The three major families of Guangming, Mojia, Zhijia, and Tujia, jointly created a badge featuring their respective totems: the sun of Mojia, the phoenix of Zhijia, and the taotie of Tujia. This badge also served as a seal, acting as the sole pass for any experiments requiring secrecy. Each family possessed three such seals, which were impossible to replicate.
Bai Cha recalled the voice of a plump middle-aged man she had overheard earlier, heard exclaiming, "This is bad!" into his phone. She wondered if it was Xiang En's doing.
"Let's go," Bai Cha finally sighed, leading Lucifer away.
"Master, aren't we investigating further?" Lucifer asked.
"There's no need."
After all, they would be protected, given how "important" they were.
The sun had risen, yet Bai Cha felt no warmth. Her heart was cold, leaving her speechless.
"Lucifer, my father told me something before he sacrificed himself," Bai Cha murmured, gazing at the piercingly blue sky. "He said that often, words aren't enough. Some things can only be awakened by blood."
"But, Lucifer, why is there no turning point despite so many sacrifices?"
"Is it my fault?"
Why had it come to this?
Lucifer remained silent, unsure how to respond. The Shadow faction had sacrificed enough people, shed enough blood, but he couldn't discern how many had been truly awakened.
"Let's go back." Bai Cha turned, suddenly grabbing Lucifer's hand. Lucifer could feel Bai Cha's urgency, an urgency he had never witnessed before. She desperately wanted to escape.
She was afraid. Lucifer could sense Bai Cha's wavering.
"We're going back, we're going back today!" Bai Cha didn't want to linger for another moment. She felt as though this was no longer her home; the oppression was suffocating, making her want to flee immediately.
With no clear path home, no known route.
"Yes, my master." Lucifer felt a pang of heartache. He clasped Bai Cha's hand in return and, without a moment's hesitation, led her home.
Upon their return, Lucifer began packing. They hadn't brought much, so packing was easy. Bai Cha sat on the soft sofa in the guest room, her heart growing increasingly uneasy. She had never felt so flustered.
Her mind raced with thoughts, recalling how Mo Ziye, before she even entered Junyao, had impulsively visited her home. He had sat opposite her in the guest room, utterly unrestrained. Now, everything felt like a dream, and she couldn't comprehend how things had reached this point.
Bai Cha knew that perhaps many things weren't Mo Ziye's fault. He was just a child, unworldly and uninvolved, his worldview shaped by "adults." He lacked experience, possessing only youthful fervor and a sense of justice.
Yet, she still felt hurt. Even when one understands the reason behind things, it's difficult to truly let go.
Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Big Brother and Gong Yuechen. Bai Cha didn't want to look; she could guess what they had sent her. She didn't want to see anything right now, not even apologies.
She didn't want to see, nor did she want to accept.
A melodious ringtone sounded as the phone rang directly. Bai Cha wondered who it was. Perhaps another urgent mission, and they'd called because she hadn't replied to their messages?
Bai Cha answered the call but remained silent, still needing to compose herself.
To her surprise, an elegant and clear female voice spoke.
"Hello, is this Miss Bai?"
The voice was graceful and gentle, like that of a refined young lady from ancient times, skilled in all the arts. It then shifted to a tone and cadence befitting an empress ruling the world, elegant and dignified, yet possessing an approachable pride that was not off-putting. Bai Cha paused, startled.
This wasn't a Z-country language. The accent sounded somewhat like a Y-country language.
"Who… are you?" The voice seemed familiar, but Bai Cha couldn't recall who it was. Her knowledge of foreign languages was limited, but she had mastered three or four. The annoyance in her heart had significantly lessened due to this voice.
This voice somehow possessed the power to soften everything.
"Hello, Miss Bai. I am Athena. How has everything been since you returned to your country?" Athena, dressed in a white dress, sat on her small balcony, smiling happily. "The thing is, the people preparing for the World Competition are planning to hold a banquet today. It's a great opportunity for everyone to get acquainted. Will Miss Bai be attending?"
A banquet?
Bai Cha stroked her chin, thinking for a moment before realizing that such an event was indeed scheduled for today.
She had heard whispers about this banquet when she first arrived at the World Competition venue. It was described as a gathering of powerhouses from various countries, intended to counter foreign invasions and foster international friendship. However, she had returned to Z-country to complete a mission.
Therefore, after so much time, had this banquet not yet commenced?
"I'll have to see. I should be able to make it?" Bai Cha hesitated.
Although Lucifer had started packing and they intended to return immediately, she wasn't sure if the journey would be smooth. Even if it were, it would take some time. She didn't know when the banquet was scheduled or if she could make it.
Bai Cha's mind had always been focused on her missions. Such gatherings as banquets, being mere optional social events, were always ranked as unimportant by her.
However, this time, perhaps due to the recent shock she had experienced, Bai Cha found herself a little expectant.
She wanted to meet some of the active members from the Green Bubble group and that little pink fairy.
