Alec looked at the uninvited guest before him, his professional composure instantly shifting him into control mode.
His face still bore that characteristic, almost glued-on business smile, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
In his opinion, this young man in strange attire was probably an overzealous fan who had missed the registration deadline but was desperate to show off; such people were not uncommon at the TV station.
He took two steps forward, extended a hand, and made a gesture that was both friendly and subtly dismissive, his tone smooth and practiced: "Sir, thank you very much for your enthusiasm for our program.
However, I'm sorry, but today's program recording has successfully concluded."
He rattled off the standard lines he knew by heart, trying to gently usher this "trouble" away, "But don't worry, you can note down our registration hotline, and we'll see you at the same time next week.
At that time, you will have the opportunity to showcase your talent to all of Paris."
He continued with his practiced pleasantries, completely oblivious to the growing impatience in Simon's eyes, and the madness hidden beneath.
These formulaic dismissals, these insincere platitudes, were precisely the catalysts that had recently pushed him into the abyss of despair.
Now, he couldn't bear to listen for another second.
"Too… noisy!"
The voice of Simon Says was sharp and distorted, much like the grating sound of fingernails on glass.
He suddenly raised his hand, a blank card spinning deftly between his fingers, radiating an eerie glow.
"Obey!" he sharply commanded, a purple light flashing in his eyes, "You are now a duck!"
The moment his words fell, a charming cartoon yellow duck instantly appeared on the card in his hand.
With a flick of his wrist, the card, like a well-trained dart, flew out with a faint but noticeable purple light, "whoosh," striking Alec squarely in the chest.
The card caused no physical harm; instead, upon contact, it transformed into a soft glow that merged into his body.
The scene fell silent for a second, everyone holding their breath, staring at Alec.
The next second, a terrifying yet comical scene unfolded.
The smile on Alec's face instantly froze. He blinked, his originally shrewd gaze quickly becoming dull and bewildered.
He lowered his head, curiously looking at his hands, then his feet, as if seeing this body for the first time.
Then, he slowly bent over, putting his hands behind his back, mimicking the folded shape of a duck's wings.
His body began to sway uncontrollably from side to side, his steps becoming clumsy and ridiculous.
Finally, he lifted his head, opened his mouth, and what came out was no longer his magnetic baritone, but a loud and clear—
"Quack! Quack quack! Quack!"
He quacked as he waddled around the stage, occasionally lowering his head to peck at the floor with his mouth.
This host, well-known in Paris for his elegant demeanor, now truly believed himself to be a duck leisurely strolling on a farm.
"Oh my goodness!"
"It's an Akumatized Person!"
The remaining staff in the studio gasped, and panic, like an uncontrolled plague, instantly spread through the crowd.
Everyone immediately understood the source of this bizarre scene—an Akumatized Person.
To the citizens of Paris, this word meant chaos, danger, and the arrival of supernatural powers.
And without a doubt, the person before them was the young man named Simon who had just been mercilessly driven out.
"I am Simon Says!"
He spread his arms, reveling in the fear and confusion in everyone's eyes, letting out a crazed laugh as if announcing his "rebirth."
He shifted his gaze from the still quacking "duck," and like a precise hunter, locked onto Adrien on the other side.
The Bodyguard's reaction was lightning fast.
The moment Alec was hit by the card, he had already shielded Adrien firmly behind him, adopting a defensive stance.
Seeing the malicious look in the Simon Says eyes, he didn't hesitate, immediately charging forward like a leopard, his low roar making eardrums tremble: "Don't move!"
However, flesh and blood seemed so fragile before magic.
The Simon Says merely curled his lips in disdain, another card appearing between his fingers, gleaming with a cold light.
"Obey! Cease all action!"
The card flew out swiftly, and a giant "Forbidden" character instantly appeared on it. The card transformed into a stream of light, striking the Bodyguard instantly.
The next second, the Bodyguard's burly figure, still three meters away from the card Simon Says, froze instantly as if a pause button had been pressed.
He maintained his charging posture, unable to even move his eyeballs, looking like a statue frozen in time.
"Now…"
The Simon Says circled the "statue," his tone full of amusement,
"You are a gorilla!"
Another card, depicting a raging gorilla, flew out and precisely merged into the Bodyguard's body.
