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墨書 Inktalez
I held the letter in my hand, feeling as if I was gripping a ticking time bomb.
The Dark Council?
Just hearing that name made it clear that it wasn't a legitimate organization; it sounded more like a pyramid scheme.
I glanced at Zhong Dali, who was drooling over a cockroach in the corner, his gaze fixated on it as if he were staring at a roasted chicken. I couldn't help but wonder if he had been a starving ghost in his past life.
"Dali," I patted his shoulder, "stop staring at it. You can't eat that thing. If you do, whose fault will it be when you get a stomachache?"
"But... it looks... so delicious... crispy and chicken-flavored..." Zhong Dali reluctantly pulled his gaze away, and the tone of his voice made me question whether he had truly lost his mind. How hungry could one be to mistake a cockroach for chicken?
I silently lamented my fate; what had I done in my past life to deserve such a foolish teammate?
"Alright, enough of this nonsense," I said, tucking the letter away. It might very well be a recipe for some dark cuisine. "We need to get out of here quickly. This place is eerie and unsettling."
The atmosphere was too strange, with a musty smell lingering in the air. I had an uneasy feeling that something bad was about to happen—perhaps we would encounter some deranged killer or something equally horrifying.
"But... I haven't eaten yet..." Zhong Dali said pitifully, looking like a husky that had just had its bone snatched away, his stomach growling audibly. Anyone who didn't know better might think I was abusing him.
"Eat, eat, eat! That's all you ever think about!" I rolled my eyes. Did he have anything else on his mind besides food? "Once we're safe, I'll treat you to a feast! Lobster and abalone, order whatever you want!"
"Really?" Zhong Dali's eyes lit up instantly, as if he were seeing an extravagant banquet, nearly drooling onto the floor.
"Really," I nodded helplessly. "More real than pearls, more real than gold, more real than the acne on your face!"
"Then let's go!" Zhong Dali exclaimed excitedly as he jumped to his feet with such speed that one might think he was racing to grab food.
We followed the old man through dark, damp corridors; this underground market was like a maze, and I felt as if I were about to get lost. What if the old man suddenly disappeared? Would we be trapped here forever?
"Old man," I asked, "what exactly is the Dark Council? It can't be some kind of cult, can it?"
"The Dark Council... is a very mysterious organization," the old man replied, his tone laced with a hint of fear. He looked as if the Dark Council were some monstrous creature that devoured people whole. "They... control many resources and... many lives. It's said their leader is a three-headed, six-armed monster."
I was taken aback. Three-headed and six-armed? Was this old man losing his mind?
"What are their goals? They can't be trying to take over the world, right?" I continued to ask, feeling an unsettling sense of déjà vu.
"I don't know," he shook his head. "No one... knows their true intentions. Perhaps... they want to turn everyone into their slaves, or maybe... they want to blow up the Earth."
I couldn't help but scoff internally; this old man's imagination was quite vivid. It was a shame he wasn't writing novels.
"Why are they looking for me? I'm just an ordinary person with no special skills, except for being somewhat handsome," I inquired, realizing this was the crux of the matter. What could the Dark Council possibly want with me? Surely it wasn't my looks they were after?
"I don't know," he shook his head again. Was that all he could do? "Maybe... it's because of your... special ability, or perhaps... you resemble their long-lost leader."
Special ability?
A thought struck me. Could it be because of my "Soul-Eating Immunity Evolution"? That did sound rather unique, but what did the Dark Council want with it?
"You know about my ability?" I asked, my tone tinged with caution. The old man seemed shrouded in mystery; could he be sent by the Dark Council to test me?
"I've heard a bit," he nodded. "Your ability... is very special and also very... dangerous. It's said to grant immortality to some while causing others to vanish into thin air."
I nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Immortality? Turned to ashes? Where did this old man learn such terms from, some fantasy novel?
"I understand," I said, "so... I must be cautious. What if I get sliced up for research?"
"The Dark Council... is not to be trifled with," the old man warned. "You... need to be careful; they... can do anything... I've heard they even like to eat children."
A chill ran down my spine. Eat children? That's just too twisted!
"I know," I nodded, mentally preparing for the worst. If it came down to it, I'd fight them!
Finally, we arrived at a rusty iron door that looked like it was about to collapse. I hoped it wouldn't just fall over with a push.
"This is the place," the old man said. "Go in, and good luck. I hope you come out alive."
I took a deep breath and pushed open the iron door. It was sturdier than I had expected, though it made a loud noise, like a wailing ghost.
Behind the door was a spacious underground chamber, dimly lit by flickering oil lamps. The air was thick with a pungent medicinal smell, reminiscent of something rotting.
In the center of the space stood a long table, behind which sat a tall woman dressed in a tight black outfit. She wore a silver mask that obscured her features, giving her an appearance reminiscent of either a superhero or a villain.
"You... are Wei Na?" The woman's voice was cold and devoid of emotion, almost robotic.
"That's me," I nodded. "You... are the envoy of the Dark Council? What should I call you? It wouldn't be something like Black Widow, would it?"
"You can call me... Nightingale," the woman replied. "The Dark Council... is very interested in you; your abilities... are quite unique."
"Why?" I asked, trying to remain calm; this woman seemed formidable, and I needed to be cautious.
"Because of your... special abilities," Nightingale said. "We... need your help. We need you... to work for us."
"Help?" I scoffed. "You want to use me? With such grandiose words, one might think you're a charity organization."
"Cooperation," Nightingale corrected. "We... can give you everything you desire: wealth, beautiful women, power—everything you could want."
"Everything I want?" I repeated. "Including... power? The kind of superpowers?"
"Yes, including... power," Nightingale affirmed. "As long as you... agree to cooperate with us, we can make you... a person above others."
I fell into deep thought. The offer was indeed tempting, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was a catch. There’s no such thing as a free lunch; the Dark Council must have some ulterior motive.
I discreetly signaled to Zhong Dali to stay alert; something felt off here, and we needed to be ready to make a quick exit.
"I... need time to consider," I said, stalling for time.
"That's fine," Nightingale nodded. "But... you'd better make your decision quickly; our patience... is limited."
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the underground space, sounding like something had exploded.
"What’s going on?" Nightingale frowned, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
A figure in black rushed in, panic etched on his face. He was covered in blood—whether it was his or someone else's, I couldn't tell.
"Report, My Lady Nightingale," the cloaked figure said, "we're surrounded! The Holy Shield Knights have stormed in!"
Surrounded?
Who?
My heart raced to my throat. The Holy Shield Knights? Why does that name sound so familiar?
"Who is it?" Nightingale asked, her tone icy. The sudden attack infuriated her.
"It’s... the Holy Shield Knights!" the cloaked figure stammered, clearly terrified.
The Holy Shield Knights?
How did they find us here?
Could it be... someone has betrayed us?
My gaze involuntarily fell upon the old man. He looked shifty; could he be the one who leaked our location?
Could it be... him?
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