The Cycle of Fate

Chapter 155: Incomprehensible Choices

The middle-aged and slightly overweight Anthony Reed was stunned for a moment, and after a brief pause, he chuckled self-deprecatingly:

"My emotions were a bit stirred at the time, and I failed to discern the truth in that statement."

"The 'audience' should indeed stay in the audience seats," Lumian, still seated, said with a smile. "No, the issue isn't there.

"Why did I jump off the high stool back then? Why did I lean in close to whisper in your ear from behind? My goal was to prevent you from seeing my subtle facial expressions and unconscious body language.

"At that moment, your emotions had already begun to surge, which is why you couldn't decipher the true meaning of my actions."

Anthony Reed was silent for a few seconds before saying:

"That was part of the reason. Another reason is that those actions fit your usual style. I don't know if you've noticed, but sometimes you try to act cool—or, as the more trendy term goes nowadays, 'show off.'

"Earlier, I thought those actions were something you would naturally do in that situation, to show off and enhance the persuasiveness of your words. So, I didn't feel suspicious."

"Ha," Reed muttered, recognizing my sincerity. "He does care about you, after all."

Reed stood by the door, unmoving, and said in a tone that suggested he was speaking to himself:

"Is there really no doubt among the soldiers of this regiment about the orders of Hugo Artoua? Didn't we have orders to notify the comrades at the other two positions?"

"Towards the end of the war with the Kingdom of Janna, you and your comrades were stationed at a key pass in the northern foothills of the Hornaches Mountains, under the command of Major Hugo Artoua."

At that, Reed breathed heavily, as if the memory of the events still haunted him. After a few seconds, I replied:

Cao Yiwu glanced at the figure of Luen in the living room, then smiled and nodded solemnly before asking:

"The superficial goal must have enough authenticity to mislead the 'audience.'"

Inside was a notebook titled "Observations from the Spirit World." Tony Reed had only read two pages before his head started throbbing, and he felt a strange sense of anxiety.

On the morning of the seventh day, Tony Reed arrived at Apartment 601 on Whiteoak Street No. 3 and rang the doorbell.

"Two of us were so badly injured that they stayed behind forever, on that advancing mountain path. You still remember the looks in their eyes, full of determination and sweetness."

"Before discovering the truth, you and your two surviving comrades had been filing complaints with the Military Police and the military tribunal against Hugo Artoua, but to no avail. They only told you that conjecture couldn't replace evidence."

"Take a seat."

Luen let out a snort of derision, while Franca, both mischievous and sarcastic, clicked her tongue and said:

Cao Yiwu's deep brown eyes reflected Tony Reed's figure as he quietly listened to my words.

As someone involved in the assassination of Hugo Artoua, Luen's attention to the investigation was understandable. He hoped to take down the whole group, which made sense—after all, it would gain the trust of official investigators. Luen himself had no such ambitions or inclinations, so I only needed to remind him of it.

Franca had just gotten up, dressed in her usual shirt and riding pants. She looked at Tony Reed and said:

"My goal now isn't to understand the Spirit World; it's to find the right kind of Spirit World creatures." I closed the notebook and focused on reading the descriptions of different Spirit World entities.