Chapter 367 - 368: Happiness Came Too Suddenly

Chapter 367: Chapter 368: Happiness Came Too Suddenly

Lilika’s heart was pounding even harder now than when she had first seen the handsome Nax.

Her family had long known about her Ability. They had even fabricated various health-related excuses to take Lilika to all the major medical institutions for check-ups, but no one could ever figure out what was wrong.

She had gone from initial joy to subsequent terror, experiencing a series of incidents along the way that had nearly killed her.

To be honest, this Ability had become a huge source of trouble and a threat to her life.

She had no real control over this Ability. She had to constantly monitor her emotions, her words, and her actions.

If she let her guard down for a moment and developed negative emotions over something, disaster could strike.

For example, if she got into an argument with a classmate or came to despise someone, she absolutely could not utter a single curse. She had to be extremely restrained and try not to even think it.

It wasn’t just that she was concerned about others—though that was part of it. More importantly, her Ability placed many restrictions on her as well. If her Curse caused someone to have an accident, she would suffer the consequences too.

The most dangerous incident was when she accidentally cursed a Rottweiler to death after it ran out and bit her. The backlash left Lilika’s body extremely weak. It took her over a month just to be able to struggle out of bed, and another month after that before she gradually recovered.

During that time, she was so weak she couldn’t move, and she often lost control of her bladder. Lilika had despaired, thinking she was going to die.

On her phone, she always kept the funniest jokes and the raunchiest videos. In her bag, she always had the tastiest snacks, the sweetest candy, the spiciest hot sauce, and even sex toys.

It was all prepared for emergencies, anything to provide the quickest possible stimulation and divert her attention!

Even so, it was sometimes unavoidable, as Lilika’s emotions had become far more volatile than before.

The only exceptions with minimal side effects were things vastly different from her in nature and power.

Hearing the mysterious man’s words, Lilika was absolutely ecstatic.

Never mind teaching her how to use her Ability—they could take it away completely for all she cared!

Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su had already thoroughly investigated Lilika’s medical records, so they didn’t think she would pass up such a great opportunity. Even if she had her doubts, she would at least be willing to try.

But Lilika was even more direct and decisive than they had imagined.

"I’ll join! I’ll join you! As long as it can make my life a little more normal and safe, I’ll do it! I’ve had enough of living in constant fear!"

She grabbed Su Su’s hand, her face beaming with joy.

"I know who you are!!! You’re from the Dawn Association!!!"

Huh!?

What!?

’She knows!?’

Qin Xiaoxia and Su Su were visibly stunned for a moment. Meanwhile, a series of question marks and exclamation points flashed through Nax’s mind.

"You know about us? How?"

Su Su didn’t hide the astonishment in her voice. Qin Xiaoxia, though showing no reaction, was listening intently.

’The twin brothers’ data retrieval is limited to recorded information, or data that wasn’t deleted properly and could be restored. It doesn’t include paper documents, word-of-mouth intelligence, or certain other special channels. It’s normal for there to be some gaps.’

"So it’s true!! You really are the Dawn Association!!!"

The girl was clearly quite cunning; her last statement had just been a probe.

"A few months ago, back when I almost died, my father told me a little about you. He said you were the World Guardians, who have existed since ancient times, spanning the darkest ages. He said you have the wisest people in the world and wield humanity’s greatest power against the darkness. You are the inheritors of light and flame, the Hermits hidden from the bustling world, who only reappear on the eve of the apocalypse!!!"

"He said that if you really existed, you would definitely be able to help me!!"

’Holy shit!!!’

She had the whole spiel down. Even Qin Xiaoxia was stunned listening to it.

But the most excited person wasn’t him or Su Su, or even Lilika, who believed she was saved. It was Nax, standing off to the side.

His face was flushed red with excitement, his breathing was as rapid as an asthma attack, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.

He had only been wrapped up by the Corpse Worms, suffering some tissue bruising—he didn’t even have a broken bone. But looking at him now, you’d think he was about to drop dead.

"You... you people!! C-can I... *gasp...* *wheeze...* can I join!!"

