Every balloon had an alphabet. They slowly floated up the sky before the string tying the balloons together snapped halfway. That caused the balloons to separate mid-air and float in different directions.
Hera looked up to watch the balloons and counted 15 of them. There were 13 alphabets and two numbers.
She had an excellent memory. Within a few seconds, she had already memorized each alphabet and quickly began to put together various words. She finally came up with the word “Varastokaappi”, which meant locker in Paltorian. The two numbers were zero and nine.
She immediately ran behind the rock garden. She wasn’t surprised that there was not a sign of Xavier.
She remembered Xavier once said that he liked Santa Claus, who came from Paltoria. Thus, he learned Paltorian so that he could travel to Paltoria. If possible, Xavier even wanted to settle down there.
Hera remembered that so clearly because she used to be naïve and full of imagination. She had also once believed that Santa Claus existed in this world.
When she heard that Xavier wanted to visit Santa Claus at Paltoria, she wanted to go along as well. Thus, she picked up a little Paltorian so that she could go to Santa Claus’ home and pick out any presents she liked.
“Hi, may I know where the lockers are located in the park?” Hera asked a volunteer.
“They’re by the southern gate.” The volunteer pointed in the direction.
Hera immediately headed to the southern gate and found the lockers. She looked up at the cameras directed at the locker area.
She took out her phone and keyed in some codes before placing her phone at the locker’s scanner. Locker 9 opened with a click, and a letter was waiting inside for her.
Hera wasn’t in a hurry to check the letter. Instead, she turned to find a corner away from the cameras before opening the envelope. Inside was a small slip of paper with a URL scribbled on top.
Hera typed in the URL on her phone browser. A website popped up, asking for a password. The password hint was an advanced math question. Seeing that Xavier could come up with such a complicated and meticulous question, Hera would fight anyone who told her he was a fool.
Hera silently came up with the answer and keyed in the password.
The website loaded, revealing a static page with two document links. Hera tapped into the first one, which seemed to be photos of a crime scene. She was about to enlarge one photo when someone suddenly walked toward her.
Hera immediately switched off her screen and looked up to see Bernard leaning over.
“So, you were having diarrhea in the washroom? You even got your period?” He leaned against the tree trunk behind her while holding two bags. One of them was from a convenience store that contained sanitary pads.
“Well, I just wanted to see whether you’d be too embarrassed to buy pads. Give me those.” Hera reached out to take the bag from him. It was strange for a grown man like him to be carrying pads.
“What’s embarrassing about buying pads for my girlfriend?” Bernard asked. He then wrapped his arm around Hera’s waist and pressed himself against her. “Let me check whether you truly got your period.”
Hera was wearing a casual pair of high-waisted jeans and a white T-shirt. Her legs looked long and slender.
At that moment, Bernard’s fingers by Hera’s waist were slowly lifting up the hem of Hera’s T-shirt. Although it was a rather deserted area, there were several occasional passersby. Besides, Hera wasn’t into that kind of behavior.
Her cheeks turned slightly warm as she immediately stopped Bernard’s wandering hands. “So what if I didn’t get my period? It was okay for you to trick me previously, but I can’t do the same to you?”
Bernard had already guessed earlier that Hera was lying. Her period was usually quite regular, so having it one week earlier was slightly odd As he wasn’t a woman, he didn’t understand much about periods. Hence, he still went to buy pads.
As soon as he arrived at the convenience store, he received a message from Sable that Hera was at Stoneworth Park. Thus, Bernard hurried over after purchasing pads and disposable underwear.
Hera was too brilliant. She might run off with some other man if Bernard did not keep an eye on her.
“I’m okay with not checking. But tell me, who asked you to come here?” He nibbled on her ear.
Hera furrowed her brows slightly. If Xavier had used this method to contact her, he clearly did not want anyone else to know his real situation.