harleyscars Page 44
Page 44
The voice wasn't loud, but it echoed like a divine oracle in the deathly silent restaurant, proclaiming the end of this chaotic battle.
Looking at the scene where the cornerstone's pressure was perfectly "suppressed," Zhang Su felt reassured: "Perfect! When I was staking out Elion, I felt that one stand might not be enough to deal with the danger, so I created another stand just in case. It was a stroke of genius! At that time, Charles happened to want to chase Elion, so I used him to stop him. Now he can be put to use again."
"Now, it's time for 'him,' this 'mysterious superior,' to wrap things up and announce the results of the test."
He manipulated the suit double, preparing for the final "performance".
Volume 1: Chapter 41: But I refuse! Jiu Ling = Liu (_ka seven") 8》2 Stop!
When Charles Grant saw the mysterious man in black, who had easily subdued him in his room before and now exuded an even more terrifying aura, reappear, a fear more chilling than the oppressive aura itself surged into his heart.
"Young...Young Master!" Charles roared hoarsely, not from the pressure, but from the fear and instinct to protect that ran deep in his bones.
The veins on his forehead bulged, his neck turned red from the excessive force, and his burly body, which was being pressed firmly to the ground, began to tremble violently.
Ignoring the groans of his bones straining under the weight, ignoring the agony of his internal organs feeling as if they were being crushed, with an iron will, he began to move inch by inch toward the direction where Elion had fallen, using his elbows and knees, which he could still barely move, in an almost crawling motion!
The rough carpet tore through his clothes and skin, leaving dark red bloodstains. His eyes were fixed on the young figure lying on the ground, his life hanging in the balance. He had only one goal—to shield the young master from that terrifying presence with his body!
The double in the suit watched silently as Charles struggled in vain, yet with immense tragic grandeur, the shadow beneath the brim of his hat remaining perfectly still.
He then spoke calmly, his words clearly reaching the ears of the two people present: "The test is over. You no longer need to be afraid. My subordinates and I will no longer attack you. Please rest assured."
The terrifying gravity that had been pressing down on Charles's entire body suddenly eased considerably!
Charles coughed violently, but still instinctively lunged at Elion, using his battered body to shield him as much as possible, even though he himself was almost exhausted and could only kneel, his chest heaving violently like a broken bellows, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the suit double, filled with vigilance and anger.
Elion also felt the pressure lessen. He struggled to lift his head, his face a mixture of blood and dust, looking utterly disheveled. But his eyes shone with an astonishing light as he looked at the suit double. His voice was hoarse, yet filled with a desperate question: "You... are the extraordinary beings that Piano mentioned, those who 'embarked on the path'? Where did you take Piano...? What do you intend to do to it?!"
The man in the suit replied, "Containment. That's our duty."
His voice remained steady, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"That piano is an anomaly. As an anomaly, it should not exist in human society, disrupting human cognition and the proper order of the world. Therefore, it must be contained."
"So... you're an organization of supernatural beings? Under the guise of protecting the world, you search for and capture 'abnormalities' like it?" Elion's voice was filled with sarcasm and anger. "And then, incidentally, you 'dispose' of us mortals who accidentally stumbled upon the truth? And then what? Are you going to use some strange ability to erase my and Charles's memories of tonight, like wiping away a stain?"
The suit double habitually raised his hand and adjusted the brim of his hat with an elegant gesture.
“In normal procedure, erasing relevant memories is indeed a necessary measure to protect mortals,” he frankly admitted. “It’s not out of malice, but for protection. Extraordinary knowledge itself is a kind of ‘pollution.’ The more mortals know, the easier it is for their souls to attract the gaze of those mysterious beings who roam the dark side of the world, craving ‘cognition’ and ‘a sense of existence.’”
“A casual whisper, a nightmare being watched, can become the fuse for disaster, expanding the impact from the individual to the entire community or even the city. Ignorance is the most effective barrier for mortals against the erosion of ‘mystery’.”
