Chapter 831: The Concert Begins / Barr in Terror

On the stage, Alice appeared riding her iconic unicorn pumpkin carriage.

The Train Conductors who had specifically bought tickets and traveled here to watch erupted in cheers.

However, apart from them, the RUN Company employees remained completely silent, standing still as if waiting for something.

Alice sensed the strange atmosphere, but she still summoned the illusory Spirit Dragon and cast soothing positive effects upon every person present.

Her talent, [Heart-Melting Melody], began to activate.

Calming the mind, easing restlessness, soothing unease... all such negative emotions were alleviated by her singing.

Even those RUN Company employees gradually emerged from their earlier coldness and couldn't help but enjoy her song.

Ye Qiyan looked toward the sky.

The Spirit Dragon, visible only to a select few, was circling above.

As Alice's pet, it was also the manifestation of her spiritual derivative energy.

As if sensing something, the dragon suddenly raised its head and gazed toward the higher reaches of the sky.

[Beep beep——]

[You have a new message]

In the VIP seating area, Ye Qiyan called up the system interface.

Koleira (Abukado spy): ["Lord Altos, among the people who came with me to RUN Company headquarters, there's a woman named Barr. She wants to kidnap Alice and take her back to Abukado."]

["Understood. Thank you."]

Moving the interface aside, Ye Qiyan didn't rise from his seat. Instead, like the dragon, he directed his gaze upward.

[Snap]

The crisp snap of his fingers rang out brilliantly even amidst the raucous noise.

At that very moment.

A venomous green spatial doorway suddenly materialized in the sky, and a massive, invisible spiritual centipede poked its head out, lunging toward the dragon.

The move was extremely covert; even Stacia didn't notice it immediately.

However, Ye Qiyan saw it.

[Spirit: 500 (Witness Truth and Falsehood)]

The Matrix space also unfolded from above the spatial doorway.

A dazzling golden lightning bolt descended from the heavens.

"Screech!"

The Sky-Resonant Thunder Eagle activated its [Extreme Flash] form, bearing the [Sky-Resonant Sword] in its beak as it swept down with ten thousand bolts of thunder, slashing toward the centipede's head.

The centipede let out a strange shriek, desperately trying to resist.

But as a covert-oriented spiritual lifeform, it was no match for the overwhelming might of thunder.

The moment the sword struck, it switched modes.

[Evil Flash]

The golden lightning abruptly shifted to black.

A strike carrying the [Demon] trait directly electrocuted the centipede into charred cinders.

"Screech!!"

The goshawk spread its wings, proudly gazing at the centipede it had taken down.

If it couldn't beat those robots and demons in daily fights, fine.

But bullying a centipede that was trying to ambush, and a spiritual body at that—if it couldn't win this one, it might as well slit its own throat and ascend to the heavens!

"Damn! Where the hell did that stupid bird come from!? Looking for death!?"

Inside that venomous space, Barr watched the fading spiritual centipede with a pained heart.

"Do you have any idea how expensive it was for me to raise that centipede?! Ugh, that bitch Alice actually found herself a helper!?"

Barr flew into a rage and leaped out of the space with her scythe in hand.

The audience below, including the natives, remained completely immersed in Alice's singing, oblivious.

None of them noticed what was happening in the sky above.

Alice glanced upward, took a deep breath, and continued singing.

She trusted Lord [Altos].

After all.

This was a transaction.

Backstage, Stacia had also noticed the situation. She chewed on her bubblegum and blew a large bubble. Upon seeing Ye Qiyan's goshawk, she hesitated briefly, then held back from acting.

"Sister Gina Two really called it right—troubles always come one after another, and this is just the beginning. Mm... but with Bro Ye around, it should probably be fine.

So..."

Stacia looked toward the middle-aged woman behind her, who was hunched over with a cowering, obsequious posture.

"That boss of yours—the city-wide livestream you prepared, has it started?"

"Yes, Miss Stacia. The livestream has already begun. Boss Russell will likely bring his Apostles to seize Miss Alice shortly, and then they'll use the Numbered Weapon against you. As for this intel..."

Stacia waved her hand dismissively.

"Alright, alright, I get it. Consider Sister Gina's Karma Shackles unlocked from your neck."

"Yes, yes! Thank you! Thank you! Then... if I still want to extend my life later..."

"Don't tell me. Go find Sister Gina."

"Yes!"

The woman left joyfully, and Stacia stood at the edge of the backstage, softly humming Alice's song.

"So pretty. Is it because of her talent? Too bad my talent can't do something like that. Killing on livestream... hehe, adorable Magical Girl Stacia has another new story to present on the website."

————

"Hey! Alice, you bitch, still singing over there!? Reverse your talent for me now!"

Barr cackled viciously as she swung her scythe, about to shatter the song domain Alice had manifested.

However, her attack was intercepted by a massive figure.

"Huh? What the hell is this?"

She looked up at the enormous silhouette blocking out the light above her head.

[Raven Demon]

A colossal demon with a raven's head, talons, and wings.

"Caw, caw~"

Perched on its shoulder was its twin, from the same Card Sequence.

[Devil Raven] was mocking Barr's incompetence.

"Damn! Where did another stupid bird come from?! Wait... this thing...!! Damn!!!"

She turned and ran on the spot, as if she had just made up her mind about something.

Because the woman had recognized the presence of the Raven Duo.

Which meant...

"What the hell?! Why is that madman Altos from the Emperor's Order here too?!"

She ran back into the venomous space.

Koleira and the other two Abukado members were also waiting there, watching Barr's disheveled state.

Koleira's gaze sharpened, and she reached out to slap Barr across the face.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Oh, didn't you notice? There was a mark on your face just now. I was just helping you get rid of it."

"Huh?!"

Barr furiously moved to attack Koleira, but one of the other two members—a woman with slitted eyes—stepped forward.

"Ladies, let's not argue here. Barr, I told you before—the leader has no intention of bringing Alice back for now. If he did, he would have done it himself long ago. Our mission is to find that secret Cube.

But that Altos you just mentioned?"

"Here. See for yourself."

Barr handed over a recording device containing footage of every person in the venue from that moment.

The slitted-eye woman merely glanced at it calmly, then immediately locked her gaze onto the girl carrying the airline-approved pet carrier. Her eyes darted to the side for a moment.

Her pupils suddenly constricted.

In her mind, a terrifying figure seemed to appear, grabbing her by the neck and staring at her with cold, indifferent eyes.

"Cough... cough, cough, cough... This... this feeling... not worthy of observation, not worthy of peering... It's... Altos?! The one who might have obtained the secret Substitute Cube is Altos!?"