Starting as a Behind-the-Scenes Boss in the Honkai World Chapter 36

While Schicksal always boasted of being a unified organization of politics and religion, World Serpent was actually the true group of fanatics.

The entire World Serpent organization, perhaps it should be called the "Fire-Chasing Flame-Chaser Cult"?

"We have long been accustomed to being misunderstood," Gray Serpent waved his hand, appearing magnanimous. "Within World Serpent, there is a secret place that allows Mr. Shi Hen to glimpse the tip of the iceberg of those great beings.

When you witness it all firsthand, you will understand how insignificant and laughable humanity is in this era compared to them."

"That sounds quite interesting."

Shi Hen chuckled, stroking his chin.

"Whatever you desire, the Serpent will grant it," the red light in Gray Serpent's cybernetic eye flickered. "So, Mr. Shi Hen, are you prepared to pay a price that matches?

Will you live in chaos with the common people of this era, or will you follow the footsteps of our Great Lord with us and bring new life to this world?"

"I'm curious, if I say no right now, will Mr. Gray Serpent summon eight hundred swordsmen to chop me into meat paste?"

Shi Hen said with a smile, looking around as if searching for hidden swordsmen.

"..." Gray Serpent paused slightly, as if he hadn't expected the young man to think that way. After a while, he continued, "Regardless of the outcome, Mr. Shi Hen will always be a friend of the Serpent."

When he first discovered the young man, Gray Serpent thought he had found a hidden jade.

But as Shi Hen gradually revealed his sharpness, he realized he seemed to have found a lion with sharp claws.

And when Gray Serpent was astonished by the young man's strength, the other party gave him a huge shock.

In less than a year of contact with Honkai, Shi Hen had already touched the theoretical limit of Stigmata, reaching a point that even his creator, Mobius, had long given up hope on.

Compared to the young man's current strength, this cheat-like growth rate was even more astonishing.

It even made Gray Serpent suspect that even if he brought out the power that could firmly suppress Shi Hen, the other party might very well perform a level-up counter-kill on the spot.

"I'm not interested in saving the world or anything, but..." Shi Hen said softly, a slight grin on his lips. "Your plan sounds somewhat interesting.

And I'm also very eager to witness the great beings Mr. Gray Serpent mentioned."

"Then we are true comrades."

Gray Serpent extended his hand to the young man.

Although he was not entirely satisfied with Shi Hen's attitude, he knew this was the best possible outcome.

To casually spout slogans about saving the world and get the other party to bow down... such things were just wishful thinking.

Once Shi Hen truly witnessed the brilliance of the previous civilization, he would understand how absurd his current actions were.

Gray Serpent was utterly convinced of this.

"I look forward to seeing what magnificent scenery the Serpent will show me."

Shi Hen said calmly, also smiling as he shook Gray Serpent's hand.

The scenery in the Elysian Realm would surely be quite spectacular.

Chapter 40: A Simple Unexpected Event

"So, Gray Serpent only talked about these things with you?"

Raven asked the young man in the passenger seat as they drove across the vast snowfield.

"Mhm, just these."

Nodding, Shi Hen looked out the window, admiring the desolate snowy landscape where the sky and earth merged into one. A sense of bewilderment welled up in his heart.

After a heart-to-heart talk with Gray Serpent, he had expected to receive an entry pass to the Elysian Realm, then go on a rampage, achieve all achievements, and finally get promoted and become a high-ranking executive of World Serpent.

But the result... he got a plane ride from Raven.

From southwestern India, the plane flew directly north to the far north of Siberia.

Nearly a week had passed since the Ganesha incident ended, and he and Raven were driving through the Siberian snowfields.

Even by Shenzhou's standards, November was only considered late autumn, but Siberia had already started snowing, and heavily at that.

"Does it look nice?"

Raven asked with a smile, noticing the young man's gaze fixed on the window.

Although she was somewhat surprised by Gray Serpent's excessive regard for Shi Hen, tolerating such behavior that violated organizational rules.

Deep down, however, Raven was even more surprised by Gray Serpent's trustworthiness.

If she were in his position, she would have likely granted Shi Hen the title of executive long ago and allowed the young man into the Elysian Realm for baptism.

But Gray Serpent still upheld the original three-month agreement.

Was it due to some consideration she was unaware of, wanting to observe Shi Hen's performance for a bit longer?

Her heart was filled with emotion, but Raven had no intention of pursuing this matter further.

Regardless of the reason, she only wanted to spend these last three months well with the young man.

Because after witnessing the true scenery of hell, there would be no returning to the sunlight.

"It's quite beautiful."

Glancing at the mercenary driving with one hand, Shi Hen wisely refrained from questioning the traffic safety.

He seriously suspected the other party drove a plane with one hand.

"You won't find it strange once you've seen more."

Raven put on a knowing air.

"Oh."

Shi Hen replied softly, still gazing out the window.

At least for him, the Siberian snowscape was quite pleasant right now.

