Chapter 48: Wanting to Match with a Singing Healer-class
Sophie Wexler stared at the two lines of text for a long time.
’Alright, since you put it that way, it’d be rude not to accept. I’ll take it.’
[If I stream again, you can request any song you’d like to hear.]
Finally, Sophie Wexler typed out a line with her finger and sent it.
Since he didn’t want a refund, this was the only solution.
Back on Aethel, she had often heard friends in the livestreaming industry talk about "top supporters," and now she had finally experienced it for herself.
’So this is what it feels like to have a top supporter.’
After sending the message, Sophie Wexler stared at the chat box for a while. Seeing that his online status had disappeared, she muttered, ’Did he log off?’
The moment the words left her mouth, she saw Cillian Forrest stand up from his seat beside her.
Sophie Wexler: "What are you doing?"
Cillian Forrest glanced at the Light Brain in her hand, which still displayed the message she had just sent. He lowered his gaze. "Going back."
Only then did Sophie Wexler realize they were in the military district. Cillian Forrest’s room was next door, not under the same roof as hers.
’We’ve really been living together for so long that it’s become a habit.’
"Oh, okay. You should go back and get some rest then."
Cillian Forrest didn’t respond. He picked up his own Light Brain and left.
Sensing the cold, unapproachable aura around him, Sophie Wexler was completely bewildered.
’What’s wrong? Who pissed him off now? It couldn’t have been me, could it? I didn’t do a thing this time.’
The door closed, and Cillian Forrest returned to his room, his lips pressed into a thin line.
His eyes darkened as he thought about his own strange, impulsive action of tipping her for no reason.
’Why was my mind so muddled just then?’
He turned his Light Brain back on, intending to deal with the files he hadn’t finished, but as soon as it lit up, a message from Sophie Wexler popped up.
He lowered his gaze to the line of text.
’Next time? There won’t be a next time.’
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Cillian Forrest said, "Come in."
After receiving permission, Ethan Cross pushed the door open and entered. "Marshal."
"Mm," Cillian Forrest acknowledged. "What is it?"
"It’s a communication from the First Legion, asking about the current progress in locating you." Ethan Cross had just received their call. "They’re very anxious and said if we don’t find you, they’ll move on to another affiliated planet."
"Tell them we’ve found a trail and are investigating further."
Although the First Legion was under his direct command, the major families all had people inside, making its composition far too complex.
’It seems it’s time to clean house.’
"Leak some locational information to them," Cillian Forrest mused, his fingertips tapping slowly on the desk. He spoke unhurriedly, "Let’s see who’s in a hurry to show up."
"Understood." Ethan Cross immediately grasped Cillian Forrest’s meaning. Throw out a smokescreen to lure the snakes out of their holes.
"There’s one more thing. After the Little Prince returned, he was strictly disciplined by the Council of Elders."
Shawn Thorne had run away on his own last time and was sent back by him. The boy’s lips were sealed, though; he hadn’t leaked any information related to the Marshal.
Hearing this, Cillian Forrest looked up at Ethan Cross. "What did he do now?"
Generally speaking, while the old fossils in the Council of Elders were a nuisance and each had their own agendas, they wouldn’t make things too difficult for Shawn Thorne on the surface. For Ethan Cross to use the words "strictly disciplined," the boy must have done something significant.
At this, Ethan Cross recalled the news he’d heard.
After Shawn Thorne went missing, those fellows on the Council of Elders were worried sick. When he finally returned, they initially reflected on whether they had been too strict in managing the Little Prince.
So they relaxed their rules for a while. Then, one day, while checking on the Little Prince’s studies, they found him watching a livestream.
"A livestream?" Cillian Forrest raised an eyebrow.
"The Little Prince watched Miss Wexler’s livestream when he was here before," Ethan Cross explained to Cillian Forrest.
In fact, it was because the Little Prince had watched Miss Wexler’s stream that he had brought up the matter of testing the riot value.
"I recall the Capital Planet and the other affiliated planets don’t share a network."
The Capital Planet’s network had its own dedicated protection system. It was said that other planets couldn’t crack it.
’The planets’ networks aren’t connected, so how was he watching a livestream?’
Ethan Cross sighed. "He wasn’t watching Miss Wexler’s livestream, but other singing streams."
Ever since he returned, Shawn Thorne had become obsessed with watching livestreams. He was constantly browsing around on StarNet, and crucially, he was using his own social account.
It would have been fine if he just watched, but he was also leaving comments saying other people couldn’t sing.
After critiquing one, he would happily move on to the next stream, tirelessly continuing his crusade.
Hearing this, Cillian Forrest slowly furrowed his brow.
"The Little Prince is probably trying to find a stream that can be a substitute for Miss Wexler’s."
Although the Little Prince was young, he knew his limits. After Ethan Cross contacted him, he never again mentioned that Sophie Wexler could perform mass soothing.
He could hold his tongue about that, but when he watched Sophie Wexler’s stream, besides the soothing effect, there was another very important reason: he genuinely loved Sophie Wexler’s songs.
Now that he was back, he couldn’t listen to them anymore, which was pure torture. His only recourse was to wander through various streams, searching for a replacement.
"The Little Prince also said," Ethan Cross began, looking at Cillian Forrest with some hesitation.
Cillian Forrest looked up. "What else did he say?"
"He also said that when he’s old enough, he wants to be matched with a Healer-class who can sing."
Anyone could tell that this "singing Healer-class" referred to Sophie Wexler.
After hearing about his absurd behavior, Cillian Forrest said, "Send him a communication. Tell him to stop messing around."
Ethan Cross then reported on the recent activities of the various powers on the Capital Planet.
Cillian Forrest nodded, indicating he understood.
After finishing his report, Ethan Cross was about to leave when he happened to glance at the Light Brain on the desk in front of Cillian Forrest.
He let out a soft sound of surprise. "Isn’t that a message from Miss Wexler? Marshal, why haven’t you..."
The moment he saw the expression on Cillian Forrest’s face, he wisely swallowed the rest of his question.
He had discovered it was best to ask as little as possible about Miss Wexler.
However, there was one thing he still had to ask the Marshal’s opinion on. "Will there be any problem with Miss Wexler appearing in person at the Seventh Legion this time?"
After all, she had never shown her face during her previous livestreams.
"Felix York has it under control," Cillian Forrest said in a level tone.
Since Sophie Wexler was in the Seventh Legion under his jurisdiction, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
The entire legion had been briefed. They knew what they could say and what they couldn’t.
Ethan Cross understood. If anything happened to Miss Wexler under General York’s watch, both he and the Seventh Legion would be held responsible.
Just as Cillian Forrest had expected, Felix York had issued an order to the entire military district long ago: all matters concerning Miss Wexler must be kept strictly confidential.
Everyone was well aware of the punishment the military district meted out to leakers should any "accidents" occur.
Not to mention, with the Marshal present, it was even more impossible for any mistakes to be made on this matter.