Category: Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 49 – End of an Era

Anna had almost found the café; the sign was just up ahead.

They had only walked for a few minutes after encountering Elise.

…It was indeed quite remote, even for a hidden corner of Construction Street Six.

But the advantage was the quiet environment, far from the bustling market.

Anna pushed open the café door, the wind chimes tinkling.

The café’s decor was simple, yet elegant.

Several sofas were arranged seemingly randomly, but each offered a different view: the scenery outside, the barista at work, or the precious items displayed in the cabinets.

“Make yourselves comfortable. We’re not open today, so just treat it like a friend’s home,” Elise said softly, placing her bag on the counter and removing her slightly damp gloves.

These seemed like ordinary actions.

But Luo Yan noticed the faint clinking of metal from the bag and the subtle, putrid scent of blood from the gloves.

…It seemed she hadn’t just been out buying groceries.

Elise, noticing Luo Yan’s attention, didn’t react.

She carefully wiped her hands with a dry towel, then turned to Anna.

“Anna, could you help me with the groceries? I’m a bit tired from walking. I’ll make you some coffee later~”

“Sure, no problem!”

Anna readily agreed, hopped off the barstool, grabbed the bag, and headed towards the kitchen.

It seemed she was a regular here.

As Anna left, Elise walked over to Luo Yan and sat down on a nearby sofa, her back to Luo Yan’s.

“So, you’ve been staring at me for a while now. What else do you want to ask?”

Elise’s voice was soft and gentle, a hint of amusement in her tone, completely different from her cold mental voice.

“…Will you answer?” Luo Yan asked.

She had even sent Anna away…

Luo Yan wondered if Anna was simply oblivious, or if she had sensed something and deliberately left.

“It depends,” Elise continued. “As long as it’s a question ‘Elise’ can answer, I won’t hide anything.”

“And…” she changed the subject. “I’m also very curious about you, Miss ‘Luo Yan’.”

“‘Luo Yan’? Who is that?” Luo Yan asked gravely.

Elise seemed surprised by the question. She was silent for a moment, then replied,

“…Her existence has been completely erased, leaving only the name ‘Luo Yan.’ I don’t know who she was.”

“Alright, I’ll ask a different question. Why are you curious about me? Just because my name is ‘Luo Yan’?”

Luo Yan hadn’t forgotten that Mrs. Natalie had also mistaken her for someone named “Luo Yan.”

Until finally realizing that this “Luo Yan” wasn’t the same person.

But at least… the current Luo Yan had no memory of this other person.

However… perhaps it wasn’t just a coincidence.

Because Luo Yan’s only memory of her past was this name.

“You remind me of someone. I feel like I’ve met you before,” Elise replied. “But I don’t have any memories of you, they seem to have been erased as well.”

This wasn’t the first time Luo Yan had heard this.

The Sword Saint Sect Master, the mysterious old man at the end of the Flower Street incident, and now Elise.

They all claimed to have met her before.

Yet, they also said she wasn’t “Luo Yan.”

“And… you’re a Demonically Infected, aren’t you?” Elise raised an eyebrow. “And ‘Envy,’ no less. When I saw you, I almost thought that… she… had returned. After all, the ‘Witch of Envy’ is the most active ‘Primordial Demon’.”

“She?”

Luo Yan asked curiously.

“Who she is… I can’t say, but she was a remarkable senior, unfortunately lost to herself in the end,” Elise tapped the sofa, a flicker of remembrance in her eyes. “Those seniors were all remarkable, but none of them met a good end. Such a pity.”

“What seniors…?”

“I can’t say that either,” Elise turned slightly and winked playfully.

“But I can tell you that I’m here to bid farewell to one of those seniors, the last one. He took care of me once.”

“…”

Luo Yan was silent for a moment, then mumbled,

“I have no further questions.”

So many things she couldn’t ask about; it was pointless.

“You can ask about this last senior,” Elise leaned back on the sofa, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Actually, I wanted to take you to meet him. I have a feeling he would know you.”

“I’ve suddenly lost interest.”

Luo Yan said, sounding like a petulant child.

Elise was strange, acting as if she were playing a role.

She was deliberately portraying herself as “Elise,” but her true self was probably closer to that cold, mental voice.

Luo Yan didn’t like talking to people who hid behind a mask.

“Of course, he might not be in the mood for visitors anymore,” Elise shrugged.

“…What happened to him?”

Luo Yan couldn’t help but ask.

Elise had said “farewell,” could it be…?

“He’s dying,” Elise’s expression turned somber, a hint of genuine emotion finally showing.

“And sadly, no one cares. Everyone is waiting for his death, even his family.”

Luo Yan felt a pang of… something.

…Heartache.

“What about you?” Luo Yan asked softly. “Are you also waiting for this senior’s death?”

“Yes,” Elise replied without hesitation. “His death signifies the end of the Old Era, and the beginning of a new one. I came to Yan City, in this identity, to witness this moment.

“Although I… do respect him, I also have… more complicated feelings.”

Elise paused and glanced at Luo Yan.

“I’m certain now, I mistook you for someone else.”

“Oh?” Luo Yan paused.

“You’re neither ‘Luo Yan,’ nor the person I once knew but have forgotten,” Elise said with a smile.

“…Why?” Luo Yan tilted her head, puzzled. “Because I’m too weak?”

She had a vague idea of who Elise was talking about, but she wasn’t sure.

Because if that was the case… Elise’s true identity could be terrifying.

But Elise’s current aura was, at most, “Ruin” level.

So, Luo Yan wasn’t sure.

“Weak? Ahahaha… no, it’s because they wouldn’t possess such a pure heart, it’s impossible,” Elise’s eyes flickered with complex emotions. “They, like me, know too much, think too much, and are no longer in control of themselves.”

As a junior, she simply wanted to bid farewell to this dying senior.

As for her other identity, she had to witness the end of an era, or rather, confirm that it had truly ended.

“Let’s not talk about that, those are… impure matters,” Elise waved her hand and extended it towards Luo Yan. “Consider this a new introduction, little Miss Luo Yan.”

Luo Yan hesitated, then placed her small, pale hand in Elise’s.

“Mm.”

Regardless, “Elise” seemed… not bad?

…Just a little… annoying.

Just then, Anna emerged from the kitchen, having finally finished preparing the ingredients, and saw them holding hands.

“What… are you doing?”

“Nothing, just a handshake to signify our agreement,” Elise stood up and walked towards the kitchen. “Anna, little Miss Luo Yan, wait patiently. I rarely cook, you know. Many people would kill for this opportunity!”

Anna approached them, nudging Luo Yan with her elbow.

“Lady Luo Yan, what happened? Why did Elise suddenly call you ‘little Miss Luo Yan’? Wasn’t it ‘Miss Luo Yan’ just now?”

“I… I don’t know,” Luo Yan said after a moment of hesitation.

But she could clearly sense the change in Elise’s attitude.

After confirming that she wasn’t the “Luo Yan” or “that person” she knew, Elise’s tone had completely changed.

It was now the same as when she spoke to Anna, neither distant nor overly familiar, with a deliberate friendliness.

“…What a strange person…”

Luo Yan muttered.

“What? Lady Luo Yan, what did you say?”

Anna scratched her head, confused.

She had only been in the kitchen for less than ten minutes.

Why had the atmosphere between Lady Luo Yan and Elise changed so much…?

“Nothing.”

Luo Yan gave the same answer as Elise, then pulled out a book from her wheelchair and began reading.

Although she couldn’t open her eyes, her “life hack” still allowed her to read.

…It had to be said, even if not used for combat, demonic powers were very convenient in daily life.

But this power… demanded a heavy price, either your soul, or your life.

…

At the Anomaly Management Bureau, reports of various incidents piled up.

Including the recent incident on Construction Street Six, but in this mountain of files, it seemed insignificant.

“It seems this storm won’t be over anytime soon,” Lin Cheng stood by the window, frowning. “It will last for a while.”

“I disagree.”

Li Ping said without looking up, continuing to read through the reports.

Lin Cheng raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why?”

“Judging from the timing, it should be almost time,” Li Ping put down the file. “I’m talking about his time.”

The Anomaly Management Bureau was practically empty, all available personnel deployed throughout Yan City.

Only a few clerks processing files and Oversight Department researchers remained.

—The only ones with combat abilities left were Li Ping and Lin Cheng.

Although both were “Ruin” level ability users, their strength was close to “Peril” level, and together, they could even rival a weaker “Peril” level ability user.

The reason they hadn’t advanced was because they had expended too much energy and suffered many hidden injuries while pioneering Yan City with their parents.

By the time they had settled down, they had missed the optimal period for growth, their progress stagnating at “Ruin” level.

“…Are you certain he’s in Yan City?” Lin Cheng suddenly became nervous.

“He” referred to Dawn’s Mister, but both Li Ping and Lin Cheng avoided mentioning his name directly.

Whether out of respect for the legend, or a vague sense of dread, or perhaps both.

After all, Mister’s reputation was such that even their grandparents, and their grandparents’ grandparents, would have addressed him with the utmost respect.

Such a legend, possibly in Yan City…

It was a terrifying thought.

The reason Li Ping and Lin Cheng had been so reluctant to get involved with Dawn was because of “Mister.”

Unfortunately, the Yan City Apprehension Department wasn’t entirely under their control. Starting with the pursuit of Ling Qi, Yan City had been inevitably dragged into the conflict between Dawn and Noah.

And now…

“The ‘Wall of Resentment’ was silently infiltrated. How many people in the world are capable of that?” Li Ping sighed. “Even for us, with the ‘key,’ it’s quite difficult to enter.

“Moreover… after the intrusion, the ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ wasn’t taken, nothing was even touched. Besides ‘him,’ I can’t think of anyone else.”

Frick had figured it out; how could Li Ping not?

And he had already suspected it when two “Peril” level ability users were dispatched to rescue a “Calamity” level Dawn member.

He just hadn’t dared to consider it seriously.

And even knowing Mister was in Yan City, Li Ping didn’t dare announce it, let alone report it to “Noah.”

The consequences would be unimaginable.

They might even lose this mega-city, built with the blood and tears of two generations.

“Why Yan City…?” Lin Cheng said dejectedly. “We’ve already had a Devil’s Apostle, something we haven’t seen in centuries, and even a Primordial Demon’s aura.

“We’re just a small, remote city, how can we handle all this?”

“…Fate,” Li Ping said.

“Fate made that old man choose Yan City as his final resting place?”

“Perhaps,” Li Ping shook his head. “Perhaps we’ll only get our answer after he’s gone.”

“But many things will happen before then,” Lin Cheng’s expression turned serious. “Yan City will face a life-or-death crisis.”

“Perhaps… this storm will also end because of this,” Li Ping whispered. “We’re waiting, many are waiting, even he himself is waiting.”

“Waiting for the day his long life, spanning the Old and New Eras, finally reaches its end.”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 48 – An Unbearable Weight

It’s difficult to fully describe a person with just words.

Refugees, citizens, ability users, even Dawn’s Mister, Noah’s Twelve Saints…

Or even, “Luo Yan.”

Everyone carried different labels, but undoubtedly…

They were all “lives.”

Life should have weight.

Every life had meaning.

—Luo Yan simply believed this.

In Ghost Town, Mrs. Natalie’s desperate pursuit of “eternal happiness” was essentially an attempt to preserve life.

To preserve the townspeople who had died because of her, to preserve her daughter, Little Tini, who had been caught in the crossfire…

But because of her actions, even more lives were lost, and the suffering townspeople were denied peace.

In the end, even she herself was trapped.

It was a complete tragedy.

Luo Yan didn’t want this tragedy to repeat itself.

With this thought, she fought to protect the lives of others, and her own.

However, this was Luo Yan’s belief, her perspective.

Others didn’t see it that way…

To Devil’s minions, other lives were merely sustenance, offerings to their demons.

To the mega-cities, only their own citizens, especially the elites in the core districts, were worthy of life; the lives of refugees and criminals were expendable.

“Noah,” the leader of the Free Federation, believed that the continuation of humanity’s future was paramount.

To achieve this, “Noah” constantly encroached on the sovereignty of other mega-cities, suppressing Dawn and other dissenting factions, even at the cost of countless lives.

After the Misters lost their authority, “Dawn” became even more extreme, only valuing the lives of their own members, everyone else expendable.

They might help others during disasters out of pity, but they wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who stood in their way.

During the Ghost Town and Flower Street incidents, Grifres and Alyxsia had killed many.

Therefore, Anna knew how precious Luo Yan’s kindness was in this cruel world.

Even though… she was dying.

Anna held Luo Yan’s hand, a smile on her face.

“Come on, Lady Luo Yan, you’re finally taking a break. Let’s not talk about such depressing things!”

No one had told Anna about Luo Yan’s condition.

Not even Luo Yan herself.

But Anna could tell, because she had witnessed countless deaths.

Those born in mega-cities were fortunate.

They didn’t face a thirty percent mortality rate, harsh weather, or constantly appearing mutated monsters.

