Journey · Imperial Capital Arc (Fourteen): Funuo Nuo: This Is Outright Kidnapping!

After being unconscious for an unknown period of time, Phrolova finally struggled to open his eyes.

The blinding light forced its way into her deep green eyes, causing her pupils to shrink involuntarily. It felt as if her wrists were tied to the back of the chair, completely immobile.

After confirming her goddess's situation, she looked ahead and saw a large group of Solaris superheroes, led by Xiao Ling, eyeing her menacingly.

She sighed helplessly, then turned to look at her other self, who was also bound beside her, and suddenly felt a little exhausted. Her speechless gaze fixed on the bewildered and panicked Funuo Nuo, as if to say, "Look what you've done."

Funuo Nuo was also suffering in silence, unable to express her bitterness. She genuinely thought that Dania was a very thoughtful girl who had even called a car for them, but little did she know that it was a trap, like lambs being led into a tiger's den.

"This is blatant kidnapping!" Funuo Nuo argued. "Is your way of entertaining people to tie them up like prisoners?!"

Xiao Ling didn't speak, but instead used her sharp eyes to examine the two Phrolova in front of her.

It has to be said that if you only look at their appearance, they really are twin sisters. If they put on a little performance, it would be difficult for the average person to tell the difference.

As for why Xiao Ling recognized during the concert that the person she bumped into wasn't the real Phrolova, it's simple: frequency doesn't lie.

At the time, I was indeed targeting Phrolova's frequency, but judging from the direction of the frequency, the real Phrolova should be performing on stage.

Funuo Nuo also possesses Phrolova's own frequency, it constitutes a very small portion. Instead, it is a mixture of Phrolova's part from thousands of other frequencies.

Now that both Phrolova are here, he can finally verify his hypothesis.

"You're right, this is certainly not how I treat my guests," Xiao Ling said with a smile, then stood up and personally untied the two Phrolova in front of him.

"I personally don't recommend doing that," the Rover said coldly. "This guy is a high-ranking member of the Fractsidus, and his methods are extremely unpredictable. If we let him escape our control, it could cause a huge mess."

"Yeah, what if she runs away as soon as she's untied? Wouldn't that mean all our efforts would be wasted?" Iuno also disagreed with the decision.

Dania was torn, her gaze shifting back and forth between her new friend and Phrolova. In the end, she gave up on speaking up for her former colleague and stood silently in the corner.

"This room has been modified by Morning and the Shorekeeper. Any abnormal energy fluctuations from them will be electrocuted," Xiao Ling said confidently with a smirk. "There's no Hecate here. She'll have to consider whether she can escape faster than lightning with her current strength."

"If she really does fight us to escape, I wouldn't mind giving her to the head of the Fell Family as a gift. I believe Sister Kan will make good use of this hard-won experimental subject."

(Sounds really cool...)

After hearing this, Funuo Nuo looked at Xiao Ling as if she were a monster, wishing she could leave this place of trouble immediately.

But Phrolova understood the unspoken meaning behind his kindred spirit's words:

Cooperate properly and don't try anything funny, and I can guarantee you'll leave unharmed.

This is understandable, after all, she has blood on her hands. She was involved in the Tacet Discord Tide in Jinzhou and the crisis in Rinascita. Xiao Ling would not and would never speak up for herself, the murderer.

He has always been a gentle person, but that gentleness is never for himself.

(I hate that the bright moon hangs high above, yet it doesn't shine on what I say.)

"Speak, what do you want to know?" Phrolova's voice was calm and indifferent.

"How much can you tell me?" Xiao Ling asked in a deep voice.

I will answer everything I know.

"So, the first question," Xiao Ling snapped her fingers, "Can you explain the situation with the girl next to you who looks exactly like you?"

You think I know?

I think you know.

"That's a real shame, I still can't find the reason," Phrolova denied. "She's been by my side since the first day I awoke in this world."

Xiao Ling kept a close eye on her micro-expressions, and only after confirming that there was no sign of lying did he ask the second question.

"My second question is, where have you been staying all this time? And what have you been doing?"

