Shirin once read a psychological research paper in the library of the Institute of Truth. The author of that article claimed that fear is a kind of psychological defense mechanism and one of the ways for people to protect themselves.

So using the words "I'm not afraid" to self-hypnotize didn't seem to be a wise move. But she was too nervous and couldn't think of any way to keep herself calm.

Maybe it would work to pretend to be angry? But that is much more dangerous than pretending to be brave. After all, Thomas End is completely different from Dead Leaf and Seagull. The behavior of those two people is more or less predictable, and Dead Leaf will never hurt her.

However, Mr. End...

In Shireen's eyes, he is a complete mystery, completely unpredictable. Everything that has happened in the past few days seems to be just a performance or a game to him.

If Dead Leaf hadn't accidentally let slip a few minutes ago, Shirin would have even suspected that this man had no human emotions at all.

But it's different now.

Now he is no longer an unsolved mystery. There is a small crack called "Revenge" in that mysterious and perfect image. If Shireen applies her power carefully, the crack may become a gap.

, giving her the opportunity to peek into Mr. Ende's heart and find out his weaknesses...

"Surprise." However, as soon as he opened his mouth, those unformed plans immediately disappeared. "I must admit that you did not disappoint me this time, Miss Marron. I feel more and more that I asked you to join this little team in the first place.

It was a very correct decision to join the team. Although that decision was just a whim one afternoon, your successive outstanding performances have proved your worth."

For a moment, her memory returned to the "friendly conversation" they had in the basement a week ago. Since then, Mr. End has always been fond of this rhetorical way of speaking...

He was a man who died once and was resurrected the next day. You don't know him at all.

"I just want to know the answer," she said, "Why is Clarks in the ghetto? What did he mean by those words when he was just unconscious?"

Dead Leaf gently tugged on her sleeve. Shirin turned her head and found that the female elf was winking at her.

"Don't piss him off," the tuner whispered, "don't."

Mr. Ende walked towards them slowly, with a slight smile still on his face. Shirin felt that the dead leaves beside her seemed to tighten, like a hare being stared at by a python.

"Answer, what a beautiful word." He said softly, "When I was your age, I also felt that everything should have a satisfactory answer. Unfortunately... you see, until now, some

I haven't found the answer to the question either. They are all good questions, covering various fields, such as philosophy, logic and mysticism. And the question that has troubled me the longest happens to be related to the awakening of the elves' talents."

He smiled as he spoke. Shirin felt that Gu Ye's hand pulling on her sleeve seemed to increase its intensity.

Don't be afraid, she told herself, you are not afraid of him. However, her hands trembled involuntarily. "I thought you were already a professional in this field, Mr. Ende."

"Ah, if I have learned anything in these years of searching for answers, it is that 'the more professional a person is, the more aware they are of how ignorant they are.'" He turned to the dead leaves, "I'll go check on you in a moment.

The child mentioned, her name is Riley Nightstar, right? Nightstar has always been unwilling to have anything to do with us. If he knew that you saved his daughter... Ha, I really can't wait to see him.

expression."

Dead Leaf cleared her throat, "She's upstairs, with the seagulls."

"Then you don't mind going up and waiting? I want to talk to Miss Marron in private."

The hand on the sleeve loosened, and Shireen suddenly felt a sense of fear. If Dead Leaf left now, she would be alone with Mr. End. Although Clarks was lying next to him, he was still in a coma after all.

middle.

"Of course I don't mind. But if you don't mind either, Mr. End," Dead Leaf said in a light tone as if talking about dinner, "I want to stay."

He slowly turned his head, "Do you want to stay?"

"...That's right," Dead Leaf bravely met his gaze, "If that's possible."

"Of course." He narrowed his eyes and smiled, looking like a gentle gentleman. "It happens that someone needs to take care of this injured gentleman. I don't know if you have ever experienced that hand burns can cause long-term injuries.

Severe pain. Modern medical research shows that all humanoid creatures have many nerves that transmit feelings in their hands."

Just now her internal organs seemed to have been twisted together, and now they miraculously recovered. Withered leaves would not leave, and Shirin had the courage to face him again.

"Please answer my question, Mr. End. Why is Clarks here?"

He suppressed a smile and said, "I saw him here several times a few nights ago. At that time, he was driving a carriage with the Alchemy Guild's logo on it and was delivering goods in the slums. What do you think the carriage was carrying?

?”

"...Impossible." She denied subconsciously.

