Chapter 333: The Current Situation

Chapter 333: The Current Situation

Some terms, when translated literally, can instantly diminish the tone and grandeur of the text.

For instance, translating 'Giant Tortoise Rock Platform' as 'Turtle Rock Platform' or 'The Fool' as 'The Idiot' would be a direct translation, but it completely ruins the intended impact.

As Audrey and Alger were left speechless by this statement, even fearing that the gentleman who had accompanied them here might anger the 'Fool', Lu Ke smiled, his right hand resting on his chest as he bowed slightly.

"My apologies, I'm used to speaking my mind. I hope you won't be offended, Mr. Fool?"

Your words make it seem like my anger would have any effect...

Shrouded in the grayish-white mist that enveloped him, Zhou Mingrui subtly rolled his eyes, but his tone remained composed and indifferent.

"No problem."

In his mind, he pondered the fact that the man who had emerged from the black star had a completely different entrance compared to the other two, and his presence here didn't add to his mental burden. He had indeed displayed a sufficient level of 'uniqueness'.

Judging by his casual attitude towards himself, it seemed that he didn't consider Zhou Mingrui to be as powerful as the other two ladies and gentlemen had described, referring to him as an 'extraordinary' individual.

This presented two possibilities: either he had seen through Zhou Mingrui's true nature as an ordinary person who only appeared powerful at first glance, or he himself was an extremely powerful 'extraordinary' being.

Zhou Mingrui felt a headache coming on, sensing that the latter possibility was more likely. He couldn't help but feel a mix of concern and inexplicable excitement.

He only knew of the transfer ceremony as a potential way home, but since the ceremony had merely pulled him into this space rather than sending him back, that possibility was now ruled out. Finding a powerful 'extraordinary' individual to help him find his way home would be a significant advantage.

It was both a danger and an opportunity!

From the fact that the seemingly powerful 'extraordinary' individual had thanked him upon his arrival, it seemed he had no ill intentions...

Hearing that Mr. Fool wasn't angered by his companion's 'straightforwardness', Audrey finally heaved a sigh of relief. She quickly regained her lively demeanor, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zhou Mingrui with interest and made a suggestion.

"Mr. Fool, would you mind having a few more 'attempts' like this?"

Alger listened attentively, his heart stirred, and he quickly chimed in, using an official and formal tone to list the benefits of regular meetings.

"Sure, I'm a person who values equivalent exchange."

"Every Monday, at 3 p.m., try to be alone. The more I try, the clearer things will become, and perhaps you'll be able to take time off earlier, without worrying about being in an inappropriate situation."

After a moment of thought, Zhou Mingrui agreed. He had just crossed over to this world, and the memories left by the original owner were fragmented, so he knew very little about this world. Having a way to gather information was a good thing.

Audrey, who was particularly fascinated by the extraordinary world and loved rituals, eagerly suggested choosing aliases.

"You are Mr. Fool, from the Tarot, so for a regular, long-term, and secret gathering, our titles should be consistent. Let's choose from the Tarot as well."

Her tone became increasingly cheerful, "It's decided, my title is 'Justice'!"

Alger frowned slightly and also mentioned a card, "The Hanged Man."

After everyone had stated their aliases, their gazes turned to the last person.

Lu Ke didn't refuse. After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and revealed his alias.

"The Emperor."

"The Emperor"?

Audrey's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise, and she instinctively puffed out her cheeks.

As the daughter of Count Hall, one of the few who could occasionally see the real Emperor George III, it felt strange to call a man she had just met 'Emperor'.

But she couldn't very well call him 'Your Majesty', that would be even stranger!

Compared to Audrey, who was a purebred noble lady, Alger, who had grown up in the lower ranks and had more street smarts, had more thoughts running through his mind. Like Zhou Mingrui, he also sensed that Lu Ke wasn't an ordinary person.

