Volume 5: The Young Wolf Seeks Home Chapter 10: K Team's non-staff member "Hunter" Ciri reports to you, Captain
Mason's office is a troubled place.
Ever since Kite Man reserved this place specifically for him to highlight Mason's extraordinary identity, this place has suffered many strange encounters, including but not limited to being blown up, Batman's invasion, a superhero melee, and the placement of evil alien objects.
Tonight, the unlucky office experienced another energy shock, and the flying space-time energy destroyed almost all the furniture here.
The explosion immediately alerted the bar's security personnel.
When a dozen 2077 bionic men dressed as members of the Terrorist Squad kicked open the office door, led by Judy and Barbara, they saw Mason sitting cross-legged on the ground in a dishevel, with a silver-haired woman in his arms.
This scene made Judy and Barbara look at each other in surprise.
Didn't Mason just finish the kissing ceremony with Harley? Who is this silver-haired woman with a good figure from behind?
Good on you Mason!
She looks innocent but she's actually playing the two-timing game, right?
Harry should let the dogs bite you to death!
"I know what you are thinking, but it's not a random association. This is my colleague... It's hard to explain now, so get out.
Do not interrupt the ensuing conversation."
Mason looked at the wonderful expressions on Judy and Barbara's faces and knew that the two sisters had already started to perform the "little drama of catching an adulterer" in their minds. He sighed and drove them and the elite bionic guards out, then helped Ciri, who was gasping for breath in his arms, up.
The reckless Mr. Hunter is in big trouble this time.
The [Punishment of Wisdom] that was imposed on her almost made her brain a mess. Fortunately, she was not a scheming character, so the only aftereffects she suffered were a headache and numbness all over her body.
If the old Black Fake Man had been hit head-on, given the level of activity in his brain, which was full of tricks and dark secrets, he would have turned into an idiot on the spot.
This made Mason sigh that the thing given by the warlock was really weird.
"I've seen that thing."
Ciri, who was supported and sat on the half-torn sofa, rubbed her head and hummed, pointing at the Star Eye disc that fell to the ground and said:
"That was a rare item that the Warlock found a few years ago when he was exploring a dark sea of stars. How did it end up in your hands? Mason! Tell the truth, have you defected to the Warlock?"
“It’s a complicated matter.”
Mason picked up the disc and felt a little sad when he saw the cracks on it.
This thing is powerful, but its fragile body is its biggest weakness. It will get cracks when it is smashed to the ground, and it will definitely shatter if it is hit hard by someone.
This is the result of Mason adding the [Solid] attribute to it.
He grabbed the twisted remains of the metal display stand at hand, activated the magic fire to shape it into a more solid sealed protective platform, and then put the disc back in.
“I originally wanted you to take me around the secret treasure vault of Star Castle and help me choose a treasure to hide, but you were ‘on a business trip’ so I had to find it myself.
It was really an accident that I met the warlock on the way. I don’t know what kind of mentality he had in giving me this.
You know what, this thing is pretty powerful. Even you are in such a mess. It seems that I don't have to worry about being attacked by Doctor Fate in this demiplane."
Mason knew that his boss loved drinking coffee, so he took out a handful of coffee beans from his bag and used the materials to make a coffee machine on the spot to make drinks.
While he was busy, he said jokingly:
"What? Are you finally done with your business trip?"
"Can't you just not mention this, you bastard? And I'm really on a business trip. I just went to mediate a private fight between two B-class teams on the front line of a war world.
They each recruited several hundred vassal soldiers and prepared to start a war, simply because they were fighting for the control of the ruins of an ancient civilization.
There are really too many such crap.
Compared to them, you are considered a good employee who abides by the rules."
Ciri had a terrible headache right now and really didn't have the energy to argue with Mason anymore.
She leaned on the sofa and wiped the blood from her nose. Although she looked embarrassed, with the strength and vitality of the Grand Master, her injuries were not even minor.
Just a headache...
"Why are you angry?"
Mason quickly prepared a cup of steaming hot coffee and brought it to Ciri. He asked:
"Wasn't it fine before?"
"Who was the woman next to you during the previous communication?"
The hunter asked:
"Do you realize that a third person showing up while we're talking would blow my cover? You really have no respect for me, Mason."
"That's Harley."
Mason felt that Ciri was definitely not angry just because her identity was exposed, but he still explained:
"It's my new team member and girlfriend."
"Um?"
Ciri, who had just taken a sip of coffee, narrowed her eyes instantly, making Mason feel cold. But the next moment, Miss Hunter said in a strange tone:
“Harley Quinn, the famous assistant of Zhou Keer, an evil crazy beauty, she is also one of the most famous psychopaths in the entire parallel world system.
So you like this type?
Tsk tsk, Mason, your taste is a bit weird. I'm beginning to wonder if you're mentally ill."
