Girls' Frontline: My Apocalypse with Dolls

Page 426

"Uh..."

What did I do wrong again...?

......

"Trying to drink right after causing trouble, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Meanwhile, Aphrodite stopped Morse. Regardless of why Vulcan was under her tight control, she had to figure out her motives to avoid posing a threat to Yingque.

“I have no intention of arguing with you about what you want,” Morse glanced at her and walked straight to the bar. “The princess doesn’t like to see arguments in the house, and I don’t want to upset her. That’s all I have to say.”

It's unclear who the "princess" zombie she mentioned is, but the general idea is that she doesn't want any conflict here. It's a rather ambiguous answer; perhaps it's just that it's not convenient to take action here?

Just as she was about to press for more details, Shina, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, finally spoke up: "New friends, we're all on the same side, there's no need to ask about motives." She then pointed to her head: "We're the residents of the attic, and we're having a 'tea party' here this morning."

......ah?

After looking around, it seemed that the patrons present did indeed have somewhat similar clothing styles, and surprisingly, they were all women...

So, this guy who doesn't seem friendly...?

Morse, the person involved, had already sat down at the bar. Yingque was also waiting there at some point. Although she was still expressionless, one could feel her goodwill towards the guest in front of her.

"What kind of wine are you planning to start the day with, Morse?"

"Hmm... Let me think for a moment... Mai Tai, perhaps that's what you call him?"

Morse has always had a poor memory for these cocktail names. She just drinks them and only gives her opinions as good or bad. How could she possibly remember these impressive-sounding but incomprehensible names?

But Yingque already understood. After flipping through a black hand-bound notebook, he turned back to the tavern and started choosing: "It seems that last night's work must have been quite tiring. I need a drink like this to cleanse my system."

"Uh, um...yes..."

Tsk, I wanted a drink to help me sleep, but I got a refreshing one. Did I mix up the names again?

Who cares, as long as it tastes good...

At least in the eyes of others, Morse's attitude toward abundance and scarcity was clearly much better than his attitude toward the shrikes.

"It seems the misunderstanding is bigger than I thought..." Juno nodded to herself, memorizing the nearby faces in the cloud map.

Aphrodite, however, chose to continue negotiating with Sena: "So, are all the people currently in the bar...?"

"Yes, they're all our own people. Didn't Luo Fan tell you beforehand? There are far more people living in this bar than you can imagine."

...They had no idea that their mission involved so many people of unknown affiliation as their colleagues, and besides, could this bar really accommodate so many people?

However, this is not something the shrike can concern itself with. If everyone present is on their side and seems to understand the nature of Luo Fan's work, then subsequent coordination and cooperation will be much easier.

The prerequisite is that everyone present has sufficient professional competence...

......

“I can hear the creaking of your gears, the mechanical child born from the ‘Chief’.”

"Alas!"

Nekitia's words came out of nowhere, causing Vulcan, who was still in a daze, to have a stress response. But this seemed to be exactly what Nekitia had expected, and the corners of her mouth inexplicably turned up.

"The response has reached such a human level that it seems that Gagsherav's series of actions went quite smoothly."

"Uh, sorry, what are you saying?"

As a highly intelligent Nieto, Vulcan never imagined that one day she would be completely baffled by everything around her: the identification of her own identity, the inexplicable people and powers, and the seemingly profound but actually incomprehensible words—all of which were beyond her comprehension.

Nekitia just smiled and said, "It's nothing, just congratulations to you, the mechanical offspring, for taking the first step towards a new life. Mr. Law is willing to give you the dignity and status of being 'human,' so be sure to cherish it and not disappoint his good intentions."

"Uh, okay...?"

Wasn't it Pascal who created them? Although Boss Luo was Pascal's designated direct boss for them, it seems that Luo Fan really can't be associated with their birth, right?

But this series of thoughts alone is enough to confirm Nekitia's words.

When they, as machines, react in a personalized way to external stimuli and question or reject their settings, that is the first step for machines to be reborn.

The summit is progressing very smoothly...

682 Soothing Serenade

PS: I recommend "Nocturne" (a soothing serenade) – anhydrous copper acetate.

