Chapter Thirty-Two: Light and Darkness (1)

"You should have killed him right then and there."

In Hugh's room, Buckler was shouting with dissatisfaction. Besides him, Hodin, Lilith, and Ashling were all present. After listening to Hugh's account, everyone felt a bit tense, yet Hugh himself did not seem overly concerned. To him, such a close encounter with Lasher had been quite thrilling and amusing.

"That would have been too dangerous. Many people saw me enter the tavern, and Lasher came out with me. If I had killed him, no matter how I tried to cover it up afterward, I would not have escaped suspicion. The situation happened too suddenly; none of us were prepared. No one could prove I wasn't at the scene," Hugh explained. "Besides, I don't think Lasher could have discovered anything about me."

"That's not necessarily true," Ashling said. "Hugh, perhaps you haven't noticed, but among all sixteen-year-olds, you are the most unique and prominent. You possess a maturity and wisdom that do not belong to your age. Perhaps I should put it this way: from the moment we first saw you, we realized you were no ordinary boy. You are clever, decisive, brave, and extremely strategic. This is a good thing, but sometimes, it is precisely because of this that you are out of place among average youths. You are too different; almost everyone who sees you will take notice."

"I have tried my best to keep a low profile."

"That is useless. Your habits, way of thinking, manner of speaking, and style of conduct have already formed a basic standard; it is impossible for you to monitor every detail of your words and actions. So, perhaps I should use a rather cliché phrase to describe you: no matter how you try to hide, you cannot cover up your own radiance."

Hugh was lost in thought. "That is why Lasher said I looked like his old friend the moment he saw me, isn't it?"

"It's not just that; in fact, that sentence was a trap," Hodin suddenly interjected.

He startled Hugh. "What do you mean, Hodin?"

"I mean it was a trap—a linguistic trap. Agents of the Legal Affairs Department love setting all sorts of verbal traps when conversing with others. Although you were very careful and avoided most of them—including your composure after discovering his identity and your request for him to see you off—you still made a mistake."

"The sentence about me looking like his old friend?"

"Yes. If your description is accurate, Lasher kept saying you resembled an old friend of his. But you never asked him who that old friend was, whether they were male or female, what they did, or in what way you resembled them, did you? You know that most normal people, when someone repeatedly mentions such a thing, would ask who the old friend is. Only someone with something to hide, or someone who knows exactly who the other person is referring to, would turn a blind eye to that question."

"Damn it," Hugh realized with a jolt.

"Don't take it to heart, Hugh. In this area, he is a professional, and you are an amateur; don't blame yourself too much. Moreover, based on this alone, Lasher cannot be certain that you are Hugh Glair. Such questioning is not a standard; it is merely a psychological tendency, not absolute proof. However, there is no doubt it has made him suspicious of you."

Buckler frowned. "I didn't expect that agent to be so cunning. Should we abandon the operation?"

Hodin shrugged. "Since Lasher is already suspicious of Hugh, he will surely do everything in his power to investigate him. If we leave now, not only will all our efforts be wasted, but it will also confirm his suspicions and invite pursuit by the Empire. But if we stay, we face the possibility of being exposed."

At that moment, Hugh laughed softly. He said, "No, we are not leaving. Lasher cannot find me."

"What makes you so sure?" Hodin asked.

"Hodin, tell me, what method could Lasher possibly use to prove that I am Hugh Glair? By sending people to skulk behind me all day?"

"Of course not. The simplest way would be to have someone who has seen you make contact with you again. Didn't he say he was going to bring a friend?" Hodin replied.

"Exactly. So you don't need to worry about that. I believe Chuckley and the others won't recognize me during a brief encounter. After what I learned from Christine, I have great confidence in my current disguise. She only recognized me back then because of my ring."

"Even the best disguise cannot completely sever your connection to the former Hugh Glair. You can change your height, facial structure, and hair color, but you cannot change your tone, your gait, or your mannerisms. For people who know you well, these things are enough to make them suspect you. Even if they can't be sure you are Hugh Glair, they will still suspect you and keep an eye on you."

"I didn't say I was relying solely on a disguise. We all know that once a person becomes suspicious of another, those doubts won't easily vanish. Therefore, even if he cannot prove I am Hugh Glair through someone who has seen me, his suspicion won't be cleared. This is entirely the result of the first meeting being too unexpected and me having no preparation. Honestly, I don't like the appearance of such surprises. For a well-thought-out plan, any form of surprise can lead to catastrophic consequences. I would rather have no surprises at all than a sudden crisis. So, I think we need to move the plan forward."

Hodin, Buckler, and the others exchanged glances. "Hugh, you mean..."

"Within three days, Hugh Glair must appear. That is the best way to prove that I am not Hugh Glair," Hugh said coldly.

"Sneak into Christine's room within three days? Don't you think the pace of your relationship is moving too fast?"

"Why must I use Christine as a cover? A plan should evolve with changing circumstances," Hugh countered. "Besides, we are now in danger, and honestly, I don't want to implicate innocent people. To prove my identity, we can take a much better approach. If the Dardanelle family wants to make a name for itself in Royo City, we must socialize with as many nobles as possible. Attending a party is never as proactive as hosting one. Why can't we kill two birds with one stone?"