His gaze pierced through the shadow beneath his hat brim, landing precisely on Elion's eyes, which burned with an indomitable spirit: "However, Elion von Silverlight, you are special. Your memories will be preserved."
"Why?" Elion asked almost blurtly.
"Because you passed the test." The double in the suit suddenly raised his voice slightly, seemingly in approval.
"A test?" Elion was stunned.
Charles, who was standing in front of him, also looked up abruptly, remembering what the mysterious man in the suit had said earlier; he had also said that this was a test.
“Yes. The qualification test for joining our bureau.” The suit-wearing double said slowly, “You should have already noticed your own difference. That innate ability to clearly perceive ‘abnormalities’ that ordinary people cannot detect. For example, you can ‘hear’ the hidden sounds emanating from this piano. We call those with this kind of talent ‘super-sensors.’ Super-sensors like you, who have a keen perception of the distortion of rules, are one in ten thousand.”
He took a step forward, and although the heavy sense of oppression did not increase, it made Elion and Charles's hearts beat faster involuntarily.
"Our original purpose in coming here was simply to contain this unusual piano. However, during dinner on this ship, your behavior of sensing the sound of the piano and trying to find the cause caught our attention. Your talent is a valuable resource that we desperately need. Therefore, we temporarily changed our plans."
"That piano will become your test."
The suit-wearing double spoke calmly, as if stating something matter-of-fact: "We want to know, when a mortal with supernatural abilities but no power faces a gentle but unknown anomaly, how would he react? Would he flee in fear? Would he recklessly approach? Or would he use his wisdom and courage to explore?"
“You chose the latter. Your lock-picking skills demonstrate resourcefulness, your piano reproduction reflects talent and memory, and your pursuit of the ‘truth’ showcases your thirst for knowledge and courage in the face of the unknown—these are all qualities of an excellent investigator.”
"Then, my subordinates came forward to retrieve the piano and deliberately provoked and attacked you." He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the beautiful female double kneeling on one knee, her eyes lowered in submission. "This is the second part of the test: When you face a supernatural being that displays overwhelming power and whose intentions are unclear, what will you choose? Will you succumb to fear and retreat? Or will you, even if you are covered in wounds and outnumbered, still hold fast to your principles and fight for your goal, whether it is to seek knowledge or to reclaim the piano?"
"We have seen your answer. That foolish yet dazzling courage, that will to get up again after being knocked down countless times, that composure to make effective tactical coordination even in desperate situations... Elion von Silverlight, your performance has far exceeded expectations. You have proven with your actions that you have the qualifications and potential to face the 'mystery,' understand the 'anomaly,' and deal with or even confront it."
"Therefore, the test is over. You have passed."
The suit double's voice carried a solemnity of having settled down.
"Our organization formally extends an invitation to you. Once you join us, you will gain the 'authority' to know about the extraordinary and mysterious. Your talents will be guided and enhanced, your power will be increased, and your thirst for knowledge will be satisfied within a controllable range. You will no longer be an outsider to the truth, but one of the guardians of the world order. Naturally, there will be no need to erase your memories."
He slightly raised his chin, and the shadow under his hat brim seemed to transform into an invisible smile, both scrutinizing and inviting: "Well, Elion von Silverlight? Are you willing to push open this door to the 'real world'?"
Elion von Silverlight, supporting himself with Charles's kneeling arm, looked at the mysterious black-clad man who exuded a terrifying aura and invited them to join their organization, his expression growing increasingly furious.
He said, "Join you? Protect world order? Ha..." He gave a cold laugh laced with blood and foam, "An organization that suddenly appeared, attacked me without a word, beat me to a pulp, and then used this terrifying power to suppress us, acting domineeringly and covertly... How can you expect me to believe you are 'good people'? How can I believe you are not a heretical organization that uses a high-sounding banner to do evil behind the scenes?!"
He spoke with such force that it aggravated the sharp pain in his ribs, causing him to groan softly, but his eyes sharpened even more, like the edge of a quenched blade:
"But I refuse!"
