The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 80: "Report"

Charlie froze because he remembered that Charles had warned him earlier in the morning that he might face some misfortune soon. That afternoon, he lost the job opportunity he had been eagerly anticipating, and he wasted several Fergins buying drinks for others.

This turn of events added to the already significant pressure he was feeling.

Seeing Charles's smiling expression, Charlie instinctively lowered his voice, "Can you really tell fortunes?"

It seemed his predictions were quite accurate!

"I told you, didn't I? I was just guessing." Lumian lied smoothly, without the slightest hesitation.

Of course, it wasn't entirely a lie—he had made the guess based on the sense of fate he could perceive, like knowing the correct answer to a question and then working out the process afterward.

Charlie was clearly skeptical, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he asked with a hint of hope, "Is my bad luck over now?"

Lumian tilted his head, focusing his thoughts. His eyes grew deeper, and his expression became increasingly serious.

Seeing Charles's reaction, Charlie's heart started pounding, and his parched lips trembled as he asked, "What is it?"

Lumian pursed his lips and said, "You're going to experience a disaster soon."

Charlie's expression collapsed, his face turning pale as the color drained from his cheeks.

Lumian then laughed, "Just kidding. While you won't have any particularly good luck in the near future, things won't be too bad either."

This indicated that although Susanna Mattis's issue might not be fully resolved, it wouldn't erupt anytime soon.

Charlie, still in disbelief, asked, "Really?"

"Of course not," Lumian replied nonchalantly. "Believe it if you want, or don't if you don't want to. It's up to you." He ordered a glass of absinthe, smiling as if it didn't matter.

His casual attitude actually eased Charlie's tension, and he took a sip of his rye beer while seated on the nearby barstool. "I thought that issue wasn't really over."

"That's always a possibility," Lumian said, choosing not to scare Charlie further.

Staring at the bar counter in front of him, Charlie muttered, "You know, for a second there, I considered taking that menial job and moving out of Market District as soon as possible."

Lumian glanced at him and said, "If something really happens, you won't be able to escape no matter where you move."

Charlie's face immediately showed a deep, uncontainable bitterness.

Lumian added casually, "You'd be better off praying more at the Eternal Blazing Sun Church nearby. Oh, and by the way, I had dinner with our landlord, Mr. Ev, today. When we talked about Room 504, he acted a bit strange, like he knew something about the previous tenant's fate but didn't want to say."

Charlie was stunned for a few seconds before he realized what Charles was implying. He lowered his voice further, "The tenant with the woman's portrait?"

Lumian nodded slowly but firmly.

Charlie fell silent, then muttered to himself, "Does that woman's issue have something to do with Mr. Ev? Does he know there's something wrong with that portrait? I... I should tell someone about this... I'll go to the church at dawn and tell the priest."

Indeed, after several days of teaching, Lumian found that Charlie had become much smarter. He was able to pick up on Lumian's hints right away. Satisfied, Lumian raised his glass, taking a sip of the visually striking green liquid.