Chapter 701: Pleasantries

In an instant I got the wrong impression that I wasn't here to find someone to handle anomalous entries, but to pay respects to the mountain.

A Ge Lai Ya raised her hand to indicate a plain white bone‑china teapot on the table, its spout emitting a faint wisp of steam.

As it was passed over, the golden rice‑earring on her finger lightly brushed the pot, producing an extremely faint crisp sound.

"Please, help yourself."

Heimu took the teapot and poured herself a cup.

The tea was a pale gold, exceedingly light on the palate, almost without bitterness, leaving only a faint lingering sweetness in the throat.

Heimu held the cup, looked up at the woman opposite.

"First time meeting you, Ms. A Ge Lai Ya."

Heimu opened her mouth, her tone impeccably proper, even tinged with formal social etiquette.

She steadied the cup on her knee; her ash‑gray long hair fell from her shoulders, catching the golden daylight streaming in from the corridor.

"My name is a bit complicated, but you may call me Heimu. The incarnation of Emperor III, the extant consciousness of Iron Tomb—those titles you probably already know. Currently I am in charge of permission management for Weng Fa Luo Si's side, as well as the subsequent placement of the Golden Descendant members."

A Ge Lai Ya nodded after hearing that.

A hand continued to run along the cat's spine.

The cat rolled over on her leg, exposing its belly.

"A Ge Lai Ya. Bearing the romantic Flame Seed. This is our first meeting."

A Ge Lai Ya said, her tone Calm, "I should thank you. Weng Fa Luo Si's current peace is thanks to much you have done. I will remember this gratitude."

Heimu gave a slight nod, tapping her fingers lightly on her knee.

Polite small talk isn't her strong suit, but there's no reason to refuse.

"It's within my duties. Xi Lian has governed this place well; I actually contributed little."

A Ge Lai Ya's mouth corner lifted that faint curve again.

"You're being modest. Xi Lian mentioned you to me; she said you're a very interesting person."

"Interesting."

Heimu internally flipped that appraisal, hearing it sounded like Xi Lian had secretly handed her a vague good‑person card, yet not quite a good‑person card.

"Is that so."

She decided to skip the topic and get straight to business, "Ms. A Ge Lai Ya, I came to you because I discovered some anomalies. My panel shows—"

She raised her hand, a fingertip tracing the air, "—some data contain unexpected additional entries. I wonder if you have noticed?"

A Ge Lai Ya did not answer immediately.

Her green eyes stared calmly at her, a finger paused half a beat on the cat's belly, then continued along the fur.

"I know."

The tone remained that steady, yet that steadiness now felt off.

Heimu waited a moment.

A Ge Lai Ya gently lifted the cat from her leg and placed it on a plush cloth pad beside the soft couch.

The movement was tender; when setting the cat down she also gently pressed its flipped ear back into place.

Then she sat up straight again, hands clasped on her knees, looking at Heimu.

"You're referring to—some thought habits that aren't my own."

She said, that faint curve still at the corner of her mouth, "I've noticed, but I haven't refused."

"Not refused?"

"Everyone has their own anomalies."

A Ge Lai Ya said calmly, something in the depths of those green eyes faintly glowing, "Some anomalies are burdens, some are opportunities. I choose— to accept them. To observe them. To coexist with them."

Heimu fell silent for a moment, her violet‑black eyes fixed on the impeccably poised face opposite.

"Coexist."

She described a forced anomalous entry as if she were raising a newly arrived cat.

Truly worthy of the Godfather.

Heimu inhaled lightly; when she spoke again her tone slowed, as if the aura of the person opposite had seeped into her.

"So— you weren't affected?"

"Yes."

A Ge Lai Ya tilted her head slightly, her light‑golden curls swaying gently at her shoulders, "I've become more silent than before. I prefer to observe the other before speaking. I prefer metaphor over direct statement. I prefer—"

She paused, that curve at the corner of her mouth finally turning into an almost smile, "—petting cats."

Heimu's gaze involuntarily drifted to the gray cat licking its paws on the nearby pad.

"So that's why."

The "Cat Lover" entry wasn't a metaphor; it was literal.

Her gaze returned to A Ge Lai Ya's face, reassessing the lady seated on the soft couch, cradling the cat; her tone steady, each sentence carrying a composure of "I know you don't know, but I'm not in a hurry to tell you."

She was no longer the aloof, scrutinizing demigod leader from the game.

Yet this instead possessed an inexplicable eerie charm.

"Hearing you say that,"

Heimu leaned her back further, fingers lightly tapping the chair armrest, "I actually think there's no need to rush to clear them for you."

"As you see fit," A Ge Lai Ya said calmly, "I trust your judgment."

"However, there's one thing I need to clarify in advance."

Heimu raised a finger, pointing toward the "Godfather" entry above A Ge Lai Ya's head, "This anomaly was caused by Aha, not me. If occasional strange thoughts arise later, don't think my data is faulty; just blame Aha."

A Ge Lai Ya lowered her lashes, seeming to contemplate the meaning of those words seriously.

Then she lifted her eyes again: "So—there's someone else behind the mischief."

"Right."

"I'll give you an irresistible reason to help you solve this problem."

Heimu froze for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.

"Good fellow, being able to deliver the Godfather's famous line so naturally in this situation—she didn't know whether to praise A Ge Lai Ya's strong adaptability or that the entry was just too professional."

"Alright, the professionalism clearly goes beyond just the entry."

"No—no reason needed."

Heimu waved a hand, "It was always within my duties."

"Is that so."

A Ge Lai Ya's tone was as plain as ever, but a faint hint of slyness flickered in those green eyes, "Then—perhaps you can take this honesty as my welcome gift."

Equally steady, equally composed, and every word was already planned out before she spoke the next three sentences.

Heimu looked at the lady opposite's Calm face, and silently raised the effect level of the "Godfather" entry by two tiers in his mind.

This is no longer a matter of style.

This means the entire person's behavior pattern has been recompiled.

Yet she still had to continue asking.

The matter of Bai E.

"Regarding Bai E."

Heimu's voice deepened, his finger paused on the rail, "He's still in my Data Space now. Current status—"

She chose her words carefully, "—not very optimistic. But I'm handling it."