Amid the audience's rampant speculation and discussions,
Chapter 16: Imminent Storm officially concluded with the final brief exchange between Raven and Gray Serpent.
Mobius eyed the post-battle settlement screen and was just about to ride the momentum into the next chapter—
Clack—clack—
"Hm? What's that noise?"
Mobius turned her head toward the door.
Listening closely, there really seemed to be some noise coming from outside.
She furrowed her brows, paused the stream for the moment, and walked toward the door. She gently pushed it open a crack.
From the entryway came a clearly audible voice—
A voice that sounded rather timid.
"Pardo, didn't you say you had a key?"
"I do, Klein! Look, isn't this thing in my hand a key?"
"...With all due respect, that weird hook you're holding doesn't look anything like a [key]. The only thing it shares in common with a key is that they're both made of metal."
Klein's voice was full of doubt.
"Don't underestimate this! This is a universal key Miss Vill-V gave me—one that can automatically adapt to all locks!"
"..."
"So you're picking the lock?"
Outside the room, of course, were Klein and Pardofelis.
As for how the two met—let's just say it was a coincidence.
Then again, Pardofelis was always surrounded by "coincidences."
Specifically—
After calling Mobius earlier, Klein transferred to the final flight into Linjiang, then located what would become the... future Golden Courtyard?
And then ran into Pardofelis downstairs for no apparent reason.
After that, Pardofelis volunteered to take Klein upstairs.
Which led to... this.
Klein stared at Pardofelis crouched at Elysia's door, fiddling with a strange hook, attempting to pry... well, open the lock.
"This… coming to Miss Elysia's house as friends, how can you call that picking a lock?" Pardofelis tried to explain.
Klein: "..."
The atmosphere gradually grew awkward.
At that moment—
Clack!
The door opened. Looks like Vill-V's tool was actually pretty effective.
"Haha~~ It opened! Klein, you can go in now."
"You're not coming in for a bit?"
"I-I think I'll pass. If I run into Miss Snake I really don't know how to deal with her—I mean, I don't want to interrupt you catching up with her."
Pardofelis clearly wanted to bolt.
Klein blinked and asked, "You're that scared of Dr. Mobius?"
"...Not everyone can get along with Miss Snake like you do, Klein."
Pardofelis scratched her face—still a rather tactful response.
Of the other twelve Flame-Chasers, the ones she feared most were Mobius, Kalpas, and Aponia.
"Actually, Dr. Mobius isn't as scary as you think."
Klein had probably seen through Pardofelis' real thoughts and spoke up on Mobius's behalf: "She's a gentle and hardworking person."
"Gentle?" Pardofelis blinked. She couldn't picture that word fitting Mobius at all.
"Mm. For example, the doctor really likes small animals," Klein told Pardofelis.
"Likes? Small animals? You're talking about Miss Snake?"
Klein nodded. "The doctor can't hold her liquor, but she can't refuse business parties. Every time she comes home drunk, I have to carry her back. She always ends up singing and dancing and trying to play rock-paper-scissors with me."
"She sings? Dances? Miss Snake?"
Pardofelis looked truly dumbfounded.
Why did Klein's version of Miss Snake sound nothing like the one in her memory?
"She also loves to show up when I'm busiest and cling to me, asking me to draw small animals on a coordinate plane using functions…"
Pardofelis: "..."
She went silent. And shocked.
And for some reason, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine—
Like a mouse being watched by a snake.
"When Dr. Mobius is stuck with her research…"
"Klein! Let's stop here for today!"
Pardofelis hurriedly interrupted Klein.
She had the distinct feeling that if she listened any longer, she wouldn't live to see the sun rise tomorrow.
Before Klein could reply, Pardofelis turned and fled.
She didn't even dare wait for the elevator and bolted into the stairwell, dashing down the stairs.
She ran nonstop down several flights before the weirdly unsettling feeling in her heart finally began to ease.
Clutching the stair railing and panting, she looked around suspiciously—
"All I did was help open a door, right? Why does it feel like I've gotten myself into something huge?"
She hesitated and muttered to herself, "It should be fine… right?"
"Ugh… maybe I should ask Miss Vill-V for a divination?"
Cat-cat was always timid… and cautious.
As for whether Vill-V's divination could be trusted?
Well… that was a matter of opinion.
Moved by impulse, Pardofelis took out her phone, which was still dangling a cute golden bell ornament.
Pardo:
Miss Vill-V, I'd like to ask for a divination on my luck today.
Vill-V:
No problem, little Pardo.
A few minutes passed.
Vill-V:
The result is in.
Vill-V:
A certain very unfortunate event was halted right before it happened. It was either luck or a sudden spark of brilliance that caused things to take another turn. However, if not addressed, this misfortune…
Vill-V went on with a string of incredibly profound and convoluted remarks.
Clearly, the current Vill-V personality wasn't the Magician.
Pardofelis tried to understand, but her eyes soon seemed to have spirals spinning in them.
Pardo:
Um, Miss Vill-V, could you give me the short version?
Vill-V:
What did you just do?
Pardo:
Just helped someone open a door. Why?
Vill-V:
According to the divination, I advise little Pardo to stay away from doors for a while.
Pardo:
O…oh, okay.
Pardo:
Thanks a lot for the divination, Miss Vill-V.
...
...
After hastily leaving and getting a reading from Vill-V, Pardofelis disappeared.
Meanwhile, back at the house, Klein stepped inside after she left. She removed her shoes and politely arranged them neatly in a corner of the entryway.
Having done all that, she walked further into the house, looked around… and without realizing it, happened to end up standing right outside Mobius's room.
Mobius, who had been debating whether to come out, suddenly remembered she hadn't taken the trash out of her room yet.
She immediately opened the door and stepped out in a hurry.
"Klein~~!"
"Doctor, so you were home."
Klein turned to Mobius.
"You arrived faster than I expected."
"Because I figured you probably haven't been eating properly these days, have you?"
Mobius: "..."
"Klein, what are you saying…"
Stare~~
Klein simply stared directly at Mobius.
Mobius awkwardly looked away.
Seeing this, Klein sighed softly: "Doctor, what would you like to eat today?"
"Huh?"
"I'll cook for you. That way, you won't end up eating instant noodles again, right?"
"Really!?"
Mobius's voice instantly jumped in pitch. "Yay! Let me think… I want sweet pepper curry today!"