Although old Sampo could tell that the "Sparkle" with Derick wasn't the real Sparkle, but an imposter, based on appearance alone, others couldn't tell the difference between the real and fake one. Thinking of this, a mischievous expression appeared on old Sampo's face.
Don't be fooled by old Sampo's usual cowardly demeanor; that was just an external disguise he put on. Beneath that timid facade lay the soul of a Masked Fool.
Elation, there must be Elation.
"I wonder what kind of reaction that girl Sparkle will have when she comes back and sees rumors about her and Derick flying everywhere," Sampo thought to himself, picking up a camera and sneakily taking photos of Derick and "Sparkle's" intimate moments.
Although old Sampo's camera had been specially modified not to make a sound when shooting, the extremely perceptive Derick still sensed something was wrong.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Cipher, disguised as Sparkle, asked Derick.
"It's nothing. I just feel like someone is watching us. Maybe they're planning something. But that's fine. The more people watching us, the easier it will be for us to act," Derick said to Cipher after a moment of thought.
"Mhm, yes." Cipher nodded repeatedly, then pressed closer to Derick, her actions becoming even more intimate.
After walking a little further, Derick and Cipher were stopped by an "uncle."
Yes, it was Gallagher.
"What do you want, stopping us like this?" Cipher asked Gallagher.
"I'm here because of a report that someone was publicly corrupting a minor in the Golden Hour. To maintain order, I came to check it out," Gallagher said.
"Oh? Are you one of those people from the Bloodhounds? Here, look at my ID. I'm an adult." Cipher said, taking out Sparkle's identification.
"Hmm, it seems you are indeed an adult. Since you are an adult, then the matter of corrupting a minor doesn't stand," Gallagher said to Cipher and Derick after examining the ID.
No, it actually does stand. It's just that the minor is Derick here beside me. Cipher thought to herself as she took back the ID.
Derick glanced at Gallagher.
This guy's Bloodhound identity is a disguise. I wonder what he's planning to do here. Is he here to observe me? Derick wondered.
Just then, Gallagher continued, "By the way, someone reported witnessing this young lady being brutally killed by a monster. I hope you can explain the specifics of that incident."
"Oh, that was just a performance for the Charmony Glee that I rehearsed with members of the Oak Family. To get a genuine reaction from the audience, we didn't inform anyone else. We'll apologize to them for this matter afterward." Cipher, as Sparkle, casually came up with an excuse and replied to Gallagher.
"Hmm, you should definitely inform others about something like that." Gallagher said with a nod.
Derick looked at Gallagher's expression.
Gallagher couldn't possibly be unaware of Mem's identity. If he had really seen Sparkle, he would have probably realized at first glance that the "Sparkle" beside me is an imposter. So, it's highly likely that Sparkle disappeared after she ran off to the Reverie Reef.
"I wonder what she's planning to do?" Derick thought to himself.
But then, he thought of something that wasn't right.
My Fifth Clone is still in the great cavern of the Reverie Reef. If Sparkle were to discover it, there's no telling what she might do to it.
"Good thing I realized in time, so I can react accordingly. Sparkle doesn't have enough information; she can't predict this." Derick thought to himself.
Sparkle is clever, but she doesn't have any precognitive abilities.
With that in mind, he continued to stroll with Cipher while simultaneously shifting his perspective to his Fifth Clone and altering its location. If Sparkle went to the great cavern, he would be able to launch a sneak attack on her.
Reverie Reef, in a deserted alley.
The real Sparkle was skipping along happily.
She had intentionally let Mem impale her. After arriving at the Reverie Reef, Sparkle took the opportunity when no one was looking to slip away to a secluded spot. She didn't want anyone to discover what she was planning.
Most people in the Reverie Reef were ordinary, so it was easy for Sparkle to hide her movements from them.
Sparkle hummed a tune as she walked forward.
As she reached an alley, Sparkle stopped. Then, the corner of her mouth lifted, and she raised her right foot, clad in a geta, and kicked out at the empty space beside her. Just as her foot met the air, a Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection appeared, crossing their arms in a defensive stance.
Sparkle's strength was nothing compared to Derick's, but in reality, she was quite formidable herself. The Memokeeper couldn't withstand the kick at all and was slammed hard against the wall.
Fortunately, Memokeepers have a different physical composition from ordinary people, otherwise Sparkle's kick would have been enough to send her to the grave.
Looking at the Memokeeper, Sparkle crossed her arms and asked, "I say, Miss Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection, if you people want to mess with Derick, then go find him. What do you plan to do by coming after me?"
"If we don't find a way to stop you, our operation will definitely be completely compromised by you," the Memokeeper said to Sparkle.
With Sparkle's personality, it would be strange if she didn't cause trouble.
Sparkle just smiled, noncommittally.
She would definitely do it. In fact, the moment she saw Derick, she told him everything about the Memokeepers, for the sole purpose of sabotaging whatever they were planning.
Her coming here was also because of this very group before her.
Reverie Reef, this special zone located beneath the splendor of Penacony, was now teeming with many Memokeepers from the Garden of Recollection. They were here to do something, and Sparkle had a rough idea of what it was. She had come here precisely to verify it.
Just then, several more Memokeepers from the Garden of Recollection appeared in the surroundings.
"Yo, quite a crowd here!" Sparkle whistled as she watched these Memokeepers appear.
"But that's normal. After all, what you're planning to do next certainly requires enough people." Sparkle looked at them. "To use all the Memoria of Penacony to completely alter a person's memories and thoughts, ultimately turning him into the Lord Ravager, Irontomb. For an undertaking like that, no number of Memokeepers is too many."
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