Chapter 185 (One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth Chapter): World Overlap (Comic Plot)...
Yan Shi's brow twitched, and his hand had already subconsciously clicked on the latest chapter.
The cover illustration on the first page is still a grand scene. The brightly lit, spacious council chamber has a crystal chandelier hanging high above the central round table, with rows of seats surrounding it, and the room is now full.
In the center of the image, Director Yan sits in a chair, her expression cold and stern. In front of her, on the other side of the round table, Sheng Chunqiu stands next to a woman, holding a stack of documents.
The two did not look at each other. Director Yan was focused on Sheng Chunqiu, but Sheng Chunqiu's gaze remained restrained, fixed on the documents in his hands. Because of his slightly bowed head, light streamed down from above, casting a small shadow on Sheng Chunqiu's face.
The large-scale scenes do not affect the detail of the characters, because behind the seats, on dozens of camera screens of all sizes, there are magnified shots of Yan Ju and Sheng Chunqiu's expressions from different angles.
Countless eyes converged on the center, revealing a sense of absurdity.
【Aaaaaaah, I'm so anxious!】
[Sheng Chulai, tell me loudly, you didn't betray me!!!]
Anyone could have been the one to unexpectedly stab Yan Ju in the back, but why was it Sheng Chunqiu?
[I'm speechless. There aren't many characters in this manga who are even slightly sincere towards my wife, and of those few, some even betray her. If you hate my wife so much, why did you create her in the first place? Are you just using her to make money??]
[To the point that even non-fans find the plot absurd and incomprehensible]
The comic still follows Lin Cai's perspective.
Lin Cai, wearing a name tag, blended seamlessly into the group of reporters. Unlike her "colleagues" who were trying to find a good angle to frame both Director Yan and Sheng Chunqiu in their shots, Lin Cai's camera didn't care about reporting; it only focused on Director Yan.
The comic book camera then panned to Lin Cai's camera lens.
In the narration, Sheng Chunqiu is meticulously pointing out the suspicious points in Yan Shi's onboarding process. Director Yan, however, doesn't seem very surprised, and instead listens quietly with his eyes lowered.
There was no intervention or rebuttal.
Because the camera lens was high-definition enough, her eyelashes could be clearly seen fluttering gently with her breathing and occasional blinks.
Putting everything else aside, Yan Ju's good looks are truly stunning; even magnified, they're breathtaking. What color burlap sack does my wife like? (puppy carrying a rose) (wagging tail)
The points they've raised seem like they're just making trouble out of nothing; they're insisting there's a problem even when there isn't one.
With Yan Ju's abilities, he neither needs nor deigns to fabricate anything. If it weren't for the appointment by the Heavenly Mandate Platform and his concern for ordinary beings, Yan Ju wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.
If the old scoundrel's goal was to manipulate fans, then I admit she succeeded. Okay, old scoundrel, I know you're watching, please stop!
After Sheng Chunqiu finished speaking, Yan Ju slowly repeated, "Strength above demigod?"
...
The comic depicts reality, completely following its development. After a stalemate, the game entered a halftime break and voting period.
During the break, the media were forced to turn off their cameras. The council chamber was large, and the specific content of the discussion was indistinct amidst the scattered noise.
Gradually, everyone left, and the council chamber quieted down again.
Lin Cai also turned off the camera, but still stood behind the council chamber watching Director Yan.
Yanju is talking with Grand Duke Lorenz.
Archduke Lorenz and Libertas are like mother and daughter, they look exactly alike.
[Just as easygoing, Lorenz received a "yes" vote in the referendum. Quite tactful.]
[Hopefully everyone attending the meeting will be sensible, or at least consider Director Yan's fighting prowess w]
[Hahahaha, this reminds me of that classic scene from a few chapters where Director Yan remotely helped Yan Lan fight, and incidentally made the provocateur kneel before Yan Lan.]
[So many flaws, but I love watching them and I'll draw more!]
Grand Duke Lorenz had no intention of probing or anything; it was just casual conversation. Therefore, Director Yan's reply was also direct.
“Betrayal is a compulsory course in life.” She said this without any obvious emotion on her face, simply stating a fact: “All living beings have their own choices.”
