191 Stigmata and Express Packages

Theresa was in a full-on pout at company headquarters. Everyone was buzzing, trying to guess who that mysterious voice in the new game trailer belonged to.

"It's not really a little one, is it?"

Rozaliya looked at Theresa with deep suspicion. There was indeed a subtle resemblance in the voice of the other person when she mentioned it, and her words happened to be crazy in Theresa's minefield.

Theresa couldn't take it anymore. With a speed born of pure irritation, she swooped in, wrapping her arms around Rozaliya's neck in a playful headlock.

"Why couldn't it be me, huh?" she demanded, eyes flashing. "And who you calling 'little'? You're the pipsqueak around here!"

Rozaliya was naturally helpless in the hands of the mature and experienced Theresa. She was swinging wildly in her arms, to no avail. The troublemaker finally received justice.

After a while, Rozaliya gave up struggling. The opponent was surprisingly strong and chose to lie down flat.

"Got it? You totally messed up," Theresa declared, satisfied with herself. She honestly hated using force, but sometimes a girl had to teach a lesson.

Rozaliya in her arms, nodded pitifully like a chicken, saying that she would definitely do it next time.

Liliya looked sideways and whistled. That kind of situation... she believed in her sister; she would definitely be able to handle it!

This is the bond of trust between sisters! Liliya thought with emotion in her heart.

Then, as soon as Theresa let go, Rozaliya rushed towards Lilia and said, "Liliya, Liliya, why didn't you understand my hint just now? Come help me!"

"Rozaliya , I'm looking for opportunities; believe me!"

Rozaliya didn't listen to Liliya's explanation at all, and the two of them struggled together, with no distinction between superior and inferior.

Theresa watched Rozaliya and Liliya tumbling on the floor and sighed. Sometimes, their energy was just too much. "So," she turned to Luo Mo, massaging her temples, "this Kongming voice in the game... is that related to me somehow?"

" Yeah... But she is a completely different existence from you, and there will be many plots about her in the future." Luo Mo said it with a smile.

"Is it similar to Luna?" Theresa thought for a moment, smiling with a childlike face, "Then, I'll look forward to her performance!""

Luo Mo stared at Theresa's sudden burst of enthusiasm and wondered what exactly she was imagining. Honestly, Kongming's story was about to get a whole lot darker... but Theresa didn't need to know about that just yet.

"You'll see," he said instead, a vague sense of foreboding settling over him. Sometimes, it was better to let the surprises unfold themselves...

...

Watching the plot of the event, the people in the villa naturally did not intend to leave immediately.

At Cecilia's house, Bronya and Seele were spilling all the details about their wild adventure in ARC City, including their battle with that mysterious Woman who called herself 'Hare'.

"You mean, you saw someone with the same appearance as me in ARC City?" Cecilia asked with surprise while peeling an apple.

The silver blade was flying dexterously in the air, and the peels were connected layer by layer, which was very ornamental. As the last part broke,

The whole piece of peel rolled down from the air in a graceful arc and fell accurately into the trash can below.

Bronya nodded. She thought Cecilia might know who the other party was, but now she seemed to be unaware.

"Sorry, I don't see anyone with a face similar to mine in my family." Cecilia tilted her head slightly in thought and quickly came to a conclusion.

Kiana and Sirin stared at Cecilia, their eyes practically sparkling with anticipation. Would she share her delicious-looking apple? Cecilia, ever the elegant lady, took a bite instead, a small smile playing on her lips as she savored the sweet juice.

"Aww..." Kiana pouted, her hopes of a tasty treat dashed. But hey, a girl could try, right? She grabbed an apple and attempted to copy her mother's fancy peeling technique.

It lasted about five seconds before she gave up. "Forget it! This is too hard," she grumbled, chomping into the apple instead. "Besides, little dwarf, you must be mistaken. There's nobody else in the family who looks like mom!"

