Zhou Heng was dazed by what happened, he was expecting a long negotiation with Jacob Harding regarding his request.
After all, he was just a kid without a background or achievements that could tempt Harding to help. What he wanted to use, was the sadistic side of the Snake King to consider him an interesting investment.
Harding was old, no one knows how much time he has left but surely is not much. Money and power he already had it, and women are probably something he could only see but not 'touch'.
The only two things that could entice him were probably a method to extend his life or mental entertainment. Zhou Heng doesn't have the first so he went for the second.
The closest person Zhou Heng has in both lives is his grandfather, someone that showed him the life of an elder, a life filled with a mixture of regret and calmness. 'I could have done better but now is late, so I will die with it'.
With his teachings Zhou Heng understood that regrets never go, someone can accept them and stop holding them, but they will always live in the heart of every human.
This kind of elder decides between two endings, a slow dead enjoying daily chores or constant pursuit of exciting sights.
Zhou Heng can't see what kind is Harding, even if there are the words of Helena and the scene of the bloody youth earlier, it doesn't mean that Harding wants a belligerent ending, after all, blood is already a daily thing for Harding.
Harding doesn't have a family or a group that he wants to preserve, he is just waiting for dead enjoying whatever comes to him.
With this information, Zhou Heng concluded, that if blood is already a regular in Harding's life, he will add the variable of 'whose blood'.
A kid that can go willingly to his claws, someone outside the 'normal' he is accustomed to, something beyond his expectations that can make his eyes open wide.
What makes Zhou Heng special from all others, are but three things that will always shine.
The System.
The Goal.
The Knowledge.
No matter how these three are related or any other small characteristics, they are what Zhou Heng believes; define his existence here in Bausmat.
He wants to use them to take this opportunity. Even if he reveals some knowledge about Aurora's scientific advances, technology, beliefs, histories, or whatever that could grasp his taste, he is prepared to do it.
Harding is old and selfish, who is better than him to make a deal concerning these secrets? For him is only mental entertainment. He can happily die with the thoughts of 'In the end, I talked with a kid from the future' or 'In the end, a very strange kid appeared and filled my mind with a sight that I yearn'.
Others may slave him and use his knowledge for their ambitions, but for Harding, this knowledge was useless. For him, it was nothing more than unique books coming to his little store.
This was the plan that Zhou Heng decided while waiting for Harding's iced tea. It also had many risks, like the lack of personal information about Harding, Zhou Heng doesn't know if he is selfish and crazy enough to use Zhou Heng, and when the moment of his death comes, he will drag Zhou Heng to the tomb with him.
But is a risk he wants to take, this is the best chance he has found, even if he needs to become impulsive contrary to his character.
There are two reasons for his impulsiveness, the first is a faint feeling as if he was fated to meet with the old man in front of him, and the second is a conversation he had with the system years ago.
At that moment Zhou Heng asked something he avoided since the appearance of the system.
'What happens if I die? If I fail the mission?'
The answer of the system was direct and detailed.
[In case of death. Currently, if the Host dies during the mission, life can be maintained, but the Host will be gravely injured and enter a state of Long Recovery]
[In case of failure. The Host will receive a penalty on his Villain Soul Balance. With the current number of Villain Soul Balance, the Host will suffer an equal subtraction from his own Soul.]
[With the current Soul of the Host, life can be maintained, but the Host will be slightly injured and enter a state of Short Recovery]
'... How long?' Zhou Heng asked that time.
[Currently for the Host. A long recovery goes beyond a year. Medium Recovery from months to a year. Short Recovery ranges from a week to a month.]
At that time Zhou Heng frowned, he couldn't afford any of them, with the situation of his family, a week was enough to scare his grandfather to death and worsen his health.
With all of this Zhou Heng asked the system a final question.
'How difficult is it to kill the hero? He is still human, isn't he? As long as I find him, with a bullet or a knife he will surely die, there is no need to be a Villain just a killer is enough...'
[The system warns the Host, that the Hero is supported by the world while having increased qualities. The Host must gather all powers he can, if he wants to have a chance to threaten the Hero.]
Those words were enough to make Zhou Heng understand that he needed to take more risks, he needed to gamble and grab the chances he finds on his way.
