Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

The man silently recited this in his heart.

Yes, just like fireworks.

He had to get the key that would set him on fire; he had to attend the auction and get what he wanted.

In other words, it is a weapon of destiny.

Leonid stood at the entrance beneath the tall building, watching the bustling crowd slowly pour into the massive shopping mall that had been perfectly normal just a dozen hours earlier.

The man walked in indifferently and without hesitation. At the entrance of a certain brand-name store, he stopped and quietly handed the invitation to the saleswoman.

The detailed addresses shown on each person's invitation should be different, but eventually they will flow back into the ocean like rivers that branch out around the world.

Led by that man, Leonid arrived at the "party" that served as a prelude to the auction.

The dazzling array of items and the soft, interwoven lighting perfectly decorated the spacious venue, giving it a solemn and elegant atmosphere. Red carpets covered the entire area, and tables and chairs were arranged in an orderly fashion. There were already quite a few people there, and they were almost all standing silently in a corner. As with any normal gathering, most of them showed no interest in the champagne and food on the table.

Leonid was the same; his gaze wandered over the unfamiliar faces. They were all potential competitors. Since it concerned the organization, those who were interested and dared to come in person were certainly not ordinary people.

Is this like snatching food from a tiger's mouth?

The man's eyes narrowed slightly, and a sarcastic smile appeared on his hard face.

The attempt by ordinary people to use machinery to replace the physical body in order to resist the rate of decay is ultimately limited.

Leonid's lifespan was already very short.

Beneath his seemingly unscathed exterior lies a precarious situation where he could face certain death at any moment; now, he has nothing left to fear.

Fireworks, he murmured the word.

Confused and sorrowful, numb yet clear-headed.

"Miss, the room temperature here is just right. Would you like to take off your shawl?"

The boy's fluent Russian caught the man's attention. He asked the "young lady" in the wheelchair in a low voice, and the girl blinked her blue eyes and nodded in response.

This should be an excellent butler educated in England. It was clearly their first meeting, yet for some reason, the man had this impression.

The young butler smiled and skillfully and gently took the shawl and laid it on the "young lady's" legs. This interaction seemed warmer and more intimate than a normal master-servant relationship.

Judging from the wheelchair, this young lady must have some kind of problem with her legs; perhaps these two people came because of that "advertisement."

If that's the case, then they're not competitors.

Perhaps we could make contact.

What truly gave the man this idea was her legs, which were in the same condition as her daughter's, and her equally clear and beautiful blue eyes.

If it weren't for her East-leaning facial features, she might have looked more like his daughter.

The young man politely and courteously struck up a conversation with a nearby man, asking:

"Sir? Did you come alone?"

The young lady seemed a little shy. She subtly tugged at the butler's sleeve, causing a hint of helplessness to creep into the young man's smile.

Leonid successfully captured this adorable and subtle gesture, which made him lower his already low guard. For some reason, a rare smile even appeared on his face. Perhaps this was the unique charm of this young lady.

He said:

"Yes, I came alone. My name is Leonid Mikhelson. Young lady and deacon, may I ask your names?"

The young lady hesitated for a moment and said softly:

"My name is Anastasia."

119. Begin.

Not long ago, based on the address on the invitation, Su Qing'an and Fu Hua naturally passed through dozens of shop windows and stores in this way. Under the strange looks of passersby, the boy smiled and handed the invitation to the man handing out flyers.

During this time, the chemistry between the young lady and the butler was portrayed incredibly realistically by them.

The two seemed to have a strange aura about them, which made passersby unconsciously slow down their movements and speech.

Clearly, even when acting skills are truly required on set, this magical atmosphere still retains its effect.

Whether it was the initial goodwill built by their outstanding appearances, the "young lady's" bewildered and habitually evasive eyes, or the care and etiquette revealed in the young butler's every move, all these factors contributed to this outcome.

The slight smile on Leonid's face was perhaps an affirmation of the two actors' performances. He said:

"A very nice name, like a princess's name. Is this why you came here?"

He glanced subtly at the girl's legs, which were hidden by her shawl and skirt, his meaning quite clear.

It's strange, he seems to be talking a bit too much.

Given his current mental state, it's abnormal that he would be interested in striking up a conversation with a stranger in this situation.

Leonid secretly regarded this encounter as fate. In the last part of his life's journey, he met this innocent girl who, like his daughter, was unable to walk. This might be the work of some kind of strange destiny.

The shimmering light reflected in the "young lady's" eyes could bring a sense of peace to the depths of one's heart, as if gazing upon a vast and magnificent landscape, possessing a charm that could unconsciously soothe the mind.

Su Qing'an revealed a perfectly timed expression, saying with a touch of sadness yet also a sense of familiarity:

"As you can see, sir."

"Even with the possibility of being deceived, we have no choice but to come. After all, no one wants to give up even the slightest hope, right?"

This man, whose heart was overflowing with hatred and emptiness, couldn't help but utter words of concern.

"Of course, I understand."

