Ding-a-ling... ding-a-ling...
As the shop door was pushed open, the colliding brass bells chimed with a crisp sound.
"Welcome, traveler from afar."
A languid, seductive voice sounded out. A pair of enchanting crimson eyes swept over the newcomer, freezing for a moment in surprise before a smile returned to her face.
"Young guest, although this is a lounge bar, we don't serve minors."
Raven. It really is her...
Fu Li's expression remained unchanged. He calmly sat down on a stool and said, "Actually, I'm of age."
"No, you're not." Raven pointed at the school uniform Fu Li was wearing. "Aren't all the students at Senba supposed to be good kids? What, did you come here looking for a drink?"
Her tone was tinged with sarcasm, but Fu Li didn't seem to care.
The reason he had come in wasn't out of curiosity about Raven, but for something else entirely.
[Future core character detected. Initiate short-term simulation?]
[Reward: Unknown]
Raven...
Why didn't this trigger when I met Mei?
The question lingered in his mind, but on the surface, he just smiled.
"In that case, please get me a glass of warm milk, and a glass of mizuwari whiskey. The milk is for me, and the liquor, naturally, is for the beautiful lady in front of me."
Fu Li took out a card and casually slid it across the bar toward Raven.
"Hmph... Little brat. The milk's on me. As for the whiskey, you can forget it."
Besides, making a proper mizuwari is too much work.
"What are your all-night rates?" Fu Li asked suddenly.
Raven's expression darkened. "We don't offer that kind of service here."
"You're overthinking it." Fu Li looked her up and down with a hint of disdain, then his expression shifted to one of sorrow.
"I had a fight with my family and ran out on my own. I don't have my ID, so I was just looking for a place to stay."
His expression was so earnest that it made Raven purse her lips.
She had always had a weakness for minors, and what's more, Fu Li possessed an inexplicable, pitiable charm.
Her expression was complicated. She stared at Fu Li's face for a long moment before finally sighing and pointing to a private room in the distance.
"Go sleep over there."
She didn't mention a price, but Fu Li took out a ten-thousand-yen bill and placed it on the counter. "Thank you, miss. This is for the room."
"Mm."
This time, Raven didn't refuse. After taking the money, she went back to scrolling through her phone.
Seeing this, Fu Li tactfully said no more and made his way to the private room.
The decor was elegant, with Japanese-style furnishings and a large tatami mat, perfect for resting.
Of course, no alcohol was served.
A top international mercenary who had committed no shortage of illegal acts was, ironically, quite strict when it came to underage drinking.
Perhaps this was Raven's own brand of kindness.
Respect the old, love the young, and beat the hell out of everyone in between.
After putting away his bag and jacket, Fu Li checked the room. Confirming there were no hidden cameras or listening devices, he poured out the untouched milk.
Although he had no desire to make contact with World Serpent right now, nor any reason to be enemies with Raven, it was always better to be cautious.
Besides, why was a bar that was supposed to be in Arc City open here in Nagazora?
Did Raven feel that blowing up one small island wasn't enough, and she wanted to blow up a bar, too?
What a pitiful Raven. But what does that have to do with me? It's not like I'm the one who told her to open a shop here.
With that thought, Fu Li lay down on the tatami mat and chose to begin the simulation.
[Initiating short-term simulation.]
[Notice: This simulation takes place before the Second Honkai Eruption.]
[Your identity in this scenario is William Kalashnikov.]
[No talents will be assigned to the host for this short-term simulation, but you may use your original abilities. The system will conceal your non-human traits free of charge.]
[During this simulation, you may not tell anyone about the Second Honkai Eruption. You may not leave the Siberia region.]
[Simulation beginning.]
[Day 1]
[You are an ordinary young man. Although your name bears the surname of the father of the AK, you are still just an unremarkable, ordinary MANTIS.]
[You are not one for socializing, but you have a good relationship with the siblings next door. Their names are Natasha and Nils, and they affectionately call you 'big brother'.]
[Among you, Natasha is the youngest, so both you and Nils dote on her, affectionately calling her Nata.]
---o---
"Waaah! Brother William, you're so mean! Give me back my ice cream!"
Fu Li opened his eyes to find himself on a wide street, holding an ice cream cone high in the air.
In front of him, a small, blonde girl was reaching up desperately, trying to snatch it back.
Blonde... Natasha... Is this Raven as a child, before her hair color changed?
And the young man beside her... that must be Raven's older brother.
Having just entered the simulation, Fu Li was a bit disoriented. Just then, a hand clapped him on the shoulder.
"Haha, William, stop teasing Nata. Be careful or she'll get mad and ignore you."
A cheerful laugh came from his side. Fu Li subconsciously handed the ice cream back to the pouting little Raven, whose cheeks were puffed out in anger.
So, even when she was little, she was bullied by a mean older brother?
Watching little Raven stomp her feet, Fu Li imagined her throwing a tantrum and crying, and couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
But that laugh immediately made little Raven feel offended.
"Hey! Dummy Brother William! W-What are you laughing at?!"
"Whoa, whoa, Nata, don't! It's my fault, okay?!"
Seeing little Raven charge at him, pummeling his chest with her tiny fists, Fu Li quickly surrendered, putting on an expression of defeat.
Playing with an adorable and affectionate child put him in a very pleasant mood.
"Alright, Brother William, Nata, both of you stop it. If you keep this up, we won't get to ride the roller coaster."
Seeing that the two of them were getting into the chase, with one running and the other pursuing, Nils quickly ran over to try and break them up.
While his words had no effect on Fu Li, Raven's body stiffened. She began to weigh her options: the roller coaster versus beating up her mean brother.
In the end, the allure of the roller coaster was greater for a small child.
"Hmph! For the sake of the roller coaster, Nata will let you off the hook this time."
"Ah, yes, yes. I thank the great Lady Nata for sparing my life."
"Hmph. It's good that you know your mistake."
Little Raven stood with her hands on her hips, looking like a triumphant general. It was utterly adorable.
Even Fu Li had to admit that this little Raven was far cuter than the future number one [Mercenary] in Charon's Directory, the World Serpent's [Raven].
Seeing that the two had declared a truce, Nils came over and took both their hands, leading them toward the rides in the distance.
"Honestly, you two. Let's go!"
Watching the two cheerful figures in front of him, one skipping and one bounding along, their moods having shifted in an instant, Fu Li's smile gradually faded. Worry crept back onto his face.
He knew that the happiness before him was just an illusion. Without knowing the exact date, he had no idea when the final battle of the Second Honkai Eruption would arrive.
However, his persona in this scenario had numerous restrictions. He didn't know how he could send them away, how to make the siblings escape Siberia.
After all, he was just a young man himself. Without a sufficiently compelling reason, he would never be able to persuade their parents to take them and leave.
Fu Li was lost in thought.