Insomnia

January 17th. On an elevated viaduct in Changqiao City, a stretch limousine cruised smoothly through the urban sprawl. Changqiao was one of the few prominent cities with no subway or light rail network, simply because it had no need for one. Its sheer number of elevated expressways was unmatched across All Stars. Though one was bound to lose their way without navigation, the web-like traffic network was more than enough to absorb the city's transit demands. Looking down from All Stars, Changqiao City resembled a three-dimensional metropolis woven from spiderwebs. "Today will be clear with bright starlight. Please remember to keep rooms well-ventilated and stay warm..." Rose suddenly switched off the car radio and asked, "Miss Feili, is the hotel room not to your liking?" Feili was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Rose would ask that. "You have yawned four times since we left," Rose said. "I deliberately cracked the car window for ventilation to confirm it was not an issue with the air inside the vehicle. Was the hotel bedding uncomfortable? When booking hotels, I can specify the bedding you prefer." Feili instinctively covered her mouth, then shook her head. "No, it's just... I stayed up late last night." "Not just last night." Vichy turned around and tilted Feili's chin upward. "At your age, your metabolism is swift, yet it can't even hide your dark circles, and your complexion is noticeably haggard... You've had insomnia lately, haven't you?" Feili lowered her head and let out a soft hum of acknowledgment. "I don't know why, but I've had trouble sleeping lately. Maybe it's because we've been traveling for so long, and I'm not used to it." Yaxiu glanced sideways at her. "Do you want to sleep now? If you do, we can turn around and head back to the hotel." Feili immediately shook her head. "No need, I'm really not that sleepy. I won't hold up the itinerary—" "If you need it, I can sit beside you while you sleep," Yaxiu said. "It doesn't always take grand, bustling activities to deepen my impression of a city. Spending a leisurely afternoon resting once in a while—with you sleeping, me sitting beside you browsing my phone, Igola reading on the balcony, Rose handling errands, and Vichy working overtime—that's also an invaluable experience." The maid asked, "Why do I have to work overtime?" The necromancer added, "What about me?" "Do you two even understand what a break is?" Yaxiu spread his hands. "At the very least, it only counts as rest when the two of you aren't around." "So, are we turning back?" Rose pulled up the navigation on her phone. "Driving back will actually take an hour... Heading straight to a hotel inside the scenic area seems faster." Feili felt a spark of interest. After a moment's thought with her head down, she took out her phone and sent a message. Yaxiu felt his phone vibrate. The moment he unlocked it to look, the maid leaned over and peeked openly, letting out an exaggerated gasp. "Feili, you want to be alone with Yaxiu? Sure, no problem, we'll help find you two a room with the best soundproofing!" Niya snapped her head around to glare at Feili. The little lamb frantically explained, "I didn't mean that! I just have some things I want to talk to Yaxiu about in private!" "Are they the very things that have kept you tossing and turning in bed with worry night after night?" Vichy feigned a sigh. "Alas, our female college student is finally going to be defiled." Yaxiu poked Vichy hard in the forehead, grumbling, "So now do you understand why having you gone is the only way it counts as a day off?" Vichy rubbed her forehead with a giggle. "I'll strive to ensure Master never gets a day off!" Niya grabbed Feili's plump thigh, her displeasure practically dripping from her expression. "Niya, don't pick on Feili," Yaxiu said. "And don't listen to Vichy's nonsense. If Feili needs us to be alone before telling me, it must be something very important." "What important thing could she possibly have? Isn't it just, isn't it just..." The more Niya spoke, the angrier she became. Had Yaxiu not intervened, she might have settled for a couple of pinches, but now that Yaxiu was defending Feili, her temper flared out of control. With reckless spite, she slapped Feili right across the chest, then feigned innocence and looked out the window at the scenery. Feili let out a soft cry without retaliating. She merely looked at Yaxiu with teary eyes, clutching her chest in aggrieved silence. Seeing this, Yaxiu pulled a helmet and a frying pan from his backpack and fitted the helmet onto Niya's head. Bewildered, Niya looked up, only to see Yaxiu swinging the frying pan straight toward her. *Clang! Clang! Clang!* Three solid whacks left Niya thoroughly dazed. "You... you..." "Apologize," Yaxiu said sternly. "Joking around normally is fine, but malicious attacks that cross the line will not be tolerated." Niya glared at Yaxiu, puffing her cheeks, until Yaxiu raised the frying pan again with a cold expression. Only then did she hastily mutter, "I'm sorry." "It's all right." Feili took the initiative to hold Niya's hand. "Niya, it really isn't what you're imagining. Don't worry." She leaned close to Niya's ear and whispered, "I won't sneak a head start." Niya looked at Feili's sincere face, and her attitude gradually softened. Her lips moved faintly. "Sorry, then." Only then was Yaxiu satisfied. He put the helmet back into his backpack. Beside him, Vichy asked curiously, "Why do you carry a frying pan and a helmet around with you? Who are they meant for?" Yaxiu glanced at her, then glanced at Harvey. Everything was understood without a single word. "So are we heading to a hotel in the scenic area to rest?" Rose asked. "However, the theme park hotels are very likely fully booked at this hour. I am not sure if any rooms are available..." "A theme park?" Feili's eyes suddenly lit up. "Were we planning to visit a theme park?" "Mhm, we are headed to the most famous one in All Stars, Xiaguang Happy World. Today there is a Happy Carnival, a costume parade, a fireworks show, and various other events. It should leave a lasting impression on Yaxiu," Rose said. "However, since everyone needs rest, we should choose a more suitable hotel nearby—" Yaxiu smiled. "Didn't you have something to tell me?" "There's no rush! But I've wanted to visit Xiaguang Happy World for the longest time!" Feili said excitedly. "I want to visit all three major theme parks!" "If we had another month, you could visit every theme park there is," Vichy remarked languidly. "I just wonder if the Prime Angel can pull its weight and hold out against the Divine Lord of Stars' digestion for as long as possible." A month had passed since the third angel hunt. Given the intervals between them, the final angel hunt could erupt on any given day. Even so, Yaxiu and his companions had already traveled halfway around the Nation of Stars, reaching fifty percent progress. It was a delicate number. If they launched their plan now, success was not impossible, but failure was just as likely. For an unprecedented, epoch-making undertaking like this, Vichy would have had no certainty even at one hundred percent progress; the dice remained forever in the hands of fate. At those words, Feili's expression dimmed slightly. Niya looked out the car window, and silence settled over the limousine once more. *** Meanwhile, near a canal in Changqiao City, police cordons were being set up as the Criminal Investigation Division combed the area for forensic traces. Committing the crime right under surveillance cameras, using the exact same cold weapon—without a doubt, the culprit who had struck in Changqiao City last night was the super criminal who had perpetrated major cases across the entire country in just a single month. The Director of the Changqiao Police Department was beside himself dealing with the high-profile case, but soon his worries would be lifted—the head of the special task force had taken the overnight high-speed train to take charge of the investigation. They had already gathered enough evidence to indict the culprit.