Li Mo created a mirror and placed it in front of the rich man's second son.
"You just need to say to this mirror, 'For the sake of avenging my family, I voluntarily give up all my remaining property and will never enjoy a single bit of it.' Then I will let you kill her, but for the rest of your life, you will be branded with a mental seal, unable to touch your father's property."
"Are you willing?"
Li Mo's words struck at his heart. The rich man's second son, who had been speaking so grandly just a moment ago, was suddenly speechless.
"I, I… why should I make such an oath? It's reasonable for me to inherit my father's property and avenge him!"
"Reasonable? You scared yourself to death and then blamed others. Do you deserve to wear a magnificent crown? The mouth is on others, but the road is under your own feet."
"The 'perfectly justified' you speak of is nothing but greed and hypocrisy. In the end, you are just stronger than her, which is why you can judge a witch who is still helpless."
The rich man's second son retorted, "Aren't you the same? You're only qualified to reason here because you're stronger than me!"
"Yes."
Li Mo's straightforward admission left the rich man's second son stunned.
This person? How did he just admit it directly? Shouldn't he be finding reasons to justify his actions?
Li Mo lowered his gaze, brought his finger to the middle-aged man's forehead, and said softly, "The law of the jungle may be the rule of survival in every world, but it is by no means the truth."
"Many people become strong to climb higher and trample on more people. But my strength is to protect my own small family."
"I will not deny my own ugliness, because… at least that proves I am still human, that I still have humanity."
"The Bizarre is fair, and so am I."
"I will not pry into your memory, because I don't want to bring more contamination to this world. But I will not be soft-hearted. She has done me a favor, so today… you will die."
"I will let you die knowing why. This is my fairness."
Li Mo covered Irene's eyes with his other hand.
As the word "fairness" faded, the rich man's second son's head exploded like a firework. His brain matter and skull shattered into pieces, scattering all over the ground.
There are many ways to die, but only the most primitive is clean. The others would more or less bring contamination to this world.
The level of contamination on him now was extremely terrifying. The slightest carelessness would leave behind hidden dangers.
What could be solved with fists should never be solved with Bizarre abilities.
Irene pushed away Li Mo's hand. Seeing the bloody scene, she pursed her lips and was lost in thought for a long time.
She had not foreseen this future.
"Is this also considered fair?"
"Very fair. If I hadn't come today, you would have listened to your eulogy and then died painfully in the eyes of the crowd," Li Mo said, turning his body to look at the others prostrating on the ground. "The rules are never wrong. As far as the eye can see, not a single one will be left."
…
…
A moment later, piles of corpses lay under the execution platform. Human tissue and blood paved a wide road.
If you want to kill someone, you must be prepared to be killed. How fair.
"What's next?"
"I said I would help you clear your name. I will make them admit you are innocent. The stubborn will die."
"Is this also considered fair?"
"My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror. All that I do is for justice."
"Pfft!"
"What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at how you can talk nonsense with a straight face. I didn't expect you to have such a cute side, you big devil who kills without batting an eye~"
Three days passed in a flash. Li Mo's "good name" quickly spread throughout Europe. No one dared to covet Irene's power of prophecy anymore, and no one dared to slander her.
There were still many with ulterior motives, but Li Mo didn't want to increase the slaughter. The contamination he had left was already enough; he had to leave as soon as possible.
Night fell. In the dead silence, only the occasional cry of a night bird could be heard from afar.
Below was a sleeping town, its lights sparse, as if each lamp carried the thoughts of a sleepless person.
"The three days are up. I have to go. From now on, don't prophesy other people's life and death."
Irene's eyes sparkled in the night, staring straight at Li Mo, not moving her gaze for a moment.
"I'm sorry, I can't do that."
"Why? If something happens again, I can't protect you. You'll die without any ability to protect yourself."
"Because I saw it. You will die because of me."
The air suddenly froze. The surroundings fell into a brief silence. Only the eerie wind continued to blow tirelessly between their eyes.
I will die?
Before obtaining the primordial rule of immortality, he had escaped death many times, always managing to turn danger into safety.