Although the initial encounter wasn't pleasant, it did make them realize the number of people they were working with. These were the people in the bar who would be connected to their future actions. They were quite a few, and they knew almost everything about Luo Fan's activities. This meant that, aside from unrelated people, there was only one person they needed to keep quiet about in the bar.

Meanwhile, the Shrike also discovered that this place served as a teahouse and meeting point for members within the entire Lovan organization, including members from the orchestra, Martyrs Teams One through Three, and the Ironblood Workshop—the only two members who hadn't left—as well as members from the Gray Company's security and intelligence departments...

Even the top leader of the intelligence department is here...

“Leave the rest of the work to us. Yingque, go and rest for a while. You’ve been busy for several days.”

"Hmm, but... I think I'll stay here. Sitting behind the bar is fine too..."

Yingque was grateful for the kindness shown to her by the band members, including Shina, but considering her current state...

"You should go back and get some sleep. You look much more haggard. If you keep going like this, it'll be troublesome if he sees you like this when he comes back."

That sounds reasonable...

"Well... okay, thank you for your help."

Unable to refuse such hospitality, she had no choice but to accept, and besides, she did seem to need a short rest.

After receiving permission, several band members, whose instruments were unknown, came to the bar to prepare to take over the work for the night. Today was Saturday, which was a 24-hour business day, meaning that Yingque would have the opportunity to sleep from tonight until early tomorrow morning without having to work, and could finally return to a quiet environment.

But I don't really want to go back to that kind of environment...

After Luo Fan had been away for a long time, what comforted him was his job, which wasn't too stressful, and the company of his friends in the bar. Although he often sat there as a listener and found it difficult to join in their conversations, even so, it was enough to occasionally fill his desolate heart. Companionship was the only sweet medicine.

But this is not a reason for a 19-year-old girl to work at a high intensity for several days in a row without rest.

I'll just change my clothes quickly and get ready for bed...

Thinking this, Yingque stepped onto the stairs leading to the second floor. It was only a corner away from the bar, yet it was as if the joyful voices of the crowd were worlds apart.

She seemed to understand something; she ultimately didn't belong in that noisy place. Without him, and with the familiar girls by her side, the huge bar seemed to have nothing to do with her. She sat on that bar stool not because she was the hostess, not because the place brought her so much profit, but simply because someone she still deeply loved had once sat on that chair.

She will not become him, she will not forget or betray him. Day after day, she cleans and spins the bar stool, letting the screws loosen and the lubricant dry, then repairing it again, until he returns here and is amazed that it seems no different from before.

And I have always been here, never leaving.

However, the second set of footsteps on the stairs, which did not belong to her, caught her attention. When she turned around, she saw that one of the members of the Shrike had caught up with her at some point, with his eyes still slightly closed. How could she manage to climb the stairs steadily without relying on her eyes?

"Juno?"

Seemingly pleased that she had finally been noticed, Juno smiled and nodded to Ying: "Hmm, hello."

"Is there anything you need?"

“You have prepared enough for us, there is nothing we need,” she said, her tone shifting, her eyebrows inexplicably furrowing, as if distress were written all over her face, “but it seems that Yingque is not as happy as we thought?”

Ok?

"No, I feel that being able to gather with everyone in a bar and chat about everyday things is already pretty good. My life is stable and secure, so what could possibly make me worried, or rather, what reason could I possibly have to be unhappy?"

"You miss him a lot, don't you?"

"..."

A weary smile froze on her delicate features, then she involuntarily returned to normal, revealing a melancholy bud beneath her enthusiasm.

Yingque turned around and continued walking up the stairs.

"yes......"

How could I not miss him? When he left, I couldn't even get out of bed. Now that life can go on normally, he's not here with me. There are so many things we could do together, so many meals we could eat together. Although the band members are just as enthusiastic, I guess I'm still better off with familiar friends.

Even the noisy MDR is gone, and SAT8 is out working all day because of their debut. The only one left here who is familiar with me is the agent, who is currently shopping at Walmart and not at home.

Juno stopped talking and silently followed behind Yingque until the two arrived at the door of Yingque's room.

Ying Que was somewhat surprised: "Do you want to come in?"

Will it disturb your rest?

"Um...no, wait a moment..."

Yingque closed the door, and Juno stood quietly in front of it, waiting. A minute later, the door opened again, and there stood a girl in a black nightgown.

