"Hmm." Shang Luo nodded, "Then since my safety has been ensured, then it's time to deal with what we are going to do here this time - where did you lose the panda?" ”

"At the zoo, it's a bit far from here. Should you take a break, though? After all, it is difficult for us to call all the relevant people to cooperate with you in the middle of the night. ”

"Okay." Shang Luo glanced at the time, "I can sleep at any time, just to replenish my energy." ”

"Then please come with me. Someone has just been sent to prepare your accommodation, and you and your entourage will be staying on the same floor of the hotel. Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, I will accompany you to investigate the panda. Your Excellency Faethon also invites"

"You don't have to call me." Phaethon waved his hand, "I have other things to attend to tomorrow morning." Let's go our separate ways. ”

8 a.m. New Antioch time, Central Park, Pigeon Cafe.

Central Park, right in the middle of New Antioch, is an oasis carved out of a concrete forest. The surrounding greenery is completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city, and a nearby pond is fed by the living water of the Hudson River, where swan boats and waterfowl swim in the river. In the morning, there are not many people here. Some people come for morning exercises, while others come to the café to have a bite to eat and meet the guests, as Phaethon did.

The open-air café was set with iron-framed tables and chairs, Phaela drank milk through a straw, and across from her sat Karin, whom she had often heard of lately, but had met for the first time.

"You're pretty cute."

"Ahh

[It's cuter when you're blushing.] Apollonia, who was sitting next to her, shook her head.

"So, I'll open the skylight and say something." Phaethon spoke, "It's not that Shang Luo doesn't want to see you today, it's that he doesn't have enough time. So as his assistant, I'm here to meet with you. ”

"Oh good." Karin held her cup and lowered her head to take a sip of hot chocolate. The heat rose up, creating a mist of water on her glasses.

"Relax, let's talk. Are you nearsighted? ”

"It's not. This is a prop prepared for me by the library, and you may have heard from Mr. Shang Luo that I am an elf who was saved by him. Although with his help, I have gained a sense of the world, my elven origins still make this perception occasionally skewed. So this pair of glasses can correct my field of vision and allow me to see a more ordinary world. ”

"And what if you take off your glasses?"

Karin shuddered: "It's scary. I could feel some kind of huge, cold space underneath. It's much better with glasses. ”

"Then put it on." Phaethon nodded, "Souls are precious, you should pay more attention to recuperation. ”

"It's Sister Phaetong."

"Don't call me sister." Phaethon covered her forehead, and she suddenly felt that she was a little upset.

"Huh? That's me."

"Forget it, you call it. If I had a sister, I would really like her to be like you and be able to talk to me with hot chocolate. ”

[Hey, don't be fooled, this is the innocent trick of the Latins.] 】

"Ah, that's the case, but it's cute."

[Is it so cute as Autumn Autumn? 】

"It's not the same. Yunqiu knows how to restrain himself, and this guy in front of him is an elf, do you understand? She's also very cute from a 'physical' point of view. Karin in front of her revealed a . Spring-like clear, tranquil and peaceful. Just like the Nymph in the forest, the larks in the park are bouncing around not far from her, with no intention of leaving.

[I don't understand]

"Because you don't wear 'glasses' like her. There is a slight difference between what you see and what she sees. ”

She looked at Karin, "I heard Shang Luo talk about you. ”

"Ah, what did he say about me? May I ask? ”

"He said, you're cute."

"Ah~~" Karin buried her face in the mouth of the cup again, and another layer of paste appeared on her eyes before the mist dissipated, and she couldn't see her eyes at all.

"So, let's get down to business." Phaethon took a sip of milk, "Is there anything we need help with?" Or do you just want to meet Shang Luo? I can ask him to find time to meet with you. ”

"Ah, don't be so troublesome, it's actually a very important thing. The Great Library has a long-sealed archive here, which we need to open under the supervision of a member of the 'Inner Ring'. Considering that the Roman king happened to be here at the time of this operation, it was time to ask him to open the door. ”

"Is that so?" Phaethon nodded, "I remember that there were indeed these requirements. Victoria must have told him at the time that he would occasionally come for some ceremonies or something. That's not a big problem, although Shang Luo is very busy now, it's no problem to take the time to come out and open a door with you. ”

"Ahh Can it really be? ”

"Really, yes." Phaethon smiled, "Take it easy, I'm not here to blame you. There is no problem with what you do. ”

"Huh?" Karin looked up in surprise, "What did I do?" ”

"You're grateful to Shang Luo, aren't you? But do you think you haven't been able to repay him? So want to spend a little more time with him? ”

"Ahh

[Tsk.] This face is really hard to refuse. But should you tell her now? 】

"Ugh." Phaethon sighed and asked Apollonia, "Are you really willing to listen to me?" ”

[I said before I went out, this operation is under your command, of course, this time is the same. No matter what, I will cooperate with you. 】

"Then I keep my opinion: don't interfere for now. I suggest that you trust Shang Luo a little more, and he will take care of it himself. ”

Are you really sure you want to believe him? 】

"If you think it's up to me to decide, trust me."

[Okay. Actually, I want to believe in him. So, I'll go check out first, I haven't paid for it myself, I'm going to experience it. 】

Phaethon put the money for the drink in the palm of Apollonia's hand and told her to go to the side—but she could hear it everywhere anyway, and she sat the same way.

"So, Miss Karin, I'll go through the schedule." Phaetong looked at his notebook, "Well, how about having lunch with Shang Luo at noon today?" He went to investigate the case in the morning. If nothing else, there will be time at noon. Can you tell us where the library you are going to is? I'll see if he's free to go with you right now. ”

"Wait a minute." Karin also took out her notebook and flipped to the page she needed through the sticky notes: "It's here, we're going here: -1 floor of the Metropolitan Hub subway station. It says that the door can only be opened in the presence of a member of the inner ring. Sorry for your help! ”

(End of chapter)