Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Ruthless Miss Luo Ling
“…So that’s what happened.”
After hearing Joseph’s brief explanation, Luo Ling was surprised. It seemed that much had happened to Odeletta’s family in the past few years.
Although Joseph referred to it as a “family change,” considering Odeletta’s current status… it was more likely a coup d’état.
In short, Odeletta was no longer just a Grand Duke’s daughter, but a “princess.”
Perhaps the fragmented Germanic states had finally unified into a single kingdom… The timeline didn’t quite match the history she knew.
However, in this world, the timeline was chaotic, with numerous collapses and regressions accelerating many events.
No wonder Frick had been so flustered. He must have known the historical implications of Odeletta’s death in a foreign land, especially a direct heir to the throne.
Although an enemy, Frick’s actions, like sending little Odeletta away, were ultimately to maintain order in the human world.
Luo Ling wasn’t particularly interested in these political matters, but it highlighted Odeletta’s importance, far surpassing even Eve’s.
As for saving her father’s life, Odeletta had used her ability quite cleverly. It was during her father’s visit to Victoria that an assassin had appeared.
Odeletta, using her ability, had sensed something amiss—this was Luo Ling’s intention in giving her the three strands of hair, providing her with a few life-saving opportunities. Using her spores, Odeletta had located the assassin hidden among the crowd, armed with three loaded handguns.
Even if the assassin hadn’t been discovered, the new emperor might not have been killed. The royal security measures were quite thorough. But in this case, Odeletta had indeed saved her father’s life.
Thus, Odeletta’s willfulness was rewarded, even renting out all the carriages in Victoria for three days after learning of Luo Ling’s return, just so Luo Ling could ride in her carriage again.
The assassin seemed to be connected to political rivals. Joseph was vague about the details, and Luo Ling didn’t press further, knowing the general gist was enough.
“Diviner Miss, since you’re in my carriage again, can you teach me more abilities?” Odeletta asked, her chin resting on her hands, her bright green eyes reminding Luo Ling of the blindfolded little girl in the Incubation Barrier.
Thinking about it that way, it did feel like a strange roleplay scenario…
“Miss Luo Ling, can you… teach ordinary people abilities?”
Cen Xiangyun couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer.
Although ordinary people in this era were aware of Awakened Ones and Grotesqueries due to the numerous Boundary collapses, it was still best to minimize their exposure, as it could lead to madness.
Regardless of Luo Ling’s method, the risk of mental instability remained.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. It’s just a small trick.”
Luo Ling was aware of the risks, so the abilities she gave Odeletta were quite ordinary, less impressive than even a magic trick, not exceeding an ordinary person’s understanding.
She turned to the expectant Odeletta and said,
“You heard me. Teaching abilities is taboo. Last time was an exception. Don’t be so reckless again. Haven’t you learned your lesson?”
Running away from home and encountering a Grotesquery incident in an Incubation Barrier, she was incredibly unlucky. If it weren’t for Luo Ling and Linna, Odeletta would likely be buried in the Realm of Nothingness, unknown and forgotten.
“Last time?”
Elsa perked up her ears.
“Oh…”
The light in Odeletta’s eyes dimmed, her mood deflating.
Joseph, the coachman, who had been observing them, sighed in relief. He didn’t want the princess interacting with these mysterious scholars. It was too dangerous.
Looking at the dejected Odeletta, Luo Ling recalled their encounter in the Incubation Barrier, which to her, had been just a couple of days ago.
She instinctively reached out and ruffled Odeletta’s hair.
“Huh?”
Odeletta was stunned. Diviner Miss’s gesture felt… familiar?
“Hmm?”
Elsa’s eyes widened. They were already this close? This detestable girl, what had she been through with Miss Luo Ling?!
She wanted to know…
“Ah, I apologize, Miss Odeletta.”
Luo Ling awkwardly withdrew her hand, realizing they weren’t that close. “It’s just a habit.”
Whether it was Elsa or little Odeletta, it had become second nature.
