Arcanum: Chaos Path

Chapter 285 Klein Hosts a Funeral

"...I understand." Benson nodded. He took another deep breath before looking at Zhou Mingrui. After seeing the worry and sadness in Zhou Mingrui's eyes, he paused and said, "So this was an accident. It's not your fault, sir."

Hearing these almost comforting words, Zhou Mingrui suddenly felt his nose sore and a little aggrieved. Because of the word "Sir" - even though Zhou Mingrui knew that this title was normal, he had integrated some of Klein's emotions, and the true feelings he had developed with Benson and Melissa during this period of time still made him feel a little aggrieved.

You can't do this, Zhou Mingrui! You can't... Zhou Mingrui tried hard to suppress the emotions surging in his heart. He looked at Benson and said, "But whether it was an accident or not, I... I replaced Klein. It's a fact. I kept it secret from you for so long. I really..."

"Why?" Melissa suddenly interrupted Zhou Mingrui before he could finish his words. The little girl stared at Zhou Mingrui intently and asked, "Why do you look so much like Klein? How do you know I like lemon cake..."

She seemed to be questioning, or venting, but with a subtle hint of expectation.

Zhou Mingrui looked into those amber eyes, his heart aching. He then spoke the truth, "Because I've merged some of Klein's emotions and memories, sometimes I mistake myself for him."

Melissa smiled bitterly when she heard this answer. She fell back on the sofa, her eyes blank, and no one knew what she was thinking.

Benson's eyes also showed some realization. He looked at Zhou Mingrui, his eyes were complicated at that moment.

Zhou Mingrui didn't dare to look at them at this moment. He lowered his eyes and said, "I know this has caused you a lot of harm. I don't know how I can make it up to you..."

"No need to make amends." Benson suddenly interrupted him. He looked at Zhou Mingrui and sighed, then said, "You didn't do anything terrible to us, and you weren't the murderer who killed Klein. Entering... his body was just an accident. If you truly feel guilty... the money you've given us during this time is more than enough to make amends. You don't need to feel guilty anymore."

"...Why?" Zhou Mingrui looked up at Benson. He sniffed and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't you blame me?"

"Because it's not your fault." Benson shook his head. He looked at Zhou Mingrui as if he had recalled something. He said with a dazed look in his eyes, "Klein is a good kid, and you're a good person too. This isn't either of your fault. It's just... this damn fate!"

Benson suddenly cursed, covering his face with his hands as if he could no longer suppress his emotions. He cursed softly, then stood up and said, "Sorry, I need to go to the bathroom."

Without waiting for Zhou Mingrui to answer, Benson got up and hurried to the bathroom.

After he left, the room fell silent for a moment, and only the sound of Melissa sobbing could be heard.

After this silence lasted for a while, Melissa suddenly looked up at Zhou Mingrui and said, "Klein, Klein...was he in pain when he passed away?"

Melissa had a hard time saying this, but she still insisted on saying it, looking at Zhou Mingrui with her amber eyes with some stubbornness.

"I don't know. I don't remember him committing suicide, but it shouldn't have been painful." Zhou Mingrui shook his head. He really didn't know whether "Klein Moretti" was in pain when he died, but he committed suicide with a pistol and died with one shot. In theory, it shouldn't have been painful.

"That's good, that's good..." Melissa murmured, she lowered her head again and sobbed softly.

At this time, Benson finally emerged from the bathroom. His face was still wet with traces of water, and judging by his eyes, he had definitely been crying for quite a while. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Benson said, sitting back on the sofa. He looked at the young man before him and asked, "I forgot to ask before. What should I call you?"

"...Zhou Mingrui, my previous name was Zhou Mingrui." Zhou Mingrui replied.

Benson pondered the name. Although he found it a bit strange, he didn't think much about it. He just looked at Zhou Mingrui and asked, "Mr. Zhou Mingrui, I'm curious. Since you have concealed this for so long and we have never discovered it, why are you suddenly telling us the truth?"

"Because you deserve to know the truth." Zhou Mingrui took a deep breath and looked at Benson. "I can't and shouldn't hide this from you. I can't take your affection for granted. They don't belong to me..."

Benson fell silent upon hearing this. He looked at Zhou Mingrui and suddenly said, "...You really are a lot like Klein."

Zhou Mingrui pursed his lips when he heard this and said nothing.

"Sigh..." Benson sighed. He looked at Zhou Mingrui, as if recalling something, and said, "You just said that you merged some of Klein's emotions and memories, and you think of yourself as him... That's why you also think of us as family, right?"

Benson was not stupid; on the contrary, he was very perceptive, and that was why he saw through this fact directly.

"Yes." Zhou Mingrui nodded.

"But you know very well that you're not Klein, and we..." Benson paused here, his voice choking slightly as if with a surge of emotion. "We can't possibly treat you as Klein. That's unfair to Klein, and it's unfair to you, too."

"I'm sorry." Zhou Mingrui could only say this. His usual high emotional intelligence was useless at this moment. He could only say: "If you really mind, I can stay away from your sight. However, I may not be able to return this body to you for a while, but when I can leave, I will return it to you..."

"...Does that have a big impact on you?" Benson interrupted him.

"Very big." Zhou Mingrui did not hide anything and nodded honestly.

Losing one's body is no small matter for any extraordinary being. Even a magician can only exchange the original body with the secret puppet, but cannot directly abandon the original body.

"I understand." Benson seemed to have made a decision. He murmured, "Although it's not good to make the decision on Klein's behalf, he should forgive me as his brother..."

Then Benson looked at Zhou Mingrui and said, "Mr. Zhou Mingrui, you don't have to return your body. You are innocent in this matter. Since... since you have been resurrected, then continue to live! Live well."

"But..." Benson paused here before continuing, "We may need to hold a funeral for Klein. Will this affect you?"

(End of this chapter)