This resolute declaration echoed in the deathly silent restaurant, carrying a stubbornness unique to youth, a stubbornness that disregarded everything.
"I, Elion von Silverlight, have always loved saying 'no' to self-righteous people and organizations!"
He practically roared, determined to unleash all the anger, resentment, and anxieties he had been holding in his heart: "I think you guys are no good! Rude, unreasonable, and arrogant... I have absolutely no interest in joining your kind of 'mysterious organization'! I don't want to have anything to do with you!"
Although Charles was severely injured and almost exhausted, when Elion uttered, "But I refuse to...", his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, actually felt much relieved!
Young Master was not bewitched by the mysterious man!
He forced himself to stay alert, protecting Elion even more tightly, his eyes fixed on the mysterious man in the suit.
Although he arrived late, he had pieced together the general outline of the matter from the conversation just now—an organization with strange powers had taken a liking to the young master's talent and wanted to recruit him, even resorting to violence to conduct so-called "tests"!
“Young Master is right!” Charles echoed. “The heirs of the Von Silvershine family, with noble blood flowing through their veins, would never join any secret society that worships heretical gods! Stop with your seductive tricks! We don’t need your ‘invitation’!”
The mysterious man in the suit listened quietly to Elion's angry rebukes and Charles's shouts, his hand, tucked into his trouser pocket, seemed to twitch slightly. His gloved fingers, with a light, mysterious elegance, slid across the brim of his bowler hat.
The movement was subtle, yet it carried a hint of helplessness, or rather, a sense of knowing "as expected."
He did not refute or get angry. The shadow under his hat brim remained unfathomable, but the invisible pressure seemed to have lessened, easing the pressure on Elion and Charles.
“It seems,” the mysterious man’s voice remained calm, showing no anger at being accused of being a “cult,” but rather a nonchalant statement of facts, “that you have a deep misunderstanding of me and the organization behind me.”
"However, I have no intention of making any forceful excuses at this moment. Time will prove that our bureau is by no means the evil entity you imagine. The order we uphold is by no means built on false faith."
His gaze fell on Elion again.
"As for joining, there's no need to reject it outright right now. Tonight's experience has been a huge shock to you, and your anger and distrust are understandable. Go back and rest well, think things through calmly for a while, and then make a decision."
"We will not erase your memories for the time being."
Before he finished speaking, the mysterious man casually waved his right hand, which had been in his pocket, outwards!
Charles's pupils contracted sharply, thinking it was an attack. He roared, almost squeezing out his last bit of strength, and suddenly opened his scarred arms, like a raptor protecting its young, to shield Elion behind him!
He was prepared to face the shock, even death!
However, the anticipated attack did not occur.
A gray-blue shadow shot out from the mysterious man's hand at great speed, but just a meter away from Elion and Charles, it seemed to hit an invisible wall, its speed suddenly slowed down, and finally came to a complete stop, silently hovering in the air in front of the two.
It was a thin, rectangular, grayish-blue sheet, about the size of a palm, made of an unknown material.
It looks unusually simple, with a smooth paper surface and no words on it. The only thing printed along the four edges is a border made of complex yet simple azure blue geometric lines.
The blue was deep and pure, containing a certain flowing energy in the dim light, forming a sharp contrast with the gray-blue background of the paper, exuding a cold and mysterious aura.
"This is our invitation." The mysterious voice rang out again, interrupting Charles's tense nerves and Elion's surprised gaze. "When Mr. Elion von Silvershine, one day in the future, truly understands and is willing to contact us... this invitation will guide you to our location."
He turned slightly to the side, preparing to leave.
"Well then, that's all I have to say." The mysterious man's gaze seemed to sweep over Elion's stubborn and confused face one last time, and Charles's still wary and hostile eyes. "We'll take our leave."
Before he could even finish speaking, and before Elion and Charles had a chance to ask further questions or refuse again, the mysterious man in the suit calmly turned around and took a step into the shadows at the other end of the restaurant.
