Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

On the main road of the port city,

Hidden beneath a black cloak, Ciel strolled leisurely through the bustling town. The slightly damp sea breeze seemed capable of dispelling the gloom in people's hearts, allowing them to bask in the warm sunshine.

He stood in front of a pancake stall, patiently waiting for his food to be ready.

I thought:

"This time we made a killing, earning nearly 5000 million fares in one go. Speaking of which, half of what we got here is for Ais... Hehe, never mind, she's still young, she's no use for the money. I'll save it for her first."

Thinking of Ais, I guess she's already received a Spartan-style scolding from Riveria.

They might be thrown into the water and forced to learn to swim...

puff...

The thought of Ais still being unable to swim seven years later made Ciel chuckle.

Being with a cute girl is always so wonderful and memorable. It can also easily lead to illusions…

For example, whether she likes me or not.

Forget it, they're probably just temporary teammates. We'll just use each other. Women will only slow down my progress.

This can also cause people to overlook potential risks...

Charles looked up and stared at the pancake vendor in front of him: "Boss, how many years have you been making pancakes?"

"Ten years? What happened?"

Ten years ago, you were making an egg pancake, and now it's all broken and burnt.

“It’s nothing…” Ciel shut up.

In my previous life, anyone who was extremely unskilled in this line of work and yet boasted about how many years they had been in the business was either an undercover officer or a criminal.

Charles subconsciously glanced around, and upon closer inspection, found quite a few similar stalls. Even the passersby who brushed past him sometimes seemed stiff in their movements, as if they were deliberately patrolling.

"Guest, your cake is ready."

"Ah, oh."

Charles instinctively took it, noticing the boss's unfriendly gaze. He silently pulled out a scarlet dagger from his pocket, pierced the scattered tenderloin meat, and put it into his mouth.

The air around them seemed to have frozen for a moment, then suddenly relaxed, and passersby and shopkeepers resumed their conversations and bargaining.

The pancake vendor, leaning over his stall, jokingly teased Ciel:

"Hey, which department are you from? Who's your superior? Dressed like that, if it weren't for the dagger in your hand, I would have thought you were a spy sent by Orario."

Charles was covered in cold sweat: "I'm from the Rudraksha clan, and my elder brother is a Jala. Uh, senior, this street..."

"No wonder those slave traders don't care about any of that." The shopkeeper chuckled. "You're half right. Half of the entire port is ours."

“However, this news must be kept from Orario. You can’t come out dressed in all black like this. Come with me, I’ll help you change your clothes.”

"You're a really nice person," Charles couldn't help but remark.

Chapter 42 Cassandra: The script... was written wrong?!

Weaving through the crowd, Charles followed the man to his residence. Along the way, Charles attracted many subtle glances, leading him to conclude that the entire Mellen was already under the control of the Dark Faction.

The merchants who traded with him before might also have connections with the Dark Faction, and might be selling "Great Sage Tree Branches" in private.

However, in Charles's view, calling these people members of the Dark Faction was a stretch; at best, it was a matter of mutual benefit.

On the way...

Charles asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Uncle, why did you join us?"

The shop owner turned his head, his pupils becoming empty and lifeless: "So that I can meet those children again in the next life."

It turns out he was Mr. Believer...

Disrespect, disrespect...

Charles said no more, but the shopkeeper seemed to have started talking non-stop:

“My parents, wife, and children have all gone to heaven. Now, only my only daughter and I are left to depend on each other. This world is too twisted. People are dying every day. Later, I realized that if I didn't want to die for no reason, the only way was to join them…”

"Once you become family, you won't die."

Charles was taken aback: "Great minds think alike."

"That's what I originally thought, until my companions left me again..." The uncle's lips unconsciously curled into a smile:

“But it doesn’t matter! I saw that lord. He promised me that as long as I give my life for Lord Thanatos, we can be together again when the appointed day comes.”

"Ha... what about your only daughter?"

The man didn't answer Charles's question, but instead pushed open an old wooden door: "We're here."

"Father, I prayed for Lord Thanatos properly today. When will we be able to give our lives for him?"

A childish voice rang out from the room.

Charles peeked out and saw a little girl who looked about 10 years old. She had a dark blue, fluffy hairstyle with bangs covering half of her eyes, and she was wearing a black dress that looked like a uniform issued by a secret faction.

