Liu Bai's First Victory

Firefly looked embarrassed.

She mainly felt a sense of oppression from Eden that was similar to that from Kafka.

Yes, although the two had different temperaments, the sense of oppression she felt was quite similar.

"... Firefly, are you a bully who preys on the weak?" Guinaifen stared at Firefly for a while before saying something that startled Firefly.

"W-What do you mean by bullying the weak and fearing the strong!?"

"Why don't you dare to bare your teeth at Kafka?" Guinaifen rolled her eyes at Firefly.

"I... I was..." Firefly stammered, "Anyway, Little Gui, you don't understand!"

Guinaifen continued to roll her eyes; this person was just a bully who preyed on the weak.

However, upon closer inspection, there aren't actually many people on the same track as Kafka.

Eden counts, Rita... she should count too? And Natasha probably counts as well?

As for the Acheron... it seems like that could count too.

Hmm... thinking about it carefully, it doesn't seem like it's really that little.

In other words, Firefly's standard for a sense of oppression is not simply based on a mature and sophisticated aura, but also includes a degree of "aggressiveness."

Does she find a particularly aggressive, mature woman more intimidating?

Guinaifen briefly showed a thoughtful expression, then looked at Firefly with some curiosity.

"Firefly, do you remember Miss Rita?"

"Rita? Oh, that kind maid, isn't she?"

As the guide on the journey to the far north, Firefly wouldn't forget Rita.

What happened to her?

"..." Guinaifen scratched her head.

Well... after Firefly said "that very kind maid," Guinaifen felt that she and Firefly had nothing more to say to each other.

She had heard Eden complain about how Liu Bai and Rita had such an inexplicable chemistry.

Of course, "tacit understanding" is not really a big deal. If you ask her, she also feels that she and Liu Bai have a good working relationship.

You ask Firefly, Firefly also feels that she and Liu Bai have a tacit understanding.

The real problem is that Eden complained.

It's like Kafka telling someone, "Firefly make me feel insecure in love"—it's either a joke or a serious matter.

When Eden complained to her, she believed him on the spot—after all, Guinaifen and Rita had communicated and understood each other, and knew that this maid was not a simple person.

Their connection began shortly after Liu Bai landed, but Natasha had a slight edge and managed to take the Serenitea Pot back.

This is clearly someone not to be underestimated...

But what does Firefly's mishap have to do with Guinaifen?

Not familiar, really not familiar.

"Never mind, I'm going downstairs to eat."

"Genius Society, seat number 81, Nguyen Mai, as your special advisor, is this our first meeting?"

The gentle and elegant ancient-style intellectual beauty, Ruan Mei, smiled and reached out her hand to Liu Bai.

"Hello, Dr. Ruan Mei."

"It's Nguyen Mai," Nguyen Mai corrected with a gentle smile.

"I understand, Ruan Mei."

"It is Nguyen Mai."

"I understand, Dr. Mei the Doctor."

"..." Ruan Mei looked at Liu Bai's expression, still maintaining that smile. After a brief silence, a hint of helplessness crept into her smile. "Just call me Ruan Mei."

[Ruan Mei's favorability rating: 1513]

As expected, the approval rating was low. If that smile were on Kafka, she would probably get at least 50% approval rating.

Okay, Kafka is an exception, but my own initial favorability at level 12 is only 15, which is already quite low.

Twenty or thirty is considered a normal range.

"Here you are, Dr. Ruan Mei, this is a welcome gift."

Liu Bai handed the Light Cone "My Memories of the Past," which he had prepared beforehand, to Ruan Mei.

Ruan Mei's gaze was suddenly drawn to the Light Cone in Liu Bai's hand.

"Was that... me?"

Ruan Mei subconsciously reached out and took the Light Cone that Liu Bai handed her. She stared blankly at herself in the mirror, dressed in a gorgeous outfit.

"... Was that moment actually recorded?"

Ruan Mei gently stroked herself within the Light Cone.

Looking at his own reflection with self-pity, lamenting the brevity of his life...

Looking at the Light Cone in her hand, Ruan Mei felt as if she were looking in a mirror again.

"Since everything is destined to pass away, what is the point of creation?"

"... so that one day, the plum blossoms will no longer be preserved."

Ruan Mei subconsciously repeated this question and answer she had asked herself countless times.

"..."

"You seem to have something to say?" Ruan Mei snapped out of her reverie and noticed Liu Bai's hesitant expression.

"No, think about it carefully, I have no right to tell you what to do."

Intellectually, Liu Bai wanted to tell people that "survival" is the true meaning, not "creation."

There are many inventions that have been abandoned and buried because they are useless, and countless species have been eliminated by planets because they could not adapt to their environment.

But emotionally, Liu Bai understood the principle that "one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand" and Ruan Mei's desire to preserve the best of her life and time forever.