They had ample food and clean water, not having to eat ten times a day, each meal consisting of barely edible plants or rotting meat…

Even in refugee settlements, the supply of resources couldn’t compare to a mega-city with an “Ember.”

So, Anna, having grown up as a refugee, had witnessed countless deaths.

She had seen her companions starve to death, just half a day away from finding food.

She had seen her friends transform into mindless monsters due to Calamity infections.

The most fortunate way to die, perhaps, was to contract an ordinary illness and slowly fade away, without a cure.

Anna had sensed that aura many times, and it was identical to Luo Yan’s.

“Smile,” Anna gently lifted the corners of Luo Yan’s bloodless lips. “See, Lady Luo Yan looks even more beautiful when she smiles.”

Unlike her initial awe of Luo Yan’s beauty, after spending time with her, she realized she had been wrong.

Lady Luo Yan’s heart was even purer, even more beautiful, far more precious than her appearance.

No wonder everyone who knew Lady Luo Yan liked her.

Being around her, even just sitting beside her, brought a sense of peace.

Who could bear to see such a person suffer alone, without offering a helping hand?

It was with this thought, to see Lady Luo Yan smile genuinely, without that worried frown, that Anna had proposed “A Day with Lady Luo Yan.”

No matter what… Anna wanted to do something for Lady Luo Yan, even if she couldn’t solve her problems.

“Yes, I understand.”

Luo Yan nodded slightly and gently squeezed Anna’s hand.

Then, catching Anna off guard, she ruffled her hair playfully.

“Hey…” Anna quickly ducked, escaping Luo Yan’s “clutches.” “Stop it, stop it, I won’t grow taller…”

“When you ruffled my hair, didn’t you consider that I might not grow taller either?”

A mischievous smile appeared on Luo Yan’s lips.

“Because Lady Luo Yan is already tall enough!” Anna retorted. “You don’t need to grow any taller!”

“But I’m two heads shorter than Miss Qin Wen, and Hua Qiling is also taller than me.”

“We… can’t compare to them,” Anna said sheepishly. “Come on, let’s go to the café. We can’t just keep chatting in the rain. Your skirt is getting wet, Lady Luo Yan…”

“Mm.”

Luo Yan nodded.

Two small figures walked away in the rain, seemingly carrying…

The unbearable weight of life.

…

Although District Three wasn’t as prosperous as District One, the core district, its public facilities and living conditions were still quite good.

Unfortunately, almost a third of District Three had been destroyed during the Ghost Town incident and was still under reconstruction.

Because of this, there were security gaps in District Three, making it easy for Devil’s minions to infiltrate.

Otherwise, a mega-city with an “Ember” wouldn’t be so vulnerable.

But it couldn’t be helped. The “Ghost Town” incident was a “Peril” level disaster; these losses were considered minimal.

Yan City was severely understaffed, even the Apprehension Department, usually at odds with the Disaster Response Department, had been called in to help. They could only focus on the most important areas.

However, Anna and Luo Yan’s destination wasn’t in an important area.

It was a small, inconspicuous alleyway, practically a hidden corner of Construction Street Six.

Otherwise… why would the private café Anna raved about have such poor business?

Such alleyways usually housed small restaurants and grocery stores. The residents here couldn’t afford cafés, and those who could didn’t live nearby. Few people would make a special trip.

Only someone with both money and free time, like Anna, would come here.

—Actually, Anna, after taking over the Flower Shop, was wealthier than Hua Qiling, if one didn’t count the Hua family’s assets.

Having been a refugee, Anna cherished her current life.

“Let me see…”

Anna squinted, but the heavy rain made it difficult to see clearly.

And the streets were empty; there were no pedestrians to ask for directions.

…Seriously, who would be out in this weather?!

Except for these two.

Luo Yan waited patiently, not wanting to disturb Anna. She had never been to District Three before and wasn’t familiar with the area.

Just as Anna was getting lost, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind them.

“Anna?”

The moment the voice sounded, Luo Yan focused her aura perception, but found nothing.

Completely blank…

Who was it?

“Elise!” Anna’s face lit up, and she turned around, waving. “Over here! Hee hee, I didn’t expect to see you outside!”

“It’s pouring… Did you come here specifically?”

The voice chuckled, but Luo Yan still couldn’t sense any aura.

The sound of footsteps splashing through the water was clear, and both the tone and the feeling were completely ordinary.

But in Luo Yan’s perception, the person didn’t exist.

“Because I brought a friend today!”

Anna puffed out her chest proudly and patted the wheelchair.

“This is Lady Luo Yan—Lady Luo Yan, this is Elise. She doesn’t like being called ‘Miss’ or anything, so just call her Elise.”

“Luo Yan…”

Elise paused, as if the name struck a chord.

But she quickly approached, and Luo Yan’s breathing technique finally detected her presence.

…Female, about 1.7 to 1.75 meters tall, and judging from her aura, an ordinary person.

But what about earlier…? How could she be just an ordinary person?

“Hello, Elise,” Luo Yan said softly, her eyes still closed.

She felt a scrutinizing gaze, which quickly moved away.

“Hello, Miss Luo Yan,” Elise nodded, glancing at Luo Yan, then turning to Anna. “I’ve never seen you bring a friend before. It seems this friend is special.”

“She is special,” Anna nodded vigorously. “A very good friend, yes, very close!”

“Such unrestrained youngsters,” Elise chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. “Very good, but the Federation’s laws don’t allow for such declarations yet.”

“What… what do you mean?”

Anna was confused, scratching her head.

“Are the Federation’s laws that strict? Not even allowing close friends…?”

“Alright, alright, I’m just teasing you.” Seeing their confused expressions, Elise changed the subject. “Let’s go, it’s almost lunchtime… I just bought some groceries. I’ll let you try my cooking today. It’s just as good as my coffee, if not better!”

“Yes, yes, sounds great!”

Anna nodded excitedly and pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair, following Elise towards the café.

“By the way, Elise, you didn’t encounter any monsters, did you? There was an incident on Construction Street Six earlier… it was quite scary!”

“Ah? I was out buying groceries early this morning, I didn’t see anything… Perhaps because I was on Construction Street Four?”

“Phew, that’s good. I was worried you might be in danger.”

“Don’t worry, hahaha, I’m very capable! Danger is afraid of me!”

The two seemed to be close, their banter leaving no room for Luo Yan to interject.

But just then, Luo Yan heard a voice in her mind, cold and sharp.

“Girl, who are you?”

It was Elise’s voice.

Luo Yan sensed Elise with her breathing technique, but detected nothing unusual.

She was still smiling, chatting casually with Anna, her expression gentle, seemingly oblivious to Luo Yan.

But Luo Yan heard her clearly, the voice speaking directly to her mind.

“I’m… Luo Yan,” she replied mentally.

“You’re not Luo Yan. She has been ‘erased’,” Elise’s voice remained cold. “So, who are you?”

“…?”

Luo Yan didn’t understand what she meant, then, after a moment of thought, she replied,

“My… name is Luo Yan?”

Elise was silent for a moment, then spoke again.

“…You don’t want to answer. Fine, I won’t pry.”

“And who are you? You blocked my perception earlier, didn’t you?” Luo Yan asked. “An ordinary barista… shouldn’t be capable of that.”

“Who I am isn’t important. I’m in Yan City simply to bid farewell to an old friend, or rather, an old… senior.”

To Luo Yan’s surprise, Elise answered directly.

“While I’m here, I will strictly adhere to the actions of ‘Elise,’ nothing more… No further comment.”

As “Elise,” Anna’s close friend, she wouldn’t pry into Luo Yan’s identity or secrets.

This mental exchange happened in a flash. After a few thoughts, Luo Yan and Elise formed a general impression of each other.

“A strange and troublesome person…”

This was Luo Yan’s first impression of Elise.

“A mysterious girl I can’t see through.”

Elise narrowed her eyes almost imperceptibly, glancing away from Luo Yan.

Of the three, only Anna remained oblivious, happily chatting with Elise.

This girl truly enjoyed being around her friends.

“Oh right, I almost forgot about Lady Luo Yan!” Anna suddenly remembered Luo Yan’s quiet presence. “I’m sorry, Lady Luo Yan, Elise and I haven’t seen each other in a while…”

“It’s alright,” Luo Yan whispered, then “looked” up at Elise. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elise.”

“Likewise, Miss Luo Yan,” Elise replied with a smile.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 47 – Life Should Have Weight

“It seems the rain will continue for a while.”

Luo Yan calmly disassembled the sniper rifle and placed the parts back into the hidden compartments of her wheelchair.

Anna, still facing away from her, covered her eyes nervously.

“It’s over, Anna,” Luo Yan said softly.

“Eh?” Anna paused. “So soon?”

Although it seemed like a lot had happened, Luo Yan’s two long-distance shots had only taken a few seconds.

Anna had only just turned around when she heard the two shots, followed by the sound of Luo Yan putting away the rifle.

“Let’s go to that café you mentioned,” Luo Yan started to push her wheelchair, then paused. “Wait, after all that, the café owner… has probably left, right?”

“Oh, right!”

Anna slapped her forehead, then said uncertainly,

“But… I’ve never seen Elise leave the shop before…”

“Elise?”

“The café owner! She’s also from the Western Continent, like me,” Anna’s voice was filled with admiration. “But she’s so amazing… I can’t explain it… just… amazing.”

“…So are we still going?” Luo Yan asked.

She wasn’t particularly interested in this “Elise,” but as long as Anna was happy.

Besides… a café… she had only read about such places in novels; she was curious.

“Should we… still go? See if Elise is there…?”

Anna scratched her head. Since Lady Luo Yan said the matter was resolved, it should be safe.

Even if Elise had left temporarily because of the incident, she would probably be back by the time they arrived.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Luo Yan nodded, then, after a moment of thought, pulled out a small umbrella from a hidden compartment in her wheelchair.

“One for each of us. It will be easier to walk.”

Even though Anna’s umbrella was large, it would still be difficult to cover both of them and the wheelchair.

However, Anna’s attention was elsewhere.

“Lady Luo Yan, you have so many things in your wheelchair…”

She stared at the compartments, her eyes wide.

“Not much, just three or four novels, some documents, a cane, a change of clothes… that’s all.”

The extra clothes were to prevent another embarrassing situation like the previous Flower Street incident; the rest were things Luo Yan always carried.

“I don’t think I should be the one making this comment, but isn’t that a bit… much…?”

Anna said, twitching her lips as she pushed the wheelchair.

“I think it’s fine… hm?”

Luo Yan said indifferently, then paused.

“Lady Luo Yan, what’s wrong?”

Anna asked nervously, worried that Luo Yan had used her ability and was experiencing side effects.

“Nothing.”

Luo Yan shook her head. She knew her own body.

And she had only opened her eyes for two brief moments; the energy consumption was minimal.

She had paused because she had sensed a gaze directed at them from Construction Street Six.

“Probably just someone from the Apprehension Department team…”

…

Although Luo Yan appeared calm, the members of the Apprehension Department team were still in shock.

A long-distance sniper attack targeting a “Ruin” level ability user… whoever the attacker was, it was terrifying.

Two simple shots had killed the Devil’s minion who had pushed their entire team to the brink of death, without even revealing their presence.

Although the second shot had only been possible thanks to the team leader’s desperate efforts…

He knew his contribution was minimal.

This battle had been a one-woman show.

“Could it be Director Hua Qiling of the Disaster Response Department?”

The leader wondered. The only person in Yan City with such long-range precision sniping ability was Hua Qiling.

—This was why Hua Qiling was considered so powerful, even Grifres had been shocked.

If she reached “Peril” level, she would be a nightmare for all “Ruin” and even some “Peril” level ability users.

A single shot from ten, even twenty kilometers away, unavoidable.

But the leader quickly dismissed this guess. This wasn’t “Eagle Eye’s” precision.

It was another ability, one that paralyzed the man with the black umbrella.

Just then, the Disaster Response team arrived, witnessing the gruesome scene.

“Apprehension Department?”

The Disaster Response team leader frowned, then his gaze shifted, his pupils constricting.

“Is the crisis resolved?”

He asked gravely, his expression alert.

Although there was a rivalry between the two departments, it didn’t affect the team members.

They might be competitive, but in the face of a disaster, they stood together.

“It’s resolved,” the Apprehension Department team leader said weakly, still recovering from the effects of the mind control.

“Let’s clean up… and send my team to the hospital. I’ll submit a detailed report later.”

Including about that terrifying figure…

The other team members had been infected by the Devil’s minion’s blood, their bodies mutating.

But this was common in disaster events. Yan City’s hospitals had the necessary antiserum; there was no need to worry about long-term effects.

“Understood.”

The Disaster Response team leader immediately got to work, some cleaning up the scene, others transporting the injured Apprehension Department members to the hospital.

The sooner they received treatment, the better; delaying would only worsen the infection.

The Disaster Response team was clearly more experienced in handling such incidents. They quickly finished cleaning up and left.

