Little Angels who provided Nutrient solution:
Weihuan Jihe YY 3 bottles; Snare " Suo Bu Zhu Si, Galan 1981, Yedi Diya 1 bottle;
Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 120: Interlude II - Returning to one's roots
Sheila gave a light chuckle, "They wouldn't count as guests."
A chilling coldness glinted in his blue eyes, his expression mocking and his target clear: "Still, it's better than certain.. uninvited guests."
Bourbon's gaze darkened slightly.
Gin paused while stroking the cat's hand, looking at Sheila with a rare hint of confusion.
This girl has always been a very tactful person; although there was some friction with Bourbon regarding the Scotland matter before.. but generally speaking, situations involving such cold sarcasm and strange words are truly rare.
His brow furrowed instinctively.
As soon as these words were spoken, even Sheila was stunned for a moment. He then lightly rubbed his temples, turned to give Gin a slight nod, left with an expressionless face.
From beginning to end, she did not spare even a single glance for Bourbon or Vermouth.
“What happened to him?” Vermouth asked, slightly stunned by Sheila's strange behavior. He watched the back of the black-haired woman, who left as gracefully as a swirling snowdrift, feeling quite bewildered.
Gin blinked and asked in return, "How should I know?"
But then again, Sheila seemed perfectly normal at first.. why is he suddenly so angry?
Looking at his expression, it doesn't seem like she is targeting Vermouth. In that case.. could it be targeting Bourbon?
But why?
Thinking about Heine's attitude toward Akai Shuichi.. Gin felt as if he had realized something.
Lost in thought, Gin clearly failed to notice Vermouth's repeated glances toward the White cat, until she gave a light cough, prompting him to look back.
"Shouldn't you give Little White back to me?" Vermouth tilted her head slightly, her right hand raised with her middle and ring fingers slightly curled upward.
Gin rubbed White cat's head: "Your ability to name things is on par with Heine's."
"Nonsense," the Blonde-haired beauty retorted.
"You're the only one who knows for sure." Gin had no intention of arguing with her further; he released his grip, preparing to let the White cat run toward her Master.
To his surprise, Little White gave him no face at all, letting out a soft, tender cry while continuing to act cute toward Gin.
Gin, who had been inexplicably clung to: "…………"
Vermouth, abandoned by his pet: "…………"
Bourbon, watching from the side: ".. Pfft."
Gin stared at the little white cat with wide eyes for three seconds, speechless. Seeing that Little White clearly had no intention of following Vermouth, he simply lifted the White cat with both hands and handed her to Vermouth.
Vermouth gave a stiff but polite smile, stepped forward, took the little white cat.
"By the way, has Sheila been in a bad mood these past two days?" Holding the White cat in his arms, the adorable little kitten was clearly reluctant to leave Gin, letting out a grievance-filled "meow" that melted one's heart.
“How should I know?” He blocked the question with the same phrase. Considering Vermouth's rather ambiguous expression, Gin thought for a moment, to avoid trouble, he added, “It's not like I'm Heine.”
The blonde-haired beauty pouted.
This flower already has an owner! (Wrong!)
Yeah, that's not how you play matchmaker.
..
On the other side, Sheila's mood was also at an absolute low.
Even though his junior's words were extremely tactful, Sheila, who had years of international mission experience, still detected his hidden meaning.
Why should we?" the Black-haired girl mocked. "Do they have no one else left? They were mocking us just two days ago, now they're coming to us for help?
Do we have the words 'sucker' written on our foreheads?!
Having already returned to the Villa, Sheila disregarded everything, only lacking an eye roll to express his disdain.
“Senior.. if the 'goods' in the hands of the Seven Birds Society were to be leaked.. many people would be affected.” Xiao Xie was clearly dissatisfied as well, but he still tried his best to persuade him.
Many Japanese will be affected," Sheila corrected coldly. "What does that have to do with me? It's none of my business if they all die!
Even their own Self-Defense Forces don't care about the life or death of civilians, yet they want us to send people to help.. Are you joking?" Sheila took a deep breath and said mockingly, "Weren't you all so powerful not long ago? You ordered us to leave the country immediately. What? Now that you need us, you're playing dead?
As the anger in his chest continued to rise, Sheila's eyes grew increasingly cold. "There was that endless dispute over the Diaoyu Islands not even a few months ago! I am not a person without a temper. I'm laying it out clearly today: tell Uncle Anthony that I don't care how many people Interpol wants to send to help, I am not going. Once the Undercover mission is completed, I am returning to my country. I keep my word!"
His words were forceful and left no room for compromise. Sheila suddenly began to cough, for a moment, not only did his eyes turn red with anger, but his cheeks also flushed slightly.
After hanging up the phone, the Black-haired woman closed his eyes and panted, his expression still faintly tinged with anger.
"Are you alright?" A voice suddenly came from behind, tinged with faint concern. Sheila froze slightly, then turned her head to look at the person who had approached.
This voice was too familiar, so familiar that Sheila didn't feel even a shred of suspicion. He managed to force a smile. "Brother."
Heine took a few steps forward, pulled Sheila down to sit, reached out to touch her forehead. "Why are you suddenly so angry?"
