Late at night, at the entrance to Roppongi EX Theater.
Keeping a short distance between them, Ji Minghuan and Ke Qirui locked eyes. The Queen Statue stood silently at the former's side, cold flames blazing within its narrow eye sockets.
"Ke Qirui," Ji Minghuan said expressionlessly, staring straight into her eyes. "I remember your name."
"Oh? I thought you'd forgotten me. So... do you have time to chat with me? Right here is fine. You already took care of the surveillance cameras anyway."
As she spoke, Ke Qirui took another drag from her pipe, smoke curling around her fingertips.
"If I said I didn't have time, would you let me leave?"
"Indeed... if it came to that, I might find a way to make you have time." Ke Qirui put her pipe back into her pocket, not denying it. "But I'm a polite person, so I thought I'd ask first."
Ji Minghuan remained silent, his face blank. Maintaining Xia Pingzhou's cold persona was a little taxing for him. If he had been playing Black Cocoon instead, he would probably already have let loose and snapped back at Ke Qirui.
The Queen Statue stepped forward, shifting its twin daggers as blue cold flames blazed in its eye sockets.
"My companions are nearby." Ke Qirui removed her monocle and took a lens cloth from her pocket, gently wiping it. "You truly are an exceptionally gifted Exorcist. I watched the entire battle just now. Even after wasting over a year, your strength still exceeds my expectations. But I don't think you can take on many opponents alone."
She paused. "And... on a personal level, I don't want to clash with you either."
At that, Ji Minghuan thought of Su Zimai's face and quietly backed down.
He might not know the others, but how