Chapter 12 - 12

Chapter 111 DiaryTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2411 wordsUpdate time: 2024-09-26 17:30:08

Saturday, October 20th.

The Cherwood district was shrouded in mist in the early morning. Under the gray sky, the narrow streets were silent, with only the occasional breeze blowing up some fallen leaves and passing through the houses with a hint of chill.

The furnishings in the study were simple and plain. The heavy curtains were half-drawn, and the morning light shone through the gaps, slanting onto the dusty bookshelves. The wooden floor creaked slightly, and the old fireplace in the corner seemed to have not been burning for a long time. The air was filled with the smell of book paper and a hint of dampness.

Last night's conversation brought up some past events that they didn't want to look back on. Although it was still early, they didn't continue their previous discussion immediately, but tacitly chose to go back to their rooms to give each other some space to vent their emotions.

In the morning, Bernadette brought breakfast. The familiar smell reminded him of a distant time, but Grellint did not ask about its origin.

At this moment, Grellint was sitting on the other side of the desk, looking at Bernadette silently, not knowing how to start.

Although there were many simple and quick ways in the extraordinary world that could have allowed her to master the language immediately, she chose the slowest and most clumsy way of learning.

Grellint didn't know why she did this, but he vaguely felt that Bernadette had a complex feeling about Roselle's secret - she was eager to uncover the truth, but also afraid to face Roselle's truest side.

Bernadette didn't seem to be eager to get in touch with the secrets of Roselle hidden in the Chinese book. Her attitude was full of contradictions, both curious and resistant. And Grallint decided to respect her choice, definitely not because he accidentally confirmed that she was a Sequence 3 Beyonder during the conversation last night.

Although it did shock him a bit at that moment, he could now smile and sigh that even a strong person of her level could still seem so...human when facing certain things.

Before this, Bernadette started a ritual magic unique to her, isolating the spirit world from the record of this place. Her method was completely different from that of Gralint, but she relied on her extraordinary ability to create an environment full of metaphors and symbols.

The name of this magic is "The Source of Peach Blossom". As she gently chanted the spell, the atmosphere in the room subtly changed. Grellint only felt that her connection with the world was disconnected, and her spirit was completely unable to perceive the existence of the spirit world.

Bernadette explained: "'The Source of Peach Blossoms' is one of the manifestations of my ability 'Mysterious Reappearance'. As long as I have enough understanding of the mysterious phenomenon that really happened, I can reproduce its essence and create a magic or witchcraft that belongs to me."

Then, Bernadette explained the effect of this magic: "The purpose of 'The Source of Peach Blossom' is to create a barrier that is isolated from the outside world." Her voice echoed in the quiet study, as if it contained some mysterious power.

Grellint was shocked by the environment before him. Although it seemed peaceful and the same as usual, it exuded an indescribable power.

Such ability, this name, and Bernadette's detailed description made him think of many things, but he knew that he was too weak to explore these hidden truths in depth.

So he suppressed the shock in his heart and silently memorized this mysterious magic.

Next, according to Bernadette's suggestion, they began the first Chinese lesson - starting with the two words that Roselle asked her to remember.

"Gu: means 'past' or 'previous', and is extended to mean a place related to history or emotion."

"Xiang: The original meaning is 'village' or 'hometown', and later it was extended to mean 'the place where one was born or grew up'."

"So, for us, this is the home of our souls and the origin of our emotions," Greylint concluded, with a serious and warm tone.

"So, for my father, he has been on the journey home all his life." Bernadette's voice was soft, but there was a different emotion in her eyes, a deep thinking and recollection of the past, as if in her heart, these two words carried more stories and unresolved emotions.

This was the first time Bernadette mentioned her father's name after she admitted her true identity.

And the following words, "A lifetime journey home" were growing louder and louder in his mind. Greylint sighed inwardly, wasn't he the same?

"Homeward Journey" is not only a return to a place, but also a kind of inner desire and pursuit. At this moment, Grellint understood his feelings. Although the arrangement of fate is full of twists and turns, he is still trying to find his own destination.

"I'm sorry, Grellint," she said in a low voice.

"It doesn't matter, this is our destiny," he responded.

Bernadette's eyes flashed and became extremely deep, like the sea before a storm. After a while, she slowly said, "I can see that you will be attached to this world."

She paused, deep doubt flashed in her eyes, but she didn't finish her words.

Grellint did not notice any of this, his thoughts were drawn by past experiences, a bright image of a girl flashed through his mind, however, he was not her friend.

He did not dwell on that memory, but said firmly: "Bernadette, let's continue."

Bernadette nodded slightly, took out a yellowed page of Roselle's diary, and said softly, "Start from this page, Grallint. This is my father's diary from the day I was born."

A trace of surprise flashed through Grelint's mind, and then he realized something: the emperor seemed to be very open in the early stage...

He was slightly stunned, and then he thought, after all, this was Russell's question. Who would write a diary?

He took the yellowed diary from Bernadette and saw that she had kept it in great good condition. He realized that this thing was extremely precious to her.

He carefully spread it out on the desk and began to teach word by word. As he explained, the words on the page seemed to come alive, leading them back to that distant moment.

Each word carries past emotions and stories, and Gralinte tries hard to make Bernadette understand their meaning.

June 1, 1872

Today is a special day, my first child was born. In this world, I finally feel a kind of attachment, that is the love surging like a tide in my heart.

I have already named her Bernadette. 'Bell' means bell, symbolizing the call of sound, and 'Nadé' carries a sense of elegance. This is the world's elegant call to me, and I have a new home.

I never thought that one day I would become so literary and began to hesitate. But I finally decided that the name would be Bernadette, and I would give her the best love in the world.

Her eyes and nose look just like mine. I had my first child.

Her soft skin was like the morning dew in early summer, and her slender fingers and toes seemed to be carefully carved by God, making me unable to help but reach out and touch them gently.

She is the treasure of my life.

As soon as I got close to her, she laughed happily, and her laughter was as clear as a bell, rippling in my heart.

As soon as I get close to her, she smiles happily, and that smile is the continuation of all my dreams.

At that moment, I felt an incomparable happiness.

Her smile is the continuation of all my dreams and the resonance deep in my soul.

My Bernadette, my daughter, your arrival has brought a new look to my world.

Today, as a father, my heart is full of expectation and hope.

I am determined to do my best to pamper and protect you, and let you grow freely in this world.

No matter what the future holds, I will stand by you and spend every spring, summer, autumn and winter with you.

My Bernadette, welcome to this beautiful world.

As soon as I got close to her, she smiled happily.Chapter 112 CoachmanTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2078 wordsUpdate time: 2024-09-27 17:30:07

Gralinte taught Bernadette word by word. As she learned more, her eyes became blurred and her emotions surged in her heart.

Finally, she looked up at Greylint, and could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes, which burst out.

"Sorry, Grellint, I think that's enough study for today." Her voice trembled slightly.

Grellint looked at her and nodded gently, silently understanding her feelings. She quickly sorted out her emotions and ended the influence of the magic, as if trying to hide her inner fragility.

But Grellint understood that she just didn't want him to see her unbearable side. He felt pity for her, knowing that this strong lady also had a fragile side, and at this moment, all she needed was time and space to heal her soul.

Grallint tidied his clothes, opened the door of the study, and decided to continue investigating Viscount Lenasi to see if he could find anything new. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Bernadette's voice.

"Grelint, what you are investigating is very dangerous and darker than you can imagine."

Grellint paused. He did not turn around to look at Bernadette. He just asked softly, "Bernadette, do you know what is hidden behind this?"

"I don't know. I was just guided by fate. Here is an opportunity for me to be promoted. I can feel that what you are investigating is related to this."

Is it related to the promotion from Sequence 3 to Sequence 2? Greylint laughed at himself. "I won't give up."

"I know."

…

Grellant left home and wandered aimlessly in the streets of Cherwood. Today was Saturday, but there were almost no adults on the streets, only children playing and chasing each other.

Looking at the children running on the street, Grellant couldn't help but think of the boy named Oliver. The name reminded him of the hero in the movie in his previous life, but it was a pity that there could not be the same happy ending in reality.

The boy is so kind and pure, tenacious and brave, full of sense of justice and moral consciousness, innocent and optimistic. He has countless good qualities and deserves a better life and a better future.

