Chapter 127: There's Her Perfume on You!
Just as the waiter was less than three meters away from Millis, he stopped pretending, pushed through the crowd in front of him with one hand, and reached out to grab her.
At the critical moment, the ring on Millis's finger popped out, sent the waiter flying, and then returned to her hand.
The sudden commotion caused chaos at the scene. No one knew what was happening until a waiter picked up a submachine gun and fired at the ceiling.
"Everyone get down!"
Having lived in America for so many years, they were already familiar with this routine, so they all lay on the ground, covering their heads with their hands and staying motionless.
Only Millis was stunned for a moment. Before she could react, she was pulled up into the air by a mysterious force.
Now, not only was she bewildered, but the group of robbers was also confused. Their target had flown into the sky; what were they supposed to do?
"Damn it, something's wrong, retreat quickly!"
Since there was no way to capture Millis, they couldn't just stand there like idiots; the other people were of no use.
The first person with a gun had just run out the door when he let out a scream, which was quickly silenced.
Sean Brooke adjusted his hairstyle and walked in with a smile.
"Yo, quite a crowd."
His smile and tone were very gentle, if not for the corpse he was dragging in his hand.
The lead robber didn't even think about it before throwing away his gun and raising his hands, shouting: "I surrender!"
As expected of the boss; he surrendered before his underlings even realized what was happening.
The other three also threw away their guns and followed the boss's lead, raising their hands in surrender.
Sean Brooke let go of the thing in his hand and tapped the table, "Everyone, leave quickly. These people might explode in a moment; they are the accomplices in the recent bombing cases."
Hearing this, the group of media personnel ran away quickly. They knew that the last colleague who didn't run fast enough didn't even have a body left.
The robber leader hurriedly waved his hands to explain: "No, no, no! We won't explode. Although we were indeed sent by them, we really won't explode!"
They knew the benefits of Extremis, but very few people could actually adapt to it; only two or three people could.
They weren't missing limbs, so naturally, they wouldn't inject themselves with Extremis and turn themselves into unstable bombs.
Once everyone had left, Sean Brooke put away his smile and looked at them, saying: "Is that so? However, what you say doesn't count. If I say you're going to explode, then you will explode!"
He took out several syringes, and they showed expressions of terror; they clearly recognized what these were.
"No! Don't! We haven't hurt anyone yet, the crime doesn't warrant..."
On the roof of the building, Millis stood by the railing, feeling somewhat nervous. Looking at the ring in her hand, she understood that it was Sean Brooke who had protected her. Otherwise, she would have been like a heroine in a comic book, captured by bad guys and used to threaten the protagonist.
Suddenly, several figures flew out from the windowsill. Before Millis could see who they were, they exploded in the sky.
Immediately after, she was pulled into a warm embrace.
"Were you scared?"
"No~"
Burying her head in Sean Brooke's arms, Millis shook her head vigorously, and the last trace of anxiety in her heart dissipated with his arrival.
"That's good." Sean Brooke rubbed her arms, feeling relieved.
"Let's go home; the banquet here should be over by now."
Millis looked up and hummed in agreement, then asked with a mischievous smile: "Do you need me to change my hairstyle? For example, twin tails?"
"Ahem, let's talk about that when we get back!"
He scooped her up by the legs and flew towards her home while holding her.
Sean Brooke had sensed it the moment the Ten Rings were activated. He had struggled to interrupt Hess's teaching just to rush to the scene; how could he possibly spare this trash?
Moreover, that mastermind better be formidable tomorrow, otherwise, it would be difficult to vent the anger in his heart.
It didn't take long before they flew to Millis's home.
She kissed Sean Brooke and ran to the vanity, removed some jewelry, and changed her hairstyle.
While tying her hair, she suddenly stopped, turned her head, and asked: "Will I disturb you from catching criminals?"
Millis was worried that he was in a hurry to catch the bombing criminals tonight and feared that she might delay him, so she added: "I, I'm not scared; you can go if you have things to do."
Sean Brooke chuckled, walked behind her, and reached out to rub her.
"Are you saying that because you don't want to change into twin tails, hmm?"
"Ah~ annoying, that's not it at all!"
Seeing his demeanor, she knew he wasn't busy, but he was still a bit hurried, so Millis sped up tying her hair.
Sean Brooke really hadn't recovered from the previous warmth. After all, he had been in a rush when he came; he hadn't even changed his clothes and had just covered himself with the Nano Suit before coming out.
Now that the battle was over, it was time to let the Nano Suit disappear.
"Let me help you tie your hair!"
Sean Brooke moved his hands to her head, making her face him.
The moment Millis turned her head, a blush appeared on her face. She puffed out her cheeks and nodded with difficulty.
However, she quickly realized something was wrong; why didn't Sean Brooke have any clothes on underneath?
Millis quickly stepped back a little, smacked her lips, and the expression on her face changed from confusion to sudden realization. She stood up, ashamed and angry, and exclaimed: "You, there's her perfume on you!"
Seeing his expression, Millis instantly understood everything. She stood there, arms crossed, with a complex expression, not knowing whether to be moved or sad.
Was she moved? Of course she was moved. Sean Brooke was able to rush over regardless of everything when she was in danger, and looking at him, she knew what he had been doing just now. Being able to interrupt his "casting" to come over in that situation, she was definitely moved.
However, seeing the lipstick marks on his neck and other places, along with the faint lingering scent of perfume, she would naturally feel a bit sad.
Sean Brooke looked down and indeed discovered the lipstick marks. He clapped his hands, knowing she didn't like him being unclean; in the past, he had always showered before coming over, but this time he had truly forgotten in his haste.
"I'll go wash up."
"Wait!"
Millis quickly tied her hair, picked up a lipstick, and applied it.
"Hehe, I feel like you're thinking of something bad." Sean Brooke quickly reached out and hugged her.
Without answering him, Millis applied the lipstick thickly and kissed him on the neck, leaving a heavy lipstick mark behind.
She smiled happily, looked into Sean Brooke's eyes, and said: "I want to leave my mark on every part of your body!"
"Really?" Sean Brooke looked delighted.
Millis pushed him back with a defiant expression.
"Hmph, really! And then you go back tomorrow morning and let her... let her see!"
Leaving lipstick marks on her man; if this isn't a declaration of war, what is?
Millis could take a step back on other matters, but when it came to Sean Brooke, she would never yield an inch.
Millis's bold words made Sean Brooke very happy, although the duration was a bit short. In less than twenty minutes, her bold words turned into gibberish, and she didn't even know where the lipstick had flown to.
It wasn't until the next morning that she secretly got up and, while Sean Brooke was fast asleep, dared to continue covering him with lipstick marks, without a trace of the arrogance from last night.
Chapter 128: Killing Killian
After Hess and Sif, holding back their laughter, finished helping him clean the lipstick marks off his body, Sean then followed the location to go deal with the trouble caused by that guy named Killian.
Having heard some details from Natasha, Sean also felt this person named Killian was really bold.
Offending Tony was one thing, but he actually dared to cause trouble for him too. Did he think Homelander's image was just too good?
On this point, it really wasn't Killian's fault for being so bold, because Homelander's image had been polished too perfectly by Hess and Natasha.
Plus, other Superheroes held Homelander in great respect, especially Max and Banner, who had thanked Sean publicly more than once, saying they wouldn't be who they were today without him.
Every day, a huge crowd of paid posters flooded Facebook with videos thanking Homelander for saving them again—one moment Homelander rescuing a busload of people in Washington, the next saving a drowning person in New York.
