Chapter 39: Raven
Lin Wei walked home, his heart pounding.
Despite his confident words to Fu Hua, he was walking into a trap, gambling with his life on a hunch and a sliver of desperate hope.
His only real card was mutually assured destruction with Otto.
He opened the door, his anxiety growing.
He turned on the light…
And everything went black.
Thud.
His attacker stared at the unconscious Lin Wei, surprised by how easy it had been.
They carefully checked him for tracking devices, then, with a final glare, grabbed him and escaped through the window.
Ten minutes later, the tall woman in the OL outfit entered, frowned at the open window, and left, disappointed.
She turned off the light as she left.
Lin Wei woke up in a dark, cramped room, his neck stiff and aching.
He'd been knocked out. The pain brought a wave of unwelcome clarity.
He assessed his surroundings. No windows, no light, just a cluttered space filled with dust and a pungent odor.
A basement, probably.
He was tied to a chair, his hands and feet bound tightly.
At least his mouth wasn't gagged.
Despite his predicament, he felt a sense of relief.
He'd been within St. Freya's perimeter, Schicksal territory. If Otto wanted him, he wouldn't be here. He'd wake up on an operating table.
This wasn't Otto's style.
Definitely not Rita's either. It was too messy, too inelegant. Rita would at least make sure the air smelled nice.
And Otto wouldn't send a low-ranking Valkyrie for such an important task. They were expendable.
He was in World Serpent's custody.
"Tsk, their efficiency is truly impressive. It hasn't even been that long."
Take notes, Schicksal. This is how it's done.
He felt a surge of relief.
"Hello? Anyone there? I haven't had dinner yet! Bring me some pork cutlet rice!"
He cleared his throat and shouted, not acting like a prisoner at all.
The door burst open, a bright light blinding him. He winced, turning his face away.
Can't you come up with something new? he thought, annoyed. He'd seen this before.
The light approached, held by someone with a light, silent step. They scrutinized him from head to toe.
Seriously? This is it? Raven thought, equally annoyed. An urgent mission, first thing in the morning…
And she'd waited in his apartment all day?
She could have finished a video game by now!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
And the target was this weakling?
She grabbed his hair, yanking his head back, studying him with a critical eye.
This is the guy who ruined my day?
Gray Serpent, we'll talk later.
"Ow! Easy!"
Lin Wei protested.
Even Fu Hua and Rin hadn't been this rough!
Well, Rin had been worse.
Never mind… still!
"Huh, still feisty, I see."
Raven was surprised. She released his hair, watching him wince. Her annoyance grew.
She felt cheated.
She turned off the flashlight, switched on a dim light, pulled a heavy metal chair across the room with a screech, sat down, and looked down at him.
"Talk. What's Schicksal's purpose in contacting us?"
Her voice was cold, emotionless, like an interrogator.
Anti-Entropy was riddled with World Serpent agents. They wouldn't, and couldn't, threaten them.
This man had to be a Schicksal scout.
If Otto Apocalypse wanted to play this game, they would play along.
They would start by prying open his mouth.
You think I'll play your game? Lin Wei thought with a smirk.
He opened his eyes, adjusting to the dim light.
He looked around again. The clutter was even more apparent in the dim light.
He glanced at the small, hooded figure sitting above him, gesturing at the mess.
This is your interrogation room?
"You…"
Raven was taken aback. This guy was a piece of work.
Fine. She would get straight to the point. No time for games.
She chuckled coldly. Don't forget your place.
"I contacted you to make a deal with Gray Serpent. Tsk, tsk, is this how World Serpent treats its guests?"
Lin Wei leaned back in his chair, his body immobile, meeting Raven's gaze with a strange smile.
"I gave you three days, and you found me in one. Impressive. Much better than those Schicksal clowns."
Insulting Schicksal before World Serpent was always a good move, especially now, when they were planning to teach them a lesson.
Raven narrowed her eyes, displeased by his condescending tone.
"A deal? Fine. What kind of business?"
She crossed her legs, a sharp dagger appearing in her hand, twirling it between her fingers, her gaze fixed on the intricate movements, ignoring Lin Wei.
