[Time passed in a flash. Unconsciously, the surface of Twilight Street gradually grew peaceful, free from its former dilapidation and clamor.]
[During these calm and ordinary days, Pardofelis was caught by Aponia once, and the two had a brief exchange.]
[After that, despite knowing the Sanatorium was not short on food, Pardofelis would still frequently bring things over as gifts.]
[Although, in the end, you were the one who paid for all of it.]
[One day, you heard that a large-scale Honkai Eruption had occurred in a city not far from Twilight Street.]
[You calculated the time and confirmed that this should be the Fifth Honkai Eruption, the one caused by the Herrscher of Ice.]
[At the same time, you received a piece of information from Godfather Anderson, one step ahead of Aponia.]
[A heavily injured man has appeared in Twilight Street. He wears a strange mask, and you can confirm that he is the person you are looking for.]
---o---
"Thank you for the information, Godfather Anderson."
Hanging up the phone, Fu Li stepped out of the car and looked toward the man in the distance.
The man, who stubbornly refused to take off his mask and rejected all attempts at communication, was currently sitting silently beside a bonfire.
"Lord Priest, that man is very dangerous…"
"It's fine, don't worry. I've known him for a long time."
Fu Li didn't bother saying anything more. Given his status, these men didn't have the courage to refuse him.
"Are you cold?"
Fu Li said this as he walked right up and sat down beside him without any hesitation.
Unlike Aponia, who acted out of absolute kindness, he was completely unafraid of the current Kalpas.
Kalpas looked up at Fu Li but said nothing, merely prodding the charcoal silently.
Seeing this, Fu Li felt a little frustrated.
If Aponia had been the one to come, Kalpas probably would have started talking immediately.
But…
As a former colleague whom he hadn't spent much time with, Fu Li knew very well that Kalpas's patience was limited. So, he simply continued to warm himself by the fire.
Perhaps it was because of the Herrscher of Ice, but the autumn this year was exceptionally cold. Sitting by a fire was a pretty good choice.
After a long while, Kalpas still showed no intention of speaking, but the surrounding crowd of onlookers had taken several steps back out of an inexplicable fear.
Then, Fu Li took out his phone and fiddled with it for a moment.
Half an hour later, two muscular men in suits tremblingly brought over two platters of meat skewers.
Fresh fish, lamb, beef, chicken wings, and seasonings.
Acting as if Kalpas wasn't even there, Fu Li used the fire the other man had tended to and started grilling the meat.
Finally, Kalpas couldn't take it anymore. His tone was irritable.
"Who are you? Why are you approaching me?"
"Don't be angry, I'm here to help you." Fu Li waved his hand and passed him a cooked skewer.
"Eat. You're not in good shape. You need nutrition."
"Help me?" The enticing aroma wafted into his nostrils. Although saliva subconsciously pooled in his mouth, Kalpas didn't take the skewer. His voice was laced with confusion.
"That's right," Fu Li nodded.
"Heh…" At last, a scornful smile appeared on Kalpas's face.
"Then can you tell me, what do people usually say to make someone they dislike leave?"
"Hmm…" As expected, it was the familiar question. Fu Li thought for a moment. "Never see you again?"
"Too long. I can't remember it." Kalpas was unmoved. Or perhaps, he just wanted to be contrary for the sake of it.
What a massive tsundere.
Thinking this, Fu Li offered another term.
"It's impolite, but this is what the people of Twilight Street like to say in this situation."
"'Get lost.'"
Seeing Fu Li go along with him, the corner of Kalpas's mouth under the mask curled up smugly by a single pixel.
"Good… Get lost."
"I refuse." Fu Li smiled, a smile full of provocation.
One minute later, the patch of ruins they were in was completely obliterated.
The burly onlookers couldn't even withstand the air currents and were blown away.
"Still want to fight?"
As the dust settled, Fu Li, with a rare speck of ash on his clothes, smiled and extended a hand to Kalpas, without a hint of malice.
"You're stronger than that cold woman…" Kalpas lay in the rubble, his tone soured with annoyance.
"If you weren't worried about hurting me, you wouldn't have even gotten your clothes dirty. You… coward."
It was a typical Kalpas statement. Even in defeat, he had to be stubborn.
Just like when he faced the Herrscher of the End, he was all about talking the toughest trash while taking the worst beating.
"Coward? Perhaps."
Fu Li didn't get angry. His smile remained harmless, and his hand remained extended.
"So, now that we've gotten acquainted through a fight, how about we sit down and grab some skewers? Then you can properly reconsider whether you want to accept my help."
Kalpas was confused. "Grab some skewers?"
Fu Li explained, "The grilled meat I gave you earlier."
"…" Kalpas was silent for a moment, then looked at the rubble. "It's dirty now."
"Let's go. I'll treat you to something better."
Seeing Kalpas's reluctance to take his hand, Fu Li simply pulled him up from the ground and was about to pat the dust off his clothes.
"I'll do it myself."
Kalpas took a step back and brushed the dust off himself.
Is this man right in the head? To actually want to get involved with someone like me.
But, since he's stronger than me, if I follow him, there should be plenty of fights to be had.
With that thought in mind, Kalpas followed Fu Li toward another barbecue restaurant.
And on a certain street corner, Aponia, who had just arrived, watched this scene unfold. Her fingers tightened slightly, and in the depths of her eyes, a flash of red flickered past.
For some reason, watching Fu Li help someone else, her heart felt so complex.