**Chapter 48: Annie**
Miss Rabbit, oh no, she should now be referred to as Annie Fox.
She never expected that after helping a tormented girl escape her plight, she would meet Yu Yinchuan once again at [Angel Rose].
Perhaps this is the reward one deserves after occasionally showing kindness?
Indeed, Miss Rabbit did not forcibly take control of Annie’s body as she had done before; rather, it was Annie who made the choice voluntarily.
She found Miss Rabbit and made a request, which Miss Rabbit fulfilled…
————
A few days earlier.
Just after escaping the pursuit of the New Elders’ Council, Miss Rabbit, much like the days that had passed since her escape, wandered through the chaotic district known as Garden Street while hiding in the [Angel Rose] theater…
First, this small area, while hiding many things that are extremely dangerous to ordinary people, was an excellent hiding place for her.
Here, perhaps in the entire Free City, aside from Constantin’s estate, it was the only place where she could completely avoid the prying eyes of Ariel.
The cost-effective advantages of Ariel Corporation’s products could not justify the reasons for spiritual ability users and urban legends with various secrets to accept being scrutinized.
Of course, hiding from the New Elders’ Council was only one of the reasons for Miss Rabbit’s stay here; additionally, she could more quickly find her next unfortunate soul to replace her in a crisis and make contact with the Mafia gang to obtain help from Constantin…
However, it was while she wandered like a beast searching for prey that she encountered Annie Fox.
Perhaps due to Miss Rabbit’s former association as a witch-type urban legend, and the materials used for Annie’s cybernetic enhancement also coming from the witch-type urban legend, there was a subtle connection between them; after merely locking eyes in the crowd, Annie stepped forward and intercepting Miss Rabbit.
“Excuse me, miss, have we met somewhere?”
Miss Rabbit looked at the beautiful girl who suddenly blocked her path with a greedy gaze, scanning her up and down before shaking her head.
“I haven’t seen you before; you might be mistaken.”
With that, she turned to leave.
Although Annie was a decent candidate for a scapegoat, she did not want to act on Annie, at least not in the street…
Doing so would draw too much attention.
The shadow of d*ath brought by the New Elders’ Council still lingered overhead; at such a time, attracting meaningless attention would quickly bring misfortune, even while hiding in this chaotic district.
That was what Miss Rabbit thought, but Annie did not want to simply let her go.
“Please wait!”
She took a few steps forward, spread her arms, and again blocked Miss Rabbit, biting her lip as if hesitating, waiting a few seconds until a hint of impatience appeared on Miss Rabbit’s face before summoning up the courage to speak.
“If I’m not mistaken, you should be a witch, right?”
At these words, Miss Rabbit’s expression darkened.
In her existence, spanning nearly a hundred years, there were two urban legends that had caused her extremely adverse influences, each time drastically altering her fate…
And both of these urban legends were damned witch types!
Hearing the word “witch,” images of Mu Se and Calamity flashed through her mind, and her chest flared with unnamed anger, nearly overwhelming her impulse to tear the girl before her to pieces.
However, just as her anger was about to overflow, Annie’s next words stunned her slightly.
“I have been going through a hard time lately, and it all relates to witches…” she continued with a bright smile breaking through, “If you are a witch, I think you might be able to help me.”
“Uh, at least just listening to me would be nice.”
Miss Rabbit frowned, falling silent for a moment. Whether she recalled her own experiences or not, she ultimately said something she herself found unusual.
Perhaps the girl suffered like her from the witch-type urban legend, or perhaps there was a special aura about Annie that made her want to get closer.
“Let’s go…”
Seeing the girl seemingly misunderstanding her words, lowering her head and dimming her eyes in disappointment, she quickly added, “We can’t just stand on the street to talk, right? Let’s find somewhere to sit down.”
Upon hearing this, Annie’s eyes lit up again, and she nodded vigorously.
Then, without guard, she led a bloodthirsty urban legend through the streets to her tent outside the back door of the [Angel Rose] theater.
Due to her work at the [Angel Rose] theater, she received a bit of care from Nimo, and the tent was sturdier than those built by others, with a slightly more spacious interior.
In a space resembling an ordinary bedroom crammed with a bed, a small table, a shelf, a fabric wardrobe, and various daily necessities, she had organized it very neatly, forming a strong contrast against the messy appearance of the tent area.
