As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Seeing that Lin Chen hadn't spoken yet, Snail Ophie panicked, afraid that her random suggestion would displease him. She quickly added, "I... I just said it offhand! If you're worried, we can go somewhere else!"

Seeing his timid and cowardly appearance, Lin Chen shook his head slightly and interrupted his panic: "No need to make a fuss, just go here."

Bars are generally less strict and don't verify identities as rigorously as regular hotels. Compared to spending a whole night in the cold wind on the street, having a warm, dry place to stay is the best option, and there's no need to be picky.

Hearing this, Orpheus the snail breathed a sigh of relief and quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes! Yes, sir!"

The two walked one after the other to the shop entrance.

Up close, Lin Chen finally saw the dark brown wooden sign hanging above the door. The sign was exquisitely crafted, with gold-stamped English letters engraved on it in elegant font, reading "BarClover".

“Clover…”

Lin Chen murmured the word to himself, a strange sense of familiarity rising within him. He felt as if he had seen the name somewhere before, but despite his brain racing, he couldn't recall the corresponding plot or information, and could only suppress his doubts for the time being.

While Lin Chen was pondering, Snail Orpheus took the initiative to step forward and push open the shop door.

The moment the door opened, a gentle, soothing melody of jazz flowed out, mingled with the subtle aroma of red wine and the fresh scent of wooden furniture, wafting towards you.

To their surprise, the bar, which was clearly open for business, was completely empty, with not a single customer in sight.

At the very center of the bar stood a slender female bartender. Dressed in simple work clothes, she was gracefully wiping the clear glass in her hands.

Hearing the noise at the door, the female bartender looked up, her gaze falling on the two of them. She gave a polite smile and said softly, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, but our bar is booked out for tonight and we are not accepting any other guests. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Upon hearing this, the snail Orpheus instinctively wanted to plead for a place to stand.

But just as he opened his mouth slightly, Lin Chen pressed down on his shoulder. Lin Chen raised his hand to stop him, nodded slightly to the bartender, and said politely and naturally, "I'm sorry, we were presumptuous. We came at an inopportune time and disturbed you."

After saying that, Lin Chen didn't linger and turned to leave the bar with the bewildered Snail Orpheus.

As soon as they stepped out of the shop and away from the bar area, Snail Orpheus couldn't help but ask, full of doubt, "Sir, why did we leave so soon? There was no one inside. If we had pleaded, they could have let us stay for the night!"

Lin Chen continued walking and explained, "That bartender is Orphino. He's very good at hiding his presence; he might fool you, but he won't fool me. It's not safe here; let's find somewhere else."

If it were the old Lin Chen, upon learning that the other party was from the First World of Orphnoch, he would have immediately taken out the Orga Belt and turned the other party into an evolution point. However, having learned from the example of the snail Orphnoch, he abandoned his plan to take action.

Snail Orpheus didn't say anything more and obediently followed behind Lin Chen.

The two figures gradually disappeared into the dark alleyways, far away from the bar.

Not long after they left, the sound of a door being pushed open could be heard again at the entrance of the previously empty bar.

A man with thin-rimmed glasses, holding a book, and exuding a refined and quiet demeanor slowly walked into BarClover.

Chapter 183 A Strange Invitation

Night had completely enveloped the city, and the number of pedestrians on the streets dwindled, while the evening breeze grew even cooler. Lin Chen, along with Snail Orpheus, left the bar where the Orpheus bartender was located. With nowhere else to go, the two could only wander slowly along the streets, hoping to find an abandoned warehouse to spend the night in. At least a warehouse could provide shelter from the wind and rain, which was better than squatting in an open park exposed to the night wind.

As the two walked along the roadside, looking around at the vacant buildings, a black Toyota Windom four-door luxury sedan silently drove up from behind and blocked their way.

The car body is stable and imposing, with a subtle metallic sheen under the dim streetlights, clearly indicating its high value.

The car came to a smooth stop without a screeching sound. The next second, the back door was pushed open from the inside, revealing a figure.

He was a middle-aged man who looked to be around fifty years old. Despite his age, he was extremely upright with a straight back, showing no signs of the hunchback and fatigue typical of middle-aged men. He exuded the calm and composed aura of someone who had held a high position for many years.

His short, black and white hair was tightly bound on top of his head with a black headscarf, and a few gray hairs at his temples clung to his ears, making his face appear even more composed and profound, exuding an air of authority without anger.

The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze calmly landing on Lin Chen and Snail Ophie, his voice low and gentle: "If you two are wandering around outside at night and have nowhere to stay, why don't you come with me for a drink?"

Faced with the stranger's sudden invitation, Lin Chen's eyes became wary. His cautious instincts told him that he would never accept an invitation from a stranger casually. Moreover, when the other party appeared, he had already sensed that subtle yet heavy aura—this middle-aged man in front of him was also an Orphnoch, and his strength was not much weaker than his own monster form.

"Who are you?" Lin Chen asked, his tone full of wariness.