If such a temptation were truly placed before Liu Bai, he couldn't guarantee he could refuse.

Liu Bai's final conclusion was that he did not agree with Ruan Mei's views, but he was not qualified to educate her.

As for whether Nguyen Mai chose this path despite knowing the reasons, or whether her initial obsession made her ignore those principles, it seems pointless to delve into that.

Moreover, Liu Bai didn't think he could persuade Ruan Mei.

"Really?" Ruan Mei's gaze returned to the Light Cone. After taking a deep look at it, she Light Cone put it away. "You're such a mean person... but I really like this welcome gift."

Ruan Mei reached out her hand to Liu Bai again.

"Please give me your guidance, Liu Bai."

[Ruan Mei's favorability rating: 1323]

In their second handshake, Nguyen Mai seemed to show more sincerity.

She was also the only one among the three who received their own special Light Cone to experience strong emotional fluctuations.

Kafka's Light Cone recorded nothing major, just an elegant and perfect "hunt" by the "Lady Spider".

The Light Cone of Acheron... Just as Acheron had told him before, even in the void, she never stopped. How could she stop after leaving the void?

[Walking on the shore of passing time] is nothing more than a recollection of the past for her. She may feel a little sad when she sees herself in the Light Cone, but that's all—for her, the rain has stopped.

That paper umbrella had been gathering dust in the Acheron for a long time.

Only for Nguyen Mai, the scene recorded in "My Memories of the Past" can be said to be Nguyen Mai's original intention and obsession that has led her to this day.

"Since you've summoned me to a place like this... there must be something that I can only help with, right?" Ruan Mei said, taking the initiative to speak.

"That's right, you know the Glamoth Republic, right?"

"Hmm...I've heard some things." Ruan Mei took a few seconds to recall, "The Genius Society is still debating to this day why this once-powerful country perished."

Clearly, in order to study Propagation, Ruan Mei paid attention to Glamoth, a country that fought back against the tide but then mysteriously disappeared.

"About Propagation..."

Chapter 239 Liu Bai's First Victory

"Glamoth's remnant, Molten Knight Sam... I've been interested in you for a long time."

Ruan Mei looked at the Firefly in front of her.

"I never imagined that there would be a little girl under that armor..."

Firefly: "..."

Looking at Ruan Mei in front of her, Firefly felt an unexpected sense of danger.

—It's not the kind of danger that comes from emotions, but rather that the woman herself is inherently dangerous.

Moreover, although the other person maintained a gentle smile on their face, their gaze... was more like that of someone examining an object?

That kind of gaze makes people very uncomfortable.

"Oh, right, could you please give Firefly a physical examination, Ruan Mei?" Bai suddenly remembered this.

Firefly's Entropy Loss Syndrome didn't worsen much, and Liu Bai had almost forgotten about it.

"I couldn't be happier. I'm also very interested in the Glamoth Iron Cavalry that was wiped out in an instant." Ruan Mei agreed without hesitation.

"Hmm..."

Although Firefly wanted to refuse, she couldn't bring herself to say anything in the face of Liu Bai's concern.

"Is there anything I need to prepare?"

"No need." Ruan Mei shook her head. "A simple examination can be done without instruments. Take them off, Miss Firefly."

"Huh?" Firefly was taken aback by Ruan Mei's wild words. "Take off... take off?"

"What's wrong? Don't worry, although I'm very interested in your body, it's not in that way."

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant..."

"Oh..." Ruan Mei glanced at Liu Bai leaning against the door. "Is that so? Liu Bai, please avoid any appearance of impropriety."

Yes, yes, yes~

The plan to fish in troubled waters failed miserably.

Liu Bai did not show any disappointment and walked out of the room as if everything was normal.

"Can you take it off now?" Ruan Mei asked with a teasing expression.

"Yes, that's fine."

Despite her shame, Firefly Ying took off her clothes and then Ruan Mei began to examine her.

"Since Liu Bai wants me to examine you, it means you must have some kind of problem, right? Can you tell me first?"

"It's Entropy Loss Syndrome," Firefly replied softly.

"Lack of entropy...?" Ruan Mei paused, a thoughtful expression replacing the fake smile on her face. "Are you the only one with it? Or do all the Glamoth Iron Cavalry have it?"

"Dr. Ruan Dr. MEI, you should know the answer, shouldn't you?" Firefly asked in return.

"... It seems to be Glamoth's method of keeping weapons secret. Perhaps the company knows more about this?" Ruan Mei seemed to have solved some mystery. "Use some power and let me see how far your Entropy Loss Syndrome has gone."

Firefly nodded, and began to circulate her power. Clear crack-like patterns appeared on Firefly body.

"...How about it?"

"Um..."

Ruan Mei gripped Firefly's arm.

"Normally, it takes about ten years, but if you don't take care of your body, it will be shorter."