Quick! Grab that murder fiend, don’t let her slip like a fish through the net!

Yeah! Catch her! She ran that way, like a shadow cutting down the alley!

Everyone, move! Follow like a wave rolling after the moon!

…

Nana Toki leaned on the window like a cat on a sill, eyes sipping the night like tea.

From the street below, noise rose in gusts, like crows flapping in a storm.

It’s late—why aren’t they home, why howl like stray dogs under a cold sky?

Suspicion pricked first like thorns, then she looked down, and saw seven or eight shapes chasing a lone figure like hunters on a foggy ridge.

They were far, faces were smudged by night, like ink poured over a page.

But the current of their chase was angling toward her, like a river finding its bend.

Oh hell…

This smells like a side quest flag, like a red banner snapping in wind.

Shock hit first like a dropped bowl, then her mind ran, because she knew these magical-story traps like a writer knows her own tricks.

This damn System wants to trip me again, like a fox laying snares.

No way!

System: …

She spun and bolted for the kitchen, heart drumming like a snare, to grab Luo Shanshan from the sink and run.

What’s wrong, Xixi? Why the storm face like summer thunder?

Luo Shanshan paused mid-suds, hands still foaming like sea-foam on pebbles.

No time to explain. We run, like leaves before the wind!

She didn’t care about the soap on her hands; Nana seized her wrist and lunged for the door like a hawk stooping.

She didn’t change shoes; she wore hole-riddled slippers like moth-eaten leaves.

What’s going on, Xixi?

Dragged across several blocks like kites in a gale, Luo Shanshan still hadn’t found her feet.

She clutched a small porcelain bowl like a moon in her palms, apron on, face blank as winter field—only confusion, only fog.

It’s hard to explain.

Nana ducked into a corner like a swallow under eaves, glanced back, and relaxed when the pack didn’t follow, like steam leaving a kettle.

Good thing I run fast, or I’d be caught by the System’s trap like a fish in a weir.

System: …

I didn’t plan any mission, Host, like a sky with no rain.

I don’t buy it, you junk System—crooked as a crab.

Anyway, we’ll find a place and sleep tonight, like stones by the river.

She tugged Luo Shanshan forward, ready to fade into the street like mist.

Her words had barely fallen like leaves when—thud.

A silhouette crashed down in front of them like a melon dropped from a balcony, and landed at her feet like a bitter joke.

Nana Toki: …

Why, though. Why like thunder at my doorstep?

A little girl in a brown dress lay there like a doll in dust, and Nana’s heart stayed flat as a still pond.

She almost laughed, like a sparrow at a cat.

Damn you, System, damn you to the reeds.

System: …

I said I didn’t issue a mission, like a well left covered.

Then why did this idiot fall from the sky like a stray star?

Nana pointed at the unconscious Misty Tide on the ground, questioning the System like a judge in a silent hall.

System: I don’t know, like fog hiding a road.

Huh? Isn’t that the little girl from the hotel?

Holding her small bowl like a white moon, Luo Shanshan stepped closer, eyes narrowing like a seamstress threading a needle. Why is she here, like a stray boat on the wrong river?

She asked Nana Toki.

How would I know?

Nana stood in the corner with arms crossed like a gate, chin tilted, proud as a crane.

Hmph.

Luo Shanshan: …

Awoo… awoo…

Misty Tide stirred quickly, gold eyes flaring with spirit like lanterns lit at dusk, not the dull stones they had been.

Looks like she’s been through a lot these two months, like driftwood battered by waves.

Awoo… awoo…

She lay there and stared at Nana, excitement bubbling like spring water.

She hadn’t even stood yet; her small hands fluttered in front of Nana like sparrows, signing with urgency. Eat… eat…

Nana Toki: …

Everyone, keep up! That murder fiend ran this way like a wolf through fog!

Come on! Surround her like a ring of torches!

The shouts rolled from far to near like drums, and soon the alley was cramped with bodies like reeds in a marsh.

Xi… Xixi…

Seeing seven or eight men crowd the mouth of the alley like a dark hedge, Luo Shanshan shrank behind Nana like a rabbit behind a stone.

Who are you?

The newcomers hadn’t expected two women in this spot, and their faces twitched like fish under ice.

Who I am isn’t your business.

Nana stood with arms folded like a blade in its sheath, pride cool as moonlight. A cold wind sliced through the alley like a knife, and the leader felt her presence crawl under his skin like frost.

We’re chasing the murder fiend of the Fog City. Please cooperate and let us pass like water through a gate.

