Chapter 29

Chapter 29

However, it turned out that puppies could have quite a few mischievous ideas.

The next day, after Lann got into Albert's car, he belatedly realized they seemed to be driving in the wrong direction, heading west?

“Actually, we're going to Arkham University,” Albert explained sheepishly, “Your application form is still there…”

Lann looked bewilderedly at Albert: “I thought from your text yesterday that my application was with you.”

“It was,” Albert blinked, his innocent blue eyes wide open, “But it needed an official seal, so I sent it back to the school for you.”

“? Then you could have just given me the address, and I would have gone to get it myself.”

“But then,” Albert mumbled, “I wouldn’t have had an excuse to ask you out…”

The latter part of his sentence was barely audible, laced with a hint of bewildered grievance.

Lann opened his mouth slightly, unsure how to respond, and eventually pretended not to hear, turning his gaze out the window.

From Lann's perspective, the atmosphere was awkward, but Albert seemed not to think so. Whenever they stopped at a red light, he would sneak glances at Lann's profile and then quickly turn away before being noticed, maintaining an innocent façade as if he hadn't been looking.

Lann chose to pretend he hadn’t noticed, to avoid further awkwardness.

Gradually, amidst this game of one stealing glances and the other pretending ignorance, the car entered the university town area.

Arkham University, located in the western part of Arkham City, is a comprehensive university with most common majors available. It’s neither exceptionally strong nor weak academically, but certainly not a first choice for those seeking prestigious institutions.

Hmm, speaking of which, since they chose Arkham as the setting, why not just go for the whole Miskatonic University vibe?

Lann casually asked, “Is this the only university in Arkham City?”

Albert hesitantly replied, “Yes, why do you ask?”

“No reason.” Lann felt a bit disappointed to learn there really was no Miskatonic University.

He had anticipated this, though; had there been a Miskatonic University, players would have surely mentioned it on forums.

Unlike domestic universities, overseas campuses are more open, without fixed walls. Upon entering the university town, one could see groups of students chatting and laughing together, enjoying their carefree youth.

Watching them, Lann couldn’t help feeling a bit envious. He had long left that naïve period behind, in both his past and present lives, and hadn’t set foot in a campus for a long time.

Albert, catching a glimpse of a flicker in Lann’s eyes, suddenly suggested, “Let’s get out and walk around.”

Lann: “Okay.”

Albert parked the car in the campus parking area, and they got out, walking side by side.

Walking under the tree-lined paths of the university campus, the sense of nostalgia deepened, almost like being on the brink of falling into a whirlpool of memories.

However, Lann had barely taken a few steps before he was almost surrounded by students.

"Look, that guy is so handsome!"

"Really, is he a TV star?"

"Hey handsome, can I get your number?!"

Having not wandered around for so long, Lann had almost forgotten the impact of his app (appearance). Before being completely blocked in the middle of the road, Albert decisively pulled Lann away and dashed through the crowd.

"Hey, wait up!"

Unlike the environment in Lann’s past life, people abroad were obviously more enthusiastic and open. Seeing Lann trying to escape, several eager students quickly followed. Albert, using all his evasive skills, barely managed to hide in the men's restroom.

"Huh, weird, they were definitely heading this way."

Voices faintly reached them from outside the restroom. Albert and Lann hid in a stall, very close to each other. Lann, realizing they were still holding hands, instinctively tried to pull away, but Albert gripped tighter.

"Shh — someone's coming in."

Albert gestured for silence and whispered in Lann’s ear, "Help me flush the toilet."

Lann nodded and pressed the flush.

Thankfully, those people weren't so extreme as to check each stall. Hearing the flush, they assumed someone was using the restroom and left without inspecting further. Otherwise, if Albert had made some awkward requests, Lann would have been at a loss.

As for Albert, a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes.

After evading the enthusiastic admirers, Albert went out and bought Lann a mask and hat: "Sorry, I didn’t anticipate this situation and wasn’t prepared."

"It’s my fault, not yours," Lann said, accepting the mask and hesitating for a few seconds, "Maybe we should go back to the car."

"But I wanted to walk around here," Albert said. "This is my alma mater, and I haven’t been back in a long time."