Cecilia swallowed another bite, her expression thoughtful. "Actually, the closest resemblance might be Durandal," she said casually. "Of course, her hair changed completely after that whole…incident. If it's her, you should be able to recognize her pretty easily."

She finished her apple with a final, dainty bite, leaving both girls intrigued and maybe just a little bit confused.

Sirin scowled at the apples. Ugh, she didn't even like them, but just seeing Kiana fail so spectacularly made her want to try. With an irritated sigh, she called out, "Bella! Hey, come peel this for me!"

Bronya watched the scene unfold, a nagging thought at the back of her mind. There was no way she'd mistaken it. Hesitantly, she spoke up, "But… even Principal Theresa blurted out Cecilia's name when she first saw her."

Cecilia paused mid-bite, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. "Hmm…you're right," she admitted, "Theresa and I go way back. For her to make that mistake... something's definitely not right here."

"Sorry, I'm totally clueless!" she added, flashing an apologetic smile. Then, a sly glint appeared in her eyes. "But there's someone out there, who, despite seeming like a total stranger, might just know everything we need to figure this out!"

"Boss Luo Mo?"

Bronya and Seele looked at each other, and what came to mind was the image of a young man, perhaps an unscrupulous capitalist?

...

"That's right, I almost forgot... Luo Mo, in ARC City, I saw a person who looked very similar to Cecilia. "

Theresa was angry because she remembered the reason why she came to Luo Mo today—maybe Luo Mo would know who the other party was.

Theresa looked at Luo Mo expectantly.

Of course, there is no such person in the schariac family. She knows Cecilia's situation better than anyone else, especially now after Siegfried's death.

"Hmmm, similar faces?" Luo Mo mused, tapping his chin in mock thoughtfulness. Honestly, he'd been worried this mystery person might pop up sooner than planned or even not appearing at all.

Since his meddling mother-in-law was still alive in this world, the variables were huge. That's why he'd been vague in that game trailer, showing only a shadowy back view of "Hare."

As a result, the other party seemed to appear in ARC City.

"You know? Right? " Theresa asked,

The other party's(hare) ability is also very scary. Although there are arrangements along the way, it is really scary to fall asleep the moment after she meeting her.

Luo Mo paused, feigning deep thought. It wasn't the power level that concerned him – it was the dream. "Theresa," he asked, his voice laced with a hint of mischief, "what exactly did you dream about?"

Without thinking, still caught off-guard by the memory of the encounter, Theresa blurted out, "Cecilia, of course."

Then it hit her. A wave of fiery embarrassment washed over her. Flustered, she leaped back, a finger accusingly pointed at Luo Mo. "You! How do you- what did you-"

Panic flared in her eyes. No one, absolutely no one, was supposed to know about that dream.

Especially not Luo Mo...of all people!

"Ahem..." Theresa cleared her throat, a desperate attempt to regain control. Too late, though – the damage was done. That blush refused to fade, and the memory of that dream made her want to crawl into a hole. 

Forcing herself to maintain the air of a stern principal, she turned away from Luo Mo. "Look, it's obvious you know who this person is, so spill the beans already," she demanded, trying to ignore the image of her and Cecilia entwined on a bed.

Damn Siegfried... Theresa bit her teeth secretly, but there was nothing she could do.

"Cecilia's stigmata became a spirit and ran away. I remember saying this: " Luo Mo said calmly, as if what he said was very plain.

"Whoa, wait – so stigmata can turn into spirits? That's awesome!" Rozaliya chirped, practically bouncing with excitement. She loved when things got weird and fantastical.

Lilia, barely awake, blinked sleepily. "Sadly, Rozaliya, we don't have any stigmata to play with," she mumbled into her pillow.

"But...but..." Rozaliya sputtered, "Aren't we supposed to be the main characters? Don't main characters always have cool powers like that?"

Luo Mo sighed, a touch of exasperation in his voice. "Guys, when exactly did I say your roles were so simple? Think of this less as 'heroes versus villains' and more like... cosmic pawns in a very confusing game."

