You Can Forget About That Island, I’m Telling You!

Singapore, a private room in a hotel.

Raven sat opposite, arms crossed, staring at Lin Wei with an extremely strange gaze, keeping silent without saying a word.

"Eating with your hood on, don't you find it troublesome? Why don't you take it off and let me see?"

Lin Wei laughed, not minding at all.

"Want to drink wine or tea? Or other beverages?"

I'm complaining in my heart, it's not like I haven't seen you without your hood on. Back in Nagazora City, I saw you every day.

Don't mention it, you're quite pretty…

But now you're putting it back on, what's the point?

"Just water. I'm afraid you'll be passed out after one cup again. I don't have time to take care of an old man like you."

Raven retorted indifferently.

"As for this hood? I don't find it troublesome, I'm used to it."

"Haha, alright then."

If you don't find it troublesome, what else can I say?

He casually ordered a few dishes and a pot of tea, then let the waiter leave.

"Ordered Russian borscht and red sausage, I don't know if the taste here is authentic, just make do with it."

Lin Wei said with a smile. Raven was stunned for a moment, feeling as if she was in another world.

"I haven't told you about these things, have I?"

That was a past she had never mentioned to anyone, so distant that even she herself had almost forgotten it.

"No offense intended. It's just that the beautiful name 'Natasha' easily reminds people of Russia, so I took the liberty, please don't mind."

Lin Wei explained with a smile, pouring a cup of tea and turning the Lazy Susan to place it in front of her.

"…You are quite presumptuous."

Raven picked up the water cup and placed it in front of her, saying somewhat helplessly. This move was really ruthless, now she couldn't keep up her pretense.

Seeing Raven fall silent, the smile on Lin Wei's face deepened. He said,

"Speak, what do you want from me? You've been watching me in the dark for so long, surely you didn't come just to catch up, right?"

Lin Wei found it strange. Even if World Serpent wanted to make trouble for him, they shouldn't have sent Raven, a former member, right?

What's wrong, is the mighty World Serpent really out of people to use?

"Catch up? Spare me, I don't have that much free time…"

Raven smiled helplessly, giving up on pretending and simply relaxing. She leaned back in her chair and said in a somewhat lazy tone.

"Just received a personal commission to investigate some things. But unexpectedly, while investigating, I stumbled upon you… Hey, this world is really small, don't you think?"

"Oh, really? May I ask what the commission is?"

Lin Wei remained noncommittal. In a sense, Raven was right, this world was indeed small. Those qualified to stand on the stage were always just a few people.

"'Oh'? You're taking it so lightly!"

Raven raised her chin, saying seemingly casually,

"The client lost a batch of goods and commissioned me to investigate. But now it seems there's already a result…"

As she spoke, she looked at Lin Wei with some curiosity, clicking her tongue.

"You shouldn't have killed anyone before, right? I really didn't see it coming, it hasn't been long, and you've become such a ruthless fellow? …Hey, just curious, why did you go so hard on your first time…? Tsk, what were you thinking?"

She knew very well how weak this guy used to be! Therefore, after being shocked by the terrible state of the Thousand Fists Association, what shocked her even more was that she discovered this matter was very likely related to Lin Wei.

"I retrieved all the surveillance records from the Thousand Fists Association's underground base. Everything was normal at the time of the incident, including the floor where their boss's office was located. But they all died miserably, especially their boss, who obviously suffered severe torture before death…"

"What's wrong, haven't you resigned from World Serpent? What, have you become 'Raven' again? Or are you now working part-time as a detective and forensic doctor?"

Lin Wei directly played dumb, retorting,

"The police need evidence to arrest people, isn't it a bit much to just pin it on me out of thin air?"

"Talking about evidence is the police's job, I'm not a police officer, so I don't need evidence. I'm a mercenary, and I only need to be responsible to the client, even for personal commissions."

Raven crossed her legs, scoffed,

"Don't play dumb with me. I reviewed the previous surveillance records and found that someone made a somewhat ridiculous conspiracy deal with them, exchanging someone for the safety of their father and daughter—the man you let go. Heh, now you're caught red-handed… Tsk, don't tell me those contents weren't intentionally left by you."

"Yes, you tell me, I was just living my life here peacefully, why am I so unlucky to have someone come looking for trouble with me?"

Lin Wei also feigned lament,

"Forced to defend myself, you know? As for going too hard, I can only say, they were unlucky."

Raven's expression was strange, they were indeed unlucky.

To be honest, based on what she saw when investigating there, what the Thousand Fists Association had done, even by World Serpent's standards, they deserved to die a thousand times over.

"May I be so bold as to ask, is your client planning to retaliate against me? You know, I'm the one who was sought trouble with."

Lin Wei asked seemingly unintentionally. If the other party intended to cause trouble, then he didn't need to hold back anymore.

Even if I take it up with their boss, I have grounds to argue.

"That's hard to say, that guy is notoriously petty. What's wrong, are you scared now too?"

Raven glanced at him strangely. This guy was quite bold when stirring up trouble.

"Thanks!"