Now that he had obtained the primordial rule of immortality, death was a luxury for him.
Unless he called out the true name of the Source of the Bizarre, he could not cross the sea of death; he would be pushed back by the waves again and again.
And he did not know the true name of the Source of the Bizarre.
But then again… it seemed to be close. After dying a hundred times and still maintaining his self, he would know the true name of the Source of the Bizarre.
Li Mo immersed himself in his memories, recalling the number of times he had died—99.
"..."
Only one more time.
But even seeing the Source of the Bizarre would be useless. As Mei had said, he couldn't survive under the gaze of the Source of the Bizarre.
Even if he revived MEI, they would fall into an endless cycle of reviving each other, never able to meet.
Theoretically, there was almost no such thing as death for him. The only death would be the dissipation of his sanity and the confusion of his mind five hundred years later…
"Is that so? I'm actually looking forward to that day."
Li Mo made another wish and disappeared from this time and space.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in front of a magnificent, incredibly luxurious palace.
In the Lost City, Irene, who was listening to classical music in her room, suddenly opened her eyes, her rosy lips parting.
Her wine-red eyes stared at the rosemary she was gently twirling in her hand, her gaze gradually becoming hazy.
"How wonderful, Mr. Detective. You are as unconventional as ever."
"The divergence of ideals and reality, the hazy line between love and hate."
"The rules of the Bizarre are fair."
"When you are willing to sacrifice, there will surely be someone willing to sacrifice for you."
"It seems I am redundant, Mr. Detective. She has already made the choice for you."
Irene gave a beautiful smile. Her hazy eyes gradually recovered. She unhurriedly turned off the classical music and walked into the streets of the Lost City.
Seeing a towering building with flashing neon lights and dazzling lights, she walked in with a joyful pace.
Modern Western architectural style, the dignified suits of the socialites, and magnificent ball gowns. They danced skillfully together to the beautiful music from the banquet record player.
"Miss, may I have this dance?"
A gentleman took off his hat and asked straightforwardly.
Irene glanced at him, then lowered her head, a meaningful smile on her face.
"Unfortunately, I am waiting for a detective to arrive here. But if you can come to this banquet again in three days, I will accept your invitation."
Rosemary gently put down her cup of red tea, stood up, and went to a more inner area. Her elegant and beautiful posture deeply attracted the gentleman.
This banquet would last for a month. Although three days was long, if he could dance with this stunning lady, it would be well worth it.
A beautiful and moving unattainable flower. If it could be obtained easily without any test, it would be too cheap.
And in these three days, he could still do what he wanted. He just needed to have the management remind him to attend the banquet three days later to dance with this beautiful lady.
The gentleman adjusted the tie around his neck. It seemed a little tight, as if an invisible pressure was clinging to it, trying to tighten it.
"A detective?"
The gentleman muttered in confusion. This identity didn't seem to fit this high-society banquet, but the gentleman didn't say much, lest he make her dislike him.
In his circle, he had never known any wealthy scion with this hobby, or rather.
There were too few detective agencies in this city. Although the pay was always good, the death rate for detectives was first-rate high.
Five years ago, there were a hundred detective agencies. Now, there were only a dozen.
Only those who were desperately poor and in urgent need of money, and had a little knowledge, would choose this path.
For the social elite, this path was obviously incredibly foolish and had a very low cost-performance ratio.
Three days later—
The morning newspaper reported a case of a gentleman's death.
Seven days later—
The nobles who were singing and dancing at the banquet suddenly disappeared, transferred to a street several kilometers away, their faces bewildered.
At the banquet, only Irene was left sitting at the table, her fingers tapping the wine glass, the red wine inside as bright and pungent as blood.
"You've arrived. Your way of appearing is as simple as ever."
Li Mo walked up to Irene, his black pupils contracting.
Irene had no intention of hiding. Instead, she proactively leaned in, her lips red and full, exuding an alluring luster. When they were gently pursed, they seemed to contain a thousand words, and also like a hint of spring scenery accidentally revealed, inviting infinite reverie.
