Chapter 419: The Importance of Intelligence

The concert began on time; Delisha and Adena separated, each focusing on the symphony orchestra's performance.

In Trier, citizens still held great passion and sufficient respect for art; during the "Exhibition of Living Artists' Works," daily visitors outnumbered the combined crowds at several execution grounds.

Franca reluctantly withdrew her gaze, half-closed her eyes, and listened to the movement that seemed like moonlight shimmering on a still lake at night.

Lu Mian had received no training in this field; his understanding of music consisted of only three things: the occasional tunes Aurora hummed and the shepherds' flutes, the songs from old taverns, the village square of Keldu, and the Breeze Dance Hall—either filled with vulgar lyrics or pulsing rhythms, and the sacred chants during the Eternal Sun Church's grand mass—but now, he was still moved by the orchestra's playing, his emotions gradually settling, as if he saw Keldu Village and the highland pastures sleeping in darkness.

Those nights were dotted with stars, peaceful and quiet.

Lu Mian did not fully immerse himself in the music; his peripheral vision occasionally scanned the woman posing as Delisha, observing her every movement.

The fake Delisha seemed deeply emotional—grieving during lyrical passages, exhilarated during full ensemble sections, her entire being shifting in response to every change in the music.

This made Lu Mian wonder whether she was simply overly fond of music, too easily moved, or if her performative urge was so strong she had to display something.

If it were the latter, Lu Mian could preliminarily judge the fake Delisha to be a Sequence 7 "Actor," for based on his knowledge of the Desire Mother Tree's Blessing Path, Adepts no longer experienced such exaggerated influences from their former Sequence's desires after leaving it—though still stronger than ordinary people.

Time flew by; three symphonies were performed. At last, the conductor turned, bowed, and addressed all the audience:

"The final movement we just played is called 'The Girl Under the Moon.' I would like to invite the most beautiful lady present to come onstage, so our entire orchestra may have the honor of taking a photograph with her as a cherished memory."

Upon hearing this, Franca immediately lowered her head.

She did not want to be chosen and subjected to everyone's gaze.

It would make her feel somewhat ashamed.

Of course, she wasn't overly concerned; having used "Lies" to alter her appearance and height, she now appeared merely ordinary, with a touch of charm. After all, the greatest obstacle for a "Pleasure Witch" tracking a target was being too beautiful, too charming, too conspicuous—without "hiding" or blending into shadows, she would be easily spotted.

Similar requests were not uncommon in Trier; several women present were already eager to be selected.

For them, being chosen would be a great affirmation of their beauty and demeanor.

Lu Mian's gaze swept over them, naturally including Adena and the fake Delisha.

The former showed clear anticipation; the latter's body tensed unnaturally, trembling faintly, as if stirred by intense inner longing and nervousness.

Seeing this, Lu Mian's lips curled slightly; he now understood the fake Delisha's condition.

The desire to be recognized is one of the core desires of Sequence 6 "The Honored" on the Desire Mother Tree's Blessing Path!

Therefore, the fake Delisha was likely Sequence 6 "The Honored," not yet Sequence 5 "The Fallen Tree Spirit," otherwise her need for recognition would not be this uncontrollable.

This invitation to the most beautiful woman for a photo was no coincidence—it was directly "sponsored" by Lu Mian.

After learning the first stage of the fake Delisha's date with Adena was attending a concert, he went to the Delan Concert Hall, confirmed the evening's program, designed this procedure to match Trier's style based on the final movement's title, and attempted to bribe the orchestra.

He ultimately convinced the conductor not only because he spent 1,000 Faelkin from Franca's funds, but also because he crafted a compelling reason:

It was an act of courtship—purely giving, expecting nothing in return, anonymous and romantic.

"Romance" deeply moved these Trier artists.

With this event, Lu Mian naturally "tested" whether the fake Delisha carried excessive ambition.

A good "Hunter" does not merely wait for opportunities—he must know how to create them!

Of course, the prerequisite is possessing sufficient intelligence; otherwise, one cannot design targeted actions or avoid being detected.

The conductor surveyed the crowd and selected the woman he deemed most beautiful.

He believed she was also the object of admiration of the young man from the afternoon.

Such a beautiful woman was rare!

The woman with deep gray eyes, bright yet tinged with sorrow, and neatly coiled black hair walked beside the orchestra; the fake Delisha collapsed into her seat, unable to conceal her disappointment, regret, and fury.

"How may I address you?" the conductor asked the lady beside him, dressed in a black court gown.

The woman replied in a soft, melodious voice:

"Clarisse."