Her simple and elegant image, paired with a plain nightgown without any fancy embellishments, is like that of a devoted jester who knows that no matter what, he can never reach the level of overshadowing the host. At the same time, it also interprets the fundamental meaning of talent and beauty not being outwardly displayed. Only Luo Fan has the opportunity to see her like this.

"bring it on."

Juno marveled inwardly as she stepped into the room.

Similarly, there were no conspicuous ornaments to be seen, just like her and her lover, pale and beautiful.

But those photos by her bedside are enough to tell you what she has been through during this time.

Juno nodded slightly: "Will it be uncomfortable to wait like this, or will you feel like blaming him?"

“No, how could that be?” Ying Que shook her head and said, “The only thing that has changed is the degree of my longing for him, uh, and... my hair. I hope this can be proof that I love him.”

He once said he liked long white hair, and she kept it, and without any dyeing, it turned white. What is the reason for this? How could it be so magical?

It doesn't matter. Although it may seem a bit pale, he is willing to accept this change simply because he likes it.

That's all...

683 scarves

"It's like shouldering a heavy responsibility. For Yingque, this kind of love probably wouldn't be a burden, would it?"

Ying Que replied without hesitation, “Yes, my love for him has never been a burden, nor can it be called a responsibility. I cannot convince myself to abandon such feelings. Responsibility may sound somewhat coercive, but I have never felt forced or restricted, as if I were imprisoned by him in the deep palace. No, I voluntarily stay here and maintain everything here as it was when he left.”

This tidy room is probably the best proof that even though we are far apart, looking at those photos still helps me fall asleep.

The girl's performance once again surprised Juno. The psychological problems that Luo Fan had emphasized now seemed not so serious. She had successfully found the perfect balance between distance and intimacy. While maintaining a pure love that did not deteriorate, she also made peace with herself.

There was no unease, no suspicion, no anger; everything was perfectly natural, achieving the most ideal state in a relationship.

For each other, it's not an inseparable dependence, but rather a true enrichment of one's spiritual world.

Juno couldn't hide her smile. She really liked this simple and devoted girl. It was hard to imagine how she could be so willing to live in this gilded cage, completely unaware of everything, with demons and butchers surrounding her.

But perhaps she could offer her a small helping hand at this time...

"Would you like to learn flower arranging?"

"Flower arrangement?" Yingque was a little confused, as she seemed to have learned something similar in a practical class before.

"Yes, you really hope to surprise him with everything when he comes back, right?" Juno leaned down and stuffed a book into Yingque's arms: "How about you learn something? Tidy up the house nicely and give him a surprise, okay?"

Flowers, yes, perhaps they can help while away the dreary time when one is feeling listless, or perhaps, as Juno said, they can leave him with a surprise when he returns.

Moreover, the area under the flowers is indeed a good place to hide many things...

“Okay,” Yingque nodded happily, but still had some doubts: “But, it seems like the expenses will be very high?”

"There's no need to worry. I have some friends at garden houses who regularly provide me with live flowers. We just need to enjoy the process."

After saying that, Juno took out an exquisite camera from behind her: "After you learn it, every time you finish a piece of work and put a basket of flowers at home, I will take a picture of you to leave for everyone and record the process of change, okay?"

“Yes, of course!” Ying Que nodded. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

"Please give me your advice."

They hit it off immediately, and after a brief handshake, Juno prepared to leave: "Then I'll go and make some preparations. Maybe we can start tomorrow."

"Ah."

......

The space above the bar was quieter than expected, perhaps because everyone who brought the noise had already left, leaving only a few androids guarding the empty room.

And that strange humanoid figure I bumped into at the door earlier—it looked furtive, like it was plotting something...

One minute ago...

"Ok?"

"Huh? Oh! I...I was just passing by, just passing by!"

A tactical doll with long, wine-red hair, belonging to Griffin and one of Lofan's members. It's surprising that most of the people appearing in sight so far are Paradis's Nieto. Haven't all of Griffin's members gone out with Lofan yet?

The young girl's face was already more crimson than a Cabernet Sauvignon wine, a stark contrast to Juno's slightly closed eyes and unwavering composure. Seemingly unable to bear Juno's calm demeanor, she quickly left.

I still have an unfinished scarf in my hand...

Um......