In the novel, Nero didn't head to the Eastern Continent. Instead of going to Shaolin, he went to the City of Wolves.
That's right, he visited Wolfshire.
For what reason, one might ask? Well, his master asked him to buy a relic which was in possession of one of the noble families here.
But that is not the important part.
The thing is, during his trip, Nero stopped by an opulent cafe nearby.
The cafe was close to his hotel room, so he decided to enjoy a lavish dinner there before returning.
Unfortunately, that evening was ruined for him when Nero spotted a suspicious lady posing to be a custor in the cafe.
Soon, he realized everyone in the cafe was acting a little strange… All of them were a bit erratic.
Everyone seed… lifeless.
Before long, Nero himself began to feel a bit odd.
It didn't take him long to understand that soone was trying to bewitch him. He was falling under a mind hex.
Luckily, with so luck and thick plot armour, Nero deduced that the suspicious lady was the cause of it all.
She was a vampire trying to control his mind. She was the reason everyone here felt a bit weird.
Nero quickly summoned one of his Divine Swords. Using it, he defeated the vampire but not before she managed to kill so entranced custors.
After the incident, the military police conducted a thorough investigation. Soon, they discovered the vampire was a forr spy for the vampire forces.
Apparently, she cut ties with the vampire forces on her own when she fell in love with the owner of that cafe, eventually marrying him.
A bizarre yet clichè spy romance story, if you ask .
Anyway, the owner was hiding her and they were using the custors as a source of her food.
Her speciality was casting mind hex and putting all visitors under her mind-control spell.
All the custors forgot about being fed on by a vampire after leaving the cafe but felt compelled to return the next day.
They beca regulars there – a steady food supply for the vampire.
Of course, in the end, things didn't end well for them. The owner was arrested for treason, and Nero killed the vampire.
However, that is still not the important part. You see, that vampire didn't cast mind hex using her own magic.
In truth, she used a relic that allowed her to trap her enemies in deliberately crafted illusions.
She used it to peer into her victims' minds, trapping them in harrowing nightmares or even delightful dreams.
That relic… I want it! I need it!
It was actually the very first relic I planned to obtain when I found myself thrown into this world.
I thought of it even before I thought about acquiring Phoenix's Embrace. Of course, back then, there was one tiny problem.
Back then, I was already in the Global Academy and I couldn't leave the Global City on my own accord, which ant I didn't have an opportunity to take the relic.
I didn't have a choice but to sit and wait patiently. But not anymore! Haa! The ti for to get my hands on that relic was finally upon !
Haa! Ahaha! Aaaahahaha!
"Lucas, can you please stop smiling like that… It's creepy."
"Shut up."
Shaking my head at Alia's remark, I looked at my smart bracelet and followed the virtual map laid out before .
Right when we were about to miss a turn, a calm, feminine voice resounded from my smart bracelet and reached my ears.
[Sir, you missed a turn. Take that right, please.]
It was Athena, the academy AI that had been unlocked in our smart bracelets.
"Oh," I exclaid, a bit startled, and took a step back before turning around the corner.
"How can you, arguably the smartest person I've ever t, be so terrible at reading maps," Alia frowned.
"Heh," I grinned. "Yeah, that's right. I am smart."
"You're missing the point," she let out a sigh before giving a sidelong glance.
A bit uncomfortable, I rolled my eyes and asked, "What is it this ti?"
Alia lingered for a few seconds before opening her mouth. "I… I know I agreed that I won't pry but how do you know that we'll encounter a vampire where we are headed?"
I heaved a deep sigh before finally replying to her, "Alia, I can't tell you how, but I have knowledge about so future events. My knowledge is not absolute, it isn't even complete, but I'm certain that we will find a vampire at Hideout Cafe."
Instead of showing surprise or shock, the black-haired girl rely continued walking next to with a lost look on her face.
"By your lack of reaction, can I assu that you already know I possess future knowledge?" I asked.
"I thought it could be possible," Alia answered with a frown. "I still don't know why or how, though."
A smile ford on my lips upon hearing her answer.
"Good," I nodded. "As I've told you before, a good strategist is the one who considers every possibility. We are humans, we can't possibly predict every outco, but at least we can try."
After a bit of thought, I added, "Of course, the easiest way is always to manipulate the situation in a way where the odds fall in your favour."
"...I don't understand," Alia shot a confused look. "How is manipulating the odds easier than predicting an outco?"
I laughed. "Don't worry, you will co to understand what I an one day."
Suddenly, I rembered sothing. I turned to her and asked, "By the way, is it alright for you to not go ho? You must've told your father about your return, right? Wouldn't he be worried?"
"It's fine," Alia waved her hand dismissively. "My father isn't in the city so I was going to be ho alone anyway."
"Ahh, I see."
[Sir, you have arrived at your destination. If you have any other requests, please feel free to ask .]
Right as we were engaged in our conversation, Athena's voice rang out.
I looked to my right and there it was. In front of us was a cafe building with a neon billboard reading [Hideout].
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