Chapter 5. Conversation
Juwel exhaled, his eyes reflecting deep contemplation. This world was too different, it demanded that he adapt quickly if he wanted to continue surviving. But more importantly, he needed to understand his position in this society and the relationships left behind by the original owner of the body.
The most troubling issue was still Corvos. He was not only a notorious criminal in Juwel's previous life, but also the greatest threat to anyone connected to him. If he wanted to protect the original body's owner, the first thing Juwel needed to do was control and restrain this man.
Corvos was now reading a book while enjoying some drink by the balcony window.
A shadow blocked the light. Of course, that shadow belonged to Juwel. Corvos would not deliberately ignore Juwel to reluctantly read the book in darkness. He lifted his head and looked at Juwel, who was looking down at him with arms crossed, the posture strict and commanding.
"We need to talk," Juwel's voice cold and decisive.
"You may speak." Corvos folded the book, his tone calm without any trace of confrontation.
After sitting down across from him, Juwel looked at Corvos, his heart full of contradictions.
But not now. He could not let hatred cloud his reason at this moment. There were matters that needed priority over vengeance.
It was likely that Corvos had lived together with the original owner of his body, and surely he had some observations, knowledge, and experience about this world. These were things Juwel lacked and could not quickly compensate for.
Yet one thought made Juwel uneasy.
How could Corvos ignore living, even sleeping, together with someone who had the exact face as his enemy? Was what Juwel had done to him not enough to make him uncomfortable?
If the situation were reversed, if Juwel were in Corvos's position, he knew he could not do it. The face of an enemy was a constant reminder of all the losses and pain he had endured.
Still, as enemies, Juwel knew Corvos was the type who could clearly separate emotion from reason. This was a fact Juwel realized the first time he faced Corvos. He would not let emotions dictate his actions, at least he would not show it.
For Corvos, everything had to serve some purpose that no one else could understand.
A cold-blooded leader could easily replace his own soldiers for the greater benefit of the collective.
Juwel could not say this was wrong. Everyone had different priorities, and he did not need to pity the bastards who had been replaced.
And Corvos's calm, unhurried behavior could only be explained by the fact that he still had some purpose to achieve from the original owner of Juwel's body. And Juwel could partially imagine what that purpose was.
He needed confirmation.
"First, tell me. When you said you can read the memories of this body, what does that mean?"
Juwel's voice was sharp like a blade. Corvos did not answer immediately.
"You can use your limbs because the body is currently yours. The brain is the same, you can remember, analyze, do everything because it is under your possession. In fact, if you want, you can also see the memories stored in this brain." Corvos raised his hand to indicate, then pointed to his head, his attitude natural and confident.
Possession?
Juwel had never trusted Corvos's morality, so he was not surprised that he could freely view someone else's memories without any shame.
One reason Juwel decided to discuss things with Corvos peacefully, instead of with another approach, was that he realized he needed a partner to help him adapt to this new world. With just one glance, Juwel saw many new things that he could not imagine how to use, and on top of that, he had to care for the relationships and work of the original body's owner.
These new knowledge and experiences would take time to explore, but life would not pause for him to prepare.
Juwel initially just wanted to test Corvos's value in this cooperation. He also had to consider how he would treat Corvos afterward.
But truly, there was no possibility for a peaceful conversation.
"You seem to allow yourself to do things beyond limits, don't you? Remember, this body is not yours, understand?"
Corvos looked straight into Juwel's eyes. His attitude was not as firm as Juwel's display, but it was very certain as he spoke.
"This is not the most important issue to discuss right now, is it?"
"No. This will be the main issue that you and I have to discuss today," Juwel retorted. He emphasized his point.
He continued speaking.
"You are alive thanks to someone else's body, yet you can act as if you have no caution when invading memories that do not belong to you. Even if there is no law forbidding it, do you really think such an act does not need a boundary?"
