"If it were anyone else, they absolutely wouldn't spend so much thought and effort. So this is... revenge?"
Li Wu clenched his teeth, squeezing this unbelievable conclusion from his throat.
Because he was currently still an ordinary person, limited by Schicksal's basic policy of not harming ordinary people, they couldn't act directly.
Judging from the situation where no one came to rescue Anna when she was on the verge of death during the mission, it was obvious that the mastermind didn't care about Anna's life or death, and had perhaps even prepared to sacrifice her long ago.
If this was to win him over with a honey trap, Anna absolutely wouldn't have been allowed to die during the mission.
"My literature teacher once taught that tragedy is the destruction of beautiful things for people to see. A long vacation, a lone man and woman, beautiful scenery, being alone together... Clearly, they want me to fall into the trap, immerse myself in the beauty, and then destroy it all in the end. Enough is enough! You manipulator, treating me like a monkey just because I have a system, and dragging innocent people into this!"
"Just wait. Once I unlock more abilities and become stronger, I'll beat you so hard even your mother won't recognize you!"
Li Wu's fist, clutching the Flame-Chaser's Feather, slammed heavily against the window ledge. The force was so great that it cracked the wall beneath it.
Yet, the Flame-Chaser's Feather remained unscathed.
Realizing he had lost control, Li Wu took a deep breath of fresh air, forcing himself to calm down.
The priority now wasn't to blame the heavens or others, but to think about how to respond.
Since the mastermind treated Anna as a sacrifice to create a tragedy for him.
Then what he had to do was stall the progress as much as possible.
He couldn't get together with Anna, because that was exactly what the mastermind expected.
But he couldn't just give Anna the cold shoulder either, lest the mastermind take even more drastic actions.
The tragedy of Starsnatch Town couldn't happen again. Last time, it was thanks to the wooden cabin, but what about next time? Who could guarantee there would be a safe zone similar to the wooden cabin next time?
Even if there were, how many times would he have to die to find it?
For a full hour, Li Wu pondered various possibilities and countermeasures.
"Li Wu, I bought the things. When do we leave?"
Anna's voice came from behind him.
Li Wu turned around and saw Anna smiling happily, carrying... no, shouldering large and small bags. She was wearing a refreshing swimsuit. The top was ultra-short with delicate white lace trim along the neckline, and the bottom was a blue and white skirt with a light bow tied at the waist, trembling slightly with Anna's movements as she stopped.
She looked so much fresher than before, full of vitality, like a female lead walking out of a summer campus drama—confident and sunny.
"It's only eleven in the morning. Isn't it a bit too early?" Li Wu checked his phone and asked in confusion.
Anna walked over quickly, placed the boxes heavily on the ground, then wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with excitement, "Not early, I have a plan!"
"Since we're going to the seaside, we definitely need to change clothes, right? Do you plan to wear a sweater and fleece-lined pants under the hot sun?"
Anna leaned close and tugged at Li Wu's sweater.
Indeed, because the mission yesterday was in Siberia at tens of degrees below zero, and the next day he was sent to Ireland Island with its suitable temperature and lively summer atmosphere.
If it weren't for the air conditioning in the room, this sweater would look weird no matter how you looked at it.
"Uh, okay. You bought mine too? I remain skeptical of your taste..."
"Hmph, I knew you'd say that! You really don't change, Li Wu, always thinking about how to make things difficult for me." Anna pouted, pretending to turn her head away indifferently, but her lips kept twitching, seemingly nervous. "I learned to be smart this time. I bought you three sets in different styles; just choose the one you like best."
"What if I don't like any of them?"
"Didn't you hear me clearly? I asked you to choose the one you like 'best' out of the three. There is no option for not liking..."
Anna deliberately turned away and spoke to Li Wu in a little devil tone, but the moment her eyes met Li Wu's, she shrank back in panic, completely losing the dashing air she had when she first returned, her voice much quieter. "Anyway... it's just, just for this afternoon..."
Her voice was so small it was almost swallowed by the wind outside the window.
"After you change, we'll go out and find a restaurant for lunch. You might not be used to the food here in Northern Europe, so I asked a lot of people on the way back and found a Chinese restaurant with very good reviews. Having stayed in the Far East for so long, you must miss the taste of home, right?"
"That Chinese restaurant isn't too far from the beach, about a few hundred meters. We can walk there slowly... Sunscreen, beach chairs, sun hats, beach umbrellas, quick-dry towels..."
Anna squatted on the ground, taking out item after item from her bag, saying the name of each one as she took it out.
Unknowingly, she listed a huge pile, and finally placed a pair of beach sandals firmly in front of Li Wu. Turning her head, she said, "I heard people on the road say that the sand gets very hot in the afternoon before evening. Here, prepared for you."
"Don't worry about food. There are shops on the beach specifically selling fruits and drinks; the prices are quite affordable."
Li Wu fell silent, looking down and counting the pile of items, all of which would come in handy.
Did Anna enter mission mode? Arranged so meticulously, he couldn't pick out a single fault.
Whether it was preparation or planning, it was much better than Li Wu had imagined.
How many people did she ask?
