Naive?
Xiao Ran had visited the Bist Family's manor many times and could be said to know the place like the back of his hand. Yet the Bist Manor in his memories had been full of birdsong, flowers, and people even within the colony satellite. The trees and flowers in the garden had been lush, with many servants tending the plants every day, while numerous guards outside protected the Bist Family's safety.
But the Bist Family before him felt nothing but deserted and silent. There was not the slightest trace of life, not even a single servant, attendant, or guard in sight. Even a petty thief could have come and gone freely.
The same Bist Family, the same people, the same place in two different worlds, yet the differences were utterly stark.
Shaking his head, Xiao Ran stood outside the Bist Family's gates and rang the bell. He pressed it several times in succession and waited for quite a while before a voice finally sounded.
"Who is it?"
Xiao Ran recognized the voice. He smiled faintly and gave his name, without mentioning anything else. "Xiao Ran."
After all, this was another world. It was still unclear what sort of relationship the identity Prometheus had given him had with Cardias, so that could only be confirmed through further contact.
"Xiao Ran... Xiao Ran... It's you. Why are you here? No, how did you suddenly appear?"
Xiao Ran said, "Cardias, I'm already here. Are you still not going to let me in? Don't you want to know why I came?"
Cardias fell silent for a moment. "Please come in."
The gate opened soundlessly. Xiao Ran entered with Yao, then made his way through the familiar grounds to the equally silent living room. There, he found Cardias in a crisp suit, standing with