Chapter 29: The Mentalist and the Eve of the Hunt

Once again waking from a dream, Li En wore a smile.

Climbing out of bed, he shook his head, dispelling that strange warm feeling—he was a little worried that Su Er's influence had sunk in too deep; he was clearly a single old bachelor, yet somehow it felt exactly like raising a daughter.

"Don't run, Miss Lana—at least put some clothes on before running!"

Uh, there seemed to be another "daughter" outside.

Sighing, he hurriedly got up, ready to help the maid catch that slippery little girl.

At the doorway, a snake-woman in skimpy clothing lay on the floor.

Her slender lower half was coiled around a struggling "prey," and what met his eyes was a stretch of bare white.

He silently closed the door—you two really know how to play, this was far more thrilling than any monster-girl guidebook.

"Wait a moment, I'm putting clothes on her."

A dozen or so minutes later, on the sofa at Li En's home, Miss Shaliman frowned as she wiped down Lana, who was pouting.

And Li En sat at the opposite table, enjoying a rare warm breakfast, nearly moved to tears—at last there was a cook making meals, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time, the taste of waiting for food to be brought to the table.

"Delicious. The money was well spent!"

In his previous life, Li En wasn't born an orphan, but it was close enough.

He was the extra burden from a divorced couple's remarriage, the sort who sensibly became independent early on.

"How does it taste?" Miss Shaliman, who had come over early in the morning, seemed to have just casually found a topic.

"Very good! This skill is really something." Although it was only a simple cream-of-mushroom soup with toasted bread slices, the spices and seasoning were excellent, and Li En tasted the feeling of a high-end restaurant from his past.

"That's good then." The woman continued wiping the little girl's head, though her cheeks had turned red, and her snake tail quietly stood upright.

Immediately, Li En sensed something was off.

Uh, could it be that you made it?

"Ahem, actually you didn't need to come this early."

The atmosphere was a little ambiguous, and Li En, the fake fiancé, hurriedly changed the subject.

"How is Lana's condition?"

"It's quite good. I asked the maid—Lana only woke up with a headache twice last night."

"I'll help smooth things out again for her; within a week she should stabilize, and you probably don't need to worry too much about nighttime waking and intermittent headaches."

Li En could tell that compared to yesterday, Lana was indeed much friendlier toward Miss Shaliman, and the healing seemed to be taking effect.

Now she was obediently staying in Miss Shaliman's arms, saying nothing.

At least, until the cream bread slices she kept stuffing into her mouth were finished, she probably wouldn't move.

The increasingly practiced Miss Shaliman, after wiping the little girl clean, stuffed her mouth full of breakfast.

Yesterday, upon hearing that Lana had just completed her regression, Miss Shaliman had taken the initiative to­—to help treat the girl.

Judging from the current situation, her healing level was probably far more outstanding than any doctor Li En could hire.

"She must have been quite powerful and stable before; otherwise the aftereffects wouldn't be this mild. Although her memories are completely gone, her spirit remains quite stable—only her mind has regressed to that of a child." Speaking of her own specialty, Miss Shaliman grew more and more confident.

Her extraordinary class was Mentalist, a profession that extremely valued talent yet had a subtle reputation.

At the low-to-mid tiers, its combat power could be said to be the lowest among same-tier casters, even comparable to casters one or two tiers lower; yet its spell effects were the most well-rounded.

Here, one must mention the divergence between Sorcerers and Mages: Sorcerers primarily cast through bloodline and bodily instinct, similar to magical beasts and magical races, whereas Mages master "magic" through the study of "knowledge."

Unless one's bloodline is heaven-defying, among casters the traditional Mage remains the most well-rounded and versatile, with the most branches based on research direction.

A Sorcerer's growth, however, is more relaxed and dependent on heaven-sent fortune—bloodline and talent crush everything—and thus there are quite a few so-called Sorcerer noble bloodlines.

Mentalists are also a branch of Sorcerer, but the most special case among them: their casting relies not on the body but on the mind, and they can also grow through training and study.

"I can't invade her soul—her spirit body is extremely powerful. I really can't imagine how powerful an enemy capable of making her like this must be."

Mentalists are a branch of Sorcerer who employ the "psychic energy" generated by the "mind."

