Clown Game
Chapter 311 - 298 Once upon a time

Chapter 311: Chapter 298 Once upon a time

The coffee shop on Shell Street used to attract only homebody male and female patrons, but ever since the owner’s cousin started producing those ugly but incredibly tasty cakes, a whole bunch of food lovers naturally became interested. As a result, the clientele increased, and even budding relationships started to blossom among the young patrons. Everything was moving in a beautiful direction. Perhaps it was the Creator’s sense of humor, or maybe it was destiny inscribed somewhere, but it seemed that many world-changing events, conversations, and meetings also took place here.

Bai Xiong and Chen Xiao sat opposite each other in a corner, a spot that had almost become reserved for the Giggling Bird Squad. After all, three people with their extraordinary appearances were bound to draw attention in a coffee shop. In case some otaku with an alternative taste for aesthetics decided they liked the skinny ones after seeing Chen Xiao’s substantial body, they might approach Miss Song Xuan to cozy up and accidentally get stabbed to death. It was an unpredictable world... Well, reality wasn’t that brutal, but still... it was better to keep a low profile.

At the moment, since Song Xuan had not yet arrived, the discussion on the first task for promotion to B-level hadn’t begun. Chen Xiao and Bai Xiong took the opportunity to talk about D-391, the old man who fed on memories.

...

"So, you’re telling me that, after that sudden rank mutation event, this old man has been officially classified as a C-level anomalous item?" Chen Xiao asked as he added sugar cubes to his milk tea...

"Yes, his number is now C-211. A rank mutation is an extremely rare occurrence, perhaps not seen in a hundred years, so he’s already been sent to the Order Foundation’s Pacific Division half a year ago. He’s under the strictest containment procedures for his level, with 24-hour seamless surveillance, restrictions on all his activities, high-level access, and the anomalous item itself is maintained in a continuous deep sleep, complete with brainwave monitoring..."

"Ah, forget it, get to the point," Chen Xiao interrupted Bai Xiong impatiently, taking a sip of his milk tea. Seemingly finding it not strong enough, he proceeded to toss more sugar cubes in.

"What I mean is, you can’t possibly get him," Bai Xiong spoke indifferently: "No one can steal even a single hair from the Foundation under such surveillance."

"Stealing’s not fun, I’d rather snatch!" Chen Xiao muttered discontentedly.

Bai Xiong sighed helplessly. Sometimes, he truly wondered if the world would become a quieter place if he just choked Chen Xiao to death.

"So, what’s the status with The Splitters...?" Chen Xiao continued to inquire.

Bai Xiong was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Chen Xiao to mention "The Splitters" so casually. The topic that he had been so cautious and careful with, sounded like chitchat about the next-door neighbor in Chen Xiao’s mouth.

A real headache.

"I spoke your mind to their messenger, but the person neither confirmed nor denied it, just said they would contact me again."

"And you never heard from them again?"

Bai Xiong nodded: "I think they definitely won’t bother with you. You don’t realize what kind of place the Pacific Division is... It’s built in the vast depths of the ocean, under tens of thousands of meters of water pressure. Without the Foundation’s access paths, no one can leave that place."

"But The Splitter’s messenger hesitated, did not outright reject the suggestion, meaning they don’t consider it a far-fetched idea. Hehehe, trust me, they will join us."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I’ve met that woman a long time ago, right here in this coffee shop. Back then, it was just an ordinary little store, no maid-dressed employees, no crowd of customers, just the fatty owner idling away his days... It was right here on this corner seat..." Chen Xiao reminisced, taking a sip of his milk tea, seemingly lost in pleasant memories: "That’s when I had just joined the Foundation, knowing nothing, and it was then she told me so much, about the world, about things that were about to happen... Hehehe, trust me, that woman’s ambitions are much greater than you imagine, so she wouldn’t stop at a subdivision. She’s just waiting for the right opportunity, and now, I’m offering her one. She will agree... she must agree."

...

Bai Xiong remained silent, expressionless, and it was impossible to know what was on his mind.

After a while.

"Is that the same woman who claimed to be a ’writer’ you mentioned? Turns out, you’ve been in touch for such a long time."

"Yeah, she actually found this apartment for me. I did say, I have this ability to attract interesting things, they come to me on their own. In fact, thinking back, perhaps it was all destined to happen from that moment... I was destined to meet you, destined to intersect with ’The Splitters’, destined to covet C-211. I even suspect it’s all a scheme, some force guiding me from the shadows... Hmm... I wonder who it could be? Hehehe, how intriguing."

"Okay, whatever the case, we still wait for their message... But suddenly, I’m curious, why are you so interested in that memory-eating old man?"

"Oh? You’re asking about that," Chen Xiao pondered for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts on how to answer the question: "Well... you know, I am an amnesiac, so naturally, I want to remember who I really am, which is the right thing to do, right... And that memory-eating old man... just happens to be the key to unlocking my memories."

Bai Xiong frowned... "How can you be so sure?"

"Hmm... a very interesting person told me," he said, then inexplicably laughed: "Hehehe, a very interesting person indeed."

"Who?"

"You wouldn’t know him, I should be considered his landlord..."

"Landlord? You’re living with someone?"

"Of course not, a landlord doesn’t necessarily have to involve a house. He’s just staying with me... Ah, let’s change the subject," Chen Xiao requested, uncomfortably shifting in his seat, as if the mention of "landlord" somehow made him quite defensive...

Just then, the wind chimes at the front door of the coffee shop tinkled, and Song Xuan pushed the door open and walked towards them.

"Hmm... alright, looks like it’s time to discuss the task at hand." Chen Xiao gulped down all of his milk tea in one breath, eager to get started.