My Notoriety Spreads Throughout the World-Chapter 366 - 319: Reunion in the Coming Autumn
"This… this…!"
Members of the Lindong family looked at each other in silence, unable to utter a word.
At that moment, a young man stepped forward from the crowd. Clad in a black suit, he had a prominent nose, short brown hair, and lake-blue eyes. His appearance immediately captured the attention of everyone present.
"Miss Lenna, didn't you say you personally witnessed the body of our family member Victor being buried in this garden?"
"Perseus, stand down. This is not your place," a black-clad Lindong family member shouted.
The young man ignored the remark, holding a black umbrella, and his lake-blue eyes seemed to pierce through hearts as he etched the image of the panicked girl before him. He continued, "Are you certain you saw Victor's body with your own eyes?"
Journalists around them seized the opportunity to capture the scene, and unless a miracle happened, this footage would soon be broadcasted on all major city channels for the public and those in power to see.
Lenna realized she had made a blunder and stammered, "I saw his hand... it was sticking out at the time."
Perseus frowned, "So, you basically didn't see Victor himself, did you?"
"I was just... I just..." Realizing everyone was looking at her with indifferent eyes, Lenna, her long hair soaked, looked around in panic and admitted, "Yes... I heard that the family would pay a substantial reward for information about Victor, so I..."
"Tch, came for nothing," someone from the family complained.
At that moment, sirens blared in the distance, and blue and white lights flickered in the night sky, forming a dot that rapidly grew as the flashing quickened.
Rain streamed off the seamless flying armor, flowing backward and colliding into the frozen rain curtain, speeding through the dense rainstorm. The roar of the engine echoed beneath the gray sky as a massive gray shadow zipped by overhead.
Soon, the shadow slowed down over the hospital. Looking up, the large hovercar began decelerating, the braking deflector popped out, and the new ultrasonic crystal coating broke through the raindrops around it, enveloping it in white mist and water droplets like a steel beast exhaling hot breaths.
Red warning lights formed a square on the ground, and bathed in its glow, several Tuners descended using ropes, nodding to the crowd before handcuffing Old Quill.
During the escort, Old Quill brushed past Perseus, his gaze ambiguous, lifting his head slightly.
Perseus remained unfazed by his provocation, "Don't think I don't know you're the one who killed Victor."
"Coincidentally, the hospital's surveillance system underwent maintenance on the day Victor was discharged, deleting the backups. Then, Victor disappeared in the afternoon. How could such a coincidence happen in this world?"
"I'll find your flaw and personally drag you to the family Judgement Court."
Old Quill nodded in thought, saying, "After leaving the Tuning Institute, I plan to have a drink at the Golden Red Pomegranate Bar and order some curry salmon with my favorite fennel. If you find evidence, wait for me there."
Finishing his sentence, Old Quill grinned.
"The Tuning Institute won't hold me for long; I'll be out soon enough."
Straightening his body as if to prove something, Old Quill slightly struggled, and the two Tuners escorting him lost their balance, almost falling.
"Did Yain tell you to do it?" Perseus asked.
"Who knows?"
The Tuners shouted, pressing Old Quill's head down. As they watched Old Quill being escorted away, Perseus's ears still echoed with Old Quill's evasive response.
After the "Starry Singer" incident, Sevia's name became taboo, with the family referring to her as the Starry Witch.
The family members became world-famous tales of horror. The Lindong family, naturally bearing the brunt, faced immense societal pressure and heavy blows, almost losing their voice in the Star of Art.
Major forces united to pressure the Lindong family, and the family recently began organizing personnel to investigate the whereabouts of the "Starry Singer."
However, something seemed amiss.
The Lindong family issued a secret order to every member, instructing them to immediately report back to the family if any trace related to the "Starry Singer" was discovered.
The order did not mention the Guild, yet perpetually alluded to it. As family members, they understood the order's dual meaning; the second was to strictly avoid mentioning the matter to any forces related to the Guild.
Not stated in the order, it was meant to leave the Guild without any handle.
What exactly was the family's intention behind this action...?
Perseus pondered for a moment when someone tapped his shoulder.
Turning around, he found an impish girl who seemed to have been observing him for some time. Her lively eyes blinked, "Captain, we've arranged the meeting with the 'Heterogeneous Front,' same old map, Provençal Coast, 5v5 attack-defense match."
"Understood, I'll log on as soon as possible, but there's something I must deal with first."
"Alright, Captain, we'll wait for you at the Guild Hall in Sin Capital."
Perseus addressed the surrounding Lindong members, "Keep a low profile for now, the outside world is still watching us."
"You're in no position to boss us around, outsider. Go back to your 'Probability Corridor,' that's the swamp you belong in," a Lindong family member cursed under his breath.
The words clearly reached the young man's ears. Perseus sighed, knowing that the main family had always held a grudge against them due to events decades ago. He didn't want to argue, so he held back the fierce girl beside him.
"Stop filming! Stop filming!"
Ince, holding a camera, walked over to Jim and stood beside him under the corridor, watching the group of black-clad individuals depart.
"Quite the spectacle," he remarked.
"I thought these family dogs would behave once their masters pulled their teeth," Jim spread his hands.
"Before we find the young lady's whereabouts, try to handle those matters well, don't let others grab a handle," Ince suggested.
"Heh, I know that without you telling me."
"Do you think the young lady is still alive?" Ince asked casually. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"Hmm? Where are you going, wait for me."
"Find a way to get Old Quill out soon."
...
The afternoon bell rang, the teacher on the podium packed up the textbooks, and students gradually left the classroom. Soon, only the duty student cleaning the blackboard and the red-haired girl sitting in the corner remained.
"Rice Wine, aren't you leaving?"
"Why quit the Archery Club, Rice Wine? Didn't you enjoy club activities before?"
The warm autumn sun caressed the girl's face. Chichu Chun lay listlessly on her desk, responding weakly, then grabbed her backpack. The open window let in the bleak autumn wind, carrying a few golden leaves inside.
She glanced out the window, slung her shoulder bag over her arm, turned, and left through the back door of the classroom. She walked alone down the hall, descended the stairs alone, and visited the school store alone. Walking under the trees, her lonely silhouette stood out in the bustling crowd.
She didn't know what had come over her.
It seemed she suddenly lost interest in many things she used to love.
Didn't want to watch anime anymore, or play games, or chat with people, didn't want to be late, or visit karaoke or the Green Leaf Store. Those who knew her before wondered if the peculiar Little Witch had been possessed by something dirty.
Chichu Chun approached the vending machine and lazily greeted, "Hello, good afternoon, Mr. Benjamin, I'm going to take a drink from you by inserting coins."
Benjamin was the name she had given the vending machine before. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips as if amused by her own monotony, but it soon faded. Chichu Chun inserted two coins into the vending machine, realizing she had inserted an extra dollar. Unlike before, when she would angrily kick Mr. Benjamin, she silently opted for a bottle of 'Ice Sugar Orange.'
Perhaps nothing would truly interest her any longer.
Chichu Chun mused as she opened the pop-top, and her fingertip accidentally got nicked by its sharp edge. As she sat on the tree planter searching for a band-aid, a strand of golden hair fluttered before her face, and someone handed her a small teddy bear band-aid.
"Thank you..."
Instinctively looking up, Chichu Chun made out the figure standing before her—a golden-haired girl bathed in the warm autumn sun. Her smile was gentle, and as the autumn wind rustled by, every strand of her hair seemed to ripple with gold, glowing warmly.
"You're welcome," Xu Xiaoyou smiled.
