Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

As Lin Wei opened the box, a blade flashed from behind, aimed at his neck.

Simultaneously, a gunshot echoed through the room. Gray Serpent, a pistol appearing in his hand as if from nowhere, had deflected the attack.

"Raven, patience."

He chuckled, calming the now-silent Raven, who returned to polishing glasses, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.

So much for my heroic intervention, she thought, annoyed.

"Ha!"

Lin Wei felt a thrill, the familiar brush with death exhilarating.

A part of him knew this was dangerous, a reckless game he couldn't afford to keep playing.

But he had no choice. He embraced the madness, the thrill of dancing with a snake.

He held the box steady, his smile unwavering, seemingly unfazed by the near-death experience, but his eyes held a chillingly manic glint.

Even he was afraid of himself when he lost control.

The box was open, but empty. That's why Gray Serpent had intervened. He hadn't sensed any danger.

Despite his human-like behavior, Gray Serpent wasn't human.

His mind, a network of mechanical and electronic components, was driven by logic, calculations, and strategy, devoid of the emotional baggage that hindered humans.

He'd assessed the situation instantly, intervening before Raven, her judgment clouded by Lin Wei's provocation, made a mistake.

Against emotional humans, use logic, control the narrative.

Against logical machines, use impulse, disrupt their calculations, force them to retreat.

Against madmen… well, see who was crazier.

In this moment, his senses heightened by adrenaline, Lin Wei looked forward to his inevitable confrontation with Otto Apocalypse.

Am I getting too arrogant? he wondered, even in his excitement.

A madman with a clear mind was a terrifying force.

But he'd achieved his goal.

The box was empty.

He twirled it in his hand, the lid clicking open and closed, a child's toy.

He met Gray Serpent's gaze, his voice mocking.

"Attacking a guest mid-sentence? World Serpent's hospitality is truly… memorable."

"Mr. Lin Wei is the one who surprised me. Forgive my… overreaction. Your… offer exceeded my expectations."

Gray Serpent calmly holstered his still-smoking pistol, his muffled voice betraying no surprise.

He'd been baffled, but his rapid calculations had prioritized preventing Raven's intervention.

He recognized the box—the device used to imprison the Herrscher of Corruption fifty thousand years ago, the one MEI had intended to forge into a Divine Key.

But she'd failed. It had been unearthed centuries later, stored alongside the Void Archives, then vanished five hundred years ago, thanks to a certain impulsive girl.

Now, it reappeared before him, its implications too complex to immediately decipher.

Was this man a resurrected Herrscher?

He seemed like an ordinary, insignificant human.

A resurrected Herrscher wouldn't be so weak.

Even the Herrscher of Corruption would have a distinct energy signature.

And he…

Gray Serpent glanced at him discreetly.

Nothing…

"Pandora, the beautiful woman of Greek myth, created in the image of the gods, adorned by the goddesses of love and beauty, imbued with wisdom… a gift from the gods to mankind…"

Lin Wei stared at the box, his voice wistful.

"But she carried a box, filled with calamities, destruction, and death. A curse from the gods."

He looked up at Gray Serpent, a smile on his face.

"Fifty thousand years ago, humanity opened Pandora's Box, then paid a heavy price to close it. Five hundred years ago, it was opened again, just a crack."

"And now, I've closed it for you, restoring the gift to its original beauty."

"How is that story, Gray Serpent-san? From a fellow survivor of fifty thousand years ago?"

"A fascinating tale!"

Gray Serpent applauded, his voice echoing through the room.

"Easy for you to say. You defeated a Herrscher? Heh, anyone can talk big."

A good leader needed a supportive subordinate.

Raven played her role perfectly.

And she wanted to get back at him for mocking her.

You brought this on yourself.

Lin Wei glanced at the sarcastic Raven, then smiled, pushing himself back from the table, bringing both Gray Serpent and Raven into his line of sight.

"Indeed, I'm just a mortal, powerless against a Herrscher, powerless against Raven-san. But that's on a physical level."

"In terms of will, the gap between us isn't that large. So, defeating a Herrscher… it's not that surprising, is it?"

He looked at Raven, his expression curious.

"Can't you do the same?"

He raised a finger, and a wisp of black smoke appeared, swirling around it. He lowered his finger, and the smoke obediently drifted into the box. He closed the lid with a click, and the box vanished.

The show was over.

Raven was speechless. What was this guy?

"So, Gray Serpent-san. Deal or no deal?"

Lin Wei smiled, his fangs glinting, his voice a threat.

"I've closed Pandora's Box for you. But whether it remains closed… is up to you."

Don't force me to make this decision. I'm qualified.

I'm just a traveler, not a native of this era. I owe you nothing.

Gray Serpent was silent. He understood the threat. This man could unleash the Herrscher of Corruption's power, corrupting or destroying the entire Gray Serpent network.