"Harley's mental state is indeed unstable, but I think having me by her side can help her condition ease. However, I don't think you came all the way here just to talk to me about Harley's problem, right?"
Mason stood up the chair with its broken leg and sat on it. He took out a medical kit and helped Ciri clean and bandage her bleeding arm while saying:
"Are you worried that my meeting with Old A will expose your current movements? Don't worry, I just talked to him in depth, and he made his attitude clear to me.
He wanted to prove to me that they weren't just a bunch of worms waiting to see bad things happen, and he revealed to me that he did have a big plan."
"They have always had it, and their goal is quite clear."
Seeing that Mason was talking about serious matters, Ciri also became serious. She said to Mason:
"This is why I have never been able to make up my mind to break away from them. I admit that I am easily influenced by such grand goals, but after thinking about it for a while, I found that I am not really bewitched by the ideals described by Old A.
He should have talked to you about the establishment of the Council of Hope.
In the early days before the Star Society was formed, we did some really good things, and he proved with facts that his ideas worked.
Especially the assistance to another Class A world before the first impact, that was the first big transfer operation we carried out, and I participated in it with my parents.
That scene is still fresh in my memory.
Oh, by the way, that transfer took place in the swordsman's hometown world.
and……"
Ciri lowered her head, sighed and said:
"My parents trusted him quite a lot when they were alive, until that incident happened. Although he is not as old as the demon hunter, there was a period of time when I did regard him as an elder."
"The fact that Mr. A has a feasible plan and a grand goal has nothing to do with whether he is a good person or not."
Mason said as he tied the bandage into a cute bow:
"I still don't trust him for the same reason as before. He is willing to sacrifice many people for his own goals, including us.
He didn't even try to hide his utilitarianism, admitting that he met with me because Team K had discovered something very valuable.
Besides, I signed this with him.”
He handed the document written by Old A when he left to Ciri, who took it in her hand, glanced at it and frowned. She said:
“Before the Fourth Impact, find a way to truly resist the destruction of the world. If you can’t do that, just obey his command and carry out his plan.
You're taking a risk, Mason.
So many smart people in Fox's Nest can't find a solution, what makes you think you can solve this problem that is causing headaches for everyone in a year at most?"
"First, let me correct you. I don't need to solve the shock."
Mason shook his finger and said:
"I just need to find a way to save both worlds when the impact occurs. It's not as difficult as you think. Secondly, do you think that given Old A's style, he will honestly abide by this contract that has no mandatory effect at all?
No!
He won't.
So I won’t either.”
"Are you trying to steady him?"
Shirley reacted immediately and said:
"So that he won't cause trouble for you in secret?"
"That's about right."
Mason rubbed his forehead and said:
"The resources he controls are thousands and hundreds of times greater than ours. If he insists on 'hitting' me, even if it's just an idea, it will be enough to make me accomplish nothing in the future.
Making this little contract, which was like a game to him, did buy us a little freedom and time.
At the same time, Steve Rogers' words also reminded me.
If I want to convince you, and others to join me in this endeavor, I can't just tell you that Quint is bad, I have to provide you with convincing evidence.
I mean I got some before, but maybe that wasn't enough to convince you to stand firmly on my side."
"It's not like I don't have confidence in you."
Ciri took a sip of coffee.
She glanced around the messy office, and after a moment's hesitation, she decided to tell Mason something really important.
"Come with me."
Ciri propped herself up, put on her star mask and robe again, motioned Mason to follow her out of the demiplane area of the Star Eye, and then waved her hand to open a silver arc of light leading to an unknown place.
She walked in, followed by Mason.
The two entered an unfamiliar area in the next moment. This place did not seem like a complete world, because it reflected the endless reflection of the starry sky all around.
The stars illuminated the surroundings, illuminating the strange land floating in an invisible place under the feet of the two people.
It is like a dilapidated and strange temple, the main body of which has been shattered and scattered around, but is suspended here under the support of some force.
Mason stopped where he was and looked at the sea of stars around him. Ciri looked back at him after a few seconds and said in confusion:
"Let's go! What are you doing here?"
“I’ve seen this starry sky before!”
Mason stopped at the entrance. He looked at the stars above his head and stroked the devil tattoo on his left hand.
He said to Ciri:
" After I joined the Star Society, when I was seeking power through tattoos, I came to this area in a trance! Yes, I can't remember it wrong, it's here.
The endless sea of stars seemed to be pregnant with endless darkness. "
"It's not surprising that every member of the Star Society who has seized the 'power' from Lord Fate has seen the sea of stars here."
Ciri sighed and said:
“That process is a symbolic manifestation of your deep contract with it, which means that you also become a ‘candle’ to help it burn, but I didn’t bring you here just for this group of stars.
Follow me, be careful and don't go wrong."