It felt like a pure white wildflower growing in a gap in a sewer cover.
“I’m sorry, but I only have instant tea bags…” Annie handed the brewed tea to Miss Rabbit, who was already seated at the small table, and then sat down across from her, smiling as she recounted her past.
She spoke of her vanity, of an unrequited love that had withered before it could blossom, which led her to undergo cybernetic enhancements from the “messengers”…
She told of how, after completing her enhancements, she was influenced by the powers of the witch type and became immersed in the pleasure of manipulating men with her beauty…
She spoke of how the rejection reactions from her enhancements began to manifest, and how she could not afford the exorbitant price of suppressive medications…
She described encountering two very kind sisters, and how, with their help, she barely survived; yet once her physical suffering eased, her mind was tormented…
Miss Rabbit listened quietly, and when Annie finally paused, she looked down at the now cold tea in her hand before raising her head to lock eyes with Annie and said, “While I sympathize with your situation, unfortunately, I can’t help you.”
“While it is true that I… um, possess the magic you know of, and my magic is somewhat connected to witches, I am not a witch.”
“Moreover, in your situation, even a true witch couldn’t help you… If you want true liberation, only…”
Clearly someone who had killed countless people, when saying the word “d*ath”, she hesitated for a brief moment.
And in her hesitation, Annie laughed, “Only d*ath, huh?”
“Yes.” Miss Rabbit nodded without any hesitation this time; the girl’s experiences moved her slightly, but that did not mean she truly cared about the girl’s life.
That slight movement merely transformed the girl from excellent prey in her eyes to something she wouldn’t actively choose as prey… that was all.
“Then, could you please help me end it?”
Hearing Annie’s unexpected request, Miss Rabbit doubted her ears and tilted her head.
Before she could voice her confusion, Annie began to explain on her own.
“You may not know, but even if one keeps buying those expensive suppressive medications, those who undergo cybernetic enhancements will still eventually d*e from Nightfall Syndrome… I witnessed Old Jackson’s d*ath a few days ago; he turned into a twisted mass of flesh and bl**d.”
“I’ve already told you before; I underwent cybernetic enhancements to become beautiful. I don’t want to d*e looking like Old Jackson…”
“In fact, I can’t stand this life any longer, but I find it hard to take the final step myself, and Vivian and Nimo will definitely stop me, so…”
“Fine.” Miss Rabbit suddenly interjected, interrupting Annie, “If all you want is to d*e, I can help you.”
“Really?” Annie exclaimed with excitement, as if they were discussing something other than d*ath but rather something interesting.
“Yes, but…” Miss Rabbit pointed at Annie, “Once you d*e, this body belongs to me; you have no objections, right?”
“Huh?” Annie blinked in surprise, her eyes wide as she asked, “Are you the legendary demon? The kind that takes other people’s bodies after completing a deal?”
Girl, why do I get the feeling you’re missing a screw? Miss Rabbit rolled her eyes and continued, “Since you have no objections, that’s settled. By the way… you just said you work at the [Angel Rose] theater?”
“Then you must have come into contact with quite a few Mafia gang members, right? Can you introduce me?”
“Of course!” Annie replied.
And that was how Miss Rabbit and Annie first met.
————
Retrieving her thoughts, her gaze crossed those men who seemed like male baboons in heat and settled on Yu Yinchuan, who sat in a booth, lost in thought. Miss Rabbit’s eyes grew a bit unfocused due to her restless emotions, revealing a strange allure under the brilliant lights.
“……”
Great! This guy didn’t d*e on that d*mn ship!
He’s a member of the Lan Yi Party, and if I can reach Lan Yi through him, things might turn around. Maybe he has already told Lan Yi all the intelligence he heard on the Killer Whale.
I thought it was strange for Lan Yi Party members to appear on the Killer Whale; now this guy is mingling with Mafia gang members… Looks like Lan Yi may have already teamed up with the Mafia?
Hmph! I thought I’d have to hide in this damned place, conserve my energy, wait until I recovered a bit before making plans, but unexpectedly, a new path presented itself to me…
After analyzing this in her mind, the corners of Miss Rabbit’s mouth involuntarily curled into an enticing arc.
She felt that she was very close to the truth of the matter; all she needed to do next was win Yu Yinchuan’s trust so that he could take her to meet Lan Yi.
