Chapter 152 Chapter 152: Cover and Preparation
Chapter 152: Cover and Preparation
Knock, knock, knock!
"Doctor?"
"Come in."
Amiya entered the room holding a document, only to see the Doctor sitting by the window, staring blankly at the gold and brown cufflink resting in their palm.
She could tell that the Doctor seemed to be... waiting for something?
"Doctor, regarding the budget for our upcoming operation..."
"Just put it over there."
The usually workaholic Doctor now had no mind to deal with documents, absentmindedly telling Amiya to place the file on the table.
"Doctor, are you alright? If you're very tired, you should rest more. I'll just take these documents away for now."
Amiya said worriedly. The Doctor had indeed been under a lot of pressure these past few days. She hurriedly gathered the document she brought and also scooped up the unfinished documents on the Doctor's desk into her arms.
"I'm fine, Amiya. Put the documents down."
The Doctor helplessly stopped her actions. Why was it so difficult to just pretend to be deep in thought and zone out for a bit?
"But Doctor, you..."
You really don't look fine at all. Amiya hesitated to speak further.
"It's really nothing. I'm just... waiting for a certain 'scumbag' to reply."
The Doctor picked up the cufflink. Wasn't it agreed to call if anything came up? It's been half a day with no reply. Or is he already on his way?
...
And the "scumbag" mentioned by the Doctor was currently planning to accomplish a major life event.
"So, you specifically came to find me just for this?"
Emperor's fin, which he was using to pour wine, froze. His sunglasses slipped down, revealing his penguin eyes widened to the size of two mung beans.
That incredulous little look was vivid and lively, incredibly animated. It was hard to imagine a penguin could make such an expressive face.
"Mhm."
"Hiss, let me process this for a moment."
Emperor jumped off the sofa and paced back and forth on the floor. It wasn't that he was unwilling to help, but rather he had no experience in this area either. What if he messed it up?
Wouldn't he become a sinner for all eternity then?
"What on earth are you thinking?!"
"It's obvious."
Exusiai, who arrived later, looked completely confused, not understanding what these two riddlers were discussing in such vague terms.
"Tsk, you're actually asking me about this kind of thing? I'm a penguin! How could I possibly have experience in this area?"
Emperor was somewhat frantic. Even when the entire venue's sound system broke down five minutes before his performance back then, he wasn't as anxious as he was now.
Kevin was taken aback. Thinking about it, he really did feel like he was desperately seeking help from any available source.
"Hmm, wait. I think I've thought of a suitable 'candidate'."
Kevin remembered an old acquaintance. He then downed the wine in his glass in one go and stood up.
Emperor didn't mind his "direct" drinking style. On the contrary, he was happy for Kevin.
"That's good. I was really afraid I'd mess it up for you. But you must definitely save an invitation for me."
Emperor was afraid of missing out on this spectacle. A "Beast" and a human? And it seems genuine! This is truly something you see only once in a lifetime.
All the entertainment he'd seen over hundreds of years combined couldn't compare to this.
"Invitation? What invitation? Boss, do we get one too?"
Exusiai leaned in.
"Shoo, shoo, go away. What are you crowding in for?"
Emperor quickly picked up his sunglasses from the sofa and put them on. Then, with annoyance, he used his fin to swat Exusiai's head away, thus avoiding having his eyes blinded by her halo.
"But I really want to go! Texas, don't you think..."
"No, I don't."
Texas was half-lying on the sofa, her long legs clad in black stockings crossed, a pocky stick in her mouth.
As a partner, she had mastered the timing of interrupting Exusiai's antics quite skillfully.
"Well, there will be invitations. More people means more liveliness, which is good."
Kevin himself didn't mind either way. But... she would probably like it, right?
"Hehe, Boss Kevin is still the most generous!"
"That's settled then. I'll head back first."
"Take care. Won't see you out."
Emperor waved his fin. Honestly, the arc was very small.
Hum! Crack—
The space in front of Kevin shattered into several glass-like cracks. He reached out, pushed open the door of Imaginary Space, nodded back at everyone, and disappeared from the bar.
"Cool~"
Exusiai's eyes sparkled. This Boss Kevin was just like those characters in movies—rich, loaded with money, and seemingly capable of anything.
"Tsk, with just this one move, who wouldn't be dazzled?"
Emperor shook his head. He certainly couldn't do it anyway.
...
Gou Wu,
"Hey, Xi? Why has Kevin been so mysterious these past few days? It's like... he's deliberately avoiding me?"
Pozëmka asked with some confusion.
