Gilan

The host, "Mr. Crescent," was dead.

He had been gravely wounded by Gilan, fallen with him to the bottom of the tower, and then been refined on the spot.

At this very moment, he lay quietly in Gilan's pocket in the form of a small glass orb.

Once this wager was over, Gilan would use "Iridescence" to corrupt him and ruthlessly seize the Mystery Points within.

Gilan was currently inside the film, watched by countless pairs of eyes outside it. He did not dare use "Iridescence" recklessly and risk exposing himself.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Liliya let out a piercing scream.

She fell hard onto the ground and scrambled backward in terror, trembling as she stared at the top-hatted freak before her.

"Y-you... who exactly are you?!"

Liliya demanded.

The top-hatted freak dragged his long robe behind him, hands clasped behind his back as he slowly approached the red-haired girl. Then he bent down, revealing a stiff, eerie smile.

Liliya nearly fainted on the spot.

Her little face was deathly pale, no less white than the freak's painted face, while cold sweat streamed down her brow.

"Miss Liliya, there's no need to be afraid."

The top-hatted freak spoke with a smile, but the voice was Gilan's own—clear and magnetic.

"It's me."

"M-Mr. Gilan?!"

Liliya's eyes widened in disbelief.

"How... how did you become like this?"

But in the next second, she seemed to think of something. She abruptly shook her head, terror flooding her face.

"No! That's not right! You're not Mr. Gilan... You killed him already, didn't you?!"

"Miss Liliya..."

Gilan had been about to explain, but seeing the girl sitting on the ground and constantly retreating, clearly distrustful of him—

After a moment's thought, he simply straightened up and bared a sinister grin. Then, in Mr. Crescent's uniquely strange accent,