The air solidified with Gabriel's icy words.
Adrien's normally straight back stiffened for a moment.
He struggled to maintain a calm expression, trying to make his voice sound confident, but the slight tremor in his tone betrayed his inner unease.
"I… I think I played quite well, Father."
Gabriel slowly walked over to the expensive black grand piano.
He didn't look at Adrien; his gaze coldly fell on the black and white keys, as if scrutinizing a lifeless, flawed work of art.
"In my opinion, Adrien, you haven't put your heart into practicing."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, like a sharp scalpel, precisely cutting through Adrien's thin, self-comforting facade.
Adrien's lips moved, a surge of grievance and unwillingness swelling in his heart, giving him the courage to voice his deepest, most honest thoughts.
"Every day, I'm just here by myself, repeating the same exercises over and over.
Father, music… music needs to be shared; it needs friends to listen and resonate with.
If… if I could play with friends, I think… I would play much better."
His voice was filled with a longing for friendship and a yearning for the vibrant world outside.
However, this pure, youthful desire seemed so out of place in Gabriel's cold world, filled with revenge and obsession.
"Our family has always been solitary."
Gabriel finally shifted his gaze from the keys to his son's face.
There was not a trace of warmth in his deep blue eyes, "We are not a rabble that needs to huddle together for warmth."
He extended his hand and lightly tapped the piano lid with his fingertips, making a soft "thud," as if delivering a final verdict.
"Practice again. If you can't even play this piece well, don't even think about going out."
With that, he turned and, with his impeccable, elegant stride, left the room without looking back.
The door slowly and silently closed behind him, like an insurmountable chasm, completely isolating Adrien from the freedom he craved.
Adrien's shoulders slumped at that moment. He looked at the closed door, and the last spark of light in his eyes dimmed.
His gaze turned to the only other person left in the room—Nathalie.
His eyes held a silent, humble plea, hoping that this "assistant," who had always taken such good care of him, could say a word on his behalf.
Nathalie stood quietly in place; beneath her perpetually icy expression, a slight ripple stirred in her heart.
She looked at Adrien's crestfallen appearance and felt that the Mister's behavior today was indeed… overly harsh.
In the plan, Adrien building and deepening relationships with his friends was already a crucial part.
Today, although it wasn't Jaden himself who came to invite, deepening relationships with Nino and Kim also aligned with the overall direction of the plan.
The Mister's almost ruthless refusal was somewhat… illogical.
"Adrien."
Nathalie slowly walked up to him, her voice still in that calm and efficient professional tone, but if one listened carefully, a subtle softness could be detected.
"I can… go talk to the Mister.
But, you must first calm down and practice this piece well again."
Adrien's eyes instantly lit up, like a dying person grasping at a last straw: "Really? Nathalie? Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Practice the piano first." Nathalie said, then also turned and left the room.
Adrien watched her retreating figure, a glimmer of hope rekindled in his heart. He quickly said into the still-connected phone, "Nino, I might need to wait a bit longer… though… hope is slim."
"It's alright, brother!"
On the other end of the phone, Nino's cheerful, reassuring voice immediately came through, "We have all day! Just don't not show up for the whole day!"
"That's right! Adrien! We're all waiting for you!" Kim's booming voice also chimed in.
Even Max, who usually just analyzed data, didn't dampen the mood this time, but instead said in his slightly mechanical tone, "Welcome, Adrien."
"According to data analysis of Gabriel Mister's past behavior patterns, the probability of Adrien going out today is…"
In the corner, Marc's characteristic electronic voice had just sounded when Max quickly clapped his hand over its speaker.
"Wuwuwu—!"
Analyzing such disheartening data at a time like this would only add fuel to the fire!
The encouraging words from his friends flowed like a warm current, slowly seeping into Adrien's cold heart.
Although reason told him that the possibility of Nathalie convincing his father was minuscule, the feeling of being anticipated by his friends still filled his heart with warm expectation.
However, this expectation did not last long.
A short while later, the room door was pushed open again. Nathalie walked in; she looked at Adrien, her face bearing a formal, emotionless apology.
"I'm sorry, Adrien. The Mister said you must play this piece well now; he will come to listen personally a bit later. Only if he is satisfied can you go out."
After saying that, she turned and left the room again, this time thoughtfully closing the door for him.
