reincarnation npc, but tomorrow's ark

Gawain himself was surprised that he would develop such interest in a human being. This was an emotion he hadn't experienced in a very long time, and it felt incredibly fresh and interesting to him.

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Bai Ye was unaware of Gawain's thoughts. Beast Lords were different from humans; they couldn't be understood in ordinary ways. To the humans of this land, Beast Lords were practically no different from gods.

Of course, Bai Ye wouldn't see them that way. They were just more powerful creatures.

After crossing the street, Bai Ye arrived at a place he was familiar with.

Parliament Square.

Chapter 102 Gods and Men

Parliament Square at night was no different from during the day; the traces left by the battle between White Night and Theresis in the early morning were still clearly visible. In particular, the deep trench, obviously left by White Night violently dragging Theresis, looked rather horrifying at night, and because of the poor lighting, it always seemed like the open mouth of some terrifying giant.

Although this place is considered the power center of Victoria Lentinium, the Lentinium Citizens' Self-Salvation Army has no intention of occupying it. They did not even approach the Western Hall of the Holy Kings Society. They merely controlled the main traffic routes of various core areas of Lentinium and guarded key facilities such as the command tower, power plant, and mobile city Originium engine.

This is a remarkably shrewd move, since in the current situation, merely occupying the so-called throne does not equate to control of the entire city. Royal power is never just a chair. If the throne truly represented the ownership of power, then Victoria's last king, Aslan, wouldn't have been captured by the Parliamentarian army and ultimately hanged.

Therefore, the Western Hall of the Holy Kings, which once symbolized the supreme power of Victoria, was now unusually deserted. Bai Ye immediately noticed the hole he had left in the wall. He had led Therese straight into it, but he hadn't expected the building to be so fragile.

Or rather, he underestimated his power after the stat boosts; it might even be slightly higher than he anticipated. At least now, Bai Ye has completely surpassed his peak self in both basic attributes and skills. And that's in full gear, operating his power armor form.

The ground in Parliament Square was damp, for before the main entrance steps of the Western Hall of the Holy Kings Church lay a wide pool of water. In the past, it had been as still as a mirror, reflecting the greyish-black hall. But now, due to the rampage of the White Night, it had been torn apart; the edges of the pool were ripped open, water flowing everywhere, presenting a desolate scene.

Bai Ye had initially thought that the lion beside him would be enraged by the chaotic scene. After all, as one of the symbols of the Victorian throne, the lion had always been inextricably linked to royal power. The sight before him was a blatant trampling of royal authority and dignity.

Seemingly sensing Bai Ye's thoughts, the lion stopped in his tracks, bathed in the false starlight, looking at the bleak scene before him.

“If I were to feel anger, I would have already vented it long ago… I would have appeared long before they hanged the king, instead of waiting for the Sarkaz to appear at the graveyard, for them to appear in the western hall of the Holy Kings, and for the dukes to surround Lentinium now,” the lion said slowly.

It was very quiet, not a sound could be heard. In this dark night when almost half of the city was without power, Lentinium fell silent for the first time.

Hearing Gao Wen's words, Bai Ye seemed to understand something:

"People regard you as symbols of the Londinium Aslan monarchy, but that is not the case? So even when Londinium was on the verge of destruction, you did not reappear."

The lion nodded.

He doesn't always appear in public, and Gawain detests interpretations that portray him as a symbol of power, which contradicts the original agreement.

But their ups and downs did make it hard for Gao Wen to look away. There were times when he had to look back at history, and there were moments when they shared similar shadows.

For example, there was that little girl, Alexandra Vina Victoria. Did she look remarkably like her grandmother, or even her great-grandmother? And what was the true relationship between Matilda, the girl with the blonde curls, and Vina? Faces flashed by, from young to old, only to vanish into the sands of time. Some of these faces might not even exist, merely figments of his imagination. Gawain had to admit that he had spent far more time with this family than he had initially anticipated.

"The initial agreement." Gawain began to mutter to himself, seemingly not expecting the young man beside him to listen.

Bai Ye sat down on the broken stone pillar beside him. He must have broken this pillar as well, but Bai Ye didn't remember it, since Itsis, whom he had grabbed in front, was the one who crashed into it first.

"It's an ancient story, long before history was recorded, that I met my first friend, the first human who wasn't afraid of me. We went on adventures and traveled together, and I had many wonderful new experiences, cheers and tears, songs and fine wines. Of course, I also learned about aging and death."

"Not as the master of the beast, but as a friend, witnessing death for the first time."

The heat vanished from his body, and his breath ceased from his mouth and nose. Before this, Gawain had never imagined that witnessing death could be so agonizing.

Bai Ye sat quietly to the side, listening to the lion tell stories about himself and humans.

“So I granted his last request, a promise. I will help his descendants continue to live until they no longer need me,” the lion whispered.

Bai Ye suddenly understood.

These behemoths were never symbols of royalty; they were simply... ensuring the continuation of the bloodline. It was a simple promise, yet one that transcended time.

"Time can erase many things; I've even forgotten the name of that first friend."

"I've also forgotten the name of his child."

