Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

The father glanced apologetically at Samael, got up to leave, pushed his wheelchair, and headed out the door.

"Big brother, you must come!"

Before leaving, the little girl turned back several times to wave and remind Samael.

"Okay, I promise you."

The ancient serpent shook its head helplessly and responded with a smile.

The father looked at the interaction between the two children, one big and one small, and smiled wryly, unable to bear shattering his daughter's fantasy.

This was just a well-intentioned lie from an adult, but the child actually believed it.

Well, it might as well lie to her. Since his wife passed away, Kirie hasn't been this happy in a long time.

The man pursed his lips, said nothing, and pushed his daughter along the shopping street, continuing to enjoy his rare moment of solitude.

"Pigeons! So many pigeons!"

The father and daughter walked to the fountain in the center of the shopping street. Wu Jie looked at the group of pigeons that folded their wings and landed in groups of three or five in the square, burying their heads in pecking at grains of wheat and bread crumbs. She couldn't help but feel a little itchy and subconsciously wanted to get close to these lively and free creatures.

"Mist painting..."

Suddenly, I heard my father's trembling voice from behind.

"You've stood up..."

The little girl, who was squatting by the fountain, gently nuzzling a fearless pigeon, subconsciously looked down and was surprised to find that she seemed to have gotten out of her wheelchair and was standing on solid ground.

"Medicine! It must be medicine! Thank God, they really can cure you!"

The man, almost crushed by life, threw down his wheelchair and excitedly rushed towards Wujiao Wue, picking up his bewildered daughter high in his arms. Tears of bitterness and excitement welled up in his eyes without him even realizing it.

Meanwhile, in the cold drink shop, the "medicine" who had been healing smiled slightly, withdrew her gaze from the distance, casually pushed aside her tray, paid the bill, and walked towards the door in the sunset.

Chapter 102 Mario the Pimp

Around 3 or 4 pm, in the shopping street, at the Ahnenerbe coffee shop.

Samael, who arrived early for the appointment, entered the store, sat at the bar, ordered an espresso, and chatted with the manager, George, who was dressed in black and wearing sunglasses and had a fierce look.

Ahnenerbe is a German word meaning "heritage". Although the restaurant's name comes from German, the owner, Giorgio, specializes in Italian cuisine.

Unlike ordinary coffee shops, you can order curry or mapo tofu, which are unlikely to be found in coffee shops. In short, it is relatively special and exotic.

In addition, according to Samael, this seemingly unremarkable coffee shop.

It seems that the old gem-wielding man Zelrich was involved in its construction, thus giving it the property of spatial interference. Theoretically, it can appear in different locations, linking different spaces or other worlds.

Therefore, the coffee shop is just a facade; it actually has a hidden function of gathering intelligence, and in a sense, it can be considered a branch of the Magic Association.

Aoboku Saki Touko probably knew about the special nature of the Ahnenerbe coffee shop, which is why she chose it as a meeting place.

Just as Samael was deep in thought, a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar sweet aroma wafted from the oven, seeping into his nostrils.

At that moment, the shopkeeper, George, skillfully opened the oven and took out several pieces of sweet and soft bread from the oven.

The golden, crispy crust, glistening with the vibrant color of olive oil, is incredibly appetizing in both appearance and aroma.

"Fokashya?"

The ancient snake's eyes lit up, and its gaze revealed a sense of nostalgia.

Upon hearing this, the busy store manager George turned around and looked at Samael with surprise, his gaze softening behind his sunglasses.

"You actually recognize it? People from outside either think it's a flatbread or call it a pizza."

Immediately, the shop manager, feeling a strong connection with the man, casually placed a freshly baked focaccia onto a plate and handed it to him, extending a warm invitation.

"Here, this is for you, have a taste."

Unable to refuse the kind offer, Samael had no choice but to accept the plate, pick up the soft and delicious ancestor of pizza, and savor it carefully, offering his honest evaluation as he chewed.

"Yes, diced meat, chopped parsley, and herbs, a very authentic old-fashioned recipe."

"That's right, this is a recipe I found in an old family book. It's written in ancient Latin, so it's definitely quite old."

Manager George nodded repeatedly, completely impressed by the man's erudition.

"I never expected to meet such a discerning diner in such a small place in the Far East."

Samael smiled, unconcerned. The longer you live, the more experiences you naturally have; the experience accumulated over time is nothing to brag about.

