A couple of hours later...
Inside an enormous restaurant built within a hollowed-out branch, Levi and Wei-Lan sat across from each other at a table next to a circular glass window.
The room was built using nothing but materials gathered from the World Tree itself, which gave it a magical, peaceful atmosphere.
They had already gotten rid of empty chit-chat and greetings, leaving them to sit in an awkward silence.
Levi waited with a serene smile for Wei-Lan to show his hand, while Wei-Lan continued to scan the situation, not wanting to ruin it... he simply couldn’t handle the consequences of failure.
In the end, he bit the bullet and showed Levi an invisible, strict NDA contract... then, before Levi could express his fake confusion, Wei-Lan sent a dimensional message.
’I know that Bishop Na’thir murdered your parents, and you’re on a quest to avenge them.’
Levi’s heart skipped a beat... he expected many things, but not the mention of that cursed night.
Before he could react, Wei-Lan continued... his words oozing with a tint of admiration.
’I respect nothing more than a son who crowns his parents’ legacy after passing, refusing to accept such blatant injustice.’
Meanwhile, Levi couldn’t care less about his pitiful attempt to strike his ego... he was still stuck on the notion of Wei-Lan not only knowing about his past, but most importantly... who was responsible for it.
Such a secret was known by only a few people, and he was certain that Bishop Na’thir wasn’t going to air out his business to others. Not when his main goal from that night was his treasured eyes... not his parents.
’I have to know how much he knows, and who his source is.’
Levi’s heart chilled moment by moment... he reached for the contract and read it twice, just to be sure. It was a far stricter NDA, one that forbade him from ever mentioning anything he heard from Wei-Lan that could damage his reputation, even after death... and if he were to void it, Nocturn’s Authority would pop his soul like a balloon instantly.
Such a severe contract was all Levi needed to confirm that his first assumption about Wei-Lan was correct... he was tangled with the wrong side.
Whoosh.
In one smooth motion, Levi signed the contract with his full name, then leaned closer with a cold expression, shedding the gentle childlike act entirely.
’Wei-Lan... who do you work for?’ he asked, his tone firm and unquestionable.
Wei-Lan dropped his act of a concerned senior the moment the contract was sealed... he leaned back in his chair, making himself comfortable.
Then he answered casually, ’I work for no one... I am an honest Daywalker through and through. Though I do have some dealings with another Bishop... one who wants Bishop Na’thir dead just like you do. He asked me for a favor: to deliver a request for partnership, since he considers you a vital part of his plan.’
’Which Bishop?’ Levi asked.
He neither commented on Wei-Lan’s traitorous cooperation with a Bishop nor on the nonsense he spewed about being an honest Daywalker... all Levi cared about was how much information these f*ckers actually had on him.
’Bishop Va’ren of the European Eternal Empire,’ Wei-Lan replied calmly.
The moment Levi heard the name, he recalled stumbling upon old network records when he was researching Bishop Na’thir’s name. It was about Bishop Na’thir winning a private Death Game against Bishop Va’ren... the wager had been their territories on a different planet. Rumors had spread afterward, claiming Bishop Na’thir had cheated his way to victory.
At the time, Levi hadn’t known that Bishop Va’ren was the head of the European Eternal Empire. The Bishops deliberately avoided using their real names... even on the CRS Platform, they signed under aliases, making it difficult to track which planet they chose to sink their roots of corruption into.
Still, the fact that Bishop Na’thir’s and Bishop Va’ren’s territories ended up so close to each other on a new planet made Levi realize that Va’ren had deliberately selected the same world as his nemesis... purely for revenge.
’So far... the motive checks out. But I still don’t know how Bishop Va’ren learned what happened that night. Does he have a spy inside Bishop Na’thir’s troops?’ Levi thought deeply. ’I doubt Bishop Na’thir is foolish enough to share his claim over my treasured eyes with just anyone... especially his subordinates.’
’What are you thinking so hard about?’ Wei-Lan frowned. ’Trust me... I am on Earth’s side. Always was, always will be. Bishop Va’ren is nothing more than a means to an end for me... someone I use when I need an Alchemist’s assistance.’
Levi stayed silent, sensing the instability in Wei-Lan’s heart. He didn’t give a shit about his reasoning; he had already labeled him a traitor. But the fact that Wei-Lan felt the need to explain himself when Levi hadn’t even spoken? That reeked of insecurity... and fear of judgment.
Levi knew such fear always had a reason.
’Wei-Lan claims to use Va’ren... but it’s clearly the other way around,’ Levi pondered. ’He’s an Alchemist... that explains how he forced an unnatural evolution on his son so easily. But favors from Bishops are never cheap.’
Levi didn’t know why, but he was certain the payment involved dragging him into their side.
’Bishop Va’ren wouldn’t dare approach me personally or send one of his subordinates,’ Levi analyzed. ’To convince me, it had to come from another human... someone who boarded the same ship as him. That means Wei-Lan has no leverage here. He must get me to agree, or Bishop Va’ren will make him pay for playing tricks.’
Tier 8 powerhouses weren’t to be f*cked with... Levi knew that better than most. And yet, the first words that left his mouth were:
’I want to meet Bishop Va’ren personally so he can explain his entire plan... of course, I will sign an NDA contract,’ Levi said coldly. ’I want Bishop Na’thir dead, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen... even if it means siding with the enemy.’
Wei-Lan didn’t like having his authority brushed aside like this... being treated as a mere pawn... but when he heard the second part, he realized Levi already had one foot in. All that remained was to deliver him to Bishop Va’ren and wash his hands of the responsibility.
’Fine... I’ll let him know,’ Wei-Lan nodded.
’Tell him to arrange the meeting after the Faction War ends,’ Levi added. ’I’ll be stuck in Solar Aegis Sanctuary’s territory for the next fifteen boundless days.’
’I understand... do what you need to do to put us on top.’
Wei-Lan smiled, visibly more at ease after realizing Levi hadn’t judged him once. In his mind, it meant Levi was already comfortable with the idea of joining hands with the enemy for a shared goal.
In reality... Levi was simply saving him for later.