Chapter 191 : Why Does This Feel So Familiar

Lilia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍wrapped her clothes tighter around herself and couldn’t help but glance back.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍new colleague named Bulara was standing two steps behind her.

This ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thing looked like a defective doll cobbled together from a pile of expired parts.

“Um…” ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lilia rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, trying to break the suffocating silence. “Bulara, right? This trip to the Black Sea is pretty far. Shouldn’t we apply for a teleportation and go directly?”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Black Sea was in that godforsaken extreme northern land. If they walked there on foot, by the time they arrived, whatever abnormal fluctuation they were supposed to investigate would probably have already settled down—or she herself would’ve been digested into fertilizer by some roadside magical beast.

Bulara’s ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍head slowly turned.

Crack.

Lilia’s eyelid twitched, afraid that the thing’s head would just fall off and roll to her feet.

Beneath the heavy bangs, that dead fish eye rolled upward, staring straight at Lilia.

“Senior.” Bulara spoke, “are you… asking me?”

Suppressing the urge to step back, Lilia forced out a professional fake smile. “Is there anyone else here besides the two of us? Didn’t the master say you’re here to assist me? I want to hear your suggestion.”

Even as a senior, when facing a new colleague who clearly didn’t seem very sharp, she still had to show some workplace care. What if this thing was actually some hidden expert?

Bulara didn’t answer immediately.

She simply stared at Lilia, unmoving, for a full five seconds, as if that rusty brain of hers was struggling to process such a simple question.

Then, she split her mouth open.

It was an extremely standard arc—yet completely devoid of any hint of a smile.

“His Majesty… assigned… Senior Lilia.”

Lilia paused. “Yes, so?”

“Since it is… His Majesty’s order.” Bulara’s voice suddenly turned shrill for a moment, like some signal experiencing interference. “Why… ask me… about this kind of matter?”

The smile on Lilia’s face froze.

A gust of cold wind passed by, lifting a few dry leaves.

What did that mean?

Was this thing… talking back to her?

Lilia blinked in disbelief.

She had been in the Palace of Eternal Night for so long—who didn’t treat her politely?

Even that big-chested, brainless Camilla had to weigh her words when speaking to her now.

And this newcomer who couldn’t even walk properly dared to throw attitude at her?

“Wait, did you not understand what I meant?” Lilia took a deep breath, trying to maintain the composure of a senior. “I mean, as the assistant, you should provide some options. For example, choice of transportation, route planning…”

“Assist… is not babysit.”

Bulara interrupted her stiffly.

She stepped forward with those rigid legs, closing in on Lilia step by step.

That mixture of preservative and stale dust smell hit her face.

“The mission… is yours.” Bulara raised her hand, that pale finger like a dead person’s bone nearly poking Lilia’s nose. “How to go… how to investigate… those are things you need to think about.”

“I only… need to watch you.”

“If you… cannot do it…” A strange red light flashed in that single eye. “I will… report truthfully… to His Majesty.”

Lilia was completely dumbfounded.

This routine… this tone… this skilled way of invoking the boss to pressure others…

Why did it sound so familiar?

Wasn’t this exactly her favorite tactic—borrowing authority to intimidate others?!

Well, well.

Had she just run into a peer?

Or a peer who just joined and already wanted to step on a senior to climb up?

The anger in Lilia’s heart flared instantly.

She might act submissive in front of Hera to survive, but that didn’t mean any random humanoid object could shit all over her head!

“Oh, reporting to His Majesty?”

She was far more experienced at tattling than this thing!

Lilia narrowed her eyes. The previously slightly hunched posture straightened instantly. She brushed away Bulara’s pointing finger and dusted her collar—even though there wasn’t any dust.

“I say, Bulara.”

Lilia switched to a fake smile that didn’t reach her eyes. The aura she had cultivated from staying by the Demon Queen’s side—though only about thirty percent of the real thing—burst forth, still enough to bluff others.

“Did you misunderstand something?”

Bulara tilted her head, seemingly confused by how this human who had been timid just moments ago suddenly changed demeanor.

“His Majesty sent you to assist me—which means you’re here to be my helper.” Lilia stepped forward, her high heels clicking sharply against the stone tiles, her presence pressing forward. “If I, the person in charge, have to worry about even how to get to the destination, then what do I need you for? Decoration?”

“Or…” Lilia lowered her voice, imitating Hera’s disdainful tone, “do you think your report is more effective than the pillow talk I have with the master in bed—cough, in the bedchamber?”

A flicker finally appeared on Bulara’s rigid face.

It was the lag of a logical conflict.

Lilia seized the moment and pressed on, giving her no chance to react.

“Now. Immediately. Right away.” Lilia lifted her chin and pointed toward the teleportation plaza not far away. “Go arrange the fastest teleportation array for me. If you delay even a single minute…”

She raised her left hand, revealing the Conjoined Heart Lock ring on her ring finger, glinting silver under the moonlight.

“I’ll have His Majesty dismantle you.”

Bulara’s gaze fell on the ring.

This time, she remained silent for a long while.

The red light in that dead fish eye flickered, as if conducting some extremely complex data comparison and risk assessment.

Finally, that stiff body moved.

“Understood….”

Bulara slowly bent down, producing a series of crackling bone sounds, and bowed again.

“I will… prepare.”

After saying that, she turned around and walked toward the teleportation plaza with that mechanical, almost defiant gait.

Lilia watched her back and let out a long breath, only then realizing her palms were drenched in sweat.

That was close.

She had almost been controlled by an idiot.

But…

Lilia rubbed her chin, her expression turning serious.

Was Hera really placing this thing beside her just for surveillance?

Or… was this thing itself some kind of special weapon targeting the Black Sea anomaly?

Just as Lilia was lost in thought, Bulara ahead suddenly stopped.

She didn’t turn around, only speaking with that flat, emotionless voice while facing away:

“Oh right… Senior.”

“Even though… the ring…”

“But… according to my… observations.”

With a crack, Bulara’s head rotated one hundred and eighty degrees, that pale face now directly facing Lilia behind her, the corners of her mouth splitting all the way to her ears.

“If you accidentally… die… on the way…”

“Then there will be… no way… to report… right?”