Chapter 359 171: Acquaintance

"Miss Bofunova, something terrible has happened!"

The servant knocked hurriedly on the bedroom door.

Bofunova had been awake for a while, but she hadn't gotten out of bed. She stretched languidly, casually grabbing a piece of clothing to drape over herself, concealing the lovely sight of her bosom. Only then did she say in a lazy voice, "Come in and speak."

"Yes."

This servant was clearly more experienced than the one from last night.

He entered the room with his head lowered, his eyes fixed on the floor, not daring to look up the entire time.

"Miss Bofunova, Hobbs and Midi have been captured."

"Oh?"

"According to the staff in the airport control tower, after they guided the pilot to a safe landing, they reminded Mr. Hobbs several times to make the arrest. But it was as if Mr. Hobbs didn't hear them; he just stood there in a daze and was easily captured by Sean and the others as they disembarked from the plane."

Upon hearing this, Bofunova gave a slight smile and said, "It seems Sopea was there too."

Midi is a Tier Six. To be able to trap him means Sopea must have also had a breakthrough. He's no longer that little old man who couldn't even help when the Night Watchers were under siege.

The servant couldn't see the smile on Bofunova's face. He only felt immense pressure giving this report. It was bad news, and if Miss Bofunova happened to be in a bad mood, he, the messenger, might get caught in the crossfire. Especially when he recalled the sudden sound of the piano last night and the screams hidden beneath the music, beads of sweat unconsciously formed on his forehead.

He swallowed hard and asked, "Miss Bofunova, what should be done with the ones who escaped and came back?"

"Done with them?" Bofunova retorted. "Why should anything be done?"

The servant: "..."

Bofunova laughed. "You thought I would be angry, didn't you?"

The servant didn't dare to respond.

Bofunova shook her head with a smile. "You don't understand. Sometimes, when things go too smoothly, it becomes rather dull."

"If Sean had been captured just like that, I would have been very disappointed. I'd lose all interest in him."

"Prey that can't even break a simple little Magic Array is not worthy of ending up in a Hunter's bed."

"On the contrary, only prey that can break free from its cage is worthy of a Hunter's attention."

"It's like lovemaking. One person is passionate and takes the initiative, while the other is like a corpse, not even making a sound. Tell me, is an exchange like that interesting?"

The servant: "..."

He dared to respond even less now.

Bofunova didn't make it difficult for him, just chuckled and waved her hand. "I'm aware of the situation. You may go."

"Yes."

After the servant had left and closed the door, Bofunova gazed out the window at the bright sunshine, her delicate eyebrows curving into another smile.

The servant had said Hobbs and Midi were "captured" by Sean's group. The word "captured" indicated that her two subordinates, who were responsible for welcoming her "guests," were not yet dead. Sean hadn't killed them immediately, which meant that man believed Hobbs and Midi were still useful. In that case...

'What do Hobbs and Midi know?'

'They are the administrators of Mortana. The only thing they know best is the city of Mortana itself.'

'If I were Sean, what would I do?'

'First, I would need a guide.'

'Not just to show me the way, but also to brief me on the basics of Sonaros State and the Kovloki Family.'

'Second, I would need an identity.'

'Something to make it easier to move between cities and ask about the Gate of Hell.'

'Finally, I would need some "teammates."'

'These people would have to be in the same situation as me—wanted and hunted by a Witch Hunter Family. That's the only way to ensure they're truly on my side. The intelligence gathered from them would also be more detailed than anything I could extract from an enemy.'

'After all, the people who know you best are often not your subordinates or friends, but your enemies.'

With that, Bofunova had a very clear idea of what Sean would do next.

"Are you trying to incite the Wizards of Sonaros State to join you against me?"

"To destroy the Kovloki Family, just like you destroyed Florist Castle."

"And then turn Sonaros State into your territory as well."

"Interesting."

Bofunova's lips curled into a smirk.

"What a pity. This isn't Siracle State, little man."

...

「Meanwhile.」

Led by Hobbs and Midi, Sean and his group arrived at a billiards club in downtown Mortana.

