Chapter 65

Serial Killing Paradise 2, Cherish

On the way from the sanatorium, Anger was lost in thought, and Mo Fei, sensing something amiss, asked, "Anger, what's wrong?"

"Hmm," Anger pondered and said, "Emma seems to have done something she didn't really want to do." Looking at an address in his hand, he continued, "This address, Emma wrote it for me."

"Hmm," Mo Fei nodded and asked, "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Think about it, my father disappeared over twenty years ago. Even if that friend was there before, could they be certain to still be there after twenty years?" Anger shrugged, "And I seriously doubt Emma could remember an address for twenty years."

"Maybe she remembered it because it's important?" Mo Fei suggested to Anger.

Anger smiled and said, "Mo Fei, you really don't understand women."

Mo Fei, puzzled, looked at Anger and asked, "What about women?"

"Women often remember things that aren't substantially useful but forget substantial matters," Anger explained. "For example, a woman might remember the romance a man once brought her but often forgets the hurt he caused. When another man comes along, she can be swept away by the same romance, and of course, hurt by the same pain."

Mo Fei chuckled and said, "Saying that might get you scolded by most women."

Anger laughed it off without saying more, but his mood seemed subdued.

"Anger, don't worry," Mo Fei consoled him, "Emma won't harm you."

"I know that," Anger replied, "Actually, some things can be easily deduced."

"Deduced what?" Mo Fei asked, confused.

"Emma loves me deeply; she wouldn't do anything that could harm me," Anger stated. "That means, whatever she does, she believes will make me happy. But knowing that it'll make me happy, why would she be reluctant? What kind of person could make her do something she's unwilling to do for me?"

Mo Fei frowned slightly and asked, "Could it be..."

Anger smiled and said, "The solution to all mysteries will probably be revealed in the end."

Mo Fei nodded and took Anger's hand, saying, "Don't worry, I'll be by your side."

Anger smiled and said, "I need to discuss this matter with Oss and the others, to get some help."

Mo Fei, somewhat surprised, widened his eyes at Anger and said, "Anger... this is actually the first time I've heard you ask for help."

Anger thought for a moment and responded, "To be precise, it's not so much about asking for help as it is about utilizing resources effectively. This situation is somewhat beyond our control, and I sense that the involved clues, people, and events are quite complex. Besides, it concerns your safety, so I think it's necessary to ask Oss and the others for assistance."

Mo Fei smiled and said, "You've made the right decision."

Anger looked up at him and smiled without saying a word.

Later, Anger and Mo Fei returned to the gallery and gathered Oss and the others for a detailed discussion about the incident.

"Ah, I think I've heard of that case," Oss said, stroking his chin. "It was said to be solved with the help of a detective. Although the culprit was caught, many doubts remained."

Anger nodded and asked, "Who was that utterly useless detective?"

Oss shrugged and shook his head, "It's an old story that circulated long ago... But, the church you're going to visit is in a quite remote area."

"Remote?" Anger pondered and asked, "Can you check if the land there is mostly forest, and if a large portion was bought? Is the square footage similar to the village where the incident happened years ago?"

"Let me make a call to confirm," Oss said, taking out his phone to check. Soon, he confirmed Anger's suspicions – indeed, a mysterious buyer had purchased a piece of land, with plans almost identical to the old town. The area had been closed off for construction recently.

Anger nodded and smiled wryly, "It seems that's the case... Someone has made all the preparations, wanting us to solve the mystery from years ago."

"I'll go with Elyssa and join you," Jiu Yi said. "I've always been interested in adventures."

Angler nodded, "Hmm... that's good."

"Xia Fan and I will gather more information," Shazi said. "Then we'll meet up with you there."

"I'll arrange some police force in preparation," Oss thought for a moment and then said, "Hey... if the case replays like it did years ago, how many people might die?"

Anger frowned and replied, "That depends on what the culprit wants. It could be a total annihilation like last time, or maybe only a few deaths. Of course, the best-case scenario would be no casualties at all."

"I think... we should prepare for the worst," Jiu Yi said. "After so much careful planning and effort for so long, it's unlikely the person would just let it go easily."

"Can we identify who that person is?" Oss asked. "Who is the most suspicious, and why go to such lengths?"

Anger smiled nonchalantly and said, "When a person invests so much in something, the reason is usually simple... humiliation or resentment."

Everyone frowned and looked at Anger.

