A Fateful Encounter

Looking at Shi Hen's composed expression... Ah, no, he was still wearing a black stocking mask, so his expression couldn't be seen.

"Let's go. We're heading back."

After giving the youth one more look, Raven turned and left.

As long as the mission objective could be completed, World Serpent never cared about such trivial details.

"Okay."

Shi Hen nodded, pulled off the mask, and tossed it into the fire along with the baseball bat.

Like the Tactical Mech he had encountered before, this baseball bat could no longer bear the strain after being used a few times.

Only weapons made of Soul Steel could withstand the burden of channeling Honkai Energy.

Still, if he left behind a baseball bat after every battle, perhaps he could create a legend belonging to Galaxy Baseball Man?

With random thoughts running through his mind, Shi Hen vanished into the underground parking garage's exit.

A little later, at Crow's Nest Bar.

Creak—

"Welcome, you two. What would you like to drink?"

When Shi Hen and Raven stepped into the bar, they were greeted by an unexpected guest... No, perhaps guest wasn't the right word, because Gray Serpent was standing behind the counter polishing a glass. No matter how one looked at it, his black robe and metal mask had nothing to do with bartending.

"Chilled absinthe. And don't mess up my things."

Sitting down at the bar, Raven gave the familiar instruction with a helpless expression.

Couldn't this guy switch to a different model?

This was her bar, bought entirely with her own money. Don't treat it like World Serpent property!

"That really is unexpected, Mr. Gray Serpent." After appropriately expressing his surprise, Shi Hen paused and asked, "Do you have milk tea?"

"Of course. Bubble tea with thirty percent sugar. Would you like it without ice?"

"Yes."

Shi Hen immediately made his decision.

This Gray Serpent was much more professional than a certain mercenary.

Shi Hen glanced at a certain mercenary from the corner of his eye.

"Hey, hey, hey! This is a bar, a bar! Do you even understand what the word bar means?!"

Raven began rapping her fingers hard against the counter.

"Sister Natasha, have you considered expanding your business? Selling only alcohol has no future..."

Shi Hen kindly advised her.

He had come here several times already, yet he had never seen Crow's Nest Bar with many customers.

Raven: "..."

"Please enjoy."

At that moment, Gray Serpent, the amateur bartender, handed over two glasses and even thoughtfully added a decorative lemon slice to Shi Hen's drink.

Taking a sip through the straw, Shi Hen's eyes widened as he gave Gray Serpent a thumbs-up. "Mr. Gray Serpent, your skills aren't bad. I'd rate this cup at least twenty yuan."

"Thank you for enjoying it, Mr. Shi Hen."

Gray Serpent replied in his hoarse voice.

Though he had no idea what a twenty-yuan rating meant.

Meanwhile, Raven's cheeks puffed up with anger as she drank her absinthe.

If the brat beside her hadn't been underage, she would definitely have shown him her bartending skills!

"Back to business. I've already read the report on this mission. Mr. Shi Hen, your strength is truly surprising."

As he spoke, the red light in Gray Serpent's electronic monocle flickered.

Such immense Honkai Energy was exceptionally rare even among Stigmata awakeners.

It seemed the youth's Stigmata was related to physical enhancement. Otherwise, there was no way he could withstand such a terrifying burden.

Gray Serpent carefully examined Shi Hen as he silently pondered.

For someone at his level, it was simple to infer from Shi Hen's performance that he possessed Natural Stigmata.

"Haha~"

Facing Gray Serpent's praise, Shi Hen merely smiled without explaining.

As long as he didn't admit he was cheating, then he was the greatest genius in the world.

"Raven, do you have anything else to add?"

His red electronic eye fixed tightly on the mercenary as Gray Serpent spoke coldly.

Hearing the warning in Gray Serpent's tone, Raven sipped her drink and said in a low voice, "No."

Shi Hen had already displayed his talent and ability, leaving her no room whatsoever to suppress him.

"In that case, welcome to World Serpent, Mr. Shi Hen."

Speaking in a hoarse voice tinged with amusement, Gray Serpent pushed a palm-sized silver card toward the youth.

"World Serpent?"

Shi Hen pinched the card between his fingers and examined it, his tone carrying a hint of confusion.

"World Serpent is the true name of our organization." Seeing this, Gray Serpent explained, "This card serves as Mr. Shi Hen's identification. You may use it to access the organization's internal website. I believe the things there will satisfy you.

"At the same time, it is an unregistered bank card. Ten million euros is the welcome gift Snake offers Mr. Shi Hen."

Shi Hen's hand holding the card couldn't help trembling.

World Serpent really was damn rich!

After spending so long in this line of work, he had only accumulated around two hundred thousand euros. Yet World Serpent casually threw out fifty times his entire fortune.

"You people are really generous."

After staring blankly for a while, Shi Hen couldn't help sighing.

"Compared to Mr. Shi Hen's abilities, this is merely an insignificant little gift."

Gray Serpent shook his head and chuckled softly.

On the underground black market, the bounty for a Stigmata awakener was at least ten million euros.

