Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 770 - 378. Bonfire (4k)_2

Chapter 770: 378. Bonfire (4k)_2

"Let’s not talk about my matters here... As for Li Mingji’s issue, I will naturally look into it, but you—N4, what are your plans for the future?"

the Blacksmith asked, puzzled.

Up until now, he still didn’t know what N4 truly thought.

"Me? Dear Li Aozi, this isn’t the first time we’ve met. You still don’t know what I’m thinking?"

N4 lifted her gray hair, the neural implant wires at the roots faintly glowing:

"This is merely one of my Implant Gear incarnations. While your [Sovereign] faction uses Growth-armored Vanguards as puppet weapons, we [Biochemists] see them as tools. That is our fundamental difference."

"So your main body is elsewhere?"

"Exactly."

The Blacksmith did not ask further.

This incarnation of N4’s implant was at Zeta Rank, as for her purpose, the Blacksmith knew it involved something about her knowledge achievements. She would definitely get entangled with the Void.

It did not matter. Whether N4 or Azure Star, the Blacksmith had already made up his mind to abandon everything related to Li Aozi.

Even if the cosmos burned and the Starry Abyss boiled, it had nothing to do with him.

"Then, I wish you good luck."

The Blacksmith said as such.

N4 blinked her large eyes and looked at him, saying:

"Li Aozi, five years ago I carried your name, gave you this body to inhabit—one that is of Iota Rank (9)! And placed you in Valley Peak Village. I intended to protect you, to settle you, to plan for the future, possibly even to conquer this planet."

"I’m tired." the Blacksmith said calmly, "For me, it is all over. I am weary of the journey."

"Have you grown decadent because life is too peaceful?"

"I’m just tired of endless battles and actions. I am human too. I have feelings of enjoyment and weariness. This place might not be the best retirement spot, but where else could I choose?"

The Blacksmith shook his head:

"I am very fatigued, N4. I have no hope for the future. In the past, I have witnessed too much. I walked a path in eight years that takes ordinary people hundreds of years, and I have never truly enjoyed life."

"Regarding the Starry Abyss, the Pathway, and even the cosmos—do they not stir your heart at all?"

"Li Aozi was far more passionate than you."

The Blacksmith said.

’But I am not Li Aozi.’

Just let Li Aozi disappear into solitude.

"Since you have made your choice, I won’t insist you stay with me for my plans."

N4 shrugged:

"However, about this body, I have to remind you."

"Remind me of what?" the Blacksmith asked expressionlessly.

"Although this body was picked up from the roadside, it has Iota Rank strength. But as far as I know, there aren’t many on this planet with Iota Rank abilities."

N4 said faintly:

"Among them, nine are from the real powers of the Kingdom Parliament—the High Table."

"Are you suggesting that my body comes from one of the Nine Knights of the High Table?"

"Very likely." N4 said, "As one of the real powers of the Dragon Satellite’s only kingdom, yet dumped on the roadside like trash, it’s bound... to make people speculate, right?"

"Political persecution, failed struggle, assassination, key defeat... There are many possibilities that could force a real power ruler of this planet into exile, right?"

N4 said with interest:

"Although you desire a peaceful retirement, peace might not find you, especially after you’ve reclaimed so much of your belongings. The Fermi Research Institute won’t let you off."

"Is this also part of your plan? Deliberately luring me out to reclaim my Arcane Energy and traits..."

"An accident."

N4 grinned:

"Would you believe me if I said that?"

"...It doesn’t matter."

The Blacksmith’s eyes grew cold.

—N4 indeed had her hands in it behind the scenes.

This woman couldn’t be allowed to stay. If he wanted a peaceful life, N4 knew too much about him and had vaguely sensed the High Table’s secret.

She had to die!

The Blacksmith did not rush into action, as the other had said. [Biochemists’] implant was just a tool, easily discarded, and her main body must be somewhere far, watching him.

Rather than alert the enemy and risk revealing his true identity as not "Li Aozi," the Blacksmith preferred to hunt down her main body and eliminate her completely.

Although N4 was useful to Li Aozi, what did that have to do with the Blacksmith?

Anything that obstructed his seclusion, even a god, would be silently taken out.

N4 narrowed her eyes and smiled at him.

She seemed aware of the Blacksmith’s hostility, her narrowed eyes faintly glinting with cold light.

"Dear Li Aozi, since we have no further ties, let’s part ways—don’t disturb me, and you’d better not interfere with me either."

"...Mutual understanding."

Their atmosphere gradually turned icy, as the alliance of the past fractured, their conflicts rapidly surfaced.

The Blacksmith felt N4 held something over him.

N4 feared Li Aozi’s combat power.

"Hello! You’ve been chatting for a long time!"

Polina walked over excitedly, clutching two roasted potatoes:

"Ta-da! I was bored and dug around, and I found something good! Blacksmith Uncle, Ms. N4, would you like to try?"

The tense atmosphere instantly dissipated.

N4 casually took out a pocket watch, the three small snake-formed hands completely coiled, she looked at Polina but spoke to the Blacksmith:

"The rain has stopped, no need for me to lead you further."

"Huh? Are you saying goodbye here?"

Polina was taken aback and immediately asked:

"Ms. N4, aren’t you going to travel with us?"

"My official identity is still a member of the Fermi Research Institute, Miss."

N4 smiled slightly, turned to walk a few steps towards a path in the stone cave, then stopped:

"For your bravery and quality, I’ll give you a piece of advice, Miss."

Polina, confused but nodded:

"Please go ahead."

"Substance Rain only falls during times when the Void is active."

N4 said faintly:

"That rain is man-made. Except for the suddenly scattered snake watches around the world, there are almost no means to predict Substance Rain."

"The only certainty is that the rain’s essence is to eliminate the Void."

"However, although the Void creatures are entirely eradicated after Substance Rain, the kingdom’s troops often approach, as if they are always searching for the source of the rain..."

N4 seemed as if she had more to say, but a sudden lightning strike cleaved through the sky, illuminating the world.

Rumble...

N4 closed her mouth, stayed silent for a moment, and said:

"That is more or less it."

She glanced at the Blacksmith, saying:

"Whether you can return to a peaceful life, you know it in your heart. Landmines left untouched draw no attention, but once triggered, you can never return to tranquility."

With that, she turned and left, soon vanishing from sight.

"The source of the rain..."

Polina frowned, still pondering over N4’s words.

"Don’t overthink it."

The Blacksmith took a potato from her hand, took a bite:

"The rain has stopped. I’ll take you and Nail back home, have a good bath and sleep, don’t think about anything else."

"What about the dead..." Polina asked

"We’ll talk about it tomorrow." The Blacksmith said indifferently, "You are a bunch of kids making a ruckus, parents will probably take two or three days to notice."

"Before that, am I supposed to hide their deaths?"

"Prolong it as much as possible." the Blacksmith said, "Moreover, letting people know about the Fermi Research Institute is not a good thing, it might even bring disaster."

"But, I can’t let these people’s parents stay in the dark, can I? Their children died at the hands of the institute, yet they can’t even know who the culprit is. We all left together, but only I came back safely..."

"That’s not for you to worry about."

The Blacksmith said coldly:

"Your grandfather is powerful locally, covering this up is not hard. About the Fermi Research Institute, you can talk to him, the adults will find a way to handle it."

"I..."

"Don’t think about anything."

The Blacksmith grabbed the remaining potato and stuffed it into her mouth, instructing her:

"This isn’t a time for speaking the truth. The more people know, the more they lose the current order."

"This is society; it maintains its fragile balance with lies and self-deception."