Chapter 251

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Chapter 251: Summon! The Initial Encounter With Hidden Azure!

“The true hunter often emerges in the form of its prey.”

Bai Yan sat calmly in his study, puffing on a cigar with a random flavor, a smile playing on his lips as he exhaled a breath.

Hidden Azure.

She is one of the Core Operators of Babel Tower.

Her name is Kaluoer.

She and her twin sister, Evie, are both “Saviors of Dark Light” in the “Rainbows” and the “Vessels of the Dark Gods.”

Due to reasons unknown, the two were separated at a very young age.

Despite this, the spiritual connection between them remains unbroken.

Whatever one sister experiences, the other feels as well. If one sister’s arm is cut, the other suffers the same pain.

Thus, both Kaluoer and Evie are keenly aware of each other’s existence.

Kaluoer, unlike her fortunate sister, has endured great misfortune. She was captured at a young age by the ancient assassin organization of the Kingdom of Dark Light—known as the “Mercury Ball.”

The “Mercury Ball” is an ancient organization that strikes fear in the hearts of the Kingdom’s citizens.

According to ancient legends, members of the Mercury Ball appear before those harboring resentment. They demand payment and then assassinate their designated targets.

No one knows where they come from, nor does anyone know the true identity of the “host” of the Mercury Ball.

All that’s known is that every year, well-known individuals fall victim to their assassinations.

Legend has it that the Mercury Ball has a deep connection to the “Tower” organization.

When Bai Yan arrived in Annottales, one of his goals was to free Kaluoer from the clutches of the Mercury Ball.

Seizing the opportunity, he purchased the Tulip Manor.

Tulip Manor is crucial, far more so than Viscount Edmond.

Very few know that beneath this estate lies an immensely powerful “ancient entity.”

The original Mercury Ball had long plotted to claim the power of the ancient entity hidden beneath this manor.

Therefore, Bai Yan bought the estate.

He knew well that the Mercury Ball’s upper echelons, including the mysterious “host” behind it, had already set their sights on him.

In their quest to obtain the power buried beneath the manor, they would undoubtedly send agents to assess the situation, hoping to render the Tulip Manor ownerless once more.

Bai Yan anticipated this and cleverly used “memory modification” to influence the Mercury Ball’s spies.

To them, he appeared as a person of not particularly deep background, someone who could be assassinated, but would not fall easily.

True enough, the Mercury Ball refused to let go of the secrets of the Tulip Manor.

They sent their most formidable assassin from Annottales: Hidden Azure.

When Kaluoer was found by the Mercury Ball, her body had already been torn to pieces.

Her half-body was reconstructed by black wizards of the Mercury Ball, turning her into a hybrid—half marionette, half beast.

Kaluoer’s official alias is Hidden Azure, though some mockingly call her a “mongrel.”

Neither human nor orc, neither human nor puppet.

She is a mismatched assembly.

But, as the “vessel of the malevolent deity,” Kaluoer possesses incredible potential.

She can nullify any extraordinary force.

Her immense power has made her the bane of many supernaturals.

If one doesn’t understand her, even mighty beings may perish under her deadly first strike.

Kaluoer underwent extreme assassin training from childhood, enduring daily emotional erosion through spellcasting.

The black wizards forbade her from experiencing natural human emotions—no likes, dislikes, tears, smiles, or even the simplest joys of life.

To the upper echelons of the Mercury Ball, she is nothing more than a tool.

They relentlessly shaped her through cruel methods, stripping her of her human essence.

Bai Yan learned of Kaluoer’s background only through the first playthrough of “Babel Tower.”

He had never seen Hidden Azure before today.

When he first laid eyes on her, Bai Yan immediately used his psychic abilities, trying to read her thoughts.

But, to his surprise, he didn’t hear anything.

Bai Yan was stunned.

He remembered one of Hidden Azure’s traits: “Innocence.”

