Poverty makes me capable of anything.

An Ran was about to call out "Ella" when she suddenly turned her head away.

It was that fiery red-haired loli who shouted it.

Did I learn her name from Ella's words, or...?

"That's right, I've known you for a while. Would you like to talk to me?"

Trouble has indeed arrived.

An Ran nodded: "Okay."

Afterwards, they still went into Mikhail's shop.

Because of the high stool, the red-haired loli could talk to An Ran smoothly.

Chapter 28 On the Verge of Eruption

An Ran asked, "Would you like something sweet?"

The red-haired girl rolled her eyes: "I'm not a child."

“Not everyone who eats sweets is a child,” Anran earnestly corrected her misconception.

"Can you honestly say that's not what you were thinking just now?"

"Why wouldn't you dare?"

An Ran said with a face full of doubt.

"Your skin is thicker than I imagined."

"This is slander!"

"You two..."

Mikhail looked awkwardly at Anran and the red-haired loli.

These two women, who look like sisters next door, are not people to be trifled with.

An Ran could lift a steel plate the size of a truck with one hand, while that seemingly younger little girl could change the weather with a wave of her hand.

They're all ruthless.

However, even if he couldn't afford to offend them, he still had to say something.

Are you going to order or not?

Mikhail laughed so hard his eyes almost disappeared.

However, the tension in his facial muscles still revealed his inner unease.

Arguing is a small matter.

If a fight breaks out, his little shop won't stand a chance; the roof could probably be blown off with a flick of the wrist.

"The same as always."

An Ran patted the bar counter lightly, acting like a regular customer.

"I'm the same as her."

Mikhail asked, "Is it okay to have alcohol?"

The red-haired loli chuckled: "Don't let my age fool you, I'm actually older than her."

"..."

Mikhail paused for a moment and said, "Please wait a moment, both guests."

After he left, only An Ran and the red-haired loli were left in the shop.

An Ran spoke first: "Tell me who you are."

"You can just call me Tsychia."

"Fake name?"

"Real name!" Ciqia twisted her hips, turning the high stool 90 degrees. With her small hands on the bar, she looked at An Ran and said, "I've realized you're really annoying. I didn't realize it before."

"We've never met before."

"Actually, we have met before."

An Ran asked, "So, what do you want from me?"

Why did you travel all the way from the Dust Realm to come here?

An Ran just stared at Ciqiya like that.

"Ok?"

Ciqiya blinked in confusion.

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" An Ran sneered.

She is ready.

Be ready at any time to summon the Guardian and stomp on Tsukiya's head.

The advanced version of the Guardian is not yet fully completed, but it is not immobile; it is now equivalent to a level 187 boss.

"So that's what you're worried about." Tszky nodded. "I thought that as a lolicon, you wouldn't have any guard up when you see a loli."

"hehe."

An Ran continued to sneer.

"It seems you really think I'm a fool."

Although she couldn't see through Tsukiya's level, An Ran wasn't one to sit idly by and wait for death.

"Calm down."

Ciqiya raised her right hand and pressed it down slightly, and Anran's expression suddenly changed.

Even without the game's prompts, she could feel the immense pressure.

An invisible force, formed by the condensation of momentum, distorted space, and An Ran discovered that her ability to teleport was restricted.

Ella, who was waiting outside, did not sense anything unusual. In her field of vision, Anran was having a pleasant conversation with Tsycia.

Although she had a slight unease, Ella didn't say anything since they were discussing serious matters.

“If I really wanted to do something to you, even if you called Ella over, it wouldn’t make a difference,” Tszky said.

"..."

An Ran remained silent.

Just then, Mikhail walked over carrying a plate.

"The drinks you ordered."

Snap, snap.

After a soft sound, the tense atmosphere eased slightly, and An Ran discovered that the spatial restrictions had also been lifted.

“Actually,” Tsykia said, “I am a member of the Silent City.”

Ok?

An Ran immediately thought of Virginia, who also had bright red hair.

"You're the Controller's daughter!?"

Tsykya immediately denied it: "Don't talk nonsense!"

"So they are her clansmen?"

"In a sense, that's true."

Anran decided to believe it for the time being.

She asked, "How did you get here?"

"For the conflict between the Eternal Star Path and the Exiled Empire."

"Hmm?" An Ran frowned. "I remember that the controller doesn't take sides, right?"

Tsykia sighed, "At this point, it's incredibly difficult not to take sides. I think you understand that too. Besides, Thousand Wheel Bay is right next to the Silent Land. If we continue to waver, the victors might target Silent City next after this war ends."

That makes sense.

Tsykia said, "I know you still have doubts, and it's normal that you still question my identity. But I can tell you in detail everything you did in Silent City, such as how you refused the Controller's invitation, using the reason that you were destined to become an adventurer."

Anran nodded.

This is true.

It seems that Tsykia really is from Silent City.

but……

I don't care where you're from.

Ask your questions and then leave quickly.

An Ran doesn't want to carry a "monitor" around.

The fact that she was directing the Crimson Lotus King to do evil deeds behind the scenes must not be exposed.

"Alright, let's get back to my question. How did you end up here? I wasn't really concerned at first, but seeing all those strangers outside, I started to think something was off."

"Personal matters."

"You want to get involved in this war?"

"I don't have that idea."

Ciqiya said, "It's best if there isn't. Right now, your best choice is to stay away from these pointless disputes and not throw yourself into the fire. With your talent, you might be able to reach the doorstep of the Star Domain Ruler within a few decades."

Decades?

That would take a while.

This game probably won't last that long, right?