The red light in the electronic eye flickered slightly, as if a cold viper was scrutinizing everything through this machine.
"We are strangers. I'm afraid there's nothing to talk about."
Shrugging, Ming Yu said with a casual expression, but his blood-red eyes were filled with caution.
The Dustless Sword transformed into streaks of silver light, covering his body. The extended Jizo Mitama was slowly withdrawn, adopting a defensive stance.
Although his face was turned towards Gray Serpent, the corner of Ming Yu's eye kept a watch on Raven's movements, and the edge of the Key of Corruption was aimed at that bizarrely shaped claw.
His intuition told him that this woman was very dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous than Dark Xuanyuan.
If Dark Xuanyuan was the king of beasts in the jungle, Raven was the jackal hiding in the shadows. Like a skilled hunter, she calmly waited for her prey to show a weakness before delivering the fatal blow.
The brief exchange just now had already proven this. If Ming Yu hadn't been on guard, he might already have several bloody gashes on his body.
"No, I think we will get along very well." Facing Ming Yu's refusal, Gray Serpent showed no signs of giving up. "The Serpent's eyes have been watching you, O traveler from a distant star."
"Am I right, Mr. Ming Yu?"
Placing his right hand on his chest and bowing slightly, Gray Serpent said with a light laugh.
"What if you are, and what if you aren't?"
Taking a half-step back, Ming Yu's pupils couldn't help but shrink, and his grip on the Jizo Mitama tightened.
These days, do transmigrators have any privacy? It seems like everyone knows he doesn't belong to this world.
His blood-red eyes scanned back and forth between Gray Serpent and Raven. In the end, Ming Yu gave up the idea of silencing them. Not to mention whether he could do it, Gray Serpent alone was not someone who could be solved by silencing.
The Serpent was not a creature that would yield to death.
Until Gray Serpent's secret was uncovered, killing one Gray Serpent was meaningless.
"It seems Mr. Ming Yu agrees to a proper talk."
Noticing Ming Yu's subtle movement, Gray Serpent naturally took a step forward, the red light in his electronic eye shining brightly.
Shrugging noncommittally, Ming Yu did not voice any objection. The Jizo Mitama in his hand was lowered slightly, but the vigilance in his heart did not relax in the slightest.
Since his identity had been exposed and he had no way to silence them, Ming Yu could only listen to what Gray Serpent had to say.
"I have come this time on behalf of the Serpent to invite you to join us."
His red electronic eye stared fixedly at Ming Yu's eyes. Gray Serpent's tone was full of confidence, as if he had no fear that Ming Yu would refuse.
"Huh?"
Ming Yu's pupils suddenly widened, and surprise appeared on his face.
He had previously investigated this organization he was using as a cover, but the progress was not satisfactory. Other than knowing that World Serpent was more than just an underground intelligence organization, he had gained almost nothing.
Being able to replicate Anti-Entropy's Titan mechs, World Serpent must have an entire military-industrial production line, but Ming Yu found no record of it in Schicksal's database.
And the appearance of the character Raven now seemed to prove that World Serpent also had considerable capabilities in cultivating individual combat power.
This organization in the shadows was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
But even so, Ming Yu still couldn't understand where Gray Serpent got the confidence to poach him so openly.
With World Serpent's intelligence capabilities, they couldn't possibly have missed this suit of Godslayer Armor on him, right? With such high regard from the Schicksal Overseer, he was doing quite well in Schicksal. On what grounds did Gray Serpent think he could poach him?
Are you kidding me?
Even though he didn't speak, Ming Yu's surprised expression and contemptuous gaze made his thoughts perfectly clear.
"I had thought that a being who could cross uncountable spaces would possess wisdom and vision that transcends the mundane. But I never expected that Your Excellency would be as foolish as those mortals!"
Seeing Ming Yu's disdainful expression, Gray Serpent seemed to have been greatly insulted, and his tone couldn't help but become heavier.
"Oh." Responding casually, Ming Yu paid no mind to Gray Serpent's anger, saying in an unhurried tone, "Then why don't you introduce your organization first?"
Ming Yu was well aware of his own intelligence level. Apart from that bit of foresight, he was just above the passing line for humans.
Based on the scattered records in the Schicksal database, what could Ming Yu possibly figure out? It's not like he had used the Key of Corruption for a full-scale invasion; he still had to give the Schicksal Overseer some face. After all, he was working under him, and he wasn't confident he could hide it from Otto's eyes.
With the authority of an elite A-rank Valkyrie, that's all he could find out. It was enough for general investigations, but deeper things were beyond his reach.
But looking at it from another angle, an organization that even Schicksal didn't pay much attention to could only have so much influence.
Either it was hidden too deeply, or it was a bluff, a paper tiger in reality.
Although from the current situation, World Serpent was very likely the former, Ming Yu couldn't possibly give up everything he had in Schicksal for a mere possibility.
Even if Schicksal had its many flaws, he was doing quite well now and had no intention of changing sides for the time being.
"Your Excellency, do not make a mistake!" Hearing Ming Yu's words, Gray Serpent's tone instantly turned cold. "Although the Serpent respects you, Sir, you should not be too arrogant."
Their side offering an invitation was already a sign of great respect. To have the ancient and noble World Serpent condescend to introduce itself, was this Ming Yu out of his mind!
"Heh heh." With a light laugh, Ming Yu's tone still carried a hint of casualness. "Then to put it another way, what can World Serpent give me?"
"Everything! Whatever you desire, be it knowledge, power, or authority, World Serpent can satisfy you. As long as you can complete the missions of World Serpent, we will pay you an equivalent reward.
World Serpent is an organization that values fairness and freedom. We will not place many restrictions on you, nor will we ever subject you to the kind of unfair treatment you've received at the Far East Branch."
Waving his right hand in the air, Gray Serpent's tone became somewhat fanatical, the red light in his mechanical electronic eye shining brightly.
"An equal exchange? That does sound good." Nodding lightly, a smile appeared on Ming Yu's lips. "But, I still refuse!"
An organization hidden in the darkness, whose purpose and principles were unclear—he would have to be incredibly foolish to give up the position he had worked for a year in Schicksal to obtain.
As for the unfair treatment at the Far East Branch, Ming Yu had never regretted his choice. That silly Principal was a rare good boss in this world.
From the very beginning, Gray Serpent had overestimated Ming Yu. He really didn't know much about the great and noble organization of World Serpent. The two of them were never on the same wavelength from the start.
"It seems Your Excellency is determined to refuse World Serpent's goodwill." His tone instantly became icy, and a faint killing intent filled the air. Gray Serpent's hoarse voice slowly sounded out, "In that case, we will have to test whether Your Excellency is qualified to possess the Key of Corruption."
"Then, let's give it a try."
Still with a hint of casualness on his lips, Ming Yu's body prepared for battle.
His blood-red eyes lifted slightly, a faint cyan light shone on the silver armor, and a dazzling lightning glow sparked on the black longsword.
In the end, in this world, it all comes down to whose fist is bigger. Problems that cannot be solved with words can only be settled with swords.