Yan City was in turmoil; they had other missions to attend to. The rest of the work was the city government’s responsibility, not the Anomaly Management Bureau’s.

No one noticed the burly figure standing in the shadows, silently observing the scene.

“Miss Luo Yan…”

It was Grifres. He had arrived almost at the same time as the Apprehension Department.

But seeing them there, he hadn’t revealed himself.

The Apprehension Department was Dawn’s enemy; he wasn’t about to help them.

He had planned to wait for the man with the black umbrella to eliminate the Apprehension Department team, then kill him.

Devil’s minions were everyone’s enemy, including Dawn’s.

But Grifres hadn’t expected someone else to intervene and save the Apprehension Department team, and someone he knew very well.

—Miss Luo Yan.

The mysterious girl from Ghost Town, who had single-handedly confronted the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment.

The moment the man with the black umbrella froze, Grifres had sensed a strange mental wave.

It was Luo Yan’s ability; he had experienced it firsthand.

But it was much stronger now, so powerful that even he wouldn’t dare face it directly.

Although some time had passed, Grifres hadn’t forgotten Luo Yan.

He just hadn’t expected her to stay in Yan City.

And now it seemed she was on Yan City’s side…

“Why is she doing this?”

Grifres looked towards the source of the spiritual energy pulse, then quickly looked away.

He remembered that Miss Luo Yan’s suspected “Envy” ability was sensitive to prying eyes and thoughts.

He couldn’t be careless.

“If Miss Luo Yan is truly on Yan City’s side, this could be troublesome.”

Dawn was currently gathering its Cadres, preparing to enter Yan City and retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains.

At this juncture, a terrifying existence who potentially possessed demonic power and could even reach “Peril” level or higher, siding with Yan City, wasn’t a good sign.

If possible, Grifres didn’t want to be enemies with this mysterious, powerful, yet kind and innocent girl, with whom he had once fought alongside.

Yan City was a whirlpool, but when it would fully form was still unknown.

Devil’s minions, drawn by the reappearance of the “Primordial Demon’s” will fragment, were swarming the city. The Apprehension Department was relentlessly pursuing Dawn, seemingly with ulterior motives.

And Dawn was planning to attack Yan City’s “Wall of Resentment” and retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains before “Mister” passed away.

Yan City was constantly struggling, always one step behind.

This storm was still brewing, and no one knew what would happen when it finally erupted.

“I should discuss this with Alyxsia. As for Mister… I won’t disturb him for now.”

Grifres decided, his figure retreating into the shadows.

Yan City’s cleanup crew had arrived, signifying the end of another disaster.

…But whether in Yan City or elsewhere, there were still many more disasters…

Imminent, or already unfolding.

…

Due to the heavy rain and their unhurried pace, it was half an hour later when Luo Yan and Anna returned to Construction Street Six.

The government personnel were still cleaning up.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered, their expressions ranging from curiosity to apathy, some even weeping.

Such scenes were common in the New Era, but empathy seemed to be a rare commodity.

Luo Yan had thought Anna, with her young heart, would be affected by this.

But she only showed a fleeting sadness before composing herself.

“Don’t you find this… terrifying?” Luo Yan asked. “Several lives… just gone…”

Anna, surprised by the question, thought for a moment, then said,

“Lady Luo Yan, have you ever left a mega-city?”

Luo Yan considered her time in Ghost Town, which was also a kind of city, then shook her head.

“You know I was brought to Yan City by Big Sister Hua, and before that… I was a refugee,” Anna’s steps seemed heavier as she spoke.

“Wandering the Endless Wasteland, no mega-city willing to accept us, no one willing to help.”

She looked at the surrounding crowd, at the expressions of sorrow and pity on their faces.

“The residents of mega-cities have the time to mourn their loved ones lost in accidents, but refugees don’t.

“Our lives are like weeds, easily taken by any disaster, a few mutated monsters, or a passing Devil’s minion’s whim.

“I had friends, many friends who huddled together for warmth, but they’re all dead, killed in disasters, by Devil’s minions, even eaten by monsters… No one remembers them, except for me.

“We have no future, we only seek to survive the present.”

As Anna spoke of her past, her emotions were something Luo Yan had never sensed before.

Dark, lost, and filled with a subtle pain.

Luo Yan had always thought of Anna as a cheerful, somewhat silly girl, but she hadn’t expected such a past.

Although Hua Qingling and Hua Qiling had mentioned it, Luo Yan hadn’t paid much attention, having no concept of life outside a mega-city.

“Lady Luo Yan, you’re not only beautiful, but also kind… In this world, kindness is a rare quality,” Anna continued, changing the subject.

“I heard a little about your past from Second Sister Hua, just a little, and I think you’re truly amazing. Although your story is sad, you’ve done things that none of us could.”

Anna stopped and stood before Luo Yan.

She was only slightly taller than Luo Yan in her wheelchair, so she had to reach up to touch her hair.

“You’re truly a good person, Lady Luo Yan, although you always seem indifferent, you cherish everything around you, just like today.”

“I haven’t really done anything,” Luo Yan said softly. She didn’t mind being patted on the head, although Anna’s movements were clumsy and slightly ruffled her hair.

“You’ve done plenty,” Anna said, putting her hands on her hips. “You saved so many people! Just like Big Sister Hua, she also saved many people. These are great deeds.”

Luo Yan paused. She had never considered saving people a “great deed.” She simply felt that…

“Life should have weight,” she whispered.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 46 – Rain Without a Trace

“It’s raining.”

A light drizzle began to fall, lightly dampening Luo Yan’s clothes.

Although Luo Yan liked rain, she didn’t particularly enjoy being caught in it.

Fortunately, Anna, knowing it would rain, had brought an umbrella.

A large, floral umbrella, disproportionate to her small frame, was opened, creating a barrier against the rain, separating two worlds.

Luo Yan and Anna were now quite far from Construction Street Six in District Three.

However, due to the elevated terrain, they had a clear view of the street below.

“Lady Luo Yan, why did you suddenly want to come here?”

Anna, having held the question in for a while, finally asked.

“Because it’s a good spot.”

Luo Yan replied softly, then, to Anna’s surprise, she pulled out some mechanical parts from hidden compartments in the armrests of her wheelchair.

“What… what is that…?”

Luo Yan didn’t answer, her hands moving quickly, assembling the parts with a speed that dazzled Anna.

It was a pulse sniper rifle.

Ordinary sniper rifles couldn’t fully utilize an ability user’s power. This spiritual energy-driven pulse rifle, in the hands of a “Peril” level ability user, could destroy an entire city block.

Even Luo Yan could destroy three or four buildings with it, if she focused its power on explosions.

—So, Davis had underestimated Luo Yan’s strength.

Luo Yan’s destructive power had already reached “Ruin” level in Ghost Town, and it had grown stronger in Yan City.

Although not quite “Peril” level, she was at the peak of “Ruin” level.

“Are you planning to use the sniper rifle to help kill the calamity monster?” Anna asked hesitantly. “But from this distance, and without Second Sister Hua and her ‘Eagle Eye’…”

At a distance of over three kilometers, hitting a Devil’s minion accurately was difficult without “Eagle Eye.”

Even with a regular scope, it was useless against ability users above “Calamity” level.

The time it took for the bullet to travel that distance was more than enough for them to react.

Although Anna had no combat experience, having been raised by Hua Qingling, she had some basic understanding.

“It’s fine, I’ll just make sure he can’t move,” Luo Yan clumsily attached the scope; she wasn’t used to using it. “Keep an eye on the surroundings, make sure I don’t hit any passersby.”

“…There probably aren’t any passersby.”

The drizzle had turned into a downpour; no one was out in this weather.

“Good. I can only protect you at this range.”

Luo Yan removed her eye mask, raised the sniper rifle, and placed her closed right eye against the scope.

Although her posture was awkward, her grip was firm.

“Turn around, don’t look at me,” Luo Yan whispered.

“Okay.”

Anna quickly turned around, knowing some abilities could indiscriminately harm those nearby.

Luo Yan took a deep breath and opened her right eye, its appearance now terrifying.

For the first time, she tried to control “Envy,” focusing it in a straight line, along the scope’s trajectory, towards Construction Street Six, number twenty.

“…Found you.”

In Luo Yan’s vision, the dark, malevolent aura stood out starkly.

…

Construction Street Six, number twenty.

Inside the collapsed building, the man with the black umbrella faced the Apprehension Department team.

Or rather… the now incapacitated Apprehension Department team.

Except for the team leader, a “Ruin” level ability user who was barely holding on, the others had lost control of their bodies.

They watched in horror as their bodies mutated, just like the small boy’s corpse earlier.

“I didn’t expect… a mega-city to be so weak,” the man with the black umbrella sneered. “Half an hour, and only one team?”

He had used the civilians as bait to see how many would respond.

If he knew he wasn’t a match, he wouldn’t have revealed himself.

Hidden in the shadows, he would be difficult to detect, unless he encountered Luo Yan or Qin Wen, who were sensitive to the aura of Devil’s minions.

But after half an hour, only one team had arrived, their strength negligible.

“If it weren’t for… this time…”

The team leader gritted his teeth.

Yan City had been facing numerous incidents lately, stretching the already understaffed Anomaly Management Bureau thin.

Under normal circumstances, they could have assembled three teams within half an hour.

These Devil’s minions, without Demonic Powers, even at “Ruin” level, weren’t as dangerous as Red Butterfly.

But for a single, isolated team, they were a deadly threat.

“My collection… will grow again.”

The man kissed the boy’s lifeless head and put it away.

He looked at the contorted bodies of the Apprehension Department team, a pleased smile on his face.

His ability, aligned with the “Sovereign of Madness,” allowed him to infect others with his blood, controlling their nervous systems.

This was why the boy’s corpse had been able to move; its nervous system was under his control.

Moreover, the demon-tainted blood caused physical mutations, transforming them into monsters.

Of course, his control had limits.

He couldn’t handle too many people at once, and his control wasn’t precise enough for complex commands.

In direct combat, he was no match for Qin Wen, or even Hua Qiling.

Devil’s minions without Demonic Powers weren’t inherently stronger than ordinary ability users; their abilities were simply more grotesque and terrifying.

However, back when the Primordial Demons hadn’t been sealed…

Devil’s minions could fight ability users a level above them, posing a significant threat to humanity alongside Devil’s Apostles.

But for now, dealing with a single, weak Apprehension Department team was enough.

“Eat, devour yourselves, until only your heads remain…”

As the man’s seductive voice echoed, the team members, like puppets, twisted their heads and, with their now grotesque mouths, bit into their arms.

“Rip—”

Blood splattered.

The team leader watched in despair, helpless.

Resisting the control was already pushing him to his limit; he couldn’t protect his team.

And the Disaster Response Department’s backup was still five or six minutes away.

—They were the Apprehension Department, not the Disaster Response Department, not specialized in handling disaster events.

Davis was among them, feeling the agonizing pain in her arm and the horror of her body mutating.

For some reason, she thought of Miss Luo Yan.

That frail, pitiful, yet incredibly powerful figure in the wheelchair…

If I had agreed to Miss Luo Yan’s request earlier, would the outcome be different…?

Just as this thought crossed her mind, she saw a silver flash in the distance.

What’s that…?

Before she could react, a terrifying eye seemed to be opening in her vision.

This is… Miss Luo Yan’s ability!

Davis remembered the ability Luo Yan had used on her before entering Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Those mysterious eyes, and the soul-shaking terror…

With the last of her strength, Davis briefly regained control of her nervous system.

It only lasted for a split second, but it was enough for her to shout,

“—Close your eyes!”

Although the other team members and their leader didn’t understand, trusting their teammate, they forced their eyes shut.

The man with the black umbrella, annoyed by the sudden shout, frowned.

“Such an ungrateful female… ruining my artistic vision!”

He was about to strengthen his control over Davis, but then he heard a cold, indifferent voice.

“…I see you.”

“Who?!”

The man’s snake-like eyes widened, searching for the source of the voice.

But everything was obscured by the rain.

Just then, he felt a stinging sensation on his skin and instinctively looked towards it, seeing a pulse of spiritual energy heading straight for him.

“A spiritual energy pulse sniper rifle!”

But from this distance…

The man relaxed slightly. From such a range, a wide-area attack couldn’t harm a “Ruin” level ability user like him.

Only a concentrated attack could be effective.

But a concentrated spiritual energy pulse had a limited area of effect.

Once detected, he could easily dodge it.

And the timing of detection…

“Heh, you scared me,” the man sneered. “Just a little rat hiding in the distance…”

But in the next moment, his smile froze.

He… couldn’t move!

He, the self-proclaimed puppeteer, was being controlled!

No, not his body…

The man could feel a mark seared onto his soul.

Even a slight touch brought a terror more horrifying than death…

This terror paralyzed him completely.

And this fear… was familiar.

“It’s the Lord’s power!”

That dreamlike experience had been his initiation, his introduction to the “Lord.”

