You are all my wings!

'Cheng Erhe Li' smiled:

"You've only gained the small right to speak with me on equal terms by taking advantage of this special opportunity. If I weren't restricted by the [Life and Death Path], even if you achieved the greatest success in the history of the [Investigation of Things Path], what difference would it make? You would still just be a mortal with a short lifespan. By the time you grow up, I will have already transcended it."

This guy is arrogant.

Lyon returned the smile:

"However, now I can decide whether you can escape this predicament. If you want to be in a better situation, put away that arrogant attitude. Do you think I can't find your true self hidden in that period of history?"

The real body?

Upon hearing this, the smile on 'Cheng Erheli's' indistinct features vanished:

"Hmph, you're welcome to try."

Lyon smiled and said, "Let's put that aside for now and get back to the deal. Since you've only revealed a small part of the secrets of the Essence of Time and Space, I'll concede a little: I'll give you 60% and you 40%, how about that?"

'Cheng Erhe Li' paused for a moment, then snorted, "I'm too lazy to argue with you, let's just leave it at that."

"Then let's sign a contract."

"A contract? You want to sign a soul contract with me?"

'Cheng Erhe Li's' voice was subtle.

"There's nothing I can do. Who told you to lie so many times? If you had any credibility, I wouldn't be discussing this with you."

Lyon shrugged.

"I cannot sign it."

'Cheng Erhe Li's' voice instantly turned cold and icy, as if Leon had touched a nerve.

"If you don't sign, I won't help you change history."

Lyon's eyes flickered slightly. How could this guy suddenly change his expression so quickly?

Because I said she had low credibility, or because signing a soul contract was something she taboo?

Before Leon could say more—

'Cheng Erheli' narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly, as if unable to suppress her anger, and said calmly:

"In that case, the deal is off, and you're completely trapped in that space-time."

She suddenly waved her hand, and a large cloud of mist swept over Leon.

In the blink of an eye, Leon seemed to have gone through a long time loop and returned to Bale's body.

Everything seemed to have been reset.

Beside her was a somewhat surprised and nervous Hamra, and in front of her was a Bai Shaqilai with a strange expression.

'That woman doesn't seem like the type to lose her temper easily; perhaps she's found some alternative.'

'Or perhaps there are some details I overlooked that led her to make a choice with no room for negotiation.'

Just as he was thinking this, Leon noticed that Hamra's expression had suddenly changed as well.

She becomes more like the gentle and intellectual Hamra that Leon knows in the future, rather than the innocent and lively Hamra.

Hamra looked at herself, and her beautiful emerald-yellow eyes slowly welled up with tears.

A flood of indescribable emotions flashed across his eyes in an instant.

There was sadness, shock, surprise, understanding, and complexity.

Upon seeing this, Leon was deeply moved. Could this person before him be Hamra in the future?

'Could it be because Hamra successfully passed the [Stairway of Investigation] and arrived at this [Stairway of Life and Death], only to be discovered by that guy, and thus simply stopped arguing with him?'

I didn't expect Hamla to progress so quickly.

Just as Lyon was speculating like this, Hamra spoke up, his expression seemingly relieved:

"I see, I see. You are both my husband Bell and Iris's Leon, aren't you?"

Lyon was somewhat surprised: "You figured out the situation so quickly?"

[Hamra's favorability +4%, current favorability 100%]

[Soul Link has been generated. Due to the lack of intimacy atmosphere or actions such as qw or xx, the carrying mode cannot be unlocked. Once unlocked, you can enter the carrying mode for 1 hour every 24 hours.]

Upon receiving Leon's answer, Hamra couldn't resist reaching out to pinch Leon's now-pointed ears, and said gently with a smile:

"Seeing how you look in my memory, and having just received many details of my childhood memories, how could I not know that I've been thrown into this time? In fact, I've already experienced two time jumps in the [Long Steps of Life and Death]."

Lyon understood; it seemed that Hamra was the variable in his negotiations with 'Chengerheli'.

Besides her, perhaps 'Cheng Erhe Li' also included Fei Heluotijia, Castigli, and even Margaret in this history.

Hopefully, they won't do too many things that could change history.

"But how did you connect me to Leon? Maybe I'm just Bell?"

"Leon asked."

Hamra smiled, her thin pink lips forming a beautiful curve: "Because I've had my suspicions for a long time."

"You suspected it a long time ago?"

Leon's eyes flickered slightly. Hamra was quite good at hiding her feelings. No wonder her initial favorability towards him was not only high, but also increased very easily.

"Yes, when I first saw you, I was curious. It was just because you didn't have any elven features that I thought it was just a coincidence that Iris had the same taste as me and that she met you in the vast sea of ​​people and fell in love with you."

Hamra spoke slowly, as if recalling a memory:

"But your behavior and appearance are so similar, and I'm starting to suspect that you might be Bell, who has been missing for a long time, looking for an opportunity to communicate with me. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that you came to save me when I was about to be in danger?"

"Where's the back?"

"Leon asked."

"But the way you look at me is clearly different from how you used to look at me. It seems like you really think of me as Iris's mother. But how could you not recognize Iris? Back then, we were both ordered to nurture that pure elemental spirit newly born from the Sacred Fruit. Others might not know, but you should know that Iris and I were both born from the Sacred Fruit."

