Chapter 187: Who Exactly Am I!

Chapter 187: Who Exactly Am I!

"Selina, when was that first mask made?"

"A very long time ago, ten years, maybe more. Back then, I was about the same age as when you first saw me, Brother Karen, right around the time the tram explosion happened."

Ten years...

That was a very long time.

So, someone had established this Order’s Whip squad under Neo's identity, romanced Miss Elisa under Neo's identity, and received her first embrace, gaining the constitution of a bloodthirsty aberrant.

Karen closed his eyes and began to think deeply.

Then, he realized that for himself and for Fanny’s entire squad, this "fake Neo" was the real one.

Because he had worn that mask long enough, long enough that this life had decoupled from the face's original master; it was merely a different face, but in reality, it had always been his own life.

A phrase Neo frequently uttered surfaced in Karen's mind: Everyone has secrets.

Is this your secret, Captain?

Karen suddenly found it somewhat amusing; he had used the exact same method, found the exact same person, and made a mask for the exact same purpose, wondering how the captain felt when he first discovered his identity.

Would he also find it quite amusing?

So,

Captain, just like me, do you have an identity that cannot be made public?

"Selina, let's go back up first. Your brother isn't here, and it's not good for me to stay down here too long."

"Did you see anything you like, Brother Karen? I can pack it up for you!"

"No need, I am already very satisfied just to have the honor of coming down to admire them."

"Really? You don't have to be so polite, Brother Karen."

"Next time, then. Because as you know, the things I need must be custom-made in advance, and your brother doesn't have anything ready-made here. Next time when I ask your brother to make something for me, you can speak up for me from the side, alright?"

"Alright, Brother Karen!"

Karen and Selina returned upstairs, and Selina poured a cup of coffee for him.

"By the way, Selina, do you know who that person was, the one who kidnapped you to threaten your brother back then?"

"I don't know. He just kept me confined in a room with food and drink, and then went to threaten my brother. Once brother finished the mask and handed it over, he gave brother the address, and brother brought me back."

"He didn't harm you?"

"Not at all. In fact, he even paid brother a very generous reward. Many of the collections inside, including how quickly brother's crafting techniques have improved, are largely thanks to that.

So, brother just dislikes him, and because of him, dislikes the Church of Order. But the word 'dislike,' Brother Karen, you know it's like a girl pounding your chest with her fists:

I hate you, hate you, hate you!"

Selina shrugged and continued, "I think that's how brother feels about him."

"How can a sister talk about her own brother like that?"

"Precisely because we are siblings, I see it more clearly. But brother doesn't actually know who he is either, he only remembers that the man used Order spells to bind him, so he knows he belongs to the Church of Order."

Because he used Order spells, it was assumed he belonged to the Church of Order?

To anyone else, this would sound entirely normal, but it was different for Karen because he himself was an exception, having just been misunderstood not long ago.

Thus, Karen subconsciously began to suspect whether Captain Neo might be the same as him in this regard.

For instance,

Could he actually be a believer of Light?

Had he been transforming Light-attributed power into Order power all this time to disguise himself?

But if that were the case, was the strength Neo displayed only half of his true power?

Because Karen was a truly special case, there was no loss when he transformed the power of Light, but Neo was different; if he operated this way, loss was inevitable.

No,

It could not even be calculated as half.

Because believers of Light had their own system, and the former Church of Light was once a colossal existence standing at the pinnacle of orthodox churches. Their own Light system was inherently extremely powerful, so under normal circumstances, a priest of Light would not do such a thankless task as conversion.

In other words, if Neo really were a believer of Light, the strength he currently displayed might only be thirty percent... or even twenty percent of his true power.

Karen took a sip of his coffee. No, there was another problem;

Who could be sure that the strength Neo displayed now was all he possessed in this state?

The scene of Neo killing that large, runic man last time flashed in Karen's mind. He had been like an elegant pianist, completely and utterly suppressing the runic giant.

"Brother Karen, do you have something on your mind?"

"Yes."

"Mm, but I don't know how to comfort you."

"Heh, no need. I used to do the work of comforting people. I still have things to do, so I must leave now. Greet your brother for me when he returns. Also, I've moved, let me write down my new phone number for you."

Karen picked up the pen and paper on the table and wrote down both the number and the address.

"Come over to play when you have time. There are two young girls at home; perhaps you can become good friends."

"Ah, there are already two young girls? Does that include the older sister who carries the umbrella?" Selina asked.

"What are you thinking? Those are the two daughters left behind by a good friend of mine. I am taking care of them now. They are very pitiful, having been contaminated many years ago and rarely interacting with the outside world."

"Alright, then I will prepare some gifts before visiting them."

"Call ahead before you come, and I'll make you something delicious."

"Brother Karen, aren't you worried the older sister will be jealous?"