"But isn't it a bit inappropriate to have this young lady come to such a place where the safety is uncertain?"

Leonid realized his mistake of speaking too frankly to someone he barely knew, and he added somewhat apologetically:

“You know, I mean, it might be better for her to stay at home.”

The young lady turned her face away with some dissatisfaction, tugging at the boy's sleeve as if to say, "Don't pay any attention to this person." Every move she made exuded a distinct frankness and adorable awkwardness.

Su Qing'an glanced helplessly at the girl's slightly pursed lips and her delicate eyes as she looked at him with furrowed brows, and her heart was stirred.

Even though I know it's acting, it's still too cute, hua.

He gave the man an apologetic look and continued:

"The young lady's father thought the same way. Originally, this should have been my task alone, but the young lady was too stubborn. After a series of troublesome struggles, I was forced to bring her along."

"But please rest assured, I will take good care of her."

The boy's expression and tone when he uttered his last words were solemn and serious enough to convince people of his determination.

It was that sharpness, which broke through the docile exterior and swept across the skin like a blade, that convinced Leonid that this young deacon was not as simple as he had imagined.

It's clear that this young lady named Anastasia is very important to him. If he wasn't absolutely certain she wouldn't get hurt, then even if this butler presumptuously knocked her unconscious, he probably wouldn't have been willing to let her come along.

Clearly, he had a trump card that Leonid was unaware of, which could guarantee the young lady's safety.

And that's all he needs to know. Even with that inexplicable fondness, Leonid's interactions with people can only remain at this distance.

His reason for striking up a conversation with the two women might have been partly due to his loneliness stemming from missing his daughter, but even so, the man's genuine wish that the young lady's leg injury could be healed was undeniable.

Even though pain, hatred, and despair had completely overwhelmed this man who was nearly fifty years old, his innate kindness remained one of the few remaining sparks in his soul.

This man, crushed to this state yet still only thinking of burning himself out in one place, is so pathetic that it evokes pity.

The spirited man who used to drink vodka like water and enjoy playing friendly wrestling games with bears is now just a memory etched in old photographs.

He is now excessively thin, and his facial features and deep-set eyes no longer resemble those of his youth. Wrinkles and graying hair hidden in his dry blond hair are evidence of the passage of time and poor health.

Only his upright posture and tall stature could give him some intimidation, but to others, Leonid was just an elderly man with little time left and poor health.

Even without the cane, the heaviness and slowness of his steps made him seem like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment by some unexpected event.

In Su Qing'an's view, Leonid, who came to talk to him, was a kind middle-aged man. His intuition and judgment based on his subtle expressions made him understand the other party's good intentions, which is why he was willing to answer and make up some reasons.

Otherwise, in such an environment, it wouldn't seem strange to remain cautious and choose not to respond.

In fact, this is the most convenient approach.

But the longing that flashed in Leonid's lifeless eyes when he saw the girl made him subconsciously feel that perhaps answering a few words wouldn't be a bad thing.

Those are the kinds of past events that are worth remembering, cherishing, and revisiting.

He has it too.

In Su Qing'an's memory, those trivial things about his parents are still one of the few lights in his heart. They occasionally illuminate moments when he is so lonely that he can hardly control himself, and become something he can keep chewing on and relying on to move forward.

Even if he time-traveled, these memories would allow him to outwardly express his disgust at his parents' broken promises while simultaneously struggling to survive in this world.

The elderly man, who appears to be from Russia, is likely also there for the so-called medication; his health condition is not good.

Fu Hua, with her higher level of martial arts, should understand this better.

The man extended his hand to the boy; it was a very steady hand, yet for some reason, it also gave off a slightly trembling feeling.

Su Qing'an was puzzled, but without hesitation, she grasped his rough hand covered in calluses.

Leonid offered his sincere blessings:

"I hope you can get what you want and let her father spend more time with her after that."

Su Qing'an felt that his hand was terribly cold. Even though he loosened his grip the moment he clenched it, the coldness remained vivid in his memory.

The boy responded with a smile:

"Of course, thank you for your blessings. I hope your trip will be successful."

Just after the exchange of blessings between the two parties was completed, the initiator, who had been hiding behind the scenes, finally appeared.

120. Walter Joyce.

Contrary to the solemnity one might imagine an auction to be, the venue here is actually quite similar to a wedding venue.

And indeed, just a few days ago, a beautiful wedding was held here. At night, outside the transparent reinforced glass walls, countless neon lights of varying brightness connected to create a magnificent picture. The pillarless banquet hall was solemn and grand, and the exquisite hand-cut crystal chandeliers added to the unique atmosphere.

This is a Holiday Inn whose main business is wedding planning, and Su Qing'an is currently staying on the top floor of this hotel.

The staff from the neighboring mall went through a roundabout route, but ended up at this location.

In a sense, this was a rather comical joke for both the rejected professional wedding planning team and the people who flocked from all over the world.

These wealthy and time-consuming invitees, after arriving in Singapore in various ways, expected to face open and covert attacks and bloodshed.