That instant, Russell subconsciously relaxed a bit.
Although a severed head had rolled to his feet, and blood had splattered on his boots, Russell instead felt a sense of security as if being protected.
That look in the eyes was all too familiar.
It was as if reminiscing about something.
If Russell had to make a comparison, it was like after working for a few years following university graduation... and then discovering a new colleague at work who had graduated from the same high school and had been brought up by the same homeroom teacher.
"Do you know my mother?"
"Mm."
The young man replied, "Miss Alice was considered my senior.
"Her spiritual energy was called 'Nonexistent Device.' As the name implies, it's a tool that doesn't truly exist in the world. Thus, it can ignore all external factors one wishes to ignore and only make contact with the parts one wants to touch. If it turns into a screwdriver, it can unscrew screws inside a box without opening the shell; if it's a scalpel, it can cut through clothing, skin, bone, and muscle, directly cutting tendons or nerves."
As he said this, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a meaningful smile, "Whether as a healer or an assassin, it's top-notch in strength."
Russell remained silent, not saying anything.
He had also just found out that his mother was actually a spiritual energy user.
After recalling his past life and the memories when he was just born, Russell immediately realized that his mother's death, their humble everyday life... including his father's leaving home, might all be complicated.
He was probably involved in some complex situation.
Trouble seemed to be brewing.
Observing Russell's silence with interest, the young man remarked, "However, your spiritual energy seems more complex than your mother's. Can you perfectly transform into your mother's likeness? And even gain her spiritual energy... Did you inherit this energy from her, or is it mimicry?"
—Russell thought, if nothing unexpected happens, it should require the consumption of Chips left behind after someone's death to activate. As long as one dons the "mask" that represents that person, one can obtain the other's spiritual energy...
Russell chanted in his mind.
Just like before, when he used his mother's relic to transform into her and gained her spiritual energy. That pale green light must represent his mother's spiritual energy.
Russell recalled that as a child, he had occasionally seen a faint glow of that color in his mother's eyes.
But at that time, he had not realized what it was.
Yet, after the candlelight in his illusion turned the same color, Russell obtained the spiritual energy named "Nonexistent Device."
The punch from the Bear Ear Mercenary had been powerful and heavy. Russell clearly heard the sound of his own spine cracking, but after the transformation shattered, his real body was left without any injuries.
Russell sensed that it would take at least a month for him to transform into that form again.
Fortunately, as long as he successfully transformed once, he could use a slightly weaker version of the same category of spiritual energy afterward, even without transforming.
However, Russell did not share these important pieces of information with this person.
Although, in his past memories, he had seen that this man had once been a student of his father and mother—he called his own father "mentor" and seemed to show respect to his mother.
—But that was more than twenty years ago.
Russell was well aware that people's hearts can change. He knew nothing now and couldn't be too quick to determine the other person's identity and stance.
The thug who had just impersonated the "Babel organization" had revealed a lot by his manner of entering the room.
At that time, Russell was pretending to be asleep, but in reality, he was closely observing the man.
The simple-minded and physically strong fool entered the room and, upon seeing Russell, did not attempt to find another person in the room; he didn't even guard against Russell and simply turned his back to look at the door.
If he hadn't been on the phone at the moment, Russell would have seized the chance to act immediately.
Later, when Russell was being pointed at with a gun, he openly looked past the mercenary, directly at the white-haired young man behind him.
He had guessed that the gun probably had no bullets, but Russell couldn't gamble on that, so he hoped the mercenary would be distracted for just an instant to give him a chance to get up from the ground and dodge.
However, the Bear Ear Mercenary didn't waver at all. He didn't even seem nervous—this suggested he was certain there couldn't be anyone behind him.
All these details indicated that Russell's initial intuition was indeed correct.
—This room was a single-person room. And the gang of hijackers had control over the cabin's surveillance, allowing them to confirm the comings and goings in each room.
Even though the first-class cabin had multiple seats, multiple tables, and even several sofas and beds of different sizes.
But Russell noticed one detail: on the wine glass rack, there was only one glass of each specification.
From that moment on, Russell had already begun to harbor suspicion toward this overly familiar stranger.
But at the time, Russell had not yet regained his past memories. His knowledge was somewhat limited, and his character was somewhat mild.
Although Russell immediately felt something was off and began to suspect, he didn't guard too much against the other party.
Or rather, Russell was habitually hoping to please the other person. By being 'responsive to questions' and 'gentle in demeanor,' he hoped to prevent the other party from making a move against him.