Hodin's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea."

Lilith looked at Hugh, confused. "You mean..."

Hodin interjected, "The meaning is simple: Hugh is very dissatisfied with the accident that occurred earlier, and he intends to seize the initiative back. That's right—host a ball, under any pretext, even using Christine as a shield. The wealthy heir of the Dardanelle family, in pursuit of a beautiful countess, hosts a grand ball for her, inviting all the celebrities in Royo City who can be invited. As for Mr. Lasher... he will naturally be on the guest list. Meanwhile, Hugh Glair will be wreaking havoc elsewhere."

"It's a good idea," Ashling also smiled. "A wanted criminal inviting a law enforcement officer to a ball he is hosting. Hugh, your thinking is always so unconventional and full of creativity."

Hugh shrugged and looked at Hodin. "A rich imagination is a basic requirement for becoming an outstanding con artist; that is exactly what Hodin taught me."

Lilith gritted her teeth and said, "I hope I can finish off Kevin Bills by then."

Hugh said sternly, "Lilith, I promise you will kill him, but we must consider the big picture. In any case, Kevin Bills is not our priority target."

"But I can't wait!"

"Have you not learned to control your anger yet? In any situation, staying calm is the only path to victory and the source of wisdom," Hugh said coldly.

Taking a long breath, Lilith replied reluctantly, "All right, I understand."

"Then, everyone, prepare according to the plan," Hugh said coldly. "Hodin, the business negotiations with other families and firms for the next two days are temporarily handed over to you. Proceed according to what we discussed previously. Let them focus their attention on our credit, and then resolve the matter directly at the ball."

"No problem," Hodin nodded elegantly.

Without realizing it, Hugh had gradually established his position as the leader of this team. Just as Ashling said, although he was only sixteen, anyone who knew him would never treat him as a simple boy. If it were anyone else, encountering such an inherently disadvantageous start might have led them to abandon their plan long ago. But for Hugh Glair, this was just a test. He had already gone through too many tests.

He trusted that Lasher would never guess that Seth Dardanelle would invite him to a ball hosted by the Dardanelle family so quickly. Analyzing it from this point alone, the possibility of Seth being Hugh had already been greatly reduced.

As for Hugh, he was actually quite looking forward to the upcoming second encounter with Lasher. He found that his outlook on life and his interests had undergone a major distortion without his noticing. He began to enjoy this stimulating life, viewing it as an important part of his existence. He liked watching those hounds chasing frantically behind him, liked watching them desperately trying to catch him while being helpless to do so, liked seeing the look of fear in his opponents' eyes when he swung his butcher's knife, and simultaneously enjoyed playing a game of deceit, maneuvering, and testing each other in public.

It was as if he were performing in a magnificent drama of life. When the curtain fell, the performer belonging to the successful side would possess an indescribable pleasure that came after a hearty, thorough revenge!

He looked forward to the arrival of tomorrow night.

The next morning, Christine was awakened by the noise outside, which made her angry because she hadn't finished sleeping. When she opened her eyes, she found Hugh standing by her bedside with a smile, holding a gorgeous ball gown.

"Wow, this dress is beautiful. It looks like the signature piece from the most luxurious shop on Chantongen Avenue. It's worth five hundred gold Vits." Christine lay in bed, revealing a snowy white arm, resting her head on it, and propping herself up slightly. Below the quilt, a large area of her chest was exposed, just enough to cover the most charming scenery.

"I know you had planned to buy that garment, but I thought I could beat you to it. Don't worry, I didn't send the bill to you this time," Hugh laughed.

"How much of a bribe did my damn maid take from you?" Christine shook her long neck, and her hair, slightly messy from her sleeping posture, straightened out again. She used her fingers to tidy it briefly.

"Not much, two gold Vits," Hugh replied.

"That's so cheap; she really humiliated me," Christine complained. However, the look in her eyes as she gazed at the ball gown completely exposed her joy.

"Don't you plan to try it on?" Hugh asked in a tone full of temptation.

Christine looked at Hugh cautiously. "Do you intend to watch me change clothes?"

Hugh smiled and threw the ball gown—embedded with gold thread and made of the most precious snow-goose down—onto Christine's bed, then pushed open the door and left.

Seemingly not expecting Hugh to be so straightforward and decisive, Christine was very surprised. Watching Hugh leave with disappointment, Christine angrily slammed her fist against the bed board. "Damn it, am I that unattractive to him?!"

Hugh's voice came from outside the room: "I apologize for that. In my eyes, your practical value is greater than your aesthetic value. That is the one thing that makes me different from all your other pursuers."

"You can go to hell, Hugh... Seth Dardanelle! I hate you! You bastard who eavesdrops on ladies!" Christine yelled at the door.

"It was you who were shouting too loudly."

There was no more sound in the room, only the rustling of clothes being put on.