Meanwhile, Theresa remained frozen, her mind buzzing furiously. Stigmata gaining sentience? What bizarre superpower was that? Since when was her life so complicated? And why, oh why, did her dreams have to involve Cecilia!

"No, no, you're not getting away with that!" Theresa tugged on Luo Mo's shirt, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and barely-concealed panic. "Give me the full story, the real story, right now!"

Luo Mo couldn't help but chuckle, amused by her height disadvantage. "Alright, alright. Think of it like this: the stigmata has detached, like a rogue part of your own power running around with a mind of its own. Quite the pickle, huh? But hey, at least you're still qualified to be a teacher."

"Quit teasing!" Theresa swatted at his arm, more flustered than truly angry. "This isn't some classroom theory – stigmata aren't supposed to do that! How? Why? What is even happening anymore?" The words tumbled out of her in a jumbled rush, frustration bubbling over.

...

"Ah, it's over. The wonderful afternoon tea time, together with the pleasant plot time. ♪, Elysia said as she took a sip of tea.

The Elf of the Fountain, who loves instant noodles; the Olenyeva twin Sister, who cause trouble; Durandal, who returns from vacation; and the 'old girl' riding a motorcycle, and lovely Sakura.

"What a pleasant and enviable world! Maybe this is what adventure is like: "

"What a wild, wonderful world this is!" A mischievous grin spread across Elysia's face. "Doesn't it make you just a little bit excited? Especially those costumes...such summery vibes, such fun! I wonder what trouble we can get into..."

"Haha, Ellie, the card pool of twin Sister Olenyeva has also been updated in the game. Do you want to come and take a look?"

Eden pointed at the game that had updated the Gacha banner. The Valkyrie inside looked at them with a smile on her face, baring her little fangs.

The name is also very unique.

"Cherry bomb? Blueberry attack? Inexplicably echo their characters."

When Elysia saw the name, she couldn't help but smile. "The costumes have also been updated. In addition to the outfits of the fairy of the Fountain and Sakura, you only need to play the game to get them. It's pretty good! Unfortunately, my last What I like most are those two sets! Luo Mo, bad! "

She scanned the upcoming activities with a mix of anticipation and a tiny pout.

"Bummer they're not starting with swimsuit season, though. Summer just isn't summer without a whole bunch of crazy beachside antics, right?"

"Ding-dong!" The doorbell shattered the afternoon quiet. Sakura sighed, reluctantly setting down her tea.

Who could it be now? With a hand resting on the hilt of her katana, she cautiously opened the door.

Nothing. Just a package, sitting innocently on the doorstep. The delivery truck was already speeding off into the distance.

"Whose package is this?" Sakura mumbled, her wariness fading slightly as she carried the box inside.

The Flame-Chasers had been on an online shopping spree lately, though most of the culprits were Mobius and that mad scientist Vill-V.

Of course, the money for all this wasn't exactly growing on trees. Luo Mo had 'generously' offered to cover the costs, with a sly wink that said those costs would be coming out of Sakura and Griseo hard-earned wages.

Doesn't this count as child labor? Anyway, no money was given! Luo Mo was so complacent at the time that it was really a matter of killing two birds with one stone!

Sakura placed the package on the table, a puzzled frown creasing her brow. She was about to head upstairs after her afternoon tea when something caught her eye – her own name, scrawled across the box.

"Huh?" A soft gasp escaped her lips. It wasn't like she went on wild shopping sprees...what could this be?

Before she could even process it, a whirlwind of pink and sparkles descended upon her. "Ooh, a package for Sakura? Can I open it, can I? Pleeeeease?" Elysia pouted, her eyes sparkling with a mix of childlike delight and irresistible mischief.

Sakura only buys things a handful of times! She was a little curious.

Knowing it was pointless to resist, Sakura sighed. Elysia had already begun tearing at the packaging with the enthusiasm of a puppy discovering a new chew toy.

Honestly, a part of Sakura was curious too, She simply wanted to see what was inside.