At the same time, the rare woman who had been kneeling on one knee, with her head bowed and wearing a strange black bodysuit, also stood up silently.
She followed closely behind the mysterious man, half a step behind, like his most loyal shadow.
Under the gaze of Elion and Charles, their figures began to become transparent.
It didn't disappear instantly, but rather faded like ink dissolving in water. Their outlines first became blurred, their edges dissipating like smoke, and then their entire forms began to lose their solidity, their colors rapidly fading, turning into translucent phantoms.
After just two steps, the phantom became so faint as to be almost indistinguishable from the air, and finally vanished completely in the dim light, as if it had never existed.
Inside the restaurant, only the master and servant, survivors of the ordeal, remained. Their heavy breathing filled the air, amidst a mess of broken pieces, the pungent smell of blood, and... a blank, gray-blue card silently hovered before them, emitting a deep blue glow.
A deathly silence once again enveloped the "Starry Sea Hall".
Only the floating card silently testified that what had just happened was not an illusion, and that it was a mysterious and alluring invitation left by an unknown organization.
Volume 1: Chapter 42: The End
After waiting for about two minutes, and confirming that the mysterious man and the rare woman would not return,
Elion's taut nerves relaxed immediately, like a bowstring that had been snapped.
He could no longer hold on, his body went limp, and he collapsed completely onto the cold, messy carpet, gasping for breath. Each breath brought excruciating pain to his entire body, and cold sweat mixed with blood soaked through his clothes.
"Young Master! Young Master, how are you?" Charles, disregarding his own pain, trembled as he examined the man's injuries with his rough, large hands. When he saw the swollen, bruised cheeks, the dislocated wrist, and the unnatural indentation in the ribs, the old butler's eyes almost spit fire, but more than that, he felt a deep, unfathomable heartache and lingering fear.
“Cough…cough cough…I’m…still alive…” Elion managed to squeeze out a few words, his voice hoarse like a broken gong.
He tried to turn his head away, avoiding Charles's hand that was touching his ribs. "Don't...don't touch there...it hurts..."
His gaze swept over the chaotic restaurant—shattered porcelain, overturned tables and chairs, torn tablecloths, bloodstains on the carpet, and the empty piano seat with only a few lingering ripples in the air. His brows furrowed tightly.
“Charles…” Elion’s voice was filled with exhaustion and confusion, “Now… what do we do? The restaurant is ruined like this, the piano has vanished into thin air. And with all these injuries, how am I going to explain this tomorrow?”
The thought of the mess he still needed to clean up made him even more frustrated.
To Elion's surprise, a ruthless and heroic smile slowly appeared on Charles's weathered face.
He carefully helped Elion lean against a still-intact chair leg, while he straightened his back.
“Young Master,” Charles said in a calm and confident tone, with a sense of worldly wisdom, “please rest assured. This ‘minor matter’ can be handled by old Charles. Anything that can be solved with money is never a problem for the Feng Yinhui family.”
He already had a plan in mind:
"First of all, there must be a reasonable explanation for the damage to the restaurant and the 'disappearance' of the piano, one that no one will delve into. I will go directly to the captain, not the first mate, but the highest-ranking person in charge. I will tell him that the heir of the Feng Yinhui family accidentally slipped and fell in the restaurant, damaging some things, and that piano... well, just say that you dislike it very much and felt it was an ominous sign, so you and I worked together to carry it out of the restaurant and throw it into the sea."
"As compensation, the Silver Glow family is willing to pay three times the value of all the restaurant's losses and the piano's valuation, and also pay a generous 'hush money' to Captain Suo to ensure that this matter ends here and that no rumors will reach the ears of other passengers."
“As for your injuries, young master…” Charles’s eyes flashed with a hint of heartache. “We can’t disturb the ship’s doctor. Firstly, the doctor’s records might leave unnecessary traces; secondly, although your injuries look serious, in my experience, they are mostly hard injuries and joint dislocations, and have not damaged any vital internal organs. When I was young, I fought on the battlefield, and treating external injuries was a daily routine for me.”
