Chapter 274: 274: Carefully Planned [pt1]
Amane felt a shiver go down her spine once she heard Elios's sugary sweet smell. In her experience, she knew that Elios's current tone did not bode well for anyone involved.
But the people she had dragged over did not seem to think that they were in danger or being used. They looked fascinated as they walked over to Amane.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you, Miss Yoko."
"I've heard a lot about you and your achievements. Recently, there was the rumor that you helped combat Bloom. Do you think you can spare us some of your time and tell us all about it?"
Since most of these *guests* were reporters, their enthusiasm was well-appreciated by Amane. But at the same time, she could not help but find them annoying.
She tried to get away from them, but the more she struggled, the harder it got to say 'no' to these reporters.
"What's wrong, Yoko? You are young and no matter how much you struggle with your words, you need to know that you will have times when you will need to communicate with people. Take this chance to practice."
Elios Tsurugi sounded like a concerned mom right now who was trying her best to help her child adjust. Anyone who would look at them would think the same thought as Amane did.
But little did they know that the truth was something far different. Elios Tsurugi's laugh was being suppressed by her emotions but Amane could feel the intention behind her words.
Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
'Ugh, this elder sure knows how to be annoying. Thankfully, I have a lot of allies here who are willing to help me out.'
Amane snapped her fingers and one of the servers around them quickly walked toward their group. The servant looked at their group before her eyes met Amane's and she gave a small bow.
"My lady, you are being called by the elders for something very important. It would not be wise for you to dwindle around like this."
Since the servant had mentioned Elder, the reporters had no choice but to back down. They looked surprised at Amane being called out.
"Oh, would you look at the time? I need to head over because there is a lot I need to look over. Don't worry, I will come back and entertain you once I am done with the elders."
Amane assured as she walked away. The reporters watched this happen with a surprised look on their faces. They did not expect Yoko Tsurugi to escape with an excuse.
*Cough*
"It looks like you gentlemen are a little disappointed now that Yoko is gone. I will ask Yoko to talk to you all later. After all, you deserve a reward for coming all the way here."
Elios Tsurugi promised the reporters and she began to plan another trap inside her head.
The reporters looked thankful to Elios before they dispersed. It made Elios feel like giggling but she held her impulse back. She needed to wait for a little longer before she could strike the hot iron.
And once the ceremony was halfway under, it was time for the show to start. Elios snapped her fingers and it was the signal for the bud bug to be released into its host. It bit its hose and Elios grinned.
This bud bug was special and it was almost in bloom. Within minutes, this ceremony would be destroyed.
...….
Amane took a sigh of relief once she was away from the reporters. She no longer had to watch her words as carefully.
"Thank you. You are free to go now that you have called me here."
Amane thanked the maid, only to find that the maid looked back at her with an uncomfortable expression on her face.
"Ugh, excuse me miss, but you are being called by Elder Hao right now. He asked me to bring you to him as soon as you are physically able to make the trip."
The maid looked nervous when she delivered this news. It seemed as if she was afraid of Amane and what she would do if she became unhappy with her.
"I see. In that case, I better make myself known to that old man. Knowing him, he would be fuming out of his mind right now. I better not keep him waiting any longer.'
Amane walked away and the maid sighed in relief as she watched Amane walk away.
With this, her task had been over and she could concentrate on what she needed to do. For some reason, the maid had felt her side being itchy for some time now. She could not tell when it started.
But the more attention she paid to it, the more it hurt her. It was likely a mosquito bite since the itch was not intense.
It lasted for a few seconds before it faded and the maid sighed. But as soon as she stepped foot in the main hall, she felt her heart skip a beat and her body temperature rise before the world took on a grey shade.
Before she knew it, the maid was no longer in control of her body. The bud bug had taken control of it and was now trying to find the most suitable place to bloom.
There was a dead compared a few feet away so the bud bug decided to go over to its body and bloom there.
Everyone watched the strange maid make her way toward the dead body. Her movements looked sluggish and people did try to ask her if she was ok or if she needed help. The maid ignored all of it and kept on walking,
Once she reached the dear body that was about to be burned, her body finally reached its end and a small plant began to grow from her shoulder. It was small at first but it showed rapid growth once it hit its mark.
People noticed instantly that something was wrong with the maid. But it was not until she started blooming did the panic started.
The first ones to run out were the politicians and the reporters stayed behind to snap a few shots before they started to run as well.
But the bud bug knew that there was nowhere to hide for these people. Once it bloomed, it would engulf everything in its wake.
"Tsk, how did something like you manage to slip past the security list? Oh well, since Yoko is not here, I will have to take care of this. What a mess this situation is turning out to be."
Sakura calmly walked out of the crowd as everyone ran past her. She was not afraid of the infected person and her eyes met the bud bug.
The infected person looked back at the infected person in front of her. The creature took a step forward and let out a piercing cry as soon as it noticed Sakura.
It could instinctively tell that this person would be a problem for her growth. So, to make the situation go in its favor again, the bud bug decided to attack Sakura.
She raised a flame barrier that made the plant-based attacks ineffective. Sakura also had good control over her body and she was able to control it however she wanted to.
"Looks like you have not learned your lesson up until now. Let me show you what your real plan is when you stand in front of me."
Sakura raised her hand and a jet of fire emerged out of her hand. She shaped it into a sword and attacked the bud bug. It tried to defend itself but its branches were torched down.
Even the freshness and wetness of the branches could not stop them from burning. Sakura's heat was too much for it to handle.
The main body began to grow bigger and the bud bug finally entered bloom. Sakura noticed this and decided to torch the whole thing down. Since Yoko was not here right now, Sakura had to make an instant decision.
Her flames penetrated the bud bug's defenses and it cried out in alarm and shock as its body was disintegrated into pieces. It looked up at Sakura with a betrayed expression, only to find her not even paying attention to her.
The on-lookers who had run out of the hall noticed a pillar of light surrounding the massive tree that had suddenly grown up. It covered the whole canopy and burned the whole thing down.
The tree never got a chance to bloom and the journalists had a new thing to write home about.
When Sakura walked out of the hall, she looked calm and collected. Everyone wanted her to ask what she did to bring the situation under control. But her powers seemed to have scared everyone into submission.
"What is wrong? Are you not going to ask me questions? Oh well, that makes things easier for me to handle."
Sakura admitted before she snapped her finger. The whole hall was engulfed in fire before nothing was left of it. The land had been purified and soon the incident spread across the masses.
But there was one thing everyone noticed and decided to not comment on - Yoko Tsurugi's missing presence. She was nowhere to be found when this all happened and she refused to comment on the bloom incident.
The reporters had no idea what happened so their statement regarding Yoko was a little vague and very different from one another.
But in the end, they all agreed on one thing - Sakura Tsurugi was the real MVP of this situation and that elevated her social standing.