Next was choosing a location.
She took out the list and her gaze locked onto a residential area near the Divination Commission.
(Fu Xuan... is said to live not far from the Divination Commission. Prowling near her home should increase the chances of meeting her, right?)
Baiheng felt a little proud of her 'intelligence,' thinking the plan was absolutely flawless.
After pushing the small cart a few steps, she looked down at her attire—a finely crafted, predominantly black outfit with a mysterious eye patch.
(This getup... doesn't really look like a peddler. It's more like someone from a department making an incognito visit... Too conspicuous.)
Being a woman of action, she immediately found a secluded corner and rummaged through her pouch for a set of ordinary Xianzhou women's clothes made of common fabric and simple colors.
She checked her reflection in a puddle. Hmm, much more low-key, like a legitimate small business owner.
Only... this eye patch.
Baiheng reached up to touch the special eye patch over her right eye, recalling that Madam Herta had said when she handed it over, "It can help you hide your identity; do not remove it unless necessary."
She hesitated a little, as she had grown accustomed to wearing it and felt it inexplicably gave her a sense of security.
Just as her finger touched the edge of the eye patch, and she struggled internally—
The eye patch seemed to sense her thoughts; its material suddenly softened, and its form subtly changed like flowing water!
Baiheng was startled, instinctively wanting to steady it, but felt the sensation at her fingertips change.
She quickly looked at her reflection in the puddle again—the unique eye patch on her eye had transformed into a fashionable yet not too flashy small round pair of sunglasses, perfectly covering her eyes without affecting her vision, and instead adding a touch of the street vendor's sharpness to her look.
"Wow..."
Baiheng couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "I didn't expect this treasure could transform itself?!"
She admired Madam Herta's methods even more.
She looked in the mirror; the sunglasses paired with the ordinary dress perfectly blended into the image of a street vendor.
"Not bad, not bad, it really suits the vibe!"
Baiheng clapped her hands happily, pushed her small cart, and set off with high spirits towards the streets and alleys near the Divination Commission.
Perspective shift.
Elysia's flawless smile did indeed stiffen for a moment upon hearing the words "Herrscher of Corruption" and feeling the grip on her hand.
However, she was Elysia, second among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, whose position was secured not just by her charming appearance and warm personality, but also by her unfathomable strength and calm wisdom in times of crisis.
After a brief moment of surprise, her powerful psychological resilience quickly took over.
(No... if she really were the "Herrscher of Corruption," the Paradise would already be blaring alarms and suffering data corruption. She wouldn't need to say much to me; she'd just act. Moreover... that subtle pause and look in her eyes when she introduced herself... it's a bit strange~)
In a flash, Elysia had made her decision.
Not only did she show no more fear, but she gripped Madam Herta's hand, which was holding hers tightly, even more firmly in return!
Her fingertip even playfully hooked the other's silk-gloved palm.
Then, she took a step forward, actively closing the already very small distance between them, so close they could almost feel each other's breath.
She tilted her head back, her eyes, which seemed to hold a galaxy, met Madam Herta's dim purplish-black eyes directly, and a smile even brighter than before bloomed on her face, her tone light and certain:
"Oh my~ you really gave me a fright, Miss Black Herta, who calls herself the 'Herrscher of Corruption'♪~"
She tilted her head, her pink hair falling alongside, "But... let me guess~"
Her voice lowered, with an intimacy like sharing a secret, yet full of confidence:
"You... wouldn't really make a move, would you? Right♪~"
(I'm gambling! Gambling that my judgment is correct! Gambling that this mysterious visitor isn't here with pure malice! If she truly is the "Herrscher of Corruption," I'm playing with fire right now! But if not... hehe, Miss Pink Elf is about to take the initiative, aren't I♪~!)
Madam Herta's feelings, however, were completely different.
When Elysia not only didn't retreat but instead took the initiative to grip her hand back tightly and even lean closer, Madam Herta's expressionless, delicate face concealed a tumultuous inner storm!
(She, she, she... she's leaning in! And gripping back! Her hand, her hand is so soft! Her voice is so close! Is this Elysia?! The living, actively approaching, and looking at people with such eyes Elysia!)
(No! Madam Herta! Calm down! You are Rupert III! You are the Black Herta! You cannot show weakness!)
(But... she's too close! Who could resist this?!)
The panic brought on by the immense psychological impact made Madam Herta almost instinctively want to regain control.
So, the moment Elysia's words fell—
"Buzz—!"
Purplish-red data streams, like a summoned swarm of bees, suddenly emerged from the void, instantly and completely enveloping and devouring Elysia with unprecedented speed and scale!
The light flashed and vanished.
The next second, the place where Elysia had stood was completely empty.
Madam Herta looked at her empty hand, as if she could still feel the soft touch and warmth from moments ago.
She was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but raise a hand to her forehead, letting out a sigh.
(...I still couldn't hold back. Now... it looks like I was seen through and reacted out of embarrassment...)
Just then, the system's emotionless electronic voice, like the most ill-timed narration, directly echoed in her mind:
[Warning: Madam, your recent behavioral logic's compatibility with the preset 'Efficient Villain' or 'Ruthless Conqueror' image is below 15%. According to analysis, excessive and uncontrolled actions when facing potential threats or attempting deterrence easily expose the caster's inner uncertainty and emotional fluctuations, and are not the optimal solution.]
Madam Herta's mouth twitched slightly, and she retorted inwardly, annoyed:
(What do you know?! I define what a villain should be!)
She forcefully tried to justify herself, attempting to salvage a bit of her dignity as the "master."
Meanwhile, in an boundless, pure white space.
Elysia's figure appeared amidst a faint glow.
She opened her azure eyes with a hint of bewilderment.
What greeted her was an extreme and desolate expanse of white, devoid of any clutter, colors, or sounds.
This place felt like the void at the dawn of creation, or the desolation after the end of all things.
She instinctively looked down at herself.
Her body was perfectly intact, still in her elegant attire, with her pink hair smoothly cascading down.
But she could clearly feel that her connection to the familiar data space of the Elysian Realm had been completely severed.
This was an independent, completely unfamiliar domain.
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