Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1300: Chapter 1298: Sunrise and Invitation

“Good morning, Officer Raphaide.”

While appreciating everyone’s enthusiasm, Fu Qian remained seated steadily until his room door was knocked upon. Only then did he rise to greet his visitors.

Standing next to Mrs. Harper at the doorway was none other than Officer Raphaide, the very man who had previously helped him recover his memories.

Upon seeing the spirited Fu Qian open the door, both Officer Raphaide and Mrs. Harper displayed rather complicated expressions.

“Good morning, Mr. Anke.”

After sizing him up and down a few times, Raphaide finally responded to the greeting and candidly stated his purpose without hesitation.

“Sorry to bother you so early. I’ve received a new mission. From now on, my task is to ensure your safety at all times.”

“Not at all. I’ve been up for a while now. If anything, it’s me who should apologize.”

Fu Qian waved his hand indifferently and then turned his gaze toward his landlord.

“Sorry for troubling you because of me.”

“…It’s no trouble. At my age, I don’t need much sleep anyway.”

Fu Qian’s excessive calm seemed to catch Mrs. Harper off guard.

She cast him a glance. After implying the matter shouldn’t be taken too seriously, she refrained from saying much more. Her face, slightly weary, betrayed no unusual expressions.

What a gracious host. Truly an exemplary landlord, even going so far as to protect tenant privacy.

Faced with this reaction, Fu Qian silently praised her in his heart.

For a sharp-eyed old lady like her, last night would undoubtedly have been an eerie whirlwind. And now, this morning, a police officer had come knocking directly at her door.

The complex expressions were, in fact, entirely understandable.

Regarding her tenant, she probably harbored quite a few suspicions at this point.

Yet, even so, she hadn’t disclosed any of her concerns to the officer.

“As a token of gratitude, would Officer Raphaide care to join me for breakfast?”

Feeling he had spent his rent wisely, Fu Qian smiled warmly at Raphaide.

“No need.”

The officer rejected the offer firmly, then, without a moment’s delay, glanced at Mrs. Harper.

“Could I trouble you to prepare some breakfast? I don’t think Mr. Anke is suited to leaving the house right now.”

“Of course, no problem.”

Mrs. Harper instantly affirmed, and the young officer nodded in appreciation. After giving Fu Qian one last look, he promptly descended the stairs and left.

This series of remarks and actions clearly conveyed a warning: you’d best stay upstairs and not make trouble for me.

…

Just painstakingly thorough.

Without a doubt, Raphaide had been sent here under Amira’s direct orders—she had even explicitly stated as much when leaving.

Having witnessed the “awakening” in Fu Qian’s nightmare, Amira surely wouldn’t be naïve enough to believe an ordinary officer could truly restrain him—even if the equipment at his waist had unmistakable signs of modifications by The Sect.

So, the real purpose of this arrangement was indeed protection.

As Mrs. Harper went to prepare breakfast, Fu Qian returned to the window and observed the scene outside.

In an inconspicuous corner, a carriage bearing The Sect’s emblem was parked silently.

It had arrived even earlier than Officer Raphaide, and Fu Qian was quite aware that someone extraordinary sat inside—a suspected Hunter.

Not the same one he’d encountered before; this one felt even more formidable.

As a Hunter with keen senses, the carriage’s occupant had been stationed outside since long before dawn, radiating a palpable sense of unwavering killing intent.

Amira hadn’t slacked off, clearly working through the night to prepare her report.

This reaction seemed to indicate that someone within The Sect was treating the situation regarding Fu Qian with utmost seriousness.

Under these circumstances, Raphaide’s early arrival and strict demands were likely born of Amira’s specific instructions.

By leveraging the unique social authority of the police, they aimed to limit his movements and prevent unnecessary conflicts with the Hunter.

His reckless actions from before must have left quite the impression on her.

Of course, if some necessary conflict arose later, such as when the Hunter caught wind of an unspeakably evil aura at sunrise and decided to strike—Raphaide would obviously be unable to intervene.

Sigh…

Glancing at the imminent sunlight, Fu Qian sighed deeply, his features swiftly shifting.

In the blink of an eye, a familiar face emerged.

The Dazzling Visage—the ability he acquired after digesting the Pontiff’s Gifted Mask—if used solely for disguise, was even more convenient than before. But wearing the Witch’s face like this still felt undeniably strange.

Although intrigued by the Hunter’s capabilities, now was not the right time for direct confrontation. Fu Qian decided to cooperate with Amira’s careful arrangements.

After multiple interactions with the law, Fu Qian didn’t believe simple concealment would have much effect. Erring on the side of caution, he chose to rely on the Pontiff’s power.

Fortunately, his exploration the night before had revealed that the Hunter’s sense of smell concentrated at sunrise.

This meant breakfast wouldn’t be delayed.

…

When Mrs. Harper knocked on the door to deliver breakfast, the large morning sun had already fully risen.

Fu Qian’s face, naturally, had returned to normal.

And throughout this period, the carriage in the corner had remained motionless.

The peaceful strategy seemed to have received a favorable response.

Pleased with this development, Fu Qian popped a piece of scrambled egg into his mouth, feeling all the more content.

Though Mrs. Harper’s breakfast was somewhat plain, her cooking skills were undeniably excellent.

Fu Qian wasn’t shy about enjoying it, methodically devouring every last morsel.

“Mr. Anke.”

After finishing his meal and barely taking a sip of tea, the knocking at his door resumed—this time, it was Amira visiting alone.

As she greeted him, her eyes unconsciously darting toward the now-empty plates, it seemed Fu Qian’s hearty appetite had genuinely surprised her.

Does she understand the meaning of strategic planning?

To this, Fu Qian internally scoffed.

Her presence now was entirely within expectations.

Earlier, the Hunter’s lone vigilance downstairs clearly indicated an internal accord within The Sect. Before then, Amira naturally couldn’t appear and disrupt the balance.

But after last night’s performance was reported and corroborated against the mysterious Herbert, The Sect’s actions undoubtedly accelerated.

If the Hunter yielded no results, Amira appearing to initiate the next steps became almost inevitable.

Thus, the time left for a leisurely breakfast was never going to be lengthy.

“Miss Amira.”

After finishing his tea, Fu Qian offered a satisfied greeting.

“I’ve already reported last night’s events. Now, I need you to come with me.”

Influenced by Fu Qian’s enjoyment and relaxed demeanor, the sleep-deprived Amira herself felt a pang of hunger.

“Alright.”

Without any surprise, Fu Qian agreed readily to her request.

“Good morning, Mr. Reginald.”

Moments later, led by Amira, the two arrived at the Hunter’s carriage.

Seeing Reginald waiting nearby, Fu Qian slightly nodded and offered a cordial greeting.