Chapter 124: Heroes Are All Etched On The Monument
“The Dragonite was indeed used as a beacon once, but that was during the previous era.” Zuo Hang fabricated a lie with seemingly calm composure.
Alsteria is now year 214, the previous era, that is, over two hundred years ago,
Whether the Dragonite was specifically used as a beacon at that time is uncertain, but before Alsteria became its current highly advanced technological appearance, it must have gone through a period similar to 2025.
“Previous era?” Lilia chuckled lightly, viewing Zuo Hang’s statement as sophistry.
A boy whose lie has been exposed trying to save some face in front of the goddess is perfectly normal.
Lilia’s first impression of Zuo Hang was just that of a poor loser.
She couldn’t be blamed for having that impression, after all, Li Dong’s entire outfit, worth no more than 200 bucks, did indeed look like that of a loser. But Lilia overlooked one thing.
Zuo Hang was sitting in business class.
A poor loser might never buy a business class seat in their lifetime; even if all the second-class seats on a certain train were sold out, they would only consider switching to another train, spending a bit more for a better riding environment.
Zuo Hang, extremely sensitive to lines of sight, noticed Lilia’s unusual gaze right away.
A hint of interest mixed in with the disdain.
The standard goddess-looking-at-a-loser gaze.
Zuo Hang didn’t care about that kind of look; Lilia was looking at Li Dong, what did it have to do with him, Zuo Hang?
Losers who can afford business class aren’t ordinary losers; Lilia clearly hadn’t considered that.
Suddenly, Lilia seemed to think of something, a trace of shock appearing in her eyes.
“How come you’re sitting in business class?”
Whether due to a slow reaction or some other reason, Lilia finally realized that it was somewhat unusual for this man, whose entire outfit added up to no more than 200, to be sitting in business class.
“Pika~”
The Electric Mouse sighed.
This woman seemed not too smart.
“Why can’t I sit in business class?” Zuo Hang asked in return.
“Because you don’t look like someone who can afford business class.” Lilia stated frankly.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover; this saying shouldn’t have any cultural differences, right?”
‘Don’t judge a book by its cover?’ Lilia pondered.
Fully three seconds passed before Lilia showed a look of sudden realization, gazing at Zuo Hang and saying very seriously: “That saying! It makes a lot of sense! Where did you hear it?”
Headache.
It seemed cultural differences really existed.
Lilia actually took three seconds to understand “don’t judge a book by its cover”; it was unclear whether this woman was too dumb or the literacy level of people in this world was too low.
“Ding~ Next stop ahead, Qingniao City. Passengers participating in the Master Cup please disembark at this station.”
The announcement broadcast the station arrival reminder.
“No one said it; this is my own saying.” Zuo Hang stood up. “I should go.”
“Hm? You’re also going to Qingniao City? What a coincidence, me too—”
“Let’s go together.” Before the other could finish, Zuo Hang spoke first: “I’m out of money. Though I have ways to quickly get some, they’re troublesome. About that statement on the Silhouette of Pride, sorry—I lied to you earlier. If you want to know what the Little White Dragon really is, then…”
“Find me a place to stay, not too far from the Master Cup arena, and give me some money—not too much, enough for a poor loser like me to live for a month.”
“Eating soft rice?” Lilia raised an eyebrow, showing no displeasure at Zuo Hang’s obvious scamming attempt.
“No, not eating soft rice—it’s a trade.” Zuo Hang said without changing expression: “I’ll tell you what the Little White Dragon is, and you provide the corresponding conditions. The Pokémon from legend representing Pride—trading its true name for a place to stay and a bit of money isn’t eating soft rice at all; on the contrary, you’d be the one profiting.”
Lilia fell into thought again, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of those words.
Zuo Hang already knew why her team had been wiped out.
Zuo Hang didn’t know what Lilia would become like in the late stages of extinction, but based on her current state, she absolutely didn’t qualify to be a team leader.
“No need to think; it’s settled. Don’t worry, I’m a good person.” Zuo Hang said.
“Good person?”
“Stop thinking; sometimes you have to trust your intuition.” Zuo Hang grabbed Lilia’s wrist and forcibly dragged her off the train compartment. Qingniao City was a stopover station; if they were any later, both would be stuck on the train.
“Miss!” *3
Just as they got off, three men in black suits blocked Lilia.
Ah, this…
Zuo Hang sensed a thick urban cool vibe. No way there’d be a clichéd plot like bodyguards picking up the young lady in year 214 of the second era, right?
He subconsciously took two steps back.
With his current clothes, Zuo Hang really could easily be seen as “the poor boy the family young lady met outside.”
If such a misunderstanding occurred, things could get very troublesome later; Zuo Hang might face the “worthy or not” issue, and if Lilia had one or two pursuing young masters, it would only get worse.
“Miss? Is this your friend?” a tall suited man suddenly asked.
“Friend?” Lilia glanced back at Zuo Hang. “Sort of…”
“Great!” The suited man suddenly stepped forward, clapping his hands excitedly on Zuo Hang’s shoulders.
“The miss finally has a friend! I knew it! Sending her to S City was indeed the best decision!”
“That… actually, we met on the train.” Zuo Hang felt the immense force on his shoulders; human strength in this world was indeed extraordinary.
“On the train? No problem! Anyway, you’re a friend acknowledged by Miss Lilia! This is a great start.”
Zuo Hang was puzzled. “She has few friends?”
Hearing this, the black-suited man suddenly leaned to Zuo Hang’s ear and whispered: “Miss Lilia isn’t too smart, reacts slowly, and is a bit airheaded. She does have friends, but they’re all…”
The suited man hesitated to continue and didn’t finish the sentence.
Lilia had already gotten into a red flying car; she looked at Zuo Hang from inside, seemingly asking if he wanted to get on.
“You two seem to get along well.” The suited man patted Zuo Hang’s shoulder again. “This car is heading to the Alsteria Family Mansion. Kid, judging by that Pikachu, you’re here for the Master Cup too, right?”
Zuo Hang nodded.
“Pika~” The Electric Mouse friendly waved at the suited man.
“Then it’s easy! Come on, don’t be shy—the Alsteria Family welcomes every outsider.” With that, the suited man pulled Zuo Hang onto the car.
Lilia’s full name is Lilia Alsteria.
Alsteria is not the original name of this world but a name privately given to it by the Observer of Aether.
Alsteria is the name of the family recognized as the most powerful in this world, and Lilia happens to be the young lady of the Alsteria Family.
The infamous “Cursed Woman” in nobility circles: any outsider who gets involved with her, regardless of status or power, dies inexplicably for various bizarre reasons.
In the game, Lilia’s image is the Lightning Queen, often appearing as a hero or brave one. Ordinary people see only her glamorous surface, unaware that underneath, Lilia is always alone.
Rumor has it that the curse from the “Dragon of Arrogance” forced this naturally cheerful woman to seal away her heart.
（ps: Worked on the model all day, so tired. It’s only nine, but I can’t keep my eyes open. Rest tomorrow; I’ll make up what I owe these days!! Yeah! I will! Serious face.）
