It’s Not Over Yet

‘It’s fine, it’s fine.’

I reassured myself silently.

Queen Lan had disappeared to who knew where. Logically, Butler Lin Yi wouldn’t specifically target me again, so there was no need for me to be this nervous.

But was it just a delusion? Why did Butler Lin Yi seem even more dangerous than the robbers themselves?

To my relief, after a brief glance, Butler Lin Yi quickly turned his head away, no longer looking at me.

His ultimate target was clearly Ji Qianluo. He surely wouldn’t hold a grudge against me for calling him a pervert and hitting him, right?

The money was loaded swiftly. A sack was quickly filled to the brim.

The employee tremblingly handed it to the Pantsu Man, who snatched it and nodded to the leading Stocking Man. The Stocking Man grinned, then vigorously waved his free hand upwards.

The Stocking Man guarding us moved simultaneously.

The three robbers regrouped in the center, resuming the formation they had held at the start when they first opened fire. It seemed they were preparing to retreat.

‘Is it over? It’s wonderful that no one was injured or killed.’

I secretly let out a sigh of relief. Once these three left, the police would handle the arrests, I supposed. Well, it wasn’t my concern anyway.

“Do you think it’s over just like that?”

Suddenly, a faint, almost imperceptible voice entered my ears. Startled, I glanced around.

The Class Monitor was glaring intently at the retreating robbers, her eyes conveying a fierce determination: ‘I will definitely catch all these scum later.’

Cheng Tianxiong sat beside her, observing their surroundings, as if fearing a stray bullet might strike the Class Monitor at any moment.

No one seemed to be speaking to me.

‘Who is it?’

I furrowed my brow.

“Don’t bother looking, it’s me, Li Qingchen.”

The ethereal voice sounded again. This time, I recognized it—it was Queen Lan’s!

‘I thought she had run off, abandoning me! So she’s still here? If she was here, why didn’t she show herself sooner?’

“Your Majesty? Where are you?”

I lowered my head and asked softly.

“I’ve been right beside you all along! How sad, Li Qingchen, that you didn’t notice me for so long.”

‘Nonsense! Who would notice you if you’re using invisibility magic right next to me? It’s actually a bit terrifying to think about! Someone was sitting beside me all this time, and I couldn’t see them!’

“What did you mean earlier, when you said it wasn’t over?”

I continued to ask softly.

“Heh heh, well…”

Just as Queen Lan was about to speak, a chorus of police sirens suddenly blared from outside the bank doors. The sound was so loud, it was as if they feared the robbers inside wouldn’t hear it.

Queen Lan smiled and said, “See? This is it.”

‘Eh?’

Before I could react, the robbers inside the bank had already changed their expressions and cursed aloud.

“Damn it! These cops got here so fast this time!”

The Pantsu Man behind him immediately said, “Big Brother, let’s proceed with the plan.”

“We have no choice.”

‘A plan?’

I suddenly understood something, my pupils contracting.

‘These people, they wouldn’t be thinking of…’

Meanwhile, outside the bank, the police had begun to broadcast their message.

“To the robbers inside, listen up! We are the People’s Police from Xinghai City’s Second District! This area is now surrounded; you have no escape! You have five minutes to release the hostages and surrender. We can offer leniency, otherwise, the law will impose severe penalties!”

The police’s announcement caused a stir among the customers inside the bank. Many saw a glimmer of hope for rescue in their eyes.

“Damn these cops and their endless blather!”

The leading Stocking Man cursed, then turned around and shouted at everyone.

“Everyone shut up! Anyone who makes another sound gets a bullet!”

The customers immediately quieted down considerably.

The Stocking Boss nodded with satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over everyone. Then, he began to walk towards the group where I was.

Both the Class Monitor and Cheng Tianxiong’s expressions turned grim, ready for anything.

However, after scanning our group of five, the Stocking Boss decisively reached out and pulled up the girl who wasn’t from our school.

He held her by the neck, and amidst her cries, pressed the gun against her head.

‘This isn’t good!’

I gritted my teeth. Sure enough, these people had this exact plan in mind. Now, things were…

“What are you doing? You promised not to harm us!”

The Class Monitor, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up.

“Shut your mouth, kid!”

The Stocking Boss glared fiercely at the Class Monitor, then moved behind the bank’s main doors with the now inconsolable girl, shouting loudly towards the outside.

“Listen up, police outside! I have a hostage! Now, all of you disperse and let us out! Otherwise, I cannot guarantee this hostage’s safety!”

‘Things are heading down a terrible path!’