In the Major Arcana of the Tarot, the upright Emperor card usually represented positive aspects such as authority, order, and confidence, while the reversed position could indicate negative aspects like the abuse of authority, lack of discipline, or insecurity.

What did it mean for 'The Emperor' to choose this alias? Could it be that he, like 'Justice', held a high position, or perhaps he was even from the royal family?

Before Alger could ponder further, a few knocking sounds came from the upper end of the bronze long table, and the Fool's indifferent voice echoed.

"Alright, today's gathering is over."

Audrey and Alger bowed respectfully without any further thoughts.

"We obey your will."

Their figures faded and disappeared, returning to the deep red stars, leaving only Lu Ke standing in his original spot, smiling at Zhou Mingrui.

The figure shrouded in gray mist appeared unremarkable, but Lu Ke knew that the gathering had ended because Zhou Mingrui, still an ordinary person, couldn't bear the spiritual consumption, and his head was probably throbbing again.

What a nuisance!

"Mr. Fool, aren't you going to send me out?"

Zhou Mingrui endured the headache, unsure of how to respond. The Crimson Star could simply sever the connection to disappear, but what about the Black Star?

Having a golden finger was good, but a manual would be nice!

After playing with the cat for a while, Lu Ke waved goodbye to Zhou Mingrui with a faint smile.

"Then I'll leave on my own. See you on Monday, Mr. Fool."

A drop of golden blood oozed from Lu Ke's index finger, the same drop that had shaped his body earlier, but its luster had faded significantly. He clenched his fist around the golden blood.

With a faint cracking sound, countless golden specks of light danced between his fingers. A portal-like light circle opened, and Lu Ke took one last look at Zhou Mingrui sitting above the gray mist before casually walking into the portal and vanishing into the mist.

Zhou Mingrui, who had witnessed the entire process, widened his eyes in shock.

Mr. "Emperor" could freely enter and exit this mysterious space!

Indeed, he was a powerful Extraordinary Being!

Before he could marvel further, the exhaustion of his spirit brought on throbbing pain, forcing him to return to his physical body in the real world.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"

The pain and fatigue of staying awake for days on end, as if his brain were about to explode, overwhelmed him. Zhou Mingrui clutched his head, struggling to stay conscious as he checked his pocket watch. He confirmed that time in the gray mist was synchronized with the real world.

Then, he collapsed onto the bed, allowing exhaustion to carry him into a dream. In the moment before his consciousness faded, various emotions flooded his mind—frustration, disappointment, pain, and melancholy—and he let out a heavy sigh.

He probably wouldn't be able to return in a short time. He needed to acquire more Extraordinary knowledge to find his way home. For now, he would have to temporarily suppress his longing for his family, friends, and modern life.

From now on, he was Kline.

...

In a narrow, dark, and damp alley formed between two residential buildings on Iron Cross Street, a golden door slowly materialized, followed by the appearance of a figure.

Thud!

Under the force of gravity, the figure fell to the ground.

After a few seconds, a gasp echoed through the alley.

"Ouch!"

"I've materialized, too."

Lu Ke rubbed his sore bottom, reflecting on the sensation he had just experienced.

"But it does feel pretty cool to show off in front of others..."

After a momentary pause, as the pain subsided, Lu Ke surveyed his surroundings. Drain pipes and iron railings adorned the exterior of the buildings. At one end, near the houses, an old water pipe dripped, creating a rhythmic tapping sound as the drops hit the ground. A faint, unpleasant odor hung in the air.

A terrible place to be born, and a terrible situation.

He summarized his circumstances and began to assess his current state.

(This chapter is complete)

In the process of creating a healthy and satisfactory body, Lu Ke, having exhausted the power of the drop of blood from the Source Citadel, is now an "ordinary" person.

If there's anything special to note, considering the language barrier, his essence has packed in all the languages of the current Earth, which is why Audrey, Alger, and Kline didn't find his speech confusing. He speaks a pure form of Rune language.