Lann observed his expression, unsure whether Albert was considering him or genuinely wanted to stay.

After putting on a mask and hat, Lann and Albert emerged from another exit. With their faces covered, they finally blended in with the crowd. Albert, who was naturally attractive and had a sunny disposition, was particularly popular among the foreign students, many of whom were tempted to approach them.

However, Albert avoided their gazes and moved a bit closer to Lann, breaking the usual social distance and subtly touching his arm.

Lann looked up, puzzled, to see Albert's tense jawline: "Sorry, this is just easier."

Indeed, seeing their close posture on the road, many backed off, perhaps because of the university’s open environment, where the presence of a suspected same-sex couple didn’t attract much attention.

Lann was indifferent to Albert's proximity. Once free from prying eyes, he felt much more relaxed and enjoyed a quiet walk around the campus.

Suddenly, Albert pointed towards a well-landscaped garden in the distance: "Do you remember that spot? It's one of our university's famous photo spots, popular with couples for evening dates."

“Oh, and that academic building over there. I always hated climbing up there for morning classes.”

Perhaps Albert was trying to stir Lann's college memories, but regrettably, Lann had no recollection of these specifics. His earlier sentimentality was for the atmosphere of university life, not this particular school.

Lann tried to recall anything about the direction Albert pointed to, but nothing came to mind.

This place was completely foreign to him.

Lann could only offer a dry laugh: "Yeah, really brings back memories."

He remembered how he had crossed over into this body, seemingly after the original owner died in a fire.

The location of the fire... seemed to be at the university?

But this place…

Looking around, Lann wondered if it was because several months had passed since the incident. Judging by the smiling faces of the students around, there was no trace of any past accidents.

"By the way, Albert, do you know where the fire happened to me originally?"

Albert's body tensed slightly: "Why do you ask that?"

Lann: "Just curious about the cause of the accident. It seems no police ever contacted me afterwards, so I still don’t know what happened... Albert?"

Lann called his name several times, with Albert seeming lost in thought. Only after Lann raised his voice did Albert snap back to reality: "Oh, I remember now. The incident was essentially confirmed as an accident after the investigation, so the police didn’t pursue it further."

"They did intend to come to you for a statement, but I stopped them. I thought, considering your recovery, it would be best not to disturb you with so many people," Albert scratched his head, "Do you want to visit the accident site? Though it's been renovated now."

Laine: "Yes, I'd like to see it."

Albert then led Laine around most of the campus to the more secluded laboratory building.

"The accident happened on the fourth floor of the laboratory building. It was caused by a failed chemical experiment next door, which triggered a vibration. The chemicals in your room shattered, reacted with the air, and ignited, causing an explosion. You were burned because you couldn't dodge in time."

As they ascended the stairs, Albert carefully explained to Laine, "It's hard to say who was at fault for the accident. You were just there to organize equipment, an innocent victim. Similarly, the neighboring chemistry lab was also innocent. The school ended up paying some compensation and covered part of your treatment costs."

Laine nodded, it indeed sounded like an accident.

But why did he feel an indescribable sense of dissonance?

Reaching the fourth floor of the laboratory building, Laine remained vigilant due to this uneasy feeling. However, to his disappointment, nothing seemed familiar.

They entered a room on the fourth floor, cluttered with various items. It was evident that the room had been freshly painted; the wall color was slightly different from the surrounding area, looking much newer. The walls inside the room were the same. It seemed that following the explosion, all labs on the fourth floor involving hazardous experiments had their walls reinforced.

While they were inside, the door of the neighboring laboratory opened, and several students in lab coats looked at them in surprise, "Who are you?"

"Oh, sorry, we used to be students here. Just visiting the campus for old times' sake," Albert smiled, pointing at the door, "Has this been converted into a storage room?"

"Yeah, after the explosion and fire incident, storing chemical substances here was prohibited, so it's been turned into a storage room," one of the students shrugged, "Heard someone got badly burnt, cost the school quite a bit in compensation."

"I see."

Lann's tense shoulders gradually relaxed, the information matching up. It seemed he was just being overly cautious.