And the chance that was presented was Jacob Harding.
But everything went too smoothly, Harding smiled as if he was expecting him, agreed to his request, and even discussed with him the kind of things that he will learn in the future, as for his duties or any kind of responsibilities it was purposely ignored by Harding.
Zhou Heng's mind was sweating from start to end, he frowned and couldn't believe how easy everything went. After reaching for a time to meet Harding tomorrow, he and the silent Helena excused themselves and left the book store.
He could feel a sense of disharmony coming from his mind to what he could call his 'heart'. As if his brain couldn't accept the situation but his instincts were telling him that everything was right.
He asked in his mind, to the thing that could solve his problems, 'System... What kind of existence is Jacob Harding, how can I feel like this?'
[The being Jacob Harding is an ordinary human, with no special characteristics found in his existence. Reason for the Host's emotional instability is Fate.]
''...Fate?'' Zhou Heng couldn't help but mumble. It was not a word he rejects, but he treats it like the word 'Luck'. A result.
If you ended well after some actions, then you call it 'good luck'. If what you get is a bad result, then is bad luck.
For Zhou Heng, Fate and Luck are things that only exist after a result is given.
[Fate of the Villain, the existence of Jacob Harding is part of the Fate the Host posses as the Villain of Bausmat.]
Zhou Heng sighed in amazement, 'I was fated to meet him?'
[Negative, the Fate of the Host is changeable, opportunities will come but they may be different. Everything depends on the Host's actions.]
Zhou Heng nodded, dozens of thoughts were flashing on his mind, but everything was interrupted when he felt a pair of soft arms trap his body, he wanted to move but the voice that followed, stopped him.
''Don't move.'' Helena's voice was colder than before, ''How many stories about him do I need to tell you, for you to understand that he is only treating you like a toy? That he is a man without a stop line, and the suffering is his only joy.''
Without waiting for his answer she continued, ''Do you even know that you can't go back? He won't let you go... Do you want to know the reason he accepted your request so easily?''
Zhou Heng listened to her carefully and when she mentioned this question, he raised an eyebrow. The system says that Jacob Harding is part of his fate, but it needs a reason he naturally understands this.
''...You are the reason?'' He asked in a whisper. His eyes opened and he almost let out a laugh, but he bit his tongue and stopped himself.
Harding didn't talk to her too much during the discussion, when Zhou Heng asked his request, he didn't move his eyes toward her at any moment.
But recalling the gentle concern he showed for Helena at the start and the current actions of Helena, he could make an image in his head. He already knew that she had personal grievances with him but now it seems that the relationship is more close and mutual than he thought.
''Indeed... Yes, indeed...'' Helena's voice had desperation all over, she didn't bother on hiding it.
She understood that Old Snake more than many, the entire 'negotiation' was crystal clear for her. Everything he did, was for her.
She didn't know what to do, if she lets her emotions flow, and run away from Heng and his fate, Harding will conclude that he doesn't have any value and just dispose of him like trash, the disappointment he will feel when if he thinks that Heng doesn't have a high value on Helena's heart will make Heng suffer more.
If she tries to escape with Heng, it will make that old sadist more excited. But compared to the first conclusive ending she is left without many options.
Even this hug she is giving him is also for Harding that is surely watching them, to judge his future actions.
Zhou Heng tasted a bit of his blood after biting hard his tongue. The system called it 'Fate' but it needs a justification for it to happen, like the suffering of this woman. He only meet her today but he couldn't help but feel guilty.
He won't stop, that is for sure, and is even relieved that Harding's agreement isn't a trap or something that couldn't bring him any benefits.
He cursed inwardly at himself. He had a small doubt in his mind, but he also had 90% sureness about the answer. Yet, he decided to ask.
'System, what is the role of Helena in my Villain's Fate with Harding? Why is she so obsessed with me? I don't believe that any other child received this amount of care.'
At the same time, Helena tightened the hug and opened her mouth.
[The existence known as Helena Redhill is a stepping stone for the Host to accomplish his Fate.]
[For various arranged reasons, the Host is a special being for Helena Redhill.]
''Live with me, I will take care of you and try my best to protect you in the future... Please... Be my child...''
Zhou Heng could only grit his teeth at the answer.