Mystery: The Witch of Desire

Livre walked into a grocery store on the street and, relying on her beauty and persuasive skills, borrowed a mirror from the owner.

Then, she gently stroked the mirror and activated its divination ability:

“Being an actor in Parit Bali is dangerous.”

The mirror surface was calm and still, indicating that there was no danger.

"Now that we've reached Sequence 7, we can use the Magic Mirror to do divination anytime, anywhere. It's so convenient."

Reassured, Livre put away the mirror, took the flyer, and headed towards the door of Paria.

Upon entering the restaurant, she quickly found Joey, the well-dressed head waiter.

Joey asked, somewhat surprised:

"Miss, what's wrong...?"

Livr held up the flyer with a smile:

"I've always dreamed of being an actor, and to be honest, I'm satisfied with the terms offered on the flyer."

Upon hearing this, Joey looked enlightened and then said enthusiastically:

“Very good. Compared to being with a useless little merchant like Valentine, our Paria is a much better stage for your development. I will take you to see our boss, Mr. Bright.”

With that, he gestured for her to go up to the top floor and led her to a spacious office.

Livre couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, and sighed inwardly:

"It's somewhat like when I infiltrated the Kingfisher Bar and that person took me to see Samira... Oh right, who was the person who took me to see Samira back then? My memory is so bad, I only vaguely remember that she was a beautiful woman..."

Livre was somewhat helpless. At that moment, Joey knocked on the office door and led her inside.

Inside the room, a man with a thick beard, who looked to be in his thirties and had a robust build, was sitting at a desk, reading an entertainment magazine with a cover featuring Dorothy, a popular singer from Backlund.

“Mr. Bright, this Miss Marilyn Monroe wants to apply for a leading role. I’ve brought her to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Brett glanced at Livre and was immediately captivated by her beauty, revealing a look of infatuation.

Feeling that gaze upon her, Livre's heart tightened, sensing Bright's intense desire.

Actresses are often associated with unspoken rules and exploitation, and as the boss of Baria, it's quite possible that Brett might want to exploit the actresses under his management. But Livre is prepared to deal with it: either instigate Brett to become a sage, or simply kick his penis in the groin and then run away.

“You did a good job, Joey, you can go now.”

Bright eagerly stood up and walked towards Livre. Joey, on the other hand, tactfully left the office, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

Brett immediately moved closer, scrutinizing her almost as if he were right next to her body, as if trying to see through every pore of Livr's skin. He would occasionally twitch his nose greedily, inhaling her scent with a rapturous fascination.

Livre endured it for a while, but then found Bright disgusting and couldn't stand it any longer, so she prepared to use her instigation ability.

Before she could speak, Bright clapped excitedly and exclaimed in admiration:

"My God, absolutely stunning! Miss Marilyn Monroe, your temperament and image are exactly like the leading lady in my mind. I'm willing to sign a contract with you immediately! Please stay in our Paria!"

Livre paused for a moment:

"Uh, so he wasn't trying to take advantage of me? He just thought I was a good fit? Hmm... not necessarily. Maybe he wanted to trick me into signing a contract first, and then slowly make his move on me. However, the divination results show that there is no danger. Even if he has ulterior motives towards me, he shouldn't pose any threat."

Livre thought for a moment, then smiled and agreed:

“I am honored, Mr. Bright.”

Bright nodded repeatedly and began to eagerly explain his ideas:

"Since I took over Paria, I have been determined to create an original script for Paria. To this end, I specially contacted the up-and-coming writer Fors Wall and invited her to create a brand new play tailored for Paria, entitled 'The Trial of the Witches'."

The female lead in the drama is both aloof and alluring, possessing a fragile yet eerie quality, and your appearance, figure, and unique charm perfectly match this role—you couldn't be more suitable.

"The Trial of Witches? The protagonist is a witch? If so, I'm actually very suitable. You have quite the eye for talent..."

Livre thought to herself, and continued to ask about the script.

