My Avatar is Becoming the Ultimate BOSS-Chapter 217 - 143: Venice, Date, and the New Member of the Brigade

July 22, in the sky over northern Italy, the plane carrying the three members of the brigade was already very close to its destination, expected to land at Venice International Airport in three minutes.

In the first-class cabin, Xia Pingzhou slowly opened his eyes and saw a piece of napkin wrapped around fruit flying in mid-air, being handed to him by a kimono-clad girl using her superpower.

He ate the cherry tomato in one bite, then bit into the apple.

The napkin then lightly floated away and landed in the trash can. He glanced sideways, seeing Ayase Origami always looking down at her book, taking a gentle bite from an apple held in her other hand.

The roaring engine’s sound gradually diminished, turning into a low hum. The plane slowly descended through the clouds, the landing gear deployed, and it finally landed smoothly.

The lights in the cabin slowly dimmed, and a voice came over the broadcast: "The plane has arrived at Venice International Airport. Please make sure to take your belongings before disembarking and confirm whether you have retrieved your luggage in advance."

Xia Pingzhou remained in his seat, slowly eating fruit while switching the time zone on his phone. The time in Li Jing was 7 hours ahead of Venice, so while it was only noon here, it was already close to evening for Body No. 1.

The Jack the Ripper girl stood up, walked to the aisle, and turned to look at Xia Pingzhou: "By the way."

"What?" Xia Pingzhou asked.

"Anluns asked me to thank you for him," Jack the Ripper said nonchalantly, eyes downcast.

"Thank me for what?"

"You healed his face."

"You’re welcome," Ayase Origami replied on behalf of Xia Pingzhou while still reading her book, her voice calm and detached.

After speaking, she stood up with her haiku collection and moved towards the cabin’s exit.

Xia Pingzhou glanced at Ayase Origami’s back, then silently at Jack the Ripper, asking her while putting on his jacket:

"What about you? Aren’t you going to thank me?"

"Rather than thanking you for healing my face," Jack the Ripper paused, "I’d thank you more for knocking out the young lady back then."

She slightly tilted her head, glancing at Ayase Origami’s back. Over the past few days, Ayase Origami hadn’t spoken much. To be fair, this mafia lady always spoke little, and when in a bad mood, she seemed even more distant, completely like a wooden figure.

"Why thank me?" Xia Pingzhou’s expression was blank, "Honestly, I was initially worried you’d blame or isolate me; as a newcomer, that wouldn’t be a good outcome."

"If at that time she wanted to act against Lake Hunting, none of us would have stopped her," Jack the Ripper said. "Our chances weren’t great... fighting desperately, taking him down was indeed possible, but many would have died, and it’s likely only the captain would remain in the end."

"So, actually, you should thank me for being a newcomer, not too close to you, so I could make the most rational decision at the time."

"More or less," Jack the Ripper said, "We can exchange contact information. When the new member arrives in this city, I’ll let you know... if you want to meet him."

Xia Pingzhou shook his head: "No need, we can contact each other through hacking; that’s a bit safer."

Jack the Ripper shrugged: "That’s fine too."

"Could you tell me the new member’s name?"

"See him yourself later," Jack the Ripper lifted his eyes towards him, "Are you very curious?"

"Not really," Xia Pingzhou shook his head, "I miss Lan Duoduo, feeling it hasn’t been long since she died, yet her position in the brigade was easily replaced, it’s strange."

"That’s the rule of the brigade; if you die, someone else will replace you; if I die, it’s the same, even the captain is no exception... If you don’t want to die, make yourself stronger." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Jack the Ripper responded with a blank expression.

"But if I become stronger... it’ll be you who dies," Xia Pingzhou silently responded in his heart.

The two disembarked from the plane one after the other, walking down the gangway laid out from the exit towards the airport hall, soon spotting Ayase Origami’s figure. The airport’s security equipment was fully hacked, allowing them to leave the airport without any obstacles.

Venice’s midsummer sun shone fiercely on the three of them. Xia Pingzhou felt slightly dizzy, not due to air sickness, but from the disorientation of switching awareness across multiple bodies, a mental strain much more intense than air sickness.

A moment later, Xia Pingzhou squinted slightly and looked up.

Venice’s nickname, the "City on Water," was well-deserved. As far as the eye could see was nothing but emerald green waters, shimmering in the sunlight. White bridges connected the islands, ultimately forming this city of hundreds of islands.

Jack the Ripper glanced at the two: "I’m leaving; I heard the newcomer will arrive tonight. You can come to meet him then."

Xia Pingzhou and Ayase Origami were absorbed in the scenery under the blazing sun, merely nodding lightly in response.

Ayase Origami’s sleeve released a sheet of paper, which turned into a small hand and gently tugged at Xia Pingzhou’s sleeve.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Let’s ride that," she said.

Following her gaze, Xia Pingzhou saw a gondola floating on the water.

A moment later, the two descended the stairs to the shore, paid the boatman, and boarded a small sightseeing boat.

The boat drifted forward gently. On both sides of the river were streets, the shelves outside shops filled with dazzling goods. Flowers adorned the wooden bookstore signs.

The wooden boat swayed gently, parting the clear water, the reflections of the red-bricked old houses on both sides sparking into shimmering waves. The boatman steered the long pole through narrow alleys, where clotheslines tied with checkered aprons hung from the battered walls, and wisteria flowers cascaded from balconies.