Lu Ce sensed the changes in the girl across from him, clearly feeling that her pursuit of power had already begun "gazing into the abyss."
"It seems your self-control isn't particularly strong."
Lu Ce took a sip of red wine as he spoke.
"Is it Joy? When did it approach you?"
Xie Antong also picked up her wine glass, but unlike Lu Ce, her posture suggested she wanted to drown herself in alcohol.
"I don't know what that thing is - it's just a voice in my head."
"Thinking back, it probably existed since that time at the sea casino with the slime."
"During the Tokyo incident when my side effects were too severe, that voice became increasingly clear."
Xie Antong recalled the thing that had been in her heart all along, speaking to Lu Ce without much reservation.
After all, the person who had first told her about the voice in her head was the very person before her, though he was Greed at that time.
"Are you very familiar with these things?"
"Not familiar, I'm just speculating." Lu Ce replied, "If it's truly something related to divine selection, it definitely carries both risks and opportunities. Don't let it lead you around."
Xie Antong gulped down a mouthful of wine, seeming not particularly concerned with these topics as she said very directly:
"So, why didn't you comment on what I said earlier?"
Lu Ce: ......
Knock knock knock.
At that moment, knocking interrupted their conversation, and the door opened in the silence.
The waiter moved like a transparent person, suppressing his footsteps as he placed two silver divided meal plates on the table with absolutely no presence.
Then he retreated and left.
Xie Antong's eyelashes lowered slightly, concealing her gaze.
Perhaps it was fate - having the server knock at that exact moment interrupted her desire to continue pressing for answers.
If he wouldn't answer, then he wouldn't answer.
However, at this very moment, Lu Ce took the initiative to speak.
"Are you talking about that alliance idea, ruling the world and such things?"
Hearing her words being brought up proactively, Xie Antong also put down her fork.
"I've actually never really thought about it that way."
"But using that as an excuse to gather a team for your use seems pretty good actually."
Xie Antong didn't know what expression to make, opening her mouth slightly, feeling like the other person's words seemed to intentionally indicate "no cooperation."
But somehow, it felt like it might count as a form of help toward her.
Yet regarding this matter, she truly didn't want to say anymore.
Continuing to restrain and go back and forth on this topic would make even herself feel overly fussy.
This was their first time facing each other without helmets or masks, knowing each other's identities, showing their true faces.
But she always felt that too many things seemed different from before, and some words couldn't be spoken.
So she continued drinking.
Only then did Lu Ce notice that while he had been served normal food, what lay before Xie Antong was mostly alcohol.
"When did you start drinking heavily?"
"After someone shot me in the head, I developed some post-traumatic stress disorder - is that not allowed?" Xie Antong said deliberately with annoyance.
"Forget it, let's talk about something you're interested in."
After drinking herself to semi-drunkenness, Xie Antong's emotions relaxed somewhat.
Actually, while Lu Ce didn't know why Xie Antong had sought him out, she herself didn't really know either.
Perhaps she just wanted to see him again when they weren't wearing masks, when they didn't have to be enemies.
"Alright, let's talk about something you might find interesting." Xie Antong placed her drink on the table.
"These past couple days, actually many things have happened, many indeed."
"But I think you probably aren't very interested. Also, thanks to you, I now have much greater say within my family - after all, I'm someone who survived under the strongest player~."
"However, why did you give up that ascension opportunity some time ago?"
Lu Ce had known she would likely ask something like this, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
"I will choose the fastest path, but it at least has to be a path I choose."
"That path was what They wanted me to choose - that's impossible!"
"Additionally, I don't know what that voice in your head is, but let me remind you - Divine Envoys are just dogs! I'm not joking about this."
Xie Antong: ......
She swayed her wine glass with one hand, eyebrows slightly furrowed, once again at a loss for words.
Lu Ce's statement was too shocking - if her guess was correct, that would be truly terrifying.
"So, what are 'They' referring to?"
"Have you already confirmed that there exists such a group of omnipotent 'gods' controlling this game?"
"Such things, it seems no one can specifically confirm. Have you truly confirmed it?"
"I am completely certain." Lu Ce's expression became serious for the first time, without any frivolity or playfulness.
"'Gods' definitely exist. They might not be humanoid, might not be physical entities, might not even be anything!"
"But that kind of power exists. I tend to believe that kind of power possesses consciousness."
Xie Antong: ......
After hesitating for several seconds, she expressed agreement with this statement.
"Your statement somewhat resembles the theology Newton endorsed in his later years - that god isn't some humanoid existence but represents some kind of supreme power embodying certain laws."
"But if that's the case, regarding what you have in mind, how much success rate do you think you have?"
There was one thing she didn't say - if god itself isn't some specific existence, then what exactly is the power you're pursuing?
"If you're truly determined to do something, you don't need to consider whether you'll succeed."
Lu Ce replied calmly.
He also had something he didn't say - until death do us part.
As he spoke, he looked up at this darkly dressed person before him and said with a smile:
"Whatever, if I fail, then won't the people opposing me get their opportunity? That would be a huge advantage for you."
Bang!
Xie Antong finished the wine in her glass and heavily placed the glass on the table, saying expressionlessly:
"That would mean Sun and Perfect Life win."
"I am not your enemy!"
After pausing briefly, she added another sentence.
"I'm just using the opportunity of opposing you to strengthen myself."
The two fell into some silence, then pretended nothing had happened. Lu Ce thought to himself: if your alcohol tolerance is poor, why drink so much?
"Dragon Group approached me the day before yesterday, asking if I could meet with you."