Chapter 36 The Cat Thief Danheng: This ornament you found...
Danheng expressed great shock and bewilderment at the ornament you found.
In the time before she left, you didn't know what had happened on March 7th. You just thought she had an upset stomach or a minor cold. After all, she still had the energy to comfort you and tell you to be careful.
However, she was not in a position to leave the train and travel alone to Onfaros at that time.
The pale blue pottery jar originally shone with a faint golden light, but the moment you picked it up, it went out like a dying ember. Now, apart from its peculiar shape, it looks like an ordinary pottery jar from any angle.
In the silence, Bai Er promised, "Although I don't know what happened, I will pay more attention to pink-haired women during my patrols these next few days."
You pinched the bridge of your nose. "...Thank you, Xiaobai. But judging from the guard's account of finding the pottery jar, that cave should be located in the center of the Black Tide, abandoned for a long time, and shouldn't have any life there..."
A wisp of green hair and the hem of a black robe flashed past the doorway.
Xia was standing by the door when she heard those words, and she seemed to be deep in thought.
...
You and Bai'er plan to go to the cave where the pottery jar was found to see if there are any related clues, but since the area is the center of the Black Tide and there are many monsters, you have been making preparations for the past few days.
That day, as usual, you walked out of the Bathing Palace gate, waved goodbye to Danheng, and planned to go to the city gate to find Bai'e.
The bright sunshine and good sleep lifted your spirits. You squinted, humming a tune, and walked out of Ohm's territory, skipping and hopping as you rounded a corner—
The clamor of voices suddenly subsided.
Your steps faltered.
The moist, slightly alcoholic smell dissipated from the tip of my nose, replaced by a faint smell of blood.
You glanced back at the gates of Ohma behind you. Had someone already planned to attack you the moment you were freed from Aglaia's golden protection?
Your hand had already cautiously reached for the baseball bat at your waist, but for some reason, your mind went blank and you stopped.
...Speaking of which, when Hanabi imitated your prank last time, did she also teach you some stand-in tricks? Although you only learned the basics, it's enough to use here.
Moreover, if combined with the power of [memory]...
In the darkness, a chilling gaze is fixed on you. You lower your hand, pretending not to notice anything, and continue walking forward.
So, as you passed the next corner, using the wall as cover, you quickly released the doll substitute and used [memory] to depict your own appearance on it.
Based on your earlier glance at the newcomers and their clothing, you took out a black cloak from your backpack, covered your head with it, and slightly altered your appearance and voice.
—Alright, although your mediocre skills are nothing to impress those who know you, and your features still resemble your pre-disguise self by about 50-60%, with this dark cloak and mask, it's hard to tell the difference.
So why do villains like to create these mysterious decorations? Doesn't that make them even more suspicious?
As you complained, you caught the limp, collapsing doll with your other hand.
The shadows in the darkness stirred.
After a few seconds of silence, one of the men in black jumped down, twirling a small knife between his fingers.
"Who are you? Which team are you on? Don't you know you have to follow orders?" he cursed. "What if she finds out? She's a tough one to deal with, and she might even alert the Golden Bloods."
Your feigned voice was low and menacing, "...I'm sorry, I..."
The man in black, clearly a team leader, waved his hand impatiently, "Alright, I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. Go back to your own team. Don't you have any missions to complete?"
While complaining like this, he reached out and pulled the doll towards himself. "What drug did you give her? She's sleeping so soundly."
Seeing that you didn't speak, he looked up and gave you a suspicious look.
"you……"
You're frantically typing away in your head.
King Mimi, who was sleeping, rubbed his eyes and yawned upon hearing this, and began to search through the other person's memories in your mind.
"Ugh... so they're the bad guys who came to catch you!" Mimi suddenly snapped out of her daze and said angrily, "What's this team called? The Cleaners... and their leader is... Katniss?"
A thought suddenly struck you: you remembered how badly you had scolded her before. Could she be trying to get revenge on you?
"Hey, are you mute? Why aren't you saying anything?" The captain in black clicked his tongue, already on guard.
You quickly followed up on the information Mimi had given you, "Sorry, Captain, I'm new here and not familiar with the procedures. I only know that this mission is to kidnap her, but I don't know which team it's assigned to... I can prove my identity! For example, Captain, you were punished for Lady Katniss slipping and made to clean toilets for a week, everyone knows that..."
"Hey, hey!" the captain in black quickly stopped you. "That's enough. How can you be so clueless? You always bring up the wrong thing."
He muttered to himself, hoisting the doll onto his shoulder, "I'm heading back now, damn it... If you hadn't accidentally succeeded this time, I would have chopped your neck off..."
He glanced at you meaningfully, "You understand what should and shouldn't be said, right?"
"I understand, I understand." You nodded, flattering him, "This operation was all thanks to the captain's successful drugging. Without the captain, it definitely wouldn't have gone so smoothly!"