Adrien's heart sank completely. He picked up the phone, his voice filled with unconcealed fatigue and disappointment: "I'm sorry, everyone… I'm afraid I can't go out today. I wish you all… have fun."
With that, he hung up the phone, shutting that warmth from his friends, along with himself, into this opulent cage.
The room fell into a dead silence.
Just then, a small, black figure flew out from his shirt.
"Oh, honestly."
Plagg yawned, lazily flying onto the piano, using its tiny feet to tap on the keys, producing a few out-of-tune, tinkling sounds, "Your old man is even more stubborn than the hardest cheese."
Adrien gave a bitter smile, saying nothing.
Plagg looked at his almost tearful expression, rolled its eyes, and then, as if suddenly inspired, its entire body stood on the keys.
Then, to Adrien's astonished gaze, this tiny black cat Kwami began to dance nimbly, hopping left and right across the black and white keys.
A cheerful, fluid, and improvisational piece of jazz music smoothly flowed from its feet.
The melody was full of freedom and unrestraint, forming a stark contrast to the classical music Adrien had just played, which was full of constraint.
Adrien's dejected face finally broke into a smile.
"Ha… I never thought you could play the piano."
"What's a small thing like that to a Kwami who's lived for who knows how many years?"
Plagg proudly tilted its small head, continuing its improvisation.
Meanwhile, several tens of minutes earlier, while Adrien was still engaged in that doomed struggle with his father,
When Jaden arrived at the dock where the "Liberty" was moored at the appointed time, Rose and Juleka were already waiting there.
The sunlight reflected off the surface of the Seine River, making it sparkle like a flowing river of stars.
A gentle breeze wafted by, bringing the fresh scent of the river water and the fragrance of wild flowers on the bank.
"Jaden!" Rose was the first to spot him, immediately waving her arms and greeting him like a happy little bird.
Her pure, unadulterated smile was enough to melt the hardest ice.
Juleka was still her shy self. She stood behind Rose, nervously clutching the hem of her dress, her head slightly bowed, only daring to glance at the approaching boy who made her heart race, out of the corner of her eye.
Beside them stood a woman with a powerful aura. She had neat, ash-blonde short hair, wore exaggerated red-rimmed glasses, and was dressed in a casual crew jacket and jeans.
Her hands were on her hips, and she was scrutinizing Jaden up and down with a sharp, undisguised, assessing gaze.
That look wasn't like someone looking at her daughter's friend; it was more like evaluating an expensive antique about to be auctioned.
No need to guess, this must be Juleka and Luka's mother, the mistress of the "Liberty," Ms. Anarka.
"Hello, Ms. Anarka."
Jaden approached, a gentle and polite smile on his face, and greeted her proactively, "I am Jaden, Juleka and Rose's friend."
"Hmph, friend?" Anarka let out an ambiguous snort from her nose.
Her gaze was still sharp, like two X-ray scanners, seemingly wanting to see through Jaden from the inside out, "I've heard, young man, that you've been quite popular in Parisian social circles recently.
You're not some 'playboy' trying to whisk away my precious daughter, are you?"
Her tone was full of gunpowder and direct provocation.
"Mom!" Juleka let out a faint protest.
"Aunt Anarka, it's not like that!" Rose also quickly explained for Jaden.
"You haven't even properly said a few words to him yet!"
Luka, standing at the bow of the ship, also helplessly said to his fiery-tempered mother.
He held his guitar, a gentle, apologetic smile on his face, and nodded to Jaden as a greeting.
Jaden was not flustered or embarrassed in the slightest by Anarka's hostile opening remarks.
His smile remained gentle and composed.
He knew that for a single mother who was protective of her daughter, such vigilance and caution were perfectly normal reactions.
He did not rush to board the ship but stood on the shore, neither humble nor arrogant, looking at Anarka, and said in a calm and sincere tone, "Ms. Anarka, I think you might have some misunderstandings about me."
As they stood a few steps apart on the shore, engaging in this initial, tense exchange, a figure behind a distant building they hadn't noticed quietly raised a phone.
It was Alya.
She held her breath, adjusted the focus, and with a "click," clearly captured this highly informative scene of "Jaden meeting the parents."
