Chapter 3: The “White Witch” Incident, A Vengeful Little Girl
“What, do you lack confidence in yourself?” Old Madam Lu asked with a smile, while Fiona and Cheng Jianming seemed to be holding back laughter.
You should hear yourself…
Luo Ling’s lips twitched, but she still replied, “I’m afraid… I’m not qualified for this.”
Putting aside the fact that she was the White Witch, asking a newbie to handle a High-Risk Grotesquery… was this how the Company treated its employees?
“Heh, it seems Miss Luo has a good temperament. Your first reaction wasn’t fear, but… a feeling of inadequacy,” Old Madam Lu said, her gaze piercing, trying to see through Luo Ling.
Luo Ling had also experienced the Jiangcheng County incident, even facing Artist and Scientist, though she had luckily avoided the final, devastating battle.
But… was it truly just luck?
Luo Ling’s expression remained unchanged.
“Of course, we’re not asking you to deal with the High-Risk Grotesquery White Witch directly. The Company wouldn’t send a newbie on such a dangerous mission,” Old Madam Lu’s expression softened, as if her earlier scrutiny had been an illusion. “However, the commission is real. We need you to deal with… the White Witch incident—specifically, the ‘eggs’ spawned by the White Witch.”
“Huh?”
Luo Ling was genuinely surprised now.
When… had she spawned any “eggs”?
“‘Eggs’ are the general term for unmanifested Grotesqueries. We call the nascent Grotesqueries ‘eggs,’ and the place where they are born ‘incubation barriers,’” Old Madam Lu explained. “Grotesqueries above the Dangerous level usually spawn ‘eggs’ containing a portion of their power, both to accumulate power for the main body and to protect it from being disturbed during its dormancy.”
Luo Ling knew all this, of course, from her time as the White Witch, so she nodded, waiting for more information.
“A week after the Jiangcheng County disaster, around the time you left, apostles of the White Witch appeared in Victoria, carrying the ‘eggs’ she spawned, creating numerous incubation barriers.”
“Apostles are Awakened Ones who worship Grotesqueries, offering their bodies and souls in exchange for their power.”
Old Madam Lu pressed a button on the remote, and the projector displayed case files and photos of recent White Witch incidents in Victoria.
Mangled bodies, rotting flesh, and the familiar white mycelia threads.
Luo Ling’s expression turned serious.
These… were indeed the Puppet Ballad’s abilities.
She recognized the gruesomely killed civilians, turned into Meat Puppets.
But… she hadn’t done this!
And neither had Elsa, her known apostle… They had been on the train for the past three days, the Realm of Nothingness isolating them, unable to use their abilities across Boundaries.
Could it be her sister?
No…
The Puppet Ballad was dead, its Sequence inherited by the White Witch.
Luo Ling pondered.
She could sense that Old Madam Lu had an ulterior motive, perhaps testing her, or perhaps suspicious.
Old Madam Lu, observing Luo Ling’s reaction, exchanged glances with the other two, as if confirming something.
They all shook their heads.
As Luo Ling had sensed, they… or rather, the factions they represented, were suspicious of Luo Ling and anyone from Jiangcheng County.
Not that they suspected them of being the White Witch, but of being connected to her.
Like… an apostle.
Clearly, Luo Ling’s current behavior didn’t fit their suspicions.
Who would have thought that she was the White Witch?
And… these incidents caused by the so-called White Witch apostles had nothing to do with her.
“These incidents… they all happened in Jiangcheng County before, right?” Luo Ling asked, looking up.
“Yes,” Old Madam Lu nodded. “So, having you, someone from Jiangcheng County, handle this… is quite logical, isn’t it? Of course, not alone, just assisting.”
“…No problem,” Luo Ling agreed after a moment of thought.
She had been wondering what the Company was investigating, why send a newbie on such a mission.
But if it was just assisting… it made sense.
A newbie mission, just like the Baiyan Village incident.
…As long as nothing went wrong like in Baiyan Village.
Old Madam Lu smiled. “Shaoheng said that although you’re a newbie in terms of strength, you’re a remarkable Awakened One. I was skeptical at first, but young lady, I have to admit I underestimated you.
“At least, seeing these photos and still accepting the commission… you’ve already surpassed most of your peers.”
“Because… I’ve seen worse,” Luo Ling whispered.
The others fell silent.