"I was disgusted by some people's behavior." The Black-haired woman had no intention of being polite; his words were sharp, his eyes were cold as ice.
Not long ago, they had forcefully demanded that they leave the country; now that there was a suicidal mission, they had come to talk "cooperation" with them.
Cooperate, my ass! Sheila wanted nothing more than to smash their heads in.
Of course, she certainly wouldn't vent his resentment on innocent civilians, but facing Amuro Tooru, who was almost certainly Public Security..
Of course, every grievance has its source, it is wrong to vent one's anger on the innocent.
It's not right.
Heine rubbed Sheila's head in a comforting manner: "Then just ignore them."
Sheila closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh.
“You..” After a long time.. perhaps not that long, Heine's slightly hesitant voice rang out: "Do you.. want to go to Italy?"
He used the word 'go,' not 'return.'
Sheila opened his eyes.
A faint light flickered in the black-haired woman's eyes, which were the same color as his brother's. Sheila neither agreed nor objected, merely asking in a low voice, "He has been looking for you?"
Both of them understood who this "he" referred to.
“She contacted me,” Heine said indifferently, neither concealing anything nor revealing more: “If.. I mean, if—”
He turned his head, his blue eyes looking at his sister, reflecting Sheila's beautiful, peach-blossom-like countenance: "If you want to find something.. that side is a good choice."
Sheila stiffened slightly.
That's true, she thought.
He knew Brother very well, did he not know his just as well?
It was simply that he chose not to say it—because he had not been told.
"Forget it.. I still have things to finish in Japan." After contemplating for a moment, Sheila finally gave such an answer.
Feasible." Heine did not object. "If there is anything you need me to help with, just tell me directly.
Of course!" Sheila replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "I certainly won't let you off easy.
You!" Heine let out a soft chuckle, reaching out with her Finger to pinch Sheila's tender cheek. "But you're so angry today.. I suppose it's something quite serious, isn't it?
“Who knows?” Sheila said indifferently, a hint of mockery appearing in his eyes. “It hasn't even been that many years since the Fukushima nuclear leak. Back then, everyone was practically playing dead, but this time, they've certainly gained some capability.” (1)
To turn a Level 2 accident into a Level 7 is quite an achievement.
Instead of wasting time arguing with us.. why don't they take care of their own business?!" the Black-haired woman said with a look of expressionless sarcasm. "I hate them.
"In a way.. isn't it a good thing?" Heine hesitated for a long while before deciding to try and comfort her sister from another perspective.
"But if it ends up screwing us over, then it's not a good thing at all!" Sheila puffed out his cheeks, sounding somewhat childish.
For a moment, Heine was actually speechless.
“To be honest, Brother,” Sheila said, his eyes drooping lazily, his stunning looks showing a hint of spring-like drowsiness, yet his words were as sharp as a blade: “Given the efficiency of the Self-Defense Forces, I think if someone flew a helicopter to bomb Tokyo Tower, they might even walk away unscathed.”
"Don't joke like that," Heine scolded with a laugh, rubbing her sister's head, she leaned against her shoulder in response.
Unaware that their words had become a self-fulfilling prophecy, the siblings fell into an indescribable silence. After a long while, Sheila suddenly spoke again.
“Speaking of which, Brother,” she said, his eyes lowered slightly. Due to her posture, Heine could not see her expression, but he could hear her voice, which was no different from usual. “Once everything is over.. come back to China with me.”
"China?" Heine asked softly.
“Hmm.. come to China to keep me company.” Sheila closed his eyes and spoke his thoughts slowly, “I have saved a lot of money.. When the time comes, I'll buy a villa and plant flowers outside.. I like cats, so we can get one.. Oh, right, I can also teach you Chinese—just like you teach me Italian.”
Sure.." Heine replied without any hesitation, "What kind of cat should we buy? A yellow one? Or a gray one?
White," Sheila decided firmly. She raised an Index finger with great solemnity. "White is cute.
Especially the little kitten, she was especially cute—just like the one she saw today.
Sure," Heine said softly. She never had this much patience with any Lover, however, when speaking to her, it was clear that a Sister and a Lover were not the same: "What made you think of this all of a sudden?
He was a bit curious.
Sheila did not open his eyes, yielding readily, "I just remembered."
Pausing for a moment, the girl, who now looked exceptionally well-behaved, spoke slowly, "Brother, do you know? In China, we have an old saying called 'Returning to one's roots.'"
In the African night, amidst the vast Sahara Desert, she gazed at the Moon on the horizon; amidst the desolation and solitude, a sense of bleak emotion suddenly swept through her heart.
At first, I didn't quite understand this kind of sentiment, but later, I understood.
The moment I understood, I thought to myself, if there comes a day when I am dying, I must go back.. I must.
Over all these years, she has been to many places, met many people, fired guns and been shot, has killed people as well as saved them.
Uncle Anthony was very good to her, Aunt Catherine was also very good to her, but that was not her home.
That country, separated from Japan by the sea, was her home.
After she goes home.. she wants to see Mother—maybe visit Shiratori Midori's Grave or something.