Franca admired the woman, sensing a unique charm she could not quite name.

After the concert ended, Lu Mian and Franca did not follow Adena and the fake Delisha; they went directly to Apartment 502 at 25 Meinel Street in the Plaza District.

This was a temporarily vacant rental unit secured through financial means; across the street, Apartment 401 in Building 23 was Adena's dedicated rendezvous spot.

Tonight, she would bring the fake Delisha back here.

With Lu Mian and Franca's supernatural vision, this distance posed no obstacle to observing the target room; their most critical task now was to conceal themselves and avoid being detected by the fake Delisha while watching.

Not long after the two hid together in the shadows, the window of Apartment 401 in Building 23 lit up; several gas wall lamps filled the living room with brightness.

Immediately after, Lu Mian saw the fake Delisha and Adena kissing passionately as they approached the glass window.

They could not bear to part, yet wanted to draw the curtains.

"Very focused," Lu Mian teased with a smile.

Franca did not respond; her breathing grew heavier.

"Get ready," Lu Mian whispered to Franca after confirming the fake Delisha's attention was fully on her female companion.

Franca nodded slightly and replied in a calm voice:

"Understood."

Her role was primarily to guard against surprises.

Lu Mian no longer hesitated; he activated the black sigil on his right shoulder.

A faint glow illuminated within his clothing, and he vanished from the shadows of Building 25.

Inside the opposite apartment, Adena and the fake Delisha entangled, tugging at the curtains, trying to cover the window.

Lu Mian's figure materialized two meters behind the fake Delisha, facing Adena, whose eyes were glazed and cheeks flushed.

Adena's gaze sharpened, pupils dilating—she could not believe a tall, slender, blond-haired, blue-eyed stranger had suddenly appeared in her room.

In that instant, she felt she was dreaming; her bodily sensations clashed violently with her mental detachment.

Almost simultaneously, Lu Mian let out a heavy "Hng."

Two streaks of white light shot from his nostrils, striking the fake Delisha and affecting Adena.

Both women closed their eyes and collapsed into unconsciousness.

Lu Mian stepped forward, caught the fake Delisha before she fell, then raised his right palm and slapped sharply behind her ear.

Occult unconsciousness plus physical unconsciousness!

After completing this, Lu Mian dropped the fake Delisha onto the rug, placing her at a distance from the unconscious Adena.

He immediately crouched beside the woman suspected to be "The Honored," searching her dress and handbag, pulling out a collection of bottles and vials.

After a brief examination, familiar with several common "Bliss Society" potions, he selected a sedative, uncorked it, and held it beneath the fake Delisha's nose for fifteen seconds.

Only then did Lu Mian exhale, stow the sedative, and no longer fear the fake Delisha waking suddenly.

He stood, walked to the window where the curtains had not yet fully closed, and gave a hand gesture to the fifth floor of the opposite building: thumb and index finger forming a circle, the other three fingers naturally extended.

It signaled to Franca: the operation succeeded, the target was secured, she could come now—perhaps "Mirror Divination" would be needed soon.

After drawing the curtains, Lu Mian turned to face the unconscious fake Delisha and silently murmured:

"Intelligence is vital…"

So too is the pairing of abilities.

Had he not roughly known the names and traits of Sequence 9 to Sequence 5 on the "Actor" Path, and understood which desires each corresponded to and their states, he would never have dared such a risk—and could not have resolved the confrontation in two or three breaths.

The three abilities of "The Chosen One," if poorly chosen or mismatched, would be as vulnerable as the mouth-like monsters in the ruins of Keldu Village, easily hunted down by a Sequence 9 "Hunter"; if one paired "Spirit Realm Transit" with "Hng-Ha Technique," one might still stand a chance against certain Sequence 5 Adepts, though endurance would be severely lacking.

…………

While Lu Mian waited for Franca to arrive, in the apartment next to Adena's.

Bruns Soren hid in the shadows, listening to the sounds behind the wall while watching the opposite building.

She had already heard Adena and the fake Delisha return to the apartment and the curtains being drawn; her mind already conjured the scene.

This tormented her deeply, filling her with the bitter pain of delivering her lover into her rival's arms.

Though she knew this was a trap, knew such actions were not meaningless, and knew her lover and rival had already been intimate multiple times, she remained intensely anxious and worried—every faint sound made her imagine different scenarios.

It made standing uncomfortable, leaning against the wall equally wrong.

Watching the opposite apartment where Franca and her young lover were concealed, seeing no change, Bruns Soren could not help complaining:

"Why haven't they moved yet?"

(End of Chapter)