"I know who you are. A World Serpent executive. Codename: Raven."
Lin Wei wasn't interested in playing along. He would strip away her pretense.
He knew she was putting on a show for the person observing them.
He wouldn't play their game.
The dagger stopped twirling. Raven gripped it tightly, her eyes cold. The organization's intelligence leaks were more serious than she'd thought.
"Who are you?"
This man wasn't a mere scout. He was too arrogant. Was he one of Otto's many clones? Perhaps the Overseer himself?
Intelligent people tended to overthink. Raven was intelligent, so she hesitated.
"So, Raven-san, are you ready to listen now?"
Lin Wei smiled. Information was power, especially in these situations. It was more effective than any bluff.
"I told you my purpose. I want to make a deal with Gray Serpent. I need to speak to him directly."
He smiled, glancing at the ropes binding him.
"I know he's watching me right now. Tell him to come out. If he isn't here, I'll be very disappointed in World Serpent."
"And… that would be unfortunate."
"As you can see, Raven-san, I'm completely helpless. You can easily kill me. This isn't a threat. Don't worry."
"So, are you going to introduce me to Mr. Gray Serpent? Oh, and one more thing…"
He paused, his expression suddenly turning shy and embarrassed.
"I haven't had dinner yet. Do you… provide meals?"
Chapter 40: Will This Please Mr. Gray Serpent?
Of course, even if World Serpent did provide meals, Lin Wei wouldn't dare eat anything.
He was in a precarious situation.
He was like a man in a rickety boat, braving a category twelve hurricane, and deliberately steering towards the tallest waves.
Anyone would call him insane.
Yet, despite his recklessness, he was still afloat…
Maybe they were the crazy ones.
Regardless of what others thought, Lin Wei maintained a calm facade while internally panicking.
When will this tightrope walk end? he wondered.
On the way back from Nagazora, he'd re-evaluated his situation, acknowledging the absurd reality—
To survive, he had to keep playing in the big leagues.
He couldn't afford to lower his stakes.
In the low leagues, with his current combat abilities, he'd be dead the moment he encountered any threat.
In the mid-tier, against overconfident fools like Cocolia and Jackal, he'd die even faster…
Only in the high leagues…
He counted his meager assets, his few remaining cards, and faced the harsh truth—
Besides Fu Hua, he could only manipulate three people.
Gray Serpent, Otto, and Kevin.
He mentally patted himself on the back. I'm so awesome!
Fake Extreme Challenge: Climbing Mount Everest.
Real Extreme Challenge: Playing poker with Otto, Gray Serpent, and Kevin, with your life as the ante.
o(╥﹏╥)o
Transmigration was hard. He sighed.
He had no choice. He had to keep going.
His strategy was clear: secure face-to-face meetings with these three individuals.
Otto was the worst option, the most unpredictable. Ending up in World Serpent's custody, with the chance to interact with the other two, was the best possible outcome.
Raven was just a pawn, a scout—though, to be fair, everyone in World Serpent was a pawn, including Kevin.
And with Kevin absent, Gray Serpent was the current leader.
So, the less information he revealed to Raven, the better his position would be when he finally met Gray Serpent.
His plan was simple:
Step 1: Meet Gray Serpent, by any means necessary.
Step 2: Manipulate Gray Serpent, secure a conversation with Kevin.
Step 3: Use Kevin to restrain Gray Serpent, preventing immediate retaliation.
Step 4: Figure out the rest later…
ε=(´ο｀*))) well...
So, he'd flipped the table, refusing to play Raven's game.
Raven was annoyed. It had been a while since anyone had treated her with such disdain.
And she was wearing a hood!
She stared at him, then chuckled, pulling a USB drive from her pocket, holding it up for him to see, twirling it between her fingers as if it were a coin.
She shifted in her chair, her posture relaxed, her gaze averted.
"This is your 'deal'? Quantum encryption? A child's toy."
Her crimson eyes flicked towards him, her voice still casual, but the single eye-shaped decoration on her hood seemed to issue an ultimatum.
