sbdcsierra Chapter 75 Five Years Ago: Joining Ratatos
Chapter 75 Five Years Ago: Joining Ratatos
Author's Note: After finishing this chapter, I want to improve my writing skills as much as possible and write better emotional scenes, so I went to study the novel next door, "Date A Live: The Lonely Redemption," and will try it tomorrow.
The following morning, inside the Okamine family mansion...
"Hey, Erya, get up and have breakfast! It's already 7:50!"
Ming, wearing a black apron, carefully held a steaming bowl of noodles in front of Er Ya, who was wearing underwear, sleepy-eyed, and with a hazy face.
"Give me five more minutes, kid~" Nia muttered, shrinking deeper into the covers. "Not everyone is as military-trained as you..."
Ming shook his head silently and placed the noodles on the table beside him.
'Maybe it's because I can't sleep? My sense of time is so different from someone like Erya...' Ming thought to himself, and didn't insist, staying behind.
"Whatever, eat it or don't, don't blame me if it gets cold. I have to go out." After saying this, he left the room.
After leaving his room, Ming tidied up his room briefly. He went to the courtyard, looked up at the sky, and felt little warmth in the sunlight on his face.
Ming silently calculated the time in his mind; it was getting closer and closer to 8:01.
When the clock struck 8:05, Ming took out the [Tristan] chip. A flash of light appeared, and he stood upright in the courtyard with [Tristan].
"It seems like it's time to keep the appointment... but I won't go without any preparation."
"Show yourself, you foolish demon king!"
[The God Eclipse Chapter]
As soon as he finished speaking, a thick, black book that seemed to float in the air appeared.
The pages of the book flipped rapidly as Ming Yi thought, and the pen in his pocket automatically recorded the information when it reached a page.
Ming flipped through the recorded pages, which displayed the future and the information he wanted.
"I see, that's interesting."
After confirming everything was correct, Ming put away the [Divine Eclipse Manual] and used [Tristan] to fly towards the agreed-upon Tengu City.
The moment he arrived at the Sky Tower, Ming removed his optical camouflage and looked at the people waiting at the entrance.
The man slowly stood up, revealing a playful smile.
"I really didn't expect this. So the 'Flame Beast' that Mr. Woodman mentioned was you. But thinking about it, it makes sense. At that distance, the only person who could have saved 'Nightmare' was you, Mr. Klein, the tenth magician in the world!"
Ming, however, remained calm upon seeing the newcomer. "Mr. Hyakume, it's been a long time," he said, arms crossed, his tone completely unperturbed.
Then, Bai Mu bowed slightly, gesturing for them to follow. "In that case, let's talk as we walk." Ming did not refuse, and the two walked side by side.
Along the way, Bai Muzhong kept glancing at Ming, "How should I put it? It was unexpected, yet reasonable. What a coincidence."
Soon, they entered a nearby coffee shop.
After finding a seat by the window, the waiter came to take our orders. Bai Mu ordered a latte, while Ming Ze ordered a black coffee.
Ming gently stirred his coffee, then looked up at Bai Muzhong.
"Stop beating around the bush. If I were to talk to Asgard Electronics, it shouldn't be you." Bai Mu smiled, put down his cup, and was about to say something.
Ming suddenly spoke up: "Let the person behind you come out first." Bai Mu was taken aback, then shrugged helplessly, and the back door of the coffee shop opened.
A 'girl' who looked remarkably like Allen slowly pushed an elderly man in a wheelchair out of the room.
Fun fact: Karen and Ellen are sisters, a year or two younger than Elliott and Westcott. Ming is 38 years old, younger than them.
The 'young girl' pushed the old man forward, and Bai Mu immediately stood up and made way for him, looking at the newcomer respectfully.
Ming's eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing the old man and the 'girl'. The old man spoke first:
"Hello, I am Elliott Baldwin Woodman, and as you can see, I am the director of Asgard Electronics. You must be Mr. Klein, as astute as rumored."
His tone was kind, and he looked at Ming with the same eyes an elder would use to look at his grandson.
“Mr. Woodman, it’s nice to meet you. My real name is Gangfeng Ming, there’s no need to call me by my pseudonym.” Ming replied calmly, his words carrying a certain respect while also revealing a hint of unusual emotion.
As Elliott listened, he seemed to sense a kind of hostility in Ming's words.
"Is it just my imagination, Mr. Ming? I think I can hear the disgust you feel for me in your words."
“Oh, Mr. Woodman, you are quite perceptive, but it is difficult for me not to feel the utmost disgust towards you... no, it should be all of you.”
Ming's previously calm expression vanished, replaced by a look of disgust and coldness as he stared intently at the two people in front of him.
"I'm sorry, but it's hard for me not to harbor malice towards those who created the Primordial Spirit. After all, she took away a moment of happiness from me!"
Elliot was slightly taken aback when he heard Ming's words, probably because he didn't expect Ming to know that he had been involved in the appearance of the Primal Spirit. Then, a look of guilt appeared on his face.
"Mr. Ming, the situation was very complicated at the time, and we never expected it to develop that way..."
Ming scoffed, "Complex? Does that mean my pain can be ignored?"
The blonde 'girl' who had been silent until now spoke up.
“Mr. Ming, we have come here to make amends for our mistakes. We plan to implement the Ratatosk Plan, which aims to enable humans and elves to coexist peacefully. With your participation, Ratatosk will have already reached a cooperation agreement with the two elves.”
