Chapter 168: Gray Serpent, Have You Betrayed Us?
"This is how it transpired, my Lord."
Gray Serpent maintained his respectful posture as he succinctly reported every anomaly related to the silver-haired girl, starting from Changkong City, including the full details of their conversation during this communication, to his Lord.
Although countless past experiences had rendered the white-haired man as cold as ten thousand years of ice, his heart like still water, utterly unperturbed.
Yet, when he heard the silver-haired girl mention Elysia, seemingly aware of the truth behind the Thirteen Herrschers, and utter the words 'Herrscher of Human'.
Kevin's expression, uncharacteristically, visibly shifted.
Ancient memories stirred, plunging him into a prolonged silence.
"My Lord, how should we proceed next? Are we to permit them entry into the Elysian Realm?"
In a cautious, hoarse voice, Gray Serpent lowered his head.
"Due to her profound mysteriousness, your subordinate dares to seek your guidance."
This world conceals many things, yet none like the silver-haired girl, whom even a Serpent like me finds utterly devoid of any past anomalies. Such a dimensional-level intelligence strike is something even the Archbishop of Schicksal, who reigned for five hundred years, could never achieve!
Kevin remained silent for a moment, then looked up, his solid gaze seemingly piercing through the Sea of Quanta, towards the gray-haired youth holding a Bodhi leaf beneath the golden ancient tree.
By counting the passage of time, over four thousand five hundred years had passed.
Time flowed by, and the remaining lifespan of this nascent civilization grew increasingly urgent.
"It's time to surface."
The massive serpent spirit looked down upon Gray Serpent from above.
"Gray Serpent."
"I'm here, my Lord."
"Hurry and prepare for my return."
"Understood!"
"As for the Elysian Realm, send them there."
Although allowing the Herrscher of Corruption into the Elysian Realm carried extremely high risks, Kevin still made this decision.
He didn't regret standing in front of Yae Sakura back then; he had no other choice. But if he hadn't interfered, Sakura might have seen her sister one last time, and the outcome might have been slightly different…
He hadn't expected Rin to still be alive and to have regained her normal consciousness.
Rin wished to go to the Realm to see Sakura; Kevin had no reason to stop her.
A reunion between sisters would be a pleasant surprise for Yae Sakura, bring some joy to everyone, and perhaps even offer a form of release for certain individuals.
What's more, that girl would be bringing two Herrscher Cores with her.
Kevin couldn't determine if the girl's stated intention of 'cultivating the Herrscher of Human' was genuine, but judging by her actions and demeanor, she didn't seem to be lying.
Therefore, allowing the Herrscher Cores to interact with Elysia might potentially help them.
Kevin also hoped to see someone capable of mastering Herrscher power through sheer will, as that was what Elysia had always wished for.
"Furthermore, after contact with the girl named Bronya Zaychik, extend an invitation from World Serpent to her."
It was merely a speculative attempt; Kevin didn't believe she would join World Serpent.
As for anything else, Kevin didn't dwell on it.
He was very confident in his own strength.
Once he recovered, no matter how mysterious Bronya was, it would be meaningless in the face of absolute power.
"Understood."
Gray Serpent bowed low.
The dark serpent spirit dispersed into light particles in the void.
Suddenly sensing something, the gray-haired youth sitting cross-legged beneath the Bodhi tree stirred his brows and looked towards the clear water surface.
Reflected within it was the silhouette of a white-haired youth.
"My dearest friend, thousands of years have passed. Have you found your answer?"
Thousands of years ago, Su, to prevent his friend from enacting a radical plan, deceived him and imprisoned him within the Sea of Quanta.
And to atone, Su also imprisoned himself within the 2nd Divine Key, with 007 fulfilling his duties.
Through the Thousand-Realm Sutra, he observed infinite parallel worlds, seeking possibilities to defeat the Honkai.
Fallen leaves drifted onto the water's surface, creating ripples.
"This is…"
This sight made Su rise from beneath the tree, gazing at the watery curtain of the mirrored world. His eyes initially trembled slightly, then suddenly snapped wide open.
"The Prime Earth... a variable has emerged?"
Most of Su's energy was dedicated to executing the Samsara Plan, only occasionally observing the Prime Earth.
Because according to Su's years of observation, the future direction of the Prime Earth had become clear before the final battle, but now... it was completely chaotic!
Su sighed: "Ultimately, man proposes, God disposes."
"I only hope this variable can guide the world towards a better future."
Half a day later, Changkong City, a temporarily closed bar.
"Haha, another small step towards the villa island!"
Seeing the numbers deposited into her account, Miss Raven ecstatically picked up a wine glass, tilted her head back, and chugged, her bountiful chest pressing against the bar counter.
Although a previous mission failure had cost her a large sum in bonuses, it also exposed her to a quick path to making money.
Lately, Raven was almost transitioning from a mercenary to a plagiarist, selling songs copied and borrowed from parallel worlds.
In her private little nest, dressed quite lightly, she drank with unrestrained abandon. The crystal-clear liquor flowed down the beauty's perfect profile, gathered at her jawline, and then, under the influence of gravity, slid along the curve of her snowy skin, dripping into the deep cleavage of her chest.