“This child, in a certain sense, has already gone bad,” Bai Yan mused silently.

Unsure whether there was any hope left for Kaluoer, he sighed.

“Phew, anyway, let’s think about something cheerful for now.”

Shaking his head, Bai Yan pulled out his phone and began a new round of summoning.

Since the eradication of the main forces of the Black Star Faction, Babel Tower had entered a long period of inactivity.

While there were occasional emergency missions and weekly assignments, nothing significant had emerged.

Bai Yan had accumulated five hundred Source Energy Points by this time.

This time, he would summon from the “Fate” pool.

He muttered to himself, “It’s highly illegal to use a cellphone here. If caught, there will be consequences… I wonder if I’ll be punished?”

Bai Yan knew Core Operators were protected by the black mist, which shields them from the power of the Savior of Dark Light. They were essentially individuals with an “exempt constitution.”

But Bai Yan was not a Core Operator of Babel Tower.

Would the black mist protect him?

Ultimately, he couldn’t explain what the black mist was, where it came from, or whether it was even his own power.

But the information he had was too scarce to form a proper conclusion, so he decided not to dwell on it for now.

He pressed the button for a tenfold summoning.

As his finger pressed down, different cards emerged from the black mist, one by one.

First summon! “Operator Fragment · Innocent Singer ×1”

Second summon! “Operator Fragment · The Final Gun ×1”

Third summon! “Mystical Power Fragment · Manipulation of Reality ×1”

Fourth summon! “Tactical Card · Falling Meteor ×1”

Fifth summon! “Relic Fragment · Blink Blade ×1”

Sixth summon! “Mystical Power Fragment · Eternal Youth ×1”

Seventh summon! “Operator Fragment · The Final Gun ×1”

Eighth summon! “Operator Fragment · Crime Hunter Perduto ×1”

Ninth summon! “Relic Fragment · Apollo’s Arrow ×1”

Tenth summon! “Operator Fragment · Moon Witch ×1”

Another fragment of the Moon Witch acquired!

Bai Yan knew Merete Chambers was also in Annottales. Just like him, she was searching for the “key” to unlock the ultimate ritual.

“Indeed, we will meet again soon. I look forward to that day.”

Additionally, the fragments of Innocent Singer had increased.

In truth, she is Hidden Azure’s twin sister. Excluding the “Potential” skins, Innocent Singer is the only support-role character in the original Core Operators.

Innocent Singer, or Evie, had been living in Annottales.

Though fate seemed to have kept them apart for years, Evie had experienced all the same hardships as her sister.

“It’s possible that human factors have kept them from meeting,” Bai Yan thought, but he was cautious not to seek out Innocent Singer just yet.

Evie is the “princess” adopted by the most powerful Incarnation of Dark Light in the world.

Even without official power, she still holds a high status that isn’t easily accessible.

Incarnation of Dark Light.

The only Rank Zero in the country.

The spiritual leader of the Dark Light Church, the spokesperson of God, the divine envoy.

But he secretly ordered the Pastor to release Scatino, resisting his god, the “Savior of Dark Light.”

Bai Yan wasn’t sure how strong this Incarnation truly was.

He only knew that in the game, he could easily defeat his present self with just a finger.

The Next Day

In the morning.

This was Bai Yan’s first day living as “Viscount Edmond” in the Tulip Manor. The fragrance of flowers outside the window remained exquisitely serene and mysterious.

He sat on the bed, not having slept, his eyes open as he stared at the ceiling.

Bai Yan had spent the night honing his extraordinary powers.

Through constant self-training, he had increasingly mastered and harmonized the powers of all Core Operators, ensuring seamless adaptability as he switched between them.

At a glance, Bai Yan calmly removed his clothes and returned to bed, pretending to sleep.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The knocking began punctually.

A few moments later, Kaluoer—her icy-blue hair cascading—slowly opened the door and entered without expression.

