When Mr. Hunter arrives at Osborne Tower with his elusive crossover teleportation, he is confronted by Mason, who has given him a headache, having a good conversation with the captain of the afterlife.

Seeing that the two of them were chatting speculatively and laughing, people who didn't know thought they were going to worship them.

In other words, when did the relationship between this K team and the afterlife team become so good?

Ciri looked at the two in front of him suspiciously.

She was skeptical that these two guys had created some private alliances behind their backs, and it was unlikely that Morgan Black Hand's mercenary character would be so blatantly involved, but considering that Mason was here, it seemed that everything could be explained.

Since taking Team K under his command, His Excellency Hunter has developed this mindset again and again, and whenever something is not quite right, then Mason must be the first to go to him.

She even suspected that the water in her shower wasn't hot enough last night, maybe it was because Mason had manipulated her office.

"What are you talking about, so happy?"

Ciri, the hunter, stepped forward and said faintly:

"Do you suggest I sit in on it?"

"Lord Hunter is here, you must have something important to talk about, so we won't bother our group of line-filling soldiers."

Captain Morgan stood up and snorted, he pretended to glance at the military watch in his hand, and said:

"I'll have to go see what's going on at the Gate of Transfer, and support the other companion squads, I've heard that several of your teams are here to join in the grand event, and this companion has to go out of hand.

You talk first, I'm leaving. ”

He said goodbye to the hunter in a friendly manner, and the old Aunt Rogge beside him also nodded slightly, and then took Judy to leave this place quickly, and the hidden place that was still lively and still chatting about the past of Night City suddenly quieted down.

This makes Mr. Hunter suspect that he is an undesirable bad guy.

But she didn't do anything.

Well, so it's all definitely Mason Cooper's fault!

"What do you look like when you sit there?"

Mason took the initiative to get up and pull a chair for Mr. Hunter, but instead of sitting down, he leaned back on the edge of the table, crossed his arms and stared at Mason.

The Alice knife she used for disguise was "greedy" by Mason, a bad thing, in the name of doing a mission, and Team K didn't say anything about it, and she didn't take the initiative to ask for it.

So now she was using a black two-handed sword, right behind the black robe.

Mason apparently knew the sword.

If he remembered correctly, the sword was supposed to be called "Jiviel", which means "swallow" in Elvish, and was also a rite of passage given to her by the old witcher Gay's camel.

"What? Isn't it enough to take me a knife? Ready to take my sword with you? ”

Mason's eyes were quickly sensed by Ciri, and the hunter said unhappily:

"What the hell did you talk to Old A? Why did you make such a big battle? I rarely saw Quint make such a big move, and he told me to drop everything I had and come here to receive what I had in your hands at once.

He even sent someone to wait in the Star Fort to escort it back.

Looks like you've really found something amazing. ”

"I've told you everything, don't ask, don't make trouble for yourself, this thing is really hot."

Mason pulled out a very special box from his bag.

There is a beating yellow lightning bolt on its surface, like a magic lock, which is a seal of God's speed force to ensure that the matrix blueprint stored in this box cannot be broken at will.

He handed the box to Ciri, who took it in his hand and threw it into his bag but did not turn away, which made Mason raise his eyebrows in surprise and said:

"Didn't you say someone was waiting in the Star Castle? Don't send it back quickly, lest your boss be in a hurry. ”

"I just wanted to talk to you a little more, what? Don't want to? ”

Ciri moved his neck and said:

"As you can see, I've sent all the forces I have at my disposal here, even though it's nominally a forbidden transfer order from a higher authority.

But this is also equivalent to them taking the initiative to disclose the hidden power of the Quint Club in the Stars Society, and I think Lao A must not have done this just because of your coercion.

I think there's a deep meaning behind his actions."

"Oh, I see."

Mason sat down in his chair and nodded, he looked at Ciri and said:

"You're going to let me do it for you?"

Ciri didn't answer.

But her silence is the answer in itself.

This is the direction Mason wants to see, he said before that he would discuss with him more before letting Ciri do things, and seeing that his boss really did it, Mason naturally used his brain.

He took out a bottle of brown owl and poured it into his mouth, shaking his tired spirit, and then rubbing his forehead and saying to Ciri:

"This means that our 'incubation' phase is over, and the next step is to act openly! If I think it is, I'll tell you that this is a sign that the Quint is intent on officially intervening in the power structure of the Star Society.

They let you lurk and stealth your actions before, perhaps because of their own lack of strength.

