Across the street, the man in black appeared like a phantom, intermittently emerging at the intersection and the
entrances of various shops, trailed by a swarm of shadowy figures resembling skeletal insects.
And then…
To Cloud’s bewilderment, Blake was following the man in black with Lilly!
Cloud’s mind raced with confusion. Was Blake being so blatant in his approach?
How could he tail someone like this? Is this how Blake stalks people in broad daylight?
Cloud quickly averted his gaze, feeling foolish for even entertaining such thoughts.
When the traffic light turned green, Cloud continued walking, after that, he reached an alleyway. However, he knew
that the man in black would discover Blake.
Cloud pondered.
Perhaps Blake is certain that the man in black didn’t recognize him. But the man in black didn’t appear to be
dumb…
Unable to understand what Blake was doing, Cloud reluctantly chose to trust that Blake had a plan and that
reinforcements would arrive.
As he entered the alley, Cloud’s surroundings transformed. The small, winding pathway led deeper into the older
residential area of the city. While Lemon County boasted newly constructed commercial buildings, this particular
neighborhood consisted of homes built by the residents themselves. The layout was irregular and less orderly,
causing the alleyways to become increasingly secluded. During the day, most people were at work, with only a few
going out early to buy groceries.
Silence enveloped the alley.
Finally, upon hearing footsteps behind him, Cloud turned his head and spotted a dark figure standing not far away,
locking eyes with him.
Blake and Lilly stood motionless, concealed behind a nearby wall, their presence shrouded in secrecy.
Cloud felt a lump forming in his throat, almost choking on the words he intended to say. However, he managed to
react swiftly. He glanced back and forth before yelling, “Who the hell are you? Why are you following me?”
Just as he thought about what the man in black would say, in the blink of an eye, the man closed the distance,
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtpressing his face close to Cloud.
“Hehe! Cloud,” the man addressed him using his real name.
Cloud’s expression abruptly changed, his eyes sharpening with suspicion. “Who are you?” he demanded.
King Libra burst into laughter.
How amusing.
Did he think he was so well-disguised that no one would recognize him?
He seems like he’s just as dim-witted as a kid.
“Who am I…” King Libra grinned, tilting his neck to the side. “I’ve come to take your head.”
Cloud instinctively stood in a defensive stance, taking a couple of steps backward.
Meanwhile, Blake and Lilly stepped forward, as if they believed they were hidden well enough.
Cloud was left speechless.
What kind of tactic is this?!
Even if they walked openly and without suspicion, nobody would suspect a thing!
Cloud was about to gesture to Blake not to come any closer but to take Lilly away instead. However, before he
could speak, the figure of the man in black flickered and reappeared before him, grabbing his neck with one hand.
Cloud’s pupils contracted.
The man’s speed was astonishing!
This person… was not a human!
“You…”
Cloud was speechless as the man’s grip tightened around his neck, causing him to wonder if his head would be
twisted off right then and there.
King Libra, sensing his victory, wore a cruel smile on his face. “Do you want to know why I’m ending your life?” he
taunted.
“If you’re looking for someone to blame, blame your obedient niece, Lilly! Once you become a ghost, remember
that it was Lilly who killed you,” he continued with a malicious sneer. “I wouldn’t have killed you if it wasn’t for her.”
Cloud desperately attempted to break free from the man’s grasp, but his efforts proved futile. He realized he was
utterly powerless against such force.
All he could do was cast a pleading look towards Blake, his eyes filled with anxiety and despair, silently urging him to
take Lilly and flee.
King Libra turned his gaze back, his expression filled with suspicion.
Blake and Lilly immediately froze in place, as if time had stopped.
Father and daughter locked in synchrony, like statues caught in mid-motion.
Cloud’s frustration reached its peak.
I need help here, hello? Why aren’t yall doing anything?
Cloud wanted to scold Blake. He wanted to scold Blake for drinking too much which fried his brain, leading him to
involve Lilly in this deceitful scheme.
However, to his astonishment, he saw the man in black before he turned his head back, his eyes brimming with
suspicion.
Cloud was even more confused.
Didn’t I see Blake and Lilly earlier? What’s going on?
Were Blake and Lilly invisible to the man?
Cloud was dumbfounded.
To King Libra, Cloud’s expression seemed like he was deprived of oxygen and was on the brink of death.
“Tsk tsk, I hope you’ll die a painful death.” King Libra said coldly. “When I present your severed head to Lilly, she’ll
be consumed by anger, heartache, and despair…”
“Hahaha…uh!”
King Libra’s smile had barely spread across his face when suddenly, a colossal Palace of the Ruler of Hell was
hurtled toward him!
His pupils contracted in terror, but before he could evade the disaster, he was obliterated into a bloody mist!
“Poof!”
Cloud saw a crimson-red haze.
His innocent and adorable niece, seemingly powerless, had wielded a palace larger than a house and smashed the
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmman in black who had been choking him into a mist of blood. He witnessed a person evaporate right in front of him,
leaving behind not a single trace of flesh or skin.
Oh no, he left a hand!
Horror-stricken, Cloud ripped off the arm that was still clasped around his neck, seizing the opportunity while the
other party was still frozen. Otherwise, it would have been near impossible to free himself later on!
“Lilly, you…” Cloud was taken aback. “You killed someone!”
Lilly blinked innocently. “He’s not a human!”
Cloud felt his heart pounding and his ears ringing.
He knew that Lilly could see ghosts.
He also knew that ghosts existed in the world…
However, the person was right in front of him just moments ago. He could still tell if he was a human or not.
The man had a shadow and he could feel the man’s warmth when he was being choked. Cloud could even see the
veins on his face.
How isn’t he human?
Even if he was not human, what was the arm Cloud was holding onto?
“Lilly, you and your father should go ahead! I’ll stay here to handle the aftermath,” Cloud urged.
He understood that now was not the time to dwell on whether the man was human or not. Lilly killed someone, and
he needed to address the situation promptly.
Cloud’s immediate instinct was to tend to the aftermath and ensure Lilly would not be affected by it.
If this incident were to be classified as murder, he would bear responsibility.
However, before he could react, Lilly reached out and seized the severed arm from his hand. “Uncle Cloud, give it
to me!” she insisted.
With a swift motion, Lilly flung the arm towards the Palace of the Ruler of Hell.
The scene unfolded with remarkable precision, leaving not a trace of blood behind.
“I’ll send you to the Ruler of Hell with a trick!” Lilly muttered to herself.
Cloud remained speechless, his mind overwhelmed by the surreal turn of events.