Hamra said:

"So I started to lie to myself that you two only have similar temperaments, but actually look very different. I even told Iris the same thing. After hearing it so many times, I slowly started to believe it."

Lyon remained silent, never expecting Hamra to have gone through so much emotional turmoil during this time.

However, neither Hamra nor Iris had many thrilling romantic experiences.

Often, people become very close without even realizing it; it's a natural progression.

However, some female protagonists require players to "win over" them themselves, which is indeed a subtle difference.

"Later, because I hadn't seen you for a while, I gradually let go of those feelings,"

Hamra continued:

"Until recently, because of the demonic matter and spending so much time with you, and given how fickle you are, I've become more and more convinced that it should be you. The last time I talked to you was to test you, but I was a little disappointed; it seems you really aren't."

Lyon felt ashamed. Did he think he was the one just because he was a womanizer?

It seems that in the original course of events, I may have inadvertently hooked up with someone.

"And then there is now. After my soul came into this body, I received most of my childhood memories and gradually discovered some details that I hadn't paid attention to before. For example, you showed special talents very early on. Unlike other pure-blooded elves who love to play, you focused on training and learning various kinds of magic."

Hamra laughed:

"Considering this experience of jumping through time and space to experience different lives each time in the [Stairway to Life and Death], I understand now that Leon came first, and then Bell. You met Iris first, and then, because of the [Stairway to Life and Death], you returned to my childhood and became my beloved 'Bell'. And Bell's disappearance may be because you completed the trial of the [Stairway to Life and Death] and left this time and space."

[Hamra's favorability +4%, current favorability 104%]

Lyon shook his head: "It seems I underestimated your acting skills. I didn't expect you to have doubted me for so long."

Hamra couldn't help but hug Leon and said gently:

"At the time, seeing how close you and Iris were, I couldn't bear to make her sad, so I suppressed my feelings for a long time. Fortunately, Iris is just my sister, and I believe that if I explain it to her, she will accept it."

Lyon was speechless. Hamra was quite firm at this moment. She seemed gentle, but in reality, her will was very strong.

It's likely that she suppressed her emotions for too long, and now that they've been triggered, they've become quite intense. I wonder how Iris will react when she finds out.

However, the main issue now is something else!

That is, Hamra also traveled back, causing the variables in this timeline to increase dramatically once again.

That guy 'Cheng Erhe Li' did indeed make a brilliant move.

Because Lyon's historical trajectory was destined to produce a past alter ego, 'Bale'.

Judging from Hamra's future performance, it's highly likely that she didn't originally travel here.

In other words, the current trajectory of Lyon's history is subtly different from its future trajectory.

Of course, it's also possible that Hamra's return from this time travel was inevitable, but he felt that this was unlikely.

Thinking of this, Lyon asked:

"So, what are the differences in behavior between the two 'Bells' in your original memories and in the memories of this body now?"

"Differences?"

Hamra pondered for a moment and said, "There's basically no difference, but while you're the same, others seem to be."

"Others? Who are they?"

Lyon quickly asked, if the others were different, they were either brought back by the [Life and Death Long Staircase], or they were the true form of 'Cheng Erhe Li'!

If we find her true identity and capture her, we'll definitely have a chance to break out of this predicament.

Even the essence of time and space that was extracted is her true form hidden here.

"I can't remember."

Hamra shook her head: "Whenever I think of this person, it's like seeing a thick fog, and I just can't figure it out."

Lyon's heart tightened; it seemed this person was definitely the true form of 'Cheng Erhe Li'.

I just don't know who she is.

"However, you were restricted from leaving your home before, so you should have met very few people. Can you eliminate one of these options?"

"Leon asked."

Hamra said:

"Thinking about it carefully, I've actually met quite a few people, because I sneak out every year. When I sneak out, although I always end up meeting you, I also encounter other elves along the way."

Beside her, Bai Shaqilai, who had been looking somewhat puzzled, was suddenly jolted when Hamra called out the word 'Leon.' She seemed to be in a strange and wonderful state, with a large amount of information flashing through her mind and becoming clearer and clearer.

At this moment, her expression returned to normal, as if she had figured out the situation.

Excuse me for disturbing you two.

She gracefully approached the two of them and said:

“I’ve got a general idea of ​​the situation, Lyon. Let’s go over the details and see what exactly is going on.”

Hamra: "?"

She froze for a moment.

Why has this guy suddenly become so friendly?

Didn't they act like they needed to observe whether you had any ulterior motives before?

Because of the Forest Apostle's Life Curse, Iris and the others couldn't recount what happened back then, so Hamra had never heard of Bai Shaqilai and didn't know that she had been captured by Leon.

"Don't be surprised, as a legendary astrologer, I already understand your story."

Bai Shaqilai smiled slightly:

"And coincidentally, I became Lyon's wife before you, so you can call me sister."

Hamra paused for a moment, then said calmly:

"That's hard to say. You're not going to be Lyon's wife in the future, are you? My relationship with Lyon started twenty years ago. In terms of who came first, I was the first."

She quickly accepted the fact that Lyon already had someone else.

As she spoke, she hugged Leon's arm tightly, her eyes filled with tenderness and a sweet smile, gazing at Leon with boundless affection.

"This time, I won't let you leave again."

[Hamra's favorability +6%, current favorability 110%]