ATAPOW Chapter 260
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Chapter 260: Unveiling The Disguise
“As long as you’re willing to sell, money is no object… And, if you could include the instructions for these ‘toys,’ I’d be most grateful.”
“Instructions?? What do you mean? What am I supposed to pass on to you?” Bohlmann’s eyes widened in confusion, his expression turning noticeably stiff.
“With acting skills like that, old man, you wouldn’t have to worry about making ends meet in showbiz. If you’d started early, you might have accumulated several mountains of gold by now.” Standing a few feet away, Ji Bai wiped his sword absentmindedly. “So why this? Why put all this effort into running a business that robs and murders your guests?”
“What exactly are you talking about, Sir Knight? …Do you really think that an old man with one foot in the grave like me would cook up such stories to deceive people?” The innkeeper looked visibly agitated, unable to make head nor tails of the sudden and seemingly absurd remark coming from the knight.
“The truth of this matter is between you and your conscience. Forgive my directness, but I find it very strange that you would remain here, knowing full well the horrors lurking in this building. Anyone with half a brain would do anything just to sell the place off. Money is good and all, but you need to be alive to spend it, don’t you?”
“Are you really suspecting me, Sir Knight? I am an old bag of bones who has sunk every last coin of my life savings into this place. It’s all I have. Without it, where else could a helpless old man like me go?” Bohlmann gave a bitter smile.
Ji Bai remained silent, yet the gaze from behind his helmet was as sharp as a blade, chilling the old man down to the core. The innkeeper felt exposed, as if he had been seen through completely.
“Do you know why I haven’t cut you down with my sword yet?”
“That’s because I sensed neither malice nor killing intent from you. Otherwise, your head would’ve long been separated from your body.” Before Bohlmann could even respond, the knight answered his own question.
“You’re not making any sense, Sir Knight. You can’t just throw such serious accusations around with a few casual words. That’s not how things work.”
“On the contrary, I think I’ve been perfectly clear. Your acting skills and courage are truly impressive. Had you not slipped up, I might have actually believed your performance.” Ji Bai said, wiping [Tranquility]’s blade. He noticed the old man’s eyes were fixated on his sword.
“The truth is, you’ve been to my companion’s room, am I right?”
“Me? What reason would I have to go there? Besides, I don’t have the key. Your accusation makes no sense at all.” Bohlmann argued.
“You’re lying.” The knight suddenly turned to the innkeeper and spoke, his tone deliberate and unwavering. “And the proof is the blue hair stuck in the keyhole of his room.”
At these words, the old man’s expression faltered slightly.
“I suspect those hairs were originally placed at the edge. I understand his intentions – he wanted to check if anyone entered his room while he was away. And as the innkeeper, you would naturally have a spare key, no?” Ji Bai spoke in a confident and logical manner. “Your story doesn’t add up at all.”
“Like I said, Sir Knight, I really did not enter your companion’s room. You too are aware that this is no ordinary building. We’re not the only residents here.” Bohlmann’s face darkened, clearly angered by the poorly-timed and baseless allegations coming from his accuser.
“Oh? So you’re absolutely certain I won’t find your footprints in that room then?”
“I’m the landlord. It’s perfectly normal for me to inspect and clean the rooms daily. What’s so strange about that?” The old man logically retorted.
However, the knight only shook his head. “You’ve been far too hasty.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You were reluctant to be my guide, yet you showed remarkable familiarity with these rooms, as if you knew every detail by heart. This doesn’t match the dusty, abandoned condition of the upper floors.”
“Since we set foot on the second floor, you’ve been leading me by the nose, keeping me on the defensive. I imagine all of this has been orchestrated by you from the start, hasn’t it?”
“It’s human instinct to seek safety and avoid danger. Fleeing to the third floor, a more dangerous and unfamiliar area, in that situation? That’s not something you can just chalk up to panic.”
Ji Bai enunciated each word deliberately. His eyes studied the now silent Bohlmann as he subtly assumed a combat-ready posture.
“Tell me – why did you do this? It’s clear you weren’t after his meager possessions. Where is he now?”
“…Oh well, I suppose there’s no room for negotiation then.” The old man’s resigned tone gave way to a smile that shattered his demeanor.
“It was never my intention to harm any of you.” He took a step forward. “Young knight, if I return your companion, will you keep this secret between us?”
As he spoke, Bohlmann tossed a wooden puppet carved with the name ‘Gordon’ onto the ground and began chanting a strange incantation.
Soon, the puppet’s outer layer began to peel away, revealing an increasingly familiar face.
‘So that’s it. Living people are used as raw material for these puppets. No wonder I felt like I was being watched whenever I came close.’
Ji Bai dragged the unconscious Gordon behind him and faced the old man, never losing his grip on [Tranquility] throughout.
“So, it’s come to this… Why? I really didn’t want to resort to violence. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone if we just pretend this never happened?” The innkeeper shook his head.
