Chapter 177: Sleeve Sword

Lu Mian walked into the room, closed the dark red wooden door behind him, and said to "Red Boots" Franca:

"Are you here to find the Baron or me?"

Franca leaned back against the backrest, stretching her body completely.

The only problem was that, as a result, the front part of the rotatable backrest chair tilted slightly, leaving the ground and teetering.

"You guess if I'm here to find you or him?" Franca's voice was as clear as water, completely different from her atmospheric and bright appearance, temperament, and dress. "Gardner originally only wanted you to be Brignais's deputy, to see if you had the ability to be responsible for a business besides being able to fight. I told him at the time that Brignais hasn't been very obedient lately."

Aurora was indeed very right; a word from a pillow partner can play a very important role... Lu Mian realized and nodded.

In Spring Street, he was very strange. How could the boss be so generous, actually taking away one of Baron Brignais's most important "assets" and handing it to him, a newcomer?

You have to know, the Breeze Dance Hall is the most popular dance hall in the entire Market District!

Lu Mian, who had intended to mock "Red Boots" Franca's current sitting posture for being as rude as a man, thought that the other party's original gender might not be female, so he dismissed the idea and just clicked his tongue:

"So, I have to thank you?"

"That's not necessary. Who told you to save Jianna?" Franca shook the right foot resting on her left ankle and said with a smile, "I came to find you for two things. One is to tell you that I distinguish the boundaries between grace and hatred very clearly; if there is grace, I will definitely repay it. Second, I'm warning you not to have any ideas about Jianna."

The hidden meaning of the second half of her sentence was that if there was hatred, she would definitely take revenge!

Lu Mian couldn't help but laugh:

"Are you lacking confidence?

"If you can make Jianna obsessed with you, there's nothing I can do to change her feelings."

If it weren't for hiding the fact that he knew the "Witch" path would make men change their gender, Lu Mian would definitely have mocked the other party: "Is your confidence built on that thing? Once it's gone, you lack such a sense of security, and you run to warn me, an irrelevant person? What do you take Jianna for, changing her heart so easily? Haha, I know, does Jianna only treat you as a good friend and never sees you as a lover?"

The smile on Franca's face gradually faded, and she stood up with a swish.

She was only a little shorter than Lu Mian, nearly 1.75 meters tall, which was quite rare among Intis women.

"Red Boots" Franca bypassed the desk, came to Lu Mian, raised the corners of her mouth, and said:

"If you lack women, I can introduce a few top dancers under me to you. If you don't look down on them, how about me?"

As she spoke, she reached out and hooked Lu Mian's chin, then gradually moved downward, lower and lower.

Lu Mian's heart was as calm as a lake without wind. Once he thought that this lady might have been a man before, he had no desire at all, only resistance.

He reached out with a swish, grabbed Franca's right palm, and said with a smile:

"I'm afraid of being sunk to the bottom of the Selenzo River by the boss."

He then changed the topic:

"Are you fine being a man, and also fine being a woman?"

Franca withdrew her palm, straightened her body, and said with a smile:

"I only liked girls before, but I tried it once and found that it's not bad with men too. There's a different feeling.

"Life is not long. Why limit yourself? Let go of some unnecessary restrictions and try more. You can get more fun and experience a completely different life."

Looking at it this way, you were really a man before, and now you are a Sequence 7 "Witch"? Why does the latter sentence sound so familiar? Lu Mian fell into thought while responding to Franca:

"I don't have any special feelings for Jianna now, and I don't intend to have any. I have too many important things to do."

"Very good." Franca took a step and walked toward the door.

Just as she reached out to grasp the handle, Lu Mian finally remembered why he felt that sentence she just said was very familiar.

In his dream, Aurora mentioned it!

She said, "A member of the 'Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society' liked 'Assassin' and drank the corresponding potion, but fell into hesitation and struggle at the 'Witch' sequence, not knowing whether to change his gender. Another member of the 'Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society' advised him, 'Life is short, why not try it?'"

This was equivalent to a condensed abbreviation of Franca's sentence!

Lu Mian's heart moved. Looking at "Red Boots" Franca's slender figure, he said in a deep voice:

"Life is short, why not try it?"

Franca's right hand, which had been resting on the handle, stopped turning. She stood there stiffly, as if she had been struck by lightning.

After a few seconds, she turned around abruptly, stared into Lu Mian's eyes, and asked urgently:

"Who exactly are you, and what is your code name?"

This reaction... It seems I guessed right! Lu Mian felt a wave of joy, but his mood darkened:

"I am 'Muggle's' brother."

Seeing that Xia Er accurately said the code name of one of the members of the "Curly-Haired Baboons Research Society," Franca breathed a sigh of relief:

"I don't know if your sister mentioned me. My code name is 'Sleeve Sword,' and I belong to the same hidden organization as her.

