Ai Ke said, "Um...should we avoid each other for a bit?"
To the Phoenix Flower, the two of them were outsiders.
The main reason is that Ai Ke wanted to run away, afraid that her motivational talk would be exposed.
But Leah objected, insisting, "No, this concerns us too."
Linda: "Why?"
“I might know who that person is.” Leah’s eyes gleamed. “She’s been trying to talk to me ever since the party started! She feels so familiar, like someone I know!”
"Could it be...?"
Linda raised an eyebrow and said, "You guys stay here, let's all see what this gift is."
"Uh, okay, fine." Ike's smile was a little unnatural.
The four people formed a circle.
Linda slowly untied the ribbon bow on the gift box.
Bang!
A thick cloud of smoke billowed out, choking Linda and the others, causing them to cough.
"Everyone be careful, it's poisonous!"
As Linda said this, a stone in the gift box projected a three-dimensional, illusory human figure.
She was a pink-haired girl wearing black openwork armor, with her spade tail proudly raised.
The girl sat languidly on the stone throne, her legs crossed, her thighs full and fair, her bare feet with toes painted an alluring red.
"Be careful, it might be poisonous..." That's probably what Linda would say, right? But unfortunately, it's not poisonous, it's just a scare smear!
Celine's annoying giggles rang out.
Linda and her group were stunned, feeling both angry and amused.
This playful and teasing personality is really typical of Lin Xi.
"It really was her!" Leah exclaimed, pointing at the illusory Sirin. "That one with glasses was an imposter! If I had known, I would have killed her and beaten her into submission!"
Lulu snorted: "Level 27, fighting against Moon-rank?"
“Uh…” Lia wanted to retort, but she was speechless.
"How did Lin Xi end up like this?" Ai Ke asked Lin Da in surprise. "You knew about this all along?"
"Yes. But I only just found out that Miss Lin is Lin Xi."
Linda was both angry and somewhat pleased by her younger sister's arrival. She was angry that her sister disrespected her brother, but pleased that her sister hadn't completely fallen into depravity.
If they had already submitted to the Demon King, a Moon-ranked individual arriving at the advancement party would surely wipe out the adventurers in one fell swoop.
But the other party did not do that.
The illusionary Sirin lazily propped her chin on her hand, like an arrogant queen issuing a decree to her subjects:
"Linda, Lia, and the rest of Xueyan, if you surrender, I can guarantee you won't be destroyed by His Majesty the Demon King. I advise you to think carefully before you reach the 20th floor: will you become corpses, or will you pledge allegiance to His Majesty the Demon King... Hehehehe."
The illusion vanished amidst Celine's triumphant laughter.
Lia said blankly, "Lin Xi has gone bad."
“Yes,” Linda sighed. “I have to defeat her and make her turn back into the original Lin Xi.”
"Don't worry, I'll help you."
"Thank you so much."
Linda did not refuse. If Xueyan could reach level 20, their strength would be a great help to her.
"I'll be going now, you guys keep chatting." Ai Ke tried to sneak away.
"Wait a moment."
Just as Aiko was about to make her escape, a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"W-what's wrong? It shouldn't be anything else for me, right?"
Aiko's forehead was covered in a cold sweat, as if a small waterfall was pouring down her forehead.
"I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to ask..." Linda stared intently at Aiko: "Why would you 'poison' the chicken soup?"
"No, no," Aiko said in a panic. "It's possible that it's someone from the Ghost Adventurer Group trying to frame you."
“Impossible.” Linda shook her head. “Considering how quickly the effects of the Spring Sunflower take hold… if it was the Ghosts who poisoned me, I would have already taken effect at the party. After that, I’ve only eaten one thing.”
"That is, the chicken soup you cooked."
“Aiko, stop making excuses. Just take out your lunchbox and examine it, and the truth will come out.”
Linda said calmly.
"What? You poisoned Linda? Why did you do that?" Leah looked at Eko in shock.
Lulu also looked hostile, and her claws shot out. If Linda hadn't stopped her and given Eike a chance to explain, Lulu would have scratched Eike's face with her claws.
"Waaah, don't look at me like that, I'm not your enemy!" Aiko used her fake crying skill again, wiping away her tears as she spoke.
Linda remained unmoved: "If you can't provide a reasonable explanation, Aiko, even you, I won't forgive you. What if Lulu hadn't come? What if I hadn't been able to hold onto that last shred of reason in Monica's room..."
Linda didn't say anything after that.
But everyone knows what the consequences will be.
Monica, Lia, and Ike—all three of them will be torn apart by Linda!
Eko reaped what she sowed, so be it.
But the two people mentioned earlier were victims.
Although Lulu helped Linda through the crisis, it doesn't mean that Eko's mistakes can be forgiven.
Linda needs Echo, and she needs to give a convincing reason.
"I believe in Aiko."
Leah, unusually, sided with Eko and spoke up for her: "Although she's not a very nice person, I know she's not a bad person. Eko, you should tell Linda the real reason you did this!"
Faced with Lia's trusting gaze, Eko felt a pang of shame.
This powder keg...it's absolutely ridiculous!
She had always regarded Leah as a pure stepping stone for flying.
But to her surprise, Leah trusted her so much.
Aiko was a little touched.
But how could she explain this to Linda?
He wanted to use this chicken soup to win over Linda and make her his captive.
The 'real reason' certainly cannot be revealed.
If she said it, Lindarullia and the other two would not let her off the hook.
Therefore, we can only use 'lies'.
A 'lie' that is most logical and will never be detected.
Ai Ke clutched her chest, feigning tears, and two tears fell from her eyes as she sobbed:
"Linda, don't you understand why I did this?"
Linda shook her head: "If I understood, I wouldn't have asked you."
"Does it have to be said?"
"Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't forgive you."
Hearing Linda's somewhat heartless words, Ai Ke's face turned even paler.
She clenched her fist, her pink nails stinging her palm.
Meeting Linda's questioning gaze, Ai's mouth felt dry, as if her throat was blocked by a foreign object.
She, who usually lies constantly, was somewhat flustered at this moment.
Aiko took a deep breath and said slowly:
"because..."
I like you.
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