Chapter 199

And so, it became her.

The ignorant and naive spirit became the materialized demon Evelynn.

She found pleasure even in the suffering of war... The pain of Runeterra became her obsession, almost her only enjoyment. She was hopelessly addicted.

As the war ended and the suffering gradually subsided, her "food" became scarce... She felt despair.

So she decided to create suffering herself.

She wants to bring pain to this world.

She wanted to enjoy the Feast she had prepared herself.

She lurked in the shadows, observing her prey.

She possessed the alluring appearance of a human woman, her figure and features as perfect as a painting... and indeed, that was largely true. Her beautiful appearance was forged from human desires, almost "tailor-made" according to human preferences.

Her beauty was unparalleled, her allure irresistible... to both men and women.

This makes her hunting very simple--

Evelynn's gaze settled on a man lying in a drain. He was still clutching a bottle of beetroot liqueur in his hand.

The thought of predation flashed through the demon's mind, and he sighed inwardly.

A cockroach scurried across the drunkard's face. He was completely intoxicated and numb. Even if she aroused him, he would be dazed and sluggish. She loved seeing her prey's impatient expression before she could tear off the mask, but there was no hope with him. She might even need to peel the skin off his entire arm to make him scream.

This food is absolutely terrible... it can't even be called food.

Evelynn dismissed the idea of "going to any lengths" and continued walking down the muddy corridor. She passed a small tavern with dimly lit candles, damp and dimly lit. A heavily made-up woman, burping, burst through the door and staggered into the darkness, clutching something in her hand.

For a fleeting moment, Evelynn also considered this woman; perhaps she could confess her love to her, throw herself into her arms, and then send her into an unspeakable hell.

But it turned out that this woman was still no good—she was a prostitute at the docks, and deep down she always suppressed a melancholy that ruined the eating experience.

Evelynn preferred the pain she herself inflicted.

Apathetic drunkards won't do, nor will hesitant prostitutes... She wants people who are full of happiness. Their suffering often comes more intensely and more realistically.

The demon continued its advance, gliding lightly through the shadows of the town, past two more drunkards, past a beggar on the street, and through a bickering couple. None of these men could whet Evelynn's appetite.

Harming these people is like plucking withered flower petals—it's tasteless and unpleasant.

She must find vibrant, fresh flowers.

Only in that way can she find the greatest satisfaction.

Evelynn sighed inwardly, disappointed by the outward strength but inner weakness of this trading city.

And just then...

She suddenly sensed a presence.

It felt somewhat familiar, but mostly strange... like something from the source, yet vastly different from myself...

Her delicate nostrils twitched slightly, and her beautiful, captivating eyes gazed into the distance.

It's coming from that direction... it's very far... I can only sense a tiny bit... that aura must have traveled a long time to reach here...

I can sense it purely because of the feeling of "origin"...

It's almost like a call...

Yes...

It's an old acquaintance~

As night fell, Chen Ce finally checked into the hotel.

The daytime farce nearly mobilized the entire Great City Mageseeker Order, with hundreds of people chasing after the incessantly screeching ravens throughout the streets... They seemed to be mocking humanity's incompetence. Yes, the Raum, Demon of Secrets was deliberately playing this game.

It has to be said, its twisted sense of humor is quite... It's just fortunate that we're now "on the same side".

I always feel like this guy just loves to stir things up... One minute he's deliberately trying to make Lux lose control of her magic, the next he's deliberately causing chaos throughout the city—he could have easily avoided the former, and for the latter, he could have just lured away a few Mageseekers from the manor without making such a fuss.

It just loves to see humans make fools of themselves.

Purely amusement-seeker... no, amusement-seeker demon.

"But no matter what, Sona's situation should be stable..." Chen Ce sat at his desk, planning for the future while recalling that 36D twin-tailed beauty.

Before leaving, the Taiwanese server player gave me a notification that the interaction level was activated—and it was entirely positive, focusing on favorability and gratitude. This meant that I had initially gained Sona's trust.

It's no wonder we're from the same hometown; there's an innate sense of goodwill between us.

Once Sona finishes writing to Ionia to verify, she'll probably be able to fully accept me—at least she won't get nervous whenever she sees me anymore—and the awkward situation between the Mageseekers and the mage should soon transform into the warm hospitality between friends.

As for Lux...

Let's leave it for now and wait for the right opportunity.

The current situation is quite good.

Never before has this been such a wonderful start, please...

Chen Ce nodded in satisfaction.

But just as he was about to continue planning his next move, the voice in his mind rang out again—its tone even carrying a hint of mockery and amusement:

Your reckless actions have triggered a chain reaction... like a small pebble before an avalanche...

"What?" Chen Ce stopped writing.

[The demonic power you used today... that evil and frenzied force... has caught someone's attention...]

"Me? Didn't you deliberately use high power to make the whole city swarm with ravens? They're still out there catching birds."

[Heh... you started it...]

"Why don't you just yell 'I don't care, I don't care' at the top of your lungs?"

[Hehehehe...]

"So whose attention did it attract?" Chen Ce shrugged, not wanting to waste any more time arguing with the devil—it felt like he was dealing with an unreasonable little devil.

