Chapter 179

Before boarding the public carriage, Lu Mian specifically spent 6 licks to buy a copy of "Spirituality" magazine to make himself look like he was going to 19 Sijie to attend a gathering of occult enthusiasts.

He was worried that after entering the sight of the Savages' boss, Gardner Martin, he would be secretly followed for a period of time to confirm whether there were any problems.

Although he could take some anti-surveillance measures to try to shake off any potential tail, wouldn't that make him even more suspicious?

By comparison, a country boy who had just arrived in Trier and accidentally stepped onto a supernatural path, yearning for more occult knowledge and thus buying magazines like "Spirituality" and attending various occult enthusiast gatherings published in them, was a more convincing story.

In essence, this was indeed true.

The only problem was that the convener of that occult enthusiast gathering was Mr. K, and behind him was a secret organization.

If Gardner Martin's people really investigated to this point, let them have a fight with Mr. K and see who was more powerful!

As the prank king of Cordu Village, Lu Mian had always loved watching the show.

At that time, he would adjust his subsequent choices based on the outcome of the battle. In any case, the general direction would not change, which was to follow the instructions of Ms. Magician and infiltrate the secret organization behind Mr. K.

On the moving carriage, Lu Mian flipped through the "Spirituality" magazine in his hand.

The theme of this issue was "Mystic Union."

Unlike Lu Mian's instinctive understanding, the "Union" in Mystic Union did not represent a "contract," but "alignment." It was a way to let one's own spirit align bit by bit with a specific hidden existence through some means, gaining corresponding spiritual experiences and obtaining certain occult knowledge.

"Spirituality" magazine emphasized in the "Editor's Note" of many articles that this was a very dangerous behavior. Unless one could be sure that the object of the Mystic Union was trustworthy and had no malice, it was not recommended to try it, as it would bring very bad and very serious consequences, including but not limited to suffering from mental illness, being possessed by evil spirits, losing one's mind, dying on the spot, personality changes, etc.

"So that's how it is..." Lu Mian instantly understood some of the contents in Aurora's witchcraft notes.

He had originally learned those passages from the perspective of a "contract" and couldn't understand them no matter what. Now that he had changed his way of thinking, he roughly understood what they were talking about.

Lu Mian lowered his head to look at the "Spirituality" magazine in his hand and praised it twice in his heart:

"More useful than I thought. I thought it was all made up to fool occult enthusiasts.

"Hmm, although there are many common-sense errors, it doesn't look like it was written by someone who has truly entered the supernatural world and done a lot of research, but the explanation of some concepts is quite high-level, very close to the correct answer, and some can even give me some inspiration..."

Amidst the praise, he began to grumble:

"Judging from the fact that Mr. K lives in the underground area of the "Spirituality" magazine headquarters building, could there really be Beyonders among the editors and contributors of these occult magazines?

"Did they write a correct article first, and then deliberately change many of the concepts and common sense in it?"

As the thought flashed through his mind, Lu Mian secretly hissed:

"From this perspective, the combination of the articles and editor's notes in this issue is not teaching the correct Mystic Union ritual, but warning, warning those who try Mystic Union recklessly!

"No, not necessarily reckless, more likely deliberately guided by some malicious people...

"Have there already been several accidents involving Mystic Union?"

At this moment, Lu Mian looked at the "Spirituality" magazine in his hand again and no longer paid attention to the specific words.

He even felt that it was full of warnings written in bloody text:

"Stop! Do not perform any more Mystic Union rituals!"

The occult world is truly full of danger... Lu Mian closed his eyes and sighed sincerely.

The longer he stayed in the occult field, the more he could understand his sister's helplessness and struggle back then.

He closed the copy of "Spirituality," which was two licks cheaper than a normal magazine, and cast his gaze outside the carriage window.

After arriving at Sijie in the Boulevard District, Lu Mian performed an anti-surveillance check as normal to show his "Hunter" instincts.

Then, he entered the headquarters of "Spirituality" magazine and knocked on the door of room 103 with a rhythm of three long and two short knocks.

Like last time, he was led to the basement and met Mr. K.

Mr. K was still wearing a black robe with a huge hood, his face completely covered by shadows.

Sitting on a red-backed chair, he stared at Lu Mian for a few seconds and said in a low, hoarse voice:

"What is it this time?"

"Mr. K, I have completed the mission you gave me and have become a leader of the Savages in the Market District, responsible for managing the Breeze Dance Hall and the Golden Rooster Hotel," Lu Mian said with a smile.

Mr. K nodded slightly:

"Very good. I also like your style of doing things.

"Next, what you need to do is to gain Gardner Martin's trust and let him truly recognize you."