Grallint's eyes gradually became firm. In order to protect those children like Oliver, in order to guard those innocent smiling faces, he had to take action.

Likewise, this is also for the uncompromising and unyielding spirit in his heart. In order to resist the erosion of this indifferent world, in order to maintain his humanity in this extraordinary world. He does not want to become familiar with this cold world, nor does he want to lose himself in the whirlpool.

Grellint made up his mind secretly, and didn't notice that a man suddenly stopped not far behind him. He turned his head and looked in his direction, a complicated look flashed in his eyes, then turned around and disappeared at the end of the street.

Greylint did not stay there for too long. He withdrew his thoughts and continued to move forward, following the direction he remembered, towards where Oliver lived.

Cherwood, Camden Street, the deepest row of townhouses on the left side of the street. Grallant walked through the narrow street and finally stopped behind a stone wall, his eyes fell on the house in front of him.

He peered through the cracks in the stone wall and carefully looked at the familiar yet somewhat dilapidated building. The brick walls of the house were mottled and the windows were covered with a thin layer of dust, as if quietly telling the story of the house.

That was Oliver's first residence in Backlund.

This house was not where Oliver disappeared, but there was no clue about the place where he disappeared. He also tried to use ritual magic to explore, but could not find any clues at all. The Beyonder who did it obviously covered up all the traces. So Greylint decided to come here to take a look.

He knew in his heart that there would probably be no more discoveries here. Since he reported it, the house had long been sealed off by the police, and there might even be official Beyonders involved in the investigation, so it was almost impossible to leave any clues. However, his current investigation had reached an impasse, and he could only pin his hopes on this place.

Grellint knew that the hope was slim, but he still couldn't help but long for it, hoping that he could find some neglected traces, some clues to reopen the investigation.

Grallant glanced around cautiously to make sure that no one would pass by here during this period of time. He took a deep breath, his heartbeat steady and strong. Then, he showed the excellent physical coordination of a detective and quickly approached the broken window with a quick and decisive movement.

He leaped lightly, grasped the window sill with both hands, and nimbly flipped into the room, his movements were swift and silent, like a hunting cat. His footsteps were so light when he landed that they made almost no sound, and the silence in the room seemed to be unbroken.

Grellant stood silently in the room, the sunlight poured into the room through the broken window, casting mottled light and shadows. His movements were smooth and precise, as if this space was a territory he had been familiar with for a long time.

Everything in the room was silent, and the light traced the traces of time on the walls and the floor. Grallint's eyes were sharp, carefully examining every detail. From the dust in the corner to the cracks on the wall, nothing could escape his sight.

…

As Grellant quietly entered the house, a middle-aged man slowly poked his head out from the shadows on the other side of the house at the corner where he stood. He carefully kept a safe tracking distance to avoid being noticed by Grellant. He poked his head out, and a hint of nervousness flashed in his eyes, as if to confirm whether Grellant was aware of his presence.

Then, the man gently took out a pocket watch from his arms, quickly turned the hands to a specific time, and then put the pocket watch close to his mouth and whispered something, so low that only he could hear it. The whole process was very careful and obviously very skilled.

If Greylint could see him, he would recognize him immediately. He was the mysterious driver who drove the carriage on the day he was assassinated by Viscount Lenasi.

Afterwards, the middle-aged man quickly put away his pocket watch and glanced around vigilantly to make sure that no one was paying attention. Then, he quietly retreated into the shadows, as if he had never appeared and nothing had happened. The surroundings returned to silence, and the sun was still shining on the street, nothing unusual.

…

Grellint climbed out of the broken window again and landed lightly, as if he had never entered the house before. After he stood still, he raised his head slightly and took a last look at the empty house. A sense of helplessness and loss surged in his heart. As he had expected, there were no clues in the room. This exploration was still in vain.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the loss, and his eyes became firm again. Although there was little hope, he would not give up easily, as Oliver's matter was far from over.Chapter 113 The Second AmbushTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2260 wordsUpdate time: 2024-09-28 17:30:05

After a moment of silence, Glint suddenly wanted to find someone to talk to. In addition to Audrey, he knew another person who knew Oliver.

Nancy - the woman he had invited. Although she had been in league with the robbers, Grallant knew that she still had a rare kindness in her heart.

After he reported Fagin's thieves' den, the robber Bill, who had a close relationship with Fagin, naturally could not escape the punishment of the law.

Compared to the two main criminals, Nancy's crime was far from enough to make her suffer in prison for a long time. After a few days, she was released.

After being released from prison, she seemed determined to start a new life. She came to Audrey's investment company and became an administrator there, specializing in taking care of the children's daily life.

Nancy chose this path, seemingly wanting to make up for past mistakes and live a new life.

He had a vague feeling that Nancy might have been influenced by Oliver and decided to change her life. If he could talk to her about her recent situation, he might accidentally mention something about Oliver and discover some minor anomalies that he had not noticed when he was recording in the spirit world.

Of course, Grellint also understood that this might just be his wishful thinking. More importantly, he might just want to find someone to talk to and share the various obstacles he had recently encountered in this matter.

That kind of clueless despair is like walking in a dark maze with no exit in sight.

He really needed someone to listen to him. Originally, he had a perfect listener beside him - but now he could no longer talk to him. Thinking past that regret, Grellant suppressed these complicated emotions in his heart.

Right now, Nancy seems to be the most suitable candidate.

He did not stop and walked towards the east district at a normal pace.

…

Behind him, a shadow followed quietly.

…

The East End was still the same as Glint remembered, with poverty and chaos clearly visible here. The narrow and dirty streets, dilapidated houses, and the hurried and pale people all interpreted the full meaning of the word "poverty".

He walked steadily towards the school he and Audrey co-founded. Along the way, memories came to his mind unconsciously. That school carried their ideal of changing the fate of children in the East District, and they poured countless efforts and hopes into it.

And the simple banquet held at the school, the scene seemed to be right in front of him. Several simple small desks were put together to form a temporary large dining table, on which were placed simple food, but reflecting the smiling faces that he had never seen at a noble banquet.

It was the purest smile, the simplest smile, as if it could make people let down their guard and forget all their worries temporarily.

Grellint shook his head slightly, trying to put these thoughts behind him. He came here today to find a new breakthrough, not to immerse himself in the memories of the past. But as he got closer to the school, the helplessness and loss in his heart became clearer and lingering.

Just as he was immersed in memories of the past, his spiritual sense deep inside his body suddenly tensed up, foreshadowing that he was about to face a huge crisis.

Before he could react, a huge force suddenly hit him, knocking him off balance. At the moment his body tilted, he caught a glimpse of the man's face - under the brim of his hat, the face that he had never forgotten. It was the coachman who ambushed him together with Viscount Reinashi that day.

Before he could think about it, his body fell out of control into a dead end on the street. It was dark and shrouded in the shadows of the surrounding houses. Even in the daytime, it was difficult to detect. If no one was paying attention, passers-by might subconsciously ignore its existence.

Before Greylint could get used to the suddenly dim environment, the sense of crisis in his spiritual sense became stronger and stronger. He almost instinctively showed the perfect body control of the detective and quickly pulled out the revolver from the butt under his armpit.

The gunshot rang out, and Grellant's reaction was quick and accurate. The bullet whizzed out, and with the help of the reaction force, he slightly changed his tilt angle. The next second, he felt a strong wind passing through his forehead, and the bullet barely grazed him, bringing a burning sensation.

The bullet passed by his forehead...it was a fatal attack.

The scene he had just seen flashed through his mind, and Grellant reacted immediately, rushing deeper into the alley without stopping. He remembered the abandoned shelf he had seen before, which was in a position that could block his sight and provide a temporary cover.

But as he changed his body shape and took his first step, he felt a strong sense of uneasiness. He immediately realized that something was wrong. This alley looked very similar to the one he had seen when he fell, but there were some subtle differences.

He paused suddenly, looked around quickly, and understood instantly - there was nothing here, and there was no abandoned shelf that he had seen before. This was not the original alley, but an empty dead corner with nothing to cover.

Grellant realized something was wrong, but at this moment, he couldn't stop. Hesitation meant exposing himself to greater danger. Although this place was different from the previous alley and lacked cover, he still quickly adjusted his movements and rushed forward by inertia.

