“I only heard this from the person in charge. I will immediately find out the specific details. Until then, let Niuniu stay here!” Caine’s expression remained heavy.
Robin nodded, still saying nothing.
Caine was highly efficient; by late night, she had gathered all the necessary information.
Caine only shared the matter with Zhong Shenxiu and Robin. When she finished recounting the details, the room fell into a brief silence.
The death of Niuniu’s mother was confirmed: she had accidentally knocked over an expensive vase while working and was subsequently killed by one of the supervisors from the “Stasi Family.”
In this world of the strong preying on the weak, human lives held no more value than weeds, especially for those at the very bottom of society.
Caine and Robin both looked at Zhong Shenxiu, awaiting his decision!
The “Stasi Family,” was it? It seemed a visit was necessary!
But before that, some matters needed to be settled first. First, Niuniu’s mother’s funeral arrangements had to be handled. Second, this truth could not be concealed from Niuniu. Although telling her would be cruel, it was better than deceiving her continuously!
Both these tasks were delegated to Caine, as neither Zhong Shenxiu nor Robin excelled at such delicate affairs. Their expertise lay in confronting culprits directly!
After seven full days of effort, Niuniu finally began to emerge from her grief.
Although Niuniu had lost her mother in this tragedy, she would not be alone. Caine and the others were now her family and would care for her with even greater tenderness in the future.
Sorrow was temporary; they believed Niuniu would find happiness ahead. She would no longer go hungry, nor would she have to fear being beaten or scolded by others—her life was only just beginning! Go for it, Niuniu, we all support you!
In the days that followed, Caine and Robin stayed close to Niuniu. Occasionally, the two women, Charlotte and Angelia, would visit to play with her. Soon after, even Marksin, Elena, and the others quickly grew fond of Niuniu’s cuteness and obedience; everyone loved her as if she were their own child.
The preliminary matters had been concluded; next came the “visit” to the “Stasi Family.”
It was a dark and stormy night. As the world grew quiet in the deep hours, Zhong Shenxiu set out with Robin.
Their speed was incredible, like two specters vanishing in the darkness, gone in the blink of an eye!
In mere moments, they arrived before the main gate of the “Stasi Family” estate.
Without pausing, the two vaulted over the wall and slipped inside. Though the grounds were heavily guarded, with patrols of guards constantly passing by, for these two little deviants, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, the security was practically nonexistent.
At that moment, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin paused behind a rockery. Because the area was shadowed and their location well-concealed, even when guards passed within five meters of them, they were not discovered.
Robin’s eyes glinted with cold light, her face set in solemn resolve; she was clearly geared up for a major confrontation. Meanwhile, Zhong Shenxiu was deploying his psychic waves to conduct an investigation, determining the most direct route to their objective!
The “Stasi Family” truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost great family of the “Winter Moon Empire”; the sheer scale was the largest Zhong Shenxiu had ever encountered!
Although such large estates possessed numerous buildings, it was relatively easy to distinguish the residence of the family patriarch.
In just a few minutes, a knowing, intriguing smile touched Zhong Shenxiu’s lips—it seemed he had found where he needed to go!
Giving Robin a subtle signal, the two turned back into ghosts, darting toward the inner courtyard.
With only a few bounds, they halted near a solemn-looking annex. Despite the tight security outside, this specific courtyard appeared unusually desolate. It was clearly a vital area, strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel!
At that moment, the “Stasi Family” had just concluded a memorial rite, and the main figures were relaxing and chatting in the living room.
Suddenly, Patriarch Niben frowned deeply and asked in a low voice, “Who is outside?”
Though Niben was well over a hundred years old, he appeared as vigorous as a man in his sixties. As a mid-tier Sword God, he was the backbone of the “Stasi Family.”
The others present were also formidable, all seemingly over fifty. While they too had heard the faint sound of movement outside, they hadn't paid much mind; this was, after all, the heart of the “Stasi Family,” and ordinary folk neither entered nor dared to enter.
This footfall might be a family member coming to report something. But what perplexed them was that half an hour had passed, yet no one had entered, nor was there any sound of a knock.
What was going on?
A look of deep strangeness crossed all their faces.
Just then, a deafening BOOM echoed, shaking the entire room!
“What was that?” Patriarch Niben was the first to spring from his chair. The sound had clearly originated from the courtyard. What in the world had happened?
Everyone rushed out of the room, and the next instant, they were all stunned into immobility!
In the very center of the courtyard lay a massive crater, about ten meters in diameter, with thick black smoke billowing upwards. Cracks radiated outward from the edge of the pit, affecting surrounding walls and several smaller structures!
As these elders tried to process what had occurred, a light breeze swept by, dissipating some of the thick black smoke to reveal two small figures.
“Oh, you’re all out now, are you?” Zhong Shenxiu’s somewhat youthful voice carried across the air.
Children? The brows of the elders furrowed simultaneously. Their questions hadn’t lessened; they had only multiplied.
Due to the immense noise, a large contingent of guards had rushed in from outside. A middle-aged man led the group.
They, too, were shocked upon seeing the state of the courtyard, utterly unable to comprehend what could have caused such destruction!
“Greetings, Patriarch!” the middle-aged man immediately approached Niben upon seeing him.
Niben’s face was grim, and his tone turned icy as he demanded, “What are these two children doing here? This is a restricted area—how was your guard detail so lax that you let two children in?”
The middle-aged man started, following Niben’s gaze, and indeed saw the two children standing calmly beside the massive pit.
A jolt went through the middle-aged man’s heart. He had never imagined two children could breach this place. He felt utterly bewildered; their outer defenses were impenetrable—not even a mouse should have managed entry—yet the evidence was undeniable!
