Lu Xiao Was in Europa?

The information about the "Seven Deadly Sins" was like a depth charge, stirring up waves in Luo Li's heart that lingered for a long time.

The existence of SSS+ level beings is like seven insurmountable mountains, blocking the path of human civilization's survival.

In particular, the three virtues that dominate Europa — Pride, Gluttony, and Lust —are enough to create a suffocating pressure simply by reading their descriptions.

Luo Li memorized this top-secret information and did not share it with the team members.

Knowing too much of this level of information can actually be a burden, easily breeding despair.

He simply infused that desire to become stronger even more deeply into every training session and mission he took.

A few days later, an unexpected communication request disrupted Luo Li's regular routine.

Caller ID: Lu Jingheng

Looking at the name on the screen, Luo Li's gaze sharpened slightly.

This mysterious researcher, who had gone silent after helping Castorice obtain her accomplice status, has suddenly contacted us now; we wonder what his purpose is.

He pressed the answer button.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Luo Li."

Lu Jingheng's gentle voice came through the phone, with the faint hum of instruments running in the background, suggesting that he was inside the research institute.

"Mr. Lu, is there something you need?"

Luo Li got straight to the point.

"There are indeed some things I'd like to discuss with you. Is this a convenient time for you? I'm in the 'Quiet Room' on the third floor of the Zone E research institute."

Lu Jingheng's tone remained polite.

Zone E is very close to the Castorice.

After a moment's hesitation, Luo Li agreed, "Okay, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the call, Luo Li greeted Kong Yan'er and headed straight for Zone E.

The "Quiet Contemplation Room" is a small, soundproof room provided by the institute for researchers to take short breaks or have informal conversations. The environment is elegant and quiet.

When Luo Li pushed open the door, Lu Jingheng was sitting in a wheelchair with an exquisite tea set in front of him, the rising steam carrying a faint aroma of tea.

He looked better than before, and the cast on his leg had been removed and replaced with a lighter support brace.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Luo Li."

Lu Jingheng smiled and gestured to the seat opposite him, then skillfully poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Luo Li.

"Try it, this Longjing tea is hard to come by at the front."

Luo Li sat down opposite him, without touching the tea, and looked at him calmly. "Mr. Lu, you didn't invite me here just for tea, did you?"

Lu Jingheng smiled, not minding his directness. He took a sip of tea from his cup, put it down, and placed his hands on his knees with a composed demeanor.

"Of course not. There are two main things I need to discuss with Mr. Luo Li this time."

He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses becoming slightly more serious. "First, regarding the preliminary analysis report you submitted earlier concerning the remains of the ' Venom Queen ' from the ' Rotting Swamp ' mission, the research institute has made some new discoveries."

Luo Li's heart skipped a beat, and she sat up straight. "What discovery?"

"We detected an extremely subtle, but highly sophisticated 'marker' or 'contamination' in the residue of its energy core."

Lu Jingheng's tone carried the rigor characteristic of a scientific researcher. "This energy characteristic has a similarity of over 73% to the secondary pollution sources belonging to ' Beelzebub, the Sin of Gluttony ' recorded in our database."

Beelzebub?! One of the Seven Deadly Sins, "Gluttony"?

Luo Li's pupils contracted slightly.

Although he had long suspected that the mutation of the "Venom Queen" was not simple, the fact that it directly involved the "Seven Deadly Sins" level still made his heart sink.

"You mean... the ' Rotting Swamp ' region might have been indirectly affected by the power of ' Beelzebub '?"

"It's just speculation at the moment, but the possibility is not low."

Lu Jingheng nodded.

"The power of ' Gluttony ' itself has extremely strong pollution and proliferation characteristics. It is entirely possible that its power, if released, could give birth to mutants like the ' Venom Queen '."

This might also explain why the Commander-in-Chief intervened personally; he may have sensed a deeper level of risk.

Luo Li remained silent for a moment, processing the information. The situation at the front was indeed more complex than it appeared on the surface.

"And the second thing?"

He raised his eyes and looked at Lu Jingheng.

Lu Jingheng's smile faded slightly, and a hint of... helplessness? Or perhaps, the headache of being an older brother? appeared in his eyes.