After inspecting the fire scene, finding nothing to trigger his memory or anything unusual, Lann felt there was nothing more to see. He completed the necessary procedures at the administrative office with Albert and prepared to return.

On the way back, Albert's mood was inexplicably exuberant, seemingly suppressing nervousness and anticipation, causing Lann to glance at him several times.

Five minutes later, the blonde man suddenly stopped, "I just remembered I have something else to take care of. Could you wait for me a moment? I'll be right back."

Lann nodded indifferently, watching Albert's figure disappear into the distance. At that moment, his phone vibrated again. He took it out and saw a message from Clarence.

[I'm very sorry for causing a disturbance outside your psychology clinic yesterday. It wasn't my intention to offend you.]

[But please be careful of that police officer. He definitely harbors ill intentions.]

Ill intentions?

Lann fell silent for a while, wondering if it was the kind of ill intentions he was thinking of.

Soon, another text arrived, causing Laine to frown involuntarily.

[According to my investigation, during his time as a police officer, Albert has frequently attended gatherings of certain special individuals. Please be very cautious; his approach towards you might have an ulterior motive.]

Special... gatherings?

The term 'gathering,' in a normal context, might refer to regular or informal parties, a common preference among foreigners. But in the context of the Krone world, it made Laine think of something... rather unpleasant.

Suddenly, a cold, hard object pressed against his lower back.

"Don't move," the person behind him said in a lowered voice.

Laine's pupils constricted instinctively. He hadn't noticed any approaching footsteps or presence.

"Turn around slowly, no tricks."

Laine complied, turning slowly. He dared not gamble that the object at his back wouldn't fire a bullet, as acquiring a gun in this context wasn't particularly difficult.

But when he turned, what greeted Laine wasn't a firearm or a club, but an intense fragrance of flowers—

A bouquet of vibrant red roses filled his vision, and the blond man before him smiled radiantly, as bright as the June sun.

"I thought a proper confession should involve flowers."

Passersby noticed the commotion and stopped to watch.

Albert, unafraid and confident, his blue eyes brimming with love, stood tall, undeterred by the gaze of others. Only when his eyes met Laine's did they show nervousness and anticipation.

"I mean, if you're not seeing anyone, and if you have feelings for me too, could I be your boyfriend?"

Laine was caught completely off guard.

His mind flashed back to Albert's frequent glances, his unusual emotional management, and those expectant eyes full of unspoken hope.

So, this was what he had been planning.

As more and more onlookers gathered around, Laine sighed and looked directly into Albert's eyes, saying, "I'm sorry."

The hope in those blue eyes dimmed instantly, and Albert forced a smile, "Can I ask why?"

Lann asked, "I've been meaning to ask, why do you like me?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Albert scratched his head, "Maybe it was that time in the hospital ward, when I saw you wrapped in bandages, looking so frail."

Lann paused, puzzled. The hospital? Wasn't that just recently?

"My heart ached as if it was being torn apart then," Albert spoke softly, "I thought, no matter the cost, I must protect you. That was the moment I realized you are the most important person in my heart."

Lann was at a loss for words, his mind swirling with complex emotions, but ultimately resolved that regardless of whom Albert liked, the mysteries surrounding Lann himself meant he couldn't possibly be with anyone.

"I can't accept your confession," he said.

Albert hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Is it because of Archie?"

Lann, looking surprised, shook his head: "It's not about him, I just don't want to be in a relationship right now."

"I understand," Albert managed a forced smile, not sure if he believed it, then cautiously asked, "If you ever do want to date, could I be considered?"

"We'll see when the time comes," Lann replied evasively.

As the crowd that had gathered began to disperse, Lann turned and walked towards Albert's car, realizing halfway that Albert hadn't followed.

"Should I catch a ride myself?"

"No, no," Albert sighed in relief, following with the unaccepted roses, "Honestly, I was scared you'd just walk away and never talk to me again after my confession."

"If you keep pestering, that's a real possibility."

"Then I'll make sure to appear less around you!" Albert immediately promised, looking pitifully at Lann, "Please don't block me. I promise not to pursue you until you give me a sign. Please, I don't want to ruin our relationship."

