In the Night

Those who could overcome the fear in their hearts and bravely fight it were, in the end, only a minority.

"Does it still hurt?"

Seeing the blood-stained patch on the youth's glove, Raven felt a trace of guilt.

In a sense, the two of them were kindred spirits, bearing similar fates and pasts.

"Huh?"

Caught off guard by Raven's concern, Shi Hen could not help but be stunned.

Could this woman be after his body?

Shi Hen immediately became wary.

Noticing the vigilance in the youth's eyes, Raven shook her head and laughed softly without explaining.

For people like them, who walked in the shadows, sudden kindness was harder to believe than inexplicable hostility.

But it did not matter. She had always been patient, especially when it came to prey she had set her sights on.

Chapter 2: In the Night

"Natasha. Natasha Sciola. That is my name."

With a gentle smile, Raven generously gave her real name.

Looking at the female bartender before him, the youth frowned, clearly hesitant. But after a few seconds, he still chose to speak. "Shi Hen."

Though he did not know why her favorability toward him had suddenly risen, he at least understood the principle of returning courtesy.

"A newcomer..."

Carefully studying the youth, Raven was certain she had never heard his name before.

Of course, a name could not prove anything. Who did not use alternate identities these days?

She herself had dozens of codenames. Raven was merely the one she used most often.

More importantly, Raven could not find anyone in her memories whose characteristics matched Shi Hen's.

Moreover, the youth's gaze was very pure. Clearly, he had not spent long in the shadow world and had not yet become a seasoned veteran like her.

"It is only because this world has not yet begun singing my name." Shi Hen spoke boldly, without the slightest shame on his face. "Things like first place on Charon's List will all be mine sooner or later. For now, I am only letting Senior Sciola have it temporarily."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Is that so..."

Charon's List was a ranking that recorded renowned assassins of the shadow world.

Although the rankings were affected by the number of completed missions and success rates, those listed were generally not weak. The name Raven had occupied the top spot for five years already.

Of course, this ranking did not really mean much, because the truly powerful experts skilled at wielding Honkai Energy were basically not on it.

Those with real strength had long since gone ashore. Who would be foolish enough to become an assassin?

Even though Raven had reached the top of Charon's List under the name Raven, the strength displayed by that identity was far from her true limit.

Charon's List was, in essence, merely the self-indulgent revelry of a group of ignorant people.

But in another sense, Charon's List was still quite useful.

With the popularity boost from Charon's List, Raven generally received excellent commissions. That was why she occupied five names in the top ten, earning money five times faster than others.

"Of course."

Faced with Raven's teasing doubt, Shi Hen looked utterly determined.

Raven waved a hand. "Do whatever you want. Just do not get in the way of me making money."

Judging by the youth's strength, the name Raven might not necessarily be able to keep its position at the top of Charon's List.

But it was fine. At worst, she could move a few of her other identities higher up. Her earnings would not slow down by much.

"And..." Raven spoke slowly, narrowing her eyes. "Just call me Natasha. I am not that old yet."

Though she was highly senior in the shadow world, she was still young.

"..."

Shi Hen's gaze swept over Raven from head to toe, and he fell silent.

Even so... Raven was at least half a generation older than him, right?

Fortunately, Shi Hen had not started roaming the underworld earlier. Otherwise, he could have proudly said he had grown up listening to Raven's legends.

"Hey, are you thinking about how you want to die!?"

Raven immediately bared her teeth.

"Big Sister Natasha!"

Shi Hen spoke at once.

To be clear, he was absolutely not backing down.

He simply felt an instant kinship with Raven and really wanted to acknowledge her as his big sister. It had nothing whatsoever to do with being afraid.

Nodding at the youth in satisfaction, Raven tossed the pistol, whose safety had already been disengaged, back into the cabinet.

"Back to business. What did you come to your big sister for?"

In a pleasant mood, Raven got straight to the point.

Since he had come here as a visitor to the shadow world, the youth certainly had not come just to beg for a drink. He must have had some other purpose.

His fingertips lightly rubbed against the wineglass. After hesitating for a few seconds, Shi Hen slowly spoke. "...Big Sister Natasha, do you know someone named Gray Serpent?"

Raven's expression changed slightly.

"It seems Big Sister Natasha does know him." Shi Hen revealed an expression of understanding and continued, "About a month ago, I met an intelligence broker. He told me that if I came here, I would be able to find the truth of this world."

Shi Hen thought for a moment as he spoke, then took a palm-sized card from his clothes.

"Snake..."

Seeing the card the youth handed over, Raven's pupils shrank.

On the jet-black card with a metallic sheen was an image of a silver-gray ouroboros.

"Big Sister really does know where this card came from." Noticing Raven's reaction, the smile on Shi Hen's face deepened. "I searched many places before this, but I never found any trace of this card."

Although everything related to the shadow world was inherently concealed, and ordinary people might encounter it only a few times in their entire lives unless they deliberately sought it out, the organization known as World Serpent was especially well-hidden.

Shi Hen seriously suspected that Gray Serpent had persecution paranoia.

"Did Gray Serpent send you to find me?"

Staring intently into the youth's black eyes, Raven's voice unconsciously gained a hint of pressure.

