Could it really be this coincidental?
Vic muttered in his heart.
Why are these talismans jumping into my hands as if they have legs?
At this rate, it feels like the plot of half a movie could be wrapped up already.
I clearly planned to put the talisman business aside for now and focus on enjoying the vacation.
But now, it feels like God is chasing me to feed me.
Asking if you want to eat? You wave your hand saying no, no, and then a bowl of fragrant rice is smashed smack right in front of your face.
What can you do? The food is right at your mouth; can you spit it out? Eat up.
"Big meanie! I won't tell you anything!"
Although hanging upside down with her face flushed red, Jade still glared viciously at Vic, trying to kill him with her eyes.
"Eh~ such a tough mouth?"
The smile on Vic's face grew wider, carrying a hint of playful interest.
The Venom tentacle wrapped around Jade's ankle began to swing gently and rhythmically, causing Jade to sway back and forth like a pendulum.
"Big meanie! Let me down! Fight me one-on-one if you dare!"
Jade waved her small fists, trying to maintain her momentum, but the swaying perspective made her a bit dizzy.
"Ay, kids are just so energetic."
Vic picked his ear, ordering casually.
"Venom, crank up the intensity. Help her burn off some excess calories."
"Copy that, BOSS!"
In the next second, Jade experienced Dennis and Winnie's favorite "360-Degree Invincible Wind Fire Wheel" swing.
The world spun crazily before her eyes. The deck, the sky, the pool, Vic's hateful smiling face... all scenery blurred into rapidly passing color blocks.
"W-Wait! I was wrong! Let me down! I'm gonna puke ahhh—!"
"Vic, don't bully children."
The kind-hearted Enid couldn't stand it anymore. She stepped forward, reaching out to gently "pluck" Jade from Venom's tentacle, like taking over a dizzy kitten.
Jade collapsed dizzily into Enid's soft, warm arms. Her eyes had turned into two constantly spinning mosquito coils, feeling the whole world shaking.
"It's fine, kids are tough, can't break 'em."
Vic waved his hand dismissively, citing an example casually.
"When I was little, Big Sis Mavis often took me ten thousand meters high and dropped me for freefall to train my reaction nerves and aerial posture."
Wednesday nodded in agreement from the side, adding in a factual tone:
"I also frequently placed Pugsley on a modified electric chair for shocks to test his endurance limit. He remains lively and is now immune to most conventional currents."
Jade, who had just sobered up a little, shrank desperately into Enid's arms upon hearing this conversation.
Looking at Vic and Wednesday with terrified eyes as if looking at monsters, her voice trembled: "A-Are you devils?!"
"No no no," Enid retorted. "Obviously you guys aren't normal. With your way of playing, even monsters would lose half a life, okay?"
While gently patting Jade's back to help her catch her breath, Enid asked curiously:
"Vic, who is this little girl? Is she related to the talismans?"
Vic nodded, tilting his chin toward the still-shaken Jade.
"Correct. That Rabbit Talisman was 'sponsored' by this little one's uncle. By the way—"
He looked at Enid, his smile becoming somewhat subtle.
"That Super Moose plushie you love so much was a 'greeting gift' from this little girl to you."
Jade's eyes instantly widened. She looked at Vic in disbelief, her small face turning red with anger, chest heaving violently, as if she had never seen such a brazen person!
She took a deep breath, retorting loudly: "Liar! It was clearly you..."
"So it was you!"
Enid interrupted her with surprise, her azure eyes sparkling. She lifted Jade up to her face, happily nuzzling the little girl's soft cheek with her own.
"Thank you for the gift! I like it super, super much! I'll treasure it!"
Seeing the cloudless, pure, and enthusiastic smile on Enid's face, and feeling her sincere affection, the words rushing to Jade's mouth instantly choked.
She opened her mouth, looking at Enid's close face written with "You are so cute, I like you so much," unable to voice those accusations and defenses.
Holding it in for a long time, she finally just sniffled with red eyes, muttering softly with grievance and reluctance:
"I... you... you have to treasure it well, okay."
"Mhm! Definitely!"