Li Wu finally understood why Anna had been gone for so long. It turned out she had cared all along...
To put his mind at ease and give him a more comfortable play experience, she must have walked for a long time, mustered up her courage to ask many people, before she could arrange everything in such detail.
Even if the playtime was only a short six hours.
She was meticulous, putting her heart into every inconspicuous detail.
A smile even he didn't notice appeared on the corner of Li Wu's mouth. He put on the beach sandals Anna had specially bought. They were very comfortable to wear, like stepping on soft mud. The style was a masculine dark blue, printed with English words featuring cool sports cars, not old-fashioned at all.
"Then I'll listen to you, Anna."
Hearing Li Wu call her name, Anna's pupils constricted, and her ears trembled, almost in disbelief.
Her breathing noticeably heavy, yet she tried her best to suppress it, not wanting to appear so frivolous and casual.
"As... as long as you like it... I'll wait outside first. Tell me when you're done changing."
Anna turned and walked away, her steps fast and messy.
The door closed heavily, leaving Li Wu alone in the room again.
Unseen by anyone, Anna leaned her back against the other side of the door, her eyes drifting, the corners of her mouth rising uncontrollably. But feeling it was too rude, she immediately kept a straight face, switching from "airhead" to "unhappy."
Like a child who had discovered a huge treasure, afraid someone would steal her joy and happiness, she hid it all away.
"As long as I like it..."
In the room, Li Wu took off his woolen coat and looked at the three sets of vacation outfits in different styles. His eyes were gentle, brighter than any dawn could ever be.
He couldn't tell if these clothing brands were famous, but he could clearly see that each set had been carefully selected.
Yeah, as long as I like it.
Li Wu chose a set he liked, with a style similar to Anna's outfit.
After changing, he didn't call out from inside the room but opened the door directly.
The door opened.
Li Wu saw Anna leaning on the window ledge in the corridor, her head tilted up, looking at the sky as clear as if it had been washed, bright dreamlike colors reflected in her pink eyes.
A Valkyrie's five senses should be different from ordinary people, but it wasn't until Li Wu walked to her side and imitated her posture, resting his elbows on the window ledge, that Anna realized belatedly, her body trembling as she reacted.
"You... you're already done changing? So fast..."
"Really? I felt like I was slower than usual. After all, I'm a guy; changing clothes can only be so slow. This outfit fits quite well."
Anna pretended to turn her head indifferently, her eyes rolling, quickly scanning Li Wu's appearance before retracting her gaze.
"Mis... mission data had your body measurements. I just bought them according to the data..."
"So that's how it is. Schicksal is really amazing. Even a small fry like me can't escape having my body data included in the database."
Li Wu laughed helplessly. Together with Anna, he leaned half his body out of the window, bathing in the warm sunlight.
The temperature on the island was suitable, and the wind was cool, rustling through the leaves with a subtle sound, brushing past their faces, blowing the hair at their temples.
Downstairs, a couple stopped in front of the staff receiving guests.
After returning from Siberia, Li Wu's five senses had been further enhanced. He confirmed it: back at the Cioara Orphanage, what Raven fed him wasn't just some enhancer, nor was it anything else.
It was Holy Blood.
He had some strange compatibility with Holy Blood. What would be a physical enhancement for ordinary people became a comprehensive, dead-angle-free, massive strengthening of constitution, recovery, five senses, reaction, etc., when applied to him, and without any time limit.
Therefore, Li Wu heard—
Downstairs, a husband asked the staff about matters related to this hotel, only to be politely refused by the hotel staff: This hotel has already been booked by a certain VIP and is not accepting other guests.
The husband sighed. The wife looked at him with a smile throughout, saying things like "It's okay" after the negotiation failed.
Two children, a boy and a girl. Brother and sister? Or older sister and younger brother?
Li Wu didn't know. He only knew one thing.
The two children stood downstairs, looking at him and Anna beside him with curious and expectant eyes. Each raised one hand, finally forming a heart shape above their touching heads.
Li Wu was stunned.
Are they treating Anna and me as a couple? Giving us their blessing?
Li Wu smiled.
Kids these days really...
They know so much, much more mature than I was in my original world. At this age, I was still a mud monkey, liking to cause trouble, adventure, and play everywhere every day. Where would I have this longing for "love"?
Rather than talking about love, it was better to go catch crabs in the river with friends and bring them home to raise, although the crabs usually died within a few days.
In a trance, another warm breeze blew, carrying the rich fragrance of gardenias from afar.
Li Wu subconsciously closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the couple downstairs had already prepared to leave with their children. So he turned his head slightly and shifted his gaze to Anna beside him.
Only to see Anna's ears were terribly red.
Li Wu fell silent.
He didn't point out the little interlude just now, nor did he choose to leave. He just silently leaned by the window with Anna, watching people coming and going downstairs, watching the swing by the sea swaying.
Just like this, continuously, continuously.
Time seemed to lose its meaning, whiling away in the wind. Just lowering one's gaze, sometimes unfocused, sometimes focused, like a thief, quietly stealing glances, then pretending to look at the scenery seriously.
Besides the family, many couples passed downstairs.
