Chapter 175-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation
Having made a decision, Ye Zheng exited the manga app. After hesitating for a moment, she clicked into the forum again.
It wasn't her illusion; there were more and more strange comments on the forum. Recently, a trend of calling her "Mom" had started. It was a trend she found hard to understand, but Ye Zheng always held the view that as long as they liked it, it was fine.
After all, she couldn't post a statement saying [I am Ye Zheng. Can you stop calling me Mom, Wife, Daughter, Wife].
The System laughed once.
[Ha, you can also try posting a statement. Maybe it will work?]
It guaranteed that would only harvest a whole floor of Zheng stans rushing up shouting Mom, Wife, Daughter, Wife. It maliciously wanted to see Ye Zheng reveal a helpless expression.
"I won't step into the same trap repeatedly, System."
Ye Zheng still remembered the System giving her a template speech to refuse shipping couples. She posted it and harvested a whole thread of ridicule.
[Alright, you are already an internet expert now. You even use the 'infamous popularity' tactics with ease.]
When the Amber Lake accident happened previously, someone incited negative public opinion against Ye Zheng from behind the scenes. Instead, Ye Zheng pushed the boat with the current, hyping the public sentiment even hotter, then used the sermon to turn the tables in one fell swoop against the wind. Inside and outside the manga, she achieved the two major operations of reverse hyping and guilt-tripping fans. The System suspected Ye Zheng really learned things from the forum.
These real-world tactics were simply a dimensional strike when placed in the simple manga world. The hearts of the Empire's people were easily manipulated by Ye Zheng just like that.
Ye Zheng smiled without speaking. She wrote a name in the forum's search box, searching for keywords.
[Roy.]
Percy's teammate. Had a head of brilliant blond hair, a not-so-good temper, and unknown origins.
The Amber Lake accident had come to an end. The victims received compensation, and the perpetrators on the surface received their due punishment. But Ye Zheng didn't believe it was an accident; it was obviously premeditated.
This matter had two purposes: one was to frame her, and the other was to elevate Percy.
Percy was originally the most watched teenage hero in the Lower District. After successive disappointments, his prestige declined, and he gradually lost his light. After stepping forward bravely in the Amber Lake accident, he received attention and expectations again.
If she hadn't handled the public opinion crisis well, however much her reputation fell, Percy's would have risen.
Percy's accidental passing by was definitely a link in the premeditated plan. Ye Zheng was already familiar with this world's tropes. The protagonist Percy wouldn't actively do heinous things to fulfill himself, but someone would take on the sins for him to perfect his openness and candidness.
This person was instructed by someone behind the scenes. He knew the accident was going to happen and specifically led Percy to the workers' living quarters.
Percy's identity was special. He was X-366, created by the Hope Project Base to be even more mysterious than Sykes. He was very likely a life recreated using the flesh and blood of the God of Hope. He escaped the base and entered the Lower District when he was young. Although the Hope Base failed to retrieve him, over more than a decade, it was enough for interested people to figure out his true identity and monitor him.
Nothing was more suitable for a surveillance role than a teammate who was together from morning to night.
Ye Zheng quickly browsed the posts about Roy in the forum. Recently, quite a few readers also noticed his abnormality.
#1 [Roy said his mother had passed away. Whenever his father was mentioned, his expression was obviously wrong. Feels like a big tragedy is coming ahhh]
#2 [Speaking of expressions being wrong, Roy's expression during Percy's graveyard speech was obviously problematic. Connecting that to how Percy was originally on his way to find him when he bumped into the monster attack, could the Amber Lake accident be related to him?]
#3 [I beg the person above not to spread conspiracy theories about our Cloud-Soaring Squad anymore. It was already sad enough that Lucy left. Everyone is clearly a little angel.]
#4 [Roy has blond hair. The symbol of the Royal Family is blond hair. I have a bold guess...]
#5 [Is blond hair rare in your Demon Domain? Guessing Roy is related to Sykes by blood, you might as well guess Sierra and Sykes are siblings. These two are the ones who truly look alike.]
