Boom!
From outside, a section of the building's exterior glass wall facing the street exploded.
Zheng Rain, almost thrown out, used her powerful transformation, even weakened by Planet Blue's restrictions, to pull herself back.
Her transformation was exceptionally fast; unlike most Chrysalis members, she didn't rely on the Chrysalis's curse to extend her attacks. Most Chrysalis members used their stolen flesh to create blade-like whips.
This was a practical tactic, but this extensive extension also meant a wider range of flesh manipulation; the believer's attention was divided, making it difficult to react effectively to counterattacks.
Zheng Rain, however, focused on consolidating her flesh, enhancing her external structure to achieve greater destructive power.
But this was ineffective against Mithra.
The two Greatswords swung, not particularly fast, directly confronting Zheng Rain's fighting style.
Mithra, in her suit, appeared clumsy. Zheng Rain, strengthened by Reinforce Body, believed her trained physique was superior.
But the reality exceeded her expectations.
Each clash twisted and disrupted Zheng Rain's bodily structure. The two Greatswords, like fatal charms, relentlessly pursued her, repeatedly knocking her to the ground.
Then, the Night Hunter Greatsword's Hunting Blade nearly threw her from the building; even without being directly hit, she was almost severed by the invisible blade energy.
If she had fallen, even with her transformation, she would have been severely injured, if not killed!
Mithra dragged the two Greatswords, slowly approaching; seemingly casual, the scraping blades hinted at the ever-present possibility of Enlightened Step.
Zheng Rain, after enhancing her eyesight, could barely react to Enlightened Step's speed.
Yet, she had to focus completely on every movement. She had to be aware of any sounds, ready to evade the blue glow; a direct confrontation was futile against that overwhelming physical strength.
Why… were they targeted by this monster?!
Mithra suddenly vanished, transforming into a tiny shadow; her unique movement miracle was activated!
Zheng Rain sensed a rapidly approaching shadow; one arm's flesh swelled, then compressed; her monstrous claws swiped.
Swish!
But she grabbed nothing.
Mithra's Greatsword hilt lightly grazed her claws, a gust of wind ruffling Mithra's hair.
The blade!?
Mithra's Greatsword was reduced to only the hilt; the blade had completely separated.
Without giving her time to react, the Night Hunter Greatsword, its blade slightly ajar, released a bluish-purple glow, even weakened on Planet Blue.
It came!
Boom!
The Hunting Blade slashed; Zheng Rain's shoulder was severed, the cut extending to her abdomen; her upper body was nearly split in two, but it remained intact, attempting to regenerate.
But a whistling sound came from behind and above; the four blades pierced her.
The Night Hunter Greatsword followed, striking Zheng Rain's head.
With a thud, she fell, but remained tense, struggling to break free from the blades.
Mithra reached out; Ki pattern flickered; she used a containment miracle, using the blades as anchors.
After a brief struggle, Zheng Rain's writhing flesh solidified, greatly hindering her transformation.
Having done that, Mithra retracted the Night Hunter Greatsword, drawing the Abhorrence Staff, and stabbing it into Zheng Rain's head.
Even with two arms, the Abhorrence Staff contained a true core heart; it rapidly absorbed the power of the two Chrysalis arms.
This would take some time; Mithra sat on a nearby chair and checked her phone.
She saw Nie Hong's post of their celebratory meal—a lavish feast, courtesy of Leo Duncan.
Though Mithra didn't crave food, it looked appealing.
After a day of looking at writhing flesh, this was a pleasant distraction.
After a while, Zheng Rain's power faded; her rapidly-withering flesh, combined with her injuries, caused her death. The Abhorrence Staff, having fully absorbed her power, trembled slightly.
Mithra reached out and grasped it; the trembling quickly subsided.
Then, Mithra lowered her head, her eyes briefly turning bestial.
A brief partial transformation; Mithra often used this method to temporarily enhance her physical abilities. Beast transformation was more controllable on Planet Blue, less restrictive than in the Dreamlands.
Though she wasn't really restricted; she used it whenever needed, even in the Flamescape.
Now, she used the transformation to enhance her sense of smell.
[Hunting: A hunter miracle. The roles of pursuit and hunting are clearly defined; pursuers possess refined tracking skills; prey rarely escapes. This miracle enhances senses, creating a unique perception, enabling one to smell "scent" beyond the physical plane.]
