Sunset, sunrise.
Another brand new day.
"Noah, this building will be yours from now on."
Jinhsi smiled brightly as she led Noah into a small building, patiently explaining:
"This building covers 400 square meters, with a total of five floors. The first floor is the guest hall and kitchen. The second and third floors have four bedrooms, one living room, and two bathrooms. The entire fourth floor is the master bedroom."
"The fifth floor can store miscellaneous items. The rooftop has ample exercise equipment and a swimming pool."
"City Hall will arrange dedicated personnel daily to clean for you. What do you think?"
This might not be the best residence in Jinzhou, but it was absolutely the best within the range closest to City Hall.
Most importantly, from her office in City Hall, she only needed to turn her head slightly toward the window to have a full view of this building's top floor.
Jinhsi swallowed, secretly glancing at Noah's profile. The latter was seriously inspecting this exquisitely decorated house.
"I think this house is pretty good—it's just too big. Living alone would feel a bit empty, quite lonely."
Noah rubbed his chin, commenting:
"It would be better if a few more people lived with me."
"How difficult is that?"
Jinhsi subconsciously replied:
"Why not have me find some more people to take care of your daily needs? That way, the building won't feel so empty."
"Forget it."
Noah shook his head:
"I might not be used to having many people watching my daily life. I can take care of myself. But still, thank you, Xi Xi."
Jinhsi's breathing suddenly quickened. Her crystalline eyes stared fixedly at Noah:
"What did you just call me?"
Noah was startled, not expecting to subconsciously use Jinhsi's nickname.
Was this too intimate?
If he remembered correctly, Jinzhou was a city with rather conservative customs.
He could only cover:
"Uh... thank you, Jinhsi."
"No no, not that one."
Jinhsi gently shook her head, her gaze encouraging, then suddenly asked in puzzlement:
"By the way, whose resonance ability are you using now? I see your Tacet Mark appearing at your collarbone."
"Worthy of Jinzhou's Magistrate—such keen observation. You even noticed that my Tacet Mark position changes with the ability I'm using."
Noah praised, lowering his head to glance at the black Tacet Mark slightly exposed at his collar. He didn't think much of it and answered frankly:
"Using Verina's resonance ability."
Ever since Verina fell asleep yesterday, he had switched to Verina's character to regrow the flower field he had crushed.
Then he simply forgot to switch back.
"...I'm curious—when you use Verina's ability, do you gain control over time sequence power?"
"Of course not."
"That's great."
He saw the dragon-horned young woman secretly smile. Her slender hand extended, snapping her fingers.
Time rewound to a few lines of dialogue earlier.
Noah shook his head:
"I might not be used to having many people watching my daily life. I can take care of myself. But still, thank you, Xi Xi."
The dragon-horned young woman could no longer hide her smile, letting out silvery bell-like laughter.
Who knew time sequence power could actually be played like this! It could rewind a person's state—and even memories—to a period in the past.
Didn't this mean she could completely do more, bolder things to Noah, and Noah would have no recollection whatsoever?
Ahhhh thank you Sentinel!!!
"What are you laughing at?" Noah was puzzled.
Another snap—time rewound.
"...still thank you, Xi Xi."
Snap.
"Thank you, Xi Xi."
Snap.
"Xi Xi."
Snap.
"Xi Xi Xi Xi Xi hee hee hee hee hee."
Finally satisfied with her play, the dragon-horned young woman's face was full of joyful blushes. She lightly coughed, stopping her manipulation of time, turning her head away as if nothing happened:
"You're welcome, Noah."
Her current courage was temporarily limited to playing with a single form of address. As for more, she could only develop that later when opportunities arose.
Though it was merely a change in address, it was enough to make Jinhsi secretly delighted for quite a long time.
Eh—
She felt a gaze fixed intently on her. Turning her head to meet the source, her body trembled all over. Nervously, she turned away.
Bad—could she have been discovered?
"Um... is there a flower on my face?"
"No, but I keep feeling you're acting strange."
"No!"
Jinhsi cried out guiltily like a cat whose tail was stepped on. Immediately noticing her impropriety, she lightly coughed, regaining proper demeanor:
"Um, City Hall has matters—I'll head off first. If anything comes up, you can find me anytime."
She hurriedly left, as if fleeing in defeat.
"Strange."
Noah was utterly baffled. In the end, he shook his head and opened the task module in his panel.
"Today's Chronicles task is the last chain in Listen to the Voices of Animals. Wonder if a new Chronicles task will refresh tomorrow."
Looking at the countdown on the task list, Noah suddenly widened his eyes:
"Wait—no, the countdown just had one hour left—how is it only thirty minutes now!"
Who stole his time?
Could it be... this task module is buggy?
Time was urgent. Noah had no time to think deeply. He rushed out the door, hurrying toward the task location.
...
"Thank you, Hero of Jinzhou. This time, all the animal language modules were completed very well."
The researcher sincerely thanked Noah:
"In the future, if there's any animal language you want to understand, feel free to find me for help!"
"No no no—it's that in the future, if you develop new animal language modules, please be sure to find me to assist!"
After exchanging a few words, Noah reluctantly parted with the civilian researcher.
An easy, well-rewarded continuous Chronicles task was gone just like that.
Where would he find such a good task later?
Setting aside distractions, Noah opened the task module again.
[Daily Quest: Extremely Wicked Exiles]
[Quest Description: There is a group of utterly wicked exiles around the Dim Forest. Go bring them to justice. The corresponding location is marked in real-time on the map.]
[Completion Reward: Astrite *800, Shell Credits *10000.]
"As expected, even a daily quest is more troublesome than the researcher's Chronicles task—and I have to go to the Dim Forest."
Noah tugged at the corner of his mouth, somewhat helpless.
===✧✦✧===
On the other side, Dim Forest.
A group of exiles walked in the wilds. Their sinister gazes repeatedly scanned the distance, as if searching for prey to strike.
"The Shell Credits from the last robbery were spent in just a few days. If we don't find a target to rob today, we'll go hungry."
"It's your fault—always killing the robbed passersby, causing people around to gradually avoid that route."
"Stop scolding, stop scolding. Aren't we abandoning that route and switching to this one?"
As they spoke, one exile suddenly fantasized, a wicked smile spreading across his face:
"If only we could rob someone rich enough. And if that person was also a pretty little lady, that would be even better!"
This exile suddenly froze, his eyes gleaming like a hungry wolf's green light—
Not far away, a figure with short scarlet hair gracefully turned, revealing the young woman's delicate face. Her aqua-green eyes rippled like autumn waves.
Looking further down, a piece of emerald crescent jade pendant on the young woman's chest shone bright and translucent under the sunlight.
That warm green hue and clear texture all indicated it was a piece of extremely valuable fine jade.
"Speak of the devil—the prey has arrived!"
The exiles let out evil laughs, quickly closing in on the seemingly harmless young woman.