Love, Gun, Cupid

What's even more remarkable is that, given the town's residents' generally unconventional appearances, he is the resident Lin Jiade has seen who looks closest to a normal human, which makes Lin Jiade feel an extra bit of goodwill towards him.

Welcome, travelers from another world, on Friday. Starting three days ago, this once somewhat isolated town has become more vibrant and interesting every day, a change that its residents are happy to see.

Of course, when he said this, his expression was as abstract as that of the other townspeople. After all, those wanderers who had broken away from the empire were no saints; their entry into the town would bring change… and an equal degree of chaos.

The corpses hanging on the wooden walls were probably a result of the chaos, and the change in the town was that an area was cleared out specifically for the wanderers to stay in, as well as for trade between the wanderers and the town's residents.

The dead men on the wooden wall served as a warning, and the wanderers finally behaved themselves. Not far away, trade was underway; Lin Jiade saw the townspeople bartering some kind of ore with the birds.

Others followed his gaze and also noticed the town's "currency," Friday explained: "This is Amanda Stone, which is very popular among travelers from other worlds."

"What's the use of this?" Lin Jiade asked.

Kapok explained, "It's an excellent carrier for storing energy. The Empire's master-level magic researchers mostly use refined Amanda Stone in their energy storage devices. Right now, these raw ores need to be further processed before they can be used, so they don't have that much value."

On Friday, he admitted, "This is our only valuable resource, but unfortunately we don't have the processing technology."

"How much is in reserve?" Kapok asked.

"The town's public reserves are about 100 tons, but I don't know about the private reserves held by the residents."

This is an awkward figure; one hundred tons is too much for a five-man team, but too little for the Empire. Kapok cannot handle this shipment, nor can it take on the sub-line of the Imperial Ministry of Commerce, whose purchase orders start at at least one hundred thousand tons.

"Try to get yourself some Amanda Stone without violating the technology blockade regulations," Kapok whispered. "The more the better. You're short on energy, and Amanda Stone is the best energy storage medium that people can find."

Lin Jiade smiled wryly. The one who lacked energy the most was not him, but Jianlan, who shared the energy pool. Because of this problem, the latter suffered a great loss when she first faced off against Dujuan.

He took a closer look at Amanda Stone, then glanced at the bustling trade scene and couldn't help but find it amusing: the Empire was doing everything it could to restrict the technology of its subordinate forces, but the other "wanderers" who had entered the Mirror World didn't care about that, and many finished products that could upgrade the town's technology were traded away.

Perhaps this is why the Empire treats the Wanderers so poorly. With them around, the Empire's technology continues to spread to the outer realms, making it difficult for the Empire to maintain its technological advantage for long.

The young man spotted someone carrying Amanda Stones and damaged Imperial standard equipment (the locals lacked the skills to repair them) trying to trade with a wanderer. After a brief exchange, the townspeople pulled out a woman who looked like a fish-headed monster and stuffed her into the wanderer's arms, and the wanderer agreed.

Damn, man, your XP is weird!

Lin Jiade felt slightly annoyed. In front of an Imperial team that strictly adhered to the technology embargo regulations, the actions of those wanderers repairing Imperial standard equipment for the town's residents were like a fat man eating large chunks of pork belly next to a vegetarian—it was simply unpleasant to look at.

What annoyed Lin Jiade even more was the town's residents' behavior of treating people like currency. He clenched his fist, glanced at Mu Mian, who didn't react, which made him sigh slightly.

Seeing the wanderers openly embracing the townspeople and enjoying themselves, Friday explained somewhat awkwardly, "Our town's inbreeding is making our offspring increasingly vulnerable, and we urgently need new genes to be added."

Yuki sneered, “I’m reminded of the story of the Diamond Elves. When the Diamond Elves were still independent, those remote villages would warmly welcome any passerby and offer young women in order to introduce outside genes.”

The guests found it hard to resist the vanity of the aloof diamond elf's invitation. Under the influence of the drugged wine, they partied all night, lingering and reluctant to leave. Once the women were confirmed to be pregnant, the passersby would be killed immediately.

Their wealth went to the villagers, while they themselves were magically transformed into puppets, serving as laborers in hidden places.

On Friday, he wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and said, "We won't do that. Everyone here is a kind and good person."

“There are thirty-seven corpses on the wall,” Lin Jiade said. “Seven of them died within the last three days. They were all human. Whatever you are, you have the means to kill.”

Arcturus patted Lin Jiade on the shoulder: "Lying is pointless. We have an excellent scout."

I owe 69 chapters in total, have paid 20, and still owe 49.

