The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

The Stigmata Project, one of MEI's proposed solutions in the Previous Era, had a high success rate but was deemed too extreme, a last resort.

A key element of the project was redefining humanity, swapping real humans with Stigmata, turning humans into Stigmata and creating "Ideal Forms" to replace them.

After a brief conversation, Lihua understood [Lee]'s plan—if real humans caused problems, replace them with Ideal Forms, perfect human templates, and all problems would be solved! Humanity's future, under her guidance, would be bright!

This perfect world would then be irrefutable proof that she was right, and Lihua's betrayal foolish.

The saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" applied here. While [Lee] was furious about Lihua's "betrayal," ready to purge humanity, Lihua was less concerned.

Simply put, [Lee] lacked the means. Earth wasn't their old Earth. It lacked the infrastructure and groundwork for the Stigmata Project. No matter how beautiful [Lee]'s vision, it was impossible.

It was ironic that the Stigmata Project, meant to save humanity, was now championed by two who cared little for civilization… one wanting to replace humanity, the other only interested in the project's power.

Seriously, does no one care about humanity and civilization?

"Lee, what you're planning is impossible… stop while you can."

"Don't talk to your elder like that! Lihua, do you even understand filial piety?! I'm your ancestor! You should just obey me!"

[Lee] looked ready to bite her own lip, but despite her rage, she didn't attack Lihua, only vanishing with a parting threat. "Lihua, you'll regret this!"

Without further ado, [Lee] disappeared—after all, Mei and Otto were on their way.

Little Lee, easily handled… Looking at the empty room, Lihua sighed, then quickly slipped out of the villa.

The easy enemy was dealt with, but the ones coming next wouldn't be so easily fooled.

Lihua would bet her Might of An-Utu that if Otto and the others didn't arrive within half an hour, she'd be toast!

After five centuries of separation, their excitement was understandable… but while they had been separated from Lihua for centuries, for Lihua, it had only been a few months.

The excitement of reunion was overshadowed by a sense of dread.

Eleanor was fine, but Otto and Kallen were confirmed simps, having confessed their love before the battle with the Herrscher of Corruption!

The thought of dealing with them gave Lihua a headache. She'd dodged their confessions by deleting her account, and now they were here in person… those two hopeless romantics!

And with her current persona, she couldn't just ignore their five centuries of devotion…

Though she knew this was unavoidable, she'd stall as long as possible—every second counted!

Lost in thought, Lihua had already left the villa and entered the city.

Perhaps due to [Lee]'s earlier rampage, the streets were deserted, everyone hiding indoors, making Lihua's escape easier. Otherwise, with her identical face to Lee, she might have caused mass panic, just like Unit-3.

The quiet gave her time to think.

If meeting them was unavoidable, how should she approach it? Eleanor was the best option. Lihua trusted her hand-raised child. Though a bit clingy, Eleanor wasn't as intense as Kallen or Otto, and she hadn't confessed—reuniting with her first, then tricking her into being her bodyguard, was ideal.

Kallen was the second choice. Though a simp, she seemed to have reformed… in the game, at least. There was some risk, but it was manageable.

Otto was the worst. He was already unstable, and after five hundred years, he seemed even crazier in the game. Who knew what he'd do?! If he recognized her as Lihua, it would be fine. But if he didn't, mistaking her for a homunculus or a spy… that's a nope.

She might end up as a lab rat!

…No matter what, avoid being alone with Otto. With others present, he wouldn't be able to do anything too crazy.

Lihua looked up at the shooting stars streaking across the sky, knowing Mei, Kallen, and the others had arrived.

Sigh, it's time to face the music.

Resigned, Lihua turned around.

And met a pair of emerald green eyes.

A man with a dazed expression stood across the street, staring at her.

The traffic light flickered, changing from red to green.

Fate was sometimes cruel, making you encounter the person you least wanted to see in a vast world. Fate was sometimes kind, reuniting you with your loved ones among billions.

Otto stared, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

Yes, he'd seen this in his dreams… seeing her waving at the intersection, walking towards him, as if the tragedy had never happened.

But his dreams never reached their conclusion. A waking mind couldn't fully immerse itself in dreams, making them more painful.

And now, as his dream became reality, Lihua, just as he'd seen countless times, waved from across the street.

Then, with a gentle smile, she walked towards him.