[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-864":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2298833,4496,"Chapter 864: Helping Hand","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-864",864,"\u003Cp>Holding a white candle, Franca pondered for a while, unable to discern the exact situation, and walked toward the outer edge of the “Christmana Night Pillar” zone while speaking solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether the Resurrection Island’s method of utilizing power is uniquely different, whether Harrison is a Mystic of the ‘Thief’ Path using stolen fate to wield ‘Death’ Path power, or whether he belongs to the ‘Death’ Path and manifests theft through the Archon’s mark or blessing, we must not underestimate him—we must report this immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian walked beside Franca and nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without a sealed item, I have no confidence I can defeat him, let alone capture or kill him—and he may well possess a Class ‘1’ sealed item.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunately we encountered him today; if we’d met him alone under different circumstances, it would’ve been far more dangerous.” Franca exhaled and changed the subject. “Does this mean the Archon’s followers have truly been drawn into the Vortex Plan? What benefits can they gain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let some demonic gods descend?\" Lumian speculated based on his prior knowledge and intelligence. \"Or bring about the apocalypse early?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca’s face, illuminated by the dim candlelight, shifted several times before she let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian stepped forward, kicking away the silent white bone hand that reached out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke with perfect calm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is certainly a massive vortex. We cannot rely solely on the Major Arcana to help us—we must rapidly strengthen ourselves, lest we be swept up and lose all capacity to resist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agreed.” Franca nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian kept his gaze straight ahead, his voice unchanged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must quickly assimilate the ‘Pain’ Elixir, and I must make sure Ludwig truly becomes part of the team.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca froze, unable to help glancing at Lumian’s profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a two-second hesitation, she carefully asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying this out of guilt? There’s no need—you can find other ways.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guilt is only part of the reason, and not even the main one.” Lumian walked forward without changing expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca frowned slightly, looking at Lumian, and voiced a question she’d had since before encountering Harrison:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you suddenly come to me today so willingly? I thought I’d have to wait until I couldn’t bear our dynamic anymore and came to you before you’d honor your promise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian chuckled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I told you it was Jianna who sent me, would you believe me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca suddenly felt a pang in her chest—she didn’t even know which reason caused it, or if all of them did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She tells you to come, and you just come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian smiled, as if stating something utterly ordinary:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without mystical influence, if I truly didn’t want to do something, only one person in this world could force me to do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca knew who Lumian meant, and understood precisely what he was implying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blockage in her heart instantly eased, then her expression grew complex—anger, bitterness, and joy all mingled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She clenched her right fist—the one not holding the white candle—and slammed it hard against Lumian’s shoulder: “Thump!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little brat—you’ve given yourself away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian took the punch without flinching, as if he’d expected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked in silence for a while longer; Franca steadied her emotions and asked curiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, I’ve wanted to ask this before—when Jianna already found you and laid out her thoughts, you said the best response was to delay until you became the ‘Ironblood Knight.’ But how could you delay then? There was no way to delay!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian glanced at Franca:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go to Anthony. Did you forget we have a ‘Psychologist’ in our team?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca gave a dry laugh:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could I go to a ‘Psychologist’ teammate I see every day? That’s too awkward! Neither you nor Jianna could possibly ask Anthony about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian ignored her excuse and continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With the help of a ‘Psychologist,’ even through ‘Hypnotist’ abilities, we could delay the issue for a while—but this is fundamentally an emotional problem, not a psychological or mental one. A ‘Psychologist’ can postpone it, but never permanently. It will eventually explode. Better to resolve it sooner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca hummed in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few more steps, she gazed ahead into the darkness and said, her tone calm yet slightly joyful:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know why I only punched you once just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.” Lumian answered frankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Franca smiled, visibly relieved:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before, you always gave me the impression that goals mattered, power mattered, close relationships mattered—but you yourself didn’t matter, and it didn’t matter what happened to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought you were still in that mindset when you made these decisions, but just now you said you weren’t entirely passive—you had your own thoughts, even if just a little. That made me very happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lumian made no reply, but also offered no rebuttal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trier, Opera District, a basement room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anthony met the “Knight of Swords.