Chapter 118: The Sophist Philosopher

The Knight Card was successfully retrieved, and the farce at the scene came to an end.

"So that’s how you swindled the Knight Card out of his hands?" The Elder sounded a bit dazed, clearly still struggling to recover from the long-winded tongue-twister Chen Fan had just unleashed.

Chen Fan corrected him, "Swindled? That’s a harsh word. It was a fair and square acquisition. He gave it up voluntarily; you can't call that swindling."

The Elder pondered this for a moment, still unable to wrap his head around it. "I’m still not quite sure. The logic you used to hoodwink him earlier—it seemed to have a few loopholes."

"Of course there were loopholes. There is no universal truth in this ancient universe. The nature of all things is like the two sides of a coin, and I simply presented the side I wanted Wang You to see."

Hearing this, the Elder knew the guy had slipped back into his philosopher persona.

The Elder commended him, "Still, pulling that off wasn't easy. I thought your retrieval work would take at least a fortnight to show any progress, but I never expected you to bag your first kill in less than three days."

"Perhaps I’m blessed with an 'Idiot Aura.' You know, a body that can take a hit and dish out damage is nothing compared to pure luck, hahahaha." Chen Fan grinned, then suddenly thought of something important. "By the way, the effect of the New Moon incident applies to other hosts as well, right?"

"That’s correct. I thought you already knew." The Elder seemed a bit surprised, but he quickly brushed it off.

Chen Fan mulled this over and said, "Then it must be a strengthening buff. The rigidity of that Knight Card was far beyond my expectations—stubborn as a mule."

"Hahahaha, that won't be fun at all, though you’ll get a chance to experience it yourself." The Elder suddenly burst into laughter.

Chen Fan paused and waved his hand. "What do you mean? I’m not an idiot. Retrieval work is best done while wearing the 'Idiot Aura.' Besides, the Knight’s abilities are quite impractical. In a fight, they’re inferior to Werewolves or Prowlers. Aside from an almost fanatical, paranoid pursuit of justice, I don’t see any advantages."

"It’s not a matter of what you want," the Elder said, trailing off and deliberately keeping Chen Fan in suspense.

"What is that supposed to mean? Don't tell me..." Chen Fan thought for a second and blurted out, "You’ve got to be kidding. Don't tell me I have to repeat the previous steps and fuse with every card I retrieve for a day?"

The Elder laughed kindly. "Bingo, you guessed it! And the time is non-negotiable—it defaults to the day after a successful retrieval. In other words, Comrade Chen Fan, congratulations! Once midnight passes tonight, you will become a glorious Knight. Though it’s only for a day, I hope you have an enjoyable experience and don't fail the organization's expectations."

"Heh, what expectations could the organization possibly have for me? They're constantly digging holes for me to fall into. I feel like swearing." Chen Fan blew at his bangs and quickened his pace.

"Oh, by the way, how did you know how to solve that problem?"

Chen Fan slowed his stride, looked around, and deliberately took a detour. "Which problem? The one with the street vendors and the inspectors?"

"Yes, that one! I’ve never seen you show any talent for politics, but it turns out you’re quite the seasoned veteran."

Hearing the Elder’s exaggerated tone, Chen Fan couldn't tell if he was being praised or mocked. He shrugged. "Law enforcement in those cases is almost always a group effort—I’ve never seen one person do it alone. And given his age, he probably hasn't been on the job long. He’s either an ignorant temp or some fresh-faced kid, full of hot-headedness and no sense of the rules—the type who loves to stir up trouble."

Seeing the Elder was interested, Chen Fan continued, "On a simpler level, the two parties might seem like adversaries—a classic cat-and-mouse game. But in some regions, they have actually reached a dynamic balance; it’s just a matter of mutual need. If you follow their unwritten rules, they turn a blind eye, and it never blows up like it did today."

"Generally speaking, the rules won't be broken as long as the people who made them are still in charge. Eh... why am I telling you this? It’s useless. You’re tucked away in a card, all alone with no companions. Just treat what I said as post-dinner chatter; don't take it to heart."

The Elder protested, "What do you mean 'all alone'? Watch this."

Chen Fan knew what he was about to do even with his eyes closed. Sure enough, with a few snaps of his fingers, the Elder was suddenly surrounded by a throng of glamorous beauties.

Chen Fan cut him off, "No need to ask—I see them. All I can say is: 'Old man, take care of your health.'"

The Elder acted like a playful, spoiled child, his air of a benevolent elder vanishing. "Don't worry, I’m in great shape. My current record is seventeen consecutive victories in one night. How about that? Impressive, right? But you’re improving fast—you managed to guess what I was going to ask next. It seems my secrets won't stay safe for long."

"After figuring out a few things, reading people has become easier," Chen Fan said, looking up at the sky with a meaningful expression. "Especially when I realized that you have shades of me in you. As long as I think about what I would say or do, I can guess your next move with fair accuracy."

The Elder retorted, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. It must be because I’ve been following you, a blockhead host, for too long. You’ve ruined my cold, aloof temperament. I’m going to disappear for a few days to get a factory reset."

Chen Fan held his flashlight, walking along the outer edge of the campus path. "Good. I’ve been an eyesore to you for a while anyway. Remember to tell the plastic surgeon to give you a younger look. The way you look now, all bloated, is not exactly a sight for sore eyes."

"No way, keep dreaming!" The Elder’s voice boomed, the vibration feeling as if he’d stuffed an indescribable stick-like object into his pocket.

Chen Fan continued to tease, "If you looked a bit more youthful, perhaps we could talk face-to-face instead of me having to keep you in my pocket. If I talk too much, I start to think I’m just talking to myself."

"You talk so much, haven't you noticed this isn't the way back to the dorms? Did you take a wrong turn?"

Chen Fan looked into the distance; the dorms were getting further and further away. The lighting on the path was poor, the street lamps dimmer than his own desk lamp. There wasn't a single night-runner in sight, and as the night breeze blew, the surrounding leaves rustled, creating an eerie, chilly atmosphere.

"Who said I was going back to the dorms? I’m out for a stroll to ease my nerves and melancholy." Chen Fan turned his head and saw a familiar building not far away—it was the club’s activity room.

"I’ll be a Knight tomorrow, so I’ll tire myself out tonight. That way, my brain won't keep obsessing over those strange notions of justice and morality." Chen Fan comforted himself as he walked toward the club.