I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

Chen Lun entered the tower, and the initially dark view suddenly brightened.

Similar to a motion sensor light, luminous patterns lit up on the inner walls, illuminating the surroundings. He noticed a figure standing in front of him, shrouded in cloth, with only the hands and head exposed, which were covered with blue crystals, obscuring its face.

"I have seen Ms. Fleurette."

Chen Lun greeted the figure with a hand on his chest.

However, the other party remained still, offering no response.

"That is a sculpture I made with my own hands..."

A female voice came from above, sounding slightly helpless.

"Come up the stairs beside you, I'm at the very top."

Chen Lun paused for a moment, then nodded calmly.

"Yes, Ms. Fleurette."

Because he was very aware that he was about to face a high-ranking mage, he dared not use Peek Life haphazardly, which prevented him from immediately identifying the identity of the crystal-covered figure... But as long as he wasn't embarrassed, the embarrassment remained with others.

Chen Lun, as if nothing had happened, turned and stepped onto the staircase, walking upwards.

Along the way, he surveyed the layout inside the tower, finding that each level wasn't very spacious, hosting only one or two rooms, all with their doors tightly closed, leaving what was inside a mystery.

When he reached the thirty-third floor, he found no rooms but a rather spacious hall instead, its bookcases filled with books of all sizes, and in the corners, several carved scroll holders containing parchment scrolls.

Wall-mounted papers, scribbled in either black or deep blue handwriting, showcased a mix of patterns and texts, even including a few complex and profound array rituals, which Chen Lun could only shallowly comprehend with his knowledge in mystery studies.

'Probably the principles of some magic and some procedural steps of rituals,' Chen Lun thought after a brief inspection.

The hall was filled with a distinct woody aroma, enriched by burning, likely some type of incense... Chen Lun's gaze then moved to the tall silhouette standing before the crystal-clear floor-to-ceiling window.

This was a woman with long blue-purple hair, dressed in a plain linen robe, embracing herself with both hands as she looked out through the clear crystalline window, overlooking the darkness beneath the volcano's crater.

"Ms. Fleurette."

Chen Lun bowed to her.

"Hello, Jack."

The individual slowly turned around, revealing a mature and attractive face, particularly her blue-green eyes, profound and aged, filled with a sagacious presence.

"I have read the hand-written notes and letters; thank you for bringing them to me."

Chen Lun observed Fleurette's indifferent expression and couldn't help but criticize inwardly:

'I remember Carmen's notes were filled with poorly written love poems dedicated to his mentor... Yet she seems unfazed by them; Carmen really is a pathetic sycophant, poor guy.'

Unexpectedly, the next second, Fleurette took out a cigarette and lit it, her gaze weary and melancholic as she spoke in a low voice:

"That disappointing pupil of mine, always trying to prove himself to me... Now years away, I truly worry about him."

Chen Lun listened and felt that the reality was somewhat different from what he had thought.

It seemed Fleurette did still harbor feelings for her pupil... but it was not romantic love, merely a simple concern for her junior.

Meanwhile, formerly a seasoned player, he sensed the scent of a "mission" that clearly wasn't of a low level. Thus, Chen Lun adjusted his expression and spoke earnestly:

"Mr. Carmen's notes have been immensely helpful to me, which is also why I was willing to travel far to deliver them... Although I am not powerful, I would still like to offer additional help, Ms. Fleurette, if there is any way I can be of assistance?"

"Such a warm-hearted young man,"

Fleurette exhaled a cloud of smoke, remarking emotionally.

The smoke wasn't the pungent tobacco smell of ordinary cigarettes but rather an unusual herbal fragrance... It seemed akin to some kind of homemade "revitalizing cigarette."

She took a drag from her cigarette and shook her head slightly.

"As you said, Jack, your power is indeed limited, and while I appreciate your intention, you can't do much to help..."

Fleurette's eyes grew nostalgic as she continued slowly:

"My pupil Carmen, he learned some things about my past accidentally. Ignoring my advice, he insisted on going to the Dark World to fulfill my wishes, but he has since been trapped there, unable to escape."

Chen Lun thought it over and felt this situation wasn't entirely without hope, so he continued:

"Ms. Fleurette, I currently hold a position as a Governing Officer at the Righteous God Church's Generous Council, and I'll soon join the Imperial Judiciary... The Spirit World has been unstable lately, and I might be ordered to investigate matters in the Dark World. Perhaps I can look for Mr. Carmen along the way... Maybe by utilizing the power of the Imperial Judiciary, we could even help him escape?"

"I know you, Jack, through Divination I foresaw some future events,"

Fleurette nodded thoughtfully.

It seemed Chen Lun had persuaded her; she put down the cigarette between her fingers and stared at him for several seconds, meaningfully.

"Since you are adamant about helping, then I'll entrust this task to you."

[Triggered A-level Mission: Gatekeeper's Concerns!]

Mission Description: Fleurette, the hermit of Meteor Tower, has always been concerned about her student Carmen, who went alone to the Dark World years ago to fulfill Fleurette's wishes, but has since not returned. Utilizing her powerful Divination skills, Fleurette learned that her student is trapped in the darkness, unable to escape... And due to some other reasons, she cannot leave Meteor Tower.