Mithra rarely used this miracle; although the description sounded good, the "dog's nose" mostly smelled darkness-related scents; it was too lazy to detect other smells; excessive use could even cause olfactory fatigue.
This made her worried about the upcoming Unified Sense for her nose.
But after the Flamescape incident, the "dog's nose" had become more cooperative; even the self-imposed restrictions were less severe, allowing Mithra to use this miracle more frequently.
Quickly, Mithra smelled a unique scent; standing by the shattered window, she gazed into the distance, then leaped out.
Using the Abhorrence Staff to navigate the buildings, Mithra pursued her target.
Shortly after Mithra's departure, federal police arrived, shocked by the scene; they quickly secured and investigated the area.
"These appear to be… Transformation Miracles! Wandering God curse detected! It's the Chrysalis!" The investigators announced their findings, exchanging glances.
The senior officers' expressions darkened.
The Chrysalis was relentless; this massive gathering in their jurisdiction was a significant failure on their part!
...
A minibus drove down a pedestrian walkway.
The occupants were mostly grim, even despondent. Some were furious.
They had woken up that morning, laughing about their bright future; then, a sudden disaster had destroyed years of work in an instant; their months-long plan had crumbled.
Anyone would be upset.
"Damn it! Where did that monster come from?! How did she know about us?!" Finally, someone slammed the car door, hurting their hand from the lack of Reinforce Body.
"…Sheng." Someone said after a moment of reflection, naming the most likely culprit.
The only ones who recently knew about their plans were Sheng and her group.
The Chrysalis knew about the deal with the Night Hunter Church, but the timing was bad; they were about to take over Hengfeng Group and planned to cooperate later.
Sheng had been quiet for years, only to suddenly take the initiative and leave with others.
And now it seemed that she'd been defeated somewhere and sold them out!
Everyone gritted their teeth in anger.
"Before the federal police react, we need to reach the nearest teleportation point. Our best option now is to leave Planet Blue and regroup later," the passenger in the front seat said calmly.
"Right…"
There was no arguing; their actions had been exposed, resurrecting past sins and subjecting them to another crackdown in Planet Blue, leaving them virtually nowhere to hide.
Their past experiences should have taught them the importance of remaining hidden; their meticulously laid plans had crumbled in a single morning.
The vast Dreamlands were their only refuge.
Though the Chrysalis faith originated in the Dreamlands before fleeing to Planet Blue, they were now trapped, utterly desperate.
What other Wandering God worshiping organization could possibly be worse off?
Suddenly, the passenger in the front seat paled: "Rain is dead."
"Expected… Wait, how long has it been?!"
Zheng Rain had sacrificed herself; they hadn't considered it; but now they realized how short a time had passed since they'd escaped.
Zheng Rain, empowered by two Chrysalis arms, was dead?!
Even with the weakening of miracles on Planet Blue, hers was among the least weakened, and everyone was equally weakened; what kind of power disparity could lead to such a swift and decisive death?!
Even far from the company, it was unlikely that the killer possessed the ability to rapidly traverse the city and catch up to them.
Despite their attempts to reassure themselves, the easy death of a top-tier member shattered their morale.
Before them was a teleportation point in Hou City.
A nondescript, small square.
To avoid complications, they parked nearby and hurried towards the square.
As they passed a narrow alley, suddenly, a person's upper body vanished.
It was too fast; little blood spilled. Before the lower body fell, before anyone reacted, a shadow descended from the sky, grabbing another person, dragging them into the alley.
Only then did they turn, seeing the writhing lower body on the ground, then…
A figure had tackled another companion; the companion's body trembled violently, seemingly attempting to transform, but it was futile.
A gruesome crunching sound came from the dimly lit alley; they vaguely saw crimson, tentacle-like things lashing out.
"A… help…"
Gulp.
The weak sound was cut short; the entire body was dragged away and disappeared.
Mithra turned slowly; her sharp, bestial eyes gradually returned to normal; a leg, the only remaining part of the victim, dangled from her chest.
"Eat faster," Mithra said, walking away.
"Hungry…" The Maw responded.
It was understandable; after consuming so many burning fire seeds, it deserved something fresh and warm. Couldn't it be a little more careful?
But there were still many outside; no need to rush. Eat more.
Without hesitation, the remaining survivors raced towards the teleportation point.
But the Maw, energized by its hunger, extended its tongue-like tentacles, quickly grabbing several stragglers, pulling them back. Mithra used the Abhorrence Staff to slice them, facilitating consumption by the Maw, then pursued the others.
