Lanevus was laughing, laughing happily, laughing mockingly.
The slight upward curl at the corner of his mouth made the ridicule especially obvious.
Klein and Leonard didn't know what Lanevus was laughing at, but a chill crawled up their spines, and panic burst in their hearts.
If it were only Lanevus, the two of them could work together and basically keep him here.
But if Megose was nearby, then things would be drastically different.
They didn't have the confidence to deal with the offspring of an evil god.
Silently, Klein reached into his pocket and took out a Sun Flame Charm, gripping it tightly in his right palm. It was currently his strongest offensive method, and it restrained evil forces the most.
At the same time, in his left palm, he held the Mr. Azik's Copper Whistle. The cold feeling calmed him down.
Leonard tensed up, full of vigilance, but mocked with his mouth: "You're just a clown arranged by someone else."
"Yes, you're right. I have indeed been pushed forward along a path arranged by others."
Lanevus 's mocking smile deepened, but he continued speaking with a gentle expression: "But the two of you are more pitiful than me, because you are about to die."
"The one who should die is you!" Leonard shouted, preparing to finish Lanevus before Megose arrived.
But behind him, a voice sounded, gentle, with a hint of laughter.
"Death? My child says he really likes that taste... the taste of fear."
Leonard froze instantly, cold sweat breaking out, terror filling his eyes.
"Klein, looks like we're destined to stay here today."
Leonard and Klein stood back-to-back. One watched Lanevus, the other looked toward Megose.
The feeling of helplessness in this deadly situation was overwhelming.
Leonard's lips curled slightly upward, just like Lanevus 's, but the mockery was directed at himself.
If he hadn't been so naïve, so wary of the Old Man, refusing to advance to a higher sequence, he wouldn't be so powerless today.
If the Old Man hadn't purposely reminded him today, he wouldn't have boarded the carriage with Klein. Then Klein would have faced this alone, and he would have absolutely died.
This was a dead end! A series of coincidences arranged by Ince Zangwill to kill Klein.
Regret? His intestines were practically green with remorse!
"I'm really curious, how were you able to see through my arrangements?"
"Simple. Because your so-called intelligence isn't much better than a curly-haired baboon's." Since they were already in this situation, Klein didn't mind provoking Lanevus a little more.
"Heh, are you provoking me?"
"I'm just stating an obvious fact."
Lanevus didn't get angry. Still smiling, he said, "I should thank you. If you hadn't suddenly seen through my plan, I wouldn't have turned back. Then I wouldn't have made it in time for my child's birthday."
Klein frowned. He felt that there was another meaning behind Lanevus 's words.
"I no longer have time to set up another surprise, but fortunately, you came to me. Maybe that's the best arrangement."
Lanevus stared intensely at Klein, but he made no move, as if calculating something.
"Hurry up and kill them. My child is getting impatient."
Seeing Lanevus continue chatting with Klein, Megose grew irritated. Her left hand gently stroked her swollen belly; her right hand scratched her scalp, tearing off a small clump of bloody hair.
Lanevus 's gaze softened, his tone gentle: "Don't rush. Let our child wait a little longer."
"My child tells me you're stalling. You want to leave me and the child. How could you think that? We are a family."
Megose lifted her head. Her beautiful face was already slightly twisted. She raised a hand, grabbed her own cheek, and tore off a strip of flesh, long, dripping with blood.
Smiling, Lanevus spoke gently: "My beloved Megose, how could I abandon you and our child? He is the crystallization of our love, the proof of our relationship."
"But my child says you're lying. Do you not love us at all?"
"He's still young. He might not understand what love means. Tell him to calm down. You wouldn't want him to grow up into someone impatient and irritable, right?"
Under Lanevus 's gentle persuasion, Megose's agitation visibly subsided.
At this point, even Klein and Leonard realized something was off in Lanevus and Megose's relationship.
Lanevus seemed to be stalling Megose, the delivery of the child in her belly.
He wanted to run, but Megose wouldn't let him. She wanted him to stay, with her and the child.
A family drama?
It wasn't that simple.
Lanevus clearly knew that once the child in Megose's belly was born, he wouldn't be able to avoid death. That was why he acted so strangely.
Klein and Leonard exchanged a glance. They understood each other instantly.
Right now, the best tactic was to delay time!
Delay the birth of Megose's child, together with Lanevus!
Cold sweat ran down Klein's forehead, but he forced a smile: "I've always been curious. As a con artist, you could've just cheated money. Why did you get emotionally involved with Miss Megose? That's not something a competent con artist should do."
Lanevus smiled. "That's because you don't understand what kind of charming girl Miss Megose is. She's pure and adorable, different from anyone else. The moment I saw her, I decided, even if I couldn't con a single coin, I would fall in love with her."
"So, Lanevus, you had such dirty thoughts about me from the start?"
Megose's tone was delighted, her lips curling softly. Her expression became gentle.
Only the bloody torn flesh on her face ruined the romantic atmosphere.
"How could that be dirty? Any man would chase a perfect woman. And you are the one I've always been waiting for."
Lanevus truly deserved his reputation as a con artist, his tongue could express feelings even he didn't believe.
"Lanevus, for someone like Miss Megose to fall for you, a con artist, how did you win her heart?"
Leonard joined in, continuing the topic to let Lanevus show off his romance scammer skillset.
"Of course, I once felt inferior because of my occupation. I even thought of giving up. But every time I remembered Miss Megose's sweet smile, I regained motivation. Even if it was just to see that smile again, I could never give up."
Lanevus looked deeply at Megose as he spoke.
"Your words always make me intoxicated."
Megose responded gently, then tore off another bloody chunk of her golden hair and tossed it aside, it landed right at Leonard's feet, making his face stiffen.
"Lanevus, the love between you and Miss Megose is truly enviable. Would you mind letting us hear how you two got together, so we can experience a taste of romance too?"
Klein reacted quickly, shifting the topic to Lanevus again.
"Do you mind letting them hear our love story?" Lanevus continued staring affectionately at Megose.
"You always ask embarrassing questions."
Megose shyly replied, pressing a hand on her belly. Softly, she whispered, "My child, don't be impatient. Listen a bit more. You must want to know the love that created you, right?"
"Of course our child should know how deeply his parents love each other."
Just as Lanevus was about to continue crafting his love story, several figures appeared in the distance, rapidly approaching.
It was the Red Gloves squad chasing Klein!
Lanevus 's smile disappeared, leaving only a heavy mocking sneer. He spoke with shocking coldness: "Megose! You filthy woman. I never loved you. I slept with you only to make you pregnant, with the offspring of an evil god!"
"No! You're lying! You love me!" Megose's expression twisted violently. Her face contorted as strips of flesh slid down with blood.
"I didn't come back because of love. I just didn't want my carefully prepared present to be opened by someone else before I used it!"
"No! You're lying!"
"You, and that thing in your belly are burdens! A disaster! I wish it would die already!"
Every word was like a sharp blade hacking into Megose.
"Stop him!" Klein and Leonard realized what Lanevus was doing.
He was provoking Megose, forcing her child to be born right here!
Before they could catch up, Lanevus had already bolted.
Behind them, a suffocating aura erupted from Megose's belly!
The world dimmed instantly. Darkness swallowed everything. The air filled with countless black, cold, slimy threads,
Like wriggling tentacles.
Without looking back, Klein made a decisive choice. In a deep voice, he uttered a word in ancient Hermes:
"Light!"