What Kind of "Good Guy" Are You?!

What the heck is this thing? It stinks! Is it even edible? Yae Sakura, despite adapting to many things unimaginable in her time, couldn't overcome certain habits.

She preferred lighter flavors. Durian, with its pungent aroma and rich taste, was simply too much. Faced with Lin Wei offering her the rest of his, she considered retreating to her Stigmata space.

"Never mind then. I'm not a big fan either." Lin Wei tossed the durian into a trash can, unfazed by her rejection. He wasn't fond of it either.

He'd bought it out of curiosity after leaving the cafe, while finding a spot to observe both Jackal and the Valkyries.

His impersonation of Raven on the communicator had been based on real events.

"Such a waste..." Lin Wei glanced at the trash, then back at his "binoculars," focusing on the corpse Jackal had left behind.

If anyone else had looked in that direction, they would have seen nothing. The secret garage was well-hidden underground, accessible only through a concealed passage—fitting Lin Wei's impression of World Serpent. But such concealment was useless against Lin Wei's cheat.

His "binoculars" weren't ordinary; they channeled the power of the 2nd Divine Key, bypassing obstacles to observe Jackal's actions.

The genuine 2nd Divine Key, powered by immense Honkai energy, could peer across the Sea of Quanta, observing countless bubble universes and parallel worlds. Lin Wei's imitation, focused on a target a few hundred meters away, was child's play.

He'd conceived this application back in the Elysian Realm. Vill-V had called it "a novel idea, but a waste of potential." She couldn't fathom using a Divine Key as a surveillance device. Lin Wei, in turn, had criticized her designs as "flashy but impractical."

They'd then engaged in a battle of wits, trying to outdo each other with creative ideas and pranks. Occasionally, they'd find common ground and collaborate on some grand scheme, prompting Pardo to hide.

The other Flame-Chasers learned to recognize Pardo's disappearance as a sign of impending chaos. After their brief collaborations, they'd resume their rivalry, repeating the cycle.

They'd kept the Elysian Realm in a constant state of upheaval until Kevin intervened. Elysia expressed her disappointment at the "show's" abrupt end.

Kevin simply stared at her, and she retreated.

"Ah... those were the days." Lin Wei reminisced about his time in the Elysian Realm. Dealing with cryptic people was tiring, but there were fewer worries.

"She's gone." He watched Jackal's car disappear into the city traffic, and his binoculars vanished.

"Why stop watching?" Yae Sakura wondered why he'd abandon such a useful tool.

"It's too risky. Spatial manipulation is easily detected. Both Schicksal and World Serpent have expertise in that area. Using it too much might expose me." He explained. "I wouldn't use it if Jackal weren't alone and vulnerable, without any detection devices nearby."

Both factions had deep knowledge of spatial manipulation, thanks to World Serpent possessing the 2nd Divine Key and Schicksal's research on the Herrscher of the Void. Lin Wei, preferring caution, used more conventional methods to investigate Otto and Jackal.

"Jackal is safe. We should leave too." He stood up. "If we stay any longer, we might run into those Valkyries. I'd rather not see Otto again."

As long as they didn't meet, he remained "He Kun." A meeting risked exposing his "Lin Wei" identity. Lin Wei avoided unnecessary risks.

"Leaving?" Yae Sakura was surprised. "I thought you planned to lure Schicksal here to trigger a conflict and snipe Otto."

Lin Wei chuckled. "Did you think I spent two days feeding Otto misleading intel, leading him on a wild goose chase, just to wear down his patience, erode his trust, and make him abandon Durandal so he'd walk into my trap alone?"

"Wasn't that the plan?" Yae Sakura looked at him, puzzled. "You've been trying to separate Otto and Durandal." Why abandon such a perfect opportunity?

"It was a perfect opportunity. Too perfect." Lin Wei shook his head regretfully. "A poisoned apple."

"I don't understand." Yae Sakura preferred direct explanations.

"If Otto only had one life, or if I could kill him permanently, it would be fine. But you know the consequences would be severe."

Yae Sakura nodded. If Otto died before his true face was revealed, he'd be remembered as a tragic hero. Even K423 would seek justice for him.

"Since I can only destroy his current body, what would he do when he returns to HQ and remembers this failure?" Lin Wei put himself in Otto's shoes. "If it were me, I'd realize it was a trap. I wouldn't need proof, just suspicion! Then I'd investigate, starting with 'He Kun.'"

"'He Kun' doesn't exist. He'd eventually discover the deception. Even if he didn't find World Serpent, tracing the Anti-Entropy connection would expose 'Lin Wei.' The timeline would converge on the most dangerous outcome: a life-or-death struggle between Otto and me."

"Otto has almost all of humanity's resources at his disposal. I only have you and Pandora. The odds are stacked against me. I'd have to go all out, which I want to avoid. Not just because I don't want to die, but because of you, Sakura, and also Seele."

"I admit I'm selfish, dragging you into this mess. But I don't want to cause you harm."

He also had Fu Hua's belongings to safeguard and return. And Anna... even he could sense her genuine affection. He couldn't bear to hurt her.

"They say those with nothing to lose are the most dangerous. A year ago, I was a nobody, free to act recklessly..." He chuckled self-deprecatingly. "But not anymore. I've found myself... restrained. I can't bring myself to act without considering the consequences."

