Chapter 345: Tasting

Chapter 345: Tasting

Kline, feeling mentally exhausted after a day of studying, returned home with a headache. Due to the depletion of his spiritual energy, he had been in a daze all afternoon after the Tarot Society meeting.

"I should've held the meeting when I wasn't working; otherwise, my efficiency is too low," Kline muttered to himself. Since Benson and Melissa were only available on weekends, they had scheduled the move for the weekend.

Normally, according to his shift, he should have had Monday off, which was why he had set the meeting time for the first time.

When Dunn reported Leonard's sudden teleportation to St. Seraphina Church, he tried to be as gentle as possible, but the church still decided to send a senior deacon for an inspection.

The person involved wasn't particularly panicked, confident that they could get away with it. However, they complained to Kline, saying that they and their friend might not get along well, and they hoped that in the future, they wouldn't have to be in the same place together.

Kline couldn't help but think of the phrase "incompatible zodiac signs" upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but laugh. Subsequently, he received an even more resentful stare from Leonard.

Upon returning home, Kline took off his formal wear and hung it up. As he turned around, he saw his sister, Melissa, staring intently at the desserts on the table.

Cake, cherry pie, and sweet iced tea—when did Melissa start spending money on these things? She had always been so frugal that she wouldn't even take public carriages to school, so the money he gave her was probably all saved up.

Kline smiled and sat down, crossing his arms under his chin. "What made you change your mind?"

Melissa understood his meaning and shook her head, blushing. Her voice was gentle.

"I didn't buy them. It was... Mr. Genoa asked Parrot to send them."

Kline's mood suddenly became complicated. He wasn't sure if he should be happy or angry. Although it wasn't good for his old friend to be thinking about his sister, at least his friend was indeed thinking about her! He had always said that his sister was such a good girl, so how could Luke, that scoundrel, not think about her too?

"Yes, we live nearby, so we should interact more often. I'll return the favor later."

After hesitating for a moment, Kline still didn't warn his sister to stay away from Luke. For now, it seemed that his old friend didn't have a female companion, so when he did, he would subtly hint to Melissa.

Kline exhaled and noticed that Melissa was still staring at the desserts, reluctant to look away. He smiled slightly.

Melissa gave him the feeling of a child who wanted to eat the gifts brought by relatives during the New Year but wasn't sure if she could open them.

"Alright, go ahead and eat if you want. I'll return the favor to Mr. Genoa later."

"Mhm."

This time, Melissa didn't refuse and nodded obediently. Then, she asked, "Benson won't be back for a few days, so why don't you join me?"

Kline glanced at the cream cake with its sweet aroma, the cherry pie that looked especially delicious, and the sweet iced tea that seemed to be tempting him. He shook his head with a smile.

"I don't really like these things. You go ahead."

It wasn't that he couldn't afford them; it was that as an older brother and a mature adult, he couldn't show that he liked these things that children enjoyed.

No, he didn't like these things at all! Kline took another look at the desserts on the table, forced a smile, and returned to his room.

...

Olsner Street, Ms. Shelun's mansion.

A faint fragrance drifted through the open door, a peculiar scent that evoked femininity and stirred the blood. It could subtly and slowly ignite a man's desire.

This level of temptation didn't affect Luke much. He ignored the aphrodisiac-like fragrance and looked at the crystal-clear silk threads blocking his way, frowning. He lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.

A flame ignited with a 'whoosh,' quickly setting fire to the silk threads in the living room. Hundreds of fire strands flashed through the room, leaving a faint smell of scorching before the room returned to silence.

Only then did Luke leisurely step into the living room, which was furnished with a thick carpet, spacious space, soft and comfortable sofas, a black lacquered wooden cabinet, and various high-end furniture. These items looked even more luxurious under the crimson moonlight.

At that moment, a voice came from the master bedroom upstairs, a magnetic, flirtatious female voice.

"Why did you come at this time? Come in, my little lover~"

Luke raised his eyebrows slightly and followed the sound, walking up the stairs and pushing open a delicately crafted door.

The room wasn't tidy. Various skincare and makeup products were scattered on a table, jewelry sparkling with different hues, a half-open half-closed walk-in closet, and a light, thin garment and suspender stockings carelessly thrown on a rocking chair.

The most eye-catching sight, of course, was Ms. Shelun, the most famous socialite in Tinggen, lying helplessly on the bed in the center of the room. Her exceptional figure was almost naked, her skin white with a rosy tint, her cheeks flushed with a peach hue, and her eyes glistening as if they could drip water. She looked especially beautiful.

