Chapter 260: Streams of Destiny Will Converge at the Source

Chapter 260: Streams of Destiny Will Converge at the Source

Prinport, Southwill County

At the residence of Lord Steddan, Ince Zangwill finally took a hot bath, changed into a new set of clothes, ate a delicious dinner, and rested on a warm, cozy bed.

The recent ordeal at sea once again tempered his mind, making him recall a quote from Roselle: "Whatever does not kill me, only makes me stronger!"

This was his most genuine feeling at the moment.

Knock! Knock!

The sound of knocking came from outside the door, causing Ince Zangwill, who had intended to sleep until dawn, to open his displeased eyes, a hint of coldness appearing on his face.

He eventually left the bed and went to open the door.

Standing at the entrance was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a protruding belly, eight diamond rings adorning his fingers, and half his head bald.

Lord Steddan, the nobleman who had taken him in and allowed him to reside here.

He could hardly be called a kind-hearted person who helped those in distress. He simply happened to know Ince Zangwilland had a favor to ask of him.

Under 008's arrangement, he naturally encountered Ince Zangwill in his destitute state on the street and enthusiastically invited him to stay at his residence as a guest.

"Well, I came to see if you need anything else," said Lord Steddan with an awkward smile, his hands fidgeting uneasily, his gaze shifting, clearly indicating that he had come to ask Ince Zangwill for a favor but was wary of his current reputation.

Ince Zangwill, with a stern expression, said, "If there's anything you need my help with, say it. Otherwise, leave and don't disturb my rest."

"May I come into the room to discuss?"

Ince Zangwill stepped aside, watching as Lord Steddan's obese body squeezed through the narrow doorway, muttering that the door was too small and needed to be replaced tomorrow.

Once inside the room, Steddan first sat on a chair but found it uncomfortable, so he got up and sat on the bed, his large buttocks wriggling a couple of times before he displayed a satisfied smile.

Seeing him defile the bed where Ince Zangwill had just rested, Ince's mood became even more unpleasant.

"Can you speak now?"

"I know you're a powerful extraordinary being, and I'm aware that you're currently being hunted and wanted. I invited you to stay here out of consideration for our past acquaintance. Of course, I'm not the kind of person who expects favors in return, but I happen to have a troubling matter recently."

Ince Zangwill remained silent, gesturing for Lord Steddan to continue.

Lord Steddan tilted his head slightly, his right index finger caressing each of the four diamond rings on his left hand.

"Yesterday evening, while strolling on the street, I happened to spot a rather attractive young lady. I was quite smitten and wanted to invite her to my residence as a guest. However, there was a young man with her who severely beat the men I sent, even kicking me to the ground."

"I've been entrusted by the Grand Duke to guard this port for so many years, and this is the first time I've been humiliated on the street like that. Like the Grand Duke, I value my reputation greatly, and a nobleman's honor cannot be insulted."

"Of course, I could send the port's garrison to restore my honor, but that would be too much trouble. Fortunately, I happened to encounter you, and I know you have a way to bring that young lady to my residence as a guest and make that young man disappear."

Ince Zangwill listened silently, his eyes filled with scorn.

Inviting a young lady to his residence as a guest? It was clear that he was attracted to her beauty.

With such an obese body, he might even crush her, constantly thinking about that one fidgety thing.

"You'll help me with this favor, won't you?"

"Do you know the background of that young lady?"

"No, she's not a local but a newcomer to Southwill County."

A newcomer to Southwill County?

Ince Zangwill immediately became wary. Could that young lady be from the Witch Cult?

They had left Beckland to head for the Southern Continent, and based on the timing, they should have arrived in Southwill County before him.

But then again, if she were truly from the Witch Cult, this fat pig would already be dead in bed.

Seeing Ince Zangwill's prolonged silence, Lord Steddan said in a deep voice, "Currently, the ferries to the Southern Continent have been suspended. If you want to go there, you'll need a private ferry, and I can help you do so discreetly."

"That's a tempting offer," Ince replied.

"Of course, I'm always generous with my friends," Lord Steddan laughed heartily, the diamond rings on his hands glistening.

"What does that young man look like, and what are his specific features?" Ince Zangwill asked cautiously.

Lord Steddan struggled to recall, then said, "Oh, that young man was quite handsome, with a small black cat perched on his shoulder."

A small black cat?