Chapter 55 Asuka XIV

Lin Jiade, brimming with energy, endured his nausea and finished detecting the soul flames emanating from the corpses on the wall before turning his attention to the living. As the detection spell was activated, his pupils were temporarily divided into pale blue and gray.

The prying gaze pierced Friday's heart. Robinson's most loyal servant, whose body had been trained to its limits, was utterly defenseless against magic. He took two steps back in fear, clutching his chest, trying to block Lindgard's gaze.

Lin Jiade saw a ball of golden flame inside Friday's ethereal body. It was hard to believe that humans existed in a small town where bloodlines were pieced together from various sources.

Kapok made a gesture, and Lin Jiade ended his detection of Friday. Friday, who had caught his breath, argued, "While we welcome travelers, we do not want them to harm our order. This is our reasonable counterattack against the invaders."

“Is Mayor Robinson here? I’d like to speak with him,” Kapok said.

"The mayor is not available to receive guests."

"If you want to find a way to survive in Robinson Town, then you must make sure that we establish a dialogue. This is your only way to survive."

Friday's expression changed, and he asked seriously, "Who are you?"

“We are a tiny tentacle extending from a behemoth,” Kapok gestured. “And now, we are just like any other traveler. I hope to meet Mayor Robinson today; my companions are not as friendly as I am.”

Kapok's "companions" refer to the other five teams. On Friday, thinking they were the other members of Kapok's team, he took out a pair of glasses that could detect energy intensity and put them on. He had only glanced at them when the dazzling, sun-like light emanating from Kapok's team made him briefly dizzy.

With such energy, even if these travelers were faking it, Friday could only believe their story and that they came on behalf of some behemoth.

On Friday, he turned around and hurriedly pulled a trusted confidant aside to give instructions. The confidant then ran towards the tallest building in town.

On Friday, he greeted Kapok and her group with a smile and arranged for them to stay in the safest area of ​​the town, intentionally separating them from the townspeople and other wanderers.

"You are free to move around, but do not stray too far. Avoid conflicts with the natives and wanderers. Do not touch the food or water here."

Mu Mian gave him some more instructions. Lin Jiade had no intention of causing trouble. He checked the single room assigned to him and then released Jianlan from his revolver.

Gladiolus stared blankly toward the window, her body unconsciously floating towards it. Just as she was about to fly out of the window, Lin Jiade said, "Madam?"

"..."

Gladiolus seemed to wake from a dream, and she looked around curiously: "Where am I?"

"A settlement in the Mirror Realm; the current main and side quests are all here. Madam, you look confused. What does this place remind you of?"

Gladiolus shook her head: "I don't know. I just feel something here is attracting me, making me momentarily lose my senses... No, I'm being attracted by something else, is it a fragment of my soul? Or have I been here before?"

Gladiolus raised her head, her face a mixture of confusion and sorrow, just like the color of the flame of her soul.

"It seems that the fragments here will also be found and collected by the Empire. They have more and more fragments, and eventually, they will be able to piece together the real me. Right now, I am just a container that holds magical knowledge and common sense."

“Madam, you are not a vessel!” Lin Jiade clenched his fist. “To me, you are a living, breathing person!”

"Thank you, even though I, a 'living' person, can't even hold your hand."

Gladiolus forced a smile and said, "It's too early to think about these things now. Even if I disappear, the time I spent with you will be etched in the true Gladiolus's memory."

"If that's the case, then give up, ma'am."

Lin Jiade impulsively suggested, "Let's go back to our home in Fuxing City. We won't have to risk collecting memory fragments, and we won't have to worry about your disappearance. You can live with me, Jasmine, and Miss Dujuan. That home won't leave you lonely."

Jianlan felt a fleeting longing after Lin Jiade's description, but then helplessness covered her face: "If I were a young girl, perhaps I would have impulsively agreed."

But I'm an adult, and I always think things through more deeply. Like right now, Lin Jiade, I want to ask you, you've already taken on Jasmine's life; do you still have the capacity to take on the life of a dead, unknown old woman?

"I……"

“This time, you can’t answer ‘I don’t know.’” Jianlan held up a finger and put it to her lips. “I’ll ask you again, you’re on an Imperial mission. Is this a job you can just quit as you please?”

What would you do if the Empire discovered that the last fragment of Korobochka's soul was with you?

Cupid can protect you, but her protection has its limits. Either the empire's patience with her reaches its limit, or she deems your value to be at its limit. Have you considered this question?

"I……"

"The excessive self-awareness of contemporary youth is contradictory to their actual position in society. This contradiction causes pain, so some people, like you, deliberately give up thinking, blur the lines between reality and reality, constantly hype themselves up, and fantasize that they are omnipotent."

