The frigid wind swept through the high skies, and the fierce snowstorm battered against the massive, ancient clock, producing a resounding and crisp chime at intervals.
This place is the highest point within Tianxin City—the pinnacle of the clock tower.
Typically, only the maintenance staff who come to clean and service the area would venture here; under normal circumstances, it remains eerily silent, as if it were in another realm altogether.
However, today, two figures suddenly intruded upon this tranquility.
With their feet treading upon the void, golden arcs of arcane light danced around them, and a cold-haired youth stood aloof in one corner of the clock tower.
His gaze fixed upon the handsome middle-aged man across from him, Ezreal seethed with anger, "Warwick! Have you lost your mind? To poison an entire city for your experiments!!! Do you have any idea how many lives you are endangering?"
"Oh dear... Lord Ezreal, I have already provided you with the antidote for Miss Freya. You handed me the map to the ancient ruins; our transaction was concluded. Why do you persist in your relentless pursuit?"
The dashing middle-aged man lamented, stroking his stubbled chin with a furrowed brow. "As for your concerns about the experiments, you simply do not grasp the nature of research."
"Understand this: in this world, no research succeeds from the outset. Whether in medical or magical experimentation, success is invariably built upon countless failures. This time, I used the entire populace of Tianxin City for my experiment; though the outcome has led to this dire situation, one cannot merely focus on the failure."
Warwick sighed, "You must realize that if our research on this virus succeeds, the subjects will instantly attain a power level of tier three or higher."
"Although many have turned into ghouls due to this current failure, had the experiment succeeded, the entire city would have been transformed into tier three professionals." Warwick continued.
"For these mostly ordinary citizens, this would be a most coveted opportunity—akin to a gamble. It's merely their misfortune that they lost this round; do not blame me," Warwick lamented, "The fault lies not with me, but with the world."
"You madman!!" Ezreal retorted furiously, "Those so-called rabies patients were the initial carriers of the virus, weren't they? And in just a few hours, a third of the city's population has been infected. Did you poison the drinking water?"
"Oh dear... you've seen through my ruse. Yes, I did indeed poison the drinking water, and now the entire city carries this virus; some have just yet to manifest symptoms. As for the antidote, heh heh..."
Warwick chuckled wickedly, "Have you ever heard of a virus having an antidote? I've said it before; this is merely a research accident, not a case of poisoning for murder. Where would an antidote come from?"
"Well, to speak of an antidote, it's not entirely nonexistent, heh heh... it all depends on how resolute you are," Warwick laughed heartily, deftly evading the surging arcane waves from across and leaping away.
"Stop!" A furious shout erupted, and the golden-haired youth instantly vanished from his spot, pursuing him.
The wind and snow continued to howl, and for the moment, the place fell back into its former silence.
On the desolate streets, a blue-haired woman stood in stunned silence, her gaze fixed on the indifferent figure of the man as he turned away without hesitation.
"What? What's happening? Isn't this guy supposed to be a good person?" Freya was utterly bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.
As she watched his figure about to vanish around the corner, Freya snapped back to reality and rushed to block Xiao Mu Yu's path.
With a gaze as cold as ice fixed upon the extraordinary songstress before him, Xiao Mu Yu asked icily, "Do you have something to discuss?"
Fuming and glaring at the indifferent man, Freya felt as though she had been deceived and questioned, "Don't you want to save those in this city who have not yet succumbed to the virus?"
"…" In his indifferent gaze, there was no flicker of emotion. Xiao Mu Yu's tone remained as frigid and detached as ever, "The virus you speak of, I do not comprehend."
"Alright, let me be direct."
Freya continued, "I trust you have observed the current state of Tianxin City. This calamity is the result of a wicked alchemist's failed experiments. That alchemist poisoned the city in an attempt to test his new drug weapon, and now, except for those in the northern district, nearly all below tier three have transformed into ghouls."
"Ah, by the way, you should know that alchemist. He is the former owner of the Night Star Casino, Joseph. However, the current owner is not the original; the previous owner was murdered, and the current one has assumed his identity."
"So, while the casino owner is Joseph, the one running it now is not truly Joseph. Though he bears Joseph's face, he is not the real owner. The current owner goes by another name—Warwick. Do you understand now?"
"…" A chill emanated from Xiao Mu Yu's gaze.
He glanced down at the little fox perched on his shoulder, noticing the little creature's eyes sparkling with confusion, its small head wobbling in bewilderment.
"Hmm? Did you not understand?" Freya exclaimed, her mouth agape in surprise. "I've explained it so clearly! Alright, I'll clarify once more."
"This matter is quite simple; it's about the former casino owner…" However, Freya was abruptly interrupted by the cold man's gesture.
"I understand your meaning," Xiao Mu Yu said coldly, his expression as unyielding as stone, "The current owner is a fraud named Warwick, correct?"
"Yes, that's absolutely right," Freya nodded.
"The current state of the city is a result of this alchemist's failed experiments, is that so?"
"Yes, yes, that's correct," Freya replied, her smile reminiscent of a little fox. "You're quite perceptive! I deliberately made it convoluted, yet you managed to grasp it. Hee hee... So, will you help stop this disaster?"
Yet, the indifferent man ignored Freya's words and coldly stated, "What I wish to know is, how is all of this related to me?"
"Eh? Eh?!" Freya was taken aback, then indignantly replied, "What's wrong with you? You possess considerable strength, don't you? Around tier nine, perhaps? Surely you've heard the saying, 'With great power comes great responsibility'? To have such formidable abilities yet refuse to uphold justice—how can you face your own conscience?"
"…" The man remained silent in response to Freya's inquiries.
After a prolonged silence, as Freya began to think he was grappling with a moral dilemma, Xiao Mu Yu finally spoke coldly, "Conscience? What is that?"