"Miss Bai, you wanted to see me?" Gu Mingze nervously rubbed the hem of his shirt.
Actually, he and Bai Cha were classmates, so theoretically there shouldn't be any seniority. However, since Cang Liu addressed her as such, he followed suit.
"Sit down and let's talk. Don't be nervous." Bai Cha gestured to a chair by the table, inviting Gu Mingze to sit. Lucifer immediately and naturally placed a steaming cup of tea in front of Gu Mingze.
Was this what they called "the homeroom teacher wants to see you for tea"?
Bai Cha wasn't exactly the homeroom teacher, but the scene felt very similar.
While lost in thought, Gu Mingze cautiously sat down.
"Gu Mingze, do you want to become a warrior?" Bai Cha leaned back in her chair, looking at the suddenly stiff Gu Mingze. She didn't rush, waiting patiently.
The air was abnormally quiet. The tea had cooled several times. Bai Cha watched as Lucifer changed their tea three times, and Gu Mingze's tea was about to get cold again.
Gu Mingze remained hunched over in silence, his shirt hem almost worn through from rubbing.
"Mingze?" Bai Cha sighed inwardly and spoke to remind him. She watched Gu Mingze's eyes change from confusion and fear to something more complex. Knowing that if she didn't speak soon, Gu Mingze would likely overthink things, she said helplessly, "I'm not trying to drive you away, I'm just simply asking if you want to."
"Ah? Oh, this..." Gu Mingze scratched his head and muttered dejectedly, "No, I don't really want to. I'm quite cowardly..."
He doubted he could charge forward and bravely fight monsters. It would be a miracle if he didn't drag everyone down.
Gu Mingze had originally been forced to become a warrior at Long Knight Academy, even being admitted through connections. Although he came from a military family, as a child he'd wanted to play esports, act, sing—anything but charge to the front lines and fight bravely. kuAiδugg
"It's like this, there are two paths. One is you stay here, but to be honest, you can't undergo modifications or go to the front lines." Bai Cha tapped her finger on the table, speaking frankly. "But if you want to stay, you can only provide command and control from the rear. However, you'll have to endure a lot of hardship, working harder than others."
"Then, what's the second path?" Gu Mingze weakly asked, "Are you going to silence me?"
Bai Cha: "..."
Honestly, they were all upright and proper. How did they end up sounding like the mafia?
"Pfft."
Bai Cha's teacup paused at her lips, her speechless expression undeniably cute. This was a rare moment of Bai Cha being taken aback. Lucifer couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Don't bring novel plots into reality. I'm not a mafia boss." Bai Cha glared at Lucifer with exasperation, set down her teacup, and said helplessly, "The other path is, I can arrange for you to become an ordinary person. As you know, the Shadow faction allows individuals to choose their own lives at twelve. I can make a special exception for you. I'll give you enough money and a property, and you can do whatever you want."
Gu Mingze lowered his head and thought for a long time before quietly asking, "Will I not be able to see everyone anymore?"
"No. It's a clean break. Special personnel cannot have private contact with ordinary people. We are independent." Bai Cha nodded.
Gu Mingze fell silent. He hung his head like a defeated rooster, though he had never actually won.
His heart felt hollow, and he was a little scared, but he didn't know what he was afraid of.
Becoming an ordinary person, doing ordinary things—he could shine among ordinary people, with a different identity. This seemed like the life he had always dreamed of, something he had fantasized about countless times. Yet, when the opportunity actually arose, he became afraid.
He feared the empty room every time he went home, feared never seeing his newly made friends again, feared no one would eat the food he cooked. Even though Cang Liu was always taciturn, Gu Mingze was still happy every day. Even if Cang Liu didn't say a word, at least Gu Mingze knew Cang Liu existed.
Truly, after getting used to liveliness and companionship, the returning loneliness would be devastating.
"Can... can I not go?" Gu Mingze rubbed his shirt hem, lowering his head and not daring to meet Bai Cha's eyes. He mumbled, "I, I don't want to go."
"Is it the job you can't bear to leave, or the people?" Bai Cha saw through him at a glance and stated directly, "If you're afraid of being lonely, you need to think carefully. Your chances of survival will be much lower because your self-preservation ability will be significantly weaker. You might not last until I or others arrive."
In truth, Gu Mingze also understood this. He had no advantage on the battlefield, but if forced, he had to go.
But...
"But, loneliness is more terrifying than death." Gu Mingze's head was bowed very low, as if he had given up. "I really like being with everyone. If I have to go back to my old life... it would be better to..."
Gu Mingze stopped speaking before he could finish, but Bai Cha knew what he meant. When a person dying of thirst in the desert is given a cup of water, and before they can drink two sips, they're told to throw it away, even if you tell them that there's an oasis ahead after discarding this murky water, they'll still clench onto that cup.
"Since you've made your choice, whether you regret it later won't be up to you to decide." Bai Cha didn't say anything more, waving her hand to signal Gu Mingze to leave. "Report to Xiang Nan tomorrow."
Gu Mingze froze. "...Who!?"
"Xiang Nan." Bai Cha spread her hands, looking quite innocent. "Although Qing Huan's mental power is stronger, she's not on the same path as you. What you need to learn is command and prediction."
"Then, then, isn't Teacher Meng...?" Gu Mingze was completely disheveled. The thought of being with a room full of bugs made him feel terrible. "Doesn't Teacher Meng command?"