True and false news flooded Facebook, the sheer volume making it impossible to distinguish fact from fiction, leaving people with the impression that Homelander was just that kind of Superhero—tireless, uncomplaining, and dedicated!
Killian had also been holed up in some remote place conducting experiments, with little understanding of Homelander, so making a wrong assessment was normal. The cost was just his life, no big deal.
Miami, inside a certain private estate.
Looking at the red-and-blue Armor before him, Killian felt a surge of excitement. Finally, some good news.
The plan to capture people in New York had failed. Both attempts had actually failed, something completely unexpected. He hadn't thought he'd miss catching even one.
The two-person team fishing for Superheroes had also gone missing, presumably dead; otherwise, they would have returned long ago.
The only thing that could lift his spirits a bit was capturing War Machine. As long as he used him to get close to the President, the subsequent plans could still proceed.
Inside the laboratory, Killian was briefing the new War Machine pilot when suddenly he felt the ground shake violently, dust from the ceiling raining down continuously.
"What's going on?" Killian asked into the walkie-talkie.
"Homelander! Homelander is attacking! Ah!"
The screams coming from the walkie-talkie left Killian momentarily dazed. How dare Homelander! Starting to kill without even exchanging a few words first? Didn't he even come to take a look? He still had many hostages!
This batch of people, whom Killian had tricked into coming, was his key means of keeping Homelander in check.
They were all ordinary people who idolized Superheroes, willingly becoming test subjects in hopes of becoming Superheroes themselves. Many were even fans of Homelander.
With them here, Killian believed Homelander would surely calm down and negotiate, even help him persuade Tony to perfect the Extremis virus and save these ordinary people.
However, he hadn't expected Homelander to say nothing, just fly in the sky and sweep the area with Heat Vision, not even afraid of killing innocent people. How could he even tell them apart?
Tell them apart? Hah, Sean just thought there were too many people below, making it inconvenient to find his target. That guy named Killian didn't have any distinguishing features either, so he just used Heat Vision to sweep the area. The one who could resurrect in the end would be him. How efficient!
It didn't take long before no one on the ground was moving anymore, leaving only a batch of people underground.
Landing on his feet, he directly descended to the second underground level and saw a set of Iron Armor, his expression slightly stunned.
Seeing that Homelander had already found him, Killian no longer hid, stretching out his hand and shouting:
"Homelander! You'd better not make any rash moves. I have many hostages. Also, War Machine is in our hands. Be careful!"
"Huh?"
Sean's Heat Vision shot out, cutting both him and War Machine in half. He was still puzzled, thinking, 'Who is this guy? Really bold.'
Just as Sean was about to leave, he noticed the person he had just cut was already almost fully regrown. Instantly intrigued,
"You must be that'something-An', right."
"Killian!" Killian was sweating profusely, terrified. Just a little more, just a tiny bit more, and he would have really died.
Just like the ordinary people outside, dying without any value, almost without even getting to say his own name.
Sean walked forward, crouched down, and looked at him with interest, asking, "Hey, let me ask you, if I chop off your head, will it grow back?"
Killian's pupils contracted violently, especially when he saw Homelander pull out a knife. He knew this man wasn't joking; he was serious!
"I'm still human! A human will definitely die if beheaded. Those who don't die aren't human!" Killianshouted excitedly.
"Really? I don't believe it." Sean wore a skeptical expression, his right hand swiping, severing Killian's limbs. Blood gushed out.
This time, Sean had experience and didn't let a single drop of blood get on him.
"Ahh!!" Killian's screams echoed around.
"Oops, sorry, cut wrong. Next time, I'll be more careful."
Sean's cold expression held not a trace of apology. He only hoped Killian would live a little longer. Otherwise, how could he quell the rage from last night?
After using Killian's own leg to gag his mouth, Sean went to other areas. There were still many people not thoroughly dead.
Wherever Sean passed, a series of screams erupted. No living beings remained in his wake.
"Sean! Oh, oh, oh! Careful, careful!"
"Hmm? You are?"
Seeing a tied-up black man calling his name, Sean didn't immediately attack.
"It's me, Rhodes, War Machine, Iron Patriot."
Sean shook his head, indicating he had no impression.
Rhodes grew nervous, afraid Sean really didn't remember him and would just kill him along with the bad guys.
"We met at Tony's party before! I even fought with him. You were holding two beauties at the time, using Heat Vision to blast watermelons for fun, and..."
"Wait! Okay, stop right there. If you keep talking, I might not be able to control my Heat Vision."
The embarrassing memories from being drunk instantly flooded back to Sean. He hadn't expected someone to help him recall after so long. This guy's memory was really good!
After setting him down, Rhodes visibly relaxed a lot.
"Are you here to capture The Mandarin too?"
"The Mandarin? Yeah, I guess. By the way, you should get out quickly. This place is about to explode." Sean said absentmindedly.
"Ah, but my Iron Patriot..."
"Destroyed by me. Have Tony make you another one later."
"Then... I'll go?"
"Go quickly. I'm going to see if there are any innocent survivors left."
Rhodes actually wanted Sean to fly him out, but hearing he still had to search for people, he dropped the idea. Quickly getting out to contact his Officer and have him send people over was more important.
Sean hurried back to Killian's side, feeling a bit troubled.
Not enough material for an explosion!
For Extremis to explode, it needed carriers. He had killed everyone outside, so who was left?
Killian on the ground finally got a chance to speak and quickly shouted:
"Homelander! I, I still have dozens of hostages. If you don't want anything to happen to them, then..."
Hostages?
The corners of Sean's mouth turned up. Using his X-ray Vision to scan, he found a hidden underground corner with a group of people. He had almost missed them if not for this guy's reminder.
Not long after Colonel Rhodes ran out of the estate, a massive explosion sounded from behind, reducing the entire estate to ruins.
Later, all credit for this incident was attributed to Iron Patriot.
Because this explosion still had some impact on the surrounding area, it wasn't good for Homelander's reputation. And coincidentally, the White House needed this incident to prove they weren't useless.
So, after Natasha and Sean discussed it, they simply let them have the credit. Keeping it wasn't useful anyway.
Chapter 129: Hess Is Busy and Needs Dice
Wakanda, the seventh day after Tony arrived.
"Jarvis, organize the data. We're getting ready to leave."
Tony's expression was extremely relaxed, completely devoid of the tension he had when he first arrived. Or rather, the one feeling tense now was Wakanda.
By the fifth day of Tony's stay, he had actually learned almost everything. The time that followed was entirely him guiding Shuri.
He also discovered that Wakanda relied too heavily on Vibranium and trusted it too much, ignoring many other useful metals. Their technology could actually have reached several levels higher, but it was locked down by the limitations of Vibranium.
If he were the one ruling Wakanda, he could have perfectly resolved that Battle of New York all by himself. He could even have been cuddling with Pepper on the sofa watching the livestream! Giving Vibranium to them was truly a waste!
"Are you leaving already? How about I go talk to my father and ask him to let you stay a few more days?"
At first, Shuri didn't like this arrogant American. She felt that the technology he was so proud of was just a pile of scrap metal in front of her. What right did he have to be so haughty?
But after spending these few days together, Shuri discovered that Stark was highly intelligent. Everything she casually pointed out, he could fully comprehend, and he could even ask a few follow-up questions.
Some bottlenecks she had encountered in the past were easily overcome by him, and he could come up with many different solutions. Some of his inspirations were absolutely stunning even to her.
You have to understand that in Wakanda, Shuri was the smartest person, bar none.
