Chapter 4

Chapter Four: Murder and the Revenge Ritual

The fine rain pattered against the cobblestone street, forming small puddles of mud in some damaged sections.

Though narrow, it was still a main road that could accommodate carriages. The gas lamps along the road had been lit, casting a gentle glow in the gloomy rainy night.

The street was muddy but had no foul odor, unlike the Clock Tower Lane District where she currently resided.

A carriage approached from the opposite direction. Xia’er held up her black umbrella and stepped aside to let it pass.

This movement caused her cheap black canvas handbag to sway slightly, drawing Xia’er’s attention to the bag she was holding.

Not the backpack she usually used… Was it newly bought?

Xia’er opened the canvas bag.

Inside were several sharpened pencils and a familiar notebook. She immediately took out the notebook and flipped through it, seeing her own recent note on the cover page.

She took a deep breath, then turned to the first page, and only exhaled when she saw the new, neat Chinese characters written on it.

It seemed this method was working.

She began to consciously use the notebook to record decisions that affected her simulated self in the future, and her simulated self also started using the notebook to document events.

This way, Xia’er could know what happened during the simulation in those times she had no memory of.

Xia’er quickly flipped through the pages of the notebook.

[Sheng Year 741, June 18, 3 AM]

[Nothing particularly unusual happened last night. After my older sister finished work at 2:30 AM, I told her about my plan to move out of the Clock Tower Lane District.]

[Her original intention was to move me out of the Clock Tower Lane District, so she had no objection to my idea of moving earlier.]

[As for not going to university, we haven’t discussed it yet. It’s not a good time to talk about such things now. She has always worked hard to support my education. I can predict how upset she would be if I gave up on university, which wouldn’t help us get through the upcoming challenges together.]

Xia’er calmly turned the page.

The words written in the notebook reflected thoughts that aligned with her own, making her feel as if she had personally experienced these events without any discomfort.

[Sheng Year 741, June 18, 12 PM]

[I took the day off and didn’t go to the academy. According to the original plan, I went to the Cam Street area, which I had scouted beforehand. The landlord’s wife was very surprised to learn I was a student at Bern Private Academy. Not only did she give me a large room for two people, but she also reduced the rent. The room wasn’t much more expensive than those in the Clock Tower Lane District.]

[Sheng Year 741, June 18, 2:30 PM]

[After experiencing the future simulation, my mind has been somewhat tense. I observed my surroundings more carefully. Perhaps because “Agility Lv.1” enhanced my perception, I felt someone watching me since morning.]

[On the way back to the Clock Tower Lane District, I ducked into a small alley and climbed onto the roof, discovering the person tailing me.]

[I’ve been followed. Be careful. I have a feeling this isn’t something new.]

[Now I need to go down again and pretend not to notice the follower to avoid alarming them.]

“Follower?”

Xia’er narrowed her eyes slightly.

Someone was following her? Was it Yian and his gang? Or perhaps members of the Heishuidang? Why were they following her?

If someone had been following her all along, moving would be completely futile. Those lurking in the shadows would instantly know her new address, and she would never be safe wherever she went.

What would I do if I encountered this situation?

I would find a place to shake off the follower without arousing suspicion, and take the opportunity to see just how far-reaching their reach is…

Xia’er thought as she turned to the next page, where the recorded events matched her thoughts perfectly.

[Sheng Year 741, June 18, 7:30 PM]

[The invitation that wasn’t discarded worked. At 4:30 PM, I went to Miss Amy’s afternoon tea party in front of the follower. Once inside Miss Amy’s residence, the surveillance disappeared. Standing by the window, I could see the follower below, dressed properly and wearing a newsboy cap.]

[Clearly, the follower couldn’t infiltrate a noble’s residence. I guess there’s a 90% chance the follower is connected to the Heishuidang. Yian’s gang wouldn’t care so much about attire. What is their purpose in following me? For the ritual mentioned by the old man?]

[The tea party was as boring as I expected. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts about the follower, so I didn’t notice how out of place my school uniform was compared to the luxurious attire at the tea party. Amy pulled me aside and offered to give me two dresses.]

[Taking advantage of this opportunity, I asked Amy if she had heard anything about the ritual or other secrets, mentioning the Heishuidang name. However, from her confused gaze, it was clear she knew nothing about these matters.]

[Perhaps because she wanted to answer my questions, Amy ran to find her father after leaving the room, and hasn’t returned since. Before the tea party ended, the butler escorted me out of the mansion, and I learned from him that Amy was confined to her quarters.]

[It seems that Baron Amy’s father is deeply wary of the questions she raised, though I’m not sure if it’s because of the Heishuidang or the “ritual.”]

Even nobles don’t want to get involved in this matter?

Xia’er frowned slightly as she read her own writing.

She knew the matter was complicated, but hadn’t expected the underlying issues to be even more complex than she imagined.

Have the clues run out?

Miss Amy’s father clearly knows something, but at her current level, she cannot possibly reach that baron.

Moreover, during her time at school, Xia’er always adhered to the principle of keeping a low profile, avoiding conflict with anyone and not getting too close to anyone. Not only nobles, officials, and wealthy merchants, but their children also engage in various open and covert struggles. As long as one makes the wrong choice, they could easily eliminate her like an ant.

As for the reason? Being disliked is a valid reason.

Perhaps because of the existence of the simulation, her future self felt free to discuss the Heishuidang issue with Amy, but unfortunately, the results were minimal.