Lann pursed his lips, having resolved not to look into Albert's eyes to avoid softening, but Albert shamelessly moved closer to him.

He seemed well aware of his own advantages, pinpointing exactly what aspects of Lann he could appeal to.

Lann, annoyed, pushed him away: "Then just wait and see."

This was no fool's trick; he had been deceived. It was a bait and switch!

"I've been thoroughly duped!"

Albert, content, drove Lann back. Although it wasn't the outcome he most desired, it wasn't the worst either. As long as Lann didn't completely ignore him, Albert could accept it. After all, love is a long journey, and fortunately, he was mentally prepared.

Caught up in his momentary triumph, he even forgot to drop Lann off at the apartment, stopping instead at the entrance of a psychological clinic.

Players who had been waiting around the clinic saw Lann step out of the blonde man's car and enter his own clinic, expressionless.

"Wait, what's going on here!?"

"Oh snap, there's a development! My ship hasn't sunk yet!"

Lann ignored the clamor outside, closed the clinic's main door, and leaned against the window. Watching Albert's car drive away, he sent a text message to Clarence.

[Come here]

Clarence arrived at nine in the evening.

"Tell me about the text you sent today," Lann said, chin in hand, a half-smile, half-serious gaze fixed on Clarence. "Quite a coincidence, it was exactly when I was out with Albert."

The implication was clear: he suspected Clarence, especially given the timing of the text.

Clarence remained composed: "I would never dare to monitor your schedule. To be precise, I'm keeping an eye on Albert. He's been investigating the recent banquet, and I'm concerned he might stumble upon something related to you."

Clarence's explanation was impeccable, and Lann nodded in acknowledgment, accepting his reasoning.

"Additionally, I want to confirm with you, Albert is unaware of your true identity, correct?"

"Yes, I haven't told him," I confirmed.

"That's good," Clarence sighed in relief, then self-righteously reported, "There's something seriously wrong with that man. Trust me, Lord Lann, he is getting close to you with ulterior motives."

Lann looked at him with some surprise: "I'm curious, why do you have such a strong opinion about him? Just because he's out to get you?"

"No, I don't harbor such animosity towards the police. If they perform their duties well, I'd actually respect them. At least my taxes aren't all going to waste."

Clarence's words didn't seem to be coming from someone who might be arrested and sent to prison at any moment, but Lann's intuition as a psychologist told him that Clarence was not lying.

It was quite strange, considering Clarence was now the new leader of Black Poker, the biggest scourge of Arkham City's underworld.

"But Albert is different. I once thought he would make a good cop, but he deceived me, he deceived everyone!" Clarence's expression twisted slightly, filled with anger, "He's worse than those corrupt pigs; he's the biggest threat to this city."

Lann's brow furrowed slightly: "How so?"

Clarence calmed down a bit, though his expression was still grim: "It happened years ago, not many remember. Back then, I was just a lowly grunt in a gang, and Black Poker wasn't as big as it is today. We had a mortal enemy, a gang called 'Green Steed'."

"Due to historical reasons, Black Poker's territory overlapped with Green Steed's. There were several bloody clashes between the two gangs. Fortunately, compared to us, Green Steed was a gang of outsiders, lacking basic understanding and respect for the city. They angered a mysterious society, who burned down their stronghold in one fiery strike,

And overnight, Green Steed vanished—physically vanished, not even sparing their families!"

"I was sent to scout out Green Steed's headquarters. The police had cordoned off the area, and I sneaked in by climbing the wall. Hiding in the shadows, I heard Albert say:

'Make it clean, leave no trace.'"

Clarence clenched his back teeth as he recalled this.

Lann suddenly felt a jolt, sensing the space of gray fog vaguely revealing a second ethereal light, though much fainter than Edmund's bright white light, flickering in and out of existence.

An image suddenly appeared in Lann's mind, growing clearer with Clarence's narration.

A weak low-level thug, coerced by his boss to sneak into a police-surrounded scene for reconnaissance, climbed over the wall obliviously, only to witness hell.

Usually unseen big shots lay scattered on the ground, amidst severed limbs and viscera. Their firearms and security were useless. Those who once intimidated others with violence were now fallen to greater violence.