The club's name was very casual.

"789"

According to Hobbs, this was a confirmed Wizard hideout they had been observing for a long time.

This Wizard Organization was called "White Bear."

"You should go in by yourselves," Midi said. "They probably recognize us."

With him and Hobbs present, the others wouldn't admit to anything.

Sean was very pleased. "Not bad. It's only been half a night, and you already know how to think from our perspective."

Midi snorted but didn't reply.

Sean continued, "Or were you hoping we'd all go in so you and your leader could take the chance to escape?"

Midi: "..."

Elise said with a grin, "I'd advise you not to waste your energy. It's useless. No one who falls into our Mr. Sean's hands has ever escaped alive."

Sean: "..."

'Why does she make me sound like some irredeemable arch-villain?'

'I'm clearly just being forced to strike back in self-defense, delivering justice on behalf of heaven.'

But he couldn't be bothered to explain. He addressed the blond-haired young man and the man in the suit, saying, "Let's go. Come inside with us."

Midi tried to argue his case. "Think this through. With us here, they won't believe a word you say."

"Isn't that simple?" Sean said. "I can just kill you in front of them, can't I?"

Midi: "???"

Hobbs: "???"

Yisha covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.

She was discovering that her teacher had a real talent for messing with people's minds. He never played by the book.

Sean was insistent that they enter, so Midi and Hobbs had no choice. They could only grit their teeth and follow Sean's group into the club. 'If we die, we die,' they thought. 'At least it's better than constantly being played for a fool by Sean. An old man and a young one dying together won't be so lonely. We'll even be colleagues in the next life!'

"Hello, welcome~"

Seeing Sean's group enter, the female receptionist flashed a professional, sweet smile and asked, "So, what would you all like to play?"

"Snooker, eight-ball, nine-ball, carom, straight pool, one-pocket... and so on. We have them all here, you know."

"I want to play this."

Sean smiled and held out a hand. A ball of flame ignited in his palm with a WHOOSH.

The receptionist's expression flickered slightly, but she concealed it well, feigning surprise. "Wow, is that Magic? You're amazing, sir!"

"You think that's amazing?"

Sean looked proud. "I can do something even more amazing... Hey!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Elvire dragged him aside.

The young woman glared at him fiercely. "Are you here to flirt with girls or to get things done?"

"The two aren't mutually exclusive..." Sean said, feeling wronged.

Elvire: "?"

"What did you just say?"

Sean quickly corrected himself, "I mean, I was trying to get information out of her."

Elvire: "It looks to me like you were trying to get *her*!"

Sean: "..."

'Seriously? Does she have to be so sensitive?'

'I just exchanged a couple of normal sentences with her...'

Elvire actually knew she was overreacting a little.

But she couldn't be blamed.

Who told Sean to be spending so much time with the Eleanor Sisters lately, talking and laughing?

They were said to be Master and servants, but they acted more like friends.

And as everyone knows, friendship is where everything begins.

Once you become friends, anything is possible.

Her current state was similar to Sopea's; both were being "pushed to the edge" by the Eleanor Sisters.

Elvire snorted lightly. Preventing Sean from showing off any further, she turned to the receptionist and said, "We're here looking for someone. You know full well who. You can drop the act. Hasn't anyone ever told you you're a terrible actress?"

Those were not very polite words.

Elise shot Sean a teasing look. 'See? Someone can't bear to be angry with you, so she's taking it out on someone else.'

Sean turned his head to the side, feigning that it had nothing to do with him.

However, that one casual movement caused his expression to suddenly freeze in astonishment, his eyes gradually widening.

Business at the club was good; there were quite a few customers playing pool even in the morning. Seeing that the newcomers seemed to be arguing with the receptionist and looked like trouble, they all cast their gazes over.

As Sean turned his head, his gaze met one of theirs directly.

It was a beautiful face that he was all too familiar with.

Half a month ago, when he returned to Holkaydo, he had even secretly looked for her, but to no avail.

"Konina...?"

"What are you doing here??"

...