The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 165 Ch.164 The Snitch Lady with Nothing
"Why don't I qualify?!"

Roland suppressed his laughter.

"Your 'magic' requires kindness, evil, and cleverness?" Rose twirled her hair, her eyes sparkling. "Then I definitely meet the last requirement. Tell me about it? Maybe I can also..."

"Rose." Roland picked up the sandwich on the table and took a small bite:

"Suppose you have thirty pounds."

"I spent ten pounds on the hat, and that left me twenty pounds."

"I spent ten pounds on the coat, and that leaves me ten pounds."

"I spent nine pounds on the shoes, and there's one pound left."

"I spent my last pound on the cake, and there wasn't a penny left."

Roland puffed his cheeks and asked while eating, "Do you feel something is wrong?"

The girl's green eyes rolled around, her ten fingers spread wide, and she muttered to herself: "The hat is ten pounds, the coat is ten pounds, the shoes are nine pounds, the cake is one pound... yes, it's thirty pounds?"

“Think about the rest.”

Rose looked at Roland suspiciously, then looked down at her hands: "…I had twenty pounds left the first time, ten pounds left the second time, and one pound left the third time. That's right, the total is thirty... Huh?"

Roland was laughing to himself as he crunched the food in his sandwich.

"What the hell, you were exactly like her at that time."

"Why is there an extra pound?"

Miss Green Eyes now looked like a dog that was suddenly slapped by its owner for no reason, with a confused look on her face.

"Why, a pound more, Roland?"

Roland ignored her and bit off the corner of his sandwich.

The next second, a slender hand grabbed the crust of the sandwich and pulled it away roughly.

"Stop eating it!"

"Tell me! Where did the remaining pound go?"

Roland said nothing. He slowly picked up the knife and began to cut the steak on the table.

Rose: ...

The girl scratched her head, stared at Roland fiercely, and took a bite of his sandwich: "...Anyway, if there is more or less, I will steal it from somewhere else."

"Stupid little cake."

"If you want, Rose, I will help you." Roland put the juicy steak on his plate and slowly put away his smile: "But if you really become one of those people who can do 'magic tricks', you will lose something."

"You won't be yourself anymore."

"You have to be prepared to pay the price forever."

Roland didn't know whether Rose had the "qualifications" or which path was suitable for her - but he knew that there was no path that didn't require a price.

The nails must be driven into the wall of the soul in order to hang the power.

Mortal scars are inevitable.

Just like Shandel's 'goodwill', or his own frequent hallucinations.

The impact of scars will gradually distort a person's soul as it grows.

Well…

Although, Roland thought Enid was okay?

The higher the "Holy Flame" goes, the more ruthless the ritualist becomes - but he never seemed to feel this from the gentle lady.

"Let me be frank, Rose. The executors have their own rules. I'm afraid the Inquisition has many ways to restrict us from spreading precious knowledge at will. I won't do that. You... probably aren't suitable for the Holy Cross. If you are really ready, I will provide you with some personal help..."

"If you're really ready."

Roland emphasized it twice, hoping that this lawless thief lady would take his words seriously.

Rose lowered her eyes and stared at the tip of her nose, her voice gradually weakened: "I just want to see Mr. Diamond so..."

So what exactly is the "power" that we are so eager to pursue...

So much so that she could send those in the gang who trusted her into the butcher shop.

"Knowledge is not cheap, right?" the girl probed.

Roland pointed at the steak in front of him: "About the price of this steak." Rose folded her hands, leaned on the table, and looked at him with a scorching gaze: "You can't fool me, but I don't want you to help me in vain. Tell me, how much is it worth? Dozens of pounds? Or hundreds of pounds?"

"Standard objects can no longer be measured in gold pounds."

"How much is an opportunity worth?"
-
I know.

"So you plan to let her follow the same path as you?"
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I don't know if Rose has the 'qualifications'...
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But I'm willing to offer her a guideline.
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try it?
"She's not suitable, Roland."

"Su Yue once changed you. This is one of the most important conditions for you to embark on this path."

"If 'fantasy' only needs reality as fuel, then every child in the slums should embark on this path—"

"Don't you understand yet that you and this road are both 'special'?"

Roland suddenly thought of what the fairy lady Aurora said when he first met her.
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Two torches.

"Your Miss Nina not only went against the flow of time, but also transcended history."

"She is the 'fantasy' that 'should not exist'."

"You... you are half a pollutant."
-
Could you please put it in a more pleasant way?

"You are half a pollutant."
-
Thank you, that sounds much better.

"Roland?"

The green-eyed girl looked at the dazed young man and waved her hand in front of his eyes.

"Rose."

"Ok?"

"When we meet in two days, I will give you a letter - put it under your pillow and use it every night when you go to sleep. But you have to promise me one thing."

Roland straightened his back and said seriously, "Keep it safe and don't let anyone else read it. It's contraband and will get you in trouble."

Rose patted her chest, which was like a poor man's pocket, and raised her chin.

"I am the best 'handyman' in the Elephant Gang. No one can steal from me."

"But time stole her flesh."

"A girl of sixteen or seventeen looks only two or three years old..."

As it spoke, the pale flame formed itself into two thin lines and drew a circle around Roland.

"Look, no wonder he's the best 'skillful hand'."

"Is her lightness damaged?"
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I feel like I'm the only one who can stand you.

Roland lamented in his heart how difficult Miss Nina's life had been before.

"Ha, you're still sighing... Why do you think I'm like this?"
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You were born with it.

"I****"

"Roland? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"I'm wondering how much I should ask you to pay, Rose." Roland saw that she looked anxious, thought for a moment, and said, "You have to do me a big favor."

Rose leaned forward, her green eyes whirring, "Hey, you want me to help you steal something... cat whiskers, no!"

"Please ask for me."

Roland also subconsciously lay on the table and moved towards Rose - the two heads were almost touching.

"I need a hand that is experienced in using a whip..." He whispered: "A hand."

The green eyes suddenly widened.

"manpower?"

"A human hand." Roland nodded. "...the kind you see in cemeteries. Please help me find out who in this city used a whip the best and had the most experience when he was alive. He must have used it for at least thirty years...no, fifty years or more would be even better."

"This is the same as your previous 'cat whiskers'. Is it for the same purpose?" Rose looked at him straight in the eye. "It's the same as the one that was taken away by the cultists...right?"

"...Yes. This is a 'ritual'." Roland's lips gradually straightened: "In addition, please send someone to monitor a cemetery for me, find out their shift change times and the routes of the gravekeepers' patrols..."

Rose didn't think Roland would covet the gems and gold coins buried in the tomb.

The bad girl curled her lips, became excited, and said with great joy: "...Hey! Who do you have a grudge against? How about stealing his body and hanging it on the flagpole on top of Buckingham Palace?"
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I always feel that the person in front of me will get into big trouble sooner or later.

"What's the difference between you and her?"

(End of this chapter)