Since they had finally met someone they clicked with, they continued chatting casually.

Manager George discovered that the man before him was not only knowledgeable about food but also had a high level of understanding of history. On a whim, he tossed an ancient coin, which he had been spinning between his fingers, to Samael.

"By the way, can you take a look at this for me? Can you recognize it?"

Samael took it casually, examined the back carefully, and replied after a moment's thought.

"This is a gold coin from the ancient Roman Empire. Judging from the rose pattern, it should be currency issued during the reign of the Claudius family. But to determine which one, let me see the portrait before drawing a conclusion..."

As he spoke, the ancient snake flipped the gold coin over, its gaze falling on the center of the front of the coin, where a beautiful girl with a laurel crown and delicate features stood. The corner of its mouth twitched slightly, and it understood what was going on.

"Nero..."

She's the only one who likes to create these kinds of gimmicks.

Suddenly, the ancient snake seemed to remember something, looked up at Manager George, and asked the question that had been bothering him.

"However, speaking of which, the craftsmanship and design of this gold coin are the pinnacle of its time. Theoretically, such a thing would not normally circulate in the market because its artistic and collectible value far exceeds its practical value. How did you come to have this?"

“It has been passed down from my ancestors for nearly a thousand years. It is said that when Rome was in constant war, our ancestors went to Britain to take refuge and made a living by setting up a stall. They happened to meet a Roman nobleman who seemed to be of high status. They ate some of their hometown food at his stall and left behind a bag of these gold coins.”

Manager George leaned over the counter, answering casually, somewhat nonchalantly.

"I don't know if it's true or not, but the family has been in dire straits several times, and that bag of gold coins has been the lifeline. Now, there's only this one left. Before the elders died, they gave it to me and forbade me to sell it, saying that they wanted to keep it as a memento."

"Under the Eagle Banner..."

"Ah? What did you say?"

The sudden murmur startled the shop manager, who looked bewildered.

"It's nothing, this thing should be genuine, just keep it safe."

Samael smiled faintly, played with the ancient coin for a moment, and then casually handed it to Shopkeeper George, a hint of emotion flickering in his deep eyes.

Some things haven't changed.

Some people and things have changed beyond recognition.

The shopkeeper casually took the priceless Roman coin and continued to rummage through it between his fingers, treating it as a toy to train his finger dexterity. He clearly didn't care much about its monetary value.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, Samael, not wanting to disturb the shop owner, got up and looked around, his gaze landing on a piano set up in the corner, as there were several more groups of customers to serve.

It was a grand piano, with a pure black lacquered exterior and black and white keys, exuding a soft and comfortable luster.

Samael, itching to play, got up and sat down at the piano, randomly pressing a few high and low notes. The tone was ethereal and pure, requiring no tuning; clearly, this was a rare, high-end instrument.

The ancient snake nodded in satisfaction, took a deep breath, calmed itself, and then its slender fingers danced across the black and white piano keys.

Suddenly, a deep, suppressed voice resounded with great force amidst the undulations of the strings, like a dark, cold, and majestic force, like a will residing high in the heavens, looking down upon the mortal world.

That is the supreme destiny, the shackles that bind all things.

Immediately following, a weaker, contrasting force appeared abruptly in each voice, like the aftershocks of a loud bang, or like misfortune spreading everywhere.

As the force intensified, the shadows cast from the sky grew thicker, and the cold will that gazed upon the mortal world reappeared amidst the roar, shifting slightly as it surged forward.

It began somewhat panicked, then gradually became more active, trying to dominate everything. Suddenly, two strong chords stopped it. After a moment of silence, a resounding horn call rang out in the French horn section.

As the music continues to play, it repeats darkly and endlessly across various keys, searching for an opportunity, peering into gaps to intrude into people's lives and dominate everything.

However, humanity is not a weak lamb. When the clarion call sounds, another will summons people to rise up and fight.

That is a future that breaks through limitations and is full of light and happiness.

Gradually, the pitch rose higher, the strings became more complex, and the struggle between the voice of heaven and the power of man intensified. Each note was extinguished, symbolizing the fall of a life, but in an instant, more fighters rose up and joined this magnificent epic.

Samael, who was composing this saga, closed his eyes in quiet contemplation, and one face after another appeared in his mind.

Alice, buried deep beneath the rubble, struggling to survive in the darkness, and yearning for fairy tales amidst illness;

The father and daughter, Wu Tiao, were mired in illness and hardship but refused to give up on themselves and kept seeking medical treatment.

