But... this breath does not carry the sulfurous smell of hell. No fire. No trace of hell.
So who?
Lance focused his senses, where he buried his concerns deep within.
On stage, Consul Han stood. His black suit was neat, and his voice sounded calm but laden with an almost imperceptible tension.
"Good evening, everyone. I am Consul Han. On behalf of China, I welcome you. Before us tonight is a priceless treasure of five thousand years of civilization. These antiques have just been discovered—an invaluable treasure that symbolizes our culture—"
Suddenly, all the lights in the exhibition center went out—instantly, the atmosphere turned into thick darkness, swallowing the crowd in a biting silence.
Then, from a distance, a faint singing voice could be heard.
The melody was halting, as if mixed with suppressed sobs. The faint echo seeped through the empty exhibition space, sneaking into the ears of everyone, sending chills down their spines, creating a strange numbness... even if only a few truly understood its meaning.
For the song was not in English, but in Japanese—more precisely, ancient Japanese.
Lance did not understand Japanese, let alone its archaic form. But magic? That was Lance's domain.
Indifferently, Lance murmured a translation spell. A simple incantation, but very powerful—even the language of sparrows could be understood with it. Human language, no matter how ancient, was not a problem.
Once the spell was complete, the meaning of the song flowed into Lance's mind.
The voice sounded soft, almost like the sigh of mist touching the skin:
"Year after year, flowers bloom fully... a mesmerizing spring... But will that season return next year? Only the sky knows when the flowers will bloom again. This heart is melancholic, submerged in fog, Is this merely an illusion... or the reality of my fate?"
Not just in ancient Japanese—but in the form of waka, a classical poem long swallowed by time.
Lance frowned. The tone of the song evoked a strange feeling... a nostalgia that was not his own, a sadness that felt old and deep, as if it came from a soul long left behind the curtain of the world.
Is the ghost causing this chaos... from Japan?
...
...
...
The weather was truly perfect.
Lance lay back comfortably in a plush lounge chair, his body half-sunk in comfort, while his hand held a magazine that was too vulgar to be called mere entertainment. A mischievous smile spread across Lance's face as his eyes scanned the exotic women within it—each figure possessing a captivating uniqueness, from tiny horns to glowing tails.
Before Lance, a turquoise-blue swimming pool stretched out calmly, reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the gaps in the leaves, making its surface shimmer like glass layered with liquid diamonds.
Several mermaids swam joyfully there—their tails sparkling, and their outfits nearly sheer, playfully following the curves of their bodies. They laughed, teasing one another, splashing water, as if the world contained only them and this eternal summer.
At the edge of the pool, a long mahogany table was laden with colorful dishes—neatly cut tropical fruits, tiny cakes sprinkled with gold, and crystal glasses filled with sharply aromatic wine. Near the table, a few mermaids were softly laughing, discussing something while swirling their glasses in their hands.
A gentle breeze from the forest blew softly, carrying the scent of fresh grass and tree sap. Small birds chirped melodiously, complementing the whispers and teasing laughter of the women around.
Heaven. Lance thought this must be heaven.
But suddenly, something changed. Lance squinted. His gaze wandered, and for no clear reason, he tossed the magazine aside. The smile on Lance's face faded, as if he had realized something that shouldn't be there.
"Darling, would you like a drink?" a soft, teasing voice slipped in from the side.
Vivi suddenly appeared—out of nowhere—and leaned close to Lance's ear. Vivi's red lips brushed against Lance's skin for a split second, whispering in a tone sweeter than the finest wine.
Then Nancy came, offering wine to Lance's lips. "Darling, drink up. It's so sweet, just like you," Nancy said with a teasing smile.
Christine followed, slipping into Lance's embrace, her breath warm against his shoulder. "How about I cook something for you?" Christine whispered softly, her voice like liquid honey.
"Or... why don't we just go back to the room?" A woman appeared out of nowhere, wearing a tight black costume with a meaningful smile—Black Widow, of all people.
And from the shadows, Barbara chimed in, complete with her signature teasing laugh.
Lance fell silent for a moment. Something was off.
Even without looking further, Lance knew—all the women surrounding him... were famous figures. Too famous.
They were Hollywood stars. And this was clearly not an ordinary dream.
Lance pursed his lips. The quality of his illusion was extraordinary, too real to ignore. But the setting... too perfect. Too tempting. Fake.
"The Japanese ghost woman really knows how to craft a fantasy," Lance muttered, half in awe, half annoyed.
"Is this magic from a demon dimension? Or high-level psychic manipulation?"
However, Lance dismissed all possibilities. Too confident to feel threatened.
"In the name of Vishanti, All-Seeing Eye—open!"
Lance swatted away the soft hands trying to pull him back into that mirage. Where Lance brought his fingers together, forming a complex mudra, and in an instant, light ignited between his brows—a single eye, shining with blinding brightness.
The golden light exploded, shattering the false world around Lance like glass struck by a hammer. Everything collapsed—the sky, the pool, the beautiful women—vanishing in a rain of light shards.
All that remained was thick darkness.
The lights in the exhibition hall went out. Only a faint glow from outside filtered through the tall windows, casting gray light on the stone walls and marble floor. The atmosphere changed drastically—cold, frightening, and silent.
In the middle of the hall, dozens of people stood still. The celebrities, who had previously laughed and teased, were now silent with vacant smiles. Their gazes were empty, their pupils barely reacting. They were all... trapped in the illusion that had just been shattered.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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