"You seem to have lost weight. Did you not eat well?"
"No way, there is delicious food every day - Sean, why are you standing so far away?"
I see. His dealings with Jung, secretly helping Long Island Bill to kill the God, and having much better resources than other explorers... Sean stood blankly, just wondering why he didn't discover it earlier.
Nietzsche was Catherine's father.
"What's wrong with you Sean?"
"Isn't this the president? Why is it your dad?" He finally started to move. Walked over. He wasn't wearing a mask, so he just shook hands.
He knew that Nietzsche knew who he was. There was no trace of surprise on the president's face. He just smiled kindly and seemed like a father who loved his daughter. He was wearing a striped shirt and a tight black vest today, and he looked very energetic.
Catherine replied: "I haven't broken through the mask yet. When I am promoted to ace, I will naturally let everyone know. It is better to maintain the status quo."
"I'm really confused." Sean said sincerely.
"Angelo never mentioned my dad until I became an adult. He just said that he was in Europe. Later, after she disappeared, I found out who my dad was..."
Nietzsche responded: "Angelo had some dissatisfaction with me before. She tried her best to avoid letting Catherine know about my relationship with her. That's why I told Catherine this secret so late."
That's why Catherine took her mother's last name, not Nietzsche. In order to protect their daughter, the two of them kept their relationship secret.
It seems that Catherine really values herself and is willing to share her biggest secret with herself.
But……
Sean tried his best to appear calm on the outside, but inside he felt like he was going through a storm. He looked at the black crescent moon, at Nietzsche who was smiling kindly, and at Catherine. He didn't know what to say.
"Come in and sit down." Nietzsche warmly invited them through the door.
They walked into the tea room, and three teacups were already placed on the table. They took their seats and the maid made tea for them. Catherine told how Sean found Angelo and how he gave her a surprise. Nietzsche had obviously heard this story, but he still held his pipe in his mouth and narrowed his eyes with laughter.
"Mr. Dickinson, thank you very much. You have solved a problem in Cathy's heart. You know, I have been trying to find Angelo over the years, but I always unconsciously investigate in the direction of mysterious events. I invested a lot of resources to no avail, but I never thought it would be such a story, a story that has nothing to do with mystery...
"I have to say, you have quite outstanding insight."
With Catherine around, Nietzsche seemed to be no longer the same Nietzsche. Not an iota of the madness within him showed.
In such a strange family chat, Sean remained polite and modest, but at the same time he kept trying to find clues to Nietzsche's dark side. He couldn't find it.
"By the way, I bought you two skirts. You can try them on."
Catherine followed the maid and left. She walked up the stairs and closed the door. They were the only two people left in the tea room.
Nietzsche said nothing, and neither did Sean. The air seemed to condense.
"I didn't know it was you." He half-reclined, the smoke from his pipe illuminated by the sunlight, "Cathy said she talked about her boyfriend and said a lot about you, but she didn't say it was you."
"Hmm. I didn't even know it was you."
They were silent again.
"There are still five days until the appointed time," Nietzsche said.
"I know."
"We have to solve a problem - I can't make Cathy sad."
"Me too."
"We can solve this problem simply: you swear allegiance to me from now on, and we're all happy."
"Impossible. I also have a 'happy-to-all' plan: you step down as president, surrender to the Seekers' Court, and confess how many Seekers you have killed."
Silence again. But they seemed to be used to this silence.
"Then there is only one way." Nietzsche shifted his weight forward, pressed his elbows on his knees, pointed at Sean with his pipe with squinted eyes, "I will banish your annoying soul and turn you into a puppet. Then you will continue to please Cathy."
"You can give it a try." Sean also sat up straight, "Mr. Nietzsche, I will make you regret not surrendering to the Explorer's Court. After all, you have done so many scandalous things."
Nietzsche laughed. Dark smile. Sean finally saw the real him.
"You're such an irritating genius." He leaned back in his chair.
Catherine stepped out in a blue dress, which she paired with a simple hat. Thousands and thousands of people
She stood in front of the two people and turned around: "Does it look good?"
"Good-looking." They almost said in unison.
Realizing that something seemed wrong in the atmosphere, Catherine put her hands on her hips and asked, "What were you two talking about while I was away?"
"Philosophy." Nietzsche chewed on his pipe.
"The law," Sean said with a smile.
"Let's talk about the weather, gentlemen. Don't keep talking about these dull things." She went upstairs again.
"Sean, you don't really think you can beat me, do you?" Black joker said.
Sean didn't answer.
"I'm really curious, where does your inexplicable sense of justice come from, and what do you plan to do with it? Do you hate me just because I killed a few explorers?"
"And your threats."
"Okay. I repeat, if you swear allegiance to me, I can cancel this bet. Do you understand? Mr. Dickinson, I gave you an exit."
"My answer is: No." Of course Sean wanted to take that exit. He wanted to protect Catherine's heart. But what about after swearing allegiance to Nietzsche? Will it be a life worse than death? How to agree to any request of a madman?
"Okay. Very good." Nietzsche leaned back in his chair and said no more.
Catherine came down again, and the relaxed smiles returned to their faces. They stayed at his house for dinner, and Sean and Nietzsche had a friendly conversation the entire time so that Catherine wouldn't notice. After the initial shock, Sean's worries grew serious.
Dealing with the black joker is a matter of narrow escape, and no matter what the outcome is, Catherine will inevitably be hurt. This unsolvable situation made him miserable. At the dining table, he was smiling, but the storm in his heart showed no sign of stopping. He didn't know what to do and couldn't stop his chaotic thoughts.
Sean finished perhaps the most difficult meal of his life, and Nietzsche stood at the door to say goodbye to them.
"Sean, what happened to you today?" Catherine drove the car, her face illuminated by the street lights. She still sensed something was wrong with Sean.
Cathy, your father is a madman. He killed many explorers. I want to duel with him. Please stand by me. Looking at Catherine's face, Sean said to himself.
But how to say these words to her?
What will happen to her? Can she help herself in the duel five days later? Wouldn't she be tortured between two men?
Cathy, what on earth should I say, what on earth should I do? How did things come to this?
He hasn't made any decisions yet and can't say those things out yet.
"I'm just so shocked."
"Did you vote for Phillips in the president's election?" Catherine asked suddenly. Sean didn't answer.
"I still remember your statement at the King's Club. I guess you may not like Nietzsche." She turned her face away, not angry, "But it doesn't matter. For the sake of our future, let's get to know him slowly."
