March 7th knelt on the ground, her pupils trembling nonstop, unable to believe what Levi had just said.
"We're screwed!", Stelle clutched her head and shouted beside March 7th.
Among the three of them, only Mr. Yang remained calm. After Levi finished speaking, he didn't even blink.
"Gotta say, as expected of the man who killed the Herrscher of the Void, your composure really is impressive."
"Heh, you flatter me, haha."
Facing Levi's praise, Mr. Yang forced a small smile, his lips twitching slightly.
Why was he suddenly praising him?
Looking at the two wailing beside him, he fell into thought.
Just now, he had zoned out for a moment and hadn't heard what Levi said after showing himself.
'Could it be that he revealed his identity as a Herrscher, and his true purpose for bringing them here?!'
Thinking of this, Mr. Yang tightened his grip on his cane and looked at Sushang, who had them restrained.
'If that were the case, wouldn't it mean the entire Xianzhou…'
'The entire Xianzhou Luofu had already fallen under his control?!'
Seeing Mr. Yang suddenly tense up again, Levi's mouth twitched.
'This guy was clearly overthinking again.'
'At his age... still letting his imagination run wild all day.'
"Huh?" Sushang also let out a confused sound, staring in disbelief at Levi, who was pressed close to her.
"With your connections in the Luofu, bringing these people in shouldn't require risking a serious crime by secretly opening the Jade Gate, right?"
From Bailu, she had already learned a bit about Levi.
Qingque's long-term mahjong partner. Fu Xuan's designated strongest external helper, codename, Qingque 3000.
Now officially promoted.
As for his strength, it was unclear, but definitely very strong.
He also had ties with the Stellaron Hunters. At first she thought they were friends, but then he turned around and knocked them out and delivered them to the general's residence.
And from accidentally overhearing a few of his conversations with the general, the two were clearly old acquaintances.
Bailu, who had known him for a long time, was also the current Vidyadhara High Elder.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he held immense influence in the Luofu.
Just picking anyone from his network, aside from Qingque, could have gotten these people into the Luofu.
So why take such a big risk to sneak them in?
"Don't you think asking favors costs something?"
Levi crossed his arms. "Just to bring these three in, I had to make Yukong owe me a favor, putting it into a quantum state!"
As he spoke, Levi showed an annoyed expression, 'Do you have any idea how valuable a favor from the head of the Sky-Faring Commission is?'
"So… how valuable is it?"
From what Levi said, Stelle already knew they were safe, so she stopped wailing.
Sitting cross-legged, she looked up at Levi.
To be honest, she didn't understand the Xianzhou Luofu as well as Dan Heng did. Things like the Six Commissions meant nothing to her.
She didn't even know who this Yukong was.
"Hey, get off me!"
The stool under her suddenly protested.
Hearing Stelle's question, Levi turned his eyes toward her, and a look like he was staring at an idiot slowly appeared.
"Wasn't I asking you guys?"
So that was directed at them…
"Yukong, the helmsmaster of the Sky-Faring Commission. A favor from her could easily be worth a fortune."
The smartest one among them, Mr. Yang, gave the answer.
The Sky-Faring Commission handled the Luofu's external trade and had the most contact with the outside world, so it was naturally the most well-known.
There was no way he wouldn't know, or recognize, Yukong.
Mr. Yang stared quietly at Levi.
The breeze lifted the hair on his forehead, his brown eyes filled with determination.
Noticing the look in his eyes, Levi couldn't help wanting to laugh.
Did he think he was planning to take over the Xianzhou?
Those eyes were so obvious, practically shouting, "I'll be watching you!"
"…"
Levi didn't bother explaining.
This kind of thing couldn't be explained anyway. After all, he really was a Herrscher.
As for saying he was like Raiden Mei or Kiana, a Herrscher standing on humanity's side... no one would believe that.
People only believe what they see.
You can never fully know what's in someone else's heart.
At this rate, Mr. Yang would probably start tailing him in secret for a while.
He needed to think of a way to shake him off.
He had no interest in being followed around by a middle-aged man.
After hearing Mr. Yang's explanation, Stelle gestured for Sushang to unlock their cuffs.
Sushang hesitated, then took out the key and unlocked the restraints on all three.
Stelle rubbed her reddened wrists and asked, "So how can a favor be in a quantum state?"
"See? This is why you're dumb!"
This time it wasn't Levi speaking, but March 7th, who was also rubbing her wrists.
"Levi brought us in secretly, so nobody found out."
Sushang, "…"
'Am I even human?! Do I even count?!'
March 7th continued, "Including that helmsmaster Yukong, she definitely didn't notice us coming in!"
Seeing that Levi didn't refute her, March 7th straightened her back confidently.
"So-called quantum state means it's between existing and not existing, so…"
"As long as it's not discovered, the favor still exists. If it gets discovered, then it's gone."
"Got it, Stelle?"
March 7th turned back confidently, only to see Stelle sucking her thumb, with one eye "on watch" and the other "on guard."
"Ababa ababa… I don't get it, smecta."
That instantly shut her up.
Even until they were about to board the starskiff to leave, March 7th didn't say another word to Stelle.
"Come on, don't be mad, I was just joking."
"Sorry, my mom told me not to play with idiots."
———
[On The Harbor Deck]
Sushang said uneasily, "Are you really going to just leave like this? I'm a bit worried…"
"Worried about what?"
Levi stood beside her, giving off an air of complete reliability.
"I'm worried about my career… If the higher-ups hold me responsible, a small Cloud Knight like me won't be able to handle it!"
If nothing happened to those people, fine.
But if something did, with the Luofu's capabilities, they'd easily trace it back to her releasing them.
Levi, with all his connections, would be fine. But she, just a small Cloud Knight from Yaoqing, wouldn't be able to withstand it.
Just as she was hesitating whether to stop the already departing starskiff... a large hand patted her shoulder.
Sushang froze and turned to look at Levi.
His face was full of smiles, his white teeth gleaming a bit under the sunlight.
But what caught Sushang's attention was the bit of vegetable stuck between his teeth.
"…Don't mind the details!"
Levi raised a thumbs-up toward her.
"I believe in you, Sushang. You've got to believe in yourself too. You're the next…"
"Luofu Sword Champion!"
The position of general was being watched too closely by Fu Xuan. If Jing Yuan gave it to her, Fu Xuan might just snap and turn into a villain.
The most likely position was the Sword Champion of the Luofu.
Of course, there was still Yanqing ahead of her.
Sushang's eyes slowly widened.
'Me? Luofu Sword Champion?! Really?!'
Levi's hand on her shoulder pressed slightly, his raised thumb moving closer to her face.
Staring at the thumb right in front of her eyes, Sushang almost went cross-eyed.
She rubbed her eyes, and Levi's voice rang in her ears.
"You've got to have confidence, Sushang. You've got to believe. As long as you have confidence, you can do anything!"
"…"