Chapter 221

She was so scared that tears welled up in her eyes.

Until Tianna's impatient voice came:

"Go to my pharmacy and get some medicine to treat your burn. Is that so hard to understand? Do I have to teach you myself?"

"Human nature is complex and multifaceted, like a deck of cards; it can be played in two completely different ways depending on the circumstances..."

"Good people might secretly do something immoral when no one is looking, and bad people might suddenly do something good; it's not unusual."

"I think you've seen good people get angry, but have you ever seen a bad person show a gentle side? Actually, yes, I have. I've seen one—a very selfish and evil wizard, but occasionally he would show a slightly better side to others as long as their interests weren't threatened."

"In other words... some so-called 'Black Mage' don't actually deserve to be sentenced to death. Perhaps they are even heroes in the eyes of others—but of course, they still need to be caught; it's our duty."

In the office of the squad leader at the Mageseeker Order camp, Jonathan was enthusiastically sharing his views on "good guys and bad guys, magic and Black Mage."

Chen Ce, who had been kept listening to these "philosophical" pronouncements ever since returning from the Hall of Valor, nodded and yawned.

Jonathan paused slightly, then said cautiously, "So... you should understand why I was late today too...? You know, even good people do bad things sometimes..."

"Mmm, I know." Chen Ce yawned again. "But we can't assume someone is a good person just because they did one bad thing, right? Although both good and bad people can do good and bad things, we have to judge a person dialectically from a holistic perspective, right?"

"Well..."

"Captain, I know you also arrive half an hour late every day."

"Cough cough..."

"So this shouldn't be considered an occasional occurrence, right? It's only occasional when you arrive on time, right?"

"Hey, that's not how it works..." Jonathan was sweating profusely. "I didn't have a choice before, but now I just want to be a good person..."

"Whatever, it's up to you. What does this have to do with me?" Chen Ce was genuinely getting sleepy. "You're the captain, what's wrong with being a little late? Do you think I'd arrest you for being late?"

"As for the issue of role models... I still want to set a good example for you all... really..." Jonathan's sweaty and righteous demeanor made him look somewhat comical.

After a long pause, he continued in a low voice, "What I mean is... could you please not tell Garen, the Crownguard Swordsman...?"

"Huh?" This map of the Yan Kingdom is a bit long, Chen Ce didn't react for a moment.

"I saw Garen, the Swordsman, today... He came to see you... and even took you..." Jonathan rubbed his hands together obsequiously, looking somewhat lewd. "Next time you go out... could you please not mention my affairs...?"

"Who said anything about you...?"

"What if Garen, the Swordmaster, asks you directly...?"

"I told you you clock in at work on time every day."

"Oh, okay, okay... Thank you so much!" Jonathan enthusiastically offered his seat to the other person, as if Chen Ce was the squad leader—or rather, an official from above who had come on an "incognito visit."

Chen Ce felt helpless.

After a moment of silence, Jonathan spoke again in that subservient tone:

"Um... actually, there's something else I wanted to ask you..."

"Just tell me what it is," Chen Ce shook his head.

"Then I'll just ask directly...?"

"Ask away."

"Well..." Jonathan rubbed his hands together again, his humble attitude suggesting he was afraid the other party might fire him if they were unhappy—even though he was the squad leader, hmm.

"What I mean is... I wanted to ask..."

"Would you prefer me to step into the barracks with my left foot or my right foot first every day?"

Chen Ce:...

Another day of slacking off.

After spending half the day idly, Jonathan went to lead the team in training, while Chen Ce spent the rest of the day slacking off in the squad leader's office.

Just as he was about to leave work and go back to play with Sona, the office owner suddenly returned.

"Busy, Brother Ce?" Jonathan greeted him respectfully.

"Nothing. What's wrong, Captain?" Chen Ce also stood up from his seat.

"It's like this," Jonathan had completely humbled himself after what happened this morning and what he'd heard. "We've been given a task, and we need your help."

"I?"

"Oh right... it's not that I wanted to trouble you, it's just... the higher-ups specifically requested that you go."

"They specifically asked me to go?" Chen Ce was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized something.

What's meant to happen will happen eventually—those trivial troubles that pose no threat to him whatsoever.

Tianna.

Unable to openly harm herself, she sent her husband— Eldred, the commander of the Mageseeker Order —to cause her some trouble.

"I don't know why either... The regional liaison specifically asked for you." Jonathan scratched his head. "Actually, I find it strange too. If you want to know the reason, I'll definitely ask for you later."

"No need," Chen Ce, who was as clear-headed as a mirror, waved his hand.

"Then... this task..."

"Tell me what it is first?"

"It's also a mission to search for Black Mage." Jonathan produced an internal proclamation from the Mageseeker Order. "But the location isn't in Great City, it's in... yes, Fossbarrow. Look, here."

