“Such a strange thing—it's as if a genetic mutation has occurred, and a person's character changes along with it,” Hagen threw down the stone axe and said mockingly, “I remember you used to be very single-minded in your actions, but now—you use different identities, different appearances, engage in different professions, yet you manage to keep them from interfering with each other, just like your own body. Sigh—”

Hagen let out a feigned long sigh: “Speaking of which, during that disaster, Flora suffered much less harm than you, yet you survived, and are living strong, while Flora struggles on the brink of death every day... All I can say is, the will of the gods is truly unfathomable!”

Charles Sutton was silent for a moment, then asked, “Is there really no way to save her?”

“You know, when Mr. Van Buren came to us, that was a year ago. At that time, our power was very weak. A year passed quickly, and our strength has not grown much. We can only keep Flora alive. Now, this task is becoming more and more difficult.

Recently, we obtained some unexpected information. We believe there is someone who might possess the power to save her. However, this person does not like to be disturbed, and his abilities are beyond our control.

We need someone—a person with keen eyesight—to find his hiding place without alerting him. Then, communicate with him and persuade him to help us.”

Charles Sutton took from the shelf the jade knife that Hagen had set down, gently stroking along the stone grain.

“So, this person is very dangerous?”

Hagen nodded.

“Very good at hiding?”

Hagen nodded again.

“He is very powerful?”

……

“Doesn’t like to associate with his own kind, prefers solitude?”

“Those who succeed do not walk with failures, otherwise they would not be successful. It’s the same in nature—the more a beast is king among beasts, the more it enjoys being far from the crowd, looking down upon all living things.

This person is the king of kings. All we know is that he appeared in Paris 112 years ago; 67 years ago, he showed up in New York; the most recent clue is that he was seen in India 20 years ago. We need the eyes of an eagle, and you just happen to have them.”

Charles Sutton sighed softly, “That’s exactly what I wish I could forget.”

Chapter 5: The Girl Left with Only Loyalty (2)

“Twenty years have passed, so much has changed, and all traces left by that person have already vanished. If not for this, we could have handled it ourselves—why would we mobilize people to look for you!” Hagen said, frowning.

“For Flora... I originally wanted to hide away somewhere and quietly disappear,” Charles Sutton lowered his head. “I once promised her I would take good care of her, but I failed... Fine, I’ll go find that person and try to persuade him...” Charles Sutton said with a grim smile.

“Ha! Find someone, a simple task. Beating a child on a rainy day—if I’m idle, I might as well do it. I’ll go, and even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I’ll find him for you.”

Hagen looked at Charles Sutton with concern: “I will personally assist you—not to monitor you, nor to protect you. We’re only worried that you might anger him and end up with nothing.”

After speaking, Hagen solemnly reminded again: “I believe that once you meet him, you’ll truly understand the meaning of the word ‘powerful.’”

Charles Sutton pointed to the electromagnetic kiln behind Hagen: “By the way, your blue crayfish is done cooking. Do you want to eat it now?”

“What?” Hagen was full of curiosity. “You use a porcelain kiln to cook food? My god, China really is a magical place.”

“It’s not for cooking food,” Charles Sutton answered honestly. “It’s for firing the crayfish shell—with top-quality clay mixed with bone ash, fired at a specific temperature, the porcelain crayfish shell is almost identical to a real calcareous shell. Its blue color is dazzling... Trust me, your tongue absolutely can’t tell the difference.”

“You damned counterfeiter!”

Night fell, and the streetlights along the small street lit up one after another. On the street where the Demon Bar was located, the shops on the first floor, which had been bustling all day, gradually quieted down. Only a few diligent shopkeepers remained, waiting for the last visitors.

At the same time, the second-floor shops along the street lit up, beginning their stage performances.

The night exuded a beautiful, seductive, and alluring atmosphere, making people feel excited, making them feel lost, making them feel deeply trapped and unable to extricate themselves, even suffocating in this beautiful earthly paradise, slowly sinking into ruin.

Some say such nights are chaotic, some say such nights are ugly and unbearable, and some say such nights are the root of moral decay. But no matter what is said, the main theme of the night’s bustle is consumption. This consumption fills the emptiness of the spirit and also creates countless job opportunities dependent on the night.

People moved back and forth—young women in revealing clothes with heavy makeup, men in sharp suits full of ambition, mature women still exuding charm, gangsters in bizarre outfits... They all kept their heads down, sneaking upstairs into dimly lit bars and nightclubs, passing their nights in this way.

Compared to other lively bars, the street where the “Demon Bar” was located was sparsely populated. Occasionally, a few people would stop, peeking in at the door, but seeing that the attendant at the entrance made no move to greet them, they would turn and leave.