The remaining individuals had no desire to fight. While some were skilled at transformation, their abilities were limited on Planet Blue; even the strongest were no match for the two Chrysalis arms. Mithra slaughtered them efficiently; the Maw feasted.
By the time they reached the square, only two remained.
"Help! Murder! Murder!" a Chrysalis member cried out, desperately seeking help. Some Planet Blue citizens might intervene.
As soon as the cry was uttered, one was pierced from behind by the Abhorrence Staff; the chest cavity transformed into a hook that dragged them away.
Only one remained.
The bystanders were confused; such violent displays were rare in Planet Blue. Regardless of their motives, they were drawn to the scene.
One, like the Chrysalis members, although unclear about the situation, was moved by the brutality; she shouted, "Stop! What…"
Mithra's gaze turned towards her.
She said nothing, showed no expression; yet, her coldness, the unsettling emptiness in her dark eyes, chilled the onlookers.
All words died in their throats; Mithra's gaze swept over them.
The last survivor quickly hid amongst the onlookers, hoping to blend in. He'd done the best he could.
He thought the crowd might deter Mithra.
But the white whip lashed out, precisely targeting the last man's head, piercing, hooking, and pulling him away.
Seeing the bloody scene, some younger bystanders cried out.
Mithra pulled the man before her, noticing he'd protected his head and hadn't been instantly killed.
Looking at his terrified eyes, Mithra asked, "The final leg isn't here?"
She hadn't seen the leg amongst this group; she'd hoped to collect all the Chrysalis parts, a pity.
"You… damn…"
"Are you hiding in this city, in Planet Blue, or operating in the Dreamlands?" Mithra asked.
The man's eyes trembled violently; unable to answer, the Abhorrence Staff ended him instantly.
Retracting the staff, Mithra straightened her suit; the Maw closed and vanished, having learned to do so without needing instructions. It was quite intelligent.
Then, she sat on a bench by the roadside.
"…Sir, what are you doing?" a brave young man curiously asked. Why would someone who'd just killed so many people calmly wait for the police?
"Waiting for the police."
Oh, she really was waiting for the police.
Conveniently, Mithra called Leo Duncan.
"Hello?" Leo Duncan's voice was muffled; he had something in his mouth.
"Hello, I'm done here," Mithra said casually.
"Ah… what? We haven't finished eating…"
"Save some for me; I'll be back this afternoon," Mithra said.
"…I'll treat you again when you return. This is a big deal; cooperate with the police investigation. It'll be fine; even though the impact is significant, it's not insurmountable for Planet Blue; your actions were a great service; we'll make it easier for you to return. The online backlash will be difficult to manage, though; you should be aware of that."
"Ah?" Mithra responded blankly after his long explanation.
"…Sigh, sit tight; I'll handle it. You probably don't care about the other details; that's it," Leo Duncan sighed.
Hanging up, Mithra rested calmly, her staff on her lap.
"Satisfied?" she looked at the sky, the wind gentle, asking casually.
The Abhorrence Staff remained unresponsive.
"I suppose not. No matter what, your fate is sealed; others' suffering won't necessarily comfort you," Mithra said.
A breeze swept away some of the blood; police sirens grew closer.
These were real police sirens.
The Abhorrence Staff rolled lightly on Mithra's lap, likely coincidental.
...
Mithra was taken away by the police.
Then, she was subjected to a thorough interrogation.
The significant negative impact of the street brawl, coupled with the recent scandal involving corrupt Hou City officers, meant the police couldn't afford to be careless.
Mithra cooperated fully; there was no need to antagonize these individuals already experiencing psychological distress.
The complete picture, obtained from Mithra, corroborated the evidence from the crime scene, phone videos, and photos.
The interrogating officer couldn't even utter a simple "Don't be so aggressive" seeing Mithra's calm demeanor.
They had been saved by Mithra.
After the truth about the Chrysalis cult's plan was revealed, the Hou City elite were terrified.
The Chrysalis had been nearly annihilated once before; this time, they were even more alarmed.
Hengfeng Group was a major player in the city; this scandal was huge and impossible to conceal.
Whether it was considered ugly or not, if this continued, wouldn't it eventually fall upon them?
While the situation was troubling, they were also fortunate.
Leo Duncan acted swiftly.