They excel at weaving psychic energy, simulating various other schools of Sorcery and spells, producing Mentalist-exclusive techniques.

Unlike traditional Sorcerers who rely on brute force through bloodline, they tend to be sensitive and precise, adept at all manner of delicate operations.

It is said they can use refined psychic power to simulate the professional models of other schools, achieving an almost omnipotent effect. Conversely, because their output relies entirely on mind and soul, their output is relatively low.

To put it plainly—excellent all-round support; please don't expect them to hurl a barrage of fireballs the moment they step onto the field like ordinary Sorcerers.

"I'm already very grateful; otherwise, finding a caster who could heal her—I don't know how much I'd have to pay."

Mentalists also have many branches; Miss Shaliman is a Mental Diviner (Perceiver) among them.

What she excels at is actually various divinations and intelligence reconnaissance, with a very high ceiling for support abilities.

In combat, however, she still relies on the traditional "Mind Hammer (Psychokinesis)" to beat people, and at low tiers the damage is extremely underwhelming.

It is also because of the Mentalist's versatility that she possesses a certain healing ability—both physical and mental healing.

Healing aftereffects of such physical and mental trauma may not be as fast as a Priest's divine magic, but the comprehensive effect of mental healing arts is better than a Priest's, especially for this kind of soul-damaged regression illness.

"Li En, you're even more impressive than Lana—I can't see any aftereffects in you at all; your soul is always whole, with no cracks visible at all." Miss Shaliman sighed, uttering words that made Li En break out in a cold sweat.

She continued patiently stroking Lana's forehead, helping smooth out the spiritual disorder while healing the ruptured blood vessels in her brain.

Originally she had planned to directly interfere with the other's spirit body and smooth out the cracks on it—but Lana's soul was far more powerful than her own as a caster, and forcibly interfering might cost her own life.

She had also tried repeatedly, attempting to help recover Lana's memories—considering her abilities, in this regard she might be the most likely to succeed in all of Radiant City.

But the result was failure after failure.

"Her memories are completely gone—a piece is missing both materially and from the soul. This doesn't look like the chaotic damage of natural regression or severe-injury regression; before the regression, she may have been struck by an evil curse targeting memory and spirit."

Her judgment made Li En increasingly unable to keep a straight face, seemingly confirming certain conspiracy theories.

But Miss Shaliman had agreed to come over and help heal Lana a bit, which also let Li En breathe a sigh of relief; he currently had neither the money nor the energy to find a doctor for Lana.

Especially since she had agreed to use mental secret arts to help her master language and common sense as quickly as possible.

"That can be done too? Isn't that hypnosis, brainwashing, mind-reading as well—" Li En casually made a joke, only to be glared at by the other party.

"Any magic involving the mind must contend with the target's soul. As long as the target's soul is whole, even if the target is weak, it's very hard to take effect. The forced hypnosis (Charm Person) you mentioned—mid-to-high-tier casters all have similar abilities; it's not a Mentalist exclusive. As for complete mind-reading, unless you crush the target's sanity, normal casters' magic cannot achieve it."

Li En was merely joking offhandedly, but the Shaliman opposite him kept a stern face and responded very seriously.

"And what I do has little to do with the mind; I simply use 'suggestion' to accelerate their learning speed. Many warrior families within the sorcerer clans use this in their own training to help certain combat techniques form muscle memory and subconscious instincts."

"Sorry... I went too far with that professional joke." Li En sensed the other's displeasure, realizing he seemed to have stepped on a landmine, and apologized repeatedly.

After all, the other party had come over to help him voluntarily.

And Shaliman arriving so early was naturally not just to treat Miss Lana's illness.

After having the servant take little Lana away and casting a spell to seal the room, she took a deep breath and prepared to continue speaking.

The meaning of His Highness was that he must urgently need her help now; it was time to lay all cards on the table.

"I am a friend of Dragon Hunter. She sent me to help you; is there anything I can do?"

Hearing this, Li En was stunned; even this matter could be revealed, so her relationship with Dragon Hunter must be quite extraordinary.

But he still hesitated somewhat; he did not know how much the other party knew or which words could be spoken.

"I know everything. The gloves you are wearing now were also given to Miss Talia by me; you can ask her to confirm." Shaliman laid all cards on the table directly.