As she spoke, her gaze fixed on a point in the air, and then, as if remembering something, a faint sadness appeared on her face, lasting only for a moment.
Grand Duke Lorenz sighed, "There will always be someone who is there."
[That's a bit ironic]
[Yanju said that betrayal is a compulsory course in life because he has experienced many betrayals, which is why he can be so used to it.]
Those who are fortunate have never experienced it; how can they know the misfortunes along the way?
[The old thief hates Yanju and tries his best to give her all sorts of unfortunate pasts; at the same time, he can't help but love the soul of Yanju that he created.]
My wife is truly radiant; every smile and gesture captivates me, drawing me into the unspoken tenderness of a savior. That old scoundrel is incredibly lucky to have created such a miraculous character. Okay, enough pretending, wife, Jiefen (holds roses) (makes heart shape with hands) (diamond ring)
“...betrayal.” Lin Cai murmured, repeating herself, then left the council chamber with her head down.
She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly heard arguing coming from around the corner of the corridor.
Although the voice was deliberately lowered, it still couldn't hide the speaker's discontent.
Lin Cai stopped and looked around the corner to the other side of the corridor.
It is the return of the pavilion and the flourishing of spring and autumn.
Seeing Sheng Chunqiu makes me want to ask, why did Director Sheng betray Director Yan? It's infuriating!
Although Director Yan says, "Betrayal is a lifelong lesson," every act of betrayal inevitably brings sadness and distress. Director Yan is human.
[Besides the betrayal, there's something else very strange: At the round table behind the conference table, in the seats corresponding to the Bureau of Dissent, there wasn't a seat reserved for Director Sheng. It wasn't that a seat was reserved but Director Sheng wasn't there, or that the seats were full; it was simply that there wasn't one.]
What does it mean that the old thief meticulously designed the plot but didn't release it?
Stop insisting on only depicting the scenes Lin Cai witnessed. The readers can decide for themselves who the true protagonist of this manga is.
Gui Gemu's face lacked its usual laziness, displaying a rare coldness that revealed the sharpness and nobility of someone from a prominent family: "What exactly do you want?" she said, enunciating each word clearly, "I'll give it to you."
Sheng Chunqiu's gaze was calm as he focused intently on Guigemu: "But you know, I never waver in my decisions, whether right or wrong. This is the path I have chosen."
"The path you've chosen?" Gui Gemu laughed in anger. "What path? A path to your own death?"
[Hahaha, mouth double, so good at cursing]
It's strange that Gui Ge Mu, Sheng Chunqiu's closest friends, didn't know about his betrayal.
[Anyway, it turned out to be betrayal. I'm so angry, my wife... sob sob sob sob sob sob]
Sheng Chunqiu: "Hmm."
He is completely unresponsive to reason.
Gui Gemu took a deep breath. "The position of bureau chief isn't your goal, and Director Yan is quite perfect as bureau chief. That's Director Yan's stance." She analyzed clearly, "You oppose anti-bombing propaganda?"
“That’s not right.” Gui Gemu really couldn’t understand: “Anti-bombing propaganda is beneficial to civilians. You’re not from a noble family either, so why are you standing with them?” As she spoke, she muttered, “I haven’t even opposed this policy.”
“Return to the pavilion.” Sheng Chunqiu sighed. She was always like this; no matter how familiar she was with someone, she would call them by their full name, showing that she was serious.
Gui Gemu glared at her: "What?"
“This is the path I chose,” Sheng Chunqiu repeated.
[Director Yan really understands betrayal, which is why he says, "All living beings have the right to make their own choices," when talking about betrayal.]
"What path have you chosen?" Gui Gemu was not convinced. "Explain yourself clearly."
Sheng Chunqiu: "I come from the world of the surface."
Gui Gemu was stunned.
“But I come from the surface world,” Sheng Chunqiu repeated.
Gui Gemu recovered from her shock: "What does the real world have to do with anti-bombing propaganda?" She was even more confused.
Sheng Chunqiu: "The world on the surface..."
Before she could finish speaking, a cheerful bell rang.