"I already told her that there is a lovely young girl who, along with her brother, has been a great help to me."

"I regret asking that question."

Karen reached out and patted Selina's head.

"You are still young."

"If Brother Karen wants, I can become mature right away."

"Selina, do you know what the greatest respect for youth is?"

"What is it?"

"That is, to have a little more patience with it."

"Alright, alright, Brother Karen, I see what you mean. Don't worry."

"Then I'm leaving. You should rest early too. Good night."

"Good night, Brother Karen."

Karen walked out of the pottery studio and returned to his car. Just as he started the engine, he froze.

"Captain, does he really live nearby?"

...

The next day, afternoon.

"Karen, have you lost your mind? He is an adjudicator, an adjudicator!"

Perched atop Kevin’s back, Purr shouted at Karen.

"You cannot be this impulsive, you really can’t."

"I am not being impulsive. I simply feel this is what I ought to do, consider it avenging a friend."

"But not like this, you are making a scene!"

Purr had actually adopted the tone of an elder.

Karen looked at the cat with a trace of curiosity and asked, "Did Alfred not tell you that this is a team operation?"

"Huh?" Purr looked around in confusion. "Is it?"

Just then, Alfred pushed open the study door and walked in. "Master, I only had time to tell it that we found Luke's trail and that you intended to kill him. Before I could finish the rest, it spun around and ran over here."

"Ah, so it is a team operation. Well, that is perfectly fine then, perfectly fine. Can that wretched radio sprite not speak any faster? Is that how you used to stretch your airtime in the past?"

"My apologies, it was my oversight," Alfred said with a wry smile, choosing not to press the matter with the cat.

Karen picked up the sword box.

"Master, I wonder when I will finally be able to act alongside you."

"There should be an opportunity before long. Once I am promoted to inquisitor, everything for us will become much more manageable."

Purr asked in bewilderment, "So, Karen, is that the purpose behind your volunteering for this operation?"

"Yes. I feel as though I have already found my answer and chosen my path, but I need a fitting opportunity to verify it. If the verification succeeds, then when I return tomorrow morning, I should be a true inquisitor."

Purr nodded her head and teased, "To become an existence standing on equal footing with Dis."

Immediately afterward, Purr caught sight of the sword box Karen was holding and said with some concern, "I still feel that Miss Ophelia giving you this precious Sword of Alius was not merely out of clan relations."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. It is a woman's intuition. After all, before my poor niece wakes from her sleeping beauty state, I need to keep a close eye on you for her."

"If not for those two clumsy Dark Moon Island slang phrases of yours, there would be far less trouble between her and me."

"Can you blame me for that? Can you blame me for that? How was I to know that idiot actually dared to say so many disgusting things to me back then? Just thinking about it now makes me feel sick to my stomach!"

"Alright, I am setting off."

"Master, let me put the sword box in the car for you first."

"Yes, thank you."

Alfred went out carrying the sword box. As Karen stepped out of the study, he saw Sily presenting some ingredients she had prepared today before him.

"Master, is it because business at the funeral parlor is slow that you are going to an outside hotel to work as a chef to supplement the household income?"

"Huh? No."

"Master, if the family is truly facing financial difficulties, I can take a pay cut."

"Do not overthink it. It is just that a friend is about to retire, so I will be going to keep him company quite often lately."

"So that is how it is."

Sily patted her chest and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Your work is very responsible and very good. You deserve this income. By the way, did Alfred tell you? In the future, there will also be clothing allowances and holiday bonuses."

"Mr. Alfred did tell me, but there is no need. Jeans are very durable."

As she spoke, Sily even turned around in front of Karen.

Ever since Alfred had her wear jeans to the house, in her subsequent work, Sily would change her tops, but her lower half was always clad in jeans that wrapped tightly and accentuated her form quite conspicuously.

She did not mind at all when the master would wake up, finish washing in the bathroom, and come downstairs, while she kept her back to him, squatting down to wipe the floor or tidy the carpet.

Though the young girl was innocent, she was by no means foolish.

She also had a young friend she used to know who had recently become a maid as well. Her wages were low and frequently docked, not to mention the male master would often make unwanted advances at her, leaving her friend deeply distressed.

Sily’s wages were high, she had other bonuses, and the work was not heavy—one could even call it very easy. Her only grievance was that the master never made any advances at her.

Karen carried the ingredients outside and encountered Mrs. Lake, who was holding some fabric.

"Are you going out?" Mrs. Lake asked with a smile.

"Yes, someone owes Mr. Pavaro a sum of money. I am going to reclaim it."

Mrs. Lake understood the underlying meaning within his words and immediately said, "Is it dangerous?"

"It is not dangerous. He has been caught in the net."

