Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 78: I Think We Have a Great Relationship

The person’s recommendation was indeed useful.

At the very least, Li Li gained a basic understanding of the entire Empire through this book.

An Heyu had mentioned before that the Empire had only ten SS-rank ability users in total.

However, during the time recorded in this travelogue, the Empire had fifteen SS-rank ability users.

The travelogue began fifteen years ago and concluded seven years ago, when it was compiled and published.

From Li Li’s omniscient perspective, the protagonist was likely the author herself, and this author was probably an S-rank powerhouse.

Her tone and insights suggested she was also a noble.

The protagonist called herself a traveler.

She started her journey from Floating City, passing through various noble territories, including Ranmu City before its annexation, as well as cities like Zhusheng City and Jiao Huang City.

In short, reading this book provided insight into the Empire’s power distribution, noble rulers’ tendencies, and local customs from seven years ago.

But these were incidental.

What truly surprised Li Li was a piece of information hidden beneath the traveler’s veiled writing.

Eight years ago, the traveler visited a place called Dawn City, where she met a man she referred to as “Sir.”

They talked through the night, exchanging their views on the world.

In earlier records, the traveler avoided interfering with the events she encountered, likening herself to a recorder of stories, rarely altering their original course.

Occasionally, she would live as a commoner to experience local life, pretending to be weak, during which she saved some people and even took on a young apprentice.

Undoubtedly, the traveler’s perspective was detached, like a pair of eyes floating outside the world.

But after meeting “Sir,” she changed.

In the book, the traveler wrote: Sir made me clearly recognize my arrogance and narrow-mindedness. My records were merely lofty observations; I had never truly understood this world. I won’t stay here long, but I’m willing to contribute to Sir’s cause during this time, to understand this world and accompany them in changing it.

This sense of déjà vu, combined with the timeline, made it hard for Li Li not to think of an organization: the Former Ability Guild.

Given the timeframe, it might be more accurate to call it the early Ability Guild.

This was an unexpected delight for Li Li.

She hadn’t anticipated finding information related to the Former Ability Guild in a travelogue.

The Empire had erased the Former Ability Guild’s existence, and nobles ruthlessly suppressed and slaughtered its remnants.

The once-glorious era seemed to live on only in the memories of those who had experienced it.

Now, Li Li glimpsed a fraction of it through this travelogue.

Of the five SS-rank ability users mentioned as having died in recent years, the Former Ability Guild had at least two or three before the travelogue ended.

Though the traveler wrote cryptically, it was clear they despised the Empire’s system and sought to change this bleak world.

However, the travelogue’s final record was from seven years ago, stopping short of the major upheaval six years ago when the Former Ability Guild was decimated.

Li Li could only speculate based on the available information, but it was easy to imagine how tragic the event that destroyed the Former Ability Guild six years ago must have been.

By the time she finished the travelogue, it was dusk.

She closed the book, preparing to stand and return it to the shelf.

Just then, from the table across from hers, separated by an aisle, the woman who had handed her the book—someone who had been sitting there all day like Li Li—spoke: “Great work, isn’t it?”

Li Li realized this person might want to chat.

Just as she enjoyed reading forums and reader analyses, she was also willing to hear what others thought of the book.

So, with a bright smile, she replied, “Very good. If there were a second volume, I’d read it right now.”

“Sadly, there’s no sequel,” the woman said.

The woman dressed plainly: a white blouse, a mid-length skirt, and a ponytail, giving off a literary young woman vibe.

But her face revealed exhaustion and numbness, as if she were a husk that could collapse at any moment.

It was the look of someone whose goals had shattered or who had lost their purpose.

Now, she seemed to have a question, one she desperately needed answered, and she wanted to ask Li Li.

“The ‘Sir’ in the book, the man who changed the traveler—what kind of person do you think he was?” she asked.

“An idealist, but also sharp-tongued and inspiring,” Li Li said.

Reading the traveler’s account of her conversation with “Sir,” Li Li had to admit he was incredibly eloquent, skilled at expressing his views and planting them in others’ minds.

“Yes, he was very good at swaying people,” the woman, nearly two meters away, said.

Because the book was written from the traveler’s perspective, after finishing it, Li Li found it hard to feel any ill will toward ‘Sir’.

His actions were just, his thoughts were open-minded, and his words were gentle. He walked the path of changing the world and treated even potential enemies, like the noble-born traveler, with fairness.

But to say he could sway hearts, that was indeed true.

After all, in the end, the traveler did change because of ‘Sir’.

When the book deliverer said this, her tone was flat, but because of her choice of words, Li Li sensed her dislike for ‘Sir’.

Perhaps it was better described as disgust.

“Why do you despise him?” Li Li grew curious.

She set the book down, propped her chin on the backs of her hands, and looked ahead with a playful smile.

The ‘Sir’ in the travelogue clearly stood on the side of commoners and low-rank ability users, his actions and words impeccable.

So why would a commoner hate him?

The woman who delivered the book lifted her head, her vacant eyes meeting Li Li’s.

“With just a few words, he changed someone’s mind,” she said. “Isn’t that terrifying?”

“That’s a novel perspective,” Li Li said with a smile.

But she couldn’t agree.

After all, she too enjoyed playing psychological games.

To Li Li, a tactic was valid as long as it worked, so she couldn’t relate to the book deliverer’s fear.

