I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

The Gentleman was not new to the Mystic Realm; it stood to reason that the surveillance rats he sent out were detected by others.

Chen Lun had anticipated it wouldn't be easy and prepared to seek other methods.

By the time he returned to Jack Manor from the secret society meeting, it was already quite late.

But to his surprise, the lights in the living room on the first floor of the mansion were still on.

Upon opening the door and entering, he found Floey sitting on the sofa. Hearing him come in, she slightly lifted her head.

"You're back."

A familiar voice came through.

"I've told you numerous times, there's no need to wait for me, Floey,"

Chen Lun spoke softly, walking to the table to pick up the glass of water Floey had prepared for him and took a gulp.

Floey shook her head slightly, remaining silent.

A moment passed.

"Tomorrow... I want to go to the Opera House,"

she said in a low voice.

Chen Lun was momentarily taken aback, unsure why she had suddenly come up with this idea.

Yet he didn't inquire further. After pondering for a moment, he nodded.

"Go ahead, you can bring Connie with you."

However, Floey shook her head again.

"Can you accompany me?"

She paused before adding,

"To the Dolphin Opera House in the Outer City District, I missed the chance to go before..."

Chen Lun looked at her in surprise. Floey's intention seemed to be that it should be just the two of them.

He gently set down his glass of water and hummed affirmatively, saying,

"Of course, I can."

A smile appeared on Floey's face.

Chen Lun returned to his room.

Turning on the desk lamp, he sat by the window and took out the title page to further study it.

After spending some time, he read through the text several times once more, scrutinizing the front and back, and all the details, as well as trying to read it upside down and from different angles...

In the end, Chen Lun concluded that there was no difference.

There was just one pattern; every time he read it, his Sanity Value decreased by 1 point.

The more he read, the more he felt the title page exuded a pulling force, not only draining his sanity but even seeming to suck away his spirituality and soul.

It appeared to be quite eager.

...

Chen Lun and Floey once again arrived in the Outer City District.

They stopped by to visit Mrs. Caroline, and were warmly invited to drink a cup of herbal tea, which Mrs. Caroline claimed was brewed using her latest method. Chen Lun couldn't discern anything special about it, but perhaps due to a placebo effect, it did seem a bit tastier.

After declining an invitation to stay for dinner, Chen Lun quietly gave a few instructions to the border collie Babu, asking it to watch over Mrs. Caroline well.

Babu barked twice and affectionately licked Chen Lun's large hand to show understanding.

Chen Lun secretly took out a dose of "Low Sequence Conspiracy Faction Mysterious Substance," casually kneaded a grey mud pill, and fed it to Babu.

At first, Babu backed away somewhat disdainfully but then caught a scent and, intrigued by the pill's peculiar allure, couldn't resist gobbling it down.

"Good..."

Chen Lun petted its head with a soft chuckle.

Once Babu digested this mysterious substance, its body would become more agile, and its presence would be less noticeable to others. Although it wouldn't be at the level of Supernatural Creatures, it would be much stronger than a typical hunting dog.

Afterward, Chen Lun took Floey away from 7 Denton Street and headed to the Dolphin Opera House.

Approaching the grand entrance, Chen Lun saw many numb-faced people emerging from a warehouse on the roadside. Most were dressed in rags and covered in filth, as though they hadn't bathed in a long while.

"That's the 'Cro Shelter,'"

Floey explained at his side.

"I have Connie read books to me at home often and learned about many things concerning Amber City... That warehouse serves as a shelter for the lower-class citizens of the Outer City District. By paying a single Copper Kro, you can rest there for a night."

She shook her head gently, seemingly empathetic.

"However, it's very crowded inside, with no beds or bedding, and no bathing facilities... There's only a long bench to sleep on while sitting.

If the seats are full, then the only option is to sleep draped over a rope. Often, a single rope will have dozens of people hanging from it."

Chen Lun watched these people silently.

He understood that tragedy was the fundamental tone of this world.

Laughter was merely a precious rarity enjoyed by a few.

"Let's go."

The great door of the Dolphin Opera House was wide open, with three ticket windows at the entrance.

Chen Lun bought tickets and he and Floey walked in.

Although it was called an opera house, it actually resembled a vast park with abundant vegetation, gardens, artificial lakes, and a marine aquarium.

