You are the Dawn Star that gazes up at the light from the depths of darkness.
I am the Twilight Fading Flower that falls from the peak of light into darkness.
In "Light and Dark Traitor," Los is the Dawn Star who rises from the darkness to the peak of light, restarting the world to end the war.
But aside from Los, this ga has another storyline that Ren Suo has not played and cannot play: Twilight Fading Flower.
Ren Suo always thought that since he hadn't played this storyline, it naturally wouldn't happen. However, he forgot that in a dual-protagonist ga like this, the logic isn't "if you don't play, it won't happen," but rather "if you don't play, it defaults to the normal plotline."
The selling point of these dual-protagonist gas is that after players complete the ga with one character, they often have so confusion and doubts (unless the ga's story is particularly good). Then, playing as the second character, they discover many hidden story details, leading to an epiphany: "So that's how it is!" Only then can players be said to have truly completed the ga, unlocking the true ending. So gas even let you upload your save to help other players.
But "Light and Dark Traitor" made it clear from the beginning: choose this path, and the other is completely sealed off. So Ren Suo almost forgot about the Twilight Fading Flower storyline as he played, rembering it only during the final tally, thinking he'd never get the chance to see it.
But now, as Ren Suo looked at Lorifes before him, a thought naturally erged—
The Mini-World Ga Console had no intention of letting him miss the other ga storyline.
Moreover, it had prepared the best seat in the house for Ren Suo. Yes, not in the audience or outside the screen, but allowing Ren Suo to enjoy this brand new storyline he had never played before, right from center stage.
He was the Traitor of Light in "Light and Dark Traitor," the protagonist of the Twilight Fading Flower storyline!
Ren Suo gathered his thoughts. He looked at Lorifes, and suddenly the corners of his mouth lifted into a wickedly unrestrained smile.
"A good story, great ambition, an interesting idea. I must say, woman, you have indeed succeeded in catching my attention."
Ren Suo leaned back on the soft couch, striking an imperious pose like a great roc spreading its wings. He looked down his nose at Lorifes and said, "Considering you've amused for a few minutes, I'll overlook your cri of defaming a Great Magistrate. Get lost."
Even though Lorifes's words made Ren Suo realize he was the protagonist of the Twilight Fading Flower storyline, that didn't an he was going to embrace her, conspire with her on grand sches, and then, starting with just four people, rely solely on talk to get things done, right?
True, Lorifes was Los's sister, the only one with Insight into the fact that Sony's save files had been overwritten. Based on the current situation, she was also extrely intelligent, possessing Talents that Ren Suo especially lacked, and might stand on the sa side as Ren Suo—a Didra traitor.
But Ren Suo could not accept her.
If Ren Suo were truly alone right now, a solitary Didra drifter responsible for no one but himself, a Didra Assassin who, once fed, had no other mouths to worry about, maybe he would actually be tempted, his mighty form quivering as he resolved to make Lorifes his own and engage in an all-night "strategy session" in bed.
But Ren Suo wasn't alone right now.
Even if Lorifes's words were highly credible, even if she was the main character's sister, even if she had a thousand valid reasons to be trusted, even if she naturally aligned with the player's side, Ren Suo still dared not gamble on her.
He could risk his own life, but he dared not drag Dong Chengling and his sister into danger as well.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance that Lorifes would betray them, if it happened, the damage would be absolute. Ren Suo knew nothing about Lorifes; he couldn't stake everyone's fate on this nearly baseless, untested Trust.
And Lorifes was right: Sony was indeed naturally suspicious.
Under Sony's persona, Ren Suo's actions and words were imbued with Sony's calm and ticulous style. Even after removing Lorifes's wristwatch and Drive Belt, he still admitted nothing, simply playing along with her words.
Lorifes narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Ren Suo. "You... don't trust ?"
Ren Suo smiled and gestured for her to leave.
