Mysteries: Arcana Wars

Chapter 471 The Perfect Disguise

The magician, whose performance had been interrupted, visibly became flustered. While being surrounded by admirers is certainly enjoyable, this misunderstanding left the magician somewhat uneasy.

"Uh... I'm sorry, little friend, I can't grant all your wishes..."

The magician became even more uneasy when he recalled that urban legend.

"But! If it's a blessing for Winter Solstice, I can give you an unforgettable holiday memory, and maybe your dreams will really come true!"

"But, but! Aren't you that legendary fully automatic wish-granting machine that can grant three wishes for two pounds?"

As they spoke, a child displayed a portrait. One of their friends had once encountered a mysterious urban legend on the streets of Backlund and had drawn a picture of the legendary fully automatic wish-granting machine and the phantom that guided it, which looked exactly like the magician before them.

The difference is that the unlucky guy's appearance is more modern and cyberpunk, and he looks like he's dressed in the 14th century of the Sixth Age; while the projection of the wishing machine looks more like a ghost that has traveled back from the Fifth Age.

What concerned Gloria was that she didn't find anything resembling a fully automatic wish-granting machine around the magician, not even a prop box.

Hearing the children's request, the unfortunate magician's expression became even more contorted.

"Excuse me, little friends, I think you've mistaken me for someone else."

He tried to maintain a professional smile and calmly removed his hat. With a bang, like real magic, the magician skillfully produced bouquets and candies from it, distributing them to the children around him.

No child can resist delicious candy, and no one would refuse a bouquet of moonflowers and dormant grass on Winter's Day.

The children happily popped the candy into their mouths, the wonderful sweetness quickly making them forget the purpose of their attempt to intercept the parade, and completely forgetting their curiosity about exploring urban legends.

Whether they succeeded or failed, their memories today have been brightened by these candies and bouquets.

"If you're not a wish-granting machine..."

One child scratched his head, his curiosity piqued, and pressed the magician for answers.

"Are you acting as a magician's projection, like a wish-granting machine?"

"It's less that I'm playing Him, and more that He's impersonating me..."

The magician smiled bitterly, recalling the miserable state he had been in when he first arrived in Backlund. While eating hotpot and singing songs, his citizen information, including his complete "identity," was stolen by an unknown entity. Then, an urban legend using his name arose in Backlund, causing the real Merlin Hermes a great deal of trouble.

If he hadn't met Detective Leonard, he wouldn't have known how to prove "I am myself" and "I am not myself".

The children were a little disappointed, but their emotions always come and go quickly. After receiving the candy and flowers, they soon ran away with smiles on their faces.

"Oh dear, I forgot to remind them to stay away from that horrible replica."

The magician slapped his forehead, somewhat regretful, but in the end he sighed, quickly caught up with the group, and continued the parade.

Gloria saw all of this.

Using various methods to investigate, the responses were unremarkable, all of which proved that the other party was that unlucky guy from Sequence Seven.

Moreover, since the other party hasn't noticed me after I've been watching here for so long, it definitely can't be an automated wishing machine that steals identities.

According to Scott's intelligence, this wish-granting machine will not miss any opportunity to make money; for just two pounds, it can grant any wish.

But the magician refused the business that was offered to him.

and so……

Is the magician before me that unlucky guy from Sequence Seven...?

No, wait!

If the person in front of him is an unlucky guy, then who is Leonard with?

Geraldine's vision and memories once again swirled in Gloria's mind.

A retro and tasteful Fifth Age style, a huge wooden chest, a bloodstained crowbar and cane...

The person next to Leonard isn't some unlucky assistant, but a real urban legend!

Gloria immediately called Leonard. After the call connected, Gloria hesitated for a long time before finally managing to say only one sentence.

"Beware of the magician."

The phone call was disconnected inexplicably.

Leonard turned his head and looked at Klein.

"What's wrong?" Klein asked.

"Gloria told me to be careful of the magician."

Leonard pointed to the terminal on his temple.

"Do you have anything to say in your defense? Or should I just arrest you and hand you over to the bishop of St. Julie's Church?"

"I'm innocent! Lord Red Gloves!"

Klein raised his hands in surrender and begged for mercy, but there was no fear in his tone. He even stuck his tongue out at Leonard and made a face.

"I'll tell you everything, Detective!"

So Klein explained everything that had just happened to Leonard in detail.

In the upcoming operations, Klein will definitely demonstrate abilities surpassing those of Sequence Seven. To prevent his identity as the unlucky Merlin from being exposed, Klein has a humanoid puppet that plays the roles of both himself and the unlucky Merlin, as well as the wish-granting Merlin. He keeps the puppet away from him but within his operating range.

In this way, two Merlins with completely different backgrounds—one a complete hapless guy and the other a powerful wish-granting machine—can appear at the same point in time.

Upon seeing Geraldine, Klein immediately realized that Geraldine had spotted the magician carrying the large wooden box, meaning that Gloria would likely focus her attention briefly on the two Merlins during today's operation.

As Gloria hid in the alley, becoming one with the shadows and silence, Klein noticed her probing and switched the positions of the puppet and the real body before she could see him.

Because of the seal left on Klein, Alice's curse, and tonight's wish, the divination and prophecy about Klein himself will be interfered with. The illusion and the disguise of connection will fabricate content that fits the setting according to the individual's identity and pass it on to the visitor.

So what Gloria discovered today was Klein's true form, and she obtained incorrect information about Sequence Seven.

If the Mystic Puppet were still in front of Gloria, it would expose the deception, because the Mystic Puppet is dead, and Klein cannot guarantee that the disguise of fate can protect these few Mystic Puppets at the same time.

After Gloria left, the original body and the puppet switched places again and returned to Leonard's side.

This is the backup plan that Klein is using to maintain his identity today.

If any of the true gods were to discover that their long-lost and universally condemned "Celestial Venerable" had reappeared, then the still-developing Klein would surely be humanely destroyed by the true gods who had lost their memories and were rewriting history.

Team fights can be lost, but your identity can't be revealed!