"It just ended like that?"
When they left World Serpent, Yuno still looked dazed.
She had been ready to fight at any moment, but unexpectedly, although Lin Wei and Gray Serpent were initially at loggerheads, the atmosphere gradually eased without her realizing it. In the end, nothing happened.
"Otherwise? Should we really have fought here?"
Lin Wei smiled.
"The price is too high. Gray Serpent wouldn't be so irrational."
He didn't explain things too clearly to Yuno. After all, her thinking was still quite simple and naive. Even if he told her these things, she might not be able to understand them now.
Actually, to put it plainly, things weren't complicated:
For various reasons, Gray Serpent was unwilling to become a complete enemy of Lin Wei.
And for similar reasons, now that he was openly hostile to Otto, who controlled Schicksal, Lin Wei was unwilling to completely push World Serpent to his opposing side at this time.
Lin Wei was a smart person, and so was Gray Serpent. Both sides were well aware of the current situation.
So, no matter how tense the atmosphere of this meeting was, even if Lin Wei had once genuinely pulled the trigger on Gray Serpent, it didn't prevent it from ending peacefully—the only question was, what form would this "peaceful way" take.
It was precisely because of this prerequisite that there was a basis for Lin Wei and Gray Serpent to negotiate terms later.
After all, although their positions were consistent in the grand scheme of things, when it came down to the most specific details, there were some subtle differences:
Lin Wei had many things to do. But he was alone. To achieve his goals in the fastest and best way, he had to rely on the power of World Serpent.
Gray Serpent, however, was different. He couldn't, and didn't want to, get anything from Lin Wei. After all, the Second Divine Key had been smoothly delivered to Otto, so he no longer needed to worry about it. And the troubles Otto had recently caused World Serpent around the world also ceased to be a problem the moment Lin Wei came out of the Elysian Realm.
As long as Lin Wei left World Serpent, and his whereabouts were delivered to Schicksal at just the right time—next, it would be a "personal grudge" between him and Otto...
Therefore, from every angle, compared to Gray Serpent who was comfortably waiting, Lin Wei, who was asking for help, was absolutely passive.
But unfortunately, what Lin Wei excelled at most was "turning passivity into initiative"—
"As the saying goes, 'joy shared is joy doubled.' When I have a friendly exchange with Overseer Otto next, if I reveal some news about 'new friends' to him, how will he react?"
Lin Wei smiled, baring his fangs at Gray Serpent.
"After all, a personal grudge between two people is hardly as exciting as a three-way brawl, don't you agree?"
I know I have a lot of trouble, and I know you, Gray Serpent, have always stayed out of it. But unfortunately, I can easily drag you into this!
When you prove you have the ability to stir up trouble, you can naturally collect benefits from those whose interests are threatened—for example, Gray Serpent...
Creating leverage out of thin air, Lin Wei was a professional.
"Although from a merchant's perspective, this can indeed be called an excellent strategy, it's still a bit lacking in grace, isn't it?"
Gray Serpent clicked his tongue.
"I have to admit, your agility of mind and your unscrupulous courage are truly commendable."
He seemed completely unbothered by Lin Wei's threat.
"Hmph, Gray Serpent, is this the first day you've known me?"
Lin Wei sneered and said coolly.
"Well, yes or no, give me an answer."
He was too lazy to waste any more words with Gray Serpent.
"Hehe, before that, I have a small question..."
Gray Serpent said unhurriedly, with a hint of pride.
"Do you really think the Serpent would care about Schicksal's threat?"
That's hard to say! Lin Wei thought silently. Without Kevin holding the line, none of you in World Serpent could probably withstand a single punch from that Durandal...
But Lin Wei didn't say this out loud; it would sound too much like making excuses.
After all, when faced with such a question, rather than bargaining, the best strategy was—to continue raising the stakes.
"Mm, you're right about that, Gray Serpent."
Lin Wei nodded in agreement, then said with feigned distress.
"In that case, with nothing to my name, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to bow down to Schicksal's Overseer for self-preservation, and use the Key of Corruption in exchange for his support and protection..."
If you don't agree to my terms, I'll completely flip the table. Neither you, nor I, nor Otto will have an easy time!
