Bizarre Honkai, a Wife-Chasing Crematorium

The owner readily handed over his phone. Li Mo quickly checked the date and gathered some information. Bad news. It seemed the three Herrschers had already emerged.

Besides the Herrscher of Thunder, Mei, he'd likely have to face the Herrscher of Flamescion and the Herrscher of Reason as well.

He returned the phone. "Thank you."

"No problem. Just a friendly reminder, those hoodies are a bit suspicious at night. I almost called the police."

"I understand. Thank you for the warning." He knew being too cautious could backfire. He'd removed his hood during their conversation to appear less suspicious. Even a world filled with malice wouldn't completely rewrite basic human psychology.

"Are you always this cautious? I mean, calling the police…"

"Now that you mention it… it is strange. I'm not usually one to interfere. Perhaps it's the… unsettling atmosphere of the night, haha." Li Mo offered a plausible explanation.

Mei stared at him, surprised by his casual demeanor. Her brother was usually gloomy and taciturn.

After their meal, Li Mo put his hood back on and led Mei away.

The owner, as if compelled by an unseen force, opened a news article: Two Bodies Found in Nanshan Forest! Suspects Described as a Man and a Woman!

"Strange. They found the bodies so quickly? And the DNA results… that's unusually fast. Were the victims important? Why the urgency?"

"A man and a woman… could it be…? No. That young man seemed so… normal. And the girl was so quiet."

He picked up his phone, dialing the police…

Li Mo, oblivious, or perhaps simply uncaring, headed towards ME Corp. He'd found Ryoma's company address. Close by. If he was lucky, Ryoma would be working late.

"You'll see your father soon."

"Dad will help us!" Mei said confidently. Ryoma was powerful. He could easily make this… misunderstanding go away. Li Mo was acting in self-defense!

Li Mo grunted noncommittally. He didn't expect much from Ryoma. Protecting Mei was enough. As long as he wasn't a threat, that was all that mattered.

Mei was still vital to his survival in the new world. He needed her as his shield.

He was taking her somewhere relatively safe.

"I hope so," he muttered.

They walked under the dim streetlights, their elongated shadows stretching into the darkness.

Unseen, a pair of eyes watched them from the rooftops.

Ryoma, working late, was informed that Mei was waiting for him downstairs. He grabbed his jacket, a strange unease settling over him. He suddenly felt the need for extra security. He called two of his top bodyguards. Just in case.

Mei, her face alight with excitement, waited downstairs with Li Mo. He understood her eagerness. After the horrors of the new world, seeing her father, even a Bizarre version, must be a relief.

So she is from the old world? He still wasn't sure.

Ryoma arrived with his heavily armed guards, his eyes falling on Mei, her hood down, and the grim-faced Li Mo.

"Daddy!" Mei rushed towards him.

"Mei! I thought you'd forgotten about us!" Ryoma smiled, a rare display of affection. "And who is this…?"

"He's… my boyfriend! He brought me home! Dad, we're in trouble! He's injured! We need to get him to a hospital!"

Ryoma turned to Li Mo, his smile vanishing. "Injured? Let me see."

"It's nothing, sir. I can handle it."

His evasiveness raised Ryoma's suspicions.

"Two bodies were found in Nanshan Forest this afternoon. Gunshot wounds. Is that what happened?"

"..."

"It wasn't like that! Those men attacked us! He… he was protecting me! It was self-defense!" Mei cried.

Ryoma chuckled. "Mei, you're so naive. He's using you. He killed those men, then used you to get to me, hoping I'd make this go away. Am I right?"

"What if I say no?"

"Then you're lying."

"Then why ask? My answer doesn't matter, does it?"

The air crackled with tension.

Mei tried to intervene, but Ryoma ignored her.

"An eye for an eye. You killed those men. You'll pay for your crimes. I'll take you to court! Let the people of Japan judge you!"

Li Mo froze, a long-forgotten memory resurfacing:

He was a transmigrator.

A cold smile spread across his face. "You dare judge me? You, the man responsible for countless deaths? I've saved more lives than you can count."

"Japan? Judging me? That's rich. You're all puppets, your minds rewritten. You're not fit to judge anyone."

He wouldn't cower. He wouldn't beg.

"You're courting death," Ryoma growled, his pride wounded. This insignificant nobody dared challenge him?

"If you hurt him, I'll kill myself!" Mei's voice, though small, was filled with conviction.

It worked. Ryoma might despise Li Mo, but he cared about Mei.

"Mei, I don't know what he's told you, but this boy is trouble. For your sake, I'll let this slide… for now. Let's go home."

"No! I'm going home with him!"

"Go with him. I won't say it again. I'll come back for you later," Li Mo said, his voice firm, brooking no argument.

Mei hesitated, then nodded reluctantly, agreeing to go with Ryoma.

Ryoma was stunned. She obeyed without question. And that threat… she'd been serious.

What hold does this boy have over her?

He has to die.

As Mei got into the car, Li Mo slipped away. He didn't believe Ryoma's "for now." As soon as he was out of sight, those bodyguards would come for him.

"I'm no match for them. I have to run."

He ran through the streets, trying to lose them.

"Ryoma wouldn't normally act like this. He's being influenced, manipulated into hating me."

"My plan to use Mei failed. But as long as she's safe…"

Bang!

A single shot.

A bullet pierced his heart.

He collapsed, no time to react. These weren't amateurs with rusty guns. These were professionals.

"Target down. Target down."

"Roger that. Easy money. Was Ryoma worried about nothing? Two of us for this guy? Overkill."

"Who knows? Two of us, no consequences… we could take down a president. This is… beneath us."

"Haha, who cares? He's dead. He was weak. That's all that matters. You feeling sentimental?"

"Sentimental? No. The world is cruel. If you die, it's your own fault. You weren't strong enough."

Li Mo's consciousness faded, their mocking laughter echoing in his ears. The disdain, the contempt, the amusement…

The weak were prey.

He deserved to die. He was weak.

Just like the bandits he'd killed.

The world only cared about results, not justifications.

History remembered the victors, not the fallen.

He opened his eyes, stopping mid-stride.

First reset. Back to the alley.

"Come down. I know you're there."

The two mercenaries on the roof exchanged surprised glances. How did he know?

They jumped down, confident in their abilities.

"Impressive. How did you know?"

"A lucky guess? Resigned to your fate, hoping for a quick death? Haha…"

Li Mo lunged, closing the distance in a blink.

"Time to die," he said coldly.