Xia’er shook her head gently.

However, the actions recorded in the notebook also provided insights for her current self.

She reminded herself that in the simulation, all actions could be bolder.

As long as the outcome was good, she could repeat the simulation countless times to find the optimal solution.

She turned to the next page, and what followed made her pause slightly.

[Sheng Year 741, June 18, 11 PM]

A nervous maid knocked on the door, handing me a letter. The envelope had no signature. From the crest on the carriage that brought the maid, it was clear the letter was from Amy.

It seemed Amy had already found out my address—perhaps she had known it for a long time. Since I was confined at home, she could only use the maid to pass messages.

She had received a lot of information from her father, and Amy wrote it all down in the letter.

The Blackwater Gang was the largest criminal organization in the Clock Tower Lane District, mainly involved in illegal alcohol production and transportation. They controlled all the bars in the district, and their leader, Brad Solaris, had connections with several nobles.

Her Baron father recently got a piece of information: the head of the Blackwater Gang had spent a large sum of money to gain favor with a member of a certain church, obtaining something from that member. Her father warned Amy not to get involved with the Blackwater Gang and not to see Xia’er, who was investigating the gang leader.

Amy also asked if I was in trouble and offered to let me stay at her place for a few days—if only it were possible. Given Amy’s father’s cautious nature, he would hand me over to the Blackwater Gang the moment he discovered me, to avoid any entanglements.

[Sheng Year 741, June 19, 6:29 PM]

Yian died, but this time, I was the one who killed him.

The intelligence I currently had was still too limited. The most crucial point was that I lacked the strength to protect myself. Many investigations were impossible to initiate, and reckless actions would only lead to disaster. I needed to get some stronger weapons.

I could only follow the predetermined plan, trying not to show any flaws. I used my birthday as an excuse, asking my sister to wait for me at a coffee shop in the city center, while I lingered around where I was preparing to rent a new apartment.

This split action was a control group. To clarify whether the “ritual” targeted me or my sister, they changed the plan. The tracker gave intelligence, allowing the thug Yian to find me. They were after me.

I had prepared a knife in advance. This time, it was only Yian, without any other thugs. Moreover, his strength was surprisingly weak, almost as if he came to die. I stabbed him with the bloody knife, which was still in the compartment of the canvas bag.

Be careful.

The last entry… just now!

“Dong—”

At six thirty, the bells in various clock towers began ringing, creating a somber and oppressive atmosphere in the rain.

Oh no! Why is this time so tight!

Xia’er quickly reached into the canvas bag, soon finding a bloody, sticky wooden handle. She instinctively looked to the right, where a few blurry figures were approaching through the rain.

One of the slender figures wore a newsboy cap, unmistakably the person tracking her from the notebook.

Without hesitation, Xia’er threw away her umbrella, grabbed the knife, and ran quickly to the left. But just a few steps in, she saw several figures waiting at the end of the road.

Xia’er stopped, clenching her fists.

“Six thirty-one… why is there a deviation in the ritual?”

This phrase echoed again. As the familiar old voice and footsteps approached from behind, she heard the hammer cocking.

“Best to get some stronger weapons.”

The words from the notebook flashed through Xia’er’s mind.

“Brad Solaris!” Xia’er shouted loudly.

“Hmm?” The old man holding the gun was momentarily stunned. He seemed puzzled as to why the sacrifice in front of him knew his name.

In that brief moment, Xia’er turned with the knife.

Less than two meters! Very close! Just three steps away!

She lunged directly at Brad, swinging the bloody short knife at his head.

Three steps away, the gun was fast.

Three steps closer, the gun was accurate and fast.

“Bang—!”

A bullet roared towards Xia’er’s head, shattering her cheekbone and lodging in her skull.

The intense pain almost caused Xia’er to faint, but her left hand already grasped the warm barrel of the revolver.

The sudden turn of events startled Brad. He instinctively thought his weapon was about to be taken, and his right hand tried to pull the gun away. But the girl in front of him moved faster, pressing her forehead against the gun barrel.

What’s going on? Crazy?

Brad met the gaze of the red-haired girl whose face was half-covered in blood. In her calm, blood-stained pupils, he saw no fear or panic. Her expression was so calm, it didn’t seem like someone facing death.

The girl held the gun barrel tightly with her left hand, while her right hand released the short knife and quickly moved forward, pressing the trigger before Brad could retreat!

“I won’t let your ritual succeed…

“Bang—!”

The girl, now powerless, fell to the ground. The blood beneath her was washed away by the rain. The blood-splattered Brad’s heart raced, staring at the girl’s corpse for a long time, unable to react.

Just now, he hadn’t pulled the trigger. It was the girl in front of him who did…

What was happening? How did she know his name, even the ritual?

She said she wouldn’t let her ritual succeed? Yet she was dead!

And her calm gaze…

“The ‘revenge’ has been replicated. What are you waiting for?”

A black-robed figure emerged from the alley, causing Brad to snap back to reality. He wiped the blood off his face with a handkerchief, took a deep breath, but felt no relief or peace within him.

“Bang bang bang—”

He raised the revolver and fired several shots at the girl’s corpse on the ground until the magazine was empty, then slowly lowered the smoking barrel.

Just now, he felt a long-forgotten emotion… the fear of the unknown, just like when he first encountered the black-robed person.