Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The meeting place was the same as before.
Even the selected seats did not change much.
Valkries walked into the cafe and immediately noticed Roland seated by the windows. It looked as though the flourishing human city was formed as an extension beneath him like his shadow. This sight made her have the illusion that he was of divinity and was unapproachable.
Valkries shook her head and put these thoughts behind her.
“I’m here.”
She sat opposite Roland.
“What do you want to eat?” Valkries shook her head, to which Roland responded by getting the waiter’s attention. “If that’s the case, then we’ll have one of everything. We can talk and eat at the same time.”
Coffee and pastries were served quickly. Valkries did not express any signs of rejection and very automatically took a small piece of cake and placed it into her mouth. She carefully tasted the sweetness and soft texture of the cake, as though this meeting was not a negotiation between enemies, but a tea party to enjoy delicious snacks.
“There’s something different about you,” Roland looked at her and said.
“I’ve thought about it; eating and talking at the same time isn’t that bad.” Valkries answered casually. She had been too passive at their first encounter and was practically led by the nose, she told herself that it would not happen again. She could very well imagine the pleased look on his face every time he sent the text messages, but she had endured it long enough and could not allow for it to continue.
“Alright.” Roland smiled. “You finally replied me, so did you come to a conclusion?”
Valkries nodded her head.
“What is your answer?”
“I refuse.”
She caught a hint of startlement and puzzlement on Roland’s face. It appeared as though he did not expect such a direct refusal as his constantly calm and composed expression finally cracked. The atmosphere between the two seemed to congeal. Fixed in the same position with cup in hand, Roland took quite a while before bringing the cup to his mouth. At the same time, he smoothened his frown.
“… What is your reason for refusing?”
“The fifty-fifty decision truly sounded reasonable. Compared to the continuation of the race, the front line army amounts to nothing. We can’t avoid paying the price to prevent our world from being eradicated. To be honest, I was almost convinced by you.” Valkries placed another piece of pastry in her mouth, “It is a pity… everything you said must stem from it being a fact to have meaning.”
“I AM speaking the truth!” Roland replied solemnly, it was the first time his tone of speech had changed.
“But I am unable to verify your truth.”
“…” Roland suddenly became quiet.
“You’ve realised this too, right? I’m stuck in this world and all information regarding the outside world comes from you. Regardless of it being the news of the front line army in the Kingdom of Wolfheart being forced to retreat in defeat or the supposed ‘Glory of the Sun.’ I can’t even verify its progress, much less make a decision based on these groundless information.”
“I thought you would be smarter than this. After staying in the Dream World for so long and judging humanity’s war potential from history documents, isn’t the end result that obvious to—”
“Potential doesn’t represent strength,” Valkries retorted. “That’s right, humanity has displayed powerful strength; otherwise, Ursrook would have never seen you as equals! But at the same time, the majority of our forces are being held up by the Sky-sea Realm. If someone realises that we have to give up on one side, humanity may not be able to withstand the full force of my race’s assault!”
She paused for a moment. “After investigating your roots, I have come to realize that the upgrade humanity has obtained isn’t the upgrade of a civilization. Maybe it might bring about effects akin to the fragment in centuries, but as to where the current times are leaning towards, I can’t make a judgment. So you no longer need to send me more of your news from now on.”
Roland wanted to say something, but held back his words at the last moment.
Valkries looked out the windows and took in the glorious human city. It could even be said that this meeting was an opportunity for her to vent her resentment and finally cause the other party’s unruffled personality to dissipate and replace it with an obvious disappointment.
But she did not sense the joy she anticipated. The threat from God still existed and “Transformer” Heathtalese’s warning had not been resolved. If the other party was right, then rejecting the 50-50 choice was not the best solution.
But she was unable to make the decision to go against her race just based on humanity’s account. Doing so could be considered even more negligent. Comparing the two, She would rather pick the former.
Even if her decision would bring about a great deal of danger.
Valkries swallowed the last slice of cake and feigned a relaxed state. “Thank you for your hospitality, I will miss this taste in the future.”
“If you wish to have it, we can just arrange for another day.” Roland shook his head. “You don’t have to make it sound as though this is the last dinner.”
“…” Valkries was startled, she had thought of all the possible reactions from Roland’s disappointment—from resentment and hostility, to disdain and sarcasm—but it did not include this reality. Since she declined the proposal, it was not surprising if Roland found an opportunity to kill her. After all, she was still a senior lord and part of the race that was humanity’s greatest enemy.
