Clown Game
Chapter 338 - 325 Beginning

Chapter 338: Chapter 325 Beginning

"From the beginning, we didn’t think highly of you at all, and even during my period of paying attention to you, I thought countless times, and even hoped, that you would die in obscurity, but it turned out you were indeed very different... I still can’t pinpoint where exactly your strength lies, but in the end, you still stand here," A-Ming continued.

Chen Xiao shrugged. "Hmm, it sounds like some sort of honor."

"If only it were just that. I once spent a great deal of time trying to find something that could threaten or tempt you, but in the end, I found nothing. I mean, you might have absolutely no concept of ’honor,’ completely unaffected by external influences, entirely following your own ideas..." A-Ming hesitated, then added, "Actually, I still don’t like you."

"Oh, that’s normal, hardly anyone likes me." Chen Xiao waved his hand, indicating it wasn’t something to worry about.

"You might not understand what I mean... I don’t have feelings of liking or disliking anyone because I’m accustomed to calculating, and coincidentally, everything has its principles... but you... I’ve never been able to calculate successfully with you."

"Ah?"

"As long as the data is sufficient, many things can be calculated," A-Ming said. "For instance, tossing a coin, considering wind speed, gravity, angle, force, the weight difference between sides, and so on, as long as the data is sufficient, even if I guess 10,000 times in a row, I cannot be wrong. The same goes for other things: by calculating past data streams, I can almost obtain a perfect answer, like predicting the weather, geology, or even the grain harvest six months later... These are all extremely simple tasks. People’s calculations tend to be slightly more difficult due to subjective differences, but even so, I can still predict that the nurse will wake up at about 8:15 in the morning, go to the toilet, brush her teeth, but not wash her face, take a beer from the third shelf on the left side of the fridge, and then fall asleep on the couch in front of you. Although there are times I’m wrong, even the wrong answers are within the calculation range. I hope you understand what I mean."

Chen Xiao raised his eyebrows. "Hmm... it sounds like something between metaphysics and probability. Of course, your calculations about that woman were indeed all correct, so I have no reason not to believe you... but since that’s the case..."

"Yes, I can’t calculate you. For example, when I suggested tossing a coin, you might have just swallowed the coin..."

"Ah? Could I really do something like that?"

"Yes!"

"Hmm... okay... hehehe."

"That’s why I don’t like you... but the Guardian must have her own reasons... Alright, after saying so much, let’s discuss today’s topic, about the Order Foundation Pacific Division’s plan."

"Ah? So soon? I still have so many questions," Chen Xiao muttered regretfully.

"There will be opportunities to answer those questions later. In fact, based on your personality, even what I just said, you definitely won’t fully believe... and continuing will delay us even longer. You should know, you have been missing since your first B-level task until now, so to avoid unnecessary trouble..."

"Ah, I get it!" he replied impatiently.

A-Ming politely nodded, used a key to open the door in front of him, and made a "please" gesture.

A corridor, the light at the end outlined the silhouette of another door. Chen Xiao, full of curiosity, looked at A-Ming, then glanced at the dark corridor and walked in.

...

In the corridor, there was nothing. In fact, Chen Xiao couldn’t even feel the ground beneath his feet, as if he were floating, everything pitch-black except for the door ahead. And he could only move his legs, step by step, approaching... curious... expectant... pushing open...

Then

"Dingling~"

A sound all too familiar.

Chen Xiao was stunned, not only by the strange sensation of walking through the corridor but more so by the familiar sights... and scents in front of him.

Sunshine, coffee, cake, customers, lively, but not noisy.

The coffee shop owned by Boss Xiao Yu...

Everything seemed just as usual, no different, this abrupt change made Chen Xiao feel slightly bewildered.

Jingjing passed by the door, glanced coldly at Chen Xiao without showing any oddity, as if to her, Chen Xiao was merely opening the cafe’s door normally. On the other side, Xiao Nan, carrying coffee, gestured with her eyes towards the bar. Following her gaze, Chen Xiao saw Boss Xiao Yu ostentatiously wiping glasses but at the same time, stretching his neck trying to sneak a peek into a corner.

Chen Xiao turned his head following the gaze...

In that corner, Qiu Mujin was sitting.

Still with those curly locks of hair, wearing random clothes, seeming indifferent to everything around, but focused on the unattractive cake in front of her, seemingly enjoying it.

...

Chen Xiao helplessly pursed his lips, as things had come to this, he just let them be.

So he walked over and sat opposite her, "Hi~"

Qiu Mujin swallowed the cake in her mouth, "Hmm... aside from its looks, this cake actually tastes quite good."

Chen Xiao nodded, "Yeah, I felt the same way when I first had it. So... let’s get to the point quickly."

"You’re really in a hurry, aren’t you?" Qiu Mujin said with a smile, "Remember the first time we met, you were quite impatient with me."

"I can’t be blamed for that. Back then, I had no idea that a woman like you would turn out to be the leader of The Splitters."

"It’s ’Guardian’!" she corrected.

"Whatever, you probably don’t mind it anyway." Chen Xiao chuckled, "Well... to be honest, I knew this day would come, where I’d be sitting across from you, and you being a real ’Splitter’. Do you know what that means? It means I’m becoming a traitor to the Foundation..."

"Aren’t you always waiting for this day?" she said casually, shrugging.

"Well... yes, but isn’t this process too... simple?" Chen Xiao gestured around, "Look, you’ve all gone to great lengths for this day, and now it’s finally the last step, yet... it’s just this place, a cup of coffee, a piece of cake. It’s rather shabby."

"Haha, what would you like then?"

"Of course, it should be something grandiose. If this were a novel, this moment would undoubtedly be a pivotal point in the story, right? It should be a rainy night, on the top of a mountain, an ancient ruin set apart from human tracks or a mysterious place unknown to man. I would go there alone, heeding the call of fate, forsaking past beliefs to become a betrayer. That would be fitting."

Qiu Mujin listened and then took another bite of her cake, nodding, uncertain whether she was agreeing with Chen Xiao’s words or just acknowledging the taste of the cake.

"Well, the atmosphere you envisioned is indeed nice, but forgive my bluntness... what about forsaking honor, betrayal, the call of fate... Do you really deserve these terms?"

"Of course..." Chen Xiao spread his hands without hesitation.

"Hmm, as expected..." Qiu Mujin said, satisfied, "That’s part of why I chose you... Oh right, the fat guy behind you, the coffee shop owner... why does he keep sneaking glances at me?"