“But this isn’t my Lord’s power… Is there another follower of the Lord nearby…?

“But why would they help those humans from Yan City…?”

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but his soul was trapped, unable to control his body.

“Whose follower…? Soul… mind-related… could it be… ‘Envy’?”

Although Devil’s minions and Apostles rarely used human names for their “Lords,” they still knew them.

The man with the black umbrella worshipped the “Sovereign of Madness,” whose power was “Madness,” a Superpower type.

But it didn’t matter now. He knew his opponent possessed a Demonic Power!

Before obtaining the power of “Envy,” Red Butterfly had been a weak “Ruin” level ability user.

But with that power, even Qin Wen couldn’t defeat her directly.

Without Luo Yan, although Red Butterfly would have eventually been killed by Yan City, the cost wouldn’t have been so low.

But… how could he just sit here and wait for death?

No, even if he did… what then?

A sinister grin appeared on the man’s face. A lifeless head floated up, intercepting the spiritual energy pulse.

The pulse pierced the head, but more heads appeared, blocking its path.

“These works of art… are more than just art…

“They can die for me!”

One head after another was destroyed, until finally, after piercing thirteen heads, the spiritual energy pulse was weakened to its limit.

The man with the black umbrella took the hit directly, stumbling backward before regaining his footing.

Half of his internal organs were destroyed, the severe injury weakening his control over the Apprehension Department team.

But he survived.

“Too bad.”

Luo Yan, in the distance, closed her eyes, taking a brief rest.

Maintaining her eyes open was straining, unless she burned through her life force, she couldn’t sustain it for long.

But that one shot had created an opportunity for the Apprehension Department team, freeing them from his control.

The heavily injured man, no longer concerned about art, just wanted to escape.

But the team leader wouldn’t allow it.

Gathering his remaining strength, he unleashed his ability, several fireballs flying towards the man through the rain.

“Damn it…”

The man swatted them away, losing precious seconds.

And in those few seconds, the situation changed drastically.

“…Farewell.”

The man saw a pair of blood-red eyes open slowly, their cold, malevolent, black pupils fixated on him.

This time, there was no escape.

A spiritual energy pulse pierced his head. There were no “works of art” to protect him this time.

The puppeteer, even stronger than Red Butterfly, collapsed.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 45 – The Puppeteer

In reality, Davis’s team hadn’t been deployed to hunt a Devil’s minion.

Their mission was to search for traces of Dawn.

Even though Frick had other plans, finding “Mister” was still his top priority.

Because Mister was dying.

And with his death, many secrets would be buried with him.

This was crucial for “Noah.”

Moreover, upon Mister’s death, Dawn would undoubtedly retrieve his body.

Regardless of his wishes, even if he wanted to be buried in Yan City, Dawn wouldn’t allow it.

As one of Dawn’s founders, one of the nine revered Misters, he would be buried in Dawn territory.

Then, Frick would lose his chance to obtain Mister’s “Demonic Power.”

So, he had to find Mister before he died.

Then, he would inform “Noah,” who would send representatives to Yan City to contact Mister, and his remains would be transported to “Noah.”

Frick would escort the body, creating ample opportunities to steal the power along the way.

—He didn’t have the courage or the strength to confront “Mister” directly.

That’s why he had been hiding behind the Apprehension Department team—Mister, with his character and status, wouldn’t harm these youngsters.

Therefore, Frick hadn’t abandoned the search for Dawn.

Of course, the Apprehension Department members didn’t know this; their orders were simply to search for “Dawn.”

“Dawn’s” reputation in the Free Federation was similar to that of terrorists, so such orders weren’t unusual.

However, such matters weren’t openly discussed, as there was still considerable support for Dawn among the populace, so Davis didn’t elaborate.

Therefore, if they encountered a disaster event while searching for Dawn, the Apprehension Department team wouldn’t ignore it.

Just like this time, Davis’s team was diligently following disaster response protocol.

But now, Luo Yan made a request that made Davis feel… awkward.

“Tell me the approximate location,” Luo Yan said softly. “It’s about to rain, and I don’t want to waste time.”

“But, but…”

Davis hesitated.

Just then, a deafening roar echoed through the streets.

A nearby residential building collapsed, alarms blaring.

The evacuating crowd panicked and scrambled to escape.

Davis’s communicator crackled to life, the team leader’s voice urgent.

“Davis! Immediately proceed to Construction Street Six, number twenty! Devil’s minion sighted!”

“Those Disaster Response bastards will be here in ten minutes… We can’t let him escape!”

Although a “Calamity” level Devil’s minion wasn’t a major threat to Luo Yan, “Calamity” level was originally defined as a threat to mega-cities.

“Ruin” level could potentially destroy a mega-city.

Now, with humanity’s increased strength, “Calamity” level was less of a threat, but still dangerous.

Casualties were unavoidable if they weren’t careful.

The situation seemed urgent…

“I apologize, Miss Luo Yan, but I have to excuse myself,” Davis said hurriedly. “As for your request… I cannot comply!”

She couldn’t ask Miss Luo Yan for help in this situation.

In her current state… every use of her ability would worsen her condition.

And a mere “Calamity” level disaster was within their team’s capabilities.

Without another word, Davis rushed into the street, disappearing into the mist.

“Lady Luo Yan, should we… go back?”

Anna cautiously peeked out, then emerged after confirming Davis had left.

“No, not yet,” Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then turned to Anna. “Where is Construction Street Six, number twenty?”

Anna seemed familiar with the area.

“Do you really intend to go, Lady Luo Yan?” Anna asked nervously. “But it seems dangerous…”

“It is, too dangerous for you,” Luo Yan nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t take you anywhere dangerous… So, where is it?”

Anna hesitated, then pointed.

“It’s that way, turn left, then go straight.”

“Understood.”

Luo Yan whispered, then wheeled herself in a different direction.

“Lady Luo Yan?” Anna was startled and quickly followed, confused. “Where… are you going?”

If she was going to help, she shouldn’t be going this way, but if she was returning, this wasn’t the right path either…

“To find a good spot,” Luo Yan said softly. “Don’t worry, we’ll still have our coffee.”

…

Within the district.

The Apprehension Department team was in position, carefully observing their surroundings.

The Devil’s minion had just reappeared, attacking one of their members.

Fortunately, they had been alert, and the attack failed, but they hadn’t managed to capture him.

“Seems to be a Mutation-type Devil’s minion, very agile…”

Davis arrived and immediately joined the fray.

Scattered limbs and body parts littered the small area.

The enemy seemed to enjoy mutilating his victims; none of the bodies were intact.

Blood flowed like a small stream, disappearing into the sewer drains.

“Thankfully, it’s only ‘Calamity’ level…”

Davis calmed down slightly. Although the scene was gruesome, it wasn’t enough to break the experienced ability users of the Anomaly Management Bureau.

And if it was only “Calamity” level… it wasn’t too serious.

Their team leader was a “Ruin” level ability user, although on the weaker side, still more than enough to deal with a “Calamity” level Devil’s minion.

—Provided they could force him to fight.

The Apprehension Department team slowly closed in on the Devil’s minion’s approximate location, their leader ready to unleash his ability at any moment.

As the encirclement tightened, the enemy seemed to have no escape.

But they couldn’t let their guard down.

“Crack… sizzle…”

A strange sound echoed, growing louder in the silent environment, chilling.

“Crackle… sizzle… crackle…”

Following the sound, the team pinpointed a half-collapsed building, the noise coming from a room half-buried in rubble.

The team leader cautiously approached, the others following close behind, surrounding the room.

“Attack!”

The team leader shouted, and the other members unleashed their abilities, targeting the collapsed room.

“Boom!”

With a loud crash, the already unstable room completely collapsed.

A small figure was faintly visible amidst the dust and smoke.

The team leader didn’t hesitate, unleashing his ability at the figure.

Flames scorched the air, followed by an explosion.

“Ah… pain… so much pain…”

A shrill scream echoed, and the small figure shakily stood up.

But more attacks followed. The Apprehension Department team was experienced and knew the importance of finishing the job.

The figure, having just regained its footing, collapsed again under the barrage of attacks.

The assault continued until the team leader raised his hand, signaling them to stop.

He could sense that the small figure was lifeless.

“It’s over,” the leader sighed in relief.

Just a routine operation, nothing unusual.

The dust settled, revealing the scene within.

—A small boy, no older than ten, lay dead on the ground, his eyes wide open.

Blood stained his open mouth, bits of flesh and bone clinging to his sharp fangs, his charred right hand twisted into a claw.

Strangely, his left arm was severed, the tendons barely connecting it to his shoulder, hanging limply.

“Another monsterified Devil’s minion,” the team leader sighed. “There have been several cases like this in Yan City lately.”

Such disasters weren’t uncommon in the New Era.

Even mega-cities, protected by “Embers,” occasionally faced disaster events, even “Noah” wasn’t immune.

And the smaller settlements outside were even more vulnerable to attacks from calamity monsters.

…Perhaps this was why some humans chose to embrace the “Primordial Demons,” becoming their minions.

To Devil’s minions and Devil’s Apostles, the Primordial Demons represented the truth of the New Era, believing the world rightfully belonged to them, and their slumber was an unforgivable mistake.

The team members mourned briefly, then gathered their equipment, preparing to continue their patrol.

The Disaster Response team would be arriving soon, and they didn’t want to encounter them.

But just then, the lifeless body of the Devil’s minion suddenly moved.

The alert team leader reacted instantly, shouting a warning and preparing to attack again.

But the corpse didn’t attack, nor did it stand up.

It twisted its head, dragging itself on the ground, then opened its fanged mouth and bit into its severed left arm, chewing.

—It had torn off its own arm!

It continued chewing, the gruesome sound of crunching bone echoing.

But it was clearly dead.

A corpse, undoubtedly.

“What’s going on?”

The team leader frowned, momentarily confused.

Davis, however, recalled the dismembered bodies she had seen earlier, the torn flesh and bite marks.

…Wait…

Soon, not just Davis, but also the experienced team leader, realized the truth.

Those bodies…

“Could it be… that they weren’t bitten by it?”

“But… they were biting themselves?”

Just then, another team member exclaimed. He saw a piece of clothing clinging to the boy’s flesh, a Yan City junior academy uniform!

“He’s not a Devil’s minion, he’s a victim!”

The team leader finally understood, but it seemed to be too late.

“Drip… drip…”

After a long buildup… it finally began to rain.

At first, it was just a drizzle, then a torrential downpour.

The rain washed away the blood on the ground, but not the terror.

Because everyone caught in the rain was isolated, helpless, in their own world.

The boy’s corpse continued to devour itself, until only its head remained.

And then, a black umbrella seemed to materialize, sheltering the lone head from the rain.

“A work of art.”

A man’s voice echoed from beneath the umbrella, sending a chill down the spines of the Apprehension Department team.

“He’s the Devil’s minion!”

The boy, the surrounding corpses, the earlier attack… it was all the work of this man with the black umbrella.

The team didn’t hesitate, unleashing their abilities without waiting for their leader’s command.

…But their attacks were weak.

They had already expended a lot of energy in the previous assault.

And the heavy rain weakened many abilities, like their leader’s “Explosion.”

The man with the black umbrella shook his head and sneered.

“A bunch of uncultured primates.”

He bent down and picked up the head.

The black umbrella twirled, and all the attacks dissipated.

Not deflected, but neutralized by the attackers themselves.

“We are all puppets, our bodies controlled by invisible strings,” the man said, his voice gentle and refined, a pair of snake-like eyes glinting from beneath the umbrella. “And now, I hold your strings. I am your puppeteer.”

“Rejoice, for you are now controlled by a true artist… The ‘Lord’ will transform your filthy, lowly forms… into perfect works of art.”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 44 – The Gathering Storm

The early morning air was crisp and refreshing, despite the slightly gloomy sky.

Anna pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair, slowly strolling down the street.

A gentle breeze caressed their faces, bringing a slight chill, but not unpleasant.

Luo Yan brushed a stray strand of silver hair behind her ear and tilted her head slightly, seemingly lost in the gentle breeze.

“The weather is nice.”

She extended a hand, the cool wind slipping through her fingers.

Anna glanced at the dark, overcast sky, thinking that rain was imminent, hardly “nice.”

The pedestrians hurried past, oblivious to them, thanks to Luo Yan’s life hack.

“I like this kind of weather,” Luo Yan, sensing Anna’s confusion, explained softly. “The calmness before a storm, the cool breeze after the rain, the town enveloped in a gentle drizzle… I like it all.”

The falling raindrops were like a barrier, isolating everyone in their own world.

And Luo Yan felt uncomfortable under the sun; sunny weather was actually a bother.

“I don’t really like it. My clothes never dry when it rains,” Anna mumbled.

Luo Yan nodded. “Yes, and going out in the rain is troublesome. Should we reschedule?”

“No, no, no, don’t worry about it today,” Anna shook her head vigorously.

“We’re going to a small, private café. It’s not very famous, but the atmosphere and the coffee are excellent, very authentic! It’s Anna’s hidden gem!”

