September 9, Stargazing Festival, early morning.

Due to geographical and climate differences, this festival is limited to the mid-latitude regions east of the Narrow Sea.

It was the scholars of the ancient Holy Spirit Sect who summarized the annual ocean currents, monsoons, seasons, terrain... to deduce the most optimal day in terms of weather for the mid-latitude plain areas east of the Narrow Sea, without exception.

Continuing to this day, because of the intertwining constellations, it symbolizes reunion in the customs of Aran, and because of martial arts events, it has become an annual carnival celebration.

The morning sunlight was already a bit dazzling, the endless wonder, the Eternal Clock Tower, reflected colorful shadows with its massive stained glass combined with religious motifs, casting intricate light and shadow codes on the maze-like bustling streets of the Royal Capital, embedding the marks of time's illusions.

As if the flowing time that has passed away in the past is gently returning today, shortening the distance of all painful or joyful memories to this moment.

"I really... damn."

Ben, just released from the temporary holding cell, almost had a photosensitive seizure, blinded by the strong light, shielding his eyes with his hand, his eyes aching.

The Thief Guild couldn't even gather one relative among ten people, and as it was the hottest time of the year in September, Ben started sweating shortly after stepping outside, complaining intensely about the nonsense of some star, what's with the supposed reunion?

Ben prided himself on his amazing skills; how could he have been discovered? No part of the plan had gone wrong, it was simply impossible.

It was those damn Forest Elves from the Western Continent's top disdain chain who got stolen from in the Imperial City. These wise Royal City Army folks pay selective attention, and now they've brought this international friend theft matter to light, arresting people matching a description: tall and slender, around 1.9 meters, gray-skinned Dark Elf, with a scar on his face.

Immediately suspected as the perpetrator, he was taken to a temporary holding cell, essentially a detention center, where they'd just grab anyone they could for questioning.

In the middle of the night, however, the real culprit was caught, and under the identification of the stolen Forest Elf, Ben's suspicion was cleared. But since he had some nifty little lock-picking and cheating tools on him, they forcibly detained him for a whole night anyway.

Due to various shady operations by the Summer Sunset Island Empress, attempting to play alliances to grab a foothold on the continent, to restore the glory of the Dark Race, we had no choice but to begin real military expansions everywhere. The northwestern shores of the Southern Continent and around the Narrow Sea were all affected.

The Monges Southern Wetland used to have a tribal chieftain system, loosely structured. Although the rainforest terrain often bred miasma, it was easy for a superpower like Aran to manage decisively.

Summer Sunset Island is different, with a high degree of discipline and organization, located in the southwestern sea area to the left of the Southern Continent, with complete control over the surrounding sea rights, highly aggressive and extremely destructive, causing an already bad reputation of the Dark Elves to worsen.

Even after Ben was wrongly detained for a whole night, there was no economic compensation or even an apology.

That kind of petty theft is freaking Android-level crime, too low-end to be compared to himself, besides, he looks way more handsome than the thief; how could they even mistake him?

Ben was furious!

Alright, alright, some racial knight you are, I'll strengthen my efforts in zero-dollar purchases in the future, Emperor, this is what you get for pissing me off.

"Not the time to talk about this, better go find Swan first."

Not sure if Saleret won the semifinals yet, got arrested before I could see it.

Swan is currently in charge of handling contact with Liszt, there's a big operation tonight.

Ben didn't know the doctor was bringing heavy goods to Aran, because he always kept things under wraps, cautious at all times.

Right now, he didn't have time to worry about him; everything Ben knew had already been exposed and posed no threat anymore.

Operating solo will never compare to doing platform work, and at least now Ben is a trade representative for Black Sail in Aran; can't go back to the Thief Guild, so just staying with Black Sail is better.

Spent a little time to reach the mid-lower tier hotel where Swan was staying.

After finding the room and knocking on the door with no response, he used his nifty little tools to unlock it; inside, it was already empty, and the heavy radio equipment was gone.

"Hmm?"

Ben felt a bit puzzled, did Swan make a run for it or what, did Liszt's plan go awry?

There's no way to contact Swan either.

Anyway...

Better go get the money earned yesterday exchanged first,

Five minutes later.

At this time, there were temporary betting and prize windows from the National Bank everywhere in the city for the martial arts event, convenient for placing bets and exchanging rewards.

