"Hey! Phrolova, your timing is perfect."
In the old room, a red script lay open, projecting a square beam of light. Cristoforo enthusiastically greeted Phrolova as she pushed open the door:
"Come quick and look at the script I carefully prepared."
"I've already sent someone to deliver a letter to Noah in the name of the Fractsidus."
"As long as he opens the letter, he'll soon rush into the stained-glass mirror I've tampered with for Carlotta's sake. That's just the kind of person he is."
Phrolova rolled her eyes at Cristoforo, arms crossed over her chest, quietly watching the scenes projected by the script.
===✧✦✧===
Carlotta had always believed that the rain in Ragunna was a symbol of misfortune.
When it rained, it was easier to wash away bloodstains, so enemies seeking revenge or settling blood debts often chose rainy days.
"Do you like the environment here? I prepared it especially for you."
An elegant and refined woman approached slowly, holding a swaying glass of red wine.
Whether it was her hairstyle, clothing, appearance, or every movement, except for the overall color scheme being mainly black and white, this woman was extremely similar to Carlotta.
'Carlotta' walked closer, leaned slightly forward, and the two exquisite faces were pressed very close, their noses almost touching.
But such closeness made Carlotta involuntarily frown.
Earlier, at the docking pier, she had discovered a mirror surface constructed from energy crystals, containing a generatable domain.
Caught off guard, she was pulled into the mirror by a hand and still couldn't find an exit to leave.
Just by touching the mirror surface, it instantly extracted her memories, experiences, and even fleeting thoughts in her mind, thereby generating the domain.
Here, the flowing wind came to a halt, damp moisture constantly gathered, faintly carrying the smell of blood.
"This is that rainy night from ten years ago, the one that has never stopped in your heart."
Carlotta turned her head away and spoke coldly:
"Peeking into someone else's unglamorous past like this is... extremely offensive."
"Hehehe, don't be in a hurry. I know you really want to leave here, but first, let's review this rainy night from ten years ago."
'Carlotta' smiled brightly:
"Because of the Fisalia family's schemes, the family's South Second Block, the western district docks, and the main residence were all attacked. The first to be attacked was Grandfather."
"Now, the Montelli family is in complete disarray. They watch their beloved family and friends die—how they wish for someone who can make decisions to appear."
"Let's play a game. As long as you successfully protect the Montelli family's interests in this rainy night, you can leave here."
"Enough talk. Start."
As Carlotta's words fell, the stagnant wind began to blow, as if time in this world had resumed flowing.
This heavy rain from ten years ago had once brought unprecedented tragic losses to the Montelli family.
Countless Montelli members lost their families, friends, loved ones in this downpour, and even suffered lifelong injuries as a result.
This was the deepest thorn in Carlotta's heart, one she could never forget.
She always couldn't help but think: if the one making decisions back then hadn't been Capollo, but her instead, what would she have done?
The plans she had simulated in her mind countless days and nights finally had a place to be put to use here.
For this stained-glass mirror world to try trapping her with such a method was truly overestimating itself.
Thinking of this, Carlotta couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of her mouth.
===✧✦✧===
Time flew by.
A large number of deceased Montelli family members lay scattered on the streets under the rain curtain, the pungent smell of blood nauseating.
"Oh my, you lost."
'Carlotta' leisurely sipped her red wine:
"You wanted to prevent the tragedy, but the Montelli family members don't acknowledge you, this newly arrived adopted daughter at all. They only listen to Capollo."
"With Capollo's divine assistance, the casualties in the entire Montelli family were maximized!"
"What a wonderful show."
Looking at Carlotta clenching her fists tightly, 'Carlotta' teasingly approached again, disdain flashing in her eyes:
"Want to... play again?"
"Again!"
Carlotta answered without hesitation.
Time flowed rapidly once more.
However, the Montelli members who died in the first simulation did not disappear; their corpses remained scattered on the streets under the rain, becoming part of the scene.
"Oh, right, let me remind you: the deceased members won't disappear with the start of a new round."
'Carlotta' kindly prompted:
"The more times you fail, the more their corpses will pile up. In the end, they might even flood the entire Ragunna."
"Disgusting."
Carlotta furrowed her brows, gritted her teeth tightly, suppressed the discomfort in her heart, and did not continue arguing with this copy.
Time in this rainy night was undoubtedly a huge cost; she had to race against the clock.
Countless plans she had imagined in her mind failed one after another in practice, with varied reasons for failure.
"The second time, you tried to gain Capollo's trust, but Capollo was very rejecting of you, the adopted daughter. You failed."
"The third time, you secretly knocked out Capollo and barely rallied everyone as Grandfather's adopted daughter, but the scattered hearts were no match for the Fisalia family."
"The fourth time, you knocked out Capollo and issued plans in Grandfather's name, successfully gaining everyone's trust, but you delayed too long—it was too late."
"The fifth time... the sixth time... the seventh time..."
"The thirty-second time—this was your best one. Your family-swapping tactic forced the Fisalia family to retreat, but once they reacted, they flew into a rage and killed half the family members at any cost."
"Now, it's the thirty-third time."
The corpses of countless Montelli family members nearly filled the streets, the horrifying scene making Carlotta dizzy and her limbs weak.
'Carlotta' leisurely crossed her hands, looking playfully at the pale-faced Carlotta in front of her:
"Do you still want to continue playing?"
"There's nothing wrong with my decisions. You've been sabotaging in the dark the whole time—I endured all that."
Resonance ability gathered into the gun of Death and Dance, pressing the muzzle against 'Carlotta's forehead. Carlotta gritted her teeth tightly:
"Until the most recent one—clearly I had already won a great victory, yet you still had the Fisalia family launch an unreasonable counterattack, forcibly controlling the game's outcome."
"Oh my, you actually saw through it."
'Carlotta' smiled contemptuously:
"I admit I interfered in the dark, but what can you do about it?"
"Kill you! Then I'll find another way out."
Bang!
After the gunshot, the endless rain curtain poured down somberly. 'Carlotta's figure was nowhere to be seen, but her voice echoed leisurely:
"The thirty-third game begins. I'll give you a little hint: surrender to the Order, offer everything and seek protection, and you can win directly."
"Never!"
Carlotta gritted her teeth and growled those two words, but looking at the Montelli members' corpses almost everywhere around her, her legs went soft, and she nearly knelt to the ground.
She had to admit that she was truly trapped dead in this heavy rain from ten years ago.
This was a game she simply couldn't win, and she couldn't find any exit outside the game at all.
Carlotta tried hard to stay calm, her brain thinking frantically...
Just what did she have to do to win this extremely unfair game—No! She simply... couldn't do anything!
Even if she made decisions over and over, it would only mean watching the Montelli family members die repeatedly.
The enormous pressure crushed this shining opal, making it dull and lightless.
The torrential rain curtain fell, soaking her hair completely.
She had no thought of taking shelter from the rain, clenching her fists tightly, her palms bleeding from the deeply embedded nails. As if physical torment could relieve the oppression in her heart.
An umbrella was gently held over her head, blocking the heavy rain:
"Hey, Little Potato, what's the situation now?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Carlotta abruptly looked up. A ray of light suddenly reflected in her desperate eyes, and overwhelming joy uncontrollably surged in her heart.
Her voice trembled with excitement:
"Tall Chestnut, it's really you?"
"Yeah."
Noah looked down to meet Carlotta's gaze, gently took her hand, and healing resonance power spread, quickly healing the wounds on her palm.
His calm voice revealed no joy or anger:
"Sorry, I came late."