For someone like this youth, whose abilities had already been developed to a certain degree, even hundreds of millions of euros would barely suffice.

To true people of power, money was merely a number. Compared with a priceless treasure like Natural Stigmata, it wasn't worth mentioning at all.

"Looks like these ten million are a little too hot to hold."

Shi Hen smiled at Gray Serpent.

If World Serpent could casually offer ten million, then naturally, it sought even greater benefits.

"And what does Mr. Shi Hen mean by that?"

Gray Serpent asked unhurriedly.

"From now on, we're colleagues." With a flick of his wrist, Shi Hen made the silver card vanish between his fingers. A bright smile appeared on his face. "Please take care of me, Mr. Gray Serpent."

As soon as he finished speaking, a string of text visible only to Shi Hen appeared before his eyes.

Novice Mission: St. Freya's Gate: You have gained an initial glimpse of this world's madness. It is time to join a secret organization that fights Honkai, find a group of like-minded companions, and save the world. (Completed)

You have received a reward: Coiled Serpent

Coiled Serpent: A serpent biting its tail is fate's closed loop. When you suffer fatal damage, you will ignore that attack and recover to full condition. Cooldown: 24H.

Main mission unlocked.

Main Mission: Path of Destiny: You have become a member of a secret Anti-Honkai organization. Hide behind the world and strive to become the final boss. (Current Progress: 0.1%)

You have received a stage reward: Void Herrscher Core.

Void Herrscher Core: A high-energy crystal containing immense Honkai Energy. It possesses the marvelous power to communicate with Imaginary Space and may undergo changes upon encountering the authority of another Herrscher.

After reading all the text, the smile on Shi Hen's face grew even wider.

World Serpent was even more generous than he had expected.

A Fateful Encounter

Ah, the weather was so nice.

Raising a hand to shield his eyes from the fiery ball in the sky that radiated endless light and heat, Shi Hen swept his gaze across the crowded beach ahead and couldn't help sighing softly.

This was a coastal city on Sicily, in southern Europe.

A week ago, Raven had said she received an important mission and brought Shi Hen all the way from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean, leaving Crow's Nest Bar facing the predicament of closing its doors once more.

She was constantly receiving missions and running all over the world, so why did she insist on opening a bar?

Shi Hen truly couldn't understand the thoughts of this legendary mercenary.

Yet after arriving in Sicily, Raven had shown no intention of taking him on the mission. Instead, she was nowhere to be seen all day, doing who knew what.

Bored, Shi Hen began wandering around Sicily.

Every day, he enjoyed the scenery and sampled the local food. Life was quite relaxed and pleasant.

Though Raven's important mission was rather concerning, Shi Hen certainly wasn't going to lose his appetite and sleep over it.

Living each day well was his principle in life.

After all, this world could collapse into Honkai at any moment.

Reining in his wandering thoughts, Shi Hen walked toward the shore.

The blazing sunlight had heated the sand until it was somewhat scorching. The moment his bare feet stepped on it, he could feel heat rising from the soles of his feet, bringing an inexplicable thrill.

It actually felt quite comfortable.

Feeling the strange texture of sand rubbing beneath his feet, Shi Hen's mood also became warm and bright.

Sunshine, beach, girls in swimsuits... Sicily's coast truly felt like summer.

Although Northern Europe had already entered autumn, with snow even falling in some places, Sicily in the Mediterranean remained bathed in brilliant sunshine.

Wandering casually along the shore, waves washed against his feet again and again, leaving behind bits of sand and foam. Shi Hen surveyed the crowds around him and enjoyed the exotic beach scenery.

Children building sandcastles, young men and women playing beach volleyball, girls applying suntan oil to each other, a white-haired girl on a lifeguard chair... Wait, why did something strange seem to have slipped in there?

Blinking, Shi Hen looked at the white-haired girl seated on the lifeguard chair in a lifeguard uniform and couldn't help questioning his life choices.

White hair, blue eyes, and that not-too-bright look as she glanced around—Shi Hen was certain that she was probably the person he had in mind.

As if noticing Shi Hen's gaze, the girl looked over from afar and revealed an incomparably brilliant smile. Her big white teeth gleamed in the sunlight.

What a complete idiot who seemed to shine all over.

They were merely strangers who had run into each other by chance. They hadn't even exchanged a word and were more than thirty meters apart, yet this white-haired idiot still radiated goodwill.

Thinking this, Shi Hen blinked and smiled as well.

That barely counted as a greeting. Then Shi Hen turned and plunged straight into the sea.

This encounter was merely accidental. He had no intention of approaching her and getting acquainted right now.

His limbs beat against the seawater, propelling him farther and farther from shore. Shi Hen soon threw the matter to the back of his mind and wholeheartedly enjoyed his beach trip.

What a strange person.

Watching the black-haired youth gradually disappear amid the rolling waves in the distance, the lifeguard girl scratched her head in confusion.

Still, he was pretty handsome.

Recalling that fleeting yet unforgettable face, the girl's smile slowly turned dreamy.

Being a beach lifeguard was so boring. She could only rely on things like this to find herself a little amusement.