They had all been to Jiangcheng County, witnessed the horrific, empty city.
Countless Awakened Ones had broken down during the investigation, even these seasoned veterans had been shaken by the sight.
“You… don’t have to worry too much. The White Witch… isn’t that dangerous, just a low-ranking High-Risk Grotesquery.”
Old Madam Lu tried to reassure Luo Ling.
“Even I’ve participated in battles against Sequence Thirty-something Grotesqueries. This is the Company headquarters. Even if the White Witch herself appeared, a mere Sequence Forty-Nine, besides her brutality, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Luo Ling, the White Witch: “…”
Should she agree?
Although she knew Old Madam Lu was trying to reassure her, showcasing the Company’s strength, it felt… strange.
“So, this mission is to evaluate me, right?” Luo Ling asked, composing herself.
“It’s more of a test,” Old Madam Lu smiled. “Even if you’re not on the mysterious Seventh Path, with your qualities, both the Company and other Awakened organizations… would welcome you.”
The unspoken implication was that if she wasn’t on the Seventh Path, her value was just that of a talented Awakened One.
In that case, special treatment would be unlikely.
However, Luo Ling was also curious about her own path, about the nature of her Devour Authority.
Since it was related to seeing her sister again, she paid close attention to Old Madam Lu’s words.
“Besides you, the other members from Jiangcheng County will also participate in this commission,” Old Madam Lu continued. “And you can choose a P6 specialist from the Wellington branch as your team leader. I was going to assign one, but I think… it might be better for the team members to choose their own leader.”
The projector displayed a list of suitable P6 specialists from the Wellington branch.
Luo Ling’s gaze settled on one person.
“I didn’t expect her to be…”
It was the maid who had led her to the third floor.
Or rather, the specialist disguised as a maid.
A P6 specialist, meaning her combat strength was equivalent to a Sixth-Order Awakened One. Luo Ling remembered Elsa and Cen Xiangyun were Fifth-Order, and Lu Manqing, due to her ten-year slumber, was Fourth-Order.
Luo Ling herself had no Order; her strength was difficult to gauge.
In other words, the maid was quite powerful.
“Her,” Luo Ling pointed at the maid, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Selling photos, huh…?
“Alright,” Old Madam Lu closed the list, not asking any questions.
Although she had also been part of the Wellington branch, she was a P8 leader and didn’t know most P6 specialists… after all, they were subordinates of her subordinates.
“Besides that, the three of us have agreed to sign an ‘outsourced’ contract with you first. You can think of it as a retainer, consultant, or temporary employee,” Old Madam Lu continued, explaining the arrangements. “After we get to know each other better, you can choose which organization to officially join.”
This was a reasonable arrangement. Luo Ling hadn’t interacted with the other two organizations and wasn’t very familiar with the Company either.
These large organizations were indeed different from the small, informal Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital Patient Exchange Group.
“After signing the contract, you’ll receive the salaries from all three parties, but on one condition: you cannot reveal any information or abilities related to the ‘Seventh Path’ or the ‘Realm of Nothingness’ to other organizations.”
Old Madam Lu handed Luo Ling a prepared contract.
Luo Ling quickly skimmed through it. The terms were similar to the one she had received from Cen Xiangyun, but now there were three parties involved.
…Although she would receive three salaries, she would also have to deal with three employers.
Luo Ling signed her name, then returned the contract.
Old Madam Lu solemnly received the contract and said in a serious tone,
“Under the witness of Order, this equal and just contract is now established.”
She stamped the contract with her seal, and the other two representatives did the same.
Just then, a strange sensation washed over Luo Ling, a feeling of being watched.
She looked up, following her intuition, a sense of an unseen gaze upon her.
“Who?”
Luo Ling frowned slightly, but the gaze lingered only for a moment, then vanished.
And at that moment, Luo Ling felt a strange sense of fullness, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Not the fullness after a meal, but the fullness after using Devour.
She always felt this mental satiety after consuming a Grotesquery.
“Wait, did I just… eat that gaze?” Luo Ling asked, holding the pen, her voice filled with disbelief.
“What’s wrong?” Old Madam Lu asked, seeing Luo Ling’s stunned expression, thinking she was dissatisfied with the contract’s terms.
As long as both parties agreed, the contract could be voided.
“…Nothing,” Luo Ling exhaled. She felt… full.
Just from a single gaze… how absurd.
