Afterward, Ikezawa meticulously recounted his recent experiences at the Third Laboratory and the Seventh Experiment to the group chat, a detailed explanation that took him a solid two to three hours.
It had to be said that while Ikezawa's combat prowess hadn't improved much during this time, his storytelling ability had developed remarkably. His thoughts were clearer, his language more precise, simplifying where appropriate and elaborating where necessary.
Meanwhile, Lü Heng, that slacker, actually managed to goof off for several hours, listening to the entire story. In a way, that was quite impressive in itself.
Normally, when someone receives help from another, they should reciprocate in some way, right? Even among close friends or brothers, even if the helper verbally refuses any compensation, insisting it's a selfless act, you can't truly accept it without offering something in return!
Even if the helper says they don't want anything, they'll undoubtedly be pleased to receive a token of gratitude.
A relationship where one party constantly gives while the other only takes without reciprocating is doomed to fail in the long run.
Besides, Ikezawa and Lü Heng weren't even close friends, just members of the same online group. Having received such significant help, Ikezawa racked his brain, desperate to figure out how to repay him.
Unfortunately, Ikezawa had nothing of real value to offer. After a moment's thought, he typed: "The laboratories in this world possess a wealth of advanced knowledge. If we could establish a stable portal between our worlds, shouldn't we try to extract some of that technology? It would greatly benefit the Dragon Nation, wouldn't it?"
Red Cape Hero: "That's a good idea, but the problem is, I'm just the messenger. Exchanging a few words with Robin was no big deal. If Elysia is truly willing to help, it's all thanks to White Eagle. You'll need to negotiate with them directly."
Daoist Wuwei: "True... In that case, if you manage to contact Elysia, don't bother mentioning technology. Just tell her this world is full of cute beast-eared girls! That'll work better than anything else!"
Red Cape Hero: "Huh?"
Though somewhat bewildered, Lü Heng acted swiftly. Before long, Robin received a text message from him.
Given the unique nature of the chat group—especially since it had evolved from Robin's Fan Club—Lü Heng found it difficult to explain. He simply stated that a friend was trapped in an Otherworld accessible through a Dimensional Rift, and he had a way to send a tracking device to his friend's location. He asked if Elysia could help retrieve his friend from this Otherworld.
Following Ikezawa's suggestion, Lü Heng emphasized that the Otherworld was filled with adorable beast-eared girls.
Robin, reading the message on her phone, stared blankly, speechless. But she still replied, "I understand. I'll contact her right away."
In reality, this was just a formality. The moment Lü Heng contacted Robin, Elysia had already sprung into action. She found Baldy Burke, who was working overtime, and nearly made him drop his jaw with her opening line: "I'm going to the Dragon Nation~!"
Baldy Burke: "???"
Wait, what's this all about now?!
Although Elysia hadn't been doing much at the White Tower recently, her sudden departure would likely have no immediate impact.
Of course, this only applied to short absences. If Elysia were to disappear for an extended period, the eighth of White Eagle under her jurisdiction would likely implode.
After all, Elysia wasn't just some decorative mascot; she was a figure of genuine authority and the spiritual symbol of the entire Territory.
Fully aware of this, Elysia quickly added, "This time, I'm not going to the Dragon Nation for fun. I have serious business to attend to!"
Baldy Burke replied impassively, "The last time you mentioned 'serious business,' it turned out to be accompanying Miss Carolina to the cinema. The time before that, you disguised yourself and attended a small local anime convention, only to be recognized instantly. The massive crowd that gathered caused traffic jams for hours."
"Uh... ha ha ha~" Elysia awkwardly averted her gaze, scratching her cheek with her index finger as her pink eyes drifted to the blue sky outside the window.
Well, she hardly has any official duties anyway. What's wrong with sneaking out when she's free?
Besides, she used the same disguise techniques as Robin—hat, sunglasses, and a bulky coat, wrapping herself up completely. So why had Robin never been recognized, while Elysia was exposed the moment she stepped out?
The reason was simple: in the Dragon Nation, dressing like that would merely mark you as eccentric, and most people wouldn't pay much attention. But in White Eagle, the immediate reaction would be suspicion—could this person be a terrorist?
What if they were hiding guns and bombs under that coat? Naturally, people would take a closer look. And once they did, Elysia's unmistakably pink hair would be impossible to miss. In a place teeming with devotees of the Church of Elysia, the significance of pink hair needed no further explanation.
This also highlighted a key difference between the Dragon Nation and White Eagle. In the former, even if someone recognized Robin in disguise, they might hesitate to approach out of social anxiety, shyness, or fear of intruding. But in White Eagle, where everyone was a social butterfly, it would be: "Oh my! Lady Elysia! I'll lead the charge!"
"Ahem~" Elysia cleared her throat lightly. "Anyway, this time it's serious business. I'll be bringing professional personnel and the latest Dimensional Rift equipment."
The mention of personnel and equipment made it clear this was no trivial matter. Baldy Burke, realizing the gravity of the situation, said, "Let me finish this urgent task first. It won't take long. Then I'll accompany you to the Dragon Nation."
Elysia had no objections. That very evening, her private jet took off from White Eagle, bound for the Dragon Nation.
Meanwhile, Lü Heng was still anxiously awaiting a response. In his mind, Elysia was one of the White Eagle Eight, while he was just an ordinary Evolver. Even if she agreed to help, he assumed he would be the one traveling to White Eagle—he never imagined she would come to the Dragon Nation herself.
To be fair, Lü Heng wasn't the only one caught off guard. Even Kong Zhiwang, Director of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, was stunned.
The next morning at a Dragon Nation airport, Kong Zhiwang, his face radiating an almost ethereal air, gazed at the cheerful young girl who greeted him. He sighed softly, "Miss Elysia, if you were planning a visit to the Dragon Nation, you really should have given us some advance notice. It would have allowed us to prepare properly."
After all, this was essentially a state visit from a head of state.