In this cyberpunk era, why are you still playing the traditional villain?

"Where Xu goes is his prerogative; how can I interfere?"

As they spoke, a figure emerged from the shadows not far away, replying expressionlessly.

"...Brother Cheng sent you to follow me?"

Xu Shi raised an eyebrow and asked in feigned surprise, "I've seen this person before. He led the way to Cheng Gujian's residence for the meeting earlier, but I don't know his name."

However, he had already sensed that Cheng Gujian had sent people to secretly monitor his movements... His high mental strength was not something to be taken lightly, and even without using his mental strength, just by guessing Cheng Gujian's character, he knew that he would most likely do this, and he was even encouraging him to be cannon fodder for him.

Therefore, he had already considered this point in many of his previous remarks. Whether he said he could accept it or not, it was all a matter of attitude in small details. We are of one mind.

Of course, if there's something you really don't want him to know, Xu Shi has a hundred ways to do it.

"Envoy Xu is joking. It's just that you left in a hurry just now, and Grand Duke Gu Jian couldn't catch up with you, so he instructed me to bring you some things."

The middle-aged man surnamed Chen shook his head and handed him a bundle.

Upon opening it, it was indeed well-prepared, containing everything Xu Shi had mentioned when negotiating with Cheng Gujian... samples of some plants and animals, including some props from "Divine Breath" technology, clearly intended to smooth things over for him.

"Brother Cheng is really thoughtful."

Xu Shi smiled and accepted it without any hesitation. "Please thank him for me, Butler Chen. Is it alright if I call you that?"

"no problem."

Butler Chen forced a smile, “Envoy Xu, you are a thoughtful person, which is why the Grand Duke favors you so much… On the contrary, some people, who have only enjoyed a few days of royal meals, have already been tempted by someone else’s cravings.”

"Brother Chen's words sound like he's insulting me."

Lu Baiyan blinked and looked at him innocently.

"I'm talking about you."

Butler Chen made no attempt to hide anything, “Three years ago, you, Lu Baiyan, were still a member of the Royal Court Knights, but now you’re so familiar with the Papacy. Don’t forget that your knighthood was personally conferred by Her Majesty the Queen.”

Everyone has their own ambitions.

Lu Baiyan wasn't angry and still smiled, "The Knights Templar are neutral, but they've been going to the Holy See a lot lately, so they haven't changed their tune yet."

"So it seems our young brother Luo Yu is the same?"

Xu Shi interrupted with interest. He hadn't had time to study the relationships between these various organizations yet. It sounded like Luo Yu was a royal knight before? He's got some skills.

Based on this alone, it's clear that the young man's hard work and struggles have been quite remarkable.

"It's really not."

But to his surprise, Steward Chen simply shook his head. “This Knight Luo’s situation is a bit different from others… He ranked at the top in the knight selection examination at the time, and was directly conferred a title by Her Majesty the Queen and the Holy Maiden of the Holy See.”

Is that so?

Judging from Steward Chen's tone, it was quite rare for a young empress to be granted titles together with some kind of holy maiden.

But when it comes to the protagonist Luo Yu, it seems much more logical.

Especially someone like him, a trash protagonist in a mindless wish-fulfillment novel.

Hmm... I haven't been feeling really well lately, I have a headache.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 225 So I'm just a tool again, right?

Brother Luo Yu has quite a few red threads (romantic connections).

Upon hearing about his deeds, Xu Shi narrowed his eyes.

He hadn't paid much attention to it before, and he never expected that the other party had already had some dealings with that little empress—to be honest, with the Templars' biased stance like this, how could they still be considered a neutral organization?

If we were to follow the script, he should have waited until he achieved more success and fame before turning around and representing the Templars and the royal family, ultimately killing Cheng Gujian with a single blow, reaping the gold coins, and winning the heart of the beautiful Dongfang Xiao...

However, he was too lazy to investigate the details, as it was not worth wasting his brain cells on such a thing.

It was the boyish-looking Lu Baiyan beside him who piqued Xu Shi's interest more.

It's not for any other reason than that this guy looks like a cunning old fox—he didn't do anything when Luo Yu was out of control, and only came out to play the good guy when the situation was getting out of control.

In terms of status alone, although they were both Silver Knights, his voice was clearly more powerful than Luo Yu's, and a few casual words from him were enough to make Luo Yu not dare to breathe.

It's clearly a superior-subordinate relationship—and this guy might not actually be on Luo Yu's side, otherwise he would never have seemingly offered advice while actually adding something like, "I've never heard you mention your sister before." Isn't that just stirring things up?

And these words did have some effect; at least Xu Shi noticed that the expressions on the faces of the Feng and Ling sisters behind him became even more unpleasant.

Well, so you're a fun person too?

"In short, we were in the wrong, and we hope Brother Chen will forgive us."

