"Yeah, I didn't expect Huijing-Meike to have a near-monopoly on the entire Radiant Porcelain business in Weifeidi."
This was the first time Geno truly understood what a powerful monster TOPS actually was. Compared to them, Vision Corporation was like a child standing next to an adult.
"Hmph, they're just a bunch of black-hearted, filthy rich guys. Every penny they earn isn't exactly clean."
Youye seemed to have a strong prejudice against Huijing-Meike. Of course, this was a perception shared by many in New Eridu.
'Behind every major historical event in New Eridu, TOPS is pulling the strings in the shadows'—this had already become common knowledge among the people.
Even so, it didn't stop TOPS from occupying an important position in everyone's daily lives. From small street-side shops to urban transportation, every industry bore the shadow of TOPS.
"Even so, I can't just give up like this. If push comes to shove, I'll have to find a way to talk to the people at Huijing-Meike."
Geno looked at his wristband. It was an upgraded version Twiggy had made for him using the scant amount of Radiant Porcelain she could get her hands on.
Before he left, Twiggy had told Geno that their future research could not bypass something like Radiant Porcelain. If they couldn't establish a mature supply of it, even with unlimited funds, they would never be able to take the next step.
If they wanted to achieve the goal of conquering the Hollows, Radiant Porcelain was indispensable.
Seeing Geno fall silent, Youye assumed he lacked confidence in negotiating with Huijing-Meike. She patted him on the shoulder, trying to change the subject.
"Let's put that aside for now. There are still plenty of fun places in Weifeidi. Do you want us to take you around?"
"Us?"
Noticing Youye's choice of words, Geno didn't even have time to guess before a pair of striking black horns appeared in front of him.
"Ta-da! The Envoy of the Night Demon has descended!"
Lucia popped out from behind the chair, holding a handful of kebabs. It looked like she had just come from eating.
"Here, I brought some for you. There are still so many places we haven't been to yet. You won't have the energy to roam the streets on an empty stomach."
While Geno had been busy all morning, the two girls had started a joyful tour of Weifeidi. As for Man-to, he didn't join them because he had to look after his younger siblings.
"Heh, watch your stomach. You're putting on weight."
Taking the kebabs, Geno's mood improved enough to crack a joke, causing Lucia to puff out her cheeks and glare at him with feigned resentment.
"Hmph, I absolutely am not, okay? I exercise every single day!"
Lucia put her hands on her hips, her tail swaying incessantly behind her as she scolded Geno for his slander.
"Really? Take this!"
"Whoa! Don't, Youye, don't! It tickles! Hahahahaha!"
Youye wore a mischievous grin as she tickled Lucia. Watching the two girls frolic and play, Geno finally stepped completely out of the bad mood that had plagued him all morning.
For the entire afternoon that followed, Geno accompanied the two young and beautiful girls to check in at various fun attractions. Stones with bizarre ghost stories, cable cars inhabited by vengeful spirits, abandoned schools where murders occurred—these were all their targets.
However, the overall experience left Geno feeling that the credibility of these rumors was outrageously low.
"The stone that was said to be a person turned out to be just a discarded carving that was too ugly; the cable car with the vengeful spirit was just the strange noise of cables in disrepair; and that school... isn't that just an unfinished building where the developer ran off with the money?"
Although he hadn't held high expectations, these rumors were too fake. Not a single one was true.
"That's common. Ghost stories are only fun when they're mysterious and weird. Once the truth is revealed, naturally, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Youye and Lucia were in high spirits; clearly, they were full of enthusiasm for this process of exploring the unknown.
"Where's the next place? I can't wait... Yawn~"
Lucia, who had been excited to continue the adventure a moment ago, suddenly let out a massive yawn.
Long periods of living with her days and nights flipped (standard for a Night Watcher) had left her mental state somewhat exhausted. Although she claimed she was already adjusting her sleep schedule, looking at the current situation, Geno remained skeptical.
"Maybe we should go back and rest first."
"Ah, no way~ I haven't played enough yet~"
Lucia acted like a child taken out by a parent, whining to Geno. Adventuring and playing with friends was simply the scene she had always dreamed of. And her reliance on Geno stemmed from the fact that the first friend she ever made was, in fact, Geno.
"In that case, let's go to one last place. We can rest there right after we finish. Friendly tip: it's a 'Ghost House'!"
Youye put on a terrifying expression, seemingly wanting to scare the two, but it had no effect.
"Wah! I want to go, I want to go! It must be super interesting!"
Hearing it was a Ghost House, Lucia's eyes lit up with excitement, showing no trace of her previous lethargy.
As for Geno, he was completely helpless against her. He could only hope she would keep her promise and honestly go to rest once it was over.
Then, Youye began to lead the way. However, the inexplicable smile hanging on the corner of her mouth left Geno somewhat puzzled.
They took turns left and right, weaving through the streets and alleys of Weifeidi. Soon, they arrived at their destination.
"We're here. This is the place."
"This is...?"
"Huh?"
After walking for who knows how long, just as Youye said they had arrived, the two looked up. They saw the words [Studio of the Bizarre] written brightly on the signboard, leaving them utterly speechless.
"Youye, you lied to me!"
"I did not! I said it was a 'Gui Zhai' (Studio of the Bizarre)!"
"Ugh, so cold."
The climate in Weifeidi was very warm, yet Lucia felt a chill from Youye's 'cold joke'.
But since things had come to this, Lucia had to admit defeat and honestly went to rest.
"I didn't expect you to like these kinds of puns."
Sitting on the sofa, watching Youye skillfully fish a popsicle out of the refrigerator, Geno spoke with a smile.
"It's not a pun, at most it's a homophone gag."
Handing the popsicle to Geno, Youye began to explain.
It turned out that before she and Old Uncle Li moved here, a murder case had indeed occurred in this place.
It was said that a painter skilled in drawing had suddenly committed suicide in his own home one day.
After his death, the paintings he produced during his lifetime were discovered by connoisseurs as if completely new to the world, and they gained immense popularity.
Some said the painter was murdered because he refused invitations from certain big shots.
Others said the painter committed suicide intentionally, just to make his paintings valuable.
But the truth didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that after the painter died, this place became a 'murder house'. It was said his vengeful spirit still wandered inside, ceaselessly continuing his creation.
As for the painter's wife and daughter, they were so grief-stricken that they 'sold' this murder house, unwilling to mention these sad past events ever again.
____
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