Chapter 372: Coincidence

Chapter 372: Coincidence

Barkeland, Queens District, Hall Manor.

Three large dogs silently carried the young girl back to her room, making no noise along the way. All traces of their journey were erased by the power of the "Unknown."

Lu Ke watched as the girl disappeared from his sight, and the "Firebox" in his hand dissipated into a dreamlike light that faded into the air.

The "Mysticologist's" "Mystic Reenactment" draws power from the various mystic knowledge they possess, creating a wide array of magic or witchcraft. The less people who know about a particular mystic knowledge, the stronger its power.

The "Secret Art Tutor's" "Analysis", "Imitation", and "Creation" can uncover the flaws in other abilities, mimic them, and freely create unique abilities of their own.

When these two abilities are combined and further enhanced by the knowledge from different worlds and the connections with the Spirit Realm that Lu Ke gained during his ascension to Sequence 4 using his own blood, a qualitative change occurs.

Under normal circumstances, "Analysis" and "Imitation" cannot match the original power, but now, with sufficient mystic knowledge, they can even surpass the original.

In the realm of creating mystic spells and secret arts, Lu Ke can recreate any mystic phenomenon he has directly experienced, witnessed, or described in detail. The more detailed the knowledge, the better the effect. If he spends time refining and adjusting, he can even add or remove elements from the reenactment.

This is why Lu Ke could use "Mystic Reenactment" to recreate the scene of the "Primordial Hunger" chasing him under the stars, and the reenacted "Primordial Hunger" could even harm the "Concealed Sage."

First, because he was a firsthand witness to the scene. Second, because the "Unknown" ensured that no one other than the "Primordial Hunger" knew about the scene, maximizing its power. Third, because he symbolized the "Unity of All Things", which aligned perfectly with the "Primordial Hunger."

Savoring the softness and the restrained moans of the girl, Lu Ke glanced at the overcast sky and walked back to his own residence in Queens District, not far from here.

Pushing open the door, he saw the room filled with shopping bags of various sizes, luxurious jewelry scattered on the vanity, and books strewn about.

Vallsworth lay on the bed, her thick hair tangled in the sheets, looking more lethargic and lazy than usual.

Startled by his sudden return, Vallsworth jumped out of bed, her face breaking into a radiant smile as she clung to him like a parasitic vine.

"Back already? I'll have the servants clean up the room right away."

She asked warmly, "Are you hungry? Should I have the kitchen prepare dinner for you?"

Then, she pressed her head against his chest. "Or should I go take a bath first?"

Lu Ke rubbed his face, glancing at the dusty typewriter, and said in a deep voice, "You've been a bit too idle lately. It looks like you haven't worked for days."

Ever since Styano came over, Vallsworth had been alternating between shopping, eating, sleeping, and being intimate with him.

Vallsworth was unusually docile. "You know my work is creative. Inspiration doesn't come on command. I need some time to relax."

Work is the most detestable thing in the world, period!

Since she had found a sugar daddy who had connections with deities and more money than she could spend, why should she work hard and make herself miserable?

Vallsworth leaned in and sniffed Lu Ke's neck, a faint, pleasant scent filling the air. She immediately became wary.

It doesn't belong to me, nor to Xiū...

No matter, she can't smell it!

Lu Ke threw the lazy writer onto the bed and sighed. "Go write something. Write a little every day."

"Why?"

Vallsworth's body stiffened, as if struck by lightning, at the thought of having to work.

Lu Ke said matter-of-factly, "I don't know why, but if I support a writer and give her a life of leisure, where she can eat, drink, and play without worrying about survival, it makes me uncomfortable."

He emphasized, "Very uncomfortable."

Vallsworth: "..."

She still didn't understand.

As Vallsworth reluctantly went to work, Lu Ke locked the door, creating a sealed environment to block out Spiritual Energy. He walked to the vanity mirror and extended his palm.

A dreamlike light illuminated, and the mirror, which had been reflecting reality, turned pitch black.

This was his "Magic Mirror", a mystical tool far more powerful than ordinary divination methods.

He needed to find the whereabouts of the "Admiral of the Hurricane", Zilings.

A Sequence 6 "Wind Favored" with the "Creeping Hunger" didn't concern Lu Ke, but Zilings' fate had changed.

Originally, the Admiral of the Hurricane was supposed to arrive in Barkeland in two to three months to assassinate the Duke of Nigen, a conservative who was trying to amend the Poor Relief Act.

According to the "Hanged Man" Algy, Zilings had already arrived in Barkeland and was hiding.

Zilings had been commissioned by the secret organization, the "Twilight Hermit Society", whose leader was the "Imaginative Angel" Adam, who had inherited the divine aspect of the "Ancient Sun God" and possessed the unique "Spectator" and two Sequence 1 "Writer" abilities.

While his power was formidable, it was Adam's intelligence that was truly terrifying.

Even true gods found it difficult to evade his schemes. He single-handedly caused countless "Spectatorptsd" cases and even instilled fear in many "Higher-Dimensional Observers."

However, to Lu Ke, Adam was not a particularly significant threat. The "Unknown" was a presence even harder to predict than the "Concealed", and without sufficient information, there was no way to plan against it.

Moreover, Adam was no longer an Imaginative Angel, and the remaining Sequence 1 ability was still in the hands of Ins Zangwill in Tingen City, and the ascension ritual was not yet prepared.

As the deep black of the "Magic Mirror" was about to reveal an image, it suddenly paused, and a new mirror image replaced the black surface.

It was an ancient silver mirror, with eye-like decorations on either side, their black gemstone bases giving them a deep and captivating look. However, a deep crack marred the mirror's surface, ruining its overall beauty.

