"Hm...? What's wrong? Already had enough fun?"
Firefly seemed to notice something from Stelle. She turned around as Stelle approached, but when she saw Nero beside her, her expression stiffened for a moment.
Nero didn't react much. He simply smiled and waved at Firefly, then casually sat down on a stool by the drink bar.
Stelle and Firefly sat down as well.
After a brief pause, Firefly quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Thinking about it carefully, she hadn't actually crossed paths with this child very much.
Only twice in total. Once during the battle on the Xianzhou Luofu, and once because of that mix-up with the photo.
And the only thing they could really talk about was the battle, but saying things like "Your punches are really hard," "You're incredibly strong," "Your armor looks amazing," or "Your greatsword is really heavy" in front of Stelle just felt strange no matter how she thought about it.
Besides, acting like they already knew each other here would also be a little odd.
Firefly pressed her lips together. Honestly, she didn't think she was very good at acting. It was a relief that the child hadn't said anything.
Stelle didn't seem to notice anything unusual. Cheerfully, she introduced the two people who already knew each other.
The three of them chatted casually for a while, but Firefly's expression suddenly changed. It seemed she wanted to tell Stelle something.
"You may have noticed... or maybe you haven't. I've been deliberately taking the long way around and bringing you to all kinds of places. That's because... someone has been following you."
Stelle froze. Worried about Nero beside her, she was just about to turn around when Firefly immediately stopped her.
"Don't look back. I'm certain you're the target. He's been following us ever since we said goodbye to Mr. Gallagher, and he hasn't lost us once.
"I wondered if he might be your friend, but my instincts tell me he isn't.", As Firefly spoke, Stelle was thinking something completely different.
So that's it. I'm the target. Then it's fine.
Beside her, Firefly continued describing the stalker.
"He's around one meter eighty tall, give or take two centimeters. Well-built, obviously trained. He has a long stride, but you can't hear his footsteps at all. They're extremely light. That kind of footwork doesn't leave footprints..."
"He looks very skilled in combat, the stealthy kind. His palms are broad, but his fingers are long and nimble. I'd guess he's used to using knives. Short blades, daggers..."
"Do you know someone like that? A wine-red coat, green eyes, dark blue hair..."
Listening to Firefly's description, Stelle gradually frowned as she thought.
She felt like that appearance and those features sounded strangely familiar...
Not far away, after hearing Firefly's description, Nero spoke up.
"Isn't that the Belobog wild man?"
At that instant, Stelle clapped her hands.
"Sampo!"
Then she immediately looked confused.
"Wait, that doesn't make sense. Sampo shouldn't have time to come here. Didn't he still have to show Nero the factory?"
Just as she was wondering, Firefly's expression suddenly became serious.
"Ah, here he comes!"
Almost instantly, Sampo's voice rang out.
"Yo, isn't this my biggest customer, Stelle? Hehe, little boss, you're in this dream too!"
"It's been a long time! Do you know how hard I worked to come to Penacony and have fun with you? I stayed up night after night arranging all my work."
As he spoke, Sampo's gaze swept across the three of them. He opened his mouth, about to continue...
A small hand skillfully landed on his ear.
Just like back on the snowy plains outside Belobog, when Nero had caught Sampo while he was trying to run away, her hand once again grabbed his ear with perfect accuracy.
The next second, Nero's serious scolding followed.
"What are you doing here? What if you don't stay at the factory and keep watch!?"
"Ow, ow, ow... It hurts, it hurts... Little boss, easy... easy... I only came after I finished arranging everything... Hiss... I worked so hard to come play with you guys. The least you could do is thank me."
"Finished arranging everything? What exactly did you arrange? Anyone can leave the factory to go have fun, except you! If you leave, what if Phantylia escapes from the furnace!?" Nero continued.
Hearing that, "Sampo" froze.
'What?'
'Phantylia?'
'A Lord Ravager, an Emanator of Destruction?'
'Sampo never told me there was something like that in the factory!'
'You damn Sampo, you actually tricked me!'
———
At the same time, far away in Belobog, the real Sampo, who was feeding Sampo Corgi, suddenly sneezed.
The "blue-haired melancholy pretty boy" raised a hand to wipe his nose, lifted an eyebrow, and a smile curled onto his lips.
Then he muttered to himself, "Hehe, Sparkle suddenly came asking me about the situation. She's definitely up to no good."
"She should've run into the little boss by now, right? That sneeze just now must've been her cursing me."
As he spoke, Sampo shook his head, casually picked up the wine glass resting on the lid of a trash can beside him, and took a sip of the expensive red wine the IPC had delivered to the factory.
'No one can escape.'
'Not me.'
'Not Sparkle either.'
'Anyone from the Elation faction who runs into the little boss is bound to become part of the joke.'
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