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Chapter 66 - Why are you keeping the truth hidden?

تمام، سألتزم بطلبك بدقّة:

1. **إعادة كتابة الفصل بالإنجليزية** مع الحفاظ على **ترتيب وتقسيم المشاهد والحوار**

2. **تقييم عربي للفصل بعد التعديل** مع إجابة واضحة عن تأثير التعديل على الغموض

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## أولًا: إعادة كتابة الفصل بالإنجليزية

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At Hans's Tavern—

Hans was polishing glasses as usual,

when a shout came from the seat in front of him.

It was Borin.

Borin: "Hey, you retired old man, bring me another bottle."

Hans: "Isn't this enough already?

You've been like this for six hours."

Borin: "Haaah, I'm bored.

Hmm… how do you think that kid is doing?

It's almost been a year since he left."

Hans: "Don't worry.

He'll definitely be fine.

Is this why you're like this, or what?"

Borin laughed.

"Do you really think I'd be sad because of him?

It's just that he entertained me.

He was really annoying."

"Angry old man, fix my sword."

"Angry old man, what kind of metal is this?"

"That idiot once came with a huge amount of mithril

and told me to make weapons for his friends."

Hans smiled.

"Yes… he's truly kind."

A person came and sat beside Borin,

speaking in a calm voice.

"I'd like a piece of meat and some drinks."

Borin spoke casually.

"Young man, alcohol is harmful.

Don't drink."

Borin and Hans both turned to look—

and froze.

"You… what is this?"

After a few seconds—

Borin: "Kid… what happened to you?"

It was Jin, just as he had appeared last time.

His hair hung loose,

his clothes were extremely simple,

and his features were eerily cold.

Jin: "How are you, old men?

It's been a long time."

Hans and Borin fell silent for a few moments.

Borin: "…You… ungrateful brat.

A whole year without showing up,

and you come back talking like this?

Tsk."

Hans laughed.

"Come on, he's from Murim now.

They're all like this.

But still… why do you look like this?"

Jin remained silent for a moment.

"Sometimes a person commits mistakes

they can't bear.

Honestly… I can't move past it."

Borin: "What in the heavens happened to you during this time?"

Jin began to speak,

telling them everything that happened during that year—

His arrival.

The academy.

His two friends.

The seclusion.

The cave.

The battle with the Poison Clan.

Meeting the regressor.

And finally…

the events of that ill-fated day.

Borin: "Everything was fine until the end.

What happened at the end was truly bad.

But why didn't you tell us about your homeland

and your little sister?"

Jin: "I don't know.

I didn't like sharing my problems with others.

It seems I really was a fool."

Hans looked away as he prepared food,

but the sadness on his face was clear—

as if there was something he wanted to say,

yet couldn't.

Borin: "The continent of Westeron… it—"

A telepathic voice interrupted him.

Hans (telepathy):

"Stop, Borin.

Don't tell him anything now.

I'll explain everything to you later,

but don't speak."

Borin paused,

looking at Hans suspiciously,

then spoke.

"Perhaps… we might find a way to reach it

as the tower progresses."

Jin: "Then what should I do?

Clear the floors by myself?"

Borin said in disbelief:

"What floors, you idiot?

The entire planet Earth might need a full year per floor.

They've only cleared three floors in the past two years,

and you're telling me you want to conquer an entire floor alone?

Tsk."

Jin: "…You know I'll find a way.

But there's something that confuses me.

Why don't the people of the Continent of Astarion

and the Eastern Continent attempt climbing at all?

They have the Sword King and the Heavenly Demon.

Thousands have reached the level of Sword Master

and 7-circle mage…

even Elvenheim doesn't try to climb.

What's the secret behind this?"

Hans: "Perhaps the rulers of the continents

know secrets about the higher floors.

That might be why things are like this."

Jin: "Does this have anything to do with time regressors?

Like I told you about the demonic sect—

Cheonma moves the Eastern Continent

as if he knows the future.

Everything is under his control.

That's strange."

Borin: "Definitely.

Regressors have a hand in this.

And it's possible there's great danger

on the higher floors of the tower.

And that Cheonma—

he's one of the Four Sword Thrones of this world.

He surely knows many hidden truths."

Hans looked away once more,

his expression showing

that he knew the truth.

Jin looked at Borin in surprise for a few seconds,

then spoke.

"The fourth Sword Throne?

Weren't there only three?"

Before Borin could reply,

Hans spoke.

"He's a candidate to become the fourth.

He recently reached the Nine-Star realm."

Jin was dull,

his mind barely functioning,

so he didn't notice anything strange in their conversation.

Jin: "Fine, forget him…

Should I go search for the regressors?

That man knew me.

Maybe I'll understand what's going on if I find them."

Hans spoke quickly:

"I don't advise that.

It would be extremely exhausting."

Jin paused and looked at them strangely.

"You two…

didn't show any surprise

when I talked about regressors.

Did you already know?"

Borin hesitated.

"Honestly… yes, we knew.

But we can't talk about it.

It's better if it remains a secret.

However, if someone learns about it on their own—

like you did—

then it's fine to talk."

Jin fell silent,

clearly annoyed,

and said:

"Fine.

Let's leave this for our next meeting.

I have to go now.

There's somewhere I need to be."

They bid him farewell,

and the boy left the tavern.

They remained silent for a few moments.

Then Borin looked at Hans suspiciously

and spoke in a calm but angry tone.

"Hans…

the regressors know him,

and you don't want him to know where his homeland is.

You bastard…

he's suffering just to reach his little sister.

Don't you care about that?"

Hans replied quietly:

"…His sister…

I'm protecting her myself."

Borin froze,

his eyes widening in shock.

"You…

what are you saying right now?

You hid something like this from the kid?!"

After a moment of silence—

"Why do the regressors know him?

Why didn't you tell him about the identity of the fourth Sword Throne?

Why are you hiding the truth about his little sister?

Why would those beings want you

to weave a conspiracy around a young man?

What did that being tell you?"

Hans didn't speak.

He only looked at Borin with deep sadness,

as if he couldn't bring himself to talk.

Borin stayed silent for a few moments, then said:

"That kid…

his power…

his appearance…

Is it possible you didn't tell him about the fourth throne,

and that regressors know him,

because—"

Hans interrupted him.

"Shhh.

You'll understand everything soon.

Don't say anything now.

It would ruin the events.

But don't worry…

the Patron is doing this

for that child's sake."

Borin didn't speak again.

He simply stared at Hans in confusion.

"What…

what in the heavens is happening?"

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**End of Chapter**

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