Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 181: Star Players, Part Ten

The dim light of the dorm room cast shadows across the faces of Lianna, Enverna, and Zura as they sat in somber silence, contemplating their next move.

"So, Mel won’t wake up for at least three days," Lianna murmured, her voice heavy with worry. "What do we do now?"

Enverna’s brows furrowed in deep thought.

"We have to keep chasing this girl. Every day she remains alive is a day where she adds another’s abilities to her list. We can’t just wait around until Mel recovers. We need to act."

Zura shifted uneasily in her seat, her eyes flickering between Lianna and Enverna.

"I mean, I agree, but how do we lure her out? If she knows she can’t take down Caroline she’s just going to run at the sight of her."

Lianna chewed on her lower lip, considering the options.

"We need to find a different form of bait. Someone she’ll see as a threat, but not someone she knows she can’t handle."

Enverna’s eyes brightened with understanding.

She shifted a little before saying:

"... Perhaps I could put myself up as her opponent."

"What?" Lianna asked. "But-"

"You’re the one with all the broken abilities, aren’t you?" Enverna asked. "I just have high stats. She shouldn’t be able to copy anything too valuable from me."

"But, I have to be nearby for the buffs to work!"

"But you don’t have to be right next to me," Enverna replied. "You can stand nearby in some building or alley and that should be enough."

Calming down, Lianna nodded slowly.

"I guess... It would be nice if we could lure her into a one-on-one against you. But..."

"How do we get her to come to us?" Zura asked Enverna. "What if she just assumes you’re somewhere in the vicinity? She probably knows you two are basically inseparable."

Enverna leaned forward, a glint of determination in her eyes.

"We could use the exhibition."

Lianna’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"The exhibition? I have to be honest, I don’t think that has a chance of working. Why would she show up? Why would she try to kill us in front of a crowd of people? And... I mean, our goal is to kill her. How would we get that done too?"

Enverna just gave her a smirk.

"I have something in mind, actually. It’ll just be a matter of whether she believes it or not."

---

The night was alive with vibrant energy, the air buzzing with excitement as players from all walks of life gathered to capture moments of elegance.

Lianna stood gracefully in her gleaming, backless red dress, her crimson hair cascading down her shoulders in soft waves.

Beside her, Enverna exuded an aura of confidence in her dark blue suit, the sharp lines accentuating her powerful presence.

[Okay, let’s give it a shot!]

As they moved through the crowd, Lianna couldn’t help but admire the other players, their attire a testament to their wealth and power. She realized then that, in truth, she and Enverna were still not fully immersed in the world of adventurers.

Cameras flashed, capturing snapshots of the glamorous scene unfolding around them.

"Come on, Envy, let’s take a picture," Lianna said, a mischievous glint in her eye as she pulled Enverna in front of a nearby camera.

Enverna chuckled, shaking her head in amusement as they posed for the photo, their smiles genuine and bright.

The photographer, recognizing them, approached with a grin.

"Oh my- Lianna, Enverna! Big fan. You both look stunning as always. Mind if I take a few shots for the magazine?"

Lianna flashed him a smile, nodding in agreement.

"Of course, go ahead."

As the photographer worked his magic, another figure approached, a notebook in hand.

"Excuse me, Lianna, Enverna," the newcomer said, "I’m from Whiplash magazine. Would you be interested in a quick interview?"

Lianna glanced at Enverna, who shrugged, exuding an air of nonchalance...

... Even thought his was exactly what they wanted.

"Sure, why not?" Lianna replied.

The interviewer wasted no time, diving straight into the questions.

"How do you both feel about the upcoming exhibition? Are you ready?"

"We sure hope so!" Lianna’s lips curved into a thoughtful smile. "I’m actually glad we have the opportunity to participate in some festivities before we leave."

The interviewer raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Leave? Where are you two going?"

Enverna stepped in, her voice smooth and confident.

"We’ve been considering taking a vacation after the exhibition. A well-deserved break, you could say."

"Makes sense, I guess, with all the missions you two have been taking on..." The interviewer nodded, scribbling down notes. "Sounds like a wonderful idea. Any particular destination in mind?"

Lianna glanced at Enverna, a playful twinkle in her eye.

"We haven’t decided yet. All we know is, well," Lianna winked at the camera, "if we have enough fun wherever we end up, we might just not come back for a while."

The interviewer smiled, jotting down their responses.

"Well, it sounds like you both have some exciting times ahead of you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me."

With a final exchange of pleasantries, the interview concluded, and Lianna and Enverna returned to the photoshoot.

Later, the bustling city streets gradually quieted as Lianna and Enverna made their way back home, the echoes of their footsteps mingling with the soft hum of the evening.

Lianna glanced sideways at Enverna, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Do you really think this plan is going to work?"

Enverna considered for a moment before responding, her voice steady.

"I’m hoping it will. If the girl hears that we’ll be leaving the city soon, she might start feeling desperate. Her target selection hasn’t been a coincidence so far. She *wants* our abilities. And, I think that might just make her desperate enough to join the exhibition."

Lianna nodded slowly, her mind turning over the possibilities.

"And if she does, we’ll be able to eliminate her then," she concluded, her tone resolute.

"Exactly. It’s a risky plan, but at this point, I think it’s our best shot at catching her off guard."

That was the idea.

With their plan in motion, they could only hope that their adversary would take the bait.