But after regaining his memory, Russell realized something more: for instance, the hijacker had clearly been startled at the sight of the gun on the table and became immediately wary of Russell—this indicated that even for them, bringing such a weapon onto an airship was challenging. Russell didn't recognize the model of the gun, but the hijacker's stark greed for it was evident; he was even unwilling to let go of it while beating Russell, nor did he want to use the butt of the gun as a weapon.
All of this testified to the value of the gun.
Furthermore, considering this white-haired Big Dog did not contract the virus from the beginning...
"You're from Babel Tower, aren't you?"
Russell spoke slowly, "You didn't board through conventional means but used some method to directly teleport into my room. That's why you weren't captured by the external surveillance and unnoticed by the thugs.
"You're here following the Babel Tower virus that was either stolen or leaked out. Of course, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that you intentionally sold the virus. But whatever the case, your stance in this incident would not be that of a 'victim'.
"Am I right... Mr. Nan Liujing?"
Without any forewarning, Russell blurted out the name from his memory.
He had no evidence, simply a pure, intuition-based probe.
But judging by the other's utterly unsurprised and unshaken response, Russell knew he had guessed correctly.
He didn't know him at first, but after contracting that virus, he somehow knew his name...
If such an abnormal act was anticipated by the other party without any hint of surprise, then most likely he was the "Nan Liujing" who had sealed his memory years ago.
"What will you do next?"
Russell asked pointedly, "I guess, you're going to eradicate those people... and then throw the blame onto me?"
His hands dangled naturally downward.
Between the index and middle fingers of Russell's right hand, a faint halo of light emerged.
It was so subtle that it was nearly undetectable, like the light reflected off a cleaned pair of glasses.
This time, it wasn't the surgical scalpel that had materialized before, but a razor blade. Since it could "nonexist," there was no need to worry about injuring oneself or it slipping away no matter how it was held.
Compared to the surgical scalpel that his mother, Alice, was adept at using, the blade was more suitable as Russell's weapon.
Watching as Russell, like a cat with its back arched, remained on guard, Nan Liujing's mouth curled into a slight smile.
He did not answer Russell's question but simply stepped forward.
Completely fearless of the illusory blade between Russell's fingers, he knelt down to straighten Russell's collar.
It had been messed up earlier, when Russell was punched in the face by one of the mercenaries, like a Masked Rider who had been kicked so hard that his transformation was undone, rolling around on the ground with his mouth agape and eyes closed.
Afterward, his mouth corners lifted faintly.
"Now I can be at ease."
His tone lightened, "I was just worried... if you were too naive, it might be best to send you back. Too much trust in others isn't a way to survive on Happiness Island. It seems, at least, you still possess some vigilance.
"The fact that you prepared for defense without actually attacking shows you also have sufficient rationality. You can judge strength and weakness, discern friends from foes.
"It should be so—even knowing the other might not be an enemy, one must still be wary; even aware one is no match for the other, one must not give up resistance."
As he spoke, Nan Liujing touched Russell's head with a smile, "I held you when you were a baby... I am your elder. If your mother didn't teach you these principles... I will."
Russell's ears twitched, but he didn't pull away from his touch.
The moment Nan Liujing made contact, Russell had a flash of realization.
"You're planning to use me."
He looked up, speaking softly to Nan Liujing who stood a head taller than him, "But you won't kill me."
At that, Nan Liujing paused.
For the first time, a genuine smile appeared on his always-smiling face.
"The second half of your sentence is reassuring. But do you know, Russell—the first half does not put me at ease as much."
Nan Liujing spoke slowly, "It seems you're more mature than you appear.
"I am indeed using you, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Being of no use to anyone is a hundred times more dangerous than being used. While you have value, you are safer than others."
Gazing at Russell, who appeared pensive, Nan Liujing added, "Also, if possible, it's best not to refer to me by that name. It disgusts me."
Not for privacy reasons... but disgust?
A thought stirred in Russell.
He inquired, "Then what should I call you?"
"'Bad Day.' That's my codename, Babel Tower's Bad Day," the codenamed Big Dog with white hair smiled, "But it's best not to mention that name in public, especially not to let others know you're associated with me, or it will bring you a lot of trouble.
"Of course, maybe before long... you'll see this name on the wanted posters of Sky Island. Don't mention 'Nan Liujing' either, or those Elves might trouble you."