[They are... beings equal to me...]

"A fellow amusement seeker like you?"

[...]

"No?"

[It's a demon... a demon just like me...]

"Oh?" Chen Ce was somewhat surprised.

The demon Raum paused briefly before resuming his "watching the show" tone:

[She's here... She's very interested in you... Her inner secret is pain...]

Chapter Sixty-Six Evelynn: To Eat Fried Dough Twists or Not?

Barrett Buvelle's remains have been returned to Great City.

That hero had been a warrior, a general, a mentor, a healer... he had many identities, but he ultimately sacrificed himself as a priest. He dedicated his life to his country, and in all his roles, he was always inextricably linked to Demacia, until the very last moment of his life.

In his youth, he was a good soldier and a good general; in his later years, a good husband and a good father; but as he lay in his coffin, he was merely a martyr, a hero... He deserved so much respect, yet how could cold, hard inscriptions truly capture the grandeur of his life?

Sona couldn't understand it, so she played the music alone.

Kahina couldn't understand it, so she trained even harder.

Lestara Buvelle couldn't understand it either, but she had to be strong... On the day Barrett's body was returned, she received some acquaintances—but not all of them were "friends".

The House Crownguard... they are the king's most loyal supporters. They are approachable and respectable, but their leader is not so simple.

Tianna Crownguard.

A woman with immense power.

She was already in her thirties, but her delicate features showed no signs of aging... She was very well-preserved and didn't look like a soldier or general who had been on the front lines for many years.

But the truth is... she was a marshal.

Marshal of Great City of Demacia.

Her figure was so tall that it matched her arrogance... From the moment she entered, she never once looked directly at anyone. Her status, her power, her prestige... she represented the entire Crownguard family.

She didn't even change her surname to her husband's after she got married.

She is a...

A ruthless woman.

"Good morning, dear Lestara." Tianna Crownguard walked ahead of everyone—including her husband, the commander of the Mageseeker Order. She looked as radiant as a queen.

Oh no... she was more arrogant than a king. She was like a messenger of the gods, surveying her territory, which she could destroy with a flick of her wrist.

Good morning, Tianna.

Clatter.

The sound of her heels hitting the ground was quite noticeable, Lestara stood up.

Her expression was somewhat indifferent.

Although she has never been good at hiding her true thoughts, it is very rare for her to wear her emotions so openly on her face—she was starting to lose control.

It wasn't entirely because of her husband's sacrifice.

It was also because of the woman in front of him.

She welcomed all those who sincerely came to pay their respects, but not those despicable individuals who used this tragedy as a stepping stone to the pinnacle of power...

And clearly, the arrogant woman in front of me belongs to the latter category.

She was even... even... inextricably linked to Barrett's death...

Three weeks ago, during the Battle of the Gate of Mourning, she served as the supreme commander of the Dauntless Vanguard... Under her command, the Vanguard failed to protect Barrett, nor General Percyville Bronze...

However, she was promoted to a higher position after the war.

Lestara couldn't pretend to understand this logic.

"I regret Mr. Barrett Buvelle's departure." Tianna noticed the look of disgust in his eyes, but her expression remained unchanged.

She took off her hat, her salute perfectly executed, as if she had practiced it a hundred times beforehand... yet she clearly exuded a coldness.

"Yes...everyone feels regret..." Lestara pursed her lips, forcing a smile. "But perhaps not everyone was sincere."

"Those hateful Noxus —enemies. Perhaps..." Tianna's tone remained calm, but her long, delicate eyebrows noticeably drooped slightly. Lestara noticed.

"Yes, perhaps..." Lestara repeated.

Tianna lowered her eyebrows by another half step.

Before anything could happen in this tense atmosphere, a soldier in gleaming armor pulled Tianna aside to report on defense matters or some other convenient reason. It was a ruse, as anyone with eyes could see.

After she left, another man immediately approached Lestara.

He was Tianna's husband.

Eldred, commander of the Mageseeker Order.

He was tall and thin, with somewhat slender eyes. The thick, luxurious formal suit he wore couldn't fully support his less-than-proportioned frame.

Honestly, he doesn't really look like a... "hero of justice"? Should I put it that way? Anyway, that's what the Mageseekers always joke about behind his back.

The leader of the messengers of justice has arrived. Oh, how gratifying... Lestara shook her head dismissively.

"My esteemed Mrs. Buvelle, please allow me to offer you my highest respect." Her husband, Eldred, was far more respectful in his words than Tianna.

But the unpleasant sharpness in his tone is far more disgusting.

"I'd like to talk to you about the library donation... Mr. Buvelle's generosity is truly touching. A spacious library is a generous donation to Great City," he said with a smile.

"Yes, my husband has always been generous." Lestara made no attempt to hide her indifference.

"I'm very curious about what kind of books you have in your collection."

"Don't worry, the Mageseekers won't find any magic books in my house, I can assure you."

"Ah, but descriptions of magic can also be dangerous, Mrs. Buvelle." His smile vanished, and his rock-solid expression could not conceal the madness gleaming in his eyes.