’Hidden Guardians, a powerful force against the darkness, the Dawn Association!’

’Each of those titles sounds more impressive than the last, and they can’t be fake. He had just witnessed their power, after all. If they hadn’t arrived, he’d be dead already.’

’Or worse than dead—he would have ended up like those old people on the ground over there.’

What pained Nax, however, was that the two mysterious figures didn’t seem to be paying him any mind.

"Lilika, where did your father learn about us?"

’Lilika’s family is wealthy, so they might have access to some information about the apocalypse. But a few months ago... information about Dawn was on absolute lockdown. Norton from the Nineteenth Organization Department is no pushover.’

"Ha, my dad will be thrilled when he finds out! Years ago, he had a group of like-minded friends. I think they were called the ’Secret-Seeking Association’! They specialized in investigating mysterious phenomena. The topic of Dawn used to be their most controversial one, but at some point, he started to believe more and more that Dawn was real!"

’Oho...’

’Hearing the name "Secret-Seeking Association," Qin Xiaoxia understood. Old Noeman from the De Yi Country’s Dawn Archives Management Office had joined that very association back when he was traveling and searching for "the truth."’

’Those people followed some old-fashioned customs, like habitually recording mysterious phenomena in notebooks. Lilika’s father was probably a casual enthusiast.’

"In that case, there are no further obstacles to you joining Dawn. Su Su will be your Mentor. Our business here today is just about finished!"

Tears welled in Nax’s eyes as he shot Lilika a pitiful, pleading look.

’The mysterious figures looked like they were about to leave, but they hadn’t answered him yet!’

"Me!! What about me!! I can do it, too!! I may not have any miraculous talents, but I have a sense of justice! I... I... I..."

"He’s handsome!" Lilika blurted out, trying to "help."

Nax’s face fell. He realized the mysterious man probably knew that his deliberate attempt to show off and act cool had put Lilika in danger.

"Mr. Nax."

Suddenly hearing his name called by the one the woman had addressed as Mentor, Nax’s pessimistic mood instantly lifted.

"Present! I am willing to join Dawn and pledge my undying loyalty! I am willing to fight the darkness alongside you!! I’m a..."

’Did I ask him that?’

Qin Xiaoxia was exasperated by the man, but he stared at him with a deadpan expression that made Nax feel a little insecure. Nax’s mouth, however, kept moving as he began to recount some of the cases he had solved as a detective.

"Shut up."

The torrent of words stopped instantly. Nax ignored the pain wracking his body and did his best to stand up straight.

"Mr. Nax, stop with those ridiculous theatrics. What works against Demons is absolute power. They are strong, so we must naturally be even stronger!"

He glanced at the pistol on the ground.

"Even a gun would be more effective than you sprinkling salt."

"We wield power, but we are not infatuated with it. Power is a means, not an end. If you cannot understand that, then you won’t be the one controlling power—it will be the one controlling you!"

Nax watched as the mysterious man stared directly into his eyes. For a moment, the blurred face seemed to become clear, revealing a pair of eyes like stars that held a wisdom capable of seeing through anything.

"You have a flaw. You’re accustomed to being the center of attention. You only became a detective because you enjoy the admiration of your powerful clients."

’To put it bluntly, the guy was a poser with a few screws loose.’

"The darkness is approaching, and Dawn will not stand idly by. But we are not an organization that seeks the spotlight..."

"Your sense of justice is driven as much by a desire to defeat evil as it is by a need to show off and satisfy your own vanity."

Nax grew dejected. It sounded like he was being rejected.

"However, be it conviction or vanity, if you can see it through to the very end... then welcome to Dawn!"

"*Gasp...* *Heh...*"

Nax stared at the mysterious man in disbelief, his breathing so rapid he felt like he couldn’t get any air in his lungs at all.

The surprise came too suddenly. The emotional rollercoaster—from shock to excitement, then to despair, and back to elation—combined with the pain from his injuries was too much. He couldn’t take it and passed out cold.

PS: Second Chapter for Monday.

The end of Book One is near. I’m keeping track of the Chapters I owe you all and will see if I can work harder to make them up in the next book!