He changed direction, crouched low, and scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, looking for any possible cover. At this moment, he had no time to think about why he was in this strange place. He only knew that he had to keep moving and not give the enemy any chance to lock on to him.

The sense of crisis in his heart became stronger and stronger. He knew that he had only one choice now: escape. If he continued to stay in this empty dead end, he would eventually be trapped to death, exhausted, and become the enemy's prey. He had no extra time to hesitate. The only strategy was to break through the current predicament and find a way to survive.

"I must rush out!" He shouted in his heart, forcing himself to calm down and focus all his attention on the sense of crisis coming from his spiritual sense. He kept his pace, paying attention to the changes in his spiritual sense, keenly sensing the danger signals from all around, and constantly adjusting his direction.

His steps became faster and faster. With the guidance of his spiritual sense, he ran towards the most likely escape route. His heart was beating violently, but his mind remained calm. He knew that if he stayed where he was, he would be trapped to death. His only goal was to break through this dead end, enter a wider area, and escape this unknown pursuit.

Everything in front of him became blurry, and Grellint had no time to pay attention to the details around him. He focused all his attention on the faint guidance from the spirit world, as if it was his only lifeline. His heartbeat in his chest accelerated, and the blood roared in his ears. He could feel the air around him being compressed, and the sense of crisis was tightly wrapped around him like a shadow.

Each step was taken with extreme caution. He stepped forward with his right foot, then quickly retracted it, and then stepped forward with his left foot. His movements were smooth but also a little urgent. The walls on both sides of the alley flashed quickly in the corner of his eyes, and the sense of oppression became stronger and stronger. It was as if there were a pair of eyes staring at him from behind, ready to pull him back to the dark corner at any time.

"Faster!" He urged himself in his heart. All his thoughts were compressed into one point, leaving only the direction guided by his spiritual sense. He felt as if he was passing through a narrow tunnel, everything around him was receding, and only the exit in front of him was flickering with a faint light.

In the next step, his left foot suddenly stepped out of the alley...Chapter 114 CrisisTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2114 wordsUpdate time: 2024-09-29 17:30:09

The strong sunlight instantly pierced into his eyes, forcing Grellint to squint slightly. However, his steps did not stop at all. The sense of crisis from his spiritual sense reminded him like a needle that he must not stop.

Without time to change direction, Greylint continued to rush forward.

His strong physique allowed his eyes to quickly adapt to the dazzling sunlight. Scanning the environment in front of him like an eagle, he soon found his target - three people were standing not far away, one of whom was the coachman who ambushed him together with Viscount Reinashi last time.

This is a crisis, a huge crisis. But it is also an opportunity, an opportunity to find new clues.

The three of them seemed to have not expected that Greylint could escape from the dark alley so quickly, and they showed some surprise on their faces. However, they quickly regained their composure.

One of them even spoke with a hint of praise: "What an excellent intuition, Viscount Glint."

Grellint did not respond, his face remained stern, but a sense of recognition welled up in his heart. The other party's ambush was indeed sophisticated, and an ordinary person would have died here long ago.

But he is different.

He was confident that no matter how careful the opponent was, he would not be able to defeat him easily. His intuition told him that this would be a fierce battle, but also an opportunity to counterattack.

A gleam of light flashed in Greylint's eyes, and he changed his mind suddenly and rushed towards the three people. He raised the revolver in his hand quickly, and the bullets drew lines of fire in the air, accurately blocking the offensive of the three people and buying himself precious time.

He kept getting closer, his steps were fast, and he couldn't help but feel happy. He was almost there, just a little faster, and he could break their defense.

However, at this moment, an incomparable sense of oppression suddenly attacked from all directions. His spiritual sense instantly sounded the alarm, and it seemed as if an electric current suddenly rushed through the depths of his mind, turning into a thorny whip, lashing his soul fiercely.

This sudden pain made his body stiffen and his steps slow down. He clenched his teeth, trying to suppress this indescribable pain, but found that it was as if an invisible hand was strangling his nerves, making him unable to move freely.

The three people on the opposite side had a cold light of confidence in their victory in their eyes, as if they had anticipated this scene and were waiting for the moment when he fell into the trap. They seized this opportunity without hesitation, stepped forward, and quickly approached.

One of them sneered, with a hint of mockery in his tone: "Goodbye, Viscount Glint."

When the gunshots rang out, Grellant suddenly realized that he seemed to have fallen into their carefully laid trap from the beginning. However, the intense pain in his mind had weakened his reaction ability and he could no longer control his body freely.

Time seemed to slow down at this moment. In Greylint's vision, all the details were so clear that it was suffocating. He could even see the bullet spinning, carrying the breath of death, flying towards his forehead. At that moment, all the sounds disappeared, leaving only the tiny trace of the bullet in the air.

It's all over.

Grellint sighed in his heart. Perhaps, this was all just a dream. He was just indulging in fantasy, and at this moment, he was about to wake up. The bullet was infinitely enlarged in front of his eyes, and he even felt a slight stinging pain on his forehead.

"Perhaps, this is really just a dream of mine..."

"Maybe the next time I open my eyes, I will return to reality, back to the moment before I traveled through time."

…

A sharp crash came from behind him, and the bullet hit the wall, sending out a string of sparks. Grellint's consciousness instantly cleared up, and the oppressive feeling that had enveloped his soul just now seemed to have never existed, replaced by an indescribable feeling - he seemed to have become something between existence and nothingness.

He felt his mind become calm again, his thoughts as clear as a knife. But that change made him suspicious, his body's reaction was no longer as real as before, and he felt an indescribable weirdness.

However, this was not the time to think about these things. The danger had not yet been resolved, and Grellant immediately followed his original plan and looked for a place where he could hide.

He turned quickly, his eyes quickly locked onto a corner full of debris. His body moved as fast as the wind, and he almost instantly dived into the shadows and hid himself.

At the same time, the gunfire behind him became more frequent, and bullets whizzed through the air and embedded into the walls and ground around him. The intensity of the firepower was far greater than before, and the enemy's accuracy suddenly increased. It was obviously no longer the tentative attack before.

"Misjudgment! He doesn't have the traveler's extraordinary items!" One of them cursed clearly into his ears, with obvious anger and unwillingness.

Greylint held his breath, trying to calm himself down, and carefully analyzed the situation. Suddenly, he realized that his actions just now were a bit too arrogant. For a detective, this was a mistake that should never happen. Facing three completely unknown enemies, he actually chose to charge head-on, which was extremely reckless. The soul whipping that followed made him lose control of his body.

The Beyonder abilities that Professor Steve had introduced flashed through his mind, and he quickly connected everything that had just happened, analyzing the enemy's abilities. He immediately made a judgment: at least two of them were "bribers" and "interrogators", Beyonders of at least Sequence 7. As for the remaining one, he was still unsure of his identity.

This was not a situation he could handle, at least not now. His intuition told him that continuing to fight head-on would only lead to a greater crisis. Greylint immediately had the idea of ​​retreating. He had to retreat - he was completely incapable of facing these three people.

He took a deep breath, slowly lowered his body, and hid himself in the shadows. He stared at the front, waiting for the fleeting opportunity. At this moment, escape was the only option, and he had to get out calmly and quickly.

However, when he carefully observed the surrounding environment, a strange feeling came over him. The scene in front of him seemed wrong - this was not the East District he was familiar with. The architectural style was similar, but these houses seemed too clean. There were no mottled stains on the walls, and there was no dust and garbage unique to the East District on the streets. The ground was so flat that it seemed as if it had never been stepped on, and there was not even a trace of use.

An eerie silence enveloped the surroundings, making Greylint shudder.

"Where exactly is this place?"

This question flashed through his mind. The huge discrepancy between reality and memory made him confused. Although the environment in front of him was similar to the East District, it had a strange sense of strangeness. It was as if he had unknowingly stepped into a space that seemed familiar but completely different, like a painting that had been tampered with, so clean that it made people feel uneasy.

"That driver...it's him."Chapter 115 EscapeTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 3124 wordsUpdate time: 2024-09-30 17:30:03

Grellant's mind flashed back to the driver who had teamed up with Viscount Lenasi to ambush him. It was he who had knocked him into the dark alley, and then all the strange things happened one after another.

