Chapter 29: Now they really have an AK.
On her way back to Dawn Manor, Eve encountered 837 little girls and achieved a score of 55 out of 53 "Don't Look at Her Feet" challenges. Come and try it in Hotel Room 94 too!
Continuing from the previous article:
Eve thought for a moment. “Young Miss came out to have fun. I was the one who ruined the mood.”
“On the way back, I know a niche dessert shop that I strongly recommend. Would Young Miss like to try it? Consider it… an apology.”
Eve did not say she would buy it for her. She said “try it,” and asked for her opinion. It conveyed her intention to make amends without overstepping.
And Eve recalled what the Head Maid had mentioned before—Vivian had a sweet tooth. She would likely be interested in desserts.
Sure enough, Vivian reacted. “Niche…? Hmph. Who knows whether it is any good.”
“How will you know if you do not try?” Eve said, certain of her curiosity.
At that, Vivian finally turned her face back, giving Eve a brief sideways glance before looking away again. “Then… I will try it. No—do not think this means I have forgiven you!”
“Then I will… agree to one more request from Young Miss.”
“I will not—” Vivian spoke too quickly. When she realized what she had said, she stared straight at Eve. “Anything?”
Eve nodded. “Young Miss may say it directly.”
Vivian paused. She could not immediately think of any request, and this was not a good place to “cash in” a promise.
After considering it, she curled her lips and said casually, “I have not decided. I will say it after we return.”
Vivian had even forgotten her own status. She could have forced a command through, yet she took a promise about a request seriously.
Besides… Eve was not someone who responded well to being pressured.
Vivian resumed walking, then suddenly stopped again, her head lowered as she muttered softly, “My feet are a little sore…”
“Are we returning now?” Eve asked.
“How can you hear that, too…”
BOOM—!
A sudden explosion of sound cut off what Vivian was about to say.
She did not even react before a strand of red hair drifted down from beside her cheek.
The cause was unmistakable—a bullet embedded in the wall, having flown past her cheek so closely it nearly grazed her.
Vivian froze. Her pupils widened and her expression locked. She instinctively raised a hand to touch her cheek, then looked down at the strand of hair on the ground.
“Get down,” Eve’s voice followed immediately.
Her blood-red eyes snapped toward the source of the gunfire. At a distant intersection, two groups were exchanging fire—one side in dark coats, the other in suits and ties.
Weapons still raised, they fought violently, gunshots ringing out one after another like a funeral bell amid fleeing pedestrians.
BANG! BANG! BANG…!
“Tangxin and Jiuyi are fighting again!” a passerby screamed as he ran past them.
“Run!”
“Damn it! What is wrong with these lunatics today?!”
Hearing that, Eve realized it was Tangxin and Jiuyi—two mafia factions. She could only marvel at their luck today. Even a conflict between mafia groups had found them.
It was nothing more than a turf dispute again—either territory, or someone’s venue had been smashed and they were trying to reclaim face.
Vivian finally came back to herself, anger rising across her face. “They dare… Those people actually dare…”
“This is not the time to be angry, Young Miss,” Eve cut off the fury that was about to erupt.
Vivian was about to snap back, but another gunshot rang out. A bullet struck the lightbulb hanging on the wall behind them, and glass shards sprayed outward.
If Eve had not yanked Vivian aside in time, there might have been marks left on her delicate cheek.
Without waiting for Vivian’s consent, Eve lightly held her by the arm and guided her toward the nearest alley with a way out.
“Stay close to me,” Eve said in a low voice, scanning the environment as her mind mapped a relatively safe route to withdraw.
Vivian bit her lip and nodded.
They had barely taken a few steps when the clash at the intersection escalated. Both sides opened up in a full exchange, bullets flying everywhere—honestly, their aim left much to be desired.
Windows shattered. Brick walls sprouted fresh holes. Gunfire mingled with cries of pain.
Eve led Vivian along the shadows cast by buildings and, in the same motion, put away her parasol. Just as they reached the alley that led out, three men in black suits suddenly rushed out from the side.
One held a pistol. The other two carried short batons.
The gunman immediately raised his weapon. “Who are you?!”
Eve had not even spoken yet when Vivian tried to pour fuel on the fire with her arrogance. “Move. Do you know who I am?!”
Eve sighed inwardly. Young Miss, you are truly something… Do you think this is the outer district where people listen to reason?
Sure enough, the three exchanged a glance. The gunman sneered. “Who the hell cares who you are? You are blocking Jiuyi’s business—are you tired of living? Get them!”
The moment he spoke, the man with the baton charged Eve.
The iron baton whistled through the air as it came down—
At the critical moment, Eve pushed Vivian lightly to the side. “Young Miss, run forward into the alley. Do not stop.”
At the same time, Eve slipped sideways. The baton scraped past her shoulder and struck nothing.
The attacker overextended and lost his balance. Eve did not give him a chance. She raised her foot and drove a vicious kick into his legs as they split.
A sound followed, as though something had cracked.
“OOOHHHH—AAAAAAH!!!”
The man screamed. The baton flew from his grip, and he dropped to his knees clutching his groin.
It happened too quickly. The others had not even processed how their companion went down. They only saw the maid-uniformed woman move, and their man was suddenly kneeling.
“This woman is not right!” the gunman shouted. He no longer hesitated, raising his hand and pulling the trigger.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The instant Eve took down the attacker, she had already predicted the shots. She seized the man by the collar, yanked him up, and used him as a human shield.
Bullets tore into the “shield’s” leg—nonlethal, but more than enough to make him howl again. “Agh!”
Eve retreated to the corner, then discarded the “shield” and slipped behind cover.
Behind the corner, Eve’s breathing remained steady. She thought, He has a gun. This outfit is rather nice. If it gets ruined, it will be troublesome to explain to the Head Maid…
This is not the time to worry about your clothes!
Footsteps approached.
Eve lifted her gaze. Then, without hesitation, she reached into the pocket hidden within her skirt and took out a coin.
She flicked her wrist toward a shelf stacked with empty wooden crates nearby, aiming for a rusted support point at the base, and launched it like a bullet.
CLACK! CRASH—!
The support was already weakened by rust. The entire shelf collapsed at once, crashing down in their direction.
“Damn it… fall back!”
It did not cause real harm, but the noise was enormous. Dust billowed everywhere, briefly obscuring sight and movement.
And she was not done.
Eve burst out with lightning speed. The black-and-white figure flashed left and right through dust and shadow, impossible to track.
All that could be seen was a crimson line drawn from her eyes, suspended in the air.
Vampire vision, kid!