“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” Odeletta touched her head, her expression even stranger. “Diviner Miss, have we… met before?”
Being patted on the head by Diviner Miss felt strangely familiar, but when she did it herself, it didn’t feel the same.
“Perhaps…” Luo Ling thought for a moment. “Did you experience a near-death experience a few years ago?”
It was time to determine the extent of “rewrite reality.” Odeletta had only seen her White Witch form, so Luo Ling wasn’t worried about revealing anything to her teammates.
Elsa might guess, but it didn’t matter.
“How did you know?” Odeletta blurted out, then covered her mouth. “Is it… your special power?”
“…Sort of.” Luo Ling coughed. “After all, I’m a ‘Diviner’.”
“Wow, so cool!”
Odeletta was ecstatic, always excited about special powers. Joseph, seeing the princess’s unladylike behavior, sighed and rubbed his forehead.
Joseph was more than just a coachman. He was also the princess’s bodyguard and butler, and several other guards were escorting them discreetly.
The incident a few years ago had been terrifying, even the emperor was shaken, despite the princess’s safe return. That was why Odeletta’s current guards were all active military personnel.
“What else, what else? Diviner Miss, can you also tell… can you use your special power to know more?”
Odeletta leaned closer to Luo Ling, her face filled with excitement and curiosity, making Luo Ling slightly uncomfortable.
Odeletta seemed much more cheerful now…
However, considering their encounter in the Incubation Barrier, when little Odeletta had run away from home, her previous obedience must have been due to fear.
Under the curious gazes of her teammates—”Miss Luo Ling, when did you learn this ability?”—Luo Ling cleared her throat and said mysteriously,
“I also know that you were saved by a little girl.”
“Wow, you even know that! I’ve never told anyone.” Odeletta’s shock was evident. “What else? I want to know more! I… I can pay you!”
Her eagerness was mixed with a hint of anxiety.
Luo Ling understood why.
It seemed Naraku’s ability was truly terrifying. Luo Ling’s “rewrite reality” had successfully altered the course of events in the Incubation Barrier.
If she hadn’t appeared, it should have been Linna who rescued little Odeletta, and Linna… wasn’t exactly a little girl.
“There’s no need for payment, Miss Odeletta. Tell me more details, perhaps I can… use my special power to learn more.” Luo Ling said.
She needed to confirm whether Odeletta’s experience matched hers.
“Oh, um…”
Odeletta’s excitement deflated.
She said with a dejected expression, “I… I don’t remember much, just that a little girl with white hair, about my age, saved me…”
Odeletta glanced at Luo Ling and continued, “And she was a ‘Diviner’ like you, wearing the same necklace.”
Perhaps due to the Boundary collapse, Odeletta had lost most of her memories of the incident, only retaining a few deeply ingrained fragments.
In her moment of despair, the silver-haired girl had appeared like an angel, saving her from the monsters. Odeletta would never forget that scene.
“A little girl with white hair…”
The others in the carriage were stunned.
A little girl with white hair… they could only think of one terrifying figure.
—The White Witch of Silent Demise, Grotesquery Sequence 49.
Little girl, you shouldn’t have been rescued…
Cen Xiangyun almost wanted to take Odeletta to the Company for a physical examination, checking for fungal growths, only remembering that this had happened years ago.
Years ago, the White Witch hadn’t appeared yet. The Puppet Ballad hadn’t awakened.
…It must be a coincidence.
The White Witch and the Puppet Ballad’s massacre of four hundred thousand civilians in Jiangcheng County was too horrific. They were considered extremely dangerous Grotesqueries, exceptionally cruel to humans.
Elsa, however, was now certain.
It was definitely Miss Luo Ling!
Unexpectedly, Miss Luo Ling had been to Victoria years ago, even saving this young lady, sharing a memorable experience…
She should have been the first… but now she was the later one…
Elsa felt a pang of jealousy.
But then she realized that Odeletta didn’t recognize the current Miss Luo Ling, unaware that she was her savior from years ago.