Sensing Lin Chen's wariness, the middle-aged man showed no displeasure, remaining calm as he slowly explained, "Your strong sense of vigilance is a good thing. I have no ill intentions; I simply wish to invite you both to sit for a while. The reason is simple: we are all Orphnochs."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen tensed up.

He was filled with astonishment. He had only been in this Faiz world for a single day, and his Orphnoch aura was so well concealed that he wouldn't be easily detected. The only time he had revealed his true form was during his brief battle with Caesar earlier that day.

It seems this man has been watching me or Caesar the whole time.

Lin Chen quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind. Since the other party had taken the initiative to invite him and had not yet shown any intention of making a move, it was highly likely that they were not hostile for the time being. In addition, he himself was strong enough, and he had the Orga belt as a powerful weapon. He was skilled and daring, and he was not afraid of any tricks the other party might play.

"Just for a drink?" Lin Chen asked to confirm.

"That's all." The middle-aged man nodded slightly, his tone resolute.

"Okay, we agree."

Upon receiving the reply, the middle-aged man stepped aside to make room for the two of them to get in the car. Lin Chen led the trembling, nervous Snail Ophie into the back seat, and the black sedan slowly started moving, smoothly driving away from the deserted street.

The car drove away from the city's dazzling neon lights.

The scenery outside the window rushed past, the tall buildings and shops gradually disappeared, replaced by a vast, dark sea of ​​trees. Night enveloped the mountains, completely shutting out the hustle and bustle of the city, leaving only the howling evening wind in the mountains, which whistled through the cracks in the car window, bringing with it a refreshing, cool mountain air.

The car remained eerily silent throughout the journey, no one daring to break the silence. About twenty minutes later, the car slowly slowed down and entered a secluded courtyard hidden deep within a dense forest.

A simple yet elegant Japanese-style detached house sits quietly here, surrounded by mountains and forests, with no neighbors, secluded and private, so quiet that it seems completely isolated from the world.

The middle-aged man stepped out of the car first, his tall figure standing in the mountain night, his demeanor calm and composed. He didn't order any servants around, but simply stepped aside and gestured politely for the two to come inside, his tone gentle: "The mountain night is chilly, please come in and warm up, and rest for a while."

Stepping inside the mansion, one is greeted by a minimalist and elegant wooden interior design, clean and uncluttered, without a trace of luxury or extravagance.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows lies a dark and deep mountain forest, while the warm yellow light inside gently illuminates the room, slightly dispelling the chill of the deep mountains and making the whole house even more tranquil.

Before Lin Chen and Snail Ophie could carefully examine the layout of the house, the middle-aged man had already headed straight for the open kitchen. He skillfully tied on a plain apron and began washing, chopping, and cooking the vegetables with practiced ease.

The hot oil sizzled softly on the stove, and the fresh aroma of ingredients slowly filled the room, dispelling the chill in the air. Lin Chen stood to the side, his curiosity about this mysterious middle-aged Orphnoch growing stronger. This man was no ordinary wild Orphnoch; he was clearly not weak.

Before long, several plates of exquisite and authentic Japanese home-style dishes and a pot of warm sake were neatly arranged on the low wooden table. The dishes were not complicated or fancy, but the presentation was neat and the ingredients were carefully selected, showing that the host was very attentive.

The middle-aged man gently wiped the water off his hands, then slightly raised his hand, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Sir, please wait in the outer room."

As soon as he finished speaking, a subordinate dressed in black quietly emerged from the shadows. His aura was restrained, and his posture was ramrod straight; he was clearly a well-trained, professional bodyguard. After bowing respectfully, his gaze fell upon the snail Orpheus standing to the side.

Snail Orpheus panicked and subconsciously looked at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with trepidation and unease.

Lin Chen nodded slightly, signaling with his eyes that he could leave without worry. He also wanted to see what this mysterious middle-aged man planned to say or do after leaving him alone.

Only after receiving Lin Chen's signal did Snail Orpheus feel relieved and obediently followed his subordinate in black out of the living room, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.

The wooden door closed, cutting off all outside noise, plunging the entire living room into a deathly silence and creating a heavy atmosphere.

The middle-aged man calmly sat down, reached out and picked up the sake bottle on the table. He leaned slightly forward and slowly poured the clear, warm sake into two small white porcelain cups. The light and lingering aroma of the sake slowly spread in the warm yellow light.

He looked up quietly at Lin Chen across from him, gently pushed one of the cups of sake towards Lin Chen, and picked up the other cup for himself.

Lin Chen didn't touch the wine glass in front of him. His expression remained calm as he cut to the chase, asking directly, "Tell me, who exactly are you? What's your purpose in contacting me?"

Faced with Lin Chen's blunt questioning, the middle-aged man made no attempt to conceal his identity and frankly revealed his identity: "You can call me Hanagata. Former president of Smart Brain, the goat Orphnoch."

"Flower shape?"