There were men and women in their twenties of similar age, and middle-aged men with their arms around the waists of young girls. Without exception, they were all turned away.
This well-built couple's hotel was booked by that mastermind today.
Even if he and Anna went out, they probably couldn't persuade the staff.
Suddenly, Anna asked a question she had been observing for a long time: "Li Wu, do couples all like to come to small islands for vacation?"
"If it's a couple, whether they go to a scenic small island or just stay in the small city where they are both located, they'll go holding hands, right? Especially by the seaside."
Li Wu pointed to the infinite sea surface behind the pale beach in the distance. "Because they came, you can see them. But in reality, among the couples who agree to go see the sea, the ones who actually keep the appointment in the end are few and far between."
Anna lowered her head, thoughtful.
"Is it because of money?"
Anna's gaze was locked on the shop downstairs, where a young couple was arguing constantly, flushed red over the price of a souvenir.
The boy felt the price was extremely high and the value for money too low, preferring to spend the money on entertainment, or eat a few more big meals after returning, or buy a few more pieces of usable furniture.
The girl complained that it wasn't easy to come out once. Vacationing on Ireland Island with him was a plan from three years ago. They had to buy a souvenir to be worthy of her three years of bitter waiting.
"I am a Valkyrie, and also the Holy Maiden of the Schariac family. Most expenses are reimbursed by Schicksal or the family, so I can't really feel ordinary people's obsession with money... Occasionally during missions, I see them abandon family, betray friends, and stab brothers in the back for profit... Isn't the most important thing feelings? Even if you own the whole world, what meaning is there without the people you care about?"
The sunlight fell on Anna's exquisite face, which was written full of confusion.
"..."
"Because everyone believes that only with money can they experience the taste of owning the whole world." Li Wu smiled bitterly, the image of Raiden Mei chatting enthusiastically with her noble friends involuntarily appearing in his mind.
"Everyone's world is very, very small from the beginning. As we grow, we meet more and more people and see larger and larger things... And after this process, it's hard to maintain one's original intention."
"Just like when you become an A-rank Valkyrie, you won't care about past C-rank missions."
"There are many couples who agree to see the sea. The reason isn't a lack of money, but during the journey, conflicts arise due to various things, and they eventually separate."
"As mentioned above, meeting more and more people and seeing larger and larger things, the past promise to see the sea together might become insignificant."
"Even the person made the promise with becomes insignificant... People are like this. After a certain event, they treat their former friends like limescale, thinking the relationship won't go bad until death. But how is that possible? Studies, career, dreams, feelings, personality... They will always temporarily abandon each other for various reasons. But abandonment is abandonment; even if it's just for a moment, it's abandonment. Once detected by the other party, you are no longer important in their heart."
"Not to mention, most people will completely abandon certain aspects, only showing half of themselves in front of that person, hiding the other half for others."
"The other party clearly knows they've been abandoned in certain aspects but can't speak up, can't make a scene. Can they run to her and say: 'Ah, you can't do this. I saved you, so you must include me in everything, consider me in everything?' Don't be ridiculous; that would just throw away their last bit of face."
"It's easy to throw away, but picking it up again is not only hard but tiring. Tiring to the point that even if you pick it up, you won't feel relaxed; instead, you'll carry more heavy burdens."
"It's better to make a clean break. Since you abandoned others in some aspects, be prepared for others to abandon you in some aspects. Finally, the two become ordinary friends, perfunctorily dealing with each other, and that's it. Mmh, isn't that happy for everyone?"
Anna listened quietly, her bright pink eyes watching Li Wu chatter on, clearly interested in his thoughts and understanding.
But gradually, as Li Wu said more and more, going deeper and deeper, Anna's light smile faded.
She stared blankly at Li Wu's mocking smile and couldn't help reaching out to grab the back of Li Wu's hand. The force was very small, like a peck from a bird.
"Li Wu..."
"What's wrong? Oh, sorry, I got a bit too carried away and went off on a tangent. In short, everyone's world will get bigger and bigger, and one day, people from the past will become insignificant. So for couples who agree to go see the sea, those who can truly fulfill the promise, even if they can't become family in the future, will leave a deep mark in each other's lives."
"As long as you are willing, no matter what we encounter, I will take you to see the bigger world together."
"..."
Li Wu thought he had finished speaking, but hearing this sentence from Anna, he froze by the window, his vision blurring, not knowing how to respond.
Realizing her words were a bit ambiguous, Anna suddenly panicked. She raised both hands like a flexible puppet, waving them left and right: "Ah, no, I mean... um... look, isn't there a week of vacation? We can go to the seaside, and we can also go to the big forest on the small island to take a look. I heard from locals that the scenery is second only to the strait!"
Her explanation was pale. She waved her hands incoherently, her tongue tied, slurring her words several times.
Li Wu suddenly felt as if a jar of honey had been poured over his heart. It was sweet inside, exploding with sweetness.
"Alright, I'll remember that. Lord Valkyrie won't go back on her word, right?" Li Wu smiled frivolously, his tone a bit teasing.
"Mmh! Don't worry. I am a Valkyrie; I can be responsible for every sentence and every word I say!"