Meanwhile, at the Continental Hotel.
The Pseudo-Mark Knight “The Evil One” was hiding among the crowd with several companions.
They were well dressed and refined in manner, looking no different from the citizens around them enjoying their afternoon leisure, all waiting for signals of chaos to come from various parts of the city.
The Continental Hotel today, compared to the past, had gained another layer of weight from its heritage.
Even the hall open to all commoners was filled with an almost elegant atmosphere.
Diners no longer spoke loudly, but instead imitated Nobles, chewing slowly and talking in lowered voices.
In a corner of the hall, a musician was playing the organ, its melodious tune flowing like water, washing away the guests’ fatigue from the day.
In this atmosphere, “The Evil One” actually felt dazed for a moment.
He remembered that before dedicating his Soul to the Lord of Myriad Changes, he too had been a respectable minor Noble.
Some kind of etiquette long carved into his bones made his dining movements unconsciously become elegant.
He even acted like a strict tutor, quietly instructing several crude companions beside him to mind their image and not give themselves away.
“Master, this steak isn’t even as big as my palm. It’s not enough to fill the gaps between my teeth!”
A burly companion beside him complained in a low voice, his fork scraping the plate with a clatter.
“Shut up, idiot.” The Evil One did not even raise his eyelids, and chided in a low voice like a strict tutor, “Watch your table manners. Don’t let others see that this is our First Time in a place like this.”
The organ’s tune carried a trace of sorrow, stirring up many memories of The Evil One.
In this world, there were not many people born evil.
He had once yearned for the Lamp of Enlightenment as well.
By rights, there had been no need to sacrifice his Soul to an Evil God in exchange for that twisted power.
However, his parents, who were Robe Nobility, had been kidnapped and murdered by bandits during a trading trip.
His family’s property was then coveted by other wolf-like relatives, and in the end his family was destroyed.
That helplessness of being unable to protect anything ultimately pushed him onto a path of no return in pursuit of power.
Still, he could not say he regretted it. Since he had chosen this path, he could only swallow all bitter fruit whole.
The god he believed in had granted him an extremely powerful Pseudo-Mark, the Mind Emblem.
This power allowed him to control mortal thoughts, toy with their minds, and make them marionettes in his Script.
Now, he had already lurked into the heart of the Enemy.
He was planning whom to control later to stage a spectacular dramatic slaughter.
And he would sit here, enjoying the beautiful scene of those weak mortals killing each other in pools of blood.
It was just that today, everything seemed to be going a little too smoothly.
The Enemy seemed completely unaware of their attack.
The hotel was not only operating normally, but from the outside it looked as if there was not even a single guard.
Was this reasonable?
Their opponent was Allen de Laval, the one who had repeatedly frustrated the Cult.
Would that fox-like youth really let down his guard so much?
Behind this, there had to be some scheme waiting for them.
A trace of worry unconsciously appeared on The Evil One’s face.
But… he had to admit, the Continental Hotel’s steak was truly delicious.
Although the price was outrageously expensive, today’s operation funds were entirely paid for by those foolish Sword-Bearing Nobles.
He and his companions unhesitatingly ordered the most expensive dishes on the menu, enjoying this rare luxury.
Just then, a well-dressed middle-aged man walked over, wearing a perfectly measured smile, and asked in a concerned tone:
“Dear guest, I see you frowning. Is there a problem with our hotel’s dishes? Your opinion is very valuable to us. If you are dissatisfied, we can replace it for you immediately.”
The Evil One instinctively became wary.
But when he saw the name tag on the man’s chest that read “General Manager Matthew,” he felt this seemed to be just a routine, somewhat excessive service of the Continental Hotel.
“No, thank you. I just have something on my mind. Your establishment’s food is very delicious.”
“I see. Thank you very much for your approval. Is this your first time visiting our hotel?”
The Evil One glanced at his companions, who were wolfing down their food, and nodded helplessly. “That’s right.”
“Then you are truly lucky.” Matthew’s smile deepened. “You happen to be our 1,000th customer today. We will present you and your companions with a complimentary serving of our signature dessert, ice cream.”
“Ice cream?”
The Evil One had heard of this expensive dessert’s fine reputation.
Many Nobles made special trips here just to taste it.
As for commoners, they had to save for several months just to eat one meal at the Continental Hotel, and ice cream was even more unthinkable.
Just how delicious was it? The Evil One looked at his companions and found longing in all their eyes.
“Then I’ll trouble you.”
“Very well, we will arrange it immediately. Enjoy your meal.”
Before long, several desserts exquisite as works of art were brought over by the servers.
In transparent goblets, pale pink ice and snow-white cream layered over each other, with bright strawberry sauce dotted among them like rubies.
At the top, a fresh, dewy strawberry gave off a sweet, tempting aroma.
The Evil One remained highly wary of this “free” temptation.
But that sweet scent mixed with milk and fruit fragrance still mercilessly captured his sense of smell.
He had not lived such a luxurious life for many years.
This elegant occasion, this graceful atmosphere, made him temporarily forget the mission he carried, and he only wanted to properly savor this legendary delicacy.
His companions were even more impatient.
He scooped up a spoonful with a small silver spoon and put it into his mouth.
The cold, silky, sweet taste exploded on his tongue in an instant. The flavor was complex and layered, so delicious that he almost shed tears.
He simply could not stop, spoonful after spoonful.
As he ate, his gaze began to scatter.
He saw his parents, smiling as they sat across from him, and his father even teased that he was eating like a little kitten.
He seemed to have returned to his own home, happily eating ice cream and chatting with his parents.
Nothing had changed. Everything was as it had been.
The sky was so blue, the world so beautiful, with no conflict, no pain.
He was still that carefree noble boy, with no missions and no bloody slaughter. So happy…
Watching the expressions on the faces of this table’s people shift from enjoyment to confusion, then to foolish Happiness, and finally as their breathing and heartbeats stopped together, Matthew’s face revealed a satisfied smile.
In a more distant past, he and his employees were professional Assassins who did dirty work for Nobles.
They were masters of poison; killing a Crestbearer with poison was no challenge at all.
Just now, using the same excuse, he had presented this highly poisonous ice cream to several other tables of Heretics disguised as guests.
Now, all the enemies who had infiltrated the hotel had been completely executed.
He looked at those few corpses with smiles at the corners of their mouths, and actually felt this end-of-life care had been done quite well.
This was all thanks to Young Master Laval’s business partner, Martin.
The desserts he made were enough to tempt even the most vigilant enemy with their fatal deliciousness.
Matthew clapped his hands.
The organ music quietly stopped, and all the “guests” present turned their eyes toward him in unison.
They were not true guests, but members of the Dawn’s Children Security Division who had long been waiting here, as well as Inquisitors and War Party members of the Inquisition.
“Thank you all for the wonderful performance. Was today’s meal to your liking?”
Everyone smiled knowingly. “Of course, thank you for your hospitality!”
“Haha, everyone should thank Young Master Laval instead. He paid for this meal. He leaves nothing to chance and long ago anticipated that enemies would send people to cause trouble.”
Matthew could not help but want to laugh.
These Heretics had no idea that from the moment they stepped into the hotel, all their disguises had already become meaningless.
After all, apart from them, everyone here was one of their own.
“Come on, everyone, help clean up the trash.” Matthew waved his hand. “The hotel still needs to keep operating. We can’t let these things ruin everyone’s appetite!”
“Understood!”
Outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder rolled, and dark clouds pressed down on the city.
Yet inside the Continental Hotel, lights still blazed brightly, filled with a warm and stable atmosphere.
Except for those seats that had quietly become empty, everything seemed as if it had never changed.
……