The King of Black Fog

The fiery clouds spread across the sky, burning with the sunset, the melted sun streaked across the rooftop of the tower buildings like a layer of orange-red gauze.

The distant bell tolls, hammering the red-hot twilight like a blacksmith.

Li Changzhou locked eyes with a pigeon.

The pigeon stood on the cobblestone road, its wings tucked as if they were hands in pockets, like a gentleman in a suit looking back, as if to say, "Buddy, what's the deal, you startled me."

"Peace?" he asked.

The pigeon cocked its head a bit deeper, a bit more puzzled.

"Nuclear peace?" he asked again.

"Coo!"

"Thank you." Li Changzhou clasped his hand over his heart and bowed, performing a salute from who knows where.

Europe, Czech, Prague, local time 19:00, temperature 10°C.

Body condition, Strength 2 points, Constitution 7 points, Agility 7 points, Intelligence 7 points, Charm 9 points—no need for brute force, recommended to win with looks.

Li Changzhou left the alley and found a lady to ask which way to Banco Casino.

Flame Tower's nearby Banco Casino has a modest entrance, and once inside, one straightaway sees a corridor that allows only two people side by side, with two large vases by the door and rows of gambling machines further back.

The red carpet beneath his feet led straight to the second floor.

He didn't go in, but turned left outside the door—the casino's neighbor was an American-style restaurant called Fridays.

Li Changzhou had no money, he simply sat at the tables in front of the restaurant, waiting for someone.

Europeans passing by, with various colors of hair and eyes.

The imposing building across the street had walls like those of Xia Country's city fortresses, with two buildings connected by an arch bridge.

Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance—Li Changzhou remembered these architectural style names, but he was no longer clear on what they specifically looked like.

Seven minutes later, Yang Qinglan emerged from the alley across the way.

As night fell, pedestrians on the streets increased, but she immediately caught sight of Li Changzhou, and he saw her at the same time; those with outstanding looks always attracted more attention.

A smile involuntarily crept up the corners of Li Changzhou's mouth.

Yang Qinglan, crossing the street, seemed to smile as well, but after checking the vehicles coming from both directions, she looked back at Li Changzhou and her smile vanished.

"Qian Xia hasn't arrived?" she walked across the crosswalk, approached, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Not yet." Li Changzhou pointed across the street, "Take a seat."

The waitress who had just asked if Li Changzhou wanted to order came back to inquire again, and he still replied, "Thank you, we're waiting for another friend," then apologized with a handsome smile.

The people passing by on the street, much like drivers glancing at traffic lights, would certainly take a look at the two of them.

There is a cross-racial effect between different races, commonly known as face blindness, but no matter the skin color, genuine beauty can break through this effect.

The two were indeed good-looking.

"All contestants have seen Qian Xia's appearance, hopefully, she can smoothly meet up with us." Yang Qinglan surveyed the surroundings with her gaze, using her Perception to check for any hostility.

"Don't worry."

With her there, Li Changzhou relaxed, looking as laid-back as if he were out for late-night snacks.

"There might have been danger before, have you forgotten she's no longer human now?"

"Not human?" Yang Qinglan was stunned for a moment, then quickly caught on.

She laughed, "I forgot, she now..."

Before she could finish, a Snowy Owl dived down from above their heads, its fierce, sharp talons landing on Li Changzhou's shoulder.

"I could hear you two gossiping about me from a mile away!" The Snowy Owl pecked at Li Changzhou's face.

"What the heck!" Li Changzhou dodged with disgust, "Turn into a human before you come kiss me."

"I'll kiss you, I'll kiss you, I'll kiss you! I really like you!" The Snowy Owl flapped its wings at him with each declaration.

Yang Qinglan coughed lightly.

Already attracting the attention of the Czech folks around, the addition of a divinely handsome owl... some stopped in their tracks and pointed their phones at them.

Li Changzhou whispered to the Snowy Owl, "Go find an empty residence, drop my photo inside, and return here in half an hour."

As Li Qianxia took off, she gave him another wing slap for good measure.

Li Changzhou rubbed his eyes, having been scratched by a feather—it felt like the time when Li Qianxia's ponytail whipped into his eyes.

"Let's go," said Yang Qinglan.

He blinked and stood up.

The two turned and walked into Banco Casino, a gambling establishment.

They had no capital, but before Li Changzhou could use his charm to win based on looks, a lady voluntarily approached to strike up a conversation.

She indeed wanted to talk to him.

Li Changzhou stood tall, his smiling face slightly roguish, yet with a flair of privileged youth, as his straight legs carried him with unruffled ease.

"Hello," said the lady with gray cat-like eyes.

"Hello," Li Changzhou smiled back.

The lady's heart felt like it was grazed by a feather, a bit of accelerated heartbeat, a bit of anticipation.