"That is good then. If it were dangerous, please absolutely do not go. I know my husband; he would not want his family and friends to encounter danger for his sake."

"I know, Ma'am. Are you planning to make clothes with all that fabric?"

"Yes, I plan to make some pajamas for the family."

"Dora and Dorine will surely be very happy."

In the past, Dora and Dorine's clothes were relatively simple; out of fear that the decaying parts might fuse with the garments and become difficult to handle, they had no pajamas.

"What color do you like? I will make one for you first," Mrs. Lake asked.

"Black."

"Alright."

Karen walked outside, sat in the car, and cast a glance back at the sword box Alfred had placed on the rear seat.

"Master, I regret that I cannot witness your insights tonight."

"My thoughts are all written in the notebook," Karen said.

"I have already transcribed them, Master," Alfred said with a smile.

"I am leaving."

Karen started the car and drove away.

Alfred placed his hands over his chest, seeing him off with reverence. Once the shadow of the car was no longer visible, Alfred let out a long breath,

and said:

"I can feel it. A new chapter is about to begin."

...

"Why didn't the captain come today?"

"You ask him, how should I know? Am I supposed to call him every day to ask if he's coming over to freeload a meal tonight?"

"Then let's not open this wine just yet."

"Because he's not here, I'm not worthy of drinking this wine? You brat, do you still want to buy my refrigerator or not?"

Karen uncorked the bottle and poured a glass for Old Saman.

Old Sam took a sip, smacked his lips, and said, "This wine is exceptional. What is it infused with?"

"Ginseng."

"I thought as much; no wonder there is such a delicate fragrance. And today's dishes were beautifully prepared too. You foolish boy, why bother placing your faith in Order? You would have made a magnificent chef."

"Does being a chef preclude one from believing in Order?"

"Pfft... hahahaha!" Old Sam nearly spat out the mouthful of wine. "A splendid retort! After all, who is to say your God of Order wasn't a chef himself once upon a time?"

"Heh heh, you won't be offended by me saying that, will you?"

"Not at all, because I have always suspected the God of Order was raised by a whore."

"..." Old Sam fell silent.

After a long pause, Old Sam placed his pipe and tin whistle onto the table, pointed a finger at them, and said:

"These two are also fine treasures, not a whit inferior to that refrigerator."

"Oh?"

"In truth, a refrigerator is of little practical use. You can hardly lug a refrigerator around with you wherever you go. Leaving it at home turns it into nothing more than a small storage cabinet, which is rather pointless. But with this pipe and whistle, everything changes. They can be considered a set; you can use them to 'retrieve' items from the refrigerator while you are out."

"You are giving them to me now?"

"Certainly not. Not until I retire. But rest assured, I won't use them to fight anyone. Besides, if a real clash ever breaks out, you will be the first person I strike down. I'll beat you senseless, so you won't have to feel guilty about anything in your heart."

"Wait, why on earth would I feel guilty?"

"Hmm?"

"Rest assured, old man, if a real clash breaks out, I will be the first to charge forward and hack you down. To think you actually intended to give me nothing but a refrigerator before!"

To grant him a storage space, yet require him to return home every single time just to fetch the items within—what would be the point of such a storage space? He might as well just go home to fetch his things anyway.

"Tch, you? Deliver such a blow?"

"Yes, me."

"Forget it, forget it. You are quite something, kid." Old Sam reached out and clapped a hand onto Karen's shoulder. "To curry favor with me, you would even utter such words. Quite a desperate effort."

"Well? When you said that, was your heart thumping wildly with terror?"

Karen let out a long sigh, pressing a hand to his chest, and said, "Indeed. I was frightened to death."

"I have never seen anyone quite like you. You make me feel guilty if I don't give you a few more trinkets."

"Do you happen to have any other good things left here?"

"What are you planning?"

"If you do, I wouldn't mind hurling a few more curses."

"..." Old Sam was speechless.

...

At a quarter to eight, Karen drove into the Meylong Docks. Worried that arriving too early might alert his quarry, he parked his car on the outer road and waited for twenty minutes.

This was a smuggling dock. Boats only arrived here on a few fixed days each month, and at this particular hour, the interior was profoundly quiet.

Karen loaded the enchanted bullets one by one into the Sava 7 pistol. Having been modified by Fanni, the handgun possessed a distinct, unusual texture.

Next, he slipped six small potion vials into his pockets.

Finally, he opened the sword case, lifted the Sword of Arius, and rested it against his shoulder.

He did not particularly care for this aesthetic. He had once thought Ophelia possessed a certain contrasting charm when wielding this greatsword, but looking at his own reflection in the car's rearview mirror, he felt that a sense of jarring incongruity had its own merits.

"I should have had Alfred fashion a scabbard to secure it to my back."

His preparations complete, Karen walked