Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

【Gospel!】

Boom boom boom————

The chef, covered in sweat, lost consciousness completely after a huge explosion and a series of shattering glass sounds.

A scream erupted from the entertainment district.

Everywhere was filled with screams of "Ishtar's enemies are coming for revenge again!"

……

Dang clang——

The telescope fell to the ground and rolled a long way away.

Alfia's expression was blank as she slowly lowered her hand, gradually calming her anger, and she looked completely serene.

The world is... quiet now!

Chapter 396: Have they found Xia Er's trail?

The roof of a Japanese-style house

The two men hugged their knees, their faces grim, and squatted with their heads bowed.

"Hey, Alfia, why are we on the roof?"

"..."

"...Shut up." Alfia's face was gloomy, her eyes flashing with a fierce light, her magic power surging, as if she was about to activate the Great Clock Tower and destroy Orario at any moment.

“Is there a possibility…” Charles sniffed, “that we could actually just pay to go in and choose a more normal one.”

Alfia's eyes widened: "Why didn't you say so sooner?!"

“I… it’s not because you’re more experienced…” Charles turned his head and muttered to himself.

Alfia, at 24... no, 25, was already considered an older single woman in the Central European world of Dazzling Ditch, where 14-year-olds could consider having children.

Whether from friends or younger sisters, one should at least learn something.

Can……

"I'm only experienced in catching old men, this is my first time actually doing it." Alfia's face turned frosty, as if recalling something unpleasant.

"Then, with more experience next time, shall we try again?" Charles tentatively suggested.

“No…” Alfia’s expression was firm: “Your condition can’t be delayed any longer! Today I’m going to make you understand what a truly ‘normal interest’ is!”

“I feel perfectly normal…really.” Charles took Alfia’s hand. “I don’t think I need to bother anyone else.”

"No! Come with me!"

I refuse to believe it; there's no normal person left in the entire entertainment district!

……

A little earlier, on Eulari West Street, at the headquarters of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce.

An elven girl with a blue mask on her face and a golden ponytail paced back and forth in front of the nameless church, "Noname".

She seemed to have finally made up her mind to knock on the door, but when she raised her hand, she withdrew it in frustration and wandered back to the front of the church.

Da da da……

The sound of crisp footsteps rang out, and Liu shrank back in fright, hiding behind a building along the street and peeking out to observe.

A moment later, a group consisting of two cat-people, two humans (one large and one small), and a girl named Palum, stood wearily in front of the church door.

They skillfully took out their keys, opened the door, and collapsed onto the sofa.

Liu silently observed, trying to find a familiar figure among the group.

"that……"

At that moment, a clear voice rang out behind her. She jumped up, stood at attention, and her face tensed: "I...I am definitely not a suspicious person."

“That… is that Miss Hayate from the Astrea Familia? That’s right.”

Liu turned around and saw a gray-haired girl wearing a pure white pleated dress, her hands behind her back, smiling at her.

"It's Miss [Swift], I'm not mistaken, am I?"

"Yes...yes. I..."

"Are they spying on bad guys?"

"Yes...yes, that's right." Ryu felt ashamed; as a member of the Familia of Justice, she had actually been hiding here spying...

"Thank you for your hard work, protecting everyone so late at night..." Seele bowed gently.

"No, no... it's all for the sake of urban peace."

No!! Get your act together, you can't keep spouting nonsense! Liu was covered in cold sweat.

"Actually...it's not purely for the city..."

“I know.” Seele tilted her head. “It’s to protect Ciel’s ‘family,’ right? Miss [Swift] really cares about my Ciel, doesn’t she?”

"You, you are?!" Liu's face flushed red when her thoughts were exposed, but she quickly realized something and stared at Xi'er warily.

"Don't worry, it's your older sister." Seele tapped her chin with her index finger and squinted her eyes. "I have high hopes for you, Elf Miss. Keep it up! Win Charles back from that bad woman."

“Oh… Oh, Nesama?!!” Ryuten’s face flushed red. He waved his hand, lowered his head, and closed his eyes to explain, “You, you misunderstand. No, it’s not what you think. I only have respect for Mr. Charles.”

As she explained, she looked up at Seele: "Um... do you know about Mr. Charles's current situation?"

“You’re worried about Ciel too, aren’t you? Like me, you’re asking about him every day.” Seele’s face showed a hint of sadness. “If you want to know, let’s go ask him together.”