"Indeed, if you firmly deny it, there's little I can do," Lorifes began. "My suspicion that Sony has been impersonated by you lacks any factual basis. You not only have Sony's voice, appearance, and mannerisms, but you even possess Sony's mories. Your impersonation is flawless. Even if I were to expose you, it wouldn't harm a single hair on your head."
Lorifes lowered her head and said, "My whole plan was based on successfully persuading you and collaborating. If you truly don't agree, I won't do anything further, but I genuinely can help you. Our interests align."
Ren Suo didn't speak. He went over, picked up the wristwatch and Drive Belt, and handed them back to her.
At this point, Lorifes seed to realize that Ren Suo would never accept her. She put on the wristwatch and Drive Belt, took a couple of steps, then suddenly turned around. "Great Magistrate Sony, can we not make so other deal? As long as you use your power to release Los, I'm willing to pay any price."
She touched her silvery-white hair and glanced at Dong Chengling and Ren Xingi. "My hair color is also exceedingly rare among the Didra people."
Ren Suo shook his head. "He has his own Destiny; I will not interfere with his path." And besides, I'm not bald, so what do I need your hair for?
Lorifes gave a poignant smile. "Is it really not possible? I actually have quite a bit of confidence in myself... Is it because of them?"
Ren Suo, in his Sony persona, said frankly, "Yes. I absolutely adore them and only want to sleep with them every day. I have no interest in you at all."
Lorifes said, "That makes sense. These two Otherworlders may have slightly different features and bone structures from Didra people, but their innate Beauty is still recognizable at a glance… Well, I won't disturb you any longer."
"Oh, and I don't know if you're aware, Great Magistrate Sony, but Los once told that there are fixed surveillance devices at certain locations in the Rift Fortress. In this room, right under that vase, looks exactly like a place Los told had fixed surveillance…"
Ren Suo swiftly turned his head. Beneath the vase in the corner of the room was a four-legged stand, completely exposed and visible from all angles.
"You!—"
As Dong Chengling yelled out in a low, furious voice, Ren Suo turned back to see Lorifes had dashed to Ren Xingi's side the mont he had looked away, her left hand binding Ren Xingi's wrists, her right elbow clamping Ren Xingi's neck, pinning Ren Xingi against the wall.
When Lorifes had pointed towards the vase, both Ren Suo and Ren Xingi had looked that way; only Dong Chengling kept her eyes on Lorifes.
The mont Lorifes charged, Dong Chengling threw the Basic Language Dictionary she was holding—a book heavy enough to smash a person's brains out—but Lorifes effortlessly punched the dictionary aside and seized Ren Xingi in the sa motion!
"Lorifes!—" Ren Suo's expression changed, and he roared in a lowered voice, "What are you doing?!"
"Issue an order to release Los, and you can do whatever you want with ! Otherwise, this girl of yours and I will die together!"
Lorifes, holding Ren Xingi, retreated further into the room, her face calm. She spoke thodically, "I only brought two cartridges with : one for acceleration, one for cutting. I don't care who you are, but you are now Great Magistrate Sony, wielding imnse power!"
"Make your choice! Do you continue to maintain your lofty deanor and lose your woman? Or do you generously perform this trivial favor, save an ordinary person you don't know, and then your woman remains completely unhard, and you also get , a perfect plaything—"
"Only children make choices!"
As Lorifes held Ren Xingi and retreated, Ren Xingi finally reacted. With a Furious Roar, she drove her elbow backward, striking hard between Lorifes's ribs. Lorifes's knees buckled, and she slumped down, allowing Ren Xingi to escape her grip!
Lorifes let out a muffled grunt, but her posture didn't falter from the blow; she even imdiately counterattacked, driving a knee strike at Ren Xingi!
Didra and Earthlings are nearly the sa species, but there are slight differences—the Physical Condition of Didra far exceeds that of Earthlings!
The Didra were once a demonic race of warriors who reveled in slaughter, ceasing only after annihilating all other races. Then, they gradually evolved into their current human-like forms. Compared to the Ancient Didra, modern Didra not only have their supernatural Casting Spells abilities 'castrated,' but their Physical Condition is also far inferior to the Ancient Didra, who fought minor battles every three days and engaged in wholesale slaughter every five. Even so, they can still easily crush Earthlings!
