The black sun hangs high

Chapter 13: Laying Out the Chips
The atmosphere in the bedroom is subtle.

What is happening now is very similar to some of the scenarios described in Hughes's manuscripts.

The young, down-on-his-luck writer sat nervously in a chair in his bedroom, while a beautiful female sorceress who had just "appreciated" his manuscript sat on the bed opposite him. In the silence, they stared at each other, but neither dared to make a move...

Of course, such content could only appear in Hugh's unrealistic fantasies.

Even if he had a hundred times the courage, he would never dare to touch any topics related to the Legislative Affairs Commission.

The dignity of the Legal Committee is absolutely inviolable. If such a situation occurs, no matter if he is the illegitimate son of the Ernst family or the current heir of the Ernst family, the Lake-level executors of the Legal Committee will arrive at his doorstep very quickly.

Moreover, the only one who dares not make a move right now is himself.

Hugh's understanding of the magical inscription he had received was extremely superficial. Although his combat experience with the shapeshifter had shown that it did indeed possess considerable destructive power, he still couldn't even know the name of this tentacle magic...

Hughes thought he was overthinking things and believed he could solve the current predicament with this one and only magic.

When his strength couldn't offer any help, Hugh decisively chose the second approach: to talk to the other party and have a proper conversation.

"Vellin Ernst".

Hughes silently repeated the other person's name to himself, then he spoke, "Miss Ernst..."

"Don't use my surname; it means nothing to me, and it doesn't mean anything to you either."

Vera said coldly, turning to a page in her magic book and quickly sweeping her fingers across the pages, revealing a brand-new, high-grade magic ink pen to Hugh.

"As required by the Legislative Affairs Commission's Investigation Order No. 6, I will make a detailed record of the private interviews."

She released her grip, and the magic ink pen floated above the magic book. Then, Verine composed herself and recited in an extremely solemn tone: "I hereby request the care and attention of the God of Magic, Mel."

An unusual magical light appeared on the floating magic pen, and then Hugh heard Verine continue, "Under the witness of Yumel, all words spoken become secrets. All who speak of secrets are protected."

The moment the sound faded, Hugh saw the pale blue light, symbolizing the god of magic, Mel, envelop the magic pen and the magic book. Then, the magic pen gently floated to the front of the pages of the magic book, seemingly ready to record and write.

"Rest assured, Mr. Hugh, with Hummel as our witness, our conversation will remain a secret."

Veraine strictly adhered to her words. She adjusted her form of address for Hugh and then said, "Not only that, but your safety will also be protected by the God of Magic until our conversation is complete."

Is this some kind of contract?

"A contract? Hmm... you could say that."

Vera nodded: "Then, please answer my question."

“Mr. Hugh, I hope you understand that even under the protection of the God of Magic, I cannot harm your life, but I can still make you suffer.”

A sharp gaze swept over: "Do you understand?"

Hughes nodded repeatedly.

He was always open to good advice, and in fact, the current situation had exceeded his expectations. Verin Ernst's behavior and words revealed a hidden truth to Hughes—this seemingly serious female mage had doubts about the mission she was carrying out, and she also could not understand many of the current events in Seren City. In this respect, she was the same as him.

Judging from the fact that the other party was unwilling to talk about the surname "Ernst", Hugh believed that the mission that Weilin was currently carrying out was very likely related to his "cheap family".

Having successfully reached these conclusions, Hugh was able to face the current situation more calmly, and soon, the question-and-answer session between the two officially began.

"Mr. Hugh, where did you go yesterday afternoon and into the night?"

As Vera asked her question, the magic pen immediately began writing rapidly on the pages of the magic book, the pen tip making orderly and rhythmic sounds as it touched the paper. This scene and feeling left Hugh somewhat helpless.

He never imagined that his first written record would be taken in a world he created.

Hughes gathered his thoughts and then replied, “I was at home from yesterday afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening… to be precise, in this bedroom, until my friend came over and woke me up.”

Hugh glanced at the ever-writing magic pen and continued, “After that, we set off together on foot to old Schubert’s beer hall, and then it was time to return… You should know what happened on the way back, Ms. Veraine.”

"Ah."

Vera glanced at the magic book, quite pleased with Hugh's "honesty," and then asked, "So, Mr. Hugh, did you see anything noteworthy on your way to and from the beer hall?"

Upon hearing the question, Hugh thought for two seconds, then said somewhat uncertainly, "So, on my way to the beer hall with my friend, I saw a truck loaded with heavy wooden crates, and there were quite a few workers carrying those crates into the shops along the street..."

Can you confirm the time?

"I'm sorry, I don't know the exact time, but it's definitely close to nine o'clock."

Vera nodded, then asked, "So, you must have heard that sound when you were in the beer hall, right?"

"It's hard not to hear it, after all, the vibration was so powerful that the person next to me almost dropped their wine glass."

"Um……"

The female mage gave a somewhat strange smile, then asked, "There is something I am very puzzled about, and I need Mr. Hugh to answer it."

Upon hearing this, Hugh immediately felt a sense of foreboding. Then he heard Vera ask, "Since so many people heard that voice, why were you the only one who deliberately came to check on the situation? Mr. Hugh, have you always paid such close attention to these matters in the past?"

Hugh spread his hands, somewhat helplessly saying, "You're right, Ms. Veraine, but the street where the accident happened happens to be on my way home." "Heh."

