The Familiar Stranger

Only after watching Aya Tone disappear through the guild doors did Li Jia finally snap back to reality.

“Master, why did you have to let Tone go!?”

“I never said she had to act. I merely gave her a choice. The decision was hers,” Ao Yu said, hands clasped behind his back, the gentle demeanor he’d shown Aya Tone now hidden.

Li Jia turned her head, studying her newly accepted master intently. After a long moment, she said, “I’m not Tone.”

Ao Yu blinked, as if he hadn’t expected those words.

“Hahaha! You little girl.”

“If you say that, our little brother would cry.”

Li Jia remained unfazed. “She won’t get angry.”

Indeed, that was Tone—indifferent to everything except Aya Jiu. Including herself.

The laughter gradually faded, replaced by a long sigh.

“International relations aren’t as simple as you imagine. Every step requires extensive consideration and deduction, because from ancient times to the present, we’ve been the target of global powers’ wariness. They fear Z Country’s strength!”

“Even if we aren’t afraid of those petty thieves, the hidden hand behind them would never miss such a perfect chance to sling mud, would it?”

Ao Yu paused, then continued.

“This is a conspiracy aimed at us. Countless eyes lurk in the shadows. The moment we set foot in H Country, they’ll swarm like sharks drawn to blood. Every shark wants to tear a chunk of flesh from Dragon Country. And even if Dragon Country doesn’t let them profit, H Country, which bore the full brunt of Dragon Country’s wrath, will become their prey.”

He patiently explained the intricacies to Li Jia.

Having attended banquets with her parents since childhood, Li Jia had a broader perspective than most. Naturally, she understood Ao Yu’s meaning.

Precisely because she understood, she couldn’t help but retort, “Tone’s abilities are no secret online. The other side aren’t fools. With careful investigation, they’ll figure it out in time.”

“Little girl, you’re fixated on the wrong thing.” Ao Yu sighed. Why did his disciple become so slow-witted whenever Tone was involved?

“Who says that using Starlight magic makes one our White-haired Witch? Couldn’t she be R Country’s secret weapon?” Ao Yu’s aura shifted, turning him into a cynical strategist.

Awakening supernatural abilities wasn’t exclusive to any individual. With so many people in the world, identical abilities were common.

You couldn’t pin a crime on Z Country based on a single power.

H Country’s politicians didn’t dare. And the ones behind them even less so!

Hearing this, Li Jia suddenly understood. But then something else occurred to her, and worry crept into her eyes.

“Master, did you at least arrange a guide for Tone?”

Ao Yu: “…”

Though his expression remained unchanged, Li Jia could detect a hint of hesitation.

“Master… you didn’t arrange anything, did you?”

“What do you mean, no arrangement? That’s called avoiding alerting the enemy! The greatest performance is being yourself!” Ao Yu said with righteous conviction.

He admitted it—he’d been so focused on tricking his little brother into coming that he’d overlooked this detail.

But mistakes have their uses. Let it be. It could create a false impression for the enemy.

‘Our little brother is a top S-rank of Dragon Country; surely he can’t get lost.’

Hahaha…

****

“Agh… dammit!” Aya Tone slumped helplessly into the cold chair, the harsh light spilling over him.

He’d waited at the airport from noon until evening. Even the sun had gone down!

Forget a guide or translator—there wasn’t even anyone to pick him up. This was starting to feel like a prelude to sleeping on the streets!

He’d barely stepped out the door, not even glimpsed the grand cause, and already it was over?

A language barrier and a poor sense of direction—Aya Tone slumped on the bench, lost in deep thought.

“…”

“?”

Half-asleep, he felt someone calling him. The voice was familiar. Where had he heard it?

A crisp voice mixed with murmurs became the best lullaby.

Miao Qingzhu, standing by the bench, watched the man drift back to sleep. Her elegant brows furrowed.

If it weren’t for the familiar aura she sensed from him, why would she be so concerned about a stranger?

Where had she felt that aura before?

Her mind churned, searching for any memory of a meeting.

Minutes later, she reached a conclusion: she had never seen this person.

“Attention passengers traveling to Modu: Your flight BH-401 is now boarding. Please proceed to Gate 17.”

The announcement echoed, but instinct told her this man was somehow important to her.

For a moment, Miao Qingzhu struggled internally.

Should she board the flight home, or follow her intuition and stay to uncover why this man felt so familiar?

“Attention passengers traveling to Modu: Your flight BH-401 is about to depart. Any passengers not yet on board, please proceed to Gate 4 immediately. This is the final boarding call for flight BH-401. Thank you.”

When the last call sounded, Miao Qingzhu had already made up her mind. She stood and walked toward the gate.

…

“Mm~” Waking from a deep sleep, Aya Tone stretched lazily.

When in doubt, take a nap.

After waking up, you’ll find you’ve successfully wasted two hours and made zero progress.

“…”

“…”

Eyes met, and Aya Tone’s brain, just rebooting, crashed back to square one.

*Boom.* It went offline.\n‘Th-this… this woman seemed familiar somehow.’

“You’re awake?” Miao Qingzhu, who had been waiting, smiled slightly at the bewildered man.

Yes, instead of leaving, she wanted to understand the source of her agitation.

“Good morning.” Before his brain could issue orders, his body responded.

“Ahem… miss, is there something you need?” Aya Tone asked cautiously.

Meeting an acquaintance in a foreign land—it would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved. But he was in his original form now, and he didn’t know Miao Qingzhu.

Besides, this wealthy woman seemed to be his fan. He was terrified she might be another freak like Li Jia.

“I’m curious. Do we know each other?” Miao Qingzhu narrowed her eyes, leaning slightly toward him.

She had already observed him while he slept, but he didn’t match anyone in her memory.

Yet his reaction just now suggested he recognized her. Where? Who was he?

“I don’t know you!” Aya Tone denied without a second thought.

‘Ridiculous. His disguises were almost all stripped away; he couldn’t afford to expose the rest.’

“Is that so?”

Seeing she clearly didn’t believe him, Aya Tone quickly changed the subject.

“Miss, are you also traveling in H Country? How about…”

“Yes.” Without waiting for Aya Tone to finish, Miao Qingzhu agreed immediately.