The power that had bound his body instantly vanished, replaced by a primal, savage, violent impulse.
The Bodyguard's eyes turned blood-red and confused. He let out a deafening roar and began to furiously beat his chest with his huge fists, then, like a true beast, charged wildly around the studio.
Expensive cameras and elaborate sets were knocked askew, the sound of shattering and screams intertwining, causing even greater chaos.
The Simon Says watched his "masterpiece" with satisfaction, but when he looked back at Adrien's previous location, he found it empty.
Jaden, Nino, and Adrien, the three of them, had vanished as if into thin air during the few seconds it took him to deal with the Bodyguard.
"Hmm? Ran away?" The Simon Says frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his mind.
But he quickly shrugged indifferently, "Never mind, it's not important. My main target is that high and mighty Gabriel!"
Just then, Hawk Moth's cold voice echoed in his mind, with an unquestionable tone of command: "They are very important. Adrien, Gabriel's son. Capture him, and you will have Gabriel by the throat.
Then, you will naturally be able to force that high and mighty King of Fashion to bow and admit his arrogance and rudeness to you."
After a pause, Hawk Moth's voice took on a hint of sinister calculation: "As for his two companions, capturing them is equally effective.
Especially Jaden, his importance in Adrien's heart is probably no less than anyone else's."
"Too much trouble!" The Simon Says retorted impatiently, his voice full of agitation, "I'll go directly to Agreste Mansion and settle accounts with Gabriel himself! I don't have time to waste on his son!"
"You have plenty of time."
Hawk Moth's tone suddenly deepened, and a powerful mental pressure instantly enveloped Simon's will, causing him a sharp pang of pain.
Hawk Moth's true purpose was never just to allow Simon to take revenge.
It was to observe Jaden and Adrien; he needed to see their friendship deepen and become unbreakable through repeated trials.
"Don't forget who gave you the power."
Hawk Moth's voice was full of menace,
"Find them, then do as I say. Otherwise, I can take it all back at any time."
"Ow… ow! I understand!" Faced with absolute power suppression, Simon could only painfully compromise.
He transformed all his unwillingness and anger into an even stronger desire for destruction.
Scanning the trembling staff in the corner, a sinister smile appeared on his face, and the cards in his hand began to fly out one by one.
"Obey! You are all my soldiers now! Go, find those three little mice who slipped away for me!"
Cards printed with soldier patterns flew out, merging into the bodies of the staff.
Their eyes instantly became hollow, and their movements became mechanical and stiff.
They stood up, formed neat lines, and like emotionless robots, began a carpet search throughout the entire TV station building.
Meanwhile, in the labyrinthine backstage corridors of the TV station building, Jaden, Adrien, and Nino were running frantically.
Their reactions were all quick. The moment the Bodyguard was controlled, Jaden immediately made a decision, pulling the other two out of the studio through an unknown side door.
"This way!" Adrien was clearly more familiar with the TV station's internal structure than they were. He led the way, taking several turns, bringing them to a room with a sign that read "Storage Room."
"Nino, you go in and hide first!" Jaden and Adrien pushed open the heavy iron door together.
The room was filled with discarded props and equipment, covered in dust, but it was the safest hiding place for now.
"But you guys…" Nino's face was filled with worry and guilt. The incident started because of him, and he didn't want to implicate his friends.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Jaden's tone, unusually, became serious, "You being here will only distract us!
Hide well, lock the door, and don't come out no matter what happens! We'll message you when things are resolved!"
Adrien also patted his shoulder firmly: "Trust us!"
Urged by the two, Nino no longer hesitated and dove into the storage room.
The heavy iron door slammed shut with a "clang" and was locked from the inside.
Only Jaden and Adrien were left in the corridor. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Jaden, you find a place to hide too!"
Adrien's expression was more serious than ever. He looked at Jaden, his eyes filled with an unquestionable resolve,
"That Akumatized Person was most likely akumatized because of my father.
His main target must be me! He will use me to coerce my father into submission!"
He said, without giving Jaden a chance to argue, and forcefully pushed Jaden into a smaller janitor's closet nearby.
"Hide well!"
With a "click," Adrien locked the door from the outside. Immediately after, Jaden could hear his quick footsteps running towards the other end of the corridor—Adrien needed to find a completely secluded place for Plagg to come out.
