Chapter 221: Quite a Fortuitous Encounter

Hall 2 of the Boundary Gate Sculpture Impression Museum, although it is a large exhibition hall, but it was jointly formed by the slanted pillars and walls into a divided visual effect.

The entertainment area, rest area, sculpture exhibition area, and the central area where a towering giant sculpture stands, its full form unseen.

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As Aomo walked over, what he naturally saw first were the pedestrians hurriedly rushing past behind him.

Despite the hall being more spacious, it remained noisy; clamorous voices came from ahead, beside, and behind, while he kept a neutral expression, trying to pick out each person's location.

【Hurry, hurry, I don't want to use my insurance here.】

【Dimensional shock? In this kind of place?】

【Isn't this your arrangement? Okay, uh, uh-huh, then let's do it quickly.】

【Your target isn't him, is it?】

【Hurry up.】

【Dong, dong, dong—dong!】

In the distinctive, featureless, mixed sounds, even Duìyou's voice was there, plus Aomo's hail to the funeral person: 'Rhodes Island should have contacted the police, right?'

'The surveillance check yielded no result; rewinding time is hindered by some residual force.' The person standing far away, who seemed to be talking to himself, answered, as if not considering whether this distance and volume could reach the questioner's ear.

Even without earphones, this is less a probe and more a clear indication.

'So you think the venue itself is involved?'

Aomo didn't mind revealing his extraordinary side; he turned toward the sound of the thumping, where a tall figure in casual attire lightly took a shot, his movement refined and quite aesthetic.

At the billiards table, she constantly shifted her position, but what never changed was that every shot she made went into a pocket.

Such skill should have drawn cheers and gazes, but here only Aomo, who had approached, served as the sole spectator.

Yes, the only one.

The funeral person didn't follow; the efficient white-haired man, after indeed seeing Rhodes Island's colleague, quietly asked him for permission to act alone temporarily.

That being said, it was actually within the field of view where a turn would let one see far off, after all, this exhibition hall is like that.

Aomo naturally agreed; in fact, when he noticed the billiards player here, he felt half assured, and this commission could likely be settled quickly.

Because that billiards player is the Sirius Symbol.

Setting aside the appearance seen on screens or paper, Aomo had seen her once on the subway, twice at the Takarazuka Memorial, and now this is the fourth time he's seen her.

Only now did he wait a few seconds, watching her pot the final ball in a five-in-a-row combination, then raise the cue and turn to look, before he gave his first greeting.

'Hello, Miss Sirius Symbol.'

'Ah, it's you,' the brown-haired horse girl raised her eyebrows, seeming somewhat surprised but not overly so, merely glancing at Aomo behind him and asking, 'Just you?'

'I think I'm enough on my own.'

'Really aloof,' the horse girl said, glancing at her billiards cue, then suddenly handing it to Aomo, 'Want to have a shot?'

Against the background of the cyclical alarm and evacuation announcements, she made this invitation, her rose‑red‑like fervent eyes showing aggression nearly overflowing.

This horse girl, the second of the Symbol family's younger generation to make a name, differs from the first's steady kingly aura, being more like a conquering general.

But this is also within Aomo's understanding.

Whether it's that confidence bordering on arrogance or that frivolous, flamboyant nature, both were once her publicity traits on the Heaven's Gate City Saichang.

As for Aomo personally, he feels no ill will toward her.

After all, what he wants to say isn't polite either: 'In this situation, could a shot earn some reward?'

'You're so utilitarian,' the Sirius Symbol, her smile faint, grew slightly stern, 'You're the third to haggle with me like this.'

'That'll do, then—just give a little motivation to a lone, aloof trainer without a horse girl.' The crimson‑red eyes that had just sparked pressure vanished in the next second's smile.

'Horse girl?'

Regarding the Symbol family's stance, Aomo had three leaning guesses: participation, non‑participation, or neutrality.

As for the Sirius Symbol visible here, Aomo had thought he could confirm some conclusion, especially when she asked 'Just you?', leading him to think she was inquiring about his teammates, thus solidifying his earlier speculation.

Based on that direction, 'aloof' amounted to nothing more than a mild tease.

But hearing those words now, he hesitated a little.

She seemed merely to be asking why he came alone to tour the hall.

Nevertheless, he took the cue, after sizing it up he pulled out another stick ten centimeters longer, set down his briefcase, and picked up the chalk to polish the tip.

'Quite skilled,' not minding her changing the cue—rather, seeing her change it made his eyes light up; the Sirius Symbol said, pressing the button beside the billiards table.

The ball inside the pouch instantly turned into streaks of blue light, gathering in the formation above the table, then steadily fell into a perfect triangle.

'Do you play often?' she asked.

The billiards player's choice of cue must feel right—length, thickness, weight are the measures; I hadn't expected what kind of Sirius he'd play, but seeing him swap cues and his smooth polishing motion was rather unexpected.

'Not really,' Aomo, bracing his cue after finding a position, kept his eyes on the forward ball, 'I've only used it to train power control.'

Billiards demands unity of heart, eye, spirit, and arm, then mastery of force.

Aomo had been recommended this training method, but for a financially strained, busy student, trying it a few times was enough to quit.

Or maybe playing marbles is more cost‑effective. jpg

Even so, the bar where he works has a billiards table; occasionally the boss calls him in to be a practice partner, which also counts as gaining some proficiency for free.

Just like the skill of sliding a wine cup.

Now the large triangle formed by the fifteen balls is stable, easily overturned by the white ball; considerable force creates high‑frequency collision spin, and the scoring board above the table flashes numbers from one to seven.

'Far exceeding expectations—what do you want?' the Sirius Symbol, somewhat surprised, turned her head to see the youth lowering his gaze to inspect the tip of his cue.

His calm face showed an ancient well‑like stillness, just like the two she had mentioned earlier.

That fleeting pleasant feeling was doused with a bucket of cold water by reality.

One who was expected to grow suddenly turned into someone utterly disagreeable, and to her that naturally meant displeasure.

'I have a few questions,' Aomo said, returning the cue to its place, picking up his briefcase again, and looking back at the hall that had now fallen completely silent.

He also glanced over at Mositima as she approached the hall entrance.

The idea that 'you can ask him about any problem' really is... well, I suppose it's a good thing.

He's not a socially anxious person who can't refuse; earning this trust is definitely a good thing.

"Captain, any gains?" Mositima asked as she walked over.

"You've arrived just in time for the harvest." Aomo said, turning his gaze back to the Sirius symbol.

"Turns out you're not antisocial either," the Sirius symbol said, looking at Mositima and narrowing its eyes slightly. "Captain, so you're not here just to sightsee."

"So you really thought I came just to sightsee?"

"I was still thinking it was quite a coincidence," the brown-haired horse girl said, tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"That's also true; I didn't expect to see you on the first floor." Aomo said, glancing again at the flashing warning light nearby.

"I'll ask my first question: about that alarm, that idea to evacuate the crowd—do you know?"