Chapter 77: A Town of Puppets and a Startling Encounter

Mo Qiu had pondered extensively over the matter of Elia, yet had made no progress.

Mo Qiu had only encountered her once or twice in the conference room, each time observing her standing atop the round table, directing Aiqi and other capable demons.

Xinleit was among those present, and though Mo Qiu had anticipated being assigned a task by her, Elia had yet to even glance directly at her.

Could her smile during their initial encounter have been entirely feigned?

Mo Qiu had considered numerous possibilities, even attempting to tail her after their meetings concluded.

Elia, possessing the ability to fly, would always depart the Black Palace with utmost speed after each meeting, rendering Mo Qiu utterly incapable of keeping pace.

Acting too hastily, however, would only serve to arouse suspicion.

Elia consistently claimed to be burdened with crucial tasks from the Emperor, yet her presence was conspicuously absent when it came to their execution.

A demon executive, having been in the human city for well over half a month, had surprisingly failed to make even the slightest ripple.

Rather than questioning her true capabilities, Mo Qiu was more concerned that Elia was biding her time for something significant.

While trailing Elia through the bustling streets, Mo Qiu couldn’t help but wonder if this was how she always ventured out.

Elia had merely changed her attire, her distinctive green hair now transformed to black, allowing her to blend seamlessly into the crowd without anyone suspecting her true identity.

Nevertheless, her striking presence remained undeniable; her classically beautiful features drew numerous attempts at conversation from passersby.

Elia would merely offer a gentle smile in response, a stark contrast to how other demons would likely grimace in disdain and drive the person away.

Given that Elia had once publicly strangled a demon to death in the conference room, Mo Qiu couldn’t shake the feeling that a murderous intent lurked beneath her pleasant smiles.

Elia’s leisurely stroll suggested she was simply out for a casual shopping trip.

Only two types of shops would ever capture her attention: those selling sculptures, which she seemed to find utterly fascinating.

Ironically, she herself resembled an ancient sculpture brought to life, her inherent elegance unmasked even by modern clothing.

The other type was flower shops, where Elia would even engage in cheerful conversation with the owner.

Although Mo Qiu was too far to discern their words, their interaction appeared quite jovial.

After half an hour wasted with no discoveries, Mo Qiu was forced to implement an alternative plan.

Saluk had mentioned that the Mysterious Person was also burdened with a vital imperial mission; could this truly be a mere coincidence?

What was the connection between Elia and the Mysterious Person? Were they both executives?

If two executives from the Imperial Organization were indeed in Windchime City, Mo Qiu would have to seriously consider how to ensure Bai Chen’s escape alongside her.

This was a force neither she nor the current Bai Chen could hope to contend with.

The city’s destruction was an inevitable outcome, and she had no desire to lose her life, or Bai Chen’s, over something already foreseen.

Time, it seemed, was indeed too short, and still, not a single clue had emerged.

Mo Qiu hastened into a narrow alleyway, her steps quick and urgent.

After carefully concealing her freshly purchased groceries, the young woman retrieved a disguise mask and affixed it to her face.

Star-shaped pupils ignited within her eyes, a magnificent Gothic black gown enveloped her form, its hem swaying rhythmically with her every stride.

“I feel much more invigorated.”

Mo Qiu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a slight curve gracing her lips.

“Since our dear executive refuses to work, I suppose I’ll have to compel you.”

The young woman crouched, then sprang, effortlessly leaping onto the rooftop, her small leather boots landing with a soft ‘thwack’.

From the rooftop, the entire city seemed to lie beneath her watchful gaze.

A strong wind whipped around her, setting her dark blue hair into a dance.

‘What would Elia’s reaction be if I were to instigate a minor disturbance?’

‘Would she panic like an ordinary person, or would she attempt to engage with me?’

‘If the former, it would indicate the immense importance of her mission, preventing her from easily exposing her identity.

If the latter, it would be a perfect opportunity to forge a connection and allow me to investigate further.’

The young woman traversed the rooftop’s edge, her small leather boots moving one before the other, her posture akin to a playful child.

Her gaze fixed on Elia below, she held two mirror cards clutched in her hand.

Just as Mo Qiu was about to make her move, a sudden, piercing headache caused her to wince.

The young woman nearly toppled from the rooftop, forced to halt and clutch her head.

“Such pain! What’s happening so suddenly?”

Recognizing the familiar sensation, Mo Qiu quickly plunged her hand into her pocket, retrieving the metal shard.

Ever since Xinleit’s demise, she had closely observed Bai Chen and the Cat Demon Guild for an extended period, yet had found no trace of the remaining fragments of the metal shard.