#6 [Don't touch porcelain. You are insulting Sykes, ha. Haven't Sierra stans stolen enough of the Sykes Golden Retriever persona?]
#7 [Is the Sykes stan above only daring to act tough here because they got pinned down and beaten by Mama Zheng?]
#8 [LMAO. Your Sykes really is destined to be a dog. Can't refute that point.]
...
Ye Zheng withdrew her gaze. The discussion focus of this thread had already shifted, evolving from discussing Roy's background to a war between character fans. Ye Zheng saw several comments from IDs related to her but claiming to be Sierra stans suppressing Sykes.
Anyway, judging from the details she collected in the forum, Roy was very likely a member of the Royal Family. Considering he was a member of the protagonist team, he might even have a close blood relationship with the Emperor.
In this way, she could confirm that the Amber Lake matter was the Emperor's scheme. But she didn't understand, why did the Emperor want to suppress her to pave the way for Percy?
Sykes was the biological son he placed high hopes on. For Sykes's birth, he even sacrificed the former Empress Qin Tian. So what relationship did Percy have with him, worth his special effort for Percy?
Regardless of the Emperor's purpose, the hostility between her and the Emperor had gradually surfaced now. This meant he was very likely to intervene in the Pope succession ceremony.
Ye Zheng's eye color condensed into a deep pool, and her five fingers holding the phone tightened.
To seize Mother of All Things, she had to be prepared to confront the Emperor and the Pope, the two peaks of Imperial power.
The next day, Ye Zheng received intelligence from Cheng Cheng and Cheng Che. The eldest son of the Colonna family returned home from school, and the family held a secret meeting.
On the third day, intelligence reported that the Si family recalled the son who was a priest in the Golden Wutong District. As soon as he returned, he went to the Papal Palace to visit the Pope.
Ye Zheng knew the opponent started throwing smoke bombs.
On the morning of the fourth day, Ye Zheng received news that a certain Prince also frequented the Papal Palace. At the same time, she obtained Percy's recent schedule.
Percy's schedule wasn't hard to get because he had to report accounts to the school, and every source of consumption was recorded clearly.
The manga spoilers didn't show the date. The scene of Percy holding the white pigeon statue could have happened in the past or might happen in the future.
Ye Zheng scanned Percy's schedule from the past ten days or so at a glance. To be precise, it was the consumption list recorded by himself. Her gaze suddenly stagnated, stopping at the line "Nov 11, 4 PM, East District, Sunrise Street, White Letter Tool Shop, 250 currency."
She remembered the Percy in the manga spoiler had a bag containing tools at his feet.
Previously, she mingled in the Cloud-Soaring Squad as Zhao Mei and would also participate in purchasing activities. Percy was mainly responsible for purchasing, and he frequented two shops, but Ye Zheng had no impression of this shop he went to on the 11th.
She looked at the bright sunshine outside the window. Spending a bit of time, she disguised herself as a blond boy, left the Holy Journey Knights Order base, and went to this tool shop alone.
Arriving at the tool shop, Ye Zheng pushed the door and entered, pretending to browse tools while observing the shop.
Most tool shops in the Lower District looked like this. From tables and cabinets to walls, all kinds of tools were crowdedly displayed, ranging from defensive gear to small weapons. There were old stains on the white walls, and the air was mixed with the smell of metal and mutant beast skins. It seemed it wasn't a new shop, just an old shop with no popularity.
Ye Zheng casually picked up a pair of gloves. There was no one at the front desk. She was the only one standing at the front desk waiting to pay in the entire shop. The owner didn't seem to be a diligent person either.
After waiting for a while, just as Ye Zheng was about to lower her voice to call someone, a young woman wearing a beautiful red dress walked in from outside somewhat anxiously, looking surprised.
"Guest, do you want to pay?"
She should be the employee or owner of this shop, asking politely.
But Ye Zheng didn't miss the vigilance and surprise she revealed the moment she saw her, like a wild beast seeing an intruder who trespassed without permission.
