These people are really something, each showing off their unique skills like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. I must say, the story of the Underworld is incredibly interesting.

We already know who Liszt is, and there are some other main figures worth paying attention to. The Monges Southern Wetland is now a district of Aran, within the Empire's sphere of influence. The rebel leaders in the wetlands and the political fugitives like Pedan are worth noting, while Mirror Sea is too far and can be set aside for now.

"What about this person?"

Cicero pointed to the edge of a group photo, at a person with band tattoos on their face.

"That's Lianjie Xian Di,"

Ben blurted out instinctively.

Cicero just frowned, looking at Ben incredulously, having no clue what he was talking about.

Ben felt something was wrong, damn Lianjie Xian, too flashy that he ended up saying the wrong thing in front of the bigwigs, "It's just my loose tongue, Lianjie Xian Di is this person's nickname in the underworld, his real name is Mika, last name seems to be Francis, an Imperial, hometown is Chenxi Port, used to work as a forensic doctor and hangman for the Security Bureau, and he's one of the elders in this group."

Cicero didn't fully comprehend, but he instructed Wesker to keep a close watch on Ben, as this Dark Elf has a significant role in this event.

Absolutely clueless.

Mika was right there at the venue.

At the end of the Boundary Sea, the Ultimate Ancient Land.

"Sea of Hate and Sky of Love, huh..."

Mika didn't know how to respond.

What Qili wanted Mika to do, in terms of broad influence, couldn't compare to Mika delivering a coffin to the Emperor today.

But in terms of danger, it was indeed sending Mika to his death.

This was an almost impossible task, Qili was just clinging to a delusion, triggered somewhat by Mika's initial statements that had influenced her.

"This cage isn't locked, yet it imprisons me more precisely than any maze. As long as he lives for a day, I'll always be the cash cow controlled by the Evgeny Consortium. I shouldn't have told you this, it's all your fault, making me start to believe... freedom isn't just a non-existent myth."

All thoughts about spring and dampness transformed into the gloom and melancholy in her eyes.

Her red lips resembled a wild rose that had been nibbled on, sweet with blood. Her drooping black hair seemed like ropes that bound the wind, strangling every look of tenderness directed at her.

Mika didn't know how to respond.

In his experiential world, what a woman with intentions desires is usually concrete, while a woman with no intentions simply wishes to torment you for her amusement, with an abstract longing for things akin to parables.

She appeared genuine and sincere.

Qili was right.

Both he and she knew clearly, that even though he risked so much danger to come here, it was for himself, not for her.

Besides...

There was no time left.

Because Gedre was too strong, the battle for third place in the losers' bracket ended without a fight, and soon tonight's final battle was about to begin.

Mika gave up.

It's quite obvious that in a situation where force is not an option, winning over the best woman in the world means you need to have the best resources in the world.

This kind of resourcefulness is almost like a parable.

He was just a fugitive, running out of time, and couldn't provide that.

Qili also knew what he was thinking, she truly was a greedy woman.

"It's still the same as I said at the beginning, now there is still a chance. I'll lead you away, am I not your hostage?"

Qili said.

She was the cash cow for the Evgeny Consortium, but that was the only thing she could be proud of. Disregarding the title of the world's top musician, she was just like any ordinary woman.

She couldn't easily abandon these, but she could bet this one time, claiming to be captured by this pirate.

Qili had always lived in the First World.

Because she knew without even this title, without status or the strong power like those female adventurers,

Her looks and voice would merely be a tragic product, at the mercy of more terrifying quagmires.

Perhaps this is the contradiction of the Western Continent.

The more you want to flee to the edge for peace, the more you have to lean towards the center of the Western Continent to compete for status.

But it also seems not like that.

Just like what this pirate said, she just lacked courage, lacking the resolve to bear the consequences.

Mika didn't understand that Qili saying the same thing three times actually represented completely different meanings each time.

He only lived within his experiential world.

He didn't realize that for Qili, merely taking this step, risking the potential destruction of her entire career, required enormous courage.

Mika merely smiled faintly, to him, Qili as a hostage certainly meant a lot, but to the Aran Military Officials, obviously not so much.

The door of the dressing room, welded with strange black metal, turned into black iron shavings, slowly dissipating, flowing back into Mika's arms.

"You can go."

Mika said calmly, having looked at the final producer credits of the game long enough, it was time to return to reality.

Always look on the bright side, perhaps the old Emperor was a sensible person.

Mika was indeed a criminal in the official Aran files, but he was a legitimate person from Aran Sunrise Port, Li Sit, those Far East Outsiders like Shadi could screw off.

As one who killed Zote, Mika was rightfully a national hero among the Aran people.

"Is that it?"

Qili couldn't believe it, was this the end for the freshest experience she had in years?

"That's it,"

Mika felt a bit weary.

"Alright."

Qili said no more. If he wanted to stay here and meet his end alone, so be it.

Because enough time had passed.

Almost half an hour, plenty long for a meeting.

After Qili's assistant finished handling the final payment details, she returned to the dressing room to find Qili, ensuring her safety, since the mood of the leading star had to be tended to, or the company executives would hold someone accountable.

Knocked on the door outside.

"Damn… hide quickly."

Worried partly for Mika's safety, but Qili was more afraid of being regarded as a threat, for chatting with Mika here.

Mika was only brave because Qili lured him out, damn, coming here was troublesome, and his heart was pounding too.

Scanning the dressing room, there was nowhere to hide, the coat rack was open-style, with not even a cupboard.

"No choice."

Qili's casual wear was also a long dress, Mika was fairly thin, should be able to fit.

Having good looks was an advantage with long-term benefits.

Mika wasn't handsome, but he was above average, enough to pass off, although if he were some three-hundred-pound guy, Qili would have screamed for help.

Qili sat on the chair in front of the dressing table, beckoning Mika with her hand to quickly come over.

Mika had no place to hide, so he slipped under the dressing table, tucking himself into Qili's red long dress, his vision a blur.

This indeed was the real ...

The end of the world, a cruel wonderland.

"Come in."

Qili, trying hard to not look bulky, so as to not arouse suspicion, clamped her legs together.

It turned out to be a false alarm.

It was just the assistant.