To ascend, I had no choice but to create games

Chapter 414: Chapter 250: The Secret of the Ghost (Part 2)_2

“Just wait a bit longer, just a moment more, and I’ll rest after I finish these contents.”

Completely engrossed in the text, Drey ignored Tang Mo’s advice and continued to lose himself in the world of words.

Realizing that he could no longer call the other party back, Tang Mo simply sought out Kevin’s butler, canceled today’s arrangements, and then continued to help with the copying of books.

After Tang Mo logged on, Drey became more talkative as well.

Reading helped him understand many things, but it also brought about more questions.

Tang Mo could answer some of the questions, but some he had to ponder himself. As the questions grew deeper, Tang Mo discovered that the other’s learning ability and logical thinking were incredibly strong, no wonder he was almost the protagonist in the game.

Being with the other person allowed Tang Mo to experience a different kind of pleasure.

That was the joy of discovering an uncut gem and then gradually polishing it.

As he copied books, Tang Mo mulled over the problems together with the other party, jointly looking for answers.

He was of similar age and it felt as though he had found another kindred spirit. He hoped that one day he could bring Fang Cheng over so they could all chat together.

Meanwhile, as he discussed issues with Drey, one person was rather displeased.

The salon time in the study had begun, and the third-tier nobility had decided to take a look. Kevin, who had been prepared, had to reluctantly inform others about Tang Mo’s unavailability.

Because Tang Mo was absent, the usually bustling salon had only half the usual attendees, and even that third-tier noble excused himself.

The stark difference in attendance embarrassed Kevin, who also realized that in this salon, it wasn’t himself but Tang Mo who was indispensable.

He hospitably received his guests, ending the salon earlier than usual, then waited quietly.

Tang Mo didn’t return until the evening. When he entered, Kevin greeted him politely and then asked, “Mr. Tang Mo, is there anything interesting at the quarry?”

“A very talented individual. I greatly enjoyed our conversation.”

“Oh, my quarry has such characters?”

Tang Mo hesitated for a moment, then said expressionlessly, “Yes, quite a few. You should go take a look. Now, would you be interested in the lecture I plan to give today?”

On any other day, Kevin would have certainly made an excuse.

But he vaguely sensed that something was amiss; his pathway to higher nobility lay with Tang Mo, and he didn’t want to lose this opportunity.

If Tang Mo continued to immerse himself in the quarry, it would undoubtedly occupy the time he could spend in the salon, ultimately harming Kevin.

Therefore, he smiled faintly and said, “Yes.”

Though he agreed, Kevin found the lecture painfully difficult to follow.

The content Tang Mo spoke of was like a divine scripture, and while many historical examples were used, the intricate logic and entangled interests still overwhelmed him.

He could take the right stand in reality, but the examples Tang Mo gave were a bit too profound for him.

Noticing Kevin’s reluctance, Tang Mo didn’t insist, simply remarking that he was doing well, and then excused himself.

Watching Tang Mo’s retreating figure, Kevin felt if he didn’t do something soon, his ladder to ascend would start running away on its own.

So, after confirming that Tang Mo had gone far, he rang the bell, and his butler immediately appeared before him, asking respectfully, “Master, what can I do for you?”

“Find out who Mr. Tang Mo met today at the quarry, and what he did.”

“Certainly, master.”

The inquiry wasn’t difficult; several foremen and workers had seen the scene and reported it to the butler.

Armed with Drey’s information and the day’s happenings, the butler returned to Kevin’s bedroom and relayed everything to Kevin.

Seeing that Tang Mo had actually spent so much time talking with a foreman, Kevin felt irritated.

You cancel such an important salon just for a lowly foreman!

What’s there to talk about with those despicable workers!

Talking to high-ranking nobles is what holds a future; with power so immense in their hands, a little spill could crush hundreds of foremen.

And you give up those opportunities, indulging in lighthearted conversation with a foreman…

Tang Mo, you’ve truly fallen!

Kevin’s expression grew darker, and his heart was filled with rage.

However, when he saw the portrait of Drey, the anger in his heart suddenly vanished, replaced by fear.

A ghost!

Too similar!

Turning his head, he asked the butler beside him, “Do you think this person…”

“Very much resembles the old master when he was young,” the butler replied politely.

The old master was Kevin’s father and the previous head of their family.

He had passed away years ago, grasping Kevin’s hand and muttering on his deathbed, yet sadly, Kevin had not heard a word.

Gazing at Drey’s portrait for a while, Kevin sat up in bed, dressed in his pajamas, and walked alone to the fourth floor of the villa. He took down a key, heading to the room where the old master had spent his final moments.

Since his father’s death, the room had been sealed and everything inside had been preserved as it was.

This was a custom of the nobility; they believed commoners would vanish into thin air after death, but the noble souls would become holy spirits, accompanying the Goddess of Mercy by her side, and returning to visit their former rooms from time to time.

Kevin had thought this was merely a legend, but when he opened the door and entered the dusty room, he found that it seemed not to be just a legend.

He saw the ghost of his father.

The room was much colder than the outside temperature.

The pale blue ghost appeared as if it had just crawled out of the water, translucent droplets continuously falling from its body onto the thick carpet, making a pendulum-like ticking sound.

His father looked just as he did three days before his death, during a brief resurgence, but still with a cloudy consciousness.

Just like now, seated in the lounge chair in the room, staring blankly in the direction in front of him, incessantly murmuring something.

Yes, just like now.

A chill wind blew through, extinguishing the candle in his hand.

But the room did not become dark; instead, it grew brighter.

The ghost’s blue light radiated more intensely, making its expression even more ferocious. The gaunt, skull-like visage of his father became rigid, and the aura of death emanated from it, transporting Kevin back to that ice-cold afternoon, making him once again feel the grim reaper’s impending approach.

Suddenly, his father smiled.

On that mummified face, his father stretched into a smile so exaggerated it resembled a clown’s in a circus, its severe arc bearing an eerie beyond common sense, leaving Kevin at the door stunned to the core, his mind a void.

Slowly raising his hand, his father pointed to a corner and said in a hoarse voice, “You should take a look there.”

Then, the ghost dissolved.

It melted away quickly, but to Kevin, it seemed to occur in slow motion.

He watched as it disintegrated, vanished, leaving only a puddle of blue water mark in its original place, as if to tell him that what had just happened was not a dream, but reality.

At this moment, Kevin’s feelings transcended fear.

He felt as though he was facing an existence beyond reason, a miracle-like presence, with legends proving their reality in an absurd form and making Kevin belatedly aware of the terror of death.

But after the fear, he surprisingly found himself filled with more curiosity.

Father, what exactly did you want to say?

Relighting the candle, he went over to the spot the ghost had indicated, and after careful searching, he finally found a secret door.

The secret door was extremely well-concealed. Opening it, he saw a safe a foot square inside, one that required the correct sequence of characters to be unlocked.

After thinking, he entered his father’s name, but the lock did not open.

Then, his mother’s name, which also did not work.

Hoping against hope, he entered his own name, only to find the door still locked, making him wonder if he should resort to breaking it open by force.

However, he suddenly thought of a name.

With an attitude of giving it a try, he took a deep breath and then entered Drey’s name.

Even as he entered the name, he was praying fervently, praying the door wouldn’t open, praying that his father had no connection with that lowly commoner.

Click~

In the darkness, the sound of the safe being unlocked was so loud Kevin mistook it for the sound of his own heart breaking.

And inside the safe, there was nothing important.

Just an album.

An album from his childhood.