Morgan hovered down, feet inches off the ground as Kafka was sitting outside an abandoned cafe.
She turned to them, her smile soft and thin. Fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as a child— definitely silver wolf— was playing on her phone at the other seat. She glanced at him, then back to her phone.
"I see your mind has changed." There was a small laugh rumbling in Kafka's voice.
"I... I don't think attacking me was necessary." He said, folding his arms.
Blade passed him, leaning his back on the wall and closing his eyes.
"I had a feeling you were going to run away regardless, so I took the opportunity to catch you before you had the chance." She added, "that almost didn't work."
He grunted, "What do you want?"
She smiled, "So Frank. Well, I'll get to the point. We're not here to hurt you, were here to make sure you join the battle against the Lord Ravager."
His eyes widened. For a moment, he was speechless. That couldn't be right, why would they reveal that sensitive information so... Casually. Was he part of another vision Elio had planned? And why would they...
They definitely know something about him. Did they know he was reincarnated? The glowing goddess had explained no one in this universe would know his true origins unless asked. But the way she seemed calm, smiling like an apex predator and on her strings, made him feel uneasy.
'Shes being mysterious.' Arous reminded him, 'Thats one of her tactics to scare you, to get you moving. Don't let her get to you.'
He cleared his throat, he was right. He wasn't better at manipulation, but he had Arous to fill that for him whenever he was at disadvantage.
And they wouldn't ever know he had something powerful inside him to guide him in this dangerous universe.
"A Lord Ravager is here?" He asked, feigning curiosity and shock, "that's impossible, how could they enter the Luofu without getting through the Divination?"
He studied Kafka's face, maybe a narrow eyes would give him something. But nothing, she simply sat there, unmoved like a stone against the tsunami.
That made him a little uneasy. He did not want to be predictable or be used. Not again.
"Unfortunately," She said, "that's all you have to know. You know that more than I do."
Then she stood up along with Silver Wolf who tucked her phone back to her pocket. She finally looked at him, cold eyes and and seemingly bored.
"How would you know I know?" He said.
The trio began leaving, and Kafka waved a goodbye.
"Goodluck." Was all she said. And left.
'Funny.' Arous said, 'That girl was the reason Blade was able to move freely in the air.'
He raised a brow, looking at the bright holographic clouds without a sun.
"You didn't tell me?" He said softly.
'I didn't want to distract you. I'm sorry.' Arous replied.
"It's fine, I need to know how many days left until Phantylia appears?"
'Three days.'
Three days was good enough time. And if somehow he wasn't going to make it, the Stellaron Hunter's has offered to do it, and that was a win win for him.
'Should I remind my reincarnator to be careful? The System says with a funny tone. A lot could happen, what do you think would be a good idea to do since then?'
He soared back into the sky, not high enough to be spotted by Xianzhou radars, and simply went between buildings or structures.
"There's a chance we could get in trouble with the Abundance followers. I've got an idea how to avoid them."
'What if it won't be Abundance? The Astral Express could be part of it?'
He shook his head, going slow and dropping down to the ground. He carefully checked the corners for guards, and then walked across the alleyway and into the busy street. Noise polluted his ears, there were a lot more people here than he imagined.
"Let's pray they won't catch us." He whispered.
'The system rolls his eyes. If you could imagine it of course. Though, be careful, Morgan.'
He tucked both hands into his pockets and walked behind a crowd.
"Careful is my middle name."
---
"That's him?"
"He doesn't look a bit... Thievy?"
"Is that... The right word?"
Marched sighed through her nose, and Stelle only grinned. That grin of her ears was all she needed to know she was messing with whatever words she found interesting.
"The reports are true." Fu Xuan said, walking beside them as the hologram she projected disappeared, "and the General is asking for help if you wish to lend a hand in capturing in this criminal."
"But... This looks like a lot more errands."
Fu Xuan folded her arms, and looked westward. Where the tree had resurrected with the power of abundance, shining brightly like a cursed golden star.
True it was, but she was starting to get a bit more frustrated at the general for asking help from outsiders... Though, they have been really helpful so far. Perhaps, she can compromise this part for them.
"I won't push you into this." She said.
"Mister Yang," March called, "what do you think?"
"I think, it's best we help find him." Welt glanced to the side, his eyes narrowed trying to find out where that feeling of being watched came from, "and I believe it should start here."
---
'Yeah he definitely saw you. The System remarks.'
Morgan quickly blended in with another crowd, talking about a game he didn't know. Managing to avoid Welt's attention at the right time was fortunate, though why did they disperse?
Weren't they suppose to be hunting for something or someone?
"Excuse me," One of the bystanders said, "what do you think would be a good move against a position like this?"
He gestured to the hovering board in the center. Morgan blinked, he never played this game before.
"I... I don't know." He said awkwardly. Already feeling the urge to leave, but he would be recognized the moment he left, there was only one way. "I don't know if it's possible to move against this."
The man frowned, and the woman at the opposite side chuckled.
"See," She said, "I told you you'd lose the moment you fight me. You're still a rookie trying to beat a master." She folder her arms and grinned.
"Do you know what they're playing?" He whispered to English.