This led to others being unable to keep up with her train of thought. This time, having finally met someone she could talk to in every aspect, Shuri was a bit reluctant to see him go.
"No, I need to go back and realize all the ideas in my head!" Tony's expression was very excited, even though his total sleep time over these seven days did not exceed twelve hours.
"Oh, right, I left my contact information on your computer. If you have any questions you don't understand, you can ask me. Also, I slightly improved your energy barrier; the effect will be better. And the defense system's cannons have also become more intelligent."
"Lastly, regarding the Armor you're researching, considering the current situation in the outside World, I suggest you research in the direction of space, such as closed-loop breathing systems and constant temperature systems. Also, I advise you not to rely too much on Vibranium, especially since its weaknesses are extremely obvious. It's best not to."
Tony said a lot, which could be considered a repayment for Shuri's hospitality over the past few days; he didn't like owing favors.
"Wait!" Shuri finally felt that something was wrong. She was supposed to be the one giving guidance, so why had the roles been swapped?
Suddenly, a terrifying thought appeared in her mind. She asked nervously: "How much did you learn?"
Tony smiled slightly and put on the Armor he had arrived in.
"I'm in a hurry. I didn't look at the data on some primitive weapons or the superstitious records. So, goodbye, little Shuri."
After saying this, Tony flew directly toward the sky. Before Shuri had even opened the dome's protection, he had opened a gap himself and left.
Shuri's expression changed. She immediately ran to the control console to check what exactly Tony had done. She absolutely did not believe that anyone could learn hundreds of years of Wakandan technology in seven days. She absolutely refused to believe it!
Flying in the sky, Tony's expression was extremely content. After he got back, he would hold Pepper and have a wonderful sleep, then get up and look at the data from these past few days.
He wasn't stupid; how could he have just studied obediently? Besides, even if he could master all the Nano Suit technology in these seven days, would that be enough? Definitely not.
In his eyes, Wakanda was a very delicious cake. He wouldn't be satisfied with just eating a little or half of it; he had to eat it all, and learn how to bake the cake himself, for him to be satisfied.
And to accomplish all this, seven days was far from enough, but he could pack it all up to take away.
Seven days was more than enough for Jarvis to adapt to Wakanda's technological level.
Now, Wakanda's technological defenses were merely a formality to him and nothing to worry about.
Only in this way could Tony rest assured with the country of Wakanda remaining in the World.
...
The weather in January was still somewhat cold. Last night, to celebrate the success of his surgery, Tonyheld a party at home and invited some acquaintances to drink together.
On the spot, he also showcased his Nano Suit. Although only a portion of the materials used Vibranium, he was very satisfied with the overall effect.
He also took the opportunity to make some suitable equipment for the others. He gifted Sean some fine wine, helped Steve upgrade his shield, prepared weapons for Natasha, designed a uniform for Max, and bought extra-large elastic shorts for Banner.
Everyone could see that he had indeed relaxed a lot, free from the anxiety following the end of the war, and they were happy for him from the bottom of their hearts.
Sean was also very happy. At this rate, it felt like it wouldn't be long before he could have him design a Gundam to play with.
After getting drunk, Sean returned to the Hess Family Residence. He curled up in the blanket, cuddling with two people, and slept very comfortably, not getting up until the afternoon.
When he woke up, only Sif was left in his arms. Hess was downstairs, taking one phone call after another, completely unable to stop.
"Are you very busy lately?"
Sean went up to her, hugged her, and sat down on the sofa. Hess smiled and said: "It's alright."
She didn't want to impose her troubles on Sean, even though she was indeed quite busy lately.
There had been constant disputes regarding Kingpin's properties. Even though he was dead, he still had a bunch of subordinates occupying many things, and it was hard to integrate everything in such a short time.
There were also issues on the Vampire side. Their numbers had been increasing, and the number of times they were discovered by the outside World had also risen, especially since a stronghold was discovered earlier and cleared out by the Superhero Lightning Max.
The key thing was that the Elders also said that a group of hunters had started to emerge again recently. Every day, clan members would die for no reason. This group of people had skillful techniques and understood Vampires particularly well; they were very troublesome.
Sean gave a huff and applied a little pressure with his hand. "Is there anything you can't tell me? I can help you share the burden."
"It's... it's all just trivial little things, nothing major. Otherwise, I wouldn't be polite."
"You, just not wearing Sif out every day would be a huge help to me. She hasn't had time to manage the company lately because she's been with you all the time." Hess pinched him in return.
It wasn't like she didn't understand Sean; he wouldn't want to deal with these trivial little things at all.
Sean looked conflicted. After a good while, he made up his mind and nodded.
"Sigh, alright then, I'll come back every other day!"
"Hmph!" Hess rolled her eyes at him. That's what he said, but he would probably forget it the moment he turned around. Hess knew him all too well.
As soon as he finished speaking, his hands were already getting restless, wandering over her body. Whether it was because of Sean or Hess, even very ordinary loungewear worn on her could naturally exude a sense of allure, which always made Sean reluctant to leave.
Just as Sean was going back and forth, Hess glanced at a message on her phone, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait~ Wait~"
"What's wrong?" Sean slowed his pace and asked.
"Didn't you want to help? As it happens, Dice said she has already found the trail of the Divine Dragon. Do you have time to make a trip?"
"Mm~ After you finish handling it, you can just bring her back to help me, how about that?" Hess asked, panting.
Sean paused for a moment, let out a laugh, and then continued.
"Sure, that way, you and Sif can get a bit more rest at night."
Chapter 130: A Trip with Christine
On the plane, the flight attendants whispered to each other.
"Hey, there's a really handsome man in first class. Who wants to try their luck?"
"Oh! I saw him too, he's really handsome. But the woman next to him must be his girlfriend, she looks beautiful and elegant too."
"What do you know? It's even more exciting when there's a girlfriend. Help me clear out the restroom in the lounge, I'm going!"
The flight attendant tossed her hair, unbuttoned two buttons, and walked straight to their seats.
"Hello, sir, what would you like to drink?" She bent down, handed the menu to Sean, and winked at him.
Sean turned to look at her, and as he took the menu, his palm brushed hers. The flight attendant instantly smiled knowingly. Sure enough, even handsome men like wild flowers.
"Christine, see if there's anything you'd like to drink."
"Water is fine for me."
"Then I'll have the same."
The flight attendant smiled brightly. "Alright, I'll go prepare them for you two in the back."
Watching her sway away, Christine's gaze was a little off. That woman's smile was clearly a bit... strange.
Sean chuckled, leaning close to her ear and whispering, "This lady just invited me."
Christine quickly hugged Sean's arm, glaring fiercely in the direction the flight attendant had left. Indeed, she couldn't relax for a moment; women would try to tempt Sean if she wasn't careful.
"I accepted."
"Huh?" Christine looked up at him, her expression surprised. "Why?"
"Because that way, she'll free up a spot."
Christine was even more confused until Sean stood up and pulled her with a mischievous grin.
"Ah! No... that's not good!" She pulled her hand back, a little shy. This was on a plane, after all.
"She tempted me right in front of you. Don't you want to strike back at her?"
Christine thought about it and agreed. She definitely had to show her a thing or two. Her shyness turned into excitement.
"Hmph, let's go!"
That day, she didn't just show one flight attendant what she was capable of.
The reason Sean brought Christine to the East was simple: he didn't like traveling alone and didn't want to constantly change the women around him, which was troublesome. Others could join in, but it was best to have a fixed option.
He chose Christine also because she happened to be on vacation at this time, and he felt very comfortable with her. So he just told her he had a mission to go to the East and asked if she wanted to travel with him.
