Ah, they were all my brother’s people…
A thought seemed to dawn on her.
Aya Tone’s demeanor shifted; propping her chin on one hand, she slumped over the desk, utterly listless, like a salted fish.
“Brother, if you’ve already made up your mind, why bother telling me all this?”
‘Anything I could think of, you would have already considered.’
‘And anything beyond that, asking me would be useless.’
“Isn’t this so you can offer some counsel? And perhaps, find an opportune moment to show those old geezers a thing or two.”
“Actually, they’re pretty much your age…” Aya Tone muttered softly.
Ao Yu raised an eyebrow. “What was that?”
Noticing Ao Yu’s displeased gaze, Aya Tone instantly snapped to attention. “Nothing! Do you want me to bring a color swatch book?”
‘I still have the color swatch book I bought for Aya Jiu at home; it would be perfect for the occasion.’
‘I’ll make sure they see what *real* colors look like!’
Watching the suddenly enthusiastic Aya Tone across from him, Ao Yu’s lips twitched.
‘No doubt, she’s completely misunderstood the situation.’
“Never mind, I’ll handle it myself.”
“Why? (Why?)” Hearing that her help wasn’t needed, Aya Tone, who had just managed to pique her interest, felt a sudden pang of confusion.
She wanted to press the issue, but Ao Yu stopped her with a raised hand.
“Your little tag-along is awake. I’ll grant you access; you can go over there yourself.”
“I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be accompanying you.”
With that, he rose and waved his hand, dispelling the spatial barrier.
He hadn’t even finished dealing with the disappearance of the S-rank dungeon, so he had little time to waste chatting idly with his younger sibling.
‘If he talks too much, he’ll feel guilty when it comes time to pass the buck.’
“No, seriously, you’re not taking me?” Aya Tone raised her hand, attempting to call back Ao Yu, who was already disappearing.
But Ao Yu was already nowhere to be seen.
Helpless…
“Big White, please stay with Aya Jiu. I need to step out for a moment.”
“Bye-bye, Papa~”
Aya Jiu, her attention already captivated by the television, raised a tiny hand and waved it.
Then, she picked up a small snack nearby and, like a hamster, began to munch away.
****
Beneath the guild hall.
Aya Tone, her transformation complete, stepped out of the elevator.
In the center, a distorted figure immediately caught her eye.
Li Jia, having awakened from her stupor, immediately attempted to tame the magical energy within her, aided by the Azure Dragon Armor.
‘Time was of the essence!’
‘The sensation of losing control over her body was unbearable; she certainly didn’t want to endure it for half a month.’
However, the attempt at taming only resulted in reigniting a magical rampage.
The space around her, influenced by her surging magic, twisted into chaotic spatial distortions.
The already scarred ground gained new wounds.
‘Should anyone accidentally touch them, they’d be lucky to merely lose a hand.’
‘Unlucky…’
‘Heh.’
‘My brother truly spared no expense. He must be planning to keep this protective barrier active all day.’
The moment Aya Tone placed her palm on the transparent barrier, she felt a searing pain emanate from her palm, causing her to instinctively recoil.
‘It’s the formation’s inherent defensive counterattack!’
‘Well, I’ll be.’
‘To withstand the spatial distortions formed by the overflowing spatial magic from Li Jia…’
‘This formation is far from ordinary.’
‘At minimum, it’s the masterpiece of an S-rank formation master.’
‘Activating it requires a significant amount of magic stones, let alone preparing for prolonged activation.’
‘Only someone as wealthy and influential as Ao Yu would have such audacity.’
Ao Yu: “Do I look like a sucker to you?”
“Li Jia, can you hear me?” Aya Tone didn’t enter, but instead called out from outside.
‘A joke, that would be. Inside was nothing but spatial distortions.’
‘Her small frame couldn’t possibly endure it.’
‘Wuwuwu!’
Within the Azure Dragon Armor, Li Jia desperately tried to open her mouth, but it was all in vain.
She could perceive everything around her, yet she couldn’t control her body to respond.
‘Speak, damn it!’
‘Useless mouth!’
“Hmm, seems quite spirited.” Aya Tone stroked her chin.
