Not long after, Kaede saw a woman wearing silver light armor walking towards her.
Xiao Mengxue's jet-black long hair was tied in a simple single ponytail, but even with such a casual style, it couldn't hide her beautiful face.
However, at this moment, Xiao Mengxue's face showed uncontrollable exhaustion.
"Are you the girl Xiao Ze mentioned?" Xiao Mengxue walked up to Kaede and examined her. Her face, which was definitely not inferior to her own, combined with that pair of blood-red eyes, really had an indescribable quality.
What kind of feeling was this? It was probably that anyone who saw her for the first time would never forget her. Her face looked a bit delicate, but her whole demeanor gave off an indescribable sense of confidence. This contradictory feeling would definitely leave a deep impression on anyone.
"Yes." Kaede nodded.
"Hello, I'm Xiao Mengxue, the guild leader of Cloud Moon." As she spoke, Xiao Mengxue reached out her hand, without any airs of a guild leader.
"Kaede." Kaede didn't say much else and shook Xiao Mengxue's small hand.
"Kaede?" Xiao Mengxue was slightly surprised. After all, she hadn't heard of a one-character name before. Moreover, this game required an ID number to enter, and the name was the one corresponding to that ID number; it was impossible to change it.
"You said you were willing to join our guild, right?" Xiao Mengxue asked again.
"Does it provide room and board?" Kaede nodded, then asked, "Inside the game."
"..." Xiao Mengxue was caught off guard by Kaede, then she burst out laughing, which also dissipated her look of exhaustion.
Kaede watched Xiao Mengxue with a bit of helplessness. She knew this question was indeed a bit silly, but that was for those players who could log off; for someone like her who couldn't, it was indeed a real issue.
"Yes, it provides room and board." Xiao Mengxue, having finished laughing, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and said.
"Is it that funny?" Kaede felt a bit depressed being laughed at like that.
"Not funny, not funny." Xiao Mengxue said, but the irrepressible smile on her face betrayed her true thoughts.
After a long while, Xiao Mengxue finally stopped smiling. She looked at Kaede, her expression turning serious, and said, "Don't be in a rush to say whether you agree or not. Let me explain the current situation of our guild first, and then you can decide whether to join."
"Guild Master!" The girl beside her said, sounding a bit anxious. She knew their current situation, and given the Guild Master's personality, she would definitely tell everything.
"Mm." Kaede nodded, and at the same time, her impression of Xiao Mengxue improved significantly.
"Our guild has experienced several games, and no matter which game it was, we were always one of the top guilds." As she spoke, Xiao Mengxue smiled. "Then, after the national—no, world-class game Wanjie was released, we naturally focused all our attention on it."
"Actually, players from every game have focused their attention on Wanjie." As she said this, the smile on Xiao Mengxue's face vanished. "Including our old rivals, Fire Cloud, a bunch of despicable guys."
"However, we, Cloud Moon, spent too much time in the novice village, which resulted in Fire Cloud already being the well-deserved overlord by the time we arrived in Lingyun City. Then they threatened our Cloud Moon players. Because we stayed in the novice village for too long and entered the game a bit late, our strength is hard to match against them."
Xiao Mengxue suddenly gritted her teeth. "Those bastards! At first, we didn't pay them any mind, but several players were caught alone by them. Since this game is designed with reincarnation, their strength reverted directly to the beginning. Afterward, some less determined players chose to give up. Now, the ones who remain are the core of Cloud Moon."
"Actually, we have tried recruiting people, but in the end, they all gave up because Fire Cloud issued a declaration: whoever dares to join us will be hunted down constantly. That has led to our current situation."
"So, if you join us, you will likely be in danger. Even so, will you still join?" As Xiao Mengxue spoke, expectation appeared in her eyes. Cloud Moon had existed under her leadership for several years, and she truly didn't want to give up, especially on this biggest gaming stage.
Thinking about Wanjie, Xiao Mengxue felt a bit annoyed. Unlike previous games, this game was almost entirely modeled after reality. In other games, she had been a top-ten player, her mechanics extremely powerful, but that didn't work here. If it weren't for her exceptional reflexes, she would probably just be an ordinary member.
Instead, those small-time thugs who fought all day thrived better in this game.
Among those LV3s, which one didn't know some martial arts in reality? Of course, the LV4 who relied on a divine artifact doesn't count; one can only say he was too lucky...
Kaede frowned after listening. It wasn't that she was scared by what Xiao Mengxue said, but she suddenly thought about whether she would lose her freedom after joining the guild. If that happened, it really wouldn't be worth the loss.
However, Kaede's frown was seen by Xiao Mengxue, who interpreted it as hesitation, meaning a refusal would follow.
With disappointment in her eyes, Xiao Mengxue still forced a smile and said, "It's okay if you don't join."
Xiao Mengxue closed her eyes. After this, she would just disband. She couldn't let them be held back by Cloud Moon any longer. If Cloud Moon disbanded, Fire Cloud shouldn't give them a hard time, right...
Xiao Mengxue smiled, deceiving herself. She clearly knew Fire Cloud's nature: forcing people to hand over equipment, scamming them for equipment, and even involving them in reality.
It was simply because they couldn't stand them that Cloud Moon had always opposed Fire Cloud. And for a Cloud Moon that had always opposed Fire Cloud, would Fire Cloud let any of its core members go?
But what else could she do? Continue wasting the time of those core members? With their strength, they should be able to join a guild that could rival Fire Cloud...
"..." Kaede was silent for a moment. Looking at Xiao Mengxue's miserable smile, she felt a bit sad. Of course, Xiao Mengxue had no relation to her, it was just a slightly stifling feeling.
"It's not impossible for me to join." Kaede said after thinking for a while.
"It's okay, after all, Fire Cloud..." Xiao Mengxue smiled, with tears in the corners of her eyes.
"..." Kaede blinked. Looking at Xiao Mengxue's state, she knew that Xiao Mengxue hadn't heard her at all and was just assuming she would refuse.
Actually, this wasn't Xiao Mengxue's fault; normal people would refuse. However, Kaede couldn't exactly be considered a normal person, and she held others' threats in complete disdain, so she hadn't considered refusing Xiao Mengxue because of that.
However, Xiao Mengxue's appearance made Kaede feel it was somewhat interesting, so she reached out and tapped Xiao Mengxue on the forehead.
"Eh?" Xiao Mengxue covered her forehead and looked at Kaede, not understanding why she hit her.
"I said, I can join Cloud Moon, but there is one condition." Kaede looked at Xiao Mengxue playfully.
"Re...really?" Xiao Mengxue's eyes widened as she looked at Kaede, feeling a sense of disbelief.
"Pfft." The girl beside her also laughed. It was her first time seeing such an adorable Guild Master, especially since she was usually so serious.
"Mm, I can join Cloud Moon, but after joining, you cannot force me to do anything." Kaede valued her freedom very much. In akame ga kill, she had been tied down by her two younger sisters, and she didn't want to be tied down again in this game.
"That goes without saying; we never force anyone." Xiao Mengxue quickly said.
"Then there's no problem. I'll join." Kaede nodded and said.
"Really?" Xiao Mengxue couldn't quite believe it.
"Really."
"Thank you." Xiao Mengxue could no longer hold back her tears.
"You're welcome." Kaede was actually a bit embarrassed. In her feeling, it was she who was taking advantage, after all, they provided food and lodging...
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