Jonathan pointed to the map on the wall.

A highland town located in northwestern Demacia.

Speaking of which... this town is actually named after the Crownguard family.

"The mission intelligence says that something resembling Black Mage has appeared in Fossbarrow and has already harmed several innocent people. We need a few people to go there and investigate."

"Okay, I understand." Chen Ce nodded, pondering to himself for a moment.

This mission... doesn't seem to have anything worth paying attention to. There aren't any heroes around in Fossbarrow either— Quinn is in Uwendale, Fiora is in Great City, and there's nothing worth exploring there.

Then there's no point in doing this mission—it's pointless and you'll only get annoyed by Eldred's people.

Let's just have the prince help us get this task canceled.

After careful consideration, Chen Ce prepared to refuse.

But just then, a long-forgotten voice suddenly rang in his mind—

[Accept... Go... Do not refuse...]

It was Raum, the spying demon who hadn't spoken in a long time.

[There lies the secret I seek... another demon...]

[After peeking... I grant you power...]

Chapter 82 The Fallen Angel Did Not Lose His Wings

Chen Ce finally finished work on time.

On his way back, he remembered what Raum had told him... when squad leader Jonathan told him about the mission.

[Fossbarrow has the secret I want]

[Another Demon]

That's what Raum said.

The sunset at dusk was beautiful, with streaks of pink and orange hanging in the sky, like a romantic scene from a painter's brush. But Chen Ce knew that after the beautiful sunset came the silent night.

Fossbarrow's demon... if it's Fossbarrow...

A demon did indeed appear there.

That was many years ago—in the original timeline, Lux and Garen both encountered the demon's incarnation. They confronted the demon's fear in that remote little town.

The ending... wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. A child controlled by a demon was saved, but many others died.

After that, the demon never appeared again, but Chen Ce knew it wasn't because the demon had been defeated—back then, neither Lux's Flash nor Garen's greatsword could harm the demon itself.

It didn't appear; it simply left on its own.

The reason is unknown.

Perhaps it simply felt there was nothing there worth "devouring"...? Or perhaps there were other reasons... but in any case, the demon did not disappear.

That demon is...

[Nightmare - Nocturne]

A very young demon.

Its history is far greater than that of ancient demons like Fiddlesticks and Evelynn, and even Raum is far superior.

"Is it really Nocturne...? After so many years, it has reappeared in Fossbarrow...?"

"No... it wasn't just the time Lux and Garen went... Nocturne had been in Fossbarrow much earlier..."

"This town is named after an ancestor of the Crownguard family... He was the first person to fight Nocturne... He pierced the monster's chest with a silver sword, and then they both fell off the cliff..."

"Disappeared twice, returned three times...?"

"Just like Mordekaiser."

Chen Ce walked down the street muttering to himself, then suddenly changed direction—instead of going straight home, he felt he should find someone who knew the truth.

Lux.

The House Crownguard's estate is not far; it only takes half an hour to get there if you walk quickly.

The spacious and magnificent manor soon came into view.

Chen Ce glanced at the guards by the gate, then at the paths inside the manor... After a moment's thought, he decided to "break" in directly.

The Deceive was unleashed; his invisible body instantly passed through the thick iron gates and walls, appearing directly at the other end of the manor.

Following the route he remembered, he soon found the blonde, blue-eyed girl in a study in the southwest of the manor.

At that moment, she was sitting at her desk, twirling her pen listlessly, her eyes, though seemingly fixed on the book, were filled with longing for the outside world. She appeared to be studying, but also seemed not entirely so.

Just like every teenage girl experiencing the stirrings of first love, yearning for love and freedom.

"Good afternoon." Chen Ce broke his stealth by speaking from the window.

To Lux, it was as if a face had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stuck to the window.

"Huh?!" She was startled.

"Open the door, open the door..." Chen Ce pounded on the window with his forehead like a vengeful ghost.

"Mr. Chen Ce...? What are you doing...?" Lux was taken aback at first, then quickly went to open the window. "Stop fooling around..."

"Did I scare you?" Chen Ce chuckled as he climbed through the window into the house, looking just like Old Chen next door sneaking in for a sneaky prank.

"You always manage to do something unexpected..."

"Thank you for the exaggeration."

"I wasn't praising you...!" Lux smiled helplessly, but couldn't hide the joy in her beautiful eyes.

She was very happy to see Chen Ce.

She was even happier to see Chen Ce during her boring study time.

"Why did you come all of a sudden? Wait a minute... I'll make you some tea."

"No need." Chen Ce sat by the window and took the girl's hand. "Instead of drinking here, why don't you come with me to find your sister Sona and drink together?"

"Huh? Going out?"

"May I?"

"Well..."

"You shouldn't be under house arrest anymore, right?"