That way, if he disappeared for a few days midway, she wouldn't find anything amiss, and he could use the mission as an excuse for anything she saw, hehe.
As for Christine, she was, of course, very willing and happy for a long time. She never expected to travel with Sean right at the beginning of the new year, getting the year off to a good start.
After getting off the plane, Christine held Sean's hand tightly, not daring to look up at people. She had been a bit unrestrained on the plane, causing the flight attendants to look at her with envy and jealousy.
At the pick-up area, Sean called Dice, telling her to come to a certain shop where he was.
"You're already here? How come I didn't see you at the exit?"
Dice was very confused; she didn't believe she would miss him.
Sean adjusted his glasses. Dice's face showed some bewilderment, then quickly returned to normal.
For a moment, she felt that the person in front of her wasn't Sean, at most just someone who looked a bit like him.
"Amazing! Let's go."
The miraculous ability surprised Dice, but she knew this wasn't the place to talk. They would have plenty of time tonight.
Soon, they drove to a beautifully scenic mountain villa.
Christine, who had always lived in the city, had never seen such beautiful scenery. She leaned against the window, happily shaking Sean.
"Wow! Look, so many bamboo trees! Will there be pandas inside?"
"I'll take you flying over there to look later."
"Mhm!" Christine nodded happily, then remembered something and quickly asked:
"Will it disturb you while you're on your mission?"
"No, I'll just learn about the mission tonight. Today, I'll accompany you around, otherwise, how can it be called a trip?" Sean hugged her and kissed her.
"Mhm, you're so good to me."
Christine leaned in Sean's arms, looking at his face, realizing that no matter how beautiful the scenery outside was, it would be meaningless if she wasn't seeing it with him.
Dice, who was driving, glanced at her through the rearview mirror, wondering why Sean had brought someone along.
Is she a helper? Doesn't seem like it, and besides, why would Sean need a helper?
After settling into their room, Christine excitedly pulled Sean out.
The two flew through the bamboo forest, feeling the lush green ocean around them, breathing the fresh air, and feeling much more cheerful.
"Let's take a picture!" Christine and Sean lay in a large pile of fallen leaves, hugging his neck tightly, the love in her eyes already somewhat hazy.
"Look at the camera!"
Click!
In the photo, neither of them looked at the camera, but instead, they both chose to look into each other's eyes.
Back at the manor, Christine lay in bed, flipping through the photos they took today.
"This one's too revealing to post, this one too... hmm... this one will do!"
She posted it on her Facebook, with the caption: "Days traveling with my boyfriend."
The photo didn't show Sean's face, only him hugging Christine as they lay in the fallen leaves.
In it, Christine's face was smiling so happily that anyone who saw it would say it was the picture of happiness, because the love in her eyes was unmatched.
After posting the photo, Christine slowly fell asleep. Although Sean wasn't beside her, she was already very satisfied today.
On the other side of the manor, in a room far from Christine's, Dice was on the phone with her sister.
"Mhm, sister, I mhm understand, mhm~ okay, I get it!"
On the other end of the phone, Hess chuckled and hung up. She couldn't hear anything, just all her "mhm"s. Never mind, it was enough to know they had met.
Much later, at two in the morning, Dice seized the moment when Sean was changing positions and called out:
"Wait, let me rest for a bit. Let's talk about serious matters."
"Alright, just stay still like this, you speak."
Dice lay on Sean's chest, getting a rare moment to catch her breath. She suddenly wondered if he brought a woman to help her.
"Hoo~ *cough*, we've roughly located the rumored Daluo Heaven. Taro Village is within it, but the exact location is unknown. Also, I heard Taro Village only opens on the day of the Qingming Festival. I'm afraid you might come all this way for nothing."
That day, Dice sent a message to Hess, just a routine progress report, but she didn't expect her to send Sean over directly.
It caught her off guard, and she still didn't know how to entertain Sean.
"It's alright. Hess has been quite busy lately, and I was also hoping your matter here would conclude quickly so I could go back and help her."
Dice felt very touched by these words. In her heart, it didn't matter if Sean wasn't good to her, as long as he was good to her sister. It didn't matter if she suffered a little grievance.
"Mhm, we'll go tomorrow. Even if we don't find it, I'll return to New York."
"Heh, don't worry. Nothing is unsolvable once I'm here; it just depends on whether I'm willing to do it," Sean assured Dice, patting her on his chest.
His feelings for her were very pure: love for her sister extended to her.
Moreover, it was evident that the sisters had a very good relationship, always considering each other.
Hess would quietly mention every night:
"When Dice comes back, the three of us will definitely be able to handle you!"
Chapter 131: Entering Taro Village
The next morning, five jeeps lined up in a row and headed deep into the bamboo forest.
After Xu Wenwu died, his subordinates scattered and fled; most of them disappeared and never appeared again, some collected money to go join his children, and the rest were all recruited by Dice.
These people were not very useful, but they could handle odd jobs; otherwise, having to solve every little thing personally would be quite undignified.
Sean sat leisurely in the car, directing the way, feeling interested in this hidden little village and wondering what fun things would appear next.
The person driving was an Asian girl, very pretty and meeting Sean's original requirements, just looking a bit timid; she kept glancing at the rearview mirror, her eyes filled with disbelief.
This couldn't be blamed on her; perhaps she never would have imagined that her boss, usually so decisive and heroic, was now lying in a man's arms like a little kitten. The contrast was too great, and for a moment, she couldn't quite accept it.
"Feifei, still looking? How about I drive and you come over here?" Dice asked with a smile.
"No... no need, Boss, I'll focus on driving." The girl named Feifei blushed and stopped glancing around.
Dice chuckled softly and continued to hold Sean, saying, "Another one is coming tonight; after today is over, you can drive together then."
Sean didn't speak, using his actions to show he was very satisfied.
The forest path was narrow and surrounded by green bamboo, making it almost impossible to discern the direction, and even some locators lost their function here.
"Stop!"
Placing the limp Dice to one side, Sean flew out from the roof of the car.
Since just a moment ago, the surrounding environment had been constantly changing, causing the convoy to walk in place, unable to move forward.
"A formation? Or magic?"
Sean wasn't quite sure, but regardless of what it was, he would just destroy it all.
Heat Vision emitted from Sean's eyes, and with a slight turn of his head, a large swath of the surrounding bamboo forest vanished.
A moment ago, it was a scene of an earthly paradise; now, it was covered in hellish flames.
"Move forward!"
Below, the people in the convoy were stunned for a long time; it wasn't until Dice cursed at them again that they snapped back to reality and hurriedly drove forward.
While in the car, they snuck a glance at Sean in the sky, feeling a chill in their hearts.
"He... he is Homelander, right?"
"Quiet! Shut up, do you want to die or what!"
A burly man roared, and the car instantly became much quieter.
Sean was no longer wearing glasses, and they could tell from his iconic Heat Vision that this was the Superhero from America, Homelander.
They just didn't know how Homelander had come here, and besides, his relationship with their boss... Hehe, anyone with eyes could tell. Didn't that mean their true boss was Homelander?
Thinking of this, the group of thirty-something people felt a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Unexpectedly, after one invincible boss died, another boss who was invincible in heaven and on Eartharrived. How wonderful!
Flying in the sky, Sean also became interested; the surrounding bamboo forest was actually growing rapidly. Except for a place slightly further away, a large bamboo forest appeared before him again, as if what had happened just now had never occurred.
