Chapter 402
Wait a moment...
The words "Key Person" slowly merged in her mind with the image of the red-haired girl lying in the coffin...
No... it can't be, right?
Did they turn on their own?
.
.
.
PS:
222 (updates owed) - 1.5 (extra updates) = 220.5 (updates owed)
Tomorrow, let’s aim higher than today!
Adding a little each day is more sustainable than trying to do it all at once!
Keep it up! Tomorrow’s me!
Good night!
[Leave Request 3/3] The Divine Hedgehog Cat Programmer
....................................................................................................
I’m sorry, but it’s really not an issue of readers refreshing the chapters.
I refreshed myself, and all the chapters in my backend were empty. I could only see the author’s notes—it's truly bizarre.
I took a leave today, and even if I had updated, most people wouldn’t be able to read it. This is the most frustrating episode to take a leave for, wasting my last leave request and half a day.
I’ve been waiting for two weeks for the biggest recommended bookshelf, and then this happens right when I get the recommendation. Don’t even mention the new collections; it’s less than two-thirds of what I usually get when I’m not on the recommendation list...
Hedgehog Cat Programmer!!!
I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you! I’ll stab you!
Chapter 216: "Queen Bee" Xiar's Perfect Masterpiece (7136 words)
Tap, tap, tap—
At the Stuart Art Trading Center, a figure hurriedly made her way toward the exit.
“Miss Mond, you haven’t picked up your... Miss Mond?”
The two female attendants at the front desk exchanged glances as the young woman walked briskly away.
“What’s wrong with Miss Mond?”
“I don’t know... She must be in a hurry. Just give it to Mr. Pikeman and let him pass it on to her.”
“Are they that close?”
“Can’t you tell? This noble lady is definitely pursuing Mr. Pikeman... Isn’t that how romantic novels always go? A poor artist and a noble lady...”
“True enough...”
...
Mond quickly exited the Stuart Art Trading Center and glanced up.
The morning in the Mafer District resembled an Impressionist painting, with neoclassical buildings and cobblestones bathed in warm yellow hues. The rain-soaked streets reflected the warm sunlight.
This was one of the few good weather days in Ansu City, and many people chose to go out, basking in the sun. The streets were busier than usual, with more pedestrians and carriages.
Where is the Key Person?
She wanted to have a word with them.
In such a gathering, the different "Observers" within the Joyous Society often had no idea about each other's plans, but the chances of their plans colliding were not zero.
She needed to find the Key Person quickly to see if she could clarify this misunderstanding.
Mond had heard of the Key Person before. In fact, most of the Observers who knew of the Key Person held them in contempt, believing that the Key Person wouldn’t survive the year.
But Mond understood that an extraordinary being—especially one like the Key Person, who could sense death approaching—might abandon all cautious thoughts at such a time and instead plot a reckless scheme.
It was clear that she had stumbled into one of the Key Person's mad plans.
No wonder the Key Person had severed ties with the Chaos Squad and vanished from sight...
“Damn it...”
Mond thought to herself.
She didn’t believe all of this was mere coincidence.
She had come to Ansu City on a mission, and it was a task from different organizations.
At this moment, she was disguised with two layers of identity. The first was the daughter of a former imperial marquis from the Devor Federation, a status that was even higher than that of a typical duke—essentially a ruler of a small principality.
Her second identity was that of the vice president of the Pharos Medical Society, a subsidiary of the Natura Medical Group. She had come to Ansu City to ensure the safety of Professor Eve Lafayette and assist her in her endeavors.
Both identities were meant to disguise her membership in the Joyous Society—having multiple layers of identity was standard practice within the Society; one wouldn’t dare claim to be a member without a few layers of disguise.
In addition to helping her mentor in North Ansu resolve the “antidote production” issue and protecting Lafayette, her most important plan was to perfect her ritual of perfect replication.
She had a flawless plan... to create an unprecedented cholera outbreak in Ansu City.
Because it was just too fitting.
Ansu City had experienced cholera outbreaks before; nearly a decade ago, a severe outbreak had occurred, caused by natural factors, resulting in the deaths of around 6,000 people, mostly commoners.
The cholera had merely prompted the upper-class nobles and wealthy to change their habits—they drank less water, believing it brought disease, and instead relied more on alcohol.
However, Ansu City had not rebuilt its sewage system after that outbreak; the water sources remained contaminated, and the public health system had not reformed, creating a breeding ground for a second outbreak.
All she needed to do was give it a gentle push, and this time, cholera could claim tens of thousands of lives... and she could use it to complete her perfect replication ritual.
This was a remarkably easy and smooth plan, with virtually no chance of failure.
But just then, the Key Person’s unexpected interference made Mond feel a sense of crisis.
If the Key Person had truly deciphered her plan, it would be incredibly easy for them to sabotage it... even if it was just by doing nothing, merely sending a report to Qiangyin or Lafayette, her plan, identity, and mission would all be exposed.
Thus, she urgently needed to find the Key Person to prevent the crazed individual from tearing off her “skin” and ruining her plan.
Should she find the Key Person?
Or avoid her?
Or... before the Key Person found her, should she drag her out...
The Key Person was too unpredictable; negotiating with her was almost equivalent to exposing herself, putting her in an absolute disadvantage.
An Observer labeled a “coward” by her own subordinates... was it really necessary for her to be this afraid?
Currently, the Key Person had no information on Mond, but Mond knew the location of the Key Person’s remaining small team, which was nearly captured by Qiangyin.
Stay calm; the advantage is mine.
Mond slowed her pace, adjusted her mindset, and walked slowly toward the Church of the God of Order.
She needed to find Lafayette and inform her that there might be “subversives” trying to sow discord, to prevent the Key Person from directly revealing her identity to Lafayette.
Originally, Lafayette should have left Ansu City by now, but the news from the hidden spies within the Redemption Society regarding the “Brain” had kept her there to resolve the issue.
What Mond didn’t notice was a crow perched on a streetlamp, tilting its head and watching her.
...
Caw—
A crow flapped its wings and flew in through the window, landing on Xiar’s shoulder, stabilizing itself as it flapped its wings.
The crow tilted its head, emitting a low, raspy “caw” in her ear, as if communicating or seeking praise from Xiar.
At that moment, Xiar was reclining on the sofa in her hideout at Tara, taking a brief rest. The brim of her black hat was slightly lowered, shielding her from the sunlight.
The table in front of her was a mess, covered in bloody entrails and severed limbs, the filthy blood and rotting flesh seemingly forming the most soothing aroma for her to drift into sleep.
The crow’s arrival stirred Xiar awake. She sighed softly, removed her hat, and squinted, seemingly unaccustomed to the warm sunlight on her skin. She shifted slightly, settling into the shadowed area away from the light.
News has come so soon...
Xiar’s plan to search for people was quite simple: she had dispatched a flock of crows to watch and track everyone entering and exiting the Stuart Art Trading Center, observing their routes.
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