You're Right, But—

"Look at the Law Enforcement Division Four Agency uniform you're wearing. Think about those exquisite white gloves you and your colleagues wear, the guns and weapons you carry—are they really so clean? Is this what you people of Law Enforcement Division Four Agency call protecting women?"

Li Aoz retorted:

"All four nations are nothing but garbage!"

"But if I have to choose one among four filthy beasts, scum vampires, and cockroaches—then I can only choose the Red Arrow Empire!"

He sounded impassioned and indignant, every bit the hot-blooded young man. "At least in Emperor Kaiser II's eyes, his own people are human. If the crown prince breaks the law, he is punished the same as a commoner. Unlike Frostplate's high officials, who clearly enjoy official titles, wealth, and privilege, yet still deliberately divide ordinary men and women, using 'protecting women' as an excuse to line their own pockets and fight for special privileges!"

Nomi Favorability: 219

"Law Enforcement Division Four Agency is merely too radical. In past history, men truly did commit many sins in war. This was also the will left behind by the Twin Queens..."

Li Aoz's speech made Ya Wen's explanation seem incomparably pale. In fact, judging by her expression, perhaps even she did not believe what she was saying.

"Before becoming citizens of the four nations, we were human. Whether men or women, didn't we all grow up bit by bit in the same way?"

Leaning over the front passenger seat, Li Aoz looked Ya Wen straight in the eye, filled with righteous indignation. "Among Frostplate's important figures, how many aren't men? Aren't the bureaucratic clique surrounding the female president all men?"

"Yes, you know it too. Actually, Frostplate's Gender Discrimination isn't that severe. There are still male officials."

Ya Wen hurriedly said:

"Li Aoz, I sincerely hope you can abandon darkness and turn toward the light. I've seen what the Empire is really like. The bureaucratic struggles there are even crueler and bloodier... I don't know what happened to you that made you choose to betray your homeland, but Frostplate isn't beyond saving. There are still many people who hope the country will improve. Look, we still have so many male officials..."

Li Aoz could barely hold it together.

If he had not been putting on an act, he truly would have laughed.

—Bullshit. I can play two versions in the Red Arrow Empire, but I can't even last a day in Frostplate.

"Those officials, whether male or female, don't care about women's rights at all. They're merely exploiting and provoking conflict between men and women to maintain their rule. Is this really what Frostplate should become? If the Twin Queens were still alive, she who loved Frostplate so deeply would only be heartbroken to see this twisted era."

As he spoke, he looked as though he wanted nothing more than to carry a blade to the capital and lay out the stakes in full. In the end, he lowered his head dejectedly and cursed like a patriotic youth who had been cruelly abandoned:

"Damn it, how did the country end up like this?"

Ya Wen was moved by his impassioned words. She lowered her head and fell silent.

Combining the information Qiu Ran had drawn out while playing the good cop, Li Aoz tailored his approach to the situation, and practically every sentence struck at the heart of the matter.

Ya Wen clearly came from a good family. She had also evidently just left school and, for certain unspeakable reasons, had no choice but to join the poorly reputed Law Enforcement Division Four Agency.

She did everything by the book and strictly followed the rules and regulations. In the eyes of colleagues who were used to throwing their weight around, she was simply putting on airs and acting affected.

Law Enforcement Division Four Agency had a rather large number of agents, most of whom had been recruited and reformed from society's drifters.

Among these female hooligans who had always been idle and unruly, a young lady suddenly appeared. It was only natural that they would ostracize her when she refused to go along with them.

After spending some time in such an environment, her colleagues' sarcasm, along with work filled with bloodshed, violence, and all sorts of dark ugliness, left this sheltered young lady trapped between pressure from within and without.

Even if she was unwilling to admit it and did not show it, deep down, her faith in the justice of her work and in her homeland had long begun to waver.

Li Aoz did not say anything more. He would take it one course at a time. Only by keeping her caught in constant mental turmoil could he slowly correct her thinking.

