Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 260 - 081. This isn’t training a dog, it’s love (stick reading)

Chapter 260: 081. This isn’t training a dog, it’s love (stick reading)

"Ox, go buy me a Silly Monkey."

"Right away, bro."

"Ox, book me a hotel."

"Already done!"

"Ox——"

"Yes!"

As he walked through the shopping street, Caramel Snail was bundled up with bags big and small, panting heavily, and reflexively shouted at Li Aozi’s call, then put down his luggage and shopping bags, standing straight up.

"Hmm..." Li Aozi stroked his chin, "I haven’t decided yet; keep holding the luggage."

"...(Very politely spoken)."

Troubling Caramel Snail wasn’t a whim or a malicious pleasure for Li Aozi, but rather a reason to continuously feed him experience, allowing him to boost his level first, lest he be killed by a stray blast in future combats.

However, to tell the truth, as Sky Ring Country is one of the Four Nations, the variety of products in its business streets and shopping centers is dazzling. Having come to Sky Ring Country, Li Aozi no longer concealed his Red Arrow Imperial citizenship and spent stout Red Arrow Currency Galun, focusing on purchasing daily chemicals, biological materials, candies, and snacks.

He wasn’t much fond of luxury goods; he used to smoke occasionally to relieve stress, but after noticing that Alicxia would frown slightly at the smell of tobacco, he simply quit smoking altogether.

To highlight his identity as a citizen of the Red Arrow Empire, he shed the recognizably shabby ’Scavenger’ coat and instead wore a snowy white shirt, dark blue men’s vest, added cross-like cufflinks, and draped a long leather trench coat with subtle Iris patterns.

Li Aozi tied the hair hanging over his right temple into a whip and secured it with a golden brown cord, making him look like a proper Red Arrow elite.

Compared to the lazy and loose robes of the Sky Ring people, which no one favored, the dress code of the Red Arrow Empire always revolved around white and black, understated yet exquisite. The people carried an inherent pride and nobility, as if as Imperials, they were born superior to others.

In fact, the outfit Li Aozi purchased from the mall, called "Bygone Years," was indeed the ’Graduation Suit’ of the Red Arrow Empire—upon completing the main questline across the nation and reaching the cap level, one could unlock the privilege to purchase it.

[Costume Name]: RAE-Bygone Years (Men’s)

[Quality]: Formal Wear

[Introduction]: "Rather than chasing trends, become a classic."

In the Imperial Impression series, none is more classic than this ’Bygone Years’, representing the epochal characteristics of the Empire’s most prosperous period. The national flower of the Empire, the ’Dark Cang Arrow Heart Iris’, patterns flicker covering the entire coat. The Mandarin collar and padded shoulders are designed to modify the slender but not hefty frame of Red Arrow men effectively, creating an image as haughty and elegant as a ’Vampire Duke’.

RAE-Bygone Years emphasizes the cultivation of the masculine physique and Alpha temperament. While classical cinchers are a torment for women, the elastic high-polymer fiber material for cinching chests and waists can perfectly support men’s muscle contours, broad backs, slim waists, and well-developed pectorals, showcasing masculine allure. You need not worry about ’steroid belly’ spoiling your fine silhouette due to excessive medication.

Designed to showcase the perfect physique of Imperial men, the trousers fit snugly over your muscular thighs, presenting a graceful and healthy silhouette, and the coordinating long boots with three straps, imitating military boots, sculpt a robust masculine feature. We promise you: Imperial Impression will never resemble the Frost Plated men’s tight tops and revealing bottoms because Imperial men need only their demeanor to captivate girls—and vice versa, the women’s designs emphasize an organic combination of general’s style and aristocratic flamboyance.

[Costume Effect]:

(For Red Arrow Empire citizens only) When you wear this fashion set, "Charm" can also cause ’Deterrence’ and ’Intimidation’ effects. In the eyes of others, you will leave an ’Arrogance’ impression.

[Price]: 150 Point Tickets

——————————

Compared to the practicality and convenience emphasized by the Scavenger’s outfit, this ’Bygone Years’ ensemble is imbued with a firm personal style, clearly showing that Li Aozi is from the Red Arrow Empire, even though his skin tone resembles that of the Outer World people and his facial features that of the Frost Plated People, which differ significantly from the predominantly blond-haired and blue-eyed Red Arrow People—yet the moment one glimpses his eagle-like proud grey eyes, these insignificant discrepancies are immediately forgotten.

Li Aozi spent extravagantly on Red Arrow attire, intentionally parading through the city flamboyantly. This was partly to replenish his Biological Pool’s raw materials, and partly to spread the news of his arrival in Nuliang City of Sky Ring Country.

The relationship between Sky Ring and Red Arrow was not good, as evidenced by recent events in the Hameda Archipelago, along with Sky Ring suffering from stagflation spurred by interest rates hikes by the Red Union Reserve (stalling economic growth while experiencing inflation). The already frosty diplomatic relations between the two nations were merely shelved due to the Frost Plated issue, but they were far from reconciled.

Moreover, Li Aozi was globally known (wanted) personality—it didn’t take long for the news to stir a storm throughout the city.

The government of Sky Ring, though consistently employing a top-heavy management style, was utterly puzzled by Li Aozi’s entry; even more absurd was that when they planned to dispatch forces to apprehend him, they realized one problem:

Li Aozi was a criminal wanted by GTB in Frost Plated, but it was an open secret that the high-ranking officials in Grante had ordered him to commit those acts.

Furthermore, after Duke of Grante was killed by Li Aozi and the catastrophic defeat of Frost Plated’s air force, Li Aozi’s combat prowess was universally acknowledged as a Quasi-Gamma Rank powerhouse. The officials of Nuliang City weighed their own strength and realized that the aerial capabilities of the Air Force of Sky Ring, apart from its quicker dive attacks, truly fell short when compared to the Vulture fighter jets of the Frost Plated People.