Could it be that the guy has some ability to change reality and create illusions? Or is this a trap he has carefully laid?

All sorts of speculations raced through my mind, making the scene before me even more disturbing.

"How on earth did he do that?"

Grellant gritted his teeth and tried to calm himself down and analyze the situation. The driver not only led him into this strange environment, but also made him lose his way without realizing it.

This must involve some kind of high-sequence extraordinary ability, perhaps the manipulation of space, or the interference with the mind.

He took a deep breath and tried his best to suppress the panic in his heart.

"Damn it, I have to escape." He whispered to himself, with a hint of trembling and determination in his voice.

At this moment, he understood more and more that he had fallen into the opponent's trap. Time passed like an hourglass, and every second could make the situation more unfavorable.

He knew very well that the only way out was to find the exit of this strange space and regain the initiative.

Grellint looked around quickly, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, capturing every subtle change, looking for any possible way to escape.

Everything around him became blurry and unreal, as if mocking his anxiety. However, his spiritual sense was pushed to the limit, and he felt an invisible sense of oppression coming, and danger was approaching.

At this moment, he cannot stay and must act immediately!

Can't stay here any longer, run, run away!

Grellint made up his mind in an instant and made a judgment almost instinctively.

He quickly calculated in his mind, and the positions of the three people opposite him emerged one by one, and finally locked on his escape direction. Time did not allow him to hesitate at all. Only after escaping from this dangerous situation would he have the opportunity to think about the truth behind this strange environment.

The next second, he suddenly started, rushing towards the distance like an arrow from a bow, and the surrounding scenes passed by him quickly. At this moment, the only way to seize the initiative is to escape from here!

The three men on the opposite side immediately saw through Greylint's intention, raised their hands almost at the same time, pointed the cold muzzles of their guns at his back, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Bang! Bang!" Several gunshots cut through the air, and bullets whizzed past Greylint's ears. He instantly lowered his body and rolled over, then kicked hard, took advantage of the momentum to stand up again, and ran forward.

He took every step with all his strength, and his feet made a dull sound when hitting the ground, as if the heartbeat was echoing in his ears.

"Damn it!" He cursed inwardly, his back soaked with cold sweat. Every quick breath seemed to burn his lungs with fire, but he didn't dare to stop. The sound of gunfire continued behind him, and bullets flew past his body, hitting the surrounding brick walls and the ground, splashing debris.

Grellint tried his best to adjust his pace and change direction. His footsteps echoed rapidly in the narrow alley. He quickly glanced behind him and saw that the three men were still biting him. Their steps were steady and precise. Obviously, they all had rich combat experience.

"We can't go on like this!" His heart tightened and he secretly thought of a countermeasure.

He quickly shook his shoulders, turned his body rapidly in the air, and dodged a bullet that rubbed his waist by rolling. Then he pulled out the revolver in his arms and fired several shots in the direction of the enemy. The sound of gunfire mixed with the sound of footsteps, and the alley was instantly filled with the smell of gunpowder.

Without any time to stop, he started again and ran towards a narrow alley. Although he knew that this would not completely get rid of the pursuer, it might be able to increase the distance and buy himself a chance to catch his breath.

"I hope this alley is not a dead end. Otherwise, this time it's really over..."

Grellint prayed silently in his heart, gritted his teeth, and forced himself to run forward with all his strength.

He gradually felt that his body was getting out of the illusory state. Previously, that mysterious power seemed to have cast a vague layer of protection over him, allowing him to avoid fatal attacks time and time again.

However, now, the illusion gradually faded, and the stinging feeling of bullets passing by his shoulders was clearly felt. He returned to his flesh and blood body and could no longer rely on the mysterious power to avoid attacks.

"Oops..." He cursed in a low voice, feeling a chill from behind. The pursuer was close at hand, threatening like a shadow. Grellant gritted his teeth and forced himself to rush deeper into the alley faster.

His legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and every landing brought violent tremors and pain, but he did not relax at all.

He had to stay calm. He took a deep breath and quickly scanned the surroundings, looking for any possible escape route. His eyes were like knives, quickly scanning every possible shelter and corner.

Ahead, in the darkness at the end of the alley, a faint light was visible. It might be the exit to the outside world, or it might just be a trap carefully set by the enemy. Grellint's heart was tense, but the continuous gunshots and the sound of bullets breaking through the air in his ears were like a death knell, forcing him into a desperate situation. At this moment, he had no way to retreat.

"No matter what, I have to take a gamble!" Greylint made up his mind secretly, staring at the ray of light in front of him, as if it was the only salvation.

He exerted force suddenly and lunged forward, as if he was putting all his strength into this one move. He used all his strength in every step, and the soles of his shoes rubbed against the ground, making sharp sounds, like a steel blade scratching against a rock. He felt his heart beating violently, as if it was about to jump out of his chest, and his throat was filled with the smell of rusty blood.

The gunfire behind him became more rapid, and the bullets drew a deadly arc in the air, whistling with a sharp sound. Grallant gritted his teeth, and his body shifted at the maximum speed, narrowly avoiding a bullet that brushed his shoulder. He could already feel the ray of light getting closer, and his heart was beating wildly - he could almost touch it.

"Faster! Faster!"

He screamed in his heart, and the muscles in his legs were so sore from the tension that they seemed to collapse at any moment. His vision began to blur, and there was only the sound of the wind and the roar of his heartbeat in his ears. The world around him seemed to disappear, and only the ray of light was left to guide him forward.

Rushing towards that ray of light, this was his last gamble.

Almost there, almost there! Grellint could feel the light approaching infinitely, he almost touched its edge. It was warm and real, like an exit from another world, opening its arms to him.

In an instant, he felt an indescribable lightness, as if his body was being swallowed by light. The dazzling light began to penetrate his vision, and he seemed to be gradually blending into the warm embrace. The sound of gunfire and footsteps in his ears seemed to fade away in an instant, and the darkness and oppression around him gradually disintegrated and turned into nothingness.

"I succeeded!" He was filled with ecstasy, as if all his fatigue and tension were released at this moment. An indescribable force came from the light, pulling him out of this cold and dangerous alley. His body became lighter and lighter, and his heartbeat gradually slowed down, as if he was purified by the light and sank into a peaceful state.

Just as he was about to completely merge into the light, Grellint's tense nerves finally got a moment's respite, but he did not relax his vigilance. He knew that the light before him might be a way to survive, or it might be another unknown danger. But no matter what, at this moment, he finally stepped out of despair and into a new unknown.

However, Glellint soon realized that the feeling of merging into the light was just an illusion. In reality, his feet were still running in the cold alley, and every inch of his body was fighting against the pressing pursuit. He did not escape, and there was no mysterious power to save him. The three people behind him were still biting him tightly, with steady steps, and the sound of gunfire echoed in the alley, and the killing intent was following him like a shadow.

"Damn it, still in this damn place!" Grellint's heart tightened, and the brief feeling of lightness and relief was instantly shattered by the cruel reality. He forced himself to return to the dangerous situation in front of him, feeling the pain and pulling of the leg muscles, and the whistling sound of bullets grazing his ears became more and more piercing.

There was no time to hesitate, he could only continue to rush forward. Grellint quickly adjusted his breathing, forced himself to calm down, and locked his sights on the front again, looking for every opportunity to change the situation. Although the ray of light was an illusion, he could not be defeated by his mental sway. He had to grit his teeth and fight for his life in this chase.

"Calm down, keep running, and find the real way out!" He roared to himself in his heart, and his pace quickened again. The gunshots behind him became more and more rapid, and the three men had no intention of slowing down their pursuit. Greylint knew that he didn't have much time left.

Left side!

At this moment, Grellint's spiritual intuition exploded in his mind like thunder, allowing him to make a judgment instantly. There - the street on the left, is his chance of survival!

He turned without hesitation and rushed to the left at almost the maximum speed. His body almost lost balance in the rapid movement, and he pushed his feet hard on the ground, using the force to force himself to stabilize his body and rush into the street. The sound of wind in his ears and the sound of gunfire behind him intertwined, and every second seemed like a race against death.

Grellant felt a chill on his back as several bullets rubbed his body, shattering the stones on the street and splashing dust. He clenched his teeth, his heart beating wildly, trying to adjust his breathing and force himself to calm down. He no longer thought about the thrilling experience just now. His intuition told him that only by rushing into this street could he escape this pursuit.

