Chapter 453 - Chapter 453 Missing Author
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nChapter 453 Missing Author
nLumian carefully positioned the Mystery Prying Glasses on the bridge of his nose, and immediately, the room seemed to whirl, and the ground beneath him trembled.
nSuppressing his nausea and dizziness, he observed the scene before him fragment and overlap, creating a surreal and captivating tableau.
nThe bed pressed against the desk, which seemed to lean against the ceiling. Behind the ceiling appeared to be a tap, as if it were installed within a wardrobe. These scenes were like translucent canvases superimposed on each other, reflecting themselves in Lumian’s vision.
nA pale-white face materialized beside the wardrobe.
nThe face had disheveled brown hair, naturally parted. Dark-brown eyes glistened beneath black-framed glasses. It was Gabriel, looking cleaned up and as though he hadn’t burned the midnight oil in a while.
nThe playwright gazed at Lumian with a vacant, distorted, yet strangely genuine smile.
nHis right hand reached out from the void, waving gently before his face shrank into the depths of the translucent layers, vanishing completely.
nLumian quickly surveyed the room, but Gabriel hadn’t reappeared. He promptly removed the Mystery Prying Glasses, replacing them with the Eye of Truth on his left side.
nThis mystical item, composed of pale-white flesh and dark blood vessels, covered the corresponding ear, allowing Lumian to hear rapid voices from the distant horizon. The intertwined purple blood vessels formed a lens that adhered to his eye, revealing faint blood, layers of colors, and the room with a third of it blending into the surroundings. An invisible curtain resembling mullioned glass was also discernible.
nThe latter two phenomena rapidly dissipated or gradually returned to normal.
nBefore the whispers could become more distinct, Lumian removed the Eye of Truth and massaged his throbbing forehead.
nBased on the combined information from both mystical items, he deduced that Gabriel had been corrupted by Hostel, becoming a presence that couldn’t be perceived or touched in the conventional sense.
nHowever, the playwright retained a certain degree of rationality. He recognized Lumian and even happily bid him farewell.
nReturning the white porcelain cup with a single handle to its original position seemed to serve as a greeting, an attempt to capture Lumian’s attention.
nLumian frowned slightly.
nHis gaze shifted to the manuscript on the desk. The story in the unfinished script felt eerily familiar.
nLumian picked up the manuscript and read it meticulously, at a slower pace than before.
nAfter perusing the first section, he confirmed that the protagonist of the script was Gabriel himself. The character’s personality, the details of his life, the cold treatment he endured, and the demand to produce vulgar works all aligned seamlessly.
nRegarding the female lead, who immersed herself in the underworld and persistently encouraged the male lead’s creations, Lumian couldn’t help but feel that if it weren’t for the difference in gender, he could be the one with such a background.
nHowever, the female lead’s personality, her way of speaking, and her encouraging words were entirely distinct from his own. Even in the scenes involving the mobs, Lumian could discern traces of Charlie.
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nThis woman had once accompanied a painter to a small seaside town as a model. After an extended absence, she returned to Auberge du Coq Doré.
nPainter!
nCould Gabriel have been corrupted on that night when Séraphine returned? Was it possible that Séraphine had moved to the Hostel? Lumian meticulously perused the script, leaving no word unread.
nSince this was a story born from Gabriel’s own experiences, it undoubtedly contained numerous factual details and genuine emotions—invaluable clues!
nAs Lumian continued to read the script, bathed in the sunlight filtering through the oriel window, he sensed the concealed love that resided within Gabriel’s heart. He could feel the ache of remorse, reluctance, and the yearning for a relationship that Gabriel believed he could easily discard when he moved to a better neighborhood to start anew. In the end, he found himself unable to forget it.
nThe protagonist, increasingly aware of his heart’s true desires and feelings, ceased to evade them and actively embarked on a quest to uncover traces of his beloved.
nHe sought out people who were acquainted with her, visited motels and hotels that occasionally haunted his dreams, and explored galleries in search of new artworks based on his lover…
nYet, his endeavors proved futile, leading him to compose the inner monologue.
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nRegrettably, the contents of the drawer only covered the first half of the script. By the time Gabriel had reached the second half, he appeared to have delved deeply into his emotions and penned his inner monologue in a single burst.
nLumian looked at the papers before him, pondering the situation.
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nLumian made a preliminary guess and conducted a thorough search of Gabriel’s rented apartment with a clear objective in mind.
nNothing.
nHe then left 34 Rue Saint-Michel and made his way back to the Third-Rate Author bar, where he seated himself next to Rabe, who was engrossed in his drink.
n“A glass of La Fée Verte,” Lumian ordered as he tapped the bar counter.
nThen, he turned to Rabe and inquired, “Do you have any idea where Gabriel has been over the past few days?”
nRabe pointed to a small round table near the window and replied, “You’ll have to ask them.”
nAs an underprivileged author working as a ghostwriter without a pen name, Rabe considered himself fortunate to know a rising star like Gabriel and attend his private gatherings. He had to work regularly every day to fulfill the missions assigned by his boss, preventing him from participating in their activities.
nGuided by Rabe, Lumian approached the small round table and was taken aback upon seeing the four individuals seated there.
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nIn response to Lumian’s inquiry, the leader of the group responded with a puzzled expression, “We last saw Gabriel two days ago. We all went to the Trier Art Center together to attend an art exhibition.”
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nTrocadéro Town.
nFranca, dressed in a white jacket, followed Browns Sauron, who wore a black coat, as they navigated through the manor adorned with grapevines.
nWith curiosity evident on her face, Franca, who had been invited, couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you taking me?”
nBrowns cast a brief glance in her direction.
n“I’m taking you to meet my teacher. You’ve successfully passed the assessment and are now an official member of our sect.”
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nThe term “perks” was coined by Emperor Roselle and had gained recognition in Intis.
nBrowns maintained a bit of distance from Franca as she questioned, “What would you like in exchange?”
nWithout hesitation, Franca responded, “The potion formula for Affliction.”
nAffliction was the name of the Assassin pathway’s Sequence 5, often referred to as the Demoness of Affliction.
nBrowns let out a scoff.
n“Quite bold to make such a request. Do you believe you have accrued enough contribution points to ask for the potion formula for Affliction?”
nShe paused for a moment before adding, “Of course, if you can assist the sect in achieving something, this can be your perk.”
nFranca, who had initially held limited hope and was merely testing the waters, glanced at Browns.
n“And what’s that something?”
nSeizing the opportunity, Browns explained, “We’ve received information that the Iron and Blood Cross Order discreetly smuggled an item into Trier through an underground tunnel several months ago. If you can uncover what it is and identify its possessor, you’ll be entitled to the Affliction potion formula.”
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nIn an effort to aid the Savoie Mob’s smuggling leader in recovering his brother and the transported goods, she and Lumian had been drawn into a strange mirror world, where they narrowly escaped.
nDuring their adventure, Franca had acquired a classic sterling silver mirror.
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