ยฉNovel Buddy
Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability-Chapter 572 - The Real Target
New novel ๐ฌhapters are published on ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฎ๐.๐๐๐ข
572 The Real Target
572 The Real Target
In seven to eight minutes, their figures vanished from different spots.
Immediately after, Nolfi and Batna observed pitch-black shapes emerging at the edge of the cabin, and eerie pale-white or dark-green flames igniting across the deck.
Figures crawled out of the pitch-black flames.
Some wore tattered clothes, and their skin visibly rotted. Others were white bones with fragments of flesh hanging from them. Pale-white flames protruded from their eye sockets.
These were all corpses!
Soon, a half-rotted corpse in a dirty jacket hoisted the sail. The corpse with a missing breastbone stowed the heavy anchor. The other corpses took their positions, steering the sailboat slowly away from the port.
As they gazed at the decaying flesh, pale-white bones, and sinister flames of different hues, Batna and Nolfi felt as if they had stepped into a novel world.
Horror novels! Ghostly tales!
โNavigator, itโs time for you to work.โ Charnameโs voice snapped Nolfi back to reality.
โฆ
In the Governor of the Seaโs residence.
Lumian leaned against the statue-less wall, surveying the other deputy hosts in the hall, including Juan Oro.
Uncertain if any of them were genuine, they could easily be impersonated by a Faceless.
In the upcoming operation, the only person he could unequivocally trust was himself.
An hour passed in an indescribable silence. This time, Lumian took the initiative, leading Juan Oro into the basement to retrieve the Ring of the Sea Queen, completing the โpaying homage to the ancestorsโ segment.
The ring rested on the dilapidated stone platform, untouched. Lumian couldnโt be certain if it was authentic, but the patterns, symbols, and structure seemed intact, and no one had lurked in the basement after inspection.
Maintaining his calm demeanor and a tense heart, Lumian patiently waited until 6 a.m., feeling both mental and physical fatigue dissipate.
Two hours later, the current Governor of the Sea, Simon, exited the vigil room with four Maidens of the Sea and approached the buildingโs door.
Lumian, Juan Oro, and the other deputy hosts promptly stood up and followed.
Ascending the gangway to the deck, Lumian sensed an invisible gaze from every window, flower, and mastโa familiar feeling from when the statues in the Governor of the Seaโs residence came to life.
This was the designated spot for him, the deputy host named Brian.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
On the dock of Milo Village, vibrant paper fragments burst forth from ceremonial cannons, creating a colorful display.
Amid the festive atmosphere, the ship set sail gradually. It circled Port Santa, capturing the cheers and blessings of the people before venturing toward the distant sea.
As the navigator, Juan Oro guided the ship into a boundless azure sea with no discernible landmarks. They weaved between left and right turns, occasionally reversing direction.
Nearly an hour passed, and beneath the clear, bright sky, dense fog suddenly enveloped the ship.
Splash!
Within the fogโs depths, waves surged like mountains. Any ship it touched would capsize or shatter.
The Governor of the Sea, the Maidens of the Sea, some sailors, and the two deputy hosts, participating in the sea sacrificial segment for the first time, were terror-stricken by the ominous scene, their faces paling.
For Juan Oro, a veteran of many sea sacrifices, it seemed like he was observing a childโs plaything. He directed the sailors with no emotional fluctuations, guiding the ship along the only safe sea route through the thick fog and exaggerated waves.
After an unknown duration, the fog lifted, and the tidal waves miraculously subsided. An ocean resembling sapphires unfolded before Lumianโs eyes.
The sea appeared limitless, but the distance and sky were gray, with only a hint of sunlight seeping through.
โฆ
Port Santa, Solow Motel.
Lugano stood by the window, observing as the citizens formed celebratory teams, weaving through streets and alleys, spreading their joy.
Having already taken Ludwig to witness the Governor of the Seaโs colorful flower boat ritual and participated in two spontaneous citizen-led celebrations, Lugano returned to the suite as teatime approached. There, he provided Ludwig with food he had purchased and prepared in advance.
I could still head out later. When the Governor of the Sea returns, another wave of celebrations will ensue. Unfortunately, I canโt engage with the enthusiastic Feynapotter girls with such a child in towโฆ Lugano thought regretfully.
At that moment, a knock echoed on the door.
โWho is it?โ Lugano, a seasoned bounty hunter, heightened his guard.
โItโs me.โ A gentle voice emanated from outside the door.
Lugano recognized her as Rubiรณ Pacoโs wife, Madame Giorgia.
