Chapter 993
All Things Shall Be Separated by This Blade
If Arsen had been a player, he would have known the trending saying on the forums: “The stranger the lineup, the cooler the fight.” This was because the most utilitarian lineups were always relatively fixed, as there was always an “optimal solution.” While this optimal solution likely wouldn’t be able to meet challenges like speed runs, no-damage runs, or self-imposed high difficulties, it would still have sufficient universality.
For instance, when running dungeons, players who were overly cautious and adapted to the Path were generally disliked.
In another timeline, the Path of Adaptation had no “Warrior” class. This meant that the original Path of Adaptation was basically either a Hunter or a Thief. While they were quite strong in PvP, when running dungeons, they felt significantly weaker in terms of damage and would often die in unexpected mechanics due to their constant movement.
However, this didn’t mean such classes couldn’t produce masters. On the contrary, it was rather common for top masters to emerge from these skill-intensive professions, far more so than from universally popular professions with a high floor. It was like the old saying in wuxia novels: in the martial arts world, the old, the weak, the women, and the children were the most dangerous to provoke. This was roughly the idea.
Arsen couldn’t hold back and cautiously asked the question that would most satisfy Eivass: “…Who exactly are you people?”
Upon hearing this, the white-haired Vampire and the little girl in his arms displayed identical expressions of playful satisfaction. ” ‘Us?’ ” the two Children of the Moon asked in unison, then lightly chuckled. ” ‘Hoo hoo hoo…’ ” Their eerie synchronization was like a puppeteer controlling marionettes and speaking through ventriloquism, sending chills down one’s spine.
“Rather than who we are…” Ibun revealed a sinister, uncharacteristic grin. “Shouldn’t you be asking… why both the Children of the Moon and Eagle Eye are watching this place? What are you trading that could attract the attention of both factions? And what does it have to do with rescuing Sherlock?”
Arsen, the Phantom Thief, exchanged a look with Alice beside him. At this moment, their expressions had become extremely complex. It wasn’t confusion from knowing nothing. They were acutely aware of their current precarious situation. In other words, they even knew that both Eagle Eye and the Children of the Moon had already set their sights on them.
—Knowing this, yet daring to proceed?
Seeing their reaction, Eivass, disguised as the Ritualist Ibun, raised an eyebrow. He observed Arsen for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Alice. Eivass directly asked, “If I’ve guessed correctly… the item you’re trading isn’t very valuable, is it?” His words, though phrased as a question, sounded like a statement.
“No…” Alice instinctively replied.
Eivass continued to press, “Does it have something to do with Mr. Arsen?”
“I…” Alice suddenly realized she had said too much and instinctively turned to look at Arsen. Although she wasn’t very familiar with Arsen, having only met him twice, she nonetheless trembled under such immense pressure.
However, for Eivass, not answering was also an answer—it was clearly related.
“Does it have something to do with Sherlock?” Eivass gazed into Alice’s eyes and immediately said before she could utter a sound, “It seems not, or you don’t know—does it have to do with Arsen’s disguise technique?”
“Ugh…”
“Yes, it’s related. So, is it some kind of material? No. Is it information? No…” Eivass didn’t need her to answer. For the inexperienced Alice, her subconscious glances, actions, and reactions were enough to reveal her true thoughts. This was more trustworthy and naked truth than carefully considered and organized words—useless even if she closed her eyes. To a Fifth Tier Child of the Moon, he could easily hear Alice’s heartbeat from this distance and smell the subtle scent emanating from her blood when she tensed or relaxed.
“…Enough,” Arsen said helplessly, interrupting the “Ritualist Ibun’s” cruel interrogation. “I’ll tell you directly… there’s no need to bully her like this. She’s still a little girl… we’re allies, aren’t we?” He didn’t directly say “allies”—after all, he couldn’t be sure of their true stance on Sherlock. Respecting and being cautious towards Sherlock, he would never easily believe someone’s identity, even if they suddenly appeared as Pope Eivass. If he could be tricked into revealing crucial information about his friend’s safety so easily, he wouldn’t be Arsen.
Regardless of whether the other party was friend or foe, as long as they were uncertain of his position, he had room to maneuver. His trump card was more information about Sherlock—if they were friends, they could rescue Sherlock together; if they intended to capture Sherlock, he could also instigate conflict between them.
On the other side, Alice, now acutely aware of how much information she had inadvertently leaked, looked on the verge of tears.