Trapped in the small, dark utility room, Jaden sighed helplessly.
He leaned against the cold door panel, listening carefully as Adrien's footsteps gradually faded away.
Of course, he wouldn't really just obediently stay there; he just needed to give Adrien a reason to transform with peace of mind. Once Adrien left, he would naturally find a way to get out.
However, just as he was about to think of a plan, a subtle, slightly trembling female voice spoke from the darkness behind him: "Ji… Jaden?"
Jaden stiffened and spun around sharply.
Through the faint light filtering in from the door crack, he saw that there were actually two people hidden in this small space—two girls huddled in the corner, equally terrified.
One of them had blonde hair, tied in a pretty low double ponytail, and her blue eyes, like a startled fawn in the dark, were anxiously looking at him.
In her hand, she tightly clutched a folded yellow umbrella, its bright color remarkably conspicuous even in the gloom.
The other had neat, chin-length dark blue hair, and her brown eyes were full of shyness and gentleness.
Seeing Jaden look over, she instinctively shrank behind her companion, appearing a bit awkward.
"Aurore? Mireille?" Jaden called out their names with some surprise.
"It really is you!"
Aurore's fear instantly turned to delight after confirming Jaden's identity.
She stood up almost immediately, rushing to Jaden in a few steps, grabbing his arm tightly with both hands, her voice trembling with lingering fear: "That's great! You're okay!"
Her face, usually carrying a hint of pride, was now filled with genuine worry, and the dependence in her eyes almost overflowed.
"Why are you two here?" Jaden gently asked, holding her somewhat cold hand in his.
His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, instantly calming Aurore's tense emotions.
"We... we came to the TV station to shoot promotional photos for the next season's weather forecast..."
Another shy girl, Mireille, also slowly stood up and explained softly,
"Then... then we heard screams outside, and we were scared, so we hid in here..."
Her voice was as soft as a gentle breeze, and her eyes, looking at Jaden, were full of relief and dependence.
"It's alright now."
Jaden's gaze swept over the two of them, a gentle smile appearing on his face—a smile that was enough to make any girl feel at ease.
He gently patted Aurore's hand, then looked at Mireille, his tone firm: "As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."
A simple sentence, yet full of convincing power. This small utility room, originally filled with fear and unease, seemed to instantly transform into the safest harbor because of his arrival.
Aurore felt the warmth from his hand, and looking at his handsome face so close, her heart uncontrollably pounded "thump, thump."
Even as bold as she was, she couldn't help but blush.
Instead of letting go, she gripped his arm even tighter, subtly leaning closer, almost nestling half her body against him, and said in a somewhat petulant tone: "Jaden, just now... just now I was really scared..."
Though shy, Mireille also gathered her courage and slowly walked to Jaden's other side.
She didn't dare to be as direct as Aurore, only gently tugged at the corner of Jaden's clothes, looking up at him with her moist, endearing eyes.
The silent action conveyed a dependence and trust stronger than any words.
Jaden was "sandwiched" between two beautiful girls of different styles, one on his left and one on his right, the faint sweet scent of them lingering in his nose, feeling their unreserved dependence, and a ripple stirred in his heart.
He raised his other hand and gently placed it on Mireille's head, softly ruffling her short, soft hair as a silent comfort.
"Alright, alright,"
His voice became even softer and gentler, like a lover's whisper, "It's all over now.
Now, we just need to wait quietly here for the hero to arrive."
Just then, the faint roar of a fight came from outside, mixed with a familiar and somewhat flippant voice, penetrating the corridor:
"Hey! Poker Face! Your opponent is over here! If you want to play cards, this cat can play with you all you want!"
It was Cat Noir.
Adrien had successfully transformed and found the Akumatized Person.
A new battle had officially begun in a corner of this building... In the corridor of the TV station building, hurried footsteps were heard.
The Akumatized Person had just dismissed the "warriors" and hadn't had time to savor the feeling of control when a dark figure hung upside down from a ventilation duct, silently landing behind him.
"Hey! Poker Face! Been looking for you for a long time."
Cat Noir's voice carried the lazy and playful tone of a feline, but the green eyes behind his mask were sharp as knives.
The Akumatized Person turned in surprise, a blank card already clenched in his hand, just about to open his mouth to utter the syllables that would imbue power—"Listen...", but only a breathy sound came out.