Considering Anna’s introverted nature, her idea of “fun” was probably just being a shut-in in a different location.

And Luo Yan clearly disliked crowded places.

Anna’s intention was for Lady Luo Yan to relax, not to drag her around to various places.

Therefore, after careful consideration, she had chosen the “café” plan.

Lady Luo Yan would definitely like a quiet place!

Coincidentally, there was a small café in District Three, owned by a casual coffee enthusiast, with few customers.

But both the atmosphere and the coffee were top-notch.

That’s why, despite the gloomy weather, Anna had insisted on bringing Luo Yan out.

—And now it seemed this weather was even better.

Didn’t Lady Luo Yan like rainy days?

Sitting in a quiet café on a rainy day, reading a book, sipping coffee, occasionally glancing at the drizzle outside…

How beautiful Lady Luo Yan would look in such a scene!

Ahem, it’s not just because I want to see a more beautiful Lady Luo Yan, it’s for her relaxation and happiness!

The more Anna thought about it, the more excited she became, a smile appearing on her lips, her steps quickening.

Luo Yan could sense Anna’s excitement, although she didn’t understand why, but as long as this “day” made Anna happy, it was worth it.

However…

Luo Yan’s nose twitched, and she frowned slightly.

She smelled something unpleasant in the humid, pre-rain air.

“The scent of blood…”

A strange, sweet, metallic scent, with a hint of a familiar, foul odor—the distinct aura of a Devil’s minion.

But… this aura was dead.

However… there was another aura, faint and almost imperceptible.

Just then, a somewhat familiar voice called out, and a figure approached them.

“Excuse me, ladies, these streets are closed off. Please take a detour or turn back.”

Although Luo Yan was using her life hack, it only minimized her presence, not made her invisible.

And since Anna wasn’t within its range (her mind couldn’t withstand Luo Yan’s ability), being noticed was normal.

“Huh?” Anna’s excitement vanished, her shoulders slumping. “Wh-what’s wrong…?”

Her hidden gem café was just up ahead!

After all this planning, after finally bringing Lady Luo Yan out, did she have to give up?

“Could you perhaps make an exception…?”

Anna looked up at the approaching figure, then, seeing their uniform, she shrank back.

The infamous Anomaly Management Bureau, Apprehension Department…

“Davis?”

Luo Yan suddenly said.

She couldn’t see with her eyes covered.

But she recognized the aura and the voice, recalling the comrade who had fought alongside her during the Flower Street incident.

…Although Davis hadn’t been much help, at least she hadn’t been a hindrance.

“Huh?” Davis paused, then, breaking through the barrier that minimized Luo Yan’s presence, she finally saw her. “Ah, Miss Luo Yan! What are you…?”

Luo Yan had left a lasting impression. With a “Difficulty” level aura, she possessed “Ruin” level combat power.

Even the weakest “Ruin” level ability user could lead a combat team!

During the Flower Street incident, she and Cheng Hongyuan hadn’t been of much help.

And after hearing that Miss Luo Yan had been seriously injured and hospitalized, Davis had felt guilty.

But she hadn’t dared to visit, only sending fruits anonymously with Cheng Hongyuan.

(Most of which were eaten by Hua Qiling, because fruits didn’t last long, and Luo Yan was still unconscious.)

She hadn’t expected to encounter Miss Luo Yan again while on a mission.

And she was…

Looking at Luo Yan in the wheelchair, Davis felt a pang of pity and shame.

Luo Yan’s skin was deathly pale, her silver hair cascading down, and she wore a simple white dress.

She looked incredibly frail, like a ghost that might vanish at any moment.

“Your injuries from that time…”

Davis’s voice lacked confidence, filled with guilt.

She hadn’t believed Miss Luo Yan, and as a result, hadn’t been able to help.

Perhaps because of this, Miss Luo Yan was now…

Before, although frail, she could still walk.

Now, she was confined to a wheelchair, and her complexion was even worse.

“They’ve healed,” Luo Yan said softly. “As for the wheelchair—it’s just an old ailment, nothing to do with the incident.”

From Davis’s slightly panicked aura, Luo Yan could guess her thoughts.

“…Are your legs injured?” Davis asked with concern. “If you don’t mind, I can take you somewhere. Where are you going?”

“They aren’t injured, just weak,” Luo Yan replied. “As for where I’m going…”

She turned to Anna.

“Anna, where is this place you mentioned?”

“Ah? Ah… it’s just up ahead, two intersections down, then turn right…”

Anna, snapping back to reality, quickly replied.

She had been worried that this Apprehension Department member might be hostile towards Lady Luo Yan, but she was surprisingly respectful.

Even… afraid?

“What are you going there for?” Davis suddenly became nervous. “Could it be… a Disaster Response Department…?”

She had heard that Luo Yan’s involvement in the Flower Street incident was arranged by the Disaster Response Department.

And there happened to be a disaster event nearby, and Miss Luo Yan just happened to be here…

Davis couldn’t help but be suspicious.

But this disaster event had only been discovered a few minutes ago, and the Apprehension Department team had just begun securing the area and evacuating civilians.

It hadn’t even been reported to the Disaster Response Department headquarters yet.

How did she know…?

Due to the long-standing rivalry between the two departments, Davis instinctively became wary of the Disaster Response Department.

“Disaster Response Department?” Luo Yan paused, confused. “I’m not a member of the Disaster Response Department. I’m just an ordinary citizen.”

…Don’t joke.

Davis looked as if she had seen a ghost. Which ordinary citizen could blow up half a building with a single shot?!

If all ordinary citizens were that powerful, they wouldn’t need to fear Devil’s minions or Dawn; they could even challenge “Noah.”

“And I’m just going for coffee… right, Anna?”

Luo Yan looked at Anna, who nodded vigorously, then hid behind the wheelchair.

She really didn’t want to interact with the Apprehension Department.

Their image in Yan City…

It was like the KGB, the FBI, the Jinyiwei… from the Old Era.

But Luo Yan’s constant questioning and Anna’s avoidance gave Davis a different impression.

Miss Luo Yan seems to consult this little girl for everything…

Wait, is she really just a little girl?

Davis hadn’t forgotten how foolish she had been during the first half of the Flower Street incident.

She hadn’t realized how powerful Miss Luo Yan and Miss Qin Wen were, even killing a Devil’s minion wielding a Primordial Demon’s power!

Could this seemingly ordinary little girl, with an aura no different from an ordinary person, also be “Ruin” level, or even stronger?

And her deliberate avoidance…

“Could she be… a hidden expert from the Disaster Response Department?”

Davis’s perception of Anna instantly changed, her tone becoming more cautious and respectful.

“Um… Lady Anna… are you just… going for coffee with Miss Luo Yan?”

Hearing this address, Anna was confused.

Why was she suddenly being called “Lady”… Did this Apprehension Department member have the same verbal tic as her?

But why was she even more respectful towards her than towards Lady Luo Yan?!

She couldn’t understand the Apprehension Department’s thought process at all…

“…Yes.”

Anna simply hummed and continued hiding behind the wheelchair.

Seeing her continued avoidance, Davis didn’t press further and turned to Luo Yan.

“I apologize, Miss Luo Yan, but it seems your coffee plans will have to wait.”

“Why?”

Luo Yan asked, although she already had a suspicion.

“There’s been a sighting of a Devil’s minion in this district,” Davis said seriously. This kind of information was usually kept confidential, but if the other party was a Disaster Response Department expert, it didn’t matter.

“Three civilians are dead, dozens injured, and panic is spreading.”

Anna’s face paled upon hearing this.

Oh my god…

Why is this happening…?

Luo Yan, having already sensed the demonic aura, wasn’t surprised. She asked calmly,

“What’s the situation?”

“It’s bad, we haven’t found him yet,” Davis replied, then hesitated. “You should leave, Miss Luo Yan. This Devil’s minion is at least ‘Calamity’ level…”

If it were the previous Miss Luo Yan, she might have asked for help.

But now…

Although many ability users’ strength wasn’t affected by physical frailty, seeing Luo Yan’s weakened state, Davis couldn’t bring herself to ask.

“‘Calamity’ level?”

Luo Yan frowned slightly. She sensed something stronger.

…Did the Apprehension Department have a different definition of disaster levels?

“Perhaps… we should… reschedule…”

Anna tugged on Luo Yan’s clothes and whispered.

She was disappointed, but there was nothing they could do.

Luo Yan didn’t answer Anna, instead looking up at the sky.

Dark clouds churned, lightning flickering within them.

“It seems… a storm is coming…”

Luo Yan whispered, the humid air thick enough to form a thin layer of mist on her wheelchair.

“Miss Luo Yan, are you alright?”

Davis asked softly, concerned about her condition.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Luo Yan nodded. “Where is it?”

“Huh? Where is what?”

Davis was confused, and Anna also looked puzzled.

“The Devil’s minion, his approximate location,” Luo Yan said softly. “Tell me, I’ll deal with it.”

“But your body…”

Davis hesitated.

“I can’t disappoint Anna. She brought me out for a special day,” Luo Yan said, a faint smile appearing on her lips. “She’s happy, and happiness is a good thing. I want her to stay happy.”

“Lady Luo Yan…”

Hearing this, Anna’s heart fluttered.

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 43 – Remnants of a Bygone Era

Dawn had nine Misters.

Of the nine, only one remained.

This was common knowledge.

But few knew that these nine Misters were all “Demonically Infected,” possessing incredibly powerful demonic abilities.

And these demonic abilities brought not only power, but also… an unknown terror.

A terror more horrifying than death…

None of the eight deceased Misters had died of natural causes.

Some fell under the demon’s control, becoming Devil’s Apostles and being slain by humanity at great cost. Others, unable to bear the torment of their demonic powers, chose to end their own lives. Still others, losing control completely, were exiled to the Endless Wasteland…

The few Misters whose bodies remained were sealed in “Ice Coffins,” preserved in Dawn’s only mega-city, “Dawn City.”

But then, “Dawn City” was struck by an unimaginable cataclysm.

Thanks to Nine’s foresight, most of Dawn’s members evacuated before the disaster, but several “Ice Coffins” were lost.

Among them were the remains of the most respected, the “Eldest Mister.”

Some of the lost “Ice Coffins” found their way to various mega-cities, falling into the hands of the Free Federation, who then developed the “Ice Coffin Weapon.”

—This was why Dawn hated the “Ice Coffin Weapons” so much.

Because among the bodies used as weapons by the Free Federation were their brothers and sisters, their parents and ancestors.

For years, Dawn had been searching for the lost “Ice Coffins,” especially the Eldest Mister’s remains, but to no avail.

Of course, Dawn kept this matter secret, known only to a few high-ranking Cadres.

Alyxsia and Grifres hadn’t expected to find the Eldest Mister’s “Ice Coffin” in Yan City…

“Mister, why didn’t you tell us about this?” Alyxsia asked gravely.

Grifres also looked at Mister questioningly.

“Why…?”

Mister murmured, his mind drifting back to a few days ago.

Unable to suppress his longing, he had risked visiting the “Wall of Resentment,” to see his sister one last time.

—The risk wasn’t being discovered by Yan City, but by his children.

He hadn’t visited the Wall since arriving in Yan City, afraid that Grifres and Alyxsia would discover the Eldest Mister’s remains.

He wanted his sister to rest in Yan City, her unfulfilled wish, the hometown she had never returned to.

If Grifres and Alyxsia knew, they would try to retrieve her remains and bring them back to Dawn, going against his wishes.

But they had found out anyway.

“If Alyxsia hadn’t planted a tracking device in your clothes, we wouldn’t have known…” Grifres said gravely.

“We approached Yan City’s ‘Wall of Resentment’ and detected the Eldest Mister’s ‘Ice Coffin’ signal.”

Alyxsia held out an ice crystal ring, a key to the “Ice Coffin,” also capable of sensing its aura.

Of course, it wasn’t the original, but a replica created by Dawn to search for the Eldest Mister’s remains.

“The ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’ Yan City used during the ‘Ghost Town’ incident… was the Eldest Mister, wasn’t it?” Grifres continued, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger. “The Eldest Mister, who should be resting peacefully… used as a weapon!”

Frick had recognized her using “Noah’s” database.

But within Dawn, due to Mister’s deliberate secrecy, the Cadres didn’t know much about their Eldest Mister’s abilities.

Mister remained silent, but his silence was also an answer.

He knew his sister wouldn’t mind.

And neither did he.

If, after his death, he could still save others, what did it matter if he was used as a weapon?

Weren’t the Free Federation’s “Slumberers” also weapons?

Humanity’s survival in the New Era, the continuation of their flickering flame, was due to these sacrifices…

Of course, the “Ice Coffin Weapon” wouldn’t be used outside of disaster events; this was the agreement between Mister and the Twelve Saints.

Or rather, a compromise.

But Mister couldn’t say this.

Because the children wouldn’t understand.

The current generation of Dawn and the Free Federation hadn’t experienced the horrors of the transition between the Old and New Eras.

