A Midnight Confrontation and a Mysterious Observer

“It’s actually true…” Villy drooped, her spirit deflated like an eggplant touched by frost. Her low spirits were palpable, even to Liu Yu, who lay beside her. The reason, of course, was the confirmation she had received from Senior Yao Jing. For a political fanatic, admitting one’s mistakes was probably worse than death itself, especially for Miss Villy, a ‘flat-chested oddball’ whose stubbornness seemed concentrated solely in her sharp tongue.

Adding several mental labels to her friend, the grey-haired girl yawned widely before offering comfort. “If you believe the city is flawed, then go build it up yourself. The Supervisory Bureau is recruiting, after all. Stop inciting conflict online all day.”

Whether it was a professional habit or some peculiar quirk, Villy was remarkably keen on collecting negative news about The Supervisory Bureau, using it to fuel her online platform accounts. Over time, she had cultivated a modest reputation within relevant circles, and even her slightest commentary would be met with fervent adulation from self-proclaimed ‘big shots.’

Robin of the [Grey-White Hunter] was merely one of her many aliases. For instance, Liu Yu had previously glimpsed her in a channel called [Eye of Truth], where she was offering her opinion on the deep pit incident—an opinion decidedly negative in tone.

“What do you mean by that?!”

“I mean, stop being dramatic… it’s time for bed.” Under the oppressive gaze of Villy’s eyes, Liu Yu couldn’t withstand the pressure and quickly rephrased her statement.

“You think I’m possessed, constantly stirring up conflict and setting the agenda?”

“I never said that!”

“Heh… you’re even more ignorant and shallow than I imagined. Do you know that The Supervisory Bureau once secretly carried out a massacre, and to this day, they refuse to disclose the reasons?”

Villy scoffed, “Everyone has the right to know the truth. The Supervisory Bureau’s actions are precisely the root cause of public distrust.”

“Furthermore, if this endlessly expanding military force and power aren’t curbed, the entire [Dongchuan] will eventually become their personal dominion. All I’m doing is aligning with the will of the people.”

Having delivered her speech, she proudly puffed out her slightly raised chest, a sight Liu Yu couldn’t even be bothered to glance at.

‘Is it really any different from a one-man show now?’

Realizing she truly couldn’t follow her friend’s convoluted logic, the girl simply gave up thinking. “So now that you know the truth, shouldn’t you clarify things? After all, Miss Villy is the type to risk everything in pursuit of truth… a ‘firebrand youth.'”

‘Is that what it’s called?’ Scrounging through her meager vocabulary, Liu Yu finally found what she considered a milder term. But the black-haired girl’s close-range shriek immediately made her clap her hands over her ears in discomfort.

“You actually dare to call me a ‘firebrand youth’!”

Having spent years immersed in online culture, Villy naturally understood that the term ‘firebrand youth’ was now predominantly used pejoratively. She glared fiercely at the grey-haired girl, her usually charming demeanor now seeming particularly detestable. ‘I need to find a chance to rip that mouth apart,’ she thought.

“What, what, what? Why are you shouting so loudly? Can’t you be quiet? I’m trying to sleep!” Feeling a shiver run down her spine from the intense stare, Liu Yu conceded defeat and burrowed into her blanket.

“Hmph~” Villy sighed, speaking in a pitying tone. “Go on, sleep. You’re just a crybaby who blubbers all day anyway, so of course you wouldn’t understand any of this.”

“Who are you calling a crybaby?!” Liu Yu’s head popped out from under the covers.

“Someone knows perfectly well,” Villy retorted. “I vividly recall a certain someone’s tears streaming down their face, and I truly regret not taking a photo to capture it.”

“I didn’t cry,” Liu Yu retorted, her voice weak and unconvincing. “My eyes were just watering on their own. Besides, those thugs were on the verge of death at the time; what’s wrong with me mourning them?”

“Someone actually mourns a bunch of thugs who harassed them? It seems I’ve truly underestimated you, Miss Liu Yu. You, you’re not just a crybaby, you’re also a bleeding-heart… *b*tch*.” Villy emphasized the final word with relish.

“Try calling me that again?”

“I will, I will! Bleeding-heart b*tch, bleeding-heart b*tch! Miss Liu Yu is a crybaby and a bleeding-heart b*tch!”

“…Keyboard warrior, blockhead, flat-chested freak, stinking imbecile!” Liu Yu shot back.

“Big cow, mischief-maker, lazy brat who can’t even tell wheat from rice, illiterate vocational school girl!”

Having long since mapped out all of Liu Yu’s weaknesses, Villy’s words were instantly loaded with maximum impact.

“You… you… you go to hell!!” Liu Yu’s face flushed crimson upon hearing this. She lifted her head and lunged towards that ‘flat surface.’

“Resorting to violence when you can’t win with words, Miss Liu Yu is *so* shameless~” Villy pulled the smaller head into her embrace, then skillfully patted the girl’s back, soothing her. “Stop it, stop it. We have school tomorrow, so go to sleep early.”

“Who’s causing trouble?” she grumbled, a dissatisfied reply, but drowsiness soon overwhelmed her. After a yawn, Liu Yu fell into a deep slumber.

****

The night was deep and still, the moon bright and stars sparse.

“Don’t… move… around,” Liu Yu mumbled unconsciously. It felt as if someone was breathing in her ear, or perhaps a stray strand of hair was tickling her, and the uncomfortable itching made her clutch the arm across her chest tighter.

“This is truly…” A troubled woman’s voice echoed in the room. “She was never this clingy before, was she? Could it be that the power of [Light] has grown stronger again, burning away this girl’s brain?”

Reaching out to pinch a soft, delicate cheek, The Woman’s Voice carefully examined the girl’s condition. After a moment, she let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, there isn’t much change from before.”

Feeling reassured, she then grumbled, “Sigh~ It hasn’t been that long, and you’ve already gotten yourself into such a sorry state again. I used to tell you every day to be careful, but you never listened. Now that you’re like this, don’t get involved in anything else… Hmm?”

Having thought of something, The Woman’s Voice suddenly became intrigued. “How about this? You just stay put in this ‘brain-damaged’ state. I’ll monitor you from here. That way, both our missions will be accomplished, won’t they? What do you say? If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as a ‘yes.'”

“Good, deal made.” The Woman’s Voice cheerfully patted the girl’s cheek, producing a crisp sound.

“Sigh, but in the end, all of this mess was caused by you and your ‘good comrades,’ led by that ‘Crow.'”

“You could have just… lived peacefully in that other world. But no, you just had to… get involved in all this nonsense, leaving yourself half-dead and utterly exhausted.”

“I should just kill you, you foolish girl, tricked into counting money for others. After all, all you do in this world is make faces and mess things up.”

“Awooo.” As if hearing the scolding, the sleeping grey-haired girl suddenly bit one of The Woman’s fingers. Then, she began licking it incessantly, as if savoring a delicious meal. This endearing, foolish display directly amused her.

“Phew… heh… ha… I really shouldn’t get angry with a brainless idiot like you. You’re always this goofy… Never mind, the outcome is already decided anyway. Let me see what kind of abyss you self-proclaimed ‘heroes of humanity’ will drag this world into.”

Her agitated mood finally calmed. The woman looked at the face so close to hers, pressed her forehead against it, and softly whispered, “Goodnight, my willful and foolish girl.”

……..

……..

“Eek, eek, eek, eek—”