novelonline Chapter 3688 "The Fool"
Chapter 3688 "The Fool"
Chapter 3688 "The Fool"
Ms. Halonen smiled at Shad:
"If you're really that curious, then you can certainly get a new story."
You've already heard the beginning of this story: a girl from a commoner family meets a nobleman, and they fall in love at first sight. This is a common trope in many romance novels, and many girls dream of such a future. Back then, I never imagined the story would actually happen to me.
She put down her handbag, gesturing for Shad to sit down and talk, but seeing that Shad didn't move, she didn't insist.
"But although the story started perfectly, the subsequent development was not the 'happily ever after' story. We faced a lot of pressure, not only from his parents but also from everyone around me."
Everyone who knows me, whether openly or subtly, tells me that I'm not good enough for him. From family background to appearance, I don't have anything that matches him. My friends have also asked me what it is about me that attracted him, but honestly, I don't know.
The mature woman asked Xia De:
Do you understand what I'm saying?
"So you're insecure about your relationship?"
"Yes, he still loves me, but I worry that one day he will 'figure it out' and stop loving me. So in that sorrowful and confused autumn, I met the temple and Mr. Snake. And that gentleman gave me a chance to make a wish."
Xia De frowned slightly. This story took place more than ten years ago, which meant that "Mr. Snake" had already made contact with the locals at least more than ten years ago, which was far beyond his original expectations.
"You want beauty?"
Ms. Halonen laughed:
"Why bother? Beauty is only part of attraction. I wish that he would love me forever."
Xia De took a deep breath.
"Mr. Snake did not try to deceive me. He told me a spell when I was still an ordinary person and that the spell could make him fall in love with me forever. It was a close connection on the level of fate."
But Mr. Snake also warned me that once I used the spell, I would inevitably pay a price. And from then on, we could not be separated for too long, or our souls would wither away.
Ms. Halonen asked Shad again:
Can you guess what's going to happen next?
"To make him love you as he did at the beginning, you used that spell on him. And the price was the subsequent horse-riding accident?"
"Yes, I originally thought I would be the one to pay the price, but in the end it was him. Only then did I realize that all gifts have a price tag. I didn't want to hurt him, and I was worried that if I stayed by his side, he would die a violent death sooner or later, so I went to Mr. Snake again. Mr. Snake gave me a second chance to make a wish."
"What wish did you make this time?"
"I wish I could be the one paying the price."
Ms. Halonen gazed at Shad's face, as if recalling something:
"Mr. Snake granted my request again, and this time, he allowed me to leave Fatummister Island for ten years to do some things for him elsewhere. In return, my separation from the Baron would not cause our souls to wither."
Ten years later, Mr. Snake would help me pay all the costs so that we would never be separated. So, ten years later, I have returned. The method Mr. Snake told me was to extract the spirits and souls of others and control their bodies to pay the price for us.
I will soon achieve my goal, both my own and Mr. Snake's. Then we will leave this island and start a new life in another city. I am so sorry to have made him wait ten years; I will repay him with the rest of my life.”
She paused slightly:
"This is what you wanted, the new version of the story."
“I didn’t understand the Baron’s thinking at first, but now it seems that he is the victim, while you have become more disgusting in my eyes.”
Shad looked at her and said:
"I suspect you are the first mortal Mr. Snake has encountered in this era. Do you know what that snake really is? Do you know that I and others are searching for you because that snake voluntarily revealed information about you?"
Ms. Halonen nodded:
"Yes, I know what he is. It is because I have seen the true form of the Great Serpent and imprinted that indescribable existence into my soul that I am able to possess my current power. I cannot comprehend the great power of the Serpent, but he gave me everything I wanted, including this appearance."
I also know that Mr. Snake gave you my clues; he told me beforehand. Don't ask why; I won't answer that question.
Her face even showed an expression that could be described as "devout":
"God will not answer the prayers of a lowly mortal like me, but the serpent did, so I am willing to help him. It's a fair deal. Once I complete Mr. Serpent's final task, I will be completely free."
But then Xia De asked:
"You still love the Baron?"
"Yes, I will always love him."
"So while you were spreading the plague and drawing spiritual energy, you were also getting close to so many men?"
“That’s not my body, and everything comes at a price, doesn’t it? Mr. Snake once told me that fate is a double-edged sword. If you don’t cut yourself first, you can’t use the sword to get what you want.”
"I rarely judge people like that, but you're so stupid."
Shad said, and then Ms. Halonen laughed again:
"Yes, I am the Fool."