“Feigning ignorance now doesn’t mean I won’t spill the beans in private. Do you really trust me that much? Or do you have some secret spell to ensure my silence?”
“How astute of you, young knight.” An unsightly grin spread across Bohlmann’s wrinkled, age-spotted lips. “Those liars and oath-breakers, who knows where they are now. But I can guarantee this: the very instant they opened their mouths, they were turned into puppets.”
“So you’re saying all the figures in the building were made from living people?”
“That’s none of your concern. Just tell me if you’ll keep this secret.” The old man conjured a ball of blue, ghostly energy in his hand. A dark shadow burst through the floorboard. Footsteps clattered in the corridor outside as countless marionettes poured through the narrow doorway into the small room.
“You’re just an outsider in the first place. Why not just walk away and leave this all behind?” Seeing Ji Bai’s silence, the old man coaxed, his voice laced with persuasive patience.
“What if I refuse?” The knight said. To compromise and turn a blind eye to people being cruelly turned into puppets would go against everything he stood for.
“Is that so? What a pity. I’ll have to use more forceful measures then.” The innkeeper let out a regretful sigh. “Why make this so difficult for yourself? I don’t want to hurt you, but don’t think for a second that I can’t.”
Before his words had even faded, the figures surged forward, encircling Ji Bai. Their heads dropped to the ground like scattered beans as if creating a distraction, while an unseen force seemed to tug at his soul, trying to wrench it out from his body.
“To me, Radiant!”
“Crash!!” A suit of dark silver armor, engulfed in a dense black aura, materialized at his summons, its power sending the marionettes flying backwards as if struck by an overwhelming force. They slammed into the walls like debris in a whirlwind, their limbs splayed out in comical poses.
Despite the severe damage it sustained, the Radiant armor showed no signs of weakening. The mysterious miasma enshrouding it had seized the opportunity to repair and begin merging with it, enhancing its power.
As a result, a thin strand of this energy, imbued with a faint trace of [Divine Might], successfully penetrated itself into [Radiant]’s core. Ji Bai could sense that its durability had increased significantly.
He swung [Tranquility]. The dark figure, poised for a sneak attack, narrowly avoided the blade’s edge. Taking several steps back, it stared at the black sword in his hand with deep fear and apprehension.
“That beat-up sword is no ordinary weapon…” The old man narrowed his eyes. As his eyes fell on the dark-silver armor tinged with black, he realized this would be a formidable opponent.
“Stop, knight. There’s no need for us to fight.”
“I could stop under the right terms.”
“So there are conditions behind this? I can agree to everything within my power, but my secret is non-negotiable.”
“I don’t know what your game is, but first, you’re going to free these puppets and restore them to human form. Then, you’ll tell me who taught you this vile sorcery, and accompany me to the Knight Order to turn yourself in. Otherwise, the conversation ends here.” The dark aura continued to emanate out from the knight’s armor, reflecting the intensity of its owner’s emotions.
“You want me to leave this place??” The old man’s face darkened, as if he had crossed some forbidden line. Any thoughts of compromise instantly vanished into thin air.
In response, the dark shadow that had attempted to strike earlier revealed its true form: A hunched, hideous old man.
Ji Bai lunged at the elusive assailant, attempting to strike him down first, but the puppets surged forward, forming a protective barrier around him and overwhelming the knight.
“Out of my way.” He channeled the black aura coiled around his gauntlet, punching through the barrier and sending the old man flying. [Tranquility] followed swiftly, slicing at the first construct that approached.
“Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!” The sharp clash of metal tore through the dark room, shattering its silence.
In a flash, Bohlmann had parried the black sword aimed at the puppet.
“Young man, put down that sword. This blade inflicts irreparable harm to the soul. You wish to save the souls inside these puppets, not obliterate them, right?”
Ji Bai did not expect the elderly innkeeper to step forward so bravely, just to save a mere marionette.
He fell silent, pulling [Tranquility] back towards himself.
He did not know that this sword could actually harm souls. And if Bohlmann planned to use this knowledge against him, there was nothing he could do.
“Stand down, all of you.” The innkeeper commanded. Both the shadow and the advancing puppets froze briefly before obediently falling back.
The knight was taken aback.
‘The relationship between them doesn’t resemble that of a captor and his prisoners. What is actually going on here?’
“Old as I may be, I can assure you that I haven’t sunk so low to use such underhanded methods. Extortion is beneath me.” Bohlmann said, as if reading Ji Bai’s thoughts. “Since you intend to apprehend me, how about we make a bet?”
“Let’s settle this with a one-on-one duel. Whoever loses must do one thing for the winner – what do you say?” As he spoke these last few words, the old man’s heavy, hoarse voice transformed, becoming youthful and energetic — completely unlike a man in his twilight years.
He removed the black top hat from atop his head.
(Image of Lil’ Sha)