This time, there was finally no mistake, the ticket stub had the correct number, 355 Kai Deng, with a base bet of sixteen gold dragons, resulting in a total of thirty-one gold dragons and sixty-eight silver coins according to the odds.

That's a lot of money, renting a place, eating and drinking lavishly, living decadently every day, and can last for a year or two.

When holding the shiny gold dragons in hand,

Ben genuinely felt like crying. Since the thirteenth month of last year, his life had been utterly inhuman, working under some idiot old man's constant orders, dealing with coarse types from the Highland who acted worse than Werewolves daily. Such vital intelligence about the Sea God, and Liszt only paid him a hundred silver coins—everyone mocked him!

"Now... the success or failure of the final holy war is determined here."

His voice choked, face twisted with madness, hysterical, "Facing all the attacks from the Mechanism and SERN, I, the solitary, crazed scientist Ben, wielding the power to manipulate fate, have achieved absolute victory! The world's ruling structure has been reset, awaiting mankind is a future filled with chaos. This is the choice of the Gate of Destiny Stone! EL PSY CONGROO!"

However, no one around paid any attention because many people had placed big bets recently, with some losing and jumping off buildings, while others winning and going insane with excitement—quite normal.

"Do you think the Overlord Descendant prefers Saleret or Kai Deng?"

"How should I know? You believe the adventure guild's newspaper too?"

"Crap, what exactly does Alicia look like, if she's really an Overlord Descendant, would she be some kind of broad-shouldered giantess or what?"

Two passersby in line to place bets were discussing, knowing it was fake news, but those four words "Overlord Descendant" were so shocking, what if it were true? That'd be explosive! The already tumultuous Western Continent would be a complete mess.

Ben found it amusing, what nonsense, a giantess.

Although Sister Ai is quite social, well, maybe more than a bit, always drinking, smoking, dyeing her hair.

But she's truly different from ordinary women, that kind of unique temperament can't be replicated, hard to describe, with a feel of classical sculpture.

Wait a minute?

Overlord Descendant?

How do you two Android passersby even know that?

"If we take a step back, what if it's true, does Alicia prefer Kai Deng or Saleret?"

"Personally, I guess she might prefer Kai Deng."

"Why would you say that?"

"Just my personal preference, people love wasting time because it's the most enjoyable. Two beauties together are even more a waste of resources—a betrayal, forbidden, sacrilegious against life's essence, the ultimate waste—don't you find it beautiful?"

"Is it beautiful or not, I don't know, I only care why you can speak about neodymium copper so philosophically, you lunatic!"

"Haha, that's only because you can't understand this kind of art; if one day you also perceive this unquestionable truth, please don't think to join them, as that would destroy this indescribable purity, but joining them... ah... what waste, what blasphemy!"

Since it's the Royal Capital of the First World, literacy and education rates are high, people here have a rich vocabulary.

Ben was left bewildered.

"How do you know about the Overlord Descendant?"

Ben couldn't help but ask.

"Didn't you read yesterday's newspaper?"

Given his earlier crazy performance, the passerby spoke more politely.

"I got arrested yesterday, damn it, newspaper?"

After understanding the situation, Ben directly bought a copy from a street newsboy, carefully reading it, unable to calm down for a long time.

Saleret made it to the finals too.

Yeah, didn't gain any advantage when fighting him in the tower, he does have some skill.

This is Diaz going head to head with Liszt.

Even though not favored in Black Sail, it doesn't matter, his only goal is to earn Yuanzi, skills speak for themselves.

Seeing Liszt's acquisition of supplies on such a scale, it seems he's really settled the Mulong affair; otherwise, he wouldn't have time to confront Diaz.

Let's look at the newspaper.

Today, during the day, there's an interview and panel discussion with sixteen finalists, warming up for the evening.

Public opinion is not in favor of Black Sail now; everyone seems to enjoy seeing neodymium copper, but that's understandable, Saleret's too ugly, damn mutual attraction.

In the underworld suitable jobs, the Thief Guild has monopolized almost all, doing some odd jobs and mixing in, hard to rival his old employer. Ben understood this truth, his skills might find a way elsewhere, but becoming wealthy and powerful would be difficult. Conversely, in Black Sail, he's at least a trade representative.

With Liszt's acquisition, anyway, earning Yuanzi isn't embarrassing.

Ben had an idea, disguising himself as a journalist to sneak into the interview venue, steers public opinion heavily, then finds Liszt to cash in.

The Valkyrie plan to control the future, activates!

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