Sheng Chunqiu paused abruptly, took out his phone from his pocket, turned off the alarm, and said in a low voice, "I have to go."
She took a step back and said, "I'm sorry."
Please forgive me, please forgive me.
After Sheng Chunqiu finished speaking, he didn't wait for Gui Gemu's reply, or perhaps he didn't want to hear a reply he didn't want to hear. He turned around, flipped his hand over the windowsill, and disappeared into the morning light.
"How cunning." Gui Gemu watched the direction she left in, then laughed self-deprecatingly.
After a while, Gui Gemu said softly, "Okay."
The meeting wasn't over yet. However...
Lin Cai stood quietly in the corner and listened to the whole thing. Then, without hesitation, she climbed out of the window next to her.
Spirits gathered around her, lifting her limbs, and followed Sheng Chunqiu as they leaped out of the island's boundaries at the floating auction house.
[Wait, wait!! Lin Cai, don't go! (Erkang gestures)]
I want to know the voting results of the Covenant Court...
[The camera's gone, am I supposed to guess the ending from the plot?! (Angry.jpg)]
[A little trick from the old fox to get you to spend money. Either vote for Yan Ju to be number one in popularity and we'll see in the side story, or just guess.]
Sheng Chunqiu's goal was very clear: to head straight for the boundary gate next to the nearby Novano Port.
At the boundary gate, two people dressed in black robes, their faces obscured, were already waiting. Lying at their feet were two patrol members from the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs who had previously been guarding the boundary gate.
Because it was early morning, the area around the boundary gate was deserted; it wasn't yet time for the Bureau of Alien Management to approve the crossing of the boundary gate by living beings.
Lin Caizhui watched from a distance.
However, comic book protagonists are everywhere.
[It feels like the Spring and Autumn Period is about to stir up trouble]
[After resigning from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, Sheng Chu decided to follow in the footsteps of Lin Cai's mother and become a criminal who loves explosive art?]
Sheng Chunqiu took out a large pile of pre-drawn talismans from the storage space brought by the man in black robes and pasted them on the boundary gate in order. He also took out a pile of spiritual artifacts and alchemical products and placed them below the boundary gate.
After everything was arranged, she glanced at the sky.
The sun had just risen halfway up the horizon, and the morning light was crisp and clear.
The inner world is wonderful, but she comes from the outer world.
Sheng Chunqiu withdrew her gaze, and as if finally making up her mind, she pricked her fingertip. Blood oozed out, and she dabbed it on a talisman on the boundary gate. Then, the three of them took a step back.
Starting with that drop of blood, the array on the talisman lit up one after another, and golden-red light spread along the edge of the boundary gate, as if flames were swirling above it. The spiritual artifacts and alchemical items below the boundary gate resonated, emitting a deep hum, and the air suddenly became scorching hot.
At the center of the boundary gate, the previously empty space began to distort, revealing a glass-like texture, vibrating with the humming of the magical artifacts and alchemical products.
With a determined look in his eyes, Sheng Chunqiu threw out a spirit stone that slammed into the center of the boundary gate.
The glass-like space, centered on the point of impact, immediately developed shallow cracks. With the continued vibrations from the magical artifacts and alchemical concoctions, the cracks spread and deepened. The gate trembled violently, and the engraved restrictions on it shattered one after another.
A deafening explosion rang out!
With the explosion, the restrictions on the boundary gate completely dimmed, and then suddenly collapsed.
At the same time, the spatial cracks were no longer confined to the boundary gate. After the boundary gate collapsed, the cracks spread outwards from the gate, like countless cracks spreading from shattered glass.
At the very center of the impact point, the space has been completely breached. The morning light can be seen on the other side.
As the cracks spread, the hole grew larger and larger until it silently encroached upon a corner of the city on the other side, engulfing a corner of Novano Port.
Friends, there's a problem. The scene lurking in a corner of this world barrier looks so familiar—it's near my house. I just went out to check it out.
I'm standing right here now, and I feel like I've entered the other world.
Author's note: This story won't end anytime soon; there's still half the plot left.
The main problem is that I tend to write in a slow, drawn-out style, and I unconsciously add slice-of-life scenes into the main plot. I've been trying to catch up on the plot recently.
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