“If you have any questions or need to modify the contract, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can proceed accordingly. The Company… has its procedures, which can be time-consuming,” Old Madam Lu said, handing Luo Ling a wristwatch. “This is a Company insignia. You can input your ‘inspiration’ and engrave your codename on it.”
Luo Ling took the insignia, and her expression changed slightly.
This…
“Are you really not worried about the infringement?”
Luo Ling held up the watch, a helpless expression on her face.
The watch face was clearly a certain… unspeakable cartoon character, a mouse from a warehouse.
And it was pink.
“If you have any problems with the insignia, please contact the head of the Wellington branch,” Old Madam Lu said, her expression deadpan, extending her hand to show her own insignia… a cartoon sheep.
The designs of these watches reflected the questionable taste of the branch heads, but they were made using current Boundary technology, posing no risk of information leakage.
But their appearance was…
…indescribable.
Since even Old Madam Lu couldn’t change it, Luo Ling could only wear it, hiding it under her sleeve.
It was a bit embarrassing.
The insignias of the Fate Society and the Torchbearers looked much more normal, a hourglass pendant filled with shimmering blue sand, and a simple iron ring, respectively.
“The first Awakened One to receive insignias from all three organizations, Miss Luo, you’re truly one of a kind,” Old Madam Lu chuckled. “It’s rare, if it weren’t for this incident… you’re quite lucky.”
Of course, for this to happen, the three organizations must have negotiated extensively.
This was also a sign of the impending storm after the White Witch usurped the Puppet Ballad’s Sequence. These usually independent Awakened organizations were now actively seeking cooperation.
Luo Ling’s appearance was an opportunity for such cooperation.
“If there are no other questions, Miss Luo, you can leave now. We have other matters to attend to,” Old Madam Lu said politely. The other two representatives remained silent; the matters they had to discuss were related to them.
The cooperation started with Luo Ling, but it wasn’t limited to her.
Luo Ling straightened up. “Actually, I have one more question.”
“Hmm? Ask away.”
Seeing Luo Ling’s serious expression, Old Madam Lu’s smile faded slightly.
Luo Ling hesitated, her face a mixture of confusion and struggle, then finally asked,
“Where’s your restroom?”
“…Out the door and to the right,” Old Madam Lu’s eye twitched.
“Thank you.”
Watching Luo Ling leave, Old Madam Lu rubbed her temples.
Had she just been… subtly mocked?
This little girl was quite vengeful…
However, this meant that the task entrusted to her by Cen Xiangyun had been completed, her year-end bonus secured.
Now, more important matters awaited.
“You two,” Lu Fangling turned to Fiona and Cheng Jianming, the earlier warmth in her eyes replaced by a sharp glint, her slightly hunched posture not diminishing her imposing aura as a top-tier High-Order Awakened One. “Let’s discuss…
“The Martyr.”
…
Luo Ling had subtly mocked Old Madam Lu, but she wasn’t being vengeful, not because she had been scared by the “White Witch” incident, and not because Old Madam Lu had expressed disdain for the White Witch in front of her.
She just needed a more private place.
Unfamiliar with Victoria, Luo Ling was being cautious, not using her Puppet Ballad abilities outside for now.
It would be troublesome if she was detected.
The Company office was a good cover, protected by a barrier, and more importantly… even if traces of her Authority were detected, it would be difficult to trace back to her within the Company.
Her silver hair cascaded down, and the Kingdom enveloped the area.
Within Victoria, the hunted White Witch appeared silently within the Company’s territory, unnoticed, because within the Kingdom… it was her domain.
As one of the strongest powers in the world, only another Authority could counter an Authority.
“Mm… I only have Elsa as my apostle,” Luo Ling sensed her power, the only connection being Elsa.
And she hadn’t appointed any agents.
Agents were Awakened Ones who acted as a Grotesquery’s representative in the world, different from apostles in that they were practically avatars of the Grotesquery, wielding its power with their own will.
So, what was the deal with these so-called White Witch apostles?
If the Company’s information wasn’t fabricated, those photos were indeed the result of the Puppet Ballad’s abilities.
“I’ll have to wait until the mission to see what’s going on…”
Luo Ling frowned, sending out a few Spores, scattering them throughout the Wellington branch, lying dormant.
It was a good habit to plant Spores everywhere, just in case.
When she stepped out of the restroom, she was once again the black-haired girl in the trench coat.
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