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.
Leave a Reply to dweeb_com Cancel reply