Then, like a secret agent who had completed her mission, she crouched low and silently left the scene, sprinting towards Marinette's house.
She didn't know Jaden's exact home address, but she was very familiar with Juleka's "Liberty."
She had searched all the way there and, sure enough, successfully "staked out" her target here.
"Misunderstanding?" Anarka raised an eyebrow, clearly somewhat surprised by Jaden's unhurried attitude.
Jaden nodded, his gaze clear and open, looking directly into Anarka's eyes:
"Yes. I'm here today simply because Rose and Juleka invited me to a friends' weekend gathering. That's all."
His words were neither humble nor arrogant; he neither overly flattered nor showed any annoyance at being misunderstood.
That calm yet powerful aura made Anarka's prepared "interrogation" feel somewhat powerless.
She silently scrutinized Jaden for a few seconds, then threw a wide wooden plank from the boat, bridging the gap between the boat and the dock.
"Come aboard."
Her tone, though still not enthusiastic, was much softer than before.
As Alya dashed like a gust of wind towards Marinette's house, Jaden also accepted Anarka's invitation and walked onto the wooden plank connecting the dock to the "Liberty."
The deck of the "Liberty" was filled with a free-spirited and eclectic artistic atmosphere.
Various musical instruments, paint cans, and some unfinished sculptures were visible everywhere.
Although it looked a bit messy, it was organized in a very methodical way, full of life.
Jaden's gaze, curious and appreciative, took in everything.
Anarka then led him to a small round table in the center of the deck.
She sat down confidently, then pointed to the chair opposite, signaling Jaden to also sit.
An informal "interrogation" officially began.
"He seems to be a decent young man after all," Anarka said, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back in her chair, her tone evaluative.
"But a handsome face isn't enough. What are your thoughts on our 'Liberty'?"
This sudden question made Rose and Juleka, who were standing nearby, a little nervous.
Jaden, however, showed no hesitation.
He looked around, then smiled and replied, "It's wonderful. Although it's not exactly tidy, it's full of life.
Every corner seems to tell a story of dreams and freedom.
I think living in a place like this must be a very happy thing."
His words clearly struck a chord with Anarka.
Her perpetually tense face finally softened, revealing a subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness.
However, when she saw Jaden's consistently impeccable, textbook-perfect gentlemanly demeanor, her brows furrowed involuntarily.
This gentle, gentlemanly style… it was too safe, too boring.
Her daughter needed passion that could ignite her inner flame, not this lukewarm politeness.
"Hmph, Luka!"
She suddenly shouted, breaking the brief harmony, "I just remembered I have something to attend to. You, keep a close eye on this dark-haired boy! Don't let him wander off!"
With that, she didn't spare Jaden another glance, stood up from her chair, and turned to walk into the cabin.
After Anarka left, the atmosphere on the deck instantly lightened.
Before Rose could even speak, Luka had already walked up to Jaden, guitar in hand.
He extended his hand, a sincere and gentle smile on his face.
"Hello, I'm Luka, Juleka's brother. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Hello, Luka," Jaden also extended his hand, shaking his lightly. "I'm Jaden. It's a pleasure to meet you."
His movements were unhurried, and his smile was just right, conveying friendliness while maintaining a polite distance.
This was a way of interacting full of Eastern wisdom—gentle, reserved, yet radiating an undeniable charm.
It wasn't as overtly enthusiastic as Westerners, but it could subtly bridge the distance between hearts, like spring rain nourishing all things in silence.
Luka's smile also became more genuine.
He could feel that this black-haired, black-eyed young man was distinctly different from the other enthusiastic or flamboyant peers he had met.
There was a quiet strength about him, like a warm, smooth jade, requiring a calm mind to appreciate its inner quality.
"Would you like something to drink? Juice or…?"
Luka released his hand and naturally changed the subject, trying to make the atmosphere more relaxed.
"Anything is fine, thank you," Jaden replied with a smile. This easygoing attitude dispelled Luka's last bit of worry, which had arisen from his mother's earlier intense words.
As Luka turned to go into the cabin to prepare drinks, Rose, who was nearby, finally found her chance and fluttered over like a happy little sparrow.
"Sigh," she whispered, a hint of apology and helplessness on her face, "Originally, we wanted to invite you to the art square on Montmartre Hill, but… as you can see, Aunt Anarka forcibly 'intercepted' us."
