Chapter 875: Sixty-eight. The truth
Lu Li stared at the Giant Tree Professor, waiting for his explanation.
“There was never a second returning exorcist, only you, sir.”
Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne revealed the truth.
Klein Manifested University was too eager, they began promoting without confirming Lu Li’s identity.
The Giant Tree, the Church, and the City Hall could not stop it in time and had to remedy the university’s oversight—by creating another exorcist more important than Lu Li to replace him, expose him, and protect him.
This was difficult, as the story of Lu Li nearly solving the third disaster alone spread across the Barren Lands, and hardly anyone was unaware, nor could they find a more renowned choice.
So they resorted to a clever ploy—using the identity of Yenada Mathews, one of the founders of Midnight City, and an exorcist.
He was not as good as Lu Li, but he meant more to Midnight City.
Then, they picked the most famous actor from the Midnight City theater, Stan Rosano, to play Yenada Mathews.
The substitution plan began.
This is why “Yenada Mathews” appeared a day later than Lu Li.
The plan proceeded orderly, with the appearance of “Yenada Mathews” quickly overshadowing Lu Li.
However, it almost went wrong when the disguise imposed by Giant Tree University on “Yenada Mathews” was nearly broken by Lu Li’s left hand.
Realizing the undercurrents of Midnight City, they carried out the final phase of the plan: substitution.
Stan Rosano, playing Yenada Mathews, led the Knights Order to crash the Lange family gathering to “expose” Lu Li’s identity, and took him to a dungeon for protection.
After everything was done, he went to the City Hall square to give a speech, simultaneously luring out all the hidden plots and schemes.
The heretics and conspirators indeed caused some trouble. Although the sweet bait was right there on the square, some still sensed something and found the dungeon’s location, broke in, and attempted to take Lu Li away.
This was the reason for the sound coming from the Lost Passage half a day ago.
When all the petty thieves and conspiracies were resolved, they released Lu Li and came to the Alchemical Tower to explain everything.
A fairly good ending: the conspirators were eliminated, Midnight City became a little cleaner, and the decoy was still alive.
Except for some prisoners who wrongfully died in the dungeon.
They gave Lu Li a chance to verify: by letting him touch Stan Rosano and erase his disguise.
Lu Li did not refuse, and he reached out to grasp Stan Rosano’s wrist. Stan Rosano grimaced in pain.
A few seconds later, Stan Rosano’s skin began to melt, revealing his true appearance—a middle-aged man with brilliant blonde hair.
An almost imperceptible humanity surged into his body as the skin dissipated.
Was that some kind of anomaly?
“You didn’t need to hide it from me.”
Lu Li withdrew his hand, the possibility of them lying was minimal.
“Just to avoid unnecessary trouble.” Meg from the Midnight Church suddenly responded coldly.
“We must be wary of anomalies that can capture thoughts,” Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne explained.
He gestured that Stan Rosano could leave. Stan Rosano bid farewell and told Lu Li “It was a pleasure to associate with you” before leaving the top floor of the Alchemical Tower.
Lu Li sat back on the sofa, crossed his long legs, and calmly observed them: “What will you do next?”
“The substitution plan is complete, and the air in Midnight City is much cleaner… You can leave anytime, but for safety, we don’t recommend you being too high-profile, after all, none of us can bear the cost of losing a hero.”
Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne watched Lu Li’s profile, who was gazing out the curtain wall, and added, “May I ask what you plan to do next?”
“Leave Midnight City and go to the Main Affinity Continent.”
Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne’s crow’s feet deepened with a frown: “Because of our offense…?”
Lu Li withdrew his gaze: “I am going to find… the Shadow of the Maiden and the merchant.”
“With your stature, many things don’t need your personal involvement,” Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne suggested, “and I personally think you need to learn some Weird Times knowledge to protect yourself.”
The knowledge from the Old Era is now mostly obsolete.
However, for some reason, Lu Li declined his suggestion. Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne stepped back and invited Lu Li to visit the Giant Tree.
Lu Li did not refuse again, agreeing to be picked up by him tomorrow at Klein Manifested University.
Meg from the Midnight Church seemed disinterested in entangling with Lu Li, other than that sentence, she did not speak again nor represent the church in saying anything.
The top floor of the Alchemical Tower had a way down, without needing to walk through the “cabinet.” Before leaving the Alchemical Tower, Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne seemingly remembered something and kindly said, “Don’t worry about slanderous rumors spreading about you, they are controlled at the upper levels, and as the matter is resolved, your status is restored, and you don’t need to worry about your reputation being affected.”
“See you tomorrow.”
After saying goodbye, Meg’s black robe suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, collapsing until only a robe was left on the sofa.
“What happened to her?” Lu Li frowned.
“This is knowledge from the Weird Times,” Professor Ernie Hamilton Wayne said meaningfully. “I still have some matters to discuss with the Alchemist, please leave first.”
Lu Li said nothing more, leaving the tower top via the spiral staircase of the Alchemical Tower, returning to the ground.
The area around the Alchemical Tower was constantly guarded by knights from the Knights Order, a carriage had been waiting at the front door for a long time.
Lu Li boarded the carriage, which slowly carried him away from the base of the Alchemical Tower.
Tomorrow, all mysteries will be revealed after going to the Giant Tree.
The carriage’s destination was Klein Manifested University. Lu Li’s return allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief—the news that Lu Li was an imposter nearly made them faint, but thankfully he was cleared not long ago, and everything was merely a conspiracy against the conspirators—
or should I say, a plan.
Katerina wasn’t there, Dean Lawrence said she was visiting the Lange family’s estate.
The timing was right after Lu Li was taken by the Knights Order.
Did the clever Thur Lange discover the truth? Or was it just noble opportunism?
But one thing was clear: from beginning to end, the noble factions were the ones being played—
Thur Lange warmly welcomed Lu Li, claiming he would host another banquet for him later, which Lu Li refused again.
At the same time, Thur Lange revealed an interesting piece of information: Katerina had been hired as the Captain of the Guards for the Lange family.
Lu Li found her when she was in a luxurious guest room, drunk.
“Food, wine, and male servants, everything is so great…” Katerina slurred, her expression blurry as she clutched a bottle. “But they are far worse than you…”
As Katerina muttered her inner thoughts, Lu Li left the room silently.
It was time to part ways.
Lu Li reached Midnight City and learned his next move.
Katerina also got what she wanted.