"He does, but not as strongly as Xiang Nan. He's more suited for frontline command requiring quick adaptation. Xiang Nan is the strategist commander in the rear." Bai Cha looked at Gu Mingze sympathetically. "You can discuss with him about not releasing too many terrifying bugs. Xiang Nan is quite easy to talk to."
Gu Mingze: "..."
Help!
After Gu Mingze left, Lucifer changed the teapot for Bai Cha and brought over the dessert he had made.
A perfectly square Tiramisu, dusted with a layer of fluffy cocoa powder, drizzled with chocolate sauce in neat, aesthetically pleasing lines, and garnished with a cherry and mint leaf. It was simple yet beautiful and tidy, much like Lucifer himself—simple yet pleasing to the eye at first glance.
It was just a bit high in calories.
"Master, your daily physical activity far exceeds the calories in desserts. I calculate your required calories every day and match your food accordingly." Seeing Bai Cha's hesitation, Lucifer explained with a smile, placing pure silver cutlery in front of her. "Desserts can help people relax and regulate their mood. You can try it in moderation."
This explanation was so well-reasoned, as if prepared in advance.
Bai Cha found it both amusing and exasperating, but she still took a small bite.
It melted in her mouth, soft and delicious but not greasy, with a hint of bitterness that surprisingly suited Bai Cha's taste. Bai Cha didn't know if it was because she ate so few such desserts, or simply because Lucifer's was so delicious. The taste of this dessert was completely different from the cloyingly sweet taste in Bai Cha's memory, as if her taste buds had been jolted awake.
Watching Bai Cha slowly finish the dessert, Lucifer smiled and handed her the tea and files.
So thoughtful, a veritable laziness-inducing machine.
"If you're like this, I'll get unaccustomed when we do missions separately later." Bai Cha placed her hand on her forehead in exasperation. "You don't have to be so excessively thoughtful."
This made her feel almost paralyzed.
"Master, you need not worry. Even so, I will return to your side as quickly as possible." Lucifer said gently. "I believe that even if we are apart, both you and I will make the greatest effort to find each other, and I will always stand by your side."
Bai Cha paused. She felt that Lucifer was slightly off, both in attitude and tone, with subtle differences from before, yet she couldn't pinpoint the reason. Bai Cha was silent for a moment, then chose to start reading the files directly.
"Master, do you intend to train Gu Mingze as one of your successors?" After a while, Lucifer spoke again, "Gu Mingze is from the Gu family, and he is a human."
Without resonance with a dragon, even the healthiest human would only live around 150 years at most, and that would be the kind of person who couldn't move and could only lie in the ICU.
Even resonating with the worst C-class dragon could extend their lifespan to over 200 years. In any case, Gu Mingze was not a good candidate for succession.
Among the children adopted by the Shadows in the compound, there were many talents. However, individuals like Meng Qing Huan and Xiang Nan, who were world-class powerhouses, only recently started taking apprentices.
Yun He and Cang Liu, one with dragon bloodline and the other resonating with a sea dragon, Lucifer could understand. But arranging Gu Mingze for Xiang Nan... wouldn't that be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?
Moreover, Gu Mingze only achieved minor merits during the Sky Island incident and didn't display much talent. For command, would he be capable enough...?
"The position of conductor is very important. We can't rely only on Xiang Nan and me. He is useful for stalling for time, allowing us more time to cultivate talent. He's a good choice in that regard." Bai Cha put down her tablet and switched the interface to a data display, returning it to Lucifer. "Do you know the game 'Miracle'?"
"I know a little. It seems to be about different professions competing in different terrains." Lucifer picked up the tablet and looked at it carefully.
This game was 'Miracle'. There was a photo of a person on it. This person had put on makeup to alter their original facial features, but Lucifer still recognized Gu Mingze.
This was Gu Mingze's previous profile in 'Miracle' under another identity. Gu Mingze, leading a team as a conductor, had achieved a record of 100 consecutive wins, a record that had never been broken.
At that time, Gu Mingze had already joined a team. No matter what the team's formation or specialty was, Gu Mingze could always defeat opponents with his excellent gaming talent. Fans had high hopes for him, wishing for him to participate in world competitions and lead China to dominate the 'Miracle' World Cup.
This was also one of the reasons why Gu Mingze's sudden disappearance had drawn so much criticism. Almost all 'Miracle' fans had come forward to lambast him.
"I tried this game before. They say life is like a play, and sometimes it's true. Tactics, formations, opponent characteristics, and team member characteristics, he could analyze them all clearly and make corresponding arrangements." Bai Cha said with a smile. "People who are good at games have fast brains. We just need to see if it can be applied elsewhere."
"Then, what are your plans for this secret realm?" Lucifer understood and returned the tablet to Bai Cha, asking respectfully, "Gu Zitan just sent news that the suspicious vortex gate has changed, and he wants to hear your opinion."
Oh? That Gu Zitan fellow was getting smarter? He even knew to ask for her opinion?
Bai Cha raised her eyebrows in surprise. She thought Gu Zitan would be eager to let people in.
"Tell him that this is a real world bubble and the risks are very high. I will not be responsible for anyone's safety once they enter. I won't stop those who want to go." Bai Cha said. "Later, call our main members for a meeting. The number of people for this mission isn't important. We just need to find some things. I'll notify you later."
"Do you already know the objective?" Lucifer sounded somewhat surprised.
Bai Cha: "Well... because, I took a little shortcut."
Lucifer: "?"