Chapter 46: Chaotic Relationship

“Meifuni’s friend?”

Sirian was puzzled, but still politely extended his hand.

“Yes, she’s told me about you, and she’s seen your picture.”

Valerie’s smile was beautiful, with a head of stylish short hair and athletic attire.

“You must be new here; the way isn’t easy to find. I’ll take you.”

Valerie gestured to Sirian, telling him to follow her through the crowd and into a small alley.

After several twists and turns, deep in the alley, Sirian saw a colorful plaque.

“Ink House?”

Sirian read the name on it.

“See? This place is really hard to find for the first time.”

Valerie took Sirian’s hand, her smile captivating. Sirian was a bit uncomfortable with the sudden enthusiasm and was about to pull away when she led him into the Ink House.

The interior was slightly dim, with only a few lights barely illuminating blurry outlines. Moving further in, Sirian saw countless oil paintings hanging on the walls.

The content of the oil paintings varied wildly, from landscapes and portraits to abstract symbols Sirian couldn’t understand. Going further inside, the space opened up. Several tables were arranged in the main room, with guests chatting quietly.

Wine racks and bookshelves were placed on either side of the main room. As Sirian passed a table, he saw guests playing a board game.

Deep along the corridor, laughter echoed from various private rooms. Some private rooms had their doors ajar, and through the gaps, Sirian saw bright sunlight inside, with people sitting before easels, painting oil paintings.

In the more than a month Sirian had lived in Heer City, he had been to many places, but this was the first time he had seen such a peculiar club.

Pushing open the door at the end of the corridor, Sirian saw his colleagues. Since it was his first time and he wasn’t familiar with the way, he was the last to arrive.

“Sirian is here… Oh? Valerie is here too.”

Dailin noticed the two entering together and stood up to greet them.

“Hello everyone!”

Valerie finally let go of Sirian’s hand and warmly greeted the others.

“I saw Sirian circling outside when I arrived, so we just came in together.”

Dailin said in surprise, “You know Sirian?”

“I heard about him from Meifuni,” Valerie glanced at Meifuni, who was sitting nearby, “and when I went to the City Guard Bureau to find her a while ago, I saw Sirian’s picture on your staff roster.”

Sirian happened to be off that day and didn’t meet Valerie.

After sitting down, Sirian noticed that Elton, who usually didn’t attend gatherings, was also there.

Elton explained, “I quite like this activity.”

Meifuni organized many activities, such as dinners and movies, but Elton wasn’t interested in any of them, except for today’s.

Anya brought a large box to the table, containing several folded maps, dice, and chess pieces.

“Is everyone here?”

Dailin said, “Everyone’s here.”

Valerie paused, then asked in confusion, “What about those others who used to play with us?”

“Oh, them? They died on a mission a while ago,” Dailin said casually.

It was a sad thing, but the atmosphere in the room didn’t dampen much because of it. Everyone present was accustomed to such things, even Sirian himself.

“This is Sirian’s first time, right?” Meifuni enthusiastically introduced, “Today we’re playing a board game!”

Valerie leaned close to Sirian, intentionally pressing her body against him.

Sirian shifted away slightly, but Valerie moved closer again, maintaining her sweet smile.

Sirian could only sigh helplessly and accept the situation.

Game time flew by. Sirian glanced at the sky outside, which was gradually darkening, and stood up to say goodbye.

“Everyone, I’m on duty today, so I need to leave first.”

After a month of patrolling the high walls, Sirian was rotated to patrol the city. His work would be much easier, but this was his first time patrolling the city, and he needed to go early to understand the specific situation.

“I’ll see you out.”

Dailin said, leaving with Sirian.

Outside the Ink House, Sirian took a deep breath and asked in confusion.

“What’s the deal with this Valerie?”

“Oh? She’s Meifuni’s friend.”

Dailin said, “I’m not too clear on her background either, but she seems to be from a wealthy family, otherwise she wouldn’t be hanging out with Meifuni.”

“How did she get to know you all?” Sirian didn’t understand. “Meifuni works here, after all, but how did she get in touch with the City Guard Bureau?”

Dailin continued, “She often comes to visit Meifuni, and over time, they became familiar. But she rarely participates in our gatherings, only occasionally.”

Realizing Sirian had many questions about Valerie, Dailin asked curiously.

“What’s wrong?”

Sirian carefully considered his words. “She… she’s a bit too enthusiastic towards me, and it makes me feel like something’s off.”

Throughout the board game, Valerie acted very intimately with Sirian, constantly bringing up topics, from small personal details to specific past experiences.

Sirian was very resistant, but after realizing resistance was futile, he accepted the reality to avoid awkwardness.

“Something’s off?”

Dailin paused, then burst out laughing, “Do you have some kind of persecution complex?”

He scrutinized Sirian up and down. “To be honest, Sirian, you’re quite good-looking. Although… although you’re definitely not as good as me, you can still win the affection of many young girls.”

“Maybe she just likes your type? This is a good opportunity. If you manage to get with her, you won’t have to work in this godforsaken City Guard Bureau anymore.”

Sirian said with a cold expression, “Are you serious?”

