I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 224 - 224 223. Stealing books is not considered theft_1

Chapter 224: 223. Stealing books is not considered theft_1 Chapter 224: 223. Stealing books is not considered theft_1 Lu Ban quickly remembered his first night of revelry in Abandoned Capital.

Of those who were traveling with him at the time, only the inexperienced young man called Stone survived.

It was from Stone that Lu Ban had first learned about the author Ancient Capital, and now, in investigating Ancient Capital’s disappearance, he once again encountered Stone, a connection that seemed almost destined.

“You two know each other?”

Cui Siter was somewhat surprised, as after all, Lu Ban was clearly not from Abandoned Capital, this foreign domain; the people he could know would have to be those he met on a job.

And for a typical job in Silent Lands, either the pedestrians would die or get hurt. It just felt odd for someone to stand here in such good shape.

“Sort of.”

Lu Ban answered as he sized up Stone. The once frail boy had now become quite handsome, even in an ill-fitting old suit he had a dashing quality, completely different from the menacing thugs beside him.

Was this a true reflection of how education could transform someone’s appearance?

Lu Ban couldn’t help but think.

“You joined a gang?”

He blurted out, noting the thug beside him twitched his eyelid and was about to raise his hand.

“Not a gang, a company,”

Stone corrected him while gesturing with his hand to stop the thug, seemingly having a high status in this car rental place.

“Because I can read, I was assigned here as an accountant.”

“Oh.”

Lu Ban didn’t dwell on the term ‘gang’; after all, whether it was mafia or major corporation, they were similar in nature.

“But it’s great, Mr. Lu Ban. I haven’t heard from you in years; I thought you might have…”

Stone became anxious upon seeing Lu Ban, reminded of that night’s events.

However, the joy of seeing a familiar person still alive soon replaced that unease.

Upon reflection, it had indeed been three years since he last came to Abandoned Capital—a long time.

“That wouldn’t happen, I don’t have many flaws, but one is that I’m pretty tough to kill,”

Lu Ban waved off the concern.

“By the way, are you still reading Ancient Capital’s books?”

Lu Ban glanced at the novel beside Stone.

“Yes, I think he writes quite well,”

Stone picked up the book he was holding.

“Moreover, when I was little, my mother often read me stories from ‘Abandoned Capital Old News’ to scare me into sleeping, so I feel a close connection to him.”

“That’s quite the motherly love,”

Cui Siter commented sarcastically.

“Mm-hmm.”

Stone, either not understanding or genuinely agreeing, nodded and then pulled out an old book from his chest.

The pages were worn, clearly turned over many years, and Lu Ban noticed that the title page with the author’s signature was missing.

“Are you planning to leave the city?”

Stone looked at the form Cui Siter was filling out and reconfirmed.

“Yes, we’re heading to Hanxu,”

Lu Ban nodded and then suddenly thought to ask.

“Have there been any recent car rentals here with vehicles that haven’t been returned yet?”

“No, there haven’t. Why do you ask?”

Stone pondered for a moment and asked curiously.

“No reason, just asking.”

Lu Ban thought for a moment, then turned to Stone and said,

“You should read less of Ancient Capital’s books at your age, it can affect your life. I’ll take these off your hands for your own good.”

He picked up both “Rat in the Painting” and “Abandoned Capital Old News.”

Stone looked confused, but remembering how Lu Ban had been that night, he didn’t dare make a sound.

“?”

Cui Siter watched incredulously as Lu Ban stuffed both books into his jacket, glancing at the docile Stone.

“How can you bully a kid like that, stealing his books?”

He couldn’t help but say.

“Stealing books is not really stealing, and I did it for his own good. If a teenager immerses himself in these kinds of horror stories every day, it’s not good for society or for himself, don’t you agree?”

Lu Ban argued righteously.

Cui Siter pulled a face, knowing that Lu Ban was worried about the impact of the Ancient Capital’s books on the boy, just like that mercenary, but still, this approach was too crude and simple.

“Remember, at your age, you can only read these entertainment books from eight to nine in the evening on weekends. Other times, focus on working and studying properly.”

Lu Ban added.

Stone nodded blankly.

The two thugs standing by watched the exchange between Lu Ban and Stone, somewhat dumbfounded.

“We’re going now, but I’ll come back and visit when I have the time.”

Lu Ban picked up the keys while Cui Siter and Shia got the car ready, and quickly drove out of the Abandoned Capital.

The left-behind Stone sat in the chair, apparently still not having reacted.

“Boss, what were they just…”

A thug approached and asked Stone.

“Don’t mind it, they’re my friends.”

Stone looked in the direction the car had gone, lost in thought.

…

“Let us row with both oars, as the little boat pushes through the waves…”

Lu Ban sang while enjoying the cool breeze blowing against his face.

He sat in the passenger seat, with Shia in the back. She was very interested in cars, probably because there were none in the Night Country. The girl sat up straight, her body swaying slightly with the car.

“You don’t need to be so tense.”

Lu Ban remarked, as the night outside grew deeper. This road was pretty flat, and if one didn’t think about the consequences, it felt like racing on a small country lane.

Scattered lights could be seen in the distance, indeed, just as Cui Siter had said, there were a few scattered villages along the road, no need to worry about monsters attacking.

“Can you drive?”

Cui Siter suddenly asked.

“No, why?”

Lu Ban answered decisively.

“Then we’ll need to find a place to rest later, I can’t drive all night.”

“Oh, then I’ll hurry up and get some sleep.”

Lu Ban said and prepared to lean over and close his eyes to rest.

“Stop, why are you going to sleep?”

Cui Siter was puzzled.

“Because you’re going to rest later, and you’ll definitely fall asleep, then I can’t sleep, so it’s perfectly logical for me to sleep now!”

Lu Ban said seriously.

“It does seem kinda… ”

As Cui Siter muttered, Lu Ban had already closed his eyes and seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.

“I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”

Shia, probably experiencing a car ride for the first time, quickly became carsick.

“You, don’t throw up, just close your eyes and rest for a bit, you can lie down… no, better not lie down, just sit up like that, that’s fine.”

Cui Siter was in a bit of a flurry.

Shia quickly fell into a deep sleep as well.

The night in the Abandoned Capital was silent and still.

Cui Siter drove on, as drowsiness gradually overcame him.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that the lights that had been faint in the distance had disappeared.

The whole world plunged into pitch darkness.

This feeling was very similar to being in the thick fog of the Night Country.

Cui Siter didn’t stop the car but continued to follow the road as far as he could see.

He felt a chill down his spine.

Turning on the high beams, Cui Siter suddenly saw that there seemed to be some creature ahead.

It was just a moment, and Cui Siter couldn’t react in time; the car directly hit the thing.