How Am I Still Alive?-Chapter 1303 - 1289: Visitor

"My personal view could decide the survival or demise of an entire world..."

The realization of this fact came after the voting proposal was finalized.

And it truly sank in two days later, five days before the official vote, when some people traveled thousands of miles to pay a visit...

"It’s been a long time, Master..."

Looking into those bright and clear eyes, and at the same time, looking at this delicate face, Lu Ping’an felt as if he had returned to the past.

"313... Lulu?"

Although he was somewhat doubtful, this time, Lu Ping’an didn’t think he had mistaken the person.

"You, you’ve changed quite a bit, Now you seem quite strong..."

Lu Ping’an murmured subconsciously, his spiritual intuition telling him that the elegant lady who seemed to have one eye, this widely known scholarly general... killing him would probably not take ten seconds.

"Child of the World?"

At this moment, Lu Ping’an remembered their first meeting.

Back then, he was entrusted by "the world" to seek out children favored by fate, and that mission was...

"... you might not believe it, but when I went to find you, it was for nation-building, to create a nation for the Long Hand Clan..."

Time played with destiny, and destiny fooled the mortals; at this moment, with many past events intertwined, even the fate-defying Lu Ping’an felt a bit wistful.

Back then, he had sought out this girl for "nation-building," and now, she had come looking for him for the same reason.

At that time, he could’ve killed his opponent with a single finger, but now, being in the same room, Lu Ping’an could feel that she could press him to death with a single finger.

"... You really have had a hard time."

In that moment, facing the One-Eyed Marshal of the Salvation Army, Lu Ping’an found himself saying something quite impolite out of instinct... It was like the care a senior has for their junior, and indeed, it was a bit overstepping.

But he truly felt that way, considering the hell the newcomer must’ve gone through to get to this point over the last decade.

In that moment, the seemingly gentle woman’s single eye suddenly reddened.

She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and when she raised it again, her face was full of radiant smiles.

"Master, you haven’t changed at all... that puts me at ease." Her single eye gazed steadfastly at Lu Ping’an, not blinking for a long time.

The emotions were too complex, and Lu Ping’an dared not contemplate them.

"Uh, actually, I’ve made quite a bit of progress too. Two months ago I was still fifth-tier, and now I’m at Quasi-rule level."

Lu Ping’an, who was also not good at such scenes, yawned, tilted his head, and tried to gloss over it.

"Let’s get down to business, shall we? You’ve come this time for my four votes?" Tired of the small talk, Lu Ping’an naturally knew the purpose of this busy person before him.

"No, it’s five votes."

Lulu pointed out the window at Captain Xia, who was being surrounded for inquiries by a group of old friends...

"Tsk, how come I’m her boss and she doesn’t greet me first or give me a heads-up."

Although he complained, seeing that Xia Qin was all right, Lu Ping’an also breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Mei Yuge in such a sorry state initially, he had actually braced himself for even worse developments.

At this moment, Xia Qin outside the window, catching up with Meow and the others, looked largely unchanged at a glance, but the silver streak in her bangs was definitely more distinct.

But her temperament was entirely different.

"Back then, she was a young female cadre pretending to be mature... a Meow pretending to be a tiger."

Lu Ping’an stroked his chin, feeling somewhat nostalgic.

"Now she’s pretending to be a tigress mother to Meow, trying hard to play the part of a sprightly old woman... Ow!"

Lu Ping’an, whose head had just been smacked by the scabbard, received a fierce glare from the woman outside the window.

But seeing her still so spirited, Lu Ping’an laughed... However, the person outside continued to stare at him fiercely, it seemed that his words had really hit a sore spot.

"Ahem, let’s talk business. Marshal Lu, you mean to say that she has a fragment on her too."

"Yes, precisely speaking, it’s a ’weapon’. The concept is ’a guaranteed counterattack after taking damage’..."

What kind of absurd thing is that? Lu Ping’an was first stunned but then had an epiphany.

"No need to be attacked oneself to counterattack? Retribution?" Lu Ping’an remembered the primitive concept of blood revenge, and even more so, the "legal judgment and punishment" established upon it.

"Yes... this is a concept that does not exist in this world,"

Lulu also sighed. It had taken a lot of effort to figure out the concept of this fragment, but the "conclusion" itself was quite ironic.

In fact, there existed a hidden "common sense", that the fallen fragments were not truly distributed by fate alone.

They instinctively gravitated toward the most "compatible" beings, be it Divine Beasts, objects, or individuals.

Law and judgment symbolize a society that has matured to a certain level. Before this, there were merely the "commands" and "will" of a local lord, rather than the "judgment of justice" based on "public order" or a "weaker person being harmed".

This represents a "right of authority" at the societal level. In a time when most people had no concept of legal rule, a true Law Enforcer was naturally attracted to Its presence.

"Something’s not right. If this mature concept doesn’t exist in this world, It should not have been born..."

"Our generation’s civilization might not have it, but previous civilizations definitely did," Lulu responded somewhat helplessly. It was somewhat embarrassing and humiliating for the locals that the authority of "judicial justice" of their world had chosen an outsider. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

At this moment, Lu Ping’an opened his communication device again, and there it was—five fragments.

But his ranking had not improved... In fact, he had now fallen to eleventh place, having gained a fragment yet dropped two ranks from two days before.

"These guys are crazy with competition."

When Lord Xiuyi "proposed" that fragments act as votes to decide everyone’s and the world’s fate, there was little resistance.

Partly this was due to Lord Xiuyi’s prestige. On the other hand, the fragments truly were the best current "equivalent of power".

One vote per person? The Big Shots wouldn’t stand for it. Just as the ninth-order wouldn’t accept that an eighth-tier could hold equal sway in speech, a senior eighth-tier wouldn’t agree to a newbie having a fair split. In a reality of "inequality for all", one vote per person is an excellent way to stir conflict.

As for the fragments, being coveted "treasures" that everyone was searching for these days...

In fact, the Strongmen naturally accumulated more, and those ranked at the top were universally acknowledged super-powerful individuals. This was why Lu Ping’an was respected despite being relatively high-ranked.

Even if he were a Husky mixed into a wolf pack... he was still a large dog that common cats and wild dogs wouldn’t dare to mess with.

The number of fragments indirectly reflected the Big Shots’ strength, sphere of influence, and searching capabilities... This was an "index of strength" that most Big Shots, under the current circumstances, were willing to acknowledge.

Since everyone had agreed upon it, Lord Xiuyi’s suggestion was announced, and having collected fifteen fragments, Xiuyi...

"I am the proposer and also the one who carries the most fragments. I abstain from voting... Anyway, I am neutral, and abstaining is acceptable. But for you, these votes may be an asset in themselves; think it over carefully, and we’ll vote in a week."

Though somewhat absurd, the votes of a few dozen to a hundred people within this circle could indeed determine the future of the world.

And giving a week’s time was not to delay, but to give everyone "preparation time" and "trading time".

This vote would affect the fate of most. Naturally, there would be those who would pledge, buy, or steal votes... Providing enough time for trading, exchanging, collaboration, and preparing mentally and materially, would help everyone accept the final outcome, whatever it may be.

"It also allows some indifferent parties to sell their votes for a good price, right? Your Excellency, Marshal of the Salvation Army,"

Lu Ping’an asked with a smile, inquiring about the other party’s offer.

This fat lamb that knocked on his door, there was no reason for him not to make the most of it.