Chapter 364: A Different Nemo

A few members of the Knight Order wanted to resist, but over a hundred Law Enforcers had already surrounded them, even bringing out light submachine guns and aiming them at the group.

If this were happening in the real world, the Knight Order wouldn’t have been the least bit afraid; they could have just run for it.

But this was the Virtual World.

That Law Enforcer over there, the one who looked like he ate so many donuts he needed two belts, was probably a Level 55 powerhouse.

His obesity was just a disguise, his fat was his armor. Once he flexed his biceps, who could possibly contend with him? With a point of his doughy fingers, gods and demons would flee.

And he was just an ordinary Law Enforcer.

The young, blonde policewoman looked fragile and delicate, an easy pushover. But she was the squad captain, probably already Level 65. A single sneeze from her could grind a person to dust. Any lewd fantasies about her were nothing but a foolish dream.

Realizing they were surrounded by Law Enforcers, the seven of them had no choice but to walk out with their hands raised, staring at Duan Fei with blank faces.

Lancelot tried to flash some of his mature-man charm, but the captain immediately twisted his arm behind his back and slammed him against the roof of a car, cuffing his hands in an instant.

After a quick pat-down confirmed he had no dangerous items, the squad captain flashed her badge and said coldly, “According to our investigation, you’re connected to a murder case. You’ll have to come with us.”

“Evidence!” the Magician immediately yelled. “Where’s your evidence? Even a frame-up has to follow the rule of law!”

“We don’t have any,” Duan Fei said. “But is there a problem with asking you to cooperate with an investigation by the Law Enforcers?”

“Duan Fei! You’re so despicable! I love it!”

Taking a step back, Duan Fei looked at the Magician in disgust. “I know I’m amazing, but being liked by you makes me feel not so amazing anymore.”

“I’m a girl, you know! And a pretty one in real life! Don’t you guys spread your legs the moment any girl says she likes you? Come on, let me see if you’ve developed properly!”

Resisting the overwhelming urge to kick her, Duan Fei turned to the captain. “…How many years do you get for harassing a Law Enforcer?”

“Not for too long, but we’ll do what we can.”

The group was taken away. Duan Fei, leveraging his celebrity status at the police station, had the seven prisoners placed in separate cells. Then, he went to meet privately with the person he’d come to see: the Clown.

Before entering the interrogation room, Duan Fei requested the feed be blocked so the Great Mages outside couldn’t see what he was doing.

This privacy measure was designed to protect Descenders, as some didn’t want their abilities revealed to others. It was a request the Mages had approved.

The Clown looked the same as always.

He wore a red-and-white bodysuit and a garish jester’s hat. His face was covered in thick makeup, one half pitch-black, the other snow-white.

But the Clown, a figure who was supposed to bring joy to others, didn’t look happy at all.

Once the feed was blocked, Duan Fei entered the interrogation room, shut the door, and took a gas lamp from his backpack, handing it to the Clown. “Here. Your thing. I’m giving it back.”

Taking back the gas lamp, the Clown let out a sigh of relief.

This gas lamp was his signature item. A purple, Epic Level gas lamp, it allowed him to perform three large-scale teleports within a single instance, which was the reason the Madhouse had let him in.

He had lent the gas lamp to Duan Fei, and now that it was finally back in his possession, a great weight was lifted from his shoulders.

Although he trusted Duan Fei and believed in his integrity, an item of such strategic importance was best kept in his own hands.

After stowing the gas lamp, the Clown finally managed a smile. “Thank you. Without this, they definitely would have suspected me.”

“Don’t worry about it. You look exhausted.”

“It’s mostly from dealing with those lunatics. It’s exhausting. Imagine you’re an orderly in a mental hospital, surrounded by seriously ill patients. Then one day, they riot. They kidnap all the doctors and the director and take over the hospital by force. At that point, your only option is to put on a patient’s gown, play along with them, and pretend you’re a madman too. How do you think you’d feel?”

“Sounds like fun,” Duan Fei said immediately.

The Clown’s eyes widened like saucers. He then said helplessly, “I should have known. Anyone the Magician takes an interest in can’t be normal.”

“Why does the Magician like me? I don’t think I have any qualities that would attract the attention of a creep like her.”

“Your brand of crazy, probably. The Magician has a thing for people who are insane and have their own unique sense of aesthetics. Also, watch out for Nemo. Something’s off about him.”

“Good. Any other intel?”

The Clown sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know much. My performance hasn’t been great, so the Magician isn’t happy with me. That means I’m not privy to much information. And I need to be clear: my mission to infiltrate the Madhouse is a top priority. So, going forward, I’ll be fighting you with everything I’ve got. I hope there won’t be any hard feelings when the time comes.”

“Understood. Let’s give it our all.”

Just as Duan Fei finished speaking with the Clown and was preparing to give the others the third degree, the interrogation room door opened. The captain was standing in the doorway. “Duan Someone, let him out,” she said. “The one called the Acrobat confessed and then committed suicide. The Chief believes we can consider this matter closed. Let him out.”

‘Sacrificing a pawn to save the rook… The Magician’s pretty sharp to have thought of that so quickly.’

Duan Fei thought for a moment. He knew this was the Magician’s gambit: sacrificing a pawn to save the rook. She had abandoned the Acrobat to secure the rest of the group’s release.

Besides, the Acrobat was a Servant. It would only cost 200,000 to revive him later. That was far more economical than cooperating with the investigation.

Upon death, all of his previous crimes would be wiped clean. Although the revived Acrobat would be the same person, as far as the system was concerned, he would be a newcomer.

Still, all things considered, it had been a productive day. He’d interfered with their plans, cost them 200,000, and figured out the location of their base.

Knowing there was no point in staying, Duan Fei let the Clown leave. A few minutes later, he prepared to head back himself.

But at the entrance to the headquarters, Duan Fei found them waiting for him.

There was the Magician, dressed in an evening gown; the powerfully built Strongman; the Acrobat, wearing only tights; the Clown; and Nemo, who looked so normal that among this group, he seemed the most abnormal of all.

As Duan Fei walked out, the Magician gave an exaggerated bow. “You’ve taught me a lesson, Duan Someone,” she said.

“Where’s my tuition fee?” Duan Fei asked, digging a finger in his ear.

“Oh, I do like your sense of humor. But from now on, I’m going to be even more despicable, more insidious than you. I’ll show you who the real star is around here.”

“Mhm. Good luck with that.”

With a dismissive wave, Duan Fei prepared to hitch a ride.

As he left, he glanced back instinctively and saw that Nemo had also turned to look at him, his gaze cold.

Unlike the old Nemo, who would fly into a rage at the slightest provocation, the Nemo before him now seemed unnaturally calm.

His indifferent gaze held nothing but pure rage, and it made Duan Fei realize something.

Nemo, it seemed, was truly different now.