"Bai Ye, humans are far more fragile than beast lords; their weight is not even as great as a single hair on our mane. But at least, I will always uphold that promise."

As the lion spoke, he looked at the white night:

“Alexandrina Vina Victoria, the last descendant of their family. I’ve always pondered where her fate should lead. Young man, I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

Bai Ye blinked and said softly:

"The Beast Lord is free. He has the freedom not to be bound by oaths, but also the freedom to keep them. You can make decisions as you please."

“I pondered the meaning of all this. Human gods are ultimately ephemeral. I have experienced countless partings. I began to distance myself from them, unable to bear investing emotions in them, because I knew they would eventually pass away.” Gawain looked up at the starry sky.

"Young man, you should know that darkness is the main theme of this starry sky. Even the oldest stars will eventually burn out. On the boundless scale, light is only momentary, only darkness is eternal."

Bai Ye shook his head:

"But it is precisely because of this that I will not give up a moment of light because of eternal darkness."

Chapter 103 King

(I feel like I need to relearn some writing; I've been rusty for a month since I last wrote.)

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Gao Wen looked at the young man in front of him.

As the Beast Lord, his life was clearly close to eternity, and the short life of a human was truly insignificant to him.

It's like a drop of water falling into the ocean; a human's life might just be the blink of an eye of the beast lord.

Therefore, beast lords never get too close to humans. They are naturally aloof and cold, and are unreachable to humans. Normally, ordinary people would hardly ever see them in their entire lives.

However, Gawain had to admit that although humans were small and insignificant, some of them were indeed like comets, shining brightly during their short journeys, moving even these beast lords.

Just like the young man standing before him, the light emanating from him was dazzling even to this beast lord. In him, Gawain saw the shadows of some old acquaintances.

The golden lion vaguely remembered rushing with Lucas to the battlefield now known as the Scorching Sands. He carried the spirited man on his back, charging towards the distant sandstorm alongside the Nightmare Khan. Everyone died there, and he brought back the news for his daughter. He remembered the feeling of his mane being soaked with tears.

Perhaps this is what Bai Ye meant by a fleeting moment of brilliance.

The time that humans could spend with him was ultimately short, but the brilliance of humanity that shone in that instant was enough for him to remember forever.

"Perhaps part of my value lies in remembering this glory. It will accompany me, become a part of the memory of this land, and be passed down forever until I also come to an end."

Gao Wen muttered to himself, he had already made his decision.

Even though he wasn't entirely willing, he was still willing to help the little girl one more time. Just like Alexandria Vina Victoria in her childhood, he would reappear as a symbol to help the little girl once again shoulder the responsibilities that were rightfully hers.

……

"It seems you've made your decision." Bai Ye looked at the beast lord before him, and from his eyes, Bai Ye understood the lion's thoughts.

"I won't take that sword, but I still need to borrow it one more time." The lion nodded.

He had never forgotten that ancient promise, and he wanted to see how far the little girl could go, given this last remaining descendant of his bloodline.

"Huh? You're not going to use your mouth to carry my 'Breath of Kings' again, are you?" Bai Ye suddenly realized something.

Although this guy is quite different from ordinary creatures, Bai Ye still felt rather disgusted.

"Then we'll have to trouble you to lend the sword to our little girl first. We'll return it to you after she's finished using it, so we can give it to you openly and honestly," the lion explained.

In truth, neither he nor Vina cared about this so-called Victorian "national sword." After all, how could a single sword represent the entire nation and royal power? As long as the lion was willing to stand behind the king, no one would question Vina's legitimacy even without the sword.

……

"So, Miss Vina, what are your thoughts? Have you made up your mind?" Bai Ye turned around and looked at the girl standing in the shadow of a stone pillar behind him.

At some point, Rhodes Island's operator, Push King, who is also the heir to the kingdom, Vina, arrived at the Western Hall of the Holy King's Council with White Night and Lion.

However, she had only just arrived, so she only heard the last part of the conversation between Bai Ye and Shi Zi.

After Bai Ye turned to ask her a question, Vina emerged from the shadow of the stone pillar, stood before Bai Ye and the lion, and nodded gently:

“I’m not really interested in power. However, if taking that position could end all of this and put everything back on track, I’d be willing to do it. It’s also for the sake of my friends who have always followed and helped me…”

Bai Ye was very satisfied with the girl's answer:

"I hope you're willing."

“There’s no other way. I’ve come this far, and too many things have been entrusted to me. These are my responsibilities, and I can’t just give them up easily. Otherwise, I would be an irresponsible and selfish person who only cares about himself,” Vina replied earnestly.

Bai Ye was gratified by the girl's will; her awareness surpassed that of many. Those who readily choose to inherit the throne without recognizing its weight are short-sighted, greedy fools; those who understand what the crown represents and therefore refuse to shoulder the responsibility are wise. The girl, however, clearly understood the significance of the throne, yet still chose to accept this heavy burden—that is courage.

Bai Ye felt incredibly relaxed.

