Chapter 158

Laurentina spoke without turning her head, addressing the surprised Zuo Jian beside her.

"No... I'm just curious how you knew..."

Do you know why you came to me to discuss going on a long trip together?

Laurentina gave a slightly melancholic smile.

"Besides this, what else can't you do, Zuo Jian? Besides contacting me, what else is holding you back?"

"No, I didn't use you as a shackle, I just..."

Zuo Jian opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but was ruthlessly interrupted by Laurentina.

"Is that so? But you won't even tell me what you've done, and even now when you think of me, it's only because my existence restricts your movements... Zuo Jian, you say I'm not your shackle, then what am I?"

"Yes, you said I could forcibly bring you back to my side... But would that work? Perhaps in time, you'd even hate me for it... But I'm just..."

Laurentina stood up and stared intently at the Zuo Jian.

"I just... wanted to be with you..."

She walked up to the other person, slowly lowered her head, and began to speak.

"So, I won't keep asking any more questions. I'll pretend I don't know anything. So... Zuo Jian... don't think of me as a burden... or a shackle... okay...?"

"No, that's not how it is!"

Zuo Jian's appearance changed instantly.

His posture instantly mirrored Laurentina's... a testament to the fact that he was thinking only of her at that moment.

He stepped forward and hugged Laurentina tightly.

"It's not what you think, Laurentina. I've never felt like you were a burden! If you hadn't accepted me and been willing to walk this path with me, I might not have made it this far... From beginning to end... I've always considered you... my everything in this world..."

"The most important family member... so... I'm sorry... I just don't want you to get involved in this... chaotic situation that has nothing to do with you."

"None of my business... Zuo Jian, then what does this have to do with you?"

Laurentina, who was being held by Zuo Jian, slowly opened her mouth and asked.

"... I just... I always felt I should do something."

"Why do you think things that concern you have nothing to do with me?"

Laurentina spoke softly, with a hint of reproach in her voice.

"... sorry..."

"If you want to be honest, you can do it on the way. After all, I guess you're in a hurry."

Zuo Jian looked somewhat guilty, but after a long pause, he simply replied with a...

"Um."

But at that moment...

The room door opened.

Skadi walked out of the room, holding a communicator in one hand and a suitcase in the other.

Meanwhile, the communicator was playing a clip from a Victoria's Talk Show where the two hosts were playfully teasing each other.

I often say that a smile sometimes doesn't give people a sense of security, but rather a feeling of unease.

'What do you mean, Paul?'

'I still remember my college days, my first love, my God, Stick, you know what? Now every...'

Every time I recall her smile, it sends chills down my spine. Just seeing that curve of her lips makes me feel like I'm being completely manipulated by her!

Is it really that scary?

'Extremely terrifying!'

Skadi looked down at the screen, then looked up at Laurentina, who was being held by Zuo Jian with her chin resting on his shoulder.

The latter was giving Zuo Jian a smug smile, as if his plan had succeeded.

The Orca was startled, then looked down at the program on the communicator.

'Let me tell you, it's that kind of smile... as if you've anticipated everything, three parts success, two parts confidence, and ninety-five points...'

Skadi glanced at the description on the screen, paused for a moment, and then looked up at Laurentina beside her.

... Look down again, look again, look up again.

"Exactly the same!"

For a moment, she even exclaimed in surprise.

"Shark, the way you laugh is exactly like those bad women on TV... Mmm!"

She was only halfway through her sentence when her mouth was silenced by white tentacles formed from the hem of her skirt.

Laurentina, are you smiling?

Upon hearing this, Zuo Jian slowly released the other person and then asked with some delight.

She doesn't seem angry anymore.

"No... unless you spill everything about you and that woman later."

Laurentina turned her Zuo Jian and gave Zuo Jian a girlish smile.

"... I will."

Skadi watched Laurentina's terrifyingly fast change of expression, then glanced at the program playing on the communicator beside her.

'Also, that woman's mood swings are incredibly fast; I was completely manipulated like that back then!'

"Ughhhhh!!!"

"What is Skadi shouting?"

Zuo Jian and looked at Skadi expression was strange, with some oddness.

However, Laurentina stepped forward first, dragging Skadi along as they prepared to return to their room.

