Chapter 332: Why Are You Here?

Chapter 332 Why are you here?

"If you can sense your original body, can your original body sense you?"

"No."

"No?"

"If it were before, he would definitely be able to sense me, but now, he definitely can't, because... because I have been 'polluted'."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure. A spiritual imprint is supposed to be the purest trace, but the current me has long been distorted beyond recognition, to the point where I feel like a stranger to myself."

"Alright, I see."

"Perhaps you could meet my original body. My original body is a very kind person."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure, unless some major disaster befell him during this time he spent accompanying his son in the colony, but it shouldn't be anything too outrageous. You can try to contact him first."

"I will."

Karen pressed the desk bell, then stood up and walked out of the study.

Having received the notification from the desk bell, Alfred walked from the front hall to the backyard. Seeing Karen coming out of the study, Karen pointed toward the kitchen.

Alfred followed him into the kitchen, stepping up beside Karen who was standing by the stove.

"Young Master?"

"Would you like wontons or noodles?"

"Either is fine for your subordinate."

"Let's have wontons then. The chili oil is all gone."

"Young Master, did something happen?"

"Yes." Karen nodded as he dropped the wontons into the boiling water, "The original body of that old fellow in the study has returned. It's the former owner of the first place we lived, the one with the Light background."

"Should your subordinate go and investigate?"

"Eat first, then I will go investigate. You stay at home; the house can't be left empty, I'm afraid he and I might cross paths."

"Can he sense the location of our new home?"

"The old man in the study said he couldn't, but to be safe, you should still stay at home. In my name, give Fannie a call and say that I am inviting her to organize a few teammates to come over to my house for dinner.

Once they arrive, take out the hotpot broth base I prepared in the refrigerator and arrange for them to have hotpot."

"Understood, Young Master, I see."

Karen scooped up two bowls of wontons, sprinkling chopped green onions and cilantro onto each. Alfred carried the bowls to the table, and the two sat facing each other, picking up their spoons.

"I have to go to the Dingle Region tomorrow evening, so this matter must be resolved tonight."

"Young Master, you must be careful."

"Yes." Karen took a sip of the soup, "Things aren't that bad. We don't have any clear, overt conflict with that gentleman either; it's just that we once bought his house."

"Are you going to look for someone?" Purr rode Kevin over to the kitchen doorway.

"Yes, the former owner of our first house has returned."

"Where is he?" Purr asked.

"I'll go back to our first house to take a look first. If he's not there, I'll search elsewhere."

"If you're looking for someone, take the stupid dog with you."

"Woof, woof!" Kevin nodded vigorously.

"The stupid dog can not only smell the scent on a person's body, but now that you've undone its first layer of seal, it can also smell the lingering traces of a person's soul, though the efficiency isn't that exaggerated, it's still usable.

For instance, let it go to the study first to sniff that old man, and then take it along to search nearby."

"Alright, I'll take Kevin with me." Karen agreed, "But you can't go."

"I didn't expect you to take me anyway, it's not like a pleasure trip, and if a fight breaks out, I'll just become your burden." Purr lowered her head, pouting.

"Before I came back from completing the final selection, the commander of Fort Ogulev invited me for coffee. He told me that I have great potential, so I must take care to protect myself.

The same goes for you. I am still waiting for you to gradually recover your strength so that I can slack off during fights in the future."

"Hee-hee meow."

Purr patted Kevin's head, and Kevin immediately turned and ran toward the study.

By the time Karen finished his meal and came out, Kevin was already waiting, holding his own leash in his mouth.

"You two take care at home as well."

After cautioning Alfred and Purr once more, Karen took Kevin and got into his second-hand black Pence car.

Although Allen Apartments and the funeral home were located in the south and north respectively, they were within the same district, so it did not take long for Karen to drive up to the entrance of Allen Apartments. He did not drive straight in, but instead pulled the car over on the other side of the road in front of Araya's real estate agency.

Araya's son, Hand, was sitting inside doing his homework, while his wife, Jane, was cooking.

"Young Master Karen!"

Araya ran over from behind the car carrying a bag, having recognized Karen's vehicle.

Karen rolled down the car window.

"Young Master Karen, it's been a long time since I last saw you. How are you doing lately?"

"I am doing well."

"Heh, I just went to the market and bought a few fresh fish. Once my wife guts them later, Young Master Karen, you should take two with you, or why don't you just stay and have dinner at my place?

Ever since Jane ate that fish with pickled cabbage at your place last time, she's been trying to learn how to make it herself. Although it's not as perfect as yours, Young Master Karen, the taste is still quite good."

"No need for now."

Karen was just about to ask his question, but Araya brought it up himself:

"Old Mr. Will came back today. I really never expected to see him again. When he sold the house, I thought he would never return in this lifetime."

"Will?"

"Oh, it's different from the name on the property deed. I heard his wife call him Will, so when we used to get along, I called him that too. He came back this afternoon and even sat in my shop for a while.

He asked me what kind of person his house had been sold to, and I described you to him. Then he went into the apartment building. When he came out, he came back to my shop and asked me where you had moved to. I said I didn't know, heh, and indeed I didn't."