Sean smiled slightly; didn't this mean he was going the right way? As long as he continued to destroy the bamboo and see which area grew the fastest, he probably wasn't far from his goal.
Heat Vision continued to clear the bamboo forest, and before long, Sean discovered an abrupt area.
A waterfall!
On both sides of the waterfall were two huge stone lions; judging by the marks, they seemed to have existed for a very long time.
Dice got out of the car, clutching her head, her expression somewhat pained.
"Sean, there is a red door inside, and it is luring me to go over!"
The moment she saw the waterfall, Dice understood where the thoughts in her mind had come from.
Find Daluo Heaven, open the door to release the dragon, obtain its blood, and strengthen the Vampirerace.
Dice had always thought this idea was her own, but until she approached the destination, she realized it was something inside guiding her, exploiting her desires to generate this thought.
Sean laughed, went down to help her rub her head, and said gently:
"I'm here, you don't need to be afraid of anything."
These words were like a needle calming the sea, making Dice much calmer.
That's right, with him around, it was always others who should be worried.
"Mm, I was just a little flustered, but I'm fine now. Let's go in!"
Dice took a deep breath, smiled at Sean, and then directed the convoy to drive into the waterfall.
Passing through the dark cave, a fantastical scene appeared before everyone.
High mountains, flowing water, and strange-looking animals.
Everything the eyes could see indicated that this was no longer Earth.
In the sky, two large birds covered in flames were flying towards their companions, and Sean was delighted to see this.
"You go find the village first, I'm going to go play!" After saying this, he chased after them.
The people below all looked at Dice, waiting for her to speak.
"Let's go first; when he's done playing, he'll come over." Dice also led the people to continue walking inside.
Sean in the sky soon caught up with the two birds and asked with a smile:
"Hey, can you understand human speech?"
The Fire bird didn't react, and Sean asked again in Chinese, but there was still no reaction.
He became a little unhappy, reached out to grab one, pinched its neck, and said coldly:
"If you don't talk, I won't be polite!"
"Chiu-ga~"
The Fire bird was terrified, its flames churning as it tried to escape the human's clutches. Its companion, seeing that things were not looking good, had already flown away rapidly.
Sean was slightly disappointed; from its eyes, he could only see fear, not a trace of humanity.
He had thought such strange animals were truly the legendary Phoenix or Bi Fang, or at worst, something like a Fire-type Pokémon; who knew, sigh.
Sean didn't give up; he went to the Fire bird's flock to see if they had a leader. This time he lowered his standards a bit—as long as it had some humanity, that would do, and it would be best if it could freely change size so he could take it back to play.
To be honest, the result was very disappointing; it felt like they weren't even as human-like as dogs. Perhaps it was because they had lived in this isolated place for a long time and there were simply no people around.
Afterward, Sean saw many other strange creatures: headless, four-legged furry little things; a sheep-horned, deer-antlered, five-colored scaled horse, but its face was too ugly, so ugly that it was hard for people to accept.
Fortunately, later he encountered a pure white Nine-Tailed Fox, which looked very beautiful; the only drawback was that it couldn't transform into a human form.
"Sigh, are they all just strange-looking Beasts?"
Sean felt a bit bored; if that was the case, there was no point, at most just satisfying his own appetite and trying something new.
He had thought that coming here this time would allow him to catch a mount to play with.
After wandering around for half a day, Sean felt it was meaningless and prepared to go find them.
However, just at this moment, Sean saw a creature tens of meters long at the bottom of the lake, looking a bit like a dragon.
Chapter 132: Slaying White Dragon
At the entrance of Taro Village, all the villagers held weapons and confronted the uninvited guests opposite them.
"Outsiders, Taro Village does not welcome you. Please leave immediately, otherwise, hmph!"
Looking at the group of elderly, weak, women, and children holding knives, spears, and clubs in front of her, Dice chuckled.
"Ignorant. Forget it, I'm in a good mood today, so I won't go on a killing spree. However, don't come looking for Death either!"
Dice raised her hand. "Search! Find a red door!"
"Yes!"
The dozens of people behind her answered in unison, holding their weapons and preparing to start the search.
Uncle Guang, the elder opposite them, changed his expression. Upon hearing this, he knew these people had come for the Dark Gate.
"We cannot let them get near the seal. Stop them!"
Uncle Guang was still vigorous in his old age; he grabbed his staff and charged forward. Seeing this, the villagers behind him also charged forward together.
"Kill them!" Dice waved her hand, and the henchmen behind her pulled out guns and fired indiscriminately at the front.
"Overestimating yourselves," Dice sneered.
She guessed they had never been to the outside World and had not yet witnessed the power of modern weaponry.
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman jumped out. She waved her hands in the air, and an invisible force blocked all the bullets.
"Outsiders, this is your final warning. Leave Taro Village!" Ying Nan threatened.
"Hmph, so you can block bullets, huh? Go, use the RPG!"
The appearance of this woman did indeed surprise Dice. She hadn't expected them to have such capable people. However, it didn't matter. She just wanted to find that door before Sean Brooke was done playing, without wasting any time.
Ying Nan frowned. It looked like this battle was unavoidable. She wasn't afraid of fighting, she just didn't want the villagers to suffer losses.
She exchanged a glance with Uncle Guang, and the crowd followed her as they charged out again.
There weren't many people in Taro Village, but their numbers were more than ten times that of Dice's side. Moreover, relying on their dragon-scale weapons, they didn't fear the firearms in the hands of the opponents.
Dice's side opened fire with full force, but after a round of shooting, they hadn't actually killed many people. Most of the bullets were blocked by Ying Nan, and the few that hit the dragon-scale clothing had no effect whatsoever.
Furthermore, the villagers of Taro Village had good physiques and were fast. It didn't take long before both sides entered into close-quarters combat.
Close-quarters combat was not the strong suit of Dice's group, especially with such a large disparity in numbers; it was even less likely for them to win.
The battle didn't last long. Except for Dice, who could barely hold on for a while longer, everyone else had already surrendered.
"Kill them! Kill them!" The villagers of Taro Village were very emotional. They had won the battle, but several villagers had died under gunfire.
These people lived together every day, and the bonds between everyone were very deep. Apart from natural Death, they rarely faced such sudden partings.
Uncle Guang was also furious and said sternly, "Take them all to the lakeside and execute them there!"
Ying Nan nodded in agreement.
But just then, a roar came from the horizon, and a long White Dragon flew toward the crowd.
"It's the Guardian Dragon, My Lord!"
Smiles beamed on the faces of the Taro Village villagers. They were even wondering if the Guardian, My Lord, had seen their heroic performance and had come to use his power to resurrect the fallen clansmen.
Ying Nan's smile was also radiant. The Guardian, My Lord, was very hard to see; for most of the villagers here, it was their first time seeing him.
But soon, the smile on her face froze, because she discovered that there seemed to be a person standing on the head of the Dragon, My Lord.
"Yo, found them."
Sean Brooke stomped his foot down hard. White let out another painful cry and plummeted toward the ground.
The villagers below also sensed something was wrong, because their Dragon, My Lord, was crashing down on them.
"Quick, get out of the way!" Ying Nan shouted, and the surrounding villagers scattered and fled.
White's face hit the ground first, sliding forward for a long time before slowly coming to a stop, emitting bursts of mournful cries, unable to move anymore.
"Safe landing!" Sean Brooke jumped down, shook the Water off his hair, and was in a very happy mood.
"Dice, how are things on your end?"
"Sorry, I brought too few people. They resisted fiercely, and we didn't win." Dice rubbed her shoulder, her tone sounding a bit aggrieved.
