Chapter 166: Miss Banshee
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166: Miss Banshee
The remote district remained brightly lit.
Under the harsh barks and commands of their superiors, large squads of guards split into smaller teams, plunging into the sewage-drenched, filthy alleys to aggressively hunt down the "rats" scattering in every direction.
Of course, their efforts yielded little.
Though they caught few people, in the eyes of the onlookers, it was still a grand performance. At the very least, the Lower District hadn't been this lively in a long time.
"Oh my, even the Guard Corps was mobilized. It seems I was right to restrain myself from taking action."
In the shadows of a distant building, the shopkeeper—whose black robes could not fully conceal her graceful figure—patted her voluptuous bosom with lingering fear. Her magnificent curves swayed, though sadly, there was no one there to appreciate the view.
"Not that it matters. I didn't need the Ancient Dragon Heart Blood that badly anyway. Even if I had gotten it, I would have just sold it to someone else for a high price, and it might have brought nothing but trouble."
"The pity is... I couldn't find the fellow who bought the Tear of True Love."
The shopkeeper lowered her gaze, scanning the surrounding district once more. Finding nothing, she withdrew her eyes in disappointment.
The Tear of True Love—that gemstone was what she truly needed.
Unfortunately, her pockets were shallow. She hadn't been able to outbid the others and could only watch as it became someone else's property. She hadn't even been able to find the mysterious Number Eighty-Eight who bought it. Unlike the gangs that acted as the eyes and ears of the Lower District, she was, in the end, just one person.
"Forget it. Even if I had gotten it, it would have only provided a sliver of hope," the shopkeeper consoled herself. "And I have harbored such pointless hope too many times before. Without exception, they all turned into disappointment—even despair."
Perhaps it was better to cut off that thought entirely.
The greater the hope, the heavier the disappointment. She had experienced that particular brand of agony far too many times.
She likely still had some time left. To earnestly enjoy her limited, peaceful daily life—teaching classes, conducting experiments, and teasing a certain interesting fellow—perhaps for her current self, that was...
"My beautiful, moving young lady, may I ask if you dropped this Golden Tear of True Love, or this Silver Tear of True Love?"
A woman’s seductive voice suddenly echoed through the previously deserted alley.
The shopkeeper’s pupils constricted as she whipped her head around.
"Who’s there!"
"Oh my, don't be so fierce. I'm just a passing kind-hearted person."
From the depths of the alley came the crisp sound of footsteps, sharp as blades piercing metal. It was the sound of heels at least ten centimeters high striking the stone pavement.
Out of the shadows stepped a woman with an exquisitely alluring figure, swaying her supple, willowy waist. She wore skin-tight leathers that traced devilish curves—the kind that would make any normal man’s nose bleed. The front of her leather top featured an incredibly low V-neck that plunged all the way to her navel, revealing two perfect, pale crescents.
Her face was even more flamboyant; red eyeshadow defined her eyes, and her pink lips shimmered with a gloss. Every smile and glance seemed capable of ensnaring one's very soul.
She held out two teardrop-shaped pink gemstones, smiling tenderly.
"See? The Tear of True Love you wanted. Won't you choose one?"
The shopkeeper gave them a cursory glance, her body already instinctively tensing.
"Both are fakes. Why would I choose? And who exactly are you?"
"Heehee. It’s our first time meeting—or rather, the first time meeting like this. My name... for now, you may call me Miss Banshee."
Miss Banshee smiled, pinching the hem of a non-existent skirt as she performed the etiquette of a noble lady. Yet the gesture was far from elegant; instead, it exuded a different kind of provocation.
"As for these two gems... whether they're real or fake, the result is the same, isn't it? You might as well pick one as a little gift from me."
"What do you mean?"
The shopkeeper narrowed her eyes, her body slowly backing away.
"Oh, are you angry? It seems my attempt to close the distance with a little joke didn't work very well."
Miss Banshee casually crushed the two counterfeit gems in her hand and shifted her stance. She placed one hand behind her back and the other in front, like a gentleman inviting a beautiful lady to dance at a ball.
Her cherry lips parted, speaking the name that made the shopkeeper’s breath hitch:
"Then I won't beat around the bush. Join us, Anna Kabulin. You belong on our side."
"Wha—How do you know..."
Having her true name exposed, the shopkeeper’s stunning face beneath the hood showed a rare flash of panic. Countless thoughts flooded her mind, causing her mesmerizing eyes to betray a whirlwind of complex emotions.
Shock.
Anger.
Confusion.
Fear.
Then, these emotions mixed together and gradually receded like a tide. All that remained was a sense of helplessness and sorrow, as if she had expected this day all along.
"I see..." she whispered, as if finally understanding. "You people finally found me?"
"It seems you already understand who we are and knew this day would come. That makes things easier."
Miss Banshee kept her hand extended, asking with a smile:
"So, what is your answer?"
"I'm sorry."
Without a moment's hesitation, the shopkeeper—or rather, Anna—refused flatly.
"I will not join you."
"And why is that?" Miss Banshee maintained her charming smile. "We... are of the same kind, aren't we?"
"I am not like you."
"You're not?" Miss Banshee tilted her head, appearing genuinely puzzled by Anna's words. "Then who do you think you're like? Don't tell me you still think... you're human?"
At this, as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, Miss Banshee clutched her stomach and laughed until she shook.
"Human? Human! You actually still think you're human? Do you dare roll up your sleeves, look at the miracles left by the Great Moon on your arms, and say such a thing? Or do you still cling to that naivety, believing you can turn back into a filthy, lowly human? Ah, right. Judging by how desperately you craved the Tear of True Love, you really are that naive."
"..." Anna remained silent.
"It seems I'm not enough to convince you. In that case, there's no other way."
Miss Banshee suddenly stopped laughing and straightened her posture. In that moment, Anna felt as if a dangerous cobra had reared its head before her.
"Your status is incomparably noble, far exceeding my own. I shouldn't have to use such disrespectful methods."
From behind her back, Miss Banshee slowly drew two crescent scimitars. A piercing chill rose from her body.
"However, time is running out. To ensure you return to the embrace of the Great Moon before that moment and complete the final festival, I can only... use some dangerous means."
"Don't blame me, noble Divine Heir."
Miss Banshee’s delicate pink tongue licked the cold, shimmering edge of her blade. She stared at Anna, whose expression was growing increasingly grim, and giggled softly.
"Now, I am going to take away everything you have."
