Chapter 189: Xiao Taiyang's Worry

After discussing with Adelaide, the final arrangement of the deal was that the other side would provide information except that of the great nobles and the rich tycoons; as payment, Lei Kedun needed to give Adelaide some practical extraordinary knowledge.

Under the witness of the golden‑furred big dog Su Xi, the two happily completed the transaction.

Silver City, base of the Round Tower.

Dai Lik sat quietly on the edge of the bed, his gaze blankly fixed on the metal wall ahead, while a torrent of chaotic thoughts rose and fell in his mind.

The candle on the tray had burned out, and until the guard brought food again, he could only remain in true darkness.

At that moment, gray‑white mist spread before his eyes, and the whisper of Mr. Fool echoed in his ears:

"Prepare the gathering."

The change was fleeting, and Dai Lik subconsciously focused his attention, silently counting his heartbeat.

But he soon realized there was no need to do so; in this setting, he didn't have to worry about avoiding anyone.

Yet Dai Lik quickly thought of another question:

The question was whether, being within the seal radius of that magical artifact at the base of the Round Tower, Mr. Fool's subsequent act of pulling him into the gray mist would be detected.

This was one of the two most wondrous and powerful magical artifacts in Silver City!

Filled with anxiety, Dai Lik's eyes flooded with boundless deep‑red light, surging to engulf him.

Thud! After a moment of silence, a light knocking sounded from the other side of the metal wall.

It was the secret signal Dai Lik and the other had agreed upon for communication.

"Thud!"

After a pause with no reply from Dai Lik, the other knocked again.

Having concluded the banquet and successfully completed the deal with Adelaide, Lei Kedun returned to his rented dwelling.

In the study, Lei Kedun glanced at the wall clock, noting it was nearing three p. m., and, in a relaxed manner, reclined on the study's lounge chair.

Suddenly, a surge of deep‑red light flooded his vision, instantly swallowing Lei Kedun's sight.

When his vision cleared, the surroundings were an expansive ancient palace above the gray mist.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fool~"

Adelaide was still the first member to rise and bow.

After receiving Mr. Fool's reply, Adelaide greeted each member in turn: the Hanged Man, the Sun, the White Tower, the World, and the Magician.

As a mind‑reader, Adelaide keenly sensed that Xiao Taiyang's mood was low and somewhat uneasy.

Curiously, Adelaide asked, "What are you worrying about?"

Xiao Taiyang's behavior led Lei Kedun to suspect he had encountered the former expedition team leader who had been possessed by A Meng.

Xiao Taiyang Dai Lik did not conceal anything; trembling, he fully confessed to the chief about being sent to the base of the Round Tower for isolation, and then asked:

"Honored Mr. Fool, will that magical artifact detect my participation in the Tarot gathering?"

Under the gray mist, Ke Lai En's thoughts were extremely tangled at that moment.

I have no idea what it even is. However, for now no powerful or strange force is attempting to invade.

Ke Lai En curled a finger, tapped the edge of the bronze long table twice, and said in a relaxed tone:

"Normally, it wouldn't detect it."

"But some magical artifacts possess peculiar effects."

Receiving Mr. Fool's affirmative reply, Dai Lik felt considerably reassured and hummed, saying:

"I also don't know what effect this magical artifact has; it's one of Silver City's top secrets."

At that point, he suddenly recalled his conversation with the former expedition leader and asked:

"Have you heard of A Meng?"

A Meng? Ke Lai En hesitated briefly, then all related memories surged, his gaze flicking unnoticed at Lei Kedun beside him; all information about A Meng had been told to him.

Thinking of A Meng, Ke Lai En couldn't help but worry; A Meng was destined to be his enemy, while he was only a Seventh‑rank, and the other an Angel of the First rank.

Lei Kedun frowned slightly; although Dai Lik had chosen a path different from the original story, fate still led him to encounter A Meng.

While Lei Kedun was deep in thought, the Hanged Man A'erjie furrowed his brow and asked, puzzled:

"Did Silver City encounter a self‑proclaimed A Meng while exploring the surrounding areas?"

"Or perhaps found similar records?"

Xiao Taiyang Dai Lik nodded seriously and said:

"Yes. Forty‑two years ago, an expedition team met a self‑proclaimed A Meng in the depths of darkness; after returning to Silver City, they went mad one after another, leaving only one, who has been locked at the base of the Round Tower—right next to me."

"Perhaps he too has gone mad; it may all be his delusion."

The Magician Fo Er Si, fully exercising a novelist's imagination, offered a conjecture.

The Hanged Man A'erjie glanced at the chief Mr. Fool; seeing no hint, he boldly said:

"Delusion is a possibility, but one would not invent the name A Meng without reason."