"Soon, you'll be able to say goodbye to everyone again soon." The uncle patted the little girl's hair, his face full of kindness.

Well, this family is beyond saving. It's just a pity for such a young child.

Charles felt he should do something. He wasn't interested in stopping adults from committing suicide, but he wasn't interested in children who were encouraged or instilled with wrong ideas...

Hmm... I wonder if leaving her alone in this world is a kind of torture.

Charles frowned in thought.

The little girl suddenly saw a stranger and instinctively shrank into her father's arms, a fleeting look of fear and helplessness crossing her face.

“Kashan-chan, this is Dad’s colleague. He’s a fellow traveler who works together for Lord Thanatos’s grand vision.”

Ten-year-old Cassandra's small head flashed with boundless fear.

My father's colleague, who is also a member of the secret faction!

They're all a bunch of lunatics!

At only ten years old, she had already learned how to dream. The images in her dreams terrified her: her mother was dead, her sister was dead, and her brother was dead.

She told her father about this dream, hoping he would move to a farther place. But no one believed her.

It still happened; she was too young to do anything.

First, the mother went out to Orario and was killed by a passing monster, followed by the older sister and younger brother...

Three times in a row, misfortune struck.

Cassandra became timid and fearful of everything she saw.

Finally, it was her turn.

That day, Cassandra saw her father's decision in her dream, and he also brought a man dressed entirely in black robes.

In the dream, she refused to let her father join that strange faction, and was ultimately killed by her father.

In an attempt to change her fate, Cassandra adopts the persona of a fanatic.

During the inspection by the man in black, she deliberately displayed a fervent longing for death and her deceased family members. Thus, she changed the future for the first time.

Even now, she still plays the role of a brainwashed, obedient daughter in front of her father. Until a few days ago, a dream gave her another hint that a colleague in a black robe was visiting again.

But this is different from what appeared in my dream...

The prophecy from a few days ago flashed through her mind, and she blurted out:

"The remnants of a soul passing through the vortex of chaos sink the scales of justice and evil; on the disc, clowns and fools dance together… A princess, a lament for tragedy, is imprisoned…"

"You're talking nonsense again, Cassandra." The uncle pinched Cassandra's cheek and smiled indulgently.

"This is your daughter? What's your surname, sir?"

"Oh, call me Illion."

Hehe... Suddenly, Xia Er felt that the nameless extra had suddenly received a mission notification above his head.

Ding! Your new cheat code has arrived! Please check your account!

Charles stroked his chin, staring at the little guy hiding behind the uncle with ill intent.

“Your daughter is quite something. Hmm… she looks like one of Lord Thanatos’s most devoted followers.”

“That’s right!” The uncle proudly raised his head: “The officers of the clan also praise Cassandra like that.”

"Yes...yes, I...I'm the most loyal...Waaah, Mom..."

"hehe."

Charles grinned mischievously.

According to the plot he knew, this guy was probably kidnapped by Apollo in the end... From this point of view, it's impossible for him to truly dedicate his life to Lord Death.

So, right now...

"Don't look like you're about to cry. It seems your faith in Lord Thanatos isn't strong enough." Charles looked at Uncle Illion:

"Why don't you hand her over to me?"

"Huh?" The uncle's smug expression froze.

Charles narrowed his eyes, rubbing his hands together to reveal a shrewd smile: "Don't you hope to get the opportunity to serve Lord Thanatos as soon as possible?"

As you know, our clan mainly deals in the slave trade. We recently acquired a batch of slaves, including many high-quality ones that can be sold in the pleasure quarters. Your daughter is quite good too, why don't you bring her along?"

"Pleasure district? How could Cassandra become a prostitute?!" The uncle seemed very angry, and his tone became rough.

Ciel tilted his head in surprise: "Eh—? You were already prepared to offer your life for Lord Thanatos, so why is this mere whore unwilling?"

"How can that be the same!" The man took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said, "This is not my agreement with Death."

Charles looked as if he had just realized something: "Oh, I think you've misunderstood. Becoming a prostitute is just the surface. This young lady's real purpose is to exchange her life for those prostitutes of the Ishtar Familia in the near future."

"This...is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Uncle Illion, you...you're not thinking of refusing, are you?"