The hunter led the way and Mason followed behind. It seemed that there was nothing here, but in fact Mason could feel some very strange "things" existing in the invisible.
If he takes a wrong step, he will be spied on and captured by those things.
"It's just ahead."
After walking for more than ten minutes, the two arrived at the depths of this special area whose existence could not be outlined by conventional spatial perception.
Before my eyes was a dark cave that seemed to swallow up all light.
“Follow me!”
Ciri took a deep breath and cast a spell on Mason to make him lose his breath. Then she reached out and held Mason's hand. When their fingers touched, the coldness of Ciri's fingers made Mason raise his eyebrows.
She is afraid...
This discovery gave the young man a premonition that what he was about to see was extraordinary.
Guided by Ciri, Mason stepped into the dim place in front of them with her. Once they entered the black curtain cave, all their senses were instantly blocked.
He couldn't see, hear or smell.
Even his own thoughts seemed to be gradually frozen, and only the clenched fingers in his hands led him forward like a guiding light.
Time seemed to be distorted, and he had no idea how much time had passed before he finally passed through the cave and stood on the edge of an overhanging cliff. Ciri in front of him was already panting.
She protected Mason from going to a place where he shouldn't have been, which meant that all the pressure on Mason was borne by her.
"Did you see that?"
She pointed to the large space below and asked Mason.
The young man stood beside Ciri and looked down but could see nothing. There was only a fog blocking his sight. As Ciri waved her hand, the fog dissipated and a "starlight" appeared in front of Mason.
The flames danced like stars, illuminating the entire area in front of the eyes. Looking closely, they were delicate stone pillars scattered throughout the entire hollow land, and there were spots of light burning on each of them.
Candle!
This is the candle...
Mason understood instantly.
The place where Ciri brought him was exactly where Lord Fate stored the candle of his power, and the burning flames in front of him swayed silently, like stars shining in the darkness.
But it makes people's hair stand on end.
His fingers clenched, and Ciri noticed this movement. Mr. Hunter pointed up and said softly:
"Look, there's your candle."
Mason looked up, and in the candlelight of the strange stone platform suspended high in the air, he could clearly feel his own ball of fire floating there.
It is inconspicuous among tens of thousands of candles.
"What about yours?"
He looked away and asked, but Ciri didn't answer.
But the two of them definitely felt the same at this moment. They just stood there looking at the candlelight all over the mountains in front of them, and a feeling of powerlessness rose in their hearts.
"Every fire here can give it a chance to be reborn. Our burning will give it strength."
Ciri said softly:
“Every B-level member will be brought to this place when they decide to participate in the A-level promotion. They know the truth here, and some have resisted before.
Their candles were extinguished.
Mason, you once asked me what I wanted to do.
She raised her hand and pointed at the tens of thousands of floating sparks in front of her.
She said:
"I took some time to rethink my thoughts. I confirmed that I wanted to destroy this place, I confirmed that I wanted to see the collapse of the Star Society, and I confirmed that I wanted my parents' spirits in heaven to rest in peace.
More than once I wanted to rush over and blow out the candles.
But I can't do it.
There is a price to be a Grand Master, and my existence is that price.
I am almost one with it. It has been sleeping for years because it carries too much divinity. The three great mentors are the guards of its nest. If you want to hurt it, you have to kill us first...
The reason I haven't made up my mind to do these things with you is not just because I doubt you, but also because I'm not ready to die heroically.
The truth is, I’m not as brave as I think I am.”
"Is that so?"
Mason understood, pursed his lips and said:
"So it was me who was forcing you to die. Then every time I asked you to do that, you must have been under a lot of pressure, right?"
"It's not death that I'm afraid of, Mason."
Ciri stared at the burning candles in front of her and answered irrelevantly:
"I'm just afraid that my sacrifice would be meaningless, so I want to remind you that if you really want to destroy the stars, you must be fully prepared.
When that day finally comes, I will be cold-blooded enough to kill my companions and give you my heart.
But you only have one chance...
You must win!
I brought you here today because I finally figured out that thing, about your question and my answer. Maybe Lao A and the others and I are really not the same kind of people.
I don't have the wisdom to glimpse the hope of ending the impact, nor do I have the patience to wait until the stars will get back on track.
As Barbara said, as the days passed, I lost my courage...
I have delayed this revenge for too long."
After saying that, Ciri put her hand on Mason's shoulder. She smiled weakly and said firmly:
"You wanted me to be your partner, to be a non-staff member of Team K. You got what you wanted, Mason. Between them and you, I'm beginning to trust you.
But we have to come up with a foolproof solution!
I know it’s hard…”
“This is beyond the definition of difficult.”
Mason stared at the sea of burning candles in front of him. Each flickering flame represented a life. He took a deep breath and held Ciri's hand tightly.
He said:
"But I will do it! Your trust is so heavy that I dare not let you down..."
