The Church

That afternoon, the two men were sitting in the living room, drinking coffee Old Albert had brewed himself while listening to him explain Germany's geography, culture, and customs, when someone lightly knocked on the suite door.

Chen Mo gestured for Old Albert to remain seated, then set down his cup and got up to open the door.

Outside stood a young white man holding three boxes. He smiled at Chen Mo. "Sir, these are the clothes you ordered from our shop."

A few days earlier, Chen Mo had taken Albert to a nearby tailor shop and shoe store to have several sets of clothes and leather shoes made, leaving the hotel address behind. The shoes had been delivered long ago, while the clothes had only just been finished today.

Chen Mo stepped aside to let the young man in and pointed at the table in the living room. "Thank you. Just put them there."

After paying a tip and seeing off the delighted tailor's apprentice, Chen Mo returned to the table. There were three boxes, one large and two small. He handed Albert the box bearing his name, then opened the one with his own name on it. He did not touch the largest box.

Inside were two neatly folded black wool suits. The British tailor's craftsmanship was quite good, with fine materials and exquisite workmanship. Chen Mo looked at the dark gray suit in Old Albert's hands and shook his head helplessly.

"How is it, Eddie? Go try it on in your room and see how it compares to your old one."

"It's all right. It counts as pretty good in Liverpool. But I still think my original one is better." Old Albert inspected the stitching with a solemn expression.

The old artist had a prideful side as well. He always insisted that the clothes made by the tailors here were inferior and would rather continue wearing his somewhat worn dark gray suit. When they had gone to the tailor shop, he would not even have entered if Chen Mo had not pulled him along.

Chen Mo assumed it was simply his preference for tailors from his own country and said nothing more. Carrying the large and small boxes, he returned to his room.

After closing the door, Chen Mo set the box containing the suits aside and opened the larger box.

After checking its contents, Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction. Leaving one set of clothes out, he put everything else back, then stored the box away in his space.

When Albert returned to the living room in his new clothes, the sight before him froze him in place. He was so startled that he nearly cried out.

Another "Albert" was sitting on the sofa and looking at him. The clothes were identical, and so was the face. Albert felt as though his brain had stopped working.

Yet the old man, who had weathered all the changes and hardships of life, quickly calmed down. In a deep voice, he asked, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"Who are you? How did you get in here?"

As though a recording were being played back, the "Albert" on the sofa spoke. Even his voice was exactly the same. Old Eddie's mind grew even more confused, but his entire body became more guarded, and his gaze sharpened.

Seeing that he had thoroughly frightened the simple-minded Old Albert, and that the next step would be drawing blades against each other, Chen Mo smiled and removed the mask from his head. "Haha! What do you think, Eddie? I made it based on your appearance. Does it look convincing?"

Chen Mo tossed the mask over. Old Albert, who had only just recovered from the abrupt turn of events, caught it in a fluster and examined it closely. "This thing... what is it made of? It looks completely real. You had me fooled just now."

"Silicone, a wig, and paint. It took quite a bit of effort. I had to try many times before I got it right." Silicone had already been invented by the end of the nineteenth century, and the manufacturing process was quite mature by this period. With Chen Mo's careful alterations, the difference could not be detected without touching it.

"That's incredible! But what about your voice? How did it become exactly like mine?" Albert thought of another question.

"It's simple. You only need to control your vocal cords to alter the resonance area, then adjust how your mouth and nasal cavity produce sound." In reality, many impersonators could mimic celebrities so perfectly that they seemed genuine. For Chen Mo, whose control over his body was exceptionally strong, it was even less of a problem.

Chen Mo stayed in Liverpool for a full month. By then, it was February 1942, and it was time to leave.

One foggy morning, Chen Mo quietly left the hotel. He left ten thousand dollars for Old Albert on the table in the living room. During their brief time together, Chen Mo had grown fond of the meticulous, generous old man. His earnest and detailed guidance had also helped Chen Mo greatly, so Chen Mo was naturally willing to lend him a hand.

The money meant little to Chen Mo, but at the time it was an enormous sum, enough for Old Albert to live out the rest of his life in peace.

It was just a pity that he would no longer be able to drink coffee brewed by Old Albert himself. Chen Mo shook his head reluctantly and left Liverpool with this small regret.

March 1942

Tønsberg, Norway

In a remote town on the outskirts stood an ancient, unadorned church. Within it lay the royal tombs of the Norwegian Royal Family.

Norway had already been occupied by Germany, yet the night in this remote town remained peaceful and tranquil.

Unfortunately, that peace was soon shattered. A massive tank, three stories tall and dozens of meters long, rumbled into town. Wherever its tracks passed, neatly laid stone slabs cracked apart, and the surrounding houses trembled with the vibrations.

Like an iron beast, the colossal tank passed through the small town square and drove straight to the church. It crashed directly into the entrance. The tall, heavy wooden doors collapsed along with the surrounding stone walls. As the dust settled, the scene within was revealed.

Several thick gray stone pillars stood in the limited space, supporting the church's rounded vault. Ancient, mysterious murals were carved into the walls, while a heavy, primitive stone coffin rested in the center of the church.

There was only one white-bearded old man inside the church, along with a civilian who had been crushed beneath the fallen stones and no longer made a sound.

A squad of soldiers filed in through the collapsed entrance. Six of them quickly took up positions in the corners, weapons raised as they stood guard. The squad leader led the remaining three soldiers to the stone coffin and attempted to open it.

A domineering black Six-Wheel Off-Road Sports Car slowly came to a halt before the church. A tall, icy figure stepped out. Shiny black military boots struck the hard stone road with heavy, oppressive clicks. He wore a black military trench coat that radiated authority and pressure. His cold face was slightly rigid, and his icy eyes carried a trace of brutality and madness.

The officer slowly entered the church, and the soldiers inside hurriedly stood at attention and saluted.

"It took me a long time to find this place. I truly have to praise you." There was not the slightest expression on the officer's cold face. "Help him up."

One of the soldiers hurriedly pulled the old man to his feet. Faced with this sudden upheaval, the old man appeared somewhat panicked.

"I think you are a man of great vision. In that regard, we are very alike." As he spoke, the officer helped straighten the old man's disheveled clothes. Yet his utterly emotionless voice sent a chill through the heart.

"We are nothing alike." Though panic filled his heart, the old man did not fear or submit.

"Is that so? Yet what others regard as superstition, both you and I regard as science." The officer looked into the old man's eyes.

"What you are looking for does not exist." The old man's voice trembled slightly.

"Then why go to such lengths to hide it?" Growing somewhat impatient, the officer removed his hat and handed it to a subordinate before walking over to the stone coffin.

He placed both hands on the coffin lid and shoved. The stone coffin, which several soldiers had been unable to move even an inch despite using all their strength, was easily pushed open by the officer. As the heavy lid crashed to the floor, everything inside was revealed.