Ince Zangwill caught the sensitive detail and probed further, "Does he have striking blond hair and a Beckland accent?"

"Yes, that's right. Do you know him?"

"Mm, I know him."

"Your friend?" Lord Steddan's expression turned sour.

"No, more like an adversary."

"Hahaha, well then..." Lord Steddan's expression softened, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. However, before he could finish his words, the Ince Zangwill before him had already grabbed his throat with one hand and strangled him to death.

With an incredulous look in his eyes, Lord Steddan lay motionless on the bed, a pile of greasy flesh.

"Why offend him of all people?" Ince Zangwill muttered, disgusted as he used the bedsheet to wipe his hands, which had been tainted with a hint of grease.

"Every time I encounter him, it brings me misfortune. I should leave this place soon."

Ince Zangwill sighed resignedly. He had only wanted to find a place to rest properly, but he still ended up encountering something related to hastur.

As 008 had said, fate was beginning to converge.

If he was a stream of destiny, then hastur was the source, and he was inevitably drawn into it.

He didn't linger in the room any longer. After gathering his belongings, just as he turned to leave through the window, the supposedly dead Lord Steddan suddenly opened his eyes and came back to life, reaching out with his burly arms to tightly embrace Ince's waist.

The strength was immense, far beyond what a living person could exert.

Ince Zangwill felt as if his waist was about to be crushed, his face turning blue, his heart nearly squeezed out of his throat.

"Soothe soul!" he attempted to calm Lord Steddan's departed soul, but to no avail.

He quickly opened a portal nearby, trying to summon powerful beings from the Spirit Realm to help him escape his predicament.

However, the surrounding area seemed to be cut off from the space, preventing him from summoning any beings from the Spirit Realm through the portal.

Left with no choice, he had to fully manifest his mythical form.

His flesh and blood swelled and pulsated, sprouting four arms covered in veins and white feathers.

With his immense power, he easily broke free from the embrace, Lord Steddan's body exploding into fragments.

The intense commotion drew the sound of hurried footsteps.

Knowing that there were others watching him from the shadows, Ince Zangwill dared not end his mythical form.

He could only crouch down like a wolf and swiftly leap towards the window, landing on the roof of the neighboring building in an instant.

At the same time, he took out 008 from his pocket and began writing on his clothes: "Today, Ince Zangwill was very lucky. His enemies were in a state of disarray due to a momentary lapse, allowing Ince Zangwill to escape their encirclement."

At that moment, the dark night sky suddenly brightened as a massive fireball, like a shooting star, hurtled towards Ince Zangwill's location.

This was originally one of his favorite techniques, but now it was being used against him!

"The meteor deviated from its course, narrowly missing the fortunate Ince Zangwill," 008 wrote another sentence.

The massive fireball grazed Ince Zangwill's right shoulder as it crashed down, the scorching temperature instantly charring his shoulder, emitting the aroma of roasted meat.

Boom!

The fireball struck a room, exploding violently.

More fireballs appeared in the sky.

Ince Zangwill's scalp tingled with fear, and he didn't dare linger any longer, quickly retreating into the Spirit Realm.

The powerful beings from the Spirit Realm that 008 had lured earlier caught up with Ince Zangwill in just a few breaths.

He fled in a panic for a distance, then returned to reality from the Spirit Realm, while 008 wrote: "The powerful beings from the Spirit Realm, unable to reference coordinates in reality, ultimately lost track of Ince Zangwill."

Back in reality, Ince Zangwill used 008 to write sentences indicating that his pursuers could not catch up to him.

After completing all this, he finally ended his severely damaged mythical form, utterly exhausted.

To escape those two powerful beings from the Spirit Realm earlier, his mythical form had nearly been torn apart, and he had to sacrifice two of his arms to successfully flee the Spirit Realm.

Adding to that, he had been injured by the Five Sea Kings and had been drifting at sea for a while. If he had maintained his mythical form any longer, he would have either self-destructed or completely lost control and become a monster.

"Should be safe for now, right?" Ince Zangwill gasped heavily, his entire being wavering between this life and the next.

"Don't worry, it's safe for now, but only temporarily," a voice spoke from in front of him.

Ince Zangwill looked up to see a handsome young man with golden hair smiling at him.

hastur Campbell!

The bane of his destiny!

The unique existence that even 008 could not script!

He never expected to encounter him at this moment!

(End of Chapter)