"In the Fourth Era—well, according to our chronological algorithm, about fifteen hundred years ago or even earlier, during the Tu Duo Dynasty, there was a family wielding bizarre powers whose surname was A Meng!"

"Even in that age of many high‑rank beings, that family's surname was taboo."

"Why?"

Justice‑minded Miss Adelaide, driven by curiosity, posed the question on Xiao Taiyang's behalf.

The Hanged Man A'erjie recalled briefly, then spoke on his own:

"Abraham, Antigonus, A Meng, Jacob, Tamara—these are the five great families that claim to have founded the Tu Duo Dynasty, ranking just below the Blood Emperor."

"Among them, the A Meng family is the most mysterious, with the least recorded history, seemingly twisted and concealed by some force."

"The A Meng family also goes by another name, the Defiler of Gods clan! They possess the secret of stealing divine power and claim descent from the Ancient Sun God."

Xiao Taiyang Dai Lik was bewildered; within his mythological knowledge there was no Ancient Sun God, nor any Defiler of Gods clan.

While everyone fell into contemplation, Lei Kedun had gathered his thoughts, raised his hand slightly, and said:

"The Ancient Sun God is the one you Silver City worship, the creator of all, the all‑knowing, all‑powerful deity."

"A Meng is His child; the former A Meng clan was also Him."

Leiketon shifted into a more solemn posture, leaning his body forward, his hands resting on the bronze long table, and continued:

"There are no families, only A Meng; all members are A Meng!"

"He is the Angel King of the Thief Path, having merged most of this path's extraordinary traits, and can create countless avatars."

"He will not favor you just because your Silver City worships the Ancient Sun God; He is the God of Cunning, the God of Pranks."

"Your neighboring fellow inmate is no longer himself; his body, memories, even his fate have already been stolen by A Meng, and he has become one of A Meng's many avatars."

The scene fell silent for a moment; Xiao Taiyang Dai Li Ke had many questions, but for the time being didn't know where to begin, feeling his mind in total chaos.

Shrouded in gray mist, Ke Lai En felt his heart skip a beat, gazing at the dense gray‑white fog around him; he clearly remembered A Er having said that this place belongs to the Source Fortress, which corresponds to the three paths of Diviner, Thief, and Apprentice.

A Meng, is He coming at me? No, that's wrong—forty‑two years is too long; He couldn't have foreseen back then that I would pull Xiao Taiyang into the gray mist!

"Dong dong dong!"

Ke Lai En curled his fingers and tapped the bronze long table in front of him a few times.

Seeing the crowd's gaze drawn to him, Ke Lai En leaned back slightly, adopting a nonchalant, relaxed demeanor, and said:

"No need to worry, A Meng's target is not you, nor Silver City."

"Not me? Nor Silver City?" Xiao Taiyang Dai Li Ke repeated Mr. Fool's words in his mind, his eyes looking puzzled at the Fool seated at the head of the table.

Justice Ao Dai Li, The Hanged Man A'erjie, and Magician Fo Er Si also stared at the Fool at the head of the table, each silently pondering.

The Hanged Man A'erjie stroked the stubble on his chin, a bold thought bubbling up: A Meng's target is not Mr. Sun, nor the Silver City he resides in; A Meng's true target is likely just.

The Hanged Man A'erjie cast a probing gaze toward the Fool at the head of the table.

Justice Ao Dai Li keenly noticed The Hanged Man A'erjie's movement, quickly responded, and likewise looked toward the Fool at the head of the table.

Magician Fo Er Si hadn't thought of that, but seeing everyone look at the Fool, he too turned his gaze toward the head of the table, the Fool shrouded in gray mist.

"Don't all stare at me! These are just my speculations and feelings!"

"Fate's Signpost!" Leiketon had only that sentence in his mind.

Then, with a complicated look, he glanced at Xiao Taiyang Dai Li Ke, not telling him that after this tarot meeting ends, a friendly greeting from A Meng, locked next door, will await.

In front of A Meng, the more one knows, the more one is exposed.

Shrouded in gray mist, Ke Lai En noticed Leiketon's unabashed actions and gaze, and likewise turned his eyes toward Xiao Taiyang Dai Li Ke seated beside him.

A Er's actions, Xiao Taiyang's ordeal hasn't ended? Could it be that A Meng sensed my act of pulling Xiao Taiyang into the gray mist? The Thief Path and Source Fortress must have some connection, so A Meng most likely noticed my action.

The more he pondered, the more Ke Lai En felt uneasy; he was not yet ready to face a powerhouse like A Meng.

Ke Lai En, controlling his Mr. Little World, let out a light cough to draw everyone's attention, then fixed his gaze on Leiketon, his voice low and hoarse, and said:

"What do you think of A Meng?"

(End of Chapter)