... I really want to beat you up." ... Although the whip was somewhat sensational, it greatly assisted Chen Lun. Chen Lun used his enhanced Beast Tamer exclusive skill, choosing Animal Mimicry, which was one of his main skills at the moment. The enhancement effect allowed him to release a greater number of Attributes simultaneously. After half an hour of flogging, Chen Lun noticed that the effects of the whip were diminishing, so he stopped. Then, he tried to use his skills, and even previously ipatible Attributes could be activated at the same time. Compatible serpent Attributes reached simultaneous quadruple activation. "Hoo... The effect is still decent." Chen Lun exhaled a breath of turbid air and wiped off his sweat with a towel. Rustle... His back muscles writhed, and then he shed apleteyer of dead skin. The red marks left by the whip vanished as well, restoring his skin to health and fairness. Molting Chen Lun seldom used this Attribute, as it could heal injuries, but the activation process was too long, making it somewhat redundant in battle. "I hope it gets reinforced after the Sequence promotion; then I''ll have an extra card up my sleeve to save my life." Chen Lun thought hopefully. After finishing off the afternoon tea prepared by Floey, he took a bath and changed into clean clothes. Then he left the house and headed to the western side of the Inner City District, Lona Port. His recent expenses were a bit hefty, so he nned to sell a batch of weapons on the ck market there to gather some funds. The location of the ck market was something he had learned from Binose''s butler. As it turned out, the Inner City District''s ck market was hidden in the port. But thinking about it, that made perfect sense. After all, with the constant flow of goods andplex personnel, even with strict management, it was impossible to prevent the emergence of such an underground market. "Hey, buddy, let''s have a drink after the work is done!" "Sure thing!" "Bread clearance! Everything half off before we close at ten!" "Excuse me, sir, watch out for the carriage..." On the spacious arcing walkway of the dock, people bustled about, and numerous carriages with goods or dignified gentlemen anddies moved slowly along. One side of the walkway was the seaside with boats of various sizes moored, while the other side featured brightly lit shops with dazzling arrays of goods. The noise of the crowd was bustling and lively. Chen Lun walked along the pedestrian path for a distance, then went down some steps on one side, passed through a long, dim alley, and entered a night market. Here, the stalls were neatly arranged in the center, with shops on either side. "This is the ck market, but I need to find the right intermediary..." Chen Lun thought to himself. Suddenly, he caught sight of a familiar face shing through the crowd. "Reba...?" Chapter 86 86 Port Black Market Reba''s leg injury had healed quite a bit. She was very happy today because her good friend Gabrie hade to visit her at the manor. Gabrie''s mother and Lady Pompey were besties, and they often attended the high society salons together. Reba and Gabrie had known each other since they were children and attended the same lessons at the Gillyflower Girls'' Academy. Reba had been missing her friend as well, so after saying goodbye to her parents, she left Pompey Manor with Gabrie to have a look around. "Reba, I haven''t seen you in almost two months!" Gabrie wore a high-necked, poofy traveling dress with a long shawl draped over her ruff cor, and topped with a coquettish cloche hat. Reba''s attire was simr, but her gigot sleeves hadce flounces, and her dress was of a more subtly elegant hue. "Is your leg really better? We won''t have any trouble walking this far, will we?" Gabrie asked with concern. "It''s fine, the doctor has already seen me. As long as I don''t engage in strenuous exercise, I''ll be alright," Reba said. The two walked a fair distance, and without realizing it, they arrived at the docks. Gabrie suddenly whispered secretively, "Reba, do you know about the Mystic Realm?" "Mystic Realm..." Reba suddenly remembered the events of the past few days; her family was kidnapped, left immobile as if turned into statues, and then she witnessed Mr. Jack fighting the enemy. "I heard that there are transcendental powers in this world, like magic tricks... no, they should be called magic! It''s amazing, very powerful!" Gabrie said excitedly. "The incident at the ''Emerald Aviary Zoo'' a while back, that man who caused the riot, was a Transcendent with mystic power!" "He wasn''t the one who caused the riot!" Reba was a bit angry. Mr. Jack saved us all! He''s my knight! He''s not a bad person! Gabrie looked at Reba with a bit of surprise, wondering why she was so agitated. "Okay..." She decided not to continue on the subject and switched to another topic: "Reba, I''ve heard there''s a secret market around here, with hidden shops that sell items only found in the Mystic Realm... Should we try to find it? Maybe we can have magic too!" After hearing this, Reba felt an urge to explore. To be honest, she felt that Mr. Jack was perfect, and she was distancing herself from him. "If I had magic, Mr. Jack would surely be shocked, right?" Reba thought to herself with a snicker. Gabrie gave her a puzzled look, and immediately, Reba controlled her expression and resumed normalcy, then said nonchntly, "Sure, let''s go!" Gabrie smiled, took Reba''s hand, and they began searching the streets. It was either by coincidence or destiny that they found a market hidden among the docks, though they did not realize it was the ck market. Curious, they started to wander around inside.