Chapter 449
After taking one last glance, Xia Er closed the notebook with a snap, murmuring to himself.
“Impressive... the simulated version of me...”
“Playing with a zombie virus here, huh...”
---
PS1:
207.5 (overdue) - 2 (extra) = 205.5 (overdue)
I’m going to stab you! Yesterday’s me!!!!!!
Stab you! Stab you! Stab you! Stab you! Stab you! Stab you!
Good night!!!!!!! I’m exhausted!!!!!!
---
PS2: A recommendation for an orange-themed novel, "The Girl Who Transformed into an Ark."
**Chapter 238: A Sleepless Night Awaits (4133 words)**
In the simulation, everything was already arranged.
Aivina had taken Adele, Amy, Yulisi, and others closely connected to Xia Er out of Ansu City under the pretense of a hunting trip, and they had left a day earlier.
Apart from Nia, Lucy was also with them, ensuring the safety of the others. It was nearly impossible for anything to go wrong outside.
The simulated Xia Er had also advised Lucy: if the "Lucky Coin" landed on tails, she should keep her distance from the others.
Now, in Ansu City, Xia Er had no worries.
Fortunately, Adele had no idea about the device they had developed... but if she were to drink the "Source of Cholera" potion a little later, she would be astonished to find that it dissolved the moment it touched her lips.
Of course, Adele would never drink such a thing.
Everything was ready; all that was left was for him to ignite it all...
In the simulation, Xia Er had prepared several detonation routes, and at that moment, he stood at the center of these paths.
He pondered briefly, narrowing the options down to two.
The slums of the Holy Church District in the East, or the Garden Market of the Westminster District in the West.
One was a densely populated area filled with impoverished laborers, while the other was Ansu's largest wholesale market for fruits, flowers, and daily necessities, adjacent to the Royal Opera House and other entertainment venues, serving as the social hub of Ansu, bustling day and night.
After a moment's thought, Xia Er settled on his destination.
He would head to the Garden Market in the West.
The upper echelons of Ansu's power were primarily concentrated in the Westminster District. Even if an outbreak occurred on the outskirts, Westminster would form a defensive network with Vitalis Palace and several ecclesiastical strongholds to fend off the infected.
But if the outbreak began from within Westminster and spread outward... it would maximize the potential for infection.
If Westminster fell, it would mean the entire Ansu was lost.
“Let’s go, Tara.”
Xia Er looked up into the rain-soaked night, gazing at the brightly lit Westminster District in the distance, the towering clock tower standing like a beacon, guiding him forward...
---
In the West District of Ansu City, Westminster, at the Royal Opera House.
A performance of the opera "Pharos" was underway.
Pharos operas were known for their grand spectacles and intricate plots. The influence of Pharos language and culture was profound in Ansu, and attending a Pharos opera was considered fashionable, elegant, and cultured among the upper and middle classes.
On stage, the opera "The Prophet" was nearing its climax. The actors, amidst flames and the sacred hymns sung in Pharos, raised their arms and cried, “My kingdom is not of this world!” before being consumed by fire.
The actors vanished from the stage with the help of pulleys and red smoke.
As the flames flickered and dimmed, in the royal box above, a young girl in a dark green velvet gown slowly rose, gently applauding.
“Absolutely splendid,” she said calmly, then turned to the side and added, “Now that it’s over, can I leave?”
“Indeed, it was splendid,” replied a white-haired man in a white mask, smiling. “You still resonate with such themes, don’t you?”
The opera’s devastating conclusion echoed the fears of the Ansu people regarding the Pharos Revolution. The nobles who understood the implications would hardly applaud; it was a class instinct to be wary.
“It’s just an ordinary opera,” the girl said, raising a hand to lightly tap her temple. “I was merely bribed by the gunpowder and the music, just like all the other audience members below.”
“Stay a while, Princess Vitalis. Continuing to rush about is pointless; we should have more conversations.”
Qiangyin smiled, seemingly eager to draw closer to the girl before him.
“No need. My replication ritual isn’t complete; I must continue my travels,” Vitalis shook her head. “I just came back to visit the queen.”
“Follow my pace, and you can still perfectly complete your replication ritual,” Qiangyin insisted, unwilling to let her go.
Days passed, yet the Church of the Savior showed no signs of merging, and the Keybearer seemed to have vanished into thin air, making Qiangyin feel as if time was dragging on endlessly.
Under normal circumstances, without the scars on his face as a reminder, he would have let Princess Vitalis leave on her own. But now, the situation had changed; he had to eliminate all unstable factors.
He needed Vitalis to stay, so that if things went awry in Windsor, she could serve as a perfect substitute.
“I have my own pace,” Vitalis said, choosing not to engage further with Qiangyin. She stood up and addressed her attendant, “Prepare the carriage.”
But her attendant seemed to have not heard her at all, standing still until Qiangyin raised his wine glass, prompting the attendant to step forward and pour sweet wine into Qiangyin’s cup.
“You can’t go anywhere.”
Qiangyin’s voice turned cold, as if he had lost his patience. He downed the wine in one gulp.
Vitalis merely cast him a fleeting glance before walking directly toward the door, exiting the private box.
As she descended, she pondered.
Why did Qiangyin seem like a different person? He no longer exuded the leisurely confidence he once had; instead, he appeared anxious and irritable.
Vitalis instinctively sensed this was a bad omen, but there was nothing she could do to change it.
Qiangyin’s earlier behavior had made it clear to her that his people were all around, and there was no way for her to leave Ansu City under his watchful eye.
Her guards followed Princess Vitalis closely. After she declined the advances of several nobles who approached her, she made her way downstairs, finally stepping outside to breathe in the cool night air, which eased her restlessness somewhat.
One of her guards held an umbrella for her. As Vitalis scanned her surroundings, a peculiar scent wafted into her nostrils.
She frowned slightly; the rusty aroma... it resembled the scent of blood, but was fainter.
She turned toward the source of the smell and saw a nobleman standing at the theater entrance, lighting a red cigarette with a match.
What kind of variety is this? After being away for a while, it seemed everyone in Ansu was smoking this...
Is this a new type of tobacco? The packaging looks quite exquisite.
“What is this, sir?” Vitalis asked curiously.
“This is... oh, Your Highness!” The man quickly bowed his head upon recognizing her, greeting her with a slight bow. “This is red tobacco, known for its invigorating effects. I’ve heard it also purifies the lungs, promoting better health.”
“After smoking it for a few days, I indeed coughed up all the impurities from my lungs... It’s recommended by both the Church of the Order and the Church of the Savior, and they often distribute it for free.”
Red tobacco...
“Would you like to try one, Your Highness?” The man eagerly produced a finely crafted wooden cigarette case, opening it to reveal a row of red cigarettes inside.
“Thank you.” Vitalis reached out, picking one up and holding it up to her eyes for inspection.
Cigarettes that also have lung healing properties? This is the first time she’s heard of such a thing... Could it be a new product developed by some medical society or the Natura Medical Group? And it has the backing of two major churches?
What kind of person has such influence?
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