The Bizarre entities in this world had long been locked in a state of death, their surrounding contamination silenced along with them.
For everything to come to an end just by visiting a few places was simply too fantastical.
"Let's go. I'll take you to some special places, places very important to me."
Kira Shigure was slightly stunned, then stood up and quietly followed behind Li Mo.
An important place, of course, must be visited with an important person. Kira Shigure secretly rejoiced.
Does this mean I've been acknowledged?
Saori, oh Saori, it's not the captain who's stealing the treat this time, it's the gloomy boy who took the initiative!
Mm, I'm way ahead!
"Heehee, I won."
"What are you talking about?"
"No, nothing."
They walked to the park downstairs, and only then did Li Mo suddenly realize that he didn't seem to know the way, because he had never been here before.
To Li Mo, the intricate streets of a metropolis were like a maze.
"You lead the way. Let's go to St. Freya Academy first."
"No problem. Wait for me here, I'll go find someone to take us. Coming with?" Kira Shigure asked.
Walking such a long distance would take months, so she needed to get a vehicle from one of Schicksal's branch points in the city.
"No, I'll wait for you here."
Li Mo didn't follow Kira Shigure, but sat on a stone bench in the park. He would only slow her down if he went with her. After all, without the support of contamination, he was just an ordinary person.
Kira Shigure left the park. Li Mo quietly scanned his surroundings, a habit he had developed over many years.
During a stop, he would prioritize observing the environment, looking for anything out of place or any potential risks.
And he really did find something.
"Come out. You've been following since we came downstairs," Li Mo said coldly without turning around.
Even with the accumulation of death cleared, he could still imitate his previous state.
He was all too familiar with not showing his emotions. Just putting on a stern face would do.
"?"
Cecilia hesitated, a look of doubt on her face. I've been discovered? How?
Although her disguise was strange, she had been carefully controlling her position in Li Mo's line of sight. Schicksal HQ had also trained them in concealment techniques.
Logically, an ordinary person shouldn't be able to see through her hiding.
Just as Cecilia was about to step out, she saw another exquisitely dressed person emerge from behind a tree.
"Hello, do you need me to introduce myself? I am Otto, Otto Apocalypse, the Overseer of Schicksal. You are much more perceptive than I imagined."
Otto walked up to Li Mo and sat down as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each in years.
"Spare me the flattery. You never intended to hide in the first place. Speak your mind. Before she returns, I think we need to and can solve the problems between us, whether you and I are satisfied or not."
Li Mo said bluntly.
Although Otto spent most of his time trying to revive Kallen, this world had Theresa and K-423, but Cecilia was not dead, so Li Mo had some reservations about Otto's obsession.
"As expected of someone who deals with ghosts. Flattery and adulation are indeed meaningless, and even affect one's judgment..."
"No, it doesn't affect my judgment. I just think it's a waste of time. Also, if you don't speak up, then I will deflect all your subsequent questions."
Li Mo's attitude was firm. He had to be firm when facing Otto.
Kira Shigure and Saori Tsuruyu were two simple-minded fools. Under Otto's various rhetorical tactics and feigned benevolence, they would surely have confessed everything.
Of course, that couldn't be blamed on them.
Li Mo was just reminding himself.
Otto was a smart man, so he must understand what he, in a certain sense, represented.
The reason was also simple. Because he had come to see him personally, not had Kira Shigure summon him to Schicksal.
There was a fundamental difference between the two. The latter meant he didn't care about Li Mo's threat at all. Facing someone who could restart space-time at any moment and suppress unsolvable Bizarre entities, doing so would only anger the other party.
So he would definitely choose the former, to come see him in person.
"As expected... ha, I take back those meaningless words."
"My friend, I don't care what taboos you possess. The ability to rewind time has many restrictions, but I only need you to help me do one thing."
"Stop." Li Mo immediately interrupted Otto's answer.
He had already guessed.
Otto said his ability to rewind time was limited. Five hundred years was too far. Directly rewinding to Kallen was definitely unrealistic.