Her tone was full of regret for the disrupted plans, but her bright eyes held more excitement about being able to spend time with Jaden.
Jaden merely smiled gently at her words, his voice as soft as the breeze blowing over the Seine River: "It's alright. For me, who I'm with is far more important than where I go."
He said this casually, yet it was like a small stone dropped into a lake, stirring circles of sweet ripples in the hearts of Rose and Juleka, who was quietly listening nearby.
Rose's already radiant smile instantly brightened even more.
And Juleka, who had been keeping her head down, couldn't help but secretly raise her eyelids, quickly glancing at Jaden's gentle profile, then quickly lowering her gaze like a startled fawn. But her hand, which had been tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, involuntarily relaxed a little.
The tension caused by her mother's strictness and the unfamiliar environment was quietly soothed by Jaden's simple words.
The comforting power he exuded was so real, so… captivating.
"Then… then let's play some games!" Rose immediately suggested, eager to find more ways to deepen their bond.
"Hmm… how about Truth or Dare? Or…?"
"Before we decide what to play," Jaden's gaze gently turned to Juleka, who had been silent, "I'd like to ask Juleka for her opinion first. After all, this is your home."
This small detail made Juleka's heart tremble.
She hadn't expected that beneath Rose's dazzling, sun-like radiance, he… would actually notice her, who had always hidden in the shadows.
"I… I…" Juleka's cheeks flushed a light pink. She nervously twisted her fingers and whispered, "I… I'm fine with anything."
"Then… music?" Rose's eyes lit up. This suggestion was both her own hobby and perfectly showcased Juleka's talent. "We can play music together! How about it?"
"Music?" Jaden's face showed a regretful disappointment. "Uh… about that… I might not be very good at it. I… I don't think I've ever systematically learned any instrument."
His honest and somewhat troubled expression, far from disappointing the two girls, instantly ignited their strong "teaching desire."
"That's perfect then!" Rose seized on the topic, exclaiming excitedly, "We can teach you! Juleka is the best guitarist in our school! And I can teach you some basic music theory too!"
She looked expectantly at Juleka, who was beside her.
Under the encouraging gazes of both Rose and Jaden, Juleka's timidity seemed to melt away like ice under a warm force.
She took a deep breath, finally lifted her head, and looked at Jaden earnestly with her deep and beautiful eyes.
"I… I can teach you. If… if you're willing." Her voice was still very soft, carrying a hint of shyness and uncertainty, but her eyes sparkled with an unprecedented, bright light.
"Of course," Jaden nodded without hesitation, his smile as warm and gentle as the sunlight at that moment, "I'd be delighted."
…And behind the small, round cabin window behind them, two pairs of eyes were taking in this scene on the deck.
"You see, Mom," Luka said, carrying three freshly poured glasses of juice, a relieved smile on his face, "I feel… he's very nice. Very gentle, and he really knows how to respect Juleka."
"Hmph, gentle?" Anarka crossed her arms, leaning against the wall, and looked coldly through the window at the warm and harmonious scene of the three young people on the deck, her tone filled with disdain, "I think that's just sweet talk!
Look at him, so gentle with everyone, so polite with everyone. Isn't he just like those 'bards' in pirate stories who are best at charming young girls?"
In Anarka's world view, shaped by life's hardships, if a man, especially a handsome young man like Jaden, acted too perfect, too "gentlemanly," there must be an unknown motive hidden behind it.
"Mom, you've only spent a few minutes with him," Luka shook his head helplessly.
"I'm protecting Juleka!" Anarka's voice rose slightly. "Don't you know Juleka's personality? Introverted, doesn't talk much, she's easily deceived by this 'gentle' facade!
This boy, Jaden, he's too gentle, as gentle as lukewarm water!
This kind of personality is simply not suitable for our Juleka! He can't pull Juleka out of her own world, let alone protect her if something happens outside later, can he?"
"I actually think," Luka placed the tray in his hand aside and looked at his mother seriously, "sometimes, what melts an iceberg isn't fire, but rather a trickling stream.
Mom, you should give them more opportunities to spend time together."
"I hope… I'm overthinking it." Anarka sighed deeply.