As his personal servant, Kaluoer didn’t need to ask permission like Butler Carson; she could simply enter.

In high society, personal servants are extensions of their masters.

Kaluoer bowed respectfully and handed over the newspaper.

“Sir, allow me to help you with your clothes. Here’s the morning paper.”

For Hidden Azure, serving a regular noble is a “novel experience.” She had previously worked as a maid for an elderly noblewoman, hiding her true identity.

“Thank you, Kaluoer.”

Bai Yan calmly rose from bed and glanced at the newspaper.

“Help me get dressed.”

He donned a pristine white nightgown and stood before the mirror as Kaluoer helped him dress.

Class and order define the Kingdom of Dark Light. Bai Yan had learned that if he dressed himself, it would be an insult to his servant, implying dissatisfaction and even a desire to replace her.

He could not afford such a misstep; he needed to adapt to the local customs and calmly appreciate the sensation of Kaluoer’s cold hands on his body.

As Kaluoer dressed him, Bai Yan heard her inner thoughts.

[“The assassination order hasn’t been issued yet.”]

Bai Yan paused. Hidden Azure’s thoughts, though often indifferent, occasionally surfaced.

[However, I will dig a good pit in the flower bed first.]

Kaluoer glanced sideways, her thoughts continuing.

[Body shape confirmed.]

[Next, I shall observe his dietary habits.]

Bai Yan was caught off guard, a faint smile crossing his lips.

He remained silent as Kaluoer finished dressing him, carefully adjusting every detail of his attire until it was perfect.

“Hmm, alright.”

Turning around with a smile, Bai Yan reached out to stroke Kaluoer’s icy-blue hair.

“Well done. It seems our compatibility is quite promising.”

“Thank you for the praise.”

Kaluoer bowed without expression and turned to leave.

As expected of a noble, Bai Yan indulged in normal activities throughout the day—dining, reading, and strolling.

In Annottales, public security is tight. Although it doesn’t reach the point of leaving doors unlocked at night, people generally don’t worry about sudden dangers.

Order prevails everywhere, with every individual living in a carefully organized manner.

Priests of the Dark Light Church offer free healing to all, except for sinners. Their divine power can cure almost any injury or illness, making the Kingdom of Dark Light’s citizens the longest-lived in Noah’s world.

As night fell, Bai Yan instructed his incarnation to pretend to sleep while his true form ventured outside.

He closed his eyes, using his mental power to perceive the area.

Hidden Azure was already outside his bedroom window, silently watching the incarnation of Bai Yan.

“You may continue monitoring ‘me’ here.”

Bai Yan gently shook his head, dismissing Kaluoer’s actions before turning to leave the Tulip Manor.

In the streets, darkness enveloped everything. People avoided venturing out at night, leaving only law enforcement and the occasional knight wielding the “Divine Blade” to maintain order.

Before long, Bai Yan reached the abattoir in the seventh district.

From the outside, the massive abattoir resembled a giant sports arena.

Through his search, Bai Yan had roughly determined the whereabouts of Fist of Duel’s sister.

But he wasn’t planning on rescuing her directly.

Bai Yan smiled to himself, muttering, “If I go, no mission will be triggered. It’s better for you to handle it.”

With that, he stepped into the abattoir, his pupils turning a silvery hue.

The guards on the first floor froze, voluntarily opening doors for him.

Bai Yan knew the truth.

“The terrifying aspect of this little one’s power lies not in conquering bosses, but in manipulating and oppressing the ‘social collective.'”

Soon, he arrived at the underground dormitory of sinners, standing before a door labeled “Fist of Duel.”

He knocked gently, smiling as he asked:

“Hello, are you Mr. ‘Fist of Duel’… the one who wishes to rescue your sister and break free from this corrupt place?”

Silence.

For a long time, no response came. Bai Yan waited patiently before finally hearing the reply.

“Yes.”

“It’s me.”

“I am willing to pay any cost for this!”