"Avoiding you? Could it be because I've been hanging around you so much lately and didn't leave you two any private space that he got angry? Should I leave then?"
Xi pretended not to understand. She stretched her jade-like legs, stood up, and was about to walk out to give these two some private space.
"That's not what I meant."
She quickly grabbed Xi's arm and managed to stabilize this tsundere dragon girl's emotions after much persuasion.
"Don't overthink it. With his iceberg personality, everything is written on his face. What could he possibly hide from you?"
Xi rolled her eyes coquettishly and then explained.
"That's true~ Maybe I really am overthinking it."
Pozëmka pondered and realized that indeed made sense. She completely failed to notice that in her blind spot, Xi's expression had changed.
Guiltiness, evasiveness, and a touch of remorse.
But when she turned back to look, Xi's eyes had returned to their usual slightly cool demeanor.
"Shall we continue then?"
"Mhm."
"By the way, Xi, why did you suddenly decide to learn embroidery from me?"
"Ahem, just a sudden whim..."
Xi got distracted. The silver needle immediately pricked her hand. However, her skin wasn't pierced at all; instead, the needle bent.
Hmph! If things don't work out after all the effort I've put in, I'll definitely () him!
——————
"...And this move, the Instant Slash [Cherry Blossom Curtain]. How should one..."
The "Sakura" simulated by [Adam] was originally communicating with FrostNova quite fluidly on the training ground.
"Hold on for a moment, Miss FrostNova. Let's pause the swordsmanship guidance here for now. I may need to leave for a while."
Suddenly, "Sakura" stopped moving. Then her appearance transformed again, reverting back to Adam's pure energy-like form.
It was the first time she had seen that kind of expression on "Adam's" face.
"Is everything alright?"
"...There is no need for concern."
Adam tried his best to dispel her worries. A combination of spiritual will and energy basically had no possibility of encountering danger.
...
Gou Wu,
In a secluded small courtyard, a white-haired man in casual clothes was tapping something with a small hammer.
A phantom figure coalesced as Adam manifested his form.
"I extend my greetings to you, Pioneer."
"Adam, you should know I am not him."
"Indeed. But the 'Pioneer' I refer to is not one who traverses history, but one who traverses worlds."
Hearing Adam's words, Kevin put down the small hammer in his hand.
"Heh, it seems you've learned a lot, Adam."
"No. We have all learned a lot, Pioneer."
Adam did not wish for Kevin to exclude himself.
"We can chat more later. Your memory database should contain Eden's data?"
"But of course, my friend~"
A voice as warm and mellow as fine wine sounded out. "Adam" dissipated as "Gold" descended.
Apology Letter
If any readers have caught up to the latest chapter, you should know that I didn't update yesterday.
Generally speaking, if I fall asleep or forget to upload, I'll make it up for you all after I wake up. But this time I didn't.
Because I fainted; I didn't just fall asleep—I literally fainted.
The kind where I coded until midnight and then just collapsed on my chair. Since I had to go for driving practice at 7:30 AM, when the instructor couldn't reach me by phone and called my family instead, they pushed open my door and found me lying lifeless on the chair.
Then they sent me to the hospital. After examination, there weren't any major issues. The doctor said I've been overworking myself these past few days and staying up too late; I need to pay attention to rest. Hahaha... even now I don't know how to face my family.
Because for two or three days straight my sleep time has probably been less than three hours per day.
These past few days I've been rushing through driving practice to make up for lost hours so I can get my driver's license before summer vacation.
My schedule: leave at 7:30 AM, return at 11:30 AM; leave at 2:00 PM, return at 5:00 PM. This includes an hour round-trip commute time to and from the training ground.
I've posted screenshots of my chat records below.
Everyone knows my chapters are usually uploaded around 5 AM; it's not scheduled posting—I occasionally pop up in the group chat. Then I sleep at 6 AM and have to get up an hour and a half later? In the afternoon I can maybe sleep for another hour?
So yeah... obviously living like a ghost (on an unhealthy schedule). Today I didn't go to the training ground either; didn't do anything—just slept at home until past 10 PM tonight; people in the group should know about this.
Not sure if it's because I slept too long or what... but right now at this hour I'm actually quite energetic. But I dare not stay up late again; that feeling of everything going black before your eyes is really scary.
So I'm very sorry about the lack of updates these past two days. Tomorrow I'll try my best to get back on track—this time for real; if I don't adjust soon I'll die on my keyboard.
That's all for now; I'm going to sleep first. Goodnight everyone.
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