Going to Antarctica was not a simple matter—mobilizing resources and gathering personnel would all take time. But Duanmu Huai wasn't in a hurry anyway; it wasn't something that could be done in a day or two.
What he was in a hurry about… was something else entirely…
Why the hell did I come to watch this thing…
Sitting in a VIP seat at Lanxin Theater, idly watching the performance on stage, Duanmu Huai couldn't help but feel like yawning.
Opera, drama, Peking opera—these were all things he simply couldn't appreciate. Listening to the actors' stylized tones on stage just gave him a headache.
Thankfully, the play was already nearing its end. Finally, the curtain slowly fell, and cheerful applause erupted throughout the theater.
Including Lorena and Mary beside him, who were both clapping enthusiastically.
"Phew… finally over."
Duanmu Huai yawned, then sat up and lazily clapped a couple of times.
"Mr. Duanmu, you don't like this play?"
Seeing his expression, Mary asked curiously.
"This is a famous work adapted by the writer Bram Stoker and performed by Henry Irving!"
"I'm too much of a commoner to appreciate this stuff."
Duanmu Huai waved his hand helplessly. Seeing Mary's sparkling eyes, he sighed inwardly. Looks like Mary is just a normal fangirl too… well, nothing wrong with that.
"If he did something like The Trial of Galileo, maybe I could sit through it. But Romeo and Juliet? No matter how you adapt it, it's still the same story. Back in my hometown, we've got something similar—more romantic than this even. After they die, they turn into butterflies together."
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai stood up.
"Alright, let's go. The performance's over, time to head home."
Originally, Duanmu Huai hadn't wanted to come watch any opera. But Lorena got lucky and won VIP tickets—three of them, no less. Not wanting to waste them, he brought Mary along too. Unexpectedly, that young lady got so excited upon hearing they'd be watching a performance by that pretty-boy named Henry, she was practically like a Leonardo fangirl.
Duanmu Huai had even thought he might take the chance to cultivate some taste and appreciate high art.
But in the end…
Forget it. Teacher Mikami suits my taste better. 2D is still better than the Mona Lisa. Guess this is just how I am for life.
So Duanmu Huai spent one to two hours in the theater in a half-awake daze—easily one of the most painful experiences of his life.
He silently swore to himself: even if it killed him, he would never come watch this kind of stuff again. No different from Peking opera—endless drawn-out singing that made his head hurt, all about lovey-dovey nonsense and melodrama…
If I can't get through Dream of the Red Chamber and end up reading Romance of the Western Chamber instead, that's not my fault.
Thus, while Duanmu Huai looked bored and exhausted, Lorena and Mary were walking ahead, chatting excitedly about the opera. Apparently, there were similar performances in the Holy City, so Lorena was far more receptive than he was. Even though she didn't know the lead actor and didn't have any celebrity fascination, she still enjoyed discussing the plot.
Honestly, girls really do like this kind of romantic stuff.
Watching the two girls chatting animatedly ahead, Duanmu Huai sighed quietly. In this regard, he simply couldn't relate to others—whether it was An and Grea, or Lorena and Mary. This emotional fascination with romance that women had was something he just couldn't understand.
When they arrived at the station, Lorena went to buy a ticket for Mary, while Duanmu Huai and Mary stood aside waiting. By now, Mary had calmed down from her earlier excitement of seeing a famous performer and looked curiously at Duanmu Huai.
"Mr. Duanmu, you really don't like this kind of play?"
"Strictly speaking? No."
"Eh? Why?"
Hearing his answer, Mary was taken aback. Duanmu Huai glanced at her.
"For girls like you, this kind of love—where the two only have eyes for each other—must seem romantic, right? Being willing to give up everything for each other, not caring about death or destruction, only wanting to be together. Isn't that how it is?"
"That's true… isn't that okay?"
"Thinking about it is fine. But for an Inquisitor, this kind of intense love only brings trouble and complications."
Duanmu Huai snorted.
"Think about it, Mary. Romeo grieves over Juliet's death and is even willing to drink poison and die for her, right? Now imagine—when Romeo is in despair, a demon appears and tells him: if he's willing to make a contract and destroy the world, it will revive Juliet. What do you think Romeo would choose?"
"Th-this…"
At that moment, Mary finally understood—this wasn't just a story to Duanmu Huai.
