My Notoriety Spreads Throughout the World

Chapter 728 - 639: Apocalypse Date (Part 1)

"Nicely done." Chichu Chun clapped her hands with a smile.

The predator, thrilled by the girl’s praise, shook off the bloodstains, swaying its head as it approached Chichu Chun, cautiously nudging its head under the girl’s hand.

The predator raised its head, observing Chichu Chun as if seeking an adult’s approval like a child. Only after getting the girl’s nod did it start making a purring sound, rubbing its head against the girl’s palm.

"These insects have no capacity for thought; in their world, there is no good or evil, no sense of morality, nor any semblance of family or companionship—they can only act according to instinct."

Chichu Chun withdrew her hand, gazing into the distance of the city.

"I integrated it into my pheromone network; to it, I am now the only master."

Receiving a command, the predator swiftly jumped off the pile of stones, leaping in a direction. Influenced by the girl’s pheromones, its wounds visibly recovered as it rounded a corner, leaving no trace of the battle it endured.

"I’ve tasked it with leading us to the predator’s nest."

Chichu Chun looked at Xu Xiaoyou:

"How about it, I am now a monster, through and through, neither human nor insect."

"Does that bother you?" Xu Xiaoyou raised an eyebrow.

"Not at all!" Chichu Chun rolled her eyes, "In fact, I quite enjoy it. Different, unmatched in the world, so cool, just like an anime protagonist."

As she spoke, Chichu Chun bent her left pinky while extending the other fingers in front of her.

"I, the Young Master of the Chichu Family, sovereign of the Insect Race networks, command—submit to me!"

"Geass!"

After striking a pose, Chichu Chun moved over seriously to nudge Xu Xiaoyou with her elbow.

"It’s ’Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion’, I’ve recommended it to you several times. Have you watched it yet?"

Xu Xiaoyou sighed and shook her head, ignoring Chichu Chun’s eager gaze, and walked in the direction the predator left.

Chichu Chun’s face fell,

"Hey, really? That’s a masterpiece you must watch in your lifetime—do you think it was easy for me to find it among a pile of old-era discs?"

"V Britannia~" Xu Xiaoyou waved casually, leaving with her back facing away.

Upon hearing this, Chichu Chun’s eyes lit up, laughed softly, and with a couple of agile leaps off the ruins, she ran a few steps to follow behind the girl, jumping up to hug Xu Xiaoyou’s shoulder.

"You, I knew you wouldn’t rain on my parade!"

"What do you think, was I right about my recommendation?"

Following the predator two kilometers deeper into the city, the two girls walked amidst the towering ruins, witnessing the passage of time on the city’s marks. The grand empire’s building had become a haven for birds and beasts, green creeping plants lushly growing atop the museum dome, sunlight streaming through the broken dome, casting shadow grids on the ground.

Chichu Chun hid behind the Silver Era statues, the golden ratio and aesthetically pleasing statues casting shadows that conveniently concealed her slender body. After Xu Xiaoyou counted down and entered the exhibition hall, she immediately recognized her among the exhibits.

With her cover blown, Chichu Chun pulled a peculiar expression, ran a few steps and vanished out of sight, Xu Xiaoyou shrugged helplessly, quickly following her pace.

Time flowed tranquilly, apart from the two girls, no traces of humans existed in this city, like a post-apocalyptic world after a symphony has ended. Sunlight extended along golden thread outlines, slowly drifting, shadows moving like clock hands from left to right.

"Wow!" Chichu Chun suddenly hung upside down, making a face.

"So scary," Xu Xiaoyou said with deadpan eyes.

Chichu Chun bent over laughing, staying in her upside-down pose as her loose hair swayed with her movement. She hadn’t appeared this relaxed for a long time, sitting on the statue’s arm, swinging her black ribbon-tied legs, humming a light tune.

"You cheated."

"No, I didn’t."

"Then how did you find me?"

"I hid so well~"

"Maybe because," Xu Xiaoyou pondered seriously before nodding, "you’re important to me?"

"So no matter which dark little corner you hide in, I’ll always find you."

Chichu Chun froze, wiping the tears from her laughter away, a slight grin on her lips.

"Why did you suddenly say something so cheesy?"

Xu Xiaoyou reached out her hand to Chichu Chun, and the girl took her hand, jumping down from the statue’s arm.

"Do I seem like someone hard to empathize with?" Xu Xiaoyou questioned.

Chichu Chun studied her with seriousness before finally extending a hand, placing it on Xu Xiaoyou’s head.

"No fever?"

"In other words, how high do you think my ’cold’ score is?" Xu Xiaoyou swatted Chichu Chun’s hand away.

"Seems like it," Chichu Chun nodded, "really seems like it."

"Hmm?" Xu Xiaoyou tilted her head.

"One hundred points," Chichu Chun held up one finger, "a full hundred!"

"What pains your heart, besides money, let me think what else..." Chichu Chun pondered hard, finally opening her mouth in realization.

"Convenience store vouchers for spending one hundred and getting ninety-nine off!"

"Congratulations, wrong answer." Xu Xiaoyou flicked Chichu Chun’s forehead forcefully.

"At least spend a thousand to get nine hundred ninety-nine off."

"Ouch," Chichu Chun clutched her head, "isn’t that still a convenience store voucher?"

"Actually, I cheated earlier."

"I used the [heat vision]."

"I knew it~!"

"As an apology, here, a bitter melon candy."

"That’s more like it..." Chichu Chun tore open the candy wrapper and tossed it into her mouth.

Her shoulder jerked, eyebrows knitted together, her expression turning odd, "Wait..."

"Why does it taste like mustard!"

She pounced like a ruffled cat towards Xu Xiaoyou, gritting her teeth and shaking her shoulders vehemently.

"Payback for last time’s pepper revenge."

The two girls bantered lightly with their exclusive wavelength, exchanging jabs here and there.

Minutes later, they arrived at a general store behind the predator. As the heavy shutter door was pushed open, dust billowed in the light, the sun penetrating the debris, alternating light and darkness, gradually illuminating the general store’s interior.

A counter full of history, atop it was murky glass, below was a pothole-ridden red square cabinet. Looking left, two rows of shelves distributed evenly, covered in dust, the end fading into the depths of the shop.

Squeaking sounds emerged as Chichu Chun flicked a switch, an old three-blade fan above briefly spinning before quickly stalling again.

Xu Xiaoyou opened the blinds, letting more light into the house, dispelling the store’s seclusion.

"I remember when I was little, after Sebastian took me away from the Chichu Family, we settled in a town for three months," Chichu Chun said,

"At that time, there was an old grandmother in town who ran a similar general store. I often visited her shop; she took great care of me. It was summertime, and I’d casually grab water guns from her shop to splash other kids."

"I remember her cabinet always had some bitter melon candies," Chichu Chun’s eyes lowered slightly, "After playing with the other children from her shop, I would secretly take one to eat."

"Initially, the candy wrappers were so old, slowly memories faded, yet the candy wrappers became newer and newer..."

Chichu Chun pressed her lips.

"One afternoon, I caught a bird."

"Imprisoned it in a cage, covered with a plastic basket, left it in the store, thinking I’d have my own bird, wishing the night would pass quickly so I could play with the bird the next day."

"But the next day, the bird was gone, the basket stayed but the bird vanished. I threw a tantrum, blamed Grandma for not watching over my bird," Chichu Chun said,

"After that, Sebastian and I left the town; it was my final meeting with Grandma."

"I found out long afterward, Grandma let the bird go."

"Autumn is arriving."

Chichu Chun turned and gave Xu Xiaoyou a smiling glance.

"Little birds have to fly to warmer places."