"You're Right, But—"

  "Look at your Law IV uniform, think about those pristine white gloves you and your colleagues wear, the guns and ons you carry—are they really that ? Is this what you call the Law IV that protects women?"

  Li Aozzi retorted sarcastically:

  "All four tries are garbage!"

  "But if I have to choose among four filthy beasts, degee vampires, and parasites, then I only choose the Red Arrow Empire!"

  He was impassioned, like a hot-blooded youth:

  "At least in the eyes of Emperor Kaiser II, his citizens are human. When the prince breaks the w, he is punished like a oner. Uhe aristocrats of Frost, who, despite enjoying official titles and privileges, still iionally divide ordinary men and women uhe guise of 'proteg women' to grab money and power!"

  [Nomi Favorability: 219]

  "Law IV is just too radical. Historically, men indeed itted many war crimes, and this was the legacy left by the Twin Queens..."

  Li Aozzi's words made Yavanna's expnation seem pale. Judging by her expression, she probably didn't even believe her own words.

  "Before being citizens of any try, we are human. Men and women alike grow up the same way, don't they?"

  Li Aozzi leaned over the fro, fag Yavanna with righteous indignation:

  "Among Frost's bigwigs, how many aren't men? Aren't the bureaucrats around the female president all men?"

  "Yes, you know, the gender discrimination in Frost isn't that severe; there are still male officials."

  Yavanna hurriedly said:

  "Li Aozzi, I sincerely hope you turn back to the right path. I've seen the real face of the Empire; the bureaucratic struggles there are even more brutal and bloody. I don't know what happeo you to make you betray your homend, but Frost isn't beyond saving. Many people still want to make the try better; we have many male officials..."

  Li Aozzi struggled to keep a straight face.

  If it weren't for his performance, he would've burst out ughing.

  — Nonsense, I py two versions in the Red Arrow Empire, but I 't stay a day in Frost.

  "Those officials, whether men or women, don't care about women's rights at all. They use the rift between geo maintain their rule. Is this the result Frost should have? If the Twin Queens were alive, they would be heartbroken to see this distorted era."

  He looked as if he was ready to take up arms, passionately arguing, and finally, dejectedly, like a patriot abandoned by his try, he cursed:

  "Damn, how did the try bee like this?"

  Yavanna was moved by his impassioned speech, l her head in silence.

  Li Aozzi bihe information he gleaned from Qiu Ran's "good cop" routiail his words to hit every sore spot.

  Yavanna's family background was evidently good, and she was indeed a fresh graduate forced into joining the disreputable Law IV agency due to some uionable reasons.

  Her by-the-book as and strict adhereo rules made her appear pretentious and hypocritical to her unruly colleagues.

  Law IV agents were mostly reformed social misfits.

  Among this group of idlers and female thugs, a well-bred young dy who didn't follow their ways would naturally be ostracized.

  After spending some time in this enviro, fag colleagues' sneers and a job filled with bloodshed and darkness, the inexperienced young dy was caught in internal aernal flicts.

  Even if she didn't want to admit it or show it, deep down, her belief in the justice of her job and her faith in her try had already wavered.

  Li Aozzi didn't say more, preferring to let her mentally exhaust herself over time, gradually correg her thoughts.

  The principle was simir to learning a fn nguage—words that seemed impossible to remember became sed nature after a month immersed in a fn try. Staying for half a year, you'd unicate like a local.

  The key was reinfort and sistency.

  Since Yavanna wasn't part of his team or fa and he couldn't see her favorability, Li Aozzi po first destroy her attat to Frost and theablish his own image.

  Yavanna quieted down, starting to self-reflect, while Nomi leased with Li Aozzi's performance, driving fast and steadily.

  Li Aozzi reminded Nomi not to drive too fast, to avoid making Nimotin give up the chase. They occasionally stopped to eat, drink, and cast water magic.

  Qiu Ran's simple and ho personality erfect for the "good cop" role, naturally teaming up with Li Aozzi to occasionally preach to Yavanna.

  Direterrogation and torture would easily provoke rese; seasoned operators ko chat casually, gradually gaining information, making the target let down their guard, and thely probing, causing them to doubt themselves.

  Li Aozzi was in high spirits, even closing his eyes to genuinely rest.

  ………………………………

  Six hours ter, Li Aozzi woke from a nightmare, drenched in cold sweat, leaning against the seat, taking over ten seds tain his posure.

  "A baby... the baby died... what is this?"

  Li Aozzi murmured, his gaze gradually regaining focus as the nightmare's grip loosened. He looked around to find Qiu Ran driving and Nomi sleeping in the back, her foot on Yavanna's shoulder, sn softly.

  Everything was fine, making the nightmare's tent fade away like a reg tide.

  Since his rebirth, he had slept well, but this unprovoked nightmare cast a shadow over his mood.

  It felt like a bad omen... have I been thinking too much tely?

  He shook his head, opehe interface, and checked his status.

  Everything was normal.

  As Li Aozzi was about to exit, his gaze fixed on the system funs.

  "Pyer funs—unlocked!"

  The pyer funs se, previously showing only a few lit is like [Game Mall], [Fa], [Team], now had new is unlocked.

  [Star Abyss Official Website]

  [Game Forum]

  Simultaneously, he noticed the system's [Mailbox] had a 'NEW (3)' indieaning three new messages had arrived.

  The [Mailbox] was for receiving official and pyer messages; who would send mail to an NPC?

  Suspicious, Li Aozzi opehe [Mailbox], and three messages immediately appeared:

  "To our esteemed pyer: 'Star Abyss' beta testing is about to begin, with the first alpha test starting soon. Please be mindful of work fluctuations. tdown: 23:43—Sent by Qiqiao work, 2142/9/17."

  "To our esteemed pyer: Wele to 'Star Abyss.' Enjoy the freedom and joy to the fullest. You might evehis as a real world—who knows, maybe it is real?—'Star Abyss' development team, sent on 2142/9/17."

  The first two seemed normal, though slightly odd. Li Aozzi, an NPC, was treated as a pyer.

  But the third message left Li Aozzi puzzled.

  ——————————————

  To our dear er:

  Dear, did you enjoy your shopping experience?

  Just kidding, once you use it, you'll love it.

  So, would you like to tinue purchasing my crafts?

  Unfortunately, Trekie's Exhibition Hall is now closed.

  The good news is, around this time year, I'll be holding a rare treasures exhibition in the Gorsara star system.

  In any case, you shouldn't refuse me.

  If you missed Trekie's grand exhibition, don't fet to check out Glina's shop!

  There's more iing stuff here.

  Making money, spending, shopping more, woohoo, really satisfying.

  ZGM.0238/1/13

  —Attat: Friend Card 'Glina Water Whirlpool'

  (Click here to link to the enterprise at: 'Mikhail's Little Den')

  ——————————————

  "Glina Water Whirlpool?"

  Li Aozzi was silent for a moment.

  "Who is this?"