He cupped his fists in a martial salute, respectful as a monk at a shrine.

He could have forced it, but his gut tugged like a bell rope—don’t.

Murder fiend?

Nana’s brow throbbed like a drum, something odd stirring in her chest like moths at a lamp.

How did the boss turn into a killer overnight like a chrysalis cracking the wrong way?

Was it the long fog, breeding a hate for mankind like mold on rice?

System: … Could you not guess nonsense? Like rain in a dry proverb.

Nana Toki: ?

And why’s that on me, like blame tossed like a shoe?

Fog City’s murder fiend? Didn’t see her. Don’t spook me in the dark like owls hooting.

Her mouth said fear, but her face held none, smile ripening like fruit in late summer.

She stood there, unmoved, grin sharper than a crescent blade.

Everyone: …

Is she doing this on purpose? The murder fiend’s right at her feet like a package.

Or is she blind, like dust over eyes?

Restlessness crept through the men like ants on a board.

Their mutters leaked from the back like fog from a bog.

Then, could you hand over the little girl behind you?

The leader didn’t like the whispers, but he forced calm like ice over a stream.

He pointed at Misty Tide lying on the ground like a fallen blossom.

Ah… so she’s the murder fiend.

Nana drew out the words like silk, gaze heavy as rain.

Everyone: …

Is this girl sick? Her tone cuts both ways like a saw.

So, please stop meddling now, Miss.

He stepped forward, red flame kindled in his hands like sunrise under glass.

I’m not meddling.

Nana lifted her hand, and suddenly a gray-white flower rested there like frost on a branch.

Its petals curled back with a predatory grace, like dragon claws; its long root-leaves trailed from the heart like tears falling from a willow.

For a moment, everyone in the alley stared, drawn like moths to a pale lantern.

Even the leader stopped, eyes heavy as stone, trying to read Nana’s next move like lines in tea leaves.

Heh.

Nana tipped her wrist, fingers loosening like snow from a bough. The gray-white bloom drifted down like feather-fluff.

It settled on Misty Tide’s face like a winter kiss.

At that instant, Misty Tide moved like a pup smelling meat, mouth opening to swallow the flower like a dumpling.

Boom.

Pressure burst from her as the center, rolling out like a storm front through the alley.

Everyone except Nana flinched like birds under a gunshot.

Help yourselves.

Nana guided Luo Shanshan back a few steps, mischief smiling in her eyes like foxfire. If you’ve got the skill, then try.

Aoo…

Misty Tide moaned softly, like a reed in wind.

People looked over. Misty Tide rose slow from the ground like a ghost lifting from a pool, gold eyes blazing in the alley like twin lanterns.

At the first meeting of gazes, the leader’s heart shrieked like a temple bell, and he threw himself backward like a crab scuttling.

His men hesitated, blank as deer in glare, then caught the reason like sparks catching tinder.

Whoosh—

Before they could think, two frontmost heads took flight like startled birds, no time for screams.

Two columns of blood surged up like fountains, jetting from the headless bodies like burst wells.

The nearest man was doused, crimson painting him head to toe like autumn leaves plastered by rain.

The rest froze, minds cracked wide like thin ice.

Weaker ones collapsed, limbs jerking like fish on sand, bowels giving way like broken sacks.

Wide eyes stared, reflecting terror like mirrors, and in their glass was Nana’s cold smile, far and clear like a moon behind clouds.

Aaaaah—

Someone started it, and panic stampeded like horses; legs found power, hands and feet scrambled, bodies lurched, desperate to flee this alley like rats from fire.

In the night alley, Misty Tide moved like a revenant, silent and swift.

Her small white hands were two daggers newly honed, bright as winter, sharp as frost.

Cute, deadly. Adorable as plum blossom, fearsome as steel.

Nana hadn’t expected this fallout; she only wanted Misty Tide to guard herself like a hedge, not drag Nana into the brambles.

Who knew she’d go off like rocket fuel, like a war god waking under the moon.

In less than half a minute, the screams faded like rain thinning. The far end fell quiet like a shut temple.

They were likely caught by Misty Tide, like moths to a spider’s web.

Ah… right, you’re still here.

Nana remembered the timid girl behind her like a bell after silence.

She waved five fingers before Luo Shanshan’s dim eyes like reeds before a pond, and saw no response.

Hm?

Did you go stupid, like clay left in rain?

She kneaded the soft cheek like dough, curious as a sparrow pecking grain.

System: …

No, Host. She just fainted like a willow swooning. She’ll wake in a bit.

…