Chapter 56 - 2.17

[The guardian was passing by your carriage and saw that the representatives from Palla were killed heinously and that there was a lady in danger, so due to his good heart, he saved the woman and quickly left after being given thanks by the lady. He did not state his identity, but he was wearing a mask and a brown cape.. Well, something like that. If you tell this to the people in Palla once you arrive there, then you can twist the truth and shift the blame to this unknown guardian. The power of rumors and stories are very powerful, you know?] The System answered.

Xu Jiaqi stilled. The System made a lot of sense.

'System, you are truly the best story maker I have encountered! Did you watch too many dramas? How come you can generate these kinds of plots in an instant?' Xu Jiaqi raised a brow in amusement.

This type of story was generic, but still believable since she was the only one who went through the incident. As long as she provide a substantial testimony to the people, then she would be able to fool them. She would also be able to act with flexibility.

[Host.. I am someone who studies plots all day, it's my job as a System. If I am not even able to do this type of thing, what am I accompanying you for?] The System sighed as he spoke.

'..Well, you're right. It seems like I have seen too many useless Systems depicted in stories, so a smart little baby like you is very great to have~' Xu Jiaqi complimented.

Sometimes, the System could be braindead and unable to process what was happening, but most of the time, he was very cooperative and assisted her well. Unlike the Systems she learned about.

In fact, what Xu Jiaqi did not know was that the Systems that she learned about actually existed in the world. Outright useless partners and trash helpers. It was just her System was a bit special, and he was devoted to his work and engaged in upright values and beliefs. Thus, naturally he would be helpful and supportive, despite the complaints and banters he would seldom try to have.

She would only know this later on, as she grows to meet other Systems that work for specific tasks and had many diverse personalities. But for now, she was under the impression that all Systems were like this.

'Well, since we did a lot of thinking and fought hard today, it would be too harsh of a work if I cleaned the assassins up myself.. And I am also trying to emulate a weak figure, so I will leave the cleaning duty to Zenith, thank you very much!' Xu Jiaqi clapped as she decided.

[Host.. aren't you just lazy? Don't fool around, you are just reluctant because you will get tired.]

'Of course! If I was in a stronger body, it would be a different case, but do you know how weak Ariel Maine is? I can't even run for more than three minutes before I am out of breath! This kind of body, if I cleaned the corpses up, won't I be dead?" Xu Jiaqi complained.

In a few minutes, Zenith arrived back. He had calmed himself down after a lot of mind exercises, and rushed back after realizing that he had left his lady alone by the carriage. What if anything happened to her? With that kind of worry, he ran in maximum speed.

Thankfully, the lady was safe and sound when he got there.

"Lady Ariel.. truly, my apologies. I had some thoughts that I needed to sort out. Are you alright? You are not harmed, right?" Zenith declared in a loud volume.

"Yes, I am alright. Even if someone came to attack me, I would be able to protect myself, so don't you worry. If you want to apologize, then please clean up the corpses around here. We can't just leave them behind. They will leave an obvious trace.. Although I don't know who our enemy is yet, we have to be careful with our movements."

"Ah.. yes!" Zenith replied swiftly. He went inside the forest. After a minute or two, rustling sounds could be heard, along with tumbling noises that could be assumed to be dragged bodies.

Xu Jiaqi waited for a few minutes as she began to brainwash her memories about what she should act about. The entire tirade was orchestrated by her and the System, and she felt like the scriptwriter of a soap opera.

The more drama, the better it was..?

After about fifteen minutes, a rather bloodied Zenith came out. He was drenched in a thin layer of sweat, which he wiped away as he walked.

'Ooh, quite swift. Fifteen minutes to take care of.. twelve people. He has some strength indeed.' Xu Jiaqi evaluated as she watched the man fumble back to her side.

"I have gathered them in one spot, what does the lady want to do with them? Shall I burn them?" Zenith asked.

"No worries. Burning through the normal way will attract too much attention. I will incinerate them using my magic, it will be better. Have you seen a cliff.. Or somewhere we can throw them off around here?"

"Ah, yes! I saw one to the north." Zenith replied. From his originally rather hostile attitude, he had grown a bit tame, which was in Xu Jiaqi's favor.

"Lead me there, please."

"Yes, Lady Ariel." Zenith bowed before he led the lady towards the pile of bodies first.

When he was away, he had actually explored the forest that they were in and even met some animals that he hunted down to be turned into food. He also found a cave that they could reside in before they continue their journey in the morning.

Thus, they were practically all set for tonight's shelter. The only problem was the young man's palpitating heart.. His thoughts were all over the place.