Firefly Journey

The tiny flame on the fingertip was small, but it caught everyone's eye.

"This, this is?"

"I am an extraordinary being," Lin Yuanran said with high spirits.

Being a superhuman is no secret, nor is there any need to hide it. Everyone here knows each other, so this is a good opportunity to bring it up. He didn't have any thoughts of superiority; he simply wanted to encourage Wendy.

See, if I can do it, you can too!

With his childlike spirit, Dorn exclaimed, "Wow! That's so cool!"

Lin Yuanran withdrew his supernatural power and said, "As long as the bottle cap is not opened, there is no need to worry about the flowers inside withering. I have sealed them with extraordinary means. As for how long they can be preserved, I don't know."

Lin Yuanran was only a novice when it came to using sealing techniques, and couldn't guarantee their effectiveness.

"When did this happen?" Wendy asked.

Lin Yuanran scratched his head: "I have a tenant living in my house, right? Her teacher thinks I'm suited for this path, so he told me about the extraordinary way."

I see. Now everyone has no more doubts.

In the corner, the trio of Oleksandr were shocked, yet also filled with envy. A superhuman... Ario had become a superhuman? And Wendy...

The three of them didn't want to think about it anymore.

"Congratulations, my child."

Dr. Coente smiled and offered his blessings.

Lin Yuanran smiled in response. In his memory, Dr. Coente was an exceptionally good person. He received a salary from the Duchy's government hospital and was only required to work fixed shifts, but he chose to work overtime every day.

The extra hours were mostly spent treating the poor, and the reward was often a piece of black bread, a bouquet of flowers, or a smile.

Coente was proud of his actions, and Torreg was proud to have such a doctor.

Wendy asked, "Where are you at now?"

Lin Yuanran replied, "I'm just starting out, I haven't even grasped the essentials yet."

The two chatted away, like true superhumans discussing their training progress, leaving those around them unable to get a word in edgewise. Especially the Olek trio, watching the two, felt a chill run down their spines. Ario was a superhuman, meaning he was on the same starting line as Wendy, and the gap between them would only widen in the future.

After the birthday party ended, Wendy stopped Lin Yuanran, wanting to chat a little longer, but Lin Yuanran said it wasn't necessary, as he needed to go back to practice his magic.

Wendy knew she couldn't stay any longer and carefully hid the vase.

……

……

Dupipon returned home feeling depressed and resentful. He envied Ario's luck in becoming a superhuman and was jealous of his ability to win Wendy's favor.

At this hour, his mother hadn't returned home; she was still washing clothes for someone by the river. Du Pipeng pushed open the door and saw a scene he would never forget.

The father, who shouldn't be home at the moment, was slumped in the hall, his body curled up in a ball, a wine jug lying to one side, as if he were asleep.

Crimson bloodstains spread across the ground, changing the color of the floor. Dupippen's face twisted instantly in disbelief at the impending doom.

"father!"

Du Pippen, who will turn 18 in a few months, exclaimed in surprise.

In his haste, his first reaction was to rush over and check on Durant and Pippen.

With the truth laid bare before him, Durant and Pippen completely lost their will to live, and now, the fear in Durant's eyes intensified.

Durant and Pippen were alcoholics, gamblers, and prone to domestic violence; their crimes were deserving of death in anyone's eyes.

Only his family thought differently.

As family members, Dupipon and his mother have always had a wish that he could get better and that the whole family could get better.

Now that the person is gone, all hope is gone too.

Du Pippen cried, slumped to the ground, and his voice grew softer and softer. It only took about ten minutes for him to go from wailing to sobbing quietly.

After calming down, he made a decision immediately. He opened the door, found a neighbor, briefly explained the situation, and asked him to go to the river to inform his mother.

Upon hearing the news, the neighbors' expressions changed visibly, but they showed little pity. In the eyes of the townspeople, it wouldn't be surprising if someone like Old Dupippen died at any time; it was just a pity for the children and women.

If something happens, call the police; Dupipon ran all the way.

"Is Uncle Curry home?" Du Pippen knocked gently on the door, rubbing his facial muscles with one hand to try to look less horrified.

Torreg is a small place where even petty theft is rare, so the duchy doesn't have a dedicated police station there. Normally, people work from home, and police officers take turns patrolling.

Curry Ward was off work today. Hearing the knock on the door, he quickly went out and saw it was Durant and Pippen. He asked, "What is it?"

Dupippen took a deep breath and stated as clearly as possible: "My father died at home!"

Simple words convey all the information.

These words struck Curry Ward like a bolt from the blue.

For decades, there hadn't been a single murder in Torreg. The fact that young Dupipol came to him meant that old Dupipol's death wasn't an accident, but murder—a serious matter.

It must be related to that group of outsiders.

It's easy to make the connection; for so many years, everyone has lived in peace and prosperity, and the only variable is them.

Regardless, as an administrator of the principality, he had to take charge of this matter and get to the bottom of it.

Fortunately, the Duchy also has extraordinary individuals who can seek Cassius Bello's help.

"Calm down, I'll take some people over right away."

"Can I go back first? I think Mom will be very sad," Dupipon said.

"Wait, I'll go to the scene with you."

Cassius rarely went out, spending most of his time reading in his room. Curry climbed the stairs, his movements somewhat clumsy; his long, comfortable life had caused his abilities to atrophy.

"It seems I need to practice more in the future."

Upon meeting Cassius, Curry Ward briefly explained the situation and elaborated on his speculation: that Durant and Pippen's sudden death was inevitably related to superhumans.

A serious look flashed in Cassius's eyes. He hadn't come to Torreg on orders from the Duchy or the Papacy; he'd only received information from the conman and was using the Duchy's name to establish contact with Curry Ward for easier action.

Who would have thought that some fool would dare to commit violence in the town? This was something Cassius Bello had not anticipated.

Now that it has happened, let's deal with it. The most urgent thing is to prevent Curry Ward from informing his superiors and thus exposing himself.

Even if Cassius's unauthorized arrival is exposed, he won't be severely punished. At most, he'll be charged with deception, and the school will handle it.

But if the authorities send someone, his deal with Erillo will come to nothing, which is not something he wants to see.

“We’ll go take a look; don’t act on your own,” Cassius Bello said.

"Understood." Curry was still in the dark, thinking he was an envoy from the duchy.

Cassius informed the students to come along, as this was a rare practical lesson, and then went downstairs with the mayor.

"I hope it doesn't escalate too much, otherwise it would betray my original intention." He chuckled self-deprecatingly.