Elang, still nursing his throbbing headache, watched in awe as IM effortlessly solved the seemingly impossible challenges. A flicker of hope returned to his eyes, the realization dawning that they might actually have a chance to escape this predicament.
With each correct answer, the tension in the room eased slightly. The Rubik's Cubes continued to shift and change, presenting new equations and puzzles, but IM's newfound mathematical prowess proved to be more than a match for Jeanthus's Guardian's tricks.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, IM declared, "That's it! 64 questions solved!"
IM, his newfound mathematical genius still coursing through his veins, rushed to Elang's side. "Quick, Elang!" he urged, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and urgency. "I'll tell you the answers, just focus on inputting them!"
Elang nodded, his eyes still glazed with pain but a glimmer of hope returning. IM leaned close, whispering the solutions to the complex equations, his voice a steady stream of numbers and symbols. Elang's fingers moved clumsily at first, but with IM's guidance, he gradually gained speed and accuracy.
The tension in the room mounted as Elang raced against time, his every move watched with bated breath by Yolan and Lili. Each correct answer brought a collective sigh of relief, each incorrect one a sharp intake of breath.
Finally, with a triumphant shout, Elang inputted the final answer. The Rubik's Cube before him flashed green, and then vanished, leaving him momentarily disoriented but ultimately unharmed. He slumped against the wall, his body shaking with exhaustion but his spirit unbroken.
After an hour of careful exploration and document collection, the four of them finally emerged from the hidden facility, their minds abuzz with the secrets they had uncovered. As they piled back into the car, a sense of relief washed over them, mingled with a lingering unease.
"We should never go back there again..." Lili said, her voice hushed as she clutched the ancient book tightly in her hands.
Yolan, still sweating from the adrenaline rush, started the car and sped away from the mountain, eager to put as much distance between them and that place as possible.
Meanwhile, Jeanthus arrived at the Seers' training ground, a group of his followers trailing behind him. He confidently strode towards the hidden entrance, expecting to find the Unveiled Family still trapped within. But as he entered the underground facility, he was met with an eerie silence. The room was empty, the Rubik's Cubes nowhere to be seen.
"...They solved it?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Anger flared in Jeanthus's eyes, his fists clenching tightly. "How could they have possibly solved those puzzles?" he growled, his voice echoing through the empty chamber. "They're just a bunch of amateurs!"
One of his followers, a tall, imposing figure with a shaved head, stepped forward. "Perhaps we underestimated them, Master Jeanthus," he said, his voice deep and resonant. "The Imaginary's power is far greater than we anticipated."
"Shut up! There's not even an Imaginary here!" Jeanthus snapped, his frustration boiling over.
He paced back and forth, his mind racing, trying to make sense of the situation. The Unveiled Family had not only escaped his trap, but they had also managed to solve the complex puzzles that were meant to keep them contained. It was a humiliating defeat, a blow to his ego and a threat to his plans.
"We can't let them get away with this," Jeanthus declared, his voice filled with a cold fury. "We need to find them and eliminate them before they become an even bigger threat."
***
A day later, I was back on the private jet with the idols, heading home after the successful concert in Singapore. The girls were sprawled across the luxurious seats, their exhaustion evident after the exhilarating performance.
"You're not sleeping?" Charlotte asked, noticing that I was still wide awake, sipping a cup of tea.
I shook my head. "No, I had a good night's sleep last night."
Charlotte nodded, then her gaze shifted to my hair. "Anyway... your hair seems so smooth. What do you do to take care of it?"
"Oh, just... shampoo three times a week," I replied casually.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Just shampoo? That's it? No fancy hair masks or conditioners?"
I chuckled. "Nope, just good old-fashioned shampoo. Maybe it's the water in my hometown," I joked, taking another sip of my tea.
"Or maybe it's just your amazing genes," Hanna mumbled sleepily from her seat, her eyes half-closed.
I laughed softly, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "Well, yeah, thanks to my mother. Her hair genes passed on to me..."
Charlotte chuckled, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice. "Sure you are... for me, I have to go to the salon every week... it's a real money drain..."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You do that every week?"
She nodded, a resigned sigh escaping her lips. "My manager insists on it," she shrugged.
"It's better not to," I advised, my tone serious. "Because in the end, your hair will become dependent on the salon. If you skip even one week, it'll look messy."
Charlotte tilted her head, considering my words. "Hmm... you might be right," she admitted, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "I never really thought about it that way. Maybe I should try cutting back on the salon visits."
I smiled encouragingly. "It's worth a try. You might be surprised at how well your hair can do on its own."
She looked at Cherry and playfully tugged on her pink hair. "Just like this one. This girl changes her hair color all the time. I don't know if her hair is even healthy anymore..." she said with a chuckle.
Cherry, who was dozing off, smiled and giggled in her sleep. "Eheehe...."
"She even laughs when I roast her..." Charlotte remarked, shaking her head in amusement.
The rest of the flight passed in a comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional soft snores and murmurs from the sleeping girls. I gazed out the window, watching the clouds drift by, my mind filled with thoughts of the adventures that awaited me back home.
As the jet touched down on familiar soil, a sense of homecoming washed over me. I was back in my city, my territory, where the shadows whispered secrets and danger lurked around every corner.
"See you again, Xian," Charlotte said, her voice warm and sincere.
I nodded, a grateful smile tugging at my lips.
"Xiannn, thank you for coming with us, hehehe..." Hanna said with a big smile, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.
I returned her smile, my heart filled with warmth. "It was my pleasure, Hanna. I had a great time."
We said our goodbyes, and I watched as the girls were whisked away in a waiting limousine, their laughter and chatter fading into the distance. With a deep breath, I turned and headed towards the exit, ready to face whatever challenges awaited me in the city I called home.
The Imaginary was back, and the fight for justice continued.
I dragged my suitcase through the bustling airport terminal, my senses alert for any signs of trouble. As I approached the front entrance, I spotted Aca waiting patiently, her face brightening into a warm smile as she saw me. I waved back, my own smile mirroring hers.
Once inside the car, I was surprised to see Dove sitting in the backseat, a playful grin on her face. It seemed like a mini-reunion of the Unveiled Family.
"What's up, guys?" I greeted them, a hint of apology in my voice. "Sorry for asking you to pick me up." I opened the trunk, placing my suitcase inside before settling into the backseat next to Dove.
"No worries, Xian," Dove replied with a cheerful wave. "We were happy to do it. Besides, it gave us a chance to catch up."
Aca, who was behind the wheel, chuckled. "Yeah, and it's not every day we get to chauffeur a celebrity like you around," she teased, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.
I laughed, shaking my head. "Celebrity? Hardly. I'm just a guy who happens to have some unusual abilities."
"Unusual abilities that make you a hero," Dove corrected, her voice filled with admiration. Then, her expression turned serious. "Anyway... you know about the incident last night?"
"Oh, the one with IM at the underground facility?" I replied, my tone mirroring her seriousness.
Dove and Aca exchanged surprised glances.
"You know...?" Dove asked, her eyebrows raised.
"IM telepathically contacted me to make him super smart at math," I explained.
"Ah... that's how they managed to escape," Aca chuckled, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "I was wondering how they got out of that mess."
"Let's go back home," I suggested, leaning back in my seat. "Also... Elang seems to have lost one of his brain cells. He's a bit... you know, like he can't hear well. But after Irune gave him an injection of her healing power, he's back to normal, though he was mad at Jeanthus for days," Dove explained with a sigh.
< Chapter 177 > Fin.