Chapter 2616: Chibi Anna

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Southern Capital, Guild Association Mall, Warehouse No. 234

"So," I asked, nestling my head on her shoulder from behind, "should I take this as a sign that you agree with me?"

"Your vision is grand, even noble. I will give you that," Anna replied. "But can you truly achieve it?"

She didn’t seem to mind that my head was buried at the nape of her neck and I occasionally sniffed the body and hairs’ scent. She had convinced, even fooled, herself that I was her groom, and that there was nothing inappropriate about it.

"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "The plan is already in motion. Even your mother is pulling her weight and doing her part."

"You met my mother? How am I only hearing about this now?" Anna asked, shock evident in her voice. The thought sent a chill through her. She began to believe that Ann might truly have found a way to hide memories from her. Anna had endured what felt like an eternity with that deranged Anne in the mystic dimension, all to grow stronger for everyone’s sake, yet the other was now developing methods to keep things from her. In silence, Anna resolved to make Ann’s punishment far harsher than it was now.

"No, I haven’t met your mother yet," I replied calmly. "We’ve merely crossed paths a few times while conducting our respective business. For now, I believe our interests happen to align."

I had already guessed that the Southern Princess, understanding the inevitability of the coming upheaval, was also waiting for the three mischiefs to make their move against the Masters. As a safeguard for the Southern Region, she kept the hero within Clown Mask’s memories of the future close at hand.

Aba Windsor, the VR-universe addict, had been persistently asking to return to Sky Blossom City to be with me, the creator of the VR-universe, but she could not. Her father had entrusted her custody to the Southern Royal family, particularly to the Southern Emperor. By using Ann as an intermediary, the Southern Princess had effectively kept Aba anchored in the Southern Capital.

I allowed her to do so simply because I did not want her pestering me. She might have been the hero in Clown Mask’s future vision, but at present she was nothing more than a stinky gamer with heavy, dark bags hanging beneath her eyes in a world filled with all manner of miraculous cosmetic cards, that alone spoke volumes about the degree of her VR addiction. It was best for both of us that she stayed far away from me.

"And what is that?" Anna asked, clearly having lost track of why she was even here, what they had been arguing about, and how the conversation had reached this point.

"Overthrowing the true oppressors of the five regions and uniting them under a single vision, just as our true founding card apprentices once envisioned," I said, spouting some grandiose nonsense while deliberately withholding my real plans from her.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Anna. I didn’t trust Ann, the one who shared her memories. By now, I was certain she was the snitch helping the Southern Princess stay one step ahead of me. Perhaps she had even approached me on her mother’s orders. Even though I knew better, that was how it went once trust was broken. Every action became suspect, every word carried an ulterior motive, and nothing about them felt incidental or genuine anymore.

"Now whose vision is narrow and limited?" Anna snapped. "If you don’t want to tell me, then don’t. Just don’t lie to me."

"Sorry, my bad," I said, offering a quick apology. Since we were already on the subject, I added, "You know I can see your true form, right? You don’t need to hide it from me. Still, I’d prefer it if you maintained this one."

No, I was not body-shaming Anna. Her situation was simply similar to that of her grandaunt, Field Marshal Lorn. After breaking through to the card demigod realm, both of their bodies had transformed to better suit their latent potential. At least Field Marshal Lorn’s body had merely regressed to that of a teenager. In Anna’s case, it was worse. Her body had reverted to that of a pre-teen.

Mind you, she was well over a hundred years old, and I very much preferred her mature, curvy form.

"Is that so?" Anna said playfully as she turned to face me, then abruptly transformed into her original form, a little girl whose apparent age I was too sick to my stomach to even acknowledge. She wrapped her arms around me and chirped, "Daddy, am I a good girl?"

"Fuck," I blurted, instinctively trying to pull away. I let go of little Anna, but she refused to release me, clinging tighter as she repeated sweetly, "Daddy, was I a good girl?"

"Stop it," I blurted. "I promise I won’t approach you without your consent. Now stop it." I knew exactly what she was doing. This was retaliation for my getting handsy earlier without her permission.

"Hahaha," little Anna burst into laughter. In the next instant, she transformed back into her adult form and said smugly, "That should teach you to think twice before testing me again."

"Don’t even joke about that again. I almost vomited on you," I warned Anna, making it clear she shouldn’t take too much pleasure in my misery. It could have just as easily backfired on her.

That said, thinking back on it, pre-teen Anna really was far too cute. Any parent would be lucky to have a child as adorable as her.

Anna rolled her eyes at my empty threat, then finally turned to the real reason she was here, having avoided it long enough. "That’s enough for the reunion. Now, where is he?" She paused, her voice tightening. "Don’t tell me you’ve already killed him."

The moment she mentioned him, Anna’s demeanor shifted. The air around her seemed to boil, thick with barely restrained fury as her rage bled into the space between us.

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