Chapter 253: Giant Tree

Jianna's brother has gone mad? A surge of anger welled up in Lu Mian's heart once again.

This wasn't out of anger at the other party, nor a belief that his psychological resilience was too poor for him to just go mad like this; rather, it felt as if he had heard the mocking laughter of fate once more.

Although he could tell yesterday that Julian was blaming himself for Elodie's death and showing signs of self-isolation, it was nowhere near the level of going completely insane. Even if psychological issues emerged later, they would be of a long-term nature; it was impossible for him to collapse all at once.

Unless, unless something else happened last night that dealt Julian another heavy blow!

Damn fate!

Franca was equally surprised.

She had reminded Jianna yesterday to pay attention to her brother's mental and psychological state, but she never imagined that Julian would turn around and go mad.

In her understanding, he was a young man who had endured hardship and was physically healthy, which wouldn't negatively affect his own emotions or trigger dangerous tendencies. Therefore, it was normal for him to be withdrawn or even indulgent for a while, but it was unlikely he would completely collapse that very night.

Jianna had told her that Julian's personality was prone to extremes, but that was for the sake of his family. With his sister still alive, burdened by debt, and forced to work as an underground singer prone to various problems, Julian would clearly force himself to hold on, work hard, and help share the debt until it was paid off. Only then, if his psychological issues remained unresolved, would it be possible for him to break down or silently commit suicide.

This made Franca suspect that Julian had received a new stimulus last night.

Likewise, she had always had some doubts about Jianna's mother choosing to commit suicide, but she hadn't brought it up to avoid upsetting Jianna.

She could understand Elodie's feelings and choices, but she felt the act of suicide was too fast and too easy, as if her emotions had been influenced by something—it was a bit too impulsive.

Before she transmigrated to this world, she had read many similar reports and understood that the torment of poverty, the self-blame of burdening family with heavy debt, the fear of losing the ability to work, and pure, selfless love combined could indeed drive an optimistic person to choose a dead end and self-sacrifice.

But such things usually required a period of inner struggle before action could be taken. After all, everyone has a desire to live and would consider the feelings of their loved ones. The probability of someone figuring out the situation and deciding to commit suicide on the same day cannot be said to be zero, but it is certainly very low.

Franca tentatively speculated two possibilities: first, the dire physical situation had also affected Jianna's mother psychologically; second, the chemical plant explosion must have contained goals that the congressman's secretary, Ron, and others wanted to achieve, and the subsequent abnormal, large-scale emotional fluctuations might be one of them.

Does Julian also fall into this category? While pondering, Franca cast her gaze toward Jianna, who was sobbing as she walked to the door of Room 207:

"What happened?"

"Julian was fired." Jianna said with an expression of resentment, "Just because he didn't go to the factory yesterday afternoon. But whose mother has passed away and can still think about work? After leaving the hospital, he went to his master at the first opportunity to request leave, but what he got was a notice of dismissal. He had been an apprentice there for a whole year!"

"Damn it!" Franca cursed, "Couldn't they just deduct some money? Are those people all orphans? Don't people die in their families?"

"They said it had to be requested in advance, not retroactively." Jianna wiped the tears around her eyes indiscriminately. "Julian completely collapsed this morning, crying like a child, saying things about being very self-blaming and afraid of unemployment. I waited until he cried himself to sleep before I rushed to find you. I went to White Coat Street first, found no one there, and then ran here."

As she spoke, she became a bit long-winded, as if she had also accumulated too many emotions that needed to be vented.

After hearing Jianna's words, Franca breathed a slight sigh of relief:

"It doesn't sound too serious; it's more like a reactive collapse.

"Believe me, a real 'psychiatrist' can cure your brother, completely cure him. I'll go help you make an appointment right now!"

While speaking, Franca had already turned her body and walked toward the stairwell.

The anger in Lu Mian's heart, however, burned ever more fiercely.

Forgetting to ask for leave, being fired after requesting retroactive leave, receiving a new stimulus and becoming a madman—these details made him smell the scent of coincidence.

Fuck your mother, Termiboros!

Fuck your mother, Fate!

Lu Mian suddenly turned his head and said to Jianna:

"We're going to visit that factory owner, and your brother's master!"

Jianna pursed her lips and said:

"Okay."

Lu Mian crossed past her, following closely behind Franca toward the stairwell, two flames burning faintly within his blue eyes.

Just then, the words left by the "psychiatrist" Ms. Susie flashed through his mind:

Always remember that emotions cannot be too intense. As soon as there is a similar reaction, immediately use deep breathing and other methods to calm your mood and ease your state…

Lu Mian immediately began to breathe heavily, a sense of vigilance arising spontaneously:

Facing the fact that Jianna's brother has gone mad, facing the mockery of fate, I should be angry, I should resist, but I shouldn't be so angry that I'm losing my mind!