You volunteered to find and help Carmen escape the Dark World and return to the present world.

Mission Target: Locate Carmen and assist him in leaving the Dark World to return to the present world.

Mission Rewards: 500,000 Experience Points, 20 Attribute Points, 10 Special Attribute Points, increased Affection from Fleurette and Carmen, and unknown rewards.

'Accept the mission.'

Chen Lun felt a surge of joy and silently confirmed the acceptance of the mission.

Meanwhile, through the name of the mission, he developed a bit of curiosity.

'Gatekeeper? Are you referring to Fleurette... Then, which gate is being guarded?'

Chen Lun thought about the location of the Meteor Tower, the crater of Mount Augusta, and guessed that the so-called gatekeeper might refer to the person guarding the volcano.

Immediately afterwards, he recalled the conversation they had had, and found it somewhat strange.

Fleurette gave him the impression that she was playing hard to get, as if deliberately declining and evading, prompting Chen Lun to take the initiative to offer help.

"Cough..."

Fleurette gave a light cough, snuffed out the cigarette, and then raised her eyes to look at Chen Lun a few times.

"I don't have anything valuable to offer as compensation, but here are some homemade cigarettes. I hope you won't mind," she said.

She took out a palm-sized box and handed it to Chen Lun.

[Supernatural Item: Fleurette's Hand-rolled Cigarettes]

Item Description: Cigarettes infused with magic power, made by the hermit Fleurette using dozens of strange herbs mixed with Augusta volcano rock powder, possessing a powerful effect of restoring Sanity.

Chen Lun was surprised; he hadn't expected Miss Fleurette to gift him such an item.

Although the box was small, it actually contained an extensive internal space. It wasn't just a few cigarettes as Fleurette had mentioned... but stacks of them, hundreds perhaps.

Each Refreshing Cigarette was actually equivalent to a bottle of Serenity Potion, which, to him, was a generous gift. After all, this was not a task reward, but an extra gain.

"Thank you for your gift, I will do my best to find Mr. Carmen for you," Chen Lun said, carefully pocketing the box.

Fleurette nodded, then sat on the ground. Subsequently, she summoned the green-blue crystalline doll from the bottom of the tower and ordered it to massage her shoulders.

"Jack, I have another concern, I wonder if you could help me?" she suddenly said.

Chen Lun's eyes brightened.

'Hmm? Another task?'

He immediately replied:

"Miss Fleurette, please go ahead."

"Well, it's like this..."

Fleurette indicated the surroundings, her expression melancholic.

"Due to special reasons, I cannot leave the Meteor Tower freely, so many supplies and supernatural materials are delivered by people from the Naturalist Sect... Although I have a good relationship with Lady Elk, I don't want to keep taking her things for free... ahem, do you understand what I mean?"

Chen Lun was momentarily startled.

Was this great mage implying she was short of money?

'Don't all high-positioned beings have an incarnation... Can't even her incarnation leave this place?' he thought to himself. Pretending to be enlightened, and very tactfully, he took out an Imperial Bank note, writing the sum of twenty thousand Gold Pounds on it.

"Miss Fleurette, this is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept it... You, as a high mage, bothered by mundane financial troubles, must have devoted all your energy to the pursuit of knowledge, which I greatly admire," Chen Lun said, extending the certificate with both hands respectfully.

Fleurette hesitated, glanced at the certificate, then handed it back.

"Never mind, I can't accept this money," she said.

Chen Lun was taken aback again, as her response was always beyond his expectations.

The feeling this great mage gave him reminded him of the Cat God Maggie—similarly a high authority but without airs, instead filled with humanity.

He knew Fleurette wasn't being polite.

She considered it too little...

"Miss Fleurette, I am not short of money, I just hope to help you with this insignificant matter," Chen Lun internally grimaced in pain, yet maintained a polite smile on his face and took out another certificate for thirty thousand Gold Pounds, totaling fifty thousand Gold Pounds when added together, and handed it over.

Fleurette looked at the two certificates, her face uncertain.

"This money must have taken you a long time to save up... Though I haven't visited the city for centuries, I understand that making money is not easy," she said, naturally accepting the certificates and handing them to the crystalline doll behind her.

[Fleurette's affection for you has increased! Currently Friendly!]

'Fifty thousand Gold Pounds for the affection of a high mage in magic, not a bad deal...' Chen Lun consoled himself.

He kept his smile, noting that Fleurette's lips were also filled with pleasure.

Meanwhile, the task of delivering the message also popped up a completion notification—

[Completed A-Level Mission: Messenger of Love Letters!]

[Mission Rewards: 100k Experience Points, 100 Gold Pounds, increased affection from Carmen and Fleurette, and an unknown reward (already obtained "Fleurette's Hand-Rolled Cigarettes")!]

[Fleurette's affection for you has increased! Now Intimate!]

"You are an exceptional young man, Jack," Fleurette said with satisfaction, nodding her head as she took out another cigarette to smoke.

Her beautiful face bore those blue-green eyes that showed admiration.