Although the Azure Dragon Armor obscured Li Jia’s face, Aya Tone couldn’t discern Li Jia’s condition from her expression.
However, the spatial fluctuations before her suddenly grew chaotic, likely caused by Li Jia’s mental agitation.
Following that, Aya Tone explained Ao Yu’s plan.
“I think it’s better to listen to my brother. Look, your family isn’t short on money, so there’s no need to even consider an S-rank dungeon.”
“Hiding in the shadows offers a greater degree of freedom, and…”
Aya Tone’s analysis was logically sound.
Yet, to Li Jia, it didn’t sound quite so appealing.
Whether it was becoming a guardian or following Ao Yu’s advice to remain hidden behind the scenes.
Both options diverged significantly from what she had envisioned.
‘Hmph, she knew Fire Finch revealing the fruit’s news to her was definitely not out of good intentions.’
‘However…’
‘Aya Tone is right.’
‘Hiding away would offer more freedom.’
‘But similarly, remaining in the darkness, having her hands stained with blood, would be unavoidable.’
‘Haven’t I already prepared myself for this?’
Li Jia’s stiff lips imperceptibly curved into a slight smile.
****
On the return flight.
“Papa, are we really not going back with Big Sister Li Jia?”
Having not seen Big Sister Li Jia since yesterday morning, her small face was etched with worry, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.
“Big Sister Li Jia has some unfinished business, and Aya Jiu has kindergarten tomorrow, so we have to go back first.”
Aya Tone chuckled softly, gently smoothing out her daughter’s furrowed brows.
‘This child.’
‘She had so much fun, she completely forgot about Big Sister Li Jia.’
‘But it’s good that she remembered on the way back, at least.’
‘I wonder if Li Jia will be moved to tears when she finds out.’
‘Hahaha.’
“Is that so?” Aya Jiu pouted.
‘Oh, if only I had known, I would have asked Big White to stay with me…’
****
The next day.
After watching her daughter, with her small backpack, walk through the kindergarten gate, Aya Tone sought out Fire Finch.
The door was yanked open abruptly.
Fire Finch’s eyes were bloodshot, and her face bore the pallor of a sleepless night.
“What do you want? Don’t you know disturbing someone’s sweet dreams first thing in the morning brings bad karma?”
“Dinner’s on me tonight.”
“Ah, karma and such are just feudal superstitions passed down by the elderly! Young people should be early risers!”
Upon hearing about a dinner invitation, Fire Finch’s face instantly brightened, her gloomy demeanor vanishing without a trace.
“Boss, what brings you to me so early?”
“No, no, *you’re* the boss!” Aya Tone waved her hands dismissively. “I want to go inform Uncle Li and the others, and I was wondering if you could help me put in a good word.”
Although she’d had a brief encounter with those two at the Huo clan meeting.
They’d only exchanged a few words across the table; they weren’t truly acquainted.
Moreover, Li Jia had traveled to the Demon Capital under the pretense of being with her.
Now that Li Jia was left behind in the Demon Capital, it seemed improper not to inform her parents.
“Alright, wait for me.” With that, the door was firmly shut.
Facing the closed door, Aya Tone’s lips twitched.
‘She’s just going to inform them, pay a visit. Is all this really necessary?’
****
In the car.
Aya Tone’s gaze fell upon the fruit basket on her lap, a hint of distraction in her eyes.
‘This tiny basket actually cost her over a hundred dollars??’
‘Huh?’
“Don’t dwell on it. This is already considered cheap; it’s good I didn’t make you buy one costing over a thousand.”
Fire Finch, focused on driving beside her, had a smile playing on her lips.
‘This stingy look of hers was truly amusing.’
“I’m very unhappy right now, and I don’t want to talk to you.” Aya Tone puffed out her cheeks, sulking.
‘Money should be spent where it counts.’
‘Losing a hundred or so yuan, how infuriating!’
‘As for the money spent on figurines, that’s serious business; spending money on that is perfectly acceptable.’
‘But the more she thought about the fruit basket in her hand costing over a hundred, the angrier and angrier she became.’
‘And then!’
‘In a fit of rage, she—’
‘—raged for a moment…’