Previously, some friends asked Zhao Lun why he was able to attract the attention of women. Zhao Lun cited three factors: charisma, allure, and strength.
People often refer to these as virtues. While this definition may not always be entirely accurate, it is close enough.
For animals, the criteria for mate selection are based on strength. The stronger an animal is, the better it can survive, and the more powerful animals are the ones that attract the opposite sex.
A typical example is the lion on the grasslands. The dominant male lion, strong and powerful, has multiple mates, while the weaker ones either become subordinates of the leader or lead a wandering life. If they're lucky, they may experience a reversal of fate; if not, they starve and become mere skeletons, possibly even perishing.
Humans, though they have built a civilized world and many use "human nature" as a standard, often overlook the fact that humans are also animals. As animals, their instincts drive them to seek out strong mates in order to survive.
This is ingrained in human DNA. Despite civilization's advancement, this primal instinct remains unaltered.
It is similar to a traveler who, on a lonely and desolate road, even without travel experience, would instinctively seek shelter for safety during a perilous night.
Why choose shelter? Because it offers safety, ensuring their survival and allowing them to live better. The drive to survive and to thrive is influenced by this primal instinct.
The selection of a mate also operates on this "instinct," whether veiled in the beauty of love or laid bare without pretensions. In essence, they are one and the same.
Zhao Lun embodies these qualities, which is why those around him, especially women, are unconsciously drawn to him.
It was a pleasant day. The next morning, everyone packed their things, boarded the comfortable RV, and set off toward London.
On the upper deck of the RV, the roof opened and retracted smoothly as the vehicle moved steadily forward. Sitting there, the wind gently tousled their hair as they enjoyed the beautiful morning breeze and the scenery along the way. It was an uplifting sight.
At this moment, everyone sat together, holding milky-white cups, sipping coffee, and savoring the moment.
The coffee was rich and smooth, with an aroma that lingered in the mind, leaving them longing for more. They sipped quietly, savoring it until their cups were empty.
"Aaron, was this porcelain set a gift from Mr. House?"
"Yes, he initially planned to give it to his father, but his father refused it, so it was given to me instead."
"I think if his father had seen these art-like treasures, he might regret turning them down."
Everyone, not only Zhao Lun and Maria, but even Nicole, who had heard of Mr. House's story, held him in high regard. They sympathized with his situation.
"What about those people? I haven't seen them around town."
"Those people" referred to Green, Happy, and others who had once held a grudge against Zhao Lun and his group. They were viewed as enemies and despised by everyone. When they were mentioned, they were always referred to as "those people."
After being driven out of the village, these people moved to the town, but then they faded into silence. They avoided eye contact and made no complaints when passing by others.
Now, however, they had completely disappeared from the town. If Penelope hadn't asked, Zhao Lun would have almost forgotten about them and pushed the memory to the back of his mind.
"Them?" Zhao Lun paused briefly, activated his optical brain, and instantly accessed the relevant information he had gathered. "They were unfortunate. Some ended up in a mental hospital, while others... they're asleep forever."
"A mental hospital? Asleep forever? Did you do that?" Penelope looked at Zhao Lun in surprise.
She knew Zhao Lun's power, and accomplishing such deeds would be easy for him. However, she was unable to accept how suddenly ruthless Zhao Lun had become.
"Did you need me to do that? It wasn't necessary." Zhao Lun rolled his eyes at her, leaving Penelope bewildered. She looked at him, unsure if he was lying, but his sincere gaze suggested otherwise.
She looked to Maria, Angela, Nicole, and Monica, and they all smiled at her.
"You know? Maria is also a witch, and she's already received an invitation to a school."
Zhao Lun paid little attention to her earlier surprise or skepticism. He understood it and smiled, prompting her to find the answer herself.
"A witch? Could it be... her abilities caused this?" Penelope asked uncertainly.
Some witches, especially those with potential, display strange phenomena from birth or even show extraordinary powers. Witches with less potential may leak uncontrollable magic or abilities during their childhood.
These uncontrollable magical forces usually have minor effects and don't cause major harm, except for a few rare individuals, like Maria.
Maria was born with extraordinary talent, and from birth, she possessed the power of a witch. This power resembled a curse, causing misfortune to those who came near her. However, if someone had greater strength, the curse was not as effective.
If born into a family of witches, they would provide an environment for her growth. Unfortunately, Maria was not born into a witch's family but a Muggle one. Her parents couldn't withstand her powers and were ultimately affected by her uncontrollable abilities, suffering constant misfortune, which led to their untimely deaths.
Later, those who took her in also suffered similar consequences.
This influence continued until Zhao Lun arrived and helped Maria grow. Unknowingly, her powers began to shift in a new direction.
Those she despised began to experience strange misfortunes, which intensified as Maria's power grew. The closer people were to her, the greater the effects they would experience.
Though they moved away from the village, they were not far enough to escape the influence of her powers. Even now, under the weight of misfortune, those who had once opposed them were not living well.
"Yes, it's her abilities that are causing all this," Zhao Lun confirmed.
With misfortune at play, why would Zhao Lun need to take matters into his own hands? Only a fool would make such blunders.
"Is this her power? How incredible!" Penelope exclaimed, feeling that Maria was like a mythical goddess of misfortune—someone you couldn't afford to offend, lest disaster strike without warning.
"Impressive, right? If you don't want to be unlucky, you'd better cling to her tightly, hahahaha," Zhao Lun joked.
Penelope said nothing, only silently observing Maria, as though seeing her for the first time.
Clinging to power? A girl with such abilities certainly has the right to make people cling to her in the future.
Even if one didn't cling to her, they wouldn't dare become her enemy, unless they were looking for trouble.
She figured no one would be foolish enough to seek their own demise. (To be continued.)