Chapter 7: The Clock Tower’s Alarm
In the labyrinthine, old alleyways at the edge of Vikarn Port, Xu Bai and Sasha stared at each other.
“Little Sister Bai, you really are cute,” Sasha couldn’t help but exclaim again.
“Me? Cute?” Xu Bai twitched her lips, looking down at herself. She was still the same small size as she had been for the past year. “This… I don’t seem to have changed back?”
Her voice was also the same. Could the rune have failed? Or was Sasha just teasing her?
“You’ve changed back, but you’re still cute.” Sasha pulled a small, cracked mirror from her waist and handed it to Xu Bai. “Here, see for yourself.”
Xu Bai took the mirror hesitantly and looked at her reflection.
Staring back at her wasn’t the striking silver-haired girl, but a little girl with short black hair and black eyes.
Looking closer, aside from these features, her face was almost identical to her silver-haired form, but without the breathtaking, almost dangerous beauty. Instead, she looked like a cute girl next door.
Xu Bai: “…”
Wait, I don’t remember looking like this before…
Sasha’s gaze was still sparkling, fixed on Xu Bai.
This was completely inexplicable…
After a long silence, Xu Bai sighed heavily, trying to console herself.
“Well, it’s been like this for a while now. At least I don’t have to hide anymore, constantly worried about others seeing my strange appearance.”
“Alright, alright, Little Sister Bai,” Sasha looked up at the setting sun. “It’s getting late. Let me take you to find a place to stay—by the way, you haven’t been to Vikarn Port before, have you? You seem a bit lost, like you don’t recognize anything.”
After all their interactions, dusk had almost arrived.
Vikarn Port had a curfew; no one was allowed outside after sunset.
“…No, I’ve been here before, but it was a long time ago. Vikarn Port has changed a lot,” Xu Bai said, regaining her composure. “As for a place to stay, I can return to my old residence. I won’t trouble Miss Sasha.”
“Oh…” Sasha’s disappointment was evident. She had been fantasizing about helping Little Sister Bai bathe and dress…
After all, such a cute and well-behaved little girl was a rare sight!
“Thank you again, Miss Sasha. Although I can’t help you with anything now, if there’s anything I can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask. Within my capabilities, I won’t refuse.”
Xu Bai bowed sincerely once more.
Sasha suddenly found the little girl’s serious demeanor even more adorable and couldn’t help but giggle, making Xu Bai stare blankly.
“What… what are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” Sasha waved her hand, trying to control her expression.
Just then, urgent alarms blared from all directions, echoing throughout Vikarn Port.
The Clock Tower, the highest point in Vikarn Port, flashed a dazzling red light, the clamorous sounds overlapping.
“What’s going on?” Xu Bai frowned slightly. She didn’t recall anything like this ever happening in Vikarn Port.
“I don’t know. This is my first time encountering this too. Hold on, Little Sister Bai, let me check…”
Sasha pulled out a small booklet from her waist and flipped through it. “Mmm… it seems to be the highest level alert, similar to a demon invasion.”
“Demon invasion? Hasn’t the war ended?” Xu Bai’s face darkened. “Moreover, Vikarn Port is located on the coast. There’s no direct connection to the Abyssal Demon Realm, and it wouldn’t be the primary target of a demon invasion.”
“…You seem to know a lot?” Sasha looked up curiously.
“I’ve heard some things,” Xu Bai avoided her gaze.
“It’s just similar, not necessarily a demon invasion,” Sasha said, then noticed a patrol of City Guards passing by and walked towards them. “I’ll go ask.”
Xu Bai wanted to point out that Sasha had just been chased all over the city by the City Guard, but seeing her nonchalant attitude, she held back.
The City Guards, seeing Sasha approach, nervously raised their weapons and pointed them at her. “Who are you! What do you want!”
Sasha raised her hands, indicating she meant no harm, and asked, “I just wanted to ask what happened in the city?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Don’t worry,” the City Guard captain replied, then frowned at Sasha. “Who are you? You look familiar…”
“I’m Sasha.”
Sasha stated simply, a faint smile gracing her lips.
No further introduction was needed. There was only one “Sasha” in Vikarn Port.
It wasn’t surprising that the City Guard recognized her; she had caused them enough trouble recently.
“Sasha… what! Enemy attack!” The captain yelled, sounding the alarm whistle. The other guards tightened their grips on their weapons, aiming them at Sasha.
“Wait, wait,” Sasha looked bewildered. “The old geezer should have taken care of things for me, right? What crime have I committed now?”
If it weren’t for Lugner repeatedly cleaning up Sasha’s messes, she would have been wanted already.
That’s why the City Guard gritted their teeth at her, always trying to apprehend her before Lugner could intervene, but they had never succeeded.
“You’re talking about Mr. Lugner, right?” The captain sneered. “I can’t believe… you have the nerve to mention him!”
The City Guards’ eyes suddenly turned red with anger, confusing Sasha.
“Fine, fine, I won’t mention him. So what happened?” Sasha asked, waving her hand dismissively.
“Trying to play innocent again?” The captain responded mockingly instead of answering directly.
Sasha: “…”
Talking to these people was exhausting. They weren’t nearly as cute as Little Sister Bai.
Sasha was about to argue further, but she sensed several powerful auras approaching.
She wasn’t afraid of a single squad of City Guards, and they knew it, keeping a safe distance while surrounding her.
But the people approaching now were a different story. They were formidable opponents, even for Sasha.
“This isn’t the time to argue with the City Guard. If I get caught, even the old geezer won’t be able to save me.”
Sasha thought quickly. Although she still didn’t understand what had happened, she knew what she had to do.
With that, she subtly glanced back and then vanished in an instant.
“Chase her!” The captain roared, immediately pursuing Sasha.
Hidden in the shadows of the alley, Xu Bai caught Sasha’s last glance. She waited until the City Guards were gone before emerging from the alley.
“Miss Sasha…”
Xu Bai looked in the direction the City Guards had disappeared, recalling their conversation. A suspicion formed in her mind.
“This alarm… I’m afraid it has something to do with Commander Lugner…”
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