Passengers wandered in sparse twos and threes.
Beneath the dim streetlights, a man in a woolen overcoat tucked a business card into the inner pocket of his clothes.
He glanced at the eternal, unchanging full moon in the sky, then pressed down on his hat, retracing his steps through the stone-paved alleyways, weaving among all kinds of pedestrians, back to his inn room.
The room, with its solid wood flooring, was not large; its decor was quite vintage, infused with a rustic charm.
Beside the bed sat a small winged figurine. After closing the door, he poured a small glass of lemonade from a glass bottle and downed it in one go. Resting briefly, he then took a book from his inner bag.
The book recorded many fighting moves, as well as the flow routes for certain energies within the body—like a martial arts manual encompassing both external and internal techniques.
The single-bedroom door beside him creaked open.
A young man with a dry, grayish-white complexion and a shock of frizzy, curly hair poked his head out, his eyes sunken and skin parched, dressed in blue-striped pajamas.
–Morris, why are you back so soon? Did you find a new team?–
–It was the former vice-captain who contacted me to cancel the crystal’s exchange eligibility. He converted all my contributions into this book.–
Morris was fuming with anger.
–Hah, that damned hunchback actually told me this was the most precious exchange item, more than enough to cover my contributions. This really fits that old saying here: ‘When people leave, the tea gets cold.’ After all those months of working together, he couldn’t even exchange a usable weapon for me.–
–Books? Secret technique manuals?–
He shook the cover, 《Blade Blaze Path》.
This cultivation method looked good on the surface, but it was utterly useless for them.
Because practicing it would take many years, and they simply didn’t have that much time to train.
–Is it that Shaw, no, X-Shaw something?– Popoli asked with wide eyes.
–His Chinese name is Shaw Yushan.–
Morris tossed the book to the curly-haired youth beside them and sighed, –If only your ability could make use of it.–
–Me? Hmph, heh.–
The youth flipped through the book, dismay sinking deep in his heart the moment he thought of his own ability.
It was a first-rate ability, yet it had no place to shine.
If not for being brought to this place last time by a master from his own city, he might never step foot in this town again.
Morris turned his head and glanced at the small sculpture on the nightstand.
This was back when Shaw Yushan had drawn him into the team, a gift he gave him. After half a year of helping, all he got that was remotely valuable was this tiny thing, apart from that worthless book.
–So he had already paid me with the statue, that faithless bastard.–
Feeling the light spots in the Moxel under his chest, after his roommate closed the door and started sleeping, Morris took off his coat, walked to the bedside table, knelt on one knee, and brought his palms together.
The Moxel on his chest glowed with a faint silver light, and one light spot, as tiny as a needle tip, flickered as Morris spoke in a low voice.
–I humbly plea to the Bloodline Statue, hear my voice and answer my heartfelt wish.–
[Heart-Wish Charm used.]
After the small statue ahead was illuminated by this radiance, a similarly faint light spot flickered on its chest.
[Please state my wish.]
He currently had two pressing wishes. Though the decision had been made, Morris hesitated for a moment before continuing.
–I seek the ability to quickly learn the secret technique recorded in this book.–
The moment he said this, he felt his consciousness lift from his body, soaring, so that the entire one-bedroom apartment unfolded clearly in his mind.
The figure of Bobali, who was distinctly separated from him by a wall, appeared with a translucent outline vividly in his perception.
–No, no, honored Master Statue, his abilities cannot let me swiftly master the secret technique. Grant me a more instant possibility.–
[I am about to acquire certain esoteric secrets, and I should keep my promise not to divulge them; by doing so, I have a high chance of obtaining the key to resolving this matter.]
–Yes, I swear I won’t leak any secrets.–
He felt a hazy radiance emanating from the statue, enveloping him.
After a long wait, when he thought he had failed, countless streams of information surged between his heart and mind.
A flicker of bewilderment passed through Mori’s eyes.
–A dream? What—this has happened to the completion of the entire Postal Emblem World can go like this?–
The moment he cried out in surprise, he felt a force surge within, tightly sealing his thin lips, rendering him unable to open them.
[Anomaly Alert: The current area of the Dream Lord is under the diffusion of Chronos; every minute in this location equals ten minutes for him.]
[The Wish Charm has been consumed.]
The light dot in Moxel disappeared completely. After a dazed moment, Mori hastily propped himself up on his arm and stood.
He stumbled on his foot, nearly falling to the ground again.
–Oh my god, Boboli! Hurry! Swap all our Chronos for your ability spheres.–
–What? I just lay down to sleep.–
–Get up! I knew your ability shouldn’t remain buried like this. Quick, move it!–
Mori pounded on the door as he shouted.