Lin Wei raised his cup in toast. He knew Raven was giving him a friendly reminder, after all, he had indeed caused quite a stir this time—although he hadn't intended to make such a big deal at first, but there was no helping it, plans couldn't keep up with changes.

Anna's appearance was too unexpected, and he had to adapt accordingly.

Moreover, he had roughly guessed who the so-called "client" would be.

"Alright, I won't disturb your meal any longer. See you~"

Raven said, preparing to leave.

"It's rare for old friends to meet, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Sit down and chat for a while."

Lin Wei stopped her with a smile.

"If there's nothing urgent, it won't make a difference to wait a while, right?"

Raven sat back down, thinking that made sense. Her mission was already completed, and there was nothing else urgent, why should she rush to leave?

"You're alone out there, what about those kids? Leaving Nagazora City, aren't you afraid they'll encounter danger? Like those Thousand Fists Association guys."

Lin Wei asked kindly. He quite liked those kids, especially Xiaokong and Lier, one was well-behaved and sensible, the other was full of vitality, like two little adults.

"The kids are fine, I found a safe place to settle them."

Mentioning the children, Raven's tone softened a lot.

"I also have some savings now, I don't need to take on many commissions. This one of yours was just by chance, being nearby."

Nearby? Lin Wei's heart skipped a beat.

"You said you wanted to buy an island, it wouldn't be in Southeast Asia, would it?"

Southeast Asia had nothing else, but islands were truly abundant. If Raven settled down here, it would be quite reasonable.

"Just a temporary stopover, also here to do some on-site inspections."

Raven revealed a helpless bitter smile.

"The environment here is quite nice, beautiful scenery, and the climate is also good. But… it's too chaotic, it's not safe for the children to live here. After all, no organization can protect them now."

"So? You've already made up your mind?"

Lin Wei's heart skipped a beat again, preemptively sensing something bad.

"Yes, I've decided, I'll buy one in the Mediterranean."

Raven revealed a relieved smile, her tone filled with unconcealable joy.

"That place is close to both Schicksal Headquarters and World Serpent. For ordinary life, it's still very safe. And the climate there is pleasant, the economy is developed, and the living conditions are also good…"

Raven counted on her fingers, listing the advantages of her desired place one by one.

Lin Wei's inner thoughts: (ノへ￣,)

Sure enough, something's about to happen…

Girl, since you know Schicksal Headquarters is there, do you know where the Queen's Descent happens?

Oh, you don't know, then never mind…

Running headfirst into the muzzle of a gun, you really don't want that island anymore!

"How about, change places?"

Lin Wei felt somewhat reluctant and carefully adjusted his wording.

"You also know, that place is sandwiched between Schicksal and World Serpent. If the two families fight… isn't it easy for it not to be safe?"

"You know quite a lot."

Raven looked at him in surprise.

"Thanks for the kind intention. But even if those two families fight, what does it have to do with me, an outsider?"

"..."

Lin Wei was somewhat helpless, girl, do you know what self-deception is?

Forget it, looking at her like that, it seems impossible to dissuade her, might as well let nature take its course.

Thinking on the bright side, at least Southeast Asia, the future Manila Honkai outbreak, the revival of Chi You, and a series of other dangerous events, can be avoided early on, which is also a good thing.

Lin Wei helplessly comforted himself. Raven wasn't Anna, she wouldn't listen to him. It was better not to make a fool of himself.

He could only raise his cup and offer his blessings.

After the meal, the two said goodbye.

Raven found a deserted place and connected to Jackal's communication.

"Hello? Jackal, investigation completed. That 'cargo' you valued, unfortunately, his name is Lin Wei, sounds familiar, right… Don't 'what', I'm even more surprised than you about this… The detailed process will be sent to you later, see for yourself… By the way, sorry for asking, your commission shouldn't include capturing him and bringing him to you, right? Let's make it clear first, I can't afford to mess with this guy…"

After some back and forth, Raven hung up the communication, patted her butt and left.

On the other side, someone was so angry that he directly crushed the communicator in his hand.

.........

What Raven went to do, Lin Wei didn't care.

He just wanted to go home and have a good sleep, a sleep that would make him forget everything. He felt like he was about to be exhausted during this period.

Heaven have mercy, I originally just wanted to be a salted fish in peace…

Lin Wei muttered to himself, and as soon as he got home, he directly collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

After a while, the air beside the bed rippled, and a pink-haired, long-eared girl appeared out of thin air.

Yae Sakura stared at him fixedly for a while, revealing a helpless smile. She reached out to take off his shoes, then helped him take off his coat, and carefully tucked him in with the quilt before taking his shoes and walking to the living room, placing them at the entrance by the door.

And that "staff" was also always held in Lin Wei's hand. Yae Sakura carefully took it out, and in her hand, it automatically turned back into the sealed katana form.

Yae Sakura reached out and drew out a section of it, staring intently at its scarlet blade. After a long while, she nonchalantly sheathed the katana and placed it high on the bookshelf.

Having done all this, Yae Sakura took out a book of poetry from the bookshelf again and sat at the table, reading quietly.

Life went on as usual.