"I want to... join the Stellaron Hunters."
Zāwù's request was a bold one.
Then again, he had already dared to call Kafka, an infamous, galaxy-wide wanted criminal, "Mother."
It seemed there was nothing he wouldn't do.
In his clear eyes, only Kafka's figure was reflected. When he looked at you, it felt as if the entire background behind you had blurred into nothing, and his world consisted only of you. Even Kafka, with her incredible power of Spirit Whisper, had to admit that even those she had hypnotized and mentally controlled could not achieve such focus. Even she couldn't help but be drawn in by it. After all, the more complex something is in this world, the more impurities it inevitably has, making purity a rare find. For Zāwù to be a humanoid lifeform with such a clear and empty spirit was truly remarkable.
"I'll chalk it up to a child's careless words for now."
Whether it was the request to join the Stellaron Hunters or calling a woman like her by that sacred title.
Kafka lifted Zāwù up from under his arms. As he looked on in a daze, she placed him gently on the floor, then elegantly stood up, turned, and walked towards another private room.
"Silver Wolf, come with me. Elio has new instructions and I need your help."
"Bladie, help me look after Zāwù for a bit."
"Ha, you want Blade to look after him?" Silver Wolf was highly skeptical that Zāwù would still be in one piece when she and Kafka returned. After all, Blade could go crazy and enter his "Mara-struck" state at any moment. At a time like that, without Kafka to restrain him, and with Zāwù lacking Silver Wolf's "Aether Editing" abilities... the consequences were unthinkable. The silver-haired girl glanced worriedly at Zāwù.
The handsome man who had been ordered about, however, had no objections.
Once Kafka and Silver Wolf had left completely, Blade finally moved. He walked slowly towards Zāwù, and with every step, it was as if spider lilies from hell were blooming in his wake. The man's cold, condescending gaze easily brought to mind a hunter and his prey. The slight smile that curled his lips was even more terrifying.
Of course, Zāwù was afraid. It was obvious from the cold sweat trickling down his cheek and the slight bob of his throat.
But Mother Kafka had said... for him to look after him.
Therefore, Zāwù would not run.
No matter how painful, no matter how terrifying, he had to honor this ethereal promise.
A person like him.
No matter the situation.
Would always be called "foolish," wouldn't he?
"I once..."
Blade finally spoke. Leaning on his shattered sword, Shard Sword, he knelt on one knee before the boy, closing the distance between them. His gaze was like a torch, trying to ignite the fragile, jade-like pupils of Zāwù. His voice was deep and rich, stained with an inseparable melancholy.
"...was as foolish as you."
"..."
"I smell it on you. The same as me."
"The stench of someone who's returned from hell."
"Shard Sword... it's excited."
"So, you want to learn the sword from me, kid?"
...
"Creation?"
"So you sent me away just to talk about this."
"Afraid of hurting the kid's feelings, were you?"
"I don't remember you ever being this gentle with me. You didn't even comfort me when my account got banned!"
Silver Wolf was jealous now. Hugging her chest—which couldn't be called nonexistent, but was certainly subtle—she turned her face away, puffing her cheeks out in a pout. She looked as cute as a little steamed bun.
Kafka, standing before a floor-to-ceiling window admiring her coat, replied with an unhurried smile.
"I don't think you're the type who needs my comfort. Besides, didn't you get your revenge on that network company's headquarters on Pier Point?"
"Giving every player of that game in the entire universe a free 5-star character of their choice... that's so you."
Hearing Kafka praise her glorious deeds, Silver Wolf's mood improved considerably. And the world-renowned genius began to ponder Kafka's underlying motive for telling her about Zāwù's true identity. After thinking it over, she quickly locked onto the key.
"You mean..."
"Ruan Mei?"
Mentioning this name, even Silver Wolf couldn't help but add a bit of weight to her tone, a sense of respect. Ruan Mei, a female scholar with a gentle and elegant temperament, Member #81 of the "Genius Club," and an expert in the field of life sciences.
Silver Wolf didn't want to elaborate on how great this so-called "Genius Club" was.
But she herself was a girl the "Genius Club" was destined never to have!
Hmph, it's not like I wasn't chosen by Nous, the Aeon of Erudition, or anything!
In short, Ruan Mei, being selected for the "Genius Club," was undoubtedly a genius who ranked among the top on a galactic scale. Rumor had it that for her, even cultivating an entire planet was incredibly simple. All of creation grew between her slender fingers.
But correspondingly—all of creation could also be destroyed with a flip of her palm.
Even though she, like Silver Wolf, was an organic lifeform.
But compared to her, Silver Wolf actually felt closer to Screwllum, another member of the "Genius Club" who was an inorganic lifeform. There was no special reason. She just felt that even Screwllum... was probably more humane than Ruan Mei.
"Zāwù is her child!?"
"An abandoned child, perhaps."
As Kafka said this, there was a smile on her lips. But only her reflection in the mirror could see how cold her eyes were, as if they could freeze a plum blossom in full bloom.
She had always thought the residents of Pteruges-V, who knew no fear, were demonic enough.
So then, Ruan Mei, what should you be called, you who have no reverence for life itself?
"Abandoned..." Silver Wolf curled her lip, expressing her disdain for such an act. Even she wouldn't abandon her game accounts, and they weren't even digital lifeforms!
"Even if he was abandoned, that doesn't explain why he appeared here."
"But this kind of nonsensical prank has the scent of Aha all over it."
"Don't tell me that Aeon of Elation plans to have some fun with us?"
"It doesn't matter. The more you care about Them, the more likely you are to become Their entertainment."
"Just go with the flow."
"Eventually, They'll get bored and look away."
Kafka put on her black overcoat, her posture poised and confident.
"So what you're saying is, you're letting Zāwù stay."
"But I don't think he has the talent to join the Stellaron Hunters."
"Besides, Elio didn't..."
"Who said anything about him joining the Stellaron Hunters?" Kafka gave a sly smile, more bewitching than any fox.
"There's nothing wrong with him just being a little manservant, is there?"
"Heh, women."
-------
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