"Returning to the Luofu, stepping into Scalegorge Waterscape… It feels unreal." Shedding Blake's disguise, Dan Heng surveyed the interior of the Divination Commission.
"I sought to leave with all my heart, yet fate twisted, bringing me back here."
"It's fine, Dan Heng is Dan Heng… Don't let your past identity bind you." March 7th turned big-sister mode. With Himeko absent, guiding Dan Heng fell to her!
"Now only a handful know my identity. When word spreads, who knows what'll happen… But at least for now, I'm safe."
Stelle looked to Dan Heng: "What next?"
"I want to meet the Luofu's current Vidyadhara Dragon Lord."
"Since I can't escape the karma born from Dan Feng's actions, I want to understand his past more clearly… See what I can do to atone for old sins."
...
At the milk tea shop, fresh off seeing Yanqing and Freesna out, Silver Wolf showed up— in person, no less.
Looks like she took the other day's pitch to work at the shop seriously. Here early to acclimate—dedicated.
"Where're the other two? Would've been nice to gather at the little shop."
"Dark-themed milk tea joint… No wonder it's empty." Silver Wolf switched to critique mode. "What's key to running a shop? Answer in three seconds."
"Product quality."
"Wrong! To snag new customers… First, prime location. Opening in the Astral Express hub draws crowds, like the Sleepless Earl across the bridge."
"But… seeing your place, folks might think it's some abandoned relic. What's that got to do with milk tea?"
Adrian wouldn't buy it. "Your thinking's too conservative. These days… who wants cookie-cutter builds? Gotta have flair. Black aesthetic pulls customers."
Like Silver Wolf said, the exterior gives zero milk tea vibes. That sparks curiosity—customers itch for a haunted house vibe, peeking through windows on tiptoes.
"Sigh~ Let's drop the shop talk. You don't need it for cash anyway—wanna game?"
Eternity stayed ascetic. Silver Wolf had toured the church, sure—even scrapped with their Pontiff last—but that wasn't the point!
Locked in the dungeon briefly, she'd heard Sampo on church grub (disguised as a priest to siphon Elation).
Priests' breakfast? Plain boiled veggies and mashed potatoes… no meat.
Gods, how'd Pontiff Blake manage funds? Prime water source, yet broke? IPC's Market Development would flip it into something wild.
"Sigh~ Lass, you wouldn't know—those priest days slimmed old Sampo right down. Worse than commoner fare."
"Eat bitter to rise high. That relentless spirit? You'll succeed at anything!" Silver Wolf approved of Sampo.
"Haha… Hidden twist there, lass. Ever crossed paths with an Eternity Pathstrider?" Sampo asked.
"Didn't I say? A friend recommended this spot, but he's no Eternity Pathstrider."
"Hey… No way, lass. You know an Eternity Emanator?" Sampo switched to honorifics for Silver Wolf.
At the time, Silver Wolf couldn't pin Adrian's identity—judged him balanced, above Pathstrider, below Emanator.
Hmm…
Just a beefed-up Eternity Pathstrider?!
"Vacation-wise, the church ranks top-tier. Sigh~ Shame I haven't soaked yet."
Sampo's eyes held regret. All about scheming fun, no self-relax—plan barely started, Blake nabbed him. Like HE was the fun.
"Lass wouldn't know: legend says, a thousand Amber Eras back, Abundance's Yaoshi sought Ite, debating 'longevity.'"
"Like Xianzhou Alliance's Abundance long-lives, this planet's natives—under Ite's shelter—had bodies locked in weird energy stasis. Not 'longevity' another way?"
"Wow… Tavern folk sure got pro intel."
Silver Wolf shocked. You Elation types could hawk secrets.
"No choice—we find fun with lines, stick to rules. Reckless joy-seeking… Hmm, wouldn't fly in the church."
Sampo couldn't fathom: colleagues hitting Eternity Church—how to speedrun past Blake? Unscathed? Impossible.
...
Flashback over, Silver Wolf sneezed, glaring out the door. Probably some gamer she'd wrecked yesterday cursing her.
Adrian eyed his phone's big [FAILURE]. "Ah… Don't zone out mid-game. See? Lost."
"Don't pressure teammates—I was reminiscing… Sigh~ Ever been dungeoned? At the Eternity Church." Silver Wolf propped her cheek. Competitive games bored her now.
Adrian scanned his mind-sea for dungeon bits—probably when he'd pitched Silver Wolf the church tour.
Hoping, pre-Stellaron Hunters grind and warrants, she'd savor a last vacay bliss—then the no-return path.
"Leisure mini-game flips to prison-break co-op. Feel that whiplash?" Silver Wolf slammed the table. If she were an Emanator, would she flinch at a pipsqueak Pontiff?
"Ahem… Self-inflicted, sure—but a trial for me."
If Elio interviewed with resumes, Silver Wolf's would shine: Punklorde genius hacker just her dullest gig.
Traded blows with Genius Society #76 Screwllum—no disadvantage. Clashed with Eternity Emanator Blake—escaped intact… Who else in the cosmos?
"Overleveled challenge… Sigh~ Can't grok young folks' brains." Adrian sipped milk tea. HE never fought without odds.
"Wow… You're Emanator-level—only Aeons left to overlevel!" Silver Wolf pulled her hanky, wiping the milk tea cup first.
"Always wondered: how's this milk tea made?"
Pro player like her—gonna mine this sim's secrets… Or flipped: she was elite beta tester!
"Pre-made, but Eternity pro preservation tech—zero sugar, zero cals, no guilt." Adrian deadpanned.
"Huh?"
Seeing Silver Wolf blank, Adrian offered a cup:
"All locked in—where's the calories?"
That instant, Silver Wolf got why Sampo dreaded Eternity.
No way… This milk tea blessed by the Eternity Aeon too?!