Bright said with a hint of smugness:

"The core plot of the story is as follows: The protagonist, Aidas, is a witch who walks in the darkness. She is kind-hearted and chivalrous, using her dark magic to sweep away the darkness in the world, judge the evildoers, and judge all hidden sins."

This play shatters the common prejudice that witches are sinister, evil, and wreak havoc on humanity; the stark contrast in character portrayal is incredibly impactful. I firmly believe that with this novel concept and unique plot, *The Witch Trial* will surely be a city-wide sensation and a box office hit.

"With such a bizarre character and plot, will anyone actually watch it...? But, if I play a witch, can I handle both the actor's magic potion and the witch's magic potion?"

Livre thought about it with some curiosity, and found the play increasingly interesting.

She smiled and nodded in agreement:

“Mr. Bright, I am also very interested in this play. I will study the script carefully and try my best to play this role well.”

Bright nodded in satisfaction and handed Livre a cup of hot tea.

"Where does Miss Monroe live? We at Paria can also provide you with room and board. If it's convenient for you, you can start work tomorrow."

Liviel's heart skipped a beat. If she admitted that she had just arrived in Backlund and had nowhere to live, she would definitely expose her background. Moreover, working and living in Paria was not a safe choice. It would be too easy for her to be monitored because of the isolated environment.

"We still can't cut back on rent."

Livre said with a smile:

"I live nearby, and if nothing unexpected happens, I can start work tomorrow."

“Great!” Bright snapped his fingers. “I’ll introduce you to the other members of the troupe later. They’re all friendly guys, and you’ll definitely have a great time together!”

"I am looking forward."

Livre exchanged a few more pleasantries with Bright, and then left Paria.

"Not bad, I've made quite a few gains on my first day in Backlund."

Livre was in a good mood as she planned out the things she needed to do next: get herself a legal identity, rent a suitable house, and join a gathering circle of wild extraordinary individuals.

The first thing to solve is the proof of identity; otherwise, it will be impossible to legally rent a house outside the East District.

During her earlier conversation with Valentine, she had subtly learned that some brokers provided identification for outlaws in Backlund and engaged in many shady dealings, acting as a lubricant for Backlund's underworld.

There's a veteran broker at the Braveheart Bar in the eastern part of Joewood, which is why Livre was at the bar's entrance. She had already had her fortune told by the magic mirror and knew there was no danger going to the Braveheart Bar.

She pushed open the old wooden door of the bar and slowly walked inside. The space inside was a bit cramped, but the air was filled with noisy voices, the clinking of glasses, and soft music, creating a boisterous and ambiguous atmosphere.

In a dimly lit corner, several glamorous women were indulging in drunken revelry, wallowing in fleeting pleasure; or they were casting flirtatious glances, deliberately soliciting customers in order to get a better price for themselves.

"It's only in places like this that you can't tell the difference between Tingen and Backlund."

Amidst several greedy gazes, Livre walked straight to the front desk and ordered a 'Lemon Summer' cocktail, a favorite among ladies.

The bartender took the six pence and handed over a glass of green liquor with lemon slices floating on top.

As she accepted the Lemon Summer treat, Livre asked, feigning nonchalance:

"Is Redbeard there? I want to see him."

Upon hearing this, the bartender raised his cloudy eyes and sized up Livril for a moment, then lowered his head again.

"He won't take your business. He's over sixty years old, and eating more mummy powder won't help him."

"People in Backlund also believe in mummy powder..."

Livre was somewhat speechless, but she wasn't angry that the bartender mistook her for a prostitute; she already had a premonition that this would be a common occurrence in the future.

She patiently explained to the bartender:

“I’m not talking to him about that kind of thing; I have legitimate business to discuss with him.”

The bartender looked up with some confusion and sized up Livia for a while.

After a long pause, he slowly said:

"The innermost room on the second floor. Let me remind you, don't go there unless it's urgent, or you might get taken advantage of by others."

Thank you for your kindness.

Livre raised her glass slightly to express her gratitude, then slowly walked up to the second floor and entered the innermost room.

