Chapter 300 - 296: Everyone’s a Thespian

Chapter 300: Chapter 296: Everyone’s a Thespian

But since someone was about to open the door, Peter and Niso didn’t plan on waiting any longer. They needed to make contact, after all.

The two of them got out of the car. They approached the building at what seemed like a casual pace, but was in fact quite swift.

The building had a main gate with a smaller inset door. The main gate was wide enough for a carriage, but people normally used the smaller one.

Upstairs, Carl had been watching his younger brother, but he suddenly noticed two strange men walking toward their front door, approaching Frank from behind.

One of them seemed to sense something and glanced up at Carl’s window, which made him furrow his brow.

But Carl didn’t hide. He stood openly at the window, crossed his arms, and met the man’s gaze for two seconds. He figured that if the men below had ill intentions, this would make them think twice.

Then Carl turned and left the room, heading straight downstairs.

"Hello. Excuse me, are you the owner of this house?"

Niso asked politely. Frank, who was fumbling for his keys, turned to see two men he’d never met before.

"Yes, this is my house. What can I do for you?"

"Oh, wonderful. You see, we’re conducting a survey of unique historical architecture as part of an important research project. We were told there was a particularly special building here, so we came to pay a visit."

Frank listened to their explanation. Thinking about his house, he had to admit it really was special.

"We actually stopped by over an hour ago and rang the bell several times, but no one was home..."

Just as he said that, Carl opened the door from the inside. His eyes met his brother’s as Frank turned around.

Carl had heard that last part. He was slightly embarrassed, but his expression remained calm and serious.

"Oh, is that right? My apologies. I was dead asleep and didn’t hear the bell."

"Heh, I figured as much, sir. Sorry for the disturbance. Regarding our academic research... would it be possible for us to take a look inside?"

As he spoke, Niso took out a business card. It identified him as both a historical scholar and an editor for a reasonably well-known travel magazine.

Carl didn’t even take the card. He wasn’t interested.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t make a habit of letting strangers with questionable motives tour my home. If you want to learn more, go find whoever told you about this building. They must know everything."

With that, Carl helped Frank carry the beer and vegetables inside, then moved to shut the door.

Seeing how things were going, Peter felt he had no choice. He put on a confused expression, which then morphed into one of pleasant surprise.

"Ah! You’re Frank!!"

"Hm?"

Frank looked at Peter, but he had no idea who this man was.

"It’s me, Peter! You don’t remember me? We met last year in Professor Gordon’s biology class. I went to the United States as an exchange student for a year right after that and only got back a few days ago... I just heard this afternoon that Professor Gordon had a fall and injured himself, so I agreed to come along and help my friend finish his research..."

Peter spoke with the excitement of someone who’d run into a long-lost friend.

"Hey, did you manage to win Liruoya over this past year? Don’t tell me you still haven’t had the courage to ask her out!"

’What the hell! I met this guy once a year ago and spilled my guts to him?’ Frank’s confusion hadn’t even subsided before panic set in.

But Peter seemed to notice Frank’s bewildered expression and, as if understanding something, put on a hurt look.

"You don’t really not remember me, do you? We only met that one time, but we talked for half the class! That really hurts..."

"Huh? ...Oh... I remember now! It’s you, Peter!"

The belated realization struck Frank, and he looked incredibly embarrassed. ’Who remembers someone they only met once a year ago?’ But this was a classmate who considered him a friend...

He wasn’t shameless enough to deny it, so he quickly played along.

"Carl, Peter’s a friend of mine! What’s the harm in having them over? It’s your fault for interrupting, you made me blank on it for a second."

"No, no, it’s my fault, really. I had a beard before I went to the United States. Now I shave every day, heh heh..."

Frank gave Peter a friendly punch on the chest, feeling a wave of relief.

"See, I knew it! Come on, come on in!"

Carl’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t try to stop them anymore. He let the two guests in, then helped Frank carry the groceries to the kitchen.

Once they were a short distance away, Niso spoke to Peter in a nearly inaudible voice.

"This Carl isn’t simple."

"I know. There’s still a faint trace of foul aura on him, along with the slight smell of sulfur."

Foul aura was a special term used by Dawn. After close contact with or killing a Demon, it was possible for some of its aura to linger on a person for a short time before gradually dissipating. This was the same thing they had seen on Tao Xingzhi when they ran into him at Doudou Supermarket before going to the Jia City construction site.

In the kitchen, Frank set down the beer and jumped, startled by Carl, who was standing right behind him with a grim expression.

"Who is Liruoya?"

Frank felt like a teenager who’d just been caught masturbating by his parents. His face flushed.

Seeing his brother’s expression, Carl understood everything.

"So you really forgot about him?"

That just made Frank even more embarrassed.

"It’s been a year! Who can remember that clearly? Besides, I ’remembered’ him now, didn’t I?"

He said, guiltily defending his fragile pride.

"But he remembered you perfectly well! Whatever, I’m staying out of it. But you, kid... you’d better win Liruoya over. Don’t be a damn coward who’s too afraid to even tell her how you feel!"

Having said his piece, Carl led Frank back out of the kitchen.

Meanwhile, in the main hall, Peter and Niso were making no effort to hide their astonishment, gazing in awe at the magical building, which seemed to hold a world of its own.

"My god, this is incredible. This is the most unique building I’ve seen since this research project began, and it’s never been documented. May I take some photos?"

Niso looked to Carl, who just shrugged, giving his silent permission.

The hall was vast, with just a few dining tables and a sofa set in one corner, along with a large grandfather clock.

The two men excitedly snapped photos while Niso occasionally made voice notes, describing the architectural features in detail. Frank thought that even after living there for so long, he couldn’t describe some of the details with as much insight as Niso. ’He really is an academic researcher, after all,’ he mused.

"Could we go upstairs for a look? We’ll just stick to the hallway, we won’t go into any rooms."

"Of course, be my guest. Let me make you two some coffee. Or you can have a beer, if you’d prefer."

"Coffee would be great, thanks."

"Me too!"

The two excited men toured the upstairs and downstairs, and Frank even took them up to the enormous attic.

They mentally noted the thickness of the paint on certain walls and the subtle unevenness of some of the details.

Afterward, they all sat at a table in the corner of the hall and chatted.

Carl asked Peter and Frank about school, and they shared some amusing stories about Munich University. Peter also talked about his year as an exchange student, including how he’d taken up painting.

In turn, Niso and Peter asked about the house’s origins, which led to a discussion about the history of the Noeman Clan. This time, however, Frank didn’t spin that wild tale about "Dawn."

A little after five, their sister, Mani Noeman, finally returned. After greeting the lovely young high school girl, Niso and Peter decided it was time to take their leave.

By this point, Carl and Frank had warmed up to Niso and Peter. They and their sister tried to persuade the two to stay for dinner, but the visitors insisted on not imposing any further.

"The evening is a time for family. We really shouldn’t impose."

Niso said with a smile.

"Well then, we’ll be on our way."

As they spoke, Niso and Peter looked straight ahead but gave a slight, simultaneous nod. They made a gesture with their right hands—thumb pressed to index finger, the other three fingers held straight and together—and placed them lightly over their hearts.

It was a very peculiar salute. The three Noeman siblings may have found it novel, but their reactions were entirely ordinary.

They walked back to their silver Volkswagen along streets that felt even more deserted in the evening, started the car, and drove away.

From his seat, Peter spoke quietly.

"They don’t know."

"No... The power of time is a fearsome thing."

Two sighs faded away with the roar of the engine.

PS: Second Chapter for Friday.