The food street in City A has always been a crowded place, even at ten o'clock late at night. It is still bustling with colorful neon lights and enticing advertisements, just like the diverse variety of delicious food.
Here, you can find the most dazzling neon lights and the most captivating advertising signs, colorful and vibrant, just like the wide range of food options available.
Different people with different professions have their own stories here—late-night commuters, food bloggers exploring new places, couples on dates. Perhaps there might even be plots straight out of a romance novel.
After finishing his late-night snack, Alister passed by a dessert shop that was holding a promotional event, passed colorful commercial posters, and passed by his alma mater, Jiujing University. He truly entered the world of the night.
In the non-commercial area of the street, the neon lights were not as overwhelming as before. There were only necessary road lights, and a dozen cars were waiting at traffic lights.
City A's convenience services were always well-established. Even at ten o'clock at night, there were still buses running. Across the street, there were quite a few people waiting at the bus stop, some of them foreign travelers.
"The definition of a new era in intelligent home appliances," the promotional video of the Jishi Group was playing on the screen at the bus stop, but unfortunately, Himizuki did not appear as the spokesperson.
Although Alister encountered many people along the way, he did not come across a single college student at this late hour.
But this was to be expected. For Jiujing University, 9:30 pm was already the closing time, and students were not allowed to go out.
Thinking this, Alister casually bought a bottle of sports drink from a nearby vending machine, then turned left at the street corner after crossing the intersection...
Having sensed that something was wrong in advance, with shadows accompanying him, Alister once again appeared as the "Shadow."
He put the sports drink into the pocket of his dark cloak and approached the girl and the cat by the greenery in the square next to the footbridge.
With long black hair blending into the night, her hair tied up with a slender lavender ribbon, she exuded a restrained and gentle temperament.
Her light chestnut coat covered her figure, making it difficult to see her graceful silhouette. She half-crouched, playing with the cat's chin.
As if noticing the "Shadow's" gaze, the girl, still crouching and playing with the cat, turned her head with a gentle smile and greeted the "Shadow":
"Such a lucky encounter with Lian, Mr. Shadow~"
—Lian, who should have been expelled by Qingxian, was now disguised as a female college student lurking in City A, wearing an innocent and harmless appearance.
Alister was about to say something but was interrupted by Lian, who made a hushing gesture, like a guilty little hamster.
"No, Mr. Shadow, please be discreet," she said with her purple eyes seemingly saying so.
Out of concern for the safety of City A, Alister used up a bit of his newly restored spiritual energy, disappeared into the shadows, and appeared next to Lian.
Glancing at the clueless cat, Alister confronted Lian and said to her:
"There must be a reason behind this. What do you intend to do by staying in City A?"
Lian smiled playfully, her enchanting purple eyes shimmering like water. "Do I need to say it? Of course, it's for the A-Rank Sequence game."
"You don't need to lie." Alister could sense the change in her aura. "Since you have the ability to infiltrate City A again, there is no need for you to appear here now."
She could have easily infiltrated a few days before the arrival of the A-Rank Sequence game, risking being pursued. There must be a hidden motive.
Her thoughts hit the mark.
"Oh~" she pondered for a moment and then became serious. "Mr. Shadow, would you like to hear the truth?"
"I'm listening," Alister replied indifferently.
"The reason why Lian stayed here and didn't leave is because of you, Mr. Shadow."
Furrowing his brows, Alister asked in confusion, "What does it have to do with me?"
"The so-called giving everything for love~"
Suddenly standing up, Lian crossed her arms, took small steps toward him like a dancer, and said, "Lian risked being banned by the Seventeenth Bureau to come and have a chance encounter with Mr. Shadow~"
"...You're out of your mind," Alister couldn't understand this woman.
"Lian is perfectly sane and clear. Making Mr. Shadow her target for marriage has always been clear~" She wore a mischievous smile.
"I am the enemy who 'killed your comrade.' Are you sure?" Alister mentioned the incomprehensible part.
"If Serad is dead, he's dead. Lian doesn't like him anyway." Lian glanced at the cat that had run away. "There are always unpleasant things in this world, but Lian doesn't mind for the sake of love, you know?"
"You're quite delusional," Alister commented.
"Yes, my illness is called love," Lian accepted it candidly.
"A foolish infatuation," Alister made his judgment.
"Yes, love at first sight," Lian accepted it candidly once again.
"...," Alister was left speechless by this woman.
Her sweet talk was somewhat effective. The eleventh seat of Perpetual Night's Lament seized the opportunity and, twirling her fingers through her hair, asked in response:
"Even if Lian didn't come to find you, we still had such a fateful encounter. Don't you think it's destined by fate?"
Is this the influence of that "Lucky Value +1"... Maybe it should be called "Unlucky Value +1"...
Alister adjusted his state and calmly denied, "I don't believe in fate."
"Look, Lian's name is a single character, 'Lian,' and Mr. Shadow's name is also a single character, 'Shadow'~" Lian seemed to not have heard Alister's words, clapping her hands together. "This is an incredible coincidence—perfect match!"
"This is purely a coincidence, an extremely rare event from an objective perspective." Alister stared at her coldly.
"Oh~" Lian pouted in a coquettish manner, raising her fair index finger, and accused him, "Mr. Shadow, you shouldn't be so ignorant. Come back and marry Lian obediently."
"I don't think you have the right to say that I'm ignorant."
"It doesn't matter what you think. Lian only cares about what Lian thinks." She half-covered her face like a sickly wife. "But a man who doesn't get it, suits Lian's taste even more~"
Then, Lian seemed to be troubled as she asked, "Is this also part of your plan, Shadow?"
"I'm sorry, but this is far beyond my expectations." Alister didn't want to be entangled with this woman any longer.
Since he confirmed that she had no intention of harming City A, it was time for him to retreat. He was extremely tired from consuming a large amount of spiritual energy.
And... even if he wanted to intervene, he couldn't control this woman.
Putting aside the fact that he couldn't confront A-Rank players head-on...
The only option was to inform the Seventeenth Bureau. However, once he did so, this woman would most likely get angry and retaliate in City A. Alister didn't want to see that happen.
"Mr. Shadow seems a bit weak~" Lian looked at Alister with concern, "Would you like Lian to replenish your energy?"
"You really talk too much."
"Thanks for the compliment~"
"I'm not complimenting you."
Alister really wasn't interested in continuing the conversation with this woman. He turned around and bid farewell to Lian under the lamplight.
However...
"The night is long, and since Mr. Shadow has nothing to do, why not sit down and chat with Lian~" She suddenly sat on the park bench, patting the seat with her hand.
"Call me 'daddy,' then I'll chat with you." Alister activated the shadows, preparing to leave.
"Daddy~" Lian cupped her hands like a megaphone, softly pleading.
"...," This was the second time Alister was rendered speechless by her.
Encountering an opponent is so troublesome—this was Alister's current thought.
Reluctantly turning his head back, he saw Lian, who was dressed as an innocent female college student, sitting with a pitiful expression on the bench, appearing delicate and weak.
She somehow produced a small folding fan, unfolded it, and covered half of her face with it, looking like a suffering wife, filled with grievances:
"Even though I called you daddy, Lian is still so pitiful~"
"...," This was the third time Alister was rendered speechless by her.