Free Web NovelChapter 313: Chapter 313: Celebratory Surprise_1
The next day, on the main road outside the prison, Aiden got into a rented coach.
"Sunset Boulevard," he said to the coachman.
Today, he planned on meeting with Melissa at the "Phantom Moon."
The arrangement of this itinerary was not due to Melifilia’s suggestion, but because he deemed it necessary to contact Melissa to gather more intelligence.
After yesterday’s meeting with Melifilia, some of Aiden’s speculations had been confirmed.
Melissa was an avatar of Melifilia and also wielded the authority over "Desire."
Having confirmed Melissa’s true identity, Aiden was somewhat wary of her.
Unlike Melifilia, who was in prison, she was an unrestrained bearer of power.
Furthermore, this bearer of power had a history of causing harm to others—though Melifilia insisted she and the love goddess, Melindale, were not the same person, Aiden was well aware that since they were avatars of the same entity, their modus operandi probably wouldn’t differ much from Melindale’s.
Up until now, Aiden hadn’t been able to confirm whether she had used the same kind of spirit assimilation power on him as she had on the nameless witch... No, the crux of the issue wasn’t about "if" but "whether." Even if Melissa hadn’t done so yet, it didn’t guarantee she wouldn’t in the future. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Regrettably, based on Aiden’s understanding of the "Goddess of Schemes," even if she didn’t act now, there was always the possibility she would in the future.
Honestly, Aiden’s aversion to such a prospect was far greater than his fear of death—rather than being brainwashed into someone else, he would prefer to be shot through the heart by Mr. Blood Garb.
Of course, if he had to choose, he wasn’t particularly keen on experiencing either situation.
Mr. Blood Garb was still an opponent whom Aiden thought he might handle by methods to rise to a saint’s level.
But the "Goddess of Schemes"... Aiden couldn’t see any chance of winning, even without considering the voluntarily imprisoned Melifilia; just Melissa alone was a true wielder of power.
When Melifilia revealed the entire truth to him, he couldn’t feel any overt anger or fear—because he clearly realized that against this Goddess of Schemes, whether he ranted in powerless fury or begged in a low voice, it would only make him look ridiculous. The ruler had neither shame nor mercy, only a playfulness utterly alien to ordinary people. To hate her or seek revenge on her was futile—she simply didn’t care. She would probably find it amusing to be sealed away in prison with Melissa.
Yet this didn’t mean Aiden wasn’t anxious; after gaining a deeper understanding of Melifilia’s schemes and methods, he realized his situation was more dire than he previously knew.
To live this second life normally, he had to deal with not just Mr. Blood Garb, but also the "Goddess of Schemes."
Even if he thought positively, there was no need to deal with the imprisoned Melifilia; he only needed to confront Melissa—but even Melissa alone was a sovereign of power, and he had no chance in a direct confrontation.
Advancing to be the bearer of "Order" was indeed a solution, but it was entirely within her expectations... In fact, it might have been her planned solution all along. Standing in the palm of another’s hand, one cannot hope to find a way to counter them.
In that case, while taking the "Order" authority, he would also need to find "support" beyond the control of Melissa and Melifilia.
To limit a sovereign, the best option would be another sovereign... or, at the very least, a sufficiently strong force.
But the only sovereign he could think of that might harbor hostile sentiments towards the "Goddess of Schemes" was the Death God, worshipped by the vampire-led Blood Moon Cult, and having once defeated the Death God’s avatar, he was essentially an enemy of the Death God.
Moreover, considering the Death God and his avatars’ past misdeeds, he wouldn’t be a suitable ally...
Aiden suddenly snapped awake during a momentary stagnation of thoughts—no, this wasn’t the time to ponder such strategies.
He was on his way to meet Melissa to gather information, and Melissa possessed the ability to read minds.
Even if he had a sudden stroke of genius, it would lose all significance after he met Melissa.
At that moment, the carriage stopped at its destination, Aiden got out, paid the fare, and strode toward Autumn Leaves Alley.
A few yards out, he heard a horse’s neigh behind him, followed by the coachman’s angry shout, "Hey, watch it!!"
Turning his head, he saw another carriage that had pulled up too abruptly from behind, nearly spooking the horses—a not too uncommon sight.
Aiden turned and entered the alley, then found the "Phantom Moon" jewelry store, its "Open for Business" sign hanging on the door handle.
The ruler of "desire" was certainly fearsome, but at least for now, Melissa wouldn’t damage him, her plaything.
Having steeled himself, Aiden opened the door to the jewelry store.
Then, in an instant, he felt something fall on his head.
A conditioned reflex made him quickly step back outside, hand on his sidearm, but then he realized what had fallen was not a trap, but a hanging celebration balloon.
The balloon popped open, and multicolored paper confetti rained down inside.
Aiden watched the scene, slightly bewildered.
"Oh no, why did you dodge?" Melissa’s voice came from inside the shop, "Now the surprise I worked so hard to prepare is wasted, isn’t it?"
After a brief moment of thought, Aiden pushed aside the dangling confetti and walked into the store.
Then, he saw Melissa standing in the middle of the store, holding a bottle of sparkling wine.
"..." After about two seconds of silence, Aiden asked, "What is this about?"
"Isn’t it obvious, it’s a celebration," Melissa said with a matter-of-fact look, "to congratulate you on obtaining the coveted unique authority you’ve long desired."
"I haven’t coveted it for long," Aiden corrected, "In the end, you pretty much forced it into my hands."
"Then consider it a congratulations on passing a test. Even if it was handed to you by me, it’s still a unique authority many dream of possessing," Melissa smiled, "You should be a little happier about it."
"..." Aiden remained expressionless, offering no reply.
"Why do you look like you’re on guard against me?" Melissa looked somewhat puzzled as she tilted her head, then she realized something.
"I see..." After reading the thoughts that had flickered through Aiden’s mind, she slowly reined in her expression... and then put on a smile very familiar to Aiden, identical to Melifilia’s, "You’ve already figured it all out, huh."