Although no written rule existed, accessing someone else's private memories was a serious violation of Juwel's personal moral boundary, regardless of the fact that limiting Corvos's access to the original owner's memories could put him at a disadvantage at this moment.
Contrary to Juwel's expectation, Corvos did not rush to retort. He gave a faint, slight smile, his silver-gray eyes flashing a sharp glint, and looked straight into Juwel's eyes:
"You have a point. But if you think the other way around, our memories are also stored in the original owner's brain, exposed to the same risk. When the original body returns, it is very possible that he will see everything I ever thought, everything I ever remembered. After all, this is not really an ethical problem, so even if I violate his privacy, it does not guarantee he won't do the same to me."
Juwel heard this, but his attitude did not change. He fully understood that Corvos's words were only a clever excuse, in reality just proving the idea of "knowing it's wrong but doing it anyway" to secure the greatest benefit for himself.
Corvos observed Juwel. Following Juwel's words would not be difficult, and on the other hand, acting arrogantly would make the discussion worse. However, for Corvos, this was his purpose.
Although Juwel seemed at a disadvantage in this exchange, he remained calm. He knew very well that he could not change Corvos's behavior, and he could not even know exactly when Corvos would "commit the act" to stop him in time. The brain, the memories, these were things that could not be easily controlled with the naked eye.
Memories were only the tip of the iceberg. Juwel remained calm because he understood clearly: the most frightening thing was that Corvos might want to completely take over the body and live again permanently.
A suspicion lingered in Juwel's mind, like a tiny thorn that could not be removed.
Corvos had been reborn, that was undeniable. But what made him uneasy was the possibility that Corvos might want to fully seize this body.
And that possibility was very high.
Juwel had been mistaken on one point.
He had been deceived by his perception from the previous life when he still believed that Corvos, the one who feared nothing and never valued his own life, would continue to maintain that nature in this life.
But if examined closely, that "fearlessness" largely came from circumstances.
First, his work had been extremely dangerous. With his sharp mind, Corvos certainly understood that he was not perfect enough to escape every danger forever, that enemies could appear at any moment to strike him, just like Juwel had almost killed him.
Second, at that time he had never died, so naturally he would not fear death. Although it was also possible, like Juwel, that a person who had died could accept that their life had ended and be ready to leave the world at any time.
But what if Corvos began to fear death?
"That body does not belong to you, and this body does not belong to me. Remember, we are both dead. This body is only something borrowed."
Corvos raised his brow, seemingly unconcerned about being challenged. His silver eyes were calm, like an unruffled lake.
"I did not actively seize or borrow this body," he said, his voice gentle but containing an unshakable certainty.
Juwel immediately retorted, his tone sharper:
"That can only be concluded if you intend to return this body or not."
Under Juwel's gaze, Corvos knew he needed to give an accurate answer, otherwise he might push the discussion further than necessary.
"You don't need to worry. If this body is something gifted, it will eventually be taken back anyway. I have no magic to oppose such a miracle."
Juwel squinted.
"You say you did not actively seize this body, but you are currently living in it and using it," Juwel asked directly, still cold. "So I want to know, how do you intend to use the original owner's body?"
Corvos did not look at Juwel and did not answer, unclear whether he was thinking or not.
"I just want to remind you that..." Juwel continued, his voice cold but clear, "If you provoke me with your criminal behavior, I am ready to kill you regardless of the consequences."
A faint smile crossed Corvos's lips, gentle but enough to unsettle Juwel. He replied in a calm tone, almost sarcastic:
"You think I would do what? Robbery, extortion? Or start a new cult?"
Juwel frowned. "I am not joking."
He did not flinch at Corvos's demeanor and continued:
"I want us to maintain the life of the original body's owner, so I need your cooperation."
Corvos tilted his head slightly, his gaze not carrying any anger or resentment. Instead, he seemed to be carefully considering every word Juwel said.
"Specifically, what do you mean? I want to hear your idea."
