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Upon hearing Candy’s words, Nancy didn’t deny it but simply nodded lightly.

Indeed, Nancy really had no spare money left.

Previously, although she snatched two hundred thousand credits from the human trafficker Lubbock, that money hadn’t even warmed up in Nancy’s hands before she handed it over to the debt collectors who came knocking the next day, so having or not having that two hundred thousand made no difference.

And the money Nancy gave Hattori just now was actually the original owner’s savings. After all, the original owner had initially planned to do some small business to repay the debt, never intending to trick two hundred thousand credits back using her sister, Nina.

With this plan in mind, these credits originally meant to repay debts were saved up, serving as the dowry Nancy prepared for her sister… Hmm?

Nanon double-checked several times, finally believing that her memory hadn’t failed her.

The original owner actually prepared a dowry for her sister? Hmm?

“You said you couldn’t stand your sister, right? So why secretly prepare a dowry for her? Are you saying one thing and thinking another?” Nancy smirked.

【Hmph… According to the customs back home, a girl’s family must prepare a dowry when she gets married, or else the family will be looked down upon.】

Candy huffed arrogantly, not denying Nancy’s words, and after Nancy chuckled twice, she stopped caring about the matter.

Actually, this was expected. When Nancy went to find Sylvia earlier, she saw the contents in the trunk of Jenna’s van and understood everything.

In the original work, it was definitely a lie that the original owner was going to sell Nina. She just wanted to trick two hundred thousand credits from Lubbock through her sister and then have someone intercept her sister halfway back. That way, the huge debt would be resolved.

However, the original work’s Nancy was ultimately just a 17-year-old girl who didn’t have a true judgment of society’s dangers. She didn’t expect that Lubbock actually had a gun.

In the original work, Jenna, who was sent to snatch Nina, definitely didn’t have a good outcome… Thinking of that seemingly carefree girl, Nancy felt a bit heavy-hearted.

Anyway, the dowry saved up by the original owner was probably fifty thousand credits, and just now Nancy had spent almost ten thousand on Hattori.¹

“Nina’s dowry is gone…” Nancy rubbed her smooth chin.

But it didn’t matter. She actually had thought of a way to make money, and this matter needed careful consideration.

Fifty thousand credits, if she found a less reputable doctor, it would be enough for Hattori’s plastic surgery and posture adjustment.

After some thought, Nancy opened her terminal and dialed a person’s number.

“Dr. Pierce, I’m Nancy, the one who bought goods from you last time, remember me?”

“Yes… Can you help me with something…”

In a few words, Hattori’s matter was resolved, and then Nancy sent the address of that private hospital to Hattori, letting him go there himself.

It had to be said that the original owner’s connections in the Philo District were actually quite good. Just now, Nancy had called the owner of a private hospital. The original owner had once bought and resold goods from him, so they had some rapport.

Suddenly, Nancy thought of her mission that could only be triggered by finding the heroines.

“Now that we have Hattori’s combat power, it’s time to find that heroine.”

………………

As dusk fell, Philo Central Square became even more lively than during the day, with neon lights and projection screens on the tall buildings complementing the night of the Tianzhou, making it more beautiful.

“A purple mandala symbolizing mystery and the future, picked from the shores of the Moon Lake in the Hilvi Mountains…” A young girl held a purple flower in her hand, proudly presenting it to three young dog demons.

“Wow!” The three inexperienced little fellows stared intently at the purple mandala flower in the rabbit-eared girl’s hand, their two small, bean-like eyes gleaming.

“It can bring extraordinary good luck! Just three credits each, and you can take one home!” Xena, a rabbit demon and a jobless drifter, seemed oblivious to the helpless young woman being dragged by the three little fellows, continuing her persuasive sales pitch.

“So, Xena, your so-called job is selling… trinkets here?”

The voice from behind made Xena stiffen suddenly. Mechanically turning her head, she then saw the snow-haired girl standing behind her with a stack of items.

Nancy looked beautiful today, especially under the neon lights at night, but Xena Rong didn’t pay much attention to this. After all, being seen selling trinkets on the street by the boss was not a situation she wanted to be in…

“Boss… What a coincidence! Haha…” Xena tried to change the subject.

“Hmm, what a coincidence indeed,” Nancy said, looking at the short-haired girl with yellow rabbit ears in front of her, nodding with a smile.

Nancy had just come out to try her luck finding the heroine named Sherry. However, as soon as she stepped out, she noticed the very conspicuous rabbit-eared girl in the bustling square. Well, well, upon closer inspection, she recognized her.

“Please give me three of the flowers you just mentioned, here are three credits.” Behind her, perhaps finally annoyed by the mischievous children, the woman took out her credit card and transferred credits to Xena’s terminal.

“So, where did you get those mandala flowers from?”

Nancy watched as the mother, pulling three children who were fascinated by the so-called “purple mandala flowers,” disappeared into the crowd, then turned to the smiling Xena with a puzzled expression.

“Where did I get purple mandalas? I’ve never been to the Hilvi Mountains, those were just something I yanked from Lala during lunch break.” Xena giggled.

Blossom Lala², true to her name, was a local flower demon in Tianzhou and also a member of the large group of delinquents led by the original owner.

However… was it really appropriate for Xena to yank “hair” from someone while her good friend was sleeping? Nancy’s mouth twitched slightly, feeling worried for Lala.

“So why are you here… selling flowers? Finished your homework?” Nancy glanced at Xena’s bag full of ‘mandala flowers,’ asking curiously.

“Oh, um, the allowance from home isn’t enough… so I thought of this way…” Xena shrugged somewhat awkwardly.