Although the Hou City officials didn't understand why "Lobotomy Company" intervened, their demands weren't unreasonable—expedite the process, release Mithra quickly, and don't impede her.
That evening, Mithra smoothly boarded her flight back to Wuhu City.
Meanwhile, news spread rapidly online; the Hou City incident went viral.
Videos of Mithra's actions circulated widely, sparking intense discussions.
[Shocking! Woman commits multiple murders on a city street, then calmly waits for the police!]
[Prominent Hengfeng Group wiped out! The perpetrator is a woman!]
People were shocked and curious about Hengfeng Group.
Such sensational headlines, paired with blurry videos seemingly showing a crazed killer murdering people from a large company and chasing victims down the street, drew many in.
Without knowing the context, it seemed a city had produced a murderous maniac who annihilated a large company and chased people down the street; it was unclear what grievances she held.
[At the scene, someone was killed before me. The weapon was extraordinary; I suspect it contained miraculous properties. The last survivor cried for help; I shouted at the killer, even intimidating her. Unfortunately, she still killed the victim. Truly heartbreaking.]
Such boastful comments could fool some.
But clearer videos soon emerged, showing the terrified bystander who'd almost been killed.
[Planet Blue's security needs improvement; if the Dreamlands are unmanageable, will Planet Blue ever be safe?]
[The number one requirement for a miracle studies major shouldn't be miracle power, but mental stability! Look at what's happening now!]
[This is a can of worms.]
Some more serious comments also appeared.
This topic, naturally, occasionally appeared on the Dreamlands forum, particularly in the university section, with Shui Tu University students noticing something.
[Isn't this our Mithra? How did she end up so far away?]
[Damn, is this saying Mithra is a serial killer?]
[Isn't she the one who can take multiple lives? I honestly wouldn't want to get too close to her.]
[She's definitely a seasoned killer; she's not just someone acting out of desperation in the Dreamlands; she's probably killed plenty of Planet Blue citizens, hunting them down with life locks.]
[She asked me, "How many lives do you have left…"]
[I heard that; those asked that question might be her next target!]
[…The floor master is talkative; Mithra is actually nice; she helped me when I almost fell in the cafeteria.]
[No, the Skyfire incident in Ember City hasn't been resolved yet; Mithra saved many people during that event; she's a good person.]
[The testimonies are contradictory; someone said she took a life lock without reason.]
[What? She would leave you a life lock? She's probably deflecting blame!]
[So she has killed, right? Life locks or not, a life is a life! What's the big deal? Someone from the Dreamlands obtaining a Planet Blue identity; that's a remarkably easy feat!]
[You know more than the authorities?]
[Is she your mother? That's why you're defending her so much?]
[She saved my life in Ember City; she's better than my father!]
...
The Ember City incident had largely subsided; Mithra's involvement had received little attention.
However, combined with the Hou City incident, she was thrust into the spotlight.
Mithra had just disembarked from her flight.
A young man, engrossed in his phone, almost collided with her; Mithra effortlessly avoided him, making his clumsy evasion seem foolish.
"Sorry, sorry," the young man quickly apologized. Seeing Mithra's face, his expression changed drastically.
Damn! Wasn't this the murderer from the online news?!
Wasn't she arrested? How could she be here?
Her clothes confirmed it wasn't a look-alike; it was her!
He'd almost collided with a woman who'd murdered an entire company!
The young man paled; before he could scream, Mithra ignored him and left the airport.
A familiar dark green car waited; Mithra got in, fastening her seatbelt.
"Impressive. You've become quite the celebrity," Leo Duncan said, starting the car.
"It was a novel experience; committing murder on a city street in modern society," Mithra mused.
After all, this was impossible on Earth; even with justification, it wouldn't be so easily resolved.
The influence of the Chrysalis cult and Leo Duncan's assistance were significant factors.
But Mithra didn't dwell on it; she enjoyed acting decisively without constraint.
"Mithra, did you kill everyone?" Nie Hong cautiously asked from the back seat.
Nie Hong and Liyu were also there, but Liyu was still under travel restrictions; appearing at the airport would be risky.
"I killed everyone I could smell; some escaped, but I didn't have time; I gave the police a chance to perform. The only thing I regret is not finding one Chrysalis body part," Mithra replied.
"Finishing that in less than a day is insane; give the police a break; keep a low profile," Leo Duncan said.
Nie Hong spoke again: "Oh, Mr. Chen said you should see him when you get back. While the actual impact isn't massive, it's still troublesome."