This time, Mr. K did not mention the words "reward" and "mission" again and gave the order directly, as if he already regarded Lu Mian as his subordinate.

Gain the boss's trust? Lu Mian was stunned for a moment, then a strong sense of doubt and unease emerged:

He remembered very clearly that when Mr. K gave the mission, he did not specify that he should join the Savages, but used "any" to describe the gang!

But now, the follow-up was to be truly recognized by the boss of the Savages!

"If I hadn't chosen Baron Brignais back then, but had picked another gang, what kind of mission would Mr. K have given today?

"Or rather, is he very certain that I would join the Savages?

"What is he certain about?"

Thoughts surfaced in Lu Mian's mind, reminding him of some things that had happened recently:

"I just killed that pervert and got that bottle of sleeping potion, and Baron Brignais asked me to deal with the leader of the Poison Sting Gang, making that item come in handy...

"Is this too much of a coincidence?

"There are other similar things...

"I occasionally feel that someone is staring at me in the shadows around me, but I haven't found anything...

"Could it be that all of this was arranged by Mr. K?

"If I hadn't chosen the Savages, would I have been 'arranged' into the Savages after a few events?"

Lu Mian felt more and more horrified the more he thought about it.

When he looked at Mr. K again, he lost the mindset of treating the other party as an object to be fleeced.

Apart from a few people like Ms. Magician, this might be the strongest Beyonder he had ever encountered!

He made him follow his wishes without him knowing!

As the thought flashed through his mind, Lu Mian lowered his head and said:

"Yes, Mr. K."

He adopted the posture of a subordinate.

At the same time, he thought of "Red Boots" Franca.

This member of the secret organization "Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society" had both background and strength, yet she had to mix in a gang to be a mistress for the boss, obviously having other purposes.

Was her goal also to approach Gardner Martin? Was he involved in something very important, or did he involve some very key secret? Lu Mian tried to make a guess.

Mr. K nodded as if satisfied:

"I am very happy that you can recognize your position. Don't worry, I will never be stingy with rewards.

"Have you not been to any church to pray recently?"

He changed the subject.

"I am a wanted criminal!" Lu Mian remembered Ms. Magician's instructions and said with hatred, "Besides, those gods will not save us at all!"

Mr. K chuckled:

"It's not that they won't, but that they can't. Their power cannot cover all believers and provide help for the disasters encountered by everyone.

"There are many reasons for this, but there is only one after summarizing:

"Weakness is the original sin.

"Are you interested in learning about the Lord I believe in? He represents the reality of this world, He is supreme, His grace is like the sea, He created everything, He destroys everything, He is power itself, and He is also ourselves."

Seeing Lu Mian silent for a moment, Mr. K did not force him:

"You don't need to answer me now. Think about it carefully during this time. Think about who can save us and who can provide us with shelter in this increasingly dangerous and crazy world.

"When you are determined to believe in Him, you will truly become one of us. It won't be long before your strength will also be greatly improved."

"I will consider it carefully," Lu Mian replied in a low voice.

Mr. K turned to ask:

"Do you have anything else?"

Lu Mian, who had adjusted his mindset, thought that asking wouldn't hurt and said:

"In the process of completing the mission, if I encounter danger, can I use that finger of yours? How should I use it?"

Mr. K nodded as if to say:

"Just take it out."

The implication was that he could use it.

"If I use it up, how should I face the threat of Susanna Mattise later?" Lu Mian asked further.

Mr. K was silent for a few seconds:

"After using that finger, come here and find me, and I will give you another one."

Your finger is indeed a consumable... Lu Mian thought for a moment and said:

"I sold the Beyonder characteristic of 'Hammer' Ait to Gardner Martin and exchanged it for 18,000 verl d'or. I want to buy a sealed artifact that increases my occult means, or one that can help me disguise myself better. I don't know if you have any here, Mr. K?"

Mr. K did not answer immediately, as if thinking about a suitable choice.

After a while, he said to Lu Mian:

"Come here next Thursday night to choose."

Lu Mian smiled:

"Thank you, Mr. K."

The feeling of having an organization behind you is really not bad, even if it's only an unofficial member for now.

…………

Returning to the Honest Market District, Lu Mian first placed Mr. K's finger in room 207 of the Golden Rooster Hotel, then went to the Breeze Dance Hall, intending to find a clean room there to summon Ms. Magician's messenger and report the progress of the mission to her, to see if she would provide some useful feedback, such as how Mr. K made those things happen in a relatively coincidental way.

PS: Please vote for the monthly ticket in the last day and a half~

PS2: Thanks to book friend 20230526140021488 for the Silver Alliance reward.

(End of Chapter)