Enid nodded vigorously, smiling like a little sun.
"How about this," Enid said, holding Jade and looking at Vic. "Big sister will treat you to a yummy drink, okay? Let this big brother pay!"
"Eh? Enid, make me pay for this brat who just called me a meanie?"
Vic pointed at his nose, looking reluctant.
"I want it!"
Jade immediately seized the opportunity, glaring viciously at Vic as if to eat back all the grievance she just suffered and the "heartache" of "losing" Super Moose.
"I want the most expensive one! The biggest cup!"
Looking at the two girls who had formed a "united front," Vic shrugged helplessly, but with an indulgent smile on his face:
"Fine, fine, fine, the most expensive and biggest. Hope you burst, you little brat."
"I want that one! And that one! The one with the little umbrella and cherry on top!"
Jade clung to the bar counter, pointing her little finger at the flashiest and most expensive drinks on the menu, looking like she wanted to eat Vic into poverty.
"Sure, order them all."
Vic was generous, snapping his fingers to summon the fish-man waiter.
"Give this little lady a 'Rainbow Swirl Supreme Edition,' and add an 'Exploding Candy Thriller Cup'."
He turned to look at Enid and Wednesday. "What do the two beautiful ladies need?"
"I'll just have a strawberry milkshake," Enid said sweetly.
Wednesday's gaze swept over the menu, stopping on "Kiss of Darkness"—
A drink made with squid ink, blackberries, and a small amount of rum, with an edible bat-shaped chocolate adorning the rim.
She nodded slightly: "This one."
The drinks were served quickly.
Jade held her "Rainbow Swirl," which was almost as big as her face, colorful and bubbling.
With a little paper umbrella and carousel decoration on the straw, she took a big sip contentedly. The cold, sweet taste made her squint her eyes in happiness.
"Mmm! Yummy!" She temporarily forgot her "grudge" with Vic.
Vic pushed his beer aside and leaned close to Jade, wearing a harmless smile.
Jade looked at Vic vigilantly, moving the colorful "Rainbow Swirl Supreme Edition" with the little paper umbrella closer to her chest, as if guarding important strategic supplies.
"What do you want? Even if you treat me to a drink, I won't tell you anything!"
Her mouth was still full of slushie, voice slurred, but the determination in her eyes was clear.
"Ah, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."
Vic waved his hand indifferently, leaning back lazily into his chair.
"I don't want to 'work' during my precious vacation anyway. Let your Uncle Jackie do all the running around and fighting."
His lips hooked into a sly arc, adding leisurely: "As for me, I just need to sit tight on the fishing platform and wait for the harvest."
"Uncle Jackie won't give the talismans to you! In your dreams!"
Jade retorted immediately, like a kitten whose tail was stepped on.
"Oh? Not necessarily, Jade."
Vic leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, carrying a coaxing yet dangerous aura.
"Have you heard of... 'Holding the Emperor hostage to command the vassals'?"
Jade blinked her big eyes, seeming to quickly search the knowledge base in her head.
In the next second, her face changed drastically!
Gulp. With amazing speed, she sucked the remaining drink and ice cubes in the cup dry.
Then SLAM, she put down the cup. Like a frightened rabbit, she jumped off the high stool and dove into the bustling crowd of monsters nearby without looking back.
Trying to use her petite figure to hide.
Watching that small figure disappear quickly among the grotesque legs and feet, the smile on Vic's face didn't disappear but became even brighter.
On his shoulder, Venom poked out a small tuft lazily.
"Truly an energetic and... exceptionally naive little one."
Vic chuckled in evaluation, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"Let's give her a ten-second head start."
Fifteen seconds later.
"Let go of me! Meanie! Big meanie!"
Jade screamed, waving her hands and feet in the air, but her ankle was once again wrapped by Venom's black tentacle. She was skillfully hoisted upside down and brought back to Vic, like a small fish just caught and still flopping.
Vic leisurely adjusted the angle of her suspension so her face was directly facing him.
Then he took out his phone, opened the camera, and flashed an incredibly "kind" smile at her face, which was red with anger and written with defiance:
"Come on, Jade, smile~"