"Whoosh—!"
The metal staff tore through the air, extending at a speed difficult for the naked eye to discern.
Cat Noir remained in his inverted position, but the metal staff, like a venomous snake striking, accurately poked the Akumatized Person's abdomen with a "bang."
The immense impact lifted the Akumatized Person off his feet, sending him flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the wall at the end of the corridor, a "clank" shaking dust down.
"Ugh ah—!"
A muffled groan of pain squeezed from the Akumatized Person's throat; his internal organs felt displaced, and the intense pain made him lose the ability to think, the card in his hand falling powerlessly.
Cat Noir leaped down agilely, landing silently, his wrist twisting to retract the metal staff, and walked unhurriedly towards Simon, who was clutching his stomach and sliding down, his tone as relaxed as if he were "teaching":
"Sorry, buddy. This cat is a bit in a hurry today, so I'll skip the fancy intros.
And, well, I've pretty much figured out your abilities."
He stood in front of Simon, looking down, his green eyes glinting with cunning: "There are three key points to activating your ability.
First, you have to say 'Listen to my command'; second, the card displays a pattern; and third, you have to launch the card at the target."
He spread three fingers, analyzing slowly: "So the question is, if... I don't give you a chance to give commands, wouldn't that be the end of it?"
Opening his hand, he showed a playful "it's simple" expression:
"Honestly, having been a hero for so long, villains like you who still need to recite a verbal command to activate your abilities are truly rare.
It's too inefficient, you know?"
Simon was curled on the ground, the sharp pain in his abdomen burning his nerves like fire, only able to emit intermittent groans.
Cat Noir's words, while dissecting his abilities, also mocked his powerlessness.
But Cat Noir didn't stop his "psychological attack"; he twirled the metal staff in his hand, opened a small screen, and quickly tapped a few times to send a message:
"After all, I don't have the ability of Miraculous Restoration; cleaning up the mess you've made still depends on my partner."
Facing the screen, he sent his location and a brief battle report,
"And, ultimately, you're also a pathetic person. Everyone in Paris knows Mr. Gabriel's temper.
Don't worry, once I deal with that annoying Akuma Butterfly on you, all of this will be over."
After sending the message, he squatted down, meeting Simon's eyes, which were filled with pain and resentment, his voice lowered with a sense of oppression:
"Alright, small talk time is over. Now, tell me, your 'drawing account'—
Uh, I mean, the item possessed by the Akuma Butterfly should be one of your pile of cards, right?" His gaze swept over the cards Simon was clutching.
A cunning glint flashed in the Akumatized Person's eyes, and he suddenly threw the cards in his hand towards one side of the corridor.
With a "clatter," the cards scattered like snowflakes, trying to distract and buy time. But he underestimated Cat Noir's experience.
"Naive."
Cat Noir didn't even bat an eyelid; he leaned forward, his black leather-gloved fist cutting through the air with a fierce whoosh, striking Simon's stomach heavily once again.
"Ugh, oh..." Simon retched dryly, completely limp, half-lying on the ground like a fish out of water, his eyes full of confusion—why did the other party ignore the cards?
"You... why... didn't you pick them up..." he asked intermittently.
"Ha, do you take me for a stupid cat?" Cat Noir stood up, dusting off his gloves, looking at him with an expression reserved for idiots, "Such a valuable Akumatization item, would you just casually throw it away? Don't be ridiculous.
The more you want me to pick up something, the less likely it is to be real. The truly important thing, you'd only hide in the closest place to you."
With that, he roughly searched Simon, and soon found an exquisite card holder from the inside pocket of his suit, which, when opened, contained a full deck of cards.
"Bingo!" He snapped his fingers, "Without these cards, you can't activate your abilities, right?"
Taking the cards, he unfastened a special tape from his waist, deftly sealed the Akumatized Person's mouth, and then used the metal staff and tape to bind him securely, hanging him from the ceiling pipes like cured meat.
After doing all this, he leaned against the wall and looked around—the hypnotized staff were still mechanically searching, the "Gorilla" Bodyguard stood blankly at the studio entrance, and the "Duck" host was quacking from behind a potted plant.
"Ugh, what a mess." Cat Noir sighed helplessly, "Now, we can only quietly wait for Ladybug to arrive."