He sighed and single-handedly lifted the overly light suitcase from his hand onto the table.
“Oh?” Alistair, in Eivass’s characteristic drawling tone, teased, “Is it alright to open this in broad daylight?”
“It’s fine. After all, strictly speaking, it’s not exactly a treasure…” As Arsen spoke, he took out a small key and unlocked the suitcase. Inside the seemingly heavy large suitcase were only a few items. Upon opening it, there were three or four women’s outfits, appearing to be in the same style as what Alice was wearing. There were also jewelry boxes, stacked neatly like bento boxes. The reason the box had seemed light, yet produced a clattering sound, was because these boxes, previously wrapped in clothes, had gradually shifted to the edges of the case.
Alistair looked at him with a gaze typically reserved for perverts. “This is… something you’re going to wear, right?” Arsen was known as a Phantom Thief precisely because of his masterful disguise skills. He could transform into an old man, a child, or a woman at will. This was clearly a special skill of the Path of Beauty, belonging to the same category as Isabel’s Actor profession. However, even with his exceptional disguise abilities, it was not a mystical-level extraordinary skill. He couldn’t conjure clothes out of thin air.
Clearly, being eyed like this by a little girl made even Arsen a bit uncomfortable. He coughed slightly, averted the topic, and whispered, “The main item for trade is actually this…” As he spoke, he fished out a heavy key from the pocket of the third dress. It was a silver key, about the size of a palm, with a hollowed-out diamond shape at the end. It was engraved with Elven script that read, “All things shall be separated by this blade.”
“This is…” Eivass’s expression changed slightly as he looked at the key. “You said this wasn’t valuable?”
“What is this?” Even Alice, who had transported the item, clearly had no idea what it was. She was even startled because she didn’t know how this thing had inexplicably appeared in her skirt. She thought the contents weren’t valuable and related to Arsen because, in her understanding, these were just some old clothes given to Arsen. Yes, all the dresses and jewels in this box were Alice’s own, some of which she had even worn in public. Her mission was to give her clothes to Arsen so that the Phantom Thief could impersonate her in broad daylight and enter Duke Harcourt’s birthday banquet.
The relationships between Duke Harcourt and Duke Vendome were not good. As Duke Vendome’s consort, Arsen would obviously not be able to attend Duke Harcourt’s birthday banquet. Yet, he needed to steal a crucial item from Duke Harcourt. This was why Alice cooperated with him. This was originally an Eagle Eye mission—reportedly, Eagle Eye had achieved a rare alignment of interests with the chivalrous thief.
However, upon seeing the unfamiliar key, Alice realized something was wrong. —These clothes were all ones she had personally retrieved from her home! Before placing them in the suitcase, she had even checked all the pockets to see if she had accidentally left anything inside… After all, once these clothes were given to Arsen, she wouldn’t be taking them back. Giving her clothes to this Phantom Thief, who was considered a heartthrob in the Iris Flower, wasn’t something the bold and mischievous Alice objected to. However, wearing clothes that someone else had worn… just thinking about it made Alice uncomfortable, even feeling itchy.
She immediately stood up, looking at Arsen warily and instinctively taking half a step back. —Despite her innocence, she was still an Assassin. Now, her instincts clearly told her she had been used! It was evident that the information given to her and Arsen by the intermediary was different from the very beginning! As a result, she didn’t know the full picture of this transaction… If not for the sudden appearance of this “Ritualist Ibun,” she might still be congratulating herself for completing her organization’s mission.
Alice felt a chill run down her spine. Despite it being the hot early summer and being in a bustling bar that felt like a furnace, she heard a ringing in her ears.
…Alice had secretly completed many such covert transactions by leveraging her status as a Duke’s daughter and her profession as a reporter. Each time, the stated purpose was “to eliminate the Children of the Moon” or “for those poor and pitiful children.” But now, who knew how many contraband items that promised overnight riches were hidden within those “goods of hope” she had transported? How many harmful things that could cost lives? And how many sensitive documents or items that could endanger the Harcourt family if discovered? If she had transported them willingly, it would be one thing, but not knowing any of this from the start was undoubtedly a despicable deception.
—Although her experience as an extraordinary being and an adventurer was lacking, Alice’s experience as a “new noble” was quite extensive. Once suspicion began to form, it couldn’t be stopped. It was like a cancer, feeding on and growing from secondary tumors known as “deception.” She instinctively took measures to protect herself: “It’s like this, Mr. Ibun…”
(End of Chapter)