Seele took Ryu's hand and walked towards the church.

"Huh? You don't know either... Eh?!! Eh eh eh eh?! Hand?" Ryu stared at the hand holding hers, and after a brief moment of stunned silence, she was already in front of the church door.

"Excuse me..." Seele knocked on the door.

With a clatter of footsteps, the door opened, and a chestnut-haired little girl peeked out: "Um...it's Seele. What's today...?"

"I wanted to ask, is there any news about Charles?"

Lily glanced at [Swift] behind Seele, who was looking expectant, and shook her head: "No, Mr. Charles has not returned recently. We are also very worried, but we can only take care of the orphanage and his business for Mr. Charles for now."

When Ryu heard about the orphanage, she was filled with awe. But this feeling was quickly replaced by disappointment.

"I hope Mr. Charles isn't in danger. Lately, many people have their eyes on 'Noname's' wealth."

Lily smiled and said, "Don't worry, with the help of everyone in the Arcadia Alliance, we can handle those villains who are eyeing Lord Charles's property!"

"Especially that unscrupulous merchant, Dean Kate! He's actually monopolized the city's medicinal herb supply! How despicable! Does he think he can hinder the development of 'Arcadia' like this? Hmph~ Just wait, Lily will definitely teach that old bastard a lesson!!"

"Won't they be watching him, Charles...?"

"Li'ang~~"

Before Ryu could finish speaking, the pink-haired Palum called out from behind.

Leila came running up, anxiously saying, "Pleasure Street has been attacked again. Let's hurry over!"

"An attack? Another case of malicious competition?" Liu's eyebrows drooped.

Having lost the protection of the Ishtar Familia, the pleasure district has become a tempting target for many out-of-town merchants. Everyone wants a piece of the huge profits that have been divided up in the pleasure district, and incidents such as hiring hitmen to commit murder and maliciously sabotaging rival brothels are rampant despite repeated crackdowns.

Regarding Leon's question...

"I don't know, but the scale of this attack was quite large; the entire floor was bombarded by magical cannons. Also, someone saw the [Witch] and Ciel. I wonder if 'Noname' is behind it."

"After all, most of the Nonames are former prostitutes of the Ishtar Familia who don't want their family's property to be divided up, so they seek revenge... Uh, Leon, are you listening?"

Leila blinked.

Liu suddenly widened her eyes, bent down and pressed down on Leila's shoulder: "What did you say? Repeat it."

"Uh..." Lyra didn't have time to say anything.

An ominous black aura rose from behind.

Seele's face was ashen, and she exuded a thick aura of gloom: "You just said that the witch took Ciel to the pleasure district! Right!"

Chapter 397 Change the batch!

Happy Street.

A group of people crept furtively along the stone gate at the entrance, peering inside.

Many customers came out cursing and swearing, occasionally spewing out foul language.

“It looks like the attack is over.” Alexandra stroked her chin.

"Have you caught the criminal?" Adi clenched his fist.

"No, it's the same as before, nobody admits it. All the merchants are keeping quiet, as if it's an unspoken rule." Kaguya shook her head.

“What about the information on ‘noname’?” Iska asked.

“It seems to be true… those two are currently in the guild hall near East Street. Many people have seen them, it can’t be faked!” Leila said, both amused and exasperated. “After all, after the War Game, Sharl and Pochi became incredibly famous. Almost every clan wants them.”

"Damn it, that despicable and lewd witch, how dare she bring Prince Ciel to a place like this! Gununu..."

"Who is this...?" The werewolf Niz stared at the thief-dressed girl with her head wrapped in a scarf and her nose covered, and blinked. "Should we... arrest her?"

“That’s Seele. The one at the tavern… she’s kind of a friend of mine.” Alexie said, scratching her head.

She met Seele during the Great Struggle, and the two hit it off immediately, with her chatting with Seele for a long time.

“I don’t have any friends who yell ‘What are you?’ the moment they meet.” Seele said, hands on her hips.

"Haha..." Alexie scratched her head awkwardly.

She could sense that Seele had an aura that was 'not human' about her, so she subconsciously referred to her as an object.

"Oh, are you also an idiot who got tricked by that guy Ciel?" Kaguya said with dead fish eyes, glancing sideways at the spirit who was nervously blushing and fidgeting with his fingers.

“I’m the older sister.” Seele proudly raised her chin.