After hearing the girl's words, Ming sneered.
"Make amends? Do you think that's something that can be done so easily? And no matter how powerful you are, can you make people put aside their prejudices and develop peacefully with the spirits they see as absolute disasters? That's ridiculous."
“Mr. Ming, we know that no matter what we do, it will be difficult to eliminate the hatred in your heart, but if this plan succeeds, it can not only save many lives, but also prevent more tragedies from happening.”
Ming's fingers tapped lightly on the table. "Even if you swear the highest praise, why should I believe you? What good would it do me?"
“Mr. Ming, we are willing to show our sincerity. We can provide the elves with all the resources they need, including money.” Elliot tried to persuade Ming, speaking slowly and deliberately.
“I don’t lack these things. Besides, have you forgotten that there are more than a dozen people lying in ambush around here? Why hide like this? Come out.” Ming sneered disdainfully.
"Hmph! That sounds nice, but you've prepared so many people to deal with me."
As Ming finished speaking, a group of men in black emerged from various corners, each picking up a specially made magic gun and aiming it in the direction Ming was pointing.
Witnessing this, Woodman became suspicious. He had no recollection of calling so many people, and besides, he had only hoped for Ming's participation.
Moreover, two years after learning about Ming's entire experience, he deliberately avoided Westcott's gaze and came to Tiangong City alone to visit him.
As Elliott looked on in confusion, Karen, who was standing to the side, hesitated for a moment before slowly opening her mouth and saying:
“I’m sorry, Woodman, actually… this was something I did without permission, because you’re going to meet an extremely evil elf, so it’s better to be on the safe side.”
Upon hearing this, Ming snapped his fingers, and the black flame on the shoulders of each man in black was withdrawn one after another.
"When!" the black-clad assassins shouted in unison.
“I hope your invitation is courteous, not something so barbaric. That was just a warning, understand? Mr. Woodman, we are equals. If you put yourself in a superior position, I believe cooperation is already out of the question.” Ming said, his eyes turning cold.
Ming and Elliott slowly sat down opposite each other again, their eyes meeting, but both remained silent. A tense and oppressive atmosphere filled the room, as if time had frozen at that moment.
“Mr. Ming, I hope you will seriously consider my proposal—to join Ratatosk.” His eyes were firm and full of expectation. Elliott took a deep breath, breaking the suffocating silence.
However, Ming shook his head without hesitation, indicating his refusal. His expression was serious and resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Elliott frowned, clearly surprised and disappointed by Ming's reaction. He tried again to persuade him:
“Ming, do you know how important Ratatosk’s mission is? It’s so that you can save more of your kind who are being hunted!”
"Don't try to impose moral standards on me. It doesn't work on me. I only live for myself," Ming said dismissively, and continued:
“I understand. Your target is the Primal Spirit you summoned and who is filled with remorse. There is no doubt that you know my past and that my childhood sweetheart died because of her. Your goal is to protect all spirits, and what I want to do is take revenge on the Primal Spirit. Based on this alone, do you think I would join you?”
"Well... that's true. I'm sorry for causing you trouble. As for what Mio did, I also feel deep regret and sympathy."
Elliott stood up from his wheelchair and bowed slightly to himself, showing no arrogance befitting a superior.
Fun fact: Elliott usually pretends to have a leg problem, but he can actually stand up normally without any issues.
He was about to leave when Ke Ming's voice came again.
"But...I'm telling you I can!"
If possible, I hope you can finish what you're saying next time. I was about to leave when you finally finished your sentence.
"Alright, tell me, what do you want? Mr. Ming, in my opinion, you are very similar to my old friend Ai Jiake. You are both natural businessmen. You must have considered your own interests when you agreed to this."
“Clever, yes, I have two requests. First, after I join Ratatoskr, I need you to keep any news of my being an elf a secret, so that no one except those present will know, including my own people.”
"Secondly, after I join, I also hope to have a position that is not under the Commander's jurisdiction, the kind where I just need to receive a salary and obtain intelligence regularly... As for my future conflict with the Primal Elf, that is my personal grudge with her and shouldn't concern you."
"No problem, I have absolutely no reason to refuse. As long as your record is in our files, it will show that the Ratatosk Project already has a second elf to cooperate with."
Woodman smiled, extending his hand with loving kindness to meet Ming's gaze, giving off a feeling of a grandfather looking at his grandson.
After shaking hands
Woodman gave Ming a communicator and a ring topped with a pink gemstone.
"Uh... a ring?"
Ming looked at the old man in front of him with some surprise and doubt, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
"This is a magical craft that the elders gave me when I was in the village. I don't know what it's for, but I think it can serve as temporary compensation for the harm that Mio caused you."
After saying this, Woodman's resolute and determined figure froze on the spot like a statue. He slightly raised his head, then gently waved his hand, signaling Karen beside him to push the wheelchair away.
Karen nodded silently, her hands firmly gripping the handles of the wheelchair, and Woodman moved forward slowly. Her steps were light and steady.
Meanwhile, Ming sat leisurely in a comfortable sofa chair, holding a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
He gently blew away the foam on the surface, then took a small sip, savoring its rich and mellow flavor, which perfectly mirrored the future he had envisioned.
"In that case, there's only one move left..."