Chapter 11 - Apocalypse 11

The convo arrived at the military base with Zhou Rui and his team welcoming them. After reporting to the office, Haoyu brought Yichen to the house he had prepared.The house is a sanctuary, the safest place on Earth. It has many mechanisms and people guarding it, and Haoyu also placed countless safety measures on it with his ability. It's not wrong to say the house is a fortress.Haoyu took the backpack upstairs and placed it on the bed. Yichen followed him silently, his head were blank with only one question.What happened?The progress were too fast that Yichen feels lightheaded. He looked at the man's profile and feel his heart beating fast. "This is the closet, we'll share it. I'll get you more clothes later."The man's magnetic voice pulled him from his thoughts. He nodded and the man walked to him. Yichen subconsciously stepped back.Haoyu blinked, then paused. His soul throbbed from the rejection. He lowered his eyes and placed the key in his hand on the bed instead. His back straightened as his low voice unfold slowly."This is the house's key."He paused for a second."... I usually sleep next door and use this room as a changing room. Just use it comfortably."I'll take my clothes out later...Haoyu already planned to take out his stuffs and move it next door quietly, prioritizing Yichen's comfort.Yichen pinched his finger, his heart feel suffocated and sad. He's about to say something, but Haoyu's faster."I'll go to the kitchen. You haven't eat dinner yet.""I'll call you when it's ready. Rest for now."Haoyu smiled lightly, then closed the door considerately. The moment he entered the kitchen, his face turned pale. He clenched his heart silently for a while. After the pain faded, he rolled up his sleeves and start preparing the food.Zero who watched all this somehow pity its host.[Host, Yichen might did it unconsciously.][I know.]Tak, tak, tak-The knife fell rythmithcally, cutting the vegetables in a neat manner. Haoyu's face returned to its stoic state.[Then, host... can I ask you something?]Zero appeared and sat not far from the chopping board, watching its host working. Its ear flicked.[Why... do you look like in pain? Like just now, you look like you're in an immense pain from time to time. Are you sick?]The vegetables entered the boiling water. A variety of spices followed. A ladle stirred the soup, mixing the ingredients inside. The marinated chicken slowly fell into the pot. The ladle stirred diligently.Blop- blop--Haoyu closed the lid and turn down the heat, letting it cooking for a while. After that, Haoyu fried another plate of marinated chicken. The delicious smell wafted around the kitchen. Even Zero, something that doesn't need to eat, feels hungry and tempted. It even almost forgot its question before.[Fate. The red string connect us together.][Uh?]Its ears flicked in confusion. It focused its scattered attention to Haoyu.[What do you mean?]Haoyu glanced at the confused ball with disdain.[Ck ck, just who made you? Something as basic as fate and red strings are not in your database? How outrageous.]Zero exploded.[Don't insult Mother Law!!! You bad host!][Mother Law?][Yes! Mother Law! She's the goddess of Law and Contracts! I'm one of her creation.]Zero's bunny ears stood proudly. It pointed at Haoyu with its small and short little paw.[That's why, watch your words! She's a goddess!]While Zero were rambling and boasting about how the goddess were the most beautiful and powerful being, Haoyu were busy searching for relevant information about this goddess.Hm... is it... Ah, it's that one.[That goddess, she has a silver hair and a mechanical face all day long, right? What's her name again? Sera... no, is it Silvaris?]Haoyu has a plate of fried chicken in his hands and in front of him is a stupified ball. The image is absurd and ridiculous. Zero pointed at him tremblingly.[H-how... how did you know that?! No, are you her believer too?][Wait, you're not from the world under her influence... then how?!]Zero pulled its ears in stress. Its round eyes were blanked with confusion and horror. Haoyu watched it stress itself with interest and amusement. He has never placed any expectation to this small fluffy ball. He smiled faintly.[I'm sure you have my information. Tell me what it tells you, hm?]Zero's ears perked up, its eyes sparkled as if finding new hope.[R-right! Wait, I'll pull it up!]Ding--!A panel hovered in front of Zero and it read it with gusto. The more Zero read, the more confused it is.[This... it only says you're someone who managed to save the devastated world and help it regained its health. It also says, "Someone who are cold, but has enough warmth to help the world. He had an immense power, capable of commanding the world, but he choose to remain silent and hid from the world. A man of duty and integrity."][... That's all. I choose you because the information told me you're a cold and powerful man, which fits this system's criteria! But it didn't say anything about you knowing Mother Law!]Zero pulled its ears again. [... Well, the information is indeed a bit off.]Haoyu placed the last bowl of steaming stew and touched the stressed ball with his finger. The tip of his point finger touched its forehead.[I'll help you update your data.]A small stream of power entered Zero's round body. New information poured into its database and organized itself neatly. It didn't take long until Haoyu took back his finger and called out to the dazed ball.[T-this... I didn't found a host with duty-sense and integrity... I found a lazy one! No wonder you've been acting like that for the past few years!]Haoyu's eyebrow twitched.[No, the other one. The other information.]Why is your focus on that one?[Fate is under the rule of Goddess of Fate and-][Not that one.][Oh. Uh... Red string is the string of fate that connect two individual. Mortals can cut this thread easily without any heavy consequences...?]Haoyu nodded, [Go on.][But a higher being can't sever the thread casually. The consequences are heavy. They who have met their other half will directly induce their fate to began and a new layer of barrier wrapped around the thread, enforcing the connection, making the consequence of severing it heavier.][The pain and consequences will fall to the one who remember.]Zero's engine were working hard, after reading all the information, it directly sent to spiral. Its paw pointed at Haoyu tremblingly.[Y-y-you?!][Yes, that's the reason of the sudden pain. It's okay, it's bearable.][That too, but you're a...?]Shaaa--Water wet Haoyu's hand. He explained leisurely.[I never met her directly, but what she did sometimes connected with my domain. So, I'm aware of her.]Gasp!Zero has a look of sudden realization.[That's why the world were extremely alert of you before, it were threatened!][Yeah, but it didn't recognize me. Do you think it'll dare to do anything if it did?]Haoyu sneered. [... No wonder I also feel threatened from time to time.]Haoyu ignored its mumbling. He placed a small plate of the food he cooked and tells it to disappear. Zero took the plate and returned to its system space in a heart beat. It needs time to digest the overwhelming emotions.The table now full of various steaming food. The delicious smell wafted around the room, tempting whoever smells it to give it a taste. Haoyu took off the grey apron and go upstairs. He gently knocked the door."Yichen, the food's ready. Come eat."A soft "Yes" was heard. Haoyu's heart softened.It's okay. There's plenty of time. The fact I can bring him here is already good enough.As the old saying goes, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.Haoyu walked to the table full of delicacies and sat on the chair, waiting patiently.Grab his stomach first, then.Haoyu might not be an expert at romance, but he is confident if it's about cooking skill. His patience is also top notch. He's a man who can wait for years just to wait for his prey fell into his trap and slaughter them in one fell swoop.In war, there'll always be strategies and timing. A delicate balance mixed with patience and skills to win the war flawlessly.He's not a God of War for nothing.Haoyu's lips curled into a gentle smile, hiding his smokey-grey eyes glinted with cunning light.