No one in the universe spoke of it, if there was it would probably have been different by now.
'No clue. The System says. Maybe you can try to ask? It'd good to play a game.'
"Wouldn't we be found?" He glanced around him, the Astral Express and Fu Xuan disappeared. That made him uneasy.
'I'll watch out for you. You can ask for help and maybe we can play this against each other.'
That's right. His system wasn't omnipotent, but he has a 360 view his sorrounding. So he tapped the man to the shoulder and asked for how the game works.
---
"Okay, that's definitely him." Marched pointed, hiding among another crowd and overlooking at Morgan who was watching a board game.
"Woah, look how locked in he is on that game." Stelle noted.
"Locked... In? Is that even a word?" Marched have her a pointed word.
Stelle shrugged, then looked at Welt.
"We have to approach him carefully. Miss Fu Xuan is already in position, you girls ready?"
They both nodded. And then, headed towards him a brisk walk.
---
'Dont panic. The Nameless is heading in your way.'
Oh no.
"Should I run?" He switched to his local language.
'You don't have a plan? We can try to move to another part of the Luofu.'
The man looked even frustrated at the board, he was losing and well. Morgan had the rules already written down by Around mentally about how the game works. For now, he needed to leave fast.
"You guys have fun." He said, flaring with IseL inside.
"I'll have fun when I win."
"Fun isn't when you win, it's when I keep winning against you!"
The girl laughed as he left.
'Theyre moving faster. I think they know.'
Dang it.
Morgan followed into a crowded Street, and before he could blend in with the thickest crowd to disappear, someone went past him and then she stood there.
The color pink in contrast to the hundreds of pale colors around here became dull. His heart almost skilled a beat, not from romantic first sight nonsense.
Because a hand rested on his shoulder and a cleared throat. It was Welt.
"This is the second time you've been captured now." Fu Xuan said, crossing her arms like a boss.
Welt hadn't removed his hand. A sweat trickled his brow.
'I'm assuming you've got a plan. The System says with anticipation.'
"Mister. If you don't mind, please come with us." Welt spoke.
Stelle and Marched came into view, sizing him up as if surprised as a twenty-year old man was caught again after robbing people.
He robbed the Xianzhou citizens after being reincarnated here, and it took quite a time for him to be plastered all over the Xianzhou walls like a top wanted criminal.
"The soldiers you had me escorted to prison were attacked." He glanced to Stelle and March. He was surrounded on both sides, "Even with all of them, none of you are a match to me."
'Amazing performance, that definitely wouldn't put them up in alert. The System sarcastically remarks the reincarnator with a slapped face.'
Fu Xuan shook her head, as if hearing something outrageous. March and Stelle looked tense though, and Welt's grip only tightened, a warning.
"If you wish to do more crimes, I'm afraid you won't just come with a lighter punishment." Fu Xuan stepped forward, close to him and looked straight into his eyes, "now wear this cuff."
She tossed him a cuff, and he caught it. Staring at it, he felt like he was back to his old world again.
"Now—"
Welt recoiled, and everyone covered their eyes as Morgan exploded into a bright light. His eyes burned with white fire, and his body seemed to radiate an aura of pure white, he hovered, and then shot soared into the sky.
Fu Xuan snapped out of her revierie, and Welt immediately followed him to the sky with a raise of his cane.
"He can fly?" March exclaimed.
"Follow him on ground!" Fu Xuan activated her magic, and with a burst of her own powers, she followed in the air and running fast as if there was ground.
'Ten feet before he catches you.'
"Tell me when he's 3 meters away," Morgan looked everywhere to land and hide, but then Arous told him was already 3 meters and gaining fast.
He spun, and almost quickly had his foot caught by Welt. He hovered back, both locked gazes.
"I don't want to do this. Leave me alone!" Morgan said, smoke leaking out from his lips.
"They're not going to do anything bad to you." Welt assured, "and the more you resist the longer your crimes will be. Perhaps if you surrender you can testify to the council."
Welt's jacked streamed behind him, and Morgan narrowed his eyes at him.
"You don't know that. I'm an outcast, I'm not even supposed to be here."
"Well, we aren't always in the right place." He said.
Morgan thought for a moment, his gaze landed on the crowded streets below as some of them began looking up. He never wanted to steal, and working for jobs he didn't like was a waste to his abilities. He wanted to be useful, somewhere he was passionate.
Finally, he looked up to Welt where Fu Xuan had finally arrived beside him with a cold expression.
He sighed heavily.
"I want to join the Astral Express."
A shock of expression across Welt's face, and Fu Xuan's eyes widened. They weren't hearing that right was he?
"I'm... Sorry, but with all due respect." Welt said, "you can't be part of the Nameless."
"And you're a criminal. A very wanted one across Luofu." Fu Xuan reminded him.
"I had no choice." He pleaded, "I don't want to be here."
'Speak in English to Welt.'
"What? Why?" He whispered, confused.
'I hear his from Honkai Impact. Earth. He should understand and speak English despite the synthesis beacon working.'
He thought about it, and finally looked towards Welt.
'Repeat the words after me, Reincarnator.'
"You know more what it feels like to be far away from home, don't you?"