In that case…
She was still Miss Luo Ling’s one and only Apostle!
Elsa puffed out her chest, looking at Odeletta with a smug, almost possessive gaze.
“You only remember a little?” Luo Ling pondered.
Whether it was due to the Boundary collapse affecting all of Victoria or the localized Boundary annihilation within the Incubation Barrier, it was understandable. But Luo Ling was almost certain that what she had experienced was true history.
However, whether it had been altered by her presence, or it had always been this way, her actions merely fulfilling a predetermined outcome, she wasn’t sure.
But considering the Realm of Nothingness had existed before her arrival, it was likely the latter.
“Cause and effect, how troublesome…”
Luo Ling suddenly understood the cryptic nature of the Other Shore path Awakened Ones. Fate was truly unpredictable.
If she had known this beforehand, the outcome might have been different.
Perhaps this was the meaning of “heaven’s secrets mustn’t be revealed.”
“Diviner Miss, can you… find that little girl with white hair?”
Odeletta fidgeted nervously, her fingers twisting her clothes. “I’ve asked other Diviners, but they haven’t seen her.”
“Why are you looking for her?”
It wasn’t Luo Ling who asked, but Elsa, who immediately regretted her words.
Odeletta knew that the red-haired girl had been hostile towards her from the beginning, but now, it was Odeletta who was flustered.
“Just… to thank her.”
Her voice was barely a whisper, her nervousness evident.
“Oh…”
Elsa’s eyes narrowed.
Definitely something fishy.
“Sorry, I don’t know anything about that.”
Luo Ling felt the conversation was getting too personal, sensing Elsa’s warning. “Miss Odeletta, I hope you can find her soon.”
However, it was unlikely.
“Yes, yes.”
Odeletta nodded vigorously.
Perhaps because Luo Ling’s words had struck a chord, Odeletta remained silent for the rest of the journey, lost in thought.
Looking at Odeletta, Elsa suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.
She knew that Miss Luo Ling had no intention of interacting with Miss Odeletta again. Poor Odeletta… she would likely never see her savior again.
Miss Luo Ling was truly… ruthless.
If she hadn’t become Miss Luo Ling’s Apostle, would she have ended up like Miss Odeletta?
A brief encounter followed by a long separation, unable to find the person in her memories, even the memories themselves fading and fragmented.
“It’s alright, Miss Odeletta.” Elsa tugged at Odeletta’s dress and whispered. “You’ll… definitely see her again.”
If only Miss Luo Ling would meet her again in her White Witch form, even if it meant sharing a little bit of herself… it would be worth it.
Odeletta looked at the suddenly kind little girl, her mood slightly improving. “Yes, I hope so.”
She glanced at Luo Ling, who was lost in thought, seemingly unaware of Odeletta’s contemplative gaze.
The sun rose high in the sky. Shortly after lunch, they finally arrived at Company headquarters.
The old building blended seamlessly with the surrounding structures, its architectural style reminiscent of centuries past, simply put… old-fashioned.
Even for this era.
“Goodbye, Diviner Miss! And everyone!”
Odeletta waved her hat cheerfully, her face beaming.
“Goodbye,” Luo Ling smiled. “If you want to meet again, just come visit me at my apartment. There’s no need for such elaborate arrangements.”
“Okay, okay~”
Odeletta nodded enthusiastically.
Although this time, Odeletta was likely hoping to learn more abilities from Luo Ling, like last time.
“You’re quite good at charming innocent girls, Miss Luo Ling.” Cen Xiangyun said after Odeletta left. “Even a princess.”
“Such a sinner, such a sinner…”
Lu Manqing glanced at Elsa meaningfully.
“What? What are you talking about?”
Eve, looking at their expressions, was even more confused. She was the only one completely clueless.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
It was just a forgotten past, never to be mentioned again.
Luo Ling composed herself, looking at the headquarters building, and said gravely,
“Let’s go.”
She had many questions, and the Company had many questions for her.
This wouldn’t be a boring trip.
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