"Are you Asian?"

"Hmm," Li Changzhou nodded, scanning the casino while the lady stared at his handsome profile.

"Never been to a casino," he explained with a smile as he looked away.

The lady's cat-like eyes almost drowned in those sparkling black orbs.

"The first time is the most magical, please give it a try," the lady said, giving him a 100-crown chip with a smile.

She wanted to give Li Changzhou more, even asking if he was free that evening, but Li Changzhou declined.

Then it was Yang Qinglan's turn — when handing over the chips, Li Changzhou gave an apologetic smile to the lady with the gray eyes.

"Watch our surroundings," Yang Qinglan whispered, taking a seat at the dice table.

With 7 points in 'Intelligence' and 7 points in 'Perception,' they mostly won over the course of half an hour.

During that time, Li Changzhou did as she said, keeping a watchful eye.

The female croupier wore stockings, hmm, flammable.

At that moment, Yang Qinglan, who had collected a large amount of chips, glanced at him.

In every corner of the casino stood security guards in white shirts and black suit pants, hands crossed in front of them, with earpieces clipped to their belts.

They looked like boxers, intimidating, just like in the movies.

To be honest, even their appearance seemed the same to Li Changzhou.

Half an hour later, as they left the casino, the lady reached out and pinched Li Changzhou's arm gently, staring at him reproachfully.

Li Changzhou smiled and handed her a handful of chips.

Yang Qinglan watched it all.

So, as soon as they stepped out of the casino, Li Changzhou spat resentfully, "Capitalism! Corrupt activity!"

He straightened his collar, restoring the look of a socialist successor.

This time, when sitting in front of that shop, Li Changzhou finally had the money to order.

The two drank Zatec dark beer, ate fried pork ribs, enjoyed the evening breeze, and admired Prague's street scenes, looking entirely like a couple on vacation.

"Miss Yang, guess what I thought of when you walked out of that place just now?" Li Changzhou pointed across the street to an alley.

Yang Qinglan followed his gesture, then turned back to him and asked, "What?"

"A dream walking out of the alley. For a moment, I felt the street go silent, the intellectuals ceased their verbal sparring..."

"Raymond Chandler's lines," Yang Qinglan sipped her orange juice, her clear eyes seeking clarification as she looked at him, "Are you plagiarizing?"

"Why hasn't Qian Xia come back yet."

Yang Qinglan smiled sweetly, the hint of reproach in the corner of her mouth a thousand times lovelier than that of the lady with the gray eyes, truly a dream.

When Li Qianxia returned, seeing the food on the table, she pounced on Li Changzhou, showering him with fierce kisses.

"Here, here, I saved some for you!" Li Changzhou grabbed her beak (mouth) and handed her a pork rib.

The Snowy Owl pecked at it bit by bit, her button-like stiff eyes also revealing joy.

After finishing the meal, the three of them left the main thoroughfare and entered an alley.

Li Changzhou looked at Yang Qinglan, who nodded slightly, confirming there was no one around, and the three of them twisted their bodies, spiraling into a vortex.

Li Qianxia had found a loft-style apartment, except for the bathroom, the bed, kitchen, and living room were all in one space.

The second floor was a small platform with only a bed and a small wardrobe, still connected to the overall space.

"How is this place?" Li Qianxia, back to her human form, asked them.

"Hmm," Yang Qinglan looked around and nodded, "Not convenient for a man and woman, but it's safe, and safety is the most important thing right now."

"Let my brother sleep downstairs, we two can sleep upstairs."

"I don't mind," Li Changzhou picked up a photo previously placed by Li Qianxia and hid it under the mattress of the large bed in the living room.

"Qian Xia, after dark, find some safe and hidden places to put up the photos," he instructed.

"Let me rest a bit first," Li Qianxia flopped onto the bed.

Yang Qinglan checked every corner of the room to make sure there were no cameras.

Li Changzhou also leaned on the bed and casually turned on the TV. The news had no mention of terrorists planning to attack Prague.

Hasn't the mayor of Prague received the message?

Or is it that this Prague is just a projection of reality?

"By the way, brother," Li Qianxia's face peeked out from under the covers.

"Hmm?" Li Changzhou changed the channel.

He had heard Czech adult films weren't bad.

"Now all the players know about me, will they come to assassinate me? I don't mean now, but in reality," Li Qianxia asked with concern.

"Do you have a feud with them, or are you hiding something valuable?"

"Nope."

"Then why would they go out of their way to risk their lives to kill you?"

"Well, there might be a reason, right? Like those who like to kill for no reason – White Cards?"

"After we get back, we'll discuss it with Zheng Qing," added Yang Qinglan, having finished checking the room, "The state doesn't want to see players acting out in public areas, and if we keep an extra eye out, we should be fine."