She glanced at the joyful scene on the deck, then finally waved her hand, "Forget it, forget it, I'm too lazy to bother with young people's affairs.
If I go up there, I'll definitely ruin their mushy atmosphere.
I'll just stay in the cabin, so I don't get annoyed by that boy's 'gentlemanly' face."
With that, she walked straight to the sofa at the other end of the cabin, turned on the TV, and started watching it, as if out of sight, out of mind.
Luka looked at his mother's contradictory back, smiled helplessly, then picked up the juice and walked back onto the deck… "Oh? Talking about music?" Luka handed the juice to the three of them and naturally joined their conversation.
"Yes," Jaden took the juice and thanked him politely, "Unfortunately, I don't know how to play anything."
"It's okay, no one is born knowing how."
Luka said, then turned and took a natural wood-colored acoustic guitar from a pile of instruments leaning against the railing and handed it to Jaden, "Here, you can try to get a feel for it first."
Jaden awkwardly took the guitar.
The smooth wooden texture and the six taut, metallic-sheened strings were a completely unfamiliar territory to him.
The next ten minutes or so turned into a joyous, two-on-one guitar beginner's lesson.
"No, no, Jaden, your left-hand fingers need to be a little more upright, otherwise they'll touch the other strings and the sound will be muffled."
Rose, from the side, gave theoretical guidance in her innocent and lively way.
And Juleka, after her initial nervousness, gradually relaxed.
She stood beside Jaden, leaning slightly forward, her long hair with purple highlights almost brushing Jaden's shoulder.
"Here… for this chord, your index finger should press on the second fret, yes… just like that…"
Her voice was very soft, carrying a unique, gentle, and timid quality of a young girl.
When her fingertips occasionally and briefly touched Jaden's hand to correct his hand shape, her whole body would subtly tremble as if electrified, then she would quickly withdraw her hand, her cheeks flushing a lovely red.
Jaden, meanwhile, maintained great patience and focus.
He listened carefully to the two girls' explanations, trying his best to adjust his hand shape and finger placement according to their demonstrations.
Although the sounds he produced were still intermittent, out-of-tune "noise," his earnest, completely immersed profile, illuminated by the sunlight, exuded an indescribable charm.
"Wow! Jaden! You're so talented!" When Jaden finally stumbled through a somewhat clear C chord, Rose immediately showered him with the most enthusiastic praise.
"It's only been ten minutes, what talent could there be?" Jaden was amused by her exaggerated praise and smiled helplessly.
However, this scene—a gentle young man surrounded by two beautiful and lovely girls, learning music under the sun by the Seine River, a picture full of youth and warmth—appeared to another pair of eyes in the distance as nothing short of an apocalypse… "How could… this be?!"
Marinette hid behind a thick plane tree, only daring to peek out half her head.
She looked at the scene on the deck of the "Liberty" in the distance, feeling as if her world was collapsing.
She watched with wide eyes as Jaden took the guitar, as Rose and Juleka surrounded him, one on each side, and as Juleka's intimate teaching posture almost pressed against Jaden… Jealousy, panic, grievance, and a sense of abandonment, like a surging tide, instantly engulfed her heart.
"How could… progress be so fast?!" Her voice was tinged with a sob.
"That's what I mean, my silly girl!" Alya, beside her, squeezed her arm hard, trying to pull her out of her emotional breakdown.
"Marinette! You absolutely must not back down again! We must! Immediately! Right now! Stop them!"
"But… but what kind of excuse should we use to go over there?" Marinette asked in a panic. "It's so far from our homes; how could we possibly 'pass by' here?"
"Just say we're shopping!" Alya's mind raced. "We're out shopping! And then, while shopping, we 'accidentally,' 'surprisingly,' and 'unexpectedly' ran into them here! This excuse is perfect!"
"But…"
"No 'buts'!" Alya gave Marinette no chance to hesitate. She grabbed Marinette's wrist and, without another word, abruptly pulled her out from behind the sycamore tree.
"Go! My leading lady! It's your time to shine!"
The sunlight by the Seine River was just right, gently spilling onto the deck of the "Liberty" boat, casting a dreamy golden glow over the warm yet slightly innocent interactions between the three young people.
Juleka's soft, purple-streaked hair brushed lightly against Jaden's shoulder with the breeze, bringing a faint, elusive scent of shampoo.