"Has he left? I mean Mr. Will."

"He left. I invited him to stay for dinner, but he declined."

"Did he say where he was going?"

"I asked. I told him that the house you had here was already sold, and staying in a hotel would be a waste of money, and that there was a guest room in the back of my shop he could stay in for free. But he said he still had a nephew and a niece in York City, and he was going to find them."

"Alright, I see. I have things to attend to so I'll be going now. Araya, come visit my house when you have time."

"Alright, Young Master."

After Karen drove the car away, Araya shrugged and muttered to himself self-deprecatingly, "But, I don't know the location of your new home."

...

"Woof?"

Sitting in the passenger seat, Kevin looked over at Karen, who was driving.

"I can roughly guess where he went. Looking at the clock, it is indeed about time. I had actually forgotten about it... well, not exactly forgotten, but rather there is no real difference between remembering and not. In my current position, I have no need to involve myself too much with the remnants of Light. After all, having a captain like mine by my side is already dangerous enough."

Kevin turned his canine head forward with a look of half-understanding, wagging his tail a few times and rubbing it against the back seat.

Karen drove the car to Apple Street, pulling up in front of Piaget’s two villas. The two properties, originally destroyed, had already been rebuilt, and the gardens were neatly tended.

Although Piaget had followed Mr. Bede down the path of exploring the God of Walls and was currently considered "missing," his father remained a high-ranking official in Ruilan. It was impossible for him to leave the damaged houses sitting here as "ruins."

No matter how one looked at it, the prime location and property values on Apple Street simply did not allow for such extravagance.

Karen first touched his ring, transforming into the likeness of Mr. Pavaro. He then led Kevin out of the car, strolling past the front of the two villas as though he were truly just walking his dog.

That night, he had lured Qihe’s people here to attack the remnants of Light. To cover his two students, Elder Dock of the Light remnants had used the Tower of Light to fight to the death with Qihe, ultimately losing his life.

Yet he had successfully protected his two students. The two severely wounded youths had been hidden deep beneath the villa floorboards, placed into a deep slumber to heal.

Earlier on, Karen had pondered whether he should find an opportunity to dig them out, but later he realized there was little point even if he did.

Dig them out to kill them?

He harbored no principled hatred toward the remnants of Light. If he truly possessed that kind of sentiment, the first thing he should do would be to report his own captain.

Furthermore, luring Qihe’s group over back then was merely a way to break a deadlock. After all, the remnants of Light had captured both Piaget and Mr. Bede and brought them here; it was a friction born of factional stances, not a personal grievance.

Therefore, Karen's subsequent attitude had been to let the matter fade from memory. Whenever they finished healing, they could just sneak away from York City on their own. No matter how much they sought revenge, they would never find their way to him.

But this time, Karen felt that the former homeowner, Mr. Will, had returned specifically to guide the two of them out.

Kevin suddenly halted, tilting his head toward one of the villas.

"In the new villa?"

Kevin nodded vigorously, indicating his absolute certainty.

Karen hesitated slightly. Two choices lay before him now. The first choice was to immediately notify the Church of Order that remnants of Light had been discovered here, letting the Order's forces deploy to capture or expel them.

The second choice was to use a third-party identity to negotiate with them, ideally to uncover the purpose behind that old man named Will's return. If he had merely come to retrieve those two "potatoes," that would be for the best. If he intended to stay long-term this time, plans would have to be redrawn.

Because it was impossible for the old man not to suspect the person who bought his house, given that he could no longer sense the spiritual imprint he had left behind.

Karen decided to set aside the first choice for the time being. After all, he held no enmity against the man, and he had even lived in the fellow's house. Reporting him directly would truly leave a bad taste in his mouth.

In that case... he would make contact first.

If he were to make contact, Mr. Pavaro’s appearance would be inconvenient. Whose form should he take?

Bernard's? That wouldn't do either. Unless it was an absolute necessity like last time, when he had to impersonate Bernard to deal with Ophelia's general uncle, Karen preferred not to use that mask whenever he had a choice.

"Come on, let's go back to the car first."

Karen led Kevin back inside the vehicle and instructed, "You stay here."

Kevin nodded obediently, though his paw tapped the steering wheel.

"You want me to leave the key in the ignition?"

Kevin grinned.

"Do you even know how to drive?"

Though somewhat skeptical, Karen inserted the car key anyway. He then touched his ring, and a silver mask materialized over his face. His form dissolved into a patch of black mist, which did not dissipate but swiftly vanished, revealing Karen's figure once more.

Kevin watched Karen outside the car with a trace of confusion.

"It is still better not to use Order magic for now."

Karen spread his hands, chanting:

"Light—Shadow Screen."

Karen's body instantly became transparent.

The captain had used this spell when they sneaked into the Taofman Villa together last time. Karen found it quite interesting, so he had learned it during a meal.

...

The newly renovated rooms of the villa were filled with a thick, pungent odor, indicating that the house had not yet been properly aired out.

