Chapter 33

When Xing and the others left the office, in the empty corner Kekeliya's expression gradually grew serious.

In the void, a series of low, eerie sounds seemed to arise silently. The sounds were intermittent, faint and elusive, like a demon's temptation drifting softly by her ear.

"…Hmm," Kekeliya said seriously, "I of course understand what you say; you need not be impatient, I have my own way."

On the other side, upon seeing Kekeliya's private demeanor, Bulonia let out a relieved sigh.

Sure enough—

"Even in another world, Kekeliya still loves to deceive people like this."

Bulonia was not surprised by the current scene; on the contrary, if Kekeliya were truly a great saint, Bulonia would feel out of place.

"Your sister Bulonia's temperament is rather obedient," Xier said with anticipation, looking at Bulonia, "Is that how you'll look when you grow up, sister? So beautiful!"

"Forget it, Xier, her temperament doesn't resemble mine at all."

Bulonia recalled her own tall, lavishly dressed self… she shook her head abruptly: "She was a pampered young lady cherished like a jewel in the palm since childhood; compared to her… that 'Silver Wolf' resembles me more, Xier."

After Xing's party left Kelibao, Jiepade began introducing some current spots in Beiluoboge to everyone; when mentioning the Goethe Inn where several were about to move in, Jiepade solemnly warned: "The alley beside the inn where the Iron Guard is stationed has recently been affected by Rift Erosion and is sealed off; please avoid it."

Dan Heng couldn't help exclaiming, "Has the erosion already reached the city's interior? … The situation is severe."

Jiepade nodded, "Yes, we are fighting it; farewell."

After Jiepade left, the three went to the ice sculpture in the center of the square; the sculpture was odd, its upper half a massive ice crystal, its lower half several huge industrial gears assembled together. According to Jiepade, this ice statue best symbolizes Beiluoboge's spirit.

Below the ice sculpture stood a short girl in a Silver Mane Iron Guard uniform, acting as a guide, enthusiastically explaining something to a few children.

The girl's face was round, her long hair a deep stone‑blue that fell smoothly onto her shoulders, and she wore a delicate, cute beret.

Her uniform differed completely from Bulonia's; beneath a silvery coat was a black short skirt, its length just enough to cover the upper thighs, revealing straight legs wrapped in black stockings.

Oh? The style of her black stockings…

Chizhi instantly spotted the uniqueness of the girl's black stockings: at the heels, a ruler‑like scale rose from the bottom up to the thigh. This minimalist yet distinctive design retained the stockings' edge while avoiding monotony.

Especially the folds in the girl's knee pits, the visual impact was striking.

"Should we use this design when meeting the Traveler?" Chizhi tugged at her own skirt; beneath the brown short skirt were slender, straight legs that caught the eye.

…She herself often wears black stockings, but the earlier lace‑trimmed design, which once sparked a trend in Fontaine, now seems passé to her.

Indeed… aesthetics of another world have their own uniqueness; there's still much for her to learn.

"Let me introduce myself: I am the intelligence officer of the Silver Mane Iron Guard and a guide for the Beiluoboge History Tour, Peragaya Xiergaifuna; just call me Perra."

The children seemed familiar with her and got along well, their baby‑like voices chorusing, "Pe~ra~ sis~ter~"

Xing also joined in, shouting, "Pe~ra~ sis~ter~"

Perra's cheeks flushed slightly, "Please, some adults, stop mimicking the children so casually."

Sanyueqi looked speechless, reached out and pulled Xing back, "The repeat‑player's symptoms flared again? Where did you pick up that habit?"

Xing gave a mischievous grin, patted his head, and Sanyueqi, too lazy to chide him, led her to the next spot—the 'Perpetual Motion' Mechanical House.

Sanyueqi looked around and found no one there. Puzzled, "Eh? Didn't Jiepade say there would be a performance here?"

"His exact words were 'occasionally there will be a performance'; you omitted the two crucial words," Dan Heng explained calmly.

"Damn, I'm really interested…" Sanyueqi lowered her head regretfully.

But her gaze flicked to a heater standing outside the Mechanical House; a "crack" of gears seemed to roll endless heat, turning the heater's metal shell a glowing red.

Yet on closer inspection, the heater emitted little heat.

"By the way, I was just about to complain—this city is strange, why pile the heater outside the building?" Sanyueqi asked, "Normally heating equipment should be installed indoors, right?"

"Maybe it's to use this thing to fend off cold waves," Xing suggested.

"Uh… by your logic, those city‑builders are rather naive."

While they were chatting, a female voice suddenly came from nearby, exclaiming, "Huh? You're talking to a broken heater and can chat for so long?"

A woman with dazzling golden hair, like Jiepade, walked slowly forward; her features were delicate, skin fair, and a uniquely shaped metal necklace hung on her snow‑white collarbone. Besides her lake‑blue eyes, the blue‑tipped strands of her hair were especially striking.

Her black‑and‑white outerwear was starkly contrasting, yet unexpectedly harmonious on her; beneath the sky‑blue shorts were brown stockings, both sexy and cool.

"What a cool sister!" Zan Yin blurted out almost instinctively.

"…" Filien sighed, no longer wanting to say anything.

From Kafuka to Kizuki, then Kekeliya… and finally this golden‑haired big sister, Zan Yin almost screamed at every sight.

"How rude… I'm also a big sister, and I should be much older than the one on the screen, right? Zan Yin, why do you feel nothing when you look at me?"

"You're older than her?" Zan Yin glanced at the Hixuowa on the screen, then turned to look at Fuli Lian beside him.

Then he made two small gestures on his own chest.

"Are you sure?"