"Seize this opportunity!" He roared in his heart, and ran towards the street entrance with his legs like the wind. His heart was beating fast, his breathing was like a taut bowstring, his whole body was devoted to this life-and-death escape, and he didn't notice the changes in his pocket at all.

The bracelet he got from Miss Julie quietly emitted a faint light in his pocket. The light was gentle and steady, like a weak firefly, flickering between his hurried footsteps.

The faint light flickered with his movements, as if it was resonating with some kind of power, and the light trembled slightly, as if searching for something.Chapter 116 BreakawayTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2395 wordsUpdate time: 2024-10-01 17:30:08

Grellant fled frantically, his footsteps sweeping through the streets like the wind. The sound of gunfire and the footsteps of the pursuers behind him became more and more rapid, but he had no time to look back. He had only one thought in his mind: rush to the entrance of the street!

As he got closer, the light from the bracelet in his pocket became stronger and stronger. The originally weak light gradually became dazzling, as if responding to something. The light shone through the clothes, flashing and guiding the direction. Grellint was still unaware, and all his attention was focused on the exit in front of him.

Finally, he stepped into the edge of the street entrance. At that moment, he seemed to have passed through an invisible film. The oppressive feeling in the air suddenly weakened, and the surrounding scene changed subtly in his vision. The scenery at the end of the street seemed to be pulled and distorted for a moment, and then returned to normal, but the surrounding atmosphere was completely changed.

Grellint's heart was throbbing, and everything around him became indescribably strange - he could feel that he was no longer in the strange, oppressive space before. It was as if some invisible restraints were untied, and his body and mind were relaxed.

Graylint suddenly felt something strange in his pocket, and the residual heat of the light through the fabric gently burned his skin. He lowered his head and touched it. The temperature of the bracelet made him realize that this thing might be the key to his escape from that strange space. But now is not the time to think about it.

He took a deep breath, raised his head and looked around. In front of him was an ordinary street, with shops lined up on the street, bustling people coming and going, and children laughing and chasing each other. The air was filled with the daily hustle and bustle, and the sun shone through the clouds onto the street, bringing a long-lost warmth.

Grellint's heart suddenly relaxed, realizing that he had escaped from that cold trap. However, he soon noticed that the pedestrians on the road were looking at him with a special look. Those looks were both puzzled and a little wary and surprised. Several children stopped playing and looked at him curiously with wide eyes, as if they were looking at someone who had escaped from a nightmare.

"Oops..."

Grellint smiled bitterly and touched his forehead, realizing that he looked quite disheveled at the moment. His clothes were covered in dust, and sweat was pouring down his forehead. He looked like he had just escaped from the brink of death. He quickly adjusted his breathing, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat and make himself look less noticeable.

"Calm down, Gralint,"

He reminded himself in his heart, raised his head and pretended to be calm and straightened his clothes, trying his best to hide the fact that he had just experienced a thrilling escape. He had to leave here quickly to avoid attracting more unnecessary attention.

Grellint forced himself to calm down, looked around, and carefully checked the surrounding environment. This seemed to be the East District, a street he was not familiar with.

The building style is a bit shabby, and the shops on the street are crowded together, revealing a sense of fireworks in the civilian area. Most of the pedestrians are dressed simply, some workers are pushing carts, and children are laughing and playing. The whole street seems busy and lively.

"It seems to be the East District..." He said to himself. Although he didn't come here often, he was relieved to finally get out of that strange space.

To further confirm his location, Grellint searched the streets and soon saw a road sign with a name engraved on it - Muddy Street. He quickly wrote down the name and analyzed the current situation quickly. Although this place was unfamiliar, it was at least closer to the real world than the previous weird trap.

"At least I know where I am now," he consoled himself. Although the street name was unfamiliar, it gave him a clear direction. He immediately began to think about what to do next to maximize his safety.

The best way at the moment is to return to his residence in Cherwood District as soon as possible. At least there, he has a big boss he can rely on and can provide shelter in an emergency.

Greylint's mind raced as he began to plan his escape route in his mind, trying to avoid dangerous areas that might track him.

Following the map in his memory, Grallint walked quickly towards the residence in the Cherwood area. He quickly outlined the route of the area in his mind, trying to choose narrow alleys and sparsely populated neighborhoods to avoid being tracked.

He hurried his steps, his heart still beating fast, but he had to force himself to calm down. At this moment, he needed to act cautiously and not take any more risks.

The ground of the Swamp Street was bumpy, and occasionally one could hear the noise of workers and the laughter of children. Grellint wrapped himself tightly in his coat, blending himself into the noisy atmosphere of this civilian area, not attracting any extra attention. He walked while paying attention to the movements around him, and his spiritual sense remained highly sharp, always alert to possible ambushes.

He seemed to have escaped, and the tense feeling of oppression gradually faded as time passed. Grallint quickened his pace and tried his best to stay alert, but his intuition told him that the pursuit seemed to have stopped temporarily.

Along the way, there were no more echoes of footsteps or whistling of bullets in my ears, only the hustle and bustle of the civilian area and the occasional sound of horse-drawn carriages echoing around.

"They haven't caught up yet..." He thought to himself, his heartbeat calming down a little. Greylint still didn't dare to relax, his eyes scanned every corner and shadow of the street to make sure there were no lurking enemies.

After turning an alley, the surrounding scene gradually became familiar, the buildings in the Cherwood district became clearer and clearer, and his long-lost residence was right in front of him.

Grellint breathed a sigh of relief, but he still did not let down his guard. Only when he stepped onto the path leading to his home did he dare to slow down his pace a little, feeling the solid texture of the stone slabs under his feet, as if he had stepped back into the real land.

His hand unconsciously touched his pocket and felt that the bracelet was still lying there quietly, but the light had long since dimmed.

Grellint knew that returning home did not mean absolute safety, but at least under the protection of the big man, he could get a moment of respite and a glimmer of hope.

…

When Grellint opened the door, he was greeted by a warm breath. The fireplace in the room was burning quietly, and the dancing flames cast a soft halo, dispelling the chill in the room.

Miss Bernadette was sitting by the fireplace, her eyes slightly lowered, lost in thought. The firelight reflected on her face, outlining a thoughtful expression. At this moment, there was a slight sound of the door opening, interrupting her thoughts. She turned her head slightly and looked at the door.

What came into view was Grellint - he looked tired, covered in dust, his shoulders drooped slightly, and his eyes revealed an unconcealable weariness and fatigue.

Bernadette frowned slightly, and she immediately realized that Grallint seemed to have just experienced an unusual danger.

"You..." She was about to ask, but then she seemed to notice something and stopped talking. Miss Bernadette's expression changed slightly, and she stared at him closely, observing him carefully. She saw that Grallint's eyes were empty and confused, as if he would collapse at any time. His breathing was rapid and disordered, and his face was pale, as if he had exhausted all his strength and was on the verge of collapse.

At this moment, the tension in Grellint's heart finally loosened completely. It was as if all the strength in his body was drained away in an instant. He could no longer hold on. His eyes went dark and his vision gradually blurred. His legs softened and he fell straight forward.

"Grelint!" Miss Bernadette screamed, and quickly stood up and rushed forward, trying to hold him. However, Grallint's consciousness had receded like a tide, and he fell into endless darkness.Chapter 117 ShadowTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2323 wordsUpdate time: 2024-10-02 17:30:10

When Greylint opened his eyes again, the first thing that came into view was the familiar ceiling.

The chandelier above his head emitted a warm light, and everything around him seemed exceptionally quiet. He moved slightly and found himself lying on the bed. His clothes had been changed into clean nightgowns, and his coat, which was covered with dust and blood, was neatly folded beside the bed. Although he still felt a little sore all over, he felt much more relaxed than before.

Before I was fully awake, a familiar voice came to my ears: "Grelint, you're awake."

Grelint turned his head and saw Bernadette sitting beside the bed, her eyes calm and deep. Her voice was calm and calm: "It seems that you have recovered."

He struggled to stand up and smiled apologetically: "Ms. Bernadette, I'm sorry to have made you worry."

Bernadette looked at him calmly without any expression. After a moment, she spoke softly, her tone calm but with a hint of elusive emotion: "Glarint, do you want to continue?"

