The green train traversed between the mountains and fields, clattering southward. Passengers gazed out the window, catching glimpses of the sea and mountains; the midday sun shone down upon the train’s roof.

In a rarely crowded carriage, floral-patterned white curtains swayed gently in the breeze, casting a patch of light and shadows on the floor, creating a dappled ripple effect.

Sunlight streamed through the window cracks, illuminating the lowered eyelids of a girl in a kimono.

Beside her, Xia Pingzhou sat quietly in his seat, munching on a chocolate bar while browsing the real-time news of Li Jing on his phone.

He was curious whether, alongside the blatant emergence of the Black Sun Demon, the authorities would succumb to public pressure and disclose the existence of the demon.

After all, this was a Catastrophe-level demon, causing incalculable damage to the city. It even obscured the sun, appearing where everyone could see it, making it nearly impossible to conceal. Surely, they can’t say the black sun hanging in the sky is actually a superpower user?

Xia Pingzhou reconsidered, realizing indeed many superpower users have abilities that alter their bodies.

The authorities could easily fabricate a story that some Catastrophe-level superpower criminal used his abilities to transform his body into a black sun with controlling tentacles, staging a grand tentacle play with the city, complete with a live broadcast.

At worst, they could claim the black sun is a summoned entity from the superpower realm, akin to Fan Dongqing’s ability to summon the "Vessel of Li Qing"; in any case, the interpretation lies entirely with them.

However, this forces superpower users to take the blame for Anecdote Envoy and Exorcists once again.

Xia Pingzhou utilized a convenient channel provided by the hacker to squeeze into the overloaded Weibo, where the internet was indeed in utter chaos at that moment. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Currently, the authorities are striving to communicate internally, implementing various measures to block information, causing major social platforms temporarily inaccessible. Even squeezing through only shows a "Loading" message with a continuously rotating white circle.

The scene was eerily similar to the "Blue Arc’s Death" incident half a month ago.

"How do you see it, kid?" Xia Pingzhou suddenly turned to the hacker and asked casually, "Will they disclose the demon’s existence?"

"Hard to say. They might silence the refugees and use another hot topic to overshadow this event." The hacker placed his left hand in the pocket of his jumpsuit, while the other hand fiddled with his phone.

"What hot topic?"

"Blue Arc is still alive, and has become a wanted suspect for assassinating Rainbow Wings... Do you think that’s a hot topic?"

"Oh, it indeed could ignite Earth as a hot topic." Xia Pingzhou said nonchalantly.

"Right?"

"But I feel the authorities wouldn’t self-destruct like this. If this spreads, wouldn’t it mean they orchestrated the ’fake death’ of Blue Arc, playing with the masses?" Xia Pingzhou tore open a cookie wrapper and popped one into his mouth.

"Anyway, the heat of this matter is definitely on par with the demon incident." The hacker said faintly, "However, once the demon’s existence is exposed, the ramifications will undoubtedly be larger." He paused, "In any case, they will certainly try to pin the blame on superpower users. Then paint this demon as a fugitive Catastrophe-level superpower criminal, with Rainbow Wings’ ’Extreme Ice Maiden’ deployed to capture it."

"You understand quite well."

"Of course, anyone who’s been online long enough knows how they handle these things. Demons have intruded public view before, just not on this scale."

"Speaking of which, fortunately, there was a Rainbow Wings person present; otherwise, I couldn’t have taken advantage." Xia Pingzhou said.

"Saw it. She unleashed a big move, just in time for a crucial assist to you."

"Speaking of which... Won’t the public mistake me and the miss for being with Rainbow Wings?" Xia Pingzhou said, "And this time in the news, it turns into the ’Rainbow Wings Trio’ saving the city."

"Possibly. After all, the authorities can’t publicly declare the thieves teamed up with Rainbow Wings heroes to protect the city; that’s too bizarre... It might incite some conspiracy theories, so they’d have to obscure your and the miss’s identities."

After speaking, the hacker took a sip of a Wangzai milk, "But they’ll have to process all leaked images since your and the miss’s faces have already been publicly listed on the official wanted roster, and sharp-eyed individuals will recognize you instantly."

"Quite amusing." Xia Pingzhou said.

"By the way... That Rainbow Wings person didn’t catch you?" The hacker pondered for a moment and then asked, "She couldn’t have just watched you escape, could she?"

"No, she turned to rescue people. Presumably thinking the time spent catching us was already enough to save many more, and besides she might not even win against us." Xia Pingzhou shook his head, "Talking about these things on the train isn’t dangerous?"

"I’ve hacked the surveillance cameras; only a few of us are in this carriage, what’s there to fear?" The hacker rested his chin, giving a speechless glare at him.

Xia Pingzhou suddenly said, "By the way, I’ve officially reached Tier Three; the person who said I couldn’t achieve Tier Three, step out."

Upon saying this, his seat was abruptly kicked from behind, causing a violent shake, even rousing Ayase Origami who was reclining by the window.

Ayase Origami lifted her head, gazed at Xia Pingzhou with an expressionless face.

"It was the person behind who did it." Without waiting for the opponent to complain, Xia Pingzhou explained. Then he picked up a plastic beverage bottle and sipped some oolong tea from the neck of the bottle.