People came and went, occasionally casting curious glances at the two beautiful young girls.

“Well… it means you’re out here doing odd jobs.” Nancy shook her index finger. “I just came back from the Philo District.”

“Ah! Why didn’t you say so earlier! Now that makes us comrades! Can’t betray each other, you know?” Hearing that Nancy was also out for a stroll, Xena’s embarrassment immediately disappeared when she realized they were comrades!

Nancy smiled. Of course, she knew. When Xena mentioned “betrayal,” she meant not revealing that Nancy was out here earning extra money late at night. But she wasn’t someone who liked to gossip anyway.

“Why are you working? Is it because your family’s allowance isn’t enough?” Xena, having learned that Nancy was also out working, asked about the reason for her late-night job.

“Well, my younger sister, Nina, is growing up, so I want to buy her some nutritious things.” Nancy thought for a moment and casually gave a reason.

“Oh~ you’re really good to Nina…” Xena touched her own smooth chin.³

“By the way, there are more than just us here. Look, there’s someone over there playing guitar, she’s in your sister’s class.” Xena, after touching her chin, shared a little gossip with Nancy.⁴

“Someone playing the guitar?” Nancy’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be her?

Just now, as she was walking along, she racked her brains but couldn’t think of the whereabouts of the supporting character she had locked onto. She couldn’t find anything from the police department’s side, and now she just happened to run into her as soon as she stepped out?

“Yeah, she looks quite nice, but she only plays and doesn’t sing, so she doesn’t have many customers.” Xena nodded and said.

…………

After exchanging a few words, knowing they weren’t close friends, Nancy bid farewell. Eager to earn money, Xena didn’t mind, happily heading to the other side of the square with her basket full of ‘mandala flowers’.

Bidding farewell to Xena, Nancy headed towards the Financial Center. She needed to confirm whether the girl playing the guitar was the one she was looking for.

As Nancy approached the Financial Center, the crowd grew thicker. After all, the entire central area of Philo Square was dominated by this towering twenty-story commercial building. It was now the start of the night in Tianzhou City, with office workers off from work, parents picking up their children, and ordinary citizens spending time with their families. A large number of people flowed around the Financial Center, beginning their own nightlife.

When Nancy arrived at the coffee shop according to the information provided by Xena, she did not find the girl playing the guitar. Instead, she saw a parking lot filled with vehicles and a crowded café.

Just as Nancy thought the girl might have gone home and was considering giving up, a light and playful guitar melody drifted by on the night breeze.

Nancy paused for a moment, her snow-white hair fluttering, then turned to follow the direction of the guitar music.

It was a row of shops under renovation, with tools scattered haphazardly in front of the closed shutters. Not many neon lights shone in that direction; only a faint halo of light from the nearby shopping mall’s billboards filtered through. In the night breeze, the chrysanthemums in the flower beds swayed gently. A girl in Roland High School uniform, with beautiful long blue hair, sat casually by the flower bed, cradling a guitar. Her slender white fingers gently plucked the guitar strings.

Sherry Xia, a supporting character in “Tianzhou Tales – The Chronicles of a Thousand Demons”, played a role in advancing the growth of the protagonist, Su Xiaoyu, through her own background. Her character’s fate: suicide.

Even in a bustling metropolis, there are places untouched by its vibrancy, like the alley where Sherry sat, rarely traversed by pedestrians.

Even the few pedestrians who passed by were hurrying towards the bustling city nearby, not tempted by the brief moments of tranquility in the corner. After all, humans are social creatures, craving the company of others and the excitement of city life.

Therefore, the girl with the guitar, as she opened her guitar case, found only a few small bills inside.

Nancy tucked her hair behind her ear and approached the girl playing the guitar with closed eyes.

Like Sherry’s lonely fate, the girl sat in a neglected corner of the bustling city, playing her guitar, finding solace in her music, enjoying a moment of precious tranquility.

Sensing someone approaching, the girl opened her closed eyes, looking up to meet Nancy’s captivating burgundy gaze.

The girl’s eyes, akin to noble emeralds, reflected her pure soul.

Sherry glanced down at the extra hundred credits in her guitar case, momentarily surprised, before offering a shy smile to the snow-haired girl before her.

She recognized Nancy, who had already dropped out of school, but Sherry didn’t feel embarrassed. She didn’t see the hundred credits as charity from a fellow student due to her circumstances. She believed the girl was there for her music, just as she hoped with every passerby.

“Can I request a song?” Nancy crouched down, her perspective shifting to meet Sherry’s gaze.

“Of course…” Sherry nodded shyly. “What song would you like to hear? Could you tell me its name?”

“If it’s difficult to decide… could you hum a bit for me? I’m sure I can play it.”

Nancy looked at the self-assured yet shy girl and smiled gently:

“Then, how about ‘Encounter’?”

“Tonight, you and I meet here. Our destinies intertwine. As you leap through the notes, girl, I’ll change your fate.”

……………

1. Silva: 5k on the terminal and 5k in credit I guess?
2. Silva: I’m a bit on the fence on this name. The Chinese name, Hua Lala, with “Hua” representing flower. But the meaning might be lost in translation if kept as it is.

   Several options come in mind, such as Flower Lala, Flora Lala, or Blossom Lala, all of which is a bit, well… weird. Decided to go with Blossom Lala because that’s what a magical girl would call herself, not that Lala is a magical girl… (or is she?)

3. Silva: This author really like this “smooth chin” phrase huh… I know men have rough prickly chin, but you don’t have to rub it in…
4. Silva: Gasp! Wasn’t there a comment from a few paragraphs ago that stated she’s not someone to gossip?