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North Area, Outer Gate [678900]
At the headquarters of the "Will-O-Wisp" community. A senior executive known as Jack-O-Lantern drifted into the room, his pumpkin-shaped head bobbing slightly. He wore a cloak instead of a body, had no legs, and floated along effortlessly. A pair of white-gloved hands formed from his Gift gripped a newspaper.
Not long after entering the living room, Jack spotted a community member with light-blue twin tails, dressed in a dark blue Gothic lolita dress.
Ayesha Ignis Fatus.
Back then, Ayesha had been a human who died in an earthquake. Her soul lingered as a wandering spirit for centuries, drifting through the mortal world, until she was taken in and adopted by Willa Ignis Fatus, the founder and leader of Will-O-Wisp.
Seeing her, Jack asked casually, "Ayesha, Willa hasn't gone out today, right?"
"Not yet," Ayesha replied. Then her eyes lit up as she noticed the newspaper in his hand. "Jack, are we in the papers again?"
"Did those unpaid editors start hyping Willa again as the strongest Gift Game challenger in the North Area?"
"Haha, sadly, that's not what this paper's about." Jack shook the rolled-up newspaper, his tone tinged with emotion.
"This time, it's about a man named Ryo Yagami."
"Huh?" Ayesha froze. "Who's that? Is there someone like that in the North Area?"
She'd been in Little Garden for less than ten years, but she considered herself fairly well-informed about major powers and notable figures in the North. Ryo was definitely not a name she recognized.
Jack's pumpkin face curved into a smile.
"He's not from the North. He's from the East."
"And Ayesha, you should really read Spring News Agency's papers sometimes. Yeah, they exaggerate a bit, but anyone who makes it into their headlines is usually a big deal in the lower layers. You can pick up some useful intel now and then."
"They're too expensive," Ayesha complained. "One Halloween Coin per issue."
Then she tilted her head, her expression turning odd. "So if he made it into Spring News, did this Ryo cheat, keep a lover, or go full Zeus and turn into a cow to have sex with monsters?"
"..."
Jack's face twisted, and he said awkwardly, "Ayesha, maybe you should cut back on those kinds of papers. Especially anything about Zeus."
She was a perfectly cute girl, yet the words coming out of her mouth didn't match her appearance at all. It felt like this little girl was heading down a dangerous path.
Ayesha puffed out her cheeks. "You're the one who told me to buy them, and now you're telling me not to. You really say everything you want, don't you? What am I supposed to do then?"
"Heh…" Jack laughed dryly. "Anyway, Ryo's rumored partner is Lady Shiroyasha. And it's not like they did anything outrageous."
"The Queen did it?" Ayesha gasped, covering her mouth.
Ordinary five- or six-digit communities might not know about the feud between Queen Halloween and Shiroyasha.
But Will-O-Wisp was an unofficial subsidiary of the Queen. They were very familiar with their patron's enemies.
So the moment Ayesha heard about Shiroyasha having rumors, she instinctively assumed Queen Halloween was behind it.
And to be fair, it wasn't the first time.
A few years back, there had been a rumor claiming that "Shiroyasha secretly loved the Moon Rabbit of Little Garden, only for the rabbit to get pregnant by someone else. Shiroyasha humbly accepted raising the illegitimate child."
Supposedly, the one who got the Moon Rabbit pregnant was her foster mother, a highly influential figure in the lower layers known as the strongest Gift Game challenger in history.
That was basically spelling out Canaria and her foster daughter, Black Rabbit.
Thinking of this, Ayesha sighed. "That Yagami guy is really unlucky… falling for such a promiscuous woman, ending up as a backup… and even getting dragged into the newspapers…"
"I haven't even explained yet!" Jack said, his head aching. "And this isn't a gossip paper!"
"Then what is it?" Ayesha asked, surprised. If it wasn't gossip, why all the buildup?
"Here. 'Arcadia's new leader, Ryo Yagami, will hold his leader debut battle Gift Game at Outer Gate [2105380] six days from now at noon. Is this the legendary alliance's triumphant return, or merely the last glow of a setting sun…'"
Ayesha didn't bother reading the rest. It was all meaningless filler anyway.
"Arcadia Grand Alliance… wasn't that the one wiped out by a Demon Lord half a year ago? That caused a huge stir in the lower layers. Newspapers sold like crazy back then…"
Even without a deep understanding of politics, Ayesha knew what Arcadia's return represented.
It was almost like the alliance that once ruled the lower layers was making a king's comeback.
Anyone would be curious about what came next.
And this leader was also rumored to be Shiroyasha's lover.
Shiroyasha. A name even bigger than Athena's, a peer of Queen Halloween.
A man favored by someone like that, and also the leader of the legendary Arcadia. Of course people would be interested.
Plus, it was a leader debut battle. That kind of "a legend is about to begin" vibe would definitely draw crowds to the East Area to watch the Gift Game.
At least in Ayesha's eyes, the bored gods of the North Area would absolutely go.
And when gods gathered, things never stayed quiet. This was clearly shaping up to be a big show.
"Jack, are you trying to convince Willa to attend that Ryo guy's debut battle?" Ayesha looked up at him, her expression helpless. "It's useless. You know Willa's personality. Unless something special happens, she won't even step outside, let alone join a Gift Game. Normally, it's always us who—"
She didn't get to finish.
A calm voice cut in: "...I'm going."
Ayesha blinked, turned her head, and saw an astonishingly cute and beautiful girl.
Her curves were enough to draw any man's gaze, her face was angelically pure, and every small movement carried a subtle, irresistible charm. Anyone who laid eyes on Willa would instinctively feel awe.
But that wasn't what stunned Ayesha.
"Why?" she muttered in disbelief. "Why would Willa want to go out… and right after I jinxed it… why…"
Floating in midair, Willa spoke flatly, "Pack your things. We're leaving."
Jack, who clearly understood what was going on, bowed respectfully. "Yes."
.
.
.