Monster - Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Star City - Some Interludes

While Lin Sandie was taking Lin Youceng to the funeral home, the auction was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Lou's gaze swept across the venue, and she spotted quite a few familiar faces. Aside from Jian Yi of Bite Mark, whom she had met the day before, there was also Kang Yi of the Rose Society, Zhou Ren of Glory Road, Xu Lan, who had hired her to hunt Enzo, and John of Madness Material. This brown-haired, dark-eyed man was also the one Lin Youceng was currently following.

Quite a crowd... Speaking of which, where's the Little Police Flower? Lou suddenly remembered Xing Meilu, who had disappeared after the castle in Thriller Paradise collapsed.

Silently sensing the Line connected to Xing Meilu, Lou realized she had completely lost track of her.

There was usually only one explanation for this: Xing Meilu was dead.

The Little Police Flower and Saya are both dead... Just as Lou was thinking this, a woman sitting diagonally in front of her and Lin Sandie suddenly turned her head. Their gazes locked.

Kang Yi gave Lou a charming, flirtatious smile.

"Damn dyke~" Kang Yi's pretty red lips silently formed the words. It had an intimate feel, as if she were joking or just saying hello.

"Fucking straight girl," Lou mouthed back, flipping her the bird.

Ever since arriving in Leviathan for her mission, Lou hadn't been in the best state. It wasn't because of Lin Sandie or Tree, nor was it the news that Little Rabbit might be in Leviathan. It was because, for a mortal, she had lived for a very long time. During her long search for Little Rabbit, her mind had accumulated all sorts of negative problems. Just as she'd told Pie, she had a premonition that she couldn't hold on for much longer.

Despite this, her fundamental Sentinel training remained intact. For instance, upon seeing so many powerful figures from various factions at the auction, her first thought was whether a trap had been laid for her.

I don't have my Island, or else I could see what they've planned for me... Our trip to Star City couldn't have been hidden from these people, but Sandie and I made some contingency plans before we came. There shouldn't be any problems... After we leave here, we'll have to use disguises when we really get down to business...

Lou thought, bored, while scanning the magical items being brought onto the auction stage one by one.

"The next Remnant up for auction is named 'Nightmare.' It comes from a teacher in southern Leviathan. Her name was Zhao Anfu," the auctioneer explained, as was customary.

Hearing the name "Zhao Anfu," which sounded vaguely familiar though she couldn't place it, Lou glanced at the item on the auction stage. It was a relatively new-looking female skull with a bullet hole between the brows. She listened as the auctioneer continued.

"Zhao Anfu was originally an elementary school teacher, but for a time she suffered from a sleeping sickness. She would fall asleep for long periods and could not be roused. It is said that when she slept, she would visit a beautiful and realistic world, and upon waking, she could clearly remember everything that happened there, including the people she met. While it has no practical combat application, this item is a rare treasure for anyone who suffers from insomnia and yearns for a good dream. We have tested it ourselves: placing the skull within two meters of yourself while sleeping will allow you to fall into a dream quickly..."

As Lou listened, her brow gradually furrowed. She remembered who this Zhao Anfu was: she was Carlo's grandmother. According to Lin Sandie, she was supposed to have been buried at Thriller Paradise. How could her Remnant be here at the auction?

"Lin Sandie..." Lou turned to ask Lin Sandie, only to see her staring calmly at the item on the stage, devoid of her usual spirit.

Right. She had other business to attend to.

Lou pursed her lips as she heard the auctioneer begin the bidding.

"'Nightmare,' starting at 50 points... Number 221, 50 points. Number 14, 70 points... Going once at 70 points..."

Since 'Nightmare' had no special abilities, very few people were bidding. Lou remembered how Carlo had asked her to give his grandmother a message, only for the woman to die before she had the chance. So, she raised her hand and bid 100 points.

"Number 97, 100 points going once, 100 points going twice, 100 points three times. Sold!" With the fall of the gavel, Lou easily won the Remnant of Carlo's grandmother.

I wonder if Carlo's family has made it to Star City yet... Lou took the receipt from an attendant to sign, thinking that once Carlo's family arrived, she would give him this, the only thing his grandmother had left behind. It would be something for him to remember her by.

"What did you buy?" Lin Sandie asked, suddenly snapping out of her daze.

"The magical item left by Carlo's grandmother. It's not very useful." Lou described 'Nightmare's' function. "Did you bury all the bodies back then?"

Lin Sandie gave Lou a look, surprised by her memory. "Zhao Anfu? How did you know she was dead?"