……
Twenty-four hours later, Yang Zicang felt the golden phantom light emanating from his body; his enhanced Chronos had been fully replenished.
For the sake of caution, they only dared to truly leave now.
–You can say your goodbyes now.–
Yang Zicang tossed Yu Chen out.
Rolling on the dead leaves, Yu Chen stared at the cold gaze behind the fissure, his throat choking in silence the words begging for shelter he had prepared to utter.
–I-I’ll be on my way now.–
He stumbled to his feet and lurched outward, his loss of arms greatly reducing his balance, but thanks to the physical training he had endured in this world over the past few days, he was at least not completely unable to move.
–I still have my Wish Talisman, I… I still hold hope.–
His lips cracked as he walked through the woods, muttering to himself.
At this moment, his greatest fear was encountering those he had once swindled; fortunately, the sky outside was pitch black.
Luo Bin patted Yang Zicang on the shoulder:
–I know how you feel making these decisions. It’s like this in the beginning; you’ll get used to it later.–
–Feelings… I’m fine with it, I suppose.–
Himself now had little left to be concerned about; the silence outside was profound.
[Someone at headquarters has the ability to obtain observation permissions for about a day after Invest. If you proceed with the fund raise, be mentally prepared to be spied on all day long.]
Yang Zicang’s heart tightened slightly. Even this close, Robin Lo still used telepathy, which showed just how wary he was of that person at headquarters.
He helplessly shrugged his shoulders—what could he do about it?
The trio returned to their previous hidden base, and the group stirred restlessly.
Wang Chijian cast a peculiar glance at the young man behind Robin Lo.
Call him timid? He had single-handedly taken down a ruthless bastard like King Li.
Call him formidable? Yet a few words of trash talk were enough to make him toss away a precious century-class Chronos War Device.
Was he that afraid of the Alliance headquarters?
–Do you know how many owners your Cent-Arms have had so far?–
A sly, playful smile curled on his face as he watched Yang Zicang, who had sat down opposite and was tearing open a bag of snacks.
Yang Zicang eagerly stuffed a chip into his mouth. For the past two days, he’d nearly been sick of the unseasoned grilled meat.
–Mm, I have a rough idea. So before you guys finish whatever mission you’re on, do we still need to head into a B-grade EX-Space to test my abilities?–
–We won’t be doing that!–
A figure emerged, seething with frustration and anger—the man they called General Manager, Warren Wang.
With a hint of indignation, General Manager Wang said, –Given you can take down King Li with your skill level, I honestly can’t imagine we’d need to mess around with a B-grade EX-Space matter.–
–Right? Honestly, you would’ve been better off just selling us the Cent-Arms from the start!–
After that gun was snatched by a mysterious figure, they soon found themselves besieged by a crowd. With no other option, the person discarded the Chronos weapon and fled.
Over the past two days, the weapon had changed hands multiple times. Many ignored the headquarters’ kill ban, and in the chaos, at least four or five people died at the hands of their own camp, while others were ambushed by the monster faction.
By now, the area was in utter chaos—some wanted to escape, others sought to enter.
[I, the great Quad, have received the relay link.]
[Due to the difference in Chronos flow, the telepathic communication link has failed.]
Just then, a voice of thought echoed.
[I will not share the following content with any third party.]
In the blurry image, a pale-skinned man knelt on one knee, speaking his wish in a low English murmur. Yang Zicang listened to this voice; the guy seemed to be making a wish before a statue.
Could it really be like this?
The information within the image swiftly surfaced in his mind, and he understood it.
[ElectMorris wishes to acquire the skill of rapid learning.]
[Are you willing to offer this assistance?]
[Yes!]
Having roughly grasped what the other party needed, Yang Zicang responded inwardly.
He hadn’t forgotten his self-summarized lesson: to strive for the recognition and favor of as many councilors as possible.
[Upon re-entering the Near Realm, ElectMorris will simultaneously enter the world you inhabit.]
[ElectMorris possesses items that grant skills and has obtained the authority to use them within the Dream Realm.]
「？？？」
He struggled to comprehend the words—–ElectMorris… possesses… items that grant skills?–
Yang Zicang was bewildered. Since you already have something like that, why come to me?
–Hey, you bastard! Are you even listening to me? At least I invested several thousand years in you, giving you the capital to defeat King Li!–
Warren Wang strode over furiously and slapped his hand on the wooden crate.
–Don’t tell me you’re having some kind of mental exchange with some other guy.–
–Ah, it’s over. No exchange anymore.– Yang Zicang said, snapping out of his daze.
–You!– Warren Wang took a deep breath.
This infuriating creature—he was being completely ignored.
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