The minor character, who had accidentally stumbled into hell, was so terrified that he hid in the shadows of the broken walls, covering his mouth and nose, not daring to make a sound.

Then, by chance, he saw the rising star of the Arkham City Police Department standing right there at the scene, only his usually just face was now shrouded in darkness.

That face belonged to the blond man who had confessed his feelings to Lann today.

Lann didn’t linger long on that image; it faded quickly. The newly appeared white light point was still flickering, very unstable.

Instinctively, Lann blurted out, "Do you simply dislike him, or is it because you saw a weaker version of yourself in him, like an ant that could easily be crushed?"

After recounting his past, Clarence had never expected such a response.

He thought Lann would become wary of Albert, but instead, after a moment of silence, Lann said just that.

Those eyes, seemingly seeing through everything, shattered Clarence’s self-perceived disguise and defenses, exposing the fear and weakness he desperately tried to hide.

Clarence opened his mouth, but couldn’t find the words to say.

After seeing Clarence off, Lann sat in his office, motionless for a long time.

Was Albert getting close to him with ulterior motives?

He hadn’t considered this possibility before, mainly because he didn’t think there was anything about him worth exploiting.

Reflecting on his brief time with Albert, Lann didn't feel the emotions in Albert's eyes were fake. 'Liking' someone is the hardest emotion to fake because if it’s genuine, even without words, that affection shines through the eyes.

Besides, if Albert wanted to get close to him, he didn’t necessarily need to use that excuse.

But equally, Clarence’s words were also not false... That small, fleeting light spot that appeared in the gap of his dream, Lann guessed, might be something akin to faith, or something that appears only when one becomes a devotee.

Edmund’s white light was very solid, whereas Clarence’s seemed a bit ethereal. Perhaps because although Clarence claimed loyalty, he wasn’t truly sincere?

Then there was Archie, who seemed unaware of Albert’s hidden side; otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so nonchalantly before.

Lost in thought, Lann suddenly sighed. Something was amiss. He had wanted to lead a normal life, yet it seemed the troubles around him were only multiplying.

Perhaps it was time to leave this place.

The idea of moving resurfaced in Lann's mind. He had saved enough money, and starting over in a new city was entirely feasible. A bit of initial hardship was preferable to the risk of losing his life if he continued to stay here.

However, before moving, Lann was concerned about the unknown forces targeting him. He wondered if their activities were confined to Arkham, or if they could track him down even after he moved, potentially endangering his new roommates.

Just then, Oger walked in.

Lann looked up at him and tentatively asked, "I've been thinking about moving out for a while?"

Oger looked as if struck by lightning: "Was the dinner I made last night too salty?"

"No, not at all!" Lann quickly waved his hands, knowing he had no right to criticize the food when his only job was to eat, "It's just that I've been dealing with some issues lately, and I'm worried it might put you in danger..."

Lann's voice trailed off as he noticed Oger silently staring at him, his eyes pitiful beneath his messy hair.

Like a large Tibetan Mastiff abandoned.

"Never mind, I didn't say anything." Lann raised his hands in a defeated surrender.

That's what he gets for being a dog person.

Oger instantly brightened up: "How about seafood rice for dinner tonight?"

Lann thought for a moment, then seriously said, "Can I add a jumbo shrimp?"

"Of course."

That evening, Lann tearfully devoured three large plates of food, silently vowing to unravel the mystery of the hostile forces in Arkham, ensuring they posed no threat to himself or Oger.

He couldn't live without his male mother figure!

Midnight struck.

Archie entered the Gap of Dreams, sitting before the man in black with a heavy heart.

He had visited this place several times before. Although not every visit was smooth, this was his first time serving a malevolent deity, filling him with a sense of guilt as if he had betrayed something.

There was also a lingering worry, a sense of a sinister plot behind the scenes, hinted at in Lann's words. Delving deeper could mean getting entangled beyond escape.

But now that he was here, there was no turning back. Taking a deep breath, Archie braced himself for the man in black's questioning.

The man in black asked, "What is the highest mountain in the world?"

Archie was momentarily taken aback. Why wasn't it about turtle soup?

