Yinlin: "How nosy…"
"Ah, never mind. Let's leave everything here as it is. Even if it were all reduced to ashes... the past cannot be erased."
"Besides, if we recklessly set it ablaze, the flames might attract unexpected Tacet Discords."
Yinlin smiled faintly at Lucian. "Next... it's time to take you to Master Dollmaker..."
As soon as Yinlin finished speaking, a child came running over in a panic, shouting, "Bad news, bad news!"
Yinlin remained calm. "Little Guan, what's the matter?"
Little Guan? So this is Granny Guan's grandson.
Little Guan spoke urgently: "Sister Yinlin! Those Tacet Discords are back, and there are so many this time!"
Upon hearing this, Yinlin remained unruffled and instructed, "You and your grandmother take everyone to a safe place first."
Little Guan: "Understood!"
Lucian frowned. "Why are the Tacet Discords attacking this place?"
Yinlin: "It's because of the Returned Souls puppets. Their presence is what draws the Tacet Discords here..."
She turned to Lucian. "After meeting so many members of the Séance Society, I wonder if your opinion of them has changed at all? Care to lend me a hand?"
Lucian replied solemnly, "Though they've strayed down the wrong path, they're not like Dollmaker..."
Yinlin chuckled. "How predictable."
...
The members of the Séance Society watched nervously as the two faced the Tacet Discords.
Yet Lucian and Yinlin showed no signs of panic.
After exchanging a glance, they charged forward without hesitation.
Against such small fry, Lucian's current strength made them hardly worth his attention.
His coordination with Yinlin was seamless, as if they had fought side by side for years—though this was their first time battling together.
Perhaps this is the tacit understanding between experts!
Once the Tacet Discords were dealt with, Yinlin praised, "Your skills are truly impressive."
Lucian replied arrogantly, "This is just the tip of the iceberg."
Yinlin: "...How narcissistic."
Before the two could catch their breath, Chixia arrived with the Partrollers in tow.
One of the Partrollers said sternly, "Are you the leader here? I advise you to surrender immediately—this place is surrounded!"
Yinlin smiled faintly. "My, what a crowd."
She stepped forward and tied Lucian up.
Lucian didn't resist—this was all part of the plan.
He whispered, "Do you have a thing for bondage?"
Yinlin scowled. "...You're hopeless."
Lucian added fuel to the fire, "Actually, I'm into it too. Why don't we—"
Before he could finish, Yinlin tightened the ropes sharply.
Lucian hissed in pain. "Tsk— You play rough."
Chixia snapped, "Hey!! Who are you? Let Lucian go right now!"
Yinlin smirked. "What if I say no?"
Another Partroller barked, "Don't do anything stupid! There's no escape!"
Yinlin shrugged. "Relax, I'm not running. After all, I've got a hostage."
Chixia paled. "Ghk— Don't do anything reckless!"
Yinlin threatened, "This guy is Jinzhou's guest, isn't he? If anything happens to him because of your rash actions, don't blame me."
Hearing this, Chixia glanced at Lucian, who gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
Understanding immediately, Chixia ordered the Partrollers to lower their weapons.
Earlier, Lucian hadn't told Chixia the full plan—he'd only sent her the coordinates.
Lucian nodded in satisfaction. Who said Chixia was foolish? She's brilliant!
Following the plan, Yinlin "escaped" with Lucian in tow, heading toward Dollmaker's puppet factory.
...
After communicating with Dollmaker, Yinlin received the coordinates to the factory's hidden chamber.
The two exchanged a nod, and Yinlin untied Lucian.
The listening device was still attached to Lucian's back, so they couldn't afford to slip up before confronting Dollmaker.
Before seeing Yinlin's personal belongings, Lucian hadn't fully trusted her.
After all, even though he'd tested her with the Coin of Fate, Yinlin had been raised by Dollmaker—there was no way she felt nothing for him.
But now, seeing how far Dollmaker had gone, it seemed Yinlin had truly given up on him.
As they ventured deeper, they took down many of Dollmaker's lackeys—most of them exiled criminals with no redeeming qualities.
The factory was filled with prototype puppets and critical research data.
Lucian photographed everything as evidence.
Finally, after taking the elevator, they came face-to-face with Dollmaker.
Dollmaker: "You've finally arrived, Yinlin. The Magistrate's forces haven't breached the factory yet, have they?"
Dollmaker wore a silver mask, revealing only a pair of crimson eyes.
The stick figure from earlier was undoubtedly him.
Yinlin: "No. But the exiles started showing signs of Resonance Overload, so I had to take them down..."
Dollmaker (coldly): "No matter. They were expendable anyway."
Lucian shook his head. "How pitiful."
Dollmaker (indifferently): "They were just rootless drifters—thieves, robbers, scum with no regard for life. Wherever they died, it wouldn't have made a difference."
Lucian's voice turned grave. "The pitiful one isn't them—it's you. Your abilities could have helped so many people."
Dollmaker: "Hah... So what? I could help them, but I couldn't help myself."
Yinlin, still clinging to a sliver of hope, tried once more. "Dollmaker... it's enough. Even if you could turn my parents into puppets, they wouldn't be happy."
Dollmaker (wearily): "Yinlin, I thought you of all people would understand me..."
"But I don't blame you. You were too young when Master and Mistress died—you barely remember them."
"That's also why it's a shame. I couldn't recreate them from your memories... and I couldn't make puppets of them for myself either."
He let out a strange laugh. "But then I discovered you, Lucian—someone with a unique constitution. Truly, the heavens favor me."
Lucian: "So that's why you targeted me?"
Dollmaker (dreamily): "Exactly. With the experimental data extracted from you and the Fractsidus' funding, I can finally create their puppets."
"When everyone else treated me as a freak, Master and Mistress were the ones who truly took me in. They were my real family."
"No matter what, I will bring them back..."
Lucian (coldly): "Your selfish desires have harmed innocent people."
Dollmaker (snarling): "So what?! Their lives mean nothing to me!"
"Time's almost up. Most of the factory's contents are unsalvageable, but I must preserve a few prototype puppets."
"My identity and whereabouts must never be exposed. If necessary, I'll use the explosives in the factory to stop them."
Yinlin (grimly): "But our people are still inside."
By "our people," she meant the Séance Society members.
Yet Dollmaker remained unmoved. "Our people? The only ones who count as 'us' here are you and me. The rest are just dead weight."
Yinlin sighed and shook her head in disappointment.
Seeing this, Lucian decided the time was right.
He placed a hand on Yinlin's shoulder, silently urging her to make her final choice.
If Yinlin still held onto futile hopes for Dollmaker, Lucian would take them both down.