The Return of Flaying

The docks teemed with life: sailors, instructors, unloading servants, and Rogliff's two dozen formidable bodyguards whose physiques alone could drive countless unfulfilled middle-aged women to madness. This bustling scene promptly curbed Du Chen's impulse to immediately hide within the Precious Lotus Scripture and investigate further.

Rogliff was a true schemer, and simultaneously, a genuine master of gambling. Naturally, he excelled at reading people's minds. Du Chen, as a fellow master of gambits, understood well that Rogliff would inevitably seek him out again, for only by doing so could his true objectives be perfectly concealed. Thus, after instructing Helen to keep an eye on the sacred artifact's location, he withdrew his gaze from the exaggeratedly massive artifact.

Following that, Du Chen noticed a pair of longing, sapphire eyes fixed upon him from a short distance away—it was Annie. She had been watching him all this time, so lonely, so utterly devoted...

Slowly shaking his head, Du Chen felt as if an Earth-elemental Tremor Hammer sacred artifact had been implanted in his forehead, pounding relentlessly at his temples, leaving his brain throbbing with exquisite agony.

"Esteemed Lord, is this matter truly so troublesome?" Du Chen's expression, seen through Helen's eyes, made her heart feel as if doused with a bucket of cold water. Why had Francis's countenance soured upon seeing this sacred artifact? Had he discovered something so thorny even he found it difficult?

The meticulous Helen then followed Du Chen's gaze to Annie. Her heart, just doused with cold water, now felt as though it had been scalded with a pot of boiling oil. She had heard whispers of Annie's persistent entanglement with Francis. Could it be...

The Soul-Ensnaring Art, in essence, relies on an extremely powerful Spiritual Power to forcibly fuse one's consciousness with another person's. This allows for the correction of that person's behavior and the complete control of their every action for a certain period. Afterward, the manipulation can be perfectly concealed, as it leaves only a brief, inexplicable blank in the target's memory, unnoticed by the possessed. However, there is a significant drawback: when releasing control over another individual, if the controlled person's Spiritual Power deviates somewhat from the norm, a fragment of one's most potent conscious thought might inadvertently linger within the target's mind, sprouting into a deeply ingrained subconscious impression.

Could her father have been right? Was her Soul-Ensnaring Art not truly perfected, and had she perhaps inadvertently left some very 'special heritage' for Annie?

At this thought, Helen's heart quickened. She hailed from a race that revered strength above all, possessing an innate, almost blind reverence for exceptionally powerful individuals. If Annie had inherited this near-religious admiration for the strong, and given her naive, inexperienced mind, had mistaken this feeling for love...

Disaster. With Francis's profound and inscrutable power, he couldn't possibly fail to see through a mere Soul-Ensnaring Art. So, he... Never mind. If Francis chose not to speak of it, she wouldn't either. There was no need to bring up anything that might displease him at such a time.

Du Chen, utterly oblivious to Helen's thoughts, rubbed his forehead, still pondering how to deal with Annie.

Indeed, even being relentlessly pursued by beauties could be a torment!

Just then, Shieb Harry scuttled over with an eager trot, his corpulent body rolling like a massive snowball. "Master, we have a guest at home! Please return at once!"

"What guest?" Du Chen asked.

"It's Mr. Brook's elder brother!" the Shieb chuckled jovially.

Brook was Deboning's name. So, his elder brother... Heh heh. Du Chen felt a wave of relief. His two formidable bodyguards were finally united. "Oh, his elder brother has arrived. But my work isn't finished yet. As a team leader, I cannot abandon my duties to my subordinates. Harry, you finish up the work here for me!"

Saying this, Du Chen patted Harry's head and told Helen, "Harry is my servant. I trust him completely!"

"Understood!" Helen nodded, a maelstrom of confusion swirling within her. To trust a Shieb? Francis was truly unfathomable!

Flaying was seated across from Deboning in the living room. Deboning's hands rested on his knees, a picture of helplessness. Flaying, meanwhile, had his arms crossed over his chest, observing Deboning with a predatory, amused smirk. He was using Frith's appearance.

Alex stood by the table between them, diligently serving tea and water like a diligent little server, industriously performing the duties traditionally assigned to a hostess.

"Francis, last time, due to some minor complications, I overlooked Beibei's crib and caused you quite a bit of trouble!" Flaying chuckled, offering no detailed explanation for the situation that had led to such a degree of negligence.

"Mr. Flaying, have your injuries fully recovered?" Du Chen didn't press the matter, smiling as he sat before them and picked up his son. The little rascal frowned deeply, protesting indignantly, "Daddy, your clothes are so dirty! How can a master father's clothes be so filthy? Take them off quickly, I'll wash them!"

"What an amusing little fellow! I can't believe I misjudged them at the time; Belmonde and Alex are both quite extraordinary!" Flaying glanced humorously at Deboning, who was bound by contract to little Beibei, then his expression turned grave. "Francis, I have a clue regarding your mother! Since you have already gained Deboning's loyalty, you possess sufficient strength. As is the duty incumbent upon a son, you should now leave Battle God Academy to seek your mother, Phil!"

"I understand, and I, too, long to see my mother!" Du Chen nodded gravely. "What is the clue?"

"Your mother's tombstone!" Flaying offered no further details, implying that was the extent of his knowledge.