"Great Being, Exalted Lord, the Magic Mirror Alrodes is at your service!"

A clearly fawning phrase in Loen appeared on the mirror's surface, followed by a cute emoticon.

Alrodes: (•̀ᴗ•́)و

Lu Ke was momentarily stunned, realizing that there was a significant mystical connection between his "Mystic Reenactment" of the "Magic Mirror" and "Alrodes."

He understood that Alrodes must be the prototype of the "Magic Mirror" from the fairy tale "Snow White" on Earth, and it was through this connection that the mirror had "possessed" the "Magic Mirror."

Perhaps, the "Magic Mirror" was stronger than ordinary scrying mirrors, and Alrodes was even stronger than the "Magic Mirror."

Lu Ke, now intrigued, asked, "How did you know my identity?"

Alrodes: ()

Alrodes: There are very few beings who can use "Mystic Reenactment" to create a "Magic Mirror." Recently, the only one who fits the criteria—seeming normal in every aspect and unknown to me—must be you.

Lu Ke didn't argue, staring at the mirror with interest as he asked his second question, "Tell me Zilings' whereabouts."

Alrodes: Lord, I must follow certain rules. You need to answer one of my questions before I can continue.

Lu Ke nodded, also curious about what it would ask. "Go ahead."

Alrodes: Lord, do you... like bell peppers?

Just that?

Lu Ke let out a light "tsk", feeling a bit disappointed. He had actually hoped for a question that would make him feel awkward and embarrassed.

He nodded slightly. "Yes, and it's even better with some shredded meat."

"Perfect answer!"

A dazzling array of fireworks appeared on the mirror's surface, as if celebrating this brilliant exchange.

"Next, I will answer your question."

Strange water-like light flickered on the mirror's surface, forming a scene:

The camera first focused on a sign that read "Hillstone District", then quickly shifted to a dimly lit house with a stable and a garden.

In a decently furnished room, a figure lay on the bed, completely silent and still.

The image slowly zoomed in, revealing the man's face—his distinctive broad chin, emerald green eyes, and narrow eyebrows matched the wanted poster of Zilings exactly.

His chest and abdomen were torn open, with no internal organs inside. The right hand that should have carried the "Creeping Hunger" was missing, the wound showing signs of a violent tear, with blood and flesh scattered around. His eyes were wide open, his face still showing fear and anger.

His body was already stiff, clearly dead.

Zilings was dead?

Lu Ke raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Your turn to ask a question."

"Lord, do you... like shredded meat?"

Lu Ke nodded. "Yes, best when stir-fried with bell peppers."

Alrodes once again burst into fireworks. "Flawless answer!"

Ignoring Alrodes' flattery, Lu Ke asked his third question, "Tell me the cause of Zilings' death."

The scene in the mirror rewound rapidly.

After a long journey, the exhausted Zilings had chosen a target in Hillstone District—Baron Glammir. He infiltrated the room, killed Baron Glammir, and fed the body to the "Creeping Hunger", using his abilities as a "Faceless One" to assume the original owner's form.

A maid with an abnormal relationship with Baron Glammir, who was quite attractive, entered the room. The disguised Zilings did not refuse her advances, and they had a passionate encounter. Afterward, he drank the sleeping tea that the original owner took every night.

In the middle of the night, a beast with an evil aura, resembling a dog, silently approached Hillstone District. It seemed to be choosing a target and happened to select the room where Zilings was.

Zilings, exhausted and drugged, was too slow to react. As a mere "Wind Favored", he was caught off guard by the beast's attack. His chest and abdomen were torn open, and his organs were taken, leaving him no chance to fight back.

Crack—

The beast turned its greedy gaze to the "Creeping Hunger", biting off the arm and running away with it.

The image on the mirror's surface gradually turned gray, and Lu Ke, chin resting on his hand, fell into deep thought.

A coincidence, a clearly abnormal coincidence.

Zilings came, and fate had arranged for him to die...

His finger tapped lightly on the table, lost in thought. After a moment, he smiled and spoke in a calm voice to Alrodes:

"Your turn to ask."

Alrodes hesitated for a moment before displaying a long string of Loen text.

"Lord, do you need a humble, obedient, sensible, and somewhat useful servant to follow you? If you take me out of the Steam Church, I can serve you better!"

After asking, a high-quality image of a cat with bright blue eyes and white fur appeared on the mirror's surface, showing its soft belly and fluffy paws.

Lu Ke's lips curled into a smile. "Cats are delicate; I prefer dogs."

The cat quickly transformed into a cute, clumsy, and adorable light yellow puppy.

"No, actually, I prefer a lolita."

The mirror hesitated for a moment but quickly complied, transforming into a little princess in a sparkling dress.

"More like a shota."

The princess's dress changed into a suitable suit, her face becoming more defined and handsome, turning into a spirited little prince.

"More like a Transformer."

The little prince wiped sweat from his forehead, his body transforming into a mix of steel and machinery, and the mighty "Optimus Prime" appeared on the mirror's surface.

"More like Mikoto Misaka."

"Optimus Prime" was hit by a bolt of electricity, and a girl with short chestnut hair and a cool, stylish outfit walked over.

Lu Ke's interest was piqued, and he began to experiment.

"More like 4090..."

"More like pink manga..."

"More like the principle of nuclear fusion..."

"More like the grand unified model of the universe..."

"More like the ending of 'Hunter x Hunter'..."

"More like 'Song of Silk'..."

After satisfying his various requests, Lu Ke slowly exhaled.

"Alright, I'll take you out soon."

The mirror's lines twitched spasmodically, taking a while to calm down. Finally, a pitiful, weak message appeared.

"Thank you for your... kindness, great master."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end