A strong smell of smoke and the clinking of chips filled the room. Livre knocked on the door and went straight in.

Chapter 106 A Desperate Comeback at the Poker Table

The four men playing cards all looked up at Livre. Except for the elderly man in his sixties with a long red beard sitting directly opposite the door, the others all looked at her with lust.

“I don’t think I called any girls over, but I don’t mind doing some business with you on short notice.”

One man's gaze lingered brazenly on Livr's alluring curves, his tone flippant and mocking, prompting the other two men to burst into laughter.

Livre ignored them. She glanced at the card table with interest, pulled out a chair, sat down, and said with a smile:

"I think you wouldn't mind having one more person play cards?"

The three men were taken aback and instinctively cast questioning glances at the red-bearded man.

The old man with the red beard, though sharp-eyed, showed no emotion as he gestured to the man to his left to deal the cards.

The man didn't dare to be negligent and immediately dealt two cards to everyone present, including Livre. Then he placed five cards face down in the center of the table.

Livre had played a lot of Texas Hold'em in her previous life and was quite familiar with this poker game that Russell had copied.

Moreover, as an extraordinary individual, she has far too many little tricks she can pull at the poker table.

She was currently penniless, and obtaining identification would definitely cost money. Without resorting to prostitution, this was the fastest way she could think of to make money.

At this moment, a man, noticing the empty space in front of Livr, frowned and reminded her:

"You haven't redeemed your chips yet."

Livr looked at him, a hint of teasing in her eyes:

"What, with such a beautiful and delicate woman like me sitting here, are you worried that I can't afford to pay you?"

Upon hearing this, the three men exchanged surprised glances, then looked at Redbeard. Seeing that he didn't object, they each took a stack of chips and handed them to Livre, smiling as they said:

"Hey girl, we'll exchange 8 sols for 100 chips. The three of us will each give you 100 chips. If you lose all your money, you'll have to do 'that' with us once, understand?"

"Place your bet."

Livril swung the chips in front of her without giving the man a direct response.

Upon hearing this, the three men revealed wicked smiles and couldn't wait to start placing bets.

"5!"

10

After the two men placed their bets, Lively looked at her hand: Ace of Hearts + Jack of Spades, which is a relatively strong starting hand in Texas Hold'em, so she called without hesitation.

"and."

"15."

"Stay with me."

Redbeard, who was last in line, placed his bet, and the three hole cards were revealed:

Clubs Jack, Diamonds 10, Hearts 2.

In her first hand, Livre hit a pair of Jacks and still had the possibility of a straight, so you could say she had pretty good luck.

She curled her tongue and used her spiritual vision to observe the expressions of the other four people.

Redbeard remained calm, showing little emotion. The other three men, however, displayed a variety of colors: two were in hesitant blue, while the third was in excited red, clearly indicating they had also won.

Interestingly, he wore a sour expression and complained:

"Ugh, what a terrible hand! I'm done for... Oh well, let's try another round!"

Livr watched his performance quietly, waiting for the next round of betting.

In this round, the chips were raised to 30. Two men with poor hands folded, while the man with the astral spirit in a euphoric red color, Redbeard, and Livre called until the end.

The fourth card was revealed: a Jack of Hearts!

Livre was overjoyed: she had already gotten three of a kind, and her chances of winning were quite high. With a pair of Jacks on the table, Redbeard decisively folded.

She looked at the excited man again; his astral body suddenly went silent, clearly indicating that he hadn't hit the key card. Under these circumstances, Livre was practically invincible.

However, the excited man did not show any signs of dejection. Instead, he increased the bet to 50 and said in a pretentious manner:

"My hand isn't very strong, so I'll just add one more hand."

To experienced players, he appears to be someone who has a strong hand but doesn't want to scare away opponents, so he raises the bet slowly. If you don't know his hand, you might be scared away by him.

But Liviel had already seen through her spiritual vision that her opponent had missed this round, so after feigning some hesitation, she smiled and said: