It was past noon when Li Andy lazily opened his eyes from his warm quilt.
He felt refreshed and his rationality was stable.
Perceiving his surroundings, Youxi was not beside him; she must have gone to make brunch. Sophia, however, was still curled up next to him like a soft lump, drooling and sleeping soundly.
Recalling yesterday's stabilization ritual, Li Andy couldn't help but curve his lips.
Even though he was completely passive, that girl was still so fragile. When it came to the crucial later stages, Youxi's coordination and assistance were needed.
“If you’re bad at it, just practice more.”
After playfully pinching Sophia a few times, Li Andy got up from the bed, put on his clothes, and left the room.
He went downstairs, collecting the Spirituality that had escaped to various places along the way.
Upon reaching the first floor, besides Youxi, who was cooking with activated kitchen utensils, Li Andy also saw another soft little sister—Molly.
At this moment, Molly was helping Sophia maintain her revolver and other shotguns.
She wore a light wood-colored long dress, sitting on a wooden chair, her delicate bare feet lightly resting on the footrest.
Her exposed, moist white skin on her neck, wrists, calves, and feet, against the dark wood grain of the tables and chairs, resembled small white jade flowers blooming on withered wood.
Compared to Sophia and Youxi's cuteness and playfulness, her demeanor was more serene.
Just like her name, she was a small jasmine flower that didn't compete for beauty or attention, but quietly bloomed with fragrance only at night.
“Good morning, Andy Gege…” Molly looked up.
“Hmm, morning. Did Mrs. Harveys not come with you?”
Li Andy nodded, and while asking, he caught Youxi, who was greeting him with a smile, and in front of Molly, was forced to share a silent but profound greeting with her.
“No, I came by myself.”
After Molly answered, she quietly watched, not making a sound to interfere, and her small face showed no expression. Only the faint phantom of gears flashed in her pupils, subtly rotating.
After a good while, Youxi reluctantly let go of Li Andy, returned to the stove, humming a song, and continued cooking.
Although the activated spatulas could do everything automatically, she preferred to cook for her family herself.
Li Andy shrugged helplessly and turned his attention back to Molly:
“Are you helping Sophia maintain her revolver?”
“Yes.”
Molly obediently nodded and handed over the silver revolver.
Li Andy took the pistol and suddenly thought of Zorro, so he found that wisp of Spirituality and injected it into the gun.
The next second, the cylinder spun wildly:
“Woohoo! I’m alive again! This man wants to fight~~”
“Oh, my mama… Is this new skin a bit too feminine, my Lord Officer?”
Li Andy’s eye twitched, and he picked up another revolver, changing the Spirituality. He had actually bought two revolvers from Old Du Lin before, but he was more accustomed to carrying only one.
After Zorro successfully switched, he felt as if the sky had fallen:
“Oh, my goodness! Lord Officer, why has my caliber become smaller?!”
“This is the same model as your previous one!” Li Andy corrected him.
“Eh, really?”
Zorro rolled the cylinder.
“Ahem, Officer, I suddenly think that previous skin was quite good. Even if her Clockwork Heart is broken, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Broken, Clockwork Heart?”
Li Andy frowned, subconsciously looking at the cracked gem on the grip of the silver revolver.
Before he could ask, Molly, who was beside him, spoke up to explain:
“Andy Gege, that’s an inscribed ritual gem. It can infuse Spirituality to enchant bullets and gunpowder, allowing them to attack some mysterious side creatures. However, it’s broken now, so it can’t perform its original function.”
Li Andy paused and looked at Molly:
“Where did you get this knowledge?”
Molly didn't hesitate and immediately replied:
“It was an alchemist on a sea ship, but… I don’t know her name. I have some impression of Sophia Jie’s gun. I… seem to be able to make one too.”
“An alchemist, huh…”
Li Andy murmured, pondered for a few seconds, and asked,
“Then can you help me make one?”
“Okay.”
Molly nodded without any hesitation,
“Should we start now? How should the functions and style be designed? I can ask Mama to prepare the materials and equipment…”
“No rush.”
Li Andy interrupted,
“First, list some common materials and equipment for me, and I’ll prepare them. It’s easier for me to acquire things from certain circles. Once I’ve built my workshop, we can discuss it slowly then.”
Molly was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
The air between them inexplicably returned to silence.
It was as if she wouldn't respond unless Li Andy spoke.
Just like… a programmed machine.
Youxi, who had finished breakfast, glanced at the two of them and couldn't help but frown: “Gege, I’ll go wake Sophia up. Officer Susan has two letters; I put them on the office desk.”
Li Andy nodded, and after watching Youxi carry the breakfast upstairs with a thud, he prepared to get up and read the letters Susan had left.
Unexpectedly, the unresponsive Molly suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
Li Andy raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise:
“What’s wrong?”
Molly was silent for several seconds, then finally shook her head:
“Nothing…”
That’s what she said, but her hand didn’t let go.
Li Andy pondered for a few seconds, then spread his arms and gently hugged her.
Molly’s expressionless small face now showed a small, but very satisfied smile. The small hand clutching his sleeve also slowly released its grip.
To be honest, Li Andy was a little confused.
He couldn't quite figure out what kind of existence he was to Molly.
It was like he couldn't distinguish whether the Clockwork Heart belonged to the Person of the Principle or material.
After comforting the Clockwork Girl.
Li Andy came to the office area.
There were two letters from Susan; one was left when she departed in the morning, and the other was just sent by someone. Youxi had clearly already opened and read both.
This information wasn't worth hiding, so Li Andy didn't mind his sister opening his mail.
The first letter was nothing special; besides expressing gratitude, it stated that she would repay the money as soon as possible.
Other useless information included advising Li Andy to quickly move to another house. She had confirmed last night that the house was haunted. For example: chairs rocking automatically, curtains fighting with curtains, and socks and shoes racing in the hallway, etc.
The content of the second letter was more crucial.
She reminded Li Andy that the current situation was not very stable and advised him not to go to other districts recently. Furthermore, the unrest in Nine District Black Alley was just the beginning, and similar things were expected to happen successively in other districts.
Li Andy casually tossed the letter onto the desk, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes in thought.
In the future, there would certainly be chaos.
But did he… really need to choose to leave the New Continent and go to the safer Imperial Capital of Fog, as in the game?