Meanwhile, Marinette's home presented a different scene.
In the living room on the third floor of the bakery, sunlight streamed in, warm and bright, but Marinette was not in the mood to enjoy the weekend afternoon.
She stood with her head bowed in the center of the living room, undergoing a "joint interrogation" by her parents.
Tom stood with his hands on his hips, his brows tightly furrowed, his voice deep and serious: "Marinette, we need to talk.
Why did you miss your literature history class on Tuesday and your physics class on Thursday this week? Your teachers have already called the shop."
"I... I..." Marinette's eyes darted around, her brain frantically searching for excuses—she couldn't possibly say she was dealing with an Akumatized Person who turned into ice cream on Tuesday, or stopping a collector from stealing from the Louvre on Thursday, could she?
"And," Sabine, her mother, wearing an elegant white cheongsam and holding hot tea, said with a firm tone, "this isn't the first time.
These past few months, you've always suddenly 'disappeared,' and your phone is unreachable. Do you know how worried your father and I are about you?"
"I just... just got an inspiration and went to a quiet place to draw designs, and lost track of time..." Marinette's voice grew softer and softer; even she found the excuse flimsy.
"Does drawing designs require an entire afternoon of not answering your phone?"
Tom's tone grew heavier, "Marinette, we're not trying to restrict your freedom.
But you're always doing things we don't know about at the wrong time, and it makes us feel very insecure, afraid that you might encounter danger."
Sabine walked over to Marinette, gently stroked her hair, and sighed, her tone soft yet firm: "So, darling, your father and I have discussed it.
This weekend, you can't go anywhere; you'll stay home.
We need you by our side, and we hope you can reflect properly."
"What? Grounded?"
Marinette suddenly looked up, her face full of disbelief, "But... Alya and I agreed to go together this afternoon..."
"I've already called Alya for you," Tom said in an unyielding tone,
"This weekend, you're staying home. This is for your own good."
Seeing her parents' resolute gazes, Marinette knew arguing was useless. Filled with bitterness and grievance but unable to tell the truth, she could only lower her head and mumble, "I know," then turned and ran up the attic stairs, slamming the trapdoor shut with a "bang."
She sat in the computer chair, which protested with a "creak."
Burying her face in her arms, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. A red glow flew out of her crossbody bag, and Tikki, the Kwami, stopped in front of her, gently comforting her: "Marinette, you can't blame your parents.
After all, they don't know you're Ladybug, they don't know how much responsibility you bear to protect Paris."
"Yes..."
Marinette looked up, her deep blue eyes filled with confusion and fatigue,
"I feel like I've messed everything up.
I haven't been a good student who reassures her parents, nor have I been Ladybug who can be ready at any moment. This double life is too much pressure..."
She turned to look out the window, sunlight spilling over the rooftops of Paris, peaceful and serene.
But who knew how much she had sacrificed to protect that tranquility?
"And, today is still the weekend..." She sighed deeply.
Just then, her phone rang, and Alya's name flashed on the screen. Marinette answered and put it on speaker; Alya's energetic yet concerned voice came through: "Marinette! How are you? Your dad just called me and said you're grounded this weekend? What happened?"
Marinette repeated what had happened, feeling listless. There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Alya sighed: "Oh, well. Honestly, Marinette, I completely understand your parents' actions.
After all, even without Akumatized Person, you often suddenly disappear. Sometimes we'd be shopping, and you'd be gone in the blink of an eye. It's normal for them to worry."
"I know..." Marinette's voice was despondent.
"Hey, cheer up!"
Alya tried to lift her spirits, "It's just being grounded, it's a good chance to brainstorm new designs at home!"
Besides... don't you also want to find a chance to get closer to Jaden? Think carefully about your battle plan!"
At the mention of Jaden, Marinette's cheeks flushed, and a sweet, fluttering excitement replaced her frustration.
Suddenly, the black earrings on her ears vibrated slightly, a sound only she could hear, and a faint red light flickered.
It was a communication request! A message from Cat Noir! Marinette's eyes instantly changed.
Something was happening!
"Sorry Alya, something urgent just came up for me. I'll call you back later!"
Marinette ended the call at lightning speed, almost before Alya could say another word.
Her finger decisively tapped the screen, and her friend's vibrant, smiling face disappeared.
