"Returning to the Luofu and stepping into Scalegorge Waterscape... feels unreal." Dan Heng shed Blake's disguise and surveyed the interior of the Seat of Divine Foresight.
"I was determined to leave, yet by a strange combination of circumstances, I've returned here."
"It's okay, Dan Heng is Dan Heng... don't be bound by your past identity." March 7th transformed into a big sister figure. Since Himeko wasn't here, the task of counseling Dan Heng was left to her!
"Right now, only a few people know my identity. Once the news spreads, who knows what will happen... But at least I'm safe for now."
Stelle looked at Dan Heng: "What do you plan to do next?"
"I want to meet the current Vidyadhara High Elder of the Luofu."
"Since I cannot escape the karma created by this body when it was Dan Feng, I want to understand his past more clearly... I want to see what I can do to atone for past sins."
...
Milk Tea Shop. Just after sending Yanqing and Freesna away, Silver Wolf came looking, in person this time.
It seemed she took to heart the words about tricking her into working at the milk tea shop a few days ago, and now she was here to adapt in advance. She was diligent.
"Why didn't the other two come? It would be nice to gather at the shop together."
"A dark-themed milk tea shop... it would be strange if anyone came." Silver Wolf switched to critique mode. "What is the most important thing in running a shop? Answer in three seconds."
"Product quality."
"Wrong! To gain new customers... first, you need a good location. Opening a milk tea shop in Starskiff Haven Central can indeed attract a large number of customers, like the [Sleepless Earl] across the bridge."
"But... the moment one sees your shop, those who don't know would think it's some abandoned ancient building. What does it have to do with a milk tea shop?"
Adrian disagreed with this point of view. "Your thinking is too conservative. In this day and age... who still follows formulaic architecture? It has to be unique. A black-themed shop can attract customers."
Just as Silver Wolf said, looking at the exterior of the shop, you couldn't imagine it was a milk tea shop at all. At this time, customers wouldn't be able to contain their curiosity and would want to go on an ancient house adventure, even if just tiptoeing to peek through the window.
"Sigh~ Let's ignore the shop. You don't rely on this thing to make money anyway. Want to play games?"
[Eternity] has always been impoverished. Silver Wolf had traveled to the Church after all. Although she ended up fighting their Pontiff, that wasn't the point!
During the short time she was locked in the dungeon, she heard Sampo talk about the Church's food (he specifically disguised himself as a cleric to absorb [Elation] in the Church).
Who knew the clerics' breakfast was just simple boiled vegetables and mashed potatoes... not a single meat dish.
Heavens, how does Pontiff Blake manage the funds? With such excellent water resources, it's impossible not to make a penny. If it were the IPC's [Strategic Investment Department], who knows what they would have transformed it into.
"Sigh~ You don't know, miss. In the few days I pretended to be a cleric, old Sampo's figure became much more proportionate. This isn't even as good as what commoners eat."
"Enduring the hardest hardships makes one a superior person. With this spirit of perseverance, I believe you will succeed in whatever you do!" Silver Wolf acknowledged Sampo.
"Haha... actually there is a secret hidden in this. Have you ever contacted Pathstriders of [Eternity] in the past, miss?" Sampo asked.
"Didn't I say, I came here recommended by a friend, but he doesn't seem to be an [Eternity] Pathstrider."
"Eh... no way, miss, you actually know an [Eternity] Emanator?" Hearing this, Sampo even used honorifics for Silver Wolf.
At this time, Silver Wolf couldn't fully define Adrian's identity, judging him to be in a very balanced state, above a Pathstrider but below an Emanator.
Hmm...
Isn't that just a stronger [Eternity] Pathstrider?!
"Solely in terms of vacation, the Church can indeed be counted as one of the best places. Sigh~ Pity I haven't soaked in the hot springs yet."
A trace of regret appeared in Sampo's eyes. Thinking only about how to find amusement there, he didn't give himself a chance to relax at all. As a result, just as the plan was about to be implemented, he was caught by Blake, as if he were the amusement.
"You may not know, miss. Legend has it that a thousand Amber Eras ago, Yaoshi of [Abundance] specifically sought out Ite and discussed with HIM what [Immortality] is."
"Just like those long-life species of the Xianzhou Alliance who received [Abundance], the natives of this planet, under Ite's protection, have their physical state imprisoned by a strange energy, stagnating. How is this not a different kind of [Immortality]?"
"Wow... as expected of someone from the [Tavern], mastering such professional intelligence information."
Silver Wolf was shocked. You [Elation] faction people can go be intelligence merchants.
"Can't be helped; we seek amusement with a bottom line and abide by principles. Seeking pleasure regardless of consequences... mmh, probably won't work in the Church."
Sampo couldn't figure out how other colleagues would speedrun Blake's level if they came to the Church of Eternity. As for a no-damage run... that was even more impossible.
...
The recollection ended. Silver Wolf sneezed and looked out the door grumpily, guessing it was the player who raged quit the game yesterday cursing her.
Adrian looked at the big word [DEFEAT] on the phone screen. "Ah... don't get distracted while playing games. See, lost."
"Don't pressure your teammate. I was just recalling past events... Sigh~ Have you ever been locked in a dungeon? The Church of Eternity's." Silver Wolf rested her chin on one hand; she was getting tired of the usual competitive games.
Adrian searched for fragments about the dungeon in his sea of consciousness. It seemed to be when he introduced Silver Wolf to travel to the Church.
Thinking that before Silver Wolf joined the Stellaron Hunters and became a miserable worker and wanted criminal, she could enjoy a wonderful vacation time before embarking on a path of no return.
"A casual vacation mini-game turned into a two-player co-op prison break in the blink of an eye. Can you feel the contrast?" Silver Wolf slammed the table and stood up. If she were an [Emanator], would she be afraid of a tiny Church Pontiff?
"Cough... Although I brought it on myself, it counts as an experience for me."
If Elio asked for a resume during the interview, Silver Wolf could write a lot. Being a genius hacker from Punklorde was just her most inconspicuous identity:
Fighting Screwllum, member #76 of the Genius Society, without losing ground; fighting Blake, an Emanator of [Eternity], and retreating unscathed... Ask around the universe, how many people can be like her?
"Challenging higher levels... Sigh~ really don't understand the thinking of young people nowadays." Adrian drank his milk tea; HE never fought a battle HE wasn't sure of winning.
"Wow... you're already an Emanator. The only ones you can challenge above your level are [Aeons], right!" Silver Wolf took out the handkerchief she carried with her and wiped the milk tea cup first.
"Actually, I've always been curious, how is this milk tea made?"
As a professional player, Silver Wolf wanted to find out all the news about this management mini-game... From another angle, she was a noble beta tester now!
"Pre-made milk tea, but with [Eternity] professional freshness-locking technology. Zero sugar, zero calories, no burden to drink." Adrian said solemnly.
"Huh?"
Seeing Silver Wolf looking confused, Adrian took out a cup of milk tea:
"Locked it all in, what calories could there be?"
At this moment, Silver Wolf finally understood why Sampo feared [Eternity] so much.
Could it be... this milk tea is also blessed by the [Eternity] Aeon?!