Meanwhile, on this snowy night...
Sandrone sat in his study, a thick stack of investigation reports spread out in front of him.
Her brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, Pronya walked in.
He carried a stack of documents, walked to the desk, and placed them on it.
"This is the latest survey result."
Sandrone looked up at him. "That's all?"
Pronya replied, "That's all we can find for now."
Sandrone's lips twitched.
She picked up the top report and read it again from beginning to end.
The first page of the report reads:
Target: Bai You
Gender: Female
Source: Unknown
Ability: Unknown
Hazard level: Cannot be assessed
Sandrone's gaze fell on the last four words, and his brows furrowed even more.
Unable to assess.
In Pronya's programming, these four words are already considered a rather outrageous evaluation.
Generally speaking, every person has a danger level. Even an ordinary person can be rated as "extremely low".
"Unable to assess" means that nothing can be found.
She turned to the second page.
Known event logs:
Incident 1: A few days ago, in the suburbs.
The target person has a conflict with the individual designated " The Doctor. Slice".
Result: The Doctor was sliced and died on the spot.
Sandrone put the report down.
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples.
"Did she have a conflict with the Doctor?" she repeated, her voice a little hoarse.
Pronya: "Yes, sir, ' The Marionette '."
Is he the second-in-command, the " The Doctor "?
"Yes."
" The Doctor's first slice."
"Yes."
He was killed by a newly appointed Harbinger.
Pronya, head bowed, said, "The conclusion is consistent with your description."
Sandrone took a deep breath.
"How did you kill him?" she asked. "What weapon? What ability? What spell did you use?"
The paper made a loud "snap" sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet study.
Even Pronya, being a robot, shuddered in fright.
Sandrone took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
That's outrageous.
That's outrageous.
Having sat in the Harbinger position for so long, what strange people haven't she seen? What outrageous things haven't she heard of?
But she knew perfectly well how potent the Doctor's slices were.
She remained silent for a long time before speaking again:
"... As for Her Majesty the Tsaritsa... never mind, it's none of my business."
This is highly unusual.
When she couldn't find Columbina that day, she immediately ordered Pronya to investigate.
Oh, right, Columbina, that's the most important thing.
Sandrone opened his eyes and reached into the stack of reports, pulling out the bottom one.
She opened it.
After the target, " Bai You," left the tea party, the third Harbinger, " The Damselette " Columbina, followed by her.
Current cohabitation location: Korolevsky Theater
Sandrone read the report three times.
Then she put the report on the table, feeling a tightness in her chest.
Columbina usually stays alone in her room.
Now--
Why is he following this little girl around every day?
He even lived with her at the theater?
Sandrone's lips twitched.
She recalled the tea party last month.
She had heard that Columbina liked sweets, so she spent an entire morning making a cake by hand.
From selecting the flour to adjusting the sweetness, to researching flavors Columbina might have preferred...
She even did some research and specially made a unique flavor.
After Columbina arrived at the tea party, she said, "It's delicious."
Although she initially replied:
"I just made it casually, I didn't expect you to like it."
I was happy for a whole week afterward.
Now look what's happened...
Columbina actually followed that little girl and even lived with her at the theater?
Sandrone: '...'
She stood up and walked to the window.
The snow is still falling outside the window.
She looked out the window, remained silent for a long time, and then muttered something under her breath:
"What the heck is all this?"
What exactly is it about her that makes her inferior to that Bai You?
"Could it be what I said before, 'You come here every day to freeload, aren't you annoyed?'"
"Then she went to Bai You to freeload a meal?"
There was an unspoken sense of grievance in her voice.
"Didn't Columbina take me with her when she left...?"
I even made her a cake myself at the tea party.
Sandrone felt increasingly uneasy.
She frowned, looking displeased.
Just then, she suddenly realized that she might be able to take the initiative.
" The Korolevsky Theater, right?"
"Oh? There's a performance tomorrow night?"
go.
Of course I'll go.
She wants to see.
Why was this Bai You so captivating to Columbina that she followed him to the theater every day?
and...
She also wanted to see what Columbina was doing, following this little girl around the theater every day.
"Pronya," she said without turning her head.
Pronya: "Yes."
She spoke in a somewhat harsh tone:
"Get ready. I'm going to see a show tomorrow night."
Pronya: "Yes. Do you need any clothing prepared for you?"
Sandrone paused for a moment.
clothing?
Why did she specifically prepare these clothes?
She didn't prepare this specifically for Columbina!
She just... just went to see a show!
She turned her face away, her tone remaining firm.
"I'll wear the one Columbina said looked good at the tea party last month."
Pronya: "Understood."
Sandrone turned around and looked at the snow outside the window again.
The snow is still falling.
She touched her chest; her heart was beating a little fast.
She wasn't nervous.
She was just... just a little curious.
Yes, just out of curiosity.
She didn't go there specifically to see Columbina.
She just... just wanted to see who Bai You really was, and maybe catch a glimpse of the performance.
Yes, that's it.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in Varesa's room—
Bai You was nestled in Varesa's arms, fast asleep.
She had no idea that a somewhat arrogant Harbinger was secretly making a decision.
I'm going to see what she and Columbina are doing at the theater tomorrow night.
She simply rolled over and buried her face even deeper into Varesa's arms.
It was warm and cozy in Varesa's arms.
In another room in the theater.
A little pigeon that was about to fall asleep suddenly sneezed.
Achoo!
She groggily opened her eyes, rubbed her nose, and looked around blankly.
Then she tilted her head, as if she sensed something.
She muttered something under her breath:
"Late at night... is someone talking bad about me?"