"Huh?" Lou stared blankly at Lin Sandie. Seeing that she wasn't joking—and knowing Lin Sandie would never make such an unfunny joke anyway—her brow furrowed slightly once more. "Didn't I tell you?"

"No," Lin Sandie said, quite certain. "The only time I heard the name Zhao Anfu was from Carlo, before we entered Thriller Paradise."

"Then I must have forgotten to tell you." Lou blinked but didn't say anything more.

Lin Sandie just hummed in response, not giving the matter much thought. Still, she couldn't help but try to deduce where Zhao Anfu might have died.

She had indeed buried all the zombies she could see around the castle, including those in the place called Varosha Town from when they first entered Thriller Paradise.

The only exception was the collapsed building where Saya and Wei had fought. The entire structure had come down, burying many zombies inside, and it would have been too difficult to dig them out for a proper burial.

"Some organizations have items that can quickly locate Remnants. It's possible someone went scavenging there after we left," Lin Sandie said. The Red Phone had told her this.

"Anyway, this will all be over once I give this thing to Carlo." Lou looked as if she didn't want to pursue the matter any further. Just then, another attendant brought 'Nightmare' over on a tray, and Lou took it.

For some reason, the moment her fingers touched 'Nightmare,' her heart suddenly lurched. She frowned for the third time that day and looked down at the bullet hole between the skull's brows, her expression growing puzzled.

"Is there a problem?"

"Ugh, holding this feels a little... uncomfortable." Lou pressed her lips together and casually tossed 'Nightmare' into her Space Bag.

This was just a minor interlude at the auction. Nothing else eventful happened before it concluded, which surprised both Lin Sandie and Lou. They had come expecting an attack and a chance to test their own mettle using the magical items they had acquired on their journey.

"That's it?" Lou asked provocatively as Kang Yi walked toward her after the auction.

"I really just came to bid on something this time," Kang Yi said with a smile as Jian Yi also approached.

In Lou's mind, Kang Yi was actually Kang Youyou, and Jian Yi's real name was Jian Min. The two of them had chosen identical aliases.

"Your aliases are the same. Did you two have a thing?" Lou asked with a laugh.

"I wish we did." Jian Yi grinned, leaning her elbow affectionately on Lin Sandie's shoulder while her eyes remained fixed on Kang Yi. "But this is the first time we've met."

Lou pouted. Then she heard Kang Yi say, "We have met before, Dr. Jian. You're just too important to remember."

"No way..."

"Perhaps you two need some time to rekindle old flames," Lou said, heading for the door. She had spotted Xu Lan waiting for her nearby.

"Are you coming back?" Kang Yi asked, looking at Lin Sandie, who was still dressed in her Rose Society suit.

"I haven't completed the mission the Rose Society gave me," Lin Sandie replied evasively.

When she first joined the Rose Society, every newcomer was given a mission: within four months, they had to hunt any three targets from a list provided by the society, or one A-rank or higher target. Failure meant elimination by the organization.

"Well, your time isn't up yet," Kang Yi said with a smile, showing no hint of any intention to kill Lin Sandie.

"If you can, I hope you'll come to Bite Mark. I get the feeling you're very reliable." Jian Yi started trying to poach her right then and there, completely misreading the room. "I'm very interested in you too, Lin Sandie."

You're interested in the Scorpion on my back, Lin Sandie thought.

"Thank you, but I'm not interested at the moment," Lin Sandie declined with a smile. "I have to go."

Lin Sandie walked toward Lou, who had just finished her conversation with Xu Lan.

"What was that about?" The two walked outside side by side. By now, the night was dark, and a light drizzle was falling, threatening to grow heavier.

"Xu Lan gave me the payment for assassinating Enzo. Oh, and Carlo's family has arrived. They're living near the West District slums now. I'm planning to go return his grandmother's Remnant to him. You coming?" Lou watched the colorful neon lights blur through the curtain of rain as she prepared to hail a cab.

"I'm a bit tired. You go on your own." Lin Sandie had done something momentous tonight: she had taken Lin Youceng to the funeral home. Though it seemed simple and she had shown no emotion, her mind had been stretched taut the entire time.

She couldn't quite tell how deeply the Scorpion was affecting her. Even though her emotions remained stable, she still felt an undeniable mental fatigue.

"Alright, then." Lou subconsciously squeezed Lin Sandie's hand, wanting to comfort her.

"See you tomorrow." Lin Sandie smiled at her. They hailed separate taxis and left.

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