So polite? Even using the honorific "you" (您)?
Li Wu found it strange. He looked up and saw the eerie metal mask. Under the reflection of the cold light, Li Wu could even see his own ferocious expression in the mirror-smooth surface of the mask. The saying "a thousand people have a thousand faces" was truly apt.
Whether in the game or the manga setting, Gray Serpent was indifferent and hated meaningless communication.
"Since that's the case, I won't stand on ceremony." Li Wu didn't waste any more words. Gray Serpent was a negotiation expert who valued efficiency; he had to be direct.
"Raiden Mei is a human capable of completely controlling a Herrscher's authority with her own will in this civilization. For evidence, you can check the major events that occurred in Nagazora City last night. With your means, finding out what happened shouldn't be difficult."
"I need you to use World Serpent's resources to protect her while holding Schicksal in check. Protect her for as long as possible. Within six months at most, she will willingly join World Serpent and enter the Elysian Realm."
After stating his demands, Li Wu swallowed hard, looking at Gray Serpent with trepidation, trying to discern some emotion from that cold metal mask.
However, it was futile. Gray Serpent stood stiffly in place, shrouded by his black umbrella. Deep, mysterious shadows piled up beneath his feet, merging with him completely.
Cold and distant, like a lightless abyss, devoid of any emotion.
You have to agree...
If you don't agree, all this effort will have been in vain.
Li Wu prayed silently in his heart.
If World Serpent didn't offer asylum to Raiden Mei, after such a big commotion last night, Schicksal would definitely make a move. Trying to save Mei then would be infinitely harder.
Once they deployed Valkyries ranked A or above, he would have zero chance of winning.
"Kevin thinks so too, doesn't he?" Seeing that Gray Serpent hadn't responded for a long time, Li Wu added another sentence.
After he added this, Gray Serpent still stood motionless under the black umbrella. It was as if he had no emotions, only a cold gaze fixed dead on Li Wu.
The faint, cyan sunlight acted like a spirit, playfully passing through the window lattice, shining on the flowerpot by the windowsill, inching upward bit by bit.
Just like time, silently accelerating in this tense atmosphere.
Did I mess up?
I worked so hard for so long...
Li Wu's heart sank to rock bottom.
However—
At this very moment, behind the mask, large drops of "sweat" were sliding down Gray Serpent's forehead.
Logically speaking, as a semi-mechanical, semi-biological existence, sweating shouldn't happen to him.
But his gears were spinning frantically, all to provide the super-computing power needed to answer Li Wu's question.
Even though his gears had accelerated several times over, Gray Serpent still hadn't fully grasped what Li Wu meant. Especially when Li Wu mentioned Kevin, his gears were practically smoking.
Elysian Realm?
Isn't that the "scrapped proposal" mentioned by the Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era?
Back then, after defeating the Herrscher of Finality, facing the brand-new Honkai enemies—"Will Integrator," "Ominous Fetus," and "Falsehood"—everyone was prepared to die.
To prove that they had bled, cried, been happy, been sad, and existed... they proposed copying and sealing the memories of the Flame-Chasers in the "Elysian Realm."
However, later on, after the First Flame-Chaser, "[Endless]," single-handedly eliminated the "Will Integrator" and "Ominous Fetus," this plan was scrapped.
Logically speaking, "[Endless]" couldn't possibly not know that the "Elysian Realm" was never implemented...
Then what does he mean by telling me to arrange for Raiden Mei to enter the Elysian Realm in six months?
No...
That's not right...
I cannot use such inferior logic to analyze the words of "this legend."
It is very likely a test for me!
After all, the Lord said that the Flame-Chaser [Endless] always said strange things and did things others couldn't understand...
After confirming the identity, there was only one thing to do—
Believe, and execute.
Don't ask for reasons, don't look at reality.
If the conditions don't exist, create them! If the environment doesn't exist, create it!
It was precisely because everyone believed in him unconditionally that humanity could achieve victory time and time again when the world-ending Honkai disasters descended.
The first sentence saying he wouldn't stand on ceremony must be giving me enough trust based on my important status among the World Serpent cadres.
The second sentence explained Raiden Mei's uniqueness and emphasized my personal ability...
A Herrscher possessing self-will isn't strange. There were many in the Previous Era too. Although most had extreme psychological issues, with proper "education," they could be turned back to the right path. Those who really couldn't change were just captured for experiments.
This sudden explanation must be because he wants to use my channels to give Raiden Mei a reasonable excuse to join World Serpent and be promoted to a cadre, so the other Flame-Chasers will accept it.
The third sentence requires me to use World Serpent's resources to protect Raiden Mei and let her enter the "Elysian Realm" in six months.
Since she's someone personally recruited by the CEO of World Serpent, protection is a given. So the key lies in the latter part: letting Raiden Mei enter the Elysian Realm in six months...
The fourth sentence emphasized that Lord Kevin thinks so too.
"..."
I understand!
The red light in Gray Serpent's left eye suddenly brightened.
