the General Jing Yuan

"Well, seeing as you can talk to us, and are somehow physically able to walk, it seems we can forgo the need for a translator or a visit to a healer. Are there any questions you wish to ask before meeting the General?"

'Now, how do I want to approach this? I could tell the truth, which would probably get me labeled as insane, or experimented on by a random member of the genius society due to the sheer unbelievability of my story, or make it up as I go, eventually leading to my story falling apart if I make a single mistake, and me being under suspicion for lying to the Xianzhou, you know, the arrows of the hunt, about the abundance.'

'Yeah, I should have stayed illiterate. There's no good way out of this, at least not one that I can think of. I just pointed out how lying would be a terrible idea, and I'm not willing to tell the truth either. The best possible way would be half-truths, but even that would only take me so far. Also, can't they divinate the past? I might be wrong on that last one, but it's still another risk.'

'Still, will half truths hold up against Jing Yuan, who's been a general for hundreds of years? There's no clean way out of this, is there?'

'Or maybe I could try to feign amnesia? If it was before I'd regained my memories that probably would have worked flawlessly, due to having amnesia, but now I can't re-''

"Excuse me, are you alright? You've been standing here for around 10 minutes. Taking you to the general is an urgent matter, so instead of asking any questions you may have to me, I'm sure the general will be more than capable of answering all of your questions."

'Did I spend 10 minutes just thinking about this?! I'm out of time, and I can't even consider trying to run, I'm in the heart of the enemy's territory, and the way that Cloudknight effortlessly carried me makes me strongly believe that she could effortlessly take me down. The only thing I can do is go along with her!'

"Th-That's fine, yeah, I'll ask the general any questions I have. Please lead the way, mam."

"Why did you start talking so formally all of a sudden? Anyway, I have a few personal questions, if you wouldn't mind answering. I can ask them as I take you to the general."

"Sure! Ask me anything."

'I know I just sounded WAY too eager just now. I'm cooked.'

She glances at me with indifferent eyes and begins to ask me her questions.

"How did you end up on Cosgolonia? To my knowledge, it fell to the abundance quite a while ago, but you seem to have arrived there quite recently, given the fact that you're still alive with I'm assuming to be no combat experience or survival skills, given the condition you were in when we came across you."

'Yeah, I'm cooked. The first day in a mobile game and I'm already reaching a bad end.'

"Uh, well I don't know myself! I just woke up there, after falling asleep in my bed! Crazy, right?"

"Okay. Can you tell me what you did after waking up on Cosgolonia?"

"Sure. After I woke up, I saw nothing but trees around me. When I attempted to climb one of the trees to search for any signs of civilization, or any landmarks to see if I could try to find out where I was. While climbing, I saw the Xianzhou Loufu in the sky, and then after that encountered that ape. I jumped off, landed on a bush which broke my fall and cut open my arm in the process, and then ran into you and the other cloud knight."

"One last question, can I have your name?"

"Its Jean.

"Okay, that's all I had to ask. Any other questions or concerns can be mentioned to the general, I'll take you to him now."

She turns around, walking with a brisk pace towards our destination of the seat of divine foresight. After a good 20 to 30 minutes of walking, we meet another cloudknight guarding a star skiff.

'It looks like the Loufu is significantly bigger in scale compared to what was shown in the game. That would make sense, having such a massive city wouldn't benefit such a combat-focused game.'

"Ah, Xuiyan, it's been a while since I've seen you. The last time we saw each other was when you were deployed to Cosgolonia, right? What brings you here?"

"I'm here to bring a survivor from Cosgolonia to the general to report what he saw. I was surprised when I came across him, especially considering how long the abundance had taken over it. He came with a maelific ape in tow, surprised he even encountered us in time."

The cloudknight glances at me up and down, before letting out a chuckle.

"Well, I'll inform the general you've arrived. Since you're back from deployment, let me treat you to some mung bean tea while we catch up?"

"I'll consider it, I still have so many more reports to fill out before I can formally be called undeployed. I'll reach out to you when I have time, though."

The Cloudknight nods, and boards the starskiff, flying toward where I assume to be the seat of divine foresight.

After a few minutes, he returns and gives us confirmation that we're cleared to meet with the general. We then board a star skiff and are taken to the general.

Now that I'm awake to experience the interior of a star skiff properly, it seems a bit cramped for two people, seeing as it's probably only used to transporting one person. Its sleek dark green walls and cockpit with a myriad of controls and buttons momentarily grasp my attention, before I realize that we've already arrived at the seat of divine foresight.

Seeing that I'm going to be meeting Jing Yuan face to face, I decided to use my previously thought option of half-truths.

The grand gates of the seat open, and I am greeted with a massive hall filled with soldiers standing guard at the sides, various cloud knight weapons from glaives to spears to crossbows upon the walls, what looks to be a holographic game of mahjong, and the general of the Xianzhou Loufu, Jing Yuan.