Chapter 116 - 36. Renie’s Self-Proof

Chapter 116: 36. Renie’s Self-ProofRiding the electric car, Fisher slowly made his way back to his residential area in the evening twilight. The evening car was packed with gentlemen who had just finished work. Workers who couldn’t afford the fare could walk if they lived near, but those who resided farther would randomly find a spot to lie down inside the factory, borrowing clothes from other off-duty workers to use as bedding.

Exhausted, Fisher returned to his apartment, where Martha had just prepared dinner. The delicious aromas from the dining room instantly stirred Fisher’s appetite, and he couldn’t wait to taste the evening meal. A voice from the radio filled the room, as a melodic lady sang in praise of sailors setting sail.

"I am Captain Blake!"

"Through the seas and the mists, pioneering every corner of the world!"

"Gold and treasure are not my true desires; it’s the thrill of adventure that I yearn for!"

"Join me on board, my treasure, and together we’ll compose an epic poem of adventure!"

Fisher paused slightly as he sipped his soup, remembering that the song must be several decades old by now, a tribute to the first wave of adventurers who set sail to explore new lands.

The song’s protagonist, Blake, was a real person. While all humanity stood on the shoreline gazing out at the sea, he heeded the imperial command and piloted humanity’s first pioneer ship into the mysterious and uncharted ocean.

After more than a decade of adventure, he circumnavigated the entire Western Continent, accurately documenting the pirates and ocean currents around the continent; he traveled through the Southern Ocean and discovered the South Continent filled with gold and treasures.

Thus, Captain Blake was also known as "the first pioneer."

But that was all decades ago. The current, over-a-hundred-year-old Blake was still alive, though Fisher hadn’t heard about him in a long time and supposed he was already one foot in the grave, sitting at home awaiting the arrival of the Death God.

"Fisher, I heard there’s going to be a water cut-off in the street tomorrow. The people from the Public Service Bureau said there’s a problem with the pipeline system. Mother Goddess bless, do you think it’s possible the officials are using our taxes to go play golf... or maybe they’re doing something even worse like gambling that’s causing the water cut-off?"

The old man’s words often carried an innate sense of humor, but the truth was probably not far off. Fisher had realized today just how expensive Pink Hall was; Trandell, that fellow, frequented the place, and Fisher would be the first to disbelieve he wasn’t taking bribes.

"Quite likely, the Council’s chairs are probably stuffed with wads of Narliou. Maybe right now, the pipeline bureau people are stealthily going to the Council to steal money to fix the pipes."

"Good heavens, why didn’t they invite me?"

Fisher chuckled, but suddenly the door behind him opened, revealing a dark-haired woman in a deep-colored gauze dress.

"Hey, Renie, you’re back? I’ve been worried about you these past few days. Fisher really doesn’t care about you at all."

"He does care about me... Wow, what’s that smell? It’s so tempting! I’m starving, let me try it."

Fisher handed Renie a bowl and spoon, and she sat next to him with a faint fragrance, rubbing her hands together eagerly like someone yearning for the food.

Fisher’s gaze lingered for a moment on her beautiful, soft black hair but didn’t rush to inquire about her activities in Martha’s presence.

If he considered Renie’s known traits, the likelihood of her being an Undead Witch seemed slim.

First of all, even if her Magic Circuit was constantly growing, having a great quantity of Magic Power didn’t mean she could be "Undying." Otherwise, Fisher’s teacher Helson wouldn’t have nearly died from attempting Pointing Magic, as the strength of a Magic Circuit wasn’t completely synonymous with the physical body’s resilience, and Renie’s body had no noticeable difference from that of an ordinary person.

Having read the Soul Completion Manual, Fisher knew the soul couldn’t be away from the body for long. Philone required means to compress and keep the soul intact, and those legendary demi-human souls appearing briefly also needed to follow other demi-humans back to their tribes for reincarnation.

The probability of the Undead Witch using soul possession or continuously reincarnating was extremely low, because each time the soul entered a new body, it would be "cleansed," retaining no traits from before, seemingly governed by some natural, iron-clad rule.

Another major suspicion stemmed from the Hart Birds that Renie kept producing.

Fisher had carefully studied Hart Birds before but came to few conclusions. The Magic Circuits of those birds were not complete; they indeed appeared as if an extra Magic Circuit from Renie had given birth to an incomplete Life form.

Renie had told him that she shared a deep connection with those Hart Birds, able to control their actions and use the Magic Power residing in them, but she couldn’t enter their bodies since she herself didn’t know how to extract her soul from her own body.

Those Hart Birds seemed like just an externalized part of Renie’s Magic Circuit, nothing more than an excess part of the Magic Circuit with no special attributes. Or if there were any special traits, Renie hadn’t told him.

The question arose, was Renie deceiving him? From what Fisher had observed from Renie so far, all matched what she had told him. A Witch only had one trait—if Renie’s was infinite Magic Power growth, then how could Carlo’s continuous regeneration be explained?