Sheโs here to see the boss? Has something happened to the Paco family again? Lugano glanced at Ludwig, who was eating earnestly, and quickly walked to the door and opened it.
Giorgia, not clad in her usual glamorous attire, wore a black dress akin to that of an old widowed matriarch.
โWhereโs Monsieur Louis Berry?โ the lady inquired.
โHeโs participating in various celebrations for the sea prayer ritual,โ Lugano fabricated an excuse.
He observed the distressed Madame Giorgia and instinctively inquired with concern, โDid something happen?โ
โH-hโฆโ Giorgia stammered, panic and fear evident in her eyes. โI discovered the true identity of that humanoid lizard!โ
That humanoid lizard? The one the boss killed? Amidst Luganoโs confusion, Giorgia suddenly threw herself into his arms.
The fragrance permeated Luganoโs senses, momentarily hindering him from immediately pushing the madam away.
Giorgia suppressed her voice but couldnโt conceal her fear.
โThat humanoid lizard was my husband, Rubiรณ Paco!โ
โHuh?โ Lugano was both surprised and bewildered.
Giorgia gritted her teeth and explained, โThe one you guys saw, itโs fake!โ
Fake? Someone impersonated Rubiรณ Paco, and the real Rubiรณ Paco had transformed into a humanoid lizard, killed by the boss? As this realization struck Lugano, his thoughts suddenly slowed down. The surroundings seemed coated in a glass-like layer.
He instinctively struggled, but Giorgia held him tightly, interrupting him with various subtle actions.
Ludwig, engrossed in devouring a skewer of roasted octopuses at the dining table, appeared oblivious to the unfolding silent drama at the door.
In a suite diagonally across the corridor, Rubiรณ Paco sat quietly in a recliner, wearing a faint smile.
He had orchestrated the humanoid lizard incident and hired Louis Berry to resolve it intentionally. Firstly, he aimed to confirm the other partyโs identity. Secondly, he wanted to leave a vulnerability in the Paco familyโs handling of weak monsters, ensuring others wouldnโt suspect a Facelessโs involvement to confuse the target.
However, he abandoned the plan to deal with Louis Berry and refrained from triggering the corresponding trap.
This decision wasnโt due to uncertainty about the targetโs identity; the Mysteries aura on Lumian Leeโs chest couldnโt escape his notice. He was unlike others. Instead, he had a new plan.
The overall April Foolโs operation might not align with Lokiโs personal objectives! ๐ณ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ง๐ผ๐ฏ๐๐น.๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ
His current focus shifted to the young boy, Ludwig.
To him, a sealed demigod-level powerhouse was a gift from the Celestial Worthy!
No ritualistic target could be more suitable.
Hence, he hinted at the sea anomaly, simultaneously confusing Lumian Lee and allowing him to connect the concepts of sealing and theft, understanding what occurred during last yearโs prank. He took the initiative to board the ship and head to the sea sacrifice grounds, enticing this formidable opponent away while another force restrained him.
Now, he was ready to execute a grand performance, captivating the attention of numerous Port Santa citizens!
โฆ
The calm, gem-like sea held no waves. The four Maidens of the Sea engaged in a brief sacrificial dance, while sailors carried offeringsโlambs, roosters, ox heads, and moreโfrom the cabin, stacking them at the bow.
With the Ring of the Sea Queen in hand, Juan Oro approached the Governor of the Sea, awaiting the groomโs gift for the proposed marriage.
Lumian, vigilant of everyone present, scanned his surroundings.
Any one of them could suddenly reveal themselves as Bard, Mad Lady, Ultraman, Loki, Hisoka, or a marionette.
The gentle, rhythmic dance concluded swiftly. Juan Oro produced the peculiar golden ring, passing it to the incumbent Governor of the Sea, Simon Guiaro.
At that moment, a person emerged openly from the cabin.
A woman in a black nunโs uniform and matching hat, her expression calm yet tinged with sadness.
The surrounding sailors paid her no heed, as if she were invisible. freew(e)bnovel.(c)om
Seeing this, Lumianโs pupils dilated, then constricted.
It was the source of Derangement!
The humanoid Sealed Artifact lost by the Eternal Blazing Sun Church!
In an instant, Lumian comprehended two things.
The Death Navigators, transformed Governors of the Sea, had coincidentally appeared near the Flying Bird, stirring colossal waves.
The humanoid Sealed Artifact had unconsciously set out to sea, coincidentally choosing the same destination as himโPort Santa.
There was a purpose behind this!