Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

"So that woman's rank was at least equal to Scar's, if not higher."

Yangyang nodded slightly. "That makes a lot of sense. It seems the Fractsidus's plot is far bigger than we imagined."

"Although the Fractsidus has a lot of information about you, their methods and ideals are far too radical and dangerous."

"Right now, we're out in the open while our enemies are hidden. Going out to search blindly would be no different from walking straight into their trap..."

Lu Li said, "We just need to wait. If they still want to recruit A Piao, they'll definitely come to us again. If they want to eliminate her, they'll come to us all the same."

A Piao smiled and stroked Lu Li's head. "It feels so nice to have you helping me with my troubles."

Lu Li sighed. "Well, I don't exactly have a choice."

A Piao raised her voice. "Hmm?"

Lu Li quickly corrected himself. "I mean, I'm happy to do it."

A Piao nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

Chixia watched the two resentfully. They were getting closer and closer.

Chixia patted her cheeks and thought, Ma Xiaofang, hold it together. When the time is right, steal Lu Li away!

Lu Li clapped his hands. "All right, next up..."

He looked at A Piao, who nodded.

Lu Li took out his Terminal, ready to contact Encore.

Yangyang looked at A Piao in confusion, unsure what they were doing.

A Piao explained, "An organization called the Black Shores has been keeping an eye on me."

As she spoke, she took out the photograph of the black flower Jinhsi had given her.

Chixia said, "The Black Shores? I remember now! Lu Li and I met some Black Shores members a few days ago!"

Yangyang frowned thoughtfully. "The Black Shores is rather mysterious. Even I've only heard the name."

"We don't know what the Fractsidus has up its sleeve, and the Norfall Barrens are too dangerous. That makes the Black Shores our only lead right now."

Everyone turned their expectant gazes toward Lu Li.

"Beep-beep-beep-"

"Sorry, the number you are trying to reach is not in service. Please try another number."

Lu Li said, "Huh?"

A Piao snorted. "Pfft..."

Holding back her laughter, A Piao asked, "Did you get tricked?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Lu Li said through gritted teeth. "Encore is so adorable! How could she possibly lie to me?"

"The Black Shores must have corrupted her! We need to bring the Black Shores under control, urgently!"

Yangyang asked, "What do we do now, then?"

At that, A Piao looked at Lu Li.

Lu Li bared his teeth. If only I hadn't used the Knowledge-Seeking Magic Mirror this morning to ask something everyone already knew. Then I might have been able to ask for Encore's real number.

Or just ask where the Black Shores members are. Too bad I can only use it once a day.

Their current clue was that all Black Shores members wore a black flower like this.

But Encore and Aalto were nowhere to be found, and they hadn't met any other Black Shores members besides those two.

Searching aimlessly would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, so instead...

Lu Li snapped his fingers. "I've got it! We can lure them out!"

Chixia asked, "Lure them out?"

Lu Li nodded slightly. "Exactly. Since all Black Shores members wear a flower like this, and ordinary people don't know what it means, it'll automatically filter out anyone who isn't involved."

"And when actual Black Shores members see the black flower, they'll naturally come to us."

Yangyang nodded in approval. "That's a very good idea."

A Piao said, "But this black flower is only a photograph. Where are we supposed to find a flower like it?"

After a moment's thought, Lu Li suddenly brightened. "What a coincidence! I met a little girl named Verina this morning. She seemed to know a lot about plants. She might know!"

Chixia lit up in realization. "Oh, right! Verina would definitely know! When we parted, she said she was going to the Antique Bonsai Shop. Let's look there!"

Lu Li frowned. "Verina looks so kindly. Surely she wouldn't lie to us too?"

Yangyang covered her mouth and laughed. "'Kindly' sounds a little odd, but it does suit her. I know Verina too. She's a very sweet child. I don't think she'd lie."

Lu Li said, "That's a relief."

The Antique Bonsai Shop.

"What!? Verina lied to me too!?"

Lu Li felt like crying but had no tears. He turned to A Piao. "Do I look that easy to fool?"

With laughter in her eyes, A Piao put her hands on her hips. "You really are pretty easy to fool. I even tricked you into giving me your heart."

A Piao's sudden flirtation made Lu Li blush.

He waved a hand and chided her, "Oh, come on. We're practically an old married couple, and you're still saying things like that..."

Granny Lin Su, the owner of the Antique Bonsai Shop, smiled as she watched the two flirt, marveling at how wonderful it was to be young.

Granny Lin said, "She didn't lie to you. She just left after she finished tending the potted plants."

A Piao asked, "May I ask where she lives?"

Granny Lin asked in puzzlement, "What do you need her for?"

Chixia said, "Granny Lin, you've seen and learned so much. There's something we'd like you to take a look at..."

Lin Su was also very knowledgeable about botany. Otherwise, she wouldn't have opened a bonsai shop.

Since Verina wasn't around, they could see whether Granny Lin knew where to find this black flower.

A Piao took out the picture of the black flower.

Granny Lin put on her reading glasses, took the photograph, and examined it carefully.

After a moment, Granny Lin mused, "Hmm... If it were a plant that grew around Jinzhou, I'd recognize it. This doesn't look like a flower from this area."

"I haven't seen any similar varieties even in Jinzhou's Flora..."

Chixia said disappointedly, "Oh, even you don't know? Would Verina know, then?"

Granny Lin chuckled. "Verina knows even more about botany than I do."

The moment Verina came up, Granny Lin was all smiles and couldn't stop talking:

"That child is hardworking and knows the habits of all sorts of plants. She's been a great help to me."

"So little, so fair, so soft... She's adorable when she smiles, too, with those big eyes blinking away... Just like a bunch of Starflowers."

"Sometimes I call out, 'Little Starflower, time to eat!' and she answers. Isn't that adorable?"

Lu Li paused. "Starflowers?"

Lu Li took the still-unbloomed flower Verina had given him out of his clothes.

Seeing it, Granny Lin said warmly, "Judging by the container... Verina gave that to you, didn't she?"

She smiled. "Verina only gives Starflowers to people she values. Make sure you treasure it."

Lu Li said, "I will."

Chixia chuckled. "Yangyang and I have received Starflowers from Verina too!"

Granny Lin said, "Then you're all good friends of Verina's. I won't keep you any longer."

"She's probably conducting an ecological survey in the hills behind the city right now."

"I happened to mention earlier that I wanted to clear a patch of land there for a flower field, and that child rushed straight off to scout the site for me."

"Head out past the plaza, and you'll see a waterfall. Go through there, and you'll reach the hills."

Lu Li carefully put the Starflower away. He hadn't realized how much affection Verina had put into it.

He nodded slightly. "Got it. Thank you, Granny Lin."

Granny Lin beamed. "You're welcome. Remember to visit my bonsai shop whenever you have time!"

Everyone left the bonsai shop and headed toward Jinzhou City's plaza.