Sighing inwardly, Li Li thought that perhaps science-minded people and literary types really were wired differently.

A battle-hardened fighter like her couldn’t connect with an artistic young woman.

She stood up, saying politely, “Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll be going now.”

As she pushed the library chair back into place and turned toward the bookshelf to return the book, the artistic young woman spoke again from behind.

“I hope we can meet again,” she said. “I don’t know who you are, but I think we’re at the point where we could share names.”

Li Li pretended not to hear.

After all, what she was involved in wasn’t something ordinary people should be dragged into.

Then she heard the woman say, “My surname is Lin.”

Lin? As in the Lin clan?

She’s from the Lin clan? In Ranmu City?!

Li Li froze for a moment.

She turned back and saw the woman’s face, unchanged from the start, her vacant eyes fixed on her.

Then she continued, as if the words were significant.

“Double-wood Lin.”

Li Li’s smile remained steady.

She tilted her head naturally, as if acknowledging she’d heard.

“Sorry, we’re not related at all,” Li Li emphasized in return.

Then she turned back, placed the book on the shelf as planned, and paused.

She stared at the travelogue’s cover in silence for a moment.

Then, with a slight smirk, she left the library.

...

Who was that person, and what did she mean by recommending the book and mentioning ‘Sir’?

These questions had crossed Li Li’s mind the moment she heard the surname ‘Lin’ in the library.

As for the claim of “double-wood Lin,” she didn’t fully believe it.

Stepping outside and thinking calmly, she felt there was something off about that person.

The remaining question was who she really was.

The Lin clan, though it had only four high-rank members, had many branches.

It was possible the woman was a noble who had experienced the events of six years ago.

Of course, the most coincidental—and somewhat chilling—possibility was that she was the least likely person.

“But she didn’t seem malicious,” Li Li mused after some thought.

The Lin clan’s situation was far more complex than the Yue clan’s, but that only piqued Li Li’s curiosity.

Even if she was that person, based on her words, she wouldn’t act before their next meeting.

The encounter with the strange passerby made Li Li wonder if she should tell An Heyu.

By dusk, she headed to District 3 for that reason.

Of course, another reason was that An Heyu had resolved to cross-dress until he left Ranmu City, and Li Li found watching him endlessly entertaining.

She admitted she had a bit of a mischievous streak, but a red-haired, short-skirted, black-stockinged Mother Hen was just too amusing!

Having only worn women’s clothing for a day, An Heyu was clearly still adjusting.

Even in front of his District 3 subordinates, he kept tugging at his cloak.

Seeing Li Li enjoying the spectacle, he could only say helplessly, “Have you eaten?”

Li Li jumped off a shipping container, her high heels clicking confidently as she let him look.

“Mm-hm,” Li Li said with a grin, using her go-to vague response.

It wasn’t until Eternal Night arrived that Li Li asked An Heyu what he thought of Lin Ran.

An Heyu thought for a moment and said, “Even in Floating City, she rarely goes out. I’ve never met her.”

In short, she was a shut-in.

A complete recluse who ignored all noble social engagements.

On that note, drawing from his colorful experiences, An Heyu guessed, “Did something happen?”

Li Li squinted at him, and An Heyu continued with an example, “Like, say, you broke into the Lin clan’s estate during the day?”

“You have a big misunderstanding about me,” Li Li said, shaking her head.

“You’re right, I overthought it,” An Heyu nodded, agreeing with her.

Then he added, “If you were really going to do that, you’d bring me along.”

After a pause, he asked hesitantly, “You would bring me, right?”

Li Li smiled. “Mm-hm, your misunderstanding runs deep.”

Was he doubting she’d sneak into the Lin clan’s estate and cause a ruckus on her own?

No, she really wouldn’t.

At the very least, she’d bring along useful people like him!

They were on their way to the new base An Heyu was setting up.

He was serious about building this faction, and in just a few days, it was already taking shape.

Tonight, they were going so Li Li and his new look could make an appearance before the small-time leaders, solidifying his female persona and, while they were at it, naming the organization.

“It absolutely can’t be something like ‘Little Whatever,’” An Heyu fretted on the way. “An underground group in District 3 called ‘Little District’ just sounds awful.”

“You really can’t name things,” Li Li said, raising an eyebrow. “Why not call it Little Three?”

An Heyu: “…No way, absolutely not.”

Li Li shrugged indifferently.

If she really pushed for the name Little Three, An Heyu would probably just pinch his nose and accept it.

But as they neared the building that served as their organization’s base, she spotted a figure in white standing at the gate from a distance.

It was the uniform of the Ability Guild.

Activating her ability, Li Li used an illusion to quickly get a clear view of the person’s face.

It was the man she’d seen that night, walking with Lin Ruye and another Lin clan noble, likely a subordinate of the Lin clan.

He was also the one who had pointed out Li Li as suspicious.

Crows circled in the night sky, bringing everything within range into Li Li’s view.

He had come alone.

Li Li confirmed it.

As they approached, the man in the white uniform turned and saw Li Li and An Heyu beside her.

“I have some matters I’d like to discuss with you,” he said, his tone carrying the haughty air typical of the elite.

This dispelled some of Li Li’s guesses, but…

Li Li smiled. “What a coincidence. I have questions for you too.”

She could learn a lot by starting with this man.