She had been struck by Ying Nan just now, and it was still throbbing with pain.
Looking at the disheveled Dice, Sean Brooke's expression stiffened. He reached out, pulled her over, wiped her clean, and comforted her, "I'll handle it."
Turning around, he saw a group of people in strange costumes not far away and flew toward them.
On this side, the people of Taro Village were terrified. The deity in their hearts, the Dragon, My Lord, was being beaten on the ground by someone and seemed to be dying.
"Uncle Guang, what should we do? Should we go over and help?"
Uncle Guang didn't speak, lost in thought. Beside him, Ying Nan said, "Now that the Dragon, My Lord, is in their hands, we can only talk."
"Hmm... you are right. The Dragon, My Lord, cannot be lost." Uncle Guang nodded.
"Then I will go over and talk." After Ying Nan finished speaking, she leaped toward Sean Brooke.
"Leave Taro, it will be good for you, for me, and for this World. The magic of the Dragon, My Lord, seals the Dark Gate. Once the Soul Eater inside escapes, not only here, but the outside World will also be plunged into misery." Ying Nan explained all the dangers in one breath. She believed that any normal person would make the right choice.
It was just a pity that she had met Sean Brooke.
"What are you blabbering about?" Sean Brooke picked his ear, then suddenly smiled and said, "Do you not want this snake to die?"
Ying Nan took a deep breath. "He is a divine dragon. Not a snake. His existence is very important; nothing can happen to him."
Sean Brooke's lips curled up wildly, and he turned his head to look at that huge "dragon".
To be honest, Sean Brooke couldn't see where it looked like a dragon. Except for the head, which was somewhat similar, nothing else looked like one.
And, as a dragon, wasn't it a bit too short?
Seeing the man in front of her not speaking, Ying Nan thought he had been persuaded.
"For thousands of years, we have relied on the power bestowed by the Dragon, My Lord, and weapons made of dragon scales to fight against the Soul Eater. The monsters inside the Dark Gate often tempt outsiders to come in and help them escape. You must be one of them too."
Ying Nan smiled easily. "But fortunately, you listen to reason and can stop before the precipice...!"
"Augh!"
White let out a miserable scream and ceased to breathe. Blood rain began to fall from the sky. Just as Ying Nan was speaking, Sean Brooke used a Heat Vision to sever White's head; dragon blood gushed out and scattered all over the ground.
An umbrella appeared in Sean Brooke's hand. He turned his head and asked with a smile, "You, what did you say just now?"
Everyone was shocked by this scene. They stood frozen on the spot, looking at the corpse of White in front of them, unable to come to their senses for a long time.
Just at this moment, dull thuds came from the distant mountain peaks, feeling like something was about to break through the seal.
"The Soul Eater is out! Everyone, prepare to defend!" Uncle Guang's shout did not receive a response from everyone.
The Dragon, My Lord, was dead. What could they use to fight the Soul Eater?
Chapter 133: Killing the Soul Eater
In the distant sky, countless bat-like little monsters flew toward the crowd. Behind them followed a giant monster, their screeching roars echoing across the sky.
Ying Nan gritted her teeth and handed Sean Brooke a weapon, saying excitedly, "Take this. Only a dragon scale weapon can cause damage to the Soul Eater! With the Divine Dragon dead, my Divine Dragon power has vanished completely. Only you can stop it here, otherwise, everyone here will die!"
As one of the Tarot People, Ying Nan knew how terrifying the Soul Eater was. Even though Sean Brooke had displayed great strength, she did not think he could win against an enemy that feeds on souls. Only if he wielded the dragon scale weapon would the people here have a glimmer of hope.
Sean Brooke laughed disdainfully, ignored her, bent his knees, pushed off the ground, and flew toward the monsters in the sky.
This wasn't Jackie Chan Adventures; there was no rule that one must use magic to fight magic. Besides, after his previous battle with the Ancient One, Sean Brooke didn't feel his soul was weak—it might even be very strong.
"Huh, what an ugly monster!"
Sean Brooke made a look of disgust. He had expected the villain to be slightly better-looking, but how could it be uglier than that snake?
He took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly toward the swarm of monsters.
A skill evolved from Super Breath: Freezing Breath!
A blast of extreme cold erupted from Sean Brooke's mouth. The surrounding temperature plummeted, and the little monsters in front were instantly covered in frost. They stopped screeching and fell vertically from the sky—a truly spectacular sight.
It didn't take long before only the largest Soul Eater remained in the sky.
The monster possessed no intelligence; its target had always been the corpse of the White Dragon behind Sean Brooke. It sensed that the White Dragon's delicious soul was about to dissipate, and if it didn't go now, it would be too late.
Opening its blood-filled maw, a powerful suction force attempted to pull the soul of the person in front of it inside. It was very anxious.
The monster's mouth was filled with fangs, resembling the mouth of a lamprey.
Sean Brooke found this suction force somewhat familiar; it seemed to share a similar effect to the palm strike the Ancient One had used on him before.
But the difference this time was that Sean Brooke could choose not to let his soul be pulled out.
As for the ugly-looking monster, Sean Brooke couldn't be bothered to play with it for too long. He unleashed his Heat Vision toward its mouth, piercing directly through its body, and with a gentle swipe, sliced it in two.
To be safe, Sean Brooke also activated the remaining Ten Rings and struck it out.
The monster let out a scream in the sky, then exploded instantly, its body scattering across the ground, devoid of any signs of life.
Seeing the monster die, Dice and her group were very happy and began shouting excitedly.
The people of Taro Village, however, felt it was all a bit surreal. The events of today were too bizarre—the Guardian Divine Dragon was dead, and the Soul Eater they had confronted for thousands of years was also dead. Furthermore, both had died so quickly that they couldn't even react in time.
Sean Brooke spat. He had forgotten to open an umbrella just now and had been drenched in the monster's filthy blood, which felt very unpleasant.
He went through the bottom of the lake, washed off slightly, and returned to the crowd.
"Quick, get everything out of the trunk!" Dice shouted to those behind her.
"Yes!" Feifei hurriedly ran to the trunk and directed them to move the items.
Before they set off, they had wondered why they were wasting space on these strange items while going out to fight. Now, they suddenly realized the truth—as expected of the boss.
The group orderly moved lounge chairs, a barbecue grill, a sun umbrella, a portable dining table, and other items out of the trunk.
Dice held a towel, waiting for Sean Brooke to return.
"Well prepared." Sean Brooke lay down on the chair and praised her.
These items were not things he had asked Dice to prepare.
While helping Sean Brooke wipe the water from his hair, Dice smiled and said:
"Sister told me to prepare them; she said they might come in handy."
Sean Brooke reached out, grabbed her, pulled her into his arms, and smiled faintly, "Have someone else wipe my hair."
"Hmm~ Feifei, come here!"
"Coming!"
Feifei took the towel and carefully wiped it clean.
Nearby, the lackeys were preparing ingredients. Although they were not professional chefs, grilling was not a problem for them.
Besides, this was dragon meat! If the boss was happy and rewarded them with a bite, wouldn't they have hit the jackpot!
Not far away, the Tarot People saw the fire already set up on the opposite side, and their expressions instantly turned ugly.
No matter what, this was the Guardian Divine Dragon, My Lord, who had protected them for thousands of years. Now that it was about to go on the grill, they couldn't help but feel a bit unbearable.
Uncle Guang and Ying Nan discussed it for a moment and walked toward the opposite camp together.
Seeing people approaching, the lackeys immediately ran over eagerly to block them.