They saw the world differently.

“Now, this old man… seems out of place…”

…Dawn was becoming less and less like a family, and humanity seemed to have lost its unity.

Mister knew he couldn’t change the children’s minds; he could no longer guide them.

This world was becoming increasingly unfamiliar, everything changing.

In this rapidly changing New Era, only he, this “Mister,” remained stuck in the past.

He was a remnant of a bygone era, unable to board the ship of the new age.

“Do what you must,” Mister whispered, his head bowed slightly.

“Mister…”

Alyxsia wanted to say something, but Grifres stopped her.

“Grifres?”

Alyxsia frowned. She wanted to ask more about the Eldest Mister’s remains.

But Grifres knew Mister wouldn’t answer.

He now understood why Mister had chosen to spend his final days in this obscure, newly established mega-city.

But he couldn’t understand why.

“We will retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains,” Grifres said gravely, each word deliberate. “This is the shared wish of all Dawn’s brothers and sisters.”

…But not Sister’s wish, not our wish.

Mister didn’t speak further. He stood up shakily.

Under the watchful gazes of Grifres and Alyxsia, he walked unsteadily to the window and looked out at the bustling city, lost in thought.

How long had it been since he had seen such a prosperous scene?

He couldn’t remember…

For some reason, he recalled the silver-haired girl he had met a few days ago.

Her image kept appearing in his mind, her face obscured.

He had never clearly seen Luo Yan’s face.

He had been drawn to the “aura of Envy” in Spring Breeze Pavilion, and when he slowly opened the door to the VIP room…

He had seen a serene, silver-haired figure sitting quietly on the sofa.

Pure, clean, untainted.

…As if she didn’t belong to this world.

Like… the figure he had been searching for for a thousand years, yet could never reach.

That’s why he had told the silver-haired girl that she reminded him of an old friend.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t.

Mister’s senses were never wrong; she wasn’t the one he was looking for.

However, perhaps because they were both “Demonically Infected,” she had left a strangely deep impression on him.

“Perhaps it’s fate… I’ll go see her one last time before I go.”

Seeing that Mister was no longer paying attention to them, Grifres and Alyxsia exchanged glances and quietly left the room.

Now that they had informed Mister, it was time to act.

And it wasn’t just Grifres and Alyxsia who were planning to act. More Dawn Cadres, upon receiving the news, were converging on Yan City.

To retrieve the Eldest Mister’s remains… even if it meant open war with Yan City, or even the Free Federation, Dawn would spare no cost.

…

Yan City was in turmoil, hidden currents swirling beneath the surface.

A storm was brewing, about to erupt.

But this seemed to have little to do with Luo Yan.

Or rather, it was related, both directly and indirectly, but for now, she was out of the game.

After suppressing the stirrings of “Death,” Luo Yan wheeled herself out of the fitting room.

Anna was waiting expectantly in the main room, while Hua Qiling frowned, lost in thought.

“Lady Luo Yan, let me help you!”

Seeing Luo Yan emerge, Anna rushed over and took the handles of the wheelchair.

“Thank you,” Luo Yan whispered, then noticed Hua Qiling’s unusual demeanor. “Hua Qiling, what’s wrong?”

Hua Qiling snapped back to reality and shook her head.

“Nothing, I just felt… unwell for a moment… a familiar feeling, but I don’t know why.”

“Eh, I also felt something strange just now,” Anna said. “Like a sudden chill.”

It seemed they had been slightly affected by the stirrings of “Death.”

But even Anna seemed fine, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

Luo Yan nodded thoughtfully, but a hint of worry appeared on her face.

Although the effect was minor, it was a bad omen.

If this continued, losing control was only a matter of time.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing,” Anna said confidently. “With you two here, and the other powerful people from the Disaster Response Department, what could possibly go wrong?”

The one who could cause problems is right here…

But Anna’s words weren’t entirely unreasonable. In her mind, the strongest people in Yan City were all here.

Even a terrifying Devil’s minion could be defeated.

But Luo Yan knew that an even greater threat loomed.

Even the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment, which she had defeated several times, still cast a shadow over Yan City.

And there were other, more troublesome matters…

Luo Yan knew this was far from over.

“Lady Luo Yan needs to relax today, no more frowning!” Anna said, puffing out her cheeks at Luo Yan’s serious expression.

“Smile, be happy, Lady Luo Yan! Girls look more beautiful when they smile!”

“Smile…” A shadow of sadness flickered across Luo Yan’s face, then she smiled faintly. “Yes, I know how to smile.”

The rare smile captivated Anna.

“Hee hee, Lady Luo Yan looks best when she smiles…”

Anna wiped a bit of drool from her lip and pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair.

“Let’s go! You’re finally taking a break, Lady Luo Yan can’t be unhappy!”

She excitedly wheeled Luo Yan out of the shop, locked the door, and was about to leave.

But then, Anna felt like she had forgotten something.

But what could she possibly have forgotten, besides the shop?

And no matter how important it was, it had to wait. Today was all about spending time with Lady Luo Yan!

Anna’s request for “A Day with Lady Luo Yan” wasn’t entirely selfish.

Luo Yan had been visiting the shop occasionally, and Anna often saw her.

But every time, Lady Luo Yan’s expression was serious, and when alone, she would look heartbroken.

And then, Lady Luo Yan had been seriously injured during the Flower Street incident.

While unconscious, she had constantly frowned, her lost and sorrowful expression heartbreaking to see.

So, Anna had decided to make Lady Luo Yan truly happy, even if only for a single day.

With this thought, Anna excitedly pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair and left the shop.

…However, what Anna had forgotten wasn’t a thing.

It was a person.

Hua Qiling stared resentfully at the empty shop and the locked door.

She had only been dazed for a moment, and Anna had already wheeled Luo Yan out, locked the door, and left.

“Completely forgotten…”

Hua Qiling chuckled wryly, but she didn’t chase after them. She hadn’t planned on joining them today anyway.

Even Anna, who only saw her occasionally, could tell that something was wrong with Luo Yan. How could Hua Qiling not know?

But neither she, nor her position, could help Luo Yan.

And there was another reason why she hadn’t planned on joining them.

Hua Qiling looked down at her communicator, her expression turning serious.

“The repercussions of the ‘Ghost Town’ and ‘Flower Street’ incidents… are far greater than we imagined…”

A report from Li Ping was displayed on the communicator.

Since the “Ghost Town” incident, there had been over a dozen demon-related disaster events, both large and small.

And not just Red Butterfly’s doing.

There were now many Devil’s minions in Yan City, drawn by the aura of the “Witch of Envy,” just like Red Butterfly.

“This is troublesome…”

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 42 – A New… Target?

“If that’s the case… it seems… not bad at all.” Frick’s eyes narrowed. “Unexpectedly, besides ‘Mister’ and the ‘Ice Coffin Weapon,’ there’s another Demonically Infected…”

Frick’s strength depended entirely on the abilities he plundered.

And in the New Era, the most powerful abilities were those of the Primordial Demons.

Frick had reached a bottleneck, his strength at “Peril” level, unable to advance further.

Although Yan City officially had only two “Peril” level ability users, there were others.

But usually, his relationship with Yan City was more of a cooperative one.

He wouldn’t participate in disaster events like Ghost Town, which posed a threat even to “Peril” level ability users.

In terms of raw power, Frick was on par with Hua Qingling.

But the biggest problem was… Hua Qingling was far from reaching her limit, while Frick had reached his.

To advance further, he needed to acquire stronger abilities.

So, he set his sights on “Demonic Powers.”

But ordinary demonic powers weren’t something humans could handle. They either came from Demonically Infected individuals or from slain demons—meaning the residual consciousness within the power had been completely erased.

The former was almost entirely safe, the side effects negligible for Frick, who only stored the power in his finger.

But Demonically Infected individuals were incredibly rare.

Even in “Noah’s” records, there had been less than a thousand in the past millennium.

The latter was much easier. Although slain Devil’s minions, who possessed a portion of demonic power, were also rare, one or two would appear every few years.

The problem was that this kind of demonic power carried a certain risk.

If it came into contact with a Primordial Demon’s will fragment, the power might be revoked, or even backfire.

Frick had absorbed Red Butterfly’s remains out of desperation.

And now… a rare Demonically Infected individual seemed to have appeared in Yan City, practically within reach.

“The incident report!”

Frick immediately stood up, intending to go to the Disaster Response Department’s archives.

The report on the Flower Street incident would definitely be there!

He hadn’t paid attention to the Flower Street incident at the time, having been distracted by the Dawn Cadre’s diversion.

Therefore, he knew nothing about the disaster he was supposed to be in charge of.

But just then, a tall, burly figure silently appeared at the doorway.

As Frick opened the door, the figure was about to knock.

“Oh, what a coincidence, Director Frick.”

“…What is it?” Frick looked at the figure, searching his memory before recalling the name. “Qin Wen.”

Indeed, it was Qin Wen.

Although Frick wasn’t short, at about 1.8 meters, being suddenly confronted by a nearly 1.9-meter-tall figure was still startling.

And with Qin Wen’s ability to mask her aura, Frick hadn’t even noticed her approach.

“Oh, the other teams asked me to deliver this file to you. Please take a look.”

As a newcomer to the Apprehension Department, even as a team leader, Qin Wen was still given errands.

Frick took the file, pretending to be calm, and flipped through it. It was just an ordinary patrol report, so he casually tucked it into his pocket and nodded.

“Yes, I’ve received it.”

He then tried to leave quickly.

But Qin Wen didn’t move. Completely oblivious to social cues, she simply thought Frick seemed to be in a hurry and asked curiously,

“Director Frick, what’s the rush?”

What’s the big hurry?

“…”

Frick realized his behavior was unusual, but he couldn’t just brush Qin Wen aside.

She was Li Ping’s protégé… and also a Sword Saint successor, a special status.

He couldn’t just make up an excuse; she might tell Li Ping.

And if Li Ping learned he had lied, he would become suspicious.

The Disaster Response Department archives were under his jurisdiction; a simple check would reveal the truth.

Therefore…

“I was in charge of the Flower Street incident, but I was… preoccupied with other matters at the time and couldn’t handle it properly,” Frick said calmly. “So, even though it’s a bit late, I have to understand the details of the incident.”

“I see, you’re going to check the archives?” Qin Wen asked.

Frick nodded. “Indeed.”

So can you please stop asking questions? Can’t you read the room?

“Actually, there’s no need to check, you won’t find anything,” Qin Wen blinked. “The report on the Flower Street incident hasn’t been filed yet.”

In front of outsiders, Qin Wen liked to use formal language, as if to maintain the image of a traditional Sword Saint successor…

Even though she was a simpleton.

“Oh? How do you know?”

Frick’s heart sank, and he frowned slightly.

Had Li Ping discovered something and hidden it?

This wasn’t good…

“Because I’m the one writing the report on the Flower Street incident,” Qin Wen said. “It was a rare experience, and I intend to treat it seriously, so I haven’t finished polishing it yet.”

“…What do you mean?”

Frick was confused.

“I haven’t finished writing it yet, I’m stuck,” Qin Wen shrugged.

“…Wait, why are you writing it?”

Frick felt a headache coming on, especially since he was standing in the doorway, having to look up at Qin Wen.

“Because I’m the one who resolved it,” Qin Wen said, looking puzzled. “You’re the one who sent me there.”

Frick finally remembered.

The two young ladies Li Ping had assigned…

He hadn’t taken them seriously, and even after learning about the incident on Flower Street, he had prioritized the Dawn investigation.

And Frick, having grown up in a Western mega-city, wasn’t good at differentiating Eastern faces.

He had only just remembered Qin Wen’s name, and that was only because of her unusual height.

But now that she mentioned it, he recalled that there was another girl with her, a beautiful but blind young lady.

“I remember, besides you, there was another…”

Could it be that these two had actually killed the Devil’s minion?

A cold glint flashed in Frick’s eyes.

If that was the case, the mysterious Demonically Infected must be one of them.

“Are you talking about Miss Luo Yan? She was unwell, so I sent her away earlier,” Qin Wen quickly recited her prepared excuse, the same one she had written in the report. “The culprit behind the Flower Street incident was the Devil’s minion I’ve been hunting for months in the Endless Wasteland.”

This was the official story. The two unlucky Apprehension Department members didn’t know the truth, and the only one who might have known, the bodyguard leader, was still unconscious after escaping with his severed arms.

As for Young Master Liu… well, it was best not to mention him; it was too gruesome.

Qin Wen, of course, couldn’t reveal the truth, not even in the report.

Even though she was simple-minded, she knew about Miss Luo Yan’s sensitive status.

Not everyone would accept a “Demonically Infected” individual; most would simply assume she was a Devil’s minion.

Just like she had initially.

“So, you killed the Devil’s minion?”

Frick narrowed his eyes, masking his surprise.

Based on his previous deduction, it was likely the Demonically Infected who had killed the minion.