This was a far greater threat than mere death.

He understood Lin Wei's earlier mockery.

And he finally understood why this man knew so much about him.

Connected to a Herrscher from the Previous Era, a relative of a MANTIS, a survivor… it made sense.

"Hesitating, Gray Serpent-san? It's just a phone call. Is it that difficult?"

Lin Wei was pleased. He'd successfully planted a plausible explanation for his knowledge, a convenient disguise.

He was certain Gray Serpent could contact Kevin, even if he was trapped in the Sea of Quanta.

Kevin had returned through another passage after the Sea of Quanta opened. And there were countless ways to communicate.

Kevin had even spoken to Siegfried through the Kaslana Stigmata's quantum entanglement!

Even the armed puppet guarding the Second Divine Key, the one based on Kevin, was suspicious.

Had Kevin anticipated Su's plan and left it behind to protect his friend?

Or had he instructed World Serpent to create it after his exile?

Either was possible.

But Gray Serpent's preparations for Kevin's return had been too thorough, their first meeting too familiar.

It was enough leverage.

He'd initially hesitated to involve Kevin directly.

Wasn't manipulating Gray Serpent into granting him access to the Elysian Realm enough?

But he'd decided to aim higher.

Gray Serpent was too dangerous, too unpredictable.

Even if he honored his agreements, dealing with a snake without a leash was risky. Kevin's presence would be a necessary restraint.

And Gray Serpent wouldn't allow him to bring the Herrscher of Corruption into the Elysian Realm, a purely digital space.

It would be like letting a rat into a granary.

Most importantly, Gray Serpent didn't understand the significance of a "Herrscher with humanity."

Lin Wei believed Gray Serpent knew about Elysia, having lived in the same era.

But he didn't know her true identity, her significance.

Otherwise, World Serpent wouldn't have been so indifferent towards Herrschers, especially Kiana in Arc City. They wouldn't have so casually revealed her location and sent her to Jackal's lab.

Only Kevin, Su, and the distant Griseo understood.

Fu Hua had forgotten.

Even the Herrscher of Sentience, with her mostly restored memories, didn't know.

Otherwise, she would have told everyone!

Why bother sending Mei to the Elysian Realm to deal with those cryptic(yapper) Flame-Chasers?

Kevin was the key, the universal solution.

"A few messages for Mr. Kevin: 1, Rin is alive, her consciousness is intact. 2, Rin wants to enter the Elysian Realm to reunite with her sister. 3, Rin is with me. He can decide after meeting us. Simply relay these messages, and our deal is complete. Whether he agrees or not… let your Sovereign decide after meeting me."

Lin Wei hesitated, deciding to postpone mentioning Seele.

No need to overcomplicate things. He would ask Kevin directly once he appeared.

He was confident that Kevin, still deeply attached to Sakura and Rin, wouldn't refuse.

Especially with the news of Rin's survival, and the significance of her consciousness—a Herrscher born before Elysia's sacrifice.

If he could deliver this message, he would win.

"Very well. The deal is accepted."

Gray Serpent agreed, his voice muffled.

He didn't hesitate. He believed no one could defy Kevin's will.

If Lin Wei insisted on speaking to Kevin, then Kevin would decide.

The red light in his mechanical eye flickered, then dimmed as he waited.

The silence was heavy. Lin Wei turned to Raven, who was now idly polishing glasses.

"Raven-san, could you do me a favor?"

Raven glanced at him, amused. He dared to ask for a favor after all this?

"A personal request? There will be an additional charge."

Her voice was cold, dismissive.

"It's just a small thing…"

Lin Wei sighed. This woman held grudges.

If she hadn't knocked him out so unceremoniously, he wouldn't have to be so polite.

He explained his request to the hooded girl, who was now smirking.

Raven scoffed. How trivial.

It would be petty to refuse.

This guy…

She glared at him, memorizing his face, then opened a cabinet, searching for the requested item.

Suddenly, Gray Serpent stood up, and Raven straightened, her expression serious.

Gray Serpent bowed towards the empty hall, then raised his head, the red light in his eye illuminating a spot on the floor.

A holographic projection appeared—a man with white hair, seen from behind. His presence was chilling, imposing, commanding respect even in silence.

Kevin, Lin Wei thought, awestruck.

He knocked on the wall behind him.

"Honey, come see the savior!"

His internal monologue was acting up again.

The man wasn't trying to be dramatic. It was just his natural aura.

Sensing the connection, he turned, his gaze bypassing Gray Serpent and Raven, locking onto Lin Wei with an intensity that made him shiver.

Kevin looked at him, then shook his head.

"You're not a Herrscher."

His voice was cold, flat, a hint of disappointment, perhaps even a touch of sadness.

Then, he focused on Lin Wei, his voice regaining its usual strength.

"State your purpose, visitor."

"And tell me… are you friend, or foe?"