The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 141: The One Who Knocks

Remembering what 13 Market Avenue was, Lumian's first reaction was that Gardner Martin intended to harm him.

An anomaly that even official Beyonders couldn't solve—what does he mean by asking me to spend a night there?

Lumian recalled that once, after putting on the "Secret Peeking Glasses," he had seen a dark, charred building. In one of the windows of that house, there was a vague face with eerily hollow eyes.

At the time, he instinctively felt uneasy and believed that this was the dangerous place Ostertruhl had mentioned. But since he had no plans to explore it, lacking any desire for adventure, he pushed the matter aside.

In a flash of thought, Lumian ruled out the possibility that Gardner Martin wanted to use that charred building to set a trap for him.

As a member of the secret organization "Iron-Blooded Cross," and as a powerful Beyonder of at least Sequence 6, possibly even Sequence 5, Gardner, the leader of the Savoie Party, had many ways to eliminate a subordinate with ulterior motives. He didn't need to be so roundabout or complicated.

At the same time, Lumian recalled what he had seen and heard in recent times:

The charred building was near White Coat Street. Each time he passed it on his way to or from the Windblown Ballroom or when he went to find Franca, he often saw homeless people sleeping inside to escape the rain. He had never seen official Beyonders or patrolling policemen drive them away, nor had he heard of anyone dying there.

Lumian considered the building dangerous for three main reasons: first, Ostertruhl's instinctive warnings; second, the fact that the building had never been demolished, as if some mysterious force was preventing it; and third, his own intuitive feelings when he wore the "Secret Peeking Glasses."

Combining these observations, Lumian suspected that while there was indeed a serious problem with the place, the anomalies weren't likely to be triggered easily—they might require specific conditions to be met.

While Lumian endured the quiet, passing time, the night grew deeper. Gardner detected no problems—only the occasional cough from a homeless person echoing in the silence.

"Give him ten more seconds," he murmured.

This was getting ridiculous... Gardner tried to ease his tension with self-amusement. The door was opening.

I suspect the deepest impression I've left on Lumian, Franca, and the others is that I'm timid.

The large room where Xiang Guangning was staying was knocked upon again.

"Help me, help me! There's a murderer out there!"

I didn't feel any normal reactions from my body or soul because of it.

Gardner, after much thought, still couldn't clearly decipher Xiang Guangning and Franca's true intentions.

He spoke while turning around, preparing to head upstairs and then go toward 13 Market Avenue.

"Giving you time to prepare means there's no chance to back out. Is it so you can go to 13 Market Avenue, then sell the information about the burnt building possibly connected to the 'Iron-Blooded Cross' to the authorities?"

Gardner heard hurried footsteps.

In his mind, an image suddenly appeared:

Leaving the Windblown Ballroom, Gardner touched his right chest.

This was something he must share with Franca and Jenna!

"You must be very curious about what the higher levels are like."