Almost simultaneously, behind Lu Mian, Jianna's resentful expression became flat, and she pulled a brownish-green short blade from somewhere.

It didn't look like a metal weapon; it seemed to be carved from the branches of some tree. Its surface retained many blocky pieces of bark, arranged in a dizzying way into different patterns.

*Swish! * Jianna's short blade stabbed toward Lu Mian's back.

Lu Mian, having been vigilant, immediately twisted his body. The dagger failed to hit his vital spot, stabbing between his shoulder and back.

Jianna then leaped back nimbly, and blood surged from the wound, crimson as fire.

On her brownish-green dagger, which looked like it was made of wood, all the bark seemed to come alive, crazily absorbing the blood of Lu Mian that had stained it.

At this moment, the muscles on Jianna's face also changed, making Lu Mian and Franca, who had turned her head back, feel exceptionally strange.

In an instant, she had turned into a young girl with deep features and a pure yet seductive temperament.

Lu Mian's pupils dilated suddenly, recognizing who this fake Jianna was:

Xia Ludi Calvino!

The heroine of the Old Pigeon Cage, Xia Ludi Calvino!

Xia Ludi's figure seemed to be assimilating with the surrounding environment, instantly dodging the crimson fireball Lu Mian threw over.

Amidst the booming sound of the explosion, the door of Room 207 collapsed, and this actress laughed softly:

"You realized it quite quickly, didn't you? I couldn't kill you directly.

"But it doesn't matter; all we need is a little of your blood."

…………

Market Avenue, inside the earthy-yellow building where the congressman's office was located.

Jianna entered the banquet hall somewhat blankly, seeing exquisite desserts, cooked dishes, and glasses of alcoholic beverages of different colors placed on several long tables.

In the corner of the hall, a small symphony orchestra played a soft melody that could soothe the heart, while the crystal chandelier in mid-air assisted the sunlight shining in from outside the window.

Those people wearing brown jackets, linen shirts, grayish-white long skirts, and other common clothing of the Market District were scattered messily in different places, completely out of place in such a banquet venue.

Some stood in the corners with blank expressions, some looked at the expensive items with resentment, some filled their stomachs blankly, and some drank champagne with slight excitement and agitation, enjoying a real banquet that only the upper class could participate in.

Jianna instinctively retreated to the corner, to the dim place where the light was weaker, watching all this with no expression.

Inside the congressman's office on the fourth floor.

Yu Ge Artois, with graying temples and a large nose, wore a black tailcoat and a dark blue bowtie, standing behind the window, looking out at the scene in the Market District.

This rather chaotic and quite old place was his kingdom.

"Congressman, why hold a consolation banquet and invite those lowly people to attend?" Ron, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and with his hair neatly combed back, asked in confusion.

Yu Ge Artois smiled:

"This is the responsibility of a congressman. Before I possess another identity, the things that should be done must still be done.

"Moreover, giving some comfort and help to those grieving people at this time will make them remember it firmly. When the future comes, it will be even simpler to make them change their faith."

Cassandra, with red hair, chuckled upon hearing this:

"And they will never know that it was you, the congressman, who brought them disaster and made them feel pain and despair.

"They will only be moved by the care of a big shot and satisfied with the promises you have made."

Secretary Ron nodded and added with a smile:

"In their eyes, Congressman is a big shot who can only be looked up to. They dare not get close, dare not say an extra word, and dare not doubt, vent their anger, or hate.

"As long as no one organizes them, they will never dare to resist."

Yu Ge Artois laughed loudly:

"That's why we must divide them and make them hate each other."

Speaking of this, Yu Ge Artois looked again at the sunny window and said to himself:

"The people of the 'Mother Tree of Desire' should be taking action by now…"

…………

Chaos Street, outside the Golden Rooster Hotel.

The ground suddenly cracked, the middle collapsed, and several peddlers couldn't dodge in time and fell down. Their screams lasted only a second before coming to an abrupt end.

A huge, brownish-green tree suddenly drilled out from underground, continuously extending a large number of branches toward the surroundings.

This wrapped around several surrounding blocks, enveloping the Golden Rooster Hotel layer by layer.

That couple who had eloped were once again doing the exercise they liked and cursing each other; the intelligence peddler Anthony Reid hid under the wooden table again, shivering; the underground bar owner, Paval Nisen, picked up his drawing board, drinking heavily while drawing the pattern in his heart with a face full of sorrow…

That huge brownish-green tree was still growing upward.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 254 =====