Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 90 - 87 Mutual Benefit2

Chapter 90: 87 Mutual Benefit2

Unfortunately, in the Mist Dream Realm, I couldn’t see Number Two’s real face; I could only describe her behavior and roughly her height and build. Despite that, Mazao was becoming more and more convinced by what I said.

Because Mazao had never previously told me any specific features of Number Two, only that she was a ten-year-old girl. Whether Number Two was introverted or extroverted, whether she spoke politely or was casual, or what her relationship with Mazao was like—cold or warm—these were unknowns to outsiders, and one slip could mean getting exposed.

Moreover, even knowing she was ten years old, children’s heights and weights at that age are uncertain, yet I was able to describe them, which was itself evidence.

However, there were parts I couldn’t answer, which was explaining why I couldn’t describe her real appearance even though I had met Number Two. Once I explained, it would involve the Mist Dream Realm, and the Mist Dream Realm was related to the Divine Seal Fragment. I couldn’t think of a good excuse to explain it clearly to Mazao with Zhu Shi listening.

Though I felt sorry for Number Two, to continue boosting my credibility, I added another piece of evidence somewhat tactfully: "Mazao, sometimes when you think your friend has fallen asleep, she is actually still awake."

Number Two had said that sometimes Mazao would secretly cry when she thought she was asleep.

This secret was something I, an outsider, shouldn’t know.

Zhu Shi was confused upon hearing this, and Mazao didn’t seem to understand what I meant at first, but she soon realized and stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning.

After a moment, Mazao managed to say, "Have you... really seen her?"

"Absolutely," I said.

"Where is she?" she asked excitedly, grabbing my shoulders, "Did she also travel through time to this era like me, and you found her? Is she alright, is she hurt? I... I thought she must be dead, that I’d never see her again..."

"Stay calm," I comforted her, "I’ll tell you all about meeting her later, but I can’t right now."

"Why can’t you..."

She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing that there were other people standing nearby.

I think she got my point, knowing that the rest was not something to discuss in front of others. She had to forcefully restrain herself, closed her mouth, but still couldn’t help looking eagerly at me.

Number Two had said that Mazao was very good to her, and that seemed to be true—Mazao truly valued her friend deeply.

At this point, I was finally certain—Mazao was not likely to just walk away from me anymore.

What worried me most before was not that I couldn’t find a reason to keep her by my side, but rather I feared she might lose patience before I could finish speaking and suddenly use Space Transfer to leave. That would really be like a skilled cook without rice, no matter how eloquent I was, I would have no place to use it.

But talk is cheap. No matter how much I just said, unless I could produce physical evidence, Mazao would undoubtedly keep some doubts about me in her heart. It was enough for now. I didn’t expect her to completely believe what I said at this stage; it was enough if she thought I might be telling the truth.

Without warning, Zhu Shi said, "Zhuang Cheng, can I speak with you alone for a moment?"

"Do you want me to leave?" Mazao asked.

"No, we’ll just talk over here," Zhu Shi shook her head.

She pulled me about ten meters away, then made a few gestures in the air with her finger. She must have used some kind of demon hunter’s Spell, as an invisible Barrier seemed to rise around us. All outside noises disappeared, and our voices likely couldn’t be heard outside. I sensed the topic she intended to discuss with me and felt a lot of pressure in my heart.

"Senior Brother Zhuang..." her gaze was dangerous as she looked at me, "Aren’t you going to explain?"

Although I had urgently prepared a mental script, at the crucial moment, I still felt a heaviness in my stomach. Normally, I wouldn’t feel such pressure for other issues. But this issue was indeed a wrongdoing on my part. It wasn’t just the exposure of lies, but even the GPS bracelet got exposed. And the deception wasn’t against enemies or strangers, but our own people.

Despite my recent string of lies, making me seem like an experienced liar, the old me had actually never told so many lies and even considered myself pretty straightforward. People around me treated my interest in investigating urban legends as a childish hobby, and I never bothered to pretend otherwise, just focusing on my tasks. Being confronted face-to-face by a friend about lies and underhanded deeds was truly a first in my life.

"These things all have their reasons..."

"What reasons?" she pressed.