"Sakura, look! It's just like in the game!" Elysia's eyes were practically glowing as she carefully lifted a piece of the costume. With a flourish, she unfolded it, revealing a cascade of icy blue fabric that seemed to shimmer in the afternoon light.

It was the "Hyoukai Sonata" outfit, down to the last detail – the giant bow, the delicate hair ties, even matching leg rings nestled in the box.

"It's gorgeous! Please, Sister, try it on!" Rin bounced over, unable to resist the urge to see her sister in such a pretty costume.

A flicker of helplessness crossed Sakura's face. She glanced at the expectant faces around her... she couldn't exactly say no, could she? Besides, she had to admit, something about the outfit tugged at her own sense of beauty.

"Okay," she finally agreed with a slight nod, a touch of amusement tugging at her lips.

It seemed her boss wasn't one for empty promises – he'd made the costume and delivered it with surprising speed. Now, all that was left was to see how it looked...

Sakura, with a mix of resignation and amusement, took the costume and retreated to her room. There was no point in stalling, and besides... a small part of her was genuinely curious.

"Eden, Aponia, who do you think the last voice is? I'm very curious!"

The waiting time was naturally a bit boring, but fortunately, everyone was full of expectations and chatted about the last person voice in end of game event.

"In terms of timbre, it seems to be somewhat similar to Principal Theresa." Eden knew music best, and she could easily hear the sound problem.

"But there's no way it's Theresa," Elysia retorted. "She wouldn't be caught dead on some adventure, and those words she spoke…they didn't sound like her at all!"

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Elysia propped her chin on her hands and stared at the staircase. Any minute now, a transformed Sakura would make her grand entrance…and wouldn't that be a sight to behold!

Elysia's mind was already racing. If this outfit looked this good in real life, she'd have to beg Luo Mo to design one for her too! Honestly, what girl didn't want a wardrobe full of gorgeous costumes?

Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows, clutching a can of coffee. The moment she stepped into view, Mobius froze, feeling the weight of multiple intense gazes upon her.

She blinked, confused. Why was everyone staring? Elysia, Eden, and Aponia were all transfixed, their eyes wide.

"Good afternoon, Mobius!" Elysia chirped, a wide smile plastered on her face.

"Um, good morning?" Mobius replied tentatively, then glanced around for something to drink. Hang on…wasn't it still morning? Her brain finally caught up with the blazing sun streaming through the window.

Yep, definitely afternoon. How did she miss that? She shrugged it off – time seemed to warp in this place anyway.

"Ugh, I thought I was just pulling an all-nighter," Mobius grumbled, scratching her slightly disheveled green hair. Turns out, she'd worked straight through to the afternoon! This body's internal clock was totally out of whack.

Slumping against the table in her signature white coat, she took a long swig of coffee and eyed the others with mild suspicion. "So? What's with the tea party? Don't you three have 'work' to do?"

"Afternoon tea is work! At least, for beautiful girls like us," Elysia declared, her tone dripping with playful irony. "Join us, won't you?"

Mobius took a sip of coffee. The familiar taste and slight bitterness relieved the sleepiness that was sweeping over her.

This body is really not good... Mobius complained in her heart.

"But the way she looked just now... it seemed like she was expecting someone!" Mobius looked at Elysia and the group who were staring at the stairs

"Sakura has changed into new clothes; we want to see them!" Elysia, who felt her beautiful girl detector vibrating, turned towards Mobius and explained.

Mobius frowned at the mention of Sakura. Sure, the girl could fight like a demon and cold all day, but playing dress-up? Seemed out of character. Still, she didn't bother arguing, just took another long sip of her coffee. Priorities, people.

Elysia, ever the instigator, suddenly turned her attention to Mobius. "Speaking of makeovers... Dr. Mobius, you've been a bit lax with your appearance lately!"

Mobius could only stare blankly at her

"How about I help you out?" Elysia continued, that mischievous glint back in her eyes. "I've got loads of pink things - I bet they'd look fabulous on you!"