She stood up from her chair, looked at her Kwami, Tikki, and said firmly, "Tikki, we need to get ready to transform."
"But Marinette!"
Tikki anxiously flew a circle around her face, her tiny face filled with worry, "You're grounded! What if your mom and dad suddenly come up to check on you? They'll find out you're not in your room!"
"Tikki, don't worry."
Marinette walked to the trapdoor leading to the balcony, checking the latch while reassuring her Kwami,
"I know my parents. Even though they're angry, they gave me time to reflect, so they won't disturb me immediately.
They are the kind of parents who believe in 'giving children their independent space.'"
She paused, a glint of cunning and decisiveness in her eyes: "And, we need to transform first, check Cat Noir's message, and understand the severity of the situation.
If it's just a small matter, I'll finish it quickly and rush back before they notice;
If things are tricky and require more time, I'll figure out a way to cover it up.
We can't just sit idly by while Paris is in danger because of 'possible' risks!"
Tikki looked at the unwavering determination on Marinette's face and nodded vigorously.
Marinette was right. As Ladybug's partner, she couldn't be a burden to the hero.
"Mm!"
"Tikki, spots on!"
She skillfully unclipped her yo-yo from her waist, her fingertip lightly touching its smooth surface. The screen lit up, displaying a map of Paris and a blinking Cat Noir icon.
A text message from her partner was clearly displayed: "It's handled. Just come clean up the mess. By the way, this villain was really... indescribable. Address: TV station."
"Solved?" Ladybug raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
Cat Noir's efficiency seemed to be increasing.
No time to lose. She quickly pushed open the trapdoor leading to the balcony and nimbly climbed up.
The afternoon sun warmly bathed the scattered rooftops of Paris, and the Eiffel Tower was clearly visible in the distance.
She took a deep breath, flicked her wrist, and the red yo-yo, trailing a long string, whistled out, precisely wrapping around a distant flagpole.
With a graceful leap, her body arced elegantly in red through the air, swinging rapidly towards the TV station.
The TV station corridor was filled with a post-modern absurd atmosphere.
Cat Noir was getting a bit bored waiting. He leaned against the cold wall, yawning idly.
The Simon Says, hanging upside down from the ceiling, could only make muffled "woo woo" sounds because his mouth was sealed.
Not far away, the Bodyguard, who had turned into a "gorilla," after expending a burst of energy, was now squatting in a corner, blankly grooming his "fur."
And behind a potted plant in another corner, the host, "Duck" Alec, was still peeking out cautiously, occasionally letting out a timid "quack."
The entire scene was like a bizarre, unwatched pantomime.
Cat Noir's gaze fell on the deck of cards he had taken from Simon.
On a whim, he pulled out a blank card, held it between his fingers, then deliberately imitating Simon's chuunibyou and arrogant demeanor from earlier, he cleared his throat and shouted in a high-pitched voice:
"Hear ~ Me!"
He struck what he considered a cool pose, flicked his wrist, and flung the card out forcefully.
The card cut a beautiful arc in the air; the force was sufficient, and the pose was impeccable, but... it just fell to the ground with a "thwack" like an ordinary piece of cardboard, without any magical effect.
"Tch..." Cat Noir pouted, dropping his pose, a look of utter boredom on his face, "It really doesn't work... It seems being a villain also requires a specific talent."
Just as he was amusing himself, a clear, calm female voice, tinged with a hint of confusion, suddenly sounded beside him without warning: "What are you doing?"
The voice appeared so suddenly, as if it had sounded directly in his ear—no footsteps, no wind, nothing at all.
"Whoa!"
Cat Noir's reaction perfectly demonstrated what is called "cat instincts."
His body seemed to be spring-loaded, instantly rocketing backward, completing several smooth backflips in the air, creating a full ten-meter distance from the source of the voice.
Upon landing, he half-crouched, his metal staff already gripped tightly in his hand, the staff extending with a "whoosh," adopting a stance ready for attack at any moment.
However, when he got a clear look at the newcomer, his tense, as-if-facing-a-great-enemy expression instantly crumbled, turning into a helpless, wry smile.
"You scared me! Ladybug!" He retracted his staff, exaggeratedly patted his chest, and complained, "Next time you make an entrance, could you please make a little noise? Please!"