"I'll help you back to your room first, and then we'll go to the ship's medical room immediately. Not to see a doctor, but under the pretext of 'preparing some common medicines for the young master in case of seasickness,' we'll buy a sufficient amount of painkillers, anti-inflammatory ointment, disinfectant alcohol, bandages, and splints."
"I will personally treat your dislocated wrist, stabilize your ribs, clean the wound, and apply medicine. I guarantee that before we arrive in Miga, you will look like you just have a 'cold' or a 'minor sprain,' and it will not attract much attention."
"Before dawn, I will bring some reliable people with the captain to quickly collect and dispose of all the fragments, bloodstained tablecloths and carpets, and replace them with brand new ones. Make sure that the Starry Sea Hall is restored to its original state before breakfast time, as if nothing had happened."
After Charles finished speaking, he looked at Elion with a firm gaze: "Young Master, you only need to rest and recover from your injury. Leave the rest to me. The Silver Shine family's gold pounds, plus the skills of a veteran butler, are enough to smooth things over. We have no shortage of money; and what I'm best at is making money exert its proper 'power'."
Looking at the undeniable confidence and arrogance in Charles's eyes, Elion's tense nerves finally relaxed completely.
He nodded wearily, surrendering his weight entirely to the reliable old butler beside him. "Alright... I'll leave it all to you, Charles."
……
Almost at the same moment the suit double and the beautiful double disappeared in the restaurant, Zhang Su's real body on the sofa in the guest room trembled violently, as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head by an invisible hammer.
"Ugh!" He groaned, his body, which had been limp, now completely lost all strength, sinking deeper into the soft sofa like a lump of mud.
The intense headache felt like countless needles were churning inside my skull, my temples throbbed, my vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over me.
"Holy crap, this feeling..." Zhang Su thought to himself, "It's even more exhilarating than playing games all night for three days straight... Yuan Shu, I'm not good enough for this!"
Yuan Shu responded: [Mental Overload Analysis Report: Simultaneously maintaining two 'Tai Sui Substitutes' in the real world at high intensity, including combat, spatial movement, pressure release, and precise control, while ensuring stable mental links and resistance to contamination, has overloaded your current mental energy reserves. Specifically, this manifests as: 87% mental energy depletion, accompanied by severe headaches, dizziness, dulled senses, and difficulty concentrating. Recommendation: Immediately enter deep sleep for at least 8 hours to recover.]
"Next time, unless absolutely necessary... I'd rather die than open two accounts at the same time." Zhang Su thought weakly, feeling his eyelids as heavy as lead. "This is like overclocking your brain like a CPU until it's smoking."
He suppressed his discomfort and then mentally reviewed the current situation:
Anomaly resolved: The piano has been contained, and the source point has been eliminated. The biggest destabilizing factor for the journey has been eliminated.
As for Elion: The interview is complete, though the outcome was somewhat awkward. The invitation has been sent, and that kid is probably filled with hatred, fear, and confusion. Charles undoubtedly sees him and the "organization" as a monster. Further contact or observation in the short term will only backfire, deepening their wariness and hostility.
His own situation: In their eyes, he was just a slightly strange but harmless first-class passenger who was only good for eating. They might suspect that he was connected to the mysterious organization, since he and the beautiful female double they sent out were both rare people, making it easy for them to make connections.
But there is no evidence.
As long as he behaves like a typical passenger who is only interested in good food and a comfortable journey, their suspicions will remain mere conjecture.
Subsequent strategy: Survive! The anomaly has been eliminated, and both the anomaly and the test for Elion have been achieved. From now on, until the "Sea Dragon's Spine" arrives in Miga City, I am nothing more than a completely ordinary, unremarkable nobody!
Forget all the anomalies, the management bureau, and the noble young master. Eat, sleep, watch the sea, and enjoy this expensive first-class service.
Let them doubt all they want, as long as they don't bother me.