Strength Slightly Weak?

When Li Ming obtained Candlelight Armor: First Light, his character interface finally unlocked. The moment he opened it, he saw himself wearing Candlelight Armor: First Light displayed on the character panel.

Character: Li Ming

Ability: Candlelight Armor: First Light

Star Rank: B, Level: 20, Physical

Weapon: Moon God's Protection

Stigmata: None

Skill: Level 60

That was roughly what the character panel looked like. The classified information section was otherwise unremarkable: no affiliated organization, male, birthplace Shenzhou, birthday February 8, height 181 cm, weight 65 kg.

Armor Story

The candlelight left behind by the Heroes fifty thousand years ago had finally blossomed into its first light in the New Era!

Armor Story (Affection required: ??)

Armor Story (Affection required: ????)

Current affection? Li Ming wanted to learn more about you.

???

(⊙o⊙)?

Wait, my affection toward myself wasn't maxed out?

Who were they kidding? He was Li Ming. Then who was he supposed to be?

Li Hua? Had he asked himself to write essays for three years? Why wasn't the affection meter full yet?

Still, there was nothing he could do about it. Back when he played games, Li Ming could increase affection by switching between the stationed Valkyries and the dorm. Now, though, he was completely lost. Raise a guy's affection? Come on, this whole novel would be over.

His mind was a complete mess.

Please provide the Chinese text and any glossaries or character information you would like me to use, and I will translate it for you right away.

Over the past half month, Li Ming had not only completed the armor design, but also reviewed English and other subjects. Then he made a trip back to Qinghe City, spent some time playing with little Susanna, and told Su Qizhe about what had happened over the past month and a half.

Of course, he did not tell them about the especially dangerous parts. In truth, even if Li Ming said nothing, Su Qizhe knew. He just knew by different means.

Not long after staying there, Li Ming received his offer. To be honest, when he had mentioned it to Raiden Ryoma, he had only been joking. He had never expected it to work out. Yet when the offer arrived, Li Ming remained in a state of excitement and shock.

The next steps were applying for a visa, looking up guides, and preparing various things. Most of it, however, was arranged by Su Qizhe. Even with a computer, Li Ming could not find any useful guides. After all, this was not the future, where any information could be found with a simple online search.

Still, he could ask the experts on the forums. When in doubt, consult the forums. Yet Su Qizhe proved through his actions that Li Ming was useless at such things. Li Ming did not even know how he had been brought to the airport.

"Alright, Xiao Ming, remember to call me after you get there. And let the old man know you're safe." Su Qizhe had brought Susanna along this time. Given the extensive experience of a certain middle-aged man who was also raising a child, Su Qizhe ultimately decided to use a private jet.

When Li Ming learned it was a private jet... well, he felt pretty awestruck. He knew Su Qizhe was rich, but he had never had a clear sense of just how rich. Only after seeing this private jet sweep past him did Li Ming's heart become completely calm. Truly, completely calm. /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

His passport and visa had been handled a month ago. Su Qizhe had basically arranged everything else as well, including luggage, cash, and bank cards. Su Qizhe's consideration truly was thorough.

When he arrived in California, he saw a brown-skinned boy holding up a huge sign. It read: Welcome to California, Mr. Ming!

It was not particularly ostentatious, but Li Ming still felt an inexplicable sense of embarrassment.

However, this person's personality was unexpectedly pleasant, and he even knew a little Shenzhou language. That made Li Ming's time in California much less dull.

The young man was a Mexican American and a California local named Rhyme Skyler. He looked quite warmhearted, though he was a little thin and small, not especially sturdy.

Li Ming did not want to ask about Rhyme's family situation the moment they met, but he still asked Su Qizhe about it. When he learned that Rhyme had started working part-time jobs at a young age, and that everything from picking him up at the airport to arranging his accommodations had been handled by Rhyme alone, Li Ming could not help looking at the short, somewhat shy young man before him in a new light.

Rhyme brought Li Ming to an apartment not far from California Institute of Technology. Since Li Ming lived on the third floor, the apartment looked rather upscale. Its decor was minimalist yet luxurious, and despite the building being so large, each floor only had two rooms. There was even a supermarket attached to it. The first floor was a convenience store, while Li Ming had no idea who occupied the second floor.

"Ming, I live right next door to you. If anything comes up, just call for me. There's a convenience store downstairs, and remember to keep yourself safe when you go out. Did Mr. Su prepare that permit for you?"

Rhyme made a gesture like he was holding a pistol. Li Ming merely smiled. This world was different from his original one. With organizations like Schicksal and Anti-Entropy subtly standing above local authorities, regional power leaned more toward such organizations. Therefore, Li Ming's registration with the Shenzhou branch carried a certain degree of validity here as well.

Besides, given the environment in the Americas, all he could do was hope things would not get any more exciting. He simply wanted to study quietly and honestly.

But he had forgotten that this was the Honkai world. Living an ordinary, peaceful life was already difficult, let alone for someone as conspicuous as Li Ming, who had made an impression in front of Raiden Ryoma. Wanting to live steadily and quietly was nothing but a joke.

"Rhyme, I'm going downstairs to buy some bedding and stuff. Want to come along? We can get dinner while we're at it."

Li Ming knocked on Rhyme's door, carrying nothing but a few bills.

Rhyme opened the door, looked at Li Ming, thought for a moment, and finally agreed. Before heading down, though, he searched through a cupboard and eventually pulled out a black Glock, tucking it into the waistband at the back of his pants. He glanced at Li Ming, saw that he was unarmed, and took out another gun to hand him.