Ladybug stood with her arms crossed, watching him at her leisure, a playful curve on her lips: "You were just too focused on playing with cards, you didn't even notice me approaching.
Like this, I can barely tell if you're the cat, or if I am."
"Alright, alright, you win."
Cat Noir shrugged, giving up the argument,
"Hmm," Ladybug nodded, her gaze sweeping over the chaotic scene, her expression turning serious,
"I have other things to do; I can't stay here too long." She said, walking directly towards Cat Noir, extending her hand, "Give me the item. By the way, what exactly happened here?"
Cat Noir handed her the card box he had retrieved from Simon.
Ladybug took the card box. She didn't hesitate at all, not even bothering to activate Lucky Charm.
Against an opponent who had already lost the ability to resist and whose original form wasn't particularly powerful, there was no need to waste energy.
Both hands exerted force!
"Rip—"
The sturdy card box, in the face of her miraculous-enhanced strength, was as fragile as a thin piece of paper, instantly torn in half.
Even the cards inside the box broke simultaneously, and the Akuma Butterfly flew out, soaring into the distance.
"You can't cause any more trouble, little one!" Ladybug took out her yo-yo, skillfully flung it out, "Time to purify you!"
The yo-yo precisely captured the Akuma Butterfly, and a moment later, a pure white, flawless butterfly flew out of it, flapping its wings towards the window.
"Goodbye, little butterfly."
Having done all this, Ladybug casually tossed her yo-yo and shouted loudly: "Miraculous Restoration!"
A warm and magical pink glow, like ripples, spread from the tossed card box, instantly sweeping across the entire floor.
The broken cameras, sets, and dents in the walls, under the soothing light, visibly returned to their original state.
Simon, who was hanging from the ceiling, his purple-green jumpsuit instantly dissipated, transforming back into his somewhat wrinkled pink suit.
He looked at himself hanging upside down, completely bewildered, not understanding what had happened.
In the corner, the magical effects on the "gorilla" Bodyguard and "duck" Alec were also simultaneously lifted.
Both stood up blankly, with only vague memories of what had just occurred.
Cat Noir walked over, untied the ropes, and lowered Simon, who was still dizzy, then pointed in the direction of the elevator, watching him leave in a daze.
Other staff members who had regained their senses, upon seeing Ladybug and Cat Noir, the golden duo, were shocked but quickly calmed down.
After all, living in Paris, who hadn't seen superheroes a few times?
They began quietly packing up the equipment on site, preparing to leave, as if what had just happened was merely a minor disturbance caused by a technical glitch.
"Alright, that's a wrap." Ladybug clapped her hands, turned to leave, "I need to get home quickly, otherwise..."
"Wait," she suddenly stopped, pointing at the confused Bodyguard who was stretching his limbs, and asked Cat Noir,
"Isn't that person over there, that blonde lightbulb... I mean, Adrien's Bodyguard? Why is he here?"
"Oh, you mean him." Cat Noir leaned against the wall, and in as relaxed a tone as possible, began his "post-incident report," "It's like this.
Today, there was a challenge show at the TV station. Adrien's classmate, Nino, came to participate, and Adrien accompanied him.
Then, Jaden was also invited as Nino's off-site guest."
"Wait, Ji... Jaden is here too?" Ladybug's voice had a tiny, almost imperceptible tremor.
"Yeah," Cat Noir didn't notice the change in his partner's tone and continued, "Then, that guy named Simon failed the challenge just now, so he got Akumatization.
When things got chaotic, Jaden immediately decided to hide with Adrien and Nino first.
And then, I came over. That's pretty much how it went." He finished, spreading his hands, as if to say, "It's that simple."
"You... you said Jaden is here too?"
Ladybug's steps, which had been poised to leave, seemed to be nailed to the spot.
She spun around abruptly, her eyes now fiercely fixed on Cat Noir, the light emanating from them so sharp it could almost pierce his mask.
It was a gaze mixed with extreme worry, tension, and a certain... undeniable possessiveness.
"Uh..." Cat Noir looked at his partner's unprecedented stance, instinctively took half a step back, and raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Woah, woah, Ladybug, you... don't be so agitated..." His address to her unconsciously carried a hint of caution.
"He... where is he?"
Ladybug's voice was very low, but every word was like a tiny ice cube, filled with an undeniable interrogative tone, "Where did you hide him?"