Chapter 34 Simple Matters
“Ah, I didn’t expect it! This guy is actually an operative of the Siye Society, secretly doing so many dirty deeds…”
Just as Vivienne was still shocked by the wanted message of Yu Yinchuan appearing on the television, the woman beside her, whose body was as deformed as a new moon, suddenly began to tease.
Vivienne glanced at the woman next to her, then looked back at the old television. She raised her hand and pointed at the screen where a man with a devilish, wild smile resembling a Husky was displayed, surprised, “Nimo, do you know this guy?”
“Of course I do!” The woman called Nimo shot a glance at the TV screen, “I heard Annie say that this guy is a regular at the Angel Rose and spends quite lavishly… How should I put it? Have you ever seen anyone slip car keys and luxury watches to strippers?”
As Nimo spoke, she gestured between her pair of deformed peaks.
“That’s right, Mr. Yu Yinchuan has done such things. Every time he spends at the Angel Rose, it gives the impression that he isn’t using his own money at all, so he doesn’t feel any pain.”
Upon hearing this, the corner of Vivienne’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
The Annie mentioned by Nimo had once been a resident of this tent area. Before her cybernetic modification, she was a choir member at the Church of the Holy Light on Garden Street.
Her initial reason for undergoing cybernetic modification was simply to rid herself of her naturally ugly appearance so that she could stand in the front row during worship and attract the attention of her crush.
It turned out, she succeeded—far beyond her expectations.
Not only did she successfully attract the attention of her crush, but she also caught the gaze of many more men…
She completely treated that transformation as a cheap yet highly effective cosmetic surgery, never considering that it would change her personality so drastically, “falling” to become a stripper at the Angel Rose, struggling daily with intense guilt and the pleasure brought by the lewd gazes of men.
The pain brought by the cybernetic modification wasn’t limited to her body; it also affected her psychology. Annie lived in extreme pain every day.
However, compared to the unfortunate souls who underwent modifications from distorted or demonic urban legend organizations, she was quite lucky to have had her modifications come from the witch-kin urban legend, gaining a stunning appearance and alluring figure.
“What else did Annie say?” Vivienne asked.
“Let me think…” Nimo poked her slender metallic finger against her chin, pondering for a few seconds, “Oh right, wasn’t it said that Yu Yinchuan is an operative of the Siye Society? Annie also mentioned that his usual job is to assist the Z Country exiled urban legends and spiritual ability users in the Free City and surrounding areas.”
“He sounds like quite a decent person. I wonder how he ended up doing so many terrible things. Perhaps spending too long in the Free City has influenced him in some way?”
“Of course, it could also be a frame-up. After all, the local gangs and those self-righteous bastards in the Night Alliance have never liked members of the Siye Society, and they would love to kick them out of M Country.”
Frame-up? Not at all! After listening to Nimo, Vivienne quickly reached a conclusion.
A person with the Black Sun Totem and a mark representing Ying Huo, who is also a Siye Society operative, and appeared on a mafia’s alchemical ship in the early hours, could even have stolen the item containing her powers—what good person could that be?
It looked as if he could be a double or even triple agent! Vivienne thought.
She even felt that the illegal activities Yu Yinchuan was accused of in the wanted notice were just the tip of the iceberg, with a massive “iceberg” hidden beneath the “surface.”
At this thought, Vivienne’s mood suddenly became complicated.
She hoped Yu Yinchuan would obediently stay in her apartment and not take that power he might have out into the world, but she also worried that if he did stay in the apartment, he might bring catastrophic disaster to her little home…
The wanted notice that appeared on the Free City city channel earlier came with a reward, and the amount was not low.
For the roaming, vicious “wild dogs” in Free City, this was a proof of reward that could let them commit crimes “legally.”
For that reward, or simply to vent their violence, there would always be “wild dogs” willing to take the risk.
Night was about to fall, and the “wild dogs” would start their actions under the cover of darkness, while Vivienne’s shabby yet warm little apartment would become a coffin for her…
With this thought, Vivienne quickly closed her eyes and concentrated.
At the moment she closed her eyes, it was as if an illusion appeared—a pale thread rose from the darkness, swiftly outlining the entire panorama of Free City.
Amid the jungle-like steel and concrete structures, a scarlet aura wound its way through her vision, pointing straight to a crimson light approximately ten kilometers away, ominously.
Found it! Vivienne let out a sigh of relief after confirming Yu Yinchuan’s location through the sensation of her own power.
The strange cat on her shoulder noticed her briefly closing her eyes and then reopening them, displaying a hint of oddity, tilting its head and asking, “Did that guy run away?”
“Uh-huh.” Vivienne nodded, “He ran, but not far.”