"Get lost! Can't you see our boss is busy?"
"You old fogies, just go back, wash your necks, and wait for Death!"
Hearing this, Sean Brooke couldn't help but laugh and gave a light cough. So this was what it felt like to have lackeys.
"Let them come over."
"Yes! Boss!"
When the two approached, Sean Brooke first asked Dice a question:
"Just now, who hit you?"
Dice pointed at Ying Nan and said coquettishly, "It was this old woman. You have to stand up for me~"
This scene made Ying Nan, on the opposite side, feel a sense of foreboding, as if she were looking at the legendary King Zhou.
Sean Brooke hadn't heard such blatant coquetry in a long time. Feeling slightly happier, he lifted Dice's chin with his hand, kissed her, and consoled her:
"I'll deal with her."
Uncle Guang frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Ying Nan raised her hand to stop him.
"That's right, I was indeed the one who struck and injured her. Do with me as you please, but I beg you to spare the Taro villagers; they are innocent."
"Ying Nan, you!" Uncle Guang's expression changed. That wasn't what they had discussed earlier. Hadn't they agreed to ask them to keep the Divine Dragon's body intact?
Ying Nan's tone was very calm. She had indeed discussed it with Uncle Guang like that earlier, but upon walking closer and seeing the situation, she knew that not only would they fail to keep the Divine Dragon, but they themselves were likely in grave danger. This man would truly kill them all.
She was not wrong; Sean Brooke was indeed preparing to kill them. A group of useless people versus Hess's sister—there was no need to think about which side to choose.
Just as Sean Brooke was about to sentence them to Death, Dice, in his arms, spoke up.
"Sean, they are pretty good at fighting. Why not take them back to help with things? Doesn't Sister happen to need more hands?"
Hearing this, Uncle Guang instantly flew into a rage and said fiercely, "Even if we die, we will never become accomplices to your murders!"
"Heh, landlord, you have to be responsible for what you say," Sean Brooke said indifferently:
"How about this? Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll give you a countdown. When the countdown ends, give me your answer. Life or Death is for you to decide. Not bad, right?"
Ying Nan, standing to the side, looked hesitant. She nodded with difficulty and said, "Alright, we will go back and consider it. May I ask how many days the countdown is?"
Sean Brooke smiled and held up one finger.
"One day? That's too short, we..." Before Ying Nan could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Sean Brooke.
"Sorry, you misunderstood. It's one minute. Feifei, start a 60-second countdown."
"Yes, Boss!"
The cold tone made the two realize that he was serious.
Chapter 134: The Ruthless Dice
"Boss, time's up."
"Call me Master from now on. Dice is the boss, don't get it mixed up."
"Okay, Mas... Master." Feifei's small face flushed red. She stole a glance at Boss Dice and, seeing that she didn't seem to mind, felt a secret spark of joy.
After finished teasing Feifei, Sean Brooke pulled back his smile and looked at them coldly, asking:
"So, have you made up your minds?"
Uncle Guang's expression was unsightly, his forehead drenched in sweat, completely lacking his previous arrogance.
He could choose death for himself, but he couldn't force the other villagers to die with him.
Although he believed the others felt the same way—unwilling to become killing tools in someone else's hands—Uncle Guang still couldn't bring himself to speak when it came to the weight of over a thousand lives.
Ying Nan felt the same way. She wasn't afraid to die, but letting everyone in Taro Village die together was something she found difficult to accept.
"We... we aren't the leaders of Taro Village. Taro Village doesn't have a leader. We can't make decisions for everyone else."
"Oh? Is that so?" Sean Brooke really hadn't expected that. A village without even a spokesperson—they truly weren't human.
"Then how about this: I'll give you a little more time. Anyone who comes over before I finish my meal will be considered to have accepted by default. As for those who don't... well, you understand."
"This..."
Sean Brooke stood up, holding Dice. "Please hurry. I'm about to start eating."
The two looked at each other and quickly rushed back toward the village.
Taro Village wasn't large; after thousands of years, the population was only a little over a thousand. A few shouts were enough to gather everyone.
Ying Nan explained the situation to everyone, leaving the decision to them.
Just as she said, Taro Village had no village chief; everyone lived as equals. Uncle Guang only had some prestige because of his age, and she was merely the successor of the Great Dragon's power. Now that the Great Dragon was dead, she was no different from an ordinary person.
A pessimistic and mournful atmosphere filled the crowd. Despair was in everyone's eyes. Their only hope, the Great Dragon, was currently being roasted and eaten by the outsiders, and the aroma was already wafting over.
The atmosphere in the camp outside was the exact opposite. Everyone was laughing and chatting, very happy, because the boss had just said they could eat as much meat as they wanted!
This made them ecstatic. Even if it wasn't dragon meat, it was the meat of some rare and exotic beast; eating it would definitely be incredibly nourishing!
Sean Brooke didn't care about the meat at all. It would be a waste if it wasn't finished, so he might as well give some to his lackeys.
Dice seared the steaks and cut them into small pieces to feed him. Beside them, Feifei held a wine glass, offering it from time to time. The fully automated service gave Sean Brooke a fantastic experience; he'd have to reward them well tonight.
Dice pulled Feifei aside and whispered:
"You feed Sean. I'm going over there for a bit."
"Ah, okay..."
Feifei was very nervous facing Sean Brooke. Although he treated her very well, she could never truly relax.
Dice leaned down and whispered a few words into Sean Brooke's ear. After he patted her a few times, she walked away quickly toward the village.
She soon found the place where the Tarot People were gathered. The atmosphere here was gloomy, radiating a sense of deathly stillness.
Seeing this, Dice understood. Coincidentally, this was exactly why she had come.
When the two sides were fighting earlier, she had been very envious of the Tarot People's equipment and their skills. She had the idea of recruiting them from the start.
After all, she would definitely go to New York to help later, so they would be very useful in the city.
"My, why do you all look so miserable? Is this really something that needs so much thought? For you, isn't it just changing to a stronger guardian god?"
"Besides, we just dealt with the Soul Eaters that you couldn't handle for thousands of years. Shouldn't you be thanking us?" Dice didn't hold back at all, walking straight to the center and sitting in the main seat.
The others showed no expression upon seeing her, not even anger.
Ying Nan sighed and said, "The Soul Eaters were released by you. Although you also destroyed them and we should indeed express our gratitude, that doesn't mean we will become the blades in your hands to kill people."
Dice's brow furrowed. They really did have a death wish. Hmph, then don't blame me for being ruthless.
"Then how about this: I can take a step back."
"How so?"
"You only need to select twenty people with good skills to go outside and work with me. The rest can continue to live here; you just need to provide weapons and equipment."
"Those who go outside only need to stay for three years before they can return. At that time, I will no longer interfere in the affairs of Taro Village. How about it? This is my final bottom line," Dice said, narrowing her eyes.
Whispers began to break out among the crowd. Finally, their gazes collectively turned toward Uncle Guang and Ying Nan.
"What do you want us to do outside?" Ying Nan asked.
"Fighting for territory between gangs. Whether you kill people or not is up to you, as long as you have the ability to win." Dice's tone was already somewhat displeased. If she weren't truly short on manpower, she wouldn't bother fooling these people.
This time, the eyes of the others brightened a bit, feeling that this was acceptable.
Ying Nan felt it was okay too, but she was still a bit uneasy, so she asked:
"Can you represent the opinion of the one outside?"
"I can. However, after three years, you all have to move out. This kind of blessed land cannot be left to you."
These words actually made Ying Nan feel much more at ease. Otherwise, with such good conditions, she really wouldn't have dared to agree.