She was completely focused, guiding Jaden's finger placement with her voice, as soft as a feather's touch.
And Rose, like a happy skylark, chirped excitedly from the side, adding various interesting music theory tidbits and occasionally letting out exaggerated exclamations.
Luka leaned against the railing, a gentle smile on his face, quietly watching the scene. His sister's rare, proactive, and relaxed demeanor filled him with comfort.
He felt that Jaden indeed possessed a peculiar magic that made people unconsciously let down their guard and open their hearts.
Just then, his peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of the shore.
Two unfamiliar figures emerged from behind the dense row of sycamore trees in the distance, walking purposefully towards the "Liberty" boat.
"Hmm?" Luka narrowed his eyes slightly. "It seems… more of your classmates have arrived?"
His words brought a pause to the warm teaching atmosphere on the deck.
Jaden looked up, following Luka's gaze. Rose and Juleka also stood up curiously, looking towards the shore together.
Sure enough, it was Alya and Marinette.
Or rather, it was Marinette, half-dragged by Alya, with an expression of going to her doom.
"Ah! It's Alya and Marinette!" Rose exclaimed in surprise.
Jaden's face also showed a gentle, perfectly appropriate surprise.
He put down his guitar and walked to the side of the boat with Rose and Juleka.
As they got closer and closer to the "Liberty" boat, and the planned "chance encounter" was about to unfold, Marinette's heart was pounding so fast it felt like it would leap out of her throat.
Her palms were sweating, her legs were weak, and she was practically being supported by Alya as she walked forward.
"Alya… I… I can't do it… My legs can't move…"
"Show some spirit, Marinette!" Alya whispered, giving her a pre-battle pep talk. "Show the same courage you have when facing Chloé! It's just a tiny 'chance encounter,' what's there to be afraid of?!"
Just then, they saw Jaden, Rose, and Juleka by the boat, smiling at them.
Alya's face immediately switched to an Oscar-winning expression of delighted surprise.
"Wow! What a coincidence!" she exclaimed exaggeratedly, waving her arms forcefully, while nudging the now-stiff-as-a-statue Marinette beside her with her elbow.
"I was just wondering why I seemed to hear familiar voices over here! Turns out you guys are having a party!"
"Ye-yes… wha-what a coincidence…" Marinette painstakingly squeezed out a sentence from her throat, forcing a stiff smile that looked worse than a cry.
It's over… Deep down, a tiny Marinette was frantically pounding the ground and wailing—It's over, it's over! This excuse is absolutely terrible!
They'll definitely see through it! How could shopping lead to the riverside?! There isn't even a single shop here! Ahhh!—
And indeed, it was as she expected.
This reason, let alone the meticulous Jaden and Luka, even the innocent Rose and the introverted Juleka knew it was full of holes.
Although all four maintained polite smiles, the fleeting look of understanding in their eyes was like four invisible needles, piercing Marinette's already fragile maiden heart.
A subtle and amusing awkwardness filled the air.
Seeing Marinette's embarrassed look, as if she was about to faint on the spot, Jaden smiled gently, about to invite them onto the boat to alleviate the awkwardness, when Luka's brow suddenly furrowed slightly.
"Huh? Where did these… bubbles come from?"
His words made everyone instinctively look up.
In the clear blue sky, countless colorful, crystal-clear giant bubbles had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
They shimmered in the sunlight, like inverted rainbows, slowly and irresistibly descending from high above the city.
The sight was beautiful yet eerie.
Immediately after, an even more horrifying scene unfolded.
The giant bubbles, upon touching the adults on the ground, did not burst. Instead, as if alive, they enveloped the adults who were shopping, strolling, or drinking coffee, one by one.
Then, carrying them, like balloons freed from gravity, they slowly and uncontrollably ascended into the sky.
In an instant, the streets of Paris plunged into chaos.
Children's cries and young people's shouts of alarm rose and fell.
Only those who remained inside tightly closed buildings managed to escape.
"What… what is going on?!" Alya stared in shock at the surreal scene before her, immediately pulling out her phone, wanting to capture the astonishing sight.
Marinette was equally stunned into silence. Her first reaction was—Akumatized Person!
Just then, one of the colorful bubbles, as if it had eyes, drifted directly towards the cabin of the "Liberty" boat.
