Chapter 470
Isabella and Pikeman stood frozen in place, trapped in a dream.
Xia Er scanned the room, observing the stillness of everyone in the studio, and let out a soft sigh.
“Ugh... so boring.”
The ambush of the "Subverter" was just like this—plain and unadorned. Not to mention the assistance of the "Nemesis." As long as the opponent wasn’t aware of the impending attack and had been prepped with the Nemesis beforehand, they would inevitably be shattered mentally in an instant, unable to recover for a while.
While the opponent was still reeling, sending Aivina to directly invade their vulnerable, unguarded mind to alter memories... this combo was something that an average Tier 3 couldn’t defend against.
However... previously, Xia Er’s "skin" as the "Plague Bearer" had been incredibly useful, combined with the terrifying power of the Nemesis, allowing for maximum efficiency in breaking through the opponent's mental defenses.
With just over twenty minutes left, there wasn’t much more to be done...
It was truly too dull...
Xia Er paced around the studio, then approached the canvas, sketching something with a charcoal pencil while silently waiting for time to pass.
Minutes ticked by, and after twenty minutes, the slumbering Aivina slowly opened her eyes, propping herself up as if to stand.
A pair of hands gently supported Aivina’s shoulders, lifting her up and allowing her to lean against him, still a bit dazed.
“Done?”
Xia Er’s voice came from behind, but Aivina lacked the strength to respond, merely nodding.
Xia Er stood behind Aivina, gently embracing her, resting his chin on her shoulder as he gazed at the three still lost in their dreams before him.
Under Xia Er’s control, Mond slowly stood up, Pikeman stiffly walked to the easel and sat down, while Isabella stood behind Pikeman.
“Feeling better?” Xia Er whispered in Aivina’s ear.
“Much better...” Aivina steadied herself, looking at everything in front of her with a hint of confusion.
Snap—
Xia Er’s thumb and middle finger crossed, producing a crisp snap.
“Hmm... not bad, Miss Xia Er’s painting shows great talent.” Pikeman, sitting in front of the easel, seemed to regain focus, nodding as he looked at the canvas. He then turned it toward the model standing not far away. “Miss Mond, take a look at the sketch Xia Er made for you.”
“Wonderful! Xia Er, Teacher Pikeman approves of your work,” Isabella turned her head, smiling at Xia Er, seemingly unaware that they had just awakened from a dream.
Only Mond, standing stiffly in place, turned her head awkwardly toward Xia Er.
The organization’s... higher-ups have arrived.
My codename is...
Keybearer...
I must cooperate with all the organization’s tasks... and perform well in front of Lord Xia Er...
“Your foundation is excellent...” Mond rubbed her slightly aching temples, walking toward Pikeman and standing in front of the canvas, nodding in approval.
They began to critique Xia Er’s figure sketches, while Aivina watched the scene unfold, feeling a slight chill in her heart.
Is this the power of the "Subverter"...
It’s indeed a bit eerie...
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PS1:
Sorry!
According to the "Today 4 Tomorrow 8" law, tomorrow will definitely be an 8! Tomorrow’s me!
Let’s go!!!
Good night!!!
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PS2: A recommendation for an orange-themed novel! "If I Had Known Gaming Could Transport Me, I Wouldn’t Have Been So Reckless"
Chapter 248: The Most Difficult Question (4188 words)
“Welcome to visit the Stuart Art Trading Center again next time!”
“The housewarming party on the 21st, I’ll have my servant send the invitation over later.”
“Okay, I’ll be there on time!”
After bidding farewell to Isabella, Xia Er and Aivina climbed into the carriage, which set off toward home.
When Aivina stepped outside, there were no merchant carriages waiting at the door, mainly because it was getting late.
Throughout the journey, Aivina remained silent, and it wasn’t until they returned to the room and closed the door that she let out a long breath.
“Feeling nervous?” Xia Er asked, observing Aivina’s back.
“Yes.” Aivina didn’t deny Xia Er’s words; he had seen her performance earlier, and no amount of stubbornness could change that.
Her nervousness stemmed not only from the fear of messing up Xia Er’s plan but also because it was her first time facing a Tier 3 extraordinary being in a combat stance, especially one from the Joyous Society.
A slight misstep could mean the difference between life and death, leaving her to worry about being poisoned unexpectedly during a meal for the rest of her life.
Fortunately, with the help of that mysterious "Subverter," things had been resolved smoothly.
“Just one more...” Xia Er reminded her, “Can your mind handle it? No need to push yourself.”
“No, it’s not taxing at all. The opponent was almost completely unguarded, and their mental defenses had already been shattered.” Aivina shook her head.
After saying that, Aivina turned to Xia Er and said, “I’ll come find you when he appears in public.”
Aivina knew exactly what to do next. She couldn’t let a single success make her complacent; the more anxious she became, the more likely she was to make mistakes.
“Alright.” Xia Er nodded, stepping closer to Aivina, slightly rising on her toes to plant a kiss on her lips.
This seemingly ordinary action caused Aivina to freeze for a moment.
“Get some rest.” Xia Er took two steps back, smiling as he said, “Good night.”
“Good night...”
Aivina watched Xia Er’s retreating figure, gently brushing her fingertips against her lips.
Was this... a reward?
If it was a reward, then it was a bit too small.
Though Aivina wished Xia Er would stay, now wasn’t the time to relax.
She withdrew her hand, pressing it against her chest to calm her emotions.
For some reason... recently, when facing Xia Er, she felt his charm had intensified...
This wasn’t just Aivina’s imagination; as a "psychologist," she was well aware of her own mental and emotional changes.
In the past, she viewed Xia Er with admiration, but in the last couple of days, she felt that every smile and frown of his was a deadly temptation.
A temptation strong enough to affect her mind.
If this had been a few days ago, when they were still staying at the hotel, goodnight kisses had almost become a nightly routine. Back then, Aivina would only feel a slight itch, completely within her capacity to resist.
But that gentle kiss just now had suddenly sparked an impulse in Aivina’s mind to want to "devour" Xia Er—this was why she had frozen.
Aivina shook her head, trying to push those fantasies aside... It was likely the noise she heard at the door of Pikeman’s studio that had triggered such chaotic thoughts.
Perhaps that Tier 3 "Source of Cholera" had used some kind of **drug, and the residue in the air had been inhaled by her, leading to these thoughts... Aivina reasoned with herself about the illusions in her mind.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Aivina’s residence, Xia Er, accompanied by Tara, climbed into his carriage, heading toward his home.
Mond’s memories had been completely altered; she was now under the control of both him and Aivina, and she wouldn’t notice anything amiss as long as there were no extremely close individuals around her. No one would discover Mond’s oddities.
Moreover, Mond had no close acquaintances in Ansu City, and in the future, she wouldn’t have anyone close to her. She herself harbored many secrets, even keeping numerous things hidden from Lafayette.
This was also why Xia Er chose to target Mond first—she was the most controllable, least likely to be discovered, and had no connections to the strong sound.
When they arrived home, a figure was already waiting at the door.
It was Mond, whom Xia Er had summoned.
After inviting Mond inside, Xia Er led her to the study.
“Tara, please bring me some paper and a pen.”
“Yes, Lord Xia Er.”
Once Tara handed him the notebook and ink, Xia Er picked up the pen and began to write.
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