Farewells always left people with a sense of apprehension. Looking at Bei Lou, the blonde with twin ponytails, Xu Chuyao couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholy.
It wasn’t for any other reason—mainly, if she were here, Shen Ning could sporadically generate a few Counter Villain Value points.
But then again, thinking about it, the “corruption” that comes out when your girlfriend is jealous only amounts to fifty, eighty at most, maybe breaks a hundred on a good day—it’s like a mosquito’s leg, far less than the Counter Villain Value you’d get from a magical girl transformation.
With that thought, she felt a lot better.
As for Bei Lian, Legal Sally actually left a day earlier than Yao Qiu. That afternoon, she didn’t even have dinner, just answered a call, and her expression changed drastically.
“What? He snuck out again! You hold them there, I’ll be right back!”
Saying that, she started gathering her things, ready to go.
Xu Chuyao asked curiously, “What happened?”
Unexpectedly, Bei Lian shot her a fierce look: “Isn’t it your fault?”
“I… What did I do?”
“When I visited your school last time, you were there causing all sorts of drama, messing with our boys and disrupting their studies.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” Xu Chuyao grinned, “If it’s true love, maybe one day someone will break through because of it.”
Better left unsaid—Bei Lian just got angrier: “They’re running off to the Nantong bar every night, never with the same person. You call that true love?”
“…Well, I guess it’s not.”
But honestly, that’s just your local “traditional virtue.” It’s simply a sign of the Cultural Renaissance, nothing to do with Ying Yao.
Anyway, after Sally left with her big backpack, for the rest of the afternoon Shen Biao was in high spirits, almost skipping as he walked.
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll be heading back.”
“Yes, the flight’s at half past eight in the morning.”
“Tomorrow at seven, the people we called for will arrive by plane. After landing, they’ll head straight to your place. Please rest assured, Miss Riel, we’ve rehearsed this many times. Nothing will go wrong.”
Indonesia archipelago, northern edge of the Equator Defense Line, on an unknown small island—Valhalla Research Institute. The Security Supervisor, Gori, silently hung up the phone, but instead of relief, his face held a strange tension.
Just then, someone behind him let out a laugh.
“Mr. Gori, your lines and acting are truly impeccable.” A burly man walked up. “I was a bit worried at first, but it seems I was overthinking it—you’re a born performer.”
“My job doesn’t need your advice, Lilis.” Gori turned to look at him. “Did you finish your task?”
Jari looked around at the employee dorms by the Research Institute. “Of course, all arranged. Here, relax. During this time, I’ve built up plenty of trust—they’re utterly convinced, just like that old dog with his master.”
The words had a tinge of sarcasm. Gori didn’t respond, just silently gazed toward the direction of the sea.
“What I really find odd,” Lilis mused, “even Monrose himself didn’t believe you’d betray him. Why’d you change your mind?”
“Hmph.” Gori sneered, “I’ve always been loyal to him. Half my life has been dedicated to his cause. He treated me well, always pulling me aside to say he’s getting old, that he’ll soon step down, and that the future will be in the hands of us young people… But the result?”
Lilis raised his brows and scratched his head. “Didn’t turn out the way you wanted, huh?”
Exactly. Monrose had no intention of stepping down until the very end. He couldn’t even accept death, didn’t want to leave anything behind, just trying to cling to everything he’d accumulated all his life.
So what happens if you succeed? What about Gori? Even thinking about it, it’s clear—if they can’t find the master’s soul, the higher-ups will just take it out on his subordinates.
That’s why—
“I’ve been studying the term ‘Political Succession’,” Gori said, voice shifting from mockery to resolve. “It sounds simple, and it is, but there’s one essential condition.”
Political succession must, first and foremost, be a succession.
Like how a plane must be able to fly, or a people must have someone to lead. For politics to succeed—someone must die.
“Alright, it’s getting late, let’s head back.” Lilis tightened his coat. “The sea wind’s really cold tonight.”
At the employee dorms beside the Research Institute, most of the hundred-odd residents were already asleep.
But in the top-floor dorm, someone was a bit restless. A man with a shaved head muttered quietly, facing one side, “Kelly, you asleep? Kelly.”
No response.
He turned to another direction. “Ascetic Monk, you—”
“Shut up and sleep! I was just dozing off!” The Ascetic Monk glared with his big bald head, voice full of resentment. “We’ve got a mission tomorrow. If you can’t sleep, don’t bother us.”
Everyone had an operation early in the morning.
“I’m just anxious about the mission, can’t relax.” Crazy Goat scratched his own fuzzy head. “What do you think Sand Lilis really wants? Why bring us all here and gather everyone he could?”
These days, several helicopters had come, all carrying minor members of the Clown Gang that Sand Lilis had rounded up. Not very strong—just a lot of people.
