Chapter 296: Chapter 65 The Secret of the Cat Woman_1
The night was deep, with scarce moonlight and sparse stars casting a dim illumination on the world outside. The Dark City was quiet, most of its inhabitants already in the realm of dreams.
In a remote alleyway, Ah Dai stopped and handed the catgirl in his arms to Yan Shi. Patting the back of the elf girl, he said, "Don’t cry, you’ve been saved. We’ve come here on the behest of the Elf Queen. Don’t worry, you’ll be home soon." As he spoke, he took a large coat from the Dragon’s Blood and covered the elf girl’s frail body with it, making two holes in the coat with his energy so he could let her wings out.
The fairy girl’s body shivered slightly. She timidly said, "Th-thank you, let’s go quickly, I want to get out of here."
"It’s not that simple." A gloomy voice sounded. Ah Dai and Yan Shi whirled around to see a pale middle-aged man leading dozens of men in black into their view. While the middle-aged man did not appear to be tall or sturdy, his elegant demeanor, framed by his luxurious robe, gave off an air tainted by excessive indulgence. He smiled at Ah Dai; the men behind him were eerily silent and brimming with impending danger. Their heavy, restrictive aura was suffocating.
The middle-aged man smirked and said: "Greetings. I am Horton, a hereditary viscount and the nephew of the Dark City Lord. I understand that you may not recognize me. However, you may be surprised to learn of my other identity: I am the man behind the Dark Elites Club."
Ah Dai eyed the middle-aged man warily. Despite the man’s apparent lack of power, Ah Dai could sense a dangerous aura. "What do you want with us?" The elf girl moved from behind Ah Dai, trembling as she hid behind him, clearly very fearful of Viscount Horton.
The middle-aged man continued to smile. "Relax a little, I’m not here with bad intentions. I just want to have a chat with you, esteemed mage."
Ah Dai snorted coldly, "What can people like us talk about with someone like you? Even if you are a Viscount, even if you run the Dark Lord club, it seems that we don’t owe you money." Remembering Vatana’s predicament and the luxe setting of the Dark Elites Club, Ah Dai felt a surge of fury.
Viscount Horton seemed oblivious to Ah Dai’s wrath. Looking at the elf girl behind Ah Dai, he said: "I’ve heard that you’re an elder in the Mage Guild and that you can summon a dragon. Your power intrigues me. Would you consider working as the chief mage of our City Lord’s Mansion? Dark City is one of the richest cities on the continent. As long as you are willing, no matter what you ask, I can fulfill. The elf girl can be yours, and I will reimburse you for the money you spent to purchase her. Moreover, if you like, I can help you find more elf girls."
Yan Li snorted angrily, "A scum like you isn’t fit to be human, committing every possible evil crime."
Although Yan Li’s accusations didn’t anger Horton, he calmly replied: "Evils? What are evils? It is just a difference in perception between you and me. Wrong for selling some stuff, running a gambling den? Irrelevant. As long as I’ve got power, money, I represent true justice here. Life’s but short. Why not live it freely? When you’re old and can’t move, will you regret it? I won’t, as I have enjoyed everything worldly life has to offer. I’ll die without regret. But what about you? Strong yet miserable and inexperienced. What’s the meaning of life like that?"
Ah Dai stepped forward. Listening to Horton’s speech, his mind cleared up. He coldly looked at Horton and said, "What you’re saying only represents your views. All your pleasures are built on others’ pain. Your pursuit is only power and money. But our pursuits are different. Yes, you have indulged to the extreme in terms of material enjoyment. What about spiritually? Are you happy? Can you sleep peacefully at night, without being haunted by the ghost of those you’ve wronged? A peaceful mind means a peaceful life. If your mind isn’t peaceful, how can you claim your life is happy? You’re the most evil person I’ve ever met, your hands are full of blood. To think we would serve you? Dream on."
Horton finally lost his cool as Ah Dai’s words hit close to home. The emptiness in his heart had always been something he despised but couldn’t resolve. Now nothing moved him. Squinting his eyes, he sighed, "Ah Dai, a renowned elder of the Mage’s Guild, how stubborn you are. Since you’re so steadfast, I can only take a different approach. In my book, there are only two kinds of people; those useful to me, and the dead. Since you’ve chosen to be the latter, I’ll make sure your wish is fulfilled."
As soon as his words fell, the men in black behind him closed in, their enormous aura enveloped the entire alleyway. Ah Dai was at the forefront, feeling the intense pressure, he had to take a step back. These men in black were incredibly strong, arguably on par with the Stealth Killers in the Mage Guild. But Ah Dai did not fear, he was confident of his ability to break through the encirclement. His only concern now was the catgirl and the fairy girl, who had just regained some energy. In a deep voice, he said: "Both of you, protect them, I’ll fend off the enemies."