"... We're staying in an old apartment provided by someone else," Phrolova replied after a moment's thought. "As for what I was doing before I came here, I'm afraid I can't tell you."

"Is the apartment owner's surname Lin?"

How did you know?

No comment.

Phrolova choked for a moment after being told the exact words were returned to him, staring at Hajiling with a resentful look before finally looking away.

"So, the third question," Xiao Ling continued, "Was the reason you appeared at the concert?"

"You'll have to ask her." Phrolova glanced at Funuo Nuo without any emotion.

"Uh... I just tried to snag some concert tickets, thinking I wouldn't be able to..." Funuo Nuo counted on her fingers, "But I actually managed to get two."

"I understand." Xiao Ling found it amusing, but still nodded with a straight face.

Funuo Nuo's behavior is a typical example of the "since we're already here" effect; she bought the ticket and went without thinking about getting a refund.

Xiao Ling then asked the Phrolova sisters several more questions. As if they had conspired together, they gave vague answers or simply refused to answer at certain crucial points, only providing irrelevant information.

"Hmm..." After sorting through the information in her mind, Xiao Ling personally poured a glass of water for each of them. "You must be thirsty after talking for so long. Have some water to calm your nerves."

"Why are you suddenly being so considerate? I feel like you have ulterior motives..." Funuo Nuo said warily.

"Don't worry, this is normal water. I didn't intend to put any computer parts or anything in it."

"You really have ill intentions!" Funuo Nuo glared angrily.

"Whether you drink or not is up to you," Xiao Ling said calmly.

After clicking her tongue, Funuo Nuo looked at the glass of water and, after mentally preparing herself for a while, finally reached out and took the glass, ready to drink it all in one gulp.

"It's so hot..." Funuo Nuo lost her grip and scalded her left hand with the spilled boiling water. "Don't you have any warm water?"

Xiao Ling didn't answer Funuo Nuo's question immediately because he saw that the moment Funuo Nuo was scalded by the hot water, Phrolova's left hand also flinched, as if it had been scalded as well.

"Empathy?" Xiao Ling asked thoughtfully.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Dania, who was closer to the door, ran to open it immediately. Upon seeing who it was, she called out, "Mom?"

"Yes, it's me." Xiao Yue nodded. "I heard from Elder Lin that two girls came to the Imperial Capital together and asked me to take care of them. Where are they?"

After recognizing the person, Funuo Nuo's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she said sweetly, "You must be Auntie Xiao, right? Grandma Lin specifically mentioned you before she left, saying that she could ask you for help if she encountered any difficulties."

"Ah, so she was referring to you two girls. By the way, what are you doing here?"

Upon hearing this, Funuo Nuo suddenly realized that this was a good opportunity to get revenge on Hajiling, and immediately put on a tearful expression.

"Waaah... We were forcibly brought here by your child..."

So, Funuo Nuo vividly recounted to Xiao Yue everything that had just happened between her and Phrolova.

"Is this how you treat distinguished guests who have come from afar?" Xiao Yue revealed a dangerous smile. "I think you've eaten too many red beans."

I'm lovesick.

"I'm so powerful, I don't know anything! Mom, calm down!" Xiao Ling argued as she got up to run away.

"Xiao Ya, hold him down. I'm going to teach this little brat a lesson today."

"Okay, Mom." Dania readily agreed, and her wicked claws immediately lunged at Hajiling.

"Hey! Yaya, you actually betrayed me! I'm really going to punish you properly tonight—Mom, don't take out the clothes hanger! Waaaaah!"

You ask what the other girls are doing? Aemeath excitedly goes to help, while the others chat and watch Hajiling get beaten up, occasionally offering their comments, treating the scene of Xiao Ling being taught a lesson as a form of entertainment.

Phrolova watched this scene, a long-lost warmth welled up in his heart.

Xiao Yue's protective behavior reminded her of her own mother, but sadly, she was no longer with her.

That's wonderful. Dania will definitely be happier in a family like this than before.

After confirming this, Phrolova smiled faintly with relief, seemingly out of the public eye.