"Mm," Mithra nodded. "So, what's for dinner?"
"…Right, Crab, what's for dinner?" Nie Hong smoothly changed the subject.
Leo Duncan wanted to say something but, under their gazes, complied: "Let's try a different restaurant…"
He'd taken Nie Hong and Mithra to almost every high-end restaurant in Wuhu City.
Returning to the rehabilitation center after dinner, it wasn't late, but it was dark.
Mithra met Chen Shao.
Chen Shao inquired about the events, then nodded calmly: "I've also received the details; want to hear my opinion?"
"Too aggressive?"
"Well done."
"Ah." Though surprised by Chen Shao's approval, Mithra simply responded.
She'd expected a sigh and a comment about the trouble she'd caused; this was unexpected.
Chen Shao seemed calm but surprisingly progressive.
"This can't be judged by Planet Blue's standards. The Chrysalis cult originated in the Dreamlands; they thrived in Planet Blue due to its unique environment. This malignant tumor needed to be removed; even with casualties, I believe it was acceptable. In fact, there were already significant sacrifices. But you single-handedly accomplished this,"
Chen Shao spoke at length, maintaining a calm tone while clearly expressing his perspective.
"Mm," Mithra responded politely.
"The online controversy is temporary; Hou City will release a statement tomorrow. Your actions won't cause additional trouble; in fact, some difficult tasks have been simplified thanks to you."
"I'm fine," Mithra said.
"But we have something to say. I know you seem to be getting along well here, but you haven't truly integrated; this isn't your home. Your actions might differ from your intentions, but objectively, you've saved many people. You shouldn't be slandered; many are angry about what happened to you,"
Chen Shao said warmly.
Mithra stared at Chen Shao for a moment, nodding slightly: "Thank you."
Her expression didn't change.
Chen Shao nodded back.
The conversation ended; Mithra took her leave.
Glancing back at Chen Shao's office, Mithra turned and headed to her room.
She sensed that Chen Shao had a rich history.
...
The next morning, Mithra was on her way to class—another fire-related course.
She received considerable attention and discussion along the way.
It was somewhat bothersome.
She suddenly thought of something.
Being admired was far more troublesome than being disliked.
The change in public opinion had a significant impact. And this incident involved both Hou City and Ember City, making it even larger.
That morning, Hou City, in conjunction with the Federal government, released a statement about the incident.
The Chrysalis cult's plan and Mithra's contribution were detailed.
This quickly ended the online debate.
Of course, there might still be some anti-fans from Ember City who'd had a life lock taken by Mithra.
Despite the attention, Mithra's initial discomfort quickly faded; she continued her studies and attended classes.
She focused on what she needed to do.
She responded to everyone, male or female.
Fortunately, public interest waned quickly; the incident was soon overshadowed by other news.
The rehabilitation center helped her manage various matters; her life wasn't disrupted.
As time went on, Mithra's life returned to normal.
Lately, Mithra had been spending considerable time mastering the "Nirvana Bloom" flame miracle.
Its power was clear: Mithra's interpretation was "the lower the life force, the greater the power, and the greater the life force recovery."
A powerful miracle, perfectly suited to her style.
However, after starting her studies, she realized it was exceptionally difficult.
She'd assumed Carazo and Liyu would know it, making it easy to learn.
Apparently, she'd underestimated the fire seed's influence on natural talent.
The Ashes Flame Father's enhancement of her fire miracle talent was minimal.
While she could directly use fire miracles in her burning state, her extinguished state remained clumsy.
Perhaps she simply lacked natural talent in this area. Even if she no longer needed catalysts for fire miracles, it wasn't innate.
Mastering "Nirvana Bloom" required understanding the symbolism of life; she could attempt to deduce it from Water and Wood miracles, the easiest to access.
Water and fire were mostly incompatible; Wood enhanced fire; fire believers often supplemented their abilities with Wood miracles.
The more she delved into miracles, the more she realized that while there weren't significant limitations on the types of miracles people could master, comprehensive mastery was rare; most mastered basic miracles and a few specialties.
Talent and time were always limited.
As for Mithra, her talent was primarily in her anger and self-imposed limitations; she had learned Ki miracles quickly, but now she craved the power of Wandering Gods.
However, the price for mastering Wandering God miracles was substantial; Mithra was already contemplating a mahjong game in her mind.