Whether the youth had come here of his own will or under Gray Serpent's instructions were two completely different matters to her.

"He only gave me the coordinates of Crow's Nest Bar."

Shi Hen gently shook his head.

Biting her lower lip with pearly teeth, Raven suddenly recalled something.

A month ago, Gray Serpent had mentioned to her that the organization would soon gain a new member and asked her to keep an eye out.

In Raven's view, that was undoubtedly extremely unusual.

She did not need to worry about ordinary members joining, while Gray Serpent had always handled the recruitment assessment for important members. No matter how she thought about it, such a matter should not have fallen to her.

But as a diligent worker, Raven had accepted the task without thinking too much about it.

Though in truth, she had not had much power to refuse.

Yet after receiving the task and waiting and waiting, Raven had never found anyone qualified to join the organization. Gradually, she had forgotten about it.

Now, looking at the youth before her, as warm as the sun, Raven knew deep down that he was undoubtedly the newcomer Gray Serpent had mentioned.

And in terms of strength, Shi Hen also fit World Serpent's requirements remarkably well.

Now, a very obvious question lay before Raven: should she pull Shi Hen into the World Serpent family?

Since Gray Serpent had taken notice of him, there was no need to question the youth's potential. He would certainly become an executive-level figure in the organization in the future.

But World Serpent had never been a good place!

Rooted in the shadows of the world, World Serpent was a genuine evil organization, the sort that would be nailed to the pillar of history and cursed for eternity if exposed.

Even after spending twelve full years in the organization, Raven had never felt much sense of belonging toward World Serpent. She had remained only because she was used to the place.

Others could not avoid it fast enough, yet Shi Hen wanted to jump in of his own accord?

If anyone else wanted to join World Serpent, Raven would not hesitate in the slightest. After all, recruiting people came with a hefty bonus, especially top-tier talent like Shi Hen who could become an organization executive.

But... facing the youth's clear eyes, as pure as autumn water, Raven simply could not bring herself to invite him into World Serpent.

"Why do you want to know the truth of this world?"

Taking a deep breath, Raven asked in a low voice.

"Why?" Tilting his head, Shi Hen looked somewhat confused. "If I had to say, it is probably because the truth of the world is right there."

Though the world beneath the sunlight truly was beautiful, once someone had glimpsed a corner of this world's reality, who could withdraw and persuade themselves to live beneath that false peace?

Whether it was fear or curiosity, anyone who had witnessed the breathtaking sight of the abyss would inevitably be drawn to that darkness.

And as it happened, Shi Hen also possessed the ability to seek out the truth.

"But sometimes, ignorance is not a bad thing."

Raven shook her head.

When people knew nothing about the world, they could still live in the hope they imagined for themselves.

But once they understood the truth called Honkai, all that remained in this world was despair.

"Perhaps." Shi Hen neither agreed nor disagreed. "But I still want to know the truth.

Burying your head in the sand may bring peace of mind, but those monsters will not spare you just because you are weak, will they?"

Though the world currently appeared to be thriving, Shi Hen knew clearly in his heart.

Within a few years, the calamity known as Honkai would spread to every corner of the world and turn it completely into hell.

"But..."

Looking at the stubbornness in the youth's eyes, Raven wanted to persuade him further, but a hoarse, deep voice suddenly cut in.

"It seems I have arrived at an inconvenient time."

No, you came at exactly the right time.

Turning his gaze toward the masked man who appeared on the projection screen beside him, Shi Hen could not help praising him inwardly. A bright, friendly smile appeared on his face as well. "It has truly been a long time, Mr. Gray Serpent."

"It has indeed been a long time, Mr. Shi Hen. I am pleased to see you here." Gray Serpent on the screen answered with great courtesy. "It seems that compared to other places, our Serpent has moved you more."

As he spoke, Gray Serpent's gaze toward the youth grew increasingly satisfied.

From the moment he noticed Shi Hen, he had been observing the youth's every move.

He had watched the youth fight and struggle alone in that lawless, dark world, gradually approaching the truth of Honkai that many forces had jointly concealed.

In the end, just as the youth was about to touch upon that truth, Gray Serpent had contacted Shi Hen before the other organizations could and extended Serpent's invitation to him.

Yet even after receiving Serpent's clue, the youth had not become impulsive. He had maintained his usual caution and meticulousness, spending a month carefully verifying things before finally choosing to step into Crow's Nest Bar.

Powerful strength, a prudent mindset—such talent was clearly fated to join Serpent.

Gray Serpent had made up his mind. World Serpent needed talent like Shi Hen!

"As long as Serpent can provide the truth I want."

Despite Gray Serpent's eagerness, Shi Hen remained very calm.

"Believe me, Mr. Shi Hen. The truth Serpent provides will certainly satisfy you." Looking at the youth on the other side of the screen, Gray Serpent gave a low laugh. "Moreover, as long as Mr. Shi Hen is willing to join us, Serpent can even fulfill any wish you have."

"Can you bring the dead back to life?"

Shi Hen raised an eyebrow.

Gray Serpent: "..."

What was wrong with young people these days? Could they not make a more realistic request?