Judging by the location of the power’s essence, Yu Yinchuan had left the apartment but hadn’t gone far—this was the best outcome she could think of.
That way, her little apartment wouldn’t need to accompany Yu Yinchuan to the grave, and she could seize the chance to catch him before those wild dogs found him.
Bringing her thoughts back, Vivienne looked at the woman beside her and said, “Nimo, I’ll leave this to you for now. Something happened at my home, and I need to rush back.”
“In any case, I’ve already given you the medicine money. You help everyone with their treatment, and tell them I’ll come to see them again next time.”
As she spoke, she stood up and walked straight toward the refrigerator in Nimo’s tent, skillfully rummaging out two cans of beer, then called out, “Horace, let’s go!” and jogged out of the tent.
Nimo, “…”
————
Luxianbei was never a person who could stay put. After the “kind-hearted” girl left, he continued to stay in the old apartment for less than half an hour before his thoughts became restless.
“I think we should go out for a walk… Even if we don’t leave for now, we need to confirm the terrain around here and the number of spiritual ability users and urban legends, to prepare in advance. What do you think, Xiao Hua?”
Nanling Yaohua floated beside Luxianbei, furrowing her brows slightly as she wrote something down in her notebook.
[Going out for a walk is fine, but I think we should leave here as soon as possible.]
She always felt that the girl named Vivienne was not well-intentioned.
“That won’t do. We’re new here and don’t have a guide. Relying solely on the information provided by the Wordless Book elder, we don’t know how many detours we will have to take! Now, with a ready-made guide right in front of us, how can we let her slip away?” Luxianbei said.
Yes, he planned to make Vivienne his guide upon arriving at Free City, regardless of whether she was willing or not.
“However, speaking of the information provided by the Wordless Book elder…” Luxianbei frowned slightly, looking out the window. “I just observed from the window that this should be near 76th Street on South Street. The information mentioned a deity that the Golden Toad Boy has long supported, living nearby.”
“In the future, when we go out to scout… uh, while observing the terrain, we can pay a visit to that deity.”
Luxianbei was always diligent, taking on the identity of the Golden Toad Boy to help him complete unfinished business, something that had been on his mind.
After all, this was a task assigned by two major players… If it wasn’t well done, he might end up getting beaten!
“If luck is on our side, maybe we can get a bit of favor from them!”
Although he already had the plan to catch Vivienne as a guide, he didn’t put all his hopes of becoming familiar with Free City onto her alone.
Having only one guide was never reliable; if one wasn’t careful, they could be led to a tourist shop and spend tens of thousands.
[I think it’s possible.] Nanling Yaohua raised her notebook.
“Then it’s settled!” Luxianbei said as he looked at Vivienne’s pink little bed. “However, before we set off, we need to prepare a bit in case that kind-hearted lady returns early and can’t find us, getting anxious.”
As his voice fell, he raised his hand over his chest, and the moment his fingertip touched his chest, a faint golden light burst forth. As the light gradually spread, it outlined the shadow of an inverted banyan tree, opening the passage to the God Realm Prototype…
A figure suddenly flew out and “thud” landed on the apartment floor.
The figure, which had the exact same face as Luxianbei at that moment, stumbled heavily after landing, rubbed its bottom, and looked around. Upon seeing Luxianbei, its pupils violently contracted.
“You… what do you want now? Didn’t we agree on this already? You said you wouldn’t torment me again. Are you trying to go back on your word? No, you can’t violate the terms of our deal!”
Looking at the figure that had once brought him nightmarish experiences, the urban legend transformed paper cicada said in a terrified voice.
“Relax, relax!” Luxianbei stepped forward and patted the shoulder of the urban legend transformed paper cicada, speaking gently, “People say I’m Luxianbei, the honest and reliable young man. How could I possibly break the deal? I just want you to help with a small favor.”
“What… what favor?” the urban legend transformed paper cicada stammered, “I won’t do anything that insults my character!”
Since when does a paper cicada have such a thing as character? Luxianbei scoffed silently, raising his hand to point forward, “It’s very simple—just lie down over there and wait until I come back.”
The urban legend transformed paper cicada looked in the direction Luxianbei pointed and saw the pink single bed, squinting its eyes slightly.
Is it really that simple?
It clearly remembered that the last time Luxianbei told it to “perform a simple act,” it had almost been killed by the suddenly appearing old man with just a few punches…
But how could it resist Luxianbei?
It couldn’t resist!
“Alright, just come back soon.” The urban legend transformed paper cicada said bitterly.
“Don’t worry! I’ll definitely be back before dark.” Luxianbei replied.
So, at 3:46 PM, the operative of the Siye Society codenamed “Golden Toad Boy” initiated his first investigation after arriving in Free City…