Gladiolus's eyes were filled with pity: "This isn't wrong, but it's definitely not right either. I've been thinking about how to properly teach and guide you in life. I've even wondered if guiding you to rush happily towards the finish line would bring you happiness in life."

But right now I feel that won't work; it's too dangerous. I see your ignorance and recklessness. Life isn't a straight track, and your current approach will leave you battered and bruised. So, you need to think, you need to struggle, even if it frustrates and pains you, you must continue to think.

Otherwise, you're just a living corpse, relying on constant injections of entertainment products that are like mind-drugs to create the illusion that you're still alive. You can be fooled by the rule of the empire, but you cannot fool yourself.

“Ms. Gladiolus, this is completely different from what Miss Azalea said.”

"When we teach you, our own selfish motives are inevitably mixed in, and coupled with our different positions, we give completely different answers."

Lin Jiade, you can take our guidance as a reference, but if you don't want to be controlled by us and become a walking corpse, you must have your own thoughts and actions.

Being rejected and denied is the fate of teachers. If one day you can deny my teachings, I imagine I will watch the fledglings leave the nest with a mixture of sadness and relief.

Chapter Fifty-Six: Worms IV

In Lin Jiade's living room, Du Juan lay lazily on the sofa. The TV screen was on, but it wasn't playing a TV program; instead, it was showing Lin Jiade and Jian Lan's live broadcast in the Mirror Realm.

At this moment, the television screen is showing Jianlan questioning Lin Jiade in a series of questions. Under her questioning, the originally confident young man begins to waver, revealing that he has nothing but courage in this matter.

"This is what Gladiolus means to Lin Jiade in terms of relationships: she can make Lin Jiade realize that not all women—like you—can be with him simply by satisfying their emotional needs."

A woman in her thirties needs more tangible security, in addition to love, to strengthen her confidence in life.

Lin Jiade can impress you with 80% promises and 20% actions, but for Jianlan, it would probably take at least half promises and half actions before she even starts to consider you.

What do you think, Jasmine?

Du Juan swirled the champagne glass in her hand, the pale yellow liquid bubbling and swaying within, while Jasmine sat beside her.

She glanced at the cup Du Juan had given her, then at the television screen, and said, "Why waste your energy doing something so pointless?"

“I have already drawn energy from your love with Lin Jiade, and now, a new energy is coming in, even better than the energy you two as a couple provide.”

As a celebration, I'm allowing myself a little luxury today.

"Why don't you try some? A bottle of celestial wine here costs over 1 dinars. I'll pull out 23 bottles, and that'll cover your and Lin Jiade's 120-square-meter wedding apartment in the city."

“I’m still a minor,” Jasmine said.

"Come on, I've never heard of a red dragon getting drunk on champagne."

"You, in your debauchery, would never understand; this is a form of restraint, and restraint is a virtue."

Dujuan disagreed: "Moderation is a virtue of upright apes because their animalistic ego is full of self-destructive tendencies, thus encouraging moderation."

For you and me, self-restraint is simply suppressing ourselves. You are trapped in a human body, just like a bird trapped in a cage.

You're not going to tell me that birds actually like being confined in a cage, are you?

Jasmine stared at the drink, her face contorted in the champagne glass. After a few seconds, she answered softly, "If you stay long enough, you'll get used to the birdcage, and once you get used to it, you'll like it."

"If you want to please your boyfriend, showing him the parts of yourself that are different from humans will make him more interested."

"That's between the two of us, it has nothing to do with you."

“It’s amazing you can stay so calm,” Du Juan pointed at the screen. “Your boyfriend is about to develop a closer relationship with another woman. You two haven’t discussed this, have you?”

“No, but I know he will tell me about it, and I will agree to it,” Jasmine said.

"Sure? I had no idea you were so generous!"

"I spend half my time on Lin Jiade (and the other half on studying), and of course I will think about the new people who appear around Lin Jiade."

Gladiolus is currently only an incomplete soul, and most of her soul fragments have fallen into the hands of the Empire. Her chance of restoring herself to full strength is 0%.

Even if I'm unwilling, I have to accept the fact that she's in my and Lin Jiade's lives. She's a lich, and her life box is Lin Jiade. The two of them are bound together, making it impossible for me to do anything about it.

Since that's the case, I can only change my mindset and figure out how to make Gladiolus serve my and Lin Jiade's lives.

Firstly, Gladiolus is just a ghost. Even if she seduces Lin Jiade, she has no physical body. Therefore, Lin Jiade's seed will eventually be completely absorbed into my body.