Otto also had his own plans, so this ability would most likely be used as a trump card, or a chance for nostalgia.
For example, when making a deal with the World Serpent, if Kevin didn't agree, he would have to act; or he might try his best to sever his connection with the Imaginary Tree after becoming a false god.
"I won't be staying here for long. You've got the wrong person." Li Mo didn't explain the reason. With Otto, just stating the result was enough. As for the reason, let him guess.
"Is that so..." A trace of disappointment flashed in Otto's eyes, then he quickly composed himself. "Then please..."
"I'm sorry, I'm not willing."
"You can exhaust all your means to investigate the secrets on me, but in the end, all you will get is disappointment."
"Instead of wasting time on me, you might as well carry out your own ideas and plans. After all... no child cries forever, no gambler loses forever."
Li Mo deliberately dragged out the end of the last conclusion.
He didn't need to tell Otto the final result, just point out a suspected fragment of the future.
Otto was certain he had the ability to rewind time, so which timeline he came from was a big question mark.
In this situation, Li Mo just needed to reveal a small glimpse of the future, and Otto could fill in the blanks himself.
No gambler loses forever?
From the moment Kallen died protecting the people five hundred years ago and Otto led the rebellion, he had become a desperate, crazed gambler.
Winning in the end meant he had bet his life correctly.
"Since that's the case, then I shall take my leave. I wish you as much success as myself..."
Li Mo remained impassive, quietly watching Otto leave.
Only after confirming Otto had really gone did he click his tongue in dissatisfaction. "Damn, that damn old fox, cursing me even as he leaves."
He had deceived Otto. Without the Kiana factor, severing the connection between the Imaginary Tree and himself would be very difficult.
Otto had backups, but the probability was greatly reduced. Li Mo wasn't sure if he could succeed either.
That's why the guy had given a seemingly blessed curse as he left.
An old silver fox, that one.
Li Mo let out a long breath. At least he had managed to fool that scoundrel away.
Otherwise, with his current weak body, he wouldn't be able to play against Otto at all. Without absolute power, no amount of flowery words would be of any use. In the end, whoever had the bigger fist was right.
Li Mo still didn't know if he could die now, but he imagined he couldn't.
Because the contamination was only temporarily cleared. Even if he could accept one death in his current state, once the contamination all returned, he would instantly drop dead.
He was a gambler, yes, but if the stake and the reward were not proportional, Li Mo wasn't stupid. He wouldn't foolishly use his uncertain, single life to verify it.
"Hmm?"
Li Mo was still thinking when another strangely dressed woman walked towards him.
A mask, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and a trench coat.
How scared must she be of being recognized...
And where did she come from? I didn't notice at all.
Li Mo pondered for a moment. To gain the upper hand, he took the initiative to ask, "May I ask who you are?"
Cecilia hesitated for a few seconds, quietly placing her phone on her thigh. The recording had been turned on before she arrived. All she had to do was to make Li Mo relax as much as possible.
Cecilia placed her hands on the stone table, lowering Li Mo's guard.
Of course, Li Mo only looked relaxed, but in reality, he was not slacking at all.
Hiding himself so completely, Li Mo wouldn't believe she didn't have a ghost in her heart.
"I have a few questions for you. I hope you can answer truthfully," Cecilia said bluntly.
"..."
Okay, I've never met this person before.
Li Mo concluded. He didn't know many people. Besides a few who couldn't possibly be here, the remaining people who knew his identity would never speak to him in such a tone.
Hope he can answer truthfully? On what grounds?
"You ask first. I'll decide whether to answer based on your questions."
After saying this, Li Mo suddenly felt a heavy pressure on his head.
But the other party had deliberately controlled the force, so Li Mo could barely maintain his composure.
Confirmed, can't beat her.
A Valkyrie from Schicksal? Otto sent her for a second probe?
Or did the World Serpent get some intelligence?
Li Mo remained silent, saying nothing, pinning his hopes on some flaw appearing in the questions the other party asked.
Cecilia: "What is your relationship with Kira Shigure?"