But he didn't dislike this feeling. Wandering alone sounded romantic, but given a choice, who would choose solitude? He was beginning to understand the meaning of "protection."

"Even in primitive times, all fighting and raiding boiled down to survival – for their tribe, their families. People were willing to fight, kill, and die for that..."

"Of course, 'dying' isn't on my agenda. But to protect our little 'family,' I'm willing to wear these shackles and be a 'good guy.'"

Yae Sakura, touched by his words, suddenly giggled and rolled her eyes. "Scheming and killing... when did the bar for 'good guy' get so low?" Then, looking at him intently, she said, "But you are a good person, Lin Wei."

"Me? I'm just being more cautious..." Lin Wei smiled wryly. "Dealing with a complete lunatic like Otto involves too many unpredictable factors. It complicates things..."

The biggest problem was that if things spiraled out of control, he might lose it too, an outcome he desperately wanted to avoid. This drove his almost obsessive need for control. Including Otto in this equation made it exponentially more complex, forcing him to tread carefully.

He sometimes considered abandoning everything, simplifying the problem, but that came with a price he didn't want anyone to pay.

"It's okay. We just need to wait." He had a timeframe in mind. "When Otto's plan begins, when K423 becomes the Herrscher of the Void, his invincibility will crumble. The tables will turn."

By then, Otto's plan to resurrect Kallen would be in motion. Lin Wei would be the linchpin between World Serpent, Anti-Entropy, and even St. Freya. Otto would have to think twice about mutual destruction. And if it came to that, Kevin's return would be another factor.

"The world really is a giant turn-based game, isn't it?" He concluded with a grin.

"Is it? So how will you solve this problem, my 'late-game hero'?" Yae Sakura retorted, making him touch his nose awkwardly.

"I'm working on it! Step one: escalate the conflict between Otto and Jackal."

"Since we're 'stirring the bushes,' why tickle the edges? We need to whack the snake's tail to make it run and expose its trail."

"Huh? What do you mean, 'expose its trail'?" Yae Sakura was lost.

"Otto verifies information from others cautiously. But clues he discovers himself? He'll bet everything on them, like coming to Manila and starting this game." Lin Wei explained, inwardly surprised by how predictable Otto seemed. Is it really this easy?

"So you want Otto to find Jackal's next hideout based on today's events, so he won't suspect you?" Yae Sakura summarized her understanding. "Your world is complicated..."

"Exactly. 'He Kun' will then suffer World Serpent's retaliation, becoming too preoccupied to assist Otto. The rest is up to him!" Lin Wei chuckled. "Schicksal's intel might be shoddy, but they should manage this."

"You even have an escape plan?!" Yae Sakura stared wide-eyed. "You want Otto to believe 'He Kun' died at World Serpent's hands!"

"Wow, Sakura! You're so smart!" Lin Wei's feigned surprise made her blush.

"So that's why you kept provoking Jackal?"

"No, Sakura, you misunderstand..." Lin Wei protested. "I was genuinely concerned for Dr. Jackal! If I hadn't kept her close, her recklessness would have landed her in Otto's trap!"

"...Right, Mr. Lin Wei, please continue." Yae Sakura clapped sarcastically.

"Schicksal's attack forced her to flee. She'll resent that." He sighed inwardly. Why won't she believe me? "To prevent her from foolishly retaliating against Schicksal and getting herself killed, I had to become the target of her hatred!"

"My efforts are unappreciated. So sad..."

Yae Sakura clenched her fists.

"...Of course, there were other reasons to provoke her." Seeing her skepticism, he continued. "Her hatred ensures she won't abandon her foolish plans and retreat. She'll stay in the game, playing her part!"

"Otherwise, if she leaves, it's just me and Otto staring awkwardly at each other. 'He Kun' would be difficult to wrap up. This way, the situation unfolds as desired: Otto finds World Serpent and focuses on them, while Jackal, consumed by hatred, seeks revenge. And me..." He pointed at himself. "I'll 'fall' into Jackal's hands, wait for Otto to arrive, and then... bang!" He snapped his fingers, miming a gun. "See? It's still a three-way hunt, but it's accelerating towards its climax!"

Yae Sakura stared at him, speechless. He'd manipulated Otto's ambition, ensured Jackal's survival and hatred, kept her in the game, and secured his own exit strategy… all by sending a message and having a cup of coffee.

Is it really that simple? The absurdity felt unreal.

"Sakura, are you alright?" Lin Wei noticed her daze.

"I'm fine, just lost in thought..." She looked at him with a mixture of awe and unease. "Being your enemy must be terrifying." Thankfully, he's not a bad person.

"You flatter me. Just a few tricks. Nothing special..." He smiled modestly.

Yae Sakura rolled her eyes. Such a mood killer. She regained her composure and asked, "Jackal is vengeful. Won't this cause problems later?"

"What? No way, Sakura!" He feigned surprise. "When she's cornered by Otto, I'll save her. I'll explain Otto's schemes and my noble intentions. She'll be grateful! Why would she hate me?"

Yae Sakura was dumbfounded. So he'll sell her out, make her count the money, and expect a thank you?

"Let her hate Gray Serpent for not showing up!" Lin Wei chuckled. "I did everything for her own good!"

Yae Sakura hesitated, then stood up and returned to her Stigmata space, throwing him one last exasperated look. "That's not how a 'good guy' acts!"