Don't be fooled by Vina's sudden appearance and inheritance of the throne of Lontinim. On the surface, it seems like she's just waiting for Bai Ye to drive away the Sarkaz and then take over at a bargain price. But in reality, she's done Bai Ye a huge favor. In fact, Bai Ye is actually quite happy to have someone else take over.

Because at this moment, Victoria was in complete chaos.

“Miss Vina, you are about to face an incredibly troublesome mess. You have ascended the throne, which means you need to clean everything up and get the country back on track. You may become another great king after those previous kings, leaving an indelible mark on the history of this country. But if you fail, you will become a joke, a clown in history.”

"You will be torn apart by various forces, suffering utter ruin. The history of the Aslan royal family may be interrupted and become dust in history. Therefore, I sincerely wish you can end all this chaos and allow the history of this country to continue."

Bai Ye said softly.

Vina nodded firmly, clearly ready. She felt that the meaning of her life was for this one choice. All these years of waiting had been preparation for this moment.

"First, you will need to negotiate with the Duke of Wellington. I will be behind you, so you don't need to be afraid at the negotiating table. But ultimately, you will have to negotiate and make commitments yourself before you can gain the Grand Duke's approval."

“I will go. And I will make them pay the price,” Vina said earnestly, biting her lip.

Bai Ye laughed:

“This is the queen I know. She will not give up easily, her heart will not yield, and she will never forgive those who have hurt her beloved country and people.”

Chapter 104 Unexpected Events

(Setting a goal: I'm going to eat at every restaurant in April! I'm absolutely not going to back down!)

Bai Ye couldn't be happier that someone was willing to take over the mess Victoria was in. Now that Vina was willing to take responsibility, he could leave with a legitimate reason.

Of course, before leaving, there are some simple clean-up tasks to complete. Although they are a bit tedious, it's much better than being held up by this mess forever.

Just as Bai Ye was about to say something, his portable terminal suddenly vibrated. Bai Ye took it out and saw that it was a communication from the Rhodes Island main ship. Although it wasn't urgent, it did require him to return.

"Well then, see you later." Bai Ye put away his terminal, waved to Lion and Vina, and before he finished speaking, he had already disappeared from the spot.

A moment later, a sonic boom came from mid-air, and Vina could clearly see the air rippled as it was stirred up.

The girl took a deep breath; it was a power that was truly enviable.

“Although that young man tried his best to downplay his presence, it is undeniable that he will become the cornerstone of this new generation of Lentinium,” Gawain murmured.

He paused, then continued:

“With him around, even without me, your family can sit securely on the throne of Victoria for generations—provided, of course, that you have descendants.”

Gawain's words made Miss Vina blush slightly. Clearly, she hadn't considered such a thing yet; after all, she was still too young.

Gao Wen continued:

"That's true, but you can't rely on him forever. That guy isn't one of you, and this isn't his home."

The road ahead is still for ordinary people to walk themselves. Even Gawain will only watch from the sidelines until the very last moment...

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Bai Ye was unaware of the conversation between the Beast Lord and Vina. In fact, he himself hadn't yet realized what Gawain had said. After all, his mind was currently preoccupied with the mission of world fusion, leaving him almost no free time to ponder matters of the future.

He didn't think as far ahead as Gawain. Mentally, he didn't yet possess the natural leisure and time-wasting ease of the immortals. His life had only just begun, and even including the time before his transmigration, it was still a very short period, a time where he had to seize every moment.

……

With White Night's flight speed, it wouldn't take long for him to return from the central city of Londinium to the port on the city's edge. In an instant, he had already appeared on the deck of the Rhodes Island main ship.

Although it was unclear why he was suddenly called back, Bai Ye guessed that it was probably because of the risk of communication being intercepted or eavesdropped on. Therefore, the message sent to him by the Rhodes Island main ship did not specify the reason, but only asked him to return as soon as possible.

Bai Ye passed through the entrance passage and entered the Rhodes Island main ship. He then received a notification from the central system PRTS, instructing him to go to a special ward in the medical department.

Bai Ye glanced at the address. If his memory was correct, then this ward should have been where the only surviving steam knight had previously lain.

Earlier, when Bai Ye and the Deep Sea Hunter entered the resting place of the kings, they witnessed the horrific battlefield left behind by the complete annihilation of all the steam knights after being surrounded by the Sarkaz royal army. Surprisingly, however, there was still a living creature among them: a steam knight, clearly severely injured and encased in steam armor, who had survived thanks to his formidable vitality, the life support system in his armor, and an admirable resilience.

After knocking the guy unconscious and subduing him, Bai Ye, with the help of Logos and others, "peeled" this humanoid creature, which barely had a human form but was actually on the verge of collapse due to the torment of time and environment, from the steam knight's armor.

Yes, it's literally peeling off, because the steam armor has even become integrated with this guy's flesh and blood, and some physiological tissues need to be cut to separate them, which is indeed a rather cruel process.

Now, the steam knight has been placed in a special ward in the medical department.

That is, the place Bai Ye is heading to.

He walked quickly through the corridors of the Rhodes Island ship and arrived at the ward in a very short time.

After undergoing sterilization in the disinfection room, Bai Ye entered the ward and found that there were already quite a few people inside.