"First of all, the reason I kept Mazao a secret from you was not because I didn’t trust you, but because I didn’t trust Luo Mountain." I strained my brain to find the right words, "At first, I didn’t know there were different factions within Luo Mountain; I only knew it was an organization that used unrighteous methods to seek Mazao, and you were a member of that organization, so I couldn’t tell you the truth directly."

Because Zhu Shi had the ability to see through lies, I tried to tell the truth as much as possible.

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t the only reason. While I was stating the reason, I was also scrutinizing my own heart.

Admittedly, Mazao was openly a criminal who infiltrated the public security department to steal firearms and ammunition, and in the eyes of some within Luo Mountain, also a target to be obtained by any means necessary. Hence, I had reasons to keep it secret. But from a personal angle, I also harbored a desire to monopolize Mazao. Driven by this possessiveness, even without the need to keep secrets, I wouldn’t voluntarily reveal Mazao’s existence to anyone.

"I understand that kind of thing; I’ve already figured it out myself. Now what I want to ask about is something else." Zhu Shi spoke in a subtle tone, "After all, I’m in a profession that sometimes requires combating humans, so I have a basic understanding of some tools. Not just magical items, but technological ones as well.

"So there are some things, even if others might not recognize them at first glance, I can identify them immediately... You know what I’m talking about, right?"

"I guess so..." I said.

"So, what’s the deal with that GPS bracelet?" she asked, "That girl said you gave the GPS bracelet to her as a gift, she seems unaware of the bracelet’s real function, and even seemed quite happy about it..."

She thought for a moment, seeming a bit hesitant, but continued, "Plus, I see that although she’s still young and developing, she has a very cute face. I often see on the internet people who are so-called ’Lolita complex’ types, who like that sort of look, and even make disturbing remarks about girls of that age, saying things about wanting to spy, stalk, imprison, you know...

"Let me just confirm, Senior Brother Zhuang, you don’t have a romantic interest in her, right? Is that why you gave her the GPS bracelet?"

"Absolutely not!" I said firmly, straightening my back, "How could I possibly have such low motives to spy, stalk, or imprison someone of the opposite sex? I can understand why you might think that way, but I swear, my giving her that GPS bracelet was absolutely not for the reasons you’re imagining."

"Really?" she doubted.

"I know you can see through lies, why would I knowingly commit the sin of lying to you again?" I said, while taking out the Black Rope Heart-locking Ring, "If you still don’t believe me, you can put on this ring, grab my heart, and let me swear again..."

"Alright, alright, I get it, I believe you!" She quickly stopped my action, then couldn’t help but complain, "And besides, bringing out the ring and talking about ’grabbing hearts’ and ’swearing’—is that something you should say in this situation!"

"Good that you believe me." I put the ring away.

"Don’t think you can change the subject with that! Since it’s not for that reason, then why did you give her the GPS bracelet?" she persistently asked, "Ultimately, why did you decide to let her stay at your house in the first place? Although she said you took her in because you couldn’t bear to let a girl wander outside by herself..."

"Do you think I’m not the type of person who would do such good deeds?" I asked.

"...No." After some thought, she responded, "You are the kind of person who does good deeds. You’ve helped my brother out of danger before, intervened to improve his behavior after discovering he was doing wrong things, and you’ve also done many things to help others elsewhere. So, if a girl covered in blood collapsed in front of you during the night, I cannot imagine you simply standing by. No, that would absolutely be impossible."

"So, you think highly of me," I said.

"But you must be a very awkward person, right?" she continued, "At the very least, if you were really doing something good, you definitely wouldn’t tell people outright that you did it because you have a conscience or something like that. I feel like when you watch movies, you probably prefer the villains, and even if you save someone, you’d still claim it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, and tell people not to get the wrong idea..."

"Do you perhaps have some strange filter when you look at me?" I disagreed.

"That was just a metaphor," she said. "Anyway, when you claim to act out of conscience, it’s certainly to hide some other motive. What I want to ask now is this—what is your real purpose with that girl suffering from soul loss?"

Hearing that, I weighed my options repeatedly in my heart, and finally made a significant decision.

I decided to tell her the truth, to confess my true motives.

"Mazao has a constitution that attracts anomalies," I said.