Even if the terrible price for such racial Talent is the Didra's persistently low fertility rate—a problem for the Empire to solve—ordinary individuals need only enjoy the power their innate Talents provide.
Like Lorifes, even though she was just a delicate Didra girl, she alone could defeat ten uncultivated Ren Suos!
Now that Ren Xingi's Qi Cyclone was suppressed, her Physical Condition was, at best, on par with Lorifes's. Of course, Lorifes wouldn't go down so easily!
SMACK!
Ren Xingi's elbow twisted skillfully, ingeniously deflecting Lorifes's fierce knee strike, and she tried to escape.
Lorifes, unwilling to let her hostage slip away so easily, imdiately pounced, grappling with Ren Xingi.
Though Lorifes, with the Acceleration Cartridge, was not adept at combat, her hands moved fast enough to create Afterimages as she tried to overwhelm Ren Xingi. But Ren Xingi showed no fear, resisting and defending simultaneously. She steadily t all of Lorifes's Attacks, the air filled with the rapid-fire SMACKS of their colliding palms.
Ren Suo and Dong Chengling stepped forward to separate them, but Lorifes was practically clinging to Ren Xingi. The mont she saw Ren Suo move, her hand went to the button on her Drive Belt. "If you dare move, I'll get rough—"
"Get rough? Co at !" Ren Xingi's core tensed, nearly throwing Lorifes off. Another slap sent Lorifes's hand flying from the Drive Belt. "You think you can take hostage?"
Lorifes's calm expression finally cracked. She gritted her teeth, trying to use brute force to teach this Otherworlder whose turf it was. However, Ren Xingi parried all her Attacks and even tried to unfasten her Drive Belt!
Seeing her hostage about to escape, Lorifes cast aside her dignity and pounced on Ren Xingi for a close-quarters wrestling match, aiming to crush this frail Otherworlder with her superior Physical Condition!
As the distance shrank from an arm's length to a palm's breadth, Ren Xingi's Counterattacks lost much of their speed and force. She even took several slaps from Lorifes!
But Ren Xingi refused to concede, grappling Lorifes as they rolled across the carpet, with Ren Xingi trying to break Lorifes's Suppression!
Watching the two beautiful girls, one with white hair, the other with black, hugging and rolling on the ground, letting out soft yelps and grunts of exertion, Ren Suo and Dong Chengling exchanged bewildered glances—what exactly were the two of them doing?
Just then, Ren Suo's wristwatch suddenly emitted two rapid rings, its surface flashing a blinding red light. He looked down, and the watch projected a voice ssage:
"Attention, attention! An escape has occurred at the Rift Fortress Cold Harbour Sub-Prison. Warriors from areas B11, B15, and B18, proceed to capture the fugitives. The target's tid coordinates have been sent to your communicators. The target must be captured, dead or alive."
"Great Magistrate Sony, the prisoners Los, Lydia, Dadanier, and others have escaped from prison. The fortress will move swiftly to apprehend or eliminate the high-value fugitives. Please, Great Magistrate Sony, wait in your room for a mont."
Lorifes, still entangled with Ren Xingi, froze. Ren Xingi decisively seized the chance, pinning her down and repeatedly slapping her fair, delicate face—a face so smooth it looked like milk could be squeezed from it!
"You took hostage! Do I look that easy to bully!?" After a few more slaps, Ren Xingi saw that Lorifes didn't move. Wine-red palm prints blood on her fair face. She lay on the carpet with a calm, resigned expression, completely at Ren Xingi's rcy.
Ren Xingi quickly removed her Drive Belt. Ren Suo, seeing they had finally settled their fight, approached and said, "Lorifes, you've truly treated to an entertaining farce."
"Do as you wish," Lorifes said indifferently. "Kill , torture , I don't care anymore."
Ren Suo shook his head. "Why did you do this?"