After much consideration, the government of Nuliang City simply decided to throw in the towel and stop bothering with a Quasi-Gamma Rank powerhouse from an unfriendly nation causing disturbances on their turf; they were even too lazy to track him.

Not to mention whether such a high-level powerhouse could be tracked—if something truly went wrong, it would likely result in a mobbing by several Gamma Rank fighters.

Given his and the Duke of Grante’s destructive capabilities, by that time, this city would probably be unable to survive as well.

Why bother? With a monthly revenue less than half of what he spends in a day, why risk their lives?

Compared to the government of Nuliang City’s ’give up’ attitude, the citizens of Nuliang City were in an uproar.

"Hey hey, this is phenomenal, that’s Li Aozi, right..."

The Caramel Snail noticed that the crowd around them consciously made way for Li Aozi, whispering and discussing fervently among themselves.

"Truly a once in a millennium beauty, gender becomes a joke in the face of such Charm."

"I never believed the warrants against Frost Plated. Now that I’ve seen Li Aozi in person, I believe even less."

"Honestly, even if he did commit a crime, he should be forgiven."

"Who’s that ugly guy next to him, though? He’s uneducated and unpleasant to look at; I could serve as a better attendant for him."

The Caramel Snail’s face was filled with vexation; as someone with social anxiety, he was actually terrified of being the center of attention. However, when he realized that people were focusing all their attention on Li Aozi and arguing about who was more suitable to be his attendant—the Caramel Snail felt oddly possessive.

He didn’t want to share Li Aozi with anyone else. Even the post he had prepared but not yet submitted to the forum was silently deleted.

Caramel Snail couldn’t hide his small scheme from Li Aozi; this kind-hearted man’s face was an open book, making it impossible to lose at poker with him.

[Not bad, he has already started to develop a reliance and his identity recognition is basically formed. It’s time for PUA.]

After strolling around with Ox for half the afternoon, Li Aozi kept an eye on the forum information and soon players in the same city learned that he had arrived at Sky Ring.

Li Aozi’s initial goal was achieved; he found a martial arts gym and dumped Caramel Snail, who was covered in various shopping bags and parcels, with the instructor, dropping a few hundred Galun as tuition and tip.

For the instructor’s training, Li Aozi had just one requirement:

"Once he awakens his Qi Energy, beat him mercilessly."

"Don’t worry!" The instructor patting his muscular chest assured, "I’ll make sure he can’t get out of bed tomorrow morning!"

"Not like that!"

Caramel Snail had been shopping with Li Aozi all afternoon and was nearly in despair.

Shopping with Li Aozi was like shopping with a woman—picky and trying on things only to not buy them, stopping and going from one shop to the next. His legs were sore; it was just a game, yet he felt helplessly exhausted.

Now, Li Aozi had handed him over to a muscular man and uttered such fearsome words. Caramel Snail, terrified, quickly clung to Li Aozi’s legs, howling, "Brother Aozi, you can’t be so heartless. I’ve been your bag-carrying lackey all afternoon; you can’t treat me like this, I’ll die."

"So, you are saying that what I have done for you is still not enough?"

"At least don’t treat me like a dog!"

Li Aozi’s mouth curved downward, a hint of loss appearing in his eyes as he subconsciously echoed the words just like a Mingji Professor:

"Carrying bags, shopping, training—you must be mistaken about something. I do these because I care about making you better."

Caramel Snail was stunned. Li Aozi, with his arrogant demeanor and powerful charm, folded his arms, his face turning away with a look of disdain:

"You are stupid and talentless, your attributes aren’t enough, born in low circumstances—everyone despises you—but I won’t."

Li Aozi’s words were filled with self-mockery:

"I thought by showing you markets you’ve never entered, exposing you to the intoxicating riches of capitalism, having you join me, a person from Red Arrow, in opulence, you as a street rat could never dream of this taste of the high life—I thought if you saw all this, you would understand my good intentions, awakening your ambition."

...Eh?

Caramel Snail just knelt there, stunned.

Because the game was so realistic, he had forgotten that he was actually a player descended into ’Saga Qi’.

Is this how Li Aozi always viewed ’Saga Qi’?

Feeling pity, thinking he had talent, that’s why he encouraged him and kept him close.

Caramel Snail suddenly realized that he hadn’t truly stepped into the role of ’Saga Qi’, and therefore failed to understand the other party’s intentions.

No wonder the developers included a [Camouflage Mode]. Only like this can a player truly replace the body of the descendent and truly ’live’.

’What did Saga Qi really think? He surely didn’t want to miss this opportunity.’

"Now it seems I was too naive," Li Aozi said, shaking his head. From his eyes, Caramel Snail saw frustration and regret.

Faintly, he also heard a sigh:

’I had thought a sewer rat, once it looked up, would aspire to reach for the moon.’

Li Aozi casually said to the martial arts instructor:

"It seems this kid is reluctant to fight; just teach him some basic moves."

"No problem."

He glanced at Caramel Snail and said flatly:

"This is it then. Hopefully, we’ll meet again if fate allows."

After finishing, Li Aozi raised his hand and the gravitational force lifted all the packages, and he turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Caramel Snail called out.

It wasn’t just about being Saga Qi... This was his rare chance to compete on the same stage with those high and untouchable professional players.

He really didn’t want to give up everything.

He clenched his fists, his gaze firmly fixed on the instructor:

"Any torment will do, bring it on."

Li Aozi glanced sidelong at him and quietly offered encouragement.

[Li Aozi’s favorability +10]