If one were to describe the "Witch" as a spell that transforms an average-looking man into a beautiful woman, then "Joyful Witch" takes this charm to a whole new level, enhancing not only their appearance but also their temperament significantly.

Upon seeing a stranger instead of her lovers, Mrs. Shelun's eyes, which seemed to speak, flickered with surprise. But soon, her eyes softened with emotion, and she smiled, speaking with a playful tone.

"A strange gentleman, how did you get in here, thief?"

Luke seemed entranced, staring intently at Mrs. Shelun, nodding in a daze.

"You're quite honest, Mr. Thief, but you're handsome enough."

Mrs. Shelun said with a hint of amusement, her gaze shifting downward to Luke's body, which was still sturdy and muscular despite his slight adjustment. Her voice softened.

"And you're strong enough too."

Her eyes moved slightly, and she slowly stood up, spreading her arms to reveal her rounded, ample figure. She maintained this pose, and her voice became ethereal and alluring, like a seductive fairy from a tale.

"Come, Mr. Thief, let me bring you joy, the ultimate joy."

Desire ignited in Luke's eyes as if the world had narrowed down to Mrs. Shelun's feminine form. He hurriedly took steps towards her.

At that moment, a figure silently appeared from the void behind Luke.

Wearing a semi-transparent sleep robe, Mrs. Shelun's pretty face was filled with murderous intent. She moved with agility and silence, making no sound as she crept up behind Luke, raising the dagger in her hand, which was engulfed in eerie black flames.

Mrs. Shelun, lying on the bed with her arms spread wide and her ample chest exposed, was using the "Illusion" ability to confuse her enemies!

Swish—

The black flame dagger thrust towards Luke's heart, but just before it touched his clothes, it abruptly stopped.

Mrs. Shelun's body stiffened, and she looked up, her eyes distant and devoid of any desire.

She glanced at the spot where their skin touched, a smile playing on her lips. The Joyful Witch possessed the ability to bring joy to anyone she touched!

But something felt off. The grip on her hand didn't loosen at all; instead, it tightened further, so strong it seemed to crush her bones.

Crack—

Just as her bones were about to shatter, Mrs. Shelun's body shattered like a broken mirror, and she seized the opportunity to break free from the binding.

Mirror Clone!

"So, you're not an ordinary thief, Mr. Thief~"

A sweet voice echoed in the room as Mrs. Shelun's figure reappeared a few meters away. In her hand, a long ice spear had materialized, and she threw it at Luke with considerable force, leaving a trail of spreading frost.

At the same time, countless invisible crystalline threads in the room began to wrap around Luke, attempting to restrain his movements.

Luke calmly snapped his fingers again, and the threads ignited like the ones in the living room, creating a dazzling display of light that illuminated Mrs. Shelun's surprised face.

The ice spear pierced the floor, freezing it with a thick layer of frost. The flames that had been ignited revealed Luke's figure once more.

She lowered her voice, her tone turning cold. "Magician, you're from the Order of Esoteric Studies. What are your intentions?"

"Does it matter?"

Luke replied nonchalantly.

Mrs. Shelun's eyebrows furrowed slightly. Magicians were known for being difficult to deal with, and their abilities like "Illusion," "Paper Clone," and "Wound Transfer" made it impossible to kill them with physical means in a short time. Moreover, their "Flame Manipulation" and "Flame Leap" abilities not only ensured their survival but also countered the witch's silk threads.

Fortunately, the Witch's path was quite comprehensive, starting from Sequence 7 with "Witch."

The latest chapter is now available!

Mrs. Shelun's figure became transparent and vanished from her original spot, preventing a surprise attack. Only a few floating black flames remained in the air, quickly gathering and then exploding, scattering in all directions.

The scattered black flames didn't ignite the room; they passed through furniture and walls, sweeping every corner. These weren't physical flames; they could burn spiritual bodies!

A thick layer of golden light, almost tangible, rose from Luke's skin, and he raised his hand to block the sinister black flames heading his way. The golden light compressed and crushed the black flames.

Mrs. Shelun, who had also been affected by the black flames, winced slightly. However, due to her innate resistance to black flames, she wasn't severely affected.

She cautiously observed the mysterious golden light that had appeared out of nowhere, a sense of unease growing within her.

This wasn't a Magician's ability, and even the adjacent path of the Soothsayer didn't possess such power. Could it be that the Recorder, the Sequence 6 path of the Order of Esoteric Studies, had used "Record" to acquire the abilities of other paths?

