Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 552 469: Choice (Extra for the White Silver League's Chen Zui)_1

"Hello?"

After a long silence, he said, "This is Huai Shi."

"..."

For a long, long time, no one spoke. Huai Shi began to wonder if the Astronomical Society's phone even had a signal. Just then, a somewhat trembling voice finally came from the other end.

"Hello? I'm Sea... COUGH, COUGH... I mean, I'm Lily."

It sounded like she almost bit her tongue. She choked and coughed several times, then hurriedly explained, "Just now, that... was a misunderstanding!"

Huai Shi was stunned for a long while. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, yet for some reason, a sense of loss began to creep into his heart.

"I know," he nodded slowly.

Hearing his quick reply, Lily seemed to grow even more anxious. Her explanations became incoherent: "I actually, I don't like him *that* much... No, what I mean is... No, it's not the kind of like... you think. No, I'm not... I... I didn't..."

Her voice trailed off toward the end.

She was almost on the verge of tears.

"I know, I know."

Huai Shi comforted her, "Don't worry. We're friends, right? We just accidentally bumped into each other..."

"I didn't bump into you accidentally!" Lily's voice suddenly rose, interrupting him. But then, as if her words caught in her throat, her voice quickly sank to a muffled blur of low murmurs.

Finally, as if giving up, she hung up.

Huai Shi stood there, stunned, listening to the sound of sunflower seed shells falling to the ground beside him.

In those few short minutes, a sizable pile of sunflower seed shells had accumulated at Raven's feet.

And there Raven was, skillfully cracking seeds and watching the drama unfold with a smirk. She suddenly asked, "So, do you like her?"

After a long silence, Huai Shi shook his head, somewhat dejected.

"...I don't know."

"Shouldn't you know best about such things?" Raven retorted. "Or do you think that's not good?"

"But I didn't do those things just so she would like me," Huai Shi looked at her and replied, as if it were common sense, "You're not supposed to expect such rewards when doing the right thing, are you? Although I'm happy about it, I can't help but feel it's not right."

Was this affection born out of friendship, gratitude, or their shared experiences during the adventure? He could have just not cared at all, accepted everything, and done as he pleased. It would have been so simple. She trusted him so much, relied on him; if he showed her kindness, she would feel happy and joyful. If he made a promise, she would believe him without condition. She had no defenses against him at all. And then what? Move on to the next one and continue acting irresponsibly? How would that be any different from a scumbag?

"People must take responsibility for their actions." Huai Shi raised his head and said seriously to Raven, "I've worked this hard to get where I am today, not to become someone like my parents."

Raven was taken aback.

After a moment, she couldn't help but laugh softly.

It was unclear whether it was relief or joy.

"Although you might still have a bit of a playboy nature, you've really grown up..."

She raised her wings contentedly and patted Huai Shi's head. "Heh, Huai Shi, I really do like you the most."

"Uh..."

Huai Shi's expression immediately became complex.

He was extra cautious and guarded.

"Hey, why the different treatment?" Raven complained angrily.

Huai Shi rolled his eyes. "Hmph, can innocent teenage girls and wicked forces be the same?!"

"Tsk, what a pity."

Raven shook her head regretfully, her tone full of insinuation. "I was about to give you a treat... the kind an innocent teenage girl wouldn't give you, you know."

Huai Shi sneered, long used to her tricks.

"Something an innocent teenage girl wouldn't give me? You mean scamming money out of me?"

"Of course. Just like this..."

A pair of fair hands cupped his cheeks, forcing him to look up, allowing no refusal.

And somehow, her soft breath was already near.

A faint fragrance tickled his nostrils.

Huai Shi froze, blankly watching her face slowly approach, inching closer, his mind a complete void.

He had never seen her face so closely. It was as if it encapsulated all the beauty in the world—seductive yet majestic, as awe-inspiring as the sun itself.

Destined to shine upon all things, permitting no refusal.

Nor could he refuse this Blessing, which belonged solely to him.

In his daze, the dreamlike illusion suddenly dissipated.

Huai Shi snapped out of his stupor, feeling a slight pain on his lips.

It felt as if something sharp had poked him.

Yes, a long, pointed bird's beak.

"Ah, sorry, my Transformation time ran out..."

Raven said awkwardly, "Shall we try this again next time?"

After a long, long while, Huai Shi finally came to his senses. He stared dumbfounded at the innocent-looking little raven before him.

He'd been tricked by this shameless woman again!

Without hesitation, he reached out, grabbed her fiercely, and pressed his gun to her face, wishing he could have recorded her expression just moments ago to show her.

"Transform!"

"Ouch, don't be so rough," Raven said, trying to change the subject. "Aren't we moving a bit too fast? Normally, we should start with a sweet romance, right?"

Damn her! How dare she deceive an innocent young man's feelings!

"Who would fall in love with a black-hearted woman like you!"

Huai Shi pulled the trigger.

"Go to hell!"