Her words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Grellint's heart hard. He was silent, lying on the bed looking at the ceiling, with a complex emotion in his heart.

Should he continue? This road was destined to be difficult and dangerous, and could swallow him up at any time. But he knew that he could no longer turn back.

Grellant squinted his eyes slightly, feeling a dazzling light shining through the window. He subconsciously turned his head and looked out the window. The golden sunlight slanted into the room, illuminating the entire space with warmth and tranquility.

From this angle, the light was no longer the coolness of the early morning, but the softness of the afternoon. At least it was the second day. It seemed that he had slept for a long time.

He was silent for a while, and his heart was stirred. Bernadette's question echoed in his mind again and again, "Do you want to continue?" The voice was calm and firm, but with a hint of elusive meaning.

He couldn't help but fall into deep thought. Past experiences, the dangers along the way, and the unpredictable future flashed through his mind one by one.

He knew what it meant to continue on this path. Greater dangers, more traps, and possible sacrifices. He could choose to give up and stay away from these terrible fates, but he knew better than anyone what that meant.

"I..." Grellint murmured in a low voice, his hesitation sounded particularly weak in the room. He looked out the window again, and the sunlight seemed to give him some strength. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was no longer confusion in his eyes, but determination.

"Yes, I will continue," he answered slowly, his voice low but with a hint of unshakable determination. He turned his head and looked at Bernadette with a stubborn smile on his face, "This is the path I have chosen. No matter how difficult it is, I will continue."

"I know." Bernadette said calmly, without any surprise in her tone, as if she had already anticipated Grellint's answer. Her eyes were as deep as still water, without any emotion.

"You experienced a fatal crisis," she continued, her tone calm, as if she was simply stating an established fact. "The magic I left in you was triggered."

Grellint instantly understood that the strange changes in himself were caused by Bernadette's magic. He had felt the illusory and unpredictable power when he was on the brink of life and death.

Now, he finally knew that it was the protection she prepared for him. With a complex emotion in his heart, he looked at her and said softly, "Thank you."

Bernadette did not respond to his gratitude, her expression remained indifferent, as if this was just a trivial matter. She stared at Grallint quietly and said slowly: "You know, I don't care about these."

Her voice was steady, yet it revealed an unquestionable power. Bernadette was never concerned about gratitude and return, but something deeper.

Grellint nodded silently, feeling a little warm in his heart.

Grellant understood what Bernadette meant. From the moment she decided to help him prevent the potion from getting out of control, Grellant knew that she was someone he could trust.

He recalled the past: Bernadette helped him when he was in the most dangerous time, and even spent her own strength to ensure his safety. This silent support was like a tacit understanding and a promise.

No matter what Bernadette might need him to do in the future, he should not refuse, as he understood her intentions very well.

So at least now, he was sure that she was absolutely trustworthy.

Grellint nodded slightly, and the hesitation in his heart completely dissipated. He knew that he still had a long way to go, and Bernadette's existence was like a lamp that illuminated the darkness, giving him the courage to move forward.

"I think you don't mind telling me about what happened yesterday." Bernadette didn't dwell on it too much, and there was a hint of concern in her tone.

Graylin nodded, sorted out his thoughts, and said slowly: "On the way to the East District School, I was attacked..." His tone was calm, but a hint of coldness flashed across his eyes. Yesterday's thrilling incident emerged like a nightmare, and he was still frightened.

"I don't know when I was targeted. There were at least three people on the other side, and their methods were very sophisticated. They were obviously not ordinary Beyonders." His voice was a little low, and he was lost in memory. "This was a carefully prepared attack. From the moment I was knocked down, everything seemed to have fallen into a trap carefully set by the other party."

Bernadette listened quietly, her eyes always on his face, capturing every detail. She nodded slightly, motioning him to continue.

"At that time, I was almost in despair. That strange space enveloped me, as if the whole world was distorted... I didn't know whether it was an illusion or reality. It was your magic that saved me. My body underwent a strange change and I escaped the fatal attack."

Bernadette's eyes flashed with thought, and she nodded slightly. "The enemy is using illusions to force you into trouble?"

Grellint shook his head slightly, with a hint of doubt in his expression. "At first, I thought so too," he said slowly, with a hint of uncertainty in his tone, "but when I escaped, I noticed something - the bracelet Miss Julie gave me was glowing."

At this point, he took out the bracelet from his coat pocket and stared at it for a moment. The bracelet was now dim, as if nothing had happened. But the glimmer of light at that moment made his heart tremble.

"The bracelet glows?" Bernadette raised her eyebrows slightly, obviously also interested in this detail.

"Yes." Graylin nodded and continued, "This gives me a new guess - I have been to that area before. The bracelet glowed, perhaps it sensed a certain boundary I touched, and guided me to find a way to escape."

Bernadette narrowed her eyes slightly, thinking. "So, what you mean is that the place does exist, but it has been distorted and hidden by some force."

Her eyes fell on Greylint, and her tone was firm and calm: "Do you remember? Have you been to any place that might meet the requirements in the East District before?"

Grellint frowned and fell into deep thought. "That is completely different from the Backlund of today. That may be another world hidden in the shadow of Backlund... a twisted and mysterious Backlund..."

He paused, as if he was chewing over the meaning of this sentence, and a strange and blurry picture gradually emerged in his mind.Chapter 118 SpeculationTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2576 wordsUpdate time: 2024-10-03 17:30:10

Greylint tried hard to recall, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to dig out the truth from his vague memory.

The clues in my mind gradually pieced together into a complete picture.

He took a deep breath, frowned slightly, and thought about the nature of that space.

It is extremely difficult to block the records of the spirit world, and there are usually only two situations: first, one has extremely high status or high-level extraordinary items, so that lower-level people cannot pass through the spirit world to detect; second, there are some special places that cannot be recorded by the spirit world, such as the "Source of Peach Blossoms" created by Bernadette, or other spaces constructed with various extraordinary abilities and mysterious items that are not recorded by the spirit world.

Thinking of this, his heartbeat quickened. Grallint slowly raised his hand and pressed it on his temple, as if trying to suppress the excitement and anxiety in his heart. His eyes became sharp, staring at Bernadette in front of him, as if trying to find some kind of confirmation from her face.

"If that space is Backlund's projection, and has the property of not being recorded by the spirit world, and the location of the entrance and exit can be controlled at will..." He muttered to himself, his voice trembling slightly. He remembered Miss Julie's strange disappearance, which was the key evidence for his speculation - there was no trace in the spirit world, which showed that the space had the ability to block all detection.

"I see..."

Greylint whispered to himself, frowning. He tried to recall the scene of Julie's disappearance and his feelings when he entered that space. That space was like some kind of distorted reality, familiar yet strange, like the shadow of Backlund.

That strange world might be their natural base to hide their tracks, a mysterious area that cannot be tracked or discovered.

He raised his head, his eyes firm and burning, staring into Bernadette's eyes. "I have a guess," he took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm, but still revealing a hint of nervousness, "I want to hear your opinion."

Bernadette raised her eyes slightly and stared at him quietly, as if she could see through his thoughts. There was no emotion in her eyes, only calmness and depth, like a calm lake. She nodded slightly, motioning him to continue.

Grellint clenched his fists lightly, his palms sweating slightly from nervousness. He licked his dry lips and spoke slowly: "In Backlund's history, there was a great plague."

His voice was low and trembling with uneasiness. "Between 749 and 750, this plague swept across the four northern countries, killing countless people. However, I found some hidden clues from various materials - both official records and unofficial history seem to suggest the same thing: at that time, a new city suddenly appeared, and many people escaped the plague because they entered this city."

At this point, he paused, frowning even more tightly, as if he was organizing his words. He raised his head, his eyes as sharp as a knife, and looked directly at Bernadette: "I think that this city in history is hidden in the shadow of Backlund."

Bernadette frowned slightly, and her slender fingers gently rested on the armrest, stroking it slowly, obviously thinking about Grallint's speculation. She did not respond immediately, but stared at him with her deep blue eyes, as if to measure the credibility of his words.

Without pausing, Greylint continued, "If we assume that this city is a space constructed by some extraordinary power, then it is very likely to have the property of not being recorded by the spirit world. It also seems to be able to connect with the real world under certain circumstances, which explains why there is no clue about Oliver's disappearance. He was sucked into that city just like Miss Julie."