The "Dolphin Opera House" was so named because of the dolphin performances showcased in the marine aquarium for visitors to enjoy.

The actual opera house was adjacent. Enjoy exclusive content from empire

Chen Lun and Floey walked straight into the Opera House and handed their tickets to the attendant at the door. The latter tore the tickets, keeping the stubs for the duo.

The seats Chen Lun had purchased were relatively close to the front, and of course, a bit pricier, but he didn't care about this small amount of money now. Floey had keen senses, but after all, she lacked vision and could not see the specific scenes.

They could only try to get her as close to the stage as possible so that the sounds she heard would be clearer.

Once they sat down, Floey whispered softly,

"Thank you."

She had heard Chen Lun's special instructions when buying the tickets and knew the seats were towards the front.

Chen Lun just smiled in response, then said,

"It's starting."

With the audience settled, the attendant closed the large doors of the Opera House.

The curtain on the stage rose, revealing several opera actors in exaggerated costumes.

The play being performed was called "The Silent Clown," telling the story of a mute boy sold by his parents to a circus to become a clown.

The mute boy was bullied in the circus, but because he couldn't speak, he could only bottle it up inside. When angry, he dared not fight back, so he could only vent, to silently scream, through exaggerated movements and expressions.

But sadly, the more agitated he became, the more ridiculous he appeared, and the more others laughed and enjoyed themselves.

During a solo cello interlude, the mute boy danced frantically on stage, while the narrator sang in a lamenting tone,

"Promise me, even if you suffer, don't speak of it to seek sympathy, because you are unique in the world, and so is your pain. It's so distinctive and profound that nobody knows.

The sympathy of others will only make your pain commonplace, strip it of its uniqueness, and in turn, degrade your character.

Sing high to echo the mountains, yet sighs stay alone in the silent valley... Why is everything so still at this moment?"

As the vocal pitch rose, the violin suddenly cut in.

The opera reached its climax.

The circus leader and a nobleman's daughter began an affair while she was in attendance, enraged her father with thunderous fury, and fearing for his life, the leader pushed the mute clown forward as a scapegoat, leading to his public execution on stage by a marksman.

The leader and the noblewoman eloped, living happily ever after.

The play came to an end.

From beginning to end, no one loved the clown.

His death didn't matter, his heart went unheard.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Chen Lun and Floey followed the crowd and exited. Floey had been silent throughout. She had listened intently to the entire opera, finding the fate of the Silent Clown strikingly similar to her own, and she had been easily drawn in.

One was voiceless, the other sightless.

"Who is the author of this play?"

Floey asked out of curiosity.

Chen Lun looked up at the opera house's poster outside, which featured the author and a synopsis of the opera.

"The tragedian, Howard."

Upon hearing this name, Floey nodded lightly.

Not wanting her to be continually affected by the opera's sad emotions, Chen Lun suggested they visit the aquarium to see a dolphin show, and Floey hummed in agreement.

Splash!

The dolphin leaped from the water, swallowing the small fish thrown by the trainer.

With a splash, it dived back in.

The two stood by the glass enclosure, watching the performance inside.

"Do you think I'm like that 'Silent Clown'?"

Floey asked.

Chen Lun stood by her side, sensing her mood was a bit negative.

He sighed internally.

"You're different from him, Floey..."

Chen Lun began, wanting to comfort her but unsure how to continue.

Perhaps, as Floey had said herself, she had never feared death before because being engulfed in darkness was no different from being dead.

But he had rescued her from that darkness and shown her what sunlight was.

Only, this sunlight was too blinding, leaving her just as unable to see.

And the countdown to death was like the scorching sun, causing the waters of life to slowly evaporate under its heat.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm being too negative."

Floey pretended to be lighthearted.

"But don't worry, I'm just a bit emotional... If only someone could hear the 'Silent Clown's' heart."

"Floey, profound sounds cannot be heard by the ears, but as long as someone is listening, that person himself becomes the music..."

The black-haired youth in front of her looked straight ahead, his words plain.

Floey was taken aback for a moment.

Suddenly, she had a longing, a desire to open her eyes once more, to see the side of his face at this moment.

Yes...

Even if that person can't hear my heart, as long as he is listening, I am his most wonderful music.

I'm not the "Silent Clown"...

I'm your "Serene Nun"—

Floey.