Chapter 1033: Chapter 65: The Secret of the Cat Woman
The night had deepened, and under the dim moonlight and sparse stars, the outside world was particularly dark, with Dark City in complete silence, most people already lost in slumber.
Finding a secluded alley in the streets, Ah Dai stopped, handed the cat girl over to Yan Shi, and patted the Fairy’s back, saying, "Don’t cry anymore, you’ve been rescued. We have come on behalf of the Elf Queen. Rest assured, you’ll be home soon." As he spoke, he took out a large coat from the Dragon’s Blood to completely cover the Fairy’s delicate body, using his vital energy to make two holes in the coat to release her wings.
The Fairy’s body trembled slightly, and in a timid voice, she said, "Thank, thank you, let’s hurry up; I want to leave this place."
"It won’t be that easy," a gloomy voice rang out, causing Ah Dai and the Yan brothers to spin around abruptly. They saw a pale-faced middle-aged man leading a group of black-clothed men into their line of sight. The middle-aged man was not tall and appeared rather cultured, with luxurious garments emphasizing his pallor, giving him the appearance of someone who had indulged too much in pleasures. He watched Ah Dai with a smile on his face, and the dozens of black-clothed men behind him were so quiet not a sound could be heard, their condensed aura revealing their formidable strength. The overwhelming pressure felt like it was hard to breathe.
The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, "Nice to meet you, I am Horton, Hereditary Viscount, and nephew of the Lord of the Dark City. I know that you do not recognize me, but you might be surprised by my other identity—I am the shadowy owner of Night Aristocracy Club."
Ah Dai watched the middle-aged man warily, and even though this man’s strength did not seem high, Ah Dai sensed a dangerous aura about him. "What do you want from us?" asked the Fairy as she moved from in front of Ah Dai to hide trembling behind him, clearly terrified of this Viscount Horton.
Still smiling, the middle-aged man said, "Please relax, I mean no harm; I’m just here to have a talk with you, a respected Magician."
Ah Dai snorted coldly, "What do I have to talk about with someone like you? What does it matter that you are a Viscount or that you own Night Aristocracy? It’s not like we owe you money." Remembering Vatana’s fate and the decadence of Night Aristocracy Club, anger surged in Ah Dai.
Viscount Horton seemed unfazed by Ah Dai’s anger and glanced at the Fairy behind Ah Dai, saying, "I’ve heard that you are an elder of the Mage Guild and that you have the ability to Summon Dragon. I’m rather interested in your strength. I wonder if you would condescend to join our City Lord’s Mansion as our Chief Magician. Dark City is perhaps the wealthiest city on the continent, and whatever you desire, I can fulfill. Naturally, this Fairy will be yours to keep, and I will return the money you spent on her. Moreover, if you wish, I could even help find you other Elven girls."
Yan Li snorted with rage, "You scum, you don’t deserve to be called human, having committed every evil deed imaginable."
Horton did not get angry at Yan Li’s insults; he simply said indifferently, "Evil deeds? What counts as evil deeds? It’s just a matter of different perspectives. What have I done? I merely trade some goods and run a gambling house; that’s all. With power and money, I embody the ultimate justice here. Life is but a fleeting century, why not live it freely? Will you regret your life when you are too old to move? I won’t, because I’ve enjoyed everything this world has to offer. I will die without regrets. But what about you? You have great strength but live a pitiful life devoid of experiences. What’s the point of living like that?"
Taking a step forward, Ah Dai, after hearing Horton’s words, found his mind suddenly clear, and he looked coldly at Horton, "What you said are just your own views. Your pleasures are founded upon the suffering of others. Your pursuits are nothing but power and money. Our pursuits, however, are different. Indeed, materially, you have indulged to the extreme, but what about spiritually? Are you happy? You’ve committed so many evils; don’t you dream of vengeful spirits seeking retribution when you sleep at night? A clear conscience brings a peaceful slumber. With your conscience so troubled, how can you claim to live happily? You are the most evil person I’ve ever met, with your hands tainted with blood. To expect us to become your subordinates is a delusion."
Horton’s expression finally changed as Ah Dai’s words struck a painful chord—his empty soul had always been his most hated and insoluble burden, and now there was barely anything that moved him. He squinted his eyes and sighed, "Very well, a Mage Guild elder indeed. Since you are so insistent, I can no longer spare you. In my view, there are only two kinds of people: those who are useful and those who are dead. Since you’ve chosen the latter, I have no choice but to oblige."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the black-clothed men closed in, their massive aura engulfing the entire alley. Ah Dai bore the brunt of it at the front, the sheer pressure forcing him to step back. These black-clothed men were formidable! They seemed no less skilled than the Stealth Killers that had appeared at the Mage Guild. But Ah Dai was not afraid; he was confident that with his own strength, he could break through the encirclement without any issue. His only concern now was the cat girl and the Fairy who had only just begun to regain some strength. In a deep voice, he said, "You two brothers, protect them; I’ll fend off the attackers."
