Chapter 198: Lance, Savior of Villains

Outside, raindrops continued to tap against the window. This backdrop of nature's music also served as a reminder to the people in this dim storeroom: time was running out, and every second was slipping away.

"Fenix, if your sister ends up with a severe mental illness, and you, the only relative she can rely on, are thrown into prison, can you imagine the kind of life she'd lead in a psychiatric ward? And considering she's the younger sister of a high-profile criminal from the Church of Resurrection... how do you think she'd be treated?"

Inside the room, the Poet of Boundless Love kept pressing Fenix with those airy, lilting words.

"Stop it... please... spare Phyllis..." His voice came out in broken, ragged gasps. His bloodshot eyes were constantly welling up with tears.

He fought desperately to keep those images out of his mind, but they flooded in uncontrollably. Driven by the Poet's hypnotic voice, they pushed him to the brink of madness.

Finally, Lance, seated at a table not far away, waved his hand and commanded, "Alright, Poet, it's time to come back."

The Poet looked at Lance and clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. "Tsk, I was just getting into the groove."

Lance cajoled, "I'll let you out to play more often later."

"No." She was unhappy about being interrupted while doing something she enjoyed.

Lance added, "I'll make you a new skin."

The Poet looked at him quizzically. "A new skin? What's that?"

Lance nodded and explained, "Good question. A skin can alter your appearance. Aside from your facial features, I can pretty much change your entire look. You won't need to buy extra clothes. You can just use an enchanted card to switch outfits instantly."

He had created the Tier 3 White equipment card, Cartoon Mask, during his card maker registration exam. Its purpose was to equip a summoned creature with an item that softened a menacing appearance into something cute, thereby altering the creature's look. If Lance combined this with the principles behind the Polymorph: Demon spell card, he should be able to craft a custom appearance-changing card specifically for the Poet.

Although it served no practical purpose other than aesthetics and would take up an extra card slot in Lance's repertoire, it could lower the chance of the Poet being recognized by others. When they traveled to the Northern Continent and were restricted from openly using her sonic magic abilities, having an extra avatar capable of telepathic communication would still prove quite useful.

Furthermore, Lance wasn't sure if there would be a market for these novel enchanted cards that granted summons exclusive "skins." Since each one would be a custom commission, the price would inevitably be steep. Unless someone was a die-hard fan of a particular summon, they likely wouldn't buy such cards from him.

"Quick, quick! Let's get to work!" The Poet immediately stepped up to Lance and tapped on his desk. Then, following his cue, she dissipated and reverted into her card form.

She was clearly intrigued by the possibility of these costume changes, so much so that she practically wished her exclusive wardrobe cards would fill up every single slot in Lance's deck.

"You two..." Hyperion felt a sense of unease as she watched from the sidelines. If Miss Tali ever found out that Lance and the Poet were using her likeness to play dress-up games like this...

After the Poet vanished, Fenix gasped frantically for air, his heart pounding in terror. He was like a drowning man who had just broken through the surface. He stared intently at Lance, who was sitting behind the desk.

After witnessing Lance command a summon of such incredible, logic-defying power, Fenix found it increasingly difficult to gauge the true extent of the man's strength or the number of secrets he harbored. He even began to wonder if, back at that demon academy, Lance had truly been the terrifying, evil entity that he and his sister had perceived him to be.

Lance first turned on all the lights in the storeroom, then unlocked Fenix's shackles and handed him a steaming cup of black tea before returning to his seat behind the desk.

With a hint of apology in his voice, Lance said, "I apologize, Fenix. My summoned creature might have been a bit too aggressive."

Hyperion silently noted down Fenix's statements. She knew Lance was indeed a conservative. In fact, he had always felt that the "Radical Faction" was actually too conservative.

Fenix listened quietly with his head bowed, not daring to rashly interrupt Lance. Although the surroundings had shifted slightly, transforming the atmosphere from an interrogation room into the meeting area of a student council office, his heart remained cold. The Poet’s words still echoed in his ears.

"First, let me assure you. None of the scenarios the Poet described will come to pass."

Lance gazed at Fenix with a gentle expression. Unlike the Poet, his tone and demeanor were impeccably upright and dignified.

Fenix couldn't tell if Lance was being sincere or speaking in code. To his ears, the statement seemed to carry an underlying implication: "If you don't cooperate, then what the Poet outlined will happen."

Lance finally finished his opening remarks, so he then said, "I trust you are ready to turn over a new leaf. So, have you considered forsaking the darkness to join the light?"

By this point, both Lance and Hyperion had gained some insight into the situation. For instance, the fact that every teammate they encountered in their first Shadow Realm challenge had actually been there by a mix of chance and inevitability.

Fenix's younger sister was not a member of the Church of Resurrection. However, the fact that he had brought her along to Purgatory Corridor Academy and again on this trip to the Kingdom of Hutton showed just how important she was to him.

He simply couldn't bear the thought of leaving her behind alone in the Kingdom of Yaloran. One look at Fenix's current expression made that obvious.

With his head still bowed, Fenix asked with a hoarse voice, "Do I have a choice?"

He knew these demons would act just like the Cardinal of Destruction: using his sister's life as a bargaining chip to force him to serve them wholeheartedly.

Years ago, as a young boy, he had faced the Cardinal of Destruction, who was a god-like figure who had immolated their entire town. He had wagered his very soul to propose a deal. It was that gamble that had piqued the cardinal's interest, allowing both the younger him and his unconscious, critically ill sister to live.

He was now prepared to sell his soul to a devil once more. Even if it meant eternal damnation, he was resolved to protect his sister until his final breath.

With a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, Lance replied, "Of course. I'm hardly one of those cardinals from the Church of Resurrection, devoid of humanity and steeped in villainy. I am, quite obviously, a fine young man of the Kingdom of Hutton: law-abiding, compassionate, and worlds apart from that lot. You can feel free to open up to me."

Fenix felt a chill running through his entire body. He dared not reveal the deep skepticism he felt regarding Lance's statement.

After all, Lance didn't look to be joking. To contradict him might well provoke his anger. He might claim that "the prisoner's ideological awareness was still lacking" and subject him to another round of "treatment."

Lance continued in a calm, steady voice, "Regardless of whether you ultimately repent or not, once we confirm your sister's innocence, Ikerite University will ensure she is no longer harassed by the Church of Resurrection. She is her own person, and you are yours. Your fates are separate. That is all there is to it."

He paused and then said, "I am willing to help anyone in need. Even if you feel redemption is beyond your reach, so long as you sincerely repent, I will give you the chance to turn over a new leaf and walk the righteous path. You are important to your sister, too, aren't you? You are the only person she trusts and relies on. For the sake of Phyllis' happiness... give it some thought."

Having said this, Lance cupped his teacup and fell silent, giving Fenix time to reflect.

Fenix knew that Lance was unfathomable—dangerous and mysterious. At this very moment, he felt, inexplicably, that this demon who radiated a brilliant, luminous aura and possessed emerald eyes that pierced right through to his innermost thoughts was the only one capable of offering him salvation.

It was a repeat of that time in the headmaster's office at Purgatory Corridor Academy, when the Radiant Demon had protected both himself and his sister.

Terrifying though Lance was, Fenix found himself harboring a tiny flame of hope. If only he could belong to the same faction as him, then he would gain his protection. That thought brought a sense of reassurance unlike any other.