“Boom!”
A powerful spatial tremor rippled outwards, signifying the complete collapse of a dungeon. It returned to the unknown void, becoming nourishment that fed back into the world.
“You’ve worked hard!”
Aya Tone nodded slightly. After handing over the storage bag to the other party, she activated a teleportation, rushing non-stop to her next target location.
The card she had given Fire Finch last night had now become an anchor, guiding her forward.
After personally guiding Lin Ling and a few others through a B-rank dungeon, she embarked on her own clearing path, just as she had done the day before.
Unlike yesterday, this time, there was no need to drive.
The cards were scattered throughout Yan’an City. While traversing the entire city might be beyond her current semi-proficient spatial teleportation abilities…
…the distance between two dungeons was something she could manage.
****
The Vermilion Bird Guild at dusk.
Seeing Aya Tone enter, looking dispirited and with her head bowed, Fire Finch quickly rose and gestured for her to sit.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Then, can you give me more money?” Her dull eyes seemed to hold a flicker of expectation.
“No, I can’t change what’s stipulated in the contract.”
‘…’ Fine! All my hopes are dashed.
After a brief rest, they immediately got to the point.
Aya Tone asked, “How many are left?”
Today, she had covered almost half of Yan’an City. Using spatial teleportation to travel indeed improved efficiency.
However, the corresponding mana consumption also increased exponentially.
Restoring mana took time, as did collecting resources…
It was tedious and incredibly boring.
Fire Finch naturally held the records sent by her secretary. “By my calculations, there are fifty left, but others are also working hard, so you should rest first.”
Seeing her usually laid-back colleague now looking utterly exhausted, Fire Finch felt a pang of sympathy.
‘If I had occasionally appeared in public before, perhaps I wouldn’t have to fear this moment, fearing that I might alert the enemy.’
‘Now, I can only rely on Aya Tone’s hard work…’
“No need,” Aya Tone said, waving a hand to decline Fire Finch’s kind offer.
“I’ll work overtime tonight. Before anyone can react, let’s make a big move!”
Anyone who woke up to find the dungeons in their city had suddenly evaporated overnight would be utterly stunned.
‘This is way too cool, isn’t it?’
Seeing she couldn’t dissuade Aya Tone, Fire Finch had no choice but to instruct her secretary to inform the logistics department about working overtime tonight.
[Logistics: I start at 8 AM!]
After leaving the guild, Aya Tone immediately informed Big White that she wouldn’t be returning tonight, asking her to take good care of Aya Jiu.
She then hung up the phone, feeling the abundant mana within her, and plunged back into her grand strategy of dungeon clearing.
The occasional twinkling stars in the sky seemed to foreshadow a sleepless night.
****
Fated Apartment.
Small feet dangled beneath the hanging chair, occasionally swaying, causing the surrounding air to subtly tremble.
“Big White~ Papa isn’t coming home tonight, so why don’t we invite those big sisters over to play with us?”
‘If two aren’t enough to make Papa realize, then we’ll just get more! One of them is bound to become my mommy.’
‘We’ll win by sheer numbers!’
Aya Jiu’s childish voice made Big White’s mouth twitch.
‘How afraid is the little master that the master won’t find anyone?’
“Alright.”
Having delivered their meals last night, Big White naturally knew their room locations.
But!
She had the contact information for several people. To call them? It was just a phone call away.
As for whether Aya Tone’s identity would be exposed because of this…
‘The little master’s orders are absolute. The master? Not so familiar.’
Aya Tone: “…”
Soon, four people rang the doorbell.
****
That night, the world of Yan’an City’s adventurers collapsed.
Waking up early, ready for a thrilling dungeon adventure, they arrived at the guild only to find scattered quests hanging on the walls.
While the number of quests was still considerable, their difficulty and rewards were unbearable. The effort expended and the income gained were completely disproportionate.
Fortunately, the guild management had anticipated this and promptly provided solutions.
Adventurers could either travel to neighboring cities for activities or accept defense quests issued by the guild.
As for which option to choose, that was entirely up to each individual.
Meanwhile, Aya Tone’s world also collapsed the moment she returned home.
She had spent the entire night rushing, traveling from the city center to other cities, and then back again, finally completing her task.
The result?
The moment she returned, she saw several ‘corpses’ lying on the floor, a sight that immediately gave her a headache.
Around them, traces of last night’s revelry still lingered.
As for the culprit… they were currently sprawled comfortably amidst the women, enjoying the treatment of being the center of attention.
‘I regret it. I should have listened to the Guild Master last night.’
‘Overtime? Not even a dog would do it!’
‘And you!’
Aya Tone, a look of disdain on her face, nudged Li Jia, who was deeply asleep, her short-sleeved shirt inexplicably pulled up, revealing her delicate, smooth belly.
‘It would have been fine if you weren’t here, but now! You’re entirely to blame!’
‘Others might not know his alias, but doesn’t Li Jia know?’
She lay with her mouth slightly open, emitting soft snores. When kicked, her brows furrowed momentarily before relaxing again.
Perhaps she was dreaming of something pleasant, as a faint smile occasionally graced her lips.
Yet, there was something unsettling about that smile, enough to send a shiver down one’s spine.
‘…’ Never mind.
Aya Tone carefully stepped through the ‘flower patch,’ gently cradling the small ‘flower bud’ in her arms.
It wasn’t dawn yet, so it was best to put Aya Jiu back in bed for a proper sleep.
And then!
‘My dear student and good friends!’
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and the starlight that should have dispersed gathered once more.
“Get out, all of you!”
At this point, she stopped pretending.
‘Pretend? What’s there to pretend about?’
She directly opened a teleportation portal, giving each of them a kick, perfectly sending them back.
The sleeping figures, attacked from behind, woke with a jolt. As they fell to the ground and tried to get up to search for their assailant…
…the teleportation portal instantly closed, leaving only a blurry glimpse of a familiar face.
“Big White, care to explain?”
“Cough…” Big White, who had been trying to feign ignorance with closed eyes, trembled slightly. Opening her eyes, she offered a sheepish smile, hoping to charm her way out of trouble.
“Smiling? Even smiling costs time!”
That identical small face instantly fell, and she whined, “It really wasn’t me! Miss Li Jia suggested it.”
‘Shifting the blame!’
‘Based on her understanding of the master, by redirecting the blame, he wouldn’t suspect her or the little master.’
‘Then, after some time, the matter would naturally fade away.’
‘Perfect!’
Aya Tone snorted coldly, ignoring them, and turned towards the bathroom. After staying up all night, only to return to such a frustrating scene…
Now, he only wished this was an unfinished dream, and that when he opened his eyes again, the dream would be over.
“Ye Liu! Get off me, you’re crushing me!”
“Don’t move, I’m thinking. Let me think properly.”
“Even if you’re thinking, get off me first!”
Lin Ling, being the first one thrown into the teleportation array, naturally became the most tragic human cushion.
“So that man really is the teacher, huh? Interesting! Absolutely fascinating!”
Lin Ling, pinned underneath, heard the slightly crazed voice above her and instinctively shut her mouth.
‘Ye Liu is terrifying right now. It’s better not to provoke her.’
“Fis~ Don’t just keep staring.”
Liu Fei looked half-asleep, but if someone were to tap her, they would realize that some people might appear alive, but in reality, they’ve been gone for a while.
Lin Ling: “Don’t fall asleep!”
…