Feeling the cold trail of liquor, Raven brazenly tugged at her top, probing her slightly glowing, snowy-white skin.
The only one who could appreciate this alluring scene was the other consciousness residing within her body.
[Looks like good progress, huh?]
"Hehe, thanks to you for helping pick those songs. Such elegant taste, extraordinary style, truly worthy of 'me'."
"Come on, cheers~!"
Raven poured another glass, clinked it with her reflection in the mirror, and took another gulp.
She knew that her other 'self' could synchronously experience her sense of taste.
As the saying goes, adapting isn't wild fabricating, and plagiarizing isn't reckless copying.
Plagiarism also requires technique. You first need to make a name for yourself with a few songs, boost your alias's reputation in the music industry, and then your works will appreciate in value.
While hundreds of thousands aren't much to Raven, the zero cost and unlimited supply are unbeatable!
Copying all the songs from the entire galaxy could turn the global music industry upside down.
And this is just the beginning; copying entertainment works is too slow. 'Copying cutting-edge technology is faster,' Raven was already preparing for this.
"One villa island, two villa islands, three villa islands, hehe~"
Just as Raven was happily fantasizing about the future, the communication ringtone suddenly blared, much like an office worker hearing a DingTalk notification from their specially-followed boss. Raven's expression instantly shifted from joyful giggling to disdain.
[Not picking up?]
"Of course I'm picking up."
Raven put down her glass and picked up the communicator.
"Raven, I have a mission for you... rendezvous with Bronya Zaychik, Kiana Kaslana, and Raiden Mei, and take the three of them to the Elysian Realm."
The hoarse voice from the other end of the communicator reached Miss Raven's ears, causing her to spit out the wine in her mouth.
"Pfft~!"
The violent movement caused her overflowing bust to heave and fall with her coughing tremors. Miss Raven couldn't help but widen her eyes.
"What the heck?!"
With an utterly bewildered expression, as if doubting her entire Raven-existence, she wondered, 'I couldn't possibly be drunk from just a few glasses, could I?'
What did Gray Serpent say?
The Elysian Realm!?
"Gray Serpent, are you lucid?"
"Your circuits haven't gone senile, have they? Are you sure your voice module is working correctly?"
As a high-ranking cadre of World Serpent, Raven naturally knew what that place was: a special trial ground accessible only to cadres.
Even World Serpent cadres only enter periodically.
But this time, not only were outsiders being sent in, they were directly sending in an entire team!
Crucially, among them were Bronya, who caused World Serpent's plans in Changkong City to fail, and two Herrscher Cores?!
Raven's first thought was, 'Could Gray Serpent have betrayed us?'
"Would I joke with you?"
Gray Serpent clearly wasn't the joking type.
"Can I refuse this mission?"
Indeed, Raven loved money, that much was true, and she was willing to risk her life for it – she was a mercenary, after all.
But that Bronya was truly strange; she had instantly defeated Raven when Raven was completely off guard. If Bronya were to unleash the ruthlessness of the Ural Silver Wolf…
Raven felt that new grass sprouts would probably be growing on her grave by now.
"You must accept this mission. This is the Lord's will."
Seeing Miss Raven's inclination to shirk the task, Gray Serpent calmly stated.
"The Lord?"
"Yes, send the three into the Elysian Realm, monitor their every move, and furthermore…"
Hare wouldn't help, Jackal had zero combat capability, and other members were even less capable against the silver-haired girl who even gave Gray Serpent himself a massive headache. As for going himself?
Jizo Mitama and the Herrscher of Corruption were right there!
After much thought, Gray Serpent concluded that Raven was the only one capable of executing this mission.
After hearing Gray Serpent describe the subsequent tasks, Raven roughly understood the situation. Gray Serpent had probably reached some agreement with the other party.
"Alright."
Hearing it was the Lord's will, Raven reluctantly accepted the mission.
"But won't there truly be a problem letting these people in?"
Although Bronya was mysterious, she was at least a normal human. Kiana and Raiden Mei, however, were two Herrscher Cores!
Sending these two inside, Raven shuddered as an image of a certain bright, cheerful boy, wreathed in flames and laughing maniacally, surfaced in her mind.
Wait a minute~
Raven suddenly caught on.
Could this be Gray Serpent's plan?
To eliminate the two Herrscher Cores and Bronya using the monsters within the Realm?
Unfortunately, Gray Serpent seemed to have no intention of explaining further. After giving the mission, he directly terminated the call, leaving Miss Raven to secretly curse aloud in her spot:
"Would it kill you to reveal a little more?!"
"Ugh!"
Hanging up the call, life was hard, and little Raven sighed.
[Is it a very dangerous mission? I can help. I should be quite free for a while.]
Midnight Absinthe's gentle voice resounded in Raven's mind.
"Really?" Raven's eyes lit up.
If Absinthe could come over at any time, even if the Ural Silver Wolf could use strange methods to make her lose consciousness, 'she' could still control her body and fight back, preventing her from falling into danger.
[Mhm.]
"Great, thanks!"
[Do we need to say thank you between us?]
A hint of laughter tinged Midnight Absinthe's voice.
World Serpent?
No, it's the Distillery!
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