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holder of this Minor Arcana still wore a white shirt and black vest, his brown hair disheveled, his eyes deeply suppressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the “Knight of Swords” sat beside a long table, on which several playing cards covered the seats opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing at what appeared to be a recently concluded card game, Anthony, who had previously met the “Knight of Swords” in the Lacré region of the Southern Continent, politely greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Knight of Swords” gave a brief reply; only after Anthony sat on a chair with no cards on it did he speak in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need you to help me with two things. First, provide psychological therapy to stabilize my mental state.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.” Anthony nodded lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that Lady Justice and Lady Suqian were currently absent from Trier—apparently due to rumors of a dragon appearing on the western coast of the Sea of Inter and a member of the Tamarra family’s “Judgment” branch in the Kingdom of Ruin emerging, expressing interest in cooperation. Both ladies had been away for some time and would not return for a while. Among the Minor Arcana in Trier, only he could provide psychological therapy to the “Knight of Swords.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Knight of Swords,” still in his suppressed state, continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, we’ve discovered that some members of the Hedonist Faction appear to have brought a highly significant item to Trier—there are traces of a demigod among them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve confirmed where these Hedonist members reside, but without knowing what the item is or whether other powerful figures are hiding within, we dare not launch a sudden attack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We should also avoid using official forces—if the item benefits us but falls into official hands, it will be extremely troublesome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The villa they live in has a servant who goes out to shop every two or three days—though of course, hidden Hedonist members are watching them, their strength and rank uncertain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We will distract the hidden Hedonist watchers; you must seize the chance to hypnotize the shopping servant, ask two or three questions, then hypnotize him to forget the entire exchange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The questioning window is brief, and the risk is high. We cannot guarantee your absolute safety—we can only promise to prioritize your safety above all else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may refuse. But if you accept, we will offer you a sufficiently rich or sufficiently unique reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sufficiently unique?” Anthony asked, slightly puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Knight of Swords,” Marich, pulled a gleaming Ruin gold pound from his pocket and spoke in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think you recognize this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anthony instantly recalled the lucky gold coins Jianna and Ludwig had received.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I’ll hypnotize the shopping servant and ask the questions—but you must design the questions yourselves. I don’t know what you care about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deal.” The “Knight of Swords” showed a faint smile, though his eyes remained suppressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anthony glanced at him and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall we begin our first psychological session now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” The “Knight of Swords” nodded lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anthony smiled calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, I must clarify: a ‘Psychologist’ isn’t omnipotent. Sometimes we can only help you find the right path; sometimes we can only ease your emotions so you can view your troubles with a more normal mindset.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like Temperance—it’s meant to release at critical moments. If you never release, I can only delay it for a while. Eventually, you’ll lose control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, in a bustling market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anthony spotted his target: a man with unmistakable Southern Continent ancestry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pretending to select fresh meat, he slowly approached the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As agreed, the “Knight of Swords” and his team were now supposed to distract the hidden Hedonist watcher—if they failed, they would use a “Soul of Resentment” to possess someone and notify Anthony to abort the mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Anthony reached the man’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He bent down, picked up a gold louis from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s hesitation, he asked the shopping servant beside him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, did you drop this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant looked over blankly, dazzled by the gold coin’s shine—meanwhile, Anthony’s pupils subtly shifted into vertical slits, tinged with pale gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant, utterly captivated by the gold louis, swallowed and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it’s mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Anthony completed the “hypnosis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed the gold coin back to the servant and asked casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are they doing inside the villa? Why don’t they ever leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant blinked, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re celebrating—celebrating together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re having children—having children!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1556,"2026-06-20T06:22:37.987Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b6927785f287ce0914557d840b352e4c6813e423387137c49fb3535b1cde5a92","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-865","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-863",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]