Travel: Magic City Arc (Prologue): An Unexpected Reunion

That night, in Magic City.

As a first-tier metropolis within the Dragon Country, this place has always been a city that never sleeps.

The neon lights along the river dye the Huangpu River in a dazzling array of colors. The brightly lit office buildings that stay up all night stand in stark contrast to the tourists who are rushing around taking photos at various attractions. Steaming white smoke occasionally rises from the food stalls in the alleys, and the wind carries the slightly bitter aroma of coffee and the sweet fragrance of milk tea, as well as the fast-paced heat unique to this neon-lit metropolis.

8 PM, Magic City, the Bund.

Located downstream of the Huangpu River, with the famous Oriental Pearl Tower just across the water, Xiao Ling and the girls arrived here, each holding a cup of Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, ready to verify their previous guesses.

"Haha, nothing happened." After taking a big sip of the orange peel, Xiao Ling looked at the Oriental Pearl Tower in the distance, which remained unresponsive, and laughed twice.

"Maybe this tower is planning to sneak up on you when you turn around?" Lynae waved her half-finished bubble tea. "You'd better be careful, or it might catch you off guard!"

"Logically speaking, this should be some kind of supernatural tale, right? It's not real." Dania took small sips of her Peach Four Seasons Spring Tea. "But this Peach Four Seasons Spring Tea is quite delicious."

In short, the group of them stood in a row along the Bund, drinking Mixue Ice Cream & Tea and admiring the night view across the Huangpu River, forming a beautiful sight that attracted a lot of attention.

However, there seem to be a few new faces this time?

"Cat's Eye, you still haven't answered my question?" Carlotta stirred her milk tea with a straw. "I haven't seen you for very long, how come you have so many pretty girls around you?"

"Yes, I'd like to ask you the same thing." Cantarella's alluring eyes were fixed on Xiao Ling. "Having wandered for so long, has the Rover ever thought of me even a little?"

"Do I have to answer this question?" Xiao Ling's expression froze for a moment before she tried to change the subject.

"What do you think?"

As for how this unexpected reunion began, we have to go back to the time when they had just arrived in Magic City.

11:00 AM, high-speed rail station.

"High-speed rail is definitely more convenient~" Xiao Ling stretched comfortably after exiting the high-speed rail station.

"Whew~ I don't know if it's convenient or not, but I slept very comfortably." Dania yawned cutely.

Having learned their lesson from the previous long-distance bus experience, they chose to travel by high-speed rail this time.

It must be said that the high-speed rail is quite fast; in less than two hours, the group arrived in Magic City from Hangzhou.

"Wow... so much traffic! Is this what a big city is like?" Sigrika exclaimed, looking at the bustling scene in front of the high-speed rail station.

"Where are we going? Aren't they all big cities?" Suisui asked with a smile.

"Perhaps it's a difference in sensory perception?" Jinhsi Xi explained, "This place definitely gives me a very urban feel."

"Huh?" Lupa, who was looking around, suddenly spotted a familiar figure. "Holy crap... Is it real? Am I seeing things?"

"Lupa, what did you see?" Cartethyia asked.

"Oh, perfect timing! Cart, can you check if that's Zani sitting on the hood of that car over there?" Lupa pointed to the figure sitting on the hood of a car not far away.

"Zani? What a coincidence! Let me see..."

Cartethyia shielded her eyes with her hand and looked in the direction Lupa was pointing. She saw a beautiful woman with devil horns on her head, wearing a light gray vest and white jeans, sitting on the hood of a car drinking Starbucks.

Seemingly sensing that someone was watching her, she turned her head and glanced at Xiao Ling and her group who had just exited the station.

Then, she put down her half-finished milk tea, got up, opened the back door of the car, and stepped out of the car with a plump, slender leg adorned with an anklet and sandals.

Then, a familiar, pretty face with waist-length white hair came into Xiao Ling's view.

"Holy crap..." Xiao Ling's scalp tingled.

Is it true or not? When Carlotta know they were coming? Why isn't she making the promise? What's she doing in Magic City?!

After tidying her clothes and composed herself, Carlotta, with a bright smile, led Zani toward Xiao Ling and her group.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Carlotta said with a smile. "Carlotta Montelli extends her warmest greetings to all of you who have traveled from afar."

"Zani, hello." Zani nodded in greeting.

After the two introduced themselves, those who knew them naturally showed an understanding expression, while those who didn't were completely confused.

"Who's this old flame of yours now?" Dania nudged Xiao Ling twice with her elbow, looking indignant.

She now understands one thing very well: whenever a stunningly beautiful woman takes the initiative to approach her, she can immediately suspect that she might be a former lover of this guy's.

"Um... This is the second young lady of the Montelli. She covered all my expenses when we were in Rinascita," Xiao Ling replied.

"Oh? Cat's Eye, is my only meaning to you as a walking vault?" Carlotta said in a slightly cold tone, "Have you really forgotten all the crises and adventures we've been through together?"

"Also, while I was away, how many girls did you form deep bonds with?"

She deliberately emphasized the phrase "deep bond," and her meaning was self-evident: she had come to confront him.

So how will Hajiling respond?

"I'll say something harsh, Carlotta," Xiao Ling said, feigning seriousness, "I hope you can remain calm."

Carlotta's heart skipped a beat.

"... Okay, go ahead and say it. I won't get angry."

"I was thinking, if you were a little taller, your words would have been more imposing and intimidating," Xiao Ling said, feigning regret. "Unfortunately, you're just a Little Potato, so all I can think of you is cute."

"Huh?! Cat's Eye, what do you mean?!" Carlotta instantly broke down.

(The Little Potato has evolved into a potato landmine.)

Just as Carlotta was about to demand an explanation and was about to make a move, she was stopped by Xiao Ling's Tathagata Palm, and could only frantically swing her fists in the air.

"Uh..." Lynae scratched her face, somewhat at a loss for words, "Is this really the Second Miss?"

"Really, without a doubt," Zani replied.

"Speaking of which, how did Miss Carlotta know we'd arrive in Magic City at this time?" Iuno returned to the main point, "Is your intelligence network this advanced in this world as well?"

"I wouldn't say that," Carlotta coughed twice before regaining her composure. "I just happened to hear the news from a business partner, and since I was on vacation here, I came over."

"Who is your partner?" Xiao Ling asked instinctively.

"That's a trade secret, I can't reveal it," Carlotta said with a playful smile. "But they did tell me that their young master originally planned to take his girls back to the Imperial Capital to let them see them, but he changed his plans at the last minute."

This statement seemed to say nothing at all, but it was practically a direct slap of Xiao's ID card in his face.

"So, after you're done with your business in Magic City, I'll be going back to the Imperial Capital with you," Carlotta chuckled, "As your companion."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dania, Sigrika, Aemeath, and Roccia protected Xiao Ling precisely in all four directions, like four divine beasts.

Surrounded by others, Xiao Ling shrugged helplessly at Carlotta, indicating that he was also at a loss.

"Hmm... it seems I'll have to proceed slowly," Carlotta thought to herself.

However, this also made her realize that these four beautiful women must have an extraordinary bond with Hajiling.

"You must all be tired from your journey," said Carlotta with grace. "Why don't you rest for a while at my place here? If you feel comfortable, you can even use it as your base of operations."

It's alright. Tea needs to be brewed slowly; if you're impatient, the flavor will be lost. The same goes for people. As long as you live under the same roof, there will be plenty of opportunities to acquire Cat's Eye.