"The Orca just said she has a few outfits she doesn't know how to wear. Ugh, honestly, I told you not to watch these pointless shows, and you even bought so many weird clothes because of the trend—"

"Ugh-- Nasu-sha and Limai (That's what you bought, Shark!)"

Laurentina also turned off the communicator in Skadi's hand, and then kindly dragged her into the room.

"It's alright, the Orca won't take much time. Zuo Jian, we'll be right there. I suppose the Orca wants to try out its new clothes before going out?"

"?! Ugh! Wasn't that the Shark you were planning to wear?! Zuo Jian, save me... Ugh."

Skadi's cries for help faded as the door closed, leaving only a bewildered Zuo Jian standing to the side, remarking that Laurentina and Skadi's relationship was truly... like sisters?

However, since we can depart from here soon... we can start preparing for the other side in advance.

Zuo Jian sighed.

In the end, did Laurentina manage to understand him the other way around?

... You're really incompetent, Zuo Jian.

"That's so incompetent, so slow!"

Eblana leaned against the land vehicle and glanced at Zuo Jian, who was rushing out of the building.

"Sorry, I was dealing with some things and it took a little while... By the way, you guys were surprisingly fast!"

"You said the Duke wanted to see us, so my sister couldn't wait to change her clothes and come downstairs..."

"Hey! Loughshinny!"

She looked at her sister with some displeasure as she saw how she had been exposed.

"Is that so... But speaking of which... I actually don't know where the duchy is located. I'll have to contact that Gray Hat."

Zuo Jian took out his communicator and prepared to dial a number.

"Gray Hat? Wait, the Gray Hat you're talking about isn't the weirdo who wears a gray hat and a complete gray trench coat, is it?"

Eblana frowned and asked with some curiosity.

He nodded, then asked with some surprise.

"What? You know him?"

"We don't really know each other."

After she finished speaking, she turned her head away somewhat awkwardly.

"..."

"That guy was acting suspiciously. When my sister came downstairs, she thought he was a thief who had sneaked into the hotel, so she beat him up and handed him over to the security guards in the downstairs room."

Loughshinny, standing nearby, revealed the reason for Eblana's embarrassment.

"...?"

"Who told him to act suspiciously and dress so strangely! Besides, even the security guard who ran up thought this guy was a criminal!"

Eblana immediately defended herself.

"Hmm... although that gentleman was a bit suspicious... but..."

Zuo Jian wanted to offer a slight explanation for the Gray Hat, but considering the other person's furtive, dog-like behavior and that outfit... it seemed completely impossible to defend him!

Moreover, the security guards... if he remembered correctly, the security guards here were all recruited through proper procedures without knowing anything about the inner workings of the gangs.

That's why they were kept on the Zuo Jian.

If it's a normal security guard

If... in this situation, you should...

... take them to the police station?

.

"Speak! What's your purpose? What do you want to do?"

In the dimly lit interrogation room, the Gray Hat slowly opened his eyes.

Damn it.

Who is that little girl?

He was careless and failed to dodge, and was knocked unconscious by the opponent's punches from both the front and back.

... The tingling sensation still lingers in my eye sockets...

Damn it, he just felt that the room he was in was too weird, and he unconsciously wanted to go out for some fresh air!

(Aww, many authors in the group who wrote Honkai Impact 3rd didn't get beta access for zzz, but I, who already wrote it a long time ago, actually got it. It's really something.)

Chapter 117, (It's too late and I can't think of a title, so I'll just leave it at that. jpg)

"Police station..."

Zuo Jian leaned against the car seat and shook his head helplessly.

He rolled down the car window and squinted slightly at the Victoria Police Badge hanging high above the railing outside the building.

The sun's rays shone on this bright area, making the gilded emblem shine even brighter—provided your eyesight isn't good enough to see even a speck of fine rust hidden beneath the gold paint.

"Hey... have I caused you any trouble?"

Eblana, sitting obediently in the back seat with her seatbelt fastened, spoke softly.

"?"

Zuo Jian turned his Zuo Jian and looked at the other person, who seemed to want to admit his mistake but couldn't bring himself to lower his head.

"If nothing unexpected happens, sister, we really did make a mistake this time."