"A container for holding lamp balls." Mr. Ende shook his head, with regret written on his face. "Actually, you have already guessed the answer, right? Even so, you still want to get another explanation from me. You hope

He is innocent. There is no doubt that he is important to you."

"He means nothing to me." Mr. Ende cannot be given the opportunity to take advantage of that.

"It's hard to believe that you care so much about a person who is nothing." He smiled sarcastically, "But that's not important. Your guess is correct. He is one of the culprits who caused the explosion."

"You are completely far-fetched," Shirin tried hard to think of a reason to refute. "He couldn't have planned this alone. He is not a professional alchemist and has no ability to make lamp ball bombs... and it's all about him alone.

It is absolutely impossible to place so many bombs in a city in such a short period of time."

"Who is so far-fetched, Miss Marron? Do you really know this man as well as you think you do?"

She looked down at the unconscious Clarks. His hands were severely burned, revealing pink skin. It must have been painful, so painful that a big man like him could talk nonsense.

"If he was the one who planted the bomb, he could have completely avoided the danger. Why was he burned?"

"The person who played with the bomb only got his hands burned in the end? In my opinion, he must be lucky. Of course, more questions can only be answered after he wakes up."

"The answer..." she repeated softly.

"The answer," Mr. End nodded in agreement, "the Duke's witch hunters are undoubtedly very concerned about those answers. And they have a way to get it out of anyone's mouth. As long as you stay with them in the interrogation room for one night, even in the Shadow Mark Realm

The monsters will eagerly reveal everything and even make up the stories they want to hear out of thin air.”

"I won't let them take him away." Shirin clenched her fists.

"Oh, I suggest you don't stand in the way of the witch hunters." Mr. Ende reminded her kindly, "They have the right to arrest anyone, and they are unlikely to stop just because of the objections of a common girl."

"He needs treatment," Kuye interjected, "at least send him to the hospital."

"But..." Shireen knew what it meant to send him to the hospital, where more than just doctors might be waiting for him. But if Clarks had been seen in the slums a few days ago, the investigation would sooner or later lead to a witch hunt.

People were drawn to him, even his family.

Why? Clarks? Why are you doing this?

"It's no use worrying about him now," said Mr. End, "and you have more immediate worries of your own, don't you?"

He has been trying to bring the topic to awakening, Shireen thought to herself. Although she did not want to recall those maddening whispers, just as Clarks could not avoid the witch hunter's investigation, she would also need to face those problems sooner or later...

"I'm awake." Shireen said.

She was surprised by the indifference in her tone. It was as if the person who had just awakened was not her, but a stranger.

"According to my research over the years, the awakening of adult individuals is very rare, and successful examples are even rarer." He said meaningfully, "I guess you must think that you are unlucky now, right? But the fact is exactly the same.

On the contrary, your luck is nothing short of miraculous. The whole process happened as if it were a predetermined fact."

"Of course?" she repeated in shock.

"Ah, such a small room can actually have echoes?" Mr. Ende smiled.

Shireen was not in a joking mood, and she would never be in front of him, "I don't think this can be considered lucky. I almost lost control, those whispers... I can't resist their influence alone."

"Don't worry," Mr. Ende, "as long as I am by your side, your ability will not go out of control. At the same time, I will find someone to train you as soon as possible. As long as you master the method of controlling it, you can resist it to the greatest extent."

Those whispers."

He undoubtedly knew a lot about that curse, but he was not going to explain it now.

Mr. End always only explained when necessary.

"Do I need to be quarantined?" Shireen asked, "like other awakening elves?"

"No need. You are already an adult and your awakening time is very short. In fact, you have already completed your awakening."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your warm reunion," footsteps were heard on the stairs, and the seagull walked downstairs quickly, "but we may be in trouble."

"Trouble?" Gu Ye stood up quickly.

"I planted warning vines around the apartment building to notify me when anyone approaches." He looked at Mr. Ende and nodded, "And now someone is approaching here. Many people, very many."

"A scavenger?" Shireen became nervous, realizing that tonight's nightmare had just begun.

"Now we should change our name. They don't just want to pick things up from dead people on the street." Seagull said gloomily, "They seem to have figured out that instead of looking for dead people, it's better to just create corpses. And there are many people here who haven't been killed yet."

The blown-up building is available for loot..."

"It's time to call them gangsters." Mr. End nodded in agreement, and then looked at Shirin, "This place will soon become their target. If there is a battle next, I hope you will always stay with me, Marlon

Miss. After all, we don’t want your abilities to go out of control again, right?”

Shirin looked at the dead leaves, and the female elf nodded slowly.
Chapter completed!