"In other words," he said in a low voice, as if revealing a deep mystery, "that city is a mysterious area that cannot be traced, a strange existence hidden between Backlund's reality and illusion."

Bernadette's hand paused slightly, and a trace of thought flashed in her eyes. She slowly raised her head, took a deep breath, and finally spoke as if she had made up her mind, "Do you know the name of that plague?"

Greylint's eyes changed slightly, he pursed his lips, and whispered: "Black death."

"It was a ritual, an attempt..." Bernadette's voice was cold and murderous, and her eyes were deep, as if she was recalling some distant past.

"A ritual that became doomsday."

Graylint's pupils shrank, and a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes. He quickly thought about Bernadette's words, trying to find the answer in his mind. Bernadette gently raised her hand, signaling him to be patient. She slowly said: "Sequence 1 of the Assassin's Path is called 'Doomsday'."

In an instant, Grellant seemed to be struck by lightning, and all the information was instantly connected in his mind. The secrets of this city were much more complicated than he had initially imagined.

He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. His breathing became rapid, but his tone became more steady: "So, this hidden city is a space opened up by the church and the royal family to deal with the 'doomsday' ritual in the real world?"

Bernadette's eyes flashed with approval, she nodded slowly, and then her tone sank: "Yes. According to what you said, combined with the information I have learned, I have a rough guess. The Great Plague is not only a disaster, but also an attempt by the Beyonders of the Assassin Path to perform some kind of 'doomsday' ritual. In order to fight against this ritual, the church and the royal family joined forces to open up an independent city in the shadow of Backlund."

Graylint's heartbeat seemed to suddenly speed up, and he could clearly hear the sound of blood flowing in his veins. He slightly widened his eyes, as if a grand picture was slowly unfolding before his eyes. He murmured, "It is both a reflection of reality and an illusory projection..." His voice was low and profound, as if he was caught in a vortex of thought.

His clenched hands trembled slightly, as if the weight of this thought was too much to bear. "This city was designed to be undetectable by the spirit world, and became a shield of protection. Those who disappeared were perhaps transferred to this world to avoid the influence of the 'end of the world'."

Bernadette listened quietly, without a trace of emotion in her eyes, and her face was as calm as a lake. But her gaze lingered on Grallint's face for a moment, as if she wanted to deeply engrave his expression at the moment in her heart.

She lowered her eyes, sighed softly, and whispered with a slightly hoarse voice: "That's right. At that time, the church and the royal family used extraordinary items and ritual magic to construct this space and transferred the population of Backlund into it. The existence of this city is precisely to resist the invasion of the 'Doomsday' ritual."

She lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes, and her vision became dim and difficult to discern, as if she was trapped in some unknown past.

She raised her head, her tone filled with a hint of caution and scrutiny: "This is the information I have learned. Combined with what you said before, this space is where you were ambushed. Only the royal family and the church can open this world at any time."

Greylint lowered his head, frowned, and tapped his fingertips on the armrest subconsciously, as if he was thinking over her words. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to sort out the chaotic thoughts in his mind. After a moment, he suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with determination, and his tone was firm and powerful: "So, I have to face the royal family and the church."

Bernadette shook her head slowly, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a meaningful smile. There was a hint of sarcasm in that smile, but more of it was a feeling of helplessness. She said softly: "No, the situation is better than expected. At least they chose this place because they are afraid of being discovered. It should be just one party doing it secretly."

After she finished speaking, she stared at Greylint with a burning gaze, her eyes flashing with a hint of coldness, as if waiting for his further speculation. Her hands slightly clenched the edge of her cloak, as if she was restraining some emotion.

Greylint closed his eyes, and Viscount Lenasi's words flashed through his mind over and over again. His brows furrowed tighter and tighter, as if he was under great pressure. His knuckles clenched unconsciously, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged slightly, showing his inner tension and contradiction. After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his eyes were as sharp as a knife, and his voice was low and firm:

"Royal family?"Chapter 119 FacingTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2431 wordsUpdate time: 2024-10-04 17:30:05

"The royal family."

Grellint repeated the word silently in his heart, as if it was deeply embedded in his mind like a brand. His eyes trembled slightly, and then he regained his composure. However, the chill in his heart gradually rose.

Thinking of his identity in this world, his hands unconsciously clenched the armrests. Yes, he was a nobleman canonized by the royal family and a knight recognized by them. His friends in this city all had inextricable ties with the royal family.

He gritted his teeth, and past events emerged in his mind. The smiling faces of every one of his friends seemed to be covered with a shadow at this moment, as if they were controlled by some invisible force.

"If it's really the royal family..." His breathing couldn't help but stagnate, and even his heartbeat seemed to become heavy.

Just as he was lost in thought, Bernadette's voice seemed to come from the void, pulling him back to reality. "Do you want to continue?" Her voice was calm and firm, as if she had already anticipated his hesitation at this moment.

Grellint raised his head and looked at Bernadette. Her eyes were as calm as water, but seemed to have an indescribable power that penetrated his heart. She didn't say anything else, just quietly waiting for his answer. Those eyes were like a mirror, reflecting his determination and struggle.

Grellint's eyes trembled slightly as he stared at the ground, his mind in a mess.

"Should I really continue?"

He asked himself again and again in his heart. As a time traveler, he had never truly supported the royal family of this world. The royal family was just an identity and a protective umbrella for him, allowing him to gain a foothold in this strange land. However, the choice he faced at this moment was far more difficult than he had imagined.

If he continued to investigate and pursue the secrets of the royal family, he would be facing a powerful opponent. More importantly, his actions would implicate those who were closely related to him. Audrey, her family, and even his friends, they were all more or less inextricably linked to the royal family. Once the royal family became aware of his actions, all those related to him would be involved and become victims on the chessboard. Thinking of this, Grellant's heart sank suddenly, as if a piece of ice had fallen into his chest.

He slowly closed his eyes and his fingertips began to tremble slightly.

Continuing the investigation would mean breaking away from Audrey and her family; it would mean that he would have to push his friends away and separate them from himself. Grallint knew that once he went down this path, he would have to become more ruthless and cut off all the ties that had bound them.

A feeling of powerlessness surged from the bottom of his heart, climbing up his throat, making him unable to speak. It was not the fear of the strong pressure of confronting the royal family, but the pain of not being able to control his fate and being destined to hurt those around him. Even though he was not born and raised in this world, he never expected that he would be entangled by such complicated emotions.

Bernadette's voice sounded in his ears again, cold and gentle: "Do you want to continue?" Her eyes fell on him, without coercion or pity, as if she was just quietly waiting for the answer in his heart.

Grellint let out a long breath and looked up at Bernadette, his eyes flashing with complex light. He knew that if he continued to go on, he would become the enemy of the royal family and even the enemy of his former friends. But he also knew that if he retreated, many things would never be known and the truth would be forever covered in shadows.

"I..." He opened his mouth, but in the end only a hoarse whisper came out. His voice was no longer as firm as before, but revealed a hint of hesitation and pain. "If I continue, I must break away from them..."

Grellant was silent, as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. The scene before Oliver disappeared and the innocent smiles of those street children flashed through his mind.

The reason why he investigated these incidents and helped those innocent people was, after all, to preserve the kindness and simple and pure humanity of his previous life. He did these things to prove that he was still the righteous man in his memory, rather than a pawn in this world that drifted with the tide.

However, he now realized that if he continued to pursue the case, he would have to break away from Audrey, his friends, and even those he had helped. Only by completely isolating himself could he avoid being implicated. Every connection and every interpersonal bond he had would become a bargaining chip for the royal family to use against him. Continuing would mean that he would embark on a lonely path and lock himself in darkness.

"In order to protect the humanity in my heart, I have to give up the ties with others." He thought bitterly in his heart, with a bitter smile on his lips. Bernadette's words were like a cold hammer, hitting his heart again and again: "Do you want to continue?"

Grellint closed his eyes, as if trying to escape from this predicament and closing off his world. He wanted to protect the kindness in his heart, but if he cut off his connection with others and pushed away all emotions and warmth, wouldn't he be abandoning himself and his humanity? By then, he might become a cold machine, losing all the characteristics related to "human".

