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"I…"
Huohuo really wanted to make something up and gloss it over, but unfortunately, she was only good at sharp, straight-to-the-point commentary. Lying truly wasn't her forte.
The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, and the more anxious she got, the less her mind would work.
Xueyi's eyes were far too seasoned. Seeing Huohuo hesitate and rack her brains like that, she saw through her thoughts at once.
She straightened her face, no longer speaking as a colleague, but instead revealing the authority of a superior.
"Huohuo, tell me the truth. What exactly happened to Tail?"
"I… sigh."
Huohuo completely wilted, her folded ears drooping limply.
At this point, there was no way to hide it anymore. Sorry, Tail.
Lady Xueyi… she probably wasn't the type to spread gossip, right?
"Actually, when we were opening the trash cans today, Tail, he… he…"
Even though she had decided to confess, Tail's situation was far too special. It made Huohuo feel as if she were gossiping behind someone's back, and her words came out halting and hesitant.
Seeing this, Xueyi knew she needed to reassure her.
She spoke earnestly: "Huohuo, rest assured. The Ten-Lords Commission never pursues the innocent, nor do we have a habit of spreading idle talk. People like that are not qualified to serve in an institution like the Ten-Lords Commission."
"In short, if Tail has something he finds hard to speak about, I will never disclose it. And if he has encountered any danger, we will do our utmost to help him."
"Granted, his position within the Ten-Lords Commission is special, but he is by no means some heinous criminal. We will not harm him lightly."
Moreover, Xueyi did not believe that Tail had run into any truly grave trouble, nor that he harbored any malicious intent.
This matter was simply too obvious. Turning Huohuo's workplace into something pitch-black like this was practically begging others to notice.
Who commits wrongdoing so blatantly?
And inside the headquarters of the Ten-Lords Commission, no less.
Tail had a fiery temper, but he didn't look like a fool. He wouldn't do something so suicidal.
Her words successfully eased Huohuo's worries, and she decided to lay Tail's experience out in full.
"Phew… with Lady Xueyi's assurance, that's such a relief. Actually, it's not something that serious…"
Seeing Huohuo let go of her misgivings, Xueyi understood.
As expected, it was most likely just some personal embarrassment.
Heliobi, as the essence of star fire, had extremely intense emotions. And among them, Tail was especially one who cared deeply about pride and face.
He had probably embarrassed himself while opening the trash can and simply didn't want to see anyone.
Nothing worth making a fuss over.
With that settled, Xueyi spoke in the gentlest tone she could manage: "It's fine, Huohuo. Just say it. I won't tell anyone."
Except my sister.
What Xueyi didn't expect, however, was that today's trash can shop had been anything but ordinary.
"Mm, I believe you, Lady Xueyi." Huohuo nodded.
"But it really isn't a big deal. When he was opening the trash can, he ran into the Joyseeker's avatar, and then—"
"What did you say?!"
Huohuo had barely finished half her sentence when Xueyi cried out, interrupting her confession.
"You encountered… the Joyseeker's avatar?"
And this was supposed to be not a big deal?
Then what was a big deal?
An Aeon descending in person?!
When an Aeon arrives, even if it is only an avatar, it still represents the will of the true body.
And a grain of sand slipping through the fingers of such a great being was an insurmountable mountain for any human power.
If mishandled, the calamity this could invite would make even the most terrifying figures at the top of the enemy registry seem friendly and harmless by comparison.
Unless the Reignbow Arbiter were to personally return to Luofu and guard it day and night—
Otherwise, for any faction to fend off the attention of an Aeon would be nothing but a fool's dream!
Thinking of all these dreadful consequences, Xueyi became so anxious that the energy core of her automaton body was nearly overloaded.
She suddenly bent her legs and placed both arms heavily on Huohuo's shoulders.
The sudden movement startled Huohuo.
"Lady Xueyi, did your… transmission system malfunction?"
Weren't you just gentle and composed a moment ago?
How did you become like this after I said only one sentence?
"…"
Xueyi's speechlessness was practically written all over her face. She was so exasperated she nearly laughed.
At a time like this, and she was still thinking in such a scattered way.
Usually you're afraid of everything, so I thought your resolve wasn't firm enough. Who would've thought that with something this big, you wouldn't take it to heart at all?
Treating it as nothing more than a "partner's experience" and mentioning it offhandedly.
Honestly—an Aeon's involvement is what matters most here, isn't it?!
She fell silent for a long while, then finally steadied herself and said sternly: "Huohuo, tell me everything you encountered today in detail. Don't leave out a single thing."
Facing her superior's severe tone, Huohuo didn't know where the problem lay, but she didn't dare to be careless.
From the moment Tail dragged her to the trash can shop, to meeting Mr. Giovanni, and then by sheer coincidence summoning Aha's avatar—she recounted the entire sequence step by step to Xueyi.
"I see."
Xueyi closed her eyes and slowly nodded.
"So, a follower of Elation created a model of the Joyseeker. While using it to test a Curio, they drew the attention of the Joyseeker, who—for reasons unknown—actually cooperated with the Curio to complete the personality that the model lacked."
"And this… new Joyseeker, though weak in strength, possesses an understanding of Elation no different from the true Aha."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Huohuo nodded repeatedly. "Lady Xueyi couldn't be more accurate."
"Mm… that makes things troublesome." Xueyi did not relax at all. Instead, her brow furrowed deeply.
How to deal with this new Joyseeker was a massive problem.
His strength was low. He wouldn't be able to come and go as he pleased like the true Aha. There was a real chance he would settle down in Luofu.
Yet he was still an "Aeon." There was a high probability he had a way to contact Aha. If anything was mishandled, the Xianzhou would not escape unscathed.
And to make matters worse, it had to be the Joyseeker—an Aeon whose behavior was notoriously unpredictable.
Xueyi thought for a while, until her head began to ache, and sighed. "Sigh… how could something like this happen."
But then, she suddenly realized something terrifying.
Fear quietly rose in her eyes, and the hands resting on Huohuo's shoulders unconsciously tightened their grip.
She no longer had the leisure to mind such things.
When she spoke again, the voice of the usually expressionless judge was trembling: "Huohuo, tell me the truth. Tail isn't hiding here because he offended the Joyseeker, is he?!"
This might be Tail's personal embarrassment—but it could also become a catastrophe capable of destroying Luofu!
She desperately wanted to hear a denial from Huohuo's mouth. Never in her life had she been so anxious about anything.
But Huohuo disappointed her, and what followed was despair.
"Uh…" Huohuo lowered her head, not daring to meet Xueyi's eyes.
"Well… it wasn't exactly a serious offense. It's just that… he only shouted one line…"
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