When it came to playing mind games, how could a group of people isolated from the world possibly outplay a Vampire like Dice?
Dice walked out nonchalantly, saying casually, "If you agree, bring your people out. That snake is too big; help cut it up."
The moment she stepped out the door, her gaze turned sharp.
Three years? Hmph, you'd better be obedient after three years, or else it'll be the day you die!
As long as they helped her sister stabilize the situation this year, once these Tarot People were no longer needed and if they still weren't obedient, there would be no need for them to exist anymore.
Dice felt no burden at all about burning bridges after crossing them. She wasn't human; she was a Vampire.
The only human she cared about was Sean Brooke, because he was truly good to her sister.
The phrase 'love me, love my dog' applied to Dice as well, just like it did to Sean Brooke.
Not long after Dice returned, Ying Nan brought a group of people to help process the Great Dragon—no, the giant snake's—carcass using Dragon-scale Weapons.
Seeing this, Dice felt a bit happier. Just now, she had told Sean Brooke her entire plan truthfully, because her sister had said he didn't like people hiding things from him, except for surprises.
Dice had been very nervous at the time, afraid he would think she was ruthless and hate her. Who knew he would say...
"That's so pro!"
Finding that Sean Brooke really didn't mind, Dice finally felt relieved, preparing to show him tonight that her heart was white, not black.
Chapter 135: You are our... Master? (Edited)
In the evening, everyone returned to the manor to rest.
The reason they didn't stay in Taro Village was simple: it was too backward. There was no entertainment, no electricity, and they relied on a bit of dim light at night. It was a mystery how their population even reached over a thousand; they truly seemed to have no secular desires at all.
The sound of high heels echoed at the manor's main entrance as a woman with long black hair and a trench coat walked in.
"Sister Isa, you're back," the subordinates on both sides greeted her.
The woman named Isa gave a faint nod. "Where's the Boss? Did you call me back because you found Daluo Heaven?"
"We've already dealt with Daluo Heaven. As for calling you back, hehe, hehehe..."
The people around her snickered, a kind of laughter only men understood.
"What are you laughing at! Where is the Boss?" Isa felt the atmosphere was a bit off and began to worry about her boss.
She had been abandoned by her family when she was very young. If Dice hadn't taken her in, she would have frozen to death on the streets of a foreign country long ago.
"Ahem, both bosses are inside. You'll understand once you go in."
Isa's gaze shifted. She stepped out with her left leg and swung her right in a semi-circle, delivering a solid kick to the man who had spoken.
She flicked her trench coat and scanned everyone present with a fierce look.
"Listen, we only have one Boss. Even if Xu Wenwu crawls out of his grave, he isn't it!"
With that, concerned for Dice's safety, she rushed straight inside.
She had rushed back immediately upon receiving Dice's message. At the time, the Boss's tone had been very happy, and she hadn't noticed anything wrong, so she hadn't brought anyone back from Japan. Who would have thought something had happened?
My Lord Dice, you must wait for me!
Upon entering the manor, she headed straight for Dice's residence. The strange things along the way didn't catch her attention; her mind was filled only with Dice.
"Feifei? What are you doing at the door?"
"Ah, Sister Isa, you're back!" Feifei was startled, jumping several times.
Isa rushed up, grabbed her shoulders, and asked anxiously, "Where's the Boss? What happened? Why did the people outside say there are two bosses? Isn't Xu Wenwu dead?"
"Wait... wait!" Feifei pushed her away.
"Don't worry, nothing happened. Everything is fine."
"Really? Then what did the people outside mean?" Isa's gaze was serious; she still tended to believe Feifei's words.
At this question, Feifei blushed and whispered shyly, "To them, there's an extra boss. To us, there's an extra... Master."
Now, Isa was even more bewildered. Why was it that after coming back, she couldn't understand a single word they said? They had all turned into Riddlers.
"Oh, I can't explain it clearly. You'll understand once you hear it."
Feifei gently pushed the door open a crack and then quickly shut it. In just that short moment, the blush on her face almost spread to her neck.
"You... you understand now, right?"
"I understand, but I also don't." Isa took a deep breath, trying her best to stay calm.
She had followed My Lord Dice for over a decade and had never seen her show a pleasant face to any man. Even with Xu Wenwu, it was strictly a partnership; it was never like this...
In fact, she had always felt that the Boss shouldn't like men. Otherwise, that day, she wouldn't have...
Feifei gave her a shy swat and covered her face, saying, "Oh, it's just that Boss Dice's boss has arrived, and she wants us to... accompany him."
"The Boss's... boss?" Isa was very confused. She knew the Boss had a sister, but she hadn't heard her mention... wait, after she returned from America last time, she had been a bit strange and even asked her to look out for beautiful women.
She had hadn't thought much of it then, assuming the Boss needed them for herself, and had even carefully selected many to show her. But a long time passed without any follow-up. Could they have been prepared for someone else?
In an instant, a chill made her shudder. An image of a fat, bloated King Zhou with a thick waist and round head appeared in her mind, her face filling with an expression of disgust.
Feifei didn't notice her expression. Checking the time and feeling it was about right, she pulled her toward the adjacent room.
"Let's go change quickly! I'll tell you more while we're changing."
Isa didn't resist; she just didn't understand why Feifei looked so expectant. Forget it; since it was the Boss's order, she would obey no matter who it was.
The two of them quickly changed into black and white maid outfits. Each holding a bathrobe, they stood before the bathroom door.
After standing there for ten minutes, both of them shifted uncomfortably and didn't dare look at each other.
The bathroom door opened, and steam wafted out.
Although Feifei had described the man's appearance while they were changing, and Isa knew she had been mistaken, seeing him in person made Isa realize that Feifei's descriptions had been too conservative. No wonder the Boss would fall for him.
"Hmm? Why are you just standing there?" Sean said.
"Yes... yes!"
Only then did the two snap out of their shock. They stepped forward to help them into their bathrobes, and once they were leaning back on the sofa, they brought over the prepared red wine.
Dice took a sip of wine, leaned into Sean's embrace, and looked at Isa, asking:
"Call back all the people you've stationed outside as soon as possible. We're moving our base."
"Yes!"
Isa nodded and agreed immediately without any questions. My Lord Dice's words were her command.
"Arrange for ten more people to guard the entrance to Taro Village. Don't let anyone out, and don't let any outsiders in."
"Understood!"
Isa was suddenly a bit moved. This commanding tone was the My Lord Dice she knew. If only she weren't lying in this man's arms.
Afterward, Dice arranged many evacuation matters, and Isa noted them all down one by one.
The two had worked together for a long time, and Dice trusted her abilities; otherwise, she wouldn't have let Isa take people out to handle things on her own.
Seeing that they were mostly done talking, Dice stood up and walked over to the wardrobe, where there was also a maid outfit.
Although all three maid outfits were the classic black and white, the styles were different, each highlighting different charms.
For example, Feifei's maid outfit focused on her cuteness and, in a word, the bounce.
Isa's maid outfit focused on her legs. The black and white stockings were perfect, and with the marker pen in her pocket, the attention to detail was perfectly executed.
Dice's maid outfit was very special, covering her entire body without even a bit of her arms showing. Two red bows—one tied around her neck and one by her left ear—made it the only set among the three with red accents.
Wearing a white lace headband and an apron around her waist, she had a very domestic feel.
Having changed her clothes, she strolled over to Sean, her left hand pulling Feifei and her right hand leading Isa. She looked at him with a smile and said:
"You are our... Master?"