HBWnovel Chapter 176: Chapter176-Too Deep into the Role
Chapter 176: Chapter176-Too Deep into the Role
"So, what you're saying is..."
"Next, we're going to find this Rachel and see if we can get any new clues from her. If that doesn't work, we have a backup plan, right? That marine guard named... Sherry! Yes, Sherry."
"Wait, are you sure the fabricated memory of this pursuit won't be exposed? And how do you even know where this Rachel lives?"
[Deception] turned around, smiling, "Of course, I don't know. But he does, doesn't he?"
As he finished speaking, the passerby from earlier walked out of the tavern, looking dejected. John clicked his tongue and whispered, "You're planning to deceive him again?"
"Tsk, how can you call it deception? In his eyes, we're childhood friends, reunited after a long time. Now I'm giving him a hand when he's down. Is that deception?"
[Deception] rolled his eyes and walked over to the passerby.
"Fila? And Leonard? I thought you had already left."
"Plans changed. I can't bear to see my good friend suffer over a woman, so we're going to help you."
Hearing this, the passerby was stunned for a moment and asked, "Help me? How?"
"Naturally, by accompanying you to see Rachel. Here, this is a gift I prepared for you. I've seen a lot of good things during my travels. Take it and present it to Rachel in your name. I guarantee she'll like it."
With that, [Deception] took out a beautifully crafted bracelet. The passerby looked at it and quickly refused, "No, no! This is too valuable!"
"Take it without worry. We're friends, aren't we? What do you think, Leonard?"
[Deception] gave me a look, and I immediately understood, agreeing, "If we can see you and Rachel together, we'll feel at ease to continue our journey. So, take it."
"You guys..."
Hearing this, the passerby teared up, looking as if he might cry.
"I haven't done anything, yet you're doing so much for me..."
"Alright! Swallow those tears and take us to see Rachel. It's been so many years; I'm sure she'll be pleasantly surprised to see us."
"Alright! Let's go, I'll take you there!"
The passerby put away the bracelet, then smiled and grabbed John and [Deception] by the wrists, leading them away. They passed through the outer city gate and traversed the streets of the middle district until they reached a residential area.
"After all these years, I've only moved from the outer to the middle district. When I think about it, I'm still the least successful among the three of us. You and Leonard can travel the world, and I can't even pass the marine guard exam..."
"Why are you starting with that again? I'm telling you, as a man, the most important thing is confidence! If you don't believe in yourself, who will? Stand tall, keep your head up, and act like a man. Stop sighing all the time, it's embarrassing. Alright, go knock on the door.
"Isn't it right here? What, have you forgotten all those memories from decades ago?"
Sherry looked puzzled, following Rachel's finger to see John, locking eyes with him.
Without a moment's hesitation, [Deception] activated his ability, saying in a deep voice, "Sherry, don't you remember us? Fila, Randall Fila. And as for him, I don't need to introduce him, right? You two were madly in love back then. I had to persuade Leonard to come back."
John: "???"
What the hell, we met the real deal?
John had no idea he had such a backstory. What should he say? What could he say at a time like this?
John swallowed nervously, forcing a wry smile, and said in a low voice, "Long time no see..."
"...When did you come back? Why didn't you tell me? You leave without a word and come back just the same. What do you take me for?"
Tears welled up in Sherry's eyes, and she bit her lip before stepping forward and grabbing John's collar.
"Get out! I don't want to see you! Leave!"
"Sherry, I... I'm sorry."
John almost choked on the words, sighing softly as he said, "I know it's too late to say anything now. But I also know that if I hadn't left with Fila back then, I wouldn't have been able to leave once I saw you. You were young and successful, joining the marine guard, and I... I was just a failed musician. I didn't want to hold you back."
"So you left me alone? Do you know how I've lived all these years? How could you be so heartless!"
Sherry's tears fell freely down her cheeks, making John's scalp tingle.
This is way too deep into the role.
But John couldn't fully relate to that deeply emotional memory.
However, if it was just about solving the immediate problem, John did have an idea.
With this in mind, John swallowed nervously, then broke free from Sherry's grasp and pulled her into a hug.
This sudden move caught everyone off guard. Rachel, after her initial surprise, showed a knowing smile. Warner looked on with admiration, recognizing his own shortcomings. Only [Deception] had a look of amused detachment, clearly enjoying the show.
"You... how am I supposed to face you now..."
Sherry's voice was choked with emotion, her small fists lightly hitting John's chest, more a release of pent-up feelings than any real attempt to hurt him.
"I finally managed to forget you. Why did you have to come back now?"
"I... I missed you. In all these years away, I've met many people who remind me of you, but none of them were you. I thought I could move on, but when I came back here, everything about you flooded my mind like a tidal wave, overwhelming me. I'm sorry..."