Chapter 331
In Bolun City, three-story houses are a rarity, but here, three and even four-story townhouses are everywhere. The tallest building in Bolun City is the Bell Tower Church, yet even that grand bell tower seems small when compared to the massive towers in the distance.
However, the taste of smoke and dust in the air here seems to linger forever. After entering Ansu City, the stars in the sky have vanished from sight.
This is Ansu City... Even though it’s the second time for Xia Er to be here, she can’t help but sigh in her heart.
Is this really the place where I will live in the future...?
Xia Er’s gaze slowly drifted downwards, looking across the street.
On the opposite side, two police carriages were parked—most likely belonging to the Russell family.
Arriving in Ansu City and already under tight surveillance is not a good sign for Xia Er.
She still couldn’t grasp the various power dynamics within Ansu City, and being watched made her feel a sense of constraint that she hadn’t experienced in Bolun City.
I need to find an opportunity to explore the reality of Ansu City in the simulation, so I can avoid mistakes in real life.
She also had to be discreet, arranging a place for Li Qi to stay, ensuring she wouldn’t be affected by the conflicts of the extraordinary world.
But first, she had to deal with the hot potato in her hands.
Xia Er pulled the curtains, walked to the dining table, and took out the violet bottle containing the light blue potion from her waist.
Should I hand it over? If I do, to whom? Who would I anger by handing it over? If I just keep it by my side, will it attract the attention of the Joy Society...?
These questions needed Xia Er’s contemplation, or perhaps a trial run in the simulation.
She wasn’t naive enough to think that destroying this potion or the flower would allow her to escape unscathed.
That missing “doctor,” the assistant Fred—if he really is a member of the Joy Society and brings this news to them, what would happen when they come looking for the flower and I say I’ve destroyed it?
Do you think they would believe me?
They would be eager to brainwash and extract the whereabouts of that flower from you.
Xia Er gently rubbed her temples.
She understood what the system meant: once you step into this circle, drink the first potion, and kill the first person, there’s no turning back.
Knock, knock, knock—
A series of knocks echoed, and Xia Er tucked the bottle away, hanging it at her waist. She looked toward the door and called out, “Come in, it’s not locked.”
Creak—
The door opened, and standing there was Ai Wei Na.
After Ai Wei Na turned to close the door, she walked slowly to Xia Er’s side, lowered her head, and said softly, “I’m sorry, Xia Er... I didn’t expect they still wouldn’t let me go...”
Ai Wei Na had already consumed potions through other means and had left Ansu for several years. She couldn’t understand why her family still wouldn’t let her go.
It was as if the blood of the Russell family flowed through her veins, binding her forever.
It was painful to see Xia Er, who already disliked encountering extraordinary beings, also being monitored, possibly even recorded.
“It’s not your fault, Ai Wei Na. You don’t need to apologize to anyone.”
Xia Er placed her hands on Ai Wei Na’s shoulders, slightly rising on her toes to gently touch Ai Wei Na’s cheek.
Xia Er knew that the appearance of the Russell family disrupted Ai Wei Na’s original plans, and her agitation was likely no less than Xia Er’s.
“When something happens, we just need to solve it.”
Xia Er stepped back half a pace, looking at Ai Wei Na with a smile, “We’ll face it together.”
Ai Wei Na blinked at Xia Er, feeling a bit of moisture in her eyes.
Without Xia Er’s support, she wouldn’t have had the courage to return to Ansu City. Without Xia Er’s support, she didn’t know how many more years she would have to wait to be promoted to “psychologist.”
Xia Er had clearly become Ai Wei Na’s emotional support.
“Well, since I can’t sleep, how about we discuss how to handle this?”
Xia Er took out the glass bottle and gently shook it.
“Sure.”
Ai Wei Na nodded.
Since they were going to discuss this issue, it was inevitable to bring in the parties involved.
Having already slept on the train, the now wide-awake Ai Dai Er and Ai Mi were also invited into Xia Er’s room.
The four-person team officially gathered for the first time to discuss matters concerning the extraordinary.