She hoped the "dog's nose" and the self-imposed restrictions would enjoy it.
She still had no idea how to visualize a mahjong table; a deck of cards would also work.
That day, returning from her Wood magic class, she received a message from Nie Hong.
Nie Hong: [Mithra, Sun City announced plans to recreate Xyrin; the news is out!]
...
Dreamlands, Sun City.
Several months had passed—not a long time—and Mithra was once again in this large Dreamlands city.
Although the Ember City incident had temporarily reduced cross-dimensional traffic, it hadn't significantly impacted things.
After all, Ember City-type events were low-probability occurrences; some people were just unlucky.
Sun City had a considerable Planet Blue population; it was one of the largest Dreamlands cities with a significant Planet Blue presence, and it was even busier now.
However, because Sun City was large, and it wasn't a holiday, it wasn't as crowded as Ember City had been.
Sun City was divided into West, East, and North districts, along with the central inner city.
The East District was the most developed and heavily trafficked by Planet Blue citizens. The North District housed many foreign merchants. The central inner city was small but crucial, strictly controlled, with a nighttime curfew.
Mithra and Nie Hong were in the central district; Sun City was about to hold a detailed press conference regarding the recreation of Xyrin.
Representatives from various factions had gathered for the conference.
"Rare. I thought you and Leo Duncan had locked down your roles," Mithra said, watching Nie Hong eat a Sun-shaped lollipop he'd bought on the street.
"What roles? Are we in some script or something?" Nie Hong scoffed.
"Maybe," Mithra shrugged.
"The crab's been pulled away by his sister to handle family business; he's been unavailable lately. That was the price for his help; his sister seized the opportunity," Nie Hong explained.
"He has a sister," Mithra commented.
"Yes, and a brother. His sister, Ling Jinghan, is also a Shui Tu graduate, but unlike him, she's very low-key; many don't realize she's from Shui Tu. She's not particularly flashy, has no remarkable achievements in miracles, but she's a formidable businesswoman," Nie Hong explained.
"Ah, that must be difficult," Mithra nodded.
"Leo Duncan isn't keen on inheriting the family business. While he hasn't said what he wants, his ambitions are similar to mine—conquering the Dreamlands. His sister wants one of him and his brother to help after graduation, so she's been grooming them; that's why he often wears suits,"
So that's it.
No wonder Leo Duncan often wore suits; he was on call for his sister.
"Does he have a chance?"
"That's the interesting part. While he's reluctant, he's been given responsibilities he can't refuse; his abilities are clear; he's performed exceptionally well. The crab's been quite down about it; his brother's doing well; he feels his future is set," Nie Hong chuckled.
Mithra, after thinking for a moment, said, "Being a Crab King is difficult."
Nie Hong hesitated, then mumbled, "You always have to be well-behaved."
...
Central Inner City, Xyrin Square.
This was supposedly where the first Xyrin was created, holding significant symbolic meaning. Nearby was Sun City's Grand Conference Hall, a key political location.
Mithra and Nie Hong slowly approached; the area was cordoned off; inner city guards stood watch, intervening if crowds became too dense or anyone attempted to breach the barriers.
Inside the barriers, many figures were seated, awaiting the conference.
It was quite formal.
Mithra and Nie Hong didn't try to get closer; the stage was high, and the square was spacious enough for everyone to see, especially believers.
"Ms. Mithra? You're here," a familiar voice said.
Mithra and Nie Hong turned to see Salomo.
The Sanctuary wouldn't miss such an important event.
"Mr. Salomo!" Nie Hong greeted him.
"Ah, I almost didn't recognize you, Little Nie; you've improved significantly," Salomo replied with a polite smile.
Nie Hong chuckled awkwardly.
"You're late," Mithra said abruptly.
Salomo shrugged, smiling: "While slightly behind schedule, the conference hasn't started yet; there's no need to rush."
"Is that alright?" Nie Hong felt awkward; one shouldn't be so casual in such a formal setting.
"It's just a press conference. If I weren't here representing the Sanctuary and a sponsor, I wouldn't bother coming. Want to join me?" Salomo asked.
Nie Hong was eager, but Mithra refused: "No, too crowded; we'll just watch."
Salomo wasn't surprised; he nodded in understanding.
"Where's Nino?" Mithra asked.
"Retirement suits him; he seems much more relaxed. I don't know if he'll be here; if his fishing trip overlaps, I'm not sure what he'll choose," Salomo said.