Why such a reaction to a customer?
Ye Zheng half-lowered her eyes, staring at the woman's movements. She was obviously very unfamiliar with the payment process; the action of giving change looked like a novice at a glance.
"Did this shop open recently?" she asked.
The young woman handed her the change. Hearing this, she squeezed out a strange smile and asked back, "Is this question important?"
Ye Zheng paused in her action of taking the money. Soon, she looked at the woman with slight anger, her tone complaining, "What kind of attitude is this? No wonder your shop has no popularity at all. Leaving the customer hanging for so long, and the clerk's attitude is terrible..."
"If it weren't for that guy Percy recommending it, I wouldn't have bothered to come to such a remote place..."
Hearing Percy's name, the young woman's expression changed unnoticeably. she immediately revealed a friendly smile, her vigilance disappearing by more than half.
"You are Percy's friend?"
"Hardly." Ye Zheng, sporting blond hair, hmphed. At this moment, she looked just like an ordinary teenager taking anger out on a friend.
"Wait, listening to your tone, are you very close with Percy? I've never seen you before. What is your name?"
Seeing the blond boy in front of her revealing a suspicious look, the young woman raised her head slightly and smiled mysteriously. "Perhaps before long, you will know my name."
Ye Zheng exaggeratedly pulled the corners of her mouth down, expressing dissatisfaction with this act of showing off mystery. She clicked her tongue impatiently. "Fine, Percy's mysterious friend. I'm leaving."
She waved her hand, turned around with the newly bought gloves, and left. When the shop door closed with a muffled sound, Ye Zheng's exaggerated expression vanished instantly, restoring calm like the receding tide.
Her eyeballs turned to the right, but she ultimately didn't turn around, leaving naturally with the bag.
Ye Zheng recalled as she walked. She didn't see it wrong. In the instant that young woman raised her head, she saw a distinct Adam's apple.
Women also have Adam's apples, and a certain member of the Holy Journey Knights Order also had a very obvious Adam's apple. But that young "woman" just now was too suspicious in terms of movement, demeanor, and attire.
That red dress had a simple style but expensive material. No woman would wear such an expensive dress to work in a dirty tool shop.
It was also possible she rushed back just after finishing a gathering with friends. If that were the case, her first reaction upon seeing a customer should be guilt and shame, not vigilance and threat.
However, what was certain was that Percy's white pigeon statue was obtained from that person's hands.
That unconcealable arrogant posture; it must be someone from the Colonna family.
"'Will know my name soon?' This sentence is also very interesting."
Ye Zheng recalled that person's expression, shook her head, and laughed once.
After rushing back to the base, Ye Zheng removed her disguise and issued two missions—
One was to investigate the daughters of the Colonna family, including illegitimate daughters living outside.
The second was to send someone with a good memory to walk along Sunrise Street in the East District and note down the names of all tool shops.
"But, I remember there are no tool shops on this street at all? Is there a newly opened one?"
The knight who received the mission scratched her head. She was precisely from the East District and a knight, very familiar with tool shops.
"But rest assured, I will observe and record carefully."
Ye Zheng nodded and smiled encouragingly at her, but her heart sank. That place indeed popped up out of nowhere.
That person was surprised by her sudden arrival. In that person's view, it was as if no one should have entered the shop.
It was very likely that the shop was related to that person's ability, laying down some kind of restriction that ordinary people couldn't see, or rather, couldn't perceive.
But restrictions had conditions for breaking. Ye Zheng thought she might have accidentally hit upon the condition to break the restriction and entered that shop, which was why that person was so surprised and vigilant.
"White Letter Tool Shop."
Ye Zheng silently recited this name. She didn't tell the knight the shop's name because she wanted to test if the restriction was related to the cognition of the shop name.
That guy who might be the Pope's successor, exactly what kind of ability did they possess?
It really made her look forward to it. The person Wen Jian and the others placed high hopes on must possess an important ability.
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