"Anything?"
Bai Ye turned to look at Ryukawa Suko. Her eyes held an indescribable excitement.
"Bai Ye-kun! The magic is real, isn't it?" She stared intently at Bai Ye, her words carrying a tone of affirmation rather than a question.
As if recalling something, her excitement grew. She took a few steps forward, and before Bai Ye could offer a perfunctory reply, she spoke again, "I just remembered something, something very important!"
*Something important?*
Bai Ye swallowed the words, "There are no mages, believe in science!" He quietly watched the excited Ryukawa Suko. The three girls, Miyano Mikawa, also looked at her with surprise and curiosity.
"Since there are mages, does that mean there are monsters too? Bai Ye-kun?"
Ryukawa Suko's excited words startled the three Miyano girls, their faces turning pale.
"Ah~ monsters?"
"Like... like those in the TV shows, with hideous faces, fangs, and who devour people without spitting out bones?"
"Or... like Sadako? Or man-eating Tengu, or wooden puppets?"
"Aah! It's too scary, don't say anymore..."
The bolder Miyano Mikawa and Asuka Suzuko's imaginations ran wild, their fear mixed with an inability to stop themselves, they chattered on. The timidest, Yamanaka Natsumi, hid tightly between them, her face filled with apprehension.
"There are no monsters..." Bai Ye blurted out.
Upon hearing this, the three girls breathed a sigh of relief. Bai Ye-chan must be right...
However, Bai Ye's gaze narrowed slightly. Ryukawa Suko's eyes met his, filled with unwavering certainty. She said nothing, yet her gaze seemed to convey everything.
Bai Ye smiled slightly and probed, "You're not going to say you've seen one, are you?"
"I have!"
Ryukawa Suko nodded affirmatively and continued, "My hometown is in Chiba Prefecture, but when I was young, the government relocated us to Tokyo, citing the discovery of important mineral resources for industrial development. Our entire village, over thirty households, was moved."
"Before, we all thought we were lucky that our village was acquired by the government. But now, seeing you, I suddenly understand. This should be related to the 'Misty Valley' in our village!"
"The government moved us not for any mineral resources, but to prevent the secrets of the 'Misty Valley' from being exposed! Because—there are terrifying monsters inside!"
"Ah!!"
"So scary!"
Ryukawa Suko's suspicious words made the Miyano girls jump. Daifeng Novel Network
Listening to Ryukawa Suko, Bai Ye felt a sense of familiarity. This approach was very similar to how the Great Xia Dynasty government handled the Wolong Mountain Range.
This meant that what Ryukawa Suko said was likely true. Could it be that her hometown in Chiba Prefecture also had a spatial rift?
But up to now, there had been no unrest. What measures had the R-country government taken?
It was important to note that the reason for the lack of violent outbreaks from the spatial rift in the Wolong Mountain Range was the special existence of Lydia. It only wanted to develop discreetly and seek revenge, not to stir up unnecessary trouble. Therefore, even though it was close to Modu and Zhezhou, these two areas remained stable and peaceful.
Could it be that Chiba Prefecture was in a similar situation? With a high-level monster that just wanted to develop discreetly?
Bai Ye found it unlikely. Most of the monsters he had encountered were bloodthirsty and ferocious. Although Gou Dan, Xiao Fantuan, and even Lydia appeared either silly or docile, that was only in front of him.
If he didn't have some strength, he would have long become their prey, turned into fertilizer to nourish the flowers and trees.
"You're being too suspicious! It's normal for the government to find mineral resources and requisition your village land! I've seen plenty of such things."
Bai Ye waved his hand and said earnestly.
"Coincidentally, my family was also requisitioned by the government, just like yours."
"As for your 'Misty Valley,' doesn't every hometown have some ghost stories and eerie places?"
As he spoke, Bai Ye turned to the three Miyano girls and smiled charmingly.
"Is that so?"
ʕ๑•ɷ•๑ʔ Oh? Seeing Bai Ye's serious and charming expression, the surging emotions in the hearts of the Miyano girls gradually calmed down.
Then, they involuntarily nodded.
"Mm! Bai Ye-chan is right~"
Asuka Suzuko said timidly, "My hometown is also in the countryside. I used to hear my grandparents tell many stories about monsters..."
Ryukawa Suko stared at Bai Ye with suspicion, disbelief evident on her face. Just as she was about to retort, Bai Ye waved his hand.
"Alright, I have other matters to attend to. We shall meet again if fate allows!"
Bai Ye said, waved goodbye to them, and then vanished amidst their astonished reluctance.
"Bai Ye-chan~"
"Bai Ye-kun!!!"
...
Several kilometers away, Bai Ye appeared on top of a skyscraper. The streets of the bustling city center Tokyo were still as vibrant and lively as ever, with neon lights and bustling crowds.
The unrest in Odaiba had been completely controlled by the R-country government. There was no news media coverage at all...
"Chiba Prefecture!"
Bai Ye murmured, pulling out his phone and opening 'Defunct Map' to search.
Opening the map of R-country, Chiba Prefecture was not far from Tokyo, separated by Tokyo Bay, only about a hundred kilometers away.
However, this Chiba Prefecture was neither particularly large nor particularly small, covering several thousand square kilometers.
Where was the Misty Valley? What was the name of her hometown?
Bai Ye frowned. He had been too hasty!
Small Noodle Shop.
"Goodbye, Miss Ryukawa!"
"Miss Ryukawa, don't worry. Bai Ye-chan already said there are no monsters in the world!"
The three Miyano girls left the noodle shop, bid farewell to Ryukawa Suko, and took a taxi home.
"Be safe!"
After sending them off, Ryukawa Suko frowned and turned back into the noodle shop, her face filled with doubt.
Bai Ye-kun was lying! There must be something in the 'Misty Valley'!
Bai Ye-kun is really something, why did he leave so quickly? Did he have something urgent to attend to?
"Ah!"
Ryukawa Suko, her mind filled with confusion, suddenly saw a figure in the small noodle shop and was startled.
However, upon recognizing the figure, she exclaimed in surprise.
"Bai Ye-kun!!!"
"What a coincidence! Miss Ryukawa, we meet again..."
Bai Ye poured a cup of tea. The tea was cold, but with a small flame conjured at his fingertips, the tea was quickly heated.
Then, he looked at Ryukawa Suko, who was walking towards him, and gave an awkward yet polite smile, "I'm a little curious. Where in Chiba Prefecture is your hometown?"