“I’ll make a move first.” Roland took a deep breath, stood up, and walked towards the exit of the cafe. “I will continue sending news to you. Even if you wish to avoid them, they are the truth.”
This guy—did he even hear what I said!
Valkries could no longer tolerate it and asked, “What’re your plans now?”
“My plans?” Without even turning his head, he said, “My plans have never changed—to uncover the secrets of the Origin of Magic and end the Battle of Divine Will completely, regardless of what you choose to do.”
Is he still pretending or are those his true thoughts?
The scene of their previous meeting appeared in Valkries’s mind, to the point where Roland asked her the last question.
Do you think that the Transformer from a thousand years ago did the wrong thing?
…
“What are your thoughts on the Martialist Association?” Fei Yuhan held on the steering wheels and asked.
After driving over a freeway ramp, they drove up a bridge expressway. There were only a few vehicles on the bridge and their horizon was filled with the endless penetrative and gleaming river that extended through their vision.
This bridge was the dividing line between the city and suburban district. Basically, one had to travel on the bridge to get from Green Meadows Sanatorium to the apartments.
“Hmmm… It isn’t what I thought it was.” Compared to the scenery, Zero seemed to be more interested in the interior of the vehicle. She would pinch the soft car seats, or raise the volume of the radio. Her ruby-like eyes moved around the car incessantly.
“Oh? What did you think the Association would be like?”
“More… more mysterious, and not like a hotel right by the road,” Zero pouted and replied.
“The base in Prism City is exactly as what you’ve described, but there has been trouble over there recently, that is why we have temporarily shifted over here.” Fei Yuhan chuckled. In front of the young girl, she did not have to pretend to be indifferent and maintain her aloofness. “My next question is on a different topic, about your personal experience when you visited the park previously. After all, for you to learn how to control the Force of Nature, you’ll be staying in the sanatorium for a long period of time. If you have any requests in terms of your lifestyle, feel free to ask Master.”
The little girl did not reply immediately and instead turned her head and asked, “Is Uncle Roland working here as well?”
“That’s right. But he may not have the time to accompany you everyday.”
“I know that,” Zero said with a pout. “He has many sisters to take care of, he is constantly working late nights without stopping.”
The car suddenly revved and charged ahead.
Fei Yuhan quickly retracted her right feet that had stepped onto the wrong pedal and acted as though nothing had happened. She coughed out twice for that was shocking news! Despite her suspicions that those astonishingly beautiful girls might belong to another world, it suddenly dawned upon her that she might had overlooked it, but they were the ones who addressed him as “His Majesty”!
That’s right, as a king, having a harem was not incomprehensible. She made another wild guess. Was it because of their close relationship with the world’s creator, Roland, that they then have the ability to step into this world?
Taking the initiative to accept Zero as a disciple was the right choice. She believed that with Valkries and Zero, she would slowly ascertain the other world’s secrets.
Wait… by thinking so, if I want to visit the ‘reality’, don’t I have to…
“Master, Master… are you alright?”
Zero called out a few times before pulling Fei Yuhan out of her daze. “No, it’s nothing, please continue.”
“That is why I chose to be a Martial Artist! By doing so, I have more time to see Uncle Roland.” Zero concluded, “So no matter how the Martialist Association is, I will persevere!”
Fei Yuhan laughed involuntarily.
Alright, that is truly a naive reason.
Naive, but persevering.
Fei Yuhan initially believed that the young girl would require a long time to adapt after leaving her familiar abode, but realized that she had overthought.
You are far more mature than I thought.
“Relax, the transfer and enrolment will take at least another week. The Association also allows vacations, you don’t have to see the Martialist Association as being difficult. When we return, make sure to say goodbye to your friends—” Fei Yuhan suddenly noticed something peculiar midway in the conversation.
A freight wagon on the opposite lane suddenly leaned to its left, colliding into the partition in the middle and toppling over.
She instantly hit the brakes and swerved to the right.
But in the next second, the giant freight crushed the partition like a large wall caving inwards. The road was instantly sealed shut while the vehicles that were caught in the accident were rammed aside like scattered and smashed pieces of paper. It was impossible for any survivors to escape.
Everything happened so quickly, as though there was not enough time to react—
Following the loud bang, the vehicle the two were in collided head on into the freighter!
Due to the vehicle being turned abruptly towards the right, the body of the car was sent flying horizontally and the violent impact instantly tore the vehicle apart, deflating the entire driver seat.