"Think about it," Anger continued, "Everyone expresses their emotions differently, and different emotions have different effects when released. Love and care, for instance, are gentle and enduring, becoming richer and more flavorful over time. Hatred and bitterness, on the other hand, are explosive. The longer they last, the more distorted they become. Even if initially righteous, they eventually rot and decay."

……

That evening, after Oss and others left, Mo Fei and Anger stayed in the room. Anger, embracing Ais, seemed lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Mo Fei asked, sitting next to Anger.

"Hmm," Angler slowly began, "Mofei, I suddenly feel that everything from the lizard case at the beginning to the recent events seems like a series of trials set by someone for me."

"A trial?" Mo Fei asked, slightly puzzled.

"Like a test, to see if I'm capable of handling a certain responsibility," Anger said casually. "And all through this, there's been someone observing me."

"You mean, the Black JK? And their Midnight Revelry Club?" Mo Fei asked.

"The Midnight Revelry Club is a malevolent organization," Anger explained. "But they're unique, not exactly a gang, nor do they have any specific intentions... They seem like an aimless dark force."

"Aimless..." Mo Fei frowned slightly, intrigued by Anger's perspective.

"Consider this – even the mafia gets eliminated because their evil has a purpose," Anger said. "...It's all about money and power. The Midnight Revelry Club, however, seems to thrive on creating chaos without gaining anything from it... This is what makes them most suspicious."

After hearing this, Mo Fei furrowed his brow and asked, "Anger, are you suggesting that Black JK, filled with resentment and humiliation... might be involved?"

"I've asked Oss to investigate everyone connected to the old case, hoping to find something," Anger pondered. "If we link this to what Emma told us this morning, it seems... like a final showdown."

"The final showdown?" Mo Fei asked, surprised. "Between Black Jack and us?"

Anger gave a small smile and shook his head, "I don't think so. Our nature seems similar to that of Os and his team."

"You mean, as a resource being utilized?" Mo Fei inquired.

"Hmm," Angler nodded, "Let’s visit the priest at the church tomorrow morning. We might understand more."

"Anger," Mo Fei took Anger's hand.

"What is it?" Anger looked up at him.

"You should rest early. You've been uneasy since earlier," Mo Fei said earnestly.

Anger frowned slightly, shaking his head, "I now understand why my father abandoned my mother when pursuing a case years ago."

Mo Fei seemed to grasp his meaning, asking, "You mean, his emotions became a hindrance?"

"Emotions can severely impact one's judgment," Anger explained. "His love for my mother and his expectations for me would have made him lose courage."

"Are you also talking about yourself?" Mo Fei inquired.

Anger nodded, "I've never felt this way before. I am deeply concerned that you might become a casualty this time."

"That won't happen," Mo Fei reassured. "I can protect myself, and we can guard each other."

Anger slowly nodded, gently patting Mo Fei's cheek, "Mo Fei... I can no longer adapt to a life without you."

Mo Fei frowned, moved by Anger's rare display of emotion, and reached out to gently hold his hand.

Anger looked up, "You need to protect yourself well."

"Anger, don't be so anxious," Mo Fei expressed his concern for Anger's state of mind, "I'll be right here with you."

Lost in thought on the sofa, Anger said, "The best revenge isn't necessarily killing someone."

Seeing Anger lapse into laziness, Mo Fei habitually carried him upstairs, conversing, "What's the best method then?"

"What do you think?" Anger asked.

"Hmm…" pondered Mo Fei, "Taking away their happiness, the person they love the most... or something they cherish?"

"Neither," Anger gently shook his head, "It's taking away their hope of ever achieving happiness."

Mo Fei frowned.

Anger spoke solemnly, "Happiness or precious things, if lost, can be regained. But once the hope of obtaining them is lost, a person becomes hollow... A soul too empty quickly decays, either becoming corrupt or dying."

Placing Anger on the bed, Mo Fei asked, "Am I the hope you see for happiness?"

"Yes," Anger nodded sincerely, "I can't think of anyone else who touches my heart like you do."

Mo Fei gazed at him for a long while, "Same here... Anger, don't be overly sentimental. You are as important to me as I am to you!"

Anger looked up, surprised.

Mo Fei's lips curled slightly, "It's not just you worrying about me; I worry about you too... Anger, you're also my hope for happiness."

Anger chuckled, "Yeah, I can sleep quite well now."

"I'm serious, Anger," Mo Fei leaned in, making eye contact, "To everyone else, I may be a stray dog, but with you, I can truly be Mo Fei."