After closing the door, Xia Er pushed the potion bottle slowly to the center of the table, and everyone’s gaze followed the bottle until it settled in the middle.
Sitting in her chair, Xia Er looked at Ai Dai Er and Ai Mi, asking, “Regarding this flower, I’d like to know your thoughts. After all, it was you who discovered it, and theoretically, you have the right to decide what to do with it.”
But that was just in theory.
Ai Mi, looking confused, stared at the flower on the table, then glanced at Xia Er. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “This flower is mine, but Ai Dai Er said it could save many people, so I was thinking... maybe we should give it to the Redemption Society? Or the Church of the Savior?”
Ai Dai Er had taught Ai Mi a lot about the extraordinary, and now Ai Mi understood the stakes involved. However, her thoughts were quite simple; she just wanted to hand it over to an organization that could use it to save lives.
Xia Er slowly shifted her gaze to Ai Wei Na, asking, “What do you think, Ai Wei Na?”
“I think we can hold off on taking any action for now.”
Ai Wei Na shook her head and shared her perspective, “The petals, leaves, and part of the root system are with Ashford. According to him, the paper will be published under his name. I think we should wait a couple of days and see what Ashford does.”
Ai Wei Na’s idea was that since Ashford was willing to attract attention, they should leave it to him and the Redemption Society. After all, with the samples of the leaves, petals, and root system, Ashford essentially had almost all the information about the flower.
If Ashford could produce some substantial results before the Joy Society took action, then naturally, no one would focus on Ai Dai Er.
Even if that assistant Fred was indeed a mole planted by the Joy Society within the Redemption Society, after the results were published, the Joy Society wouldn’t waste their energy on Ai Dai Er but would instead concentrate all their efforts on Ashford and the Redemption Society.
Doing nothing is indeed a good strategy... but all of this hinges on whether Ashford is truly willing to be a shield and whether he can actually produce something.
“Well, Ashford really needs to come up with some results.”
Xia Er gently shook her head.
Placing all hope on someone else was not Xia Er’s style.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Ashford; she just trusted herself more.
Finally, Xia Er pondered for a moment and turned her gaze toward Ai Dai Er, asking, “Ai Dai Er, do you have any thoughts?”
Xia Er didn’t have high hopes for Ai Dai Er’s response; she was merely giving her a chance to think.
After all, she was also one of the “initiators” of this matter.
Upon hearing her name called, Ai Dai Er’s already conflicted expression grew even more troubled. After a brief hesitation, she weakly said, “I’ll go with whatever you decide, Xia Er…”
It seemed Ai Dai Er was now afraid and didn’t dare to voice any other opinions.
Xia Er noticed that Ai Dai Er had something on her mind. She shook her head and said, “It’s okay. If you have any thoughts, just say them. I might not necessarily agree.”
Xia Er’s words were very direct, but this straightforwardness gave Ai Dai Er a bit of confidence to express her thoughts.
She slightly hunched her shoulders, looked up at Xia Er, and pointed at the potion bottle, saying, “I want... to continue my own research…”
At this moment, not just Xia Er, but also Ai Wei Na, who was sipping tea, and Ai Mi, who was watching Xia Er, turned their gazes toward Ai Dai Er.
Feeling the weight of so many eyes on her made Ai Dai Er, who was already nervous, tense up even more. She lowered her head, her fingers anxiously twisting her skirt, and finally tore a small hole in it. Staring at the hole, she froze.
Ah... I didn’t bring any extra clothes?
I... don’t think I have money to buy new clothes either...
Ai Dai Er’s thoughts were suddenly consumed by her lack of clothing, while Xia Er began to contemplate the possibilities of Ai Dai Er’s idea.
Researching it herself...
Right now, this flower doesn’t actually solve any problems.
Because it doesn’t necessarily work against the “Corruption Plague,” and there’s only one sample; once it’s used up, there’s no second chance.
It’s merely a material with the potential to cure the “Corruption Plague.”
But if a potion that truly cures the “Corruption Plague” could be developed...
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