“What’s there to worry about?” The Ascetic Monk yawned. “Even a hundred like this aren’t as good as Xu Chuyao back then.”
During the Center City Commercial Plaza battle, they sent out this many, and Xu Chuyao, with Second Rank Shen Biao, slaughtered them all. What’s there to say? The thought alone made him scratch his head angrily.
Crazy Goat fell silent for a moment.
“Still, something’s strange about this,” he said.
“What’s so strange?” The Ascetic Monk sat up, counting on his fingers. “Tomorrow morning, with someone on the inside helping, we’ll sneak onto the southern island, get to the designated spot, activate the Soulstone, then leave.”
It was just like their old missions raiding Mingshi in the city—only difference this time—
“There’s a woman involved.”
“Yeah, we have to bring that scholar along.” The Ascetic Monk glanced toward the corner.
That afternoon, another helicopter had brought them an unconscious woman.
She looked pretty, with a European feel. Morris told them to keep an eye on her and not mess around—tomorrow, take her on the mission and put the Soulstone and the woman together.
Who she was or what use she had, he didn’t care. Crazy Goat had asked, but was scared into silence by Lilis—he said the less you know, the safer you are. Ask too much, and when everyone else leaves, you might have to stay.
So Crazy Goat stopped asking.
“Let’s sleep. Lilis said this mission comes with a big reward.” The Ascetic Monk lay back down, pulled the blanket over his head, and grumbled, “Don’t bother me, really.”
The Valhalla Night Institute returned to silence.
It was almost dawn.
A sleepless woman woke from half-consciousness, gazing at the pale light outside the window with an indescribable unease in her heart.
Xu Chuyao knew this feeling too—sometimes you’d stay up all night gaming, planning to sleep but not quite there, then suddenly doze off for a bit, only to wake and realize it’s already dawn. Like the sky has collapsed, but not quite.
Yu Jing didn’t know how many hours she’d slept, but it was definitely not a full night—just a simple, restless slumber.
She reached under her pillow, found nothing, then pulled her coat from the chair and fished a little handkerchief with sand from her pocket. Last night, she’d wanted to put it under her pillow to dream of her loved ones, tell them she’d found news of their enemy—but in the end, she didn’t have the courage.
Because she couldn’t get revenge.
Yu Jing put on her jacket, carefully stowed the handkerchief back, and thought of what happened two days ago—what that little girl from her class had said. In the despair by the lake, those tiny hands resting on her shoulders, with a gentle smile, saying everything would be fine, no big deal.
If it were her, maybe she really could do it. After all… she never lied.
From the Clown Gang’s very first appearance, countless speculations and theories—the origin, purpose, mastermind, even the timing of their resurgence—all fit in that girl’s clever little mind.
Whatever she said, it was the truth. She never lied.
As Yu Jing was spacing out, there was a knock on the door.
“Teacher Yu, are you awake?” Cheng Chen called from outside. “We need to pack after breakfast and head to the airport.”
“Coming.”
Breakfast was oyster bread and bacon. Xu Chuyao didn’t like sandwiches—too many things mixed together—so at her request, the manor’s chef made a few more grilled fish.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s breakfast or dinner, there has to be meat.” Li Rui declared, “Without meat, what’s the point?”
No one argued, since her figure was the perfect proof—her way of eating was the most scientific, an empirical conclusion.
Betty had left, but her uncle Jacob stayed behind, driving those two long limos to take everyone to the airport.
“On behalf of the Holmes Family, thank you all for helping resolve some old family matters. And personally, thank you for letting me see my loved ones again.”
“No problem, and there’s no need to thank us again for what’s next.” Xu Chuyao said, “In the future, we might need your cousin’s help, so we’ll count on you.”
Her girlfriend had told her that Solon knew a lot about the world’s secrets and was a reliable ally.
“No problem. If you need me, I’ll fly over right away.”
They arrived at the airport. Jacob shut the car door and drove away.
The group stood at the departure gate. Xu Chuyao looked at the cloudy sky outside, feeling a bit out of sorts.
“Though we didn’t play much, this trip was truly unforgettable.”
If you asked why, Yao Li wouldn’t know—she’d never been here before, didn’t gain much Counter Villain Value, so all she could do was make a ceremonial farewell speech, like a travel blogger posting on social media.
Before long, airport staff arrived. After checking their photos, they recognized the group immediately—mostly because of the tall, striking girl—and led them to the plane.
Cheng Qi was the first to board, dragging Yu Jing along to tour the country. After finishing, she returned and nodded at the others, signaling everything was fine.
No suspicious metals on the plane.
“Let’s go then.” Xu Chuyao waved. “Take off! Back to the city!”
The group had two “invigilators” among them, but the way Xu Chuyao put it, it was like she was the team leader.