The silver ash of the Bio-Human Lamb was still swirling in the air like macabre confetti when Chen Feng realized the gravity of his situation. It wasn't the shadow government or the creators of the "Lamb" that terrified him—it was the digital trail he had just left.
"Gary," Chen Feng hissed, his violet eyes fading back to their lazy, dull brown. "The hat. The hat didn't work. They know I'm here."
"Boss, 'know you're here' is an understatement," Gary squeaked, pointing his phone screen at Chen Feng. "The video of you flicking that monster into dust has four million views already. You're currently being called the 'Chicago Sorcerer' and 'Seraphina's Secret Samurai.' Also, the Ice Queen's jet just entered Illinois airspace. She sent a message: 'Stay where you are. We need to talk about the mats. And the actress.'"
Chen Feng looked at Seraphina Rose, who was stepping over the rubble of the skylight, her eyes shining with a predatory fascination that made the "Lamb" look friendly. He then looked at the museum's exit, where more paparazzi were swarming.
"Flee," Chen Feng commanded.
As Seraphina reached out to grab his sleeve, Chen Feng didn't use a portal—too much energy. Instead, he grabbed a tray of champagne from a passing waiter and tossed it into the air. While the crowd ducked and Seraphina's bodyguards scrambled to catch the flying crystal, Chen Feng grabbed Gary by the collar of his fanny pack and moved.
To the naked eye, it looked like they simply blinked out of existence. In reality, Chen Feng utilized a Low-Frequency Displacement, slipping through the gaps in the crowd like a shadow.
They burst through the service entrance, sprinted past a line of idling limousines, and disappeared into the labyrinthine alleys of the Windy City.
Thirty minutes later, the "Big Four" descended upon the Museum like a tactical strike team. Su Meiling, Lin Xuerui, Principal Ye, and Mu Ronghuan stood in the center of the ballroom, radiating enough cold fury to freeze the hors d'oeuvres.
They were met not by Chen Feng, but by Seraphina Rose.
"Where is he?" Xuerui demanded, her voice like cracking ice.
"The man in the hat?" Seraphina smiled, unfazed by the four powerhouses. She tapped a silver business card against her chin. "He left. But don't worry, I've already put out a bounty for his location. I have a private estate in the Rockies that's much safer than whatever 'security' you ladies provide. I intend to find him first."
The air in the room crackled with a five-way tension. The "Big Four" and the "Global Sweetheart" stood in a circle of mutual distrust, each realizing that the Salted Fish had managed to slip the hook once again.
The Tour Continues: Destination Unknown
Meanwhile, on a greyhound bus rattling toward the outskirts of the city, Chen Feng sat in the back row, his "I ❤️ Chicago" hat pulled low over his eyes. Gary sat next to him, frantically checking a paper map because Chen Feng had made him throw their trackable phones out the window.
"Boss, we're officially fugitives," Gary whispered. "From the government, from the bio-labs, from the most famous woman in Hollywood, and from four women who could collectively buy the moon. Where are we going?"
Chen Feng leaned his head against the vibrating window. His heart gave a small, traitorous throb as he thought of Xia's last text. He felt guilty, confused, and incredibly tired.
"Somewhere with no cameras, Gary," Chen Feng muttered. "Somewhere so boring that even destiny can't find the address."
"So... Ohio?"
"Ohio sounds perfect."
As the bus merged onto the highway, leaving the neon lights of Chicago behind, Chen Feng closed his eyes. He had destroyed the Lamb, but the resonance was still there—a faint hum in his marrow, reminding him that the "World Tour" was no longer a vacation. It was a race to see who would find the Sovereign first: his past, his creators, or the girl who held his heart.