"While fishing is a hobby, it wouldn't override this," a familiar, tall figure said, appearing beside them.
He'd removed his heavy armor; dressed in casual clothes, his usual stern demeanor was softened. Nino looked peaceful, fitting the image of a retiree.
"Ah, you made it," Salomo greeted him.
Nino nodded to the three of them as he approached.
Around that time, sounds echoed from the square. Salomo glanced that way: "I should get going; I wouldn't want to represent the Sanctuary in a negative light. Enjoy your conversation."
He quickly headed towards the exit.
Watching Salomo leave, Mithra said to Nino, "You seem to have recovered well."
"With Xyrin resisting the curse, these injuries are nothing," Nino chuckled.
"It's good that you survived."
"Ha ha ha, of course, thanks to you,"
Nie Hong, choosing to remain silent, quietly munched on his lollipop.
On the stage, the seats were full; many were gathered around the stage. Mithra noticed Kim Xiaoyang, the apprentice blacksmith she'd met in the West District.
She was still an observer; her grandfather, Jin Zhenggang, was the head blacksmith.
Besides the blacksmiths, several recognizable Sun City elites were present; they were tense, their gazes frequently drifting towards the various factions gathered below.
"They're going to create another one," Mithra said.
Nino wasn't surprised: "Having met those blacksmiths, that's not surprising."
"Have you heard anything about what happened before?" Mithra asked.
"I've tried to investigate, but I've been removed from those circles; I wasn't particularly close to the Sun's Mercantile Guild; it's a pity," Nino sighed, shaking his head.
Although the Chrysalis incident in the West District was seemingly resolved, suspicious elements remained.
A shadowy hand helped the Night Hunter Church and Sheng.
The Night Hunter Church's hidden estate was a merchant property; the Sun's Mercantile Guild controlled much of Sun City's commerce; even Salomo, a resident representative, had to cooperate with the guild.
Investigating merchants would require access to the Mercantile Guild.
Unfortunately, Nino had limited connections there; there were even internal funding disputes within Sun City. After his retirement and expulsion from political circles, effective investigation was impossible.
"Then, let's guess what the mastermind wants," Mithra changed the subject.
Nino remained silent; Nie Hong clearly didn't understand what they were talking about, even muffling his lollipop.
"At this critical moment, the goal is likely this," Mithra said, looking at the stage.
Nino gravely nodded: "That's why there are no leads."
Mithra said nothing; Nino continued: "Everyone benefits from Sun City's revival through Xyrin's recreation. Why would someone sabotage this?"
"People are strange. Unclear motives make it difficult to identify targets," Mithra said.
Nino's gaze was distant.
"I'll only offer suggestions; I'll leave after the conference; this is an internal matter. Regarding the previous proposal, contact Salomo if necessary," Mithra concluded.
Mithra wasn't close to Sun City; their relationship was strained; she didn't expect the city's elite to be grateful for her assistance.
If it weren't for Nino and her own interest in Xyrin, she wouldn't have bothered attending.
Seeing Mithra and Nino finish their conversation, Nie Hong cautiously asked, "Why recreate Xyrin? The current Xyrin is doing fine, isn't it?"
Mithra remained silent; Nino glanced at Nie Hong, sighing again: "You'll find out soon enough; it's not appropriate for me to say."
Changing the subject, Nino pointed out some of the people within the barriers.
"Salomo… the Sanctuary representative; no need for introduction; the Sanctuary is adept at international trade; this is how they maintain access to many independent city-states and nations."
"Those in blue robes are from the Sella Kingdom. Sella and Xyrin clashed during the Wandering God era but later united against the Wandering Gods. The two countries are allies with frequent exchanges."
"Those in dark gold, with the double-headed dragon crest, are the representatives from the Rakki. From the legendary dragon ruins, Vala's Fall, they raise many half-dragon creatures. You might visit their lodgings; they arrived on flying dragons."
"The Gulan Sacrifice Tower… those shrouded in greyish-white cloth. Honestly, I don't like them. Their tower is located on the ruins of Gulan, the last beast city. They're called the guardians of the beast people, but many are proficient in beast miracles considered taboo in many Dreamlands regions."
"…Most influential forces from Xyrin's region have sent representatives; some were invited, others came uninvited; many more I don't know about are secretly observing… Regardless, the news of a third Xyrin has a significant impact on the Dreamlands."