It passed through the open corridor door and went straight into the interior of the cabin.
The next second, accompanied by Anarka's furious and powerful curses, the bubble flew out of the cabin again.
And this time, inside the bubble, was none other than the fiery captain, Anarka, who had just been watching TV on the sofa!
"Let go of me, you damned thing!" Anarka's powerful roar came from inside the bubble.
"Mom!" Luka didn't even think, immediately rushing to stop it. However, another bubble, as if it had eyes, instantly appeared in front of him and enveloped him as well.
"Luka!"
"Brother!"
Rose and Juleka turned pale with fright, instinctively moving forward to help.
"Stop! Don't go over there!" Jaden pulled both of them back.
His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable, calming power.
He shielded the two girls, who were already pale with fear, behind him and said in a deep voice, "The situation is still unclear! Rash actions will only put us in the same predicament as them!"
His firm gaze and steady tone, like a tranquilizer, temporarily soothed the two girls' near-collapsing emotions.
Just then, a childish, arrogant laugh, amplified by some kind of magic, echoed over the entire city of Paris.
"Hahahaha—! All the annoying adults disappear! From today on, this will be a free paradise for us young people!"
Immediately after, a figure, riding a giant bubble, descended from the sky and hovered above the "Liberty" boat.
His appearance was bizarre and childlike—blue skin, black circular eye markings on his face, and a comical red sphere decorating his head.
He wore a tight suit made of red, blue, and yellow "bubble joints," with a black ring on his chest, and wielded a giant bubble wand that continuously emitted small bubbles.
It was Nino!
No, or rather, it was Nino after his Akumatization!
The akumatized figure's gaze swept over the crowd below, finally landing on Jaden and Marinette.
"Yo, Jaden!" His voice was still Nino's, but his tone was filled with an unfamiliar, arrogant excitement. "What's so good about having a party on this small boat? It's too petty!
I have good news for you. Adrien's birthday is coming up soon! I've already 'convinced' Mr. Gabriel, and today, I've specially invited all our classmates to Adrien's house!
We're going to have an even bigger, grander party in that mansion! Hahahaha!" He laughed triumphantly, as if he were the most generous host in the world.
As he spoke, Jaden subtly made a "calm down" gesture to Rose and Juleka beside him.
He suppressed the two girls' impulse to rush forward and question, turning his gaze to Alya on the opposite bank.
Sure enough, the justice-filled Alya could no longer hold back.
"Are you… Nino?" she asked loudly, looking up.
"That's right! It's me!" The figure in the sky spun triumphantly. "But now, I have a cooler name, 'The Bubbler'!"
"Why are you doing this?!" Marinette couldn't help but join in the questioning. "Put everyone down now!"
"Why?" The Bubbler heard this and seemed to hear a huge joke. "Because those annoying adults always stop us from doing what we want! They always say 'no' and 'you can't'! Why is that?
We're not children anymore!
So, today, I'm going to let all young people like us break free from their constraints! If you don't agree with what I'm doing…" His tone suddenly became dangerous.
"Then I'll just have to send you all up into the sky too!"
Just as Alya and Marinette were about to say more, Jaden, taking the lead, stepped forward.
He looked up, a gentle, irresistible smile once again on his face.
"Of course," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, as if responding to a friend's enthusiastic invitation, "We've always been friends, haven't we? Of course we'll go to your party."
The Bubbler seemed not to have expected Jaden to agree so readily, he paused, then burst into even more triumphant laughter.
"Excellent! I knew you understood me best, Jaden!" He waved the bubble wand in his hand, pointing it at Jaden and the others.
"However, the Agreste Mansion is a bit far from here, so let me give you a ride in the coolest way!"
As soon as his voice fell, several huge, shimmering, colorful bubbles flew out from his bubble wand.
One giant bubble accurately enveloped Marinette and Alya on the shore.
Another, even larger bubble, wrapped around Jaden, Rose, and Juleka on the boat.
"Off we go—! Towards the castle of the party, forward!"
With The Bubbler's excited shouts, the two giant bubbles, carrying five young people with different thoughts, slowly ascended into the sky like airships from a fairy tale, drifting towards the magnificent Agreste Mansion, which stood like a castle in the distance.