A loud gunshot rang out.

However, the gun in Huai Shi's hand exploded into a cloud of ink. It then helplessly reformed on his shoulder. Patting his head with a wing, Raven spoke earnestly, "Sorry, Huai Shi, the adult world is just this cruel. See? You didn't seize the opportunity... and the treat is gone."

After her ridiculous meddling, Huai Shi was too frustrated to argue with her anymore.

He could never outtalk her anyway!

It was just that in his heart, for the 1,080,000th time, he made a resolution.

—Never underestimate a young man down on his luck! Fortunes change; she can be smug for now! Once he became stronger than her, she would realize just how ridiculously wrong she had been!

The spiritual victory was a powerful balm, and he finally calmed down.

After all, it was just a tease, and not the first time. He didn't take it to heart. He just chalked it up to another outburst of that black-hearted woman's perverse sense of humor, resigned to being toyed with by her.

Thanks to this rather unorthodox consolation, his previously gloomy mood had considerably improved.

After tidying up, he pushed open the door again and was met by a fierce blizzard.

In the storm, beside the bonfire, a sleigh and a few listless sled dogs were still waiting patiently. Seeing him emerge, they immediately started barking.

Only this time, Huai Shi couldn't understand what they were saying.

Huai Shi took one last, deep look at the door behind him, closed it again, and bid farewell to this place. After feeding the sled dogs and resting for a while, he put out the bonfire and set off in the direction he had come from.

Raven landed on his shoulder. Cocking her head, she looked at Huai Shi, who was pretending to be stern and ignoring her, and suddenly asked, "By the way, after your experiences in the new world, have you had any realizations?"

"A little."

Huai Shi thought for a moment, then said somewhat helplessly, "But it seems I can't quite articulate it."

"That's quite normal."

Raven mused, "Life is mostly like that. You feel like you've gained some insight, but after a while, you realize it's just an illusion. This world is bigger than anyone can imagine, with so many changes. Those who claim to have figured it all out are either close to death, no longer having the strength to move forward, or they've just given up, deceiving themselves and others."

"So, it's okay if I don't understand?"

Huai Shi asked. He had originally thought Raven wanted him to arrive at some conclusion, but to his surprise, she didn't seem to care at all.

"What's there to understand?"

Raven looked at him seriously. "Whether you understand or not, Huai Shi, what matters is that you keep thinking about it. The only thing I care about is this: does your life now, and your life in the new world, make you happy?"

After a brief silence, Huai Shi faced the blizzard and smiled.

"Yes, I am very happy."

He said, "Whether in reality or in any of the branches in the new world, seeing others smile makes me happy. Knowing that my existence helps them live better also makes me happy."

"Haha, you really are incorrigible."

Raven chuckled softly. "Among all those choices, is there any you're particularly fond of? So many lives, so many paths... Huai Shi, which will you choose?"

"It's hard to say."

Huai Shi thought it over and admitted frankly, "I like most of them."

"But you have to choose one, right?"

"There's only one way for adults to choose, isn't there?"

Huai Shi looked up unabashedly and told her:

"—I want them all!"

Raven was instantly exasperated. "Hey, hey, where did you learn such an utterly unreasonable way of choosing?"

"Haha, didn't you teach me this?"

Huai Shi couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Hoist by your own petard, isn't that how it goes? Since you sowed the seeds, you should be prepared to taste the bitter fruit."

Once again, Raven felt how hard her life was.

But there was nothing she could do about it.

Besides, as her Contractor, she had to take some responsibility...

With these complicated feelings, she asked, "You still have a little bit of your vacation left. Is there anywhere you want to go?"

"No," Huai Shi shook his head. "I've been away for so long. I'm homesick."

"Alright."

She nodded slightly, then snuggled back into Huai Shi's collar, only her tiny head peeking out. Gazing at the distant, dancing snowflakes, she whispered softly, "Let's go home."

"Yeah, let's go home."

Huai Shi nodded and shook the reins, making the sound of the Bells more intense.

The lively and cheerful sled dogs excitedly ran forward, barking loudly. Facing the rising storm on the horizon, they dashed away.

Racing across the endless snowfield, laden with the harvest of their journey, they returned to the bustling world of humanity.

「Much later」

Matthes finally woke from his stupor.

He instinctively touched his head.

His head was still there.

He nervously felt his lower back and breathed a sigh of relief—his kidneys were also still there.

In the cold draft seeping in from under the door, he struggled to lift his head, bound by ropes, shivering uncontrollably.

But when he saw his surroundings, he froze.

Where is the All Spectrum Heaven Sphere?

Where did my huge All Spectrum Heaven Sphere go?!

Matthes looked around the Thirteenth Experimental Area. It was completely empty, as if a flood had swept through. He was stunned for a long time. Overwhelmed with grief, he couldn't help but howl at the sky.

He keenly felt that times had changed.

You goddamned thieves! You even dare to steal from the Golden Dawn!