But after accepting the old Green Goblin's rebels, who were infiltrating the entire Council of Hope, they grew in size rapidly.

Speaking of which, do you know the identity of Old A in the Council of Hope? ”

Mason asked, and Ciri hesitated, nodded and said:

"I know that he is one of the permanent members, and he just happened to be the rotating speaker recently, because of the third shock."

"That's it."

Mason nodded and said:

"I learned some inside information from the conqueror I had captured before, and he told me that after the third onslaught, the weak worlds that could be plundered at will have been largely eliminated, and the rest were hard bones.

The stars who are the pioneers and trailblazers of the Council will face quite a serious situation in the future, and we may suffer continued losses.

You see, I'm used to thinking from a dark perspective.

If it's me to do this

I will let the other teams move and keep their own people, so that in the severe situation of massive losses, those pioneers who do not want to be used as cannon fodder will have to move closer to me if they want to survive the death.

In this way, the lower-level pioneers will also be gradually controlled, and then find a way to operate at the top, it may only take a few months to seize the control of the Star Society.

At least a part of the control. ”

With that, he paused to look at the thoughtful Ciri, and after giving the latter a few seconds to clear his mind, he came to his conclusion.

"Therefore, Lao A takes this opportunity to let you and us stand up openly, which is to show an attitude to everyone up and down the Star Society.

That is, they have a new choice, and they can take refuge in us when they can't get along with the original faction.

It's not a big choice right now.

But as long as things change, with the cunning and greedy nature of the pioneers of the Stellar Society, the power of the Quint Society in the Stellar Society will grow rapidly.

It's a scheme.

You don't have to worry about being feared by warlocks or swordsmen, unless the forces behind them want to provoke a sharp struggle at the top, they just don't see it.

I'm not talking nonsense or lying to you, Ciri, I have proof. ”

Mason stood up, approached Ciri, and whispered:

"Old A promised me the vacant A-class seat when he was talking to me, and he was already planning to stuff his own people into the Council of Twelve. Did he tell you about it? ”

Ciri froze for a moment, then shook her head.

She said in a dumb voice:

"That seat I was going to give to the afterlife"

"Then give it to them."

Mason smiled and said:

"I've negotiated with Morgan Black Hand, I don't want that seat, you are in charge and promote him to the Council of Twelve, and the afterlife team will compensate me privately."

"Huh?"

Mason's words made Ciri hesitate for a moment, and the Grand Mentor of Exploration whispered:

"He said he was going to give it to you, will your refusal so readily get you in trouble? Didn't you say that they wanted to knock you on this B-rank promotion mission? ”

"Trouble? No, I won't be in trouble. ”

Mason shook his head, he patted Ciri's shoulder, and said meaningfully:

"Because it's a decision you made, and it doesn't have anything to do with me.

As the Exploration Mentor of the Stars Society, you have a responsibility to think about the development of the organization, and you must strictly control the best seats and resources so that they cannot be wasted on low-level people like me who always like to make trouble.

Whether it is from the perspective of strength, experience, and loyalty, the afterlife team is much more suitable than the K team.

Lao A must know your intentions, he may want to create a rift between our two 'close comrades', and I won't let him do it, so I'll make it clear to you in advance.

Now it's up to you to see if you can withstand the pressure.

Ciri, you may be accustomed to obedience, but you should also know that the power in your hands is not given to you by Lao A, and your management of the Star Society comes from the approval of His Excellency 'Destiny'. ”

Mason said:

This means that you actually have a choice, and once you have a choice, you have the capital to resist in the face of Lao A's order.

Of course, I'm talking about extreme cases.

But trust me!

Old A has spent so much energy and resources on you, it is impossible for him to fall out with you because of such a trivial matter.

You used to be too well-behaved, stupid and innocent, so you were easily manipulated by them.

You have to learn to argue with reason, you have to learn to use the power in your hands properly, believe me, if this power is used well, it can even make Lao A afraid of you. ”

"I admit that your previous analysis made a lot of sense, but now you're starting to trick me into giving up my allies and trusting you again."

Ciri shook her head.

She said to Mason:

"You should give me a moment to think about it."

"I've given you time, it's been almost ten days since we last talked."

Mason shook his head and said:

"That's long enough time for me to defeat the Zhenglian twice, and you still say you're not ready. Obviously, Heri, you can't make a decision on your own.

The swordsman is very accurate in his assessment of you, and you are not suitable to play with them.

