Do You Think Valerius Will Survive the Night?

"But before that, I should at least inspect the goods, right?"

"Of course, please follow me."

Xingsu stepped out of the dilapidated hut first, the damp evening wind from the Fleuve Cendre carrying a stench of decay. The leader raised his hand and whispered a few words to a henchman beside him, who immediately disappeared into the shadows of the alley and followed Xingsu's footsteps.

The two walked through the winding, narrow alleyway and came to a secluded corner on the riverbank, where a heavy wooden box, unassuming in appearance, was placed deep inside.

The leader stepped forward and lifted the lid of the box. In the dim light, there lay Lynette, tightly bound inside—her eyes were covered with a black cloth, her mouth and nose were sealed with duct tape, and her limbs were tightly bound with ropes. The Damselette's eyes were closed, and she looked as if she had fallen into a coma.

"A catwoman exhibiting bestial behavior, with genuine ears and a tail. I've drugged her; she won't wake up for at least half a day. I believe Valerius will appreciate this gift."

The leader leaned closer, reached out to check her breath, and, confirming she was still alive, his hand moved restlessly downwards, about to touch Lynette's body.

My arm was suddenly slapped hard by a strong force, the crisp sound particularly jarring on the silent shore.

"This is for Valerius, not for you." Xingsu's voice was icy cold.

The leader winced and withdrew his hand, forcing a sheepish smile and nodding repeatedly in apology. But in the Xingsu turned his back to him, a sinister and ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

But the moment Xingsu turned around, he put on a smile again, "Brother Morning Star, shall we go?"

Xingsu nodded and followed.

There's also Lyney was hiding in the shadows and had just exchanged a secret Xingsu.

Night had completely enveloped the world. The group left the filthy alleys of Fleuve Cendre and the bustling Court of Fontaine. Finally, they stopped atop a cliff overlooking the sea.

A luxurious mansion stands on the edge of the cliff, completely out of place with the surrounding desolate and dilapidated environment.

"Arrive."

The leader paused before the tightly closed, intricately carved iron gate, turned to Xingsu beside him, and said meaningfully, "Lord Valerius dislikes the noise in the city; all core affairs are handled here. Only those with sufficiently valuable goods are qualified to stand on these steps."

Xingsu raised his eyes and gazed silently at the secluded mansion on the cliff. The entire building was heavily fortified, with sentries posted in the shadows, making it an excellent hiding place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The courtyard of the cliffside mansion is exquisite and luxurious, with spotless bluestone tiles and warm gold glass lamps hanging under the eaves, creating a stark contrast with the surging, dark sea outside the cliff.

In the very center of the courtyard, a richly dressed man with an extremely effeminate appearance stood by the railing.

His gaze fell on the wooden box he had brought with him, and when he saw the unconscious and bound Lynette inside, a deep smile instantly appeared in his eyes, his brows and eyes filled with the joy of certain victory.

"Yes, I really like this gift."

Valerius clapped his hands lightly, and after a few crisp claps, two servants in black immediately came out of the house, carefully lifted the wooden box, and carried the unconscious Lynette deeper into the mansion.

Once the figure disappeared, he turned to look at Xingsu beside him, his attitude appearing very gentle, and pointed to the man standing silently to the side.

"Let me introduce you. This is my second-in-command. He's in charge of all the businesses in the city. You should already know him, so I won't go into details."

The second-in-command beside him had his eyes downcast and a formulaic, shallow smile on his face; he was the boss.

Valerius stepped forward, gesturing affectionately, and said in a very warm tone, "Come, come, you've come with such a weighty pledge of allegiance; you've truly rendered meritorious service. I've specially prepared a welcome banquet for you; today, I'll treat you to a feast to wash away the dust of your journey."

The warm yellow firelight softly bathed the wooden walls, casting flickering shadows.

Valerius led Xingsu into the house and gestured, "Please sit down and wait a moment."

After speaking, he turned and slowly walked away, the heavy wooden door closing gently, leaving Xingsu alone in the candlelit room.

The flickering candlelight cast shadows on the floor and walls, time slowly passing by, and the deathly silence in the air gradually accumulated and fermented.

In the blink of an eye!

The room was filled with a stark white light as a large group of thugs in black lined up and poured in, each armed with a gun. The cold muzzles of their guns were all locked onto Xingsu, who sat motionless, forming a dense, overwhelming blockade that prevented any escape or counterattack.

The crowd slowly parted, Valerius stepped out. The feigned gentleness on his refined face had vanished, replaced by an unyielding gloom in his eyes. A cruel yet amused sneer played on his lips as he silently surveyed the man surrounded by gunfire.

Hello, Morning Star.

His voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in the empty room.

"You know, you might be very skilled and valuable to me. But unfortunately, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

"The situation in Fontaine has been tense lately, with strict investigations. Yet, you suddenly come to join me at this critical juncture, taking over my position and offering such a generous gift. The timing is too deliberate, making me suspicious."

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, staring intently at Xingsu's expression.

"Don't worry, you seem perfectly normal, and your actions are impeccable. But I'm a very suspicious person. Even if there's only a one in a thousand chance that you're an undercover agent, I'll still kill you."

Of course, I might have wronged you, but so what?

"There are countless people mingling in the Fleuve Cendre, hoping to climb the social ladder by attaching themselves to me. I'm never short of people to take over my work if I want to. Losing one of you is no big deal."

After saying that, he chuckled softly, his expression radiating the absolute control and ruthlessness of someone in a superior position.

"I must say, I really like the gift you gave me; you deserve credit for that. Therefore, I'm making an exception and treating you with special courtesy. I should at least show you the etiquette of a nobleman."

"I can generously allow you to choose a dignified way to die. Or, is there anything else you'd like to do before you die? Consider it my return gift to you."

"Shh... you're being a bit noisy."

Before Valerius could react—

Snap!

A crisp snap of fingers rang out.

In an instant, the black-clad thugs who filled the room, their guns pointed at the ceiling, froze in their tracks!

Everyone's pupils dilated instantly, their eyes became empty and dull, and all the strength in their bodies suddenly vanished. The force holding the guns in their fingers completely loosened, and the gun barrels that had been firmly locked onto Xingsu fell limply to the ground.

"Spirit Separation"

When subjected to the influence of the Spirit Separation, one's consciousness falls into scenes from the past, becoming immersed in bygone times, unable to perceive the present reality, and unable to initiate any action; outwardly, one appears frozen and still.

In other words, they're controlled by their memories.

"So, Mr. Valerius, can we now have a frank and open discussion?"