Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1638: Chapter 1633: The Fate of Tools

In the gaze of the four people, until the back figure completely disappeared, Lord Grimshaw never turned back even once.

It can be said that through his actions, he embodied a perfect blend of amiability and transcendence.

The direct consequence of this was that the group of four maintained their posture, not uttering a word for a while.

The other party truly seemed not to care about the choices our group would make next...

This attitude was both a relief and yet subtly left a feeling of loss.

Especially for Hao Ke, who encountered this situation for the second time, his feelings were undoubtedly deeper.

"...Did he really tell you before that it doesn’t matter if he’s home or not?"

But before he could voice his opinion, someone had already initiated the inquiry first.

Tangs, who subtly showed the demeanor of a team strategist, frowned incredulously to confirm.

"Yes, ’fate is in your hands’... the exact same words as just now, but I didn’t accept it."

Sighing, Hao Ke recalled the experiences of the past half evening, with the situation changes nearly feeling unreal.

"Are you blaming me for dragging you into this?"

With these complex emotions, he looked up at his three friends.

"Don’t overthink it, we should thank you for not abandoning us."

Tangs immediately shook his head, indicating that the others need not hold such thoughts.

"Moreover, although the journey seemed perilous, it was obvious that Lord Grimshaw’s thoughts are not on the same level as ours."

"As long as we don’t overreact, there’s actually no danger to our lives, not to mention we managed to obtain some important information in the end."

"The only thing I regret now is not considering your opinion earlier..."

As he spoke, Tangs glanced at You Li’s remains, with a sense of lament.

"What do we do next?"

Undoubtedly, someone felt even more lament, but having roamed the worldly society for many years, Ms. Qiu was able to restrain her emotions, seeking input from the three.

Clearly, although her stance was firm earlier, she treated it as her decision, without forcing the others to align.

Perhaps that person purely treated everyone as tools, without any intention of revealing more information.

But the mere snippets shared were enough to let one sense the risks surging beneath Xi Yuan’s calm surface.

If mutations like hers had already spread far and wide, it would mean that every extra second spent here could hold unforeseen risks.

"I’ll stay here to figure out what’s really going on before leaving."

The one who responded quickest this time was the man with disheveled hair.

Though he had spoken the least throughout, and even now his tone was nonchalant, his stance was visibly resolute.

"Alright... what about you two?"

Nodding unconsciously, Qiu continued looking at the other two.

"...Same here."

It was evident that Tangs hesitated slightly but ultimately shook his head, making the same choice.

"No matter if we’re being used as tools, one thing’s certain: Lord Grimshaw is essentially targeting these anomalies."

"So strictly speaking, even if we’re being exploited, we’re actually helping ourselves..."

He didn’t fail his role, casually finding a slight advantage for the team.

"Alright then... Since I didn’t choose otherwise at that time, it seems there’s no reason to now."

Though the initial organizer, Hao Ke, who typically valued his life, predictably was the last to speak.

One could even sense intense internal conflict, but in the end, he didn’t choose to leave alone.

"Very well... I thank you on behalf of You Li."

With such swift unanimity, Qiu’s complex gaze contained relief, as she took one last look at the corpse.

"However, we need to plan what to do next carefully... Even as tools, we should try to be as valuable as possible."

...

It really is quite a decent team!

Although the conversations that took place behind were beyond his perceptual range halfway through, it did not hinder Fu Qian from complimenting this Supernatural Squad, which wasn’t even at Middle Tier, and sticking with his previous view, heading straight towards Mid-Levels Manor.

Indeed, in the previous conversation, he consistently upheld the virtue of honesty, like his opinion of the Huang Family.

The name Grimshaw is now quite connected with the swindler profession.

Though it’s merely a sideline, why should he be content to be second-rate like Ms. Kisaragi Chie?

Since he’s presented with such an opportunity, he naturally should deepen the bonds.

Although the four showed their value in the plan, if they’re willing to explore Mid-Levels Manor and make such an extra contribution, Fu Qian would naturally welcome it.

But this does not mean the mentioned "fate is in your hands" is false.

Confusion, induction, making people believe in your words, and act accordingly are things that only second-rate swindlers do.

To a true swindler, it’s about letting the customer truly have choices and reflecting the concept of ’fate’ in every choice.

For example, in this case, if the four couldn’t accept the death of their friend and choose to continue involving themselves in this anomaly, it will provide more references for him, certainly not wrong.

But if, after discussion, they prioritize survival and decisively depart from the West Garden, it would equally hold significance to him—observing whether they can leave Xi Yuan smoothly.

Qiu is a candidate clearly under the protection of the "Sacred Law."

Whether she can leave without hindrance, face any special obstructions in between, or even experience changes in protection during this course will all help deduce more of the tree’s state and capabilities.

Once involved, extricating oneself from fate isn’t so easy, heh heh heh...

Of course, this chain of laughter is post-production dubbing in his mind.

...

Even if unseen for days, time has still weathered it.

Having visited multiple times before, Fu Qian could be said to know the route well, soon basking in the morning light while admiring the verdant-covered plaza in front of the Huang Family Estate.

Of course, amidst the admiration, already in a state of Blood Conquest, his steps showed no hesitation, striding straight through.

Even in an unseen dimension, his appearance and face were rapidly changing.

"It feels even quieter than usual."

And just a few breaths later, on the smoothly worn stone slabs, a middle-aged man with greying temples appeared there.

Quickly recalling the layout of Mid-Levels Manor in his mind, Fu Qian, once again impersonating Enforcer Captain Qiao, murmured softly towards a certain direction, adjusting the tone of his voice.