Lezi was apologizing to Butler Chen, "Is this alright?"

What's the point of telling me this?

Butler Chen said expressionlessly, "You've offended Mr. Xu, so he's the one who should apologize."

"Yes."

Lu Baiyan feigned sudden realization and quickly looked at Xu Shi, "Envoy Xu, are you so magnanimous as to forgive my mistake?"

"It's just a minor disagreement, why should I hold a grudge?"

Xu Shi shrugged, "But our place has been turned upside down like this, there has to be an explanation, right?"

"This is easy, leave it to me."

Lu Baiyan patted his chest, then closed his eyes and clasped his hands together.

In an instant, waves of light, resembling water rippled from his body, and the mess he had left behind was instantly restored to its original state.

"This is?"

Xia Wuyou raised an eyebrow, asking curiously.

"This guy's ability is 'Time Reversal'."

Butler Chen explained for him, "However, this only applies to inanimate objects, allowing them to revert to their state at most half an hour ago."

Xu blinked.

That's interesting, a special skill for cleaning up messes?

This guy even has squinty eyes... It's a bit creepy, and you still say you're not a fun person?

"It's just a trivial skill; I'm just a handyman."

After Lu Baiyan finished washing the floor, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Is Envoy Xu satisfied? As for the rest, I've already said... We can discuss it further when you come to the Holy See."

That's enough. Who are you trying to fool by pretending to be weak? If you were just a janitor, would you have made it to fourth place? Xu Shi muttered to himself. Even if it couldn't work on living things, his ability still had a lot of room for maneuver.

Moreover, judging by the level of skill, it's at least an A+, maybe even an S... You can't really tell much just by repairing a house.

The Vatican is indeed full of hidden talents... Hmm, I have no choice but to pay them a visit.

Having figured things out, Xu Shi had no desire to dwell on it any further.

Even if there were any, it wouldn't be now, so after exchanging a few pleasantries, he prepared to go back.

Unfortunately, some people were oblivious. Just as the groups were parting ways, Luo Yu suddenly spoke up again, calling out to the two sisters, Feng and Ling, behind him, "You..."

"..."

Seeing his unwilling and persistent look, Xu Shi was completely speechless.

It's endless, right?

"Xiao Feng, Xiao Ling."

Xu Shi thought for a moment, then simply pushed the two sisters in front of him. "I'm a very open-minded person and I won't do anything against other people's wishes... If you want to go visit your brother Luo Yu, that's fine too, it's up to you."

"I……"

Pan Feng lowered his eyes, shook his head without much thought, and turned to go straight back to the inn.

She's just straightforward, not stupid; she'd been feeling a little uneasy since earlier today.

Although she easily killed the royal knight, she also realized a problem.

Over the years, has Brother Luo Yu ever seriously taught me anything?

At least the girl was very certain that if she had only used the sword techniques he had taught her, she would probably be the one who ended up as a corpse today.

On the contrary, his master, ever since taking him as his apprentice, has been teaching him everything he knows.

Whether she held nothing back is hard to say, but there's no doubt that her strength has improved by leaps and bounds. This comparison alone speaks volumes. How long has she known Xu Shi and his group? Right?

Furthermore, she had just overheard that Luo Yu hadn't even mentioned her to anyone else... Why was that? Was it because he felt ashamed of being from Silver Pine Island, or because he felt ashamed of being her sister who came from Silver Pine Island?

Xiao Feng didn't pursue whether Lu Baiyan's words were true or false, but her disappointment was palpable.

Especially when she recalled how her master had publicly proclaimed himself in front of the royal family today, she felt really uncomfortable. When she looked at Luo Yu, she subconsciously felt a bit resistant.

How could I possibly have gone to his place?

"Brother Luo Yu, you should go back first."

On the contrary, Pan Ling, who is usually quiet, said a few more words at this moment, "Before we came out, my father told us to stay with my master and mistress and let them take care of me and my sister... We will come to see you when we have time."

She did give Luo Yu some face, but everyone knew that this seemingly conciliatory statement was just a perfunctory response.

Do you need me to treat you to a late-night snack?

Xu Shi spread his hands and looked at Luo Yu with great interest.

He wasn't planning to pursue the matter further, but you insisted on being persistent and making a fool of yourself. So he wouldn't tolerate it and simply ripped off the last shred of decency on the other party's face.

"..."

Despite Xu Shi's harsh words and the reactions of the Feng and Ling sisters, Luo Yu's expression changed repeatedly before he could only turn and leave without saying a word.

I saw him clench his teeth and his hands were tightly clenched into fists, I can't imagine how humiliated he felt.

"Master, I..."

Watching Luo Yu disappear from sight, Pan Ling tugged at Xu Shi's sleeve with a conflicted expression, her face full of disappointment, hesitant to speak.

"Don't look constipated. Sometimes it's not a bad thing to talk things out, right?"