The female mage chuckled softly, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Vera reached out and took her magic book, examining the sentences she had just written down. Then she released her hand again, letting the magic pen continue writing: "Mr. Hugh, I've noticed that you're unusually concerned about certain things happening in Seren City. This isn't normal... If you insist on hiding these things, it will only bring you harm."

Hugh smiled bitterly to himself.

Veraine Ernst's approach was certainly correct; it was a truly thorough way of getting to the bottom of things. Whether it was the magical inscription that suddenly appeared on her body or the extremely abnormal behavior and logic that others found so strange, all of this could be answered by asking deeper, more fundamental questions.

"But can I just answer that kind of question casually? Am I supposed to tell her that the city of Seren will be destroyed soon? Won't I be treated like some kind of wild mage?"

Hugh gently bit the tip of his tongue, his mind racing at that moment.

He knew very well that telling the real "truth" was obviously not advisable, and that if he wanted the other party to believe his judgment, he had to present a clear and reasonable logic.

Hugh couldn't help but press his hand into his pocket, where he kept the five gold coins he had received that morning from Philip, the editor-in-chief of the Peace Newspaper.

"You can give it a try..."

An idea began to form in Hugh's mind, so he composed himself, looked up and asked, "Ms. Verin, forgive my intrusion... but you probably don't know what happened last night, do you?"

Hugh's question left Vera Lin momentarily bewildered; she hadn't expected to receive a counter-question instead of an answer.

Vera's expression darkened slightly, but she wasn't annoyed by Hugh's "offense." After a brief moment of thought, she calmly nodded: "Yes, that's why I need to ask you these questions. What, Mr. Hugh, have you made a new discovery?"

"I wouldn't call it a discovery, but I do have some doubts..."

Hugh looked directly at her: "Last night, while I was walking on Mrs. Small's shopping street, I noticed a strange noise coming from a shop next door. I briefly confronted the source of the noise, and then, Ms. Veraine, you arrived."

"Well, that's true."

Vera nodded: "But unfortunately, I arrived a little too late. I was unable to track down the thing you mentioned that was hidden in the darkness... It was as if it had gone into some kind of pipe and quickly disappeared from my magical perception."

Hugh carefully observed the other person's expression, and after determining that the other person was not lying, he sighed: "That's a shapeshifter."

Vera's pupils constricted sharply: "What?"

"A shapeshifter that has just reached adulthood, it may have burrowed into the underground sewers of the shopping district and followed my scent all the way to my home... just this morning."

The magic pen floating to the side continued to record, but now, the roles of the questioner and the respondent seemed to have changed, with Hugh taking control of the conversation.

“Ms. Verin, if I were you, I might check those wooden crates that were transported to the shops on the main street of Seren City. Since a shapeshifter was able to slip out of there, there might be more ‘surprises’.”

Hugh's words had a tremendous impact on the female mage. Vilin's eyes flickered violently for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and asked, "Mr. Hugh, the information you provided is very important. So, besides this, what else do you know?"

"Regarding the Peace Newspaper."

"Ok?"

"Philip, the editor-in-chief of the Peace Newspaper, has been commissioned by a nobleman from the Kingdom of Delan, and he is now fabricating a series of news stories that could incite conflict between the Votel and Delan people in the city of Seren."

"A nobleman from the Kingdom of Delan?"

"Morrel, Ms. Weilin must be familiar with this surname."

Hughes fluently recounted the secret information he knew. He believed that if the female mage in front of him truly did not understand the orders and tasks issued by the Law Committee, she would naturally connect and combine these details on her own.

"Snapped!"

The female mage raised her hand and snapped her fingers lightly. The magic pen beside her immediately stopped moving, and the magic book fell back into Vera's hands.

“Mr. Hugh, to be honest, your performance is quite different from your profession and past. If I hadn’t already confirmed your identity, I would have thought that your mind had been deliberately altered, or that you had been made into a magical puppet by some wild mage.”

At this moment, Verain Ernst returned to her original state. She gently turned her wrist and hung the spellbook back on her waist. Then she stood up and slowly walked to Hugh.

"The Kingdom of Water's Legal Committee branch has instructed me to ensure your safe exit from Seren City after the ceasefire celebrations... I initially thought this was just a trivial escort mission targeting the illegitimate son of the Ernst family, but it seems that is not the case now."

Hugh, who thought he had the upper hand in the conversation, felt a slight, chilling magical energy emanating from the air. He shivered and cautiously asked, "What do you mean by 'not so'?"

“You are not an ordinary nobleman’s illegitimate son…and the mission I have been given is not as simple as it seems on the surface.”

Veraine Ernst looked intently at the pale young man she had previously considered a nuisance and a burden, and then said, “Mr. Hugh, I believe you may indeed have some secrets, and I also believe you know nothing about the origin of your magical inscriptions, but if you think that you can avert disaster with these secrets and your magic, which can at most be considered raindrop level, then you are being too naive.”

Hughes looked up, and at that moment he also became serious.

Faced with this female mage who was very likely to become his temporary protector and who had a subtle connection with him and the Ernst family, Hugh knew it was time to change his strategy.

So he asked, "Then, Ms. Vera, could we become collaborators?"

"A collaborator?"

Vera was slightly taken aback, but then a rather attractive yet teasing smile appeared on her face: "Whether we can become partners depends on you, not me. Just like those gamblers always say... 'Show your chips first, then talk.'"

My condition has improved; my headache is finally gone.
Although I feel like I'm swallowing a knife, at least my writing isn't too affected. I'll post an extra chapter today! Thanks for your support and likes! ORZ
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(End of this chapter)