The fairy maid cheers for her deceased master today.

Clearly, Elena's IQ is higher than Angel's.

Ex, of course, thought the same thing as Elena.

Now that the rules governing Jack's appearance are known, there's no need to even look for Jack's scarecrow... Wouldn't it be faster to simply create a scarecrow using the equivalent exchange ability?

Anyway, once there's a preview, Jack will probably have to make his move in half a day.

"That's its weakness, and that's where we can exploit it. As long as we can 'fake' these omens, we can lead it where we want it to go..."

"Lure him to the abandoned factory." Elena had already figured it out. "You want to lure Jack to that factory so that he and the kidnappers can keep each other occupied. But, according to the news, Jack prefers to attack women."

Elena worried that Jack could use this rule to circumvent the action.

"No, firstly, according to the records, Jack likes to attack women, but he's not incapable of attacking men. Secondly, there's a woman inside the factory being guarded by the kidnappers."

Given the factory's level of defense, Jack would inevitably be surrounded and attacked if anything happened. Then Jack would turn his attention to the others.

"Then Catherine..."

“That’s right.” X looked at her approvingly. “So we’re not just going to sit around and wait for them to decide who wins. Once Jack and the gangsters start fighting, we’ll have to infiltrate the factory.”

This is the only foolproof plan. X wouldn't really place his hopes for saving people on Jack.

Jack is a monster.

A smile finally appeared on Angel's little face: "Master is so amazing! This idea is fantastic!"

"But if we just bring the scarecrow, that probably won't work either."

Irene continued to ponder, already resembling a detective.

"Everyone knows Jack's rules. So there are bound to be people who like to play pranks and will make scarecrows to scare others. Or they might make normal scarecrows and use them without attracting Jack."

"certainly."

The ghostly flicker of gaslight, anonymous letters, charred marks, and scarecrows.

If these four methods of announcement appear individually, then there may indeed be an element of chance involved.

For example, a gas lamp malfunctions, a letter is sent to the wrong address, or burning something leaves inexplicable burn marks...

Axe's lips curled into a smile: "So we need to be ruthless. We need to leave Jack with no room for wishful thinking."

"What do you mean?"

"Make all four trailers! Use them together!"

The trailers are all out, and the atmosphere is already set.

If Jack doesn't show up soon, it won't have to stay in Elena's inner world anymore.

Angel gasped, suddenly feeling guilty: "I have a feeling Jack will hate us."

"It won't make a difference if we do it this time."

Anyway, they've already been resented for a long time.

X patted her head, then looked at Elena: "Elena, are you ready? This is dangerous."

Irene took a deep breath, her emerald eyes gleaming with unwavering determination: "For Sister Catherine, I'd do anything!"

"Alright." Ex stood up. "Then let's get started. Jack likes 'rituals,' so let's give him a grand 'opening ceremony.'"

■

X, Elena, and Angel left for a while before sneaking back to the vicinity of the abandoned factory.

This time, their goal was clear—not to break in, but to create a "preview" of Jack at the factory gate.

"Master, be careful not to get discovered!"

Angel asked softly, her face turning pale as she looked at the gangsters loitering at the factory gate.

"Don't worry." AX's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable power. "Whatever kind of 'stage' Jack prefers, we'll give him the best stage."

He took out what he had prepared—a rough scarecrow, a small gas lamp, and some chemicals that could create charred marks.

Axe's gaze swept over the factory entrance: "There's a corner over there, perfect for a scarecrow. Elena, use your vines to 'plant' the scarecrow there. Go along the shadows so you don't get spotted."

"Rest assured, Sir Ax. My vines can even dig a tunnel to deliver it, ensuring a foolproof delivery."

"Alright, let's get started."

"OK!"

Elena immediately extended her finger, its tip glowing green. Several thin vines sprouted from the ground, then burrowed back in, beginning to dig a hole.

Before long, the vines successfully made their way to that corner, and then carefully "lifted" the scarecrow up, letting it lean against the wall, making it look as if it had always been there.

The first teaser is here.

"Very good." AX nodded in satisfaction. "Next is the flickering of the gas lamps. Angel, use your ice flowers to create some 'mist' so that the lights flicker within it."

"It's a bit difficult." Angel pondered for a moment.

"Is it possible?"

"Yes! Watch me, Master!"

Angel prepared for a while, probably thinking about how to use magic.

Then she stretched out her hands, her fingertips glowing with a blue light. Several crystal-clear ice flowers gathered in her palms, which she then gently blew toward the factory gate.

Then, without the support of magic, the ice flowers melted in the air, forming a thin mist.

The gas lamps around the factory were shrouded in this fog. The fog quickly dissipated.

Angel used the same trick again, casting spells several times.

And so—the lights flickered in the mist, truly looking like will-o'-the-wisps, eerie and mysterious.

"Hey, what's wrong with that light?" The factory guards naturally noticed the scene as well.

"It's probably just a faulty light. Never mind it."

"Hmph, it better be a malfunction. Otherwise, I'll start to suspect Jack is coming."

"Hahaha, how could that be?"

"That's true, hahaha."

Angel overheard the guards' conversation. She turned to her master and indicated that everything was going well.

"Finally, there are the burn marks." X took out the chemical reagent. "This needs to be made more 'natural.' Like something Jack left himself."

The mark looks like it; you can see it in news reports. It's a "W" symbol.

Elena nodded, manipulated the vines to pick up the potion bottle, and carefully sprinkled the potion in several places at the factory entrance. The potion immediately reacted with the ground, emitting blue smoke and leaving several marks that looked like they had been burned.

"All done." X looked at his "masterpiece" with satisfaction. "The scarecrow, the flickering gaslight, the charred marks... Jack's 'announcement' is ready."

Now all that's missing is an anonymous letter.

The content of the anonymous letter can be anything, since there are no specific reports in the news.

So X simply wrote "I will be visiting soon" with his left hand and handed the letter to Elena.

Elena's magic is still the most useful.

Then Elena's vines, carrying the letter, arrived at the location of the scarecrow.

Then the vine suddenly lashed out.

The envelope flew like a dart, startling the guards at the door who jumped up.

"Who goes there!"

"Wait, what's this?"

Ax nodded in satisfaction. Accurate!

Now, all you need to do is... wait.