Then, as he said… what would Romeo choose?
The world had prevented his love with Juliet. If a demon truly offered such a deal, would Romeo accept?
To trade the entire world… just to revive his beloved?
"The sin of obsession begins with obsession itself. A heart consumed by love becomes something others can exploit, until you end up as nothing more than a pawn."
Duanmu Huai let out a cold snort.
"So don't ever go too far in anything. If Romeo hadn't loved Juliet so extremely, he wouldn't have rushed to drink poison upon seeing her fake death, and the whole thing wouldn't have turned into a tragedy."
At this point, Duanmu Huai glanced at Mary.
"Remember this too—just because something is done in the name of love doesn't mean it can be forgiven. Even Romeo and Juliet—if they dared to destroy the world for their own sake, I wouldn't show either of them any mercy."
"Haa…"
Mary nodded blankly after hearing his words. She felt like Duanmu Huai's words carried some deeper meaning directed at her—but… what did it have to do with her?
It was just a play…
"Ah, it's Mary!"
Just then, two lively voices rang out nearby. Mary turned her head and saw two children running toward her from across the street.
"Long time no see, Mary—!"
As they spoke, the two children stretched out their arms, clearly wanting a hug. Mary instinctively bent down—but then quickly turned and dodged them. The two kids weren't discouraged at all; instead, they grinned mischievously.
"Hey, you really are Mary? Didn't expect you to be this quick. Are you really that slowpoke Mary?"
"Hmph, I'm not the same as before."
Looking at the two children, Mary smiled proudly. She had every right to—after Lorena's Spartan-style training, her speed and reflexes had improved significantly. These little brats' pranks no longer fazed her.
"You two are still the same. How have you been lately?"
"Pretty good!"
The boy nodded.
"Business is going well, and we're working under a pretty powerful boss now. Making good money too."
"Sounds like you're still as capable as ever. That's a relief, Kainz, Ellie."
Looking at the boy and girl, Mary smiled gently. They weren't her siblings, but street children she had met in the past. After getting to know each other, they became friends.
At that moment, the two kids noticed Duanmu Huai standing not far away watching them, and immediately shrank behind Mary in fright.
"Whoa, Mary, who's that?"
"Ah, he's… Mr. Duanmu. He looks scary, but he's actually a good person."
Mary hurried to introduce them.
"Mr. Duanmu Huai, these two are Kainz and Ellie. They're my friends…"
"I see."
Duanmu Huai nodded, then crouched down to look at the children.
"Nice to meet you. Hmm…"
Halfway through speaking, he paused, then reached into his coat and pulled out a few banknotes.
"First time meeting you, and I don't have any proper gifts. Take this and buy yourselves something you like—consider it thanks for taking care of Mary."
"Whoa…"
The two street kids widened their eyes in shock when they saw the money. But soon, they grabbed it and carefully tucked it away. The boy patted his chest with a grin.
"Don't worry, sir! We'll definitely make sure Mary doesn't get bullied."
As he spoke, he looked at Mary.
"Seriously, Mary, so you've become some rich guy's mistress, huh? You should've told us earlier!"
"Yeah, yeah! You're being too distant, Mary. If you'd told us sooner, we would've prepared a gift!"
"Eh?!"
Hearing their words, Mary's face immediately turned red.
"That's not—!"
But before she could finish, the two little brats had already run off down the alley.
"Ugh…"
Watching them disappear, Mary felt speechless. But… Kainz's words did make her realize something.
In other people's eyes… is this the kind of relationship I have with Mr. Duanmu?
Thinking this, Mary secretly glanced at Duanmu Huai. She often went out with him, but because of his strange ability, most people couldn't even see him. So she had never really thought about it before. But now that she did—an unmarried young lady walking around at night with a tall man dressed in luxurious clothes…
It really didn't look like an ordinary relationship.
If Ashelica saw this, she'd definitely think Mr. Duanmu was some kind of bad person.
Thinking of Ashelica gave Mary a bit of a headache. Recently, since she had been seeing Duanmu Huai often, Ashelica had started asking who she was meeting and what kind of person he was… She had managed to brush it off each time, but…
Sigh… they probably won't run into each other, right?
With that thought, Mary withdrew her gaze and looked forward again.
But this time, she felt her heartbeat quicken slightly.
Maybe, just like before… she was just startled.
(End of Chapter)