"The banquet will be quite late. Many people also returned to their respective countries for a period, so everyone has postponed the time considerably. It's scheduled for midnight," Athena said with a smile. "I wonder if Miss Bai will be free tonight. We haven't had a chance to get acquainted since we dealt with the Dragon Mother preventing cosmic interference."
"Moreover, I only found out today that Miss Bai is five years younger than me. To be so accomplished at such a young age, I wonder if I have the honor of knowing you." Athena switched to fluent Z-country, her pronunciation slightly slow with pauses, which only enhanced the softness and elegance of her voice.
Athena. Bai Cha had an impression of this woman. She wore a perfectly tailored long dress that exuded sanctity, embroidered with gold thread. Adorned with simple yet grand gold jewelry, she was dignified and beautiful, leaving a good first impression on Bai Cha.
"I should be able to make it." Since it was a proactive gesture of goodwill, Bai Cha wouldn't refuse someone. Moreover, her superiors hadn't dispatched any diplomats, so she would have to handle these matters anyway.
"I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Miss Bai, for gracing us with your presence," Athena said with a smile, in good spirits. "I will come to find you before the banquet."
She had a very good first impression of Bai Cha. She liked beautiful girls, especially Bai Cha, whose stunning appearance brought her joy just thinking about it. She cherished all the beauty in the world. For someone like Bai Cha, whose heart seemed as upright as her appearance, Athena had always held a certain anticipation.
"Hi, Athena, what are you doing? Why so happy?" Zeus knocked on the door, asking curiously through the glass. He seemed to have just completed a long journey, his brown hair disheveled.
"It's because of today's banquet, my father," Athena opened the balcony door, a hint of worry in her voice. "They still refuse to conduct a thorough investigation, even after they've already implicated us?"
"Alas, you know, my daughter, they simply don't want to deal with those people. They always prioritize what they can see in the immediate future," Zeus walked onto the balcony, plopped onto a chair, and wearily picked up a cup of water, drinking it in one gulp. "We are, after all, a special group. Perhaps we shouldn't interfere with these matters."
"But they have already threatened our country. If we don't step in to stop them, who else will?" Athena sighed again, pouring Zeus another cup of water. "They are becoming more and more outrageous, completely disregarding us."
"It's not something we can decide. We are merely weapons, after all. The decision-makers are elsewhere. However, tonight, let us discuss the matter of the Dragon Mother system. This is, after all, a matter of human survival..."
The journey was smoother than Bai Cha had expected. Around ten o'clock in the evening, Bai Cha had already arrived at the World Competition rest area and stood before a villa decorated to resemble a wedding cake, falling into silence.
How long had it been since she left? Less than a month, wasn't it? How had this building turned into a wedding cake? Opulent and brightly colored, one might mistake it for a giant transformed gummy bear.
"Surprise!"
As soon as she pushed the door open, a cascade of streamers exploded before Bai Cha's eyes. The synchronized shouts of a group of people startled her, leaving her bewildered at the doorway.
Immediately, a pink figure leaped onto Bai Cha, startling her into instinctively wrapping her arms around the slender waist of the person and taking two steps back to regain her balance.
"Happy birthday! Chacha!" Freya, like a kitten, nuzzled Bai Cha's neck, her light pink hair soft and ticklish.
What made Bai Cha laugh and cry at the same time was that the Z-country rest area villa had been elaborately decorated by Freya, inside and out. Various lights and flowers, primarily in warm shades of pink and beige, adorned almost every corner of the room.
"Chacha, look how pretty I made it! I designed and arranged all of this. Praise me, won't you?" Freya gazed at Bai Cha with her pink crystal-like almond eyes, pouting. "And I have birthday presents too! These are all from my heart, so please accept them gladly."
"Mm, you did a great job. But next time, at least wait until you see me before pouncing," Bai Cha said, ruffling Freya's hair and smiling. "What if I lose my balance and you fall?"
"How could that happen? Chacha would never let me fall, right?" Freya giggled, displaying a certain spoiled entitlement. Freya's antics in the Z-country rest area had become commonplace over the past few days, but seeing her behave so unrestrainedly still made everyone hold their breath.
"Haven't you been training these past few days?" Bai Cha asked helplessly, watching Freya cling to her. She picked Freya up, carrying her horizontally. "Being so lazy, aren't you afraid your ranking will drop in the World Competition this autumn?"
"I'm not afraid! I'm so cute, maybe my opponents will be reluctant to attack and just concede," Freya continued, wrapping her arms around Bai Cha's neck and acting cute. "Cute girls can do anything."
Reluctance to attack was out of the question; the World Competition showed no mercy. However, Freya was indeed strong. By Bai Cha's estimation, Freya had long surpassed Asteria, but she simply didn't like to draw attention to herself.
Bai Cha smiled, glancing at the others who were keeping their heads down, their silence amusing her. It was evident that Freya had put them through some rigorous training, otherwise, they wouldn't be avoiding Freya's gaze.
"So, are you stronger, or are they?" Bai Cha asked casually.
"Of course, it's me! I haven't even used my full strength..." Freya, accustomed to being open and honest with Bai Cha, hadn't realized Bai Cha's sudden probing. The words just slipped out.