"Tombstone? Was the clue not with little Beibei?" Du Chen felt a degree of surprise, though even if little Beibei was no longer the direct clue for finding Phil, Du Chen was absolutely unwilling to part with these two 'adorable' children. "I'm about to embark on a scholarly journey, and the first stop will be my mother's tombstone! However, Mr. Flaying, Deboning must have already informed you about the Left Elder. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

"Rogliff being the Left Elder... That is indeed quite amusing! We need to find clues about the Grand Pontiff from him. So, how about we make use of that Helen?" Flaying chuckled.

Du Chen also smiled. "Absolutely no problem, it's settled then! Besides matters concerning my mother and maternal grandfather, it seems someone is now targeting me. The clues point to that fat Jason next door, and the merfolk spies captured by Zigurd!"

"You needn't worry about the merfolk; nothing can be gleaned from those beasts—those vile, lowly creatures could not possibly possess many secrets! But that Jason... Heh heh! I shall take my sweet time playing with him!"

...

The Assembly of Battle Gods finally began. According to the agenda, the High-level Battle Gods would first hold an academic exchange conference in the Grand Council Hall on Hot Spring Mountain. Then, on the final day of the conference, Rogliff would appear to meet with all the High-level Battle Gods.

It was during this very meeting that Rogliff planned to use his sacred artifact to eliminate all the High-level Battle Gods!

According to Helen's intelligence, the sacred artifact's storage location was quite intriguing: the former Philip's Alchemy Laboratory. But today, after its ruins had been refurbished, it had become the most heavily guarded forbidden zone on Battle God Isle, utterly impenetrable for ordinary individuals.

"The damned mid-year exams are finally over!" Du Chen, like the other students, tossed aside all his books in the dormitory, then hugged Beibei and gave him two hearty kisses. The Shieb beside him also offered his congratulations.

"Is Francis residing here?" A booming voice echoed from outside the door.

"Harry, open the door!" Du Chen laughed.

"Right away, my esteemed master!" the Shieb darted out, sniffing the air as he went.

The newcomer was a burly middle-aged man, dressed in sailor's garb below and adorned with chains above, a wild mane of dark purple hair cascaded casually behind his head, giving him a hint of untamed defiance.

It was Jacob, Rogliff's servant!

Seeing him, Du Chen smiled. "What does Mr. Rogliff want with me?"

Jacob shot Du Chen a cold look, still remembering the youth's arrogance during their last gamble. He nodded, "My master invites you to meet him at the Red Sand Casino!"

"What? Another wager?" Du Chen said, displeased. "Isn't Mr. Rogliff scheduled to attend the Assembly tomorrow? How does he still have the mood to gamble with me today?"

"Hmph, don't you want to go?" Jacob retorted coldly.

"Heh heh, I didn't say I wouldn't go. How many chips has Mr. Rogliff prepared this time? Are you certain you can entice me?" Du Chen asked proudly.

"Compared to what you won from my master last time, it's worlds apart! An astronomically terrifying sum, absolutely!" Jacob's face revealed a trace of arrogance.

At that moment, little Beibei clapped his hands and giggled, "Daddy, Beibei wants to go too! To help you win money!"

Du Chen smiled, kissed his daughter's cheek, and then said, "Winning, of course, is easy. Very well, if I am to truly grasp the extent of his gambit, it seems I must witness it firsthand." With that, Du Chen picked up his daughter, tidied his clothes, and followed Jacob out.

No sooner had they left than another Du Chen emerged from the side hall, with Deboning and Helen accompanying him.

"Helen, how would you rate my friend's Art of Disguise?!" Du Chen asked with a smile.

"Far superior to Helen's Art of Disguise!" Helen bowed her head and replied. "It will certainly deceive Rogliff!"

A surge of smugness swelled within Du Chen. He glanced at the main gate, then suddenly summoned a radiant Precious Lotus Scripture. "We have, at most, half an hour to study that sacred artifact. Move quickly, understood?"

Once they were aboard the Precious Lotus Scripture, it suddenly shrank and flew away.

Although Philip's Alchemy Laboratory had been destroyed in a great fire, its main structure had sustained little damage. Du Chen skillfully bypassed the High-level Battle Gods guarding the exterior and reached the nineteenth floor.

The nineteenth floor laboratory was now bare, save for a large crate that sat in the center. Beside the crate stood four of Rogliff's servants, guarding it.

Peculiarly, little Beibei's crib and the white jade wall behind it were still present, as if untouched.

Du Chen's gaze shifted to Deboning. "Begin!"

Suddenly, Deboning transformed into a blur of shadows and lunged from the Precious Lotus Scripture. The first two guards didn't even have time to react before they were knocked unconscious. The two behind them realized something was amiss. One was about to scream, but Deboning was already before him, while the other, with a slightly agape mouth, suddenly felt something slithering around his neck. A quick glance confirmed it: a snake!

In the blink of an eye, the four guards were subdued. It wasn't that their strength was insufficient, but that Deboning and Sulan were simply too formidable: one only marginally inferior to Roland, the foremost master of their age, and the other whose entire being was infused with potent venoms.

"Excellent, no upper-floor guards were alerted!" Du Chen leaped from the Precious Lotus Scripture and commanded, "Helen, use the Soul-Ensnaring Art on these men!"

Saying this, Du Chen approached the colossal sacred artifact and pulled back the draped cloth.