Lin Chen was startled, realizing the other person's identity. Wasn't this the adoptive father of Sonoda Mari, the female protagonist in the Faiz universe, the former president who stepped down early and saw through the conflicts? He never expected it to be him.

Having figured out the other party's identity, Lin Chen was even more puzzled and continued to ask, "Former president of Smart Brain? What is it you want to see me about?"

Faced with Lin Chen's questioning, Hanagata did not answer directly, but instead posed a question that Lin Chen did not expect: "I wonder if you believe in prophecies?"

Lin Chen was stunned, his mind filled with questions. Prophecy? Does the Faiz world have such a prophetic setting? The other party's sudden mention of this topic left him completely bewildered.

He was too lazy to waste time on irrelevant topics and said bluntly, "Enough with the useless nonsense, just get to the point."

Upon hearing this, Hanagata was not embarrassed. He slowly put away his idle chatter and changed his perspective, asking in a deep voice, "I wonder what your opinion is of our Orphnoch race?"

This question complicated Lin Chen's feelings.

To be honest, he has always had a very conflicted feeling about his identity as an Orphnoch. At first, he loathed this identity, loathed the fate of being turned to sand and disappearing at any moment, loathed the destiny he was not in control of. Yet, it was also this Orphnoch body that had brought him to where he was now.

Love and hate are intertwined, advantages and disadvantages coexist, and he himself cannot say whether it is good or bad.

Lin Chen remained silent for a moment, then raised his hand, picked up the sake cup in front of him, drank the warm sake in one gulp, and uttered four words: "I don't know."

This vague answer left Hanagata slightly silent. He raised his hand to refill Lin Chen's glass, looked up at Lin Chen, and spoke calmly, yet uttered a startling question: "Then, Your Excellency, have you ever considered becoming the king of the Orphnoch race?"

"To become king?!"

Lin Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and his mind jolted.

He was all too familiar with that phrase. The tactics of various knightly worlds, otherworldly forces, and time-jackers were almost identical—everywhere there was the drama of choosing a king, establishing a king, and supporting a new king. In an instant, his vigilance was heightened, and the aura of a high-ranking Orphnoch surged forth. The power of the dimensional barrier within his body quietly gathered, ready to open the spatial barrier at any moment. If the other party made any unusual move, he would immediately withdraw and run away.

He stared intently at the flower shape and probed in a low voice, "Are you related to the Time Tribulationers?"

Seeing Lin Chen's wary expression and sensing his aura, Hua Xing immediately changed her tune and decisively changed the subject, no longer mentioning the matter of becoming king.

"Your Excellency need not worry, I misspoke." Hanagata's tone softened as he returned to the main topic, "I think you should know that we Orphnochs are born with short lifespans, our bodies are constantly turning into sand, and we will eventually perish. This is the inescapable fate of all our people."

"I understand." Lin Chen replied calmly. Even though he had made up for his shortcomings with the Evolution Memory, he knew very well that ordinary Orphnochs would still not escape this fate.

Having received confirmation, Hanako stopped her preamble, stood up straight, and bowed deeply to Lin Chen with utmost solemnity.

"I will not beat around the bush. I implore you to save our Orphnoch people."

Lin Chen stood there dumbfounded, his face full of confusion, his mind blank.

Only one thought remained in his mind: Who am I? Where am I? What happened?

Chapter 184 Something's Wrong with This World

When Hanagata suddenly bowed and begged for mercy, Lin Chen was completely dumbfounded. He couldn't understand what this former president of Smart Brain was thinking at all, so he simply interrupted him: "Wait a minute, you don't even know who I am or what my background is, yet you're asking me to save the Orphnoch race? Isn't that a bit too casual?"

Hanagata straightened up, his face completely calm, showing no embarrassment whatsoever, and honestly replied, "I really don't know your background. But we have a shrine maiden here who left a prophecy in advance. She said that people who were originally destined to die had their fates forcibly changed, and a variable that does not belong to this world will descend upon this place. And you are that variable."

"A witch? A prophecy?"

Lin Chen frowned, his mind filled with disbelief.

"Please sit down." Lin Chen suppressed his doubts and said in a serious tone, "Explain things clearly. I don't remember this kind of setting existing in this world."

Hanagata obediently sat down, picked up the sake and took a sip, looking at Lin Chen with exceptional certainty: "Just as the priestess said, you are an Orphnoch from another world."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen became wary.

He had only been in this world for two days, and no one knew about his transmigrated identity except himself. To have it exposed so directly, this feeling of being seen through, made him extremely uncomfortable.

"How did you know I came from another world? Who exactly is that witch?" Lin Chen rubbed his temples, overwhelmed by the amount of information.

Hanagata didn't rush to explain. He finished his drink in one gulp and instead asked another question: "Now, do you believe in fate and prophecy?"

"I've never believed in these things," Lin Chen denied without even thinking.

Having experienced the tragic cycle of reincarnation in Agito, I know all too well how deceptive so-called prophecies can be.