This seems to be a destined choice. No matter what he does, he will gradually sink in this crazy and twisted world.

Continue to investigate and protect your humanity, but sever the ties with others; give up the investigation and choose to survive, but put your inner beliefs under your feet.

Both paths lead to the same darkness. No matter which choice he makes, he cannot escape the madness and distortion of this world.

"I..." Grellint's throat seemed to be blocked, and his voice was dry and weak. He once thought that he could protect his humanity and not be changed by this world, but now, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

In order to protect that kindness, he may end up losing it.

If he continues, he will become a true loner, abandoned by the world; if he gives up the pursuit, he will watch himself fall into this moral quagmire, and will never be able to look up at the pure sky again.

He opened his eyes, a trace of struggle and confusion in his eyes. He knew that this was a destined choice, no matter what choice he made, he could not avoid his sinking in this world.

"Hahaha..."

Grellint suddenly burst into laughter, with an indescribable bitterness and mockery in his laughter, even a bit of madness. The laughter echoed in the silent space, like a sharp blade, cutting through the originally oppressive atmosphere. His shoulders trembled slightly, and tears seemed to glitter in his eyes, but he still laughed wildly, as if laughter could dispel the confusion and pain in his heart.

"The Beyonders are just a group of clowns fighting against madness..."

He murmured, but the arc of his mouth was so cold. He raised his head and looked at Bernadette. The firmness in her eyes was no longer there, but a bottomless fog.

"What are we struggling to protect? Kindness, justice, ideals?" He shook his head in self-mockery, his tone full of sarcasm, "In the end, it's just to make ourselves look less pathetic, less... crazy."

His voice gradually became low, as if filled with endless fatigue. Greylint took a deep breath, and slowly clenched his hands on both sides of his body, as if trying to grasp something, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He knew in his heart that pursuing the truth and protecting kindness were all just to prove that he had not been swallowed up by this world and that he still retained his self-esteem as a human being.

But is that really the case? Or has he always been just a clown, wearing the guise of a Beyonder, trying to find a little meaning in this crazy world?

He closed his eyes, and the laughter finally died down from his lips, leaving only cold silence.Chapter 120 LightTitle of the Book:Secret: The Story Hidden Under DestinyAuthor: Little Fish Listening to the RainChapter word count: 2234 wordsUpdate time: 2024-10-05 17:30:02

Bernadette looked quietly at Greylint in front of her, with no ridicule or pity in her eyes, only a deep silence.

She didn't say anything, her face still had that calm expression, but her eyes flickered slightly, as if she saw her struggles over the years in his crazy laughter. Her fingers unconsciously clenched the corner of her clothes, and the soft touch gave her a familiar sense of security.

As an extraordinary person, isn't she also struggling in this crazy world? Every extraordinary person, no matter how high their position, is fighting against the power of madness. She has seen too many people who have lost control and become distorted step by step in their pursuit of extraordinaryness.

She had asked herself countless times, where does this road lead to? She knew that the stronger the power, the greater the price, and the fate of the extraordinary people always wandered on the edge of reason and madness.

Bernadette slowly raised her head, her eyes flickering in the dim light. Her eyes were still calm, but with a hint of heaviness, as if she could see through Grellint's confusion and pain. But she didn't rush to speak, nor did she try to comfort him. Because she knew that in this crazy world, every extraordinary person must find his own answer.

She turned slightly to the side and looked up at the gray sky outside the window, as if she wanted to find some comfort in it. Silence spread between the two of them, turning into an invisible resonance. That was the silence that only extraordinary people understood - whether they were struggling against madness or wandering between reality and ideals, there was no need for them to say much, because they all knew that on this road, everyone was a lonely clown.

The corners of Bernadette's lips moved slightly, but in the end she just sighed softly.

However, in this silence and gloom, light quietly descended. In the originally gloomy sky, the heavy clouds were torn open at some point, and a beam of golden sunlight penetrated through the layers of dark clouds and fell in front of them. The light was like a sharp blade, cutting through the dull atmosphere and bringing a touch of warmth and hope to this gray world.

Bernadette raised her head, and a slight shock flashed in her eyes. She looked at the light shining through the clouds, and her expression gradually changed from calm to complicated. The light was so real, as if reminding her that the world was not completely shrouded in madness and darkness. Even in the shadows, light still exists, as long as there is a crack, it can penetrate the endless darkness.

She slowly closed her eyes, as if letting herself stay in this faint light for a while, feeling the long-suppressed desire in her heart.

"Perhaps, the Beyonders are indeed fighting against madness, but not all fights are destined to be in vain," she muttered to herself.

Grellint was also attracted by the light and looked up at the sky. His eyes gradually became calm from the initial confusion and pain. The light sprinkled on his face, adding a touch of warmth to his tired expression. It was as if at that moment, he found some long-lost comfort. The light reminded him of the children he had protected and the warm moments he had felt.

Perhaps he will eventually sink in this crazy world, but the light at this moment reminds him that no matter how dark the road ahead is, he has tried hard and tried to leave a glimmer of light for this world. The beam of sunlight that penetrates the clouds is like a silent response, telling him that his struggle and persistence are not meaningless.

Bernadette slightly opened her eyes, turned her head to look at Greylint, and said calmly: "Whether you continue or give up, this road is made by you. But you must remember that the light is always there, even in the deepest darkness."

Grellint did not respond immediately, but quietly looked at the beam of light. His mood gradually calmed down, as if the beam of light illuminated the darkest corner of his heart. Finally, he let out a long breath, and his tone became more firm: "You are right, no matter what, the light will always exist."

He raised his head, his eyes becoming firm and sharp again.

"No matter what the outcome is, I will go on, because this is my choice."

Grellint turned to look at Bernadette, his eyes firm and sharp, as if he had already made a decision in his heart through the thick fog. He no longer hesitated, no longer avoided, his eyes revealed a determination that no one else could do it but him.

Bernadette felt Grallint's firm gaze and raised her eyes slightly to look at him. She did not answer immediately, but remained silent, her expression gradually becoming solemn, and the light in her eyes gradually became deep, like the sea before a storm, with waves hidden.

After a while, she finally spoke, her tone revealing a hint of confusion and doubt she had never had before: "This matter... is related to me. It is very important. But I can't see the whole picture. It seems to be covered by layers of fog."

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was talking to herself, or as if she was telling Graylinte about her inner anxiety. Bernadette frowned, her eyes seemed to be sunk into a deep sea, with an elusive light emerging. She once thought she had seen through many things, but now, the trajectory of fate has become blurred in front of her, as if every direction is lurking with unknown dangers.

"I can feel that if I miss it, I will regret it for the rest of my life." She took a deep breath, as if trying to calm herself down. Her hands unconsciously clenched the corners of her clothes, her fingertips turning white, as if that was the only thing that could make her feel reality.

Bernadette looked at Grallint in front of her, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart, as if a thick fog spread in her thoughts. She couldn't help but ask herself in her heart, what kind of thing made her feel so strongly? The feeling that if she missed it, she would lose the most important thing to her.

She was a Sequence 3 Beyonder who had mastered many mysteries and powers and had seen through many things. She had thought that her fate was already under her control.

However, the little guy in front of her, who was only a Sequence 7, caused an unprecedented confusion in her heart. Bernadette felt a pulse of fate, as if it came from the future, foreshadowing some huge changes to her. She knew that this premonition was not an illusion. The more powerful the Beyonder was, the more he could perceive the trajectory of fate, but this time, she could not see through it, nor could she grasp it.

"Is this the person you want to wait for? Father!" She thought to herself, frowning slightly. Her father's face emerged in her memory, the man who was destined to stir up the storm. He spent his whole life seeking the power to change his fate. And now, the young man in front of this man seemed to be carrying a similar fate.

"Just like you, I am destined to stir up a storm..."

Bernadette's gaze suddenly became extremely deep. She felt a familiar force quietly gathering on Greylint, just like the forces that drove history that she had seen in the past, hidden under a calm appearance, waiting for the moment to erupt.

She couldn't help but feel a little excited, but also a little worried and uneasy. She had long known that she was destined to be extraordinary, but she had never expected that the torrent of fate would bring her together with this Sequence 7 Beyonder.

"Is this a coincidence, or has my father already seen this moment..."