Hearing this, Li En was stunned at first, then a smile appeared on his face.

That little girl who had just recently snatched his meat had truly given him a heavy gift; he really did urgently need a spellcaster's help and had originally been forced to take risks.

"That is wonderful... I have some matters here that exactly need a spellcaster's help. I wonder, are you skilled in illusion magic?"

"My professional branch specializes in the Divination school for seeing through illusions... but I also know illusion magic, just at an average level."

"Truly worthy of being called an all-around mind sorcerer; my request is not high."

Soon, Li En realized this was the other party's modesty; since she was proficient in seeing through illusions, she naturally excelled at creating illusions that could not be seen through, especially skilled at patching small loopholes in illusions to make them look lifelike.

At Li En's request, a completely identical "Li En" soon appeared within the house.

He and "she" stared at each other, as if looking in a mirror; Li En could find no difference at all.

"Can it be maintained during combat?" Li En asked, this was crucial.

"Not really. My illusion is actually a relatively stable 'light echo'; if the internal cycle is broken by strong oscillation, it will naturally shatter. I can strengthen it; if I am not injured, it should be fine." The "other Li En" tried to explain, then, remembering the other party probably did not understand, simply stated the conclusion.

With a snap of fingers, the illusion dissolved; the man was so close, feeling the other's body heat and breath, and Shaliman felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"That is enough; you have helped a great deal." The man smiled to express his gratitude, but the snake girl tilted her head.

"I am just helping His Highness... Dragon Hunter; no need to thank me."

Although she did not know why a cold-blooded animal blushed so often, the most troublesome problem was thus solved.

Li En showed a happy smile and sincerely expressed his gratitude; the woman before him had helped him too much, truly his great benefactor.

And on his chest, a red gemstone continued to glow faintly.

Compared to last night, it seemed a piece had become smaller.

【Creature Grade: Inferior Stone, Status: Strength 3 (13), Constitution 4 (11), Agility 3 (6), Spirit 5 (16)】

After one night, his body had obtained a certain degree of completion, and both strength and constitution had increased by one point.

The data on the panel was not obvious; he clearly felt his spirit and stamina were more abundant, his attention easier to concentrate, and he was more confident about the upcoming battle.

His gaze turned toward the window; setting the plan for tomorrow night was also to give others time to prepare for battle.

"Next, it is up to them."

While Li En received unexpected help and completed preparations early, the others were not idle either.

"Police Flower" Talia left the police station and, following the guidance of the shadows, walked to a dead end in the dock district.

There lay the dilapidated safe house she had thought she would never visit again in her life.

The room already smelled of decay, but she, with her keen sense of smell, ignored it.

She moved the wooden bed, removed the wooden box atop it, and from the secret compartment below, retrieved the weapon equipment that was originally unlikely to be used.

On the top layer of the weapon box was the assassination cloak with its inherent slight light-and-shadow distortion ability, and the dual daggers carrying paralytic poison and snake venom.

Various poisons, antidotes, and auxiliary potions were placed into the medicine bag; poisoned throwing knives were inserted one by one into the leather sheath on her thigh; assassination steel wire was coiled on her fingertips by a ring... What she used to do should need no further explanation.

Assassin, prostitute, gang member; the three employment essentials for street urchins in the dock district; the oldest professions never cared about the practitioner's level of education.

Poor children venturing out to struggle had few employment choices; living alone outside was very difficult, and falling into darkness was just daily life.

Only those who had once been immersed in darkness would, after escaping it, crave the light even more.

"Truly did not expect these things would have a day of use."

Putting on the face-covering cloth that signified killing once more and playing with the poisoned dual daggers, Talia, unusually, showed a relieved smile.

This time, although it was still killing in the shadows, it was no longer for money and profit.

She was the one among the candidates who recognized Damon and Li En the most.

She always felt that, unlike the foolish herself, they might truly be able to offer children like her a different future and different choices.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, while another pair of "eyes" quietly opened.

"Haa."

Gasping deeply, the particles captured by her sense of smell constructed a "particle spatial world" resembling 3D graphics in her brain.

The world became more and more perfect; imagination gradually broke the limits of physics, constructing a dimension belonging to the shadows.

The next moment, she stepped forward but slid directly into the shadow, diving once more into the World of Shadows.

