Before getting off work, Clara found Lucia again.
A clear disappointment flashed in Lucia’s eyes. “Huh? Senior, do you have plans again tonight?”
“Sorry, I had already made plans with someone else before you came. They just confirmed.” Clara showed Lucia her chat history with Nangong Xiwang, of course, only the part about arranging this meeting.
“This lady with the gangster-like avatar is…”
Nangong Xiwang’s QTak avatar was a bloodstained document folder.
Just like Dr. Fran, she also liked to use photos of things around her as avatars, though both avatars looked somewhat dangerous.
Clara explained:
“Oh, she’s an editor for a comic magazine. She’s a very nice person.”
“Even though I’m not one of her authors, and my submissions haven’t even been accepted, she’s still willing to give me some references and guidance. She’s a rare mentor I’ve been lucky to meet…”
Since the matter of drawing comics had already been discovered, it seemed there was no need to hide it anymore. Clara just answered truthfully.
Xiwang. For her, Nangong Xiwang was a godsend, truly. Being able to see results, to have her efforts bear fruit, it all depended on Nangong Xiwang… Clara had toiled on the path of drawing for decades, day in and day out, and finally…
“…look at the comic content.” Lucia didn’t seem very interested, just sighed.
Clara added, “I’m meeting her to ask for her help with…”
“I see.” Lucia didn’t press Clara any further.
It seemed she had given up.
“Then I’ll go find Sister Anya tonight. My graduation project is at the resort, which makes it convenient for her to move around outside. If we talk too late, I’ll have to stay back at the cheap rental apartment…”
But after experiencing such a high-end “dormitory,” could she really go back to living in that dump of a cheap rental apartment?
The answer was yes, no problem.
After work, carrying her manuscript, Clara headed alone to the cheap rental apartment in the Blue Court district.
She tidied up the apartment, threw out all the moldy food from the fridge, opened the windows for ventilation, and cleaned, all to give Nangong Xiwang a good impression.
“As the saying goes, ‘East or west, home is best.'”
Even though this ‘home’ wasn’t technically her own, she had lived here for several years. Being here felt safe and comfortable…
Since she was receiving a guest, Clara also prepared some tea and snacks. Not knowing what kind of pastries Nangong Xiwang liked, she bought a bit of everything, filling a whole tray.
Her already tight savings became even more depleted. Whether next month’s salary and bonus would be paid on time became crucial…
After finishing the cleaning, Clara sat down at her desk, took out the comic manuscript to check it over carefully, glancing at the time now and then.
She felt like a concubine chosen by the emperor, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her deity…
Ding-dong…
The doorbell rang.
“Oh! Coming!”
Clara excitedly ran to open the door, but the person standing outside wasn’t Nangong Xiwang, but a man with a shrimp head…
Ahem, it was the landlord she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Young lady, I’m the landlord of this building. Where’s the squid who used to live here? He didn’t sublet the place to you, did he?”
“Subletting is prohibited here. Also, where has that guy run off to lately? There’s surveillance at the building entrance, and I haven’t seen him once recently. Can you explain who you are?”
A barrage of questions hit her head-on. Clara didn’t know how to answer for a moment.
Clara’s landlord was also a Transformed Being, with obvious lobster traits, his whole body reddish.
On account of them both being “seafood,” he had given Clara a bit of a price discount, and hadn’t raised the rent in years. He was a decent guy, as long as you didn’t fall behind on rent.
According to other tenants, he was originally a cadre in some Evil Organization. After the organization was wiped out by Heroes, he bought this building and became a landlord…
It seemed the severance pay from a bankrupt Evil Organization was quite generous.
“I-I’ll pay the rent to you. He had some family matters recently and had to go back temporarily…”
The shrimp-head landlord, however, extended the large pincer on his left hand and snapped it twice near Clara’s head.
“Little girl, living in the Blue Court requires some capability. It’s different from the city center here; public security is poor. Those small criminal gangs like to pick on easy targets here.”
In summary, the cheap rental apartment didn’t rent to ordinary people.
If an ordinary person got into trouble near the apartment, the landlord would also have problems.
But Clara was a Mutant. The little tentacles in her hair could prove her identity.
It’s just that lately, these little tentacles were almost becoming the trademark of “Magical Girl Clara.” Showing them now might reveal her identity.
“I have the ability to protect myself. And the Squid Monster Squill still lives here. I’m just staying as a guest. I’ll also pay his share of the rent…”
The shrimp-head landlord shook his head. “You can still contact him, right? Have him come back and talk to me face to face! Leaving a young girl to stay here alone, who’s responsible if something happens?”
Similar things had indeed happened in Central City, so it wasn’t an empty threat.
“A cute girl like you, if targeted by those low-life criminal gangs, could easily be kidnapped, brainwashed, and sold to those unsavory places. Your whole life would be ruined!”
It was unclear whether he was truly worried about Clara’s safety or just worried about being held responsible.
“I understand. I’ll call him and have him come back…”
She couldn’t afford to lose this cheap rental apartment now. Though she felt a bit sorry, she had no choice but to seek Minister Mossima’s help.
“Fine. I’ll be sitting in the building manager’s office downstairs. When he comes, have him come down to see me… That irresponsible rascal!”
The shrimp-head landlord left, grumbling.
The target of his lecture was Squill, so he didn’t give Clara too hard a time. But Clara was now in a difficult position.
If she called Mossima over now and he accidentally ran into Miss Nangong Xiwang, it would definitely scare her. They needed to be staggered.
Call Mossima over first, then notify Miss Nangong to come later?
With no other choice, Clara took out her QTak and sent a message asking Mossima for help.
Mossima’s avatar was a selfie of her featureless face, making it impossible to tell if she was even online. However, she replied to Clara’s message instantly.
[No problem, we’ll be right there.]
Her reply was quite prompt. After getting the address of the cheap rental apartment, she started heading over…
Then, Clara tapped on the “bloodstained document folder” avatar.
[Teacher Nangong Xiwang, I’ve been slightly delayed with something. Could we meet a little later?]
Click. Send.