The principle was much like learning a foreign language. Words one could never memorize at home would be picked up unconsciously after spending a month abroad, immersed in the language around others. Stay for half a year or so, and communicating with locals would basically no longer be a problem.

The key was reinforcement and persistence.

Since Ya Wen was neither on his team nor in his faction, he could not see her Favorability. So Li Aoz planned to first destroy her emotional attachment to Frostplate, then establish his own image.

Ya Wen quieted down and began struggling and reflecting inwardly. Nomi was also very pleased with Li Aoz's performance, driving quickly yet steadily the whole way.

Li Aoz reminded Nomi not to drive too fast, lest Nimoting and the others give up tracking them. From time to time, they stopped to eat and drink, and cast water magic to relieve themselves.

Qiu Ran's goofy personality made her perfect for playing the good cop. She naturally fell into step with Li Aoz, preaching to Ya Wen whenever she had the chance.

Direct coercion and interrogation easily provoked resentment. Every old hand knew to chat with someone casually, drawing out information bit by bit, letting them lower their guard, then gently asking a question that stirred up their own doubts.

Li Aoz was in an excellent mood along the way, so he simply closed his eyes and got some real rest.

Six hours later, Li Aoz jolted awake from a nightmare, drenched in cold sweat. He leaned against his seat for more than ten seconds before finally coming back to himself.

"The baby... the baby died... What was that?"

Li Aoz muttered. Light gradually returned to his eyes as the nightmare's grip loosened. He looked beside him and saw that Qiu Ran had taken over driving. Nomi was lying in the back seat, her foot planted on Ya Wen's shoulder as she slept soundly.

Everything was fine, and the contents of the nightmare faded away completely like a receding tide.

Ever since crossing over, he had always slept well. Yet this inexplicable nightmare cast a layer of dust over Li Aoz's mood.

It was practically like a sign that something bad was about to happen... Have I been thinking too much lately? He shook his head, opened his panel, and checked his condition.

Everything was normal.

Just as Li Aoz was about to exit, his gaze sharpened and stopped at the system functions section.

"Player Functions—unlocked!"

The Player Functions section, which had originally contained only a few lonely lit icons for the Game Store, Faction, and Team, now had a new icon unlocked.

"Star Abyss" Official Website

Game Forum

At the same time, Li Aoz noticed a "NEW(3)" indicator in the system mailbox, indicating that three new emails had arrived.

The mailbox was used to receive official and player messages. Who would send an email to an NPC? Suspicious, Li Aoz opened it, and the contents of the three emails immediately came into view: "Dear Esteemed Recipient: The trial operation of 'Star Abyss' is about to begin, along with the first round of Alpha Testing. Please beware of network fluctuations. Countdown: 23:43 — Qiqiao Network. Sent: 2142/9/17."

"Dear Esteemed Recipient: Welcome to 'Star Abyss.' Enjoy freedom and happiness to the fullest. You may as well try treating this place as a real world. Hmm, perhaps it really is real? — All Staff of the 'Star Abyss' Production Team. Sent: 2142/9/17."

The first two were fairly normal, though they still felt somewhat strange. Li Aoz was an NPC, yet he was being treated like a player.

But the third email left Li Aoz rather bewildered.

Dear Customer:

Darling, did you enjoy this shopping experience?

Just kidding. Once you use it, you'll love it.

So, would you like to keep buying my handicrafts?

Unfortunately, Teleki Exhibition Hall has closed for this event.

The good news is that around this time next year, I'll be holding a traveling exhibition of rare treasures in the Gorsala Galaxy.

No matter what, you shouldn't refuse me.

If you missed Teleki's Grand Exhibition, then don't forget to follow Grina's Little Shop! There are plenty more interesting treasures here.

Make money, spend money, shop more—woohoo, woohoo, it feels so satisfying.

ZGM.0238/1/13 — Attachment: Friend Card 'Grina Vortex'

(Click here to jump to the business account: "Mikhail's Little Nest")

"Grina Vortex?"

Li Aoz fell silent for a moment.

"Who's that?"

September 18, 1937. Never forget the national humiliation.