The exploration was a well-practiced affair.
The Human Alliance’s underground technology was highly advanced, and they had preserved extensive records of their subterranean surveys, including the initial excavation plans for Basement Level 2 and Basement Level 3.
Several teams began working in parallel.
One team searched the vicinity for underground entrances; another studied methods of digging downward; the last team investigated the records, searching for any information on subsurface conditions in recent years.
After sifting through the dense archives, they reached a conclusion—
There was no cavity underground.
When Basement Level 2 and Basement Level 3 were excavated, no such hollow space had been detected three kilometers beneath the surface.
The cavity now detected had appeared only after the Underground Industrial Area was built.
Whether it was man-made, naturally formed, or created by a disaster remained unknown, requiring further investigation.
They hypothesized it was caused by a Demonic Creature incident, but the Eastern Alliance didn’t dismiss it as a random event.
They also suspected the Star Summoning Society was responsible.
In any case, they assumed multiple scenarios and prepared contingency plans for each one.
Technical support was also reported to the Human Alliance, which sent experts to assist, and the matter drew some attention from Headquarters.
Recently, the Eastern Alliance had been attracting a great deal of attention from the Human Alliance’s central command.
Beyond the Ganlong Island Incident, Yin Lin’s debut had stirred the Human Alliance for a long time.
There were also the Portal Incident, the Star Invocation Society Incident, and the two Cadre-level Demonic Creature eliminations.
All of these had captured the Human Alliance’s interest.
When the Eastern Alliance reported the three-kilometer-deep cavity, the Human Alliance naturally took notice.
Huang Yi stared at Yin Lin’s profile picture on his phone.
He thought for a long time but ultimately didn’t reach out.
Perhaps asking Yin Lin about the three-kilometer-deep secret would yield the answer.
Huang Yi vaguely felt the Magical Girls distancing themselves from him.
He also noticed that he had been relying on them too much for everything.
So over the past few days, he had been trying to maintain some distance.
Even though he could get the answer with just a tap on his phone, Huang Yi stubbornly refrained from asking.
Ah, the complexity of human psychology.
Humans were such contradictory beings.
By late afternoon, approaching evening, Xia Shiyao finally arrived at the party.
It was supposed to be an afternoon cocktail party, but they didn’t show up until nearly dusk—a whole hour late.
No one dared to call them out on it.
That was the power of status.
The car pulled into the estate.
As soon as they stepped out, a crowd immediately swarmed over.
Most were influential figures in Yiri City, along with some visitors from other areas—even other regions.
Surrounded by the throng, the family of three entered the mansion.
A servant walked past with a tray.
Xia Shiyao’s father deftly picked up a goblet, swirled the wine inside, took a small sip, and placed it back on the servant’s tray.
As they made their way deeper into the house, they were surrounded by elegantly dressed people—individuals who could influence this city, the entire Eastern Region, or even modern human society itself.
A gray-haired man approached with his young son.
“Hey, Old Xia! Haven’t seen you in a while—you’re looking spry!”
Xia Shiyao’s father beamed and returned the greeting, then turned his gaze to the young man beside the other man.
“Old Zhong, your boy has grown up so fast!”
The other man took the opportunity to introduce his son, then gestured toward the young woman beside Old Xia—the one who had captured nearly everyone’s attention in the room.
“And this must be Old Xia’s daughter. It’s been ages—she’s become more radiant than ever. Why don’t the young ones go enjoy themselves together?”
After a few pleasantries, the man got to the real purpose of his approach.
Old Xia was well aware.
He casually replied, “Then let the youngsters chat. We old folks have some business to discuss.”
Thus, the Zhong family’s son led Xia Shiyao away.
She maintained her composure for the moment, suppressing her inner discomfort and physical revulsion.
Seeing that someone had taken away Old Xia’s daughter made others green with envy, and whispers broke out.
Young people in small groups had been chatting about fashion until Xia Shiyao appeared, shifting the conversation to her.
Clearly, the party’s centerpiece was the Xia family—the most prominent, the most influential, and the most beautiful woman in the room.
Some disliked Xia Shiyao, but they held their tongues for now.
Seeing that someone had beaten them to it, parents urged their own children to go mingle.
When a few people found Xia Shiyao in the garden, they witnessed a scene.
The Zhong family’s son had brought his right hand very close to her.
She slapped it away hard.
“I have no interest in you. We can put on an act for our families, but there’s no need to keep pretending now.”
She noticed the newcomers but didn’t lower her voice.
It was as if her words were meant not just for the Zhong scion, but for everyone nearby.
They all recalled the rumors.
Word had it that Xia Shiyao, the Xia family’s heiress, was difficult to get along with.
Now it was clear—it wasn’t just a rumor; it was true.
Even so, they still had to flock to her.
The newcomers acted as if they hadn’t heard her.
They moved closer, pretending to toast with their drinks, and struck up a conversation.
Difficult to get along with?
There were plenty of ways to bridge the gap.
Even though Xia Shiyao’s distaste was written all over her face, they insisted on talking to her.
Someone piped up, “Miss Xia, you look a bit like the Magical Girl Jin Luan. You’re both just as beautiful, just as dazzling.”
At that, Xia Shiyao’s expression shifted—a strange look.
It was hard to tell if she grew colder or softened slightly.
With the topic open, the Zhong family’s son seized the chance to ease the awkwardness.
“Right, right! Miss Xia, what do you think of Magical Girls?”
Xia Shiyao replied flatly, “You’re almost twenty years old, and you’re still talking about Magical Girls? Don’t you think it’s childish?”
Her words struck home, leaving several people choking on their responses.
But one woman’s expression was stern, her attitude firm.
“Are you saying that discussing the heroes who protect humanity is childish?”
Xia Shiyao had to admit—this woman had caught her attention.
She was a young girl with a few freckles on her face, looking about seventeen—exactly the age to still idolize heroes.
In a CEO romance novel, this girl would have successfully grabbed Xia Shiyao’s attention.
But this wasn’t a CEO romance novel.
Xia Shiyao refused to continue the Magical Girl topic.
Simply talking to these people made her deeply uncomfortable.
Still, she felt a flicker of curiosity about the freckled girl.