Appearing again, she was already in the shadow of the neighboring alley.

This safe house, which had neither doors nor windows, was originally used this way.

She did not know that the orphanage only two streets away from this safe house was also particularly lively today.

"That many-handed gullible knight is here again." The children's cheers, however, were quite subtle.

"Great! He promised last time to bring us toys; did he bring them?"

"My teddy bear, something tasty, and toy cars!"

"Stop making noise; today we all say together that we want him to take us out to play. We can go to the docks to see the sea, or go to the square in the next district to play in the sand piles."

In the orphanage, the children were making a racket.

Although some words made the nuns unable to hold back, the children all smiled happily because someone had come to see them.

The holy knight, wearing a smile, stepped into the noisy orphanage; looking at those lively children who had actively come forward, a sense of relief appeared in her eyes.

"This time, I will not hesitate again."

With the power of law in her hand, she, covered in a faint silver light, perhaps also gained a bit more confidence.

After receiving guidance, she would not hesitate this time; she only needed to point her sword at the guilty.

"Even if it is just for these children, I have a reason to draw my sword." As the toys were snatched up empty, the female holy knight still smiled like a simpleton.

At the same moment, the winner of this inheritance also looked up at the sunlight outside the window.

"The sky has completely brightened; has the appointed time arrived?"

Today, Dimon did not go out to kill indiscriminately; he had more important work.

In the not-large room, broken large stones and sandbags were everywhere; he had been practicing from the moment he woke up until now.

He felt his own change; he needed to adapt to this change as quickly as possible.

Although going to actual combat would be a good choice, at this moment, he had already arranged a serious matter.

He washed off the bloodstains, put on a heavy black formal coat and suit trousers, shaved his beard clean, and put on a monocle; he was clearly a thug yet dressed like a gentleman.

Picking up the blood-stained money bag, the incongruous him stepped into the palace of the dock district—the slave market where people came and went.

He was already famous enough in the dock district; it was time to visit a bigger dock.

As for that expected grand gift, first getting to know them by face was his work plan for today.

"Hehe, let us cooperate more in the future; if there is any work, I will instruct you; do not push it aside when the time comes."

"Of course, my lord; serving you and the market is the greatest dream of my life." The simple smile was very sincere; one could not see at all that this was the most famous butcher in the dock district recently.

After this steward left, he stood up and returned, still with a simple smile on his face, but feeling a bit dissatisfied inside.

"Indeed, a low-level steward was sent to handle it." With his current identity, it was still not enough to see the market supervisor.

He did not rush to leave; he just patiently watched in the hall, waiting for people to come and go.

This was a matter of luck, but opportunity is always prepared for those with patience.

Two hours later, he really saw his target in a corner of the hall.

"Black Gold" Eugene looked elegant and handsome, appearing like a middle-aged teacher who had achieved success in his career.

And those who could be personally sent out by him were truly great figures.

"Priest robes? High Priest." That was a high-ranking priest who looked very formidable; beneath the white robes was a harmonious and pure smile.

Yet in Eugene's smile, there was some flattery; the white-haired priest in front of him, dressed in clean white, was perhaps one of the true masters of the market.

And behind that holy priest, there was a knight, my lord, who was specifically carrying a heavy bag, and a priest who was looking after two children.

The two children, both looking very beautiful, were boys with baby faces of only seven or eight years old, who were having their chains removed by the priest.

They seemed very excited to be chosen by the priest master, but Dimon knew that children who were taken away were never seen again.

"Gao Jie Brother Li En was right; true evil is not the murderer with limited efficiency; they are often those wearing magnificent robes, standing in the halls; they eat people without even having to do it themselves." Dimon withdrew his gaze; he did not want to cause trouble at this moment, so he just patiently waited for them to finish the farewell.

Soon, Eugene, who had sent off the great master, hummed a little tune and prepared to return to his office.

However, his eyes looked left and right, noting in a small notebook; he actually cared very much about other people's opinions, especially those of the little rascals who saw his flattering expression.

But this time, what he saw face-to-face was a simple face, filled with surprise and respect.

"My lord Eugene! I really didn't expect to see you; you are our idol."

Uh, a 5300-character chapter, asking for some monthly votes.





(End of this chapter)