Karen opened a second-floor window first and entered through it. The moment he stepped inside, he saw someone showering behind the frosted glass door of the washroom. Judging by the length of the hair, it should be a woman.

Helen?

Karen recalled the appearance of that Light girl. She did have long hair. This girl possessed a talent for sensing the power of Light that surpassed ordinary people, and she excelled in spellcasting.

Shifting his steps, Karen walked toward the washroom. However, he did not feel the slightest bit of titillation at the prospect of a woman showering inside, because he was still using his invisibility spell, and he had not deliberately concealed his movements when opening the window earlier.

In other words, the woman showering in this washroom had long since noticed his intrusion. The only reason she continued to wash was purely to catch him off guard.

Once he closed the distance to the washroom door, the glass shattered outright, and two rings of light blasted straight toward Karen.

Karen spread his hands, forming a defensive light screen before him that blocked the rings.

Inside the washroom, Helen, who had thrown on a bathrobe, was just preparing to unleash a second round of spells when she froze upon seeing Karen utilize Light magic.

Karen also dispelled the Light concealment spell on his body, revealing his form clad in the silver mask.

Vernon's figure appeared at the top of the stairs, his body already clad in a layer of Light armor, a greatsword of Light gripped in his hand. Having just rushed upstairs, he swung the blade down toward Karen.

Karen sidestepped, evading the slash, while his right hand erupted with Light flames that swept toward Vernon. Vernon swung his greatsword to disperse the flames, halting his offensive.

Looking at Helen and Vernon, Karen truly felt a strange sense of temporal dislocation.

The last time he encountered them, he could only pretend to be an ordinary person. When the fighting broke out, he could only drag Piaget and Mr. Bede into hiding down in the basement.

Yet now, facing them, he could remain entirely composed.

"I am not here for you. Where is he?"

Karen did not utter the name "Will" directly, worried it might be an alias.

"Elder Will is waiting for you in the study upstairs," Helen answered.

Waiting for me?

A jolt went through Karen’s mind. Had he already been discovered?

The man had even anticipated that he would come looking for him?

Logically speaking, the spiritual imprint in the study of the funeral parlor's backyard lacked the capacity to transmit messages externally. So, had the man deduced this simply from the moment his connection to the spiritual imprint was severed?

In any case, Karen thoroughly disliked this feeling of being "arranged."

"I will go see him." Leaving these words behind, Karen walked straight past Helen and Vernon. The two exchanged a glance but did not bar his path.

Ascending to the third floor, Karen walked to the study door and knocked.

"Knock... Knock..."

"Come in."

Karen gripped the doorknob, paused for a moment, and then slowly pushed the door open.

As it turned out, he had been over-cautious.

Inside sat a kindly, elderly man clad in a gray trench coat, holding a teacup in his right hand and a book in his left, utterly engrossed in his reading.

Only when Karen stepped before him did he raise his head, casting a glance at Karen before speaking: "A beautiful, exquisite mask."

With that, Mr. Will picked up the teapot, poured a cup of water for Karen, placed it before him, and continued:

"You arrived sooner than I anticipated, which proves your eagerness, does it not?"

Karen still offered no answer.

"Take a seat, do not remain standing." Reluctantly, Mr. Will set down his book, slipping an elegant bookmark into the page he had been reading.

He possessed a great love for reading, a fact Karen knew only too well; the collection of books he kept was fascinating, and Karen's primary form of entertainment these days was combing through that very library for something to read.

Karen took a seat in the chair across from the desk.

"Do you enjoy reading?" Mr. Will inquired.

"I do."

"It seems our Fates are truly intertwined, then. Heh, I believe all of this is the guidance of the God of Light, is it not?"

Mr. Will took another sip of his tea and said, "In truth, you had no need to make this special trip. There is no conflict between you and me; on the contrary, there is a deep affinity between us. After all, before returning to York City, I truly never expected to learn of your existence here."

Karen finally spoke: "I did not expect you to return, either."

"I had no wish to return, but someone had to come and awaken these two children, did they not?"

"And after they are awakened?" Karen asked.

"Afterwards? Afterwards, I shall return. I am not what you imagine; I enjoy great freedom within the Church. Few care to govern me, and few are capable of it.

Preaching to the people in the remote colonies brings me joy. Did you know? In truth, the Light had reached those lands long ago, only to be lost later and forgotten by the people. Yet, fascinatingly, a branch of the Light actually emerged there. I am deeply interested in it, and I intend to study it.

Therefore, I will not interfere with your affairs in York City. Rest assured."

"Very well, I understand."

Karen's mind was put at ease.

"So, these two children shall be left in your care."

Hm?

Left in my care?

What does that mean?

...

Inside the black, secondhand Ponce sedan parked by the highway, Kevin was excitedly gripping the steering wheel with both paws.

Suddenly, a figure wearing a silver mask materialized in the passenger seat, removing the mask the moment he sat down.

Kevin turned his head to look at him, blinking.

"Woof?"

"Are you asking me why I am here?"

Kevin nodded.

"I agreed to meet someone here.

Wait, why are you here? If you are here, where is he?"

Neo asked.

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