"Show my sincerity?"
The youth, who could essentially be considered to be pulling off a con job, getting something for nothing, lightly tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly pondering something.
After roughly ten seconds, the youth, his eyes half-closed, nodded and spoke.
"Please state the information you desire."
Welt narrowed his eyes, mulling over the question.
For him to take action once, the price offered by the other party was two pieces of information. However, he had deliberately listed a series of intelligence that even Welt himself was very interested in, letting him choose.
Undoubtedly, he was doing this intentionally.
Those extra pieces of information were likely things that would be very difficult for Welt to uncover himself, yet they were critically important.
He was luring him into turning a one-time transaction into a long-term one.
Welt, arguably the intellectual heavyweight of the Herrscher world, quickly saw through Li Zihan's intentions.
Since it was bait, then these pieces of information must surely be guaranteed to be authentic.
After all, if the bait was fake and encountered an old, discerning fish, the outcome wouldn't be pretty.
If one were to use fish as an analogy, Welt, who was at least a fin whale, found his gaze becoming more focused.
"What is the true nature of Honkai?"
Without much hesitation, Welt chose the option among the many pieces of information that was most crucial to this world.
"Are you sure you want to choose this one?"
The youth, very adept at leveraging information asymmetry to obtain what he wanted, inquired.
"For the current Anti-Entropy, a topic that is too grand and vague might not actually be of much help, you know."
"This is the one."
The First Herrscher, who had inherited Welt Joyce's dying wish and was determined to fight against the Honkai to the very end, spoke with a firm voice.
Anti-Entropy would sooner or later confront the entity known as Honkai. Naturally, the sooner they knew about it, the better.
"It is a trial from the Imaginary Tree, used to screen civilizations. Civilizations that pass the trial will be preserved, while those that fail will fall and plunge into the Sea of Quanta."
Imaginary Tree? Sea of Quanta?
Suddenly hearing one of his chosen options and a name he had never heard before, Welt frowned.
He wanted to speak up, to ask further, but before any sound could escape, his mouth closed.
The Sea of Quanta was a separate option. Since he had chosen information about Honkai, the other party had no reason to answer questions related to the Sea of Quanta.
The situation with the Imaginary Tree was the same.
These were the rules of the game, and he, not having fully grasped the other party's actual situation, couldn't just flip the game board and change the rules.
Those who cannot change the rules can only adapt to them.
"It seems if I want to ask about the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta, I'll need to wait until after the Herrscher of Erosion is defeated and another matter begins."
Welt, having roughly guessed the rules of the game, said.
"Of course."
An answer that did not surprise him came from the youth before him.
Indeed, this is actually a long-term transaction.
Welt, now aware that this transaction was merely a prelude, spoke.
"I will be staying at ME Corp next. When the Herrscher of Erosion appears, you can have Ryoma notify me."
ME Corp was the enterprise stolen from Raiden Ryoma, currently under Cocolia's control, and unwelcoming to members of Anti-Entropy's conservative faction.
However, Welt was an exception.
He was not only a member of Anti-Entropy's conservative faction but also its Sovereign, possessing the right to supervise and control proxies, and the strength to enforce that right.
"Thank you for your assistance."
The youth chuckled lightly.
A long-term transaction was thus completed in tacit understanding.
"Well then, I'll be leaving first."
Welt stood up from the sofa and headed towards the main door.
Because of Li Zihan's whistleblowing, he could no longer lie low at St. Freya Academy. It was time for him to return to his position as Sovereign and sort out the restless elements.
"I look forward to our next meeting."
Li Zihan stood up and saw Welt out the door.
"Hey— brat! You've answered the Sovereign's questions, now it's time for you to answer mine, right?"
Raiden Ryoma, who had been standing by the side for a long time, watched the youth who was closing the door, his eyes suddenly snapping open, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"Esteemed Father-in-Law, you haven't left yet!"
The youth's expression was slightly astonished, as if he had seen a ghost.
Hearing these words, which sounded deliberately provocative, veins that would make a nursing professional swoon bulged on Raiden Ryoma's forehead.
"I'm asking you a question!!"
Raiden Ryoma suppressed the urge to draw his sword and advanced towards Li Zihan.
"Answer me properly."
"Answer properly?"
Hearing such words, Li Zihan's eyes flickered slightly, and his signature teasing smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"Loved her once, not available, save the adult, no regrets, this question's too hard, busy tomorrow, homework's not finished, not selling anything."
A string of words flowed from his mouth like machine-gun fire.
Raiden Ryoma was愣 (lèng - stunned). He didn't understand what Li Zihan meant.
He carefully mulled over the rapidly spoken words, thought for a moment, and the fire in his chest surged upwards once more.
This brat was messing with him!!
"I just saw that Esteemed Father-in-Law didn't seem very happy, so I told you a joke to lighten the mood."
Li Zihan picked up the teapot from the table, poured Raiden Ryoma a cup of water, handed it over, and brushed off his actions as a joke.
Raiden Ryoma coldly stared at the teacup presented before him, not taking it.
"Alright, alright, if you have any questions, just ask."
The youth, who, as a son-in-law, was undoubtedly the worst possible choice, grinned, took back the teacup, drank the tea in one gulp, and casually placed the cup on the coffee table.
Looking at the empty teacup, Raiden Ryoma's eyelids twitched.
"You and my daughter, exactly how far have things progressed?"
Raiden Ryoma, who already had a good idea, took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and asked in a low voice.
"How far has it progressed?"
Hearing such a question, Li Zihan blinked and said.
"It hasn't reached the point of discussing marriage yet."
That was as good as saying nothing.
Raiden Ryoma, who actually knew that the question he had just asked was as good as unasked, felt a wave of desolation.
They were already in the same room; what other stage could it be?
"What are your plans for the future?"
Raiden Ryoma, now certain that his prize cabbage had been snatched by a pig, placed the long tachi in his arms to the side and asked.
Right now, he could only hope that this scoundrel was a decent person.
"I'll probably wander around the world."
The youth, who likely really would be roaming everywhere in the future, honestly stated the life he desired.
"Just living like that, without a fixed abode?"
Raiden Ryoma's already furrowed brows creased even more noticeably.
If he was going to live so recklessly, wouldn't Mei, who was with him, also be without a fixed home?
"What else?"
The youth, who felt that any place was better than the Mining City beneath the Clock Tower where he lived, pouted.
This guy, hasn't he even thought about building a stable home?
Raiden Ryoma felt his qi and blood defying circulation, rushing towards his head.
Unable to suppress his fury any longer, Raiden Ryoma roared.
"Have you ever considered Mei's feelings, you bastard?!"