But I'm not going to force you to choose.

Let me give you a piece of advice, my good boss, think about your purpose, be clear about your goals, and compare them to what they want you to do.

And what I want you to do with me.

Use this stark comparison to determine who is in your best interest. Also, don't really believe the that it would be better to change the system of the Stellar Society for one person in power.

This organization is built on the use of soul curses to maintain connections, but if you've read a fairy tale or two, you should know that it's usually the villains who use this model to sustain their existence.

We're bad guys

Don't really expect bad guys to do what good guys can do. ”

After saying that, Mason took a step back, looked at the time of his watch, and said to Ciri:

"You should go back, if you don't go back, they'll be suspicious, bring this thing back to them, and then leave it alone and concentrate on your own business."

"Hmm."

Ciri nodded, reaching out to open a door to the Star Castle, but before stepping inside, she glanced suspiciously at the box sealed by the Speed Force in her hand.

She said in a whisper that only she and Mason could hear:

"You really gave Old A all the information he wanted?"

"It's all in there, don't worry, it's enough for them."

Mason showed a flawless smile and said very seriously:

"Besides, my B-rank promotion mission is considered complete, right?"

"It still needs to be reviewed."

Ciri pursed her lips under the mask and said:

"But just going through the process, this thing has alarmed the rotating chairman of the council, if the knowledge you bring back for us is really so valuable, then no one will dare to block your promotion.

To be honest, even if he does make an exception and promote you to an A-rank member, there won't be too many people complaining.

Although everyone has their own thoughts, they are really for the continuation of existence.

Have you really decided to resign from this seat?

Maybe you don't know what it means to be an A-class, do you need me to tell you a little bit more about the benefits of A-class? ”

"No need, I've already understood."

Mason waved his hand and said in a long voice:

"The treasure trove of resources in the Star Castle is open to all A-class personnel, and they can borrow the rare treasures stored in the organization for free before each mission, and even apply for long-term holding.

Becoming a member of the Council of Twelve means that all the resources of the Star Society are tilted, not to mention the treatment of the main force and substitutes, and they don't even have to pay for the servant army.

All the knowledge in the secret art area of the Stars Library can be consulted at will, and you can apply to use the 'Destiny Machine' once a month.

The limit on the number of base worlds will also be removed, and as far as I know, A-class personnel can hold up to five resource worlds at the same time to use as a base.

It can be said that joining the Council of Twelve is equivalent to buying a ticket to the 'end of the world', and even if everything really dies, the A-class personnel are definitely the ones who can survive to the end.

I know exactly what it means to promise Old A, Ciri. ”

He looked into the eyes under the hunter's mask and said:

"But you know my situation, I still need to ensure a certain amount of covert action, and now is not the time for me to show my face. And I value my friendship with you more than these low-hanging fruit.

We're going to be companions.

You know why? ”

Ciri was indeed a little moved, but still joked in a dumb voice:

"Because I have a conscience?"

"It's more than that."

Mason shrugged his shoulders and said:

"I just believe that the daughter raised by His Excellency Geralt will never be a bad person, and finally, do me a favor and make a decision as soon as possible.

A guy like Old A wouldn't let me go so freely.

He has a way of forcing me to actually join you, and if you want to give yourself another choice, then keeping me is helping you. ”

"Well, I will."

Ciri agreed, and then walked through her rift back to her office at Castle des Stars, where a man in a leather jacket and jeans sat on the couch in front of her.

The latter was holding his coffee and admiring the pictures of the hunter hanging on the wall.

"The stuff was back."

She said to the man in front of her:

"It's time for you to go, I'm bothered by a conqueror's commander in the open."

"I'm sorry to bother you, Hunter."

The man put down his coffee cup, got up and apologized in a gentle tone:

"It happened suddenly, and there is no way to do it, but before I leave, I still want to go to a place. You made Geralt a well-dressed mound, right?

Can I go and pay a respect? ”

"No way!"

Ciri coldly refused:

"Don't lie here, Steve Rogers! My father trusted you so much, and you reciprocated to him a betrayal, if it weren't for your snitch."

"That's not a snitch, Ciri."

The blonde man in front of him sighed and put the box in his hand properly.

He explains:

"We should serve the good of the majority, Geralt knew what was going to happen to him before he decided to act, he was a true hero.

I'd rather die in his place if I could."

"But he's dead, you're still alive."

Ciri pointed to the door and scolded:

"Get out, hypocrite, before I draw my sword!"

(End of chapter)