However, he quickly responded, "Mount Everest."

"The second question, what is the second-highest mountain in the world?"

A sense of foreboding washed over Archie. After a moment of strained recollection, he uncertainly answered, "K2?"

"Correct. So..." the man in black slowly revealed his sinister intentions, "what are the names of the third and fourth highest mountains?"

Archie was speechless.

Who the heck has the time to remember such trivia??

Archie sensed something was off. Weren't the previous questions all related to deduction? Why had it suddenly turned into a general knowledge quiz? And was the question bank really dynamic? But since the question-and-answer game had already started, he had no choice but to brace himself for the punishment.

Failing three questions, Archie lost the function of his left ear, right eye, and nose, while the man in black gained three new organs on his face.

Even though he knew it was temporary, the sight of the missing organs on the man in black being filled in brought an inexplicable sense of dread.

"Now it's my turn to ask," Archie suppressed his unease and repeated the question Lann had asked last night, "Who was the one who released the necromancy in Arkham City the day before yesterday?"

Hearing this question, the man in black paused for a moment, then answered, "Soren Hogg."

Just as expected, only the first question was answered.

Archie furrowed his brows, noticing a brief hesitation before the man in black responded, something unprecedented. Was there something problematic about this answer?

But at this point, he couldn’t afford to ask again. Having already lost parts of his sight, hearing, and smell tonight, he had to refrain from using his abilities for the next 24 hours as a precaution.

After exiting the Gap of Dreams, the man in black touched the void at his chest, speaking for the first time beyond questions and answers:

"A pity... couldn't extract..."

Murmuring, he stood up from the stone table and vanished into the mist of the Gap of Dreams.

The next day, not long after Lann arrived at his psychotherapy clinic, Archie called.

"The person you asked me to investigate, his name is Soren Hogg."

Lann listened quietly, but there was no follow-up. He couldn’t help but ask, "Is that all?"

"Yes," Archie replied, touching the eye that had lost its vision, "I only got this name tonight. If you give me more time, I'll continue to try tomorrow night."

"No need," Lann said on the other end of the phone, "Knowing this much is enough. You've done well. As a token of gratitude, let me give you a piece of advice... Pay more attention to Albert, you might find something unexpected."

Archie paused, confused, "What do you mean by that?"

He didn't finish his question before Lann hung up the phone.

It was clear that Lann had no intention of elaborating.

Archie began to feel uneasy.

Albert... Why did Albert's name come up in this context?

He knew his childhood friend well, who had grown up with him, always sunny and cheerful, with a heart full of justice, and had long set his sights on becoming a police officer.

He should have been someone who walked a straightforward path under the sunlight.

But Lann's tone just now subtly hinted that there might be more to it than that.

"Archie?"

A familiar voice came from behind, and Archie turned around abruptly.

"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Albert asked, looking at him curiously.

"You... What are you doing here?"

When calling Lann, Archie had purposely chosen a quiet corner. The nearby corridor led to an unused storeroom and was generally not a path anyone would specifically take.

"Ah, I came to get some tools," Albert explained, "The water cooler in the office broke, and a few of us are trying to see if we can fix it."

Archie stared at him intently, then glanced at his empty hands: "Where are the tools?"

"Couldn't find them, maybe someone else borrowed them," Albert said casually, "You're done with your call, shall we head back together?"

The excuse seemed flawless, and Archie couldn't detect any signs of lying on Albert's face. He nodded, and as they headed back to the office together, Archie noticed a shiny ornament briefly glimmering on Albert's neck.

When did he start wearing a necklace?

"Are you curious about this?"

Archie snapped back to reality, watching Albert take it off.

It was a necklace with a black metal piece, rounded at the edges with a triangle in the middle that seemed to rotate. Archie was about to take a closer look when Albert quickly put it back: "I won't let you see it. It was a gift from someone important."

Archie asked, "An important person, like Lann whom you met last time?"

"Yeah, kind of."

Albert's smile was sweet, like that of any fool in love, appearing utterly harmless. Archie's initial wariness gradually faded.

Maybe Lann was referring to something else. He thought, hoping for the best.

But just to be safe, he decided to use his ability again after 24 hours.