Chapter 131: The Continental Congress |
Well, well. This was truly a turn of events.
It had to be said that this victory against the Phantom Killer had come a bit too abruptly, leaving even Levi momentarily dazed. If not for the system prompt notifying him that the mission was successful, he would have thought his opponent had used a feint to escape.
No way, right? Could someone really be scared to death just by watching a few movie clips?
Although Levi was lampooning the situation wildly in his mind, the system did not care about his thoughts. It merely continued its notifications in a mechanical rhythm.
[Quest "Shadow Blade" Completed]
[Time Spent: S]
[Investigation Efficiency: S]
[Impact: S]
[Overall Evaluation: SSS]
If Levi had to judge, the enemy this time did not seem to deserve this level of difficulty reward based purely on the final result. It was like expecting to fight Bowser, only to step on a Goomba.
Strictly speaking, however, this was a gimmick boss. If you found the right mechanic, the kill was easy; if you missed it, you would be toyed with until death.
[Special Ability Reward]
[Nightmare / Ethereal Form / Unconscious Control]
Nightmare was the exact ability the Phantom Killer had used against Levi. To put it simply, it dragged an opponent into a nightmare to kill them. This was somewhat similar to a certain horror movie protagonist, but Levi gave it a brief look and decided to pass. The reason was simple: just looking at the Phantom Killer showed that this ability was a double-edged sword. If you could scare someone to death, you won.
But if someone managed to scare you to death instead, you were done for.
Besides, Levi was a detective, not an assassin. Having this ability was practically useless.
Ethereal Form was something Levi had witnessed during his earlier fight with the Phantom Killer, an ability that allowed the user to temporarily turn their physical form intangible. This move was certainly useful, but Levi already possessed Shadow Transfer. Keeping one of two similar abilities was enough; there was no need for a duplicate.
For Levi, the most useful one was actually Unconscious Control.
[Unconscious Control: By manipulating the conscious state of others, the user can move completely unnoticed. Consumes 1 minute per second.]
In Levi's view, this was the ultimate skill.
Simply put, Unconscious Control made others fail to notice him. As long as he did not enter someone's direct line of sight, he had zero presence. Even if he did enter their vision, he would be as inconspicuous as a small pebble. The moment he left their sight, he would be instantly forgotten.
Unless he actively interfered with them—such as launching an attack—he would remain an absolute non-entity in their minds.
Yes, this was very similar to that sudden feeling humans get when they look for their glasses or a book, yet cannot find them anywhere despite the object sitting right there on the desk. They could flip the entire room upside down and still miss it.
For the Phantom Killer, perhaps this ability was useless. After all, according to the description, any interference would cause the target to perceive the user. This meant if the Phantom Killer wanted to use this ability to assassinate people, it clearly would not work, just like during the Battle of Lexington.
Those soldiers had not sensed the Phantom Killer's presence, but the moment the Phantom Killer launched an attack against Levi, Levi had reacted instantly. Therefore, from an assassin's perspective, this move was clearly less useful than Nightmare.
But for Levi, Unconscious Control was far better than Nightmare.
Because he was a detective, not an assassin!
Unconscious Control was practically a dedicated skill for watching drama unfold, alright? If he wanted to, even if a couple was having an intimate, private conversation, he could just activate Unconscious Control, squat in a corner, and enjoy the show with a chair and snacks.
He could even activate this skill to eavesdrop on the villainous bosses of evil organizations discussing their sinister plots. Even if he was being pursued, he could just turn on this skill and stand right next to them. If they could not see him, they still could not see him, right?
Wasn't this better than anything else?
Furthermore, the consumption was very low, basically on the same level as Soul Vision.
Thus, Levi quickly made his decision.
This was the one!
Levi reached out his hand and selected Unconscious Control. Soon after, he saw this skill being placed into the skill column under the Willpower attribute.
This thing fell under the Willpower attribute? How interesting.
After confirming the usage of the skill once more, Levi waved his hand with satisfaction and closed the system. His mission was complete. Next, there was only one thing left to do.
*
The night passed.
For Adams and Hancock, it had been a sleepless night, but they still forced themselves to cheer up. After washing up, they arrived at the City Hall in Feihat City to attend the Continental Congress being held there.
At this meeting, they would decide the future of the relationship between Merisia and the Empire, and whether they should mount further resistance.
"Remember, Adams, our task this time is critical," Hancock said in a low voice, looking at Adams before him. "We must convince the moderates to stand on our side."
"That won't be an easy task."
Adams was clearly not that confident. After all, what had happened in Lexington had stripped them of their moral high ground. No matter what, the other party had only arrested the militia, which was indeed the duty of the Imperial Army. Furthermore, for the people of the Empire, the law had to be obeyed.