Li Ming was actually reluctant to accept it, but after thinking it over, there was no need to expose Moon God's Protection yet. Having a gun for self-defense was not a bad idea.

When the two went down to the convenience store, Li Ming did not buy much. Mostly bedding and other necessities, along with some snacks. He also picked up a pack of cigarettes.

Still, dinner went smoothly, without any problems. It was just a little too greasy for his taste.

The first thing Li Ming needed to do after that was—adjust to the time difference.

Although Li Ming had rested for a while on the plane, it was nighttime in California now. After dinner, Rhyme returned to his room.

But Li Ming could not sleep at all. If he slept during the day instead of at night, he would never adjust to the time difference.

So Li Ming chose to pass the time practicing martial arts.

Next door, Rhyme listened to the constant sounds coming from Li Ming's room and found it strange. He had no idea why Li Ming had so much energy, but since Li Ming had not come looking for him, it probably was not a big issue. Better to sleep honestly.

After the unrest in Changming City ended, Raiden Ryoma and Raiden Yae returned to the Far East the next day.

After Raiden Ryoma returned to the ME Company headquarters in the Far East, he first sent Raiden Yae home before returning to ME Company. He looked at the gradually setting sun outside, his gaze darkening slightly, then turned and entered the secret room beside him.

"Do you think the HK Organization's actions over the past two months were merely a coincidence?"

A figure projected by holographic imaging looked at Raiden Ryoma. Seated in a chair with her legs crossed, she asked, "Wouldn't you know whether it was a coincidence?"

"An attack on me is nothing, but when they attacked Yae, that clone who appeared had something to do with you, didn't she?"

"Mm, it was an experimental mistake. She was originally a test subject that had been destroyed, but H&K somehow took her away. That was what caused the mistake. Sorry about that, Ryoma."

"Is that so? Fine, then. It would be best if such mistakes did not happen again. It isn't easy for me to make money for you out there." Naturally, Raiden Ryoma did not believe her explanation, but since the figure had put it that way, what else could he say? Still, he had to make his stance clear.

Raiden Ryoma silently lit a cigarette. After taking a deep drag, he slowly exhaled, and smoke soon filled the secret room.

"Still, I met a pretty impressive kid this time. His strength and talent are both excellent. If he hadn't protected us, H&K probably would have succeeded the first time."

"The child you reported a month ago?"

The figure was clearly interested. She turned to look at Raiden Ryoma, and when she sat upright, her tall figure became visible.

"Mm. I pulled some strings and sent him to California Institute of Technology. I'm sure even my lord will find him interesting."

The tall figure suddenly fell silent. Only after quite a while did she say, "That works too. A young talent like that should naturally be befriended early."

"I was only informing you. I know what needs to be done. You should pay more attention to H&K's situation. This move of theirs has already put the Shenzhou headquarters on alert. I can start preparing cooperation with them from my side, but H&K needs to be dealt with quickly."

"Don't worry. Within a month at most, H&K will disappear from the Americas. I'm leaving now; I still have experiments to attend to. Oh, and don't forget your own matter either. This vacation was not granted casually. There isn't much time left, so you'd better sort out your priorities."

"I know. I'll go." Seeing Raiden Ryoma agree, the tall figure rose and left. Her image shattered into specks of light like bubbles.

Raiden Ryoma had just finished his cigarette. After closing the secret room, he sat in his chair and began considering Yae's situation. In the end, he decided it would be best for Yae to start learning martial arts now. Although Li Ming had been sparring with her over the past month, she still needed more professional training.

It was decided. He needed to contact them as soon as possible.

Shenzhou Headquarters, Qinghe Branch

"Has Li Ming's information all been updated?" Wang Sheng looked curiously at Xie Qingming.

"I've obtained the latest information from Changming City. Still, it's truly astonishing. In just one month, he's grown to this extent. A young hero, perhaps?" Xie Qingming looked at the documents in her hand, equally surprised.

"Oh, right. I heard from Changming City that Li Ming has his own armor now, though it hasn't been revealed yet. I'm really looking forward to it. His armor will definitely be as dazzling as he is!" Wang Sheng looked at the image on the tablet before him.

Li Ming soared high through the flames, then drove Zhu Yan into the ground with a whip kick.

At that time, Li Ming had been enveloped in golden streams of light, flames scattering around him like a fledgling phoenix reborn from fire.

Xie Qingming looked at Li Ming in the image and smiled. "Perhaps. By the way, after this update, have you received any news about where you'll be transferred?"

"Probably somewhere internal. The capable people within have not produced any real talent for a long time, after all. Didn't what happened in Changming City prove that?" Wang Sheng shook his head helplessly.

"Besides, the conflict between Schicksal and Anti-Entropy has become apparent again. Headquarters has a major headache over it now. Although Shenzhou has been less affected, it's still better to avoid the storm for a while."

Xie Qingming folded her arms, her tone unreadable. She looked at the setting sun outside the window. "Who knows when he'll return? But you handled Li Ming's registration documents for going abroad, didn't you?"

Though phrased as a question, her tone was extremely certain. Wang Sheng seemed to recall something troublesome as well. "There was no choice. If we wrote everything truthfully, Li Ming would probably have had a hard time getting out of the country!"

"Hehe, true enough. Let those foreigners deal with the headache!" Xie Qingming smiled and walked out, leaving Li Ming's overseas registration documents on the table. Written on the evaluation and analysis of Li Ming's level was a very perfunctory line.

Li Ming: Physical fitness, C-rank. Possesses the A-rank weapon Moon God's Protection, therefore evaluated as B-rank, but strength is slightly weak.