Chapter 724: He Knows

In the basement of 19 Scher Street, Lu Mi met Mr. K.

Had he not witnessed the man transform into a mass of flesh that engulfed Moran Avini, then suffered the Holy Light of the Purifier's injury afterward, he would never have believed that Mr. K—now radiating full vitality, cloaked in a black hood, showing no sign of anomaly—had infiltrated the residence of the Minister of Industry of the Intis Republic and completed an assassination not long ago.

"You've returned from the Southern Continent?" Mr. K's voice remained as low and raspy as ever.

He did not sit in the red-backed chair but stood in the shadow directly before Lu Mi—the shadow cast by the crystal chandelier.

Lu Mi did not conceal anything and smiled:

"I came back to help a friend, then I'll leave again—you know I can 'teleport.'"

Mr. K's large hood shifted slightly, as if nodding.

He spoke with evident relief:

"After returning to Triel, you still remembered to come here and praise the Lord's radiance—proof I didn't misjudge you."

Lu Mi, having just completed the full prayer ritual with Mr. K, felt a surge of guilt and shame.

He spoke bluntly:

"I saw you assassinate Moran Avini."

Mr. K's gaze beneath the hood suddenly became tangible; the surrounding shadows stirred faintly.

After several seconds, the Apostle of the Aurora Society rasped:

"You were there?"

Lu Mi answered calmly:

"Yes. Though your method of assassinating Moran Avini bore the classic signature of the 'Rose Bishop,' and you seemingly used 'Pasturing' to achieve 'teleportation,' even if I'd only obtained intelligence from the Purifier, I could still deduce it was you. But I must admit—I was indeed there."

"Where did you hide?" Mr. K asked.

Lu Mi replied with clear amusement:

"Inside the mirror—the same mirror Moran Avini fled through."

Upon hearing this, Mr. K's black robe stirred without wind, as if countless fleshy limbs below were cheering.

He made no effort to conceal his excitement:

"Then now? Have you captured Moran Avini?"

"Yes." Lu Mi nodded solemnly.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!" Mr. K leaned back, revealing his thin chin, laughing with wild, unhinged fervor.

He laughed until Lu Mi's ears rang, until the shadows and lights in the basement rippled, until the stench of blood filled the air.

Finally, Mr. K stopped laughing and declared with fanatical zeal:

"It is truly the Lord's design! Only piety is the sole path!"

He began tracing a cross over his chest:

"Praise you, praise you who created all things, praise you who bear the sins of all mortals!"

Lu Mi joined in praising the "True Creator" of the Aurora Society's faith.

Mr. K sighed with a smile:

"I had only planned to assassinate Moran Avini within these few days, yet hadn't decided which day. Then, this evening, I saw him at the window, gazing at the distant scenery—I noticed his emotions and state were off.

"I feared something unexpected might happen, so I rushed into action—and failed.

"I was just about to confess to the Lord, bearing the sins I must carry, when you arrived and told me you had captured Moran Avini.

"What does this prove?

"It proves the Lord arranged everything long ago. We need only pray faithfully, act faithfully, and do our deeds faithfully—no other considerations needed.

"As long as we are faithful, failure becomes the precursor to success; without faith, even success is merely a success leading to failure."

Every time Lu Mi had previously conversed with Mr. K, he felt as if their languages were incompatible—not because he couldn't understand the words, but because he could never truly comprehend or internalize that fanatical state.

But now, he suddenly felt a chill:

Could the "Black Box of Power" transaction I initiated have somehow connected to the Lord of the Aurora Society?

That's why Moran Avini suddenly developed the idea to escape through the mirror in his study, why he specifically went there to observe the surroundings, pretending to read while weighing risks…

That's why, after I altered Moran Avini's fate, Mr. K arrived at the study and rushed the assassination, forcing Moran Avini to flee into the nearest mirror—the full-length mirror where we hid…

During the "Black Box" transaction, we paid with the "Blood Gold" ring, a unique artifact derived from the Sequence 6 "Rose Bishop" of the Secret Prayer Path…

Lu Mi decided to share his insights with Mr. K, but concealed his own fear and the role of his "Manipulate Fate" ability, attributing all changes solely to the "Black Box of Power."

After his wild laughter, Mr. K no longer lost composure; he spoke with solemn, fervent intensity:

"The Lord sees. The Lord hears. The Lord knows."

Lu Mi had heard similar words from the "Magician" lady, but back then he hadn't felt anything profound—not even much worry, since worrying wouldn't change anything. Now, every hair on his body stood on end, a cold chill racing from his tailbone straight to his brain.

He felt eyes watching him from every shadow around him.

The more he experienced, the more knowledge he gained, the clearer the terror and oppression of those three short phrases became.