So the Imperial Army's actions were flawless, but the militia organization attacking the Imperial Army raised a lot of problems. More importantly, they had not even won.
That was the biggest issue.
A total of twelve cities had sent representatives to the Continental Congress. These representatives were political leaders from various cities, coming from all walks of life: lawyers, doctors, teachers, scholars, merchants, priests, plantation owners, small farmers, and artisans. Most of them belonged to the middle class, with a few wealthy individuals from the upper class.
Among them, many were moderates who advocated for maintaining good relations with the Empire. A small minority were radicals who swore to fight the Empire to the bitter end. Aside from them, there were centrists who believed they should seek a compromise.
Currently, the numbers of radicals and moderates were roughly equal, making the centrists the primary target to win over. This meeting was Adams's attempt to secure the support of the centrists, but he could not say for sure whether he would succeed.
"That detective..."
"Don't worry, Adams." Hancock patted his shoulder. "I have ordered everyone to lock down the entrances and exits once the meeting begins. No one is allowed to enter or leave without authorization. Furthermore, over at the train station, I have already bribed the stationmaster. He will conduct a thorough search of the Explorer to delay them as much as possible. But I think as long as that killer..."
At this point, Hancock paused, seemingly reluctant to utter the other man's name.
"If he succeeds, then this will no longer be a problem."
"..."
"Alright, let's head inside."
Hancock patted Adams's shoulder again and led him into the assembly hall. With the crisp sound of a gavel, the Continental Congress officially commenced.
The two men pushed their doubts aside and began to focus completely on the meeting.
The meeting was arduous from the very beginning. Hancock realized this quickly. Right from the start, many people directed their spearheads at them, arguing that the militia regiment had been too reckless, taking it upon themselves to provoke a conflict with the Imperial Army. Now, they were completely unprepared. Compared to the Empire, Merisia was simply too weak. They needed more time and more preparation!
Faced with everyone's accusations, Adams knew that if he did not defend their actions, they would fail completely. Thus, he stood up, looked at the crowd, and began to speak.
"You say we are too weak, unable to withstand such a powerful enemy. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be next week, or next year? Shall we wait until we are totally disarmed, and until an imperial soldier is stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?!"
Adams opened his arms, his voice ringing out like a deep bell, swirling and echoing through the air above the assembly hall.
"Gentlemen, we shall not be weak if we make a proper use of those means which the Holy Lord has placed in our power! The millions of people in Merisia, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us! Besides, we shall not fight our battles alone! The Holy Lord presides over the destinies of nations, and will raise up friends to fight our battles for us!"
Adams was not just making empty threats. In fact, during the decline of the Empire, the Holy Lord Church had instigated and supported the independence and secession of more than half of its former territories.
"Gentlemen! The battle is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave! Besides, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of our land! The war is inevitable—and let it come! I repeat it, gentlemen, let it come!"
Adams clenched his fists and held them high. His impassioned speech sent tremors of emotion through the listening councilmen.
"Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace, Peace—but there is no peace! The war is actually begun! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? I know not what course others may take; but as for me..."
Having reached this point, Adams took a deep breath.
"—Give me liberty, or give me death!"
"Ohhhhhhh!!!"
Hearing Adams's roar, the councilmen below erupted into loud shouts. They slammed their hands onto the tables, clapping and cheering without pause. They were so agitated that the chairman had to repeatedly strike the gavel to call for order.
However...
"Clap, clap, clap, clap..."
Just as the cheers of the crowd began to subside, an inappropriate sound of clapping echoed through the hall. Everyone looked toward the source of the applause in confusion, only to see a young man stand up and walk into the center of the hall. A cane hung over his arm, and he continued to clap his hands. He wore a top hat and a three-piece suit, looking every bit like a gentleman of status and cultivation.
"Who are you, sir?" The chairman stared at the man and questioned him. "It is not yet your turn to speak."
"Ah, my apologies for disrupting your meeting, Mr. Chairman." The young man smiled faintly, nodding to the crowd. Then he turned his head, locking his gaze onto Adams standing at the podium, as well as Hancock beside him. "May I ask if you two are Mr. Samuel Adams and Mr. John Hancock?"
"..."
Looking at the young man before him, Adams gripped the railing of the podium tightly. Though he had never seen the man before, he knew exactly who he was. He also knew why he had appeared here.
But why? Why?!
"...Yes..." Adams replied in a low voice.
At this moment, his voice was incredibly hoarse and deep, devoid of any of his previous passion and fervor.
Then, Adams watched as the man nodded, reached into his coat, and pulled out an arrest warrant.
"I am Detective Levi. Now, in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, I officially inform you both—you are under arrest."