Could this Sword Saint successor…

“Yes,” Qin Wen nodded. “It was a difficult battle, but I ultimately triumphed.”

“…Impressive.”

Frick nodded, hiding his emotions.

But inwardly, he was ecstatic.

The Demonically Infected he had been searching for was right here!

But Frick didn’t act immediately, even though Qin Wen was no match for him.

First, although he was almost certain, he wasn’t entirely sure yet.

Besides Qin Wen, there was also the blind young lady, “Luo Yan.”

She could also be the Demonically Infected. He couldn’t alert them.

And second, this was the Anomaly Management Bureau…

Too many people, not a good place to strike.

So, Frick suppressed his excitement and calmed himself.

Afraid of revealing his intentions, he lowered his head slightly and said,

“I look forward to reading your report, Miss Qin Wen. I’m very interested in this matter and would like to learn more.”

He couldn’t continue this conversation; he was afraid he would lose control.

Qin Wen found it strange that he didn’t ask her directly, instead wanting to read her report.

Well, it didn’t matter. What wasn’t in the report, she wouldn’t say anyway.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

Qin Wen bowed to Frick.

Frick returned the gesture.

“Safe travels, Miss Qin Wen.”

He turned and walked back into his office, closing the door behind him.

Qin Wen didn’t leave immediately, looking thoughtfully at the closed door, watching the figure inside walk to the desk and sit down.

“Strange… why is there a familiar, strange smell coming from Director Frick…?” Qin Wen touched her chin, sniffing the air. “I don’t think it was there last time…”

“It’s like… a demon, but not quite? Different from Miss Luo Yan… Never mind, I don’t want to think about such troublesome things.”

“I think Miss Luo Yan should be waking up soon… I’ve been too busy with my new job to visit her… I’ll go to the hospital now that I have some free time!”

Unfortunately, Qin Wen was destined to be disappointed.

…

Faint whispers echoed.

Fleeting images flashed before his eyes, like a revolving lantern.

Mister opened his clouded eyes.

He was alone.

Ling Qi had been sent away from Yan City, which had become too dangerous.

And Mister knew that more trouble was brewing.

With Ling Qi’s strength, she wouldn’t be able to protect herself in this coming storm.

Grifres was still recovering. The aftereffects of the Forbidden Technique were severe; he hadn’t yet regained his full strength.

—Qin Wen’s aftereffects had been mostly absorbed by her twelve swords, leaving her only temporarily weakened.

Probably no other human, not even her master, could achieve this.

This was the power of the “Seven Apertures Sword Heart,” her “Magnetism Control” ability.

Alyxsia was preparing for the coming battles. The previous fights had severely depleted her mechanical army.

Her strength was directly proportional to her army’s size, capable of rivaling a small mega-city at its peak.

At its weakest, she could hold her own against a strong “Ruin” level ability user.

“The children are all busy, only this old, decrepit man… is left behind…”

Just like in Dawn, Mister could no longer guide the children he had watched grow up.

…Dawn was becoming less and less like a family.

The children had grown up; they had their own thoughts, their own plans.

“Now, it seems there’s nothing I can do for them…”

Mister stood up shakily, walked to the window, and looked out at the bustling city, lost in thought.

For some reason, he recalled the little girl he had met a few days ago.

Unable to suppress his longing, he had finally decided to risk visiting the “Wall of Resentment,” to see his sister one last time.

—The risk wasn’t being discovered by Yan City, but by his children.

Since arriving in Yan City, Mister hadn’t visited the “Wall of Resentment,” afraid that Grifres and Alyxsia would discover that the “Eldest Mister’s” remains were here.

He wanted his sister to rest peacefully in Yan City.

Because this was her unfulfilled wish, the hometown she had never returned to.

If Grifres and Alyxsia found out, they would undoubtedly try to retrieve her remains and bring them back to Dawn, which would go against Mister’s wishes.

He knew he couldn’t change their minds.

Therefore, he had remained silent, burying the true reason for choosing Yan City as his final resting place deep within his heart.

However…

That silver-haired little girl.

Her image kept appearing in his mind, her face obscured.

Indeed, Mister had never clearly seen Luo Yan’s face.

He had been drawn to the “aura of Envy” in Spring Breeze Pavilion.

But when he reached the VIP room and slowly opened the door…

The first thing he saw was a serene, silver-haired figure, sitting quietly on the sofa.

Pure, clean, untainted.

…As if she didn’t belong to this world…

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 41 – Resonance

A few days later, Flower Street.

After a period of recovery, Hua Qiling was finally discharged from the hospital.

Luo Yan, who hadn’t been seriously injured, was simply exhausted, and with her deteriorating condition, staying in the hospital was pointless, so she was also discharged.

However, Luo Yan could no longer walk freely. Even a short distance required rest, so she now used a wheelchair.

Of course, despite her physical weakness, her combat strength remained formidable.

With the “Overlimit” sniper rifle, she was a threat even to “Ruin” level ability users.

And with her eyes open, she was even more terrifying. Luo Yan estimated that she could now rival Grifres, whom she had encountered in Ghost Town.

Even Grifres, a mind-related ability specialist, wouldn’t just be momentarily dazed if he met her gaze now.

However, all of this meant that Luo Yan was nearing the end of her life.

Hua Qiling pushed Luo Yan’s wheelchair down Flower Street, heading towards the Flower Shop to fulfill Luo Yan’s promise to Anna.

They both used their life hacks to avoid unwanted attention.

Although there had been several incidents on Flower Street recently, everything seemed to have returned to normal.

The crowds were as bustling as ever, the shops still open, as if nothing had happened.

The only difference was that the “Gold-Melting Kiln” had been shut down, seemingly due to the strong objections of a certain Young Master Liu, who had even complained to the City Lord.

Luo Yan now knew that the foolish young man she had knocked unconscious was Young Master Liu, and she wondered if she had been too rough, leaving him traumatized.

…He was traumatized, although the nature of his trauma was… debatable.

“Qin Wen seems very busy lately,” Luo Yan said. “I haven’t seen her since I woke up.”

“Oh, she was recruited by the Apprehension Department, to handle the aftermath of the Flower Street incident,” Hua Qiling scratched her head, puzzled. “It was the old man’s arrangement. Why the Apprehension Department? These old people’s thoughts are truly unfathomable…”

“The Apprehension Department…”

The two “Ruin” level ability users from the Apprehension Department had left a lasting impression on Luo Yan, mainly because they had been so weak and utterly useless.

Luo Yan didn’t suspect that Director Frick was behind it; she simply wondered if all “Ruin” level ability users in the Apprehension Department were that weak.

“Never mind, never mind, let’s not talk about depressing things. If Qin Wen is busy, then let her be busy. We’re going to see little Anna!”

Hua Qiling’s steps quickened.

Spending time alone with Miss Luo Yan was quite nice.

Being around her always brought a sense of peace… perhaps that was Miss Luo Yan’s charm.

“Mm,” Luo Yan nodded slightly.

“Speaking of which, although everyone is busy, because their work is halfway done, I can’t really interfere, so I actually have some free time,” Hua Qiling leaned on the handle of Luo Yan’s wheelchair, strolling leisurely and observing the crowd.

“Yan City seems unchanged, as if it will always be like this, but so much has happened recently, I doubt there will be another chance for such peace and quiet.”

“…Perhaps.”

Luo Yan looked up slightly, her eyes flickering open.

But she quickly closed them again, just in case.

After the Flower Street incident, whether because they were too busy or had simply given up on their vigilance, Yan City had relaxed its surveillance of Luo Yan, only maintaining the basic Calamity Infected monitoring procedures.

Of course, there was another, more important reason.

Luo Yan only had less than three months left to live. The hospital had confirmed this through their examination.

In three months, the demonic power’s erosion would reach its limit, and her body would collapse.

What would happen to Luo Yan then, whether she would die peacefully or lose control and become a disaster, no one knew.

Treatment was futile, merely a comfort offered out of humanitarian concern.

Yan City hadn’t told Luo Yan this news, not even Hua Qiling or Qin Wen knew, but Luo Yan herself had already sensed it.

But what could she do?

She would do her best and accept whatever came…

If all else failed, slumbering in an “Ice Coffin” seemed like a decent option.

“We’re almost at the Flower Shop, Luo Yan,” Hua Qiling interrupted her thoughts.

“Mm.”

Luo Yan snapped back to reality, pushing aside her complex emotions.

At least, she would cherish the present.

It was the agreed-upon day, and Anna was ready. Seeing Hua Qiling pushing Luo Yan towards the shop, she rushed out to greet them.

“Second Sister Hua! Lady Luo Yan!”

“Wow, you even dressed up,” Hua Qiling said, surprised.

Although Anna was a tailor, she usually wore simple dresses made of ordinary fabric.

But today, she was wearing a floral dress and a white shirt, looking like a student from the intermediate academy.

Well, Anna was around the same age as an intermediate academy student; she just didn’t want to go to school.

“Hee hee, of course!” Anna puffed out her chest. “This is a rare opportunity to go out with Lady Luo Yan! I can’t just dress casually! Although no matter what I wear, I can’t compare to Lady Luo Yan…”

“You never dress up like this when you go out with me,” Hua Qiling grumbled.

“That’s because Second Sister Hua never cares about her appearance!” Anna retorted, tilting her head up. “I always dress up when I go out with Big Sister Hua! She even picks out my clothes for me!”

“…”

Hua Qiling was speechless. She couldn’t argue with that.

“Alright, let’s not waste any time. Lady Luo Yan, come with me, I’ll change you into a beautiful outfit!”

Anna took the handle of Luo Yan’s wheelchair and excitedly pushed her towards the shop.

“Ah… sigh…”

Hua Qiling reached out, feeling a sense of helplessness.

Why was she getting used to this feeling…?

…

After pushing Luo Yan into the shop’s living room, Anna went to find the clothes.

When Hua Qiling entered, Anna held out the outfit she had chosen for Luo Yan.

“Eh…”

Seeing the outfit through “Eagle Eye,” Luo Yan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You can make this kind of clothes too?”

It wasn’t surprising, but… too ordinary.

Just a simple white dress, with no extra adornments.

“Does Lady Luo Yan like the previous maid outfit?” Anna blinked. “No problem, I’ll go get the other one…”

“No need, this is fine,” Luo Yan quickly said. Although she didn’t mind, there was no need to dress up so formally just for a casual stroll…

“Okay, I just thought… it would be less conspicuous. Lady Luo Yan attracts too much attention, and I… I don’t like being in the spotlight,” Anna mumbled.

She was a shy, introverted girl. Hua Qiling’s surprised expression when Anna had suddenly left the shop to visit Luo Yan in the hospital was proof of that.

“It’s alright, I have a life hack, it won’t attract too much attention,” Luo Yan said with a faint smile.

“…What?”

Anna, of course, didn’t understand.

“I’ll go change then.”

Luo Yan took the dress from Anna and wheeled herself towards the fitting room.

Inside the fitting room, Luo Yan stood up, supporting herself against the wall.

Feeling her weakened body, she chuckled wryly.

“This… isn’t very convenient…”

However, it wasn’t her legs that were the problem, just her lack of stamina.

Simply standing wasn’t an issue.

After changing out of her simple hospital gown and into the white dress, Luo Yan sat back in the wheelchair, preparing to leave.

But just then, she felt a sudden coldness in her chest.

“Huh?”

The coldness emanated from “Death.”

An aura of death and despair leaked out, and Luo Yan quickly suppressed it.

“What’s… going on…?”

Luo Yan slowly opened her eyes, her pupils now completely crimson, the terrifying black slits trembling slightly.

She looked down and saw the Higanbana tattoo on her chest glowing faintly. The power of “Death” seemed to be activating involuntarily, like a resonance.

If Luo Yan didn’t control it, a “Manjusaka” might bloom right here in the Flower Shop, even spreading to the entire Flower Street.

The casualties would be catastrophic.

Fortunately, the resonance didn’t last long.

Under Luo Yan’s gaze, “Death” gradually dimmed, then fell silent.

Like an ordinary tattoo, it rested quietly on Luo Yan’s pale skin.

Luo Yan closed her eyes again, the brief period with her eyes open leaving her feeling tired, but since she hadn’t used her ability, it was manageable.

“It seems… I have to be even more careful with this power,” Luo Yan took a deep breath, gently touching her chest. “Perhaps I should talk to Mister Li Ping, about the ‘Ice Coffin’…”

She had read some of the Ice Coffin Weapon files and understood the basic principles behind humanity’s most powerful weapon.

Using this technology, she could survive in a dormant state, while also suppressing the uncontrolled demonic power.

But this was a last resort…

“Anyway, let’s go out.”

…

“What… what is this…?”

In the Apprehension Department office, Frick stared at his left index finger in horror. A dark aura was wrapped around it.

Cold, deathly.

Like an abyss that devoured all life.

“Could it be… a Life-type ability? But how is that possible…?”

This was the power of “Envy”!

A power from a Primordial Demon, one of the highest level powers in the New Era.