Ten minutes later, she came out wearing the gown and stood still in front of Hugh. It was a white dress in the Lancy-style, with snow-white tassels, exquisite lace trim, and sequins made of soft metal, which highlighted the wearer's nobility and elegance. Around Christine's snowy white neck hung a string of pink pearls, the central gem shining brilliantly, and on her feet were thin-heeled crystal shoes. There were no high heels in this era, and shoes made of multi-colored crystal were the favorites of noble ladies.

Her long hair was piled up, and she had applied heavy purple eyeshadow to the corners of her eyes, making her look extraordinarily charming and breathtakingly beautiful. Her bright red lips made one want to rush up and take a bite.

A look of appreciation appeared in Hugh's eyes. To be fair, Christine was indeed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She possessed the nobility and elegance of a high-society woman but lacked the awkwardness of a little princess; she was skilled at showing her charm but did not fall into the commonality of dance troupe girls; she had a perfect figure like Lilith, curvy and exquisite, but unlike her, who was full of wildness, she tended to be more mature. Her behavior was reserved, but her aura was outgoing; she had embodied almost all the beauty a woman could show in the most perfect way.

Sometimes Hugh wondered if this woman had received special training; otherwise, why was every move she made so full of charm, her every gesture so alluring, even the way she lay on the bed just now?

"What a charming little demon," Hugh clicked his tongue in admiration.

"You're not the first to praise me like that, but you are the first to make me feel proud of it," Christine walked over quickly. When she stood still, she was like a statue, but when she moved, it was like drawing out the most beautiful scroll in the world.

Christine went to her wine cabinet and took out a bottle. "Want a drink?"

"No, thank you."

"Then, Mr. Seth Dardanelle," Christine turned gracefully, crossed her arms over her chest, and slowly brought the glass to her red lips. "What surprise have you brought me today? I mean, you don't think a dress is enough to satisfy me, do you? You have to realize that you are planning to let the whole city see your crazy pursuit, and it must indeed be a grand gesture that truly moves a woman's heart."

Hugh slowly pulled back the curtains.

Christine looked out the window, and with a crash, the wine glass fell onto the expensive carpet. Outside Christine's window, thousands of birds were flying joyfully in the sky. They formed a rainbow hanging across the horizon, their colorful feathers emitting a beautiful glow in the sunlight, just like the most brilliant neon in the sky.

Below the rainbow, at the fountain, Christine saw to her shock that all the water jets had frozen in this warm spring. Dozens of ice pillars refracted colorful light under the sun, and the ice pillars themselves formed a huge heart shape, which at this moment pointed straight to the sky, reflecting a hazy shape in the heavens.

The entire Silence Island Hotel shone brilliantly under the heart-shaped reflection of the rainbow bird bridge and the ice fountains, attracting countless onlookers. People speculated about which noble young master could have made such a magnificent spectacle with such a grand gesture.

"My God, this is crazy! It's incredible!" Christine almost screamed with her hands over her mouth. "How did you do it?"

"What do you mean? The rainbow bridge in the sky or the fountains?"

"Both. How did you make those birds form a rainbow bridge in the sky?"

"A kind of potion that emits a pleasant fragrance, which can attract many birds. We usually use this to attract avian magical beasts for easy capture. As long as you create a few transparent threads in the sky and use this potion, they will stay there, looking like a rainbow bridge suspended in mid-air. Those birds are beautiful, right? Attracting them took quite a bit of effort. You have to know that I had to chase away the less attractive birds and only leave the pretty ones," Hugh laughed.

Christine gave him a beautiful roll of her eyes. "A magical potion. Can it also attract your Flame Birds?"

"Yes."

"Where are they now?"

"In the sky," Hugh replied. "They can fly very high and won't get tired even when flying. Most of the time they won't come down unless I am in danger."

"Very interesting. Who would have thought that things from Purgatory Island would be used by you to capture a woman's heart. If Master Haynes knew, he would definitely be so angry he'd flip in his grave," Christine covered her mouth and giggled.

"Regardless of why alchemy was invented, its ultimate purpose should be to serve human needs. So I don't feel ashamed of this at all. Besides, the Dardanelle family showing its strength in front of all the nobles by pursuing the beautiful Christine—isn't that killing two birds with one stone?" Hugh smiled and walked to Christine's side, watching the scenery outside the window with her. "I hope you like it. It's a pity I could have made it even more exquisite. I mean, I could have made those ice fountains move, or even projected your image into the sky, and done all this at night, so that the pattern in the sky would be clearer and not as blurry as it is now. But unfortunately, I cannot use the level of alchemy that I am allowed to show, and I don't have enough time to delay this performance until night. So I can only try to make the scene as grand as possible to attract enough attention."

"Did something happen?" Christine was a little surprised. "Why do you say there's not enough time? Weren't you planning to pursue me for many days?"

"There is a ball the night after tomorrow that you need to attend. So I had to move up the romantic gestures that were supposed to be gradual."

Hugh said to Christine very seriously, "I am very sorry that I only let you experience a few days of romantic time before having to pull you out of this beautiful illusion. In my view, this is undoubtedly a cruel act, but I have no choice."

"The light and darkness have already shifted. The time that follows will enter a moment of cruel and bloody slaughter," Hugh looked into Christine's beautiful eyes and said earnestly and solemnly.