"Mr. Detective is in such a hurry. You want to see all of me as soon as you arrive. Didn't we agree? The next time we meet, I will tell you—all~ of~ me~"
Irene's hand restlessly slid down, about to touch the mountain when Li Mo grabbed it.
Li Mo glanced sideways and saw Irene's lips meeting his.
Under the light, the bright red color was even more vivid, like a meticulously carved work of art, with both natural softness and elegant sexiness.
It kissed Li Mo's terrifying and mysterious eyeball directly.
"I'm looking for the you of now."
"Yes~ you're looking for me, Mr. Detective."
Irene took two steps back and reached out to caress Li Mo's cheek. "You seem to have lost a lot of weight."
"Tell me everything about you directly. No need for more words."
"Going all out from the start, teasing me… Mr. Detective, has no one told you that you need to do fore… play when you do that kind of thing with a girl? Otherwise, both sides will be very disappointed, you know?"
Irene bowed slightly, striking a gentle curtsy, and invited Li Mo to dance.
"So… may I have this dance?"
Li Mo hesitated for a moment, then extended his hand. He gently placed his hand in her palm, and Irene unhesitatingly closed her fingers, their hands instantly intertwined.
With the rhythm of the music, they began to spin and stroll in the empty banquet hall.
Irene's posture was light and graceful, like a dancing butterfly. Li Mo was led the whole time, following Irene's steps.
His extremely fast reaction speed barely allowed him to keep up with Irene's pace, but he still stepped on Irene's crystal high heels a few times.
"[Path of the Underworld]: I can collect scattered souls to create controllable derivatives. But as time goes on, my own rules will be more complete. You know, Mr. Detective, I'm just a helpless woman with no weapons. I need more self-protection methods. You were the one who told me that."
"[Tonight or Not]: At night, I can ignore rules that are less complete than my own. Opening that door that day was also a very easy thing, you know. I still remember your surprised expression very clearly~"
"[Netherfire and Soul Mist]: Netherfire is the origin of the Bizarre pistol at your waist. I was the one who made that pistol and delivered it to you back then."
"[Water in the Shadow]: I can go to any time and space with coordinates. I was able to find you back then thanks to this~"
"[Glass Night]…"
While dancing, she explained her own rules and abilities.
Prophecy, suppression, assimilation, control…
Irene's abilities were strange and numerous.
Li Mo raised a question: "Why do you have so many Bizarre abilities? Have you been hunting Bizarre entities all this time?"
"Mmm-hmm~ Kiss me and I'll tell you."
"No."
Li Mo refused very decisively.
Hearing this, Irene let go of Li Mo's hand, slowly retreated, turned her body sideways, and lowered her head, deliberately exposing the cleavage of her chest to Li Mo, but quickly covered her fullness with her arm.
Then she said to Li Mo with a shy face, "Mr. Detective is so heartless… you forgot the old one when you got a new one! I haven't been with you for so long, and we finally meet, but my small request is ruthlessly rejected. As expected… has an old woman like me become a tear of the times…"
After saying these slightly resentful and self-deprecating words, the cunning and playful look on Irene's face gradually faded, replaced by an unconcealable sense of loss and sorrow.
She sighed softly, her voice small but full of helplessness. Even her eyelashes were covered with a thin layer of mist.
"..."
This woman, actually using her Bizarre abilities for such things…
Li Mo remained expressionless, his gaze shifting away from the faintly visible twin peaks.
"What do you want."
"I want you to look at me. If you can keep looking at me, I will tell you how to save that person."
"?!"
Li Mo turned his head abruptly, staring at Irene without blinking. "Are you serious?"
Irene's face was full of sorrow. "See? Mr. Detective really doesn't have Irene in his eyes. You only look at me when you mention other women. There's no other way, at this time, I can only…"
Irene's words came to an abrupt end. She bent down.
Li Mo swallowed. He had a bad feeling.
Irene's hands tightly gripped the hem of her skirt by her calves, and she shouted loudly, "I can only, in front of Mr. Detective! Slowly lift my skirt!"