"If this is all you have, then this meeting is over."
"Ah, that? Yes, that's part of the deal, a very small part. It's not classified information, just a… personal message. I suggest you don't bother decrypting it."
The results might be… interesting.
Lin Wei's smile turned mischievous. The threat of death, the desire to survive, sharpened his mind, the adrenaline fueling his recklessness.
He was starting to enjoy this dance with death.
"Oh, I almost forgot!"
He feigned sudden realization.
"It's for a young lady close to Kevin. My apologies for not mentioning it earlier."
"Actually, you took it from me without permission, so I retract my apology."
"Do take good care of it. I wouldn't want to have to explain its loss…"
I wouldn't want to explain it to Bronya, but whether you needed to explain it to Kevin was your problem.
He would bluff his way through this.
"By the way, do you need me to tell you about Kevin?"
The best way to handle a subordinate? Invoke the boss's name.
Always worked.
"You…"
Raven's composure cracked. She felt like a fool.
"Don't mind me. Just returning the favor. You did take my things first, didn't you?"
He pressed his advantage, glancing around the room, his tone mocking.
"This… basement? Interrogation room? World Serpent's hospitality is truly… unique."
Then, his expression turned serious, his gaze fixed on Raven, who was still reeling from the mention of Kevin's name.
"Now, can you take me to your leader, Raven-san?"
Raven seethed, feeling utterly humiliated.
She wanted to kick him, stab him in the mouth with her dagger, silence his infuriating voice.
God, I want to do it so badly!
She glared at him, a predatory glint in her crimson eyes.
Maybe I should get some colored contacts, Lin Wei thought, distracted.
He decided he'd pushed her enough.
Raven suddenly paused, as if receiving a message.
After a few seconds, she exhaled, looking at him with a "I'll let you live for now" expression, then walked towards the door.
Did she forget something?
Lin Wei looked at his bound hands and feet, exasperated. Before he could call out to her, his blood ran cold.
Raven stopped at the door and, without looking back, threw the dagger at him. It flashed past his face, a blur of motion.
His heart stopped.
"Untie yourself," she said with a mocking chuckle, as if disgusted by his fear. A triumphant smirk touched her lips as she walked out.
Lin Wei was speechless. That had been too close.
He clutched his chest, his heart pounding. The dagger had sliced through the ropes binding his arms without touching his skin. He moved his arms, testing his newfound freedom.
Spiteful woman… he thought.
He quickly freed his legs, stretching them luxuriously.
He stood up, testing his still-numb feet, then followed Raven.
"Why are you so slow?"
Raven was waiting for him, her voice impatient.
Was he deliberately wasting her time?
"My legs were numb," he said matter-of-factly.
Raven suppressed a curse and turned to walk away.
Lin Wei smiled and followed, looking around, trying to determine his location.
His initial curiosity turned to amusement—
He was in an underground bar.
Seriously?
He glanced at Raven, rolling his eyes.
It was… strangely fitting.
"Hmm?"
Raven sensed his gaze, glancing back at him expectantly.
"Just… surprised. So, drinks are on the house?"
"Heh." In your dreams.
She turned and continued walking.
The bar was dimly lit, but sunlight streamed through the cracks in the closed windows, telling him it was daytime.
It was quiet, despite the open entrance. No customers.
They were heading towards the main hall and the bar counter.
A figure sat on a long sofa across from the bar, a large window behind them. Even the heavy curtains couldn't completely block the sunlight, casting the black-clad figure in a dramatic, almost divine light.
That had to be his target.
Why do all these villains love dramatic lighting? he wondered.
As he approached, he could see it was a man, wearing a black jumpsuit and a hood that obscured half his face, the other half hidden behind a mask.
What a terrible fashion sense, he thought. Then, remembering that Raven had been raised by Gray Serpent, he looked at her similar attire…
Did she learn her fashion sense from him?
He couldn't help but wonder.
"...Here's your guest. Talk amongst yourselves."
Raven, seemingly oblivious to his scrutiny, addressed the figure on the sofa, then walked behind the bar and began polishing glasses, glancing at him with a glare.