Otto, far away, had no idea he would be used as a pawn by this Lin Wei whom he couldn't find no matter how hard he looked. Of course, even without him, this grand drama was already exciting enough.
"Rather than letting you win alone, it's better for both of us to lose!"
Lin Wei conveyed this attitude to Gray Serpent in a seemingly joking, yet resolute and unambiguous manner.
And if Gray Serpent didn't want to truly end up in a "lose-lose" situation, he would have no choice but to reach this "win-win" agreement with Lin Wei...
"Is that so?"
Lin Wei only briefly touched upon that complex yet simple negotiation. Yuno nodded, seeming to half-understand.
"It's good that it's resolved smoothly."
Although this didn't sound much like something she would say, Yuno wasn't inherently a violent person.
"Mm, it went relatively smoothly. A little later, Gray Serpent will be responsible for providing me with a qualified biological laboratory. Then I'll follow the method Mobius taught me to create medicine there that can help you repair your genetic defects."
Lin Wei smiled and patted her head.
"Also, he has already agreed that even if I'm not around after this, you can go to the Elysian Realm on your own to excavate the potential in your body as much as possible."
The reason Lin Wei had made such a fuss with Gray Serpent, speaking so severely, was partly due to his own indignation, but more so to ensure as much as possible that he would agree to this additional condition.
He still valued Yuno's development greatly. This was both because he didn't want to waste her unique talent and because he hoped she could better protect herself in this perilous world.
"..."
Hearing Lin Wei say this, Yuno couldn't help but purse her lips and look at Lin Wei. Only after meeting his gaze for a good while did she lower her head somewhat dejectedly.
"Oh, I understand."
Yuno had thought that after coming out of the Elysian Realm, Lin Wei might change his mind. Now, finding that he hadn't, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
She had even been a little worried just now that if she were any more stubborn, Lin Wei might stuff her back into the Elysian Realm on the spot...
"Mm, let's go."
Lin Wei chuckled and patted her hair again, then led her outside.
If Yuno had shown any signs of willfulness just now, he really would have changed his mind, sent her back to the Elysian Realm to be strictly supervised by the Flame-Chasers, and then left alone.
But the result of the recent probing was satisfactory. Although Yuno was a bit stubborn, she was ultimately a well-behaved good child.
"Where are we going?"
Yuno mumbled, smoothing her disheveled hair, then followed closely behind Lin Wei, asking with some curiosity.
"Where are we going" was a good question. To some extent, like Lin Wei, she didn't have a home of her own in this world.
So this question actually stumped Lin Wei for a moment...
"..."
Lin Wei stopped, looked back at the towering pyramid and sacrificial grounds—those were World Serpent's property. It was his second time leaving from there; everything felt so familiar. He shook his head and said,
"It will probably take Gray Serpent some time to prepare the laboratory I need. Before that..."
At this point, Lin Wei turned his gaze back to Yuno's face and asked softly,
"Is there anywhere you want to go?"
"Me?"
Yuno paused, her expression suddenly becoming somewhat conflicted. She pursed her lips and remained silent for a long while before lowering her head and saying in a small voice,
"No..."
Actually, she had just wanted to say that she wanted to go back to Nagazora City for a look. She hadn't been home for a very, very long time.
But, home was long gone. What good would it do for her to return to that place of sorrow?
"..."
Lin Wei sensed the sorrow emanating from her and, with some pity, lifted her arms, gently helping her unclench her tightened fists.
Maybe I shouldn't have asked this question, Lin Wei thought with some annoyance.
"What about the girl we saw earlier?"
Yuno suddenly looked up and asked.
"She was also wearing the Chiba Academy uniform. Can we take her with us?"
Chiba Academy was very large; Yuno couldn't possibly know every student there. The reason the girl earlier had caught her eye was because of the school uniform she was wearing, once so familiar...
"...Sorry, I'm afraid not. She's different from you, just a frail little girl. It would probably be very dangerous for her to follow us."
Lin Wei said apologetically, unsure if it was to Yuno, himself, or someone else.