After a few seconds, Lu Mi praised the "True Creator" again, then asked:

"Mr. K, why did you assassinate Moran Avini?

"My friend and I are targeting him because the real Moran Avini is dead—this one is the 'Mirror Man.' What about you?"

"'Mirror Man'? No wonder he had a 'mirror double.' I didn't anticipate this—that's why my assassination failed." Mr. K sighed in sudden realization.

He paced a few steps, then said to Lu Mi:

"Over the past few months, several incidents in Intis have all pointed to an organization called the 'School of Truth.' They've used fallen members from various heretical cults and legitimate institutions to accomplish certain tasks—such as the mysterious disappearance of a descendant of Peri, or the strange theft of several pages from Rosell's diary under heavy guard."

Peri? One of Rosell the Emperor's Four Horsemen of Revelation? One of his descendants vanished mysteriously? At this thought, Lu Mi's eyelid twitched:

Ye Busi had said the "School of Truth" had three goals: find clues to the Fallen Heaven, locate Rosell the Emperor's final tomb, and find the "0—05" Wish Lamp.

The seal of Triel in the Fourth Era had just been broken once; within a short time, Intis's official organizations shouldn't have another lapse. "0—05" was in the hands of Rosell's eldest daughter, Bernadette, and the "School of Truth" admitted they couldn't yet confront the leader of "Elemental Dawn," planning to acquire more blessings before attempting again.

That meant two of the three goals required long-term planning. Only the clue to Rosell's final tomb—Ye Busi claimed he had no leads himself. Whether the "Watcher" had any, he didn't know.

Combining Mr. K's account, Lu Mi developed a grim suspicion:

Has the "School of Truth" already obtained critical clues to Rosell the Emperor's final tomb?

Mr. K continued:

"We are investigating these incidents. So is 'Elemental Dawn.'

"We recently discovered Moran Avini's presence in several of these cases—he appears to be a key figure in the 'School of Truth.'"

"Then why choose to kill him instead of capturing him?" Lu Mi thought Mr. K's earlier actions had clearly aimed to eliminate Moran Avini.

Mr. K chuckled, voice rasping:

"Killing is simpler than capturing. Once Moran Avini dies, anomalies will inevitably follow. The official Exalted Ones present will surely attempt to commune with his spirit—then the authorities will pursue the 'School of Truth,' stopping their plans from coming to fruition.

"Isn't that our goal?

"And we can remain hidden, tracking the 'School of Truth' by following the authorities' movements."

So even you, Apostle of the Aurora Society, have learned to "snitch" and use the authorities? Lu Mi found it amusing.

If not for gathering more information on the "Mirror Man," he and Furan Ka and the others wouldn't need such complications—forcing Moran Avini to reveal anomalies would've sufficed.

Lu Mi asked Mr. K several more detailed questions, growing increasingly certain the "School of Truth" was very close to the location of Rosell the Emperor's final tomb.

He no longer delayed, stating he must return immediately to interrogate Moran Avini and prevent any mishaps.

"Need my help?" Mr. K asked.

Lu Mi smiled and replied:

"Not yet. We have a 'Hypnotist,' the 'Bliss Society's' truth serum, and a witch skilled in spirit communion."

He didn't mention the "Fate Hunter" abilities.

—During the "Hunting Fate" process, Lu Mi could "see" all of Moran Avini's past and present fates, and most of their branches—but only for a limited time, enough to extract only the most critical piece of information.

"Good. If you need anything, find me anytime." Mr. K regarded Lu Mi with an appreciative gaze.

…………

After "teleporting" back to the safehouse via a secluded spot, Lu Mi glanced around and said to Furan Ka:

"Use your 'Mirror Clasp' ability to take us back to the underground quarry hollow."

This was to avoid accidents affecting this neighborhood.

Lu Mi had already "teleported" multiple times today, altered Moran Avini's fate, and continuously played the "Chant of Hatred," launching repeated weak-point attacks—his spiritual reserves were now nearly depleted, leaving only seven or eight "teleport" uses, with no stored reserves left.

Under these conditions, it was best to use Exalted artifacts whenever possible.

Furan Ka understood Lu Mi's state and didn't stint on "Mirror Clasp" uses, only demanding that Lu Mi carry the giant dog and not let it touch her.

She then made the glass button on her blouse sleeve glow faintly, drawing Lu Mi and the others into the room's mirror, through a dark, void-like tunnel, emerging in the quarry hollow where the Mirror World's fixed entrance lay.

She then pulled out the truth serum, tossed it to Anthony Reed, and smiled warmly:

"Give it to Moran Avini. Then have a proper conversation with him."

(End of Chapter)