Renie didn’t possess such a trait.

After dinner, Fisher and Renie returned to their room on the second floor. Fisher locked the door carefully and closed the windows, a cautious demeanor that brought a mischievous smile to Renie, who was sitting on the couch. She pointed at her lips and said,

"Ah, could it be you’re just too eager, hurrying me back home? Couldn’t be that you’re desperate to vent your desires... But if it’s with you, Fisher, it’s okay."

She blinked her eyes and raised her slender, beautiful legs as if to tempt Fisher into making a move.

Fisher’s breathing quickened for a second, but he turned his gaze away and moved on to the reason he had asked Renie to come back,

"I have been searching for the immortal witch, and you know that."

"So it wasn’t to hang out with me..." Renie pouted, looking at Fisher, "I know. When I was out these past few years, I kept an eye out for any witches with similar traits to help you. What’s up, did you find any clues?"

Fisher looked straight at Renie, as if trying to detect a slip in her expression, but ultimately found nothing,

"I have found an Artificial Witch in the Witch Research Association known as the Undead Witch, who has a strand of black hair implanted in him. This black hair was discovered in the ruins; the witch possesses the Undying ability to regenerate and is still alive in this world."

Renie touched her chin and nodded, then looked up at Fisher,

"Is that so? There are indeed many ancient ruins in Kado, I heard. The reason so many have been preserved is that their religion before the technological revolution didn’t allow them to randomly destroy and excavate. You can give me the address, and when I go to Kado later, I’ll help you look for some clues."

"Renie, does that hair have anything to do with you?"

Instead of continuing Renie’s line of conversation, Fisher asked seriously, "Are you hiding anything from me?"

"What? No way, are you suspecting that I am the witch who left a strand of hair in the ruins? Do you suspect I am an immortal old monster, or do you think I have some other trait I haven’t told you about? Please, after you caught me lying before, I haven’t lied since, I’ve told you everything."

"I swear, if I lie to you, may the Mother Goddess bestow upon me the severest of punishments..."

Renie stuck out her tongue cutely at Fisher.

She blinked her eyes and looked at Fisher, only to find his expression unchanged, still looking at her gravely.

Renie opened her mouth, the cuteness slowly fading away, replaced by a look of disbelief. She seemed to realize that Fisher really was suspecting her, suspecting that she was deceiving him, and she caught the obvious distrust in his eyes.

Renie slowly lowered her hand, her breathing became more rapid, and in disbelief, she looked straight at Fisher. Her pretty lips pursed, her voice trembling,

"You... don’t trust me? You think I’ve been lying to you all this time?"

Fisher had not yet answered, but it seemed Renie had already gotten her answer.

Looking somewhat sad at Fisher, she hesitated before standing up. Without a word, she headed for the door, only to return quickly, carrying a knife from the kitchen, and then she locked the door.

"Look! Wuu..."

Fisher stood up suddenly wanting to snatch the blade away but she dodged him. Extending her left hand towards Fisher, she clenched her teeth and grabbed the blade firmly with her hand, gripping it tightly, the pain shooting through her nerves made her wince uncontrollably, yet she stayed silent.

"Renie!"

Fisher wrested the bloodstained knife from her hand. The blade clattered to the ground, a few drops of hot blood falling with it. Fresh blood continuously seeped from Renie’s palm, yet she stretched her hand out to Fisher without any change in expression, not saying a word, just looking at him straight.

Even without words, her purple eyes trembled slightly with pain, and her eye sockets turned red.

All traces of flirtation had vanished; she was extremely serious yet deeply hurt by Fisher’s suspicion, as if asking why he could so readily doubt her.

Even though she had laid everything out for him, even though she had been like this towards him...

The blood kept flowing from the wound in her hand, showing no signs of rapid healing, drop by drop it fell to the floor, but Renie just kept staring at Fisher, as if proving to him that she hadn’t lied.

"This is just like you! I’ve already told you everything, I haven’t lied to you, I’ve even been helping you look for that witch! Ever since I got to know you, I haven’t lied, and you suspect me over a single hair, making me think you called me back because you missed me. I can’t believe I rushed back so eagerly!"

"What do you think I’ve been staying by your side for? Why do you think I leave my clothes in your car? Why do you think I traveled halfway across the continent, flew to the South Continent and took a month-long boat ride with you? You idiot! Deceiver! Scumbag! I hate you the most, Fisher! Wuu..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her rouged eyes, drop by drop they traced down the face that was always teasing with a sly smile. For the first time, Fisher, who had never seen any other expression on her, witnessed the witch shedding tears.

She cried out of self-pity, wanting to wipe her tears away, but when she stretched out her hand, she found it covered in blood. So she resorted to using her right hand to do so.

"I... wuu... hate you.. Fisher..."