"What else could I have done?" Lorifes turned her head to look at Ren Suo. "I'm different from you. I can't beco a Divine Descendant. I'm just an ordinary mortal from Farkas Wolf Institute. Los is locked up in Morag Prison. Every extra second he's there, he might suffer another second of torture from those perverts. What can I, a student who hasn't even graduated, do?"
"My only option was to gamble—gamble on Sony, gamble that you would acknowledge my Talents. Then I could use the influence of Great Magistrate Sony to save my brother, Los... but now it doesn't matter."
"He escaped the heavily guarded Morag Prison, but can he escape the Rift Fortress? He might have been killed by now... If Los is dead, and I couldn't even secure a hostage, I don't have much desire to keep living in this ssed-up world."
Ren Suo said, "Did you really think holding a hostage could make yield?"
"How would I know without trying?" Lorifes's cheeks flushed—from Ren Xingi's slaps.
"I know coercion is a detestable act, but I had no other choice; you refused to trust . I would have paid any price, if only you'd said a word to save Los, but you refused that too."
"I'm not trying to justify my actions. I just want to say, I tried every other possible thod. If I weren't desperate, I wouldn't have stooped to such a despicable act—and I still failed."
Lorifes sighed. "Unlike you, who stands at the pinnacle of light, I'm just an insignificant matchstick. If I don't burn, I'm just useless kindling."
"It seems I've talked too much, a bad habit from arguing too much with that windbag Sony... Let's just put an end to everything."
At this mont, Ren Xingi suddenly asked, "Can you really pay any price?"
Lorifes looked at Ren Xingi, puzzled, then nodded.
"What if your life and death were under our control?"
Lorifes smiled faintly. "What do you think my current situation is?"
Ren Xingi turned her head to Ren Suo. "Is there a way to control her life and death?"
Actually, there was.
Sony's "Assassin Queen" Divine Descendant Cartridge possessed an Ability to create Spiritual Power Bombs that could be detonated at any ti; it could even create a remote. The bomb's size and power were variable, generally depending on creation ti: greater power and smaller size required more ti.
Seeing Ren Suo nod, Ren Xingi asked again, "Then do you have a way to save her brother?"
Lorifes looked slightly taken aback, a hint of hope shining in her eyes.
Ren Suo, however, looked strangely at Ren Xingi, not understanding why his younger sister would do this.
Yes, controlling Lorifes's life and death could indeed reduce the chance of her betrayal, but wouldn't it be simpler to just not accept her from the start?
Ren Xingi hesitated for a mont, then spoke in Mandarin, "After all, you can't be with us all the ti, and we two aren't from this world. We need a trustworthy Didra to help with unexpected events. Besides, I need to learn more about Didra civilization, and for that, I need a Didra for in-depth exchange…"
"And, I feel a bit... sorry for her."
She could list many reasons, but the true one was simple: Ren Xingi felt a pang of compassion.
Ren Suo, in his indifferent Sony state, frowned slightly and turned to look at Dong Chengling. Dong Chengling blinked and said, "Suo, if Xingi wants this girl to stay, I neither object nor support it. But you must promise one thing: this girl must not fall in love with you."
Hey, I'm not money; how could everyone love ?
Now that one person agreed and one abstained...
At this mont, Ren Suo suddenly realized sothing and turned his head towards Ren Xingi. "You...you've mastered the Didra language already!?"
Sitting astride Lorifes, Ren Xingi blinked and nodded. "Yes, I pick things like this up quickly. I pretty much understood it just from listening and watching."
"So, Teacher Dong, I heard what he said earlier! He said he wants to sleep with us every day!"
Dong Chengling blinked and nodded. "Sure."
"Sure!?" Ren Xingi, who thought she had successfully tattled, was shocked.
"I'll sleep in the middle, and you and Suo sleep next to . Sounds good. What's the problem?"
Unlike the wholeso, warm image Dong Chengling pictured, Ren Xingi imagined sothing far more colorful and couldn't help blushing as she mumbled, "Oh, right…"
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