All he could see was an endless expanse of white, even the sky was a dull gray, with only occasional patches of coniferous forest adding a touch of grayish-green to the scene.

Clang~

Just as he was marveling, the off-road vehicle hit something like a stone and jolted violently up and down.

"This damn road, how many years has it been since it was last repaired?"

Raven complained as she steered the wheel.

"..."

Glancing at the road ahead, which looked no different from any other part under the heavy snow, Shi Hen raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Ever since the second Honkai outbreak in Siberia twelve years ago, this place had been thoroughly devastated. Government institutions had practically collapsed, and warlords had been in constant conflict, failing to stabilize for over a decade.

Under such circumstances, apart from a few major cities that remained relatively peaceful, other areas were largely left to fend for themselves.

He wondered where this road would lead...

Turning his head to look at the distant snowy landscape, Shi Hen mused inwardly.

Regarding the destination of their journey, Raven had only said it was for debt collection, but she hadn't elaborated on the specifics.

For Raven, the mercenary queen, to be going to collect a debt, it was likely that quite a few people would end up dead.

The number one spot on Charon's List was one that had been steeped in blood until it was black.

Glancing at Raven, who seemed focused on driving, Shi Hen offered a silent, three-tenths-of-a-second moment of silence for those people.

Suddenly, a pillar of black smoke rising in the distance caught his eye, and Shi Hen spoke up, "There seems to be some activity over there."

It wasn't mealtime yet, and cooking smoke didn't usually take that shape.

"Probably a battle."

Raven merely glanced up and dismissed it.

After so many years as a mercenary, war had long since become commonplace for her.

"Doesn't look like it, the gunshots are too sporadic."

Shi Hen shook his head.

His senses were much sharper than Raven's, allowing him to discern more details.

With a slight turn of her wine-red eyes, Raven seemed to recall something and turned to the young man, asking, "Want to go take a look? Consider it a chance for you to broaden your horizons."

"..." Meeting Raven's gaze, Shi Hen saw the expectant look in the mercenary's eyes and nodded, "Sure."

He actually didn't like meddling much.

But since Raven wanted to go, there was no harm in taking a look.

Fire, fire everywhere.

Peeking out from the cracks of the abandoned cellar, Peggy saw only flames.

Orange-red flames leaped and danced, spreading from one place to another, consuming everything and emitting a terrifying heat, like some colossal monster intent on destroying the world.

Amidst the crackling of the fire, Sophia could still clearly hear countless screams, screams from people she knew intimately.

Uncle Owen, Grandpa Nat, Aunt Ines...

These people who used to tell her stories and give her candy were now letting out chilling wails.

Some voices disappeared completely after a brief moment, while others lingered for a long time.

Like mice caught and toyed with by a cat.

Listening to the painful screams mixed with curses, Peggy couldn't help but think to herself.

But they weren't mice!

They were people, just like the ones who had suddenly barged into the village!

But why were those people doing such things? Had they done something wrong?

Carefully hidden among the clutter in the cellar, watching the flames above, the falling wood blocked the cellar entrance, leaving only the firelight seeping through the cracks. Peggy remained completely still.

Sister Sophia had told her to just hide like this, to just hide in this cellar, as long as... as long as she wasn't discovered by those people.

A heavy, suffocating sensation pressed in on Peggy from all sides, and the dizziness caused by lack of oxygen began to set in. The entire world seemed to be drifting away from her.

No longer able to perceive the passage of time, the scene in the cellar gradually blurred. Peggy felt as though she could see everyone from the village waving at her.

But in the next second, with a loud "bang," everyone in the village instantly vanished. The scene in the cellar reappeared in Peggy's vision, unchanged from before.

The only difference was that the wooden planks at the cellar entrance had been completely torn open, and a face as beautiful as a flower peeked in.

"Are you okay?"

The person called out to her, their voice gentle yet strong, feeling as warm as the sun.

"So warm..."

Peggy's lips moved as she spoke. She reached out to the person with all her might, and her consciousness immediately faded.

"Already passed out?"

Looking at the girl who had completely closed her eyes and stopped moving, Shi Hen couldn't help but mutter to himself.

However, considering the environment, it was already a miracle that the other party was still alive.

Glancing at the cellar, Shi Hen immediately jumped down, picked up the girl huddled in the pile of miscellaneous items, and pulled her out.

Hmm, so skinny.

He lifted her, feeling the weight in his hands, which was no more than sixty to seventy jin. Shi Hen couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

As he jumped out of the cellar, Shi Hen immediately ran into Raven.

"Is this the only one left?"

Raven frowned as she looked at the girl lying in the young man's arms and asked.

"It should be."

Shi Hen replied, his gaze sweeping over the village completely engulfed in flames and the corpses scattered everywhere, his eyes filled with suppressed anger.

Although he never considered himself a good person, some people could no longer be called human.

He simply couldn't imagine that such a thing could happen in this era.