Seeing that you were sensible enough to offer the credit, the captain in black smiled with satisfaction, "That's more like it. Fine, I'll give you a ride since you're so pitiful."
*
You followed the men in black back to the Cleaners' lair.
To be honest, their security is quite tight; an ordinary person definitely wouldn't be able to sneak in.
Unfortunately, they ran into your duo, the Galactic Baseball Man with multiple powers and the little fairy recognized by the Titan of Time. Even if Katniss herself came, she would have to have a good drink before leaving.
This place fits your impression of a villain's base perfectly: straight lines, silent black everywhere, black headscarves, black clothes... In order to break free from Aglaia's control over Ohma, this place is located near Dawn Cloud Cliff, which also makes it convenient for Katniss to contact them at any time.
You sent a message to Bai'er to let her know you were safe:
[Something came up unexpectedly.]
you say:
I won't be going on patrol with you today.
Bai E replied quickly:
[It's okay! I can manage on my own anyway. Be careful, partner. Do you need me to bring you some snacks when I come back?]
[Great! I'll get one for Mimi too, thanks!]
[What did my partner do? Can you tell me? (Curious chimera jpg.)]
[Nothing much, just went to be a spy. (Pam gives a thumbs up jpg.)]
[Oh, so he was a spy...]
[Huh? What spy? Which spy? Partner, this sounds dangerous, I'm worried. Call me with you, where exactly? What if you get hurt? You won't be able to handle them alone, will you? Partner, partner, answer me! Partner—]
Someone is coming from ahead, so you can only ignore the screen full of "partners" on your phone, turn off the screen, and put it in your pocket.
Following the cleaners, you arrive at what appears to be the leader's office. The decor here is more lavish, and the open space on all sides makes it resemble an altar.
...It's as if people are trapped here forever, never to escape.
You hear the whispers of those around you:
"Hey, isn't so-and-so about to get a spinal replacement? Have they chosen a successor yet?"
"Not yet, they've been choosing recently. Lady Katniss had her eye on one, but the boy was attracted to Coroni's qualities... It seems the lessons from the previous ones haven't taught him a lesson yet."
"Tsk, what's the point of dying for those people? As a purger, I can't even offer Lady Katniss the slightest help—"
Amidst those malicious comments, you wondered to yourself, "What spine? That sounds rather frightening. Do even cleaners need to see an orthopedist?" as you watched those people carry the doll respectfully to the center of the arena.
You slipped away and hid in a corner.
With a creak, the door closed.
The room fell into darkness again, with only a few rays of sunlight shining through the cracks to illuminate the four corners.
You waited a while longer, then decided to leave and check on the doll.
—Suddenly, a few crisp coin-like sounds rang out from the darkness.
Ding-dong, ding-dong.
"Hey little guy, what are you doing hiding here?"
A teasing female voice rang out, seemingly right next to your ear. When you suddenly turned around to look, you found nothing but a gust of wind whistling past.
"Not going with your companions?"
You look up as if sensing something, and on the roof beam, a similarly black figure is crouching there. You can't see its features clearly, only... um? A fluffy cat tail is swishing under the beam.
She wasn't petite, but she was agile and flexible. Suspended on the roof beam, hooking up with only one leg, she enthusiastically performed several difficult moves, just like a lazy cat mischievously teasing a rolling ball of yarn.
"I'm sorry—" A swift figure rushes towards you, brandishing sharp claws, "Although I find you rather pleasing to the eye, since you're one of them, I have no choice but to eliminate you—"
"etc!"
Listening to her undisguised hatred and disgust for the cleaners in her words, and seeing her claws about to grab your neck, you suddenly remember the introduction Bai Er had given you.
The fourth demigod who remains in the world, the embodiment of [trickery], Saifeier, is dressed in black with cat ears and a cat tail.
"I'm one of them!"
You ripped off your cloak, dodged to the side, and removed your disguise.
"We're on the same side! Show some mercy!!!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: To prevent readers from being unfamiliar with the Cleaners (the original work only mentions detailed background information in some minor documents and side stories), this explanation is provided here:
You can find a small note in the Demigods' Council titled "Rumors of the Cleansers (Internal Circulation)". It mentions that, thanks to the miracle of Oronis, the Cleansers can preserve memories and experiences through spines made of a mysterious metal. They kill their predecessors in exchange for their spines being transferred to younger bodies, thus passing on their legacy.
After opening the tinder box, you can obtain an illustrated book called "Fragments of the Cleansers' Register." The 42nd incarnation of the 23rd incarnation was named Colony, who died protecting the people in a surprise attack by the Nicardi retinue. There is a note in the book that says, "Every incarnation is like this..." Do you think this is how a Cleanser should die?
This shows that Number Twenty-Three was inherently kind, and his kind memories continue to influence his successors. The Purgers and the Senate, who were originally ordinary people fighting for their rights against the Golden Clan, are now deeply embroiled in power struggles and have lost their true selves. Even those who genuinely retained their original intentions have been marginalized.
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