Having lost both parents, in order to embrace that lost illusion, she stays in the Western-style house, searching for the past of Kuonji Yuju;

Born into poverty and despised by others, the two sisters, Amber and Jade, support and rely on each other...

Over a thousand years, through countless joys and sorrows witnessed firsthand, the ancient serpent had long understood.

Life has hardships, failures, and misfortunes, but also joy, success, and hope; this is what is called fate.

However, one should not submit to the arrangements of fate, but rather take control of one's own destiny and fight against and overcome misfortune at any time. Only in this way can one attain happiness, build great achievements, and have a bright and beautiful future.

As Romain Rolland said, there is only one heroism in life: to see the world as it is, and to love it.

Therefore, knowing one's fate but not accepting it is the attitude towards life that Samael, as a god and creator, appreciates.

Finally, in an atmosphere of extreme oppression, the notes suddenly shifted, and the soaring vocals shattered gold and jade, creating a thunderous roar.

That empty will crumbled, the clouds parted and the sun shone through the sky, the shadows disappeared, and the sky was filled with light and boundless joy, depicting a scene of jubilation for victory. This war ultimately ended with the triumph of humble lives on earth.

When the music ended, the entire audience was completely silent.

Just as the diners were still enjoying the afterglow of the wonderful performance, a soft, poetic chant came from a corner.

"I will seize fate by the throat; it cannot make me completely submit..."

Looking in the direction of the sound, a blond, blue-eyed boy in a red and white casual outfit stopped stirring his cappuccino and looked up at the pianist with a smile.

"You played the Symphony No. 5 in C minor, 'Fate,' very well."

Having had his fill of hand-to-hand combat, Samael lowered his fingers and palms, exhaled a long breath, turned around, and nodded with a smile.

"I will seize fate by the throat, and it shall not make me completely submit!" This is a famous quote from Beethoven when he was composing his Fifth Symphony, "Fate".

The performance was quite fitting for the occasion.

Clearly, the little boy in the corner has a good ear for music.

"Unfortunately, no matter how well you play, you're still just a 'nimble finger'."

However, before Samael could even open his mouth to speak, the little boy in the corner suddenly changed his tone, giving a sarcastic and mocking comment with a look that seemed to invite a beating.

Dexterous fingers?

Samael twitched his lips, remaining noncommittal. After all, although the brat was sharp-tongued, he wasn't entirely wrong in a strict sense.

His musical talent was merely the result of time and practice, lacking an inner soul. So no matter how well he learned, he was ultimately just a "nimble finger" and could not become a true musical master like geniuses such as Orpheus, Beethoven, or Mozart.

However, speaking the truth in public makes one seem a bit rude.

“Mario, if you want to critique music, you can go to the Golden Hall in Vienna. My guests come to eat and enjoy my service, not to have you criticize them.”

However, before Samael could speak, the shopkeeper George turned cold towards the sharp-tongued little boy.

"Tsk, George, interrupting others is very rude, you know? Seriously, let me finish what I have to say!"

The little boy named Mario frowned slightly, put his hands in his pockets, and snorted coldly.

"Although it's just 'nimble fingers,' to have honed the skill to such a level is an extraordinary talent. At least I don't think I could achieve this level."

Although the little boy's tone was still unpleasant, it was unusually more honest.

"This kid means he's not as good as you, he's actually praising you. His piano skills have been recognized by those old men in Vienna to some extent. In other words, if you want to develop in the field of music, you can definitely make a name for yourself in Vienna."

Upon hearing this, the shop owner, George, relaxed slightly. While wiping the glass, he rolled his eyes and translated for Samael.

The ancient snake smiled and nodded in response to the shop owner's gesture of goodwill.

However, it's probably best to forget about him actually pursuing music. If a hobby becomes a job, it often quickly diminishes one's passion.

At that moment, the little boy Mario walked up and looked up at the performer, looking every bit the little adult, and extended an olive branch in a rather irritating manner.

"Hey, what's your name? Interested in joining the church choir? The church needs an accompanist for tomorrow night's mass celebration, and I'm willing to pay a high price to hire you."

Samael smiled at the little brat in front of him and decisively refused.

"No, I'm busy!"

"How about we reconsider? I'm willing to pay three times the market price!"

However, Mario frowned slightly, but still refused to give up.