Aside from that, Lu Ke is just an "ordinary" person who cannot be divined, cursed, manipulated by fate, or have his thoughts altered. He possesses the aspect of an Elder Dominator and has the essence of the Aether as his external aid.

Fortunately, he had previously lived an ordinary life on a planet similar to Earth. After awakening his golden finger, he hadn't had time to enjoy his newfound power before he began an uninterrupted escape. So, returning to an ordinary life wasn't too difficult.

Lu Ke took a few steps forward, leaning closer to the ground to see his reflection in the puddles.

Black hair, brown eyes, thick eyebrows, and large eyes adorned his well-defined face. His eyes were deep and bright, his nose straight, and his lips slightly thin. His skin was fair and smooth, giving him a youthful and handsome appearance. Below, his body seemed well-built and muscular, as if it had been honed through rigorous training.

He nodded slightly, satisfied with the decent appearance of his hastily created body.

A cold wind blew, and Lu Ke rubbed his hands together, feeling the chill slowly seeping into his body.

Located in the northern part of the Rune Kingdom, Tingen is still chilly in the morning or evening, even in late June, especially without the sun. This was especially true when he was not wearing any clothes.

"I need clothes, food, money, and a less conspicuous identity. I should find a place to settle down and buy the materials needed for the ceremony..."

Lu Ke pondered his next steps when a few incoherent curses echoed from the alley entrance. Several footsteps approached, followed by a group of drunkards. Some laughed boisterously, some reeked of alcohol, and others were vomiting or urinating.

Most of them were disheveled, their faces covered in unruly beards and stains. Their unkempt appearance exuded a rogue aura, clearly marking them as the lowest-level thugs in the city. Upon catching sight of Lu Ke, several of them marched towards him aggressively, spewing profanities.

A few of the drunks, however, lit up at the sight of Lu Ke, eyeing his body with a disgusting gaze.

Although there were numerous streetwalkers in the alleys and streets, many low-level thugs couldn't afford them, leading to a scarcity of sexual resources. It wasn't uncommon for them to seek sexual release with the same gender, and some good-looking men were even more favored by these individuals.

"The security here doesn't seem very good..."

Lu Ke muttered to himself as he approached them.

...

After a few seconds, Lu Ke released the last thug he was holding by the arm. The man flipped his eyes and fell to the ground with a loud thud. Lu Ke glanced indifferently at the group of thugs lying on the ground, bruised and swollen from the beating.

It's common knowledge that even those with physical qualities pushed to the limit of ordinary humans are still ordinary.

Moreover, Lu Ke's memory remained intact, and dealing with low-sequence Extraordinary Beings was a piece of cake for him. These thugs, who were weakened by their excessive drinking and debauchery, could only gang up on beggars, women, and children.

Lu Ke picked out a relatively clean set of clothes and changed into them. He then counted his spoils of war, or rather, the compensation he received for self-defense.

"5 sule 11 pence, a bunch of poor ghosts."

He disdainfully glanced at the thugs lying on the ground, groaning in various positions, and weighed the money in his hand.

This wasn't enough as startup capital; it couldn't even buy a decent suit...

As he lifted his leg to leave, one of the thugs, who was relatively close, crawled towards him, enduring the pain and fear.

"Sir, we brought this upon ourselves. Please show mercy and leave us with a few pence."

For those at the bottom with no risk-taking ability, losing a job and failing to find another, falling ill and needing money for treatment, or facing financial ruin due to other reasons, is a terrifying prospect.

Without money, they couldn't buy food, and without food, they lacked the energy to work. It was easy to descend from being a resident to a vagrant, and death loomed nearby.

Lu Ke remained unmoved, but his eyes flashed, and he smiled kindly. "That's not impossible. Just introduce me to more 'friends'."

"Friends..."

The thug was momentarily confused, then looked at his moaning companions on the ground and immediately guessed Lu Ke's intention. He swallowed his saliva.

"Okay... alright!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end