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Chen Lun saw the two of them but did not approach to greet them. He noticed that behind Reba, there were several men skulking surreptitiously, peering after them. "Reba! Look!" Gabrie excitedly shook Reba''s hand, pointing to a shop in the corner. The dpidated sign read "Witch''s House," but because the light bulbs were old, the word "witch" was not lit, so from a distance, it was easy to misunderstand. The women exchanged a nce, then immediately entered the shop. A young woman with thick eyeshadow lounge behind the counter, puffing on a pipe. Judging by her demeanor, she was likely the proprietor of the shop. She gracefully removed the pipe from her lips with her long, pale fingers, nced at them indifferently, and said, "Sorry, we''re closed. Please leave." "Ah?" Gabrie uttered in surprise, then saw that there was another middle-aged customer in the shop examining old wares. Pointing at the person, she challenged, "Why is there still a customer if you''re closed?" The woman propped her elbow on the table, rested her head on her wrist, and her long hair fell loosely around her in anguid spread. She took a puff from her pipe, smiling lightly. "Because he is a smart customer, and you are not." "What do you mean?" Gabrie frowned. "Professor Molimer?!" Reba suddenly eximed. Turning her head, Gabrie saw Reba''s surprised expression and followed her gaze to the middle-aged customer. After a brief observation, she realized that the man was actually the history professor from the Golden Broomstick Girls'' School. "Oh, it''s Reba and Gabrie." The middle-aged man turned around and showed a smile. He wore sses, exuding the aura of a schr. "What are you doing here at this hour? It''s not safe at night," Professor Molimer gently advised, shaking his head. As he spoke, he held a y pot and walked up to the counter, taking out Gold Pounds to pay. "This is 4 Gold Pounds... still the usual fake merchandise, Miss Rosa." The woman took the four Gold Coins, asking indifferently: "If you know it''s fake, why buy it?" Professor Molimer caressed the patterns on it and said sincerely: "Although the pot is fake, the craftsmanship is real, consistent with the patterns from the old era, and very valuable for research." "You see, that''s a smart person. They know it''s fake, yet they willingly pay for it," Rosa said with a slight smile. Gabrie, seeing her smile, didn''t know why, but she felt a sense of inferiority. The other person did not possess a face that could shock the world, yet she radiated an extraordinary Charm. Gabrie averted her eyes, not wanting to look at those calm yetpelling eyes. "So you mean to say that we''re so foolish we can''t distinguish fake merchandise and are likely to get deceived?" Gabrie said with a tone of dissatisfaction. "If you''re in business, why bother warning us? Isn''t making money good enough? I don''t believe there''s such a kind-hearted swindler!" Gabrie was somewhat annoyed, both for being looked down upon and for realizing there were no genuine Mystic Realm artifacts here, which frustrated her. "Because I don''t want trouble, youngdy," Rosa said as she inverted her pipe, tapping it lightly against the edge of the table to knock out the ashes. "There''s nothing here that you want. Please leave." Gabrie wanted to say something more, but Reba pulled at her. "Let it go, let''s go, it''ste," Reba said. "But... okay!" Gabrie relented, though still upset. Professor Molimer had been standing on the side, and now he intervened: "Do you need me to escort you home?" "No need to trouble yourself, sir, we will escort these youngdies..." a flippant voice interrupted. Everyone looked towards the source of the voice and saw four or five men in ck entering the store. They blocked the doorway, surrounding Reba and Gabrie. "I don''t know you!" Reba said. She was somewhat afraid, regretting wandering so far to such a remote ce. "Miss, you are being willful again. The boss has instructed us to ensure your safety... It''s gettingte, let''s go back now," one of the men in ck said, preparing to drag the two women out. Professor Molimer opened his mouth to speak but found himself at the business end of a Firearm. The man holding the Flintlock Gun scoffed and shook the gun barrel in a threatening manner. His aplices also drew their guns, pointing them at the shop owner, Rosa. However, she remained calm and unhurriedly lit new tobo with a match, smoking her pipe as if nothing was happening. Suddenly, the leader of the men stiffened, realizing he was floating in the air. "The boss told me to take you home too," an unfamiliar male voice came from behind him. A young man with ck hair, who had appeared from nowhere, was holding him up effortlessly, like picking up a chick. "Back to the home for rejects." The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!