The Serpent's Will
Her eyes, usually filled with determination, now widened in sheer terror. It was the first time she had spoken since her capture, her voice echoing in the cold, sterile room. "What are you going to do to the children?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear.
Luo Mo, taken aback by her sudden outburst, quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. His face was a picture of innocence as he responded, "I'm not trying to do anything! Look, I don't even know if they're in Nagazora City?" His words hung in the air, a stark contrast to the tension that filled the room.
Dodo felt a surge of panic at his words. She had just managed to move the children to a safer location - Nagazora City, a place that had recently witnessed the devastating effects of a Honkai eruption. The island villa they had once called home was now submerged, and the ever-looming threat of the jacksal had forced her to take this drastic step.
The mention of Nagazora City sent a chill down her spine. Had Schicksal discovered their hideout? Or was it just a coincidence that Luo Mo had mentioned the city's name? She had been worried about the children's safety, but now, with the city's name out in the open, her fear escalated.
Feeling deflated and cornered, Dodo asked in a helpless tone, "Tell me! What do you want?" As a professional mercenary under the command of Gray Snake, she had always conducted herself with integrity and professionalism. But now, she felt vulnerable, her life hanging in the balance as she faced an enemy who seemed to know her every move.
If she were to die in the line of duty, she knew that Gray Snake would take care of the children. But if they fell into the hands of Schicksal, the World Serpent wouldn't hesitate to exploit them for its own gain.
Dodo, found herself contemplating a dangerous thought. Would it be safer to entrust their fate to Schicksal rather than the World Serpent, where he was currently? She quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought as quickly as it had come. It was not a path she wished to tread.
Safety, she knew, was best ensured by one's own hands. Schicksal, despite its seemingly honorable facade, was far from trustworthy. The recent occurrence of the second Honkai scandal served as a stark reminder of that fact.
"I want to know the location of the World Serpent headquarters base!" Luo Mo's words cut through her thoughts, taking her by surprise. The location of the World Serpent headquarters base? She frowned, taken aback by his unexpected demand.
"Uh-huh!" Luo Mo nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "What, you're not still trying to say that you're not from World Serpent, are you?"
Raven sighed, resigning herself to the inevitable. "As much as I want to say that I'm just a mercenary. However, you're right, you know me to this extent, saying you don't would make you look like an idiot." She made her decision quickly, her voice steady as she declared, "Then, I won't tell you, kill me!"
Luo Mo looked at her, puzzled. He studied her face, her eyes resolute, ready to face death if need be. "Are you that loyal? Aren't you a mercenary? And you were prompted earlier, I know where those little kids are." His words hung in the air, a challenge and a threat all at once.
Dodo, her body cloaked in black, stood defiantly before Luo Mo. Her gaze was unwavering, a clear indication that even the threat of harm to the children wouldn't break her resolve. Luo Mo studied her, his eyes taking in her form. Her body, full and enticing, was wrapped in a black cloak that fluttered gently in the breeze. Her dull hair was shrugged off her shoulders.
"Eh?" Dodo, ever so observant, sensed Luo Mo's lingering gaze and turned to look at him. She instinctively covered her chest with her hand and asked, "What do you want?"
Luo Mo hesitated for a moment before responding, "If you want to, will you say it?" His question was met with a puzzled look from Dodo. She glanced at Fu Hua, her expression clearly conveying her disbelief. Was he really suggesting what she thought he was?
Luo Mo shook his head, dismissing her concerns, and turned his attention back to the matter at hand - what to do with his captive. Fu Hua, on the other hand, looked on with a confused expression. She was used to being the center of attention, and the fact that she wasn't the one being held captive didn't immediately trigger her killer instinct. She decided to wait and see what Luo Mo had planned.
"Dodo, are you here for the Gray Snake's mission?" Luo Mo asked, as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him. Just because Dodo didn't know Fu Hua's true identity, it didn't mean that Gray Snake was in the dark.
The presence of Fu Hua and Dodo's choice of an ordinary sniper rifle over the Seven Thunders of Retribution was a clear indication that something was amiss. Dodo, however, remained silent, neither confirming nor denying Luo Mo's suspicions.
"What about the communicator with Gray Snake?" Luo Mo probed further. Dodo responded by subtly pointing to her waist. It was clear she wasn't eager to meet her end. Gray Snake had only placed a bugging device on her, not a death sentence.
Luo Mo understood and instructed Fu Hua, "Search her body!" Without hesitation, he reached for the spot Dodo had indicated. Dodo cooperated, revealing the device without any resistance. She was more concerned about Luo Mo's next move.
As soon as Luo Mo retrieved the communicator, Gray Snake's voice echoed from the other end. "Raven failed?" he asked, already knowing the answer. "Obviously," Luo Mo responded curtly. Gray Snake then made a surprising request, "Let her go, she'll take you to World Serpent, but don't bring too many people from Schicksal."
Luo Mo was skeptical, "How am I to trust you?" Gray Snake chuckled, "You'll never trust me, Mr. Luo Mo, but it wasn't my intention to invite you, but, rather, the Snake's." Luo Mo hesitated at the mention of the Riddler. "Well, to put it more clearly, Elysian realm Lord, The Serpent's Will." With that, Gray Snake ended the communication, leaving Luo Mo in contemplative silence.
Luo Mo and Dodo found themselves locked in a mutual gaze of surprise. Dodo hadn't been privy to the communication that had just transpired. However, she was adept at reading people, and judging by Luo Mo's expression, she could tell that the outcome was satisfactory.
"Dodo, Gray Snake has requested that you guide us to the World Snake base in two days," Luo Mo informed her, handing back the communicator. He gestured for her to verify the message herself. Satisfied, he signaled to Fu Hua to release Dodo.
Fu Hua, however, seemed uncertain. "I'm going too? Have you gotten approval from the Bishop?" she asked. Luo Mo couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at her question. The idea of the Bishop approving his venture seemed far-fetched, especially considering he was under scrutiny himself.
"Of course you're going, Fu Hua," he reassured her. "Haven't you always been curious about your memories? There's a very important part of you there, aren't you going to take a look?"
Fu Hua glanced at him, her expression unreadable. After a moment's hesitation, she responded, "It's my duty to protect you, I need to keep you safe!"
Dodo, who had been observing their exchange, looked at Luo Mo in surprise. She then shot him a glare, though there was no real malice behind it. "Thank god, it seems like I don't need to die myself. When I go back, I'll move Sora and the other girls somewhere else," she declared.
"Other places are more dangerous for them, and you can't afford a house elsewhere," Luo Mo countered, effectively silencing Dodo with his practical reasoning.
Dodo found herself in a precarious financial situation. Her savings had been completely exhausted, leaving her with no means to afford a house elsewhere. The thought of securing a new home seemed more daunting than facing Honkai itself. It was a grim reality that Dodo had to grapple with.
Luo Mo, sensing her unease, tried to offer some comfort. "Don't worry, only the three of us know about this," he assured her. Dodo responded with a nonchalant "Huh," her face devoid of any expression. She couldn't help but feel a sense of danger, knowing that Luo Mo was aware of her predicament.
A typical person might have tried to appeal to her emotions, saying something along the lines of, "Dodo, you don't want Sora and the other children to have no one to take care of them, do you?" But Luo Mo was far from typical.
With a wave of his hand, Luo Mo dismissed Dodo. "Then, go ahead and come to my company in two days," he instructed, effectively ending their conversation. As Dodo turned to leave, she couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty about what the future held.