“No.”

Dailin stopped smiling, looking gleeful. “Even if Valerie genuinely liked you, maybe in two days she’d find someone else. Young people, you know, it happens all the time.”

“Like Anya?”

After spending this time at the City Guard Bureau, Sirian roughly understood the relationship between Dailin and Anya.

People said Anya was a flirtatious woman, often circulating among various men, and had an unclear relationship with the City Guard Bureau director.

But Dailin liked Anya very much and had been pursuing her, while Anya rejected him again and again, like a strange chase scene.

In response to Sirian’s sarcasm, Dailin raised his foot as if to kick him.

“You brat!”

After cursing, he looked weary and sighed, “Some things are complicated…”

“Tell me about it?”

Dailin brushed him off, “Go on, get to your night patrol!”

…Valerie’s intimate gestures were obvious; everyone noticed them.

Anya whispered, “I advise you to stay away from Sirian. If you want to toy with people, you can always go to a bar.”

Valerie looked indifferent. “How could that be? I don’t like him at all, but I heard you care a lot about that Sirian.”

“Me?”

Anya hadn’t expected the topic to turn back to her.

“That’s right,” Valerie looked at her teasingly, “The usually alluring Anya is actually reserved in front of a newcomer, not even daring to make eye contact with him. Have you truly fallen in love with him?”

Anya was amused. “Fallen in love? How foolish, Valerie.”

“Indeed, those words are foolish,” Valerie nodded affirmatively. “Anya, how could someone like you, who lives off various men, truly fall in love with anyone?”

Valerie moved closer to Anya, speaking in an even lower voice.

“Don’t think I don’t know about those things. You only care about profit. Whoever has profit, you’re with them. Poor Dailin still thinks you’re his true love.”

Anya looked unperturbed. “Dailin knows my past. I’ve always been open about it.”

“Then Dailin is quite foolish,” Valerie provoked. “I will get Sirian, just to humiliate you.”

“Because of Dailin?”

Anya looked at Valerie with disdain, understanding where her hostility came from.

“You’ve tried every means, but you can’t win Dailin’s heart, while I just beckon, and he’ll willingly offer everything. That must drive you mad, right?”

Valerie said no more, snorted, and walked to the side.

“What happened, what happened?”

Meifuni returned to the room after returning the board game, saw the two in a cold war, and was curious about what had just occurred.

“Nothing.”

Anya affectionately hugged Meifuni. Although she and Valerie were hostile towards each other, Anya didn’t want it to affect Meifuni.

Valerie remained silent, also not wanting others to know about her feud with Anya.

Then, she provocatively pressed Meifuni.

“Meifuni, can you help me arrange a meeting with that Sirian?”

“Hmm?”

Valerie enunciated each word, “I’m very interested in him.”

…The sky was gloomy.

Before his rotation, Sirian returned to his apartment. Bruce was, as usual, holed up in the living room, hammering away at a pile of scrap metal.

A few days ago, Sirian received his first salary. Just as Dailin had promised, even as an intern, the pay was still substantial.

Sirian first paid back Dailin’s debt, then renewed his lease with the landlord for another month. With some money left over, he used it all to purchase the materials on Bruce’s list.

Bruce did not disappoint, successfully repairing the jet revolver in a few days.

“Let me give you a simple explanation.”

Bruce said without looking up, “The jet revolver has the ability to enhance its firing. As long as source energy is injected, it can significantly increase the muzzle velocity and firing intensity.”

“And this, special bullets for the jet revolver.”

Sirian toyed with the heavy jet revolver, then picked up a set of bullets, totaling twelve rounds, placed on the coffee table.

Brass casings, bright red bullet tips.

“What kind of bullets are these?”

Sirian found the red color somewhat familiar.

“soul marrow bullet.”

Bruce explained, “When it hits an enemy, the soul marrow will burn and explode on its own, possessing extremely strong lethality against chaotic power.”

“Oh, right, the soul marrow used comes from your blood,” Bruce added. “Perhaps it’s my illusion, but I feel the purity of the soul marrow in your blood is much higher.”

“Is that so?”

Sirian’s fingertip rubbed the red bullet tip, its shiny surface like a glistening ruby.

Torch Holy Blood.

Deathbird called this blood that, and this blood was the fuse that ignited the tragedy of White Cliff Town.

As Sirian gradually understood the full picture of the world, he also had some premonition about the truth of Torch Holy Blood.

It was a terrible conjecture.

Sirian asked in return, “Can you detect the abnormality in my blood?”

“I only discovered it after a thorough examination,” Bruce said. “If it were another Torchbearer, their reaction to your blood should be more acute.”

Bruce stopped his work. He had thought he understood Sirian well enough, but suddenly, it was as if another layer of mist enveloped Sirian.

“If you don’t want people to detect this abnormality, you’d best bleed less.”

“That might be a bit difficult.”

Sirian gave an awkward laugh. To survive in such a crazy world, not bleeding was impossible.

“I think so too.” The dog-faced figure wearing goggles said seriously, “Then just kill everyone who makes you bleed, and there should be no problem, right?”

These murderous words stunned Sirian, and then he agreed.