Only a power of the same level could counter it.

In other words…

“This dark aura… is the power of another ‘Primordial Demon’…”

“It was this power… that killed that lucky little minion who obtained demonic power!”

This was the only possible explanation.

Frick’s expression flickered. He hadn’t expected to be afflicted by this lingering injury while absorbing the power of “Envy.”

Fortunately, the dark aura didn’t last long, quickly fading.

But it wasn’t eradicated. Frick could feel a chilling pain in his finger, a constant threat of its resurgence.

—Unbeknownst to him, at the same moment, Luo Yan had suppressed the resonance of “Death” on Flower Street.

Otherwise, this dark aura would gradually devour his life force.

“What should I do…?”

Frick was panicking. It was like having a time bomb implanted in his body.

Of course, the solution was simple.

Amputate the finger.

But…

“No, I can’t!”

A ruthless glint flashed in Frick’s eyes.

He couldn’t give up the power he had finally obtained.

Frick’s Superpower type ability, “Plunder,” allowed him to temporarily control another person’s ability. Its evolved form allowed him to temporarily gain their ability, and its highest form, to permanently acquire it.

Of course, he could only control the abilities of those a level below him, and the acquired abilities were only about ten percent as effective, and he could only hold five at a time.

But it was still incredibly powerful.

The stronger the ability, the greater the benefit to Frick.

However, the targets he plundered…

Usually met… unpleasant ends.

The reason Frick was so eager to find “Mister” wasn’t just for “Noah.”

He desired “Mister’s” powerful and terrifying unknown ability, rumored to transcend the laws of the world and grant omniscience.

How else could “Mister” have survived from the Old Era until now, guiding Dawn through countless crises?

Unfortunately, he had missed his chance.

He had to resort to absorbing the power from the Devil’s minion’s remains.

And now…

After calming down, Frick realized something else.

—Besides the dying “Mister” and the dormant “Ice Coffin Weapon,” there was likely another Demonically Infected in Yan City!

And this Demonically Infected had killed the Devil’s minion on Flower Street!

Mister Zero, Her Story: Chapter 40 – The Twelve Saints

Since Hua Qiling insisted, Luo Yan started reading.

Soon, she reached the passage Hua Qiling had mentioned, her expression turning serious.

“Whether in historical records or disaster reports from various mega-cities, there has never been any mention of followers of the ‘Witch of Absolute Death,’ not even crude imitations, as if she doesn’t exist.”

“But surprisingly, the ‘Witch of Absolute Death’ is the only Primordial Demon whose physical descent has been recorded… and quite frequently, once every decade or so.”

“However, each descent… only resulted in ‘Ruin’ level disasters, not even reaching ‘Peril’ level… And it seems the ‘Witch of Absolute Death’ is searching for something, a search that has lasted for millennia.”

“—Allow me to interject here: could this be some kind of cliché love story? Like, ‘For you, I’ve become a demon’~”

“Haha, the likelihood of that is practically zero. ‘Primordial Demons’ aren’t fallen beings, but calamities born alongside the ‘Calamity Tide,’ existing as concepts rather than physical entities.”

“Back to the topic, my rather bold hypothesis is that the ‘Witch of Absolute Death’ is the only Primordial Demon who has truly died.”

“Because of her death, there are no ‘Demonic Offerings,’ and therefore, no Death Apostles, because the power of ‘Death’ no longer exists.”

“As for the occasional ‘descents,’ they are likely just lingering remnants of her will, considering their relatively low threat level.”

Luo Yan closed the book after reading the passage.

She scanned it with “Eagle Eye” and “Envy,” confirming that the rest of the book was mostly fiction.

And… a rather poorly written one at that. It was hard to imagine Hua Qiling finding it interesting.

Luo Yan glanced at the author’s name: “Dawnbreaker.”

…A rather unique pen name.

“However, the author’s hypothesis has been disproven,” Hua Qiling added. “Hundreds of years ago, the Witch of Absolute Death suddenly descended again, fully unleashing her domain, the ‘Land of Absolute Death,’ which affected almost all the mega-cities in the western part of the continent. This proves that she isn’t just a lingering will.”

The “Land of Absolute Death” was similar to the blood mist that appeared when the “Witch of Envy’s” will fragment descended, but as a true Primordial Demon, her full power was far greater.

“What happened back then?” Luo Yan asked. “Why did the ‘Witch of Absolute Death’ suddenly go berserk?”

“How would I know?” Hua Qiling shrugged. “Perhaps only ‘Mister’ knows.”

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then leaned back against the pillows and whispered,

“If I have the chance to meet him, I’ll ask.”

The book claimed that the Witch of Absolute Death, because she was dead, had no “Demonic Offerings,” and therefore, no Apostles or minions.

But Luo Yan knew she carried the Witch of Absolute Death’s Demonic Offering—”Death.”

And…

In her dreams during her coma, she seemed to have seen something in the depths of her subconscious.

But she couldn’t remember; the memory had been forcibly erased.

Hearing Luo Yan’s words, Hua Qiling wanted to say that she would never meet him, but she held back.

Countless factions were searching for “Mister,” hoping to find him before he died.

Unfortunately, only Dawn knew his whereabouts.

Not only Luo Yan, but many others wanted to ask “Mister” questions, but his answers were few and far between.

Unless it concerned Dawn or the safety of humanity, he kept the secrets of the Old and New Eras to himself.

“But your taste in novels has become… interesting. I remember you liked reading about sisters… well, never mind.”

Seeing Hua Qiling’s mortified expression, Luo Yan quickly changed the subject. “But I still don’t understand why you find this… novel… interesting.”

Mentioning this, Hua Qiling’s eyes lit up, and she said mysteriously,

“Hee hee, it is interesting! I spent a lot of effort to get this limited edition collector’s item!”

“…That’s it?”

Hearing this exaggerated description, Luo Yan scanned the novel again with “Eagle Eye” and “Envy.”

Yes, she hadn’t been mistaken.

It was still terrible.

“No, no, forget the content, it’s the author, the author!”

Hua Qiling’s eyes burned with the flames of gossip, its intensity even palpable to Luo Yan.

“You mean… ‘Dawnbreaker’?”

Luo Yan asked hesitantly.

“Yes! It’s ‘Illusion’!” Hua Qiling almost jumped out of bed. “This is Lady ‘Illusion’s’ work from her younger days!”

“…?”

A question mark slowly appeared above Luo Yan’s head.

If I remember correctly… I was talking about ‘Dawnbreaker’…

“Oh right, I almost forgot, you’ve been isolated from the world, you haven’t heard of Lady ‘Illusion’s’ great name,” Hua Qiling’s excitement subsided slightly, replaced by reverence.

“Lady ‘Illusion’ is one of the Twelve Saints of ‘Noah,’ ranked fourth. Her Saint name is ‘Illusion.’

“She is currently the strongest woman alive. She participated in the war against the ‘Witch of Absolute Death,’ and it was she who personally sealed her away!”

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then said, “I’ve heard of ‘Noah’ many times in Yan City, seen it in the records, but it seems you don’t have a good relationship with them… why would you admire one of their Twelve Saints?”

“Those are two different things. Like I said, ‘Noah’ is a city with strong religious beliefs, or rather, a city of fanatics, but they don’t worship gods, but the Saint who founded ‘Noah,’ and the original Twelve Saints who followed him,” Hua Qiling explained.

“The Saint and the Twelve Saints lit the first bonfire for humanity in the Endless Wasteland. They are great heroes who ensured humanity’s survival. It’s like Dawn. Many people in the Free Federation hate ‘Dawn,’ but no one denies the Misters’ contributions.”

“Was the Saint very powerful? Compared to Dawn’s ‘Mister,’ how would they rank?”

Luo Yan asked curiously. She didn’t know much about high-level combatants, so she could only use “Mister” as a benchmark.

“That’s… hard to say,” Hua Qiling said with a troubled expression. “Yan City is far from ‘Noah,’ and the available records are ancient.

“Just know that Lady ‘Illusion’ is incredibly, incredibly, incredibly great, and incredibly powerful!”

Hua Qiling puffed out her chest, a smug look on her face.

“So this book is basically her dark past. It’s said that her close friends love to read it aloud to her… A Saint’s embarrassing past, haha, it’s really funny!”

Gossip was human nature, and the author of this book was one of the Twelve Saints of “Noah,” an incredibly influential figure.

And besides the relatively serious historical content, this novel was full of gossip-worthy material, which Hua Qiling, a master of this art, had thoroughly researched.

A poorly written novel was boring, but if it was written by someone of high status…

Well, it was a bit interesting.

Luo Yan suddenly understood.

“By the way, there’s also this…”

Luo Yan pulled out a thin file from the stack of books. It was protected by some kind of power, preventing “Eagle Eye” from seeing its contents. The title read:

—Top Secret – File Number “F-03” Ice Coffin Weapon Containment Data

“I can’t read this, I don’t have access,” Hua Qiling pouted. “Only your aura can unlock it, so I don’t know what’s inside.”

“Is it that important?”

Luo Yan blinked, surprised that even someone like Hua Qiling wasn’t authorized.

“It can’t be helped. Ice Coffin Weapons are dangerous, especially for those of us who might come into direct contact with them. We’re forbidden from knowing these things,” Hua Qiling explained, her expression turning serious.

“There was an incident before, an ability user who knew about Ice Coffin Weapons was tasked with retrieving one after its use. But he couldn’t resist the temptation, made unauthorized contact, and caused a disaster. District Eight was destroyed.

“Therefore, the more likely you are to encounter an Ice Coffin Weapon, the less likely you are to be granted access to this information. Someone like you, with almost no chance of encountering one, has an easier time accessing it.”

“I see.”

Luo Yan nodded, then put the file back.

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

Hua Qiling asked, surprised.

“I’ll read it later, because I’m afraid you’ll peek,” Luo Yan said calmly.

“Ahem… just a little peek wouldn’t hurt…”

Hua Qiling looked away guiltily.

“If it’s so dangerous, it’s better to be careful,” Luo Yan sighed, the image of the bandaged girl vivid in her mind. “‘Ice Coffin Weapons’ are truly terrifying. I don’t want you to be harmed.”

“…Miss Luo Yan, are you… concerned about me?”

Hua Qiling blinked, a delighted expression on her face.

“I suppose.”

Luo Yan’s tone remained indifferent.

Just then, a rapid knock came from the door, and before Luo Yan and Hua Qiling could see who it was, a small figure burst in.

“Lady Luo Yan!”

No need to hear the voice; the address alone revealed the visitor’s identity.

“Anna?” Luo Yan was unfazed, but Hua Qiling was surprised. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the shop?”

“Second Sister Hua, how can you say that? Knowing that Lady Luo Yan was hurt, how could I possibly stay at the shop?!”

Anna said, then excitedly held out a brand new (combat) maid outfit. “Ta-da! New clothes for Lady Luo Yan!”

“Eh?” Luo Yan paused. “Why new clothes? This one is still…”

She suddenly remembered.

She had been wearing the combat maid dress during the battle at Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Unfortunately, the blood mist had almost destroyed it. If it weren’t for her undergarments carrying her strong aura, which the mist couldn’t erode, she would have been exposed.

Anna had visited her during her coma and learned that the dress was ruined.

So, she had taken Hua Qingling’s design and, using even more precious materials, created an identical, but more durable, maid outfit.

…Although Luo Yan didn’t see the point.

Against attacks like the blood mist, even precious materials, let alone a sniper rifle, offered little protection.

However, seeing Anna’s kind intentions and expectant expression, Luo Yan couldn’t refuse and nodded.

“Thank you, Miss Anna.”

“Hee hee, you’re welcome,” Anna beamed, practically vibrating with excitement. “But this isn’t free!”

“How much?” Luo Yan asked. “If it’s a lot, I might need to save up.”

Since Anna even charged Hua Qingling, Luo Yan was prepared to pay.

But she didn’t have much money. Perhaps she should ask Mister Li Ping for a job?

“No, no, Anna doesn’t want money!” Anna shook her head vigorously. “Anna wants something much more precious!”

“Could it be Miss Luo Yan’s panties?”

Hua Qiling popped up from behind the books, interjecting casually.

“Is that… more precious than money…?”

Luo Yan pondered seriously.

“Of course not! Although that would be nice too… (muttering) But!” Anna pointed at Luo Yan. “I want you, Lady Luo Yan!”

“Huh?” Hua Qiling immediately became alert. “Anna, what are you planning?”

“Want… me?”

Luo Yan pointed at herself, confused.

“I want a day with Lady Luo Yan!” Anna said, holding up a finger. “For one day, Lady Luo Yan will belong entirely to Anna!

“Shopping with Anna, eating with Anna, trying on pretty dresses with Anna… that’s what I want!”

Luo Yan pondered for a moment, then asked,

“So you just want to spend a day with me?”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Anna nodded vigorously.

“That’s no problem, but is that really more precious than money…?”

“Yes!”

This time, not only Anna, but also Hua Qiling, answered in unison.