Corvos's voice carried no attack at all. He sat straight and looked into Juwel's eyes, ready to receive whatever he wanted to say.
Juwel took a breath and spoke firmly.
"I want you to ensure some basic principles. First, follow the path that the original body's owner had chosen, at least in how you handle old relationships and the responsibilities that the original owner carried."
He stared sharply at Corvos.
"The original body's owner had certain relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. You must not destroy them just for personal purposes. You have to maintain the trust that the original owner built with those people."
"Second, for new things, new relationships or arising matters, you need to act carefully. Every decision you make must be considered based on whether the original owner could handle the situation when they return."
Corvos nodded but still raised a point.
"How do you know that the reason we are here, in this body, is not to completely change what they have done?"
Juwel looked at Corvos, his gaze sharp and cold.
"So what do you mean? Living with this new identity seems like nothing is happening? Doing whatever you want and then going back to be the head of the terrorists?"
Calming down, Juwel spoke more politely.
"We owe those who lived in this body before us. No matter what, they do not deserve to suffer consequences because of our presence. Living according to the life of the original body's owner is not only a responsibility but also the best way to protect their honor. Furthermore, it is the only way to prevent the world from being disrupted by our abnormal existence."
It was strange that Juwel believed that words full of moral reasoning could persuade a crime boss. But his gaze was always serious. He thought he should explain the most essential reason behind this discussion. Juwel wanted to convey it with the utmost sincerity. Deep inside, he believed that Corvos might accept it, like an intuition born from his understanding of this sworn enemy.
Corvos was silent for a moment:
"Reasonable. But only on one side. Have you asked yourself what if the original owner of the body you are using was irresponsible, or worse, a criminal? Will you live as a copy of the original owner? How can you be sure that imitating the original owner is the right thing?"
Corvos's question fell into the space like a knife stabbed straight into Juwel's argument.
Juwel squinted, his calm being tested. He did not answer immediately but stared at Corvos, trying to find the real motive behind that question.
Juwel said, "What you said is just an assumption. There is no evidence that the original owner of my body was irresponsible or a criminal."
Corvos calmly countered.
"On the contrary. You also have no evidence and no way to be certain that they are completely innocent. So if one day you find out that the original owner really is such a person, will you still protect their honor or will you break your own principles to adjust this life in a way you see as more reasonable?"
What will you choose?
There was only a brief moment of silence, but in that instant, Juwel could clearly feel the challenge in Corvos's question.
Juwel did not reply immediately. He knew that the answer would determine the direction of this conversation, so he had to be extremely careful with his words.
He stayed quiet for a moment, then let out a faint smile.
"So what? I am not exactly a good person either."
It was not a vague statement, not an evasive answer. It was a truth.
"Remember the deaths of your comrades." Juwel tilted his head and looked at Corvos.
"Do you think I am a better person than the original owner of the body you assumed?"
For this question, Corvos could answer easily:
"Killing the innocent and killing those who need to die are two different things."
Juwel lowered his eyes, his long lashes fluttering slightly.
"So what?"
Corvos slowly rested his elbows on the table, interlacing his hands.
Juwel's gaze grew even more determined.
"I do not have the right to forgive or judge the sins of others when I lack sufficient authority, evidence, and stance. I am only doing what I think I need to do right now."
Corvos tilted his head slightly.
"Whoever the original owner of this body was, whether he was good or ill-disposed, I shall safeguard the life that was his."
Each word carried the weight of an oath.
He did not use the word "help," nor did he say "play a role." For Juwel, this was not a performance, not a lie. He was continuing a life that had been given to him. He would walk the path he believed was right, no matter where it led.
Corvos watched him for a while, then gently gave a small smile.
Juwel knew that now their discussion could proceed more smoothly.
"You do not need to worry. The original owners of both of our bodies were ordinary people, with no criminal records and were honest."
Juwel frowned at Corvos but said nothing more. Corvos continued with the next issue to discuss.
"So, how long do you plan to pretend like this?"
Juwel remained silent, thinking for a long while before answering.
"Five years. We will impersonate the original owner for five years. After that period, if there are no signs of the original owner, you can decide how to live your life."
Juwel did not rush to give this timeframe.
The first reason was Corvos. Juwel knew this man well, a leader with intellect and patience far beyond ordinary people. But he also knew that Corvos's patience was not infinite. Forcing him to play the role of another person for too long would inevitably risk rebellion.
Corvos was not the type to accept living as a shadow, and Juwel did not want to invite danger from such a variable. Five years was long enough to maintain stability and allow both of them to focus on solving the problem without making Corvos feel trapped forever.
The second reason came from the original owner of the body. Time is a double-edged sword. If the original owner returned late, they would still face inevitable changes brought by the passing of time. No matter how hard Juwel tried to preserve their life, what had happened would still guide the original owner's life in unpredictable directions. In that case, forcing Corvos into a framework or letting him act freely would lead to the same result.
Moreover, interfering in the life of the original owner should only be seen as a temporary solution a way to keep this body from being completely abandoned while waiting. Deep in his heart, Juwel felt that his existence in this world was temporary. For him, setting this timeframe was a way to remind himself of his own limits.
After carefully considering Juwel's proposal, Corvos placed his hands on the table.
"Alright, I agree with the timeframe and your method. On the other hand, it's my turn to propose my idea, isn't it?"
Juwel squinted but let Corvos continue.
"I think we should also have our private time, meaning we do not need to impersonate the original owner all the time."
Juwel did not understand what Corvos implied and remained silent.
"Specifically, my proposal is that we need another identity to serve ourselves. Although your idea is theoretically feasible, have you ever thought that if you always have to impersonate the original owner, you might go insane? Not to mention it is only five years; a person trapped in a cage for three days could go insane. Impersonating the original owner means you have to act according to their personality, solve all their problems without receiving any reward except spiritual value, and deal with many other issues."
"Wait. I think you are misunderstanding something. If no one is observing, or like now, you are at home, then why do you need to impersonate the original owner? I do not agree with your idea." Juwel immediately objected.
"I'm talking about different situations." Corvos remained calm, his voice steady. "You will not be able to hide in this disguise forever. There will be times when you want to go outside, join the community, do things you enjoy but do not want the original owner of the body to be involved. Do not tell me that never happens. At times like that, using the original identity will cause trouble for them. That is why having a separate identity, something entirely our own, is necessary."
Juwel clenched his fists on the table, a dangerous spark flashing in his eyes. What Corvos said was not unreasonable, but it also contained a terrifying possibility. This possibility made the anger he had been restraining flare up.
"Bang!" The sound of the chair scraping the floor rang sharply.
Juwel grabbed Corvos by the collar and pulled him close, his face threatening.
"What are you thinking? Going back to your original self, a notorious criminal with a pile of charges you could never repay even if you died a thousand times? Listen carefully. If you dare break the law or repeat anything from before, I am ready to abandon all principles to kill you again."
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
Under Juwel's warning gaze, Corvos calmly said:
"I have no intention of going back to being a criminal, at least not in this situation. And I assure you, I will keep my promise."
Juwel released Corvos's collar but not because he trusted his words. He regained his usual composure.
"I know your current priorities."
Juwel kept his eyes locked on the man who had once been the greatest enemy of his life, giving him no chance to react immediately. He continued:
"You are surely looking for your dead members."
Corvos did not deny it but waited for Juwel to continue.
"Staying here is only your first trial step, isn't it?" Juwel said immediately, unwavering.
"You probably think that if you can be revived, the other members of yours might also receive the same favor. But you cannot be completely sure, so you need more evidence, and by chance, you encountered the person with my face. My original self is the easiest subject to observe and follow. My appearance here also proves that your hypothesis is more feasible than before."
Corvos shrugged, neither denying nor confirming.
The hypothesis "the other dead members also reincarnated" actually had some contradictions to be verified. First, what if this person is only a doppelganger? Or maybe a twin? Then waiting for a result that was already flawed from the start is meaningless. Yet, Corvos had bet on the "name match" factor.
In this world, he is still named Corvos, despite differences in eyes and age.
The difference for Juwel in this world compared to the previous world is not as significant as his. Here he is taller, maybe also counting his long hair, but basically his facial features have not changed. The key point is his name has not been altered like Corvos's. Therefore, instead of leaving, he decided to wait patiently for a while.
The hypothesis and trial existed, but there was a problem: Corvos could not calculate the exact time of Juwel's death.
And Corvos did not think Juwel would live long, at most one or two more years. His "The King" identity was a lethal card, and his influence in the underworld threatened the interests of the gangsters. Only when he disappeared could they continue their business.
On the other hand, Corvos was certain that the political situation in the Ilix Empire was not favorable at this time, mainly due to the actions of the person in power behind the scenes, namely Juwel. At this time, one or two people attempting to assassinate Juwel was not unusual.
Apart from that, his comrades would not allow him to live once they had the chance, since after his death his orders would no longer have effect.
Juwel's gaze did not soften. His voice became firmer as he continued:
"You do not need to confirm or deny. Your purpose is already clear. You are not staying here out of responsibility to the original owner, nor because you want to be a good person."
Juwel was referring to Corvos's act of pretending to be "kind" earlier, showing care and closeness to the original owner.
"I do not need you to promise me anything. I am not naive enough to trust the words of someone like you. But one thing I am certain of if you want to find your other members, you need time, you need freedom, and no one must stop you. That is what I control. If you dare make a mistake, I will not hesitate to destroy every hope you cling to. Do not test my patience, Corvos."
Corvos was not an easy person to predict, but one thing Juwel was sure of Corvos cared about his criminal group, his comrades.
That was his identity, the reason he continued to exist and the reason he ended his own life. Corvos's identity only truly mattered when he was the leader of the Church of the Wanderers. A person who had lived a life with that identity, even if seemingly cold and indifferent, would still care about his criminal group, Juwel believed.
If Corvos was looking for his other members, it meant he would do whatever was necessary to find the answer. He was not the type to wait idly. And if he found even a small chance to rebuild it, he would not hesitate to use everything even the body with the face of this enemy.
However, Juwel could not deny that there were still many inconsistencies in the hypothesis about reincarnation.
Not only was there no guarantee that the others would reincarnate as "people," but Juwel also considered that there were many other possible forms of reincarnation they did not yet know. After all, their version in this world was not exactly the same as their previous selves, so there was a chance they might be reborn into someone completely different.
Additionally, the idea of dying and being revived en masse was unrealistic. Two people were already a small number, so the likelihood that the other dead members of the Demon Association also came back was not as high as imagined.
But because the probability was so low no, it was pitifully low, less than 1% Corvos would certainly not rebel before confirming everything.
Juwel turned to Corvos, his voice lowering with weight:
"If you really want to find the remaining members of your group, you better keep this agreement. You may dislike me, you may wait for the opportunity to kill me. But remember this, do not let me know you repeat what you did in the old world. One more time… and everything will end, permanently."
Corvos looked at Juwel for a long while. Then he slightly curled his lips, not exactly a smile but also not a sign of resistance.
"You really always have a way of making everything more complicated than necessary," Corvos said calmly. "Listen. I never intended to start a fight with you in this world, so you do not need to be this tense."
Juwel frowned but did not respond. He knew Corvos's words were unreliable, but at least he was constrained by his own goals. What he needed was leverage, something he could use to keep Corvos in check. So, even though his hypothesis had many holes, it was enough to make Corvos think twice before acting.
Juwel showed no signs of satisfaction, but he also did not continue to press the topic further.