"No, she must have mentioned me! Otherwise, you wouldn't know that sentence. Fuck, tmd, what is this!"

Lu Mian closed his eyes:

"She didn't say your code name and identity. It was just because I chose the 'Hunter' path, and when she warned me that the adjacent 'Witch' path would bring a change in gender, she used your experience as an example."

"So, you really know..." At this moment, Franca wished she could find a sewer entrance and drill into it.

Although she had adapted to her current body and conquered her own limitations, even if it was natural and enjoyable to do that thing with men, the premise was that no one knew her original gender.

Once she thought that Xia Er, this guy, knew that she, originally a man, was addicted to having sex with men, she couldn't help but have some dangerous thoughts:

"Dead people can keep secrets... Dead people will forget this... Dead people won't mock me..."

After a few seconds, Franca exhaled slowly:

"You'd better forget this. If you weren't 'Muggle's' brother, I would make you disappear forever."

Speaking of this, she looked forward to the future to show her iron-blooded real-man side:

"I tell you, the 'Hunter' path will also change gender. This is information I obtained at a great price.

"Unlike 'Witch,' 'Hunter' changes from female to male. It's probably at Sequence 4. By then, I will change paths to 'Hunter' and restore my male body!"

Is that so... "Hunter" represents male, "Witch" represents female? No wonder they are adjacent paths... Lu Mian restrained his mood and laughed:

"By then, how will you face the men you've had intimate relationships with?"

Franca revealed a smug smile and said the plan she had conceived for a long time:

"I will give them 'Witch' potions. If they are Beyonders themselves and can't jump to the 'Witch' path, I'll find someone to make the 'Witch' Beyonder characteristic into a magical item and wear it on them. By then, hehe..."

Miss, you are somewhat perverted... Lu Mian didn't dare to stimulate "Red Boots" anymore.

This guy feels like she can do anything!

As he expected, Franca threatened him:

"I'll emphasize it again. You'd better forget this, and don't have any ideas about Jianna, otherwise, otherwise I'll catch you and forcibly feed you a 'Witch' potion!

"Although Sequence 7 is not a node where you can jump paths, it's just more dangerous, not necessarily half-crazy or out of control."

Imagining that scene, Lu Mian nodded hurriedly and promised solemnly:

"You are my sister's friend; I will definitely help you keep the secret."

Franca relaxed and asked Lu Mian:

"'Muggle'? Did she come to Trier too? Is she a great beauty in reality?"

Lu Mian was silent for a few seconds before saying in a low, hoarse voice:

"She passed away.

"You should have seen those wanted posters. She was in that disaster..."

Franca opened her mouth but couldn't spit out a single word.

She walked to Lu Mian's side, patted his shoulder, and used this action to express comfort.

After a while, Franca wiped the corner of her eye:

"After becoming a woman, my tear glands seem to have become developed too...

"I really can't believe 'Muggle' has left us like this. Every time we gathered, she was so gentle, dazzling, humorous, and kind. Even though I never saw her true appearance, I believe she must have been very beautiful, very beautiful..."

Lu Mian, who had calmed his emotions, looked at Franca and said:

"Miss 'Sleeve Sword,' I would like to ask you to temporarily hide this matter and not tell other members of your organization.

"This might affect my investigation into the truth behind that disaster."

Franca replied with a slightly nasal tone:

"No problem."

Lu Mian looked at Franca's lake-blue eyes, which were rippling with light, and asked cautiously:

"How many times have you met my sister in the last year?"

"Once, why?" Franca asked back in confusion.

Lu Mian asked further:

"Did she show any abnormal signs, or contact any abnormal members?"

"No," Franca shook her head. "It was just a normal gathering, sharing occult knowledge, buying and selling items. She and I belong to different groups. She is in the 'Academy,' and I am in the 'Temple.' Many gatherings don't overlap."

Lu Mian didn't ask any more questions and, in the spirit of getting as much as he could, said:

"I am studying the witchcraft notes my sister left behind, but I don't understand many of them. Can I ask you for advice?"

"Sure," Franca gave her address. "I live on the top floor of the apartment at 3 White Coat Street, room 601. You can come find me when Jianna is performing. Every night, as long as I haven't gone to Spring Street or turned around in various dance halls, I'm at home. Also, don't call my code name anymore. Just call me Franca directly."

Why does it feel like we are having an affair behind Jianna's back... Lu Mian muttered to himself and asked suspiciously:

"Franca, you have that hidden organization behind you, and your own strength is not weak. Why would you join a gang?"

Franca laughed and deliberately winked her left eye:

"Secret."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 178 =====