"..."
Li Mo was stunned. He had expected the other party to ask some more subtle questions, but he hadn't expected her to be so direct from the start.
Direct control of Honkai Energy, a close relationship with Kira Shigure, and a considerate attitude of deliberately controlling the pressure.
Mother-in-law?
Cecilia Schariac, confirmed.
Li Mo composed his expression, trying his best to remain calm, pretending he hadn't seen through her.
He vaguely remembered that in his memories with Kiana, Theresa had mentioned Cecilia was locked up in Schicksal HQ. It was uncertain when she would be released.
Dressed so completely this time, was she worried about her identity being exposed and being caught? Or was she concerned about...
Wait... in name, she is Kiana's mother!
Theresa and Cecilia were best friends, they talked about everything. She must have told Cecilia about his and Kiana's relationship.
The time in this world had been twisted by the Bizarre Kiana. Besides the destruction of St. Freya Academy, everything was normal.
Cecilia must know that Kiana had a boy she liked, so disguising herself was to inquire about Kiana's whereabouts, or... to test the feelings between him and Kiana.
Li Mo took a deep breath, unseen. Good thing he hadn't answered immediately.
It was probably because Cecilia saw him and Kira Shigure getting too close, so she couldn't help but reveal herself to question him, to seek justice for her daughter.
"We can be considered companions, like-minded partners."
A perfect answer. Li Mo secretly gave himself a thumbs-up.
On one hand, it explained why he was so close to Kira Shigure. On the other, he wasn't lying. If Cecilia asked Kira Shigure, she would most likely get the same answer.
Guilty? Non-existent.
Cecilia was stunned for a moment, thoughtfully sizing up Li Mo.
Companions? For real?
She didn't know this person was in Kira Shigure's squad. He must have been met on a previous mission.
He wasn't lying. After all, the two of them really hadn't done anything out of line in the house, except for Kira Shigure proactively eating the pressed duck from his chopsticks.
After a while, Cecilia nodded. The next few questions were like a background check.
Cecilia: "Where are you from?"
Li Mo: "China."
Cecilia: "Do you have someone you like?"
Li Mo: "Yes."
Cecilia: "Is she here?"
Li Mo: "Yes."
Cecilia: "Are you married?"
Li Mo: "I want to get married, but I'm waiting, waiting for her to complete her mission."
Li Mo's gaze was very sincere. Even under pressure, his gaze when meeting Cecilia's was incredibly firm.
He knew very well this was the mother-in-law's test. He couldn't be timid or subservient.
He had to state his feelings frankly.
Cecilia: "Is it worth it? You might have to wait a long time. Many times, our kind... the path she walks doesn't care about the people around her. If you're just an ordinary person, what you need to give, what you need to wait for, what you need to endure... is far more than you imagine..."
"Then I'll just do my best to catch up."
Li Mo interrupted Cecilia's tactful speech.
"I know, I've always known, and I'm very clear about how much I need to sacrifice. But I'm willing to give, and waiting is not enough. I hope she can see me when she turns around, see me right behind her. Whenever she wants to rest, she can find me behind her and find support."
"I promise she can freely pursue her ideals and mission."
"Watching her grow step by step, ascending to a dazzling stage, this bit of endurance and waiting is nothing."
"I have always firmly believed that everything in the world has a price, and the price of happiness must also have mutual sacrifice."
Li Mo looked at Cecilia sincerely, speaking word by word.
He wasn't acting. Li Mo was just speaking of his actions, thoughts, and feelings from his memory.
He had to prove that he was qualified to protect Kiana.
Even if she became an existence rejected by the world, became twisted, became bizarre.
He still loved her.
Cecilia: "..."
She had originally wanted to use her seniority and decades of experience to make Li Mo doubt himself, to test whether that feeling could withstand the test.
But gradually, Li Mo's answers exceeded her expectations.
Far exceeded.
Facing her questions, he didn't leave a single bit of room, charging forward, never retreating.
There was not a single trace of doubt, suspicion, or hesitation in him.