‘Could they have been reduced to ashes in the explosion of that electric vehicle?’

She had carried the metal shard with her all this time without incident, yet now, problems were emerging.

“It’s back again, that temptation has returned.”

“What does it mean, telling me to go back? Is there something there?”

Mo Qiu stubbornly ignored the sensation, clutching her forehead as she moved back to the edge, her gaze sweeping across the street ahead.

‘Where is Elia?’

‘How could she have vanished in such a short span of time?!’

A terrible realization struck her as even the objects before her began to warp.

Mo Qiu collapsed to the ground, her consciousness plunging into a profound depth.

When Mo Qiu’s eyes fluttered open once more, she found herself on a different, peculiar street.

The concrete beneath her feet had transformed into soil, and the towering skyscrapers were gone, replaced instead by low-rise buildings, none exceeding seven stories.

Surrounded by picturesque mountains and clear waters, bathed in bright sunshine, it appeared to be nothing more than an utterly ordinary mountain village.

“What in the blazes is this place?!”

Bai Chen was utterly stunned by the scene before him; behind him stood dense mountain forests, while a small village lay ahead.

Only moments ago, he had been on the modern streets of Windchime City; how, in the blink of an eye, had he come to be standing here?

He raised a hand to touch a nearby tree, its bark feeling real, and the scent of fresh grass was remarkably potent.

‘If this is an illusion, it is far too outlandish.’

After a moment of contemplation, Bai Chen stepped into the small town.

Though small, the town was bustling with people, and numerous pedestrians could be seen on its streets.

This should have been a vibrant and refreshing sight.

Yet, cold sweat trickled down Bai Chen’s back.

Every person here bore a vacant expression, their eyes fixed ahead, and their conversations were not in any discernible language, but rather in low, guttural roars.

Rather than a town, it felt more like a stage for a puppet show, with all the residents merely marionettes controlled by invisible strings.

“What in the world is going on?”

Bai Chen couldn’t help but mutter, and no sooner had the words left his lips than he looked up.

Every townsfolk within his sight ceased their actions, turning their heads in unison to cast strange glances his way.

The entire town fell silent, sending a shiver down Bai Chen’s spine, and he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.

After he stood frozen like a wooden dummy for several minutes, the townsfolk resumed their activities, once again communicating with low, guttural roars.

‘Damn it, I can’t make a sound?’

Bai Chen sealed his lips and continued to navigate the small town.

Although the townsfolk did not speak, the symbols they wrote were those used by ordinary people, and Bai Chen could comprehend their meaning.

‘In our country—no, rather, in this entire world—could such a town truly exist?’

‘Where exactly is this place?’

Bai Chen wandered aimlessly, making every effort to avoid contact with the townsfolk.

‘In this desolate wilderness, if they were to devour me, no one would come to my rescue.’

After an unknown duration of walking, Bai Chen spotted a group of children, schoolbags on their backs, turning into a narrow path.

Bai Chen pondered for a moment before deciding to follow them, which led him to their school.

The children’s figures disappeared through the school gate, but Bai Chen halted at the entrance, a gasp escaping his lips at the words written above:

“Windchime Middle School?!”

‘This is bad!’

Bai Chen hastily clamped his hand over his mouth, but his voice had already carried far, and the bustling small town once again fell silent.

This time, the sky dramatically shifted; the clear daylight transformed into a heavily overcast night.

The sun and moon appeared simultaneously in the sky, morphing into a pair of bizarre, gigantic eyes.

The eyelids peeled open, and terrifying eyeballs stared intensely at Bai Chen, as if leaving him no avenue of escape.

Hearing the sound of numerous hurried footsteps, Bai Chen swore under his breath and bolted.

The townsfolk behind him revealed their bestial nature, each face contorted in a grotesque snarl, like extras escaped from a zombie film set.

Without a second thought, Bai Chen swept the ground beneath his feet with blue lightning, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

Bai Chen directly bolted into a nearby residence, locked the door from within, and leaned his back against the door panel.

Only when the footsteps receded did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, yet he dared not peer out the window.

‘Those massive eyes are likely still fixed on me; I must be cautious.’

Bai Chen kept his eyes on the door as he slowly backed away, only for the back of his head to collide with something.

“Ouch!”

“Wait!”

Both parties simultaneously clutched the back of their heads, spun around, and, eyes wide, pointed at each other in startled exclamations:

“Bai Chen?”

“Libelle!”

Both moved at once, clamping their hands over the other’s mouth, their eyes filled with a mixture of wariness and threat.