CEO [Endless] wants me to hide this from the other Flame-Chasers, restart the "scrapped proposal" of the Elysian Realm within six months, rebuild the Elysian Realm, and let Raiden Mei understand the history of the Previous Era! Then give the other Flame-Chasers a big surprise when they meet.
So the urgent task is to hide the news of his return from the other Flame-Chasers and only tell the Lord.
Yes!
That's it!
Everything makes sense now.
Gray Serpent felt that the computing power he added to himself a few years ago wasn't wasted. He actually understood the true intentions of "that lord" in such a short time.
"Transaction complete. Schicksal, today, I will personally handle the negotiations."
"In six months, Raiden Mei will enter the Elysian Realm."
The icy mechanical voice, devoid of inflection, came from under the metal mask as if reading from a script.
Gray Serpent tapped the back of his hand three times. The metal parts of his hand floated in the air, revealing an exceptionally eye-catching crimson feather. Sporadic sparks scattered around it, yet it passed straight through the metal parts as if it didn't belong to this world.
"This, is for you."
Gray Serpent respectfully handed the crimson feather to Li Wu, returning it to its original owner.
However, in Li Wu's eyes, he had made a request, and now it was Gray Serpent's turn. This feather was the "price."
"What do I need to do?"
"Do what you wish to do. In six months, I will find you on time to complete this transaction. Until then, you can only use this 'Flame-Chaser Feather' to enter the 'Flame-Chaser Past Life Society' with a brand-new identity. Upon first entry, you will need to come up with an alias for yourself."
Li Wu took the "Flame-Chaser Feather," which looked very much like Fenghuang Down. It sounded like a proposal he couldn't refuse.
This feather... looked like a branch of Fenghuang Down, but a few degrees more eerie than its manga depiction. There was something on it that shouldn't be there—a collection of small strands of neurons and nerve fibers.
It looked as if they had been dug out of a human brain and glued onto it with special means. Extremely creepy.
"What is this?"
"The pass to enter the 'Flame-Chaser Past Life Society'."
What the hell is this Flame-Chaser Past Life Society?
Alias, new identity, pass... Too many elements. Li Wu didn't understand it immediately.
Before Li Wu could ask more about the Flame-Chaser Past Life Society, Gray Serpent seemed to receive a new message. After bidding him farewell, he left Raven's Nest directly.
Although he had a hunch, he didn't expect the emotional bond between World Serpent cadres to be so shallow. Gray Serpent left without even glancing at Raven.
It seemed the message he received was quite urgent.
What Li Wu didn't know was that the CPU in Gray Serpent's head was about to burn out. His computing power had reached its limit. If they continued chatting, he wouldn't be able to keep his brain clear and would have to communicate with Li Wu using ordinary logic.
In Gray Serpent's view, that would be a great disrespect to "[Endless]." So he made an excuse to leave. Fortunately, the other party didn't stop him.
He must have seen my predicament and tacitly allowed it.
As expected of "that legend"!
Li Wu was confused, but seeing Gray Serpent had something to do, he didn't dare forcibly call him back. Who knew if the guy would cancel the deal if he got unhappy?
Although he didn't get a full explanation, after simply sorting it out, Li Wu roughly figured it out.
It should be some kind of special consciousness space containing not only him but potentially other World Serpent members.
He'd study it when he left Raven's Nest and got to a safe place.
"Sigh, your luck is really good. If I had your luck, I would have sneaked into World Serpent's treasury and taken a sum of money long ago."
Raven walked over, shaking her head as she spoke, her tone full of envy.
"Luck?"
"Yeah, your luck is through the roof. You could play the lottery. Oh, but don't play it in your hometown; I heard the lottery mechanism there is weird," Raven teased. "Anyway, Gray Serpent probably mistook you for someone else, thinking you were one of the founders of World Serpent, and agreed without even hearing the full details of the deal. Thank me; I didn't expose your true identity."
Raven took two sets of brand-new clothes from the wardrobe and threw them directly onto the bed. "You guys are young and shy, so I didn't strip your clothes to dry them. While you were unconscious, I went out and bought two sets. Change into them after I leave. By the way, remember to pay me back. Three thousand Far East currency in total. I'm short on money."
After speaking, Raven drew the curtains and left through the only main door, leaving Li Wu and Raiden Mei staring at each other in the room.
Suddenly, Li Wu's thoughts were scrambled.
Wait, at least take one of us outside to wait first!
Are you expecting us to change at the same time?
"You change first. I'll wait outside."
Li Wu consciously stood up and walked toward the door, dragging his damp, sticky clothes. Just as he grabbed the handle, Raiden Mei pulled him back.
For a long time, there was no movement. Raiden Mei just gently tugged at his cuff, saying nothing.
Li Wu turned his head, wanting to say something, but out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Mei's face, completely flushed red. As if drunk, she clumsily unbuttoned her clothes.
What does this mean?
This is Raven's house! Who knows when a few kids might pop out...