"Although I don't want to admit it, for now, World Serpent is probably her best and only refuge..."
A normal girl who has lost all her relatives and has no special constitution, even if I take her away from World Serpent again, what then?
Can she live alone in society?
I don't know.
Can she survive the Honkai Eruptions that could break out at any time?
I don't know either...
Can I protect her?
No. I can't even protect Ana and Yae Sakura, where would I have the spare strength to give to others?
It was precisely because he realized these irretrievable, cruel truths that Lin Wei had only killed one of Gray Serpent's lives as a token gesture of worldly indignation, and then deliberately put her out of his mind.
Gray Serpent was right; compassion without the ability to bear the corresponding responsibility was meaningless. Perhaps if he had kept them in Singapore, by his side, the outcome would have been vastly different.
He had already harmed her father; he couldn't harm his daughter a second time.
Yet, even so, Lin Wei thought with no small regret, if that girl could have found him just as he found her, and then, like Yuno back then, rushed to him regardless of everything...
If that had happened, could he still pretend not to see?
Lin Wei asked himself, if such a thing truly happened, he probably would have snatched her from Gray Serpent's hands no matter what, and then, like with Yuno, tried his best to find a better place for her...
But unfortunately, none of this happened. That could only mean their fate together had truly ended there.
"She's your classmate. Do you know her?"
Lin Wei was looking for a reason to continue interfering in this matter.
"Do you know her name?"
He only knew her surname was probably Liu, because her father's surname was Liu.
"...Actually, I don't know her. Sorry, I've troubled you."
Yuno paused, then said with some apology, some dejection, and even more sorrow and confusion.
"It's just, Chiba Academy... Nagazora City... To me, the people there, somehow feel closer..."
That school, once bustling with voices, that city, once teeming with traffic, how many living people could be left now?
Besides myself and Lin Wei, how many could I meet?
But even if I really met them, what then?
Yuno was an emotional girl. Various feelings knotted in her heart, leaving her momentarily lost, unsure what to do.
"Is that so? So that's how it is. I understand..."
Lin Wei stopped thinking about distant people he couldn't attend to for the time being. He gently patted Yuno's shoulder, carefully savoring the loneliness and confusion of the girl before him. After thinking for a moment, he smiled faintly and said,
"I think I know where to take you."
"Where?"
Yuno looked up and glanced at Lin Wei blankly.
Lin Wei, however, just smiled mysteriously and didn't say much. He simply took out his long-unused phone from his pocket and skillfully dialed a long-unused number.
After doing all this, Lin Wei beckoned to Yuno, and then the two of them sat on a large rock that had somehow been split in two, idly binge-watching dramas...
...
He didn't know how long they waited—perhaps an hour, two hours, maybe longer. In any case, after Lin Wei had used Pandora to project the Third Divine Key to charge his phone several times, a car finally approached from the distance, kicking up billowing dust, and screeched to a halt in front of Lin Wei.
"I say, can't you pick a better place if you want to reminisce with me?"
The car window slowly rolled down. Raven looked at Lin Wei, who was covered in dust, with a strange expression, then pointed at the pyramid in the distance and said speechlessly,
"Making me come all the way to this godforsaken place, aren't you afraid of bad luck?"
After not seeing him for so long, she didn't feel any sense of unfamiliarity with Lin Wei at all.
"Bad luck? This is your old employer's place! Be careful Gray Serpent doesn't hear you and put you on his little blacklist or something."
Lin Wei patted the dust off his clothes, found he couldn't get it all off no matter how hard he tried, and simply gave up. He gestured left and right with his hand and smiled.
"How does it feel to revisit an old place?"
"Not great. As bad as your alcohol tolerance."
Raven glanced at him and said expressionlessly.
"Well, what do you want from me again?"
This fellow Lin Wei never came calling unless he needed something. She had come fully mentally prepared.
"Oh, it's nothing particularly big. It's just that not long ago, I discovered you left a child behind when you moved out of Nagazora City..."
Lin Wei pushed Yuno forward and said with a serious expression,
"Here, this is her. I brought her back to you specially~"
"?"
Yuno was bewildered.
"?"
Raven had dark lines on her forehead.