This man was genuinely wronged. Given the strength of Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, even if the area had been sealed airtight, they could have entered effortlessly!
“It is my failure in discipline!” the middle-aged man bowed quickly, recognizing that now was not the time to search for scapegoats.
“What about this crater?” Niben’s voice grew colder; it was evident he was reaching the limit of his patience!
Indeed, daring to create such a disturbance here was clearly an act of utter contempt for him as the Patriarch, or perhaps an outright provocation!
Sweat beaded instantly on the middle-aged man’s forehead. He had only just arrived and had no idea what had transpired, but admitting ignorance would only further anger Niben. Thus, he stood frozen in place.
“It seems the important figures are all here,” Zhong Shenxiu’s voice sounded again, and he slowly approached Niben, Robin following closely.
Everyone’s attention was drawn by Zhong Shenxiu’s words. They felt a strange sensation—as if the child’s statement carried the undertone of a successful plot?
Zhong Shenxiu stopped about seven meters from Niben. Despite being scrutinized by so many people, his expression remained placid. Robin stayed close by his side, her posture clearly indicating readiness for combat at the highest level; one word from Zhong Shenxiu, and she would instantly neutralize everyone present!
Initially, Niben assumed Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were the children of servants who had wandered in by mistake. However, as they drew nearer, a sense of foreboding struck him. With every step Zhong Shenxiu took, Niben felt the proximity of danger increase!
Who were these children? Normal children would not maintain such calm expressions in the face of such a grand assembly, and the words spoken were unsettlingly strange?
Niben fell into deep thought. Just then, several more people rushed in from outside; judging by their attire, they were not guards.
Among these newcomers, there were two familiar faces: Austin and Gallie! They had returned home after being eliminated from the “Royal Tournament,” and had come over out of curiosity when they heard the commotion.
“Ah!” A sharp cry suddenly burst from Gallie’s lips, starkly evident in the otherwise hushed environment.
His eyes were fixed directly on Robin; his entire being was twisted in horror, as if he had seen a ghost. He was utterly paralyzed, unable to believe he was encountering that little menace in this place—the very person who haunted his nightmares!
Austin was also surprised. Having seen Zhong Shenxiu and Robin multiple times, he recognized them instantly. He hadn’t expected to see these two little figures at this particular time and place!
Since he hadn't witnessed Robin’s true power firsthand, he wasn't as violently reactive as Gallie, expressing only shock.
All eyes turned to Gallie, perplexed as to why he had cried out so loudly.
“Gallie, what is it?” Niben asked sternly. Through Gallie’s expression, he dimly guessed that Gallie must know something, or he wouldn’t be this agitated.
Gallie remained motionless, like a wooden figure, offering no reply.
Austin nudged Gallie several times secretly, but to no effect.
“Greetings, Great-Grandfather!” Austin, unwilling to emulate Gallie’s behavior, stepped forward and bowed to Niben.
Niben nodded to Austin but said nothing, his gaze returning to Gallie.
“Gallie, the Patriarch is questioning you. Hurry up and answer!” an elderly man suddenly barked angrily.
That reprimand, surprisingly, had an effect. Gallie shuddered slightly and finally regained some composure, though his face remained noticeably pale.
“She, she—” Gallie pointed a finger at Robin, attempting to speak, but a sharp look from Robin silenced him instantly.
Not wanting Gallie to be punished, Austin quickly smoothed things over: “Great-Grandfather, we know these two children. How did they get here?”
This question immediately captured Niben’s attention, as did everyone else’s as they refocused on Austin.
“You know them?” Niben looked at Austin with surprise.
“That little girl is named Robin. In ‘Gulu City,’ she once represented the ‘Dubulai Magic Academy’ in the academy competition. Later, for unknown reasons, she became associated with students from the ‘Hikikomori Magic Academy,’” Austin recounted everything he knew truthfully.
“Then how are they here? Who let them in?”
Niben firmly believed that without inside help, no matter how skilled they were, they could not have arrived here without anyone noticing!
Austin paused, having initially assumed the Patriarch had invited the children here!
“She, she’s the one who beat me up!” At that critical juncture, Gallie finally managed to voice the words trapped in his mind.
This statement instantly redirected Niben’s attention.
“What did you say?” A strange glint flashed in Niben’s eyes.
Years ago, when Gallie awoke from serious injury, Niben had questioned him intensely about the incident. The answer he received—that he was beaten by a little girl—was so absurd that Niben refused to believe it. He had pressed for the real reason multiple times, but the answer remained the same. He had always dismissed it as an excuse Gallie used to hide the true cause. But now, brought up again, with the supposed culprit standing right before him, Niben was forced to reconsider!
As everyone began sizing up Robin, several more people hurried in from outside. As soon as they steadied themselves, they too let out cries of shock, much like Gallie.
These newcomers were none other than the responsible leaders whom Robin had previously beaten within an inch of their lives!
It was incredible that Zhong Shenxiu’s single loud explosion had managed to summon all of them!
“Are we all gathered now?” Zhong Shenxiu’s voice cut through the tension again. He had waited long enough. Now that most of the key players were present, it was time to discuss the real business!
The atmosphere suddenly felt taut and bizarre.
The middle-aged man who had led the guards earlier murmured something to Niben, who nodded in response.
Following the middle-aged man’s signal, several guards moved toward Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, clearly intending to seize and interrogate them first!
But were these children people they could possibly touch?
“It seems we must use force before pleasantries,” Zhong Shenxiu murmured, seemingly to himself.
Robin, beside him, understood the implication hidden in his words. She stepped forward two paces, fixing the advancing guards with an icy stare.
She had been waiting long enough; now, she finally had permission to act!