Story Reader / Affection / Changyu: Qilin / Story
Your mind wanders in the dark. As you slowly regain consciousness, the voices around you trickle into your ears, gradually and sparingly, like raindrops dripping down the eaves.
Akdilek must be very shorthanded to send a child like you.
It's gonna cost you, judging a book by its cover.
Watch it. I'll let it slide this time, but only because you've brought me my mark.
It does not matter for now. You are treading on a tightrope—better keep up the unconscious act and observe quietly.
Right then, you hear footsteps closing in, and with them a sense of hostility that further weighs down your heavy breaths.
Hey, hands off the goods! [player name] is not yours yet. How about your part of the deal?
Changyu's protest is followed by the sound of a connected hit, and the hostile presence stumbles away from you.
Hm? Relax, the drug I gave you wasn't that powerful to begin with. You'll wake up in no time.
What are you doing?!
Reminding you of the terms of our deal. No one benefits if you violate 'em.
Or maybe you do want to fight a Construct?
My left wrist comes with a special little trinket today. Perhaps y'all want a demonstration?
Taking Changyu's hint, you stealthily twist your left arm under the cover of the wall, activating the beacon in your bracelet.
Trinket? What are you talking about?
Changyu only answers with a disdainful grunt.
Just show him the thing.
You hear the sound of a suitcase unlocking.
Take a look.
Changyu takes a few steps and stops nearby.
Yep, looks good. This device'll help us sort out the knockoffs.
If everyone's happy with their merchandise, let's move on and pay your... "deposits."
Once we've sealed our deal, Akdilek will remove our enemies for us; in exchange, we will no longer adulterate your products. Perhaps that's enough to salvage your name, or whatever's left of it.
However, in the event of a breach of contract...
You'll go kaboom with your inside men on our train?
Changyu sneers in the far corner of the room. He turns around, the sound of his footsteps heading toward you.
In your hazy vision, you can see Changyu approaching and flexing his wrists. He, however, is brimming with satisfaction, without a trace of his mocking sneer.
Hey, you awake?
I'm really sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you in a sec.
Yeah... Truth is, I don't think I can handle this by myself.
Quiet as you two may be, you have alerted the others in the room.
That piece of trash's awake?
I'll explain later. Prepare to bolt—
Before he can finish, the female guard leaps onto Changyu with her weapon in hand, only to receive a kick from him square in the stomach that sends her flying.
You dare?! Everyone, charge! Kill the Babylonian first, we'll settle the boy's debt later!
In your dreams, you old coot.
Easy, I'm right here.
Changyu dodges the attacks coming from the front, and he sends the attackers reeling on the floor with a well-placed uppercut. A dash—and he is right next to the suitcase he is after. He picks it up and throws it backward.
Nice catch! Now GO!
Seeing his human followers are no match to a Construct, the leader sounds the alarm, and the place is immediately swarmed with mechanoid guards.
Well... Shit.
Out of nowhere, a flurry of blades tear apart the front door, alongside the mechanoid guards that were flooding in—and as the dust settles, there stand the three members of Gray Raven.
Commandant! Are you alright?!
You don't look fine...
You better have a good explanation on what the hell is happening—
Oh shut it, just run!
Stop! Do you have any idea what you're doing?! Do you understand what this transgression would cost Akdilek?!
Oh, I'm afraid you're the one in the dark. When was the last time you heard from your guy?
Enough with your bullshit! I've just heard from him!
You mean you've heard this?
Changyu takes out a small cubic apparatus from his pocket, and with a tap comes a familiar voice.
All is good, bossman. No need to worry.
He kept following me around, so I decided to record everything he said... The trick is to hide the cuts with some static, y'know? As for the trash you placed on our train... I haven't heard from them, have ya?
That's right, with the time you bought me.
Kill them!
At the sound of his howl, all the mechanoid guards burst in the house through the broken door, the smashed windows, even the torn down air ducts—and surround the group in a swirl of chaos.
Follow me!
The incoming mechanoid guards keep shoving each other into the confined space, causing more and more mayhem.
Fortunately, each fallen mechanoid guard becomes another brick of a metal wall that shields you. Unfortunately, the more they fall, the more your escape route is clogged.
You cannot reach the three Gray Ravens at the door, and you are getting further away from Changyu, as the two of you are slowly forced to the two sides of the room.
Hey, shouldn't we be retreating?
Taking a step away from this metal wall of fallen machines means an open season for the rest of them.
Changyu lets out a sigh. The fight is straining on him, but he manages to turn around; with his punches leading the way, he moves toward you, one mechanoid at a time.
Suddenly, the faint sound of a ticking clock catches his attention.
No! [player name]!
Changyu's moves become frantic, his fists swinging wildly—but none of it matters, as he still fails to breach the walls of mechanoids and fallen machines.
—GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!
Changyu's cry rings with a thunderous quake, shattering a wall nearby and the mechanoid guards in his way—but then—
Tick—
A blinding white light coats your vision; a deafening buzz pierces your eardrums. You are deprived of your senses—and yet, amid this pulsating chaos, a voice, almost heartbreaking in its desperation, reaches you.
[player name]!
...Chang Yu, did he manage to reach you?