"The second thing is about my good-for-nothing younger brother, Lu Xiao."

Lu Xiao? The "God of War" hailed as one of the strongest young fighters in Longxia?

Luo Li became interested.

He remembered that Lu Jingheng had mentioned before that if they encountered "physical" troubles that even the guild found difficult, they could ask his younger brother for help.

What's wrong with him?

Lu Jingheng sighed softly, his expression much like that of a parent talking about their unruly child. "He... is currently stationed on the front lines in Europa."

"Europa?"

Luo Li raised an eyebrow, immediately thinking of the three patriarchs.

"He went there... for what reason?"

"What else could it be for?"

Lu Jingheng rubbed his temples, his tone slightly annoyed.

"That kid is a complete battle maniac. He thinks that ' Mammon, the Sin of Greed ' in Longxia is too 'well-behaved,' spending most of his time holed up in his ' Golden Demon Den ' counting money, lacking any 'challenge.'"

"So, he went to Europa, where the three deadly sins of ' Pride,' ' Gluttony,' and ' Lust ' coexisted?"

Luo Li's lips twitched slightly. This reason... was powerful, very "god-like".

"That's right." Lu Jingheng nodded helplessly.

They call it "seeking a breakthrough under extreme pressure," but in reality, they just think Longxia's situation isn't exciting enough.

He was active year-round on the front lines of Europa's fight against the armies of the three deadly sins; wherever the fighting was fiercest, there he was.

Luo Li was secretly astonished upon hearing this.

By deliberately seeking thrills in the most dangerous part of the human defense line, this "God of War" truly has an extraordinary personality.

"The authorities... have no objections to this?"

Luo Li was somewhat curious.

This level of top-tier combat power should, in principle, be firmly held in our hands.

"The authorities naturally hope he can stay in Longxia."

Lu Jingheng explained.

"But he was adamant and promised that if Longxia's homeland were to be threatened by ' Mammon ' or his main forces, he would rush back through special channels as soon as possible."

Considering his significant role in containing the Europa front and relieving some of the pressure on Europa allies, the higher-ups... tacitly approved it.

This is a compromise. Having a top-tier combatant stationed elsewhere serves as both a deterrent and a form of support.

"Mr. Lu told me all this because...?"

Luo Li asked tentatively.

He didn't think Lu Jingheng simply wanted to share his brother's "heroic deeds" with him.

Lu Jingheng looked at him, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate one's heart. "Mr. Luo Li, I can see that you are no ordinary person."

Your potential and your growth rate far exceed those of ordinary people.

In the future, you may reach a point where you have to confront real 'natural disasters'. At that time, in Europa, you might meet my brother."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of warning. "I just wanted to tell you in advance that Lu Xiao is in Europa. If you go there for some reason in the future, you might consider him a... potential ally."

Of course, the prerequisite is that you can catch his eye; that kid doesn't have much patience for the weak.

This is almost a clear indication that there might be future interactions with beings on the level of the "Seven Deadly Sins".

Luo Li felt a chill run down her spine; it seemed Lu Jingheng had high "expectations" for him.

"I understand, thank you for informing me, Mr. Lu."

Luo Li nodded solemnly.

Lu Jingheng looked at him, his gentle smile returning to his face, but his words surprised Luo Li slightly:

"However, Mr. Luo Li, there's something I need to say upfront."

"Um?"

"Don't ever think that Lu Xiao's personality is 'very similar' to mine."

Lu Jingheng's smile carried a hint of mockery and... pity?

"My younger brother, aside from his fighting talent and his barely passable face, his personality... well, you could say it's the complete opposite of mine."

"When we meet, you might be... a little disappointed."

Looking at Lu Jingheng's "you'll find out when the time comes" expression, Luo Li suddenly developed an extremely strong interest in the "God of War" Lu Xiao, whom she had never met before, and... a slight ominous premonition.

A younger brother who can elicit such an expression from his usually gentle and refined older brother...

What kind of art style does this "God of War" have?

Filled with curiosity and a touch of trepidation, Luo Li left the "Meditation Room".

Europa, the three deadly sins, and the enigmatic "God of War" Lu Xiao...