Ling Ke had changed into a full tuxedo.
Before tonight, he had been nothing but skin and bones—one strong gust of wind could have knocked him over.
But now, fully Herrscher-ized, his body had returned to perfect health.
Better than it had ever been.
Inside the Theater of Domination, he had carved out a luxurious bedroom for himself. He now stood before a brand-new full-length mirror, meticulously adjusting his pristine evening suit.
He had never known how to tie a bow tie before.
He'd never had the occasion.
But tonight, he intended to present his absolute best to every single "guest."
No shyness. No sloppiness.
Elegance was mandatory.
Fortunately, after becoming this era's Herrscher of a Thousand People, his learning capacity had multiplied a thousandfold.
One thousand brains working in perfect parallel.
Skills and knowledge that would have taken the old him two or three years to master?
He could now speed-run them in a single day.
In terms of raw creativity, he might still lag behind true geniuses.
But in pure learning speed? He was already unmatched.
He had already decided: in the days to come, he would devour every field of knowledge he could.
Medicine, geography, astronomy, history, etiquette, art... everything.
These intangible treasures would refine him from the inside out.
Eventually, he would prove once and for all:
A Herrscher with a brain is the most terrifying kind.
But all of that could wait.
Right now, his full attention was on something far more important...
"Welcome..." "Too flat."
"Welcome, honored guests..." "Too wordy."
"Don't lower your head when you speak."
"Back straight, chest out—there, that's the posture."
"Steps need refinement too."
In front of the mirror, Ling Ke quickly mastered the bow tie.
A smile never left his face—radiating palpable, almost childlike anticipation.
He was rehearsing.
He...
was completely and utterly insane.
No matter how expressive his face became, the windows to the soul—those eyes—had long since lost any trace of life or focus.
Ten minutes later...
Ling Ke raised both hands like a conductor leading an orchestra.
Within his Theater of Domination, an entirely new space unfolded: an opulent grand banquet hall.
Long table, crimson carpet, candlelight—atmosphere perfected.
Dressed to the nines, he walked to the hall's main entrance.
At that exact moment, multiple spatial portals rippled open.
"W-What the hell do you want?!"
"I'm just a researcher!"
"Please—don't kill me!"
From each portal, several very "familiar" faces were forcibly marched forward by clusters of Domination Puppet · Anbys.
They stumbled, begged, pleaded.
One guest was still missing...
Edwy Iwenn.
She was currently receiving "first aid" from the puppets.
And, like the others, she too would be dressed for the occasion.
Moments later...
Creak~
Another portal opened.
Seated in a wheelchair pushed by a Domination Puppet · Anby, Edwy was wheeled in.
Her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall; she now wore a pristine white evening gown.
The long skirt draped naturally, perfectly concealing the fact that both her legs ended just above the knee.
Her face was deathly pale.
She trembled uncontrollably.
And then...
"Welcome... to the Theater of Domination!"
Standing alone at the entrance, Ling Ke offered the warm, refined smile of a seasoned butler. He bowed slightly, one hand across his chest in an impeccable gesture of welcome.
He had practiced this scene hundreds of times.
He truly respected these guests.
After all, it was because of them that the current him existed.
And so...
"The banquet is ready. It is my greatest honor to host you all personally."
"I am also deeply grateful that you accepted my invitation."
Ling Ke smiled brightly.
The arriving guests exchanged horrified glances.
Did they accept?
Obviously... not of their own free will.
Shiiing!
Off to the side, several Domination Puppet · Anbys idly spun their blades, the message crystal clear.
Ah. Of course they accepted.
Seeing how polite and understanding his guests were, Ling Ke stepped aside with a gracious smile and gestured toward the hall.
"Please."
Just one soft word.
Yet no one dared refuse.
Soon, the "guests" filed in one by one and took their assigned seats.
Ling Ke moved to the head of the table but remained standing.
Even now, most of them still hadn't recognized the impeccably mannered black-haired young man before them.
Except... in one fleeting moment, Edwy caught his profile and something clicked.
Her trembling intensified.
She understood instantly why she was here.
But before she could scream...
"Actually," Ling Ke began lightly, almost nostalgically, "today feels a little like... graduation day for me."
"You are the very first guests I have invited here."
"And every one of you is a teacher I respect from the bottom of my heart."
"Yes—over the past few years, at this very special academy called the West Asia Branch, you taught me so, so much through your personal example."
As he spoke, he lifted a crystal wine glass filled with deep red liquid.
He began to circle the table slowly.
First, he stopped behind Dr. Antonio.
"Projecting oneself onto others," he murmured, resting a gentle hand on the man's shoulder.
Then to Dr. Eggerth—"Never seeking fame or profit."
Finally, to Dr. Moniz—"Upright and incorruptible."
The Branch Director of the West Asia Branch — "helping the weak with strength."
"And also..."
Finally, he stopped beside the terrified Edwy Iwenn. "A simple heart of compassion."
Her breathing hitched violently.
Ling Ke continued walking as he spoke: "You all taught me that these virtues, in this world..."
"Are not needed!"
He had returned to the host's seat.
Edwy sat directly to his left.
"I..."
"Please, Miss Edwy, no need to rush."
Ling Ke turned his head with a smile, cutting her off.
He set down his wine glass. Despite circling the entire long table, he hadn't taken a single sip.
Yet he maintained that professional smile as he slowly said, "To repay your kindness in enlightening me, this unworthy one has carefully prepared a few small performances."
"I believe tonight's show will be one that all of you... will never forget for the rest of your lives."
With that, he clapped his hands lightly.
The gesture was like a command.
The doors to the hall opened once more.
Everyone's attention was drawn.
One after another, gray-haired, red-eyed maids entered the room.
They were all loaded with the game character template Ling Ke had just drawn.
[Game Character Template: Lina] [Source: Zenless Zone Zero] [Character Traits: Leveling system, HP system, infinite stamina, indestructible equipment, electric attribute, support traits, character switching...] [Game Skills: Normal Attack: Beat the Idiot, Normal Attack: Shoo the Fool, Dodge: Smooth the Skirt, Dash Attack: Sudden Scare, Dodge Counter: Bangbu Revival...] [Background Talents: High Ether Aptitude Physique...] [Profile: Full name: Alexandrina Sebastiane. Affiliated with the Victoria housekeeping agency (cough, the Victoria mafia family). A professional maid. As a maid, she excels at cleaning — whether it's trash... or enemies.]
At this moment, a group of "Domination Puppet · Linas" each carried a covered silver tray. Instead of walking, they floated gracefully through the air — Lina's signature movement style.
They gently placed the trays in front of each "guest."
Exactly three per person.
After finishing, the maids did not leave.
Five remained, standing beside the five "guests."
From the host's seat, Ling Ke smiled and announced, "Now for the first little performance."
"Please, dear guests, select tonight's dishes yourselves."
"Of course, I wouldn't play childish blind-box games to toy with you."
"That would be impolite."
Ling Ke gestured with his right hand. "There's no rush to choose until you've seen the options."
"If the portions seem too small and you're still hungry, choosing 'all of them' is perfectly acceptable."
"Now then — the first dish..."
He snapped his fingers.
The maids at the sides smiled sweetly as they lifted the first covers.
The next instant...
Scuttle-scuttle-scuttle~
"!!!"
Every "guest" present felt a surge of stomach acid.
They instinctively covered their mouths, nearly vomiting.
But in front of the current Ling Ke, they didn't dare.
Yet what lay before their eyes...
In each platter: a writhing mass of... cockroaches.
Every one had its legs removed — just like Edwy now.
They squirmed, struggled.
All still alive.