This guy… does he think I'm stupid?
"Mr. Lin Wei… is it? My apologies for the… less than ideal accommodations."
Gray Serpent's voice was muffled, as if he were wearing a mask or respirator.
He gestured for Lin Wei to sit, his movements elegant, almost aristocratic.
"Gray Serpent-san, it wasn't easy getting a meeting with you."
Lin Wei's tone was a mix of sarcasm and sincerity.
From manipulating Bronya to this meeting, it had been a long journey.
He sat down across from Gray Serpent, a simple wooden table between them, his gaze fixed on the mysterious man.
This was a staring contest with a snake.
"My apologies, Mr. Lin Wei. I'm a businessman. My time is valuable. I'm only interested in profitable ventures. A deal must be… substantial to pique my interest."
"I understand, Gray Serpent-san. Which is why I offered you something you couldn't refuse."
Lin Wei smiled, his true intentions hidden beneath a friendly facade.
The Stigmata project. Gray Serpent couldn't refuse that.
Indeed, Gray Serpent was curious. Who would dare use the "Stigmata project" as leverage? It meant this man knew him, knew his plans.
He'd agreed to this meeting to assess the value of Lin Wei's offer, then decide whether to kill him.
After all, this man's history was unremarkable until recently. He seemed to be connected to Schicksal, and he'd just returned from a trip with Fu Hua.
Why did he know so much about him? Gray Serpent couldn't understand.
Schicksal knew nothing about World Serpent, nothing about him.
Had Fu Hua told him? He'd considered it, then dismissed it. That pathetic woman had forgotten everything. She was just a tool in Otto's hands.
Worthless to World Serpent.
Unable to find an answer, he'd decided to meet this man, to hear his offer.
And the mention of Kevin's name had further piqued his interest.
"Indeed, Mr. Lin Wei. Business is business."
His voice was still muffled, calm, betraying no emotion.
"I'm here, as promised. Now, show me your value. State your terms, and let me see if your offer is… satisfactory."
If it wasn't, the consequences would be severe.
"Yes, Gray Serpent-san."
Lin Wei nodded, a deceptively innocent smile on his face, then stated his request, his voice calm yet challenging. He knew the arrogant Gray Serpent wouldn't care about these minor details. He only cared about results.
"I have a message for Kevin, your Sovereign. I know you can contact him. Tell him:"
"Rin wants to see him."
The two short sentences carried a heavy weight. Gray Serpent paused, then chuckled.
"An interesting proposition. And what do you offer in return, Mr. Lin Wei?"
Lin Wei smiled confidently.
"I'm penniless, I'm afraid. But I know you're not interested in such trivial matters, Gray Serpent-san."
Gray Serpent simply nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"So, I have another proposal. I know you're essential to the Stigmata project. Therefore, I believe… Gray Serpent's life should be a sufficient bargaining chip."
Gray Serpent wasn't angered. He simply said, "Ah," and nodded three times, feigning surprise.
Then, his expression returned to its usual calm. He chuckled.
"Trading my life for your request? That's not how business is conducted, Mr. Lin Wei."
His voice turned cold.
"And to a snake, death is merely…"
"Another beginning. I know, Gray Serpent-san. I'll finish that for you."
Lin Wei interrupted him, stealing his line.
"I know a little about your… true nature. Killing you won't achieve anything. I'll just be greeted by another Gray Serpent. That trick doesn't scare me."
He bared his fangs, his smile dangerous.
This was a high-stakes gamble, a do-or-die situation. It was exhilarating.
"That's why I said, my bargaining chip isn't your life, Gray Serpent-san, but the life of 'Gray Serpent.'"
He emphasized the title, the implication clear.
He raised a hand, and a black box appeared, shimmering with a dark light.
"Now tell me, Gray Serpent-san, how about trading the continued existence of 'Gray Serpent,' the chance to complete the Stigmata project, for a conversation with Kevin?"
"Is this offer… satisfactory?"
He opened the box.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
54 Power
stone 
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