Answering Questions and Dispelling Doubts

How did I get to know Mobius?

Regarding this question, Xu Ziling definitely couldn't say he met her after failing to get Serpent in 99 pulls. That would be too embarrassing.

After adopting the "Previous Previous Civilization" persona he had crafted for Mobius, Xu Ziling thought for a moment and then truthfully explained:

"About that... I'm not entirely sure myself. So, I can only tell you directly what happened. Please bear with me.

Before this, I had to fall into a deep slumber due to certain circumstances. The moment I woke up and saw the Doctor, I knew she had pulled me back from the brink of death, with my body withering away. She also provided me with food, clothing, and shelter... I am immensely grateful to the Doctor.

However, I also sensed that the Doctor seemed to have ulterior motives regarding me. It was an urgent desire that could only be cultivated in prolonged, high-pressure environments... So, I understand her, and I don't reject her intentions towards me.

Will this answer be what you're looking for, Miss Elysia?"

"Hmm... hmm?"

Elysia blinked, then couldn't help but reach out and poke Xu Ziling's National Goddess-level face, saying with surprise, "So... you really are the life within that stone statue that Professor Mobius went to great lengths to purchase?"

"Huh? You know about those things the Doctor did?"

Xu Ziling was a little surprised, and this time he wasn't acting.

From Mobius's previous words and reactions, he had already guessed that the stone statue from before his "Monkey King's Birth" was most likely bought secretly by Mobius without anyone's knowledge. He had thought that since Mobius could come to Changkong City so discreetly, this matter would be confirmed. But now, Elysia knew about it?

"Mhm~"

Elysia smiled, then raised a finger and said, "Elves always pay close attention to the general situation of those around them... not their pillow partners... but those around them! As for Professor Mobius... mhm?~ Even though she sometimes hides from me, Elf magic is omnipotent, isn't it? Getting some information is as simple as pie?~"

Since Elysia already knew Xu Ziling's identity, there was no need to continue the conversation. After all, by inferring from the answer, Elysia could deduce Xu Ziling's relationship with Mobius herself. The way Mobius had protected Xu Ziling earlier would also be reasonably explained.

However, out of habit, Xu Ziling still told Elysia about how Mobius had placed high hopes on him after he was born from the stone statue... Of course, he chose to be vague about certain particularly intense plot points.

"So that's how Little Ziling and Professor Mobius met..."

After listening intently to Xu Ziling's story, Elysia happily nodded at him and said, "I understand~ Now, it's Little Ziling's turn to ask questions. Do you have anything you'd like to ask Miss Elf? I'll do my best to satisfy your curiosity?"

Elysia was that kind of person. She didn't like owing others, nor did she like one-sided interactions. She preferred passionate exchanges where both sides were actively involved.

Therefore, Xu Ziling didn't say he had no questions, as he had seen Elysia's story in the game before transmigrating. After thinking for a moment, he decided to ask about the specific era he was currently in.

After all, Xu Ziling, who had transmigrated, had only recently woken up before being sent to the "research sample" by Mobius. There was almost no information about Honkai on his phone, and he didn't even know which Herrscher the Previous Civilization had reached at this point in time.

With that in mind, Xu Ziling prepared to ask.

[Ding~ Host, that... I think I need to advise you against this course of action to some extent.]

[Although from your perspective, you can see the past and know the future. But to Mobius and the others, you are just a mysterious being reborn from a stone statue. Rashly inquiring about the current development of Honkai will only add unnecessary suspicion to your image.]

[Of course... the System's suggestion is only to prevent the future Host from regretting it when they have the chance to make a choice. The final decision, of course, rests with you, the Host.]

Was he... being warned by the System?

Xu Ziling suddenly found it a bit amusing. This was his first time using a System, and it was quite naive and silly. Did it think he hadn't considered this?

With that thought, Xu Ziling quickly prepared his words in his mind and then said to Elysia:

"Miss Elysia, since you've finished your questions, my question is... what is the progress of 'Honkai' in this era? Do you know of and have you witnessed the existence called 'Herrscher'?"

"Herrscher?"

Elysia blinked, and a hint of doubt appeared in her pink-blue eyes at the sudden word, as she retorted, "What's that?"

"...You don't know what a Herrscher is?"

Now it was Xu Ziling's turn to be confused. Elysia didn't know what a Herrscher was? Was it possible she didn't trust him and was wary of him?

Xu Ziling looked at the clear confusion in Elysia's eyes and dismissed his own thought.

So, does that mean... the time period he was in was an era where even the first Herrscher hadn't been born yet?

"I'm sorry, Little Ziling, I don't know what this 'Herrscher' you're talking about is..."

Elysia shook her head blankly, then rested her face on her hands and leaned on the experiment table in front of her, saying, "However... Honkai, I can explain that. It's the general term our generation uses for natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions... But judging by what you mean, what we call 'Honkai' probably isn't the same thing, right?"

"Hiss~"

The official stance of the Fire Moth on Honkai was still to treat it as a natural disaster... It seemed he was truly in an era where not even the first Herrscher had been born yet...

But this was good. At least he had maximized his development time before facing the 14th Herrscher of Finality. He didn't have to be like some protagonists in transmigration novels who arrived facing a Herrscher from the start and were constantly chased...

Wait! Hold on!

In this time period, not even the first Herrscher had been born? The Fire Moth's official understanding of Honkai was still limited to natural disasters??

If that were the case, then survival and development would be maximized. But the problem was... if Honkai wasn't taken seriously, how was the Fire Moth, an organization established specifically to combat Honkai, even formed?

This was a simple logical problem. Because facts had proven that humanity could not achieve true unity without a common enemy. If Honkai was still incredibly weak during this entire period, what would be the purpose of the Fire Moth, an organization established to combat Honkai?

Xu Ziling put himself in the shoes of the higher-ups. If he were one of those in power, without a common enemy, he wouldn't allow an organization that could operate independently of various powers to exist. Although the United Nations served a similar purpose, the representatives attending the meetings, while claiming to be for all of humanity, would strive for more benefits for their own countries if possible.

Even the Great Tub, with his "My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror, and my intentions and actions are for the people," still acted for his nation! But could you say he was a good person? Clearly not.

So, returning to the original question, was Elysia lying to him, or... had the plot of this world, due to his appearance, truly taken a completely different direction from the original story?

Looking at Elysia's innocent expression, Xu Ziling felt that the latter possibility was extremely high.