"Your black flames are quite interesting."

Feeling the heat and pain in his palm, Luke acknowledged the power of the black flames.

"I am full of secrets, and all you need is for Mr. Thief to come and investigate."

Mrs. Shelun suddenly smiled, "seducing" Luke to enjoy her body. Her eyes glistened with tears, and she tugged at her semi-transparent skirt, biting her pink lips as she slowly approached Luke, her words carrying an unusual charm.

"Continuing to fight won't yield a good outcome. Why don't we stop and have a proper chat? I mean you no harm."

Luke's gaze swept over the ice spear that still emanated a chilling intent, and he repeated, "No harm?"

"As members of secret organizations, you should understand the consequences of exposing your identity. I'm not sure if you are a Nocturne, an Expiator, or someone from the Mechanical Heart. This is a common experience for all secret organization members; we are the same."

As the distance between them narrowed, Mrs. Shelun lifted her delicate face, her eyes shimmering with a smile that made everything around them pale in comparison—a smile of infinite beauty.

The Witch's allure!

"We can get along just fine, exploring and understanding each other's uniqueness."

A sultry voice filled the air, a bewitching sound that made one's heart race.

Luke slowly lowered his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Since you like allure so much, why don't we try my allure?"

His appearance began to change, revealing his true self like a reef exposed after the tide had receded. At the same time, he added layers of charm from countless worlds, optimizing his appearance to the limit as his true form emerged.

In this day and age, who wasn't a bewitching demon? He just didn't like to use it!

Unconsciously, Mrs. Shelun stopped using her allure. Her murderous intent faded, her body softened, and her gaze gradually became entranced.

The Joyful Witch had been bewitched.

Just then, the sound of shattering glass echoed!

Unlike the Magician's "Paper Doll" ability, which required manual activation, the Witch's mirror clone could activate both actively and passively, breaking to absorb damage when the host received excessive harm.

Mrs. Shelun briefly regained her senses. She quickly closed her eyes, surrounded by sinister black flames. Frost then enveloped her body, and countless threads entwined with the frost, forming a massive cocoon with three layers of protection.

Luke didn't interfere with her defense. He raised his hand slightly, and a wisp of azure flame ignited at his fingertip, exuding an enchanting magic.

"You just invited me to taste the black flame that could burn spirits. I'll return the favor with a flame that burns spirits as well."

"This is something that could only exist in the Western Continent during the First Epoch."

He hooked his lips in a slight smile, and with a flick of his finger, the azure flame effortlessly penetrated the cocoon, the dense threads, the freezing ice, and the surrounding black flames.

"The fire of life, ignited by the energy of the upper, middle, and lower Dan, burns the souls of all beings in the world. It is called Samadhi."

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Several mirrors in the room shattered and melted, accompanied by the Witch's screams of terror and despair.

After a few breaths, the cocoon enveloping Mrs. Shelun collapsed.

Luke didn't bother to look at the dead Witch. He walked downstairs, approached a solid black cabinet filled with various fine wines, took out a bottle of red wine from Feneporte, and sat down on the sofa, pouring himself a glass.

"The Magician's Extraordinary Trait doesn't seem to have much progress in combat digestion."

He lay on the sofa, reflecting, "Is it because Mrs. Shelun wasn't dangerous enough, or because her death didn't spread and attract attention?"

"Or did I use powers not of this world, violating hidden regulations like 'Magicians should astonish the audience while following the rules'?"

The next Extraordinary Trait should be one that can be ingested and instantly transformed, with a clearer and easier-to-achieve role-playing.

Luke finished his drink thoughtfully, went upstairs, took the Extraordinary Traits from Sequence 9 to Sequence 6 that Mrs. Shelun had left behind, and left without a trace.

He didn't deliberately destroy any evidence of his presence but instead left signs that a man had been there.

The accidental death of a socialite and the murder of a socialite were two news stories with vastly different weights.

Soon, perhaps tomorrow or the day after, all the news agencies in Tinggen City would go crazy reporting this news, and within a week, it would spread from Tinggen to several surrounding cities...

Luke wasn't worried about being traced. Any mystical means of investigation would fail when used on him.

In an era without surveillance cameras, DNA comparison, or comprehensive population registration, it was almost impossible to find the real culprit, let alone Luke, who could alter his shape, appearance, features, and even fingerprints with his Dual-Hand ability.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end