She placed her palms together in front of her, and a black ring appeared between her hands. Within the black ring were specks of white light, yet its profound darkness seemed capable of absorbing all light.
She softly read aloud the contents of the "Manual of Fate" that were currently displayed to Xia De:
You have witnessed "The Ring of Fate: The Fool," the fate of the blind and foolish.
[Interpretation of Fate: Even the foolish have their own path; the hope of destiny lies in a hair's breadth.]
[Effect: Those who possess this destiny may be able to seize the miracles of fate.]
First came the demon's "resurrection," and then this woman's "Fool." Shad even believed that if he hadn't dealt with the "House of the False Man" so quickly, Mr. Snake would probably have also given that false man a round of fate's ring.
She let the ring slowly merge into her body, then changed from a leaning-against-the-wall posture to standing upright:
"If I had time, I would love to talk to you again. You really resemble him in his younger days. But there's no chance this time. Maybe we can find another snowy night and talk about our stories by the fire. I'm very curious about what you've been through."
We just hope that next time, your female companions won't bother us again.
"Do you think you can escape again this time? If I'm not mistaken, this time it's your true form."
The woman shook her head:
"The difference between you and me is that I don't care about other people's lives or deaths, but you do. Please come with me."
She gestured for them to enter, and then left the house with Xia De. Once on the street, they found it surprisingly crowded with people—or rather, everyone on the entire street—all staring at the door that had just been opened.
The apartment residents leaned out of their windows or doorways, staring at them expressionlessly; pedestrians stopped and stood as straight as lampposts, staring at them; carriages stopped by the roadside, and the driver, passengers, and horses all looked toward the doorway; even passing patrol officers stood on the street watching them.
Everyone staring at them was silent, their eyes vacant, making the scene eerily sinister even in broad daylight. And Shad was certain they were all looking at him, not at Ms. Halonen beside him.
"Mind control, is that it? You can control everyone on an entire street just with your mental power. You are indeed very powerful."
Ms. Halonen further reminded:
“It’s not just mind control. If I wanted, I could instantly turn one-tenth of everyone here into what you call the ‘Infinite Serpent.’ Fate is contagious. Although the spread of the plague doesn’t rely on the power of fate, fate still has the power to infect.”
With everyone on the entire street now in this state, Shad believed that both Iluna and Luvia, who were currently nowhere to be found, and the Church of the Five Gods in the city would definitely react immediately.
"You may escape this time, but you should understand that we will find you again sooner or later."
Ms. Halonen shook her head:
"It's alright, the mission is almost complete, and everything after this is none of my business. Besides, I'm prepared to be found again, after all, there's always a price to pay, isn't there?"
“Your identity has now been exposed, and Baron Samir will likely be in big trouble because of you.”
But Ms. Halonen still shook her head:
"Except for you and a few others, no one will remember who I am, no one will know my story with him. Mr. Snake has taken care of everything for me, young man. Mr. Snake is destiny. Don't fight against destiny."
Instead, Xia De advised:
"Why don't you stop what you're doing now? If you're willing to cooperate with us to deal with Mr. Snake, I can give you a chance to repent and atone for your sins, so that you can go to your final rest in peace after death."
This is not a lie. If the other party is willing to cooperate, repent of their sins, and atone for them, Shad will not hand them over to "desire" in exchange for any shield. This is actually the best option, but clearly only Shad thinks this way.
Ms. Halonen said nothing more, smiled at him, and turned to leave. The gathered crowd parted to make way for her, and Shad watched her retreating figure before abruptly taking a step forward:
"Lagray's Leap! Adele's Time Freeze!"
The power of time and space was simultaneously displayed under the utterly silent sunset. Shad, holding the mask, instantly pressed it onto the back of the frozen woman's head. Hissing sounds filled the air; some people around were slithering like snakes, but Shad paid them no heed.
However, the mask had no effect after it was put on. When Shad turned the motionless woman around, he saw that the face was not that of the woman from before.
“Remember? The serpent gave me the fate of the Fool. Perhaps you see it as my self-destruction, but at least I truly have the ability to grasp at a glimmer of hope. I am everywhere, and anyone who takes a liking to me could be me. The combination of time and space can indeed overcome fate, but the question is, are you really sure you've seen my true form?”
The other woman with snake-like eyes spoke up at that moment.
Shad removed his mask, and everyone who had been staring at him, including the woman who had spoken earlier, dispersed, and the quiet street became noisy again. They continued with their own affairs as if nothing had happened, leaving Shad alone in the middle of the street, gazing into the distance:
"A fool?"