AZI Volume 6 Chapter 14

The next day—

"…"

As Tian Cheng and Yu Ji aren't set to arrive at the airport for another five hours, Long Hua finds himself seated at the counter of the Mirrored Moon Café. 

Placed in front of him is a latte with strawberry-flavored milk mixed into it. 

"So, basically nothing this time?"

Towards the Owner's question, Long Hua shrugs his shoulders. He had made a deal with the Owner to bring back some loot from the ruins in exchange for the boat engines. 

Much like usual, the Owner is dressed in a classic bartender outfit, which consists of a black vest over a white dress shirt. 

"You win some, and you lose some. Although…"

Turning his eyes towards the wooden sculpture of Lord Tian She Zi, Long Hua can't help but frown.

"I found a giant statue of this deity in the ruins."

Saying this, Long Hua recalls the faint image of a colossal giant. 

(The Lord Tian She Zi aside… This Di Jun, is that the name of the giant in that memory? Is it a weapon spirit? No, that doesn't make any sense. "Spare us what you can—to prolong Di Jun's movement," that doesn't sound like a weapon spirit. …A machine? …Specifically, a Machina Frame?)

Thinking of this, a chilling sensation runs down Long Hua's spine.

(If it is a Machina Frame, and that Tai Xuan Emperor is able to control it… It's better to keep it buried in that ruin forever…)

Cutting up a block of ice, the Owner remarks—

"Oh? Then that person who sold me this sculpture wasn't lying."

"How did that person even look like?"

"Black robes with a hood, couldn't see their face clearly."

"…I'm surprised you had the galls to approach a shady person like that, Owner. In any case, how much do I owe you exactly?"

Towards this question, the Owner smiles, and begins to store the cut-up blocks of ice into the freezer unit, which is to the left side of the sink. 

"How about you actually bring something back the next time?"

"Why are you so obsessed with ruins' loot?"

"Hmm."

Shutting the freezer's door, the Owner answers—

"Some things cannot be measured in NWDs. Just because you're willing to pay someone a trillion NWDs for an item in their collection doesn't mean that—that person would be willing to part with that specific item."

"I see how it is. You see value in items that are unique. Fine, but still no promises."

"I do urge you to try and keep our deal in mind."

Hearing the door being opened, Long Hua and the Owner both turned their attention towards it—expecting it to be either Zhou'er or Yao Ying; however—

"…"

The old man—who walks into the café, possesses white hair and yellow eyes. Attire wise, he is wearing a white dress shirt with a pair of dark trousers. 

Coming in after the old man is a maid dressed in a black and white uniform with an ankle-length skirt. 

Raising an eye towards this unusual combination of customers, the Owner says—

"Sorry to say this, but we're not open yet."

"Only here to have a word with the young man."

"Oh?" 

Turning to Long Hua, the Owner asks—

"A friend of yours?"

"Acquaintance I guess?"

"Well then, sit wherever you like, sir."

Walking to the counter, the old man picks the seat that is one away from Long Hua. 

As for the maid, she remains standing. 

"Anything to drink?"

"A coffee of your recommendation."

"Very well."

As the Owner begins to go through the coffee beans, Long Hua turns to the old man, and asks—

"So? Something that I can help you with, Zhou-laoye?"

Turning to Long Hua, Zhou Chen remarks—

"The level six Immortal that appeared during the excavation this time has caused quite a stir."

"Mm, I can imagine. Actually, before we go any further, turn that doll of yours off. I don't want any recordings of this conversation."

Towards the doll, Zhou Chen makes a gesture, and immediately, the doll's eyes turn dim. 

Returning his focus back to Long Hua, Zhou Chen says—

"I don't suspect you to be related to it. However, because this Immortal had appeared, I was contacted by the military to emerge from retirement."

Turning his head around after placing the coffee beans into the grinder, the Owner asks—

"Should I really be here listening to this?"

Expected to serve as NPI's main point of contact with Long Hua, the Owner has already been informed of a few private matters related to the former. 

However, the matters that Zhou Chen is bringing up seem to be related strictly to the military; hence—

"It's fine. Not like it's anything special."

Towards Zhou Chen's answer, the Owner shrugs his shoulders. 

Thinking about Zhou Chen's words, Long Hua says—

"And? What does your emergence from retirement have to do with me?"

Expecting this to be nothing more than trouble, Long Hua picks up the latte beside him, and takes a sip. 

"If I ask for your help to suppress new level six-"

Cutting Zhou Chen off by setting the cup down loudly, Long Hua answers—

"To hell with that. …What exactly do you expect a Sinner like me to do?"

"Still playing pretend?"

As the Owner sets down a cup of coffee beside Zhou Chen, Long Hua says—

"Fine, let's just say that I am an Immortal to make things easier. My question is…"

Putting on a dispassionate expression, Long Hua continues to ask—

"What does it matter to me, if this world gets destroyed? NWDs and the likes have no real value to me. At the same time, it's far too much trouble than its worth."

"…"

Picking up the cup of coffee, Zhou Chen takes a sip. 

The taste of it is surprisingly